Chapter 5
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Academy Enrollment (1)
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One day until enrollment in the academy.
Swinging my sword, I suddenly had a realization.
"Whew... Young Lady. I've finally come to understand it."
"Ah... you idiot. You're about to say something weird again! Please don't. It's embarrassing!"
Contrary to my thoughts, the Young Lady didn't treat us—no, me—like some commoner. If anything, she looked at me like I was an amusing toy.
On the other hand, Park A-young seemed to view me as a recruit worth bringing on board.
Even I could see that my twin little sister had talent.
Right now, she was manipulating dozens of flames at once, summoning a small firebird spirit that orbited around her like a guardian.
On top of that, she'd acquired several more skills from the Fire Guide class.
There was no way anyone could call that a lack of talent.
And me? By contrast?
I'd only gained the Swordsmanship skill, but no matter how much I swung my sword, it showed no signs of growth. My stats weren't increasing either.
So all that was left for me to do was keep serving as the Young Lady's amusing toy.
"What I wanted to cut down... was this world itself... Hah!"
Claaang—!!
With that dogshit line, I swung my sword hard at the iron dummy in front of me. The clear, ringing clash of metal was the kind of sound that stirred a man's heart.
"Pfft...!!! Puahaha!!"
And there was Lee Ji-hyun, the Young Lady, bursting into laughter at the sight.
My comedy routine had landed again.
"You idiot..."
Park A-young stared at me with utter pity.
But we were adults now. We couldn't keep chasing dreams forever.
I had no choice but to accept reality and solidify my position.
My position as the porter for Lee Ji-hyun, daughter of the future Star Cloud Guild Master and a wielder of real power.
I would never let anyone take that from me...!!
I burned with that resolve.
And for good reason. The Star Cloud Guild was one of the few massive guilds in Korea, and they were picky even about their porters. In return, they offered generous pay and great benefits.
To get into a place like that, I had to start working tirelessly right now.
Ignoring Park A-young, who was hiding her face in despair at her brother's futile efforts, I focused solely on impressing the Young Lady.
Enrollment day.
There were no entrance exams like you'd see in some novel—just a standard ceremony.
"Eh... Some of you may have started hunter training young, while others are just beginning later in life, but realize that you're all in the same grade..."
It was the kind of entrance ceremony you'd see at any school. No one would believe the Hunter Academy, which could pass for a university prep course, was structured like middle or high school.
After the ceremony came class assignments.
"I'm in the same class as this jerk again..."
"I don't wanna be with you either, you bitch."
"Hey. It's not like I... Sigh..."
I felt a twinge of guilt seeing my sister swallow her words about criticizing my job.
-Wait, your twin bro? What's his ability?
If her friends asked something like that, what would she even say?
I was basically a walking liability right now. Not that it was my intention.
'To become someone who causes harm just by breathing and existing...'
"Looks like we're all in the same class."
As we checked the posted assignments and headed to our assigned classroom, Lee Ji-hyun appeared.
She'd been selected as student representative at the ceremony, so even though she'd arrived with us, her seat had been far away.
"Yeah, lucky us."
Park A-young had initially disliked Lee Ji-hyun, but at some point, she'd started wagging her tail like a loyal dog.
She must have realized, like me, that it was time to grow up...
Yeah, of course.
"Hehe. I pulled some strings."
"Eh...?"
"Ooh..."
As expected of the Star Cloud Guild Master's daughter.
That level of power—manipulating class assignments at the academy—was enviable.
"Just kidding. Kidding."
"...Ahahaha."
"As expected of the Young Lady. Such refined humor is beyond lowly creatures like us."
Sex Master does not flatter bitches. Experience reduced!
Park A-young laughed awkwardly while I slathered on the flattery like my tongue was greased, lapping at her heels.
I didn't even care about the experience loss anymore.
Mom had once been called out in the middle of the night for an emergency dungeon. I'd made breakfast for her and my sister that morning, and after the experience dropped then, I stopped caring.
Well, unless I planned to commit crimes like that infamous Rape Demon hunter to raise my rank. I had zero intention of becoming a criminal.
My goal was simple: since I'd awakened anyway, join a top guild as a porter under the best conditions possible.
That was it.
"Well then, let's all get along."
"Yes, Young Lady."
"Got it."
Lee Ji-hyun's face twisted slightly at our responses.
What? Was there something wrong with what I just said? Had my loyalty failed to reach her?
"Sigh... We're all academy students now. How about we drop the formalities? We're the same age—using polite speech would just make people stare."
"Sure, Ji-hyun."
Our Young Lady no longer needed to watch her image in the cramped training room. Now in the academy, with eyes everywhere, she wanted to manage her reputation.
As someone who would bury his bones in the Star Cloud Guild, how could I refuse her request!
But switching immediately like my sister? That was amateur hour.
Thud!
"Young Lady, Park A-jun has always served you with utmost loyalty—how could a lowly worm like me dare accept such an honor!"
I dropped to my knees and bellowed like a loyal retainer in a historical drama petitioning the king.
What the hell's that guy doing...?
Whoa... Making a guy kneel on the first day? Star Cloud Guild ain't messing around.
Lee Ji-hyun's supposed to have a shitty personality—guess it's true.
'Oh no...'
The problem was, this wasn't our private training room—it was a busy academy hallway full of people.
"Hehe... Fun."
But Lee Ji-hyun smiled, clearly pleased.
I stood up immediately and apologized.
"Sorry... No, my bad. Haha."
"What for? It was fun..."
She still seemed oblivious, just amused by my antics.
She and Park A-young were both wearing skirts that reached their calves. So when I knelt like a loyal subject, bowed my head, then looked up as I rose, I couldn't help but see.
Black frilly panties... and my little sister's unbelievably sexy red lingerie...
Better not mention that...
We entered the classroom and waited a bit until someone strode in with confident steps.
Too young for a professor, I figured she was a TA—until the reactions around me said otherwise.
"That's Hunter Kim Se-yeon."
"Whoa~ The academy's stacked."
"They pulled strings 'cause the Star Cloud Guild Master's daughter enrolled?"
"An A-Rank hunter as a prof...!"
What...? Was I the only one who didn't know her?
A glance showed Lee Ji-hyun beaming proudly, arms crossed like she'd summoned a celebrity, while Park A-young looked stunned.
"You all know who I am, right?"
"Yes!"
No... I didn't...
*
Lee Ji-hyun gazed at Park A-jun, who knelt and performed for her, a faint smile on her lips.
Anyone who knew her would be shocked.
She never smiled at others, especially men. They got nothing but contempt and disgust.
But Park A-jun was different.
To her, his actions were endlessly entertaining.
A guy whose words and deeds were total opposites.
He'd butter her up nonstop, desperate to join her hunter team as a porter in the Star Cloud Guild—where he'd get top treatment—yet his actions contradicted it completely.
During training, except for occasional chats or breaks, he was dead serious.
Even as he grumbled about his job, stats, and skills not leveling up, he swung that sword tirelessly. It was idiotic... and hilarious.
That's why she liked him.
That's why she'd investigated him thoroughly—checking for contacts with other guilds.
She had no interest in being bitten by the dog she fed.
Once the investigation cleared, Lee Ji-hyun mobilized her entire network.
"The chairman can surely handle this much, right?"
"Sorry, but even for the Star Cloud Guild Master's daughter, class assignments and professor placements are... Hngh...!!"
To the chairman, with massive donations...
"If Hunter Kim Se-yeon helps, I can introduce you to a healer hunter I know for your sister—who's still bedridden from illness."
"...I'll do my best."
To Kim Se-yeon, her most desperate need...
'You're mine.'
Lee Ji-hyun had no intention of using Park A-jun as some pathetic porter wagging his tail like a dog.
She'd make him grow into a proper hunter, no matter what.
Neglecting loyalty to her would tarnish the Star Cloud Guild's name.