Chapter 873

EP.873 [Light Novel Side Story] Death Dinass of the Creator’s Heaven 1st Book 020

<February 7th, 10:30 AM, New Seoul Girls' High School>

Had she ever received this much attention in her life? Kim Nori trembled uncontrollably as gazes from all directions bore down on her.

“…Third year representative graduate, Kim Nori, please come forward.”

Nuri, seated at the center of the graduates’ row, stood up. During those few seconds walking to the podium, a whirlwind of thoughts raced through her mind.

“How did I become the representative when there are perfect scorers and New Seoul University entrants?”

It was absurd that she, who hadn’t even made it into some unknown local junior college, had been chosen over them. Even more absurd was that the person who lost the representative position was looking at her with admiration.

Thud. Nuri reached the front of the podium. The balding principal, more nervous than Nuri herself, handed over the congratulatory speech and graduation certificate. Nuri glanced sideways at the camera filming in the corner of the podium while carefully managing her expression.

“Why is this being nationally live-streamed?”

Though embarrassed, Nuri maintained her composure as she took the prepared speech from the principal. The document, originally written for New Seoul University students and hastily revised, contained awkward phrasing but had passed through multiple reviews by “important figures” to become an official masterpiece.

Nuri mechanically read out the speech.

“…As future heroes who will carry our nation’s hopes, I pledge. Graduate representative, Kim Nori.”

Waahhh!! Cheers erupted that seemed more fitting for a boys’ school graduation.

Kim Nori! Kim Nori! Kim Nori!

The second floor cheering section was packed not with family members but mostly with guild scouts and representatives. Among them was even a hero from one of Korea’s top-tier guilds. It was so chaotic that the association had to send in control agents.

Nuri briefly scanned the auditorium. The familiar blonde hair that should have caught her eye was nowhere to be seen.

“N-Nuri student? Is there any problem…?”

“Ah, sorry about that.”

Nuri gave a defeated smile and bowed.

After the ceremony ended, all graduates were guided out of the gymnasium by teachers and association officers. The seats vacated by graduates were quickly filled by various guild heroes, hunters, and association personnel.

Here we go. Taking a deep breath, Nuri sat in the chair placed on the now reorganized podium. Association facilitators transformed the graduation stage into a press conference setup in the blink of an eye, placing a table microphone in front of Nuri.

Click click. As cameras flashed, Nuri clenched her fists under the table. An association representative grabbed the microphone and tried to calm the excited crowd.

“Focus. Focus.”

A pale man with heavy dark circles grabbed the mic. Despite his irritated voice, the crowd continued chatting among themselves. He raised his voice further.

“It’s understandable to be excited about a rare S-rank talent who might reach SS-rank, but focus on me. If you keep this up, Miss Kim Nori might get scared off from contacting you guys. Especially you sunglasses guy in the third row – are you from <Walljump>? What ridiculous name will you give your leader once they reach S-rank?”

At his words, the crowd fell silent like they were in a classical concert hall. Satisfied with the atmosphere, the man nodded toward Nuri, who reciprocated with a nod.

“Then let us begin the official association interview with special ability user Kim Nori.”

* * *

Q: How do you feel about becoming Korea’s first darkness-attribute S-rank?

Kim Nori (20 years old, hereafter Kim): Honestly, it still doesn’t feel real. My awakened magic power is just water-attribute magic power that everyone awakens to, and my current ability level is merely lower C-rank. Maybe if I never awaken darkness magic power, I’ll just be an average special ability user. So I think it’s premature to call me an S-rank special ability user.

Q: What made you decide to retake the test?

Kim: Desperation. With vacation ending and failing all university admissions, I felt stuck. I decided to give it one last try, and it was miraculous.

Q: Where were you during your absence from school?

Kim: During those three days I skipped school, I had many thoughts. Can I really reach SS-rank? Will I give up or fail halfway? Though cautious and anxious now, since I’ve realized my talent, I want to give it a proper try. Yes, whether as a hunter or hero, I’m going to give it a shot.

Q: Does that mean you’ll join a guild immediately?

Kim: Ah, no immediate plans to join any particular guild. Since my college entrance exams just ended and my grades are terrible, I discussed with my parents about retaking a year. We had already agreed on attending university before taking the special ability awakening test, so I’m definitely retaking.

Q: Some universities and academies are reportedly considering special admission…

Kim: Some people mentioned special admission to New Seoul University or Hero Academy in articles, but I don’t think I deserve that qualification. Those places are for truly hardworking individuals, not someone like me who got lucky… Sorry. It wouldn’t be fair for someone who won the lottery from the sky to just waltz in, right?

Q: What are your future plans?

Kim: For the remaining month of February, I’ll relax at home and think about my future. I personally need to research which guild would be best. Once I awaken darkness magic power, I’ll let you know, so don’t worry too much. Actually, my part-time job contract lasts until the end of February, so I need to fulfill that.

Q: Any final message to the citizens?

Kim: To the citizens? Since I expect people will start searching for me after my face has been broadcast nationwide, let me say this beforehand – don’t look for me. If anyone shows up near my house or workplace, I’ll report them as stalkers to the association.

Kim Nori (20, civilian) declared her intention to maintain normal life until the end of February while preparing to become a true hero. With March marking the start of the new school year, many guild representatives cheered at Kim Nori’s determination to begin anew as a hero.

Additionally, the association decided to conduct special surveillance around Kim Nori’s residence and workplace until the end of February. Any guild attempting contact or recruitment before then will be forcibly disbanded by the association.

* * *

<1 PM, Xian's Office>

“So what happens with Nuri now?”

“It’s up to her choice.”

Xian somehow managed to shove bloated jajangmyeon into her mouth. Though lunch was decided as Chinese food due to the graduation ceremony being at a Chinese restaurant, the extra jajangmyeon ordered unknowingly for Nuri ended up in Xian’s stomach.

“Still planning to have lunch with family?”

“The live broadcast has stopped, but it’s still chaos on social media.”

Nuri’s family had reserved a regular Chinese restaurant slightly far from the high school, but had to leave due to the swarm of reporters and crowds following Nuri. Xian swallowed a piece of danmuji and wiped her lips with a napkin.

“She’s become a celebrity.”

“Whether hunter or special ability user, high-ranking individuals are all celebrities. Everyone admires S-rank and above special ability users. There are even villains with fans, like <Thief Judge>.”

“Thief…what?”

“Thief Judge (Thief Judge). A villain who steals from corrupt criminals and delivers righteous justice. They’re so elusive that even the Round Table struggles to capture them – an S-rank villain.”

Xian finished clearing the bowls and stacked them in one place. Yuna unfolded newspaper borrowed from the first floor and wrapped everything together. The two neatly packed the dishes.

“There sure are strange ones. Anyway, back to Nuri…”

Xian opened the window for ventilation. Unfamiliar faces lingered unusually near the office building. Making eye contact with someone below, Xian furrowed her brows and expressed annoyance.

“We’re in trouble too.”

Xian irritably half-closed the window. Though ventilation was necessary due to the smell, it was inconvenient with people outside.

Bang bang bang!

Loud knocking came from outside. Xian pulled her hair in frustration.

“Damn…”

“Are you there! I’m Choi Joo-Hoon who came for an interview at <Worker B>!”

“Surely they didn’t remember Nuri’s face from back then.”

The part-time job Nuri mentioned in the interview, using it as an excuse to buy time until February, had inadvertently turned their office into a target.

People who visited the office during January recalled the ghost-like figure serving coffee as a temporary assistant and came knocking out of curiosity.

Creak. Xian signaled to Raon and slightly opened the door.

“What is it?”

“I-I want to join this guild!”

Choi Joo-Hoon attempted to barge into the office. Xian blocked him and shook her head.

“The guild has closed. No recruitment as we’ve changed industries.”

“Huh?”

“Perhaps you’re looking for Miss Kim Nori. Our relationship with Miss Kim Nori has concluded amicably. We’ve hired a new office assistant.”

Raon, who was carrying coffee, slightly bowed toward the door. Choi Joo-Hoon’s face showed disappointment.

“T-Then where has she gone-”

“Well, I don’t know. Frankly, she’s a clueless person who was working as an office assistant without realizing an SS-rank special ability user was beside her. Hahaha.”

Xian pushed Choi Joo-Hoon away self-reproachfully.

“Our contract with Miss Kim Nori ended at the end of January. I heard she found another part-time job around Cheonan when finishing her previous job, so she might be doing something there…”

“Cheonan? D-Damn! If another guild has already-”

Choi Joo-Hoon ran down the stairs without saying goodbye. Xian sighed, closed the door, and locked it.

“Yuna, how many times now?”

“Sixth time.”

“How do they keep finding out despite the urgent removal of the announcement?”

Xian scratched her head. Yuna and Raon silently decided to keep secret that Xian’s posted announcement circulated across various communities for about a month as a joke titled “No-reply_new-guild_family-like_announcement.jpg.” Raon, carefully putting coffee back in the refrigerator, cautiously asked.

“Xian, is it really okay to give up on Nuri?”

“Giving up? We’re not in a position to persuade her now, are we?”

“But if Nuri betrays us-”

“It’s not ‘betrayal.'”

Xian cut off Raon’s sentence decisively without making eye contact, walking toward the jajangmyeon bowl. Raon’s eyes wavered violently.

“I just happened to discover Nuri’s potential earlier than others. If she chooses differently, there’s nothing we can do about it.”

“Then Xian, if someone with even greater talent than Nuri appears, would you give up just like this?”

“Haa.”

Xian exhaled deeply. Yuna inexplicably felt chills as Xian’s gaze seemed to linger at her feet.

“Well, I don’t know. I’m uncertain what to do.”

Xian picked up a bowl placed on the table while resting her head on it, lowering her mouth.

“To be honest, I’d like to tie her up here, but does anything ever go as planned? I don’t have the funds to compete against large corporations like Yu-Sung, and beyond just buying coffee for a month longer than others, I haven’t done anything particularly special for her.”

Xian muttered while opening the steel door. Shivering after placing the newspaper-wrapped dishes in the hallway,

“Nuri has family, you know. Judging from Nuri and her sister’s personalities, their parents likely have similar temperaments. She probably values family opinions the most. Isn’t she much closer to them than me? Right?”

“S-Shian.”

Raon pointed behind with a flustered face. However, Xian missed the signal as she stretched while tightly closing her eyes.

“Frankly speaking, if I want to bring Nuri into our guild, I’d have to convince her family first. Would that be easy?”

“Then if Kim Nori wishes, you’d definitely let her join?”

“Of course. I’d grovel and kneel if necessary. Really-”

Xian abruptly turned her head upon hearing a voice from behind.

“Uncle, you’re still talking too much. Hehe.”

Nuri entered holding a takeout box of drinks from the first-floor café, laughing.

“First things first.”

Nuri pushed Xian inside with her foot and locked the steel door. Lifting her chin arrogantly, she pointed downward with her index finger.

“Get down on your knees.”

Xian’s knees bent effortlessly.