Is This the First Time You’ve Seen a Saint Who’s Also Good at Magic?

---

The traffic light turned red.

The department head, who had stopped the car, casually glanced over at Si-hyun.

On the back of her hand was a strange pattern he had never seen before.

Noticing the gaze, Si-hyun lightly waved her hand and spoke.

“This is a symbol of the god I believe in.”

“Hmmm, I see.”

“…Professor, are you religious? Oh, right! You were a paladin, weren’t you?”

“Umm, it’s a bit different.”

At Ah-reum’s question, Si-hyun smiled wryly.

“I don’t believe in religion per se. I believe in the existence of a god.”

“Uh, uh… isn’t that the same thing?”

“…Is it?”

There was no need for a detailed explanation.

Si-hyun waved her hand lightly, wrapping up the explanation as if it was nothing important.

After all, her own understanding was merely speculation at best.

‘Oh, right.’

Since the topic had drifted this way, it might be a good time to conduct a little experiment.

Back when she thought about wanting to be a proper professor.

If she wanted to pursue research, she thought this could be a thematic path.

Back then, she was alone, but now she had Ah-reum.

“Ah-reum, since we’re on the topic, how about we try an experiment today?”

“Y-yes? An experiment?”

“Yeah, an experiment related to what I’ll be researching going forward.”

As Si-hyun added her explanation, Ah-reum unintentionally made a peculiar expression.

This always happened whenever Professor Jeong Si-hyun said something like that.

‘It’s definitely going to be beneficial, but it’s going to be tough too…’

With a mix of anticipation and worry.

These two contradictory emotions intersected in Ah-reum’s heart.

Ah-reum soon steeled herself.

“Okay! I-I’ll do my best!”

“Hmm, good.”

Si-hyun nodded in satisfaction at the enthusiastic response.

The traffic light turned green.

Jang Han-soo resumed driving.

‘Today, Ah-reum is going to have quite a hard time.’

He focused on driving, wearing a bittersweet expression.

The dungeons Si-hyun had reserved today were all low-grade dungeons, but…

…there were as many as five of them.

* * *

…The group arrived at the first gate.

They parked the car nearby, and all three got out.

Department head Jang checked the time and spoke.

“Si-hyun, contact me as soon as you come out of the gate.”

“…Huh? Why?”

“Well, my business is nearby, and it should be over quickly. It’d be a hassle to use public transport back and forth, so let me help you out.”

“Um… I appreciate it, but are you sure?”

“Of course. It’s nothing difficult.”

Si-hyun wore a perplexed expression.

The department head kept repeating that it was fine as he waved her and Ah-reum off.

As the two women entered the gate, the head let out a long sigh.

‘I guess I need to go to a nearby café.’

There was no schedule in mind.

After all, his top priority at work was assisting a nun with national-level influence, and he just made up a decent reason for it.

[Make sure the nun is not inconvenienced at all!]

Recalling the words of the management team leader before setting off, he trudged along.

* * *

Meanwhile, in the case of Si-hyun and Ah-reum entering the E-rank dungeon.

They entered the dungeon while leisurely chatting.

“Where should I start explaining… Ah-reum, you can use mana without a status window, right?”

“Uh, yes! To some extent.”

“I’ve actually always wondered why the support and magic types are distinguished by the status window.”

“……?”

At the question Si-hyun posed, Ah-reum had a puzzled look on her face.

Until now, she had simply accepted it since supernatural phenomena handled it automatically.

She had never really thought deeply about it.

“I told you I believe in a god, right? Actually, I can wield a separate power called divine power. Look.”

Si-hyun raised both palms, facing upward.

One hand emitted divine power, while the other released mana, producing a soft glow.

Ah-reum tilted her head, watching the phenomenon.

‘Hmm…’

She understood that one was mana.

But the other side was unclear to her.

‘Doesn’t it just feel like a slightly different kind of mana?’

To Ah-reum, the energy felt unfamiliar.

After all, mana was still something new to her.

“How does this energy feel to you? Do you have any idea?”

“Um, uh… I-I’m not sure. Just feels unfamiliar?”

“Hm, is there really nothing…?”

Si-hyun shook her hand with the mark as she pondered, stroking her chin.

Then it happened.

“Kerruck!”

“Kihihihi!”

A group of goblins appeared.

The two women’s gazes turned toward the monsters.

“P-Professor!”

“Yeah, just a moment.”

As Ah-reum raised her guard and shouted, Si-hyun continued to walk, lost in deep thought.

The goblins, looking for an opportunity, charged at Si-hyun but…

“Keck!”

“Keck!”

Si-hyun lightly waved her hand as if brushing off the dust.

With each gesture, the goblins swiftly collapsed onto the ground, meeting their end.

It was the unfortunate fate of monsters who picked the wrong fight.

“Wow…”

For Si-hyun, it was as easy as breathing, but for Ah-reum, it was completely different.

Ah-reum covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes sparkling as she watched the professor’s actions.

When Si-hyun had finished dealing with all the goblins in an instant, she called out to Ah-reum.

“Oh, right. Ah-reum?”

“Yes!”

“Can you give me a buff?”

“Sure!”

Ah-reum used a skill on Si-hyun.

Si-hyun appreciated Ah-reum’s energy while checking the changes in her body.

“You can heal even without injuries, right? Want to try that too?”

“Yep!”

Whenever Si-hyun made a request, Ah-reum acted without any doubt.

Thanks to that, time was used effectively, and soon Si-hyun spoke with a curious expression.

“There’s definitely a difference when you use a shield and when you use healing. What do you think?”

“D-difference…?”

“Yeah, let’s try them one by one together. I’m a bit unsure too.”

“Yes!”

The two continued repeating their actions.

Countless identical acts followed in succession.

Eventually, Ah-reum was the first to announce defeat.

“P-Professor… I’ve run out of mana…”

“Oh really? Then I’ll take on the dungeon while you recover, and we can try again afterward.”

“Yes…”

Ah-reum nodded, already exhausted.

The two swiftly cleared the dungeon.

They contacted Jang Han-soo to move on to the next dungeon.

They repeated the same tasks as they had in the first dungeon.

After clearing the second dungeon.

And sweeping through the third dungeon.

Without resting, they headed for the fourth dungeon when Si-hyun, sweeping away the monsters, was suddenly interrupted by Ah-reum’s shout.

“P-P-Professor!”

“Yeah? Figured something out?”

“I-I just felt something! In my status window! A stat called divine power has been added!”

“Oh, finally!”

Overjoyed, Ah-reum squealed and jumped up and down.

Rushing over, Si-hyun high-fived her excitedly.

Ah-reum, wide-eyed in amazement, said, “C-cause divine power has been added, the mana value adjusted. How interesting…”

“Hmm. Want to try using divine power?”

“Yes! Yes! Watch!”

Ah-reum beamed as she wielded divine power.

Si-hyun’s expression turned serious as she keenly observed her student.

As the professor’s expression stiffened, Ah-reum spoke in a dejected tone.

“Is I-it too clumsy…?”

“No, no. It’s just different from mine.”

“Different?”

“Look.”

As Si-hyun showcased her divine power, Ah-reum tilted her head in confusion.

Ah-reum had yet to master either mana or divine power, after all.

Si-hyun could read Ah-reum’s immaturity through her expression.

She smiled wryly and said.

“Well, I’ll set out a hypothesis and explain.”

Si-hyun began to explain.

The similarities and differences between mana and divine power, and the clarity of each capability’s limits, and so on.

Ah-reum instinctively grasped the weight of the information.

This was knowledge she would never learn from anyone else in the world.

Professor Jeong Si-hyun was probably the only ‘paladin’ in existence.

She committed the teachings firmly to memory.

After the explanation ended, Si-hyun smiled and said.

“Now then, I need to assign you some homework.”

“…!”

“You’ll need to become more proficient in wielding divine power by the next time we meet.”

“Ah, yes! I’ll work hard!”

At the word “homework,” Ah-reum was initially startled, but then relief washed over her.

It was something she would have to do anyway, regardless.

However, that wasn’t the end.

“Get up early every day and pray. As for who to pray to… well, I guess it’s a god you want to believe in.”

“…I’m an atheist, you know.”

“Oh really? Well, it can’t be helped. I pray every morning, and my divine power builds up quickly. If it doesn’t seem effective, we’ll just stop then.”

“…If that’s the case.”

After hearing Si-hyun’s explanation, Ah-reum fidgeted her index fingers and said.

“The god in my heart is Professor Jeong Si-hyun.”

“…Ahem! I-I appreciate it that you feel that way, but I’m just human.”

“Hehe…”

Si-hyun turned red in the face and looked away, while Ah-reum smiled sheepishly.

Though it was lip service, it was partly sincere as well.

* * *

…Five dungeons were cleared.

Si-hyun and Ah-reum got back into the car driven by Jang Han-soo and returned to Seoul.

The first to get out of the car was Ah-reum.

“Thanks for your hard work…”

Barely holding herself together, she trudged home.

It was clear to anyone that she looked like someone who had been overworked.

‘I-I thought I was going to die…’

It truly was a Spartan-like experience.

At first, she was supposed to fight one goblin at a time, but the numbers gradually increased.

By the time they reached the final dungeon, she found herself fighting hand-to-hand like a close-combat hunter.

It was the first time in her life that she had fought so fiercely.

‘First I’ll sleep, and I’ll pray tomorrow…’

Once inside the house, Ah-reum fell asleep almost instantly.

Meanwhile, in the car, the department head and Si-hyun chatted during the drive.

“Ah-reum looked quite tired.”

“She’s grown a lot in that short time. I thought I’d test her in combat and she performed well.”

“Hmmm, but Ah-reum is a supporter. Wasn’t it dangerous?”

“Come on, I’m right here.”

“Aha…”

The department head smiled wryly.

Quietly cheering for Ah-reum in his heart.

“Uh, Department Head. Can I get off at the district office?”

“Pardon? The district office?”

“Yes, I think I have enough time to apply for my passport and then return. I already prepared the necessary items.”

Si-hyun spoke in a calm tone, like it was nothing, but the department head felt his hand gripping the steering wheel tremble.

“Department Head, you must be tired too, so I’ll handle the rest after applying and find my own way home.”

“Ah, no! Why…?”

“Just thought I might travel with my brother after the semester ends during the summer vacation.”

“Oh, right, travel. That sounds like a good plan.”

The department head wiped the cold sweat from his brow while continuing the conversation.

It wasn’t the time to be cheering for Ah-reum. His own chaotic life was the bigger problem despite that innocent, pure thought contaminating him.

* * *

A few days later was the day for the Monsters 101 lecture.

Eun-byeol, Ah-reum, and Jae-woo had lunch together.

At that moment, Ah-reum revealed a surprising piece of news.

“Whaaaat?!”

“R-really?!”

“Hoohoho!”

Eun-byeol’s mouth fell open in disbelief.

She covered her mouth late with her hand.

Jae-woo wasn’t much different.

He only leaned in and gazed at her.

“Huhuhuh!”

Ah-reum proudly expanded her shoulders.

It was hard to hold back the urge to spill the beans.