Chapter 34

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 34

Chapter Title: This Isn't a Catfight

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His injuries healed in just a few days thanks to the advanced medical technology of the Awakening to SSS Hunter Academy world, allowing him to move freely once more.

At least in Awakening to SSS Hunter Academy, you're thriving. Good for you, Korea.

Anyway.

He'd been summoned to Lee Dok-sa's office at her call.

Erina Esnatia had come along too.

"Why do you keep ordering people around like this?"

She really hasn't changed a bit.

No, her Korean has actually improved.

Is she studying, or just picking it up naturally?

"What? Got a problem with that, Siwoo Kim?!"

"Nah, it's cute."

Erina Esnatia glared at him, reading his expression perfectly.

Since the dungeon incident, her nickname for him had been upgraded from Kimchi to Siwoo Kim.

"Why not K-Warrior?"

"Wha...t?"

Erina's eyes widened in shock, her face twisting in outrage.

It was just a joke.

Can't she take a joke?

"I was the one called here in the first place. Why'd you tag along?"

"Does it matter? What if something dangerous happens if I send YOU alone?"

"Dangerous how?"

"Shit! Just shut up and come along! Ah, that's not shit—it's 'shh,' as in be quiet!"

Erina Esnatia stood with her hands on her hips, beaming proudly.

Ever since that [Temple of Fate] incident, she'd been like this.

Clinging to him wherever he went.

"Who are those two?"

"One's the bottom of the first-years... the other's an exchange student?"

"Oh, that psycho?!"

"Hey... stay away from her. They say she's a firebrand."

"It's just rumors. You gonna believe that? We should all get along as academy students. I'll go say hi."

Erina's loud voice drew stares from all around.

Psycho, huh.

She'd earned a title you could never get in the original story.

Congrats, Erina Esnatia.

"W...what?! Why am I the psycho... and what's a firebrand?!"

Erina Esnatia deflated, looking ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠dejected.

A little pitiful.

"Cheer up. Firebrand's a compliment."

"R-really?"

"It means someone who won't stand for injustice."

"That's totally me! I'm a total firebrand!"

...As long as she's happy with it.

It's not entirely wrong, either.

"Hey... those rumors might be ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠true."

"Y-yeah, let's just go..."

"Oh my, Erina Esnatia came along too?"

"Yes, sorry about that."

"No, no. You two look so good together. Total youthful vibes~."

Erina Esnatia overreacted to Lee Dok-sa's words.

"M-me, with this Kimchi?!"

"Aw, you're blushing."

"Siwoo's just being a total jackass!"

With that, Erina chopped at his neck.

-Gack!

It was a joke!

A joke!

Why hit my neck...?

"I was going to call Erina Esnatia separately anyway. Good thing you came together—it saves time."

"Haha, lucky us."

"I called you here about the dungeon incident."

The only thing worth summoning both of them for.

"The investigation's wrapping up, so I figured the victims—and key players—deserved to know. Analysis of the materials you brought back shows the boss monster you two took down was at least D-rank."

Obviously. Just the materials alone—[Psyche's Blade]—qualified as high-end B-rank stuff.

Even so, they're calling it minimum D-rank.

Probably a conservative estimate factoring in our testimony.

'And pressure from factions who don't want a big fuss.'

Dirty game, Awakening.

"In other words, you two soloed a boss monster at least D-rank. You'll get rewards to match."

"Rewards?"

"What?! What rewards? What kind of rewards? A strong, handsome man?!"

"This is a sacred academy. Think they'd hand out guys like that?"

"Ha! Siwoo Kimchi knows nothing."

She'd evolved.

From Siwoo Kim back to Siwoo Kimchi.

"Since it happened on academy grounds, your feats for slaying a D-rank boss will factor into your hunter rankings. Siwoo, you'll jump from E3 to E1. Erina Esnatia is already C-rank, so no upgrade, but it'll count as bonus points in her next review."

"E1, huh."

Two full tiers up.

E1 was about average in the academy.

A huge leap.

'Thanks to Erina Esnatia vouching that I did it all solo.'

"We'll also pay a bounty. Normally it'd be D-rank rates, but since it was on academy grounds and hard to classify precisely, we're giving C-rank payout as a special exception."

Lee Dok-sa smiled brightly.

This is hush money, basically.

Fine by me—I'll take it and shut ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠up.

...Not so sure about her, though.

"What is this outrage?! I don't need money or ranks!"

Erina Esnatia looked like the world had ended.

"Calm down. Good things are good."

"I wanted to meet a strong man—not get strong myself!!"

"Strong man? Our Siwoo's plenty strong."

At Lee Dok-sa's words, Erina shot him a glance and clutched her head.

"My world's collapsing!"

"Anyway, Siwoo's rank upgrade will apply after midterms. Jumping up out of nowhere might raise eyebrows, right?"

Guaranteed at least two ranks up in midterms. After that, he'd stand out no matter what.

Lee Dok-sa misread his sour expression.

"No need to feel burdened, Siwoo. You've more than earned it."

"Huh?"

"How many first-years do you think have soloed a D-rank boss? Even most A-class students couldn't handle one."

Yeah, fair point.

Without Erina Esnatia, he'd be dead too.

"Honestly, thinking back to Panpagia, I'd say you could jump straight to D-rank with no issues... personally."

Lee Dok-sa glanced at Erina Esnatia before laughing it off.

"But that's up to the academy brass. Can't fight it. Oh, one more reason I called you. About disposing of the materials."

What?

Disposal?

Give 'em back, obviously.

"Give me my materials."

"Pardon...? Oh, of course we'll return them. Calm down, Siwoo."

He'd unconsciously reached out toward Lee Dok-sa, mumbling.

"Sorry. I just really want those materials."

"I-is that so? Maybe it has some mind-control effect—we should retest it..."

"..."

"Pfft! Your face is priceless! No human could make that expression!"

"Just kidding."

Lee Dok-sa quickly backpedaled at his despairing look.

"Hunter materials belong to the hunter who claims them. Same for academy students, so no worries."

"Th-thank you!"

His heart nearly stopped.

No more pranks.

Opportunities like this are life-or-death for me.

"Normally we'd split them with Erina here, but she waived her share and handed full rights to you."

Her?

"What're you staring at? You really did it all solo, Siwoo Kim."

Her?

"You deserve it, Siwoo Kim. I acknowledge you."

Erina Esnatia looked away bashfully as she spoke.

"Y-you're really giving it all to me?"

"It's worthy of your admiration. Siwoo!"

"Erina! Erina! Erina!"

"Kyahahaha!"

She puffed up instantly, covering her mouth and laughing heartily.

Given Erina's personality, she wasn't material-obsessed anyway. But handing it over this easily?

"Thanks! I'll treat you to cheonggukjang!"

"Wh-what are you trying to feed me?!"

Thanks.

Erina. I'll make sure you taste it too.

"Anyway, enjoy your cheonggukjang date. Here's the material."

Lee Dok-sa handed him a white box with a smile.

"Sometimes these have curses or poisons, so we stored it in the special materials vault. It's worth a fortune normally, but National Seoul Hunter Academy provides them free to students. Pretty great, huh?"

"Y-yes... thank you."

Classic Lee Dok-sa, full of academy pride.

He carefully opened it. Perfectly preserved in its original form.

Not black—just pure, void-like darkness, as if it punched a hole in space.

A blade—and material—looted from a cursed foe.

Thanks to his new Empty Skillbook ability, he could now inspect items like a setting wiki.

'Handy.'

"Wh-what are you doing?! Siwoo's finally lost it! Isn't that dangerous?! The monster from before had that..."

"What's her deal?"

PTSD kicking in?

"Calm down, Erina. It's safe inside the box."

"There, closed it. No worries."

"O-okay! Confirmed! But why do you keep shoving it in my face!!"

"'Cause it's fun."

"Shit!!"

Lee Dok-sa turned away laughing, then asked him.

"So, got a place to process that material? I can recommend a solid academy blacksmith if not."

"I'm good. Got a personal connection."

"Oh? Didn't expect that."

What's so unexpected?

Erina, who'd been listening in terror from the side, sidled up.

"If it's that, I can introduce you myself. Someone a commoner like Siwoo Kimchi couldn't even dream of approaching! Special favor."

She covered her mouth, smirking down at him like before.

Infuriating.

"Whoa, whoa!"

"G-get that away! Sorry!!"

Erina teared up and fled to the corner.

Works like a charm.

"If it's Erina's recommendation, it'll be top-tier. You sure you wanna pass, Siwoo?"

"Haha, yeah. I know the legendary blacksmith."

One that won't lose to any 'top-tier' Erina recommends.

"Y-yes...?"