As Si-Hyun disappeared into the one-way entry dungeon, a tense silence fell over the professors. The mood was heavy with unease and bitterness.
One professor, his face twisted as if biting into something sour, finally broke the silence.
“Who does that adjunct instructor think she is? She’s just a C-rank, daring to lecture us like that!”
“Bah, let her enjoy her last moments of bravado before she meets her end in there.”
The responses varied. Some were defensive, stung by the accuracy of Si-Hyun’s criticism. Others reacted with misplaced defiance, attempting to reject the uncomfortable truth about their own inaction.
What united them all was the shared discomfort and resentment left in the wake of Si-Hyun’s words. They milled around aimlessly near the gate, unwilling to take any meaningful action.
Among the crowd, only the academy’s president exhibited a different demeanor.
‘...I lost my composure.’
Reflecting on her overly emotional reaction to the crisis, she silently reprimanded herself. Shaking off the professors restraining her, she spoke firmly.
“Everyone, you can stop holding me back now. I’m not going in.”
“Understood, ma’am!”
“That’s a relief, President.”
The professors quickly released her, relief plain on their faces.
The president, however, gave them a critical glance before pulling out her smartphone.
Her fingers moved swiftly as she dialed the number of her most trusted contact: S-rank Hunter Ji-Ah Kim, a peerless spearman and a reliable ally.
...But the call didn’t connect. The line was busy.
Taking a deep breath to calm herself, the president tried again after a moment.
This time, the call went through.
“Hello?” Ji-Ah’s familiar voice answered.
“It’s me. We have an emergency. Have you heard about the incident at the academy?”
“I just heard,” Ji-Ah replied, her tone calm but attentive.
“Good. Then I’ll get straight to the point. Si-Hyun went in alone to attempt a rescue. We need support immediately—”
Before the president could finish, Ji-Ah interrupted.
“Si-Hyun went in?”
“Yes! That’s why we need to send reinforcements as soon as possible!”
The president’s voice carried urgency and worry. Si-Hyun was an invaluable figure—someone the academy couldn’t afford to lose, just like the students trapped inside.
What followed, however, was unexpected. Ji-Ah chuckled softly, a sound that seemed oddly out of place given the dire circumstances.
“Then there’s nothing to worry about.”
“...What?”
The president froze, her concern briefly giving way to confusion. Ji-Ah’s voice, steady and filled with unwavering confidence, came through clearly.
“If someone asked me who the most reliable and capable person in the world is, I’d answer Si-Hyun without hesitation.”
Her words were calm but carried a powerful conviction. The president couldn’t help but listen closely.
“I’ll head there as soon as I can, but I’m currently outside the city. By the time I arrive, it’ll probably all be over.”
The president’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“...You think she can handle this alone?”
“She won’t just handle it,” Ji-Ah said with quiet assurance. “She’ll excel. That’s who she is.”
For a moment, the president was left speechless. Ji-Ah’s words carried such certainty that they almost felt prophetic.
“Trust her,” Ji-Ah added before the call ended.
Lowering her phone, the president stood still for a moment, absorbing Ji-Ah’s words.
‘Could it really be possible...?’
Though the situation still seemed dire, a sliver of hope began to take root in her heart. If even someone like Ji-Ah believed in Si-Hyun that strongly, perhaps this wasn’t the hopeless tragedy it appeared to be.
With a deep breath, the president turned back toward the professors, now silent and uneasy.
“Let’s wait,” she said firmly, her voice carrying an authority that silenced further objections.
“Wait?” one professor asked hesitantly.
“Yes. And when this is over,” she added, her gaze hardening, “we’ll make sure none of you forget what just happened here today.”
The professors paled, knowing they had been judged—and found lacking.
***
Si-Hyun stepped through the gate and entered the dungeon, calmly surveying her surroundings.
In an instant, the scenery had transformed.
Towering trees and thick grass filled her view. As expected of a one-way dungeon, there was no visible exit. A heavy stillness hung in the lush greenery.
"..."
Maximizing her heightened senses, Si-Hyun quickly detected two distinct smells.
One was a faint trace of burning, carried by the wind from somewhere far off.
The other, much closer and stronger, was the metallic tang of blood.
Si-Hyun moved decisively in the direction of the blood. It didn’t take long before she stumbled upon a pool of it.
Fragments of torn clothing and chunks of flesh littered the area, signs of a violent struggle.
Thankfully, there were no human corpses. A little further ahead, she spotted several dead monsters. The first skirmish had clearly involved only a small group of enemies.
That was a relief.
‘...This way.’
Focusing on the trail of blood, she quickly pressed forward. Extending her mana outward, she scanned the surrounding area for any information she could gather.
No signs of life reached her.
‘It’s okay. I’m not too late yet.’
The trail of blood began to thin as she moved deeper into the forest. Si-Hyun worked to steady herself, pushing down the anxious thoughts threatening to rise.
Finally, she came to a halt, letting out a quiet sigh.
The blood trail had disappeared.
‘...At least there’s no body.’
This suggested they had managed to stop the bleeding, perhaps through a skill or some other form of healing.
Although the trail had vanished, the clues left behind offered promising deductions.
Reorganizing her thoughts, Si-Hyun calmly resumed her journey.
Not long after, her senses flared.
Si-Hyun detected a faint mana signature ahead.
Her sharp eyes scanned the surroundings. It was faint, but the energy was unmistakably there.
Silently, she pressed forward, her movements precise and calculated.
The trees parted to reveal a clearing, and the faint mana signature she’d detected grew stronger as she approached.
In the clearing stood several students, huddled together in a defensive formation. Their faces were pale, their breaths uneven.
Relief washed over Si-Hyun.
“Professor!”
One of the students spotted her, their voice filled with a mix of surprise and hope.
Si-Hyun stepped forward, assessing their condition with a glance.
“I’m here,” she said calmly, her voice steady and reassuring. “Stay where you are. I’ll handle the rest.”
The students nodded hesitantly, their fear momentarily giving way to relief.
“Stay together. Keep your focus,” she added. “We’ll get through this.”
Si-Hyun turned her attention to the forest around them, her mana spreading out once more.
She could sense it—monsters were approaching.
***
Just before Si-Hyun entered the gate, the professors who had survived their first skirmish were caught in a heated argument.
“What... what did you just say?”
“I said we should prioritize our own survival! If we don’t, it’s obvious we’re all going to die!”
The overwhelming anger surging through Professor Noh momentarily left him at a loss for words. He simply couldn’t comprehend what he was hearing.
“Are you saying we should abandon the students? Is that what I just heard?”
“What other choice do we have?!”
Professor Yoo, a C-rank magic hunter, snapped irritably. This wasn’t the time to coddle Noh’s sensibilities—his own life was at stake.
“Look over there!”
Yoo pointed at the group of students. Noh turned his gaze in that direction.
Among the students was Professor Park, a fellow C-rank close-combat specialist. His entire outfit was drenched in blood, and he lay unconscious, carried on the back of one of the students.
The scene was nothing short of grim.
When Noh and Park first encountered the students, they had immediately come under attack from monsters. Despite the brevity of the skirmish, Professor Park had been the one to shield the students.
Thanks to the efforts of Go Areum, a student specializing in support magic, his life had been saved. Without her intervention, he might not have survived.
“Look at him! That’s the result of just a handful of monsters! And you want to keep protecting the students in this situation?”
“That’s why we need to protect them until reinforcements arrive!”
“Reinforcements? You think they’re coming?!”
“Of course, they will!”
“You senile old man! Don’t you know the current policies?!”
Professor Yoo’s face turned red as he spat out his retort. It was maddening—here he was, struggling to survive, only to have his lifeline dismiss his arguments.
“Come on, you two, calm down,” said Professor Park, stepping in to mediate before the argument escalated further. His keen eyes noticed how the noise was likely to attract more monsters.
“Professor Yoo, both Professor Noh and I entered this dungeon to protect the students. We can’t agree with your proposal.”
“You too, Professor Park?!”
“We have a difference in priorities. We’ll focus on defending the students. Do whatever you want, but don’t drag us into it.”
“Hah!”
Yoo let out a derisive laugh before spitting on the ground. Without further hesitation, he turned his back on them.
“You fools!”
To Yoo, staying with these idealistic professors was a death sentence. He’d have better odds of surviving by hiding and moving alone.
Professor Noh clicked his tongue in frustration as he watched Yoo walk away. His disappointment and anger were palpable.
‘To think someone like that is allowed to teach here...’
The Academy wasn’t just any school. It was a national institution responsible for nurturing the next generation of hunters.
Those motivated purely by financial gain joined guilds. Those who sought the fulfillment of contributing to society and cultivating talent became professors.
For Noh, it was a matter of principle:
To guide and protect promising students was a sacred duty.
‘What a waste of time arguing with that coward.’
When Noh had reviewed the list of those trapped inside the dungeon, he hadn’t hesitated to enter. Among the victims were three standout students: Eunbyul, Jae-Woo, and Areum.
These weren’t ordinary individuals. They were the future of the Republic of Korea, brimming with potential.
Within a few short years, their names would likely be known worldwide. They weren’t mere stones scattered along the roadside but raw gems waiting to be polished.
‘Even if it costs my life, I’ll ensure their survival.’
With talents like theirs, it was inevitable that reinforcements would come quickly. Even Professor Park had volunteered to join him.
Their mission was clear: survive until help arrived.
“Professor Park, let’s hold the line,” said Noh.
“Yes. I’ve brought enough potions to last us. It’ll be hard, but we’ll manage,” replied Park.
The two exchanged determined glances. They were ready to sacrifice themselves for the future.
“If we make it out alive, we’ll have an interesting story to tell the students,” Noh quipped.
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“Haha, indeed,” Park chuckled.
Their lighthearted banter helped ease the tension as they prepared for the trials ahead.