Chapter 49
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Face-to-Face
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Having finished the artificial dungeon evaluation and left the training hall, it had been 30 minutes since I started moving.
I arrived in front of Chae Yeon-hwa's research lab.
"...Should I really... go in?"
The reason I'd come this far was simple.
To figure out what her intentions were in warning me that the artificial dungeon would be dangerous, and what exactly she was thinking.
Of course, I already knew full well that this was a half... no, completely insane choice and action.
Even most S-Rank Hunters would hesitate to predict victory in a one-on-one fight against her.
And meeting a demon—one that could even half-kill that Kim Do-yoon guy in the early parts—alone was no different from just walking to my death.
But I had no choice.
If I couldn't uncover why Chae Yeon-hwa was acting so differently from the original story, there was a high chance I'd keep getting dragged along by her.
Plus, if I played my cards right, this could even turn into an opportunity.
Chae Yeon-hwa had shown actions completely unlike her original behavior, introduced variables, and they'd certainly been a huge help to me.
If I guided things well, there was a good chance I could extract even more information from her.
That's why I'd come here after agonizing over it...
"...Still, it's pretty scary."
Now that I was actually standing in front of the door, a foreboding thought crept in: maybe this was just simple wishful thinking on my part, my brain running wild with happy delusions.
Even so, since I'd come this far, retreating wasn't an option. I took one last deep breath and knocked before opening the lab door.
I spotted Chae Yeon-hwa, wearing glasses I'd never seen before, sitting at her desk completely focused on writing a paper. I very cautiously opened my mouth.
"Um... Professor? Hello?"
"...? Ah, Student Kang Hyun-sol. What brings you here?"
She looked up, confirmed my face, and instead of her usual expressionless smile...
She gave a seductive smile brimming with personal feelings and desire, then stood and slowly approached.
"This is the first time you've come to see me without me calling you first, Kang Hyun-sol. What brings the sudden wind blowing your way?"
"...I have something I want to say to you, Professor."
"Hmm, not here because you missed me? A bit disappointing. Well, still..."
Chae Yeon-hwa lightly brushed down my shoulder with her palm, then sat on the sofa nearby.
"Can't be helped, I suppose. But from your expression, it doesn't seem like casual chit-chat?"
"Yes, it's not casual chit-chat."
I sat across from her, picked up a snack from the desk, ate it, and got straight to the point.
"That warning you gave me last Saturday about being careful in the artificial dungeon evaluation. What was your intention? And what exactly did you know?"
"......"
As if she hadn't expected this question at all, Chae Yeon-hwa froze mid-motion while trying to pour tea.
And after about 10 seconds frozen like that? She finally moved the teacup in her hand again and spoke.
Of course, without forgetting that damn skill of hers.
Trait Mental Resistance (B) activates.
Partially resists Skill Dreamlike Fragrance (A+).
'Ugh... Doesn't she ever get tired?'
"Hm... I'm curious why you're suddenly asking that? Did something happen in the artificial dungeon, by any chance?"
"... "
Ah, trying to play innocent?
With that pure expression mixed with Dreamlike Fragrance, if I didn't know better, I'd really think she was clueless.
But it didn't work on me, already snapped out of it thanks to Mental Resistance.
I pressed her as casually as possible.
"Who knows? I'm not sure, but after the evaluation, Wol Ha-yeon and Amelia de Raville both looked pretty bad. Like they'd gone through something major inside the dungeon."
"... Hm, is that so? I don't know what happened, but please convey my hope that it gets resolved smoothly."
"... Anyway, what I'm curious about is that something big clearly happened inside based on their reactions—practically a given. And it reminded me that you, Professor Chae Yeon-hwa, had warned me to be careful in the artificial dungeon just a few days ago. So I came wondering if you knew something."
"I see."
Chae Yeon-hwa's expression, having heard all my doubts, was no different from the start.
Completely innocent, the face of a teacher who truly knew nothing, just worried about students who'd faced something big.
"......"
Just as I thought I wouldn't get any real information...
Chae Yeon-hwa, who had been resting her chin on her hand deep in thought for a while, slowly opened her mouth.
"You're right. I knew a demon would appear in the Mist Forest artificial dungeon where the first-years would take their evaluation."
"...? Wait, what...?"
"I can't tell you how I knew that info, or why I tipped you off specifically, Hyun-sol."
You wouldn't believe me anyway.
Just know that I risked earning your suspicion out of genuine concern for you to give you that heads-up."
With that, she stood.
She glanced down at me—I was frozen, unable to react—and added,
"If that's all, may I head out first? I have an urgent appointment."
"Ah... Yes, take care."
"Sure thing~ You head home safely too, Hyun-sol."
Chae Yeon-hwa left those final words and exited the lab.
Of course, I barely managed a goodbye before sinking back into deep thought.
"...What is it? What the hell is she thinking?"
Having swiftly ended the short, unexpected meeting with Kang Hyun-sol, Chae Yeon-hwa left her lab and headed to the student-exclusive penthouse.
There, on the top floor, she met Wol Ha-yeon waiting in casual clothes.
"So... Student Wol Ha-yeon? What did you suddenly call me here for?"
Chae Yeon-hwa sat across from her casually and asked.
"Honestly, I was a bit surprised. We're not even close, and here you are ordering a professor around like this..."
"......"
Wol Ha-yeon, staring silently at Professor Chae Yeon-hwa's face, slowly opened her mouth.
"I have a personal curiosity... So I took the liberty of using a rather forceful method to summon you. Could we talk for a bit?"
"Hm... I don't know how urgent your curiosity is to treat an active professor like this, but sure. Let's hear it."
"... "
Seeing Chae Yeon-hwa readily agree to talk, Wol Ha-yeon stood, fiddled with her sword on the bed's edge, and got to the point.
"A demon appeared during today's first-year artificial dungeon evaluation. A full descent, at that."
"I see. Must've been very dangerous."
"Right. That's what it should've been. But... thanks to someone playing a very amusing prank inside the dungeon, the demons couldn't rampage properly."
"......"
Chae Yeon-hwa showed no response to Wol Ha-yeon's words.
Watching her, Wol Ha-yeon continued.
"An elite-grade demon descended fully, without any restrictions. Even if I'd been inside the dungeon and sensed that bug's presence, locating and dealing with it would've taken at least 20 minutes—at least dozens of casualties in that time."
"... I see. So what are you getting at?"
"Simple. Why didn't that demon move a single step from the dungeon's core—the thickest fog area—for a full 20 minutes?"
Wol Ha-yeon drew her sword and aimed it at Chae Yeon-hwa's throat.
"What were you thinking? What are you, exactly, that you knew a demon would descend there in advance and loaded the place with barriers?"
Shortly after entering the dungeon, Wol Ha-yeon had sensed an enormous burst of demonic energy from the Mist Forest core. She headed straight there.
And found three demons trapped in at least 6-star multi-seal barrier arts, only able to scream.
"......"
Chae Yeon-hwa, silent like she'd been pierced to the core, cautiously spoke.
"Do you have proof that I deployed those barrier arts? Even if I did, this attitude seems pretty problematic right now?"
"......"
"Even if we go by your words and say I set them up, doesn't that mean I saved dozens of students' lives? Why treat me like this...?"
"Because no one else in the academy can deploy 6-star or higher barriers besides you, Professor."
Or did you really think I dragged you here just over some barrier arts?"
Wol Ha-yeon infused her blade with moonlight aura and asked again.
"Explain how you knew exactly a demon would appear there. Like you said, thanks to those barriers, students survived—so isn't that why I came to you alone instead of reporting to the Association or my family?"
"... Fine. If you're that insistent, I won't dodge answering."
Chae Yeon-hwa let out a short sigh, slowly raised her hand, and gently pushed away the sword tip Wol Ha-yeon aimed at her.
Her expression remained calm, her eyes without even a flicker.
"Straight to the conclusion: I received internal info from a plant I'd infiltrated into the Demon Association."
"... A plant? You're saying you hid a mole in the Demon Association?"
"Yes. I know it's hard to believe... but since I caught wind first and handled it, isn't that proof enough?"
She smiled quietly and continued.
"Of course, I didn't 100% trust the info. Wasn't sure if a demon would really come or if it'd just be contamination. So I just set the barriers."
"... Still hard to buy. Why would you plant a mole, gather intel, and prepare for terrorism? And if you had that info, shouldn't you report it immediately?"
"Hm... You'd know, wouldn't you, Wol Ha-yeon?"
Chae Yeon-hwa tilted her head slightly.
"The academy only moves on certainties. If I reported pre-installing barriers on mere suspicion without evidence... they'd try to control me."
"......"
Wol Ha-yeon's eyes wavered slightly.
"Then I couldn't have set the barriers, and a real disaster would've happened, right?"
Chae Yeon-hwa added quietly at the end.
"That's why I set them secretly. My barrier arts can bind even lord-grade demons."
Of course, the reason I played innocent was because someone like you, from the Wol family, could easily mobilize the Association and academy. I just didn't tell you to avoid suspicion."
"......"
Silence flowed for a while.
Wol Ha-yeon was the first to look away.
"... Understood. I apologize for cornering you on suspicion alone without evidence. But—"
"Yes. I can't explain everything."
Chae Yeon-hwa gently cut her off.
"But one thing I can say for sure."
She spoke in a firm tone.
"I acted for the students. And Wol Ha-yeon, I have no intention whatsoever of plunging the academy into chaos like you think."
"......"
Their gazes met head-on again.
The tense air slowly eased.
"... Got it. We'll leave it here for today."
Wol Ha-yeon sheathed her sword and turned.
The gun was lowered, but her finger still on the trigger.
Leaving that moderate wariness and distrust behind.
Chae Yeon-hwa, still wearing her usual smile, stood and quietly left the penthouse.
With final parting words.
"Hopefully this lets us build a deeper friendship with you, Wol Ha-yeon. Well, then."
And as Chae Yeon-hwa left the penthouse and returned to her lab, she sank into deep doubt once more.
'Hmm... I barely dodged the suspicion, but I still can't understand it. Why on earth did I make those choices?'