Hunter Management Bureau, Director’s Office.

“Director Kim! Director Kim! Have you seen this!?”

A quirky-eyed girl sat with her arms folded on the desk, waving her phone towards a woman with blue hair.

“…Calm down, Ji So-yeon. I told you to keep it quiet in the director’s office.”

“But everywhere else is so boring.”

“And I’m not Director Kim, I’m Director.”

The woman addressed as Director, Kim Jiwon, spoke with a cold tone, but Ji So-yeon, the quirky-eyed girl, continued excitedly.

“No, but look at this! Fighting Dog and Cheonhwa, they’re first-years but they already formed a party!”

“Well, those two are already promising candidates…”

“But what’s surprising is this! It’s him! He’s the party leader despite those two being outstanding! And even that Cheonhwa admitted he’s stronger than her!”

“Hmm? Stronger? The boy?”

Finally, a spark of interest lit up in Kim Jiwon’s face.

“Yes, yes! Look at this!”

Ji So-yeon enlarged the photo she was looking at and pushed it towards her.

“This boy is becoming quite popular! They say he’s handsome!”

Kim Jiwon, the director of the Hunter Management Bureau, narrowed her eyes as she looked at the black-haired boy on the screen, feeling a sense of familiarity.

“I’d like to see him in person… I wonder if he’s really handsome, or if it’s just the photo?”

“Tsk, it’s pointless to worry about it.”

“But come to think of it, today is the day when the report on the Demon incident from the Velvet Academy is due. Ah, I should contact Seol-hee!”

” Ji So-yeon! Why do you always…! Are you really calling Baek Seol-hee here!?”

Kim Jiwon was so flustered that she unfolded her arms and hurriedly tried to stop her, but Ji So-yeon stuck out her tongue while hiding her phone.

“I’ve already sent it. Can Seol-hee bring him? I hope she does─!”

Sigh…

Kim Jiwon sighed deeply, leaning back in her chair.

“If Baek Seol-hee comes… I’ll have to tell the Demon Surveillance Team to halt their schedule and just wait quietly. The trauma from last time might not have completely healed yet…”

Then suddenly…

‘Wait a minute, come to think of it, the faces that came up in the recent Demon incidents… is the same of the face of that boy just now…!’

Kim Jiwon realized the identity behind the sense of familiarity belatedly and widened her eyes.

.

.

.

“N-Next page… please, turn the… page…”

The weekend had passed, and it was Monday again, time for Yumira’s “Understanding Basic Monsters” class.

It was attended by all first-year students, in other words, all party members, but Kang Do-hee sat alone, far away, not even looking in their direction.

‘I was a bit harsh yesterday.’

Kang Do-hee was a tough nut to crack when it came to personal space, and it was difficult to approach her without puShin her boundaries a little. So, deliberately crossing the line, but then, why would such a scene suddenly appear on TV?

─ When the same party is in danger, it’s only natural to save them.

Scenes of her reaching out to male party members in distress.

─ Oh, don’t get me wrong!

─ Oh, yes?

─ This, this is the video I received from the Demon Oh Yes, no, Oh-Hae incident before! I checked it before and turned off the TV, but it seems like the video I played back then was still there! Let me, let me go! Turn off the screen! Ah, let go!!!!

Kang Do-hee struggled and made all sorts of excuses, trying to justify herself.

It was a rare sight to see a cute side of her that was usually hidden.

─ When the same party is in danger, it’s only natural to save them.

And the video even repeated itself.

After I beat up those male students about thirty times, and rescued the male assignees about thirty times. It wasn’t until Kang Do-hee begged me to let her go that I finally released her.

“Ugh, why did she swing her fists so fiercely.”

I almost died there. My muscles ache even after using a healing potion.

I rubbed my neck and glanced at Yumira, the instructor, who was teaching at the front.

For some reason, she seemed quite dejected.

“…So, um. This monster can only be touched twice… s-so, you only have two hands! Ahaha…”

Even though she just made a witty comment, her voice was trembling, making the atmosphere tense.

I made eye contact with the distressed instructor, and she quickly averted her gaze with a startled expression.

‘Why is she like that?’

“…Next page! The, um, the characteristics of the monster you see now are…!”

It’s all stuff I already know. Boring.

Well, I’ve seen these guys in games all the time, so I can recite their names with my eyes closed after reading the Velvet Slaught Monster List wiki about ten times.

“Are you bored?”

As I scribbled and doodled, Shin Se-hee whispered softly beside me.

“Um, well… It’s because it’s all stuff I already know.”

“Hehe, I see. But please bear with it. There’s not much time left in class.”

I glanced at Shin Se-hee quietly, then curiosity sparked within me, so I asked her.

“Speaking of which, your name got a bit famous during the Utopia party activities. How’s it going with the Shin?”

“It’s okay. I’ve never really liked being in the spotlight at the Shin.”

“Hmm?”

“Originally, as long as there was my sister at home, it was impossible. But I carved out my own place.”

“Ah.”

“But when I became involved in managing Utopia, I stepped back and became a distant figure. At home, they think my sister is the one who has a hold over me. And the Utopia party belongs to Su-yeon.”

“I see.”

I nodded my head.

Se-hee suddenly looked apologetic.

“Um… I have something to apologize to Jin Yuha about in relation to that.”

“…Apologize? If it’s just the Shin thinking that Su-Yeon owns our party, it’s fine, isn’t it?”

“No, um… This time, Jin Yuha’s name was known as the leader of the Utopia party, right?”

“Yeah.”

“So, at Shin, Jin Yuha was… talked about as my sister’s future son-in-law… That’s how the rumors started to circulate.”

“Son-in-law?”

My expression turned doubtful, and Se-hee explained.

“It’s… the Shin misunderstood you as being marked by Su-yeon as her man. So, you being the leader in the party, it’s seen as a groundwork to make sure you don’t bow down too much when you eventually marry Su-yeon, an S-rank Hunter.”

“Sorry… Does it make you feel bad?”

Se-hee spoke with a dejected voice.

‘This is more interesting than I thought.’

“No, not really. In a way, it’s more convenient for us if they have such misunderstandings.”

“Really?”

“The Shin. Ultimately, they’re not going to interfere with what you’re doing, right?”

I smiled at Se-hee.

“…Yeah, I’m preparing quietly under the surface for now.”

“Then it’s easier for us if it’s known as Su-yeon’s party. The Shin won’t meddle unnecessarily.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

“When the Shin’re sorted out later, call me too. I’ll help.”

As I stared at her, Se-hee’s lips trembled slightly. She seemed to be holding something back, stubbornly biting her lips.

“…Thank you, Jin Yuha.”

“But, what’s Su-yeon doing right now?”

Just casual small talk, but suddenly, she beamed a bright smile at me.

The sudden change in expression is giving me goosebumps. Se-hee, Se-hee. But our Se-hee, she’s clearly smiling, so why does it feel so eerie?

“…Do you really want to know? If it’s you, Jin Yuha, there’s nothing I can’t tell you….”

Se-hee said in a quiet voice.

If I were to respond like that here, I feel like I’d be drawn into something deep. Like, for example, a basement.

“…No, well. You’re probably handling things just fine on your own.”

I replied, avoiding her eyes.

It’s a wise man’s rule not to get too close to danger. Um.

And soon, the class came to an end.

“Oh, we’ll stop here for today! Everyone, good job! I, I have something urgent to attend to, so I’ll be going!”

Instructor Yumira…

Did she order a urgent delivery or something? She’s running away with her feet completely transformed into monster form.

.

.

.

Thud-thud-thud—

“Screaam—!”

The second class of the day.

Subject: Basic Swordsmanship Class by Instructor Baek Seol-hee. After enduring a swordsmanship class with a difficulty level that can’t be called basic at all.

I was learning grappling as an additional class.

Two legs pressing down on my body. And arms tightly grasped in between.

Commonly known as an armbar.

No matter how hard I try to break free, the arms holding me are refusing to let go.

“Aaah—!”

Originally, I was still far from being able to resist the instructor with strength alone, but Baek Seol-hee, who was already applying her weight, felt like she was about to break my arm with her arm twisted in the opposite direction.

Thud thud thud!

In the end, I couldn’t hold on any longer and tapped her thigh three times.

“Whew—”

Did she break something?

I examined the area that had been held just a moment ago and massaged my elbow.

“Jin Yuha.”

As I turned my head, Baek Seo-lhee was looking down at me.

“…Yes?”

I replied, cautiously inching my body backward.

“After today’s class, I plan to visit the Hunter Management Office. Will you come with me?”

“…The Hunter Management Office?”

“Yes.”

Huh? Suddenly to the Hunter Management Office? That’s a place where you go when you’re suspected as a Demon or when you finish a chapter and receive rewards.

“Why there?”

“Well, I’m planning to visit for personal reasons, but my colleague there mentioned wanting to see you after seeing your face on the internet.”

“….”

I looked at Baek Seol-hee with a puzzled expression.

“If you don’t want to, I won’t force you. However, it could be inconvenient for you at the Hunter Management Office due to your personal matters. I had momentarily forgotten about that.”

Even though it was just a while ago. I feel a little disappointed.

“Well, if that’s the case, why not go once. Why not.”

That’s how I ended up going to the Hunter Management Office with the instructor.