HBWnovel Chapter 101
Chapter 101
At first, Yeo Dohyung’s awkward smile lingered, but soon he relaxed his expression and spoke naturally.
“...With all the commotion about dungeons lately, how have you been holding up?”
“Oh, I’ve been fine. Nothing much has happened.”
“That’s good to hear. If you’re okay with it, would you like a ride home? Please don’t hesitate to let me know if it’s uncomfortable.”
“Hmm...”
I hesitated for a moment.
We weren’t close enough for me to accept such an offer without second thoughts.
...But then again, rejecting him outright felt unnecessary.
We’d likely run into each other often in the future, so there was no need to put up walls. Perhaps this was an opportunity to build some rapport.
Besides, I found myself curious about him.
Sensing my hesitation, Dohyung softened his voice even further.
“If not, I can call a taxi for you. What do you think?”
“...No, it’s fine. If I’m going to accept help, I might as well ride with you. It’ll give us a chance to talk.”
When I nodded slightly and replied, Dohyung paused briefly, then smiled faintly.
“Shall we, then?”
“...Yes, thank you.”
“Haha, it’s nothing. If I’d failed to escort you, Eunbyul would’ve been disappointed and probably scolded me relentlessly. Honestly, I should be the one thanking you for sparing me that.”
With an exaggerated shrug, Dohyung lightened the mood.
Something about his deliberate attempt to make me feel at ease was oddly endearing. I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.
***
Yeo Dohyung gripped the steering wheel as the car smoothly pulled away from the curb.
The atmosphere between Dohyung and Si-Hyun remained somewhat awkward. Dohyung focused on driving, while Si-Hyun gazed out the window, watching the scenery pass by.
“...This wasn’t what I had in mind when I agreed.”
Si-Hyun pondered for a moment, wanting to break the silence but unsure of how to start a conversation.
Fortunately, Dohyung spoke first.
“Professor Si-Hyun, how’s life at the Academy treating you?”
“Hmm...”
Si-Hyun thought briefly before answering.
“...It’s enjoyable. The students are so earnest and adorable. It’s rewarding.”
“Ah, I see. You must be really busy.”
“Not really. I’m just a part-time lecturer, so it’s not that hectic.”
“Is that so? Still, that’s impressive. For me, just working as a hunter is exhausting enough—I can’t imagine balancing that with teaching at an academy.”
Dohyung transitioned the conversation smoothly, his tone natural. Si-Hyun narrowed her eyes slightly, studying him. He seemed skilled at keeping the dialogue flowing.
Noticing her gaze, Dohyung smiled lightly.
“It seems like she’s relaxing a bit.”
When the car came to a stop at a red light, Dohyung turned slightly to glance at her.
Si-Hyun, who had been lightly fiddling with the hem of her jacket, now rested her hands neatly on her lap. She adjusted her posture and leaned comfortably against the seatback.
With a calm smile, Dohyung opened his mouth again.
“You’re still tackling dungeons as a hunter, right?”
“Yes, whenever I have time.”
After answering honestly, Si-Hyun hesitated briefly before asking a question of her own.
“May I ask you something?”
“Of course. What is it?”
“You’ve tackled multiple S-rank dungeons, haven’t you?”
“Ah, yes. Though, since they’re so rare, it’s not like I’ve experienced a huge number of them.”
“Then, among them, you’ve been to an undead-themed S-rank dungeon before, right? How did its difficulty compare to others?”
“Hmm, difficulty...”
Dohyung took a moment to reflect on his past experiences. It didn’t take long for him to answer.
“Difficulty can vary depending on the person, but for me, the double dungeon back then was the toughest.”
“...I see.”
“Yes. Honestly, it made me think we might need to introduce a new ranking system for dungeons in the future.”
“Ah, I see. That’s helpful to know. Thank you for the detailed answer.”
“Haha, it’s nothing.”
When Si-Hyun smiled warmly and thanked him, Dohyung responded modestly and turned his focus back to the road.
As she was changing after her shower, she overheard a conversation between two other female students.
“Hey, did you see the news earlier?”
“Huh? What news?”
“They’ve already cleared the S-Rank dungeon that appeared a few days ago.”
“Seriously? That’s insane! Which guild did it?”
The second student looked shocked, prompting the first to smile mischievously.
“They’re keeping it a tight secret at the Bureau. No one knows.”
“Why would they keep it secret?”
“No clue. My guess is that it might’ve been that ‘mysterious nun’ people were talking about a while back.”
“Oh yeah, I remember hearing about her.”
The two students, clearly fans of gossip, were absorbed in their discussion.
However, the topic of the mysterious nun didn’t last long, as there was too little information to keep the conversation going.
“Oh, by the way, did you hear about the World Hunter Association’s announcement? They’re adding a new tier above S-Rank dungeons because of those new ones popping up.”
“Yeah, I heard! It’s terrifying.”
The two naturally transitioned to the new topic.
Areum, meanwhile, paid only half attention to their chatter and continued on her way, focusing on her own goals.
***
In the quiet morning hours, Jeong Si-Hyun was relaxing at home. After a simple breakfast, she sat on the sofa with her younger sister, Si-Yoon, watching the news on TV.
"A failed gate has appeared in Busan. Although the raid was successful, it was a conditional dungeon, leading to numerous deaths among both citizens and hunters.""Evan Harper, the American returnee, has requested patience regarding equipment upgrades.""As a result, there's a growing trend among hunters to take more precautions before entering dungeons."
Si-Hyun watched the news with a blank expression before turning to Si-Yoon.
“Si-Yoon.”
“Yeah? What’s up?”
“I think it’s about time I made you another accessory.”
“Out of nowhere? The bracelet you gave me is still perfectly fine.”
Si-Yoon lifted her wrist and shook the bracelet to demonstrate, but Si-Hyun shook her head.
“No, it’s not enough. I need to make something that can keep you safe even if you get thrown into a dungeon until I come to get you.”
“...Wouldn’t something like that be ridiculously expensive?”
“Heh.”
Si-Hyun put her hands on her hips and struck a triumphant pose.
“If I reveal my identity, the Hunter Management Bureau said they’d throw hundreds of billions my way in an instant!”
“Whoa...”
Si-Yoon’s eyes widened in amazement. She knew her sister was well-off these days, but the sheer scale of what she was talking about was beyond her imagination.
At home, Si-Hyun seemed like just an adorable and lovable older sister.
But outside, she was something extraordinary, beyond what Si-Yoon had ever envisioned.
“What should I make for you this time? Another bracelet? Or maybe a necklace?”
“Uh... I’m not sure...”
Si-Yoon awkwardly scratched her cheek, unsure of how to respond to Si-Hyun’s enthusiastic questioning.
Meanwhile, it occurred to her that she should probably finalize the designs for the summer-themed MomoBin merchandise she’d been planning.
***
In the break room for the cleaning staff at the academy, several women were getting ready to head back to work.
“Whew, is it the auditorium's turn this time?”
“Yeah, let’s clean up the areas the students use first and take our time with the rest.”
“Sounds good! This building hasn’t been cleaned in a while. It’ll take all day to finish!”
Equipped with the keys to the auditorium from the management office, the cleaning crew made their way to the multi-purpose training hall.
This auditorium was only used for joint classes, so it was typically locked and maintained until needed.
The cleaners entered and quickly got to work, tidying the large space before the lecture began. They swept, mopped, and dusted, ensuring everything was spotless.
By the time they were done, one of the women, drenched in sweat, sighed with relief.
“Phew! Just barely made it. The students will be here soon. Let’s take a breather, shall we?”
“Let’s head to the waiting room in the back and catch our breath.”
As the cleaners packed up their equipment, students began to trickle into the auditorium.
With their tools in hand, the women quietly moved to the designated waiting area within the auditorium, giving space to the arriving students.