HBWnovel Chapter 45
Chapter 45
Ah-reum, who had expressed her ambitions with vigor, slowly raised her head.
She peeked at the professor in front of her with slightly open eyes.
Professor Jeong Si-hyun was half-closed-eyed, deep in thought.
Ah-reum clenched her fists, waiting for the professor's response.
‘Did I convey it properly...?’
What exactly did I say? Did it truly convey my intentions?
Ah-reum replayed her words in her head, trying to recall exactly what she had said.
“I want to be like you! You’re my role model!”
She seemed to have said something along those lines.
‘...Wait, huh?’
She had meant to imply she wanted to become a protégé, maybe even a research assistant someday.
But did her words really carry that meaning?
Even though it was a general studies course, she was still technically a student.
And “role model” was meant to signify respect.
Wait, was it right...?
Her gaze began to wander restlessly, unable to settle on anything.
It seemed like she had expressed herself correctly, but then again, maybe not.
Ah-reum nervously looked back at the professor.
A woman so beautiful that even other women would be drawn to her.
Her graceful movements exuded a constant air of elegance, and simply standing still, she radiated a holy aura.
Professor Jeong Si-hyun embodied the ideal woman that Ah-reum had only dared to dream of.
Under normal circumstances, her shy nature would have kept her from even considering a one-on-one consultation with the professor.
But then, they had run into each other at the bookstore.
When they shared a love for genre novels.
When the professor had warmly engaged in conversation with her.
Ah-reum saw a glimpse of the professor’s humanity.
She realized that this radiant, dignified professor was also a person who enjoyed her own hobbies.
And today, through the video in class, a passion had ignited in her heart—“I want to be like that too.”
She wanted to be someone like her professor! She wanted to be someone who shone that brightly!
Her passion had turned into courage, and that courage had led her to the professor’s office.
“...Hmm, I see.”
“Yes, yes?!”
When Si-hyun finally spoke, Ah-reum stiffened up in nervous anticipation.
---
“You mean you want to become my mentee, right?”
“Yes, yes, exactly! I’d be willing to work as a grad student or anything else!”
Ah-reum’s loud response answered my question.
Since she’d said I was her role model, I had wondered if I’d misunderstood. But I hadn’t.
“May I ask why?”
“W-why, you ask...?”
Ah-reum looked at me with nervous eyes.
She lowered her head, her fingers fidgeting as if she were counting.
Then, an unexpected reaction came forth.
“Well, because...you’re strong, and amazing, and beautiful, and sophisticated! Uh, and noble, and holy, with an air of mystery, and astonishingly—”
“Okay, okay! That’s enough!”
Whoa, what a shock! It was like she’d turned into a rapper, spitting out words nonstop.
Noble? Holy?
I felt my face heating up from the sudden praise.
“...Ahem, I understand what you’re saying.”
“Yes!”
Ah-reum answered energetically.
...Honestly, it made me genuinely happy.
It was exaggerated, sure, but she was clearly complimenting me.
Although she was a bit timid, I could feel her sincerity.
However, there was one major issue.
“As you know, I’m a part-time lecturer. I’m not a full professor.”
“If you join a guild, I’ll follow you too—!”
Her answer came instantly.
...Honestly, I hadn’t expected this level of enthusiasm.
“I don’t care if it’s as a disciple or an assistant! I just want to become someone who shines like you!”
“...I see.”
Someone who shines...
So, that’s how she saw me.
But I don’t think of myself that way at all.
Anyway, it was clear what Ah-reum wanted to say.
In that case, I should give her an honest answer as well.
“Ah-reum.”
“Yes, yes!”
When I called her name, she looked at me with a face full of tension.
I spoke with a deliberately serious tone.
“All that you said—do you mean it?”
“O-of course!”
“I see.”
I looked at her earnest eyes behind her large glasses.
Though her posture was timid, her eyes held a determined will.
Seeing that gaze, I made my decision. @@@@
“...Then, listen carefully.”
To be honest...
I’m the type of person who would rather stay at home than go outside.
I prefer moderately quiet places over crowded ones.
I often feel lazy and procrastinate on tasks I need to do.
‘No way...’
Eun-byeol squinted, peeking at the covers of other books beside the professor.
They were undeniably books intended for magic hunters.
‘Is she really reading those?’
Or could it be that the other books were just incidental and not what she was actually reading?
Eun-byeol stood up.
She was overcome by a sudden urge to find out.
Cautiously, she approached the professor.
“Hello, Professor?”
“...Hm?”
The professor looked up at her gentle greeting.
Recognizing Eun-byeol, she nodded with a light smile.
Eun-byeol, wanting to avoid coming off as intrusive, asked in a friendly tone.
“May I ask what you’re reading?”
“...This one?”
Si-hyun tilted her head, holding up the book’s cover for Eun-byeol to see.
It was indeed a magic hunter’s text.
In that moment, Eun-byeol hesitated.
She wanted to ask if the professor was truly understanding the content, but that felt like it crossed a line.
But she was so curious—to know why she was reading it, if she truly grasped it.
Si-hyun, however, seemed to read Eun-byeol’s thoughts from her expression alone.
“What book were you reading, Eun-byeol?”
“Well, um...”
With a subtle shift, she had turned the conversation back to Eun-byeol.
Eun-byeol pulled out her book, showing it to the professor.
Without realizing it, she opened the page where she’d been stuck all day.
“I just couldn’t understand this part.”
“Let’s see... Ah, I see.”
It took Si-hyun just a few seconds to nod in understanding before gesturing for Eun-byeol’s notebook and pen.
Although puzzled, Eun-byeol handed over her pen and notebook.
Scratch, scratch—
Effortlessly, Si-hyun jotted something down and handed the notebook back to Eun-byeol.
After checking the time on her phone, she stood up.
“Good luck with your studies.”
With that whispered encouragement, the professor left.
Eun-byeol, after a slight bow in acknowledgment, looked down at the notebook.
And then—
“...What is this?”
Her grip on the notebook tightened involuntarily.
The answer to the question that had eluded her was there, written out in clear, concise handwriting.
‘Wait, who is she, really?’
It was so enlightening and straightforward that she had no further questions.
It was undoubtedly the correct answer.
Rubbing her eyes, she reread the content to commit it to memory.
Tucking the notebook back into her bag, Eun-byeol left the library and headed straight for her major professor’s office.
Knocking, she entered and explained her purpose.
“Professor, I wanted to confirm if this is correct.”
“Oh?”
Eun-byeol was a diligent student, and her brother was a well-known figure.
Moreover, this wasn’t her first time visiting the professor’s office.
The magic professor looked at her with a smile, but the smile quickly faded.
“...Did you come up with this yourself, Eun-byeol?”
The professor’s gaze turned intense, like a predator eyeing an exceptionally gifted student.
“Uh, I actually asked my brother! I wanted to double-check with him.”
“Ah, I see. That explains it—an S-rank hunter, after all.”
Eun-byeol smoothly deflected the attention by mentioning her brother.
After all, she doubted anyone would believe that Professor Jeong Si-hyun had given her the answer.
“I’m honestly surprised. This explanation is much clearer and better than the one I prepared. S-ranks are truly on another level.”
“Yes, yes... Haha...”
That day, thanks to Si-hyun’s casual advice,
the magic professor was astounded, and Eun-byeol sweated bullets.
Later, in a different magic course,
the professor presented the new solution with Eun-byeol’s consent, rather than the original answer.
All the students marveled at the clarity of the answer, engraving it in their minds.
---
Meanwhile, Si-hyun—
She had been making her way home, admiring the academy grounds when her gaze fell on the students exercising on the training field.
“Are those outfits comfortable...?”
She looked at the attire of the female students.
Some were in training uniforms, others in functional sportswear, and quite a few wore sports leggings.
Standing still, she tapped her cheek thoughtfully with her finger.