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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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A sudden text message.
I sent Han Yuri back to the dorm and headed to the professor’s office.
[Slightly Decent Bitch Professor: Something came up. Sorry, but I won’t be able to make it to the party.]
As acting principal, and after being absent for a week, it was understandable.
I knocked on her door.
I had something to give her.
Knock-knock-knock—
“Come in.”
I entered and found her furiously typing away at her keyboard.
“You’re actually knocking?”
“Well, it’s only polite, isn’t it? Entering a professor’s office and all.”
“…Your wit has returned. I take it you’re feeling better.”
I sat down, and she poured me some Aether Tea, as usual.
It has become our unspoken ritual.
“So, what brings you here?”
“I came because you couldn’t make it to the party. I was going to give you this there.”
I handed her a small box.
“This is…?”
“Open it.”
She carefully opened the box to reveal a ring.
A crystal ring, sparkling brilliantly.
“…”
Her face was stunned.
Her eyes trembled.
“Th-this… th-this is…”
It was the most surprised I’d ever seen her.
Her hands shook as she fumbled with the box, then she cleared her throat and offered it back to me.
“We have a student-teacher relationship. Marriage is… premature. Perhaps when you’re my equal, we can…”
“I think you’re misunderstanding something.”
“Yes?”
“This isn’t a proposal.”
“…Yes?”
She looked dumbfounded.
I hadn’t seen her make that expression before.
I pushed the box back towards her.
“It’s a thank you gift. For helping me this past week. I’m truly grateful.”
I bowed my head sincerely.
A week ago, I’d gone to her, half out of my mind.
‘Please, help me.’
Just those words.
No explanation.
But she’d nodded and followed me.
She’d helped me with dungeons during the day and planned the takedown of the Baekho Guild at night.
She was instrumental in resolving the situation.
“Thank you so much.”
“Lift your head. You went through more than I did.”
She smiled faintly and took the ring.
“If that’s your intention, then I’ll gratefully accept. But what is this? I’ve never seen anything like it…”
“It’s called ‘Fairy’s Courage.’ Want to try it on?”
Irena carefully slipped the ring onto her left middle finger.
The transparent crystal began to glow.
She gasped at the beautiful sight.
“It’s beautiful…”
“It’s beautiful, but it also amplifies the wearer’s emotions. It changes color depending on their feelings – black for anger, bright for joy, and so on.”
“Is that so…?”
She pondered my words, then took my hand.
“Professor?”
“I think it suits you better.”
“No, I…”
She ignored my refusal and put the ring on my finger.
The bright light faded.
She looked puzzled.
I smiled wryly and gave it back to her.
“I can’t use this kind of artifact. You should keep it.”
“…Alright.”
She seemed to want to say something, but she swallowed her words.
“I should get going. The others will be worried.”
“Yes, you should go.”
She held the ring to her chest and saw me to the door.
As I was about to leave, she said,
“If things get too difficult, please come talk to me.”
“Yes?”
“Taking a life, regardless of the reason, takes a toll on a person.”
She knew.
She knew I’d killed everyone in the workshops.
The Association was supposed to keep it quiet, but she’d found out.
But she didn’t blame me.
She was just… concerned.
I smiled faintly.
“Thank you.”
Maybe I should change her nickname from “Slightly Decent” to “Very Decent.”
I hurried back to the dorm.
“Oh boy.”
Chaos.
Empty bottles everywhere, the air thick with the smell of alcohol.
“Lee Seong-hyuuuun!”
Han Yuri pointed at me accusingly.
“How could you do this to me?! How could you not say a single word to our guild?!”
She yelled, while…
“Hehe. Seong-hyun’s here!”
…Choi Ah-hyun, completely drunk, climbed onto my back and drooled on my hair.
And…
“…”
…Shin Su-yeon was asleep in her wheelchair.
The only one who seemed sober was…
“Hyeon-ah, you’re back?”
…Lee Seol.
“It’s only been thirty minutes, and they’re already passed out?”
“Yeah… they suddenly started chugging.”
“Are you okay?”
“Huh?”
“You have a low tolerance. You passed out quickly when we drank together.”
“Um… I guess I’m feeling it tonight… hehe. Here, have a drink.”
“Okay.”
‘I have to clear the emission-type dungeon again tomorrow. This is bad.’
I hadn’t expected them to drink this much.
‘I’ll figure it out.’
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Inside a Hunter Association transport vehicle…
Kim Seong-ho, fresh from surgery, was being transported to prison, with a power-suppressing anklet on his leg.
Despite the healing, his left eye socket was empty.
Lee Seong-hyun had burned it with Lightning God.
“…”
His gaze was unfocused.
Empty of hope, empty of will.
He looked like a man on the verge of suicide.
He stared blankly out the window.
‘Did he abandon me too…?’
His father, his guild members, all were arrested.
The sycophants who’d flocked to him had vanished the moment he became useless.
Only one person remained.
His secretary.
He’d cut off all contact to avoid being investigated, but it seemed pointless now.
Boom!
The vehicle exploded.
“W-what?!”
“Ambush! Contact HQ!”
Two Association employees jumped out, with phones in their hand.
Both were C-rank.
The Association was short-staffed, and Kim Seong-ho was wearing a power suppressor, so they’d sent lower-ranked employees.
That was their mistake.
“Aaaaagh!”
“Ugh!”
His secretary was B-rank.
They were no match.
The fighting stopped, and the back door opened.
“Young Master. Let’s go.”
“…Okay.”
The secretary handed him a crossbow, bolts, and a sticky note.
A sticky note like the ones used in the Hall of Challenges, but blank.
[Short-Range Dungeon Transfer]
An artifact that teleported the user to the nearest dungeon.
Although it was banned by the Association, it was still traded on the black market.
“Are you sure about this? Wouldn’t it be better to wait until you’re out of prison…?”
Kim Seong-ho shook his head weakly.
“It’ll just be a different kind of hell. It’s over… everything’s over…”
The secretary sighed, watching him stumble.
‘I’ve repaid my debt. I hope you find peace.’
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“Lee Seong-hyun! I’m using Meteor Shower!”
“Okay!”
I dodged as Han Yuri called out the skill.
Attacks rained down.
Crash!
“Haa!”
Before the smoke cleared, Choi Ah-hyun charged in.
She sliced through the smoke, and her dagger flashed as she took down ogres left and right.
Perfect.
Our teamwork was improving, and our damage output was increasing.
‘We’re finally getting in sync.’
The student council team had been disbanded, so another team had joined us.
Normally, no one would volunteer, but the double assignment points had drawn them in like flies.
Both teams were pulling their weight, making for a smooth hunt.
“Seven ogres incoming! Playing it safe!”
“Roger.”
“Got it!”
I activated Lightning God and charged forward.
But suddenly…
“Lee Seong-hyun!”
“Seong-hyun!”
Their shouts pierced the air.
I rolled to the side.
‘Shit! What was that?!’
I felt sharp pain in my side.
I looked down.
It was an arrow.
Lodged in my side.
I looked up and saw Kim Seong-ho, with a crossbow in his hand.
“Let’s go. To hell.”
“Kim Seong-ho?”
He was supposed to be in custody!
But I didn’t have time to ponder.
A white light enveloped me.
‘Short-Range Dungeon Transfer!’
The sticky note attached to the arrow was glowing.
“Lee Seong-hyun! Are you okay?!”
“Stay back!”
If they came closer, they’d be teleported too.
“To hell…! We’re all going to hell!”
He spread his arms wide and laughed maniacally.
I gathered all my mana and stomped my foot.
Boom!
[Lightning God Activated!]
“To hell… huh?”
“Yeah, let’s go all the way.”
I grabbed him by the collar, with a smile on my face.
The white light engulfed us, and we were teleported.
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Irena’s office.
Irena’s face grew grim as she listened to the phone call.
-Lee Seong-hyun is trapped in the Forest of Ogres! The dungeon opens in two days. We’re coordinating with the Association to… Professor? Professor?
“Yes…”
-You need to come here. His teammates are… Professor? Are you there?! Professor?!
Thud!
Irena collapsed onto the floor.
“Haa… haa…”
She clutched her chest and gasped for air.
Her eyes widened, her hands and feet trembling uncontrollably.
Again.
The nightmare was repeating.
As if fate was testing her and tormenting her.
“No…”
This couldn’t be real.
She banged her head on the floor, praying it was a dream.
Thump!
“No…”
Blood trickled down her forehead, but she continued to deny reality.
Thump! Thump!
“No…!”
This wasn’t real!
The floor was stained with blood.
The Fairy’s Courage turned black.
The once bright crystal was now an ominous shade.
She looked at the ring and her eyes hardened.
His first gift to her.
The first time he’d shown gratitude.
She couldn’t lose him.
Not like this.
‘Never again…’
“I won’t make the same mistake…!”
Her bloodshot eyes burned with a fierce light and chilling madness.
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