Lee Seung-hee was the first S-rank hunter produced by Alpha Academy. Naturally, she had been mentored by Han Hyun-ho from beginning to end.

The reason she so readily concluded the cause of the students' collective illness after hearing the healer department head was because she, too, was experiencing the same symptoms. For a few days now, she'd been secretly noticing a significant decline in her energy.

‘Dangerous.’

With her considerable hunter experience, she instinctively felt the danger of her current state. She didn't know what would happen if she left it untreated. She had stopped her outside activities and stayed home, and therefore didn’t want to accept the temporary chairman position at Alpha Academy. However, after hearing about the unusual events unfolding at the academy, she wanted to investigate and uncover the truth.

‘Professor Han Hyun-ho…’

In truth, she harbored romantic feelings for Professor Han Hyun-ho. Even as a student, with her somewhat bold personality, she had even confessed her feelings to him.

"Stop your nonsense and focus on your training, kid."

Han Hyun-ho replied with a laugh. He knew she wasn’t joking, yet his response suggested complete disinterest.

Lee Seung-hee believed he paid her more attention because he valued her talent. Why wouldn't she? An S-rank hunter is an extraordinary individual. The same is true anywhere in the world, not just South Korea. She received intense attention at the academy.

‘If it weren’t for him…’

Observing Han Hyun-ho, she realized he treated all students equally. He didn't show any special favoritism toward her, even after she became S-rank. Watching him care for other students, her jealousy grew.

‘Good riddance.’

She, too, had contributed to driving Han Hyun-ho out of Alpha. She, with her greater influence and wider network than other hunters, actively spread rumors about him. Her words held considerable weight. Those who hesitated to remove Han Hyun-ho until the end solidified their decision after listening to her, someone who had been mentored by him to reach S-rank.

‘It was his doing!’

The more she thought about it, the more she realized it wasn't her or the other students who were special, but Han Hyun-ho himself. Without his guidance, neither she nor any other student could have achieved such significant growth.

The academy students are exhibiting mass symptoms. And even she, a graduate. She suspected that other graduates who had been mentored by Han Hyun-ho were also in the same state.

“Find out where Professor Han Hyun-ho is. Have a car ready when the investigation is complete. I’ll go meet him in person.”

“We’ve already located him. In fact, he was here a few days ago.”

“What?!”

Lee Seung-hee’s eyebrows furrowed.

“Could that day have been…?”

“Yes, the day Chairman Park Seok-cheol and Professor Kim Ho-geun died. He came with Headmaster Kim So-mi.”

“Kim So-mi? That woman is the headmaster here?”

“She applied for leave and hasn't returned. She disappeared with Professor Han Hyun-ho after visiting that day.”

“Wasn’t Chairman Park and Professor Kim Ho-geun murdered by those two?”

“That’s… there’s other evidence.”

“Evidence?”

The head of the healer department lowered his voice and revealed the contents of the suicide note left by Professor Kim Ho-geun.

“That’s impossible!”

“Yes, I think so too. Professor Kim Ho-geun would never take his own life. Moreover, killing the chairman who had looked the other way for his perverted acts, claiming to be ridding the world of evil. I think that's completely out of the question.”

“This is unbelievable.”

“Are you really going to meet Professor Han Hyun-ho? As I mentioned, he’s highly likely to be with Kim So-mi.”

“Kim So-mi… the woman who was injured and retired? That’s irrelevant.”

Lee Seung-hee was actually a little uneasy. Because her current physical condition wasn’t normal. However, the situation would only worsen with time. She had to find Han Hyun-ho and resolve the problem as soon as possible.

. . .

“What are you making?”

Kim Kyung-soo showed interest and asked as he saw me making hunter gear in the living room.

“Hunter gear.”

“What? Are you doing it as a hobby, like building plastic models?”

“No. I’m making S-rank gear.”

“What?”

“Ah! I’m done!”

I spread out the gear I had been working on for hours, giving a satisfied smile. I was eager to try it on and started to take off my shirt, when Kim So-mi, who was in the kitchen, shouted.

“Eek! What are you doing?”

“Don’t worry, I’m not taking off my underwear.”

“Who asked about that? Why are you taking off your clothes here when you could change in your room?”

“You’re so picky for someone who’s living here rent-free.”

I took the gear I made and went to my room. Kim Kyung-soo and Kim So-mi looked at me with interest when I reappeared a short time later.

“How is it?”

“Is it really S-rank performance?”

“Hmm, this is the first time I’ve worn something like this, so I’m not sure.”

I tilted my head and took out my sword from my inventory. Kim Kyung-soo once again looked surprised. He didn’t expect me, with only a professorial background, to have such a deadly weapon.

I held the S-rank sword and infused it with mana.

Kii-ii-ing!

The mana output was incomparable to when I wasn’t wearing the gear. The speed and intensity were far greater. The mana emitted as the gear activated enveloped my entire body.

“Ah, so this is why you wear gear~”