Between Me and Ara, Who's the Better Student?
The lesson content was a bit too explicit. It wasn't the kind of thing you could show to just anyone. That's why I'd used Lee Hye-ri as an excuse to kick out Marcson Porter.
I looked at her flushed face.
"That embarrassed?"
"Of course! Just think about it, Teacher. Wearing clothes that show off my whole body, fighting and having them rip apart, and then the punishments where you just... just... do all that stuff..."
"What's wrong with that?"
"I don't know!"
Lee Hye-ri shrieked, puffing out her cheeks. Her reaction was so amusing it made me want to tease her more.
"But if you think about it, it wouldn't be a problem to show most of it, right?"
"W-what did you say?"
"You wore those revealing clothes because you wanted to feel comfortable. The rips happened unavoidably during training... We just have to skip the punishment parts."
"S-stop teasing me."
Her face turned even redder.
"I-I don't want anyone else seeing me like that. You're the only one who needs to see this side of me."
Lee Hye-ri spat out the words in embarrassment, then her eyes flashed as she waved her hands frantically.
"But don't get the wrong idea—that you're someone special to me! Or anything great like that! I-I only said it because you're my teacher! It's just the relationship between a master who teaches and a student who learns!"
"Got it. I understand what you mean, so calm down."
I soothed her as she started to spiral and continued.
"I don't want to show my teaching methods to Marcson either. This is my own secret sauce, my livelihood. Why would I share it?"
"Then why...?"
"Just 'cause. Your embarrassed face is fun to watch."
"Eeeek! Teacher!!!"
Lee Hye-ri balled her fists and pounded my chest. It wasn't a real attack with any killing intent, so I didn't bother dodging.
I asked her, "Marcson—he's the one your brother sent, right?"
"...Probably."
"Looks like your brother worries about you a lot."
"It's because he doesn't trust me."
"Me?"
"No, himself."
"..."
"To my brother, I'm always the little kid who needs protecting. So I'll show him. That I'm not some kid who needs his help anymore—that I'm a proper hunter now..."
Her upward gaze burned with grim determination.
"So, has there been improvement?"
"I managed to deflect a few of Marcson oppa's attacks properly. Mostly I just dodged, but..."
That alone was remarkable growth. Lee Kang-san would be shocked if he saw it. He seemed flexible enough that he might change his mind once he witnessed his sister's progress.
"By the way, the day after tomorrow is our last lesson."
"..."
"You told me before, right? You'd try it for a month. And if there were no results, you'd quit."
"...Yeah."
"So? Any results?"
At my question, Lee Hye-ri nodded.
"Yes. I'm sorry. Our first meeting was so suspicious... I doubted you a bit."
"That's understandable."
I stroked her head. She no longer resisted—in fact, her resistance to my touch had dropped a lot. Probably because our lessons involved so much physical contact.
"Classes start again in three weeks?"
"Yes."
"Time flies."
Mid-August, the peak of summer heat. Vacation was almost over. When the new semester began, the academy would be buzzing for all sorts of reasons. A so-called tank who'd only known dealer skills was returning as the real deal. And with Yoo Ara, the all-purpose rear support who could deal, utility, everything.
Great combo.
It was a perfect balance, no matter who joined as dealer or tank. At least within the academy. Raid parties usually formed in groups of four or five anyway.
"I'm glad my top students, competing for first and second at the academy, want to keep my private lessons."
"You already have two."
"Yeah. You and Yoo Ara."
Hearing that, Lee Hye-ri asked, "So between me and Ara, who's learning better? Who's more talented?"
"What?"
"You've taught us both. Ara was a repeater but now she's number one in the first-years. And me, switching from dealer to tank. Between us, who do you think has more talent?"
Her eyes sparkled. She was asking out of childish desire for praise. But before answering, something occurred to me.
"Aren't you a year younger than Ara?"
"So?"
"Just... if you're younger, doesn't that make her your unnie?"
"Doesn't matter. Same year means same cohort, same friends."
"Is that how the academy works these days?"
"Dunno. But that's how I see it. No need for all that unnie-oppa-hyung-noona stuff between same-grade students."
"Huh."
Maybe her strong pride was kicking in.
"Anyway, answer me already. Who's the better student?"
"Hmm..."
She was expecting a certain answer. But I had no desire to give it. Yoo Ara had overcome her repeater past to become the top student, while Lee Hye-ri was still growing. Despite lacking innate stats, Yoo Ara had claimed first place through skill mastery.
"You really wanna hear it?"
"Yes!"
Ah, she thinks it'll be her. She'd mastered Cheonryu Spear Technique so well, of course she wanted praise.
"Yoo Ara. Ara's better."
"Huh?"
The look on her face was like the sky had fallen.
She stared at me in shock.
"You might grow more in the future, Hye-ri, but right now, Yoo Ara's the superior student."
"But, but... I'm learning right now too..."
"Exactly. That's why I said you can improve. Someday you might even surpass her."
Her pride was too strong—overly so. Sometimes I worried her excessive confidence might cause trouble. A little humbling wouldn't hurt.
Lee Hye-ri, who had been staring at me, bowed her head.
"So Ara's the better student?"
"Yeah."
"No! You're wrong, Teacher! I'll prove it! That I'm the better student than Ara!"
Fighting spirit ignited in her eyes.
It went up. Just telling her Yoo Ara was better had boosted her conquest rate. Interesting. What was she thinking?
Could it be...?
A word flashed through my mind: dependency.
[Strong dependency on Lee Kang-san]
[Reason for becoming a tank heavily influenced by brother]
[To ensure smooth education, reduce dependency on brother]
That word had caught my eye when I'd appraised her stats by touching her body. Her obsession with proving her excellence—was it a side effect of her fading reliance on Lee Kang-san?
If so, I could use her growing dependence on me to erase that brotherly hold.
Then...
Lee Hye-ri would become our guild's unbreakable gatekeeper.
An evasion tank with S+ potential. A main tank who could deal and tank. Her presence alone would make the guild shine.
So, a little prod was in order.
"Fine. Show me. If you do, I'll give you a gift."
"A gift?"
"Yeah. A Wish Voucher."
"Wish Voucher..."
"You could wish for a day off private lessons, or to change the punishment style—whatever."
"Only lesson-related stuff?"
"Nah, anything you want, I'll make it happen."
"...Got it."
She bit her lip, as if resolving something.
And then I saw it.
Mentioning the Wish Voucher bumped it up another 2%. What on earth did she want to wish for?
"Anyway, see you the day after tomorrow. Keep practicing, don't skip just 'cause your brother's friend showed up."
"I won't!"
"Good."
Having stoked her motivation, I left the house.
Nearby, at a café not far from her place, I spotted Marcson. Holding an espresso cup in hands too big for it, he waved at me.
"You've earned a lot of trust, huh."
"...You didn't leave?"
"Shortening your speech?"
"Earlier, I treated you politely as my student's acquaintance. Now that the misunderstanding's cleared and everything's resolved, no need for formalities."
"Everything resolved?"
"Didn't you see there's no issue with me teaching Hye-ri? Plus, she already proved her progress to you."
Marcson had gone easy, but he was among the fastest S-rank dealers. Deflecting his attacks meant she'd shown her potential.
"Heard our student deflected attacks from the mad dog Marcson."
"You heard?"
"Just now, from Hye-ri."
"Hah. She's grown shockingly fast. Shockingly..."
He squeezed his eyes shut.
"But I'm in a position to report to her brother. I need certainty..."
"She's shown this much—need more?"
"What?"
"She's walking her own path, not her brother's. With conviction and real progress."
Time for a hard line. With his hostility toward me gone and her growth proven, it'd land.
"How long you gonna hover? She's not a kid. Not some minor who can't fend for herself. She's an adult, finished regular classes, choosing her way. If her own brother won't trust her, who will?"
"..."
"Fine, sending you to check if I was harmful—I get that. But she's shown results and faith in her student-teacher bond. If you still doubt me like this, I might have to quit the lessons."
Who'd her anger turn to if I quit? He knew.
Marcson shut his mouth, looking punched.
"Fair point. Hye-ri's an adult entering the academy."
"If she veers wrong, I'll correct her as her teacher. Unless you're planning to dictate her path through all of school, back off."
"...No argument."
He nodded, downing the rest of his espresso.
"Ugh, bitter as hell. Fine, I agree. If Hye-ri doesn't want me observing, no point forcing it."
Standing, he handed me a white card.
"My business card. Keep it."
"Fancy card."
"Liked your backbone—not buckling even in front of me."
"Contact here if needed?"
"Of course. If anyone's messing with you, say Saint Guild's Marcson has your back."
"Quick switch."
"What can I do? If it's what Hye-ri wants, and you're not teaching her forever, gotta respect it."
His nod came with a heavy gaze.
"Where to now?"
"Back home. Work's done, and you're harmless."
"Speak well of me to Lee Kang-san."
"Heh, don't worry. I'll vouch you're raising Hye-ri right."
Marcson left. Watching his back, I swallowed a sigh and headed home.
On the way, I thought, If I had a skill to fool him...
I could've dodged his suspicions easily.
Skills:
Hypnosis (S) - Control desired targets.
If only I had Han Mi-na's skill...
Such doubts would've vanished in an instant.
This would happen more as I taught more students—more flies buzzing around. Marcson was simple enough to fool, but if Lee Kang-san himself came?
Full-on war.
Couldn't get caught by Daesung yet. And for that...
I needed Han Mi-na.
How to meet again?
We'd agreed to reconnect over compensation. Grab the chance then.
Passing the convenience store by my place on the way back.
"U-um, ex-excuse me..."
The weird girl from before—the one who'd taken the bracelet—grabbed my sleeve.
"I-I have something to s-say..."
It was Han Mi-na.