Chapter 83

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: penny

Chapter: 83

Chapter Title: The Female Professor Likes Handshakes Suspiciously Much

-----------------------------------------------------------------

……It's Seridwen Evelyn.

The moment I felt a surge of joy, I smiled, but as she drew closer, my smile faded.

Is this really the Seridwen I know?

The intimidation is overwhelming.

Everyone gulped dryly, watching her majestic stride.

With a black coat draped over her shoulders, she entered like a superstar, flanked by Hunter Association officials, Stardust Corporation reps, and a burly man who looked like her manager.

"……First time seeing her in person. She's a Master Hunter."

Yuuna couldn't even close her mouth.

"She's gorgeous."

Admiring gasps erupted from all around.

"Why is the 'Empress' here at a second-year exchange match…?"

"Aren't we in for a bloodbath today?"

"This is bad… I just wanna stay home…."

Seridwen stood tall in the center of the training ground, glancing around briefly before her eyes met mine.

From that moment, system messages kept ringing out.

……?

Unfavorable precursor quests were canceling one after another.

Thanks to the fondness built up early from Personality Excretion…?

Seridwen gave a small wave in my direction. See, I wasn't seeing things….

She's looking right at me.

"Wheee!!"

"It's Professor Seridwen!"

"Master Seridwen! Can I get your autograph?!"

The guys near me raised their hands and cheered in unison.

Seridwen responded with a wry smile.

"Sh-she waved at us, right? What do we do!"

Even Yuuna was thrilled.

This wasn't the vibe for welcoming a regular professor….

Is this the same Seridwen who used to snuggle into my arms?

"Is she really that big a deal?"

Yuuna chattered excitedly.

"Seridwen Evelyn is a legend! She's the only Korean among the seven Master Hunters in the world!"

"Seven in the world?"

The scale was too massive for me to grasp.

The sole Korean among those seven?

"If an SS-rank Hunter is like that, what about SSS-rank?"

Yuuna tilted her head at my words.

"What are you talking about? There are no ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠SSS-rank Hunters."

"……Huh?"

"Seridwen Evelyn is Korea's strongest Hunter… Not even another SS-rank can match her! Her market value is 23.4 billion…."

What? 23.4 billion?

Not won, but… coins?

I recalled what Seridwen had said when we met before.

"If I joined now, it'd be too unfair to the others."

……Exactly.

Way more than I thought.

Seridwen had accomplished everything other heroines could dream of….

Feeding me for life was nothing to her, my big sis.

How many guys would kill to be her dog?

If she made you one?

She could buy a luxury mansion in Seoul with a garden spanning hundreds of pyeong and call it your doghouse.

'W-wait a sec.'

Did I creampie someone like that right at the game start?

Knock her down with Personality Excretion… Turn her into jelly and force pervy fetishes on her….

Whoa….

If Seridwen wanted revenge, I'd be….

But that's not the issue.

Our most recent encounter flashed through my mind.

What's with you getting touchy with a D-rank student in an alley!

I knew she was dangerous, but I didn't realize it was like crossing a thousand-foot cliff on a glass bridge.

The scandal photo of us could've headlined the news. My vision blurred.

"Sanghyeok? What's wrong? You look pale."

"……Just some old memories resurfacing."

"I'm going to rape you, teacherrr."

"With your trashy… power… you abducted me…?"

"What if I did?"

"Nngh♡♡♡"

This wasn't a fantasy.

All real conversations. Cold sweat dripped down my back.

The Goddess removed the difficulty. order never mattered.

"I'm Seridwen Evelyn, in charge of today's exchange match. Nice to meet you."

Cheers poured from the students.

I swallowed hard and clapped.

"Since some of you are new to exchange matches, I should explain first."

A gravity wave appeared in the center of the training ground.

Seridwen approached and lightly touched it.

The wave distorted, forming a more complex pattern.

'Interfering with the gravity wave directly….'

Is that even possible?

Everyone's shock suggested it wasn't something just anyone could do.

"Let's start with the basics. You call this a 'dungeon,' but I see it as a single 'rule'."

This was a first for such a lecture. Not a sound.

Everyone was incredibly focused.

Every word….

From someone whose influence was worth billions.

Thinking that way made me tense.

What face should I make when I see her next…?

The Seridwen who begged for pets felt like someone from another world.

In that distance, the Master Hunter's lecture continued.

"In this space, you're forced to obey 'rules different from the real world.' Understanding that is key to becoming a higher-level Hunter."

You realize it faster with guns.

Yuuna said it: the more complex the machinery, the more it fails under bullshit restrictions.

Dungeon air bad for machines? Bad compatibility with mana?

That doesn't explain magic beasts shrugging off bullets while swords barely block them.

Ah.

There's a rule like that here.

Seridwen put words to the instinctive discomfort I'd felt but couldn't explain.

Most dungeons don't just break machines often.

They impose a 'rule' that makes using mechanical devices inconvenient.

Seridwen was teaching us that dungeons were rules incarnate.

"You first- and second-years have probably experienced certain weapon types getting nerfed. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠High-rank dungeons amplify those restrictions.

That's why the Academy recommends basic cold weapons like swords, bows, and spears."

Fewer rules reject those, apparently.

Swords felt as reliable as a hearty bowl of kkuk. Never saw them get nerfed.

If swords were like guns, they'd chip or break easily, but they didn't.

Proof swords are high-value weapons inside dungeons.

"……I want you all to develop the strength to survive in the domains of outer gods imposing all sorts of rules—through this exchange match."

Seridwen smiled brightly.

"So you can handle even tough spots with ease."

Yuuna flinched.

"Sanghyeok. We might not make our date today…."

"Why?"

"……Thinking about it, Professor Seridwen's classes are notoriously tough, even for third-years… We might be stuck in the dungeon for days."

……A chill ran down my spine.

"From now on…."

Seridwen touched the gravity wave.

A violently turbulent airflow exploded outward.

"Kyaaah!"

"Ugh, argh!"

"I'll create a composite gravity wave you can all dive into."

……Create one?

"This is a true anomalous gravity wave. Students of Etsol Academy."

Krzzzzzt…!!

I thought the space itself cracked.

In the indoor training ground that usually formed up to 30 gravity waves, a single massive one dominated the area.

Just looking at the rippling currents choked me.

First time seeing an A-rank.

And unlimited participants.

Low rarity and aberration meant Seridwen was firmly controlling the variables.

What would come out in there? What dangers awaited us?

"More eyes on you than usual. Great chance to prove your worth. But if you're too scared, feel free to sit it out.

Those opting out, left exit. Participants, gather right for registration."

Clap!

Seridwen clapped to liven the mood.

"Move!"

Students bustled about.

'More forfeits than expected.'

I'd have bailed at stat 5 too.

Now, I felt ready.

"Kinda wondered why there were so many cameras…."

"Yuuna, we're going in, right?"

"Obviously! Missing an exchange match hosted by Professor Seridwen is a once-in-a-lifetime shot."

"Hena?"

"……."

Hena looked terrified.

Honestly, I couldn't guarantee 100% protection in an A-rank.

She had to steel herself.

"……Honestly, I'm scared. I don't wanna go."

"Hena, it's okay! We'll protect you. I've got your back, and so does Sanghyeok…."

"Yuuna. Shh."

Yuuna clamped her mouth shut.

Time to hear Hena out.

"Can't we just skip super dangerous dungeons? Make decent money somewhere safe and call it good… That's what I think…."

Hena and Yuuna were different.

Tell Yuuna about higher risk, higher reward?

She'd be at the entrance waving for me.

The perfect dungeon wife!

But Hena didn't want nightmare ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠risks.

She wasn't a pro Hunter—just a timid Academy student.

Quitting to be a housewife wasn't wrong.

Not every elite Academy kid hustled like Yuuna.

Those risking life for success are always few.

But still.

This was why I'd done what I did.

"But I get why Sanghyeok spent precious coins to boost my stats… the meaning behind it."

Yeah. You do.

One shot at Academy life—I want us all together.

I pulled her along knowing this day would come.

"I'll… go as far as Sanghyeok pulled me, to places I couldn't reach alone."

Love that.

I squeezed Hena's hand tight.

That's why spending on you girls is never a waste.

You get why I spent those coins.

"Let's go, Hena."

"Yeah!"

"Even if you retire from hunting, I'll take care of you."

Hena blushed to her ears.

"W-was that… a proposal…?"

Yuuna tugged my sleeve hard.

Second girlfriend's feeling pouty.

"……What about me? You only sweet-talk when it's just us two?"

"Our princess. We've got a date planned—let's cheer you up."

Yuuna's lips curved up uncontrollably.

She loves it.

"Princess, huh? Say it more."

"Let's rename Masterpiece too. 'Yukihime (Snow Princess)' to 'Onahime'?"

"Cute!"

See? Hena agrees.

"……Wh-what are you pervs doing to my Yukihime?! Nyaa!!"

Yuuna hugged her sword and turned away.

Onahime's perfect, though.

Anyway, our Onahole Squad….

Lined up to register for the A-rank.

Stella and Serena were at the desk too.

Serena had her friends. The ones from before.

Pink hair, big tits, YouTuber—Isolde, right?

She spotted us and bowed with her friend.

Other side: Sarika?

Cute with brown ponytail.

Bowed 90 degrees at me.

'So cute….'

Fresh first-year charm.

But my little sis is the cutest.

Stella turned away coldly, like what're you staring at?….

KakaoTalk was all Oppa thoughts.

Serena chatted with her friends, then spotted us.

First-years stuck with first-years, second with second—hard to approach other groups, but signaling from afar was fine.

"Oh! Who do we have here? Handsome Kim Sanghyeok?"

Huh?

A Student Council member at registration.

Seen her before?

When the president stripped me bare, she was gushing about how handsome I was….

"Evangeline?"

"Oh my. You remember my name?"

Evangeline had lush wavy brown hair like a graceful noble, a gentle face, and big tits.

Mid-chest size rivaled the president's. Impressive.

"Register your squad here. Squad name, then members below…."

Slide.

Evangeline placed her hand over mine on the paper.

So soft….

"Senior, sorry, but why hold hands during registration?"

Yuuna bristled behind me.

"Oops. Girlfriend? Sorry~~."

Awkward spot—no choice but to grin sheepishly.

Even as h-game Sanghyeok, couldn't say "Give me your number if you're interested" with all these eyes.

"President not here?"

"She's out heroing. Can't let villains rampage today!"

"……Got it."

A bit down about missing Isabella.

"Oh? That face'll make your girl jealous…?"

Cough.

I schooled my expression and grabbed Yuuna's hand tight.

Playing it cool.

"Kids. Squad name?"

"Sanghyeok decides. He's the leader."

Yuuna threw me under the bus.

"Not you?"

"I'll switch if you're not confident~."

No backing down now.

Leader Kim Sanghyeok, Squad name Onahole.

"Onahole Squad, please."

Yuuna flinched.

"……You're really going with that?"

"Just the squad for an Onahole Collector. What's the issue?"

"But…."

I knew the bad rumors.

Me D-rank, Yuuna sponsoring and toying with me.

Whatever. Leader or not, haters gonna hate.

"Ignore the stares. Focus on us."

Using my Academy-famous "Onahole Collector" Kim Sanghyeok rep like this.

No matter how they trash-talk, I'll flirt with my girls—a rebellion.

"……Everyone'll know it's Kim Sanghyeok the Onahole Collector's squad. Hehe."

Yuuna laughed.

Then I saw Seridwen heading toward the gathered squads.

……No. Straight to me.

Yuuna and Hena froze.

Even I was overwhelmed by the "Red-Eyed Empress"'s aura.

Business mode was no joke. For real.

"……Even D-ranks participating?"

Seridwen spoke like seeing me for the first time.

"……D-rank, but I've trained hard."

"I like that spirit. Your name?"

"Kim Sanghyeok."

Seridwen rolled her eyes around.

Suddenly awkward coughs, then….

"…W-well… How about a handshake? It's been ages since I met such a spirited student… For old times' sake?"

……Super awkward.

This hand-fetish freak!

Way too forced!

Just drag me to the bathroom for pets!

No, maybe not.

"……This is painfully awkward."

"Come on. Shake. ……Grip it tight, don't hold back."

Seridwen extended her hand.

I grabbed it firmly.

"……Haa♡"

"No weird noises, Professor…."

Good thing no sunglasses—her melting face could've gone viral.

You missed me, huh.

Dale at the gun shop said she went to see me.

I wasn't mentally prepped to see her.

I squeezed.

"Honored you think well of me, Master Seridwen."

"……Y-yeah… That's it…♡ Do your best♡"

Squish♡

Squish squish squish♡

The suspiciously long handshake ended, and Seridwen left without glancing at other students.

……….