I Became an NPC That Rankers Are Obsessed Over

“A way to give courage…”

Si-ho muttered while wiping a glass with a dry towel.

What did I say to Se-ah back then?

After meeting Se-ah, countless things had happened.

From Anna’s past to the incident in Chinatown…

There wasn’t even time to think about Se-ah.

Si-ho tried to recall but couldn’t remember anything except the expensive wolf ears she had received.

Lina was in the same dilemma.

She already seemed exhausted, as if she had pondered dozens of times on ‘how to give courage to children.’

Just because she saw a bartender didn’t mean a lifelong worry would be easily resolved.

The clumsy teacher eventually grabbed her own head.

Then, with a deeply gloomy expression, she let out a long sigh.

“As expected… someone like me, even as a teacher, couldn’t possibly solve this, could I?”

Her posture, clutching her head, looked like a rabbit with its ears drooping—adorably so.

Si-ho stared at her silently for a moment before finally apologizing.

“I’m sorry. You must’ve come a long way, but I couldn’t give you a proper answer…”

“Why apologize! If anything, I should be sorry for coming here and saying strange things…”

She hurriedly waved her hand.

The clumsy teacher, lips pressed tightly, picked up a pretzel from the table and ate it.

Like a dispirited rabbit nibbling on its food.

“Ha…”

Si-ho looked down at her sullen appearance.

Inside, the bartender cheered with clenched fists.

It’s been such a long time.

How long has it been since I’ve seen someone this utterly normal?

Looking back at all the people who had visited so far, Lina was by far the most ‘normal’ person he had encountered.

Realizing this, Si-ho suddenly wanted to help her.

If not help, she at least wanted to give her genuine courage.

“—.”

The clock in the Moment Bar pointed to 11 o’clock.

Outside, sirens sounded, signaling the approaching curfew.

After 11 o’clock, the association could no longer guarantee protection if monsters appeared.

But Lina remained at the bar.

She had every right to.

In Korea, there likely wasn’t anyone stronger than Lina, and if there was, they’d probably only be her equal.

As the bartender prepared a cocktail, Lina mumbled to herself.

It was as if she was unloading a burden she had been carrying alone.

“I probably won’t ever be a good teacher…”

Si-ho interpreted her words as a joke.

The woman before my eyes is a top contender in America’s TOP 100.

What student would refuse her teachings?

“Honestly, I was the worst professor in Korea.”

“That’s a bit unexpected.”

Si-ho said as she chilled a glass with ice.

He assumed America’s education standards were naturally higher than Korea’s, so she would teach well.

“My ability is muscle reinforcement. If I want to, I can lift cars or harden my body like steel.”

She shyly tapped the table with her finger.

“I adapted to my ability quickly. So, within a year of becoming a hunter, I became an S-rank ranker.”

Lina recited her accolades in a somber tone.

To think she became an S-rank ranker in just a year…

Si-ho remembered how he had struggled as a healer for over three years but remained an F-rank.

Recalling the past, the corners of his mouth involuntarily drooped.

“Maybe that’s why I couldn’t understand students who struggled to adapt to their abilities at first.”

Ah.

So that’s it.

It’s like how a genius soccer player, upon retiring, struggles as a coach.

They can’t understand why others fail at what seems so simple to them.

Lina was a quintessential genius hunter.

It wasn’t easy for someone like her to empathize with struggling candidates.

“This quarter, if I rank last among professors again, I’ll be summoned back to America. I want to stay here as long as possible because my father is in Korea…”

Lina’s large eyes shimmered.

Her expression, like a sorrowful rabbit nibbling on pretzels, naturally drew attention.

Si-ho almost laughed but held it in.

Then, with as serious a face as possible, she asked the young professor.

“Will it be a forced summons?”

“Yes… since I’m a ranker, I can’t live abroad without clear justification, even if my parents are there. Immigration isn’t allowed either. A ranker leaving means a weakening of national power…”

That made sense.

Suddenly, a ranker who was a national asset becoming another country’s ranker?

It was like losing a nuclear weapon.

“But that’s a separate matter. Whether I’m here or not, I want to be a source of strength for my students.”

She spun the empty pretzel plate on the table.

“Because I love those kids.”

After those words, Lina made eye contact with Si-ho.

The kind, beautiful professor smiled warmly at the bartender.

Si-ho thought her smile was truly lovely.

And at that moment, upon seeing her pure, bright smile, she wanted to help her somehow.

That feeling soon turned into words that escaped his lips.

“I’ll make you a cocktail.”

The bartender responded with a knowing smile.

She placed the chilled glass on the table, having listened to Lina’s story.

Into a shaker filled with ice, one ounce (30 ml) of dry gin.

One ounce (30 ml) of fresh, tangy lime juice.

Half an ounce (15 ml) of sweet and smooth sugar syrup.

Add everything, then shake vigorously.

Next, slowly pour it into the chilled glass…

Rating: ★★★★☆ (Flawless)

Effect: Permanently increases willpower by 10.

Info: A unique recipe by Si-ho, deviating from the traditional. The strong tartness from 30 ml of lime juice is balanced with two pumps of sugar syrup.

“Lina, honestly, I don’t know much about the academy.”

The milky greenish drink filled the cold glass.

“I didn’t have the qualifications or tuition to enter as a low-tier ability user.”

He twisted a lime peel to extract its juice.

“But when I went on raids, there was an older sister who gave me courage, like you.”

He slowly placed the lime peel into the gimlet.

“Whenever things got tough, she always said something to me.”

Si-ho slid the martini glass toward the young professor.

“Don’t rush. You’re doing well.”

The bartender repeated as if quoting someone.

Her smiling face reminded Lina of a certain examiner.

“No one is strong from the beginning.”

Lina stared blankly at Si-ho.

She hesitated about what to say to the bartender, her mouth slightly open.

Eventually, she closed her mouth and silently took the glass.

The professor gazed at the milky drink.

Unlike Jung-gil, she stared at the cocktail for a long time.

“Do you think I can become a good teacher?”

Si-ho confidently answered her question.

“Yes.”

She rested her chin in her hands, gazing gently at Lina.

“When you mentioned Se-ah earlier, Lina, you looked so happy.”

The young professor listened intently, holding her glass so steadily that it didn’t tremble.

“A person who’s so happy seeing their student succeed can’t possibly be a bad teacher.”

“So don’t be too anxious about wanting to help your students.”

“Even if there’s no progress now, with such consistent effort for your students…”

Si-ho took out a tissue.

“One day, your students will recognize your hard work.”

She gently wiped the tearful young professor’s eyes.

“When they do, they’ll find the courage to try harder.”

Si-ho tilted her head slightly and smiled.

The ranker stared blankly at that smile.

“I’ll guarantee it. Even if I’m just an underwhelming bartender…”

Soon, she sniffled.

And she slowly blew her nose with the tissue Si-ho handed her.

“Thank you…”

She tried to compose herself.

She still looked as beautiful as when I first saw her.

No, perhaps even more refreshed and vibrant compared to her previously gloomy state.

Soon, she faced the gimlet sitting in front of her.

Now more at ease, the professor slowly brought her thick lips to the glass.

Lina half-closed her eyes and savored the cocktail slowly.

Si-ho didn’t bother asking her how it tasted.

She simply admired Lina’s face as if watching a pretty animal.

The rabbit who took a sip of the gimlet scrunched her face.

She pouted her lips and let out a short groan.

“Ah—sour.”

Si-ho burst out laughing at the reaction he had expected.

“How is it? Does it wake you up?”

“Completely…”

Lina nodded.

Despite her reaction, Si-ho wasn’t disappointed.

That’s just how gimlets taste, and her expression wasn’t one of displeasure.

It was a refreshing expression, as if she had shaken something off.

As if to confirm this, Lina picked up her glass again and took another sip of the gimlet.

Then, as if she were detoxifying, she let out a spirited cry.

“Kah—this is addictive! Strong, though…”

The rabbit, her face flushed, muttered to herself.

Watching her, Si-ho couldn’t help but feel proud.

Soon, the bartender seemed to have a good idea and headed to the ice machine.

She crushed ice finely with a muddler.

“Could you hand me your glass for a moment?”

“Huh?”

Lina handed over the glass with her flushed face.

Si-ho poured the half-finished gimlet into a new glass.

Then she poured the crushed ice on top.

“Here, this is how you make a Gimlet Hammer.”

Rating: ★★★★☆ (Flawless)

Effect: Permanently increases willpower by 10 and composure by 5.

Info: Crushed ice was added to the gimlet, lowering its alcohol content slightly.

A small consideration for a drunken Lina.

“This is amazing. Just by adding ice, it becomes a different cocktail…!”

Lina murmured while looking at the glass.

“Technically, it’s not a registered cocktail recipe. I just thought of a sledgehammer and improvised.”

Si-ho shyly covered her mouth with the back of her hand.

Lina looked at her with sparkling eyes.

“That’s funny. My main weapon is actually a hammer. It’s nice to meet a fellow ‘hammer’!”

She giggled and pointed at the bag she had brought.

Following her gaze, I went on tiptoe to peek into her bag.

Then, I was startled.

The hammer sticking out of her bag was covered in blood.

“Haha, I love it. A cocktail called Hammer? Make me one, no, two more of these!”

Lina quickly regained her laughter.

But the bartender’s smile completely disappeared.

She thought to herself.

As expected, there’s no normalcy in this place…

The American rabbit, her eyes reddened, drank three Gimlet Hammers.

The clock soon pointed to midnight.

“This place was the right choice after all.”

Lina hiccupped as she murmured.

“Thanks for saying that.”

Si-ho replied with a bright smile.

Thanks to the young professor, she had sold three drinks tonight.

At least the break-even point had been reached.

“Si-ho, every time I see you, I think your eyes are so pretty. Especially when you smile.”

Lina suddenly complimented the bartender.

The sudden flurry of compliments flustered Si-ho.

“What? That doesn’t suit me at all…”

“I mean it… Those feminine eyes, that comforting figure.”

She suddenly pointed at Si-ho’s body with her finger.

The bartender, startled, turned away.

“And even your warm heart. There’s a saying for women like you in Korea.”

Lina licked the remaining ice.

Then, as if something came to mind, her eyes sparkled.

“Oh! A virtuous wife—”

I had no idea where she had picked up such words.

Embarrassed by her choice of words, Si-ho coughed as if choking.

“My dad always told me to be a virtuous wife…”

Lina muttered.

And with her flushed face pressed against the table, she quietly fell asleep.

The bartender approached the sleeping guest quietly.

The academy professor was fast asleep like a child.

Her face still held the innocence of her academy days.

Si-ho envied Lina’s school days.

Suddenly, she thought to herself.

If I had attended the academy too.

If I had met a good teacher like Lina.

Maybe I wouldn’t have died so futilely back then.

Maybe my sister and I wouldn’t have died so unhappily…

“…”

Si-ho pulled out a blanket from the counter.

And she gently draped it over the sleeping young professor.

The shop was very quiet in the early morning.

Thankfully, there didn’t seem to be any monsters appearing in Sindorim tonight.

What a relief.