Chapter 45
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Is This Your First Time Seeing a Saintess Who's Good at Magic?
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Having shouted her bold ambition, Areum slowly lifted her bowed head.
She gently opened her eyes and gazed at the professor straight ahead.
Professor Jung Sihyun sat there with half-closed eyes, lost deep in thought.
Areum waited for the professor's response, her fists clenched tight at her sides.
'D-Did I convey it properly...?'
What had she said? Had she really captured her true intentions?
Areum replayed her recent words in her mind.
I want to be like you, Professor! You're my role model!
That was definitely how it had gone.
'......Huh?'
She'd meant she wanted to be the professor's prized disciple. Or even just an undergrad researcher would be fine.
But did those words really come across that way?
It was a liberal arts class, but she was already the professor's student in a sense.
A role model implied deep respect.
Huh? Huh? What...?
Areum's gaze began to wander aimlessly, unable to settle anywhere.
It felt like she'd gotten her point across to the professor... but maybe not?
She wasn't even sure if she'd said it right!
With trembling eyes, Areum looked at the professor again.
A woman so stunningly beautiful she could captivate even those of the same sex.
Her graceful movements always exuded effortless poise, and even standing still, a holy aura naturally emanated from her.
Professor Jung Sihyun had been the ideal woman Areum had only dreamed of in her imagination.
Normally, timid as she was, Areum never would have dreamed of seeking personal counseling from such a professor.
But when they'd bumped into each other at the bookstore by chance.
When they'd discovered they shared a love for genre novels.
When the professor had chatted with her so amiably.
Areum had glimpsed the professor's human side.
She'd realized that this dazzlingly cool and confident professor was just another person who enjoyed her hobbies.
And then, the video from today's lecture had ignited a passion in her heart: I want to be like her.
I want to become someone like Professor! Someone who shines like that!
That passion turned into courage, leading Areum to the professor's office.
"...Hmm. Alright."
"Y-Yes?! "
As Sihyun casually broached the topic, Areum tensed up, shrinking back in anticipation.
"You mean you want to be my student, right?"
"...Y-Yes! G-Graduate school, whatever, I'll do it all!"
Student Areum answered loudly to my question.
I'd been skeptical when she called me her role model, but it seemed genuine after all.
"Mind if I ask why?"
"Y-You mean the reason...?"
Student Areum looked up at me with trembling eyes.
She bowed her head and fidgeted with her fingers as if counting something.
Soon, an unexpected torrent poured out.
"W-Well, um... Professor, you're strong and cool and beautiful and elegant! And, uh, noble and holy and mysterious with this amazing aura and———"
"O-Okay, I get it! Stop, stop!"
Whoa, that startled me! She suddenly went full rapper mode, words tumbling out nonstop.
Noble and holy? What even was that...?
As if I had any of that.
Her sudden praise heated up my cheeks.
"...Ahem. I get what you're trying to say."
"Yes!"
Student Areum responded energetically.
......Honestly, it made me really happy.
It was exaggerated, but it was praise lifting me up.
Even if she was a bit hesitant, I could feel the sincerity.
That said, there was one big problem.
"As you know, I'm just a part-time lecturer. Not a full professor."
"I-If you join a guild, I'll follow you—!"
An instant reply.
......I hadn't expected this level of passion.
"D-Disciple, subordinate, anything's fine! I want to shine like you, Professor!"
"......A-Alright."
Shine... like me, huh.
That's how I look in her eyes.
Even though I'm not really like that.
Anyway, I got the gist of what Student Areum wanted.
Time to give her an honest answer in return.
"Student Areum."
"Y-Yes!"
I called her name, and she faced me with a super tense expression.
I spoke in a deliberately serious tone.
"Everything you've said so far—is it all sincere?"
"O-Of course!"
"I see."
I looked into Student Areum's sparkling eyes, hidden behind her large glasses.
Unlike her hunched posture, those eyes held firm resolve.
Seeing that gaze, I made my decision.
"...Then listen up."
Truth be told...
I prefer rolling around at home over going out.
I like places with fewer people over crowds.
I often feel lazy and procrastinate on things I need to do.
I don't see myself as the shining person Student Areum describes.
But...
"From now on."
Even someone with my personality.
In front of a cute student like this.
"I'm sure you can become the shining person you dream of."
Maybe I could play the part of a shining person?
We could look ahead together, building a cool mentor-student bond as we chase our ideals.
"Student Areum, let's get along."
"L-Let's get along great!"
Student Areum and I shook hands vigorously.
The warmth from her palm felt just like the passion burning in the student before me.
"C-Call me casually, please!"
"......Should I?"
I nodded and walked over to the consultation desk, taking a seat.
"Take a seat, relax."
"Yes!"
Across from me, Areum sat ramrod straight.
To help her loosen up, I pulled a novel from my bag and set it on the desk.
"Heh..."
Areum's eyes changed.
"H-Have you read it?!"
"Of course. It's a real masterpiece, right?"
"Right?! It's a galactic masterpiece!"
The stiffness from moments ago was gone; she beamed with excitement.
Like the puppyish cuteness I'd seen at the bookstore.
This must be Areum's true self. It suits her so much better—way more natural.
"Next, I recommend this one!"
Areum pulled out her phone and showed me recommendations on the screen.
I carefully noted each title.
As the mood warmed up nicely.
I timed it perfectly to get her lecture schedule.
Her combat skills from today's class were so lacking that casual guidance wouldn't cut it...
I felt the need to mentor her seriously.
She's my first prized disciple, after all! Gotta help her grow properly.
Plus, I could research support skills or the status window on the side.
Something I'd been putting off forever.
"See you next time."
"Yes! Thanks for your hard work today!"
We exchanged goodbyes as Areum left the office.
I leisurely packed my things.
Still time before dinner, so I figured I'd check out the academy library before heading home.
"Ugh..."
After her lecture ended, Eunbyeol headed straight to the library, clutching her head in frustration.
Her major assignment was proving tougher than expected.
She'd been scouring rare books and papers that couldn't be checked out.
She half-grasped it, but not quite.
She couldn't derive a clear answer.
That nagging ambiguity furrowed her brow and drew out sighs.
Just a little more—a hint, and she could solve it!
But no matter how much she researched, nothing clicked satisfyingly.
It wasn't the materials; she must have missed something in her thought process or understanding.
Argh, seriously! Moments like this are so thrilling when they click!
Eunbyeol always tackled her major studies with full sincerity.
But the theories magic hunters learned were so alien.
Stuff she'd never encountered in life.
So, effort alone often fell short.
Magic itself activated easily as skills, boosted by the status window.
But professors always stressed it:
Explore magic independently, beyond the status window.
Only then could you reach higher ranks.
Magic hunters were rarer than melee types.
Yet they had abundant faculty and researchers.
While melee hunters sweated on the fields, magic hunters delved into labs.
All because magic demanded understanding mana’s essence.
Eunbyeol sighed deeply, slotted the book back on the shelf, and turned.
That instant, a familiar figure flashed past the shelves.
Snow-white hair trailed behind like fluttering silk.
"Hmm?"
She'd only seen that unique hair color on one person.
Definitely Professor Jung Sihyun from Monster Studies Intro.
Curiosity piqued, Eunbyeol quietly followed the direction she'd gone.
The professor stopped at a corner shelf, pulled out a book, and started reading.
Why is Professor Jung Sihyun looking at magic hunter books?
Simple curiosity?
Eunbyeol had seen it often here.
Obvious melee hunter students flipping a few pages before leaving.
Maybe the professor was the same?
Eunbyeol chuckled softly and turned back toward her needed books.
She grabbed a few and headed to the reading area.
An hour or so passed.
'Huh?'
Her focus broken, Eunbyeol looked up—and spotted her again.
Professor Jung Sihyun, immersed in a book in a secluded spot.
'No way...'
Eunbyeol narrowed her eyes at the stack beside her.
Undeniably magic hunter major texts.
'Is she actually reading that?'
No, maybe not. The side books could be decoys.
The one in hand might be different.
Eunbyeol stood.
Impulse to confirm overwhelmed her.
She approached cautiously.
"Hello, Professor?"
"......Hm?"
A soft greeting; the professor looked up.
Recognizing Eunbyeol, she smiled lightly and nodded.
To avoid annoying her, Eunbyeol asked amiably.
"Mind if I ask what book you're reading?"
"...This one?"
At Eunbyeol's request, Sihyun tilted her head, lifted the book, and showed the cover.
Another magic hunter text.
For a moment, Eunbyeol hesitated.
Are you understanding it? She wanted to ask, but that was rude.
Still, burning curiosity: why read it? Did she get it?
Sihyun read Eunbyeol's expression instantly.
"What book were you reading, Student Eunbyeol?"
"Oh, uh..."
She smoothly shifted the topic back to Eunbyeol.
Eunbyeol pulled her book from her bag and showed Sihyun.
Unthinkingly, she opened to the page she'd puzzled over all day.
"This part's confusing."
"Where...? Ah."
It took seconds.
Sihyun nodded and beckoned Eunbyeol.
Signaling for pen and notebook.
Feeling puzzled but compliant, Eunbyeol handed them over.
Scribble-scribble—.
Sihyun wrote fluidly on the notebook and returned it.
Checked her phone for time, then stood.
"Keep studying hard."
She whispered softly and left.
Eunbyeol nodded farewell and checked the notebook.
And then.
"......What is this."
Her grip tightened unconsciously on the notebook.
The answer to her prior vague mystery.
Written neatly in pretty handwriting, crystal clear.
No, seriously, what.
So profoundly lucid, no questions left.
This was definitely the solution.
Eunbyeol rubbed her eyes with her free hand.
Read it again, committing it to memory.
Packed pen and notebook, left the library, and headed to her major professor's office.
Knocked, entered at the reply, greeted, and stated her business.
"Professor, I wanted to verify if this solution is correct."
"Hmm?"
Eunbyeol was diligent; her brother was famous.
Plus, she'd visited the office before.
The magic professor smiled, taking the notebook.
But the smile didn't last.
"......Did you come up with this, Student Eunbyeol?"
The professor's face hardened, eyeing her.
Eunbyeol caught on. That was the predatory gaze hunting talented grad students.
"I-I asked my oppa! Just checking, you know."
"Ah, makes sense. An S-Rank hunter, after all."
Eunbyeol shamelessly blamed her brother.
Even she wouldn't believe if someone said Professor Jung Sihyun gave it to her.
"Honestly, impressive. Cleaner and better than my prepared answer. S-Ranks are on another level."
"R-Right? Ahaha..."
That day, Sihyun's casual advice.
Shocked the magic professor and left Eunbyeol sweating bullets.
And sometime later, in the magic major lecture.
With Eunbyeol's okay, the professor revealed the new answer over his own.
Students marveled, etching it into memory.
A flawlessly clear interpretation.
Meanwhile, Sihyun.
Crossing the academy grounds toward home, admiring the sights.
Her eyes caught on students training diligently on the field.
"Are those comfortable...?"
She eyed the girls' outfits.
Some in training wear, others in functional sportswear.
Quite a few in sports leggings, too.
Sihyun paused, tapping her cheek thoughtfully.