episode_0072

Park in Ellada.

A huge, leafy area whose landmark is the massive Greek-style Nymph Fountain.

Even though it was a park, it was a huge area close to a botanical garden that would have been more appropriate to call it a botanic garden.

Various exotic plants here create lush greenery in the summer, increasing oxygen levels within the academy, and various flowers bloom to decorate the summer.

Of course, fall is in full swing now, and the leaves of various shrubs are falling and drying out.

However, rather than conveying desolation or loneliness, the sight, along with plants colored in a variety of natural colors, breathed life into this space.

And a woman was entering that space.

Neat, short hair with a natural brown color like fluttering fallen leaves, and brown eyes with a similar color as the hair.

Below that is a neat lemon-colored, casual Southern-style corduroy shirt. An ivory-colored cardigan worn over it.

There are many people within this Elada with brown hair and eyes, but only one person matches all the conditions just described.

The golden child. Gwangtan’s Jang A-hyeon.

And she was taking steps into the park, looking a little more nervous than usual.

Because the park is so large, people don’t often go deep inside the park.

Usually, you can see quite a few people up to the large grass field for picnics, which is a short distance from the entrance, but there wasn’t much movement inside.

Of course, the interior is properly managed by gardeners, but it may feel like you are in a deep forest with few people, so some people may find it creepy.

‘hmm… The place mentioned in the text is around here.’

The midpoint where the park walking course divides into three paths. This is where Jang A-hyeon is standing now.

If you go to the left, there is literally a gentle walking path, the center is where you head into the forest where you can observe various plants, and on the right is a rest area where you can take a break.

When she first entered the academy, she was captivated by the beauty of the park and visited it several times, but from then on, she rarely visited the park due to the hellish curriculum that followed.

This is a place I’ve been coming back to for the first time in quite a while, as I usually spend my days falling asleep from exhaustion after training. The scenery of the forest, colored in various pastel colors, is very different from the park in spring.

With that in mind, Jang Ah-hyeon took the right path. If you go here, you will find a rest area.

I remember there was a small cafe here at the beginning of the semester. From what I heard, it was said that the restaurant had closed down due to a decrease in customers.

Thanks to this, the place now only has a few tables and chairs.

Of course, that alone is not enough to fulfill its role as a rest area where you can take a break while taking a walk.

And in that place was the person she was looking for.

“Professor.”

“… okay. Are you here?”

A man with a grave appearance who had his back to her turned his head to glance at her and pointed to an empty chair with his hand.

A high-quality suit that always feels similar. Silk tie, pants ironed like a knife without a single wrinkle. Even though they must have walked on a dirt road, their dress shoes are shiny and without a speck of dust.

Elm Northmund, the academy’s principal.

He was the one who called her.

“Oh, thank you.”

A tall sized cup of coffee was prepared in front of her seat.

Two shot Americano. It was her favorite coffee menu.

Jang Ah-hyun, the eyes looking into her were as expressionless as usual, but she couldn’t stop a small smile from forming on her lips when she felt that they had even prepared coffee to her taste.

Well, of course, she might have prepared the most popular coffee menu, and she knew that the probability of that happening was much higher.

She pulled out a chair, sat down, grabbed the coffee the dean had prepared, and carefully took a sip.

“… .”

For a moment, silence passed between them. In some ways, it seemed like they were watching each other.

A woman with short brown hair had a slightly flushed face as she carefully touched a disposable coffee cup from a certain cafe brand and watched the dean who had called her.

Eventually, the principal, who was sipping coffee with his lips on the coffee lid made of recycled plastic, spoke first.

“Yes. Maybe I was too greedy, but I called you from too far away. Wasn’t it difficult to come?”

“No. It was nice to exercise after a long time. This park was a place I often came to at the beginning of the semester.”

“Then I’m glad. Have you checked your hunter level? If you have any objections to the grade, you may speak up.”

At those words, she slightly shook her head. There can be no objection. Rather, I felt like I was given a rating that was too high compared to my skills.

‘It’s grade B.’

It was an unexpected grade. Considering that most students started with a D grade as written in the official document, it was quite unusual for Jang A-hyun to receive an excellent grade of B.

Since it was rare for people to receive a C grade, it seemed likely that other students would be more likely to question her grade than she would.

Even in her group, there were only two people in B grade. Myself Jang Ah-hyun and Han Se-jun. Tania, Muriel, and Nakajima also remained in C grade.

Except her and Sejun, Gideon and Jimmy. There were only four hunters who received a B grade, so in other words, he could be said to be one of only four highest-ranking hunters in existence.

Of course, although the population is small, she has become one of the top four people in the world today.

“I… .”

Although I felt a great feeling of being recognized by a professor I admired so much, she too hesitated for a moment before opening her mouth, because the evaluation was fundamentally questionable.

“You seem to be curious as to why you received a B grade.”

The dean chuckles and makes eye contact with her. It seems that Professor Northmund also knew that he would have questions.

What this means is that the professor gave you a grade that was more generous than your ability. Why?

“No, there is no need to question it. Your current level suits you very well.”

“… Yes?”

Your potential is also highly evaluated in the ” grade evaluation. For example, your background.”

“Ah… .”

Jang Ah-hyeon slowly put down the paper cup she was holding to her mouth on the table with a slightly bitter expression.

Although she was trying hard to smile, the bitterness on her face could not be erased, giving her a slightly nostalgic atmosphere.

It must be because this coffee was over-roasted. I thought like that and tried to control my facial expression.

‘Yes, it can’t be helped.’

She is the successor of Taesung Group. Currently, Taesung Group is a very large group that is not only an international group but is ranked in the top 5 in the world’s corporate rankings.

There is also a rumor going around that he could buy up even a small country with his financial resources.

So, I guess the professor had no choice but to consider his own background. As the renowned daughter of the Taesung Group, she cannot afford to lose face.

‘… I know.’

Know. It is absurd to say that no matter how much you pretend to be normal, you will not be able to assimilate your background.

No matter how much we shout that royals and commoners attend the same academy “everyone is equal within the academy!” it is just a meaningless cry.

That’s it.

but.

‘… Still, I wanted to be recognized by the professor for my skills, not my background.’

Also, he is buried in the background of Taeseong. She chewed her lip as she thought that no matter how hard she ran and struggled, she would inevitably be caught.

“You’re misunderstanding.”

“Yes?”

Jang Ah-hyun, whose mind was filled with a hazy fog of self-criticism and bitterness, could not immediately understand what Northmund was saying.

But is it fortunate that the words that followed had enough power to blow away all of her depression?

“The background I am talking about does not mean your social background.”

“… .”

“It’s your potential. You have what it takes to be greater than anyone else. I saw it.”

“Potential… What do you mean?”

My mind was so full that I needed time to think for a moment.

However, the dean’s words seem to have no consideration for her overloaded mind, and continue like a stream of water.

“What I realized is that this world is infinitely distorted. Have you ever felt that way?”

“… Yes?”

“It’s as if it’s a novel written by someone else, and there are many twists and turns. Isn’t it funny? God did not create a perfect system. I created demons and arranged them to turn the gears.”

The paper cup thrown by the dean hit the bottom of the steel trash can with a thudding sound. It was a movement that drew a beautiful parabolic curve, like a basketball player’s free throw, but Jang A-hyun had no time to look at it.

The dean’s expression when he said those words was very serious and also filled with great anger.

“In a ridiculous world where there is only despair and heartbreaking sadness, where the weak are dominated by the strong and sit down without being able to stand up, and instead of taking revenge on the person who took everything, they think of suicide.”

He takes a moment to catch his breath.

“… In this world where the period of struggle will never end.”

She closed her mouth and tried to understand what Northmund was saying.

Why on earth does the professor say this? A world full of pain. A world full of struggle.

Isn’t that reality? Why is the professor suddenly saying such a phenomenal story?

The professor did something different from usual today. No, not today, it has been like this for some time now.

What was the trigger? Did the professor who visited GDO headquarters a few days ago discover some uncomfortable truth?

Unfortunately, it was difficult to find out what was happening inside, even with her intelligence. This is because the organization’s security has been strengthened several levels in the past few days.

Thanks to this, all Taesung’s connections were cut off, and even the personnel planted for lobbying were expelled from the organization.

I don’t know why the professor said this, but this was the limit for guessing based on her combination of information.

“… If you were in that world, what would you do? Can we continue to find a normal and correct flow in that twisted world?”

He asked that.