Recently, Baek Seol-hee found herself thinking one thing more and more often.

‘My disciple is too outstanding.’

This was a truly unfamiliar sensation for her. It was rare for Baek Seol-hee to genuinely recognize and admire someone to the point she could count such occasions on one hand.

Of course, objectively speaking, Jin Yuha might still seem a bit lacking in terms of current ability.

However, what she focused on was Jin Yuha’s growth rate, perseverance, persistence, and diligence.

No matter what training she assigned, Jin Yuha carried it out without complaint. Lately, he even began to dabble in martial arts, as if mastering the sword alone wasn’t enough for him. If he hadn’t shown remarkable results with the sword, she might have been disappointed. But Jin Yuha always exceeded her expectations by far.

His talent was so exceptional that she might have tolerated some arrogance.

But Jin Yuha always worked desperately, as if every moment in class was a precious treasure. He always assumed he was lacking and pushed himself accordingly.

How could such a disciple not be a source of pride?

Though some teachers might feel jealous of their brilliant students, Baek Seol-hee was different.

‘I wonder what others think about Jin Yuha.’

She wanted everyone to recognize the qualities of her outstanding disciple.

As a result, even within her limited network, Jin Yuha’s name began to spread by word of mouth.

─ I’ve never seen the captain talk so much before.

─ Who is this Jin Yuha that he gets acknowledged by that monster of a captain…?

─ He’s only a first-year, right? Maybe that’s why she’s going easy on him?

─ Hey, have you ever seen the Butcher Maniac go easy on anyone?

─ Hey, hey…! Behind you!

─ Eek!!!

The members of the Demon Extermination Squad, who operated behind the scenes at Velvet Hunter Academy, often wondered what made Jin Yuha so special that even their terrifying captain acknowledged him.

─ Seol-hee… Is all you came here to talk about that boy?

─ What on earth is so special about him…?

─ No, it’s not that I don’t want to hear it! We do need a report! We’ll listen after the report!

Even Lina, the director she served directly, wasn’t exempt from hearing about him.

─ Phew, never mention that name in front of Jin Yuha again…

─ Instructor Yumira. What happened for you to say that?

─ Don’t even ask. He promised to keep it a secret… but I almost died that day… Eek! I’m sorry! I won’t mention that name again!

Since Jin Yuha often stirred up trouble, his name would come up among her fellow instructors. And each time, Baek Seol-hee would appear like a ghost, poking their sides with her sword handle.

─ What? You want me to tell you more?

─ Um, during my first class, I had a simulation fight with two B-rank healers, four C-rank dealers, an E-rank tank, and four A-rank monsters…

When the Butcher Maniac demanded they talk about Jin Yuha with a real sword in her hand, the instructors were in utter agony.

At this point,

On Mondays and Fridays, the “Basic Swordsmanship” class, held only twice a week, became the days Baek Seol-hee looked forward to the most.

Then, Baek Seol-hee saw a recent article on the internet. She usually had no interest in such gossip, but this time was different. Her disciple’s face was all over the News sites.

‘…Already standing out. As expected, a hidden gem is always revealed.’

She found herself smiling as she read the articles.

‘But he’s becoming too well-known too quickly. With his name starting to spread among people… he might become distracted by public attention.’

So Baek Seol-hee worked Jin Yuha even harder in their Monday major class.

The level of training was so intense that new recruits of the Demon Extermination Squad would be in tears, and even the experienced members would feign illness with pale faces.

Baek Seol-hee had been preoccupied with her talented disciple’s accomplishments, eager to show him off to everyone, without paying any attention to why he wanted to become stronger or what his past was like.

‘I see… It wasn’t him, it was me who was intoxicated with pride.’

As an inexperienced teacher, Baek Seol-hee deeply reflected on herself and apologized to him.

“Today, due to my trivial greed… I brought you here and caused trouble.”

She felt that she couldn’t face her disciple honestly if she hid these feelings.

“I brought up a past you didn’t want to reveal. If we hadn’t met Ji So-yeon today, this wouldn’t have happened.”

However, her kind-hearted disciple tried to comfort her instead.

“What are you saying, Instructor? I’m fine. Besides, if you hadn’t brought me here today, I wouldn’t have been able to get this promise from Ji So-yeon.”

‘He truly is too good for me…’

Maybe this child should be entrusted to a proper teacher rather than staying with her.

At that moment,

“…Hmm, but personal greed? Did you have personal reasons for bringing me here?”

His dark, clear eyes, which never tolerated lies, seemed to pierce through to her innermost thoughts.

“To be honest, I never expected to have a disciple. Until a few months ago, that is. So… I wanted to… show off my disciple to my friends a little.”

Baek Seol-hee realized her voice was getting smaller, but she couldn’t help it. She felt like she was confessing her sins in front of him.

‘I didn’t care enough about how much he’s been through… and I call myself his teacher…!’

She tried to maintain her composure, but her lips trembled, revealing her emotions.

‘Can I still consider myself fit to be Jin Yuha’s teacher?’

Though she had such doubts, Jin Yuha continued, as if not willing to let her off easily.

“You can brag about me more, you know?”

“Did you hear everything… Never mind. I don’t plan to say anything more. I deeply regret bringing you here today, so let’s end this conversation.”

“By any chance… does this mean you’re no longer proud of me?”

“…What?”

“I mean, you were proud of me and wanted to show off your amazing disciple, but then you found out I was only born with one star of talent… So now, are you embarrassed to show me to others?”

Baek Seol-hee turned her head sharply, surprised.

She was agonizing over her qualifications as a teacher, while Jin Yuha was worried that he might have disappointed her due to his perceived lack of talent!

“N-no! It’s not like that! I don’t think that about you at all.”

Baek Seol-hee, though awkward, tried her best to convey her sincerity to Jin Yuha.

She wasn’t good with words, but fortunately, Jin Yuha seemed relieved by her simple declaration, “You are my disciple.”

‘This boy…’

Baek Seol-hee’s eyes began to tremble.

Feelings of guilt, awkwardness, shame, and gratitude surged within her. Her disciple made her feel humbled.

Then, Jin Yuha let out a deep sigh and suddenly said,

“Then, Instructor. Can you believe me just once, no matter what I say? And can you not ask me for the reason?”

Jin Yuha seemed to need help with something important, something he couldn’t share with anyone else. It was the first time he had sought help beyond their lessons.

‘No, he did ask me to open the training grounds for him before.’

But that was nothing serious, so she let it pass.

She felt joy at the thought that he considered her close enough to share a secret.

Baek Seol-hee had already established a firm trust in Jin Yuha.

Therefore.

She was able to take it all in stride, even when he told her the Hunter Bureau had a demon.

Even when he said they were targeting Ji So-yeon and Kim Ji-won.

‘Those cockroaches are everywhere,’ she thought.

‘I guess it’s extra class from now on, then.’

Baek Seol-hee smirked and turned to Jin Yuha.