Chapter 7: Are you living happily?

Goblins are just minor mobs.

If we’re being precise, they are E to D rank.

They are monsters that a hunter who is actively working can easily hunt.

Even a new student who just entered the academy can easily defeat them.

However, when it comes to advanced swordsmanship and physical maneuvers, they shine even against something as simple as a log.

“What did I just see?”

Professor Shin Arin, who teaches combat at the academy, recalled the scene she had just witnessed with a vague, almost drunk-like sensation.

It was the movement of someone directly engaging in close combat—a physical-type hunter whose movements could not be underestimated.

In terms of physical strength and speed alone, she, an S-rank hunter, should be faster.

But it was ridiculously smooth.

Even if the person were a man with relatively weaker physical abilities, or even a freshman just entering he school, it didn’t matter.

The judgment and fluidity of movement were extraordinary.

Watching the man on the screen, Shin Arin felt a sudden greed in her eyes.

This was definitely not lust.

“I want him as my disciple.”

It was the look of a professor who had discovered a graduate-level talent.

Although she was currently working as an educator, she was much closer to identifying herself as a hunter.

After graduating from the academy, she was immediately thrown into the field, where she had dominated the top ranks for almost a decade.

Her talents shone brightest in the field, rather than in research or behind-the-scenes roles, and her aggressive nature only supported this.

She had always felt that her talent was meant to be passed down to the next generation of hunters.

“This is amazing.”

Hmm, while she would need to be cautious with a new male student, honestly, she was already smitten.

After the lecture, she felt a strong urge to spend more time with him, teaching him everything she knew. But there was a problem.

“Wow, what the hell was that?”

“Am I just not familiar with this because I’m from the magic side? That was pretty good, right?”

“That was just ‘pretty good’?”

“Heh, maybe it’s because he’s a bit of a scrappy guy…”

“Professor Choi, this isn’t a matter of gender, that guy is just insane.”

Everyone around her seemed to share the same feeling, with even a professor from the magic department, who had been silent until now, standing up and moving closer.

Feeling the pressure of increasing competition, Shin Arin anxiously checked the date.

And then, she realized something.

“Ah.”

It was still mid-February.

With about two weeks left before the semester officially started, she felt an inexplicable urge.

“Ah.”

***

Even as a hero, there are moments when my body slips out of control.

Sometimes, my emotions take the lead over reason.

I can feel my body trembling, or words of surprise escaping my lips.

Just like right now.

“Then, I’ll give you half of mine, so give me half of yours! Edward.”

“Enri, you fool, I would give you everything without even saying that.”

It was oddly nostalgic, watching a work of anime where the genders of the main characters, the alchemist and the engineer, had been switched.

I personally think female protagonists in fantasy have their own charm and appeal.

So, I watched it with interest, but as I saw how the famous lines were subtly changed,

“Man, this is oddly frustrating.”

Damn, give me back my little Edward.

I want my pure and mysteriously quirky Enri back.

Well, I’ll admit, despite saying that, I enjoyed watching it.

‘It’s easier to just think of it as a parallel world masterpiece.’

I need to erase the memory from my eyes and brain.

While saying this, I still wanted to watch the masterpiece again.

For those who want to see the changes, it might actually be a bit of a shock with the reversed gender roles and the slight imbalance.

“But still, the work is solid.”

Even with the gender reversal, a masterpiece is still a masterpiece.

Despite the world changing, there were characters whose personalities and traits remained unchanged.

Of course, there were also characters who had everything completely flipped, but the worldbuilding, story, and character development were incredibly well-done.

Is it true that masterpieces remain timeless, even when the world changes?

Avengers, Assemble.

But I still don’t understand why they made this change.

I can’t figure out why this exists in reality—could it be an illusion?

“Ugh, my head.”

I pressed my forehead to erase the terrible memory, then replenished my potato chips while searching for new anime or drama to watch.

It’s a rule that negative memories and emotions should be covered by positive ones.

This whole process is a strategic choice.

Someone might dislike the happy life I have now, but…

‘Balance of Order and Causality’ scowls and criticizes the hero’s laziness.

‘What kind of basement hero are you?’

“Well, anyway, I’m not the Demon King. If I’m a hero, that should be enough, right?”

‘…No, the hero cannot become the Demon King!’

“Goddess, don’t you say that if you speak directly in another world, your divine power will leak? Calm down.”

‘Sometimes, it’s okay! But you, after going to school, haven’t even stepped outside once. Since you’ve come to the modern world, you should go out and enjoy youth! What’s fun about just staying in your room all the time?’

“You really have no respect for introverts, Goddess.”

Recently, the entrance ceremony and level test ended.

Although I had enrolled, there was still some time before the semester started.

Based on the MBTI test results I did for fun with the Goddess, I’m an INFJ, an introvert.

After going out, I tend to retreat to my room to recharge my energy.

So, now is the perfect time for a joyful recharge.

[…………No, is this really the level of our hero life?]

It felt like I heard the voice of the voyeur goddess, but it was probably just a misunderstanding.

By the way, the goddess also took the MBTI test, and she came out as an even more extreme INFP than me.

The voyeur goddess, who watches heroes from her room every day, is now talking about going out—this is just absurd, isn’t it?

“This is kind of arousing.”

I shoved the rest of the potato chips into my mouth and picked an exclusive new anime from Netflix.

It was set in a high school and, in some ways, a typical romantic comedy.

But for me, coming from another world, the high quality of the work made the characters feel so diverse, making this genre surprisingly enjoyable.

[‘Balance of Order and Causality’ is furious with the lazy hero.]

Seeing the message pop up again, it seemed the goddess’s divine power tank had completely run out.

Such a pathetic voyeur goddess.

[The goddess is horrified by the hero’s words.]

[She condemns the hero’s reckless remarks with wide eyes…]

…

I ignored the barrage of messages and focused on watching the animation.

“Well, our classmates are misunderstanding that we’re, uh, dating.”

“So what if they misunderstand? Aren’t we close?”

“Well, yeah, but…”

Hmm, a shy but firm female lead and a friendly yet mischievous male lead.

It’s a bit of a cliché, but it still feels fresh.

I just hope the male lead isn’t too reckless, and the female lead isn’t too frustrating.

“Kenichi, let’s date.”

“What?”

“I love you. I’ve come to really like you.”

“Oh, so the confession is coming from the female lead instead, huh?”

This romantic comedy is doing a great job.

[The goddess nags you to have some romance.]

[(-^-)]

Ah, can you ease up on the brutal facts, please?

The goddess thinks that as a hero, I don’t have a love life, but honestly, I just haven’t had one.

In the fantasy world? If I wanted, I could’ve had a hundred concubines or more, even a goddess.

But I didn’t go that route, did I?

“After all the hardships I’ve endured, I can’t just get married without experiencing love first.”

Yeah, so it’s not that I’m not interested, okay?

Of course, I admit that the timing for a romance is now starting to come around.

A true love jungle, a safari of university life.

Although the weather is still chilly, March, the chaotic spring month, has arrived.

Aside from just before Christmas, this is probably the time when most couples form.

“There are quite a few romantic comedies set in university, too.”

[The goddess advises you to live in the real world.]

“I’ve come outside today to live in the real world, you know?”

[She complains about staying inside until the day before the semester starts.]

Normally, vacation is divided into extremes—staying at home for the whole month, working part-time nonstop, or going on a trip abroad.

It seems the goddess still doesn’t fully understand this.

“I’ve traveled to other worlds and even to another planet, so I’m taking it easy here.”

Balance is really important.

I’ve been a homebody for 20 years, so isn’t it okay to rest for a few months?

It’s the same with love affairs.

I’ve received a lot of fanatical devotion in the other world, so here, I’m aiming for a simple, ordinary romance.

[The goddess covers her mouth with her hands and sighs sadly.]

[(ᅲ_ᅲ)]

Maybe it’s because I’ve been talking about things like this, or maybe it’s because I haven’t had a romance,

but suddenly the goddess started to tear up.

No, I’m living a very happy life right now, though?

Well, I did think it would be nice to experience love at some point.

In the hero party, there were only middle-aged men, so there was no one to have a crush on.

But now that I’ve come to university, I feel like I could meet someone.

[The goddess cries even harder.]

[(ᅲ^ᅲ)]

“No, stop crying.”

If she keeps reacting like this, I’ll never be able to do anything.

Feeling the overwhelming flags, I took a moment to calm down the crying voyeur goddess and entered the convenience store in the apartment complex.

I was just going to buy some breakfast, but there was a familiar face behind the counter, and I was unexpectedly happy to see her.

“Hello, good morning…” Ah,

“Hi, good morning.”

She was a little shy, and her face turned a bit red, which was kind of cute.

Since I’d seen her often, I felt an immediate sense of familiarity.

A long time ago, I think I was like that too, working part-time.

[The goddess opens her eyes wide, expecting something.]

“4,200 won, please.”

“Thanks.”

I quickly paid and left the convenience store.

I wanted to chat a bit, but yeah, I know it’s a nuisance to people working.

I understand that well.

[The goddess urges you to shut up and confess.]