Hiik!

Chae Nayun jumped out of the tall grass after screaming. She slowly approached with a sour expression.

“Why were you following me?” I asked with my gun still pointed at her.

“Don’t misunderstand. I wasn’t following you.”

Chae Nayun spoke as she scratched her face.

“Then what?”

“…”

“See, I’m right.”

I placed my finger on the trigger.

“Well, before that, how did you do that just now?”

She asked about the light sphere. My gun must’ve not threatened her enough.

“Tell me why you followed me first.”

Chae Nayun frowned and finally answered, “I wasn’t following you. I was following Seung-Ah unni.”

“Huh?”

I tilted my head. Why did she suddenly mention Yun Seung-Ah?

“Seung-Ah? The same Yun Seung-Ah that I know?”

“Yeah, but you should address her more formally.”

“…”

I turned around and pretended to think as I took out my laptop and checked the drone footage. Four drones flew around the area, and I found Yun Seung-Ah sitting in a tree above us.

“Yun Seung-Ah…”

“Hey, can you stop addressing her so casually?”

I knew she would be here as an overseer. She should’ve observed Kim Suho the first two days, and potential talents on the other days. If things went according to the original story, she should be watching Jayden. Could I be on her list of potential talents?

“Hey, now tell me how you made that light sphere.”

“Yeah, I’m the one who made it. Anyways, let’s hunt these together since you’re here.”

“No! I know you made it. I’m asking how?”

Chae Nayun couldn’t continue as the alligator monsters emerged from the lake. Magic alligators were low-intermediate rank, grade 5-7 monsters. They had blue skin and the ability to shoot magic power from their mouths. However, this attack only posed a threat underwater. Their threat levels decreased by half after surfacing. I pointed at the alligators and made an offer.

“Half-half?”

I would have a hard time killing them with a training handgun because of their tough skin. Originally, I planned on using my Desert Eagle, but now I couldn’t because of Yun Seung-Ah.

“First, tell me how you did— Ah, damn it.”

An alligator fired a mana ball at Chae Nayun.

Mmm. I felt satisfied that my luck also helped me with such trivial matters.

***

Yun Seung-Ah looked down from a tree.

They almost discovered me.

Kim Hajin had surprised her when he created a light sphere. She would have been found out if it wasn’t for Chae Nayun. Of course, most heroes could easily cast light sphere. However, the intensity of the light and the fact that he could already use such magic surprised her. Condensing magic power externally sounded easy, but was actually quite a difficult technique that even Yun Seung-Ah only mastered in the second term of her first year.

I knew that kid wouldn’t write a baseless report.

Yun Seung-Ah smiled in satisfaction at Kim Hajin, who had effortlessly created a light sphere on such a scale.

I’ll have to add a star above Kim Hajin’s name.

***

I blasted 20 bullets into the alligator’s wide-open mouth. Wadadada. I emptied the entire magazine in just a second. The alligator writhed in pain. However, I knew that wouldn’t kill it. The finishing attack came as a flash of magic power shot out from a sword and severed the alligator. It helplessly slumped after Chae Nayun slashed it. No alligator could withstand more than a single strike from her. She literally split them in half with one stroke, a truly awe-inspiring power.

“Did you start using a sword?”

“…”

Chae Nayun silently sheathed her sword as I noticed her trembling hands and closed my mouth. The sensation of cutting through flesh must’ve felt unpleasant. I didn’t know what that felt like, which made me even more afraid.

“We’ll scan two each since there’s four. I’ll take this one and that one.”

I scanned the two smaller ones with my smartwatch. Chae Nayun scanned her two alligators, and the hunt ended. Now we no longer had a reason to be together.

“You should leave since we’re done here.”

“You really don’t want to tell me, huh. Is it so hard to explain how you made that light sphere?”

Chae Nayun pouted and grumbled. I answered her with a smile.

“You’ll get hurt if you find out.”

“What?”

Chae Nayun frowned. That was the truth. If I wanted to explain stigma’s magic power, I had to explain that this world was a novel.

“What nonsense is that?”

“Just go. I came here first, so you head that way.”

I pointed and went the opposite direction. Chae Nayun glared at my back before stomping away.

***

I quickly moved after splitting up from Chae Nayun. With my thousand-mile eyes, I hunted for low-intermediate rank, grade 7-9 monsters. I obtained 15 points from monsters like wolves, deers, and octopuses in just two hours.

“...”

I stopped after feeling a presence from the tall grass behind me. She revealed her presence on purpose after tailing me the entire time, but she must’ve finished observing now. I patiently waited as she flew from the trees like a butterfly and landed about 50 meters in front of me.

“Hello.”

Yun Seung-Ah spoke with a bright smile.

“This is the first time since you turned me down, right?”

She brought up what happened at our last meeting. I had cold-heartedly rejected her business card.

“Right, but what is it so suddenly?”

“Ah, I’m sorry. It’s a bit sudden, isn’t it?”

Yun Seung-Ah nodded understandingly and continued.

“You see, I’ve been offering cadets a special event and testing their skills.”

“What? Event?”

“Yes.”

Yun Seung-Ah pointed at the nametag on her chest.

“Would you like to try taking it?”

“Yes?”

Someone could easily misunderstand her words from where she pointed. Yun Seung-Ah continued, unaware.

“The event is simple. I’ll stand here and only use my left arm. You win my nametag if you can make me move a single step or land an attack anywhere other than my left arm.”

“Nametag?”

“Yes, I’ll bet my guild on this promise.”

Betting her guild sounded more like a vow than a promise. I rubbed my chin in thought. That nametag was worth 200 points and would undoubtedly place me first. What could I gain from first place? First, I would gain quite the SP from guilds and djinns noticing me. Furthermore, I might encourage Kim Suho, who was supposed to get first place, to try harder. No, no no… I forgot the most important part, which was how to take Yun Seung-Ah’s nametag in the first place.

“I’ll stay here. Make your decision. You can challenge me or turn back.”

Yun Seung-Ah added as though she read my thoughts.

“It’s quite an unexpected event.”

I fired at her without warning, but she instantly struck the bullets down with just her left hand as promised. She treated them like plastic bullets.

“That felt quite prickly, far more powerful than a normal training handgun. Looks like your gift is related to guns.”

Yun Seung-Ah didn’t even coat her hand with magic power. Instead, she struck them down with pure physical ability to confirm their strength. For the record, aether had adhered to the training handgun and enhanced its power.

“Try more.”

I pulled the trigger ten more times as bullets flew at her almost simultaneously towards different parts of her body. However, Yun Seung-Ah struck them all down without moving a single step. She didn’t use her magic power either.

“That was fast. I thought they came at me simultaneously.”

Yun Seung-Ah muttered leisurely. I might have a chance with such a critical handicap. Perhaps I could try a feint since I also had two daggers.

I took out the two daggers from my waist and attached stigma’s magic power around their handles.

“Oh, right. You used a sword before you switched to a gun. Using both at the same time is smart.”

Her commentary annoyed me as I threw the daggers. One flew towards her chest, and the other at her face. Then I fired twenty bullets. I wondered how Yun Seung-Ah would deal with it.

Clang!

Yun Seung-Ah struck down the two daggers while blocking the bullets with her left arm. However, the daggers sprung back up and flew towards her heels. She said she would only use her left arm, so she shouldn’t be able to reach her heels. To my surprise, she released magic power from her left hand and completely shattered them.

“Wow.”

My attack ended in vain, but Yun Seung-Ah looked excited.

“Interesting. You changed the daggers’ trajectory with magic power. What technique is that?”

You’re like an onion, Hajin! I ignored the last compliment and scratched my neck. This event was impossible unless a lightning bolt or a meteor suddenly struck her. Even my luck couldn’t make up for the absurd difference in skills.

I holstered my gun, but Yun Seung-Ah misunderstood as the magic power in her left hand became even sharper.

“What mysterious technique are you showing this time?”

She smiled and held out her hand blade. Yun Seung-Ah was still curious and unsatisfied. I admired her desire to collect talents. However, I turned around after collecting the shattered remains of my daggers. Then I walked back from where I came. Yun Seung-Ah’s surprised voice rang out after I took about five steps.

“Hello?”

I continued walking away as she took a step forward.

“Where are you going?”

Suddenly, I turned around.

“You said you’d only use your left hand.”

“Eh?”

I pointed at her right foot.

“But you just used your right foot.”

“…”

Yun Seung-Ah’s face froze.

“I’m kidding, hahaha.”

I chuckled and turned back. Honestly, I planned on arguing after the joke, but her glare felt too intimidating.

Let’s just go back and eat with Rachel.

***

“Rachel, stay with me for today.”

I said to Rachel on the fourth day during breakfast.

“...?”

Rachel tilted her head as she ate.

“The exam will end soon.”

An event would occur today. She should have faced it with Kim Suho, but I had to bring her there since she teamed up with me. This event was important because Rachel would obtain a clue towards her enlightenment.

“Everyone will be on edge. It’ll be dangerous alone.”

Today would be the last day to act since the exam ended tomorrow at 9 A.M.

“You have to protect me, Rachel.”

Rachel almost nodded, but suddenly tilted her head again.

“Yes?”

“You didn’t mishear me.”

I grinned and stood up. The butterfly seedling would be extremely dangerous. Thanks to aether, I wouldn’t die if its roots accidentally touched me. However, I would undoubtedly lose an organ or two.

“I need you to protect me.”