HBWnovel Chapter 34
Chapter 34
“Today’s lecture ends here. The timing was just about right. Great job, everyone!”
As the two-hour lecture wrapped up,
Si-hyun announced the conclusion and powered down the equipment.
Students began to rise one by one, disappearing outside the classroom.
A few remained seated, chatting amongst themselves.
Among them, Ah-reum shot up from her seat and rushed to catch Si-hyun before she could leave.
“P-Professor...!”
“...Hmm, yes?”
With an expressionless face, Si-hyun turned around.
Ah-reum, visibly tense, adjusted her glasses and spoke.
“I-I have a question...”
“...Ah.”
The corners of Si-hyun's mouth, which had been expressionless, twitched slightly upwards.
Unaware of this change, Ah-reum asked the question that had come to her during today’s lecture.
For a moment, questions and answers passed between them.
Once Si-hyun finished responding, she observed Ah-reum's expression and asked,
“Did you understand?”
“Yes, yes! I definitely understood!”
Ah-reum’s answer, though a bit timid, conveyed her passion.
Si-hyun nodded with a gentle smile.
She had come to the lecture with various thoughts about whether students would come to ask questions during breaks,
what questions she might hear, and if she could answer them well.
Thanks to this diligent student, she felt genuinely like a professor, which brightened her mood.
Without realizing it, Ah-reum found herself staring at the professor’s face.
The smile that bloomed on her previously expressionless face seemed to brighten the surroundings.
She opened her mouth without thinking.@@@@
“P-Professor...”
“Do you have more questions?”
Si-hyun replied in a gentle tone.
Ah-reum blinked in surprise.
Why did I call the professor? What was I going to ask?
“Um... Ah! When I checked on the site, I saw ‘Paladin’ listed. What kind of job is that?”
Ah-reum hurriedly blurted out the first thought that came to her mind.
Fortunately, the professor didn’t seem to mind much.
“It’s a tank role among close-combat hunters. They can also use a few support-type skills.”
“W-Wait, they can use support-type skills?! Wow...”
Ah-reum’s eyes widened in amazement.
She began to imagine what a paladin would look like in her mind.
Protecting allies confidently from the front and providing assistance when needed.
If it were a game, wouldn’t it be an all-purpose character in a hexagonal formation?
*“That’s so cool?!”*
Ah-reum’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Si-hyun.
Attending the Introduction to Monsters class was definitely a stroke of genius.
“I-I’m a support-type hunter! I was wondering if I could ask you questions later if anything comes up...?”
Support-type hunters are few in number.
So much so that among this year’s new students, she was the only support-type. There were no professors in that category.
Thus, even though she was referred to as a support-type, Si-hyun, standing before her, looked incredibly impressive.
“Support-type... I see. So you’re a student.”
Si-hyun’s eyes widened slightly.
She had heard that there was exactly one support-type among this year’s new students.
She remembered seeing the president lamenting that the numbers had drastically decreased compared to last year.
So, this student was in her lecture.
This was also the first support-type hunter Si-hyun had encountered since returning to Earth.
Her curiosity was piqued.
“Your name is Go Ah-reum, right?”
“Yes, yes!”
Oh my! The professor remembers my name!
Ah-reum's mouth opened wide in surprise, as if exclaiming “Wow!”
“The professor’s office is at the end of the second-floor corridor. It tends to be empty often, so it would be better to contact me beforehand.”
“Got it!”
With Ah-reum's enthusiastic reply, Si-hyun smiled and left the classroom.
Watching the professor’s back, Ah-reum couldn’t help but grin widely.
From afar, Eunbyeol, who had been slumped over her desk, finally straightened up.
She approached Ah-reum, who stood there in a daze.
“What did you ask the professor about?”
“About the lecture content... and the job?”
“Huh? The job?”
Eunbyeol furrowed her brow as she thought about it.
What was the professor’s job again? ...Ah, a paladin.
---
**On the Way Back**
*Tap, tap—*
I walked leisurely towards the academy’s front gate.
Thinking about it, today’s lecture went quite well.
I felt buoyant, almost floating. Hehe...
Moreover, that student who nervously asked questions at the end!
I truly liked her enthusiasm.
I believe those who work hard deserve rewards.
If she contacts me separately, it wouldn’t hurt to offer tutoring, right?
I could satisfy my curiosity about support-types too.
It’s a win-win situation.
*“Did I arrive a little early?”*
Before I knew it, I reached the front gate.
As I pulled out my phone to check the messages, it seemed the Wing Guild's car would arrive in a few minutes.
With some time to spare, I pulled out the student roster.
Until now, I hadn’t paid attention beyond names and faces for attendance.
But seeing Go Ah-reum made me think, *“Should I at least check basic traits?”*
*“Hmm?”*
Kwon Jae-woo. Close-combat hunter, trait: regeneration.
Regeneration, regeneration...
Something about it feels familiar?
*...Hmm.*
Ah! It clicked! He was the observation subject number one!
The E-rank hunter who clearly showed signs of being a beginner.
He was a new student at the academy, yet he signed up for my lecture?
During the two lectures, he hadn’t really shown any signs of recognition.
Well, it wasn’t a big deal to go through a dungeon together.
If it were me, I’d probably feel the same, right?
Hmm, anyway, I envied that ability.
I had forgotten, but now that I think about it, the desire is resurfacing.
*“Awaken me too...”*
*Bang!*
Lost in thought, I turned my head when I heard the horn sound.
A van parked a little way off opened the passenger window.
“Si-hyun!”
“Ah-ha.”
It was a Wing Guild member.
I approached the car and got into the back seat.
“Hello!”
“Hello.”
“Thank you for today!”
“Yes.”
I replied lightly and glanced at the people around me.
There were five men in total, including the driver and passenger.
Among them was Jae-woo.
This meant today’s dungeon would have one C-rank and four D-rank hunters.
That constituted half of the Wing Guild’s strength.
Having gathered this information, I comfortably leaned back in my seat.
At that moment, Jae-woo, sitting next to me, spoke up.
“Si-Si-hyun. Thank you so much for joining us today.”
“...No, it’s all work and part of the contract.”
“Still! You must be busy, yet you made time for us? Ji-han got hurt a bit, so I think I need to adapt quickly.”
“...Ah-ha.”
So, it was Ji-han who got hurt.
I nodded lightly when I heard the conversation behind me.
“Hey, did you see this?”
“What? Ah, is this the video of Hunter Kim Ji-a?”
“I watched it because Ji-han recommended it, and it was amazing.”
“Should we watch it?”
*...A video of Ji-a?*
Feeling a bit intrigued, I leaned in to listen.
“Wow! She’s so cool.”
“Wow—, that’s awesome! Are there more videos like this?”
“Wait. Ji-han force-fed me a bunch of videos to watch later. But after watching once, I understood?”
“Haha, he’s really enthusiastic.”
The men were praising Ji-a.
I nodded contentedly.
*Yes, yes. I understand that feeling.*
I had gone through dungeons with her, and I had seen the recommendation videos too.
The spear gracefully swung was a true art form.
Especially every time her hair would sway—