Han-gyeol glanced sideways at the person next to him.  

Si-hyun was fidgeting slightly, adjusting her seated position for comfort.  
She casually swept her hair behind her ear with her fingers.  

Although her outfit was plain and neat formal attire,  
the unique aura and figure of Si-hyun had a magnetic charm that captured people’s attention.  

“Oh, how about we watch this one next?”  
“Ah, this?”  

The sounds of guild members behind them chatting while watching a video on their phones could be heard.  
Si-hyun’s ears perked up with interest.  

She tilted her head slightly, a small smile forming on her lips.  

“Wow! The more I watch, the more I want to use a spear.”  
“Come on, come on. Why not just use your awakening trait with a sword?”  
“Who’s calling themselves a spear master? That won’t do; next, it’s time for the sword hunter video.”  

The chuckling laughter continued.  

Han-gyeol quickly noticed the change.  
The small smile on Si-hyun’s face had reverted to her usual expressionless demeanor.  
She pouted slightly and crossed her legs.  

Han-gyeol felt a bit anxious about the change and cautiously spoke up.  
“Si-hyun?”  
“…Yes?”  
“Aren’t you bored? Would you like to watch a video together until we go to the dungeon?”  
“Hmm, what kind?”  

Han-gyeol took out a tablet and headphones from his bag.  
Recalling the guild members’ conversation, he deduced the information.  

It was either about Hunter Kim Ji-a or the spear master.  
He figured that Si-hyun was interested in one of those, so he typed “Hunter Kim Ji-a” into the search bar without hesitation.  

“Ha...”

That was the correct answer!  

Si-hyun’s previously expressionless face regained a slight hint of emotion.  
She shifted closer to Han-gyeol, receiving the headphones and placing one in her ear, her eyes shining with anticipation.  

As the distance between them closed, Han-gyeol felt slightly dizzy from the pleasant scent wafting from Si-hyun.  
Nervously, he fumbled with the tablet.  

“Oh, I’ve seen that.”  
“Is that so? Then let’s use this one...”  

Her soft voice from right next to him sounded even sweeter.  

Si-hyun's shoulder brushed against Han-gyeol’s arm.  
She adjusted the fabric of her blazer, seeming a bit uncomfortable in it.  

Han-gyeol, who had been quietly observing, swallowed hard without realizing it.  

Completely unaware of Han-gyeol's flustered feelings, Si-hyun asked lightly,  
“Are you a fan of Hunter Kim Ji-a too?”  
“Um, well... I watch her videos from time to time.”  
“Ah, I see.”  

After nodding once, Si-hyun turned her attention to the screen.  
And Han-gyeol quietly made a decision in his mind.  

*“From now on, I’m a fan of Hunter Kim Ji-a.”*  

It was an opportunity to form a common interest.  

Just then,  
“Hey!”  
“Let’s watch together! The screen is big, so it’s easy to see!”  

Having finished watching a sword hunter video, two male guild members leaned in.  
The video showed Hunter Kim Ji-a performing stunning spear techniques.  

“Wow! This is awesome too!”  
“Seriously, is she not holding a signing event? I totally understand Ji-han’s feelings!”  

The men continued to chatter noisily.  
Si-hyun, considering the two men in the back seat, increased the distance to make sure they could see the tablet clearly.  

Han-gyeol felt a great sense of disappointment but kept it to himself.  

Meanwhile, Si-hyun thought,  
*“Hehe, I can get Ji-a’s autograph anytime.”*  

She felt a sense of relative superiority and nodded happily.  
It felt like being a friend of a famous celebrity. No, it actually was.  

Having someone famous among your acquaintances was a sweet bonus she hadn’t anticipated.  
During her time in another world, she never felt joy when someone idolized a hero party.  
If anything, it felt bad, never good.

*“It really depends on the person and their environment,”* Si-hyun thought, realizing this again.

---

**Inside the C-Rank Gate**

Five men from the Wing Guild and Si-hyun entered the C-rank gate.  
Most of them were D-rank hunters, but because Han-gyeol was C-rank, they were allowed to enter.

The scenery changed, revealing a forest lush with trees and grass.  
Si-hyun immediately spread her mana lightly around her.  
The request was to help the men adapt to the C-rank dungeon.

*“I should think of this as practical training.”*  
While the subject was general education, it wouldn’t hurt to practice for future use.

“Hmm...”  
“Phew...”  

The previously lively men fell silent.  
Having entered a C-rank dungeon was indeed nerve-wracking.  
The designated “safety” master was Si-hyun, a D-rank hunter.

They knew Si-hyun was far stronger than her rank, but they didn’t know exactly how strong she was.  
She was strong enough to overpower Ji-han, the guild's ace.  
They only knew what rumors circulated.

The only person not tense was Han-gyeol, who approached Si-hyun and asked,  
“How many paladin skills can you provide?”  
“...I can give them all.”  
“Oh, you’re amazing!”  
“Hmm...”  

Han-gyeol clapped his hands joyfully.  
However, Si-hyun looked at the Wing Guild members, tilting her head thoughtfully.  

*“What’s going on?”*  
Han-gyeol pondered, unable to understand why Si-hyun was reacting this way.

...He couldn’t figure it out. Maybe he should just ask directly.  
Han-gyeol spoke to Si-hyun again.  
“Is there something on your mind?”  
“...About the skills. Which would help with dungeon adaptation?”  
“Oh, I see! That’s what you were wondering.”  

Finally clearing up the question, Han-gyeol smiled broadly.  
“Don’t worry! I’m an experienced one, right? I liked the skills you gave me.”  
“...Is that so?”  
“Yeah! It’s a fantastic feeling to experience something beyond the usual and break limits, right? It’s like previewing the future.”  
“Ah... I see.”  

Si-hyun’s expression brightened, as her concern was alleviated.  
She had never thought of it that way before.  
The idea of previewing the future was intriguing.

Han-gyeol’s detailed experience left a fresh impression on Si-hyun.  

“Shall we go then?”  
“Yes! Thank you for your help!”  

Si-hyun manipulated her mana.  
Part of the mana that had spread lightly surrounded the Wing Guild members.

Though they said it was a skill, since they weren’t awakened, Si-hyun created the phenomenon purely with her power.  

“Oh, wow!”  
“Something feels invigorating!”  

The men who received the buff raised their arms to admire their muscles.  
All of them moved in unison, making Si-hyun smile slightly without realizing it.

“This is my paladin skill. Shall we start moving?”  
“Yes, let’s go!”  
“Charge!”  
“Let’s show those monsters what we’re made of!”  

Excitedly, the men formed their ranks and began to move.  
Si-hyun walked behind them, keeping pace.

Before entering the dungeon, she had changed from dress shoes to sneakers.  
She moved comfortably, taking her steps lightly.

After a short time,  
the first monsters the party discovered were two enormous trolls.

With destructive power exceeding three meters in height,  
their thick skin and excellent regenerative abilities made them formidable opponents.  
Although their numbers were small, each one was extremely strong.

Since they were quite a distance away, the monsters had yet to notice the group.  

The guild members all held their breath, hiding behind the trees.  
The excitement they had displayed moments ago vanished.  
The pressure of the massive monsters was overwhelming.

Han-gyeol quietly suggested, glancing at the monsters,  
“Let’s lure them in safely and take them down one by one.”  
“That sounds good.”  
“Who wants to lure?”  

They whispered strategy back and forth.  
Si-hyun observed them quietly.

Using lure tactics for a stable dungeon exploration.  
It was indeed a good method.  
The problem was that it would take a lot of time.

“...Hey.”  
“Yes, Si-hyun?”  

Si-hyun interjected into the men’s conversation.  
Today, there would be more than one monster to encounter; if they fought like this each time, it would take too long.

She wanted to enjoy dinner with Si-yoon when they returned home.  
So, she needed to intervene. That was her simple reasoning.

“I’ll handle one; you all can tackle the other.”  
“Is that okay?”  
“It would be easier for both you and me.”  
“Of course, but...”  

The men nodded, somewhat taken aback.  
Si-hyun’s demeanor was so commanding.

“If it seems even slightly dangerous, I’ll help you, so for now, just try it out.”  

After finishing her statement, Si-hyun walked toward

 the trolls.  
The men hurriedly followed behind her.

They gradually closed the distance.  
Si-hyun dashed forward,  
quickly bridging the gap between her and the trolls.

Suddenly, the trolls, startled by Si-hyun’s appearance, focused their eyes on her.  
Si-hyun quickly moved in the opposite direction, causing the monsters to turn their attention that way.

At that moment, an arrow shot by a hunter struck one of the trolls in the back.  

Though it contained mana, it lacked power.  
The arrow merely grazed the troll’s skin, falling to the ground.  

“Ugh?”  
One of the trolls growled lowly, turning its body back.  
Upon spotting the hunters, it stomped over with heavy thuds.  
The aggro was perfectly distributed, one monster for each hunter.

Han-gyeol stepped forward first.  
As the strongest member of the party, he aimed to take the lead in deflecting the troll’s attacks.

“Graaah!”  
“Ah!”  

The troll’s powerful fist rushed toward Han-gyeol.  
He calmly sidestepped, avoiding the attack.  

A moment of opportunity opened for the trolls, as other hunters poured in their attacks.  
Wounds began appearing on the troll’s body from the blows to its arms, back, and thighs.  

The troll, undeterred by the insignificant attacks, swung its fist widely.  

“Ugh!”  
“Watch out!”  

The hunters shouted as they retreated in haste.  
With its massive height, the troll’s arms reached frightening lengths.

With a wide swing, the troll's fist struck a giant tree, bringing it crashing down.  

*Crack! Bang!*  

The earth shook violently with the impact of the troll's fist hitting the ground.  
Dust and debris filled the air.

The once jovial demeanor of the men had vanished.  
“Wow, that’s intense...”  
“Definitely a C-rank dungeon, isn’t it?”  

The D-rank hunters muttered in disbelief.  

Yet their enthusiasm was not diminished.  
“Hey, but thanks to Si-hyun’s buff, this looks doable!”  
“Indeed... If it were normal, I might have missed that punch just now?”  
“I feel a surge of confidence.”  
“Haha! Same here!”  

Han-gyeol dodged another one of the troll’s attacks.  
While exchanging excited banter, the hunters didn’t let up their onslaught.  

“Graaah!”  
With each blow, the excitement from the men surged.  

Eventually, the troll, enraged, began to pound the ground with its fists.  
*Thud! Thud! Thud!*  

With every hit, the earth trembled.  

“Oh no?!”  
“Hey, be careful!”  

One of the hunters, charging in, lost his balance.  
He tried to stand straight but ended up having to plant his leg back on the ground.

At that moment!  

He was just unlucky. He stepped on a protruding rock.  
Losing balance, he fell backward.  

“Ahhhh!”  
“Ugh?”  

The troll’s gaze fell on the fallen hunter as he screamed.  
It stopped pounding the ground and glared at the fallen hunter.  

Crouching down, it gathered all its strength into its legs.  
The troll's massive leg muscles bulged as it prepared to leap!  

The immense troll’s body shot into the air.  

Defying gravity, it rose high.  
But soon, its mass began to descend quickly.  

“Shit!”  

The fallen hunter attempted to scramble to his feet,  
but his movements were too slow.  

*I’m going to die—! I don’t want to die! I want to live!*  

In the midst of this tense situation, he desperately wanted to speak, but no words came out.  

He felt time slowing down,  
the troll descending at rapid speed contrasted with his sluggish movements.  

In just a few seconds, he would be dead—  

*Bam!*

“What the...?”  

The hunter stared wide-eyed at the air.  

In the blink of an eye, something flew towards the descending troll, striking it squarely in the belly.  

The massive troll was sent flying like a toy.  

*Thud!*  

With a loud crash, it collided with the ground far away, sending dirt and stones flying.  

A moment of silence followed.  

With her long hair flowing, Si-hyun landed lightly on the ground.  
She walked towards the fallen hunter with a gentle gait.  

“...Are you okay?”  

Si-hyun extended her hand with a stoic expression.  
“I’m th-thank you…”  

The hunter still didn’t comprehend the situation.  
He figured he should get up somehow. He reached out his hand.  

However, Si-hyun was quicker.  
She effortlessly helped him to his feet, ignoring the dirt on his hands.  
With a light pat, she smiled.  

“You did well until the end; your distance control was excellent.”  
“Uh, y-yes?”  

Still dazed, the hunter responded without thinking.  
But Si-hyun had finished her words and moved on.  

She turned her attention to the other hunters vigorously attacking the troll.  

The fallen hunter stared blankly at his savior.  

*“You did well, excellent...”*  

Si-hyun’s sweet voice echoed infinitely in his mind.  

It was a compliment he had never anticipated.  
The one who effortlessly took down the troll with a single kick.  
He had only heard rumors about her strength, but this exceeded all expectations.  

*“Amazing… So this is what it means to be an academy professor!”*  

The hunter nodded, gazing at Si-hyun with newfound admiration.