Chapter 41
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Ever Seen a Saintess Good at Magic Before?
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Late morning on a spring day, at a certain brunch café.
A woman took a seat by the window, where soft sunlight filtered in.
Her pure white, long hair gleamed faintly in the morning sun.
The woman scanned the café interior with an expressionless face.
Vibrant paintings on the walls, soft music playing, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee.
Pleased with the relaxed atmosphere, she nodded lightly.
A moment later, the café door opened, and another woman entered.
Spotting the woman by the window, she smiled and waved.
“Long time no see. How’ve you been?”
“Yeah, and you?”
Sihyun and Jia exchanged light greetings.
Jia sat across from Sihyun, her medium-length hair swaying softly.
“Rough provincial business trip, huh.”
“Hehe, thanks. It’s routine, but still tiring.”
Jia let out a light sigh.
“Today’s meetup time was kinda awkward, right? Sorry, this was my only window.”
“No, it’s fine! You made time despite being busy.”
“Still… Ah, once I clear my backlog, let’s grab something delicious.”
“Sounds good? When do you think?”
Sihyun’s question prompted Jia to start venting lightly.
Sihyun smiled faintly, chiming in to help relieve her stress.
With her friend egging her on, Jia’s stress melted away, and she flashed a pretty smile.
After that, the two amiably discussed the menu and what to order.
The waiter confirmed the order and left.
Jia propped her cheek on her finger, gazing at Sihyun.
She usually wore her long straight hair plain and unadorned.
Today, though, she’d styled it into a cute half-updo for some reason.
It really brought out her bright features.
“The half-updo looks great. Siyun do it?”
“...Yeah. She taught me how.”
Sihyun awkwardly fiddled with the tied section.
Her ears flushed red with embarrassment.
Amused by the cute reaction, Jia chuckled.
“You actually learned it?”
“...It was forced on me.”
“Forced?”
“Uh-huh...”
To Jia’s question, Sihyun rubbed her knees together shyly as she answered.
“She gave me merch as a gift, then said I couldn’t even do this one thing… I was speechless...”
“Ah-ha.”
Jia got it right away.
Her sister had sacrificed Momo Bin merch to toy with her unnie—and even taught her to do it herself.
Siyun had really stepped up.
The scene came vividly to mind, making Jia giggle.
“It doesn’t look weird, right?”
“Suits you perfectly! How about styling it like that more often?”
“...B-back then. I know it was bullying, but they drilled ‘don’t strut around when you’re ugly’ into my ears...”
“...Ah.”
The subject was omitted, but Jia understood perfectly.
That damn hero’s party again.
“No, it really looks pretty and suits you! I think you should build some confidence and style up more.”
“R-really...?”
Sihyun pressed her cheek with her hand as she replied.
Her slightly hunched shoulders straightened a bit.
“Yeah, I’ll try taking it slow.”
“Good! No rush.”
Jia nodded in satisfaction.
Sihyun’s go-to for rejections was ‘I’ll think about it.’
That answer meant she was seriously on board.
“Your order’s here.”
The waiter approached and set the food on the table.
The two started eating, chatting amiably all the while.
About academy professor life, any professor friends she’d made, and so on.
Mid-conversation, Jia checked the time on her phone.
“Actually, I wanted to talk about hitting a dungeon together later.”
“Ah, sure. I’m free except lecture days.”
Lately, Sihyun had been diligently partying with Wings Guild folks and nearly wrapped up their requests.
Sihyun showed interest, but Jia shook her head lightly.
“Reserved an A-Grade Dungeon with a tight deadline, but a big guild jumped the line.”
“...Huh? Jumped the line?”
“High-grade ones aren’t instant on application. The Bureau weighs a bunch of factors.”
“Ah-ha.”
Sihyun nodded in understanding.
“I wanted to feel your buff again...”
“Hehe.”
Jia slumped; Sihyun smiled lightly.
For a supporter, that was the highest praise.
“Another chance’ll come. Other A-Grades?”
“Time’s plenty, but it’s too far. Day trip’d be rough.”
“Hm... I see.”
It didn’t have to be a day trip, but distance wore on body and mind.
If they really had to go, they’d plan properly then.
The two shifted from dungeon talk to other topics.
With their brunch wrapping up.
Jia checked the time again.
“Sihyun, lecture day today, right? Want a ride to the academy?”
“Really? Cool?”
“Yeah, got a bit of time left. Should work.”
“Awesome, thanks.”
Sihyun had planned to kill the remaining time in the professor lounge anyway, since she was out.
She gladly accepted the offer.
Academy’s 3rd and 4th periods.
Melee hunter students gathered in small groups on the training field, listening to the lecture.
One of them, Kwon Jaewoo, wiped the sweat from his brow.
“Hey, it’s that beauty professor.”
“Where? Where?”
A few male students chatted while eyeing the stairs in the corner of the field.
Jaewoo looked over too.
Professor Sihyun, in charge of Monster Studies Intro, sat on the stairs watching the students.
She sipped from a disposable plastic cup with a straw jammed in.
The boys who recognized her waved; she smiled lightly and waved back.
“Damn, she’s gorgeous. Total goddess.”
“Ugh! Shoulda taken Monster Studies Intro as my elective.”
“Same building as our lectures, right? Heart skips every time I pass by.”
“Bet her voice is pretty too. Never heard it.”
“Gotta be. A husky one would kinda ruin the vibe with that face.”
Jaewoo didn’t join the chat but found himself nodding anyway.
Monster Studies Intro’s room was tucked in a corner hallway end, and Professor Sihyun didn’t use a mic.
Makes sense non-enrollees hadn’t heard her voice.
“You lot! Rest properly, then back at it!”
“Yes, sir!”
The boys quieted only after a scolding from the lecturing professor.
But it didn’t last.
Soon 3rd period ended for break, and Professor Sihyun left.
The boys started chattering among themselves again.
“Heard that prof’s a melee hunter. No major lectures planned?”
“D-Rank doing majors? Come on.”
Rank talk sparked laughter.
Jaewoo stayed silent, mouth opening and closing.
Not joining, but already buddies with them.
He pondered briefly.
“Honestly, besides looks, what’s she got?”
“Hey, those looks are OP enough!”
“True! Lectures probably nothing special. Everyone signed up for the face.”
“...You guys must’ve missed the rumors.”
Finally, Jaewoo couldn’t hold back and jumped in.
Couldn’t stomach them snickering at Professor Sihyun anymore.
“Monster Studies Intro’s lectures are killer. Word’s spreading.”
“Huh, really?”
“First I’m hearing.”
All fresh to them.
Jaewoo didn’t care.
“Check community or whatever after 4th. You’ll see.”
“Eh?”
“Maybe if I remember.”
The boys shrugged it off.
But Jaewoo’s effort wasn’t wasted.
“Oh, wait—I think I saw something. Post last week.”
“Yeah?”
Others chimed in.
“What was it? Detail? Insane detail or something.”
“Oh, that! Was that Monster Studies?”
“Probably.”
“And prof by looks only? In the academy? Nah.”
“...”
The students warming to Jaewoo’s topic raised their voices.
Naturally silencing the rank-based critics.
Jaewoo resumed listening posture.
Result satisfied him.
The rank critics didn’t utter a peep until 4th period ended.
After 3rd and 4th period majors wrapped.
Jaewoo grabbed a quick bite at the basement cafeteria.
Next up: 5th and 6th for Monster Studies Intro—timing was awkward.
Nowhere to kill time, so he headed to the classroom early without wandering.
And there it was.
“M-monster?!”
On the front-row desk.
A vicious-looking goblin standing there!
Startled, Jaewoo hastily summoned his weapon via status window.
He gripped the two-handed sword hilt tight.
Never seen a goblin this terrifying-looking in his life.
Tense, he dropped into combat stance, ready anytime.
“...?”
Then he belatedly noticed another figure.
Professor Sihyun, leaning against the podium, watching him with a mischievous grin.