Ah-reum, who had expressed her ambitions with vigor, slowly raised her head.  
She peeked at the professor in front of her with slightly open eyes.  

Professor Jeong Si-hyun was half-closed-eyed, deep in thought.  
Ah-reum clenched her fists, waiting for the professor's response.  

‘Did I convey it properly…?’  

What exactly did I say? Did it truly convey my intentions?  
Ah-reum replayed her words in her head, trying to recall exactly what she had said.  

“I want to be like you! You’re my role model!”  
She seemed to have said something along those lines.  

‘…Wait, huh?’  

She had meant to imply she wanted to become a protégé, maybe even a research assistant someday.  
But did her words really carry that meaning?  

Even though it was a general studies course, she was still technically a student.  
And “role model” was meant to signify respect.  

Wait, was it right…?  

Her gaze began to wander restlessly, unable to settle on anything.  
It seemed like she had expressed herself correctly, but then again, maybe not.  

Ah-reum nervously looked back at the professor.  

A woman so beautiful that even other women would be drawn to her.  
Her graceful movements exuded a constant air of elegance, and simply standing still, she radiated a holy aura.  

Professor Jeong Si-hyun embodied the ideal woman that Ah-reum had only dared to dream of.  
Under normal circumstances, her shy nature would have kept her from even considering a one-on-one consultation with the professor.  

But then, they had run into each other at the bookstore.  
When they shared a love for genre novels.  
When the professor had warmly engaged in conversation with her.  

Ah-reum saw a glimpse of the professor’s humanity.  
She realized that this radiant, dignified professor was also a person who enjoyed her own hobbies.  

And today, through the video in class, a passion had ignited in her heart—“I want to be like that too.”  
She wanted to be someone like her professor! She wanted to be someone who shone that brightly!  

Her passion had turned into courage, and that courage had led her to the professor’s office.  

“…Hmm, I see.”  
“Yes, yes?!”  

When Si-hyun finally spoke, Ah-reum stiffened up in nervous anticipation.  

---

“You mean you want to become my mentee, right?”  
“Yes, yes, exactly! I’d be willing to work as a grad student or anything else!”  

Ah-reum’s loud response answered my question.  
Since she’d said I was her role model, I had wondered if I’d misunderstood. But I hadn’t.  

“May I ask why?”  
“W-why, you ask…?”  

Ah-reum looked at me with nervous eyes.  
She lowered her head, her fingers fidgeting as if she were counting.  

Then, an unexpected reaction came forth.  

“Well, because…you’re strong, and amazing, and beautiful, and sophisticated! Uh, and noble, and holy, with an air of mystery, and astonishingly—”  
“Okay, okay! That’s enough!”  

Whoa, what a shock! It was like she’d turned into a rapper, spitting out words nonstop.  

Noble? Holy?  

I felt my face heating up from the sudden praise.  

“…Ahem, I understand what you’re saying.”  
“Yes!”  

Ah-reum answered energetically.  
…Honestly, it made me genuinely happy.  

It was exaggerated, sure, but she was clearly complimenting me.  
Although she was a bit timid, I could feel her sincerity.  

However, there was one major issue.  

“As you know, I’m a part-time lecturer. I’m not a full professor.”  
“If you join a guild, I’ll follow you too—!”  

Her answer came instantly.  

…Honestly, I hadn’t expected this level of enthusiasm.  

“I don’t care if it’s as a disciple or an assistant! I just want to become someone who shines like you!”  
“…I see.”  

Someone who shines…  
So, that’s how she saw me.  
But I don’t think of myself that way at all.  

Anyway, it was clear what Ah-reum wanted to say.  
In that case, I should give her an honest answer as well.  

“Ah-reum.”  
“Yes, yes!”  

When I called her name, she looked at me with a face full of tension.  
I spoke with a deliberately serious tone.  

“All that you said—do you mean it?”  
“O-of course!”  
“I see.”  

I looked at her earnest eyes behind her large glasses.  
Though her posture was timid, her eyes held a determined will.  

Seeing that gaze, I made my decision.  

“…Then, listen carefully.”  

To be honest…  

I’m the type of person who would rather stay at home than go outside.  
I prefer moderately quiet places over crowded ones.  
I often feel lazy and procrastinate on tasks I need to do.  

I don’t consider myself to be a shining person at all.  

But…  

“From now on.”  

Even someone like me, with this kind of personality.  
For the sake of an eager student in front of me.  

“You will undoubtedly be able to become the person you dream of.”  

It wouldn’t be so bad to pretend to be a shining person, right?  
We could look toward the future together, building a relationship that aspired toward ideals.  

“Ah-reum, let’s work well together.”  
“Yes, thank you!”  

We shook hands firmly.  
The warmth that passed through our palms felt like it embodied the enthusiasm of the student before me.  

“Feel free to speak casually to me!”  
“…Shall I?”  

I nodded and moved to the consultation desk, taking a seat.  

“Make yourself comfortable.”  
“Yes, yes!”  

Sitting across from me, Ah-reum took a stiff posture.  
To lighten the mood, I casually pulled out a novel from my bag and placed it on the desk.  

“Wow…”  

Her eyes changed instantly.  

“H-have you read it?!”  
“Of course. It’s truly a masterpiece, don’t you think?”  
“Right, right?! It’s an absolute gem!”  

Gone was her earlier nervousness as her eyes sparkled with excitement.  
It was the same endearing, puppy-like enthusiasm I’d seen at the bookstore.  
This, I figured, was the real Ah-reum—a far more natural and fitting look for her.  

“I recommend you read this next time!”  

She pulled out her phone and eagerly recommended several novels.  
I took my time reviewing each one, memorizing their names.  

As the conversation grew lively, I took the opportunity to ask for her class schedule.  

After all, what I’d seen today had made it clear—her combat skills were lacking…way too much.  
It looked like I’d need to give her some serious training.  

Since she was my first disciple, she deserved to be properly nurtured.  
And along the way, I could research support skills and status screens.  
I’d been putting it off, thinking I’d get around to it eventually.  

“See you next time.”  
“Thank you! Have a good day!”  

After exchanging goodbyes, Ah-reum left the office.  
I gathered my things leisurely as well.  

Since there was still some time before evening, I decided to take a look around the academy library before heading home.  

---

“Ugh…”  

After class, Eun-byeol headed straight to the library, racking her brain in frustration.  
The assignment for her major lecture was proving to be more challenging than expected.  

She had been looking up rare, non-circulating books and papers, but her understanding was unclear.  
She kept feeling like she was almost there but not quite, unable to reach a clear conclusion.  

The ambiguity gnawed at her, wrinkling her brow and prompting a sigh.  

If only there was just a little more information—then she might solve it!  
No matter how much she searched, she couldn’t find anything that solved it easily.  

It seemed less like a problem with the materials and more like a gap in her thought process or comprehension.  

“Ugh! It’s so thrilling when you finally figure this kind of thing out!”  

Eun-byeol was always earnest about her studies in her major.  
But the theories that magic hunters learned were utterly unfamiliar.  

They covered content she’d never encountered before.  
As a result, effort alone wasn’t always enough to solve them.  

Magic itself was activated as skills through the status screen’s aid.  
However, the professors constantly emphasized that hunters must pursue magical knowledge independently of the status screen to reach higher levels.  

There are fewer magic hunters compared to close-combat hunters.  
Yet, there are more professors and researchers in magic than in close combat.  

While close-combat hunters train on the field, magic hunters dedicate themselves to research in labs.  
Magic requires an effort to understand mana at its core.  

With a deep sigh, Eun-byeol shelved the book she was holding and turned around.  
At that moment, she glimpsed a familiar figure passing by through the bookshelves.  
A head of white hair trailed after them like a ghostly ribbon.  

“Hm?”  

She’d only ever seen one person with such unusual hair color.  
It had to be Professor Jeong Si-hyun,

 the instructor for Monster Studies.  

Curious, Eun-byeol quietly followed in the direction where the professor had disappeared.  
She saw the professor pause at a corner bookshelf and pull out a book to read.  

‘Why is Professor Jeong Si-hyun reading a book meant for magic hunters?’  

Was it just simple curiosity?  
In fact, she’d often seen students—clearly close-combat hunters—glance through a few pages before walking out.  

Was the professor just like them, reading out of curiosity?  
With a smirk, Eun-byeol turned back to the books she needed and made her way to the reading area.  

An hour passed by quickly.  

‘Huh?’  

Losing her focus, Eun-byeol lifted her head, spotting the professor again in a secluded spot, reading.  

‘No way…’  

Eun-byeol squinted, peeking at the covers of other books beside the professor.  
They were undeniably books intended for magic hunters.  

‘Is she really reading those?’  

Or could it be that the other books were just incidental and not what she was actually reading?  

Eun-byeol stood up.  
She was overcome by a sudden urge to find out.  

Cautiously, she approached the professor.  

“Hello, Professor?”  
“…Hm?”  

The professor looked up at her gentle greeting.  
Recognizing Eun-byeol, she nodded with a light smile.  

Eun-byeol, wanting to avoid coming off as intrusive, asked in a friendly tone.  

“May I ask what you’re reading?”  
“…This one?”  

Si-hyun tilted her head, holding up the book’s cover for Eun-byeol to see.  
It was indeed a magic hunter’s text.  

In that moment, Eun-byeol hesitated.  
She wanted to ask if the professor was truly understanding the content, but that felt like it crossed a line.  
But she was so curious—to know why she was reading it, if she truly grasped it.  

Si-hyun, however, seemed to read Eun-byeol’s thoughts from her expression alone.  

“What book were you reading, Eun-byeol?”  
“Well, um…”  

With a subtle shift, she had turned the conversation back to Eun-byeol.  

Eun-byeol pulled out her book, showing it to the professor.  
Without realizing it, she opened the page where she’d been stuck all day.  

“I just couldn’t understand this part.”  
“Let’s see… Ah, I see.”  

It took Si-hyun just a few seconds to nod in understanding before gesturing for Eun-byeol’s notebook and pen.  
Although puzzled, Eun-byeol handed over her pen and notebook.  

Scratch, scratch—  

Effortlessly, Si-hyun jotted something down and handed the notebook back to Eun-byeol.  
After checking the time on her phone, she stood up.  

“Good luck with your studies.”  

With that whispered encouragement, the professor left.  
Eun-byeol, after a slight bow in acknowledgment, looked down at the notebook.  

And then—  

“…What is this?”  

Her grip on the notebook tightened involuntarily.  

The answer to the question that had eluded her was there, written out in clear, concise handwriting.  

‘Wait, who is she, really?’  

It was so enlightening and straightforward that she had no further questions.  
It was undoubtedly the correct answer.  

Rubbing her eyes, she reread the content to commit it to memory.  
Tucking the notebook back into her bag, Eun-byeol left the library and headed straight for her major professor’s office.  

Knocking, she entered and explained her purpose.  

“Professor, I wanted to confirm if this is correct.”  
“Oh?”  

Eun-byeol was a diligent student, and her brother was a well-known figure.  
Moreover, this wasn’t her first time visiting the professor’s office.  

The magic professor looked at her with a smile, but the smile quickly faded.  

“…Did you come up with this yourself, Eun-byeol?”  

The professor’s gaze turned intense, like a predator eyeing an exceptionally gifted student.  

“Uh, I actually asked my brother! I wanted to double-check with him.”  
“Ah, I see. That explains it—an S-rank hunter, after all.”  

Eun-byeol smoothly deflected the attention by mentioning her brother.  
After all, she doubted anyone would believe that Professor Jeong Si-hyun had given her the answer.  

“I’m honestly surprised. This explanation is much clearer and better than the one I prepared. S-ranks are truly on another level.”  
“Yes, yes… Haha…”  

That day, thanks to Si-hyun’s casual advice,  
the magic professor was astounded, and Eun-byeol sweated bullets.  

Later, in a different magic course,  
the professor presented the new solution with Eun-byeol’s consent, rather than the original answer.  

All the students marveled at the clarity of the answer, engraving it in their minds.  

---

Meanwhile, Si-hyun—  

She had been making her way home, admiring the academy grounds when her gaze fell on the students exercising on the training field.  

“Are those outfits comfortable…?”  

She looked at the attire of the female students.  
Some were in training uniforms, others in functional sportswear, and quite a few wore sports leggings.  

Standing still, she tapped her cheek thoughtfully with her finger.