Friday morning, 10 AM.
"Areum, over here!"
"Oh, hello!"
The Dawn Guild's new recruit training tour was scheduled for 1 PM. Since I was going out anyway, I decided to leave a little earlier to check out a large bookstore in Seoul. When I asked Areum yesterday for recommendations, she agreed to come along today. What a thoughtful student.
"The traffic here is pretty good. Should we grab lunch nearby?"
"Yeah! Sounds great!"
We entered the bookstore together, with Areum full of energy. The warm, soft lighting of the bookstore created a comfortable, cozy atmosphere. We hadn’t even done anything yet, but I already felt like it was a good mood booster.
"Big bookstores really do feel different..."
"First time here?"
"Yeah, I haven’t been in Seoul for long. I should visit other places next time."
"I'll guide you next time!"
We chatted quietly as we walked, carefully looking around.
Books of all types, from new releases to recommended titles, were displayed everywhere. We casually browsed, skimming through the covers, but eventually, our steps led us to the section with novels.
"Oh, this one’s here too."
"Which one?"
I picked up a book I recognized and showed it to Areum, but she suddenly made a strange expression.
"...Why?"
"U-uh... Professor, have you heard about the author?"
"Huh? No, what happened?"
"Well, a Gate appeared right near their house a few days ago... And that’s why the series is delayed."
"...Really?"
"Yeah..."
I’d been following this book online. It’s been consistently enjoyable to read, but now there's a Gate-related delay?
...Delays are fine, but I hope it doesn’t end up being permanently discontinued.
"Wait a second."
I quickly pulled up my phone and searched for the author's name and the news.
...
"Areum."
"Yeah?"
"This Gate is from a low-level dungeon in a remote area. If it’s not cleared by next week, let’s go together."
"Okay, yes!"
I trusted the local Hunters. While high-level dungeons might require help from people like Ji-Ah, this was a lower-level one!
"Let’s look around a little more and then get some lunch?"
"Yep!"
We spent a little more time in the bookstore, enjoying browsing the books.
After leaving the store, we started discussing what to eat for lunch when Areum recommended a nearby dakbokkeumtang (spicy braised chicken) restaurant. It seemed like a good suggestion, so we headed there.
"Let’s eat something not too spicy to avoid upsetting our stomachs before the dungeon tour, yeah?"
"Mm, yes!"
The menu looked intimidating, but I didn’t want to look like I was struggling in front of Areum...
...Thankfully, we had a pleasant meal without any issues and headed to the subway station.
We sat side by side on the train, heading toward our destination.
After checking the remaining stations and confirming that we’d make it in time, I casually asked Areum.
"By the way, how did you end up getting into the Dawn Guild training tour? Is it something you applied for?"
"Uh, well... Eunbyeol oppa suggested we go together?"
"Eunbyeol applied?"
"Eunbyeol oppa is an S-rank Mage Hunter in the Dawn Guild! Yeo Dohyung! Maybe that's why?"
"...What?"
Eunbyeol’s older brother is who now?
"S-rank Mage Hunter Yeo Dohyung!"
"Huh..."
What a twist.
I hadn’t expected Eunbyeol’s brother to be Yeo Dohyung, and that his younger sister was attending my lectures!
The world is really small.
"Are you close with Eunbyeol?"
"Uh... I don’t know the details. I think we’re just typical siblings?"
"Hmm."
This is a tricky situation. I was thinking about teaching Eunbyeol "the pain of a burning tongue" but...
Ah, on second thought, it might be too much with the level difference.
S-rank Mage Hunters probably have high resistance to that sort of thing.
I gave up on making Eunbyeol into a spicy assassin and turned my attention to Areum’s training.
"Areum, after the midterms, we’ll focus on practical lessons, right?"
"Yeah, yeah! That's right."
"Then, shall we start some advanced learning soon?"
"Advanced learning?"
Areum’s eyes widened.
"You learned how to use magic without a status window at the beginning of the semester, right?"
"Yeah, that’s right."
"I’ll help you with that part—"
Just as I was about to explain, we were interrupted.
"Grandfather, why do you keep staring?"
"Huh?"
"Stop bothering me while I’m talking."
Suddenly, a young man with a bowl cut and an elderly man began bickering.
All eyes in the nearby seats turned toward them.
"No, the student was wrong."
"What do you mean? Ugh, it’s so annoying."
The grandfather spoke in a calm tone, while the young man’s voice was full of complaints.
His sharp, irritated manner of speaking was annoying everyone around them.
Seeing the irritated expressions on people’s faces, it seemed like I wasn’t the only one bothered by him.
I whispered to Areum, looking at the young man.
"Areum, should I show him how to handle this?"
"...?"
I pointed subtly toward the noisy troublemaker.
The unpleasant atmosphere in the air thickened.
As Areum’s gaze followed my finger, I snapped my fingers lightly.
Click!
Suddenly, the young man who had been arguing with the grandfather fell silent.
His mouth opened, but no sound came out. He just stared, helplessly clutching his throat.
It was a simple spell to make him quiet.
I enjoyed the peace that returned to the subway and said to Areum.
"I’ll teach you how to do this too."
"Y-You did that, right?"
"Yep."
"Wow..."
Areum’s eyes sparkled as she looked at me, her face full of awe.
Her pure expression made me smile, and without thinking, I ruffled her hair.
"Hehe..."
I enjoyed her adorable smile for a moment before looking up at the subway sign.
As we checked the remaining stations, I noticed a few people across from us giving me awkward smiles and nodding their heads in greeting.
It seemed like they had overheard our conversation.
I chuckled nervously and nodded back.
***
Near the C-rank Gate scheduled for the Dawn Guild's new recruit training.
A deputy from the management department spoke to the B-rank Hunter, who was both the instructor and protector for the recruits.
"Hunter Kim, there’s something you’ll need to pay special attention to during today’s training."
"Yes? What is it that needs my attention?"
"Three students from the academy and one part-time instructor will be attending as visitors. The head of the management department personally requested this."
"Visitors, you say?"
Hunter Kim asked with a stern expression, and the deputy, rubbing his palm in apology, continued.
"Well... They’re said to be promising talents. Plus, the part-time instructor accompanying them is reportedly a highly capable person."
"Hmm... From the way you're speaking, it seems the instructor has already been rejected for a full-time position?"
"Yes, that’s correct. So, we’ve had to use the students to arrange this spot. We were hoping you could create a good atmosphere for them to join the Dawn Guild. Show off your skills and help promote the guild's positive image, please."
At the deputy's earnest request, Hunter Kim sighed deeply.
Crossing his arms, he replied with a stern expression.
"I’ll do my best, but this is a C-rank dungeon. Who knows what might happen here? Depending on the situation, I might have to withdraw the visitors. Do you agree?"
"Oh, of course! Please take care of it, Hunter Kim! Hahaha."
The deputy laughed and stepped back, and Hunter Kim moved toward the other hunters.
He quickly summarized the situation for them.
Most of the hunters didn’t pay it much attention.
The B-rank Hunter in charge was a well-known figure, and there were enough recruits to handle things.
Having a few visitors wouldn’t cause any problems.
However, the most important member of this training, C-rank Supporter Yang Chae-uk, furrowed his brow.
‘Why is the guild focusing on someone who hasn’t even joined yet when they should be paying attention to me?’
He spoke in a low voice.
"Are we really doing this? This isn’t a sightseeing trip, is it?"
"...As you all joined the Dawn Guild recently, new recruits have to keep coming in regularly. Please understand."
"Ha..."
Hunter Kim’s words were right, but Yang Chae-uk was still full of dissatisfaction, though he didn’t show it openly.
Later, Eunbyeol, Jae-woo, Areum, and Si-Hyun joined in one by one.
As the visitors gathered, the deputy stepped forward and began explaining the situation.
Si-Hyun listened intently to the explanation and looked around at the people she’d be spending the day with.
‘One B-rank and five C-ranks...’
The team was large enough to handle a C-rank dungeon.
The question now was how the B-rank Hunter would manage the recruits.
Si-Hyun felt curious and looked around at the people.
At that moment, she locked eyes with a man glaring at her with a face full of displeasure.
Just as Si-Hyun thought it was a coincidence, the man, with a scowl on his face, approached her.
"Deputy, isn’t that enough explanation for the visitors? Let’s get going soon."
"Yes, understood, Hunter Yang Chae-uk. We’ll wrap up quickly."
"Tch."
The man clicked his tongue and turned away.
Si-Hyun thought to herself that it was a rather arrogant attitude for a new recruit.
She said nothing but simply glanced at the deputy.
The deputy gave a bitter smile and said,
"That man is a C-rank Support Hunter."
It was a brief explanation.
Soon after, the deputy finished his enthusiastic pitch, constantly promoting the charms of the Dawn Guild.
The hunters, now fully prepared, entered the Gate.
"Shall we go too?"
"Yeah!"
Hearing the energetic response from the students, Si-Hyun also entered the dungeon.
The familiar sight of a cave dungeon spread out before her.
The mixed smell of earth and humidity tickled her nose.
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"Ugh, something smells sour."
"It’s a musty, sharp smell."
The pungent stench and sharp chemical odor made their noses twitch.
Si-Hyun immediately recognized the type of dungeon.
"Looks like there’ll be bugs."
Upon hearing her murmur, the students all frowned.