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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Hunter Management Bureau (5)
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Baek Seol-hui often had one particular thought these days.
'My disciple is too exceptional.'
For her, it was truly an unfamiliar sensation.
Baek Seol-hui rarely acknowledged or genuinely admired anyone.
Of course, objectively, his current level might be slightly lacking.
However, what she focused on was Jin Yu-ha's growth rate, patience, perseverance, and diligence.
Jin Yu-ha would quietly and diligently complete any training given to him without a single complaint.
He even seemed unsatisfied with just swordsmanship, recently starting to delve into the realm of combat techniques.
If he had said such things without showing proper results in swordsmanship, she would have been disappointed, but Jin Yu-ha always far exceeded her expectations.
Because he possessed such outstanding talent, she had even considered overlooking a certain degree of arrogance if he had it.
However, Jin Yu-ha always moved his body desperately, assuming he was lacking.
As if every second of class time were an irreplaceable treasure.
How could she not be proud of such a disciple?
Although there were occasionally despicable masters who felt jealous of their disciples, Baek Seol-hui was different from such people.
'I wonder what others think about Jin Yu-ha.'
On the contrary, she wished everyone would recognize the qualities of this exceptional disciple.
Thus, even within her limited network, Jin Yu-ha's name was quietly spreading.
— I've never seen the Captain talk so much.
— Jin Yu-ha, what the hell is that guy doing to get recognized by *the* Captain…?
— They say he's only a first-year, so maybe she's cutting him some slack?
— Hey, you. Have you ever seen the Slaughtering Maniac cut anyone slack?
— Hey, hey…! Behind, behind you!
— Eeek!!!
The members of the Demon Hunter Squad, operating covertly beneath the Velvet Hunter Academy, were constantly told they were "worse than a first-year at Velvet Academy,"
and genuinely wondered what kind of person Jin Yu-ha was to earn recognition from their monstrous Captain.
— Seol-hui… Did you really just come all this way to talk about nothing but that kid?
— What on earth, what about that kid…?
— No, it's not that I don't want to hear it! But, you still need to report, don't you?! I'll listen plenty after the report is done!
Even Director Rina, whom she reported directly to, was not exempt from this.
— Hmph, never, ever mention that name again in front of Jin Yu-ha…
— Instructor Yoo Mi-ra. What on earth happened to make you like this?
— Don't even ask. That day, he clearly promised to keep it a secret… I almost died that day… Eeek!? I, I'm sorry! I won't mention that name again!
Because Jin Yu-ha was such a tumultuous figure, fellow instructors often brought him up,
but each time, Baek Seol-hui would appear like a ghost and poke them, poke them in the ribs with the hilt of her sword.
— Huh? M-More? You want me to talk more?
— Uhm, well, last time, in my first class, I had them do a combat simulation with two B-rank healers, four C-rank damage dealers, an E-rank tank, and four A-rank monsters…
When the Slaughtering Maniac actually held a sword and threatened them to talk about Jin Yu-ha, the instructors who were subjected to it felt like they were dying.
At this point.
Mondays and Fridays.
The "Basic Swordsmanship Training" class, held only twice a week, had now become the days Baek Seol-hui eagerly looked forward to.
Then Baek Seol-hui saw a recent article on the internet.
Normally, she wasn't particularly interested in such trivial chatter, but this time was different.
Because her disciple's face filled every portal site.
'…He's already making a name for himself. He truly is a needle in a sack, isn't he?'
Baek Seol-hui devoured the articles, unaware that the corners of her mouth had turned up.
'But he's become too widely known from the start. Now that his name is spreading among people… he might get caught up in public attention and lose focus.'
So, Baek Seol-hui pushed Jin Yu-ha a little harder than usual during his Monday major class.
To put it in terms of difficulty, a new recruit from the Demon Hunter Squad would immediately try to run away, snot and tears streaming,
and even veterans would feign illness with pale faces.
However, Jin Yu-ha, though showing a tired expression from the increased difficulty of the training, ultimately absorbed every moment diligently.
'Ha, it was a groundless fear. A disciple born with such talent, yet never content with his current position and never slacking in his efforts… The Demon Hunter Squad members should really learn a thing or two from him.'
It was no wonder that satisfaction, pride, and what one might call "disciple-mania" swelled within Baek Seol-hui once more.
It was then that she received a message from a former classmate.
[ Ji So-yeon: Seol-hui-yam, do you happen to know a Jin Yu-ha? ]
It was a frivolous message from someone who occasionally sent them, one she would normally ignore.
'Hmm?'
But because there was an unignorable name in the message she sent, she replied.
[ Baek Seol-hui: I do. ]
[ Ji So-yeon: Oh!? Really!? Then, can you perhaps bring him when you come to the Bureau today? ]
[ Baek Seol-hui: For what purpose are you calling him? State your reason first. ]
[ Ji So-yeon: Oh, it's nothing serious…! He's been really popular online lately! I just wanted to see what kind of kid he is! ]
Hmm.
Baek Seol-hui mused to herself.
'Certainly, if it's *this* person… it might be good to show Jin Yu-ha to her once.'
A concern arising because her disciple was too exceptional.
That person possessed a unique ability to perceive the magnitude of talent,
so she could get help in planning future growth directions and training schedules.
Baek Seol-hui nodded and typed.
[ Baek Seol-hui: Understood. I will ask him first. ]
[ Ji So-yeon: Oh!? Really!!!? You'll bring him!? Yes, yes! Bring him, bring him! Bring him to the Bureau Director's office later and I'll meet you there!!! ]
A noisy reply came immediately, but Baek Seol-hui ignored it.
'Hmm… I'm looking forward to the look on her face when she sees Jin Yu-ha and her eyes widen.'
Secretly thinking that, Baek Seol-hui continued Jin Yu-ha's training.
* * *
And so, Jin Yu-ha was brought to Ji So-yeon, and the evaluation was received.
"This child was born with only one star."
Knowing that person expressed the magnitude of talent in terms of the number of stars, Baek Seol-hui quickly understood the meaning.
That is, Jin Yu-ha's innate talent was at rock bottom.
When she heard that, the shock she felt was immense.
So much so that she wanted to bolt out of there, claiming it couldn't be true.
However, at Ji So-yeon's subsequent words, Baek Seol-hui settled back into her seat.
"But he defied that innate born nature and forcibly expanded it. Probably through training so grueling we can't even imagine it…"
Ah.
Baek Seol-hui felt as if she had belatedly discovered Jin Yu-ha's secret.
Honestly, when she first taught Jin Yu-ha swordsmanship, she thought it was natural for others to be able to do at least this much,
but as the lessons progressed and he reached a level comparable to the Demon Hunter Squad she trained,
their reactions and Jin Yu-ha's reactions were so different that she naturally couldn't help but compare the two.
And she realized that Jin Yu-ha's mental fortitude was abnormally strong, leading her once again to the doting conclusion that 'her disciple was a genius.'
Jin Yu-ha was not such a genius.
'…His innate talent is rock bottom, but the genius he displays now is all due to his own efforts…?'
A shiver—
A chill ran down Baek Seol-hui's spine.
All the genius Jin Yu-ha displayed now were manifestations that had just begun to sprout after enduring a long period of suffering!
With that realization, shame washed over her.
'Hmph… I'm disqualified as a master.'
Because she had paid no attention whatsoever to how her disciple sought to become strong, or what his past was like.
She had merely focused on her outstanding disciple's achievements, eager to broadcast them to everyone around her.
'Yes, perhaps… No, it was certainly *me* who was intoxicated.'
Baek Seol-hui, a novice as a master, reflected deeply on herself.
And she apologized to him.
"Because of my trivial desire today… I brought you here and caused you trouble."
She felt that if she hid these true feelings, she couldn't face her disciple honorably.
"Didn't I just dig up a past you didn't want to reveal? If we hadn't met that person today, none of this would have happened."
However, the overly kind young man tried to comfort her instead.
"What are you talking about, Instructor? I'm fine. And if you hadn't brought me here today, I wouldn't have gotten this promise from Ms. Ji So-yeon, would I?"
'He truly is more than I deserve…'
Perhaps it would be better to send this child to a proper master rather than having me be in charge.
It was then.
"…Hmm, but personal desire? Did you have a personal desire in bringing me here, Instructor?"
The young man tried to dig up even the feelings she wanted to hide until the very end.
His black, transparent eyes, as he asked, would never tolerate a lie.
"Honestly, I never expected to have a disciple. Not even a few months ago. The truth is, that's why… I wanted to, uh, brag about my disciple a little to my friend."
Baek Seol-hui noticed her voice growing softer as she spoke, but she couldn't help it.
It felt as if she were confessing her sins in front of him.
'Even though I couldn't care less about how difficult a time this child has been through… A master like me…!'
She tried to maintain a composed demeanor, but the corners of her lips trembled, betraying her emotions.
'Can I truly treat Jin Yu-ha as my disciple now?'
Baek Seol-hui thought that to herself, but Jin Yu-ha continued as if he wouldn't let her off the hook.
"You can brag about me more, you know?"
"Did you hear all that…? No. I have no intention of saying anything more than this… I'm regretting bringing you here considerably right now, so let's stop this conversation here."
"Don't tell me… Instructor, you're not proud of me anymore?"
"…What?"
"No, it's just that you thought your disciple was incredibly talented and wanted to brag about him to everyone, but then you found out he was born with only one star… So, you're embarrassed to show him off now?"
Baek Seol-hui quickly turned her head with a surprised expression.
She had been agonizing over her qualifications as a master because of today's events,
but Jin Yu-ha was instead worried that *he* was lacking and might have disappointed his master!
"N-No! That's not it! I don't think that about you at all."
Baek Seol-hui, though awkward, tried her best to convey her sincerity to Jin Yu-ha.
She was naturally not good with words and utterly clumsy, but thankfully, Jin Yu-ha's face showed relief at her single phrase: "You are my disciple."
'This kid, really…'
Baek Seol-hui's eyes trembled.
Apology, embarrassment, awkwardness. Gratitude.
He was a disciple who shamed his master.
Then, Jin Yu-ha let out a deep sigh.
And suddenly said this:
"Then, Instructor. Can you trust me just this once, no matter what I say? And can you also not ask for the reason?"
Jin Yu-ha seemed to need help with something.
It seemed to be something important, but something he couldn't tell anyone.
This was the first time he had asked for help outside of class.
'No, didn't he ask to open the training grounds last time?'
Well, that was nothing, so let's move past it.
A sense of willingness welled up, feeling that he considered her close and had frankly revealed one of his secrets.
Baek Seol-hui already had unwavering faith in Jin Yu-ha.
Therefore.
Even when he said the absurd words that there were demons in the Hunter Management Bureau, she could accept it with a composed attitude.
Even when he said those guys were targeting Ji So-yeon and Kim Ji-won.
'Those cockroach-like bastards always stir up trouble everywhere anyway.'
"Then, from now on, it will be an extra class."
Baek Seol-hui let out a small laugh and said to Jin Yu-ha.