NOVEL NEXT Chapter 105
Hunter Management Agency office.
The tension in the office wrapped around like a ticking time bomb right in front of me.
Team Leader Ko Jae-yoon was no different. He was glued to the phone, giving orders left and right, not able to budge an inch.
“Manager! Did we forget something?!”
Team Leader Ko shouted sharply after hanging up the phone. After quickly scanning through the plans prepared with Si-hyun, the manager nodded rapidly.
He put the documents down with his sweaty hands.
“Yeah, I think we’re good!”
“Great! Then let’s proceed!”
Team Leader Ko shouted enthusiastically. This was not originally the plan they had set up with Si-hyun.
The plan was to secretly reveal the S-rank Dungeon footage at the most opportune moment she desired.
However, due to the gate incident at the Academy, the situation changed. All plans were flipped upside down.
“Keep checking the situation at the Academy! We’ll blow everything up as soon as the raid ends!”
“Yes, got it!”
The manager replied with energy. Although there was a change in plans, it wasn’t all bad.
Considering the direction Si-hyun wanted, it was actually a good opportunity.
The incident was happening at the Academy, after all.
‘Finally… finally this moment has arrived…!’
How long had I been looking forward to this!
The manager had been waiting for this moment more than anyone else.
Just like when Si-hyun crushed the A-rank Dungeon in Gangneung with Ji-a.
And this time, with the S-rank Dungeon they took down.
He had to hide his excitement every time.
But this time was different.
He could shout it out to the world!
‘There are returnees in our country, South Korea! More amazing than the returnees in the US! Hahaha!’
Even amidst the endless busyness, Manager Jang Han-soo felt no fatigue.
Dopamine was already exploding within him.
* * *
“Phew….”
After Professor Yu disappeared into the forest, Professor No wiped the sweat from his forehead and approached the still trembling students.
He tried to calmly reassure them.
Meanwhile, Si-hyun approached the three diligent students.
She warmly embraced them one by one, praising them affectionately.
“Ah-reum, you must’ve been scared, but you did well.”
“Hey, I learned from the professor!”
Ah-reum smiled broadly and adjusted her glasses.
Si-hyun gently patted her precious student’s head.
“I could see that Eun-byeol has also been working hard. Excellent.”
“Hmph, I can’t lose to Ah-reum!”
After Si-hyun’s hug, Eun-byeol raised her head.
Her face was flushed with excitement, and her eyes sparkled.
“And Jae-woo. You were the most reliable tank. Good job.”
“Cough… thank you.”
Jae-woo blushed.
He looked soft and cuddly.
Si-hyun gazed contentedly at her admirable students, feeling a warm glow in her heart.
They were amazing kids, without a doubt. A swell of pride and fulfillment filled her chest.
“…It’s time for a baton pass. From here on, I’ll take over.”
“W-wait… I know you’re amazing, Professor, but this place…”
“Hehe, thanks for worrying.”
Si-hyun raised her hand to chest level, palm facing Eun-byeol, signaling her to pause.
“Actually, I’ve been enjoying my vacation until now.”
“…Huh? Vacation?”
“Yeah. I’m planning to stop slacking off now. Well, I’ll show you in a bit. That’ll be faster and surer.”
“Hmm…?”
Eun-byeol tilted her head, still not quite understanding.
Jae-woo had a similar reaction, tapping his shield thoughtfully with his finger.
Only Ah-reum reacted differently.
‘Could it be?!’ Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
She had only imagined it until now.
Could it be that our professor is the typical type who hides great power?
‘It’s so cool just to think about it…!’
The cliché of hiding immense strength!
Ah-reum, who frequently indulged in web novels, began spreading her imagination wildly.
“Oh, they’re gone…”
Ah-reum murmured blankly.
Professor Jeong Si-hyun was already walking toward the two professors resting after their tumultuous ordeal.
Ah-reum stared at her figure, lost in thought.
Her professor’s white hair seemed to shine more than ever today.
“……Thank you both for your hard work.”
When Si-hyun offered her thanks, the two professors nodded with deep breaths.
“Thanks to you, we survived, Professor Jeong.”
“Thanks to Professor Jeong, we could keep the students safe. It’s truly a relief.”
“……You and the students did well.”
Si-hyun smiled awkwardly.
In reality, it was the two professors who had taken down the two Wood Bears.
She had merely swooped in at the last moment.
Professor No looked at Si-hyun with admiration.
“With your status, it wouldn’t have been easy to decide to enter this dungeon. Truly commendable. Other professors should learn from this.”
“Oh, about that…”
“Indeed. Are the other professors preparing a later group?”
“W-what? A later group?”
They were all flustered.
Trying to reveal her ability was pausing Si-hyun, momentarily at a loss for words at Professor No’s question.
“Promising students are in danger, so there must be preparations outside for support, right?”
“Hmm, so…”
Si-hyun awkwardly turned her head just slightly, avoiding eye contact.
She thought it would disappoint Professor No if she said there was no such intention.
Even setting aside her plans to jump in now.
Why should she let Professor No disappoint people?
‘……I’ll just pretend I don’t know.’
There’s a saying about harmless lies. In other words, a white lie.
Si-hyun calmly opened her mouth, pretending to be oblivious.
“I just jumped in after hearing about the situation, so I’m not really sure about the support.”
“Hmm? You haven’t even looked at the victim list?”
“Oh, no. I rushed here right after I saw the news.”
“Ooooh…”
How commendable and admirable she was!
Professor No gazed at Si-hyun, impressed.
Just thinking about Professor Yu, who had run away to save herself…
‘……No, there’s no need to even mention Professor Yu.’
Even he had prioritized three promising students and entered the dungeon.
But Professor Jeong was different.
She had genuinely jumped into the flames, thinking solely of her students’ safety.
Isn’t that what a true hero and eminent person is?
In that moment, Professor No couldn’t help but feel deeply humble reflecting on himself.
Professor Jeong Si-hyun was a genuine educator. A true master.
‘……Why is her expression like that all of a sudden?’
Glancing at Professor No, Si-hyun looked puzzled.
Suddenly, Professor No was looking at her with eyes similar to Ah-reum’s.
A gaze and expression that said he admired her.
Suddenly being looked at that way by an elder was honestly just so awkward.
She hadn’t said a thing other than jumping into the dungeon.
There was no reason for him to look at her like that.
“Uh…”
“Ahem! Anyway, we have to hold on until the support arrives. The monsters will be handled by Professor Park and me, so Professor Jeong, keep protecting the students like you just did.”
“So…”
“That alone significantly reduces our burden. Right, Professor Park?”
“Yes, indeed. Thanks to you, Professor Jeong, we can breathe a bit easier.”
She didn’t have a chance to adequately respond.
Si-hyun was lost in thought, fiddling with her clothing.
‘……Should I wait until the monsters show up and just demonstrate my ability then?’
That might be more comfortable.
Si-hyun shifted her perspective.
She quietly listened to the professors’ conversation.
As the conversation gradually concluded, Si-hyun suddenly recalled something and asked.
“Oh, by the way. Was there a dispute with the person who left alone earlier?”
“Are you referring to Professor Yu?”
“Yes, that person.”
Si-hyun nodded slowly.
Given the attire and age, it seemed like a professor, and it appeared she was correct.
“Tch, tch, tch! It was definitely a dispute. That person told someone who came to save the students to abandon the students.”
“……Did they say something like that?”
Si-hyun understood the implications but still asked unnecessarily.
Professor No looked at Si-hyun’s rigid expression and answered.
“Since it came up, Professor Yu has always been someone who takes every opportunity to belittle Professor Jeong, so there’s no need to pay heed to it.”
“……Me?”
“Because she has close ties with the Cheongrim Guild.”
“Ah, I see.”
Si-hyun slowly made a gesture as if she understood.
Since she directly gave a thumbs down to Kang Cheol-min, it made sense that anyone related to Cheongrim would dislike her.
Of course, it naturally bothered her. Who would feel good about being insulted behind their back?
‘Guess I didn’t need to worry about that.’
She almost got stressed out over it for nothing.
There’s nothing more frustrating than helping someone just to get slammed for it.
Having understood this, Si-hyun felt enlightenment about Professor Yu’s previous expression she had been observed.
She thought it was a sour expression due to the urgent circumstances, but it wasn’t that at all.
It was just then.
Roar——!
A sharp beastly howl echoed from afar!
Everyone, including Si-hyun, turned their attention to the sound.
“Ahhhh! What the hell!”
Professor Yu came running over here, completely frantic.
Leading a whole pack of monsters.
Though she was desperately trying to escape to save her own skin…
It was clearly an act of trolling that put everyone here in danger.
The students fell into a state of panic.