Do Han-seong was an instructor at Gaon Academy but also a person employed by the guild ‘Lotus.’
His role was to select promising and talented students and report them to the guild.
The clipboard in his hand was the tool to record just that.
‘Surely…’
When he first received the Class B roster, it seemed pretty ordinary—a safe class with a few top students.
However, on the opening ceremony day, when he received the new roster, it completely changed his perspective.
Johan, Yoo Hana, Cheon Yeoul, Kang Ah-rin—it was brimming with students destined to be famous.
Of course, most of them already had affiliations or were practically already assigned. Naturally, he shifted his attention to those who still had open possibilities.
And now, his gaze was directed toward the center of the auditorium.
Two students in a sparring match. One, in particular, caught his attention.
Initially, the duel between Yoo Hana and Cheon Yeoul garnered the most attention, their performance far exceeding expectations in brilliance.
Their skills were almost beyond the level of mere students.
As for what caught his interest, it was another pair: Jung Hae-in and Seong Si-woo.
The early battle was straightforward—Seong Si-woo relentlessly pressing, Jung Hae-in defending against all the attacks. On the surface, it looked like Seong Si-woo was overwhelming, but in reality, the gap between them wasn’t that large since Seong Si-woo wasn’t landing any significant hits.
Thus, Do Han-seong’s initial assessment was simple:
“Ordinary top-tier students….”
Seong Si-woo showed high physical specs, yet he lacked any technique.
Jung Hae-in was stable but lacked knockout power.
However, that judgment wouldn’t last long.
Even as Seong Si-woo kept attacking, Jung Hae-in’s composure remained unshaken. In fact, he was reading Seong Si-woo’s patterns and steadily gaining control of the flow.
-Clang!
It was a decisive moment. The blade energy created by Jung Hae-in split Seong Si-woo’s attack in two.
Could someone of that age use blade energy?
“First time since the previous hero….”
With a sigh, he highlighted Jung Hae-in’s name on the clipboard with a highlighter, definitely to be reported to Lotus.
Seong Si-woo stood there for a long time, visibly shocked.
I didn’t say anything further to him.
Instead, I quietly moved to the waiting bench, leaving him behind.
This didn’t taste very good.
I felt sorry, after all, I was breaking his current understanding and reshaping it to my liking.
Still, he was a character I had created. His arrogant nature was likely shaped by his environment over the last sixteen years.
‘In such a small town…’
He was probably like a frog at the bottom of a well.
Still, I couldn’t give up on him.
I believed he would change, slowly and surely, to the form I knew him to be.
After all, he was the protagonist of this world.
On the other side, Seong Si-woo limped and headed to the waiting bench.
At that moment, a voice interrupted my thoughts.
“Absolutely not gonna change?”
What was that?
Had I said that out loud?
I turned to see who had spoken.
“Yeah, isn’t that right?”
It was Kang Ah-rin. She had silently approached me and was looking up asking the question.
“Eh?”
I was momentarily at a loss for words.
How should I respond?
While I was contemplating excuses, Kang Ah-rin crossed her arms and tilted her head.
“Anyway, not about your thoughts. Would the next ranking change?”
-Next rank must change. Yoo Hana is stronger than Cheon Yeoul.
-The Saint wouldn’t change.
Ah… Now, I understood the situation. The battle between Yoo Hana and Cheon Yeoul was still ongoing, and the surrounding crowd was engrossed in predictions of their rankings.
I stared at her for a moment before quietly shaking my head.
“We need to wait and see, don’t we?”
“Hm…”
Kang Ah-rin tilted her head with apparent interest, watching me curiously.
-BOOM!
A tremendous sound resonated across the auditorium, followed by a massive shockwave. The shockwave was absorbed by a magical barrier, but the sound was deafening.
I turned to look.
Are they aware this is a sparring match? They’re fighting almost as if they’re trying to kill each other.
“So, how was your opponent?”
As soon as I turned to watch Cheon Yeoul and Yoo Hana, she asked me.
I paused before responding.
… I’d better shield myself.
“Good.”
Without any further niceties, I curtly replied.
However, my questioner didn’t react.
I glanced at Kang Ah-rin.
She was staring at me with clenched teeth, her expression looking like she might cry. I was thrown off guard.
Why this reaction again?
I thought she had sorted out her feelings about Kang Yu-seong.
Clearly not, judging by her reaction.
“Are you alright…”
But just as suddenly as it had appeared, her expression hardened.
“Impudence far surpasses any talent.”
She started critiquing Seong Si-woo.
“Ruined by bad habits from the start.”
Where had I heard this before?
“Baseless individual.”
She continued without missing a beat.
“And, someone who will never change in the future.”
She ended with a final statement and then smiled brightly.
“That’s my assessment.”
She certainly has a good eye…
“Yeah, sure.”
I nodded, brushing it off. I didn’t see the need to argue.
“Hmm~”
Kang Ah-rin stretched effortlessly while exhaling leisurely.
Her slim waist and composed breathing made her seem relaxed.
Her appearance drew my gaze briefly before another thought struck me.
Who was Kang Ah-rin’s opponent anyway?
“Who was your opponent?”
“Huh?”
She tilted her head and stretched her arm, casually pointing somewhere in the auditorium.
“Over there~”
I followed her gaze and came across a shocking scene.
“Hurry, come in!”
The auditorium doors burst open as emergency response personnel rushed in. A student, bloodied, was being carried off on a stretcher. It didn’t take long to recognize him.
“Johan…?”
He was unconscious, his sword destroyed, as if it had been torn apart by hands.
Was the gap really this much?
I could not close my gaping mouth.
“He kept trying to rise~”
Kang Ah-rin’s voice floated lazily.
I slowly turned to her.
“… Without knowing his own limits.”
She met my gaze steadily, then slowly smiled.
She was beaming.
So bright.
“8000 won~”
The best way to forget a shocking scene was to eat something delicious.
I took the food and found a seat.
Came here because Sion recommended it, but it was predictably crowded.
I secured a spot in the corner and spread out my food.
“That’s what I heard… Kang Ah-rin versus Johan…”
That was the main topic wherever I went, the events of today’s duel spreading quickly.
Kang Ah-rin is ranked 1st. Johan is ranked 2nd.
“Is the gap between them really that much?”
In the original story, Johan never surpassed Kang Ah-rin by the time they graduated, and the gap increased exponentially over time.
So, this implies that the difference in their skills is the narrowest now.
They are sworn rivals in every way: from affiliations to ideologies, so it wasn’t strange that they fought…
But her actions were too harsh.
Apparently, it was magical exhaustion, which meant at least two weeks of rest.
I had thought about disciplining her someday because of how she watched me, but this saved me some trouble…
Still, a good thing is a good thing, isn’t it?
-Crunch.
Delicious.
Sion’s recommendations are trustworthy.
My thoughts have changed somewhat since last night or rather, I just want to clear my mind a bit.
Everything can’t be under my control.
“Let things flow as they are~”
As I muttered to myself and moved the chopsticks, I sensed something odd.
“Are you student Jung Hae-in?”
Instead of replying, I stared at him with the chopsticks still in my mouth. He sat down unfazed by my reaction and pulled something out of his bag.
“Take this.”
It was a business card.
At the top, an elegantly engraved word stood out.
“Lotus.”
The world’s second-ranked guild.
A name everyone had heard of.
“Doesn’t seem appropriate to talk here. Do you have time?”
He had already placed the card on the table, seemingly expecting a positive answer.
“No.”
“…”
His expression momentarily twisted, clearly unexpected.
Most students jump at the chance when Lotus comes calling.
World second-ranked. The name alone carries weight.
Which often blinds them to legality.
Gaon Academy forbids any scout contact outside the official offer period.
And once a verbal agreement is made, it’s harder to break. Using this illegality as leverage, threats ensue if the deal isn’t upheld.
The contract subtly includes clauses on affiliation restrictions and confidentiality obligations.
Students, unaware of the dangers, sign these papers, only to be threatened later with massive lawsuits for defamation or breach of contract.
There might be ways to refute it, but young students with no affiliation are unlikely to know them. They end up following along grudgingly.
Moreover, they are very selective. For top students, they follow the official process, treating them honorably. For the less certain—potential but less promising students—this is the method they use.
“Haha, it seems there’s some misunderstanding.”
He forced a smile and continued.
“Actually, your performance in today’s duel impressed Lotus quite positively. Officially….”
“No, stop.”
I interrupted and put down the chopsticks nervously, then looked him directly in the eye.
“Make offers during the official period, with proper contracts.”
I extended my smartwatch.
“-We have a positive assessment…”
The screen turned on, playing back the recorded conversation so far.
His face hardened instantly.
I got up.
The good mood gone.
“And this will be formally reported to the academy.”
Preying on rookies is one of the most disgraceful things wherever you go.
*
