Just as the video ended, the 5th period came to a close, and it was time for a break.

As Si-hyun left the classroom, the students began to murmur excitedly amongst themselves.

Even students without close friends couldn't hide their excitement as they logged onto the internet community.

---

[Title: Wow, the Introduction to Monsters class was insane?]  
[ㅇㅇ]

After watching today’s lecture video, the professor's skills are mind-blowing ㄷㄷㄷ  

———

As soon as the student posted, the cyber specters quickly responded.

- What skills are you talking about?  
    └ She fights so well against monsters, lol.  
    └ Really?  
    └ Ooooo, her charm and charisma were on point, too, lol.  
- She fights that well? Now I’m curious, lol.  
- Show me what you all saw!  

---

[Title: We should invite her as a professor for swordsmanship]  
[ㅇㅇ]

Honestly, I think the Introduction to Monsters professor is stronger.

- You’re kidding, right? lol.  
- Does a B-rank professor look like a joke?  
- What would a D-rank even teach? lol.  

---

Of course, due to their excessive excitement, the student received some criticism as well. But at least the atmosphere in the classroom reflected a similar enthusiasm.

Every student who entered the academy shared the same dream.

“I want to be an outstanding hunter!”

What does it mean to be an outstanding hunter?  
Dazzling skills, overwhelming power, and impressive performances during combat.

Many imagine themselves sweeping through monsters with flair and style, dreaming of such moments. 

That psychology is what the hunter videos on various YouTube channels capitalize on.

However, Professor Jeong Si-hyun’s lecture video was entirely different.  
There was no flashiness, no skill tricks—just movements that were nearly perfect, polished, and clean.

Yet, no one doubted Si-hyun’s abilities in the video.  
Within her restrained movements, they could sense thorough training and real combat experience.

Flashy skills and techniques are indeed important. However, the most crucial foundation lies in the basics.  
After watching the video, the students all came to that realization.

“Honestly, I can’t follow that…”  
“Easy? No way, I can’t keep up.”  
“But those postures… Aren’t they similar to what we’ve been learning recently in our classes?”  
“So that’s what solid fundamentals look like…”  

Si-hyun’s video changed the students' perceptions.  
It shifted their view of what it meant to be an outstanding hunter from mere admiration to understanding.

To become an outstanding hunter, a foundation of fundamentals is essential.  
What they should be pursuing right now isn’t flashiness but the mastery of the basics.

A small portion of the students felt a daunting wall before them, feeling disheartened.  
However, the majority experienced a surge of motivation to learn.

“I want to get stronger! I want to be like that!”  
If I add flashy skills on top of that foundation, I could become an incredible hunter, right?

A simple video of sweeping away goblins ignited a great fire in the students’ hearts.  
A flame of passion that wouldn’t easily extinguish.

“I was planning to go to the PC room after class, but I guess I’ll train instead.”  
“Hey, want to party up and go to a dungeon?”  
“Should we? That sounds good.”  

In an instant, an impromptu party began to form within the classroom.  
It was an unprecedented event that had never happened in the history of the academy's general studies classes.

Eun-byeol and Ah-reum couldn’t escape the atmosphere and flow either.

“Ah-reum, do you want to go to a dungeon after class today?”  
“Well, um…”  

Ah-reum pondered at Eun-byeol’s suggestion. During this time, Jae-woo, who had partied with them a few times before, approached the two women.

“Do you want to go to an E-rank dungeon together after today’s class?”  
“I’m in!”  

Since they had agreed to speak informally when they previously tackled dungeons together, Eun-byeol and Jae-woo exchanged ideas comfortably.

And then.

“I, I think I’ll sit this one out.”  

For the first time, Ah-reum voiced her opinion after always going along with others.

“Uh, I have something to do today…”  
“…Oh, really? That’s too bad, but it can’t be helped.”  

Eun-byeol nodded with a hint of disappointment.  
While going to the dungeon with just Jae-woo was an option, it wasn’t a must-do for today.

“Let’s plan the party for next time, Jae-woo.”  
“Hmm, okay.”  

Jae-woo swallowed his disappointment and prepared to leave.  
He was going to grind E-rank dungeons daily, so he needed to form a new party.

Eun-byeol watched his departing figure and gathered her thoughts.  
She decided to tackle her assignments in the library before heading home.

- Creak.

The front door of the classroom opened, and Si-hyun returned.

It was time for the 6th period to begin.

---

The 3rd lecture of Introduction to Monsters proceeded unusually in the 6th period.  
Of course, that was from the students' perspective.

“I was actually thinking of diving deeper into the theory.”  

As Si-hyun spoke, the students wore expressions of disbelief.

‘Is there really more depth to this?!’  

They all shared similar thoughts.

“Now, do you see the goblin model?”  

Si-hyun pulled out the goblin model she had hidden behind the lectern earlier.

Instantly, the air in the classroom grew heavy.  
The students in the front row grimaced, glaring at the goblin.

No matter how many times they looked at it, it was unrealistically grotesque.

“This is a magic tool made using earth magic skills. I thought we could have a brief practical session.”  

At Si-hyun’s explanation, the students blinked rapidly as they focused on the goblin.

Research on magic stones had indeed progressed, and they were starting to be used in real life.  
But a moving monster model? They had never heard of such a thing.

In reality, Si-hyun was manipulating it with elemental magic, but the students had no way of knowing that.

“We’ll move outside. Since the classroom is at the end of the hallway, we can exit through the side door.”  

Once the practical session was over, today’s lecture would end.  
As Si-hyun added this information, the students began to pack their belongings.

With that, Si-hyun and the students all moved together out of the building.

Upon reaching a suitably spacious area, Si-hyun lightly began.

“Now, who wants to go first?”  

Si-hyun scanned the students. Everyone looked away.

Despite the surge of enthusiasm, the model in front of them was far more terrifying than any real creature.  
They simply didn’t want to witness it moving right in front of them.

‘Hmm?’  

Si-hyun tilted her head cutely.

She had expected everyone to raise their hands eagerly to participate.  
This reaction was not what she anticipated.

Even when they entered the classroom after break time, the heat of excitement had filled the room to the point of feeling palpable.

Combat was typically taught in major classes, so did they not want to experience it even in a general studies context?

Si-hyun felt a tinge of disappointment.  
Thus, she forcibly encouraged participation.

“You there, student.”  
“Y-yes?!”  
“Come forward.”  

Si-hyun pointed to a student who had bombarded her with questions on the first day.  

Coincidentally, that student trembled as they approached.  
Si-hyun pulled out a club and a wooden wand from her storage magic inscribed bracelet.

She handed the club to the goblin and kept the wand in her own hand.  
This was merely a tool to pretend it was a magic tool.

“What’s your profession, student?”  
“I’m a m-martial artist.”  
“Aha.”  

Si-hyun understood why the student hadn’t pulled out their weapon.  

Seeing the student shake, she wondered if they were reluctant, but it turned out that was not the case.  
It seemed the excitement and anticipation had caused their body to tremble instead.

‘Why me?! Did I get marked on the first day?!’  

The martial artist student silently screamed in his heart.  
His lips and jaw trembled, and he scrunched up his nose.

“The model is durable enough. Don’t worry and give it a try.”  
“Ugh…”  

The eyes of the other students turned toward the martial artist.  
A fleeting look of pity crossed their faces.

However, Si-hyun interpreted those gazes differently.

‘They all wanted to do it but couldn’t step up!’  

These were students bursting with passion!

She didn’t expect them to look at the first student with envy.  
She would need to manage the time well to ensure everyone could have a turn.

Si-hyun checked her phone to confirm the time.

At that moment.

“Ugh, aah!”  

The martial artist let out a sound that didn’t seem like a battle cry as he lunged at the goblin.

Anticipating this, Si-hyun moved her hand holding the wand.

In that instant, the model, which had not moved even once until now, began to act as if it were alive.

The goblin le

aped at an angle, narrowly dodging the martial artist’s punch.  
At the same time, it swung its club!

Thwack!

The wooden club sliced through the air and smacked the martial artist on the side of his head.

“Ugh—!”  

Thanks to Si-hyun controlling the strength appropriately, the pain the student felt wasn’t severe.  
But he still felt the hit, and his mood soured sharply.

The student glared at the goblin with fiery eyes.  
It was indeed terrifyingly ugly, but it was still just a model.

The fact that he was getting beat up by it irritated his pride.

Immediately, the martial artist activated his skill.  
Mana spun within his body, temporarily enhancing his abilities—a kind of self-buff.

He glared at the goblin, gritting his teeth.  

‘I’ll make you pay for that!’  

With determination, he took his stance and charged!

“Ugh!”  

But it was futile.  
Once again, he was struck on the side of his head by the goblin’s club and rolled aside.

“Hmph, is that all you’ve got…?”  

Si-hyun muttered softly as she observed the student's level.  
The students gathered around him did not hear her words.

‘C-Crap…’  

The martial artist swallowed his curse silently.  

Of course, Si-hyun hadn’t meant to belittle or provoke him.  
She was genuinely evaluating the student’s skill with a pure heart.

It was simply that having spent too much time on the internet lately, her thoughts came out naturally as words.

‘It seems I’ve really been marked by the professor!’  

As the martial artist got back up, his whole body trembled.  
That wicked professor was clearly out for blood, wanting him to take a beating.

He looked at the professor with trembling eyes.  
When their gazes met, Si-hyun’s lips curled into a mischievous smile.

‘Just as I thought! This was to make me suffer!’  

The student fell into despair.

However, Si-hyun was merely smiling encouragingly at him.

“Shall we continue?”  

To ensure that every student had an experience, time wasted was not an option.  
Si-hyun urged the martial artist in a calm tone.

The goblin was moving at just a slightly stronger than average level.  
It would surely provide the students with an experience they wouldn’t find elsewhere.

Si-hyun beamed with satisfaction at her lecture.

‘Eek!’  

Unaware of her true feelings, the martial artist swallowed another scream as the professor urged him on.