Professor Kang Mina
I started following Professor Kang Mina during the break. She'd deliberately ended class early, and I was curious what she wanted to talk about.
Should I save now?
Since I had no idea what the conversation would entail, I needed to be cautious. As I followed her in, I activated the save/load skill.
Save.
The current time has been saved. Loading will return you to this point.
Time remaining until next save update: 167:59:58
Did it work? Is it saved?
The current point has been saved. Be careful, as using the load skill will reset all information.
I already knew that. Everything reset except for skills earned through achievements.
Wait, if it resets, could I do a gacha, then reload to reroll endlessly?
Information related to Fate Points is not reset.
Yeah, no way that would work. Too bad. I walked absentmindedly until Professor Kang Mina's room came into view. It was in the corner of the first floor, clustered with the other professors' offices.
Didn't she say we were going to the lab?
The destination seemed to be her personal office instead. Was it that important?
"Follow me."
With a racing heart, I entered Professor Kang Mina's room. Every person's private space has its own unique scent. Hers carried a fresh floral fragrance. I thought it was her natural smell at first, but disappointingly, there was a diffuser in the corner. Still, being alone with a beautiful woman naturally lifted my mood. Her breasts swayed softly with every movement—perfection.
"Sit there."
I sat at the large table in the center and waited as she took the seat across from me. She tapped the table with her fingertips, her face lost in thought for a moment. The glasses suited her pensive look perfectly.
She'd probably be pretty without them too.
What did she want to say that she'd call me here like this? As my advisor, we'd had monthly counseling sessions, but they were always businesslike. What could she want to discuss one-on-one?
"Student Kim Siu."
"Yes, Professor."
I'd already checked her favorability, so I knew this wasn't going to be positive.
"I heard you were in danger due to the gate mixing incident. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine now."
"I heard you suffered serious injuries in the gate. It's a relief you're okay now."
"Yes, thank you, Professor."
She wore a concerned expression, but her voice was flat. It was a face I'd seen often, but it didn't feel genuine.
Shouldn't she be worried when a student nearly died?
"You entered through the low-income bracket, right?"
"Yes, that's correct, Professor."
"And you still haven't awakened, so you can't use mana... Your grades are also at the bottom of the class."
"..."
All facts. Pure truth without a single lie, but obviously not meant to make me feel good. In the old days, I might have gotten angry, but now I had an absurd power. It didn't faze me much.
The only thing that bugs me...
I took down the Skeleton Knight. If Kang Minji reported that, she should know I'd awakened.
Did Kang Minji lie?
Everything else was fine, but that left a bad taste.
"Student Kim Siu, let me speak frankly. What do you think about dropping out?"
"Dropping out?"
Dropping out.
It came out of nowhere, but clearly intentional. Why, though? The question lingered.
"You've experienced it in that gate, but being a hunter means risking your life every time."
"Even if you always prioritize safety, accidents happen. You know that from experience."
"..."
I nodded awkwardly.
"Someone without talent or ability like you can't survive in the field."
"If you don't recognize your limits, it will lead to bad results."
It wasn't wrong. I'd died hundreds of times even after gaining power.
"So, are you saying I should drop out, Professor?"
"No... I'm just advising you because I'm worried about you as a student."
If I'd survived the gate by luck before getting the Machina system, I might have seriously considered it. I'd learned how dangerous hunters were. But now, I had spare lives. It didn't matter anymore.
"Do you realize you're holding back Student Kang Minji?"
She said that if we hadn't partnered, Kang Minji would have gotten better evaluations. Not wrong, but it oddly showed affection for Minji.
Family...?Come to think of it, they do look a bit similar...
Without glasses, maybe she'd resemble Kang Minji? If they were family, this made sense. Kang Mina as Kang Minji's older sister? Then I'd be an obstacle blocking her sister's future. All the stories Minji told her about me would be negative. And then an accident in the gate we entered together?
Even I'd want to get rid of me.
Not certain, so I needed to confirm. If she cared that much for Minji, maybe provoke her with that?
"Student Kim Siu, are you listening?"
"Yes. I have no intention of dropping out, and I'll stay by Minji's side."
"..."
"Whatever happens to Minji, I don't care. Isn't it normal to use everything you can?"
Her expression turned fierce; the face she showed students was gone. Should I push more?
"Minji's a bit dumb, so if I act pitiful, she helps with everything. From the side, maximizing..."
Kang Mina took off her glasses. And threw them on the floor.
"What... did you just say?"
"Professor?"
The air in the room crashed down. An oppressive pressure made it hard to breathe, let alone move a finger.
"How... dare you..."
"Professor? Calm down..."
This felt irreversible.
"You think I can't do anything to you?"
No need to see more.
Would you like to load the save point?
Quickly!
*
Good thing I saved... shit.
If I hadn't used the save skill, I might not have been able to turn back. I'd only known Professor Kang Mina as a kind person, but she had that side too. Makes sense—she was an A-rank hunter. Obvious what happens when someone who's faced monsters gets truly angry.
No mistakes this time.
"Student Kim Siu, are you listening?"
"Honestly, I do feel bad for Minji."
"Then..."
"But she's helped me so much, so I want to repay her with my own hands."
She looked a bit flustered, not expecting that.
"I promised Minji I'd get good scores in this evaluation. I'll keep that promise."
"It's not something you can just do because you want to."
"Still, I want to do my absolute best within what I can manage, Professor."
"..."
Good, what now, Professor? Given her affection for Minji, she wouldn't back down. But pushing a student trying their best to drop out wasn't normal.
"Hunting is a dangerous job."
"I don't want to give up on my dream."
"..."
The silence resumed. Kang Mina tapped the desk nervously again.
Professor Kang Mina, you're not giving up here, right?
I couldn't abandon an Fate-grade A-rank like this. Ending it now would leave us at a normal relationship.
Should I have pushed a bit more?
"I've heard your opinion. But that doesn't change how dangerous being a hunter is."
"Professor, I really want to become a hunter!"
I absolutely couldn't let her go. After all the effort to save Kang Minji, split now? No way, even over my dead body.
"... How about a bet?"
She's hooked!
"As your advisor, I think I should help guide you on the right path."
Not to remove obstacles from Minji's way?
"Are you saying quitting hunting is the right path?"
"That's what I think. Lives are on the line. But I might be wrong..."
"Yes, Professor."
"Let's settle it with the one-on-one duel in the final evaluation."
"The one-on-one duel?"
"If you lose, drop out. It's for your own good."
It might have been in the past, but not now. She didn't know my abilities, so it made sense. Duels score based on performance, not just win/loss. Victory helps, but isn't mandatory. But conditioning it on winning showed her firm resolve to separate me from Minji. If I didn't accept, the offer ended.
"And if I win? There's nothing in it for me."
"... What do you want?"
You, Professor.
"Unless you'll grant any request I make, I don't see why I should."
With her favorability in the gutter, showing change wouldn't sway her. Unless I saved her life like with Minji, it wouldn't rise. So, conquer the body first, and the heart follows.
"... Fine. Let's do it."
She probably thought it impossible, but I'd make her regret it, Professor.
If I make Kang Mina my woman, school life will be so much easier.