Chapter 138
Chapter 138
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 138
Chapter Title: Group Assignment (6)
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Knock knock.
After knocking on the door, I stepped inside.
"Professor. You called for me?"
Professor Cheon Ho-seok, who had been gazing out the window with a coffee mug in hand, turned toward me.
"Have a seat."
'What's he building up the atmosphere like this for?'
As I sat down, Professor Cheon Ho-seok set his coffee mug on the desk and looked at me.
"Hmm. First off, there's something I need to confess to you."
"......Pardon?"
I doubted my ears.
Confess?
Why was the word "confess" popping up in this situation?
An instinctive sense of revulsion washed over me, and the hairs on my body stood on end.
'No way, this bastard! He's after my virtue!?'
I kept a straight face on the outside, but my mind was racing faster than ever.
'That explains why most of the grad students are guys! Because the fucker's into that!'
I recalled the tags I'd just confirmed with Third Eye B-.
#UprightAndPure, #Logical, #MyWay Yeah. It all fit together perfectly.
Professor Cheon Ho-seok was honest about his sexual preferences.
And he was the type who didn't give a damn about others' opinions—a true my-way guy.
'He stuck one female grad student in there to avoid unnecessary rumors for the sake of his reputation as a professor!'
I thought back to the one female grad student I'd seen in the lab earlier.
Thick glasses, plain clothes.
Unlike the other male grad students who were all watching the professor's mood,
she even seemed annoyed by him.
She had to be the prepared alibi for his hidden sexual identity!
'Crazy... no wonder! That's why Seo Jin-ah's blatant flirting had zero effect!'
I cursed inwardly while mentally preparing to use Warp.
'Slice his throat and toss him in my inventory... nah. Can't commit murder in a public spot like this. I'd be the prime suspect for sure.'
Killing the professor would be easy.
The problem was the fallout.
If an active A-rank hunter and renowned professor vanished from his own lab while alone with an F-rank hunter hopeful?
They might not suspect me right away due to the power gap,
but my name would end up on the suspect list eventually.
'If he tries any funny business or gets too close, just bail immediately.'
I braced for the worst.
If the professor lunged at me,
I'd Warp out of here on the spot.
'Later, I can play it off like I used an emergency escape scroll from a dungeon.'
"Right. What I have to confess to you... is the reason I took your side this time."
The professor opened a desk drawer and handed me something square wrapped in a white envelope.
'...What's this?'
It took a moment before
I realized the thing he was holding out was a plain, opened envelope.
The envelope had a familiar name written on it.
Sender: Lee Chae-ah.
Recipient: Professor Cheon Ho-seok, Namtian University.
'No way, the Lee Chae-ah I know?'
B-rank hunter Lee Chae-ah.
"Read it. Then you'll understand everything."
I opened the envelope.
Inside was a letter written in neat handwriting.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ [To Professor Cheon Ho-seok.
Have you been well? The reason I'm writing this letter is...]
The letter started with the usual pleasantries.
I quickly skimmed to the main content.
[I entered the 'C- rank Goblin Habitat' dungeon recently, and by chance, I ran into my school junior, student Kim Joo-hyuk. I didn't expect much since he's an F-rank hunter, but once we tackled the dungeon together, he turned out to be really impressive.]
'Oh, check out this big sis? She knows how to judge people.'
My lips curled up involuntarily as I read.
[I received a ton of help from Kim Joo-hyuk in all sorts of ways. No joke, I owe him my life. (lol)]
[Anyway, running into a uni junior made me think of you, so I decided to write. Back when I was in school, you were like a scary tiger, but I wonder how you've been lately. (lol)]
[I trust you'll handle things well on your own. But if Joo-hyuk ever has trouble with school life, could you keep an eye on him? I'm vouching for him. He'll live up to your expectations for sure. Talk to you later. Take care.
B-rank Hunter Lee Chae-ah.]
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Only after finishing the letter did everything click into place.
"As you can see, my former student Lee Chae-ah said you helped her out."
Professor Cheon Ho-seok's voice was steady.
He didn't show much emotion in general,
but the faint smile tugging at his lips suggested he cared for his disciple in his own way.
"Normally, I don't get involved in matters like what happened earlier—that's my principle. But when it's just a lack of communication causing friction among group members, it's within a professor's purview to mediate."
Professor Cheon Ho-seok had learned about me through Lee Chae-ah's letter.
And right then, Seo Jin-ah had brought up my name with her complaint.
In other words, he'd pretended to stay neutral while quietly taking my side.
"Don't go thinking I favor you or that I'll help you out next time too."
'Phew. Almost misunderstood him as being into dudes.'
"Got it, Professor. I'll keep that in mind."
Professor Cheon Ho-seok stared at me steadily.
"...Is there something you want to say to me?"
"Nothing at all. You're dismissed. And don't sleep during the next lecture."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 'Didn't expect to score a connection with B-rank hunter Lee Chae-ah here. Connections really are the best.'
If it weren't for Lee Chae-ah, Professor Cheon Ho-seok wouldn't have given me a second glance.
He wasn't the type to waste time on some F-rank nobody.
But one letter from her changed everything.
'Gotta thank her later. A tie to a B-rank hunter is precious. Better keep in touch.'
I left the school with light steps and headed back to my place.
As I walked down the dingy hallway and stopped in front of my familiar door, I felt a twinge of unease.
The door that should have been shut was slightly ajar,
and faint light was leaking through the gap.
'...Who's there?'
On instinct, I crouched low and pulled a dagger from my inventory, gripping it tight.
Threat Detection showed no response, but you never know.
I quietly pushed the door open and slipped inside.
And there,
I came face-to-face with someone I never expected.
A woman lounging casually on my bed, legs crossed like she owned the place.
It was Seo Jin-ah.
She slowly looked up, sensing my presence.
Our eyes met, and she raised one hand in greeting.
"Hey, you're back?"
"...What the hell are you doing?"
"What else? Waiting for you."
"How'd you get in?"
"Said I needed to contact you urgently about the group project. Asked the manager, and after I healed his back pain once, he just let me in? Your place has crap security."
"...You're insane."
'This damn dirty rental room... gotta find a new place ASAP.'
I let out a deep sigh and forcibly swallowed my rising irritation.
Losing my temper right now would just play into Seo Jin-ah's hands.
"So, why are you here?"
I asked in as neutral and businesslike a tone as possible.
"Professor Cheon Ho-seok said if I guide you on the research, he'll give extra credit."
"And?"
"So I just said sure. You obviously have too much free time and would just slack off anyway. Then I'd be the one paying for it. Better if I supervise you myself."
I let out an incredulous chuckle.
"Are you nuts? Get the hell out of my place."
My harsh tone made Seo Jin-ah's shoulders flinch.
But she quickly composed herself
and met my gaze with an even bolder expression.
"Why should I? This is professor-approved. If you hate seeing my face, hurry up and finish the research. Then I won't have to keep coming here."
With that, Seo Jin-ah buried her face back in her phone.
'Look at this crazy bitch? Does she not even see me as a guy anymore?'
"Oh, and since I'm giving up my precious time for you, at least buy me dinner."
"What if I don't?"
Seo Jin-ah's eyebrow twitched up slightly.
"I'll tell Professor Cheon Ho-seok. That I cooperated but you refused. Whatever. Do what you want. I only care about my grade."
'This goddamn...'
This wasn't purely her idea, so I couldn't just shut her down outright.
Blowing off the opportunity Professor Cheon Ho-seok gave me just because I hate Seo Jin-ah would be idiotic.
'Fine. Fake the research and boot her out.'
"Alright. I'll buy dinner, so play nice."
"Sweet! Dinner's covered! FYI, I'm super picky. Won't eat anything that doesn't taste good."
We'd barely been together a few minutes, and I was already pissed.
I headed out, using dinner as an excuse.
Once on the stairwell, I killed some time before pulling food from a random draw out of my inventory.
Then I took out the aphrodisiac from the Goblin Shaman that had even B-rank hunter Lee Chae-ah in heat.
⚔ ITEM ⚔ Target: Goblin Shaman's Aphrodisiac 50 ml #Aphrodisiac #FemaleTraining #Potion Description: A powerful aphrodisiac that induces arousal regardless of race or gender. Just one drop is enough to put the target into heat. Effects vary by concentration. Recommended dilution ratio: 1:100.