Tutoring Contract

"By now, the academy must be in chaos because of the first regular exam."

I stretched languidly.

"Nngh!"

Sitting still for so long had me itching all over.

"Hoo."

This was why ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I hated appraisal work. It was mind-numbingly boring. They didn't pay much, and the job was utterly dull. Teaching Yoo Ara lately had given me a taste of my old hunter days, but...

It wasn't enough. No, teaching her had only stirred up memories of the past—storming into dungeons, smashing monster skulls, crushing amateur villains who dared to charge in recklessly. Every clash with those panting hunters from other guilds made me feel alive.

"But I can't feel that anymore."

Of course, I could still smash villains. Secretly, that is. The people I couldn't touch were civilians, licensed hunters, and trainees. Villains, though? Fair game. No one would stop me from taking them down.

The problem was, the credit wouldn't go to me. I wasn't about to bust my ass just to feed the glory to someone else. Handing a dead pheasant to a dog? Not my style.

But what if my students made it to graduation?

That changed everything. If I took down villains and handed the achievements to them, their fame would become my power.

To graduate from the academy unscathed, students needed to meet several conditions. The big three were:

1. Team up with an academy-announced hunter guild and earn a passing certificate.

2. Capture villains ranked E or below registered with a hunter guild.

3. Join a non-guild party as an apprentice and clear three dungeons.

Most picked option 1 or 3. They were the safest. Hunting monsters with guilds or parties followed predictable patterns. Villains were too varied, their malice unpredictable—anything D-rank or higher was left to the pros.

By graduation time, I can feed them D-ranks. After that, step them up to C, then B.

Corrupt? Maybe. But it was fine. As long as we teamed up, it counted. I'd teach them everything about villains from A to Z while we hunted.

"Whoever gets that deal is blessed."

Damn right.

But waiting for Yoo Ara to reach senior year would take too long. A ready-made senior would be perfect.

Too much luck-dependent, though.

Or better yet...

If a fourth-year powerhouse came to me. Someone irregular like Lee Hye-ri? Those types could handle villains no problem. They had pro-level skills without even needing the academy—to maximize their strengths and build connections, that's why they enrolled.

Fat chance.

Best to give up on pipe dreams.

"Let's focus on raising Yoo Ara properly."

Time to extend the contract. Gotta secure fees through the second exam too.

"How much to charge..."

Lee Hye-ri. The sister of world-class tank Lee Kang-san.

Unlike her brother, born to tank, Hye-ri had talent for the nimblest dealer role.

"You could be the world's top dealer."

"Can't wait to see you partner with Kang-san."

"Tank brother and dealer sister—what a fun combo."

"As a dealer, at least A+ is guaranteed."

Everyone praised her as ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a genius dealer-in-waiting.

But against all expectations, she wanted to be a tank. Like her brother, shielding countless dealers.

"Get behind me—all of you!"

His massive shield blocking monster assaults was just too cool.

The spark for her tank dreams was simple. Both parents lost to gates. Despite hardship, Kang-san raised his much-younger sister like a daughter.

She knew his struggles.

Then gates struck again—the hated killers of their parents. Monsters poured out.

That's when Kang-san awakened. A giant shield materialized in his hands. He stood before her, protecting his sister no matter the wounds he took, enduring every agony upfront.

That memory burned deep in Hye-ri.

She wanted to be that person. One who bore others' pain at the front. To spare her brother that suffering.

If I'm the best tank, he won't have to hurt anymore.

Even after awakening as a dealer, she fixated on tanking.

"Why tank?"

"I want to be like Oppa."

"No. Be a dealer. That's your talent, your path. Drop the tank idea."

Even Kang-san, her supposed ally, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠dismissed her wish.

Fueled by rebellion, she entered the academy as a tank aspirant.

It caused a stir. The promising star dealer turning tank? Waves everywhere.

But when she landed in D-class, attention vanished. Even her brother lost interest.

"I'll show you all."

That I can tank too. That I can be a famous tank like Oppa.

Resolve alone achieved nothing. Her grades were abysmal. Great at 1v1 takedowns, but she couldn't pull aggro, wiping parties left and right. No one wanted her.

Thus, the loser squad formed: repeater Yoo Ara, troublemaker Jang Won-hoo, weirdo Lee Hye-ri.

Despair. Partying with Ara, who couldn't wield her powers? Done for. No way to boost scores.

But then? Yoo Ara dominated weekly and monthly evals. Faster than any dealer at dropping monsters, saving sim civilians, holding her own in hunter skirmishes.

Hye-ri knew her own incompetence. How had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠this weakling, barely academy-worthy, grown so fast?

Curiosity burned. She befriended her.

Yoo Ara wouldn't spill, no matter what.

Coward...

What harm in sharing? We could both improve.

"How'd your grades skyrocket so fast?"

"Can't tell you."

"Please?"

"Obviously not!"

Yoo Ara flushed beet red. Just from asking?

"Then what'll make you tell?"

"I'm not telling!"

"I'll pay properly. Or trade info? I know stuff too. Like..."

"N-No way!"

Yoo Ara flailed desperately, repeating "no."

"You'd be tempted. Guild intel, monster habits, academy secrets. Even introduce you to a telekinesis hunter Oppa mentioned once."

Telekinesis hunter intro—Hye-ri's killer move. Pro advice was gold for trainees.

Ara flinched... then shook her head, yelling.

"J-Just ask our tutor... Ack."

She clamped her mouth shut.

"You're getting tutored?"

"N-No. Slip of the tongue. Meant ask our prof. Ha, haha."

Lame cover-up. Confirmed: tutored.

"Who? What tutor? Tell me."

"Oh gosh, it's this late already! Gotta go to Gate Theory. Bye!"

Yoo Ara bolted. So fast Hye-ri froze for a second.

"I'm in that class too..."

Hye-ri muttered at her retreating back.

"Tutored, huh."

Peeking her rival's secret felt good. Simple now: tail her after school.

To be a great tank, she'd do anything.

"Hm..."

I'd come to discuss extending Yoo Ara's lessons. Needed to decide on future sessions.

But she was acting weird today.

"Siu-ssi, did you see any strange woman on the way here?"

"Strange woman?"

"Yeah, long straight hair, great figure, kinda frail-looking but with this spaced-out vibe."

"Nope."

"Really? Phew, good."

First words after opening the door.

"Something's off... I feel eyes on me."

She even checked the window.

What was up? Overthinking the extension?

"What's with you? Like a puppy desperate to poop."

"P-Poop again? You can't say that to a girl!"

"Why not."

"Ah, nothing. Just... uneasy."

"Someone stalking you?"

She hesitated.

"If so, tell me now. I'll handle it."

Civilians off-limits, but would-be criminals? Anytime. Stalking my student? Unforgivable.

"No. But why're you here? Not lesson day."

"My contract with Bong-sik hyung ended."

Her face crumpled like the world ended. Pupils shrank, eyes widened.

"E-End? Did I do something wrong?"

"Nah. Renewal talk. Original covered up to first exam."

"S-Sorry. Forgot."

5 million won to first exam. Hyung said 8 for second.

Cheaper than 20 million semester tuition, he said. But money wasn't my goal.

I'd aimed fair price, but...

"8's too low for your skills, right? How about 12? I'm scholarship pick this time—can scrape 12 million. So..."

Her hands shook from the sum. Huge burden, even with aid.

I get it.

I didn't want her big bucks either. No losing talent over cash.

"5 million's fine."

"Huh?"

She blinked at me.

"Fixed at original 5 million per exam."

"Really? But your level deserves way more..."

Free was no good. Mindset issue. This was a transaction. Make it free, it stops being one. She'd take it for granted. Not charity. Those 5 million validated my advice.

Of course, she'd cover shortfalls other ways.

Raising her was step one to revenge on Daesung. She'd be my warrior, fighting for me.

So, bind her tight.

"One condition."

"What?"

"After graduation, join the guild I'll form."

"You'll be guild master?"

"Probably."

"Got it. If I can keep learning from you, deal."

"Then stamp the contract."

Yoo Ara checked the contract and stamped her seal.

She'd be the first member of the guild I'd build in the future.