A sudden addition to the schedule.
While the other students followed along without much thought, Seo Yerin was different.
She was curious. She wanted to see just how strong her teacher was, to witness an objective evaluation through the test.
'At the very least, he should surpass B-rank, right?'
The ranking system evaluates players from F to S.
Among these, B-rank is akin to a threshold.
Most first-year prospects possess skills comparable to C-rank, and by the time they graduate, they reach B to A-rank. However, there are cases where some barely fail to surpass B-rank.
Thus, in the hunter industry, especially among academy students, the B-rank hunter license is seen as a kind of wall.
Of course, A-rank and S-rank are also significant barriers.
But B-rank holds a special meaning as it is the first wall students face after graduating from the academy and entering society.
"Teacher, you'll easily surpass B-rank, right?"
"Of course. While there are many doubts about his teaching, the traces of magic and mana left all over the academy after the last attack prove his strength."
Isabelle calmly responded to Lee Ji-han's concern.
Even during the time of their engagement, Seung-woo had been recognized for his exceptional magical talent and skills, drawing attention from both families.
Though she hadn't seen his current abilities firsthand, the traces of magic and mana left all over the academy after the last attack suggested...
"B-rank is a given. I think he could even pass the A-rank test."
"As expected of an academy teaching assistant."
Everyone exchanged such comments.
Listening to them, it seemed like his passing was already a foregone conclusion.
Even Seo Yerin, who was usually quiet, was confident that her teacher wouldn't fail a mere B-rank test.
'As they say, there's no way the teacher would fail.'
It wasn't just because he was a teaching assistant, or because he had saved her and Yura, or because he had taught her spear techniques that her grandfather hadn't.
'...He's definitely hiding something.'
This was something all the team members subtly felt.
The teacher was strong. That much was proven when he almost single-handedly resolved the academy attack.
But that wasn't the only clue.
During the courage training, his insight allowed him to detect enemies faster than even Seong Yeon-hwa, who had trained her senses as a martial artist.
Despite being a mage, he taught martial techniques to Lee Ji-han and herself. Well, in the latter case, it was still ambiguous since they hadn't seen significant results from his teachings yet.
'The personalized curriculum the teacher provided... The more I followed it, the lighter my movements felt.'
Knowledge of martial arts that a mage shouldn't possess.
Even if he had a lot of knowledge due to a mere interest in martial arts, the depth and variety were extraordinary.
As someone who had been suppressed by her grandfather and unable to spread her wings until now, Seo Yerin could tell.
The two techniques he had taught her.
They were advanced martial arts, just a step above her current level.
Not too difficult, but profound enough to be learned without much struggle.
How could he teach her something so perfectly suited to her?
This couldn't be explained simply by saying the teacher had the qualities of an educator. It was far from just innate talent.
One thing was certain.
The teacher, Seung-woo, had learned martial arts.
A wide variety of martial arts, to a considerable level.
'A mage and martial arts...'
Can a mage master martial arts to such a high level?
Opinions are divided, but given that there are magic swordsmen among the ranked and high-ranked hunters, it's possible.
Though it's closer to theory.
People respect theory, but they don't easily follow theoretical concepts. Theory is just theory.
Because there are many shortcuts and workarounds in the world.
'He's similar to me, trying to balance spear techniques and healing magic...'
But Seo Yerin was one of the very few eccentrics who didn't take shortcuts.
'Healing Magic' and spear techniques were worlds apart. It was different from a swordsman learning spear techniques and other martial arts for enlightenment.
Swordsmanship and other martial arts, though different in essence, ultimately converge into one stream.
But spear techniques and healing magic had no common ground from start to finish. She didn't expect to gain any sudden enlightenment from studying both simultaneously.
She simply studied both because they were the two disciplines she wanted to learn. She knew it wasn't an easy path.
But there was a successful example right in front of her.
'...Teacher.'
Though their first meeting and impression had been terrible, he had now become her guide and teacher.
Despite the rumors and infamy surrounding him, from her perspective as a student, his actions and demeanor were vastly different from the rumors.
An unfathomable Seung-woo.
She wanted to know more about him.
For someone who had no one to teach her and was obsessed with reading and learning, her desire for knowledge was her greatest and only desire.
So, while she wanted to know more about Seung-woo, she also hoped that the truth about him wouldn't be mundane. If she was going to delve into it, she wanted it to be deep and interesting.
Fortunately.
─Do you have a specific magical beast in mind?
"A Magma Tortoise. Is that possible?"
Seung-woo summoned the strongest magical beast available for the B-rank test.
It seemed like things wouldn't be boring.
***
After Simon's inspection, the demons were quickly moving into action.
The grand operation was set for tonight at nine.
With less than half a day left.
"Hurry up! Those who can hide in boxes, hide! Those with connections to the wealthy, disguise yourselves quickly!"
"Branch Manager! We're running low on explosives here!"
"Figure it out yourself! Do I have to tell you everything?!"
The demons were busy preparing for various tasks.
Amidst their organized movements, one demon came running, drenched in sweat. Considering the iron-like stamina of demons, it was unclear how far he had run.
"What's going on? Why are you, who's supposed to be active outside, here?"
"B-Branch Manager! S-Something terrible has happened!"
"Right now, my biggest concern is that your voice is shaking so much I can't understand you."
"This is no time for jokes! Look at this. Traces of shadows were found in a remote corner of the third branch."
The demon referred to as the Branch Manager examined the black object he had brought.
Then he clicked his tongue, recognizing what it was.
"Shadows? Tsk, the Assassin Brigade. Getting involved with that crazy woman brings bad luck."
The Assassin Brigade refers more to a one-woman army than a guild or family-based group. To be precise, only one person belongs to the brigade, and she is the commander of all forces and the master of shadows.
Getting involved with her, who specializes in assassination, almost always results in mysterious accidents.
No, actually, it's always.
"Uh, Branch Manager, is that woman really that dangerous?"
"You were like this during Simon's time too, and now you're the same. Why are you so clueless? How did someone like you even become a demon?"
Last time in the cave, he had asked about common knowledge within the organization, making me grab my head in frustration.
This time, he asked an even more ridiculous question.
For a demon, a creature that lives in the shadows, not knowing about that legendary assassin is akin to not caring if you die a sudden death on the street.
Who made this guy a demon?
He's a complete mess.
Scratching his head so hard it felt like his scalp would peel off, the Branch Manager suppressed his anger.
Right now, they were preparing for the grand operation.
He'd vent his anger later, after the operation was over, by turning the recruitment department that made this idiot into a demon into a complete mess.
"That woman is a monster. A human, yet faster and stronger than demons. Of course, there are plenty of freaks like that, but she's a bit different for us."
There's a specific reason why that woman holds significant meaning for demons.
"She once assassinated a noble."
She is the noble slayer.
The assassin who killed seventy-two nobles, including a viscount.
Actually, since she hadn't fallen to become a demon, the term 'assassination' was more accurate than 'slaying.' She had successfully assassinated nobles by disguising herself flawlessly.
Even though the great nobles had seen the culprit with their own eyes, no one had realized she was a disguised assassin until the moment they were killed. The other nobles would never admit to such an incident.
In the face of their pride, even the truth had to bow.
Eventually, she was treated not as a disguised assassin within the group, but as a traitor who had slain a noble as lofty as the heavens and fled.
Unable to explain all the intertwined stories, the senior gave a rough explanation to the junior.
"You know the story about the nobles being trapped on a remote island ten years ago, right?"
"Come on, even I know that. Aren't you underestimating me too mu...?"
"I am underestimating you. If you know, then shut up."
"Heeing..."
Disgusted by the sulking horned man, the Branch Manager continued.
"Rankers and high-rankers, blessed by the Status Window, drove them to the island, and the system, which could tear them apart, sealed them so they couldn't leave."
"And after that, the commoners, having lost their center, appointed temporary executives called the Strange Forces, right?"
"Stop talking nonsense and shut up. From now on, only I will speak."
"Yes, understood...!"
"If you answer, I'll kill you."
Gulp, the junior swallowed hard and covered his mouth with his hand. The Branch Manager, who seriously wanted to kill him, calmed his murderous intent and continued the explanation.
"At that time, many rankers were secretly active, and one of them was the leader of the Assassin Brigade. The traitor who is now recognized by the system as a ranker."
Well, she wasn't a demon from the beginning.
"Anyway, thanks to her schemes, nobles below the rank of viscount felt the threat of assassination, and that anxiety ultimately had a significant impact on the war situation. She's that dangerous. If she gets involved in our operation, it's not just a setback we'll face—we might have to consider total annihilation."
But we have the candidate for Brave General.
With someone by our side who would never lose to her in strength, we didn't have to worry about that.
Or so they thought.
Until another demon came with a letter of absence, saying something big had happened.
"No, no way!"
"This letter is fake, right? Yes, it must be fake. It has to be fake. This is fake."
"You! Are you sure you checked properly? Why is the candidate who was supposed to come not coming? What about the others? If the Brave General isn't coming, shouldn't at least the Strange Forces, Rebellion, or Ghosts come?!"
"Branch Manager..."
"Damn it!!"
Starting with the Mage Hunter, nothing was going right.
The Branch Manager, in his neat suit, banged his head against the wall until dust covered his horns.
This isn't real. It's a dream.
He wanted to believe that.
***
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