All this time, I had been waiting for an opportunity to persuade Yeon Haneul.
'I can't let her talent go to waste.'
Most likely, it would be around middle school when Yeon Haneul decided to pursue handling mana and becoming a Hunter.
Because of that, I couldn't help but feel that the time she spent until then was a waste.
Even more so, since she had no background at all, she would enter Academy City before her talent could properly blossom.
'Even without that, her magic power level is 75, so her growth potential must be very limited. I have to raise it as much as possible while she's still growing.'
To lower the story's difficulty and strengthen the protagonist party.
And to create a world after the ending where I could live comfortably.
I intended to somehow persuade Yeon Haneul and train her for the remaining five years before entering Academy City.
So this time, after obtaining Instinctive Control, I subtly made her an offer since I had time to spare for Yeon Haneul….
"Fine, then you have to take responsibility for it."
She seemed to hesitate at first, but accepted the offer.
Hearing the answer I wanted from her, I inwardly cheered.
Just then, she tilted her head.
"But to become a Hunter, you have to graduate from an academy in Academy City, right? Are you thinking of entering Middle Academy as soon as you become a middle school student?"
"If it's to build a foundation, that wouldn't be bad, but I'm not planning to go to Middle Academy. You only need to graduate from High Academy to become a Hunter."
"Why aren't you going to Middle Academy?"
"I'm a member of the Shingeom Do Clan, so actually, learning from the clan is more helpful than what they teach there."
The advantage of attending the elementary and middle academies in Academy City is being able to build the necessary foundation as a Hunter from a young age.
Also, the connections you make while attending can't be ignored.
But as a member of the Shingeom Do Clan, there weren't many benefits for me.
'Rather, it would be wasting the time I should be learning Suwang-ryu.'
I wasn't the only one who thought that; everyone from prestigious families with the infrastructure to cultivate their own Hunters thought the same.
So it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that even if you enrolled in Middle Academy, you would rarely meet anyone from a high-ranking family.
I planned to train diligently for five years and enter High Academy.
"Then I'll have to go to Middle Academy alone…."
Hearing my thoughts, Yeon Haneul muttered dejectedly.
But she was mistaken.
'As if I'd send you alone.'
I opened my mouth to correct her misunderstanding.
"You should attend middle school with me and then enter High Academy together."
"Eh? Me too?"
Yeon Haneul's eyes went wide.
Her face brightened immediately, and her rabbit ears perked up.
From that, I could roughly tell her emotional state.
So I decided to affirm what she was probably thinking right now.
"I said I'd take responsibility, so how could I think of sending you alone?"
"I see…. I thought you were telling me to go to Academy City first by myself. But can I really enter High Academy without learning the basics?"
"That's why we have to practice starting now."
"How?"
"Let's go to the swordsmanship hall together and build up your stamina. You'll also train separately on your own."
"...You want me to register at the swordsmanship hall? Um, the thing is, I…."
"It's run by our clan, so what need is there to pay money?"
"Is that really okay?"
"Of course it is."
Yeon Haneul asked as if tempted.
I answered her again.
If I asked Father, he would make arrangements for Yeon Haneul to attend the swordsmanship hall free of charge.
'And if Haneul shows talent, she'll automatically receive sponsorship even without me saying anything.'
If that happened, Yeon Haneul's finances would improve greatly.
She wouldn't have to attend school in worn-out clothes like she did now.
It was then.
"Why are you being so nice to me?"
"..."
"I don't have much I can do for you…."
Yeon Haneul asked awkwardly.
I could faintly understand why she had brought that up.
'She probably feels sorry for only receiving from me, and has needless worries about whether she's being pitied.'
Having lived a similar life to hers in my previous life, I made that guess.
But I wasn't just giving handouts, nor was I pitying her.
"I'm planning to benefit from you later."
"What?"
"Won't I be able to benefit from you someday when you become a famous Hunter? If I had to give a reason, that's it. There's no other reason."
For me, if I could pull her in as an ally by sponsoring her, it was an incredibly profitable deal.
She didn't need to worry.
Just as she was receiving things from me, I was also receiving things from her.
Perhaps my intent was conveyed.
"You're really strange."
Yeon Haneul burst into a small laugh.
"Thank you so much."
"You don't need to thank me."
"Still…. But if I go to the swordsmanship hall, will I learn the sword like you too?"
"No, at the swordsmanship hall you'll mainly learn physical conditioning."
"Then... that's it?"
"And you have to learn magic."
"..."
"I told you. I think you have talent in that area, Haneul."
Unless I was an idiot, I obviously had no intention of raising her—whose magic power level was 75—as a swordsman.
"Then how do I learn magic? They won't teach that at the swordsmanship hall, right?"
"We have to find a separate teacher. Actually, I've been wanting to learn magic too, so I was looking for a teacher."
"..."
"Let's learn together from that teacher."
Of course, it was a lie.
I planned to find a teacher to teach Yeon Haneul magic under the pretense of finding a teacher for myself.
And there was someone I had in mind for that role.
'At this time, they're probably traveling around the country enjoying sightseeing.'
I didn't need to worry about finding them.
Because Father would take care of it.
* * *
Just as physical strength is important for everything, it's also important for mages.
The mages themselves might disagree, but at least that's what I thought.
'Having a high magic power level isn't enough. If your stamina can't support it, you can't properly utilize that power.'
I wanted a strong mage who could fight for a long time and protect their own body if things went wrong.
But a mage who casts high-firepower magic and collapses from exhaustion?
Such a mage would only be a burden to the party I was envisioning.
Therefore….
"Since we've gotten onto the subject, why don't we start physical conditioning with me today?"
"You're saying we should go to the swordsmanship hall starting today?"
I suggested this to Yeon Haneul, who had been about to head home after school.
She tilted her head as she placed her bag on her desk and tidied up.
"I could, but today isn't a day I go to the swordsmanship hall. It's a day for personal training at home instead."
"So... you're saying we should train at your house?"
"Exactly. How about we train together using the facilities at home? I'll tell you how to train going forward."
"Um...."
"Why? You don't like it?"
"It's not that I don't like it, but I was just at your house not long ago. Won't it be uncomfortable if I go again so soon? Won't your mother mind?"
"Mom said you're welcome anytime."
"Still."
"Should I ask her?"
"Then of course she'll tell me to come."
"So what's the problem?"
"Ugh... nothing. Okay, let's go."
She seemed to seriously contemplate whether to go to my house or not, but quickly came to a conclusion when I took out my smartphone.
Then she glanced at me once and continued.
"But if we're training, we'll sweat, so I should bring a change of clothes, right? And a towel and things to wash up…."
"We have pretty much everything at home, so there's no need to bring anything. You can wash up at home after training."
"Um... I feel like it'd be okay to shower at your house, but I still won't have clothes to wear."
"Just wear my clothes. We're about the same size anyway. If I look hard enough, I might even have some underwear that hasn't been worn…."
"Ah, I don't want that."
"..."
Did she hate wearing my clothes that much?
Yeon Haneul cut me off with a straight face.
I was momentarily stunned by the knife-sharp refusal.
Be that as it may.
"Hmm, what should I do.... Should I stop by home and pick up a change of clothes?"
"..."
"That would take too long though…."
She didn't pay me any mind and fell deep into thought.
Then, as if remembering something, she softly clapped her hands.
"Ah! That's right."
"Why, what is it?"
"Now that I think about it, I have gym clothes! I kept a spare set in my locker just in case."
"Ah, I see…."
Yeon Haneul took out a bag with underwear and her school gym clothes from her locker.
I decided not to ask why she carried spare clothes in her locker as she proudly showed off her preparedness.
I should just let her be happy.
"Then shall we go?"
"Yeah, let's go."
Soon, we left the classroom.
Walking and chatting with Yeon Haneul, the way home wasn't boring.
Before I knew it, the house came into view.
"Mom, I brought Haneul over to pla—"
Passing through the gate, I opened the front door and—
"Rab! Bit! Sis! Ter!"
"..."
From down the hallway, I could see Yeeun running toward us with thunderous steps.
"G-Gyeonu? That's your little sister? Was her name Yeeun?"
'She's really excited….'
"...Why aren't you saying anything?"
Yeeun's eyes sparkled like a predator that had found its prey.
In that state, she couldn't be calmed down.
There was no choice but to dodge or brace for impact.
I quickly stepped aside.
After all, the one Yeeun was hunting wasn't me, but Yeon Haneul.
'So, Haneul….'
Please play with Yeeun in my stead.
Stepping aside, I watched Yeeun leap into the air with her arms spread and let out a bitter smile.
"Rab! Bit! Sis! Ter! Ah! Ah! Ah!"
Yeeun beamed a bright smile and crashed directly into Yeon Haneul.
And Yeon Haneul, unable to comprehend what was happening....
"Kyaaaaak!"
"Wow! Real rabbit ears! Amazing!"
"Ugh... ah, wait, don't touch the—!"
She was knocked down beneath Yeeun.
Yeon Haneul groaned.
* * *
"Didn't Mom tell you not to run around like that? What if Haneul had gotten hurt? Apologize to Haneul right now."
"Sister, sorry…."
"Ah, no. You didn't get hurt anywhere, right? Are you okay?"
"Yeah!"
If Mother hadn't intervened, Yeon Haneul would have suffered all sorts of teasing while pinned under Yeeun.
It was a relief it ended at this level.
Then I felt Yeon Haneul's gaze on me after receiving Yeeun's apology.
It was a somewhat displeased gaze.
"What's wrong?"
"You... you knew."
"Knew what?"
"You dodged on purpose, didn't you?"
It seemed she resentfully noticed that I had slipped away to avoid getting caught up with Yeeun without any explanation.
There was no room for excuses.
But I had no choice but to act that way to survive myself.
If I hadn't, I would have been pinned to the floor too.
"I'll remember this…."
As if to say 'just you wait.'
Yeon Haneul approached and whispered into my ear.
'Yes, remember it.'
However, to be honest, it was a voice that didn't feel threatening at all.
It wasn't scary in the least.
It felt almost like she was playing around.
I smirked as I watched her immediately switch expressions and politely greet Mother.
Then I spoke to Mother.
"We're going to start training with Haneul today. Can we use the training field outside?"
"I finished cleaning it earlier, so you can use it, but... training with Haneul? What does that mean?"
"Haneul wants to become a Hunter too, so I decided to teach her."
"What?"
Mother had only been told that Haneul was coming over to play, not to train.
So she looked bewildered upon hearing my words.
"Hah.... No doubt you sweet-talked her into becoming a Hunter."
"..."
Mother sighed and furrowed her brow.
Her gaze fixed on me.
She wasn't exactly wrong, but for some reason, it felt like she had no faith in me.
I felt sullen.
Meanwhile, Mother turned her head from me toward Yeon Haneul.
"Haneul, I respect your decision, but being a Hunter isn't a profession to be taken lightly. Are you sure you've thought this through seriously?"
"..."
With a stern and strict tone.
Yet also with a tone full of concern.
Mother asked Yeon Haneul.
My mother, who had lived an ordinary life before meeting Father and becoming part of a prestigious family, knew full well how rough and arduous a profession being a Hunter was.
'That's why she asked if Haneul had made the decision lightly.'
My mother was a person who worried about others like this.
But even without Mother's concern, Yeon Haneul was well aware of it all.
She hadn't decided to become a Hunter simply because I sweet-talked her.
She had made her decision after careful thought and judgment.
Sure enough, after blankly blinking at Mother's concern, she soon shook her head.
"I decided after thinking it through carefully. I know how dangerous being a Hunter is. But I think it suits me, and that I can do it well."
"..."
For some reason, she seemed incredibly happy about it.
The corners of Yeon Haneul's mouth softly rose, and the tips of her eyes curved into arcs.
"And Gyeonu said he would help me become a Hunter. If I were alone, I think I would have been too anxious and worried, but if I become a Hunter together with Gyeonu, I don't think I'll need to be anxious. So please don't worry too much."
"...If that's the case, I'm glad."
Hearing it right beside her was embarrassing.
I unnecessarily turned my head away.
On the other hand, Mother's voice had softened considerably.
"To be honest, I was worried whether Gyeonu would do well by himself at Academy City, but if you're by his side, Haneul, I can rest easy. Please take good care of him later."
"Yes, please leave it to me."
"..."
Why did she have to bring me into this?
I was so dumbfounded that I tried to speak, but just closed my mouth.
I Became the Childhood Friend of the Mid-Boss