‘Why did he go that far?’

Lee Seung-hee sat in the back seat of the car, heading towards the secluded location where Han Hyun-ho was said to be. It was a place that required several hours of travel from Seoul, essentially a mountain village.

On the way to Han Hyun-ho, she felt her heart fluttering secretly.

‘Could it be that she still…’

Did she still have feelings for him? It was embarrassing to even ask herself that. In her life, she had never felt a stronger emotion than her feelings for him. Apart from him, no man had ever caught her eye.

‘It’s strange.’

After graduating from the academy, she had a very busy life. The life of an S-rank hunter is qualitatively different from that of other hunters. Even amidst all the attention and preferential treatment, nothing could surpass the intense feelings she had during her academy days.

Still, as time passed, her feelings for Han Hyun-ho dulled. It would be accurate to say she had almost forgotten about him. But suddenly, a few days ago, those intense emotions resurfaced.

‘It started then.’

Her body suddenly started feeling unwell. It felt like her mana manipulation was fundamentally flawed. While resting at home, she found herself thinking a lot about Han Hyun-ho. It was as if the passion from her days of loving him had been rekindled. Around that time, she received an offer to take on the temporary chairman position at Alpha Academy. Like fate.

‘I don’t know what this is… but…’

This couldn't be resolved without meeting Han Hyun-ho. She believed that.

. . .

“Woof! Woof!” “Wal! Wal! Wal!”

The two wolves, who had also been given additional experience points and had grown, were just as cute as Semo. He had only grown them to B-rank because he wanted them to be under Semo’s leadership. Semo’s special ability was ‘Command.’ In other words, if he wanted to make use of his talent, he needed subordinates. While it was a kind of fate that he had been discovered first, the fact that it was easier to manage a pack centered around a leader was also a consideration.

While I was playing with the two wolves, Semo sat proudly, watching over them. He was like an older brother looking happily at his younger siblings playing.

While enjoying this pleasant time, I suddenly heard someone sighing.

“Huuu…”

It was Kim Kyung-soo, sighing deeply outside the house. I knew why. He must be worried about his daughter, Kim Yeon-seo. I wanted to help him, considering his knowledge was useful to me, but this went against the principles I had set. If I made exceptions for every single person's situation, I might completely forget my original purpose. The real revenge hadn’t even begun yet.

The two wolves, who had raced to retrieve the ball I threw, suddenly stopped running. Semo also stood up abruptly and looked in one direction.

Sensing something, I concentrated my awareness, trying to feel what it was. The ground vibrated subtly. I heard the sound of a car approaching.

They weren’t hunters. It’s unlikely they would be active in the middle of the day, and there was no reason to think that other hunters, besides those I chased away yesterday, would come again. The quiet sound of tire friction sounded like a high-end vehicle. That’s why the wolves weren’t barking but quietly focusing on the sound.

“Someone’s coming.”

At my words, Kim Kyung-soo raised his head and asked with dead eyes,

“Who?”

The door swung open, and Kim So-mi came out.

“Is it the enemy?”

“I don’t know. They seem to be arriving soon. Sir, you should go inside.”

At my words, Kim Kyung-soo zombie-like got up and went into the house.

“Woof! Woof!” “Wal! Wal! Wal!”

A car appeared. As expected, it was a high-end sedan. The fact that only one car had come was different from when Kim Byung-soo had come. Anyway, among those who would come here like this, there were almost no people I would welcome. No, it would be accurate to say none at all.

The back door opened, and a woman's legs popped out. Her long legs in high heels suggested a young and beautiful woman. Sure enough, a woman in her twenties, dressed luxuriously, got out of the car. She took off her sunglasses.

Silence fell. I briefly wondered who she was, as she seemed familiar.

“Lee Seung-hee?”

Kim So-mi recognized her first.

“Ah~”

Lee Seung-hee, a graduate of Alpha Academy. She was the student I had first trained to become S-rank. It had been quite some time since her graduation, and I had almost forgotten her face. Moreover, her image had completely changed from the innocent days.

“You… don’t remember me?”

A complex expression appeared on Lee Seung-hee’s face.

“Why are you here?”

Kim So-mi asked.

“Kim So-mi, what are you doing here as the headmaster? Isn’t your leave over?”

“What’s it to you?”

Kim So-mi, who was older, retorted in informal speech, apparently displeased with her tone.

“Of course it’s relevant. I’m your superior.”

“What nonsense is that?”

“I’ve been appointed the new chairman of Alpha Academy. It’s temporary, but if I want, I can keep this position.”

“What?”

Even I frowned, hearing this. Even so, appointing a girl who wasn’t even thirty yet as the academy chairman… Even if she’s an S-rank hunter, isn’t it too soon?

“Professor Han Hyun-ho, I came because I have something to say. Let’s talk.”

“Fine.”

Since she came from Alpha Academy, she could be considered an enemy. However, Lee Seung-hee wasn’t prepared to fight the moment she saw my face. It had been years since our last meeting, so I wasn't entirely devoid of pleasant feelings.

. . .

“What did you do?”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“The students are all sick. For days. Even the high-level academy healer department can’t figure out the cause.”

“Why are you asking me about those incompetent people’s skills?”

“You did it, right, Professor?”

“Why is she accusing an innocent person?”

She was sharp. Apparently, she had been appointed chairman today and came to see me without even having a ceremony. But to have already figured out that the students’ symptoms were caused by me… I wondered what kind of person she was.

‘Ah…’

I realized why Lee Seung-hee had identified me as the culprit behind the students' worsening conditions.

‘She’s weakened too!’

Lee Seung-hee's potential exploded when she met me. Our encounter was also significant for me. She was the first tutoring subject I trained to S-rank, and it confirmed that the potential of my abilities was limitless. But regardless, I would reclaim all the experience points I had given her, without exception.

“Are you going to keep dodging? What crime did those children commit?”

“What crime?”

I chuckled.

“You? Do you think you have done no crime?”

“W-what do you mean?”

“I trained you all fairly, with all my heart. But not a single one of you became my ally. I’ll let the weaker students slide, but you had more than enough power to help me. It’s not like doing so would have caused you any significant harm.”

“I-I didn’t know. I was so busy! What would I know about the affairs of a mere professor at the academy?”

“Look at that ungrateful girl.”

Kim So-mi butted in.

“I awakened to S-rank before you. I’ve been a hunter for far longer than you. It was huge news, and you didn’t know? You, who’s been sucking up to DH since graduation?”

DH was essentially the parent company of Alpha Academy. Thinking back, I had seen Lee Seung-hee appear in DH Corporation commercials. Just seeing her suddenly appear as the temporary chairman was enough to guess that their relationship was strong.

“Don’t talk back! I told you I’m your superior!”

“Crazy bitch. Do you think I’m still affiliated with that pathetic academy? You can keep that position to yourself!”

“What?! This hag!”

The two women faced off. As the two S-rank hunters unleashed their aura, an intense pressure was felt. In the atmosphere where a fight seemed imminent, someone’s voice could be heard.

“I… ”

Kim Kyung-soo, his hand on his chest, as if struggling under the aura emitted by the S-ranks, spoke with difficulty.

“I have a request for the chairman.”

“Who are you?”

“I am the father of Kim Yeon-seo, a student at Alpha Academy. Please let my daughter leave Alpha. I beg you.”

“Ask the academy about that. I’m not someone who solves such petty complaints.”

“No, it’s not petty. It’s about my daughter.”

“Then why are you telling me this?!”

When Lee Seung-hee angrily shouted, the air exploded with a bang. A shockwave was created simply by the released aura. Kim So-mi quickly stepped in front of Kim Kyung-soo to protect him.

“Damn bitch! You’re the chairman and you’re ignoring a parent?”

“Damn bitch? You keep pushing it! How dare a washed-up hag open her mouth?!”

• When contacting a past tutoring subject, you can instantly recover 100 days' worth of experience points.

“What?”

It was a message that suddenly appeared. At the same time, I thought, ‘Right.’ If Lee Seung-hee continued to act up, it would be difficult to see a good outcome. Kim So-mi and I could combine our powers to subdue her, but there was no need to waste energy if we didn’t have to fight.

I grabbed Lee Seung-hee’s wrist.

“What?”

For some reason, her face flushed crimson.

“Stop it, Seung-hee. What are you doing in someone else’s house? I’ve told you to control your temper since before, haven’t I?”

“W-what…?”

• All experience points obtained from your tutoring of ‘Lee Seung-hee’ have been recovered.

I felt the power drain from her wrist. At the same time, that much power was added to me. Lee Seung-hee, who had been so arrogant, slumped over, closing her eyes.

“What happened?”

Kim So-mi asked.

“She must have been sleepy.”

“Say something that makes sense!”

‘Ah…’

I suddenly remembered. This girl, when she was a student, confessed to me. I had dismissed it as youthful folly. After that, she had been extremely rude to me.

I lifted Lee Seung-hee into my arms.

“What are you going to do?”

“I’ll send her back. Don’t worry. She won’t be able to act so recklessly again.”

She had lost her strength. She was already A-rank when she first received my guidance, and since then, she had always been very confident. If she starts over now, with her own strength…

‘She won’t be able to.’

It was because of my help that she could become S-rank. Even with a lot of effort, she would never be able to reach S-rank on her own.

Carrying the unconscious Lee Seung-hee outside, her car sped away, apparently noticing something.

“What?”

I had no choice but to entrust Semo with an important task.

“Semo, take her and put her down below.”

“Woof!”

I put Lee Seung-hee on his back, and Semo dashed off. The other two wolves, seeming to take it as a game, happily followed Semo.