The moment Si-woo and Saria’s entrance exam ended, both the candidates and instructors reacted with fervent enthusiasm.
“The top incoming student this year is Cadet Kang Si-woo, no doubt.”
“But wasn’t Cadet Saria just as impressive?”
“She didn’t leave as strong of an impact as Kang Si-woo, though.”
“Still, considering she delivered the final blow to the wyvern…”
The titles of candidates had already been replaced with cadets.
It was clear to everyone that both Si-woo and Saria had secured their spots at the Academy.
While it wouldn’t have been surprising to name them valedictorian and salutatorian, the instructors hesitated, concerned about potential ethical issues.
Even so, Jung Se-ah could barely contain her smile.
Her student, Kang Si-woo, was being praised left and right, and the joy made her practically giddy.
Her lips twitched with restrained excitement as she finally stood from her seat.
“No, I can’t wait any longer. I have to see him now.”
Jung Se-ah had originally resolved to wait until the exam officially concluded before meeting Si-woo.
Their relationship—an intricate connection between a newly appointed Academy instructor and her former apprentice—would inevitably spark rumors and controversy.
If word got out, there would surely be those who would attempt to diminish Si-woo’s accomplishments, accusing him of favoritism.
To avoid this, she had only confided the truth to a handful of trusted colleagues who had served at the Academy for years.
“But at this level, none of that matters anymore.”
Even if it became public knowledge that Si-woo had ties to an Academy instructor, his achievements were undeniable.
His performance during the entrance exam had been nothing short of extraordinary, and no one could belittle it.
But there was something more important driving Jung Se-ah’s decision.
“I want to see him.”
She had thought she could endure just watching him from afar, through the monitor.
But her glowing purple eyes betrayed her emotions.
She had grown unable to be satisfied with mere observation.
Her longing to see Si-woo in person, even for a second, propelled her to leave the instructor’s tent without hesitation.
Whoosh!
As she stepped outside, the biting chill of January’s wind swept over her.
Her footsteps halted abruptly.
Thud!
Jung Se-ah froze in place.
Beyond the biting chill, a subtle fragrance drifted into the air, teasing Jung Se-ah’s keen senses.
She let out a short sigh of frustration.
This wasn’t the scent of instructors overseeing the Hunter candidates during the entrance exam.
It was the smell of women—perfumed and prepared—intent on meeting a man.
In other words, the scent of rivals.
Her gaze settled coldly on the two women standing before her, their presence brimming with a territorial aura.
“What’s going on here? A future S-rank Hunter and a current S-rank Hunter, together?” Jung Se-ah asked icily.
One of the women smirked.
“What do you think? We’re here to stop you from meeting Si-woo.”
The other chimed in, “Ditto. Did you think we’d just stand by and watch while you snatch him away?”
Jung Se-ah blinked, realizing that in her excitement at Si-woo’s performance, she had overlooked something critical:
Among the newly appointed Academy instructors, these two were also present.
Recognizing her oversight, Jung Se-ah let out a deep sigh.
“I got too carried away.”
She raised her hands in mock surrender, her voice steady but resigned.
“Fine. You’re right. I’ll back off… for now.”
Her unexpected response drew puzzled looks from the two women.
“You’re giving up that easily?”
“Don’t tell me you’re actually planning to let him go.”
As if.
Even as her reasoning returned, Jung Se-ah’s resolve remained unwavering.
“It’s not like that,” she admitted with a self-deprecating laugh.
“If I see him today, I don’t think I’ll be able to hold back.”
This wasn’t some simple mistake or a spur-of-the-moment decision.
If she saw Si-woo now, sweaty and brimming with raw energy from his performance, she feared she would lose all restraint.
Jung Se-ah had thought about this more times than she cared to admit, but she had always held back.
Yet now, her emotions surged dangerously close to action.
She could already feel a subtle tension building in her body just from thinking about him, and she knew exactly what she would do if she saw him face-to-face.
“No… I wouldn’t just think about it. I’d do it.”
Turning away from her rivals, Jung Se-ah gave up for the moment, heading back to the tent to regain her composure.
But just as she was about to step inside, she paused.
While she appreciated that the two had kept her from acting impulsively, she wasn’t about to forgive them for interfering with her plans.
An idea struck her—a good one.
Jung Se-ah’s lips curved into a sly smile as she turned back toward the women.
Jung Se-ah’s gaze locked onto the two defeated women before her, her eyes radiating a chilling intensity.
With a sly grin, she delivered her parting blow.
“Unlike you two, who only know Si-woo as a VIP from a host bar, I can meet him whenever I want.”
She added, her voice dripping with finality:
“Because I’m his mentor.”
Wearing the smile of a victor, Jung Se-ah disappeared into the tent, leaving the other two women brimming with fury.
Behind them, their respective symbols began to stir—pristine frost blossoms and azure flames bloomed faintly in the air.
“Ugh…”
“I know it’s a provocation…”
But it was a challenge neither could ignore.
The frost’s chill and the blue flames’ heat, both manifestations of their heightened emotions, were suppressed with difficulty.
“Do you really think I’ll just sit here and do nothing?”
“I won’t lose, either.”
While their powers faded quickly, the embers of their rivalry burned hotter than ever.
The thought of being outshined by Jung Se-ah was unthinkable.
One Week After the Entrance Exam
Si-woo received his acceptance letter from the Academy, accompanied by an unexpected announcement.
“Valedictorian?”
He, Kang Si-woo, had been selected as the top incoming cadet for this year.
“I was sure Saria would be valedictorian,” he thought, recalling her reflective curse and the spell she used to deliver the final blow to the wyvern.
The impact of her performance had been undeniable, leaving everyone awestruck.
The surprising news brought an involuntary smile to Si-woo’s lips.
“Still, they really take good care of the valedictorian, huh?”
His acceptance came with an array of luxurious benefits:
A full scholarship
A private dormitory
A personal training facility
The sheer generosity of the package gave Si-woo pause.
“Should I just move in?” he mused.
The officetel Yoon Seo-ha had personally found for Si-woo was perfect for someone living alone.
If Si-woo hadn’t been a host, it would’ve been an ideal, peaceful place.
“But I’ve only ever given my home address to you, noona,” Si-woo muttered, glancing at yet another gift that had arrived.
When he worked as a host, he didn’t pay much attention to the gifts.
Even if there were any repercussions, Si-woo had always dealt with them on his own.
“But I can’t keep handling things like this forever.”
The situation changed if the consequences started affecting people unrelated to him.
To prevent such an event, Si-woo decided it was time to address the lingering ties from his past.
Opening a drawer he hadn’t touched in a while, he pulled out his second and third phones—devices he had used during his time as a host to communicate with VIP clients.
Pressing the power button on one of the phones, he held it down firmly.
Bzzzt. Bzzzt.
BZZZZZT!
“Oh, still going strong, huh?” Si-woo muttered as a flood of notifications erupted from the phone.
It buzzed incessantly, the calls and messages coming in nonstop as if it couldn’t possibly be a quiet weekday afternoon.
Switching the phone to airplane mode, Si-woo finally silenced the chaos.
The now-quiet device in hand, he began typing a message.
Si-woo had decided it was time to say goodbye, even to the people he had only shared connections with as a host.
“I’m not doing host work anymore.”
Keeping these lingering ties was unfair to Yoon Seo-ha, his former boss, who had given him this opportunity to step away from that world.
It was also cruel to the clients who might still be waiting endlessly for him.
It was better to end things cleanly.
Even if it seemed harsh, Si-woo believed this was the kindest way to handle it.
Leaving them with false hope wasn’t his style.
Starting with an explanation that he had achieved his dream and was stepping away from hosting, Si-woo composed a heartfelt thank-you message for the clients who had supported him in the past.
He drafted a mass farewell message to send to all his past contacts.
The moment he switched off airplane mode, the phone lit up again.
This time, it wasn’t the calls but the message inbox that exploded.
Si-woo’s phones vibrated furiously, like a pair of massage devices gone haywire, until he finally powered them down.
Replying to every single client would be a never-ending task, and besides, he was no longer a host.
“Now, I should focus on what’s next.”
Si-woo opened his newly purchased phone and began saving important contacts while drafting his plans in a notebook.
“I guess the first step is moving, right?”
Bzzz!
The hum of a vibration interrupted his thoughts.
Turning toward the table, Si-woo assumed it was one of the old phones buzzing again.
But then he realized something strange.
The old phones were both powered off.
The only possible source was his new phone.
“Is it this one?”
He picked it up, puzzled.
He hadn’t shared his new number with anyone yet—or so he thought.
Checking the caller ID, recognition dawned on him.
“Ah.”
He had been mistaken.
There was one person he had given his number to—two weeks ago.
Seeing the name on the screen, a warm smile spread across Si-woo’s face as he picked up the phone.
[Saria: Are you busy right now?]
For the first time in a week, he had received a message from his entrance exam partner.
Feeling an unexpected sense of relief, Si-woo quickly replied:
[No, I’m free.]
[Saria: Can you come out for a bit? I’ll send you the address.]
[Out of nowhere?]
[Saria: I’m certain now—it’s not a side effect from your charm. So, come on. Just for a bit.]
Si-woo chuckled and decided to tease her.
[Are you asking me out on a date?]
It was meant as a playful jab, but the reply he received wasn’t a joke.
[Saria: Yes, it’s a date proposal.]
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.