"Is something wrong, Cha Hae-In-nim?"
As the lecture finally ended and the terrified students began to quietly shuffle out of the hall, Min-jun broke the silence. He knew she had been staring at him the entire time, but asking her directly would be too embarrassing, so he opted for a subtle approach.
"Ah? No, nothing is wrong," Hae-In replied quickly, blinking out of her daze.
"Really? I was worried you were getting bored. I haven't said a word to you since the lecture started."
"No, it's completely fine," Hae-In lightly shook her head, looking slightly guilty. "If anything, I should be the one apologizing for intruding on your class and causing such a distraction."
"It doesn't bother me," Min-jun smiled gently. "But what do you think? Are you interested in taking classes here too? If you want to enter the university, I could tutor you for the entrance exams."
If his memory was correct, they were around the exact same age. But unlike him, who had ground his way into SNU, Hae-In had Awakened early and been drafted straight into the elite Hunter corps.
"Ah, no!" Hae-In quickly waved her hands in panic. "I... honestly, it's a bit embarrassing, but... I am really terrible at studying."
Her face turned a brilliant shade of crimson. It was a surprising, incredibly human confession. To the public, the S-Rank "Dancer" was a flawless, untouchable idol. But underneath the terrifying reputation, she was just a normal girl blushing over bad grades.
"...."
Min-jun was caught off guard for a second, but he quickly regained his composure, deciding to tease her a little to ease her embarrassment. "There's nothing to be ashamed of; everyone has their own strengths. But I have to admit, it's a bit unexpected."
In other words: her famous 'stoic and silent' persona was just a convenient cover for being a bit of an airhead when it came to academics.
Realizing exactly what he meant, Hae-In's face burned even redder. She lightly bumped her shoulder against his. "Don't tease me."
"Ouch!" Min-jun exaggerated a wince.
"I didn't even hit you that hard!"
"I'm just a fragile Archer, and you're a frontline Warrior," Min-jun deadpanned. "At this close range, who is really bullying who?"
As Hae-In grumbled playfully, trying to think of a comeback, Min-jun couldn't help but be a little curious. "By the way, when did you Awaken as a Hunter, Cha Hae-In-nim?"
"Just call me Hae-In."
"Are you sure?"
"I don't mind."
Despite the awkward start, Hae-In found herself feeling incredibly comfortable. Ever since she had Awakened as an S-Rank, people looked at her like she was a different species. They either worshipped her on a pedestal or feared her like a monster. But the truth was, she was just an ordinary person who happened to be good with a sword.
It was incredibly refreshing to talk with Min-jun. Because their ranks were equal, there was no fear and no suffocating hierarchy.
But the absolute most important reason she didn't want to leave his side? He didn't smell disgusting.
In this world, her highly mutated nose was a double-edged sword. It saved her from monster ambushes, but it was also a daily nightmare. To her, every other Hunter smelled like rotting blood and a filthy slaughterhouse. The stronger the Hunter, the worse the stench.
But Min-jun was entirely different. Sitting next to him was the first time since her Awakening that she could walk around without holding a scented handkerchief to her face. It was the first time she could just take a deep, relaxing breath of fresh air. She was practically addicted to it.
Watching the warm, genuinely happy smile bloom on her beautiful face, Min-jun felt his own heart skip a beat.
...Wait a minute, Min-jun thought, narrowing his eyes.
What was Cha Hae-In's actual backstory?
If he was being completely honest, his memory of her character arc was a little blurry. The original Solo Leveling story was almost entirely focused on Sung Jin-woo being a one-man army. The side characters—even the primary love interest—were heavily sidelined.
The media portrayed her as an aloof, untouchable ice queen who spent all her free time isolated in a high-rise penthouse. But the real her was just an active, slightly ditzy girl who isolated herself purely because everyone around her smelled like a sewer.
Manager, can you run a full physiological scan on her?
[Affirmative.]
In an instant, the Manager mapped Hae-In's vital signs and mana signature, projecting the data into Min-jun's mind.
[Threat Level: S-Rank (South Korea's 9th S-Rank Hunter).]
[Class: Fighter/Swordsman.]
[Agility & Speed: Off the charts.]
[Conclusion: Target is one of the most lethal close-quarters combatants on the peninsula. She experiences severe sensory overload around other Hunters. Registers ambient leaked mana as putrid.]
Severe sensory overload? What does that mean in this context?
[Report. Cha Hae-In is currently experiencing a massive spike in dopamine and serotonin levels due to your proximity.]
"..."
[Naturally, this is because your extreme mana compression prevents leakage. She registers your scent as a highly pleasant, calming stimulus.]
"...."
Min-jun stared blankly at the blackboard at the front of the empty classroom.
He suddenly felt incredibly strange. In the original timeline, Cha Hae-In had fallen in love with Sung Jin-woo specifically because Jin-woo's 'System' prevented him from leaking mana, meaning he was the only Hunter who smelled good to her.
But right now? Min-jun was doing the exact same thing. Because of his extreme mana compression, he was an anomaly. She was becoming literally addicted to his presence just so she could breathe properly.
Damn it, Min-jun sighed inwardly. When is Jin-woo Hyung going to get his System?!
If this continued, basic human psychology dictated that Cha Hae-In was going to inevitably fall for him instead of the actual protagonist, simply because he practiced basic magical hygiene!
He quickly tried to harden his resolve. He hadn't signed a contract with the Hunters Guild to steal the protagonist's "waifu." He was a cold, calculating capitalist! He was here for the logistics, the 95/5 loot split, and the corporate tax exemptions! He couldn't let himself be swayed by a pretty face when the apocalyptic war of the Monarchs was looming on the horizon.
Pushing his romantic panic aside, Min-jun eventually packed up his bag, and the two S-Ranks left the campus.
When the armored VIP sedan finally pulled up to the massive, glittering headquarters of the Hunters Guild in Gangnam, Min-jun stepped out of the car, fully prepared to discuss serious corporate infrastructure.
Instead, the moment he walked through the sliding glass doors, confetti cannons exploded from the ceiling.
"LET'S WELCOME OUR NEWEST S-RANK PARTNER, KIM MIN-JUN!!!"
"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHH!!!"
Dozens of news cameras flashed simultaneously as a massive crowd of Guild employees cheered, popping champagne bottles under a giant, professionally printed banner.
"....." Min-jun adjusted his glasses, staring at the absolute chaos.
As expected, Choi Jong-In never missed a single opportunity to aggressively boost his company's stock price.
---
My head is almost burnt out from thinking of his scene fighting Gojo. It is full of physics, theory, and all other things, so look foward later when Suzuki JJK later appears after Solo Leveling!