Ch.4444. Eun Serin’s Test

In the department head’s office, a commotion was unfolding.

Ariel was pushing more aggressively than I had expected.

“No possibility? Do Jonghyun is a top student in the entire school and he’s helpful to us! What? It’s just the beginning? Jonghyun has survived multiple attacks at this academy. Like with Sung Minwoo and this time too. How can you say he’s not helpful?”

“No, Miss Ariel. Please calm down.”

Looking at the department head’s sweaty face, I felt relieved. This is working.

Ariel confronted the department head directly to his face.

“I’ll vouch for him. For Do Jonghyun. But you’re just kicking him out without reason? Does this academy have no eye for talent?”

“Um… w-well… I’ll think about it for now.”

The department head backed down, and we left his office.

Ariel gave me a thumbs up.

“Grateful? But I won’t hear you say thanks. There’s no reason for you to drop out. That’s for certain.”

“Well, thanks anyway.”

“I told you I don’t need thanks. This is my judgment. Anyway, just work hard so you don’t have to hear such nonsense again.”

Ariel waved her hand and left coolly. That was pretty cool of her.

Anyway, the midterm exams passed without any issues.

What happened during this period was that people from the White Dragon Guild came to guide Seol Yuhwa, who had been officially recruited.

For first-years and others, this would seem like a big deal.

Seol Yuhwa had agreed to officially join in three years and was receiving additional training.

So I didn’t get to meet her often.

The only times we met were occasionally during solo simulation practices.

“Congratulations. I heard the White Dragon Guild is recruiting you. I’m jealous.”

“It’s not just my doing. It’s because you helped me. Like with Raiki, I got this opportunity thanks to you.”

Seol Yuhwa is truly kind. Compared to Ariel, this is definitely different.

She’s humble too.

“By the way, I heard Ariel gave you trouble during midterms?”

“Oh, that? But I also received help because of it. It’s mutual assistance.”

“I wish I had more time. I’m so busy.”

“That’s actually a good thing.”

It’s similar to how freelancers benefit from having more work.

Being busy with the White Dragon Guild’s training is a good thing.

“Yeah, being busy is good. But the opportunity came, so I’m going to stick with it until the end.”

Those who seize opportunities when they come win. Seol Yuhwa has seized hers.

On the other hand, where will Ariel go?

By unwritten rule, the top three guilds each select one person in order of their ranking.

Since White Dragon took Seol Yuhwa, Ariel should naturally go to either the Magician or Cheonji Guild.

“Usually these decisions are made in the third year, but they decided really early.”

I don’t want to deny Dokgo Jun’s “eye” and think it’s an excellent choice.

It’s better because it can keep away creeps like Geum Dohyun.

Additionally, with the White Dragon Guild’s help, her skills will improve even more firmly.

I should be happy about this. An important person who can change the future is being protected and growing stronger.

As I was sincerely congratulating her and about to leave, Seol Yuhwa called out to me.

“What?”

“Do you think monsters can save people?”

“…”

My heart suddenly pounds. Why this now?

“That’s unlikely. Usually monsters kill people. If they don’t kill, there must be something else going on, right?”

“Right? I’ve been hearing such stories lately. Even on the internet, they say monsters have saved people.”

Since she specifically mentioned saving people, it must be about me. Honestly, I’m the only one who has saved people as a monster.

Actually, I was hoping this would reduce the risks when I transform into a monster.

“But monsters have deceived us like this, so we shouldn’t fall for it, right?”

“Uh… yeah. That’s right.”

“It might be a ploy by human monsters.”

Right. Even if I help people like this, in the end, human monsters are the problem.

They shake human trust and throw society into chaos.

After sending Seol Yuhwa off, I fell into contemplation.

“I wonder how long I can keep doing this in hiding.”

I’ve been lucky not to get caught so far, but what about next time? It’s a big concern.

How long until I get caught? If my monster identity is discovered, I might die without even being able to explain myself.

My power is strong, but the risk is great. A power that comes with social risks.

“I need to hide it well for three years.”

Eventually, I’ll graduate from this academy, get official qualifications, and be able to stop the powerful monsters that will come next.

Of course, after graduation, I’ll have to work alone.

“Hey, top student. What are you doing?”

Just then, a refreshing voice came from behind me.

When I turned around, Gu Sangheon, ranked first among the male students, was grinning.

“Being first in theory doesn’t mean much.”

“Being first in anything is what matters. Anyway, I’d like to collaborate with that theory first-place for a while. Is that okay?”

“Writing a report?”

There are various assignments at the academy. There are regular daily assignments, and like now, assignments to submit reports.

What kind of report? Obviously about gates.

“We’re supposed to analyze battles with monsters from gates. Honestly, we’re not good at this kind of thing.”

“Because you just beat them up?”

“Honestly, low-rank monsters aren’t threatening to us, but reports are different. That’s why I’m asking.”

“Who else is in the group?”

“Han Minwoo, Ariel too. Seol Yuhwa and Geum Dohyun are doing it separately?”

“All the top rankers gathered. I don’t mind.”

“I knew it! Thanks. You never turn these down.”

We naturally did a fist bump like some kind of greeting.

“I need to write a report too, so.”

I also have to write a report, and the team members are good, so that’s fortunate.

This means another period where I can legally collect points, which isn’t bad.

[Attention! Do Jonghyun! Do Jonghyun, please come to the department head’s office immediately. I repeat.]

But at that moment, ominously, the department head was looking for me.

What is it now?

I rushed over and opened the department head’s office door to find Eun Serin smiling with the department head.

*

[Instructor Eun Serin here has specially requested to take you on. She believes if you pass the test, you have the qualifications. So if you prove yourself, we’ll remove the issue.]

[It’s fine. It’s not that difficult.]

The next day, after class, I went to meet Eun Serin.

In the department head’s office, Eun Serin gave me the warmest smile, but of course, for me, it was more like a terrible situation.

Knowing what Eun Serin would do from the second semester, I couldn’t feel at ease at all.

Who would she sacrifice and who would she attack?

It’s incredibly unsettling.

Of course, from Eun Serin’s perspective, it’s questionable whether she suspects me, and there shouldn’t be much of a problem?

After all, there’s the White Dragon Guild, and if problems arise, wouldn’t she be the one under suspicion?

In that sense, it seems okay.

“Teacher. I’m here.”

When I went to the intermediate class office, Eun Serin was waiting for me in neat dress pants.

It’s clean-cut, but the problem is that her figure is far from modest.

Her shirt looked like it was about to burst, showing the size and weight through compression, and what about her lower body?

These days, with so many tight-fitting looks, it makes it hard to take your eyes off.

Her upper and lower body are so intense that it’s difficult to look away. Is this what being an adult means?

Coming to my senses and raising my gaze, I was overwhelmed by the subtle charm emanating from the mole near her eye.

Yes, this woman is beautiful. Undeniably beautiful.

Because she was so popular, many people wondered who this beauty’s husband was, but nothing had been revealed.

“Welcome. Done looking?”

“What do you mean looking?”

“Now you’re fixing your gaze on my face.”

With these words, I couldn’t escape her gaze and felt awkward.

“I’m sorry. This is…”

“I understand. You’re a high school freshman, at that age. Don’t be embarrassed with your teacher.”

She lightly tapped me as she passed by, truly acting like an adult.

“Today, I’m going to give you a few missions under my supervision. You just need to do them well. If you’re confident, prove it.”

She passed by, patting my cheek, and I could smell a strong plum blossom scent.

“Hmm.”

I don’t usually like perfume, but this one is quite captivating.

Of course, I don’t take what Eun Serin does at face value.

I deliberately told the lower class students that I was going to a certain area with Eun Serin.

“When I said I was going with you, the kids were envious.”

I deliberately mentioned that I had told the kids where we were going.

“Envious? What are you saying to your teacher? Don’t make mistakes and just do it properly.”

The place Eun Serin took me was an F-rank gate.

Well, this is reality.

Where else would I go besides an F-rank gate?

“You’ll hunt monsters alone. The point is not just brute force. I want to see you target weaknesses and act accordingly.”

“You’ll evaluate on various points, right?”

“But I’ll also look at speed, of course. Judgment, how you carry out the mission, everything combined. And this isn’t just one task. You’ll repeat it with three different monsters. Today, you need to face three different monsters to show your abilities.”

I understood what she meant.

“Should I limit the output of the enhancement suit?”

“No, do as you please. I want to see how you utilize it.”

She even permitted the use of the enhancement suit that could cover up to D-rank.

But obviously, solving everything easily with ‘only’ D-rank power would be a minus.

This is how the task began.

Let’s see, the monster I need to face is a Blue Butterfly.

Honestly, there’s not much planning needed for a Blue Butterfly, but there are clearly documented weaknesses.

First, the direction it flies.

Unlike the expression “flies like a butterfly,” the Blue Butterfly charges at enemies head-on, almost gliding.

And the pattern of using tentacles to spread powder. To counter this, the simplest approach is to either disrupt its gliding or dodge the tentacles while counterattacking.

What did I do?

Both, of course.

I quickly attacked each Blue Butterfly that appeared.

Here, the power of the enhancement suit was certainly significant.

I used it to shorten time strategically, not mindlessly overpowering.

Not using this power would also be a minus.

Eun Serin applauded me after I completed the first mission.

“You’re quick-witted? Using the enhancement suit without hesitation.”

“It’s about hitting the right points.”

“Then that’s enough. We’ll end the assignment here.”

“What?”

It was unexpected. I thought she might try something, but she’s ending it here?

“Honestly, I figured you out with this one time. The next ones would be predictable.”

“That’s true.”

“So it would be meaningless. This is the end. But we have a lot of time left? It’s only 5:30?”

“That’s right.”

Using the curfew time, I could hunt more monsters, but that would be unreasonable, right? Since we have to return together.

Eun Serin naturally approached me. And whispered in my ear.

“Want to have some ramen before we go?”

“What? Teacher?”

I shouted in surprise. I might understand if it was Ariel, but not Eun Serin?

“You’re joking, right?”

“I’m serious. I’ve been lonely lately.”

She gave me a flirtatious smile, then grabbed my hand and started pulling me.

It must be a ramen shop. The outcome of such situations is predictable. It couldn’t possibly be real.

“Here, this is my home.”

But Eun Serin really invited me to her house.