Chapter 18: The realm of superman

“Is there any chance of a reversal…?”

“What do you mean?”

Yes, I’d defeated Jin Baek-ryong. That was irreversible. At least 300 people had witnessed it, and they were currently dissecting and analyzing the footage.

This could still be manageable.

The narrative could be spun as “Jin Baek-ryong was overrated,” or “A new rookie worth watching has emerged.”

Perhaps the “Jin Baek-ryong bubble” theory was already circulating.

However, achieving a landslide victory and first place in the Beatrice Academy entrance exam? That was a different story.

This wasn’t just a burst bubble; it was unbelievable.

As the top-ranked freshman in the world’s number one academy, the world would turn its attention to me, and my dream of a peaceful landlord life would evaporate.

Like Alice had said, I’d be under constant scrutiny, with countless people waiting for me to fail.

I detested that kind of life, so I had to try and change things while I still could.

“Maybe after careful calculation, my score isn’t as high as you think? Or perhaps someone in another group scored higher?”

‘Please say yes.’

The instructor finally seemed to understand, hitting their palm with a fist.

“Aha! Are you worried you might not be first place?”

‘No, it’s the opposite!’

“Don’t worry! With a perfect score on the written exam, double survival points for being one of the last two, and the highest number of markers – the most collected in other groups was 29 – the probability of you not being in first place is zero percent! You are, without a doubt, absolutely, positively, first place!”

Yes, absolutely, positively, without a doubt, first place. Did they need to emphasize it so much? It didn’t change the fact I was screwed.

“Wait… Wasn’t Kim Yu-won a ranged Hunter?”

A new rumor began to spread.

“Right! Come to think of it, I saw him in the ranged exam area!”

‘That was to hide my strength…’

“He’s strong enough to overwhelm Jin Baek-ryong in close combat, so is he even more formidable at range?”

No.

“Isn’t that… S-rank level? Don’t tell me we have the youngest S-rank Hunter among us?”

My ranged attacks were B-rank at best, maybe low A-rank. S-rank was utterly ridiculous.

Clap

Before the rumors could escalate, the instructor clapped, silencing the crowd.

“With Group A’s exam concluded, the Beatrice Academy entrance exam is officially over. We’ll send your ranks and class assignments via text message, so please check them before next week’s entrance ceremony. Next time we meet, it will be as instructor and student. This has been your Monster Ecology instructor, Han Ah-reum. Thank you all for your hard work.”

Clap clap clap clap clap

The entrance exam ended with a round of applause.

But the applause grated on my ears, sounding like a mocking taunt.

“Oh, Kim Yu-won, we’ll send you a separate guide for the freshman representative, so please be prepared.”

Instructor Han Ah-reum winked at me.

I’d been practically forced into the role of freshman representative, and now I had more preparations to do.

That was life.

The world was too harsh to let one do as they pleased.

At the ripe old age of 137, I felt a tinge of maturity, a bitter taste in my mouth.

“Hey, stop brooding and let’s go eat. You’re paying, right?”

Shin-woo approached, slinging an arm around my shoulder.

A week ago, after sharing the chicken Shin-woo bought with my wives, I’d promised to treat him to a meal after the exam.

Looking around, most of the instructors and students had dispersed, leaving only my group and a few others.

“Ha… Fine. A promise is a promise.”

I couldn’t break a promise just because I was feeling down.

“By the way, you… fight really well…? Tell me about your past lives while we eat. I’m really curious after seeing you fight.”

That fight had shattered my peace.

“Alright.”

I’d planned to tell my closest friends anyway.

The rest of the group approached.

“Yu-won, well done. As expected of a Demonic Heavenly Sect martial artist, your ruthless efficiency was impressive. Though your power is slightly diminished compared to before, your skills haven’t dulled.”

Although I’d taken it easy in this life, these were techniques honed over 60 years after parting with Ha-yeon.

Though emotions were erased, memories remained. I could regain my peak strength if I could just reclaim my feelings.

‘But that would require a lot of experience and elixirs.’

“Seeing you fight like that is why I mistook you for a demon…”

Estelle, still unrepentant, considered me a demon’s subordinate. Clearly a heretic.

“Hon… I mean, as expected of Yu-won.”

Liera almost called me “honey” before catching herself. I considered that commendable.

‘She didn’t fully call me honey.’

I’d give her extra head pats later.

“I’m curious about what you’ve been up to. I want to hear everything.”

Seung-ah joined the chorus of curiosity about my past.

Then, an unexpected person approached.

Jin Baek-ryong, the one I’d pummeled while mounted and ejected from virtual reality.

He bowed to me.

“I learned a lot. I spar frequently with the elders in my family and have considerable monster hunting experience, so I thought I was accustomed to real combat, but I was greatly mistaken. Thanks to you, I now see the path I should take.”

‘Uh… I don’t think you should take that path.’

Jin Baek-ryong’s fighting style resembled the Namgung family’s.

The Namgung family, like the Demonic Heavenly Sect, believed in overwhelming power and wielded straightforward swordsmanship, disdaining unconventional techniques.

The opponent uses confusing, unorthodox methods? Hone the fundamentals further and crush them with pure power.

That was their approach, and it suited Jin Baek-ryong.

He seemed like a decent guy, so I decided to offer some advice.

I’d feel bad if my actions ruined his promising future.

“Don’t waver. You seem to doubt your path after our fight, drawn to what I showed you, but that will only hinder you.”

My path wasn’t his.

He couldn’t attain enlightenment by being captivated by superficial displays.

“Trust yourself and wield your sword as you always have. When all your doubts vanish and your blade becomes unwavering, you will truly break through the wall.”

Jin Baek-ryong hadn’t learned martial arts. But the enlightenment needed to break through the wall wasn’t tied to a specific type of power.

A single answer transcended all forms.

Whether it was aura or internal energy, it didn’t matter.

Only those who believed in themselves, persevered, and kept moving forward could step into the realm of the superhuman.

Every superhuman I’d met possessed unwavering self-belief.

“Believe…”

His eyes gleamed with renewed focus as he drew his sword.

He raised it high, then brought it down in a simple downward slash.

Silent and swift.

But the result was anything but quiet.

Despite containing no visible energy, the sword cleanly sliced through the ceiling, the far wall, and the floor.

An unwavering mind resulted in an unwavering blade.

A white aura erupted from Jin Baek-ryong, enveloping him.

Cracking and popping sounds emanated from within.

‘He broke through just from my words… This crazy bastard…’

I wished all prodigies would just disappear.

These anomalies achieved in an instant what others spent decades pursuing, mocking the efforts of ordinary people.

“Wh… What is that?”

Shin-woo gaped, like a country bumpkin witnessing a transformation for the first time.

Everyone else, having experienced it themselves, remained calm.

‘Seung-ah isn’t surprised either?’

Perhaps recent events had desensitized her to this level of spectacle.

The sounds subsided, and Jin Baek-ryong’s white cocoon began to crack.

“Yoo Seung-ah. Close your eyes.”

I whispered to Seung-ah, making sure Shin-woo didn’t hear.

“Why?”

“No time to explain. Don’t open them until I tell you to.”

“Okay.”

Seung-ah closed her eyes. I did the same.

I sensed Jin Baek-ryong emerge from the cocoon.

His energy more refined, his physique stronger, his features even more handsome.

The aftereffects of his transformation had shredded his clothes, leaving him naked.

Anticipating this, my wives had already closed their eyes.

Only Han Shin-woo remained oblivious.

“Holy
! My eyes!!!”

Han Shin-woo’s vision suffered a critical hit from Jin Baek-ryong’s nudity.

He looked around, confirming everyone else had their eyes closed, then turned on me.

“Kim Yu-won, you son of a! You knew, didn’t you?! Why didn’t you tell me to close my eyes?!”

I’d successfully pranked Shin-woo, who usually teased me relentlessly.

As he yelled in frustration, I savored my victory.

Unfazed by Shin-woo’s reaction, the newly transformed Jin Baek-ryong bowed deeply in my direction.

I sensed his respectful, martial arts-style bow.

“Master. Thank you sincerely. Your teachings allowed me to break through the wall.”

‘Who’s your master, you crazy…?’

I’d never taken a student like him.

And I wished he’d put some clothes on. I needed to open my eyes.