Irena's Gift
At the Hunter Association hospital, Shin Suyeon was undergoing a thorough examination. Irena's gift.
"Whoa… holy shit…"
"Hey, stop staring. You'll get sued at this rate."
"Fuck, if I were a guy and didn't look, I'd be a eunuch."
Patients waiting, doctors, and nurses alike couldn't tear their eyes away from her face. She's actually insane.
A godlike appearance. People often talked about "reverse puberty" during adolescence, meaning drastic changes in looks. But with Shin Suyeon, it was the complete opposite. The girl who had always seemed soft and childish had matured beyond that—she now carried an almost sacred aura.
"Is that really her…? She looks like an Instagram goddess."
"No way. How can someone change that much?"
Even Han Yuri had to admit it—Shin Suyeon's beauty had reached celestial heights. In other words, she now stood shoulder to shoulder with Han Yuri and Lee Seol.
On top of that, the Forest of Shadows outbreak, which had nearly caused casualties, was resolved thanks to Shin Suyeon's efforts.
[Who calmed the trees?]
[Hunter Association to award Brave Citizen Medal]
Of course, not all articles were positive. Shin Suyeon was an ordinary person, after all. The fact that the rampage stopped the moment she touched the leaves was suspicious.
[The culprit behind the Forest of Shadows outbreak stops it herself]
Those kinds of articles kept popping up, but they were taken down as soon as they appeared.
Connections really are nice. The Korean Hunter Association. Every time I used it, it felt so sweet.
While we waited for Shin Suyeon, my phone rang. It was Irena. I stepped out of the examination room to answer.
"Yes, Professor."
—How is Suyeon doing?
"She doesn't seem to have any major physical issues."
—That's a relief, at least.
Irena continued in her usual calm tone.
—The Academy is leaning toward transferring her to the Hunter course. It would make cleanup easier that way.
"Hmm……"
—Of course, Shin Suyeon's own wishes come first. Could you ask her for me?
"Understood. I'll call you back later."
After hanging up, I returned to find the three of them chatting. The examination must have finished.
"Could we talk for a moment?"
"Ah. Yes…"
"You two wait here. I'll be right back."
"Yes! Take your time!"
"Okay."
We headed to the rooftop garden. No one else was around.
"So, what exactly happened?"
"Well……"
She told me everything in detail. After hearing it all, I could only say—
"Good grief…"
I was speechless.
"The trees gave her all their energy and left?"
"I know it's hard to believe, b-but it's true!"
"No, I believe you……"
Looking at her drastically changed figure and face, there was no room for doubt. The Forest of Shadows. In my first timeline, it had naturally disappeared five years from now. Yet it had suddenly transferred everything to Shin Suyeon and vanished……
This world really is absurd.
"Here's my status window."
And when I saw the changed status window, I let out a hollow laugh.
Unique Skill:The Giving Tree S
Skills:Root of Life S / F
Cry of the Seed S / F
Is this even real…… Derivative skills. Things other people had to grind for an entire year to obtain—she'd gotten two at once. And both were healing and buff types.
Fuck, I still only have one……
"Suyeon……"
"Y-Yes?"
"Mind if I hit you once?"
"Wha—?!"
"Just kidding."
While we were exchanging silly jokes, Eve's voice echoed in my mind.
Ask her to use Root of Life once.
Got it.
I was curious about its effects too. Shin Suyeon readily agreed to my request.
"Hyah!"
With an adorable gesture, a soft green light enveloped my body. A warm sensation. The scent of forest phytoncides tickled my nose. At the same time, my slightly blurred vision cleared a little.
This is it?
Yeah. It seems to restore not just the body but the soul as well, even if only a little.
The soul recovery skill Eve and I had been searching for. To think it would be Shin Suyeon.
Then we don't need to go all the way to Phantom Valley, do we?
This much is nowhere near enough. It's only restored a tiny fraction. Keep clearing those quests just in case.
Understood.
Still, the immediate crisis had been averted. Whether that was good luck or bad…… I gave her a bitter smile.
"Have you considered transferring to the Hunter course? With two S-rank potential skills, you'd reach A-rank without much trouble if you put in the effort."
"But……"
"Do whatever feels right for you. I'll support whatever choice you make."
"……"
Her expression was complicated. The curse still lingered on her back. She must have a lot on her mind. In the end, she chose—
"Could you… give me a little more time to think?"
She picked the option to hold off.
***
Almost a week had passed since Shin Suyeon's awakening incident. We had returned to our daily routines. C-rank. After clearing Gast's Nest, we took a short break when Ahyeon asked—
"So, has she decided yet?"
"She's still thinking about it, apparently."
"Indecisive, huh."
"Yuri, that's mean! You can't say that!"
"Whatever."
She'd said she was still thinking, but I was half certain of her answer.
Of course she can't become a hunter while cursed.
The pain she felt with every movement was one thing, but she'd come to the Academy to "research the curse." Not to hunt monsters. Well, at least she kept using her healing skill on me, so that was something.
"By the way, how's the prep going for you guys?"
"The inter-grade tournament?"
"Yeah. Seonghyun, Yuri, and Seol. That's three, right?"
The inter-grade tournament. Each grade selected three representatives to compete. Of course, upperclassmen received penalties. The rewards were unmatched. Especially this time—Irena had apparently prepared them with serious intent. In her mind—
She prepared them thinking she'd give them to me.
With the physical abilities I'd shown against Han Jaehyuk, no one in the Academy could beat me. But that was the result of grinding my soul and body to dust. For now, I was too busy recovering. Besides—
"Win or lose, people complain either way. I don't want to participate……"
"I agree with Lee Seonghyun."
"Come on! We're all counting on you two with one heart and one mind!"
See? This was why I hated it. If their grade won the inter-grade tournament, rewards went to everyone. Of course, they were several tiers below what the participants received, but if they lost, there was nothing. So expectations and disappointment piled up all at once.
If we lose, we'll be lucky not to get egged.
Though there probably wouldn't be anyone like that.
"Seol's freezing plus Yuri's Meteor! And Seonghyun's Thunder God on top! Man, this is more than enough to crush it!"
This was why the first-years were so hopeful. Lee Seol. Han Yuri. And me as a bonus. Maybe they could actually win?
"Don't count your chickens before they hatch."
"Roger!"
"If you're done resting, let's move. I'm tired."
The moment we stepped out into the Hall of Challenge, I felt something wrap around my body. A sticky, sinister gaze.
What was that? Just my imagination?
"Seonghyun! What are you doing? Hurry up!"
"Yeah, coming."
On the way out of the building, Han Yuri kept glancing around. It was a habit she'd developed after learning she was a Witch. I lightly tapped her arm and muttered—
"No one knows you're a Witch, so stop making that constipated face."
"W-Who said I looked constipated?!"
"You did. You're pretty, so people are looking. Don't worry about it so much."
"H-Huh?"
For a moment, Han Yuri looked completely dumbfounded. Doing things I didn't plan to do feels weird too. Cringe. Extremely cringe.
After a quick wash at home, Han Yuri and I headed to the main building for the inter-grade tournament meeting. In the small conference room, Lee Seol was already waiting.
"Seol, you're early."
"H-Huh? Hi……"
She waved while avoiding my eyes. As expected—
Something's off.
Han Yuri seemed to notice too; her eyes narrowed. When I activated my sense of smell toward Lee Seol—
Witch of Purity
— Status: Sprout
— Growth: 1%
— Corruption: Good, Neutral
Based on Lee Seol's usual behavior, I'd expected Good or Neutral, and it matched perfectly. Once Han Yuri sat down, I pushed my thoughts aside and took a seat as well. After everyone was seated, silence fell. An uncomfortable, awkward silence.
Han Yuri sat with her arms crossed, clearly displeased, glancing between me and Lee Seol. Lee Seol fidgeted with her lips, unable to meet my eyes. The one who broke the awkward atmosphere was none other than Han Yuri.
"That's the face of a woman in love."
"H-Huh?!"
"I'm talking about you. You."
"W-What are you saying, Yuri! I-I don't—!"
Watching Lee Seol stammer with a bright red face only made it more convincing. In the end, we disbanded without holding a proper meeting due to Lee Seol's abnormal state.
On the way home, the back of my head felt hot.
They're still following me.
Ever since we left the Hall of Challenge earlier, someone had been tailing me.
"Go on ahead. I've got something to take care of."
"Meeting that woman again?"
"No. Just go inside."
"Tch."
At my repeated urging, she pouted and went in. I headed toward the pavilion where I'd once met Han Yuri. Even when I changed direction, they kept following.
Who is it?
At least it wasn't the Demon Sect. The gaze wasn't hostile.
"Why don't you come out now?"
Silence. They stayed still even after I called, but eventually their presence vanished. Anyone else would have been flustered, but I knew better. Assassins like this—
They always aim for the biggest blind spot: the rear.
I spun around and pointed Eve at them. A woman in a sheer black dress raised both hands in surrender.
"My, you're as fast as the rumors say."
When she raised her hands, her water-balloon-like breasts swayed heavily. An outrageous figure. Combined with her languid eye smile and sensual, decadent beauty, she was enough to drive any man mad. A woman whose very existence seduced men.
This person……
She was the Guild Master of the Seeress Guild, where Irena belonged—an A-rank hunter known as the Assassin of the Skies.
"Just like Lena said. You're quite something."
"You know the Professor?"
"Of course."
Camilla stepped back, grabbed the ends of her sheer dress, and bowed her head to me.
"Starting today, I'm your bodyguard. Camilla. Nice to meet you."
Irena. Her explosive gift had just dropped. And it was one hell of a big bomb.