095

Ji So-yeon rambled on, explaining what she had witnessed.

She emphasized how it would have been impossible without undergoing extreme training alone and how she couldn't even begin to guess how difficult it must have been. She also hinted at the need for Baek Seol-hee to pay close attention and care for the situation.

'Wow. She's really skilled at making mistakes…'

I had to make a considerable effort to maintain a nonchalant expression while listening to her explanation.

'Hmm… So, maybe my current 1-star level doesn't suit my abilities?'

The thought automatically crossed my mind, but Ji So-yeon promptly denied it.

"It's not about current strength; it's about potential. I haven't seen your current strength."

"Potential?"

Baek Seol-hee echoed Ji So-yeon's words.

"Yeah, You have an absurd potential that doesn't match your innate star."

Baek Seol-hee then pondered for a moment before speaking up.

"…Referring to your talent with the sword."

"Yes, the specialization grade."

As I listened to their conversation, something became clear to me.

Specialization grade!

My current sword specialization is grade S, a level that a typical 1-star wouldn't dare to possess.

When I first encountered the system, I received this grade from the gacha goods, and if it weren't for that, achieving this grade through ordinary means would have been impossible.

And while attending Baek Seol-hee's classes at the academy, I realized that I hadn't truly reached the level of an S-grade combatant.

'Potential lies in the specialization grade. So, increasing my rank accelerates the potential development, making me dramatically stronger!'

It felt like uncovering another piece of hidden game lore that hadn't been explicitly explained. It was refreshing.

This aspect hadn't been detailed in the game. I had simply thought that having a lower rank resulted in lower efficiency.

'I'm a 1-star, but my potential is S-grade. So, to Ji So-yeon, I must seem like a crazy person who overcame his innate limitations through training.'

Ji So-yeon looked at me again with a tearful expression, and Baek Seol-hee, after hearing her explanation, apologized with a sudden realization.

"I'm sorry. I considered your talent as merely innate… As a teacher, I'm not qualified."

'Ugh. This conscience allocation is bothering me…'

However, denying it here and claiming that it's just an ability I've honed with my wealth wouldn't make sense either.

'I just chugged everything down.'

"I'll definitely find a way to increase the number of stars!"

"I'm not sure if I still have the qualifications as your teacher, but I'll do my best too."

Ji So-yeon and Baek Seol-hee speculated about my situation and made those remarks.

To them, I could only respond with a hesitant voice.

"Um… Just treat me like usual, please."

Upon hearing this, Ji So-yeon's tearful expression resurfaced, and Baek Seol-hee bit her lip.

"Ugh!"

"Baek Seol-hee, is the conversation over? Can we talk about work now?"

At that moment, the Hunter Management Bureau Director, who had been present all this time and was undoubtedly the owner of this space, spoke up.

"Director Kim! You're here!?"

.

.

.

"Phew…"

It feels like my soul is draining away.

No matter what I say, Ji So-yeon keeps looking at me with eyes overflowing with compassion. I felt like communication was no longer possible there.

I intervened without realizing and managed to stop Instructor Baek Seol-hee from confronting the Hunter Management Bureau Director and quickly finished up with Baek Seol-hee's matters.

Then, together with her, I left the Hunter Management Bureau's office.

"Today, because of my selfish desires… I've brought you here and caused trouble."

Baek Seol-hee, who was walking beside me in silence, suddenly spoke.

"…Pardon?"

"I've unnecessarily brought up your past that you didn't want to reveal. If We hadn't met that guy today, none of this would have happened."

Baek Seol-hee blamed herself with a voice full of self-reproach.

"What are you talking about, Instructor? I'm fine. And if you hadn't brought me here today, I wouldn't have been able to get this promise from Ji So-yeon, right?"

Although he said he was fine, her furrowed brow showed no sign of smoothing out.

'I need to change the subject somehow…'

"Um, but what about your personal desires? Was there a personal desire of yours in bringing me here?"

"…Actually, I never expected to have a disciple. Just a few months ago."

I was surprised and quickly turned on my detection to catch her diminishing voice.

"…I, I just wanted to brag to a friend."

I stared at her with wide eyes, surprised to see this side of Baek Seol-hee. She always showed a calm and composed demeanor in front of me, and I thought her rough demeanor was her default, so I couldn't always know what was going on inside her. But to think that she brought me here because she wanted to brag about me…

My lips were slowly curling up.

'What a gap.'

I managed to catch such a rare moment, but I couldn't just let it go.

"It's okay to brag more about me"

"Have you heard everything.... No, I don't intend to do any more.... I'm quite regretting bringing you here now, so let's stop talking about this."

Baek Seol-hee tried to change the subject with an indifferent tone.

'What to do.'

After I caught such an unusual scene, I couldn't just let it go.

"Surely… It's not because you're not no longer proud of me, Instructor?"

When I spoke in a dejected voice, Baek Seol-hee's eyebrows shot up.

"…What?"

"Well, I mean, you thought your disciple was extraordinary and wanted to boast to others, but it turns out he's just a guy with only one star… So now you're embarrassed to show me off, right?"

"N-no! That's not it at all!"

For the first time, Baek Seol-hee visibly showed her surprise, raising her voice.

"I don't think of you that way."

"…Then what?"

"You are my first and last disciple. And what master would shun a disciple who overcomes his natural shortcomings? …I truly think you are more than exceptional."

Baek Seol-hee spoke each word with a gravity that suggested she was deeply moved by my earlier words.

"You are my disciple, Jin Yuha."

'Ow, now that she's so sincere, my conscience is really starting to hurt.'

But at least I could be sure that Baek Seol-hee was on my side.

'Hmm, should I tell her now…?'

Kim Ji-won and Ji So-yeon. The fact that those two would soon leave this place.

But knowing this clearly seemed odd.

With my party members, I could probably brush it off somehow, but with Instructor Baek Seol-hee, it was different. Especially since it involved the Hunter Management Bureau.

However, trusting her with this information seemed the quickest way. Finding someone as reliable as her would be difficult.

I took a moment to organize my thoughts and spoke.

"Hoo—"

"Then, Instructor, can you believe what I say just once? And not ask for the reason?"

Baek Seol-hee blinked in surprise at my sudden request, but then nodded.

"Alright. I will."

I looked at her steadily and slowly spoke.

"Even if I say there's a demon at the Hunter Management Bureau?"

"…A demon?"

Baek Seol-hee's eyebrows furrowed.

Now that I had spilled the beans, I decided to tell her everything.

"I don't know who the demon is impersonating. But I am certain that the demon is scheming to demote the current Director of the Hunter Management Bureau and Ji So-yeon."

"How much time do we have?"

Instead of asking how I knew this or for more details, Baek Seol-hee immediately inquired about the timeframe.

"Probably not much."

"I see…"

Baek Seol-hee pondered for a moment, letting out a sigh.

"Jin Yuha."

"Yes."

"This is not something I can ignore. I will stop it from happening."

"…Right now?"

"You said we don't have much time. Then it's best to handle it while we're here."

Wow. This instructor is really something else.

"Would you like to come with me?"

"Ah, yes."

"Then consider this an additional lesson."

Baek Seol-hee smiled faintly as she spoke.

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