The Academy Geniuses I Raised and Dressed

Afterward, I really did make Eleanor transfer one hundred million won into my account.

To be fair, the money from the Rare Items I had given her so far wouldn’t have been nearly enough to establish an entire shop. She must have already prepared a certain amount of capital before asking me to invest.

And indeed—though she smacked her lips in regret, she never took her words back.

After collecting the week’s materials and leaving instructions for what I’d need next week, I was about to head out when Eleanor stopped me at the door.

“Oh, right.”

“What is it?”

“I got the contact information of Mr. Donghyuk’s friend—the one who provided the first batch of materials you brought me.”

“Good. That saves me some trouble.”

She handed me the number.

“Just say you’re calling through Platinum Wing’s introduction. Oh, and—you don’t even know my number, do you?”

When I nodded, she gave it to me.

“And… about yesterday.”

Her expression turned awkward.

Memories of what had happened in the Seawater Cave played back in my mind.

“As you probably noticed, Iris is my sister. Most of the time she’s someone I really respect, but every now and then… how should I put it… she gets dangerous. Overbearing.”

I know. When it comes to you, she changes into a different person entirely.

“So… um…”

After a pause, Eleanor finally spoke.

“If, by chance, you ever run into my sister again, it would be best for both of us if you kept our business secret. Otherwise, she’ll lose control.”

“I’ll remember that.”

I nodded and left the workshop.

Even if yesterday’s encounter had been a coincidence, meeting Iris again was inevitable.

She was Crystal Academy’s top combatant and most outstanding student.

From what I remembered, her aptitudes were Stamina S, Energy A, and Spirit S. Among Companion Characters, she was the strongest—on par with a Player Character.

Her Ability: Blade of the Conqueror.

It could temporarily turn her weapon into one that dealt 1,000% armor-piercing damage. Simple. Overwhelming.

‘Two sisters, both with gear-related Abilities. That can’t just be coincidence.’

Which meant that if Iris wasn’t selected for HAUT, something was wrong.

‘Eleanor’s still a first-year like me. She won’t make HAUT. Only Gwangcheon will send a first-year.’

It was while I was mulling this over that—

“……”

I froze and turned around.

At some point, two women had appeared behind me. Both taller and more solidly built than I was, dressed sharply in suits.

“You just came out of Eleanor’s workshop, correct?”

The darker-skinned one with dreadlocks spoke.

“Someone wishes to meet you. Please come with us.”

The lighter-skinned woman with a short bob added calmly.

“And if I refuse?”

“Then we’ll bring you by force.”

The dreadlocked woman smiled brightly as she said it, clearly unconcerned with my answer.

If Nam Yein’s Stamina aptitude had been only a B, I might’ve chosen to run. But in an open street like this, there was no Hunter alive she could outrun.

I had no choice but to follow them.

They led me to the roadside.

“Get in.”

The dreadlocked woman opened the back door.

And the moment I saw who was inside, I wasn’t the least bit surprised.

Arms crossed, glaring straight at me—was Iris.

I sighed and climbed in.

The two women got in the front seats, and the bob-haired one drove us off.

“Where are we going?”

“That depends on your answers.”

Iris’s voice was sharp as ice.

“The daughter of the Crystal Group’s chairman has a hobby of kidnapping people now?”

“This isn’t kidnapping. I just wanted to ask you something.”

“Dragging someone away against their will is kidnapping. What else would you call it?”

“Answer my question.”

Ignoring my retort, Iris fixed her cold gaze on me.

“Which Academy are you from, and who are you?”

“I can only imagine how pleased Eleanor would be if she knew what her sister was doing right now.”

Her eyes narrowed dangerously.

“If you tell Eleanor about this, we both die together.”

‘She’s insane. Completely unhinged.’

“I’ll ask again. Which Academy? Who are you?”

“Let me out of the car and I’ll tell you.”

“You will, once we’re finished. But if you lie, the place you get out won’t be the street—it’ll be the middle of the Han River.”

Her gaze made it clear she meant every word.

This was exactly why I had wanted to avoid her.

A true sis-con, through and through.

I glanced at her silver-gray hair.

According to her backstory, Iris was naturally red-haired. But she regularly dyed it silver—simply because she couldn’t stand having different hair from her sister.

“One last time. Which Academy, and who are you? Answer.”

“Nam Yein. First-year, Class B, Gwangcheon Academy.”

Her eyes widened.

“Gwangcheon? A first-year? Don’t lie to me.”

“Check it yourself.”

I looked out the window. The car was heading toward the Han River, just as I suspected. She must have ordered them to drive around until we were done talking.

“A Gwangcheon first-year, clearing the third floor of a dungeon before the semester’s even finished? Do you take me for a fool?”

“You think the world is limited to what you know? If so, then yes—you are a fool.”

“……”

For once, Iris fell silent.

“Iris. He really is a Gwangcheon first-year. There’s a record—Nam Yein entered the Seawater Cave on Friday.”

The dreadlocked woman glanced back, holding up a tablet.

How did they even get dungeon entry records?

“What about the others with him? Upperclassmen?”

“No. The Seawater Cave had only three Gwangcheon students yesterday, all first-years.”

“…I see.”

“Now do you believe me?” I asked.

“Fine. Nam Yein of Gwangcheon. How exactly did you meet Eleanor?”

Straight to the core, as expected.

“If, by chance, you ever run into my sister again, keep our business secret. Otherwise, she’ll lose control.”

Eleanor’s warning echoed in my mind.

I needed the perfect answer. Something that would keep me safe and get me back to the dorm without a midnight swim in the Han.

“Why aren’t you answering?”

“…Because saying anything without Eleanor’s permission would be a betrayal.”

Her eyes widened.

“Hmm…”

For the first time, her composure wavered.

“But I can understand your concern.” I kept my voice calm.

“When someone mysterious hovers around your precious sister, it’s natural to worry. What if he has bad intentions? What if he plans to use her? Those thoughts come to mind, don’t they?”

“!!”

Iris stared at me, startled.

“Earlier, I picked a fight because I didn’t like being dragged here by force. But if it was out of concern for your sister, I’ll answer you honestly.”

“O-Oh. Nam Yein, you’re more reasonable than I thought.”

“You asked how I met Eleanor. A few weeks ago, while wandering the Hunter Mall, I found a shop called Platinum Wing. That’s where I first met her.”

“I see. And then?”

“She was looking for an assistant, and I had some minor crafting skill. So I started working at her workshop on Saturdays.”

“An assistant? Just a mere assistant?”

“That’s right. I was impressed by her work and wanted to learn. I hoped to craft items as well as she could someday.”

“…Oh?”

“Did you know? Today, Eleanor succeeded in making her very first Rare Item.”

Suddenly Iris shouted so loudly that the bob-haired woman driving flinched and slammed on the brakes.

Fortunately, there were no cars following close behind, so no accident occurred.

“A-hem! My apologies. I got carried away.”

If she got carried away like that again, there really would be an accident next time.

“It’s true. Eleanor was overjoyed.”

“I see… Eleanor finally… a Rare Item…!” Iris’s voice cracked, and to my utter disgust, tears began to stream down her face.

Ugh.

I shifted in my seat, inching closer to the window.

“Eleanor will go on to create even better items. And as her assistant, I’ll keep learning so that one day I can make things like that too.”

“I understand… so that was how it was. Forgive me. I thought you had ulterior motives for approaching Eleanor. Hearing that you were from Gwangcheon only deepened my suspicion. But I was wrong.”

“I’m glad you understand.”

“But one thing still troubles me.”

She took the tissue that the dreadlocked woman handed her and wiped her tears. Then she turned her gaze back on me—the same cold, sharp look from when I first got into the car.

“What exactly are your feelings toward Eleanor?”

“They’re nothing more than respect. We may be the same age, but she’s my mentor, and I’m her assistant. You don’t need to worry. We’re both idiots who only care about crafting items.”

“Eleanor is not an idiot!!”

The car shook with her outburst.

“Iris, calm down,” the dreadlocked woman said, glancing back with a wry smile.

“He didn’t mean it that way. He was saying she doesn’t care about things like romance—only about items.”

“Ah… y-yes. I know that.”

God, I really hate this woman.

I wanted nothing more than to fling open the door and throw myself out. There’s no one more exhausting than someone you can’t reason with.

“…Fine. It’s a good thing Eleanor has found herself an assistant. But don’t get too close. I can be rather jealous, and I can’t guarantee I’ll always smile at you.”

You haven’t smiled once since we met today, so what are you even talking about?

I bit my tongue.

Not long after, the car returned to the Hunter Market.

“Sorry for dragging you into this today. Keep helping Eleanor with everything you’ve got. That’s all.”

As Iris’s car drove off, I sent her the most refined, gentlemanly hand gesture I could manage—in my mind, at least.

Then I immediately sent a message to Eleanor using the number she’d given me.

I told her I had just met Iris and had lied that I was her assistant, so she should play along. I also warned her that Iris had threatened me: if Eleanor spoke of meeting me, her sister would kill us both.

Her reply came quickly, beginning with: Sorry for the trouble my sister caused.

––

About forty minutes later, I collapsed face-first onto my dorm bed.

I was more exhausted than the day I wiped out Jin Cheongwang’s gang in the dungeon, or even the day I fled from the Spirit Queen.

Originally, I had planned to use the materials I brought back from the workshop to grind some Craftsman experience right away, but I had no energy left.

Just a short rest first.

I fell asleep.

–––

Three hours later, I woke and made my first order of business a phone call.

I dialed the number I’d saved earlier today.

[Hello?]

A man’s voice answered.

“Hello, this is Nam Yein from Gwangcheon Academy. I was given your number by Platinum Wing.”

[Ah, you must be connected with Eleanor. I see, I see.]

“Yes, that’s right.”

[I heard you were looking for materials, but unfortunately I’ve retired now.]

“Yes, I heard that as well. But could you at least tell me how you used to acquire them?”

[Hmm… that shouldn’t be a problem. What exactly are you after?]

I asked about the key materials for Substitute Dolls and Potions of Accord.

I knew some of them could be found in dungeons, but those were places too dangerous for me to enter at my current level.

If there were other sources or supply routes I didn’t know about, things could be different.

I had plenty of money now—several hundred million earned through Eleanor’s shop.

[Ah, I remember those well. There was a Hunter who used to sell them to me regularly.]

“Do you happen to have that Hunter’s contact information?”

[Hold on a moment. Let’s see…]

Through the earphones, I heard the typical tune of an old man rummaging for something.

[Here it is. The number is XXX-XX…]

I jotted it down on the notepad I’d prepared.

“Thank you very much.”

[Not at all. Good luck.]

After hanging up, I stared at the number.

It would probably be wiser to reach out through Eleanor’s workshop or Platinum Wing, rather than call a Hunter directly as a mere trainee.

I’ll consult Eleanor about it later.

Feeling motivated now that I had made progress, I took out the materials I’d brought back and immersed myself in my Craftsman training.

(End of Chapter)