I rubbed my eyes and looked back at the monitor screen.
Of course, that didn’t change the reality.
‘...A promotion targeting academy students?’
Even Kang Cheol-min and the guilds seem to be diligent.
The guest for the talk show was Yeo Dohyung.
A message to junior hunters, the future of the magical world.
They came up with a topic that sounded plausible and impressive.
‘...Hmph, ridiculous.’
While I admitted his taste in alcohol wasn’t bad, I hadn’t forgotten how he became my sworn enemy with his words.
Let’s see just how good your talk show is.
I checked what time Yeo Dohyung’s segment was.
At that moment, someone knocked on the office door.
Knock, knock—
“Yes, come in.”
The door opened slowly.
Two women hesitated before stepping into the office.
And then—
“Kyaaah!”
“H-Huh?!”
When they spotted the models in the room, they let out startled cries.
Pointing at the goblin model with trembling fingers, they shouted,
“P-Professor! There’s a monster here!”
“Why is there a goblin in the office?!”
...They say words have power.
I had thought that someone seeing it for the first time might freak out, but I got to witness it firsthand today.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen students get this surprised.
The memory of my second lecture day came to mind, making me smile naturally.
“Haha, it’s just a model.”
“O-Oh? A m-model?”
“I-Is that so...?”
The students glanced back and forth between my face and the models before letting out sighs of relief.
I silently observed as the color returned to their faces.
Their faces looked familiar. Where had I seen them before?
...Ah, I remembered.
They were magic students I had helped with a group project at the café before.
The girls who were with Eunbyul and Areum.
I didn’t expect them to visit my office in person.
“Take a seat. What brings you here?”
“Oh, um, we were passing by and noticed the light was on. Are we bothering you while you’re busy?”
“No, it’s fine.”
Their polite demeanor already earned them points.
“We were stuck on a magic assignment and thought to ask our professor about it, but since it’s the festival day, they weren’t in their office...”
“And then you happened to notice my office?”
“Yes, that’s right!”
“Thank you again for helping us with the group project last time!”
Their dedication to assignments, even on a festival day, earned more points.
The phrase “promising students” naturally came to mind.
The future of the academy seemed bright.
“Alright, let’s take a look at the part you’re stuck on.”
“Thank you!”
“Here, it’s this part!”
I examined the book and materials the students handed over.
It didn’t seem like they had progressed much from their previous project.
I hadn’t reviewed the curriculum for their major in depth.
I figured Areum was learning at about the same level.
By coincidence, I could even infer Areum’s current situation.
“From your notes, it looks like there’s an error here. Watch closely.”
“Oh, so this part was wrong...”
“Wow...”
The two students nodded vigorously, showing they understood.
Their reaction was so endearing that I considered offering a bit more help.
I had some time to spare, after all.
“I’ll jot down a few examples you can reference.”
I began writing in the blank space of their notebook.
The two of them stared at me with sparkling eyes.
Seeing their enthusiastic gaze made me feel oddly motivated.
Before I knew it, I ended up writing more notes than I had planned.
While I was writing, one of the students spoke up.
“Oh, right, Professor! During the last group project, our professor asked if the ideas were our own. We said we learned them from Professor Jeong Si-Hyun. That won’t be a problem, will it...?”
“Oh, no. Feel free to mention it.”
“Thank you so much!”
After answering their questions, I quickly finished writing my notes.
The two students packed up their notebooks and pens and bowed politely.
“Professor, thank you so much! This will make our assignment much easier!”
“We would’ve been up all night working on it instead of enjoying the festival. You’re amazing!”
The two of them exchanged glances and giggled.
Their pure, innocent reactions made me smile too.
And just before leaving the office, they glared at the goblin model again. It was adorable.
Should I make my next model with a similar goblin concept?
The creative urge was bubbling up. Haha...
“...Oh, right. I need to tell the department head.”
Suddenly, I remembered something I had forgotten.
I needed to inform the department head that they didn’t need to procure any more MomoBin merchandise for me.
Now I could enjoy free reactions and donations anytime!
Grinning, I sent a message to the department head.
The reply came almost immediately.
Just as I was about to exit the chat, another message popped up.
I had a feeling the department head wanted to keep chatting, so I waited a bit.
As expected.
Eunbyul had sent a message while I was busy.
We had exchanged numbers during a trip to the mart, but this was the first time she’d actually messaged me.
‘So it’s about Yeo Dohyung’s talk show.’
It wasn’t anything significant. I planned to watch it in passing anyway.
With my tasks wrapped up, I still had some time before the festival officially started.
I opened TTube on my laptop and joined MomoBin’s live broadcast.
She was already in the middle of a game stream.
《Ugh, if you don’t know, you die. Got me again.》
When Momo’s character died, I realized it was the perfect moment.
I picked up my phone and sent Si-Yoon a quick private message.
《That’s not how you do it...? Oh, sis! I’m telling you, this is really hard!》
Not wanting to overdo it, I stopped there and watched the stream like a regular viewer.
***
As the sun gradually set, the sports field was bathed in a crimson glow.
Laughter and music echoing from all around signaled the start of the festival.
Between the swaying tents, people were already eating and drinking, enjoying the atmosphere.
‘Wow, there are so many people.’
Near the stage set up on the field, the crowd was already buzzing.
It wasn’t just academy students; ordinary citizens had come to enjoy the festival as well.
I took my time walking a lap around the field.
Finding a spot where I could see the stage without being surrounded by too many people, I settled down.
One by one, celebrities took the stage, dancing and singing.
Eventually, the host appeared to announce the next segment, bringing Yeo Dohyung to the stage.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Yeo Dohyung, the S-rank hunter representing the Dawn Guild, one of South Korea’s finest!”
Waaaah!
Clap clap clap clap!
The sports field erupted into thunderous applause and cheers, more fervent than for anyone before.
Yeo Dohyung greeted the crowd with a light bow, scanning the audience as he did.
Meanwhile, the host continued with an introduction.
“Today’s theme is ‘A Message to the Junior Hunters, the Future of the Magical World.’ Don’t you all want to hear what Yeo Dohyung has to say?”
Another wave of applause and cheers rippled through the crowd.
Receiving the microphone, Yeo Dohyung greeted everyone and began with lighthearted conversation.
There wasn’t anything particularly groundbreaking about what he said.
However, it was different from Kang Cheol-min’s intense lecture.
The atmosphere was relaxed, fitting for a festival, and laughter erupted here and there.
People responded enthusiastically to every word, enjoying the moment.
“...That’s why I hope you won’t be afraid of failure.”
At some point, Yeo Dohyung naturally transitioned into a more serious topic.
The lively laughter gradually subsided as he spoke in a calm, composed voice.
“Failure is something everyone experiences. What matters is that failure is not the end. Take risks, and don’t fear them. Learn from your failures and move forward.”
Yeo Dohyung paused to take a breath.
In the brief silence, someone began clapping, and soon a warm round of applause spread throughout the crowd.
However, Yeo Dohyung raised a hand to quiet the applause.
Updated from freewёbnoνel.com.
“Instead of just saying this, I’ll show you.”
He closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath.
Then, with a serious expression, he spoke.
“Watch closely.”
In that moment.
Mana began to flow from Yeo Dohyung’s fingertips, and a masterpiece began to unfold.
The light at his fingertips extended outward.
The glowing mana wove through the sky, creating a delicate and intricate display, like a painter’s brush forming an oil painting.
The magical flow in the sky felt like a dream, an otherworldly wonder detached from reality.
The crowd watched in silence, completely absorbed in the sight.
After finishing his spell, Yeo Dohyung smiled gently and said,
“This is a spell I created just for today. It was built upon countless mistakes and trials, but those very processes led to this result.”
...I stood up.
From behind, I could still hear Yeo Dohyung’s voice as he continued his talk show.
“Even without the assistance of system interfaces, we can wield mana like this. Do you understand, everyone?”
...I’ll admit it.
You’re not a fraud.
Yeo Dohyung, he was the first true magician I had ever witnessed on Earth.
***
Walking leisurely along the path next to the sports field, I explored the night market.
I decided to follow a direction I hadn’t taken before, strolling further along the unfamiliar route.
As I neared the edge of the market, the crowd began to thin, and the area grew quieter.
That’s when I stumbled upon a small stall that caught my eye.
Warm fish cakes and appetizing grilled skewers.
The sight brought back nostalgic memories, so I chose a seat in the corner.
There were traces of previous customers, but for now, I was the only one there.
“Mister, one fish cake and a glass of beer, please.”
“Sure thing!”
The food arrived quickly.
It wasn’t something that would take long to prepare in the first place.
Blowing gently on the steaming fish cake, I enjoyed the flavors along with the beer.
I leisurely watched people pass by as I savored the moment, and before I knew it, my glass was empty.
‘...Should I have just one more?’
Another glass seemed like the perfect way to wrap up the evening before heading back.
As I glanced at the menu again, contemplating a snack to go with it—
“Hello, one beer, please.”
“Sure, coming right up.”
“...?”
A tall, sturdy young man sat down next to me.
He wore a cap pulled low over his head.
He turned his head to look at me.
Even with his face partially hidden by a mask, I recognized him instantly.
It was Yeo Dohyung.
...Even though I didn’t interfere with your talk show.
Why are you showing up here?
This guy—he walked right into my space on his own.