100 — Professor Choi Chae-gul’s Byproduct Harvesting Class (1)

Choi Chae-gul.

At 40 years old this year, he had worked as a professor for about three years.

He had eyes and ears.

Naturally, he knew the circulating rumors and was well aware of what the cadets thought of him.

‘…A pushover.’

In reality, he was a person who was not treated properly by the cadets or even by his fellow professors.

To reiterate, the [Gonis Hunter Academy] was a prestigious academy recognized by everyone.

Even though being a professor might be considered a mediocre position, in a place of this caliber, the respect one received was exceptional.

But one must understand.
In any organization or group, there was bound to be a hierarchy.

Choi Chae-gul was undoubtedly at the bottom of that hierarchy.

The primary reason for this was likely the fact that he had spent half his life as a hunter who never rose above the F-grade.

This was something he couldn’t help.

Choi Chae-gul had never awakened any <Combat> related skills.

He had no means to increase his stats, and since he lacked the courage to fight monsters, it was impossible for him to raise his grade.

But as they say, God is fair.

He had a natural talent for <Byproduct Harvesting>.

With 20 years of honing only this skill, he became a recognized expert in <Butchering>.

Thanks to this, he was able to enter the prestigious [Gonis Hunter Academy].

However, this didn’t mean he was treated as a proper hunter.

It might be puzzling.

Isn’t <Byproduct Harvesting> important?

It is important.

If these ‘butcher-type’ hunters were gone, the economic system would take a huge hit immediately.

All byproducts, of course, and the products made from processing those byproducts would see a significant price increase, naturally causing major issues in the market economy.

But just because something is necessary doesn’t mean it’s free from social discrimination.

It’s important not to misunderstand; social treatment isn’t bad.

In fact, they were paid more than their efforts warranted, and their benefits, including the four major insurances, were well-structured.

It was just that the work they did was considered lowly…
And that was something that couldn’t be helped.

For hunters, the discrimination between ‘combat positions’ and ‘production positions’ was significant.

And even worse than ‘production positions’ were those evaluated as ‘slaughter’, ‘mining’, or ‘cleaners’, who periodically clean dungeons, like Choi Chae-gul.

Choi Chae-gul felt deeply wronged by this social discrimination.

Why do they subtly discriminate against us when we handle such important work at the very bottom?

‘I will surely let the world know the greatness of <Byproduct Harvesting>!’

With this sole conviction, Choi Chae-gul rejected the recruitment offers from the [Four Great Clans] and headed to the <Academy>.

He wanted to inform the growing seedlings, the cadets who would lead the future.

To make them understand that they were essential people.

That ‘butchering’ should not be taken lightly.

Thus, he initially conducted his classes rigorously, passionately explaining the importance and know-how of <Byproduct Harvesting>.

However, the result of these efforts came back as the dishonor of being rated the ‘lowest in professor evaluations.’

The report card left by the cadets at the end of all their classes evaluated the professors.

Choi Chae-gul, who burned with passion, was defeated by the report card that ranked him the lowest.

In the end, he maintained the classes and assignments that catered to the cadets’ whims.

Thanks to this, his ‘professor evaluation’ went up, but the attitude towards him sank even lower.

At this point, after three years had passed.

Choi Chae-gul made a resolution.

‘I must change.’

He needed to find his original intention again.
But it wouldn’t work just like that.
Kind words wouldn’t get through to these high-nosed hunters.

‘I have to force them.’

They needed to hold the butcher’s knife and touch the flesh and skin of the monsters.

If they got used to it, even by force, they’d realize their importance.

The reason Choi Chae-gul glared at the cadets was due to this thought.

Therefore, he was unaware.
No, he knew better than anyone but chose to ignore it.

That his current actions were no better than a tantrum-throwing child.

To envy and covet the future of cadets with promising talents, disguising such ugly feelings as mere resentment.

‘…I’m not wrong!’

Without realizing it, he had become the ugliest adult of all.

---

“…Please open your textbooks to page 4. It is written that every awakened being has the potential to unlock the [Butchery] skill. I also strongly agree with this. If everyone puts in the effort, they can learn it…“

“…It is commonly known that butchery knives are held in reverse grip, but this varies by situation. When dealing with targets with sturdy shells…”

Choi Chae-gul continued with the lesson.
Not just rigidly relaying the textbook content, but delivering a high-quality lesson infused with his own experience.

Around the time when only half of the passionately taught class was left.

He closed the textbook.
And he glanced back.

Half…
No, the majority were doing something else with bored expressions.

Some were secretly taking out their phones to curse him on the Academy bulletin board, and some were sleeping.

Tremble.

Choi Chae-gul, who was shaking, clenched his fists.
Then, he soon relaxed his expression.

‘It doesn’t matter.’

He had taught them everything he needed to.
Even if they just remembered what he had just said, dealing with what was to come wouldn’t be difficult.

Choi Chae-gul, turning his gaze to the assistant, subtly signaled her.

“Get ready.”
“……”

The female assistant looked at him as if to say, ‘Are you really going to do this…?’
Regardless, Choi Chae-gul’s resolve was firm.

Sighing deeply, she waved her hand and lifted several large buckets with magic.

“Cadets. Your desks will be temporarily changed. Please don’t be too surprised.”

Choi Chae-gul, who uttered these puzzling words, pressed a button on the podium.

Magic flowed through the desks they were sitting at, and hidden equipment began to emerge.

Small holes that would absorb blood and entrails.
A case for separating byproducts from worthless parts.
Even a drawer containing aprons and sharply honed butcher knives.

All of these were the standard equipment used during <Byproduct Harvesting] exams.

Of course, there was no rule against using them during class, but since practical training was usually conducted outdoors, they were rarely seen.

Choi Chae-gul opened his mouth towards the cadets, who were staring blankly as if to say, ‘What on earth is this?’

“We will conduct practical training for the remaining time from now on.”

It was literally like a bolt from the blue.

In the meantime, the assistant instructor placed the monster corpses in front of each cadet with an apologetic expression.

―Eek, eeeek!
―Whoa, damn, that scared me!
―…Pr-professor, are you insane?

Screams erupted here and there.
Choi Chae-gul paid no attention.

He looked at the ‘monster’ placed on the desk.

The monster’s identity was the [Transparent-Tailed Monkey].

A D-grade monster with a clear distinction between profitable and unprofitable parts, it wasn’t difficult to dismantle if they had just listened to the explanation.

“Then, let’s begin.”

Ignoring the panicked cadets, Choi Chae-gul raised the attendance book.

The meaning was simple.

If there were no results, they would receive demerit points.

Despite their reluctance, the cadets donned aprons and picked up their butcher knives.

---

Ten minutes later.

Choi Chae-gul gnashed his teeth at the sight of the incompetent cadets.

They handled their waist-worn equipment so sharply…

Yet they couldn’t even manage a simple butcher’s knife properly?

‘No.’

He corrected himself.

They just didn’t intend to.

Look at them barely removing the mana stones embedded in their foreheads and carelessly tossing the knives aside.

Even without the [Butchery] skill, they could obtain usable leather with delicate mana control.

But the majority…

Almost everyone wasn’t even attempting this.

Choi Chae-gul’s hands began to tremble with rage.

Despite letting them handle it directly, they were still being lazy.

If only they would pay a little more attention and make an effort…!

‘…Hmm?’

It was then.

In the corner by the window, the sight of the four caught Choi Chae-gul’s eye.

Unlike the other cadets, these four were clearly working hard.

Among them, three were people Choi Chae-gul knew, and two were beyond his expectations.

‘<Flame Dragon>, <Snow Ice>…?’

Promising individuals with nicknames, even Choi Chae-gul, who had spent 20 years in dungeons, hadn’t received.

Two people symbolizing the embodiment of talent chosen by the <System> were silently proceeding with the butchery.

Of course, their skills were abysmal.
The mere fact that they were attempting to infuse magic into their butchery knives was a fresh shock to Choi Chae-gul.

And the other one…

Lately, a rising star frequently mentioned. Yu Seha.

A blessed man living in a completely different world from an unattractive, rough, and unpopular guy like himself.

Such Yu Seha was diligently skinning the back with sparkling eyes, as if he found it amusing.

Choi Chae-gul was slightly impressed by his rather decent skills.

Should he say it was good sense?

His swordsmanship was just so-so.
But he instinctively avoided cutting the parts he shouldn’t and managed well.

‘…But.’

Something felt off.
The suspicion Choi Chae-gul felt was about the actions of the three people.

They proceeded to a certain point, then stopped and listened carefully.

Soon, he realized.

All three were proceeding with the slaughter under someone’s guidance in the center.

“Meow, meow, meoooow!”

Small build.
At first glance, she looked cute.
A pair of soft, fluffy cat ears.
Along with two tails swaying gently.

Choi Chae-gul found it strange.

No matter how he looked at it, the child had no distinguishing features other than being cute.

Frankly, she seemed lacking to be among the rising trio these days.

Choi Chae-gul hurriedly checked the attendance list.

At the name ‘Ma Hana,’ he suddenly realized, “Ah…!”

‘The girl who blocked the blow of that <Iron Rhino>.’

He heard she was a cadet with the noble class <Guardian>, expected to have a bright future.

Choi Chae-gul slowly put down the attendance book.

He stared blankly at Ma Hana’s skills.

Her butcher knife proceeded without damaging the skin or any valuable parts.

Was it a skill from the [Butchery] system? A faint crimson light hovered around her fingers.

Meanwhile, she diligently guided three people, smiling ‘Meow~.’

Choi Chae-gul looked at her blankly.

It wasn’t because he was amazed by her skills.

Honestly, the technical perfection couldn’t be considered high.

What he focused on was ‘diligence.’

Thud!

“Meow…”

Blood and some innards splattered onto Ma Hana’s face as she broke the spine of the [Transparent-Tailed Monkey].

Most people would have been startled and let go, but not her.

Without a care, she meticulously pulled out the innards and let them flow into the groove.

Ma Hana was so diligent that her apron was drenched in blood.

“……”

Choi Chae-gul couldn’t understand.

[Guardian] class.

Why was she, a noble class known to all main tankers, so engrossed in butchering?

And why…

“Meow~”

Was she smiling so happily, sealing and storing the cut offal?

―Excuse me, Tanker… You shouldn’t step on that. It’s expensive…
―…What? What did a mere butcher just say to me? Do you want to get fired? There are plenty of others who would take your place.
―Th-That…I’m… I’m sorry…
―Behave yourself. I heard you got fired for giving useless advice… Butchers should just keep their mouths shut. Know your place.

“……”

Recalling past memories, Choi Chae-gul slowly walked forward.

As if entranced by something, he quietly stood before Ma Hana.