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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Hunter Management Bureau (4)
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Ji Soyeon rambled on, explaining what she had seen.
She spoke of how it must have been impossible without grueling, solitary training.
How she couldn't even dare to imagine the difficult times I must have endured.
And how Seolhee needed to pay close attention and look after me.
'Wow. What a masterpiece of a misunderstanding….'
All throughout her explanation, I had to try my best not to show a dumbfounded expression.
'Uh, um… So, is this happening because I'm just a 1-star, but my stats don't match?'
That thought automatically popped into my head, but Ji Soyeon immediately refuted my idea.
"It's not your current strength, but your potential. I can't see current strength."
"…Potential?"
Baek Seolhee echoed her words, asking again.
"Hmm, you possess absurd potential that doesn't match your innate star."
At that, Baek Seolhee pondered deeply before opening her mouth.
"…You mean his talent for the sword."
"Exactly, Specialization Grade."
Listening to the two of them, something clearly resonated with me.
Specialization Grade!
Currently, my Swordsmanship Specialization is S-grade.
This is a grade that a mere 1-star wouldn't even dare to covet.
If I hadn't received resources from the administrator when I was first possessed,
it would have been an unattainable grade through normal means.
And while taking Baek Seolhee's classes at the academy, I also realized that I didn't yet possess true S-grade combat power.
'So, Specialization Grade was potential. That's why raising my star rank made my potential bloom faster and made me drastically stronger!?'
It felt like I had uncovered another hidden lore detail in the game.
It was so refreshing.
This part was never explained in detail within the game.
I just vaguely thought that if your star rank was low, your stats were usually low too, so it just wasn't efficient.
'I'm a 1-star, but my potential is S-grade. So, in Ji Soyeon's eyes, I look like a madman who overcame his innate birth through training.'
Ji Soyeon looked at me again, her expression choked with emotion.
And Instructor Baek Seolhee, after hearing her explanation, apologized with a look of realization.
"My apologies. Though I call myself a teacher, I paid no attention to you, my student. I simply thought your talent was innate… As a teacher, I am unqualified."
'Ugh. My conscience is really getting hit hard…?'
But then, I couldn't exactly deny it here, saying, "No, it's just an ability I boosted with resources."
I couldn't explain that there were books that instantly boosted specialization grades just by touching them.
'I… I just gobbled them all up myself.'
"I, I will definitely find a way to increase the number of stars!"
"…I don't know if I'm still worthy of being a teacher, but I, too, will do my best."
Ji Soyeon and Baek Seolhee said this, speculating about my circumstances among themselves.
To them, I could only say, in a hesitant voice,
"…Please just treat me as usual."
There was nothing else I could say.
At that, Ji Soyeon covered her mouth with a choked expression again, and Baek Seolhee bit her lip firmly.
"Keuk!"
"…Baek Seolhee, are you done talking? Then I'd like to discuss business."
The Director of the Hunter Management Bureau, who had been in the same room all along, and was clearly the owner of this space,
but had somehow felt marginalized, finally spoke.
"Director! Are you a T!?"
* * *
Ugh…
I feel like my soul is draining away.
No matter what I said, Ji Soyeon continued to look at me with eyes overflowing with pity.
It felt like there was no getting through to her anymore.
I stopped the instructor, who was about to confront the Hunter Management Bureau Director for rudely interrupting, and quickly finished Baek Seolhee's business.
Then, I left the Director's office with her.
'Well, I guess… Ji Soyeon did promise to contact me when her research on raising star ranks is complete. And I got her personal contact info.'
I had secured something that would normally rely on luck.
This was a significant gain.
'At that time, if I bring my party members along, will she do it for all of them?'
I was in the midst of planning to make Ji Soyeon the second chairman in my head.
"Today, due to my trivial selfishness… I brought you here and caused you trouble."
Baek Seolhee, who had been walking silently beside me, spoke.
"…Huh?"
"Did I not dig up a past you didn't wish to reveal? If we hadn't met that person today, none of this would have happened."
Baek Seolhee said this in an uncharacteristically self-reproaching voice.
"What are you talking about, Instructor? I'm fine. And if you hadn't brought me here today, I wouldn't have gotten that promise from Ji Soyeon, would I?"
I said I was truly fine, but her furrowed brow showed no sign of relaxing.
'I should probably change the subject…?'
"…Um, but personal selfishness? Did you have a personal reason for bringing me here, Instructor?"
"…"
At that, Baek Seolhee's body flinched for a moment, as if she hadn't expected me to ask about that.
"Honestly, I never expected to have a student. Not even a few months ago."
Wondering what she was about to say, I glanced sideways, and Baek Seolhee sharply turned her head away.
"…Actually, that's why… my student…"
Her voice grew softer and softer.
No way. I immediately activated my detection skill and caught her fading voice.
"…I, I just wanted to show off a little to my friend."
I looked at her with wide eyes.
'Instructor Baek Seolhee had a side like this?'
Baek Seolhee, who always showed only a calm and composed demeanor in front of me.
Her blunt expression was the default, so I could never tell what she was thinking,
but to think that she actually brought me here with such a thought…
The corners of my mouth slowly rose.
'…What is this gap moe?'
Even now, she was trying to maintain a cool poker face, but her chin was trembling slightly.
She seemed quite embarrassed while confessing her true feelings.
'But if you act like this, I can't resist…?'
Ahem!
I suddenly cleared my throat, drawing her attention.
Baek Seolhee glanced towards me.
"You can boast about me more, you know?"
"Did you hear all that… No. I have no intention of saying anything more than this… I deeply regret bringing you here right now, so let's stop this conversation here."
Baek Seolhee tried to change the subject in a nonchalant tone.
'Oh no you don't.'
I had caught such a rare sight; I couldn't just let it go.
"Surely… you're not proud of me anymore, are you, Instructor?"
When I spoke in a dejected voice, Baek Seolhee's eyebrow raised.
"…What?"
"No, I mean, you thought your student was incredibly talented and wanted to show off to others, but then you found out he's a man who's only innately a one-star… So, you became too embarrassed to show me off?"
"N-No! That's not it!"
Baek Seolhee openly showed her panic for the first time, raising her voice.
"I don't think that of you at all."
"…Then what?"
"You are my first student. And my last. And what kind of teacher would dislike a student who overcomes their slightly lacking innate talent on their own? …On the contrary, I truly think you are nothing short of excellent."
Baek Seolhee seemed quite shocked by my words just now, speaking each word slowly and deliberately, with utmost seriousness.
"You are my student, Jin Yuha."
'Ugh, when she gets this serious, my conscience starts to gently hurt again.'
Still, thanks to that, I was certain that Baek Seolhee was someone who would take my side.
'Hmm, then would it be okay to tell her now…?'
Kim Jiwon and Ji Soyeon.
The fact that those two would soon be leaving this place.
However, it was clearly strange for me to know this.
I could somehow brush it off with my party members,
but it was different with Instructor Baek Seolhee.
Especially since it involved the Hunter Management Bureau.
However, I couldn't deny that trusting the true self she had just shown me was the fastest way forward.
It would be difficult to find someone as dependable as her in this situation.
I gathered my thoughts for a moment and spoke.
Haaah─
"Then, Instructor, can you trust me just this once, no matter what I say? And can you also not ask for the reason?"
When I suddenly blurted this out, her eyes twitched slightly, but Baek Seolhee immediately nodded.
"Yes. I will do that."
I looked at her calmly, then slowly opened my lips.
"What if I told you there's a demon here, in the Hunter Management Bureau?"
"…A demon?"
Baek Seolhee's brows furrowed.
The words were already out. With a feeling of "come what may," I continued.
"I don't know who the demon is disguised as. But I'm certain that demon is plotting to demote the current Hunter Management Bureau Director and Ji Soyeon."
"How much time do we have?"
Instead of asking how I knew this or for detailed circumstances, Baek Seolhee immediately asked about the timeframe.
"Probably not much time left."
"Is that so…"
Then, Baek Seolhee let out a hum of thought, as if pondering.
"Jin Yuha."
"Yes."
"This is certainly information that cannot be ignored. I intend to stop it, starting now."
"…Right now?"
"Didn't you say there wasn't much time? Then it's only right to deal with it while we're here."
Wow. Look how decisive this instructor is.
"Shall we go together?"
"Ah, yes."
"Then, consider this an extra lesson from now on."
Baek Seolhee chuckled.