Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Exposure Therapy
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“Ranking matches...? You want me to run them? And you're not gonna stop me?”
“Why would I stop you?”
I looked straight into Seo Jin-wook's eyes and laid out my firm philosophy on life.
“A-Rank Hunter? Sounds great. Big money, everyone's impressed. But isn't real happiness living life doing what you actually want? Forcing yourself into something you hate and diving into dangerous gates just tanks your efficiency. Total waste.”
This came straight from my own experience.
I delivered packages because I loved it.
If I'd forced myself?
I'd have chucked the whole load after one complaint about the volume.
Motivation shines when you pour it into what clicks with you—that's where talent and synergy kick in.
“Plus, you're the guy who hit GM in that crap environment. You can do anything.”
“...Instructor.”
Seo Jin-wook's eyes wavered.
Right or wrong aside, this was probably the first time he'd heard something like that.
“But third period's that scary instructor... Constantly bugging the class doesn't sit right with me, honestly.”
“You were hammering that keyboard like crazy a minute ago, and now—”
I held up my index finger right in front of Seo Jin-wook.
“Fine. Here's the deal from your instructor.”
“A condition?”
Honestly, I got where the parents and instructors were coming from.
They just wanted the kids chasing promising paths.
“Play your games, but use your stealth to make zero noise.”
He tilted his head.
“My trait?”
“Yeah. Muffle keyboard clicks and pen scratches with wind magic. Suppress the laptop glow with your stealth skill too.”
That way, at least he wouldn't bother the class.
If anyone griped?
Just say it's trait training. Done.
This wasn't an excuse.
If he couldn't hit Challenger, he'd pivot to assassin route anyway.
“I can't control it that precisely... Even if I could, mana drain would be insane. I'd collapse before one match.”
Figures. A-Rank or not, still a student.
No pro mindset yet.
If it doesn't work, make it work. Challenger ain't some random dog's name.
“No excuses. Just do it. If mana runs low, I'll top you up.”
“Huh?”
“You. Wind affinity, right? Lucky me—mine too.”
I placed both hands on his shoulders.
And started massaging, loosening the knotted muscles.
“Instructor, mana injection isn't something you just—”
Press. Press.
“Wha...? Ugh...? Ah. Instructor. This is... Ah!”
Yeah, thought so.
Hospitals only stick you with an IV at best.
“Quit whining and hold still. Special service.”
Mana transfer.
Handing off mana to someone else is advanced stuff, but who am I?
Pure White Hell or whatever.
I solved a 2000-piece puzzle in a second.
Shifting mana? Not even real technique.
“...Gasp?!”
Seo Jin-wook's eyes flew wide.
His dark-circled wreck of a face now glowed bright.
“Wh-what the...!?”
He stared at his hands in disbelief.
Mana rippled wildly from his fingertips.
“Feeling energized?”
“Instructor... I-I think I can do it.”
“Good. Play quietly, no sounds.”
“Not that—I mean Challenger! I'm heading to run ranking matches!”
Seo Jin-wook vanished like the wind.
Lunch ended, fifth period.
Instructor on duty: me.
Another self-study, naturally.
Morning self-study. Afternoon self-study.
Anyone peeking might call me a salary thief, but that's senior year life.
It's December now.
Everyone's an adult with guilds, companies, or colleges lined up.
Best to avoid injuries and quietly build skills.
'Quiet. Perfect.'
Sparrows chirping outside sounded like a lullaby.
Our class's pride, GM gamer Seo Jin-wook, was keeping his promise.
He was probably smashing nexus right now—not a single breath audible.
'Ah... such serenity.'
Eyelids growing heavy, consciousness fading blissfully.
Crunch.
“...”
Crunch. Munch.
Snack munching yanked me awake.
A girl in the back was stealthily popping treats.
I recalled the roster from Instructor Na Ye-rin.
'Lee Ha-eun.'
Rare ice magic wielder.
Top-three mana capacity in Class A, prime prospect.
Notes: severe snack obsession.
'Obsession's one thing, but chowing down openly in class? Come on.'
I sat up and stared her down.
Lee Ha-eun was sneakily sliding a cookie to her mouth behind her book.
Classmates knew—resigned faces, earplugs in, heads turned.
'Silenced keyboard, now snacks.'
Mountain after mountain.
I stood and approached slowly.
“Tasty?”
My quiet voice made Lee Ha-eun jump, shoulders quaking.
Her chocolate cookie plopped to the floor.
“Ah... Um...”
“No eating in class, right?”
I kept my tone as soft as possible.
“Yes. Sorry. I won't. I'll hold out.”
Lips pale, she mumbled and shoved the bag into her desk drawer.
“Good. Just 50 minutes. Eat all you want at break.”
I turned to head back to my sunbed.
Then—
Rattle. Shake shake.
Desk vibrating hard.
I turned. Lee Ha-eun trembled like aspen leaves.
Cold sweat poured; breaths ragged.
“C-can I go to the bathroom...? Mmph!”
She clamped her mouth and bolted.
Back door shut. Vomiting echoed from the hall.
“...”
Class chilled.
Kids shot sympathetic, familiar looks.
I scratched my head and stepped into the hall.
At the end by the water cooler, Lee Ha-eun rinsed her mouth, panting.
“Sorry... Instructor.”
“No, my bad.”
I vended an ion drink and handed it over.
“Wanna talk?”
Empty lecture hall.
Lee Ha-eun fiddled with the drink.
Her eyes kept drifting to her snack bag.
“Heard the basics from Instructor Na Ye-rin.”
I perched on a chair and asked.
“What's the story? Temp instructor here—easy to vent. Wanna share?”
Lee Ha-eun went quiet for a while.
Then, sweating coldly:
“...Red Ogre.”
That thing I one-shotted recently?
“Middle school field trip. Bus got ambushed by a Red Ogre.”
Red Ogre.
Named monster—even A-Rank parties struggle for one kill.
Adult hunters quake at it; imagine middle schoolers in a flipped bus, eye-to-eye.
Terror beyond imagining.
“Friend got eaten right in front of me. Thought I was next. Too scared to scream. Jaw chattering like my teeth would shatter...”
Her voice trailed off.
“Yoo Na-yeon Hunter saved us. Gave snacks to me shaking like crazy.”
Putting it together now.
“Tremors stopped then, which was good, but...”
“No snacks, trauma resurfaces.”
She nodded.
Honestly, I'd say munch forever.
No forcing克服.
If she weren't hunter-bound.
“You're starting Phoenix Guild training January, right?”
“...Yes.”
“Phoenix—top guild in Korea. Zero tolerance for slip-ups. Snack breaks mid-dungeon?”
Can't say 'hold up, monster charging—cookie for my mental health' in an S-Rank gate.
Her head drooped.
She knew.
Fail to beat this trauma, hunter career over.
I crossed my arms, pondering.
I came here for 320 million won as pro hunter work.
Fix all visible issues to earn pro—Blue Vest—status?
My reputation on the line.
“Ha-eun.”
“Yes...?”
“You wanna be a hunter?”
“...Yes. Like Yoo Na-yeon Hunter... Save people, be awesome.”
“Then ditch the snacks.”
Firmly.
“Ever heard of exposure therapy?”
“Eek...!?”
Lee Ha-eun yelped, arms shielding her chest.
“Wh-what...! I'm still a minor!”
Not that exposure.
“Psych technique: repeated exposure to trauma till it dulls. Scared of ogres? Make 'em like neighbor's pup.”
Her eyes wavered at my pitch.
“Give me one day tomorrow. I'll cure your trauma for good.”
“Exposure to trauma...? I practice Red Ogre pics now, but...”
Just thinking pics spiked anxiety; hand reached for snacks habitually.
“Pics enough? I'll handle method—you prep mentally.”
Instructor Kim Cheol-soo's style: Spartan.