episode_0054

“Our…?”

Shiho and Jiwuk ask simultaneously.

Jiwuk was the first to catch onto Se-ah’s intentions.

He felt his lips curl as he wondered if Se-ah knew he had feelings for her.

Jiwuk entertained an amusing thought.

And soon, he opened his mouth to turn that thought into reality.

“We can say we’re quite close. Don’t you think so, Shiho?”

At Jiwuk’s teasing remark, Shiho covers her mouth with the back of her hand.

She shyly smiles and lowers her head.

Se-ah gazes intently at that fragrant smile.

It’s a joyful expression, as if the two of them have done everything under the sun.

“People in relationships don’t joke like that.”

Shiho lightly taps the chef’s shoulder.

With her gentle and tender touch, Se-ah’s face turns melancholic.

In Se-ah’s eyes, Shiho appears like a wolf trying to devour not only her girlfriend but also Shiho.

“Se-ah, we are just colleagues. Don’t worry.”

But Se-ah was not interested in Jiwuk’s words.

She looks at Shiho with a blank expression.

Seeing the seriousness in the girl’s eyes, Shiho swallows nervously.

“That’s right. Just colleagues.”

When the bartender shrugged, Se-ah could barely look up.

She bows her head and mutters softly.

“I see.”

The bartender covers her mouth with her hand.

Then, in a hushed voice, she murmurs, “I’ve never dated anyone…”

It was when Shiho spoke.

Everyone in the bar froze at her sudden confession.

The bar fell silent as if no one was there.

Especially Se-ah, with her mouth agape, stared through the embarrassed bartender.

“So, you had no connection with the killers either?”

Jiwuk asks with a surprised expression.

Shiho is taken aback by the question and lowers her head.

Her face shows embarrassment as if memories with them resurfaced.

“Well, I just happened to become friends with them…”

As things escalate, Shiho vehemently denies it.

But Se-ah’s expression, listening beside them, becomes even more serious.

She already has close female friends?

And they are killers?

“Sis… Are you being threatened by the killers?”

At her persistent question, Shiho starts feeling uncomfortable.

Admitting it would mean immediate danger.

Sensing the bartender’s unease, Se-hee intervenes to shut down the conversation, even if it means protecting her friend’s life.

“Sis… Let’s stop here.”

Excited Se-hee, embarrassed Se-hee, locks arms with Se-ah.

Then, she rises cautiously from her seat.

“Oh, and check behind the invitation; there should be a payment statement.”

“A payment statement?”

“Yes. It’s the lecturer’s fee. Take a look and decide.”

Se-hee subtly gestures with her fingers, indicating a substantial amount.

“I’ll wait…”

Se-ah mumbles as she is dragged out.

Hugging Se-hee like a doll, the girl disappears outside.

The two employees blankly stare at the traces left by the two high school girls who stormed past.

Soon, Jiwuk turns his head to look at Shiho.

He seems slightly surprised by the fact that Shiho is a confirmed singleton.

The chef heads towards the kitchen, clearing his throat.

“I, I should prepare for the opening too.”

The apron hanging on Shiho’s shoulders droops weakly.

The bartender, feeling drained even before the bar opens, regrets her unintentional revelation about her dating experience.

Taking a deep breath, she picks up the invitation again.

To verify Se-hee’s mentioned lecture fee.

As Se-hee said, there was a salary statement behind the invitation.

Shiho’s eyes widen as she checks the amount.

“Wait, how many zeros are in this…?”

It’s a whopping 2 million won.

With this amount of money, I can pay off all the overdue rent.

Is this the power of the Academy?

Perhaps it’s the best nurturing ground in Korea, considering the hefty lecture fees.

Siho swallowed hard.

“Will it be okay…?”

Just one day.

If she lectures for just one hour a day, 2 million won will be deposited into her account.

Money that she could barely earn working as a bartender for a whole month.

Siho’s hand trembled as she held the invitation.

“—.”

Two days passed.

The bus Siho boarded left Sindorim and headed towards Ilsan.

The roads were pockmarked from battles with monsters.

The bus maneuvered around these holes, navigating the road carefully.

Siho eventually accepted the invitation.

She couldn’t refuse when just one hour of hardship meant an immediate payment of 2 million won.

This would finally resolve her burdensome rent.

With that mindset, Siho looked at her reflection in the window.

Her hair had grown down to her shoulders.

Looking at her hair, Siho thought to herself.

“Maybe I should tie up my hair…”

Suddenly, the image of Lina, whom she had seen a few days ago, came to mind.

She looked pretty with her hair neatly tied to one side.

Running her fingers through her own hair, Siho felt a faint, delicate fragrance tickling her cheeks.

“The next stop is ‘Korean Hunter Academy Main Gate.’”

Here.

Siho got off the bus.

She savored the forest air she hadn’t experienced in a while.

The academy’s main gate loomed in the distance.

Soon, two hunters who appeared to be security guards blocked her path.

“What brings you here?”

A stern-looking hunter asked her.

A sword and gun holster were strapped to his waist.

“I’m here to visit the academy.”

“For a visit?”

“Yes… I’m scheduled to give a lecture here tomorrow. I’m visiting for a tour before that.”

Unlike before, Siho spoke fairly confidently and smoothly to them.

Having experienced similar situations several times, she was somewhat accustomed to it.

However, even with her confident words, the hunters’ reactions were lukewarm.

The girl in front of them didn’t look like an instructor at all.

She was petite, lacked visible muscles, and hardly seemed like a teacher.

The hunter’s gaze slowly moved downward.

Then, as if nothing had happened, he cleared his throat.

“Please wait a moment. Let me check with the administration.”

He turned on his radio without letting his guard down.

And the tedious entry process began.

“Wait a moment…!”

In the midst of what seemed like a lengthy standoff, someone walked out from the academy.

Siho’s face lit up upon hearing the familiar voice.

“Se-ya!”

Like meeting a reliable ally, Siho waved at the bartender.

The girl in a neat school uniform approached her, wearing an ‘E’ brooch symbolizing the elite class.

“Senior, is this the instructor?”

Se-ya, who used to be timid in front of Siho, spoke confidently.

Though the hunters seemed hesitant, they eventually stepped aside.

If she had been a regular student, there would have been no chance.

But the testimony of an elite student seemed quite authoritative here as well.

“You must have had a hard time coming here. The path is quite rugged…”

As they walked together through the academy hall, Se-ya inquired.

To which the bartender chuckled and nodded.

“Not at all. The bumpy road was rather entertaining, don’t you think?”

Siho gently clenched her hands and shook her body.

“Trust me today. I’ll guide you properly.”

The girl raised the corners of her mouth as if she had prepared a lot.

“Thank you. But where’s Se-hee?”

When Siho mentioned another girl’s name, Se-ya’s smile disappeared.

“Se-hee is busy today.”

The two strolled together, exploring various facilities in the academy.

From the training grounds where skilled individuals prepared for PVP battles to the fountain displaying statues of top rankers.

After surveying the exterior of the building, the two entered the main building of the school.

In front of the main building, there was a quaint coffee shop.

“Unnie, is this your first time at our school cafe?” Se-ah pointed to the cafe sign.

The sign read ‘Coffee Academia.’

“Yeah, it’s my first time at the academy itself.”

“The coffee here is famous. Let’s have a cup while we’re here.”

Se-ah gently slipped her hand into Si-ho’s arm.

Naturally, the girl linked arms with her sister and headed towards the cafe.

“Well, I do like coffee too.”

Si-ho agreed with her proactive demeanor.

Why is she suddenly acting like this?

Se-ah slowly seated Si-ho.

“Please wait here for a moment.”

Se-ah calmly walked towards the counter.

Her pride in her school seemed evident.

She even recommended the school’s specialty.

Truly a student of a prestigious academy.

Si-ho imagined herself leisurely ordering coffee in a school uniform like Se-ah.

Back when she was an F-rank hunter, she envied academy students.

“…”

Suddenly, Si-ho’s eyes widened.

The image she conjured up wasn’t of a male student but a girl in a skirt, smiling strangely.

The bartender slapped his cheek to erase the scene.

The drugs hadn’t fully worn off yet…

Otherwise, this wouldn’t happen.

Since ‘that day,’ Si-ho occasionally had strange thoughts.

To shake off those thoughts, she tensed her body frequently.

“—.”

Meanwhile, Se-ah received the two ordered drinks.

Coffee in tall glass cups.

Se-ah carried the tray back to Si-ho gracefully.

Si-ho watched intently.

Perhaps due to the girl’s quick steps, the coffee on the tray shook precariously.

“—!”

Soon, the coffee couldn’t withstand the shaking and started to spill towards Si-ho.

“Oh no, what should I do!”

The dark coffee soaked Si-ho’s white shirt thoroughly.

It was so wet that the tank top underneath was visible.

“Unnie, are you okay? I’m really sorry…”

Se-ah covered her mouth with both hands, looking apologetic.

“It’s okay. Are you hurt?”

“No… But what about you, Unnie?”

Staring at the stained shirt, Se-hee looked distressed.

In response, Si-ho coolly said, “Well, should we call it a day?”

Sighing, Si-ho muttered.

But then Se-ah firmly shook her head.

“No need for that.”

“Huh…?”

At Se-ah’s calm voice, Si-ho looked up.

Se-ah’s face showed no signs of guilt.

“My dormitory is nearby.”

Se-ah smiled brightly.

Her usually hesitant voice was now more composed and concise than anyone else’s.

“I’ll lend you some clothes.”

Like a different person.