Episode 7 — Graduation Ceremony (2)
Ten minutes before the graduation ceremony began, inside the principal’s office.
“Then I shall proceed with that understanding. Beyond that, is there anything in particular I should be careful about?”
A middle-aged man in his mid-fifties whose crown was balding in the center—Song Jae-gyu, principal of Iri Academy—was bowing and scraping to a young man before him whose belly fat jiggled with every movement.
And the young man before him, Sin Man-ho, spoke with a sly smirk.
“We’re just capturing one piece of trash. Is anything more than this necessary? I’ve already brought only the elite of the elite from among the many guilds under our clan. Principal, you need only act according to the instructions I gave you earlier.”
“Ah, yes! Understood. But, um… my grandson awakened his trait this time—”
“Ah! If you simply act as instructed, your grandson will be able to enter the Sky Tower, the greatest guild under our clan.”
“Th-thank you!”
Having finished their conversation as though they had already succeeded, they began walking slowly toward the graduation hall, smiling.
***
“Wow, look at all these people.”
“Right? I wonder where Auntie is~”
“Ah, over there.”
At the back of the crowded graduation hall, they spotted A-yeong looking around, seemingly still searching for Seo-jun and Sua.
“Where? Ah, found her! She bought pretty flowers too.”
“Mom needs to know where we are, so let’s go say hi.”
“Okay.”
They walked toward A-yeong through the bustling crowd.
“Mom, over here, over here!”
“Phew, there are so many people. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to see you two until the ceremony ended.”
“Haha, that’s why we came to find you. Ah, and our class is in the third row from the right.”
“Got it. And congratulations on graduating, both of you~ You’ve worked hard.”
“Thanks, Auntie. I think the ceremony is starting soon, so we’ll head back to our seats.”
The moment they returned and were about to sit side by side in their assigned seats, a middle-aged woman who served as the school’s vice principal approached Sua from afar.
“Student Han Sua, you’ve been selected as the representative for today’s graduation ceremony, so wait in the front row.”
Sua replied, sensing that the words were rather cold for a proposal to be the graduation representative.
“Wasn’t the representative supposed to be Lee Yu-jeong, who ranked first overall?”
“Just wait when you are told to wait. Why so many words? The school has decided to make you the representative, yet instead of being grateful… Tch. This is why orphans are…”
She muttered the last part quietly so Sua wouldn’t hear, but Sua—whose physical abilities had developed significantly from raising her level during the break—heard every word.
“I don’t see what this has to do with being an orphan. Then, at least tell me why I have to be the representative. Shouldn’t there be a reason that even Yu-jeong, the original representative, can understand?”
“Ahem. Yu-jeong has already agreed to this matter in advance. Now go wait in the front seats.”
Perhaps realizing she had gotten worked up, the vice principal returned to a businesslike attitude.
Nevertheless, there was someone else who had been staring blankly at the vice principal for addressing Sua in a commanding tone until the very end.
*‘Hmm, the perfect type to get beaten up by some nameless hero of justice.’*
It was Seo-jun, who had just been seriously contemplating becoming a hero of justice.
Perhaps because she had sensed his inner thoughts.
When Sua looked at him with an anxious expression, Seo-jun averted his eyes slightly as if nothing was wrong.
Perhaps his behavior was amusing; Sua chuckled and approached him.
“Hey! I’m just so popular that there’s no one else to be the representative but me. So I guess I have no choice but to go. And… never mind. See you later.”
“Yeah. Don’t worry too much. I’ll take care of everything.”
Perhaps reassured by his comforting words, Sua’s expression visibly brightened.
“I know. But don’t overdo it.”
“Yeah. Just trust this cool boyfriend of yours.”
“Y-you! Y-you and your jokes… Hah!”
Embarrassed to show her flushed face, Sua quickly moved to the front seats.
After confirming Sua had sat down far away in the front, Seo-jun clicked his tongue inwardly.
*‘Haah, just how little do these bastards think of me? Their moves are so sloppy.’*
From how they had separated Sua from him using the excuse of making her “representative,” it was clear they were warier of Sua than of him.
*‘Too bland. This isn’t how I expected things to unfold…’*
“I thought at least a strong fighter around First-Rank Young Master level would come to drag me away by force. Tch.”
If a First-Rank Young Master had come, they could have executed their plan without the bother of separating Sua from Seo-jun.
But contrary to Seo-jun’s expectations, this response from the enemy was only natural.
Because barely a month ago, Seo-jun had been unable to raise even a single magic stat, so it was only natural for them to think he essentially had no combat ability.
The enemy’s plan was as follows.
Make Sua the grade representative, keep her busy, separate Seo-jun from her, then use the guilds under the clan’s banner to quietly and forcefully take him away.
Even beyond that reason, separating Sua from Seo-jun was partly because she was an outsider with no connection whatsoever to the Cheon Sword Clan.
Moreover, since Sua wielded a rare spirit, other guilds were keeping a close eye on her as well.
Therefore, if anything happened to Sua, it would naturally cause problems.
Furthermore, since the Association had agreed to recognize Seo-jun as the clan’s representative as long as they somehow brought him to the demon beast borderlands, they were able to plan such radical actions.
“But seeing how they’ve started acting now, these bastards were planning to take me without even feeding me first, right?”
He had thought they would make their move only well after the graduation ceremony ended.
*‘The more I think about it, the angrier I get.’*
***
About twenty minutes after the graduation ceremony began, a woman with short hair dressed in a suit approached Seo-jun from behind.
“Sin Seo-jun. Is that right? The young master is looking for you, so follow me right now.”
“Wow~ How is it that you people don’t deviate from my expectations by even an inch? And where did you learn to give orders so impolitely to someone you just met? I’m a young master too, in a way.”
“Ahem, my… thinking was short-sighted. I apologize. So, what will you do?”
She seemed to think that as long as she took him somehow it would be enough, barely suppressing her anger and showing a submissive attitude. He replied to her:
“Fine, let me see the face of your wonderful master. Lead the way, doggy.”
Having vented his accumulated dissatisfaction by hurling the most insulting words at her, Seo-jun leisurely moved from his seat.
Quietly leaving the school auditorium and walking toward the back parking lot, Seo-jun couldn’t help but let out a sneer at the group visible in the distance.
“Anyone who saw this would think a kidnapping was happening.”
“….”
“Let’s see~ Doggy, don’t tell me your master is that pig over there? Dogs and pigs really do stick to their own kind.”
Hearing Seo-jun’s mockery, Sin Man-ho replied as if dumbfounded.
“Sin Seo-jun. Still so insolent despite being trash.”
“Now I’ve seen everything. It’s the first time in my life I’ve seen a pig talk like a human.”
“You still don’t know your place? I thought you just lost your traits, but did you lose your tact too?”
“Hmm, what was your name again? Ah! I remember now. Looking at that jiggling belly fat, it all comes back to me. Your father, that big pig bastard, was probably Sin Geum-ho, right? Then you must be Man-ho.”
Finding Man-ho’s reaction—merely snorting and ignoring his mockery—amusing, Seo-jun continued with a smile.
“And I’m surprised the demon beasts haven’t eaten you yet. I thought they’d go crazy thinking you were food and charge at you.”
Since Seo-jun never hesitated to curse the Cheon Sword Clan, he had no qualms about insulting A-yeong’s third older brother—his own maternal uncle.
“Hah! Enough. Sin Seo-jun, is that your last will? I’ll be sure to send your regards to the thieving bitch of the clan you care so much about. Hey, what are you doing? Escort our proud clan representative to the borderlands.”
At Sin Man-ho’s shout, six masked Awakeners who had been waiting in the back began approaching Seo-jun.
“Hmm, at least you know you’re doing something bad? Seeing how you’re wearing masks.”
Seo-jun spoke, looking at Man-ho, who hadn’t worn a mask—perhaps because his head was too large—even though he made his subordinates wear them.
“Say, Man-ho, I’m suddenly curious—do you even have a hat that fits you? It’d be a problem if there wasn’t one in your size.”
*‘What would happen if the clothes for the borderlands don’t fit either?’*
While he was thinking such inane thoughts, a red-faced Man-ho pointed his finger and shouted.
“Wh-what are you saying! Grab him quickly! We don’t have much time.”
At Man-ho’s urgent command, the one who appeared to be the leader among the masked Awakeners reached for Seo-jun’s left shoulder.
Seo-jun gave a sly smirk and muttered.
“Ah! There’s something I forgot to mention.”
Pausing briefly, Seo-jun raised his right hand.
“I extremely hate it when someone touches my body without permission.”
Schick!
Along with his words, both arms of the leader who had been holding his shoulder were simultaneously severed and sent flying through the air.
“K-kugh! Wh-what— Grrrk!”
“Die quietly.”
Puk!
〚You have slain a target of a higher level!〛
〚Your level has increased by 3!〛
〚All stats have increased by 30!〛
Having successfully severed the leader’s arms and simultaneously pierced his throat with a hand blade, Seo-jun licked his lips as he looked at his risen level.
“Why so flustered? Weren’t you prepared for at least this much?”
“······.”
“Are you just going to keep trembling pathetically? I’ve been waiting for this very moment. Hehe.”
Before he even finished speaking, Seo-jun stomped the ground to test a new technique he had gained a few days ago when the [Twelve Branches Martial Art] proficiency reached 2-star.
Fourth Technique: Astonishing Bullet Hammer (驚彈錘).
He could only use one technique as the Twelve Branches Martial Art’s proficiency rose, but Seo-jun was not disappointed.
Because.
The ability of the Fourth Technique was.
*‘I can instantly adjust my own weight for all actions related to movement and attack, and freely accelerate or brake.’*
Most people’s attack patterns have a certain rhythm unique to each individual. Breathing, attack patterns, habits—countless elements combine to create a distinctive rhythm.
That is why, when fighting, one can naturally predict the opponent’s attacks—because they have grown “accustomed” to the opponent’s rhythm.
But what if one appropriately used acceleration and braking intermittently?
*‘The rhythm the opponent barely memorized becomes useless.’*
Because Seo-jun knew this advantage better than anyone, he could be satisfied with just the Fourth Technique.
Reducing his body’s weight to achieve instantaneous speed, Seo-jun appeared right before his opponent and used [Heavenly Devour] on the startled enemy’s solar plexus.
Since he used [Heavenly Devour] at close proximity to the solar plexus, the surrounding enemies would only see Seo-jun piercing through the solar plexus with a fist shrouded in black energy.
Kwajik! Kwadeudeudeuk!
With an unpleasant sound, he bored a hole in the opponent’s solar plexus, turning him into a corpse in an instant. Then, toward the enemies staring blankly at him, Seo-jun swung his right hand wrapped in Ink Aura and slashed their throats.
Having dispatched three in the blink of an eye, Seo-jun spoke to the remaining members with evident delight.
“Don’t feel too wronged. I’ll specially spare that pig bastard you were following with your lives on the line.”
*‘After all, he has his uses.’*
For Seo-jun, who could easily handle even high-rankers, dealing with the enemies before him was far too easy.
A short while later.
〚Your level has increased by 2!〛
〚All stats have increased by 20!〛
Perhaps because the level of the leader he had dealt with first had been the highest, he was disappointed that his level hadn’t risen much despite taking care of the rest.
*‘If I absorb the corpses with Heavenly Devour, I could at least raise my stats… Tch.’*
He couldn’t openly use Heavenly Devour because Man-ho, who still had value, was watching.
“I-it’s impossible! H-how can trash like you….”
Man-ho had been recognized by the clan for minor talent and had succeeded in learning an exclusive skill book, prideful that he was stronger than most Awakeners. But witnessing Seo-jun dispatch the Awakeners as easily as taking a stroll, he had lost even the will to fight.
The female secretary who had first guided him here was in no better state than Man-ho.
“Sniff, sob… I-I was wrong! I’ll do anything you ask! Please spare me! Young Master Seo-jun!”
She had looked at Seo-jun like a bug just moments ago, but now she was on her knees begging for her life.
“Now, now~ both of you, quiet! The graduation ceremony will be ending soon. If anyone sees this, it’ll be troublesome for me, right? Besides, today is a joyous graduation day.”
“······.”
At Seo-jun’s warning, the secretary shut her mouth and barely stopped sobbing.
“And the reason I’m keeping you alive is because you’re still useful. Remember that well.”
Gaining hope from those words, Man-ho began flailing desperately to create a chance to survive.
“D-do you want money? I’ll give you as much as you want. You know who my father is, right!? So untie me quickly! Then I can overlook this just once.”
Thinking Seo-jun wanted money, he spoke as if granting mercy.
“Hey, you seem to be mistaken. You guys started this first, got it? Where do you get off shouting so shamelessly! And I haven’t even restrained you, so what are you asking to be untied for? Besides, you yourself are barely worth pennies, so why would I ask for money? Ah, wasn’t that funny? Laugh. Laugh.”
A cold silence fell at Seo-jun’s joke, but Man-ho forced a smile and gauged the mood.
Then Seo-jun’s atmosphere changed, and he began speaking as if interrogating him. Man-ho was bewildered by this side of Seo-jun. He was so ferocious that one couldn’t think he was the same person mixing jokes into his speech moments ago.
“And you said you’d overlook this? Shall I really make you close your eyes for life? Have you gone mad wanting to die?”
“·····.”
Pushing the flustered Man-ho’s belly and knocking him over to vent his anger, Seo-jun gradually got to the main point.
“Poor Man-ho, fat and stupid to boot. There’s only one way for you to survive, so listen carefully.”
“Wh-what.”
“You’ll be conscripted to the borderlands in my place as the clan’s representative.”
“What the he—”
“Shh. Quiet.”
Flinch!
“Of course. I won’t entertain any objections.”
Man-ho instinctively realized that the bribery from earlier wouldn’t work on Seo-jun, and stared fearfully at Seo-jun, who was giving orders with a bright smile.
“S-Seo-jun… I’ve been thinking, and I think I’ve wronged you a lot. So can’t we make up and let this slide just once? I’ll keep today’s events to myself, so p-please, I’ll give you as much money as you want, so please!”
“Don’t cry. What are you going to do if you cry here? There’s a mountain of hardship ahead of you.”
When Man-ho was looked down upon with ice-cold eyes, he jumped as if burned and began begging.
“Seo-jun, if you want, I’ll send Jin-woo in my place, so please forgive me just once. Huh? I’m begging you like this.”
Seo-jun looked down at him with emotionless eyes as he cried pitifully, grabbed Seo-jun’s pant leg, and begged for forgiveness.
“Fuck off, you idiot. Don’t you think it’s already too late?”
“Ah….”
To Man-ho, who despaired at Seo-jun’s answer, he spoke one last time.
“And I said I won’t take objections. Did fat grow in your ears too?”
“·······.”
“If you understand, shut up and stay put. Ah! And doggy!”
Having knocked Man-ho unconscious, Seo-jun called the female secretary who had been quietly shedding tears in the back.
“Sniff, sniff, y-yes? Me?”
“Who else would it be? Now, let me have my meal. Take that pig and get in the car. We have somewhere to go, so you drive.”
Despite the meaningful command, Seo-jun left the secretary alone as she struggled to load Man-ho into the car, and used Heavenly Devour toward the corpses he had dealt with earlier.
Black energy flowed from Seo-jun and began binding the cold corpses.
Kwajik! Kwadeudeudeuk! Kwajik!
Ding!
〚You have absorbed 6 (Azure) players!〛
〚Ink Aura has increased by 8!〛
〚Azure Aura (靑色) contribution has increased by 0.2!〛
〚Ink Aura stat has exceeded 350!〛
〚Ink Aura proficiency has risen to 3-star!〛
〚You can now use the Assimilation (同化) skill!〛
“Don’t feel too aggrieved, any of you. If I were weak, I would be the one getting hurt.”
He was kind to anyone on his side.
But to enemies, Seo-jun knew no mercy.