Episode 17: Tutoring Contract

"The Academy must be in chaos right now because of the 1st Regular Examination."

I stretched out my arms.

"Ughhhhh!"

Sitting down for so long made me restless.

"Phew."

This is why I hate being an appraiser.

It was insanely boring.

They don't pay that much, and the work is fucking boring.

At least while teaching Yoo Ara recently, I felt a sense of nostalgia for my Hunter days for the first time in a while...

But that wasn't enough.

No, actually, teaching her made me think of my past Hunter days even more.

Going into dungeons, smashing monsters' heads in, crushing Villains who tried to mess with me, and dealing with Hunters from other guilds who were just being annoying—I felt alive every time I did that.

"Though I can't feel that anymore."

Of course, it was possible to beat up Villains.

If I did it secretly, that is.

The people I shouldn't use my power on are civilians, officially registered Hunters, and trainee Hunters.

But Villains were fair game.

There's no one to stop me from beating up Villains.

However.

The part that bothered me was that I couldn't take credit for it.

I don't want to work my ass off just to feed it to some other bastards.

Giving away the fruits of my labor to someone else isn't my style.

But what if my student makes it all the way to the graduation year?

That's a different story.

If I do the subjugation and pass the credit to them, their fame will become my power.

Several conditions were needed to graduate safely from the Academy.

To name the three most representative ones:

Most people usually chose method 1 or 3.

Because they're the safest.

Hunting monsters with a guild or party is much more patterned than dealing with Villains.

There are too many types of Villains, and their wickedness goes beyond the limit, so D-rank or higher Villains are usually handled by pros.

'I can catch D-ranks when the kids are about to graduate, and after they graduate, I can catch C-ranks and B-ranks step by step.'

You might ask if that's corruption, but it's fine.

They'll be recognized anyway if we team up and go around together.

I just have to teach them everything from A to Z about Villains while we catch them, right?

"Whoever it is, they're lucky."

Yep, absolutely.

However, waiting for Yoo Ara to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠reach her graduation year takes too long.

It would be better if a student who is already in their graduation year just appeared.

That's relying too much on luck, though.

'Unless...'

It would be nice if a skilled person around the 4th year of the Academy came to me.

For example, kids like Lee Hye-ri?

Those kinds of irregulars are fine to let catch Villains.

Because they have active-duty level skills even without attending the Academy.

Those kids are the type who enter the Academy to maximize their strengths and build connections in their own way.

'They wouldn't come, would they.'

It's a shame, but it's easier to just give up on those kinds of kids.

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

Time to sign an extension contract.

Gotta secure the tuition fee up to the 2nd exam, right?

"How much should I set it at..."

Lee Hye-ri.

The younger sister of world-class tanker Lee Gang-san.

Unlike Lee Gang-san, who was a natural-born tanker, Lee Hye-ri was born with a talent for being an agile dealer more than anyone else.

-She could become the world's best dealer.

-I look forward to seeing her partner with Lee Gang-san.

-A tanker brother and a dealer sister, isn't that an interesting combination?

-If she goes as a dealer, at least an A+ is possible.

Everyone around her praised her, saying she would become a genius dealer.

But contrary to the expectations of those around her, she wanted to be a tanker.

A tanker who protects countless dealers, just like her brother.

"Everyone stand behind me!"

His figure, holding a giant shield and blocking the monsters' attacks, was so cool.

There was only one reason she wanted to be a tanker.

Lee Gang-san and Lee Hye-ri, whose parents both died because of a Gate.

Even in difficult circumstances, Lee Gang-san raised Lee Hye-ri, who was much younger, like a sister and a daughter.

She knows.

How much her oppa suffered to raise her.

A Gate appeared in front of the two of them again.

The hateful Gate that killed their parents.

Monsters poured out.

That was when Lee Gang-san awakened.

A giant shield appeared in his hands, and he stood behind the shield, protecting his younger sister, Hye-ri.

Whether his own body was wounded or not, he endured all the pain in front to protect his sister.

That memory remained deep in Hye-ri's heart.

She wanted to be that kind of person too.

A person who could shoulder the pain in front of everyone.

She wanted to shoulder the pain her oppa was receiving instead of him.

If I become the best tanker, he won't have to do that painful work anymore.

That's why even after awakening as a dealer, she only wanted to be a tanker.

"Why do you want to be a tanker?"

"Because I want to be like you, oppa."

"No. Be a dealer. That's your talent, and it's the right job for you. So give up on the idea of being a tanker."

However, even Lee Gang-san, whom she thought was her only ally, dismissed her opinion about wanting to be a tanker.

That only fueled her defiance, and she entered the Academy as a tanker.

It was an unprecedented event.

Lee Hye-ri's switch to tanker, which was expected to make her a promising star dealer, caused a stir.

However, when she was soon placed in Class D, all that interest disappeared.

Even her brother turned his attention away from her.

"I'll show them."

That I can be a tanker too.

I'll show them that I can become a famous tanker like my oppa.

Determination alone couldn't accomplish anything.

Her grades were disastrous.

She was skilled at suppressing opponents in 1-on-1, but she couldn't draw monster aggro at all, and she often caused her party to be wiped out.

No one wanted to form a party with her.

That's how the group of losers was formed.

The repeater Yoo Ara, the troublemaker Jang Won-hoo, and the weirdo Lee Hye-ri.

It was hopeless.

A party with Yoo Ara, who couldn't even use her ability properly.

She thought everything was over.

Even if she did well, she wouldn't be able to raise her exam scores.

But what do you know?

Yoo Ara's weekly and monthly evaluations were overwhelming. She defeated monsters faster than any other dealer and saved civilians in the simulation.

She also showed considerable skill in multi-on-multi fights between Hunters.

Lee Hye-ri knew.

How incompetent she was.

She was so weak that she wondered how she even got into the Academy.

What is the reason she got this strong in such a short time?

She was curious.

Very curious.

So she decided to get close to her.

No matter how much she asked, Yoo Ara wouldn't tell her.

'How cowardly...'

Does it hurt to tell me?

I just want to get better too.

"I'm asking how your grades improved in such a short time!"

"I can't tell you."

"Even if I beg like this?"

"Of course!"

Yoo Ara's face turned red.

Why was she turning so red when she only asked?

"Then what do I have to do for you to tell me?"

"I told you I won't tell you!"

"If you tell me, I'll definitely reward you. Or how about we exchange information? I have information I can share too. For example..."

"N-no way!"

Yoo Ara was desperate for some reason.

She waved her arms around and just kept repeating that she absolutely couldn't.

"You'd be tempted if you heard it. I know guild information, monster habits, and various other things that Academy students can't know. If you want, I can even introduce you to a Psychokinesis Hunter I heard about from my oppa before."

Introducing a Psychokinesis Hunter.

It was Lee Hye-ri's trump card.

Because advice from an active-duty Hunter is precious to students.

Indeed, Yoo Ara flinched.

But soon she shook her head and shouted.

"Th-that's something I can ask my tutor about... Ah."

Yoo Ara shut her mouth tight.

"You're getting tutoring, huh?"

"No. What I just said. It was a slip of the tongue. I meant I can ask my department's teacher. Ha, hahah."

She looked like she was trying to clumsily cover it up.

It was certain.

Yoo Ara is definitely getting tutoring.

"Who is it? What kind of teacher? Tell me too."

"Oh, my. Is it already this time! ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I have to go learn Introduction to Gates! I'll get going now."

Yoo Ara stood up from her seat and ran away in a hurry.

Her movements were so fast that Lee Hye-ri couldn't even react for a moment.

"I take that class too..."

Lee Hye-ri muttered, watching Yoo Ara's retreating back.

"So she's getting tutoring, huh."

She felt good because she felt like she had caught a glimpse of part of Yoo Ara's secret.

Now it was simple.

Following her to see where she goes after school.

Lee Hye-ri was ready to do anything to become a good tanker.

"Hmm..."

I came today to talk about extending Yoo Ara's tutoring.

Because I have to decide whether to continue the lessons or not based on the extension.

But her behavior was strange today of all days.

"Si-woo ssaem, did you happen to see a strange woman on your way here?"

"A strange woman?"

"Yes, a woman with long straight hair, a good figure, and a delicate look, but she looked like her soul had left her body."

"I didn't."

"Really? Phew, that's a relief."

As soon as I opened the door, she said something like that.

"It's strange... I feel like someone is watching me from ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠somewhere."

She even looked out the window while saying that.

Something was weird.

What is it?

Is she sensitive because of the tutoring extension?

"Why have you been acting like that since earlier? Like a puppy that needs to take a shit."

"N-needing to take a shit? Is that something you say to a girl?"

"What's wrong with saying that?"

"N-nothing. It's just... I'm a bit anxious."

"Is someone following you around or something?"

She couldn't speak.

"If that's the case, tell me right away, and I'll find a way to solve it."

I can't beat up civilians, but potential criminals are always fair game.

Daring to stalk my student, I can't forgive that.

"It's nothing. But what brings you here today? It's not a lesson day."

"Because my contract with Bong-sik's tutoring has ended."

At those words, Yoo Ara looked at me with a face like the world was collapsing.

Her pupils shrank and her eyes widened.

"I-it's, it's over? D-did I do something wrong?"

"It's not that. We need to talk about renewing the contract. The original contract was up to the 1st Regular Examination, remember?"

"Ah, I'm sorry. I forgot."

The fee up to the 1st Regular Examination was 5 million won.

Bong-sik sunbae said he gets 8 million won for the 2nd Regular Examination, right?

He said it was cheaper than the Academy tuition of 20 million won per semester, so it was fine, but money wasn't my goal in the first place.

So I was going to ask for a reasonable amount.

"800 is probably not enough, right? Since your skills are so outstanding... How about 1, 1200? I'm a scholarship recipient this time, you see? I think I can somehow manage to get 12 million won with the scholarship. So..."

Was it because of the large amount?

Yoo Ara's hands were trembling as she spoke.

It must be an incredibly burdensome amount given her situation.

Even ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠if she gets a scholarship, giving away 12 million won just like that isn't easy.

'I know that feeling.'

I didn't intend to take a large amount of money from her either.

I didn't want to lose a capable student because of a lack of money.

"5 million is enough."

"Yes?"

Yoo Ara blinked and looked at me.

"The tutoring fee will be fixed at the 5 million won fixed amount we contracted at the beginning."

"Really? But with your skills, 5 million would be far from enough..."

But it's problematic not to take anything at all.

It's a matter of mindset.

This is a legitimate transaction.

The moment I do the tutoring for free, this stops being a transaction between me and Yoo Ara.

Yoo Ara must never take this tutoring for granted.

This isn't charity.

That 5 million won is the minimum price for my advice.

Of course, she will make up for the insufficient tutoring fee in other ways instead of money.

Raising her is one process for my future revenge against Daeseong.

Yoo Ara will become a warrior who will fight for me in the future.

So I have to set conditions that force her to fight for me.

"But there's a condition."

"What is it?"

"When you graduate, you become a member of the guild I'm going to create."

"Are you the guild master?"

"Probably?"

"Okay. If I can learn from you with that, I'll do it."

"Then let's stamp the contract first."

...<Remainder omitted>.

Yoo Ara checked the contract and pressed her thumbprint on it.

Yoo Ara will be the first guild member of our guild that I will establish in the future.