Ch.178Everyone’s Doing Well – 3

It’s about time they should be barging in? Ah, here they come now. One. Two. Three—

“Seojin oppa!!”

Thankfully, I was prepared. I could have been subjected to eardrum terrorism otherwise.

More importantly, how does Rina never deviate even an inch from my expectations?

I can even predict what she’s going to say as soon as she arrives. Probably…

“I heard everything! Why can’t I join?! Not even as an honorary team member!”

Why are you asking me? You should be asking the Magic Tower Clan Master.

They say I have autonomy in accepting team members, but not when it comes to you.

“It’s because you’re S-rank. Nothing can be done about it.”

“Why does that matter! You’re S-rank too!”

“I was already part of the clan before receiving my S-rank. Besides, there’s no precedent for having more than one S-rank in a single clan, not just in Korea but anywhere else.”

That’s the surface reason, but the real reason is different.

The only entity that could handle the aftermath of accepting Rina would be the government.

Even the Magic Tower would struggle to deal with Rina’s aftermath.

Inbeom Kang must have been concerned about exactly that when he absolutely refused.

‘The cost of broken dishes alone would be enough to buy an apartment, so that says it all.’

Well, what can I do? The Master asked me not to! Please don’t do this!

As a clan member, I respect the Clan Master’s decision. That’s only natural.

“You’re being noisy, Rina. If it’s not allowed, it’s not allowed. Why so many words about it?”

Soohyun nods vigorously as if agreeing with my opinion.

She’s seizing the opportunity to actively keep Rina in check.

“No, this is ridiculous! An S-rank is willing to join, so why refuse?! This won’t do. Oppa, set up a meeting with the Magic Tower Clan Master right now. I’ll convince them myself!”

“I’m not the Clan Master’s secretary, why would I set up a meeting? Besides, they’re avoiding you because you’re being so pushy. Show some restraint. We’re neighbors in the same apartment building, why are you acting like this?”

It might be different if she lived somewhere else like Soohyun.

Didn’t she just show up at my door unannounced recently?

“The Arbiter is right.”

“You be quiet! You’re on the same team, in the same academy!”

“Rina can come to the academy whenever she wants.”

“Because you blocked me from joining!”

“My, I didn’t block anything. You set those terms in your deal all by yourself.”

Wow, Soohyun really never backs down from an argument.

She still can’t surpass Rina in terms of “superpowers.”

So it seems she’s trying to establish her superiority in other areas.

Woong—

Woooong—

“Oh.”

Soohyun, who was busy keeping Rina in check, gives me a peculiar look.

She can’t help it since both Rina’s phone and mine rang almost simultaneously.

“Oppa. Looks like something’s happened?”

“…Seems so. Is it the east coast again?”

The Gangwon area has been concerning lately.

There was that A-rank team annihilation incident before, and the multiple gate occurrences afterward.

And just a few days ago, an S-rank gate appeared, and Jiyoon Han and another S-rank were dispatched.

[S-rank Gate Occurrence Near Samcheok]

And now another S-rank has appeared in the midst of all this.

Just when it’s exactly my turn for dispatch.

“It’s Seojin oppa’s turn this time, right?”

“Yes.”

“Who’s the backup?”

“That burly gentleman. Him.”

Rina hums and rubs her chin, contemplating something.

“Hey. Don’t even think about it.”

“What?”

“You’re planning to push him aside and take his place again.”

“Oh. How did you know?”

We know each other too well now, you fool. Seriously, what are you trying to do?

I suddenly understand why Rina’s parents worry so much about her.

She keeps avoiding what she should do and trying to do what she shouldn’t.

The bigger problem is that she doesn’t consider others at all.

It’s surprising that she subtly yields to Soohyun despite being like this.

“You stay here. When your turn comes, then you can go handle it.”

“Ah, I want to go with oppa too… mmph—”

“Please hurry, Arbiter. The portal officials must be waiting!”

Soohyun quickly covers Rina’s mouth and hastily sends me off.

“Hey, you!”

“We promised not to interfere with the Arbiter’s work, remember?”

Promise? What promise did they make?

I tilted my head in confusion, but no clear answer came.

All I got was Rina’s dissatisfied glare.

“…Next time I’ll ask the Association President directly to change the rotation.”

Despite her words, she doesn’t insist any further.

Looking at this, it seems Soohyun also serves as a Rina inhibitor to some extent.

“Soohyun!”

Glancing back, I see three people rushing over, led by Hana Kang.

Dasom Yoo, and Hyunwoo Lee too. Looking at them, they’re all teammates?

“An A-rank gate support request just came in! It’s in the Magic Tower Clan’s management area, so we need to go!”

At those words, Soohyun’s eyes momentarily rest on me.

They are A-rank, but barely. At a precarious level.

That’s why I’ve been watching their backs and preparing for contingencies.

But right now, of all times, I need to be urgently dispatched to the Gangwon region.

“It’s okay, Arbiter.”

Soohyun smiles as if she noticed my concern.

“We can handle it. Everyone will do well even without you here.”

“Eh? What’s this, Soohyun? The Arbiter isn’t coming with us today?”

“He just received dispatch orders to the Gangwon region.”

At Soohyun’s words, Hyunwoo Lee lets out an “Ah!” showing his disappointment.

Is he disappointed because he can’t ride my coattails, or because there’s no one to watch their backs? Surely not.

This guy is disappointed because he can’t show off his achievements and growth to me.

Last time, when facing A-rank monsters, he was fighting as if showing off to me.

“Soohyun is right, Arbiter. We can handle it ourselves, so don’t worry.”

Hana Kang and Dasom Yoo also chime in, trying to ease my concerns.

But the strange thing is, the more they try to reassure me, the more worried I become.

Actually, I wasn’t particularly concerned at first, but their constant reassurances are making me anxious.

“…If you’re so worried, I can go?”

“Huh?”

For a moment, I thought I misheard. So I stared at her—

“You didn’t mishear. You heard correctly.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. If oppa asks, I can go with them. I’m off duty anyway, and since it’s A-rank, it’s something these friends should handle, right? I’m just insurance in case something happens, so I won’t have much troublesome work to do.”

Is Rina really volunteering so readily? She never does this kind of thing!

I looked at her with a “are you serious” expression, and she shrugged her shoulders.

“Take it or leave it.”

Seeing her say that, I feel like there must be some other reason.

If I ask about it, she’ll definitely refuse, so I can’t inquire.

I guess it’s better to just quietly agree for now?

“Do you have any objections?”

At my question, Hana Kang and the rest of the team members shake their heads.

Having insurance for emergencies should be reassuring.

But is it slightly concerning that the “insurance” is “Rina”?

Dasom Yoo, who has quietly moved closer, carefully speaks.

“This isn’t another trial prepared by the Arbiter, is it?”

“…”

It’s not something I prepared, but I can’t deny the “trial” part.

*Splash*

After briefly entrusting the team members to Rina, I immediately used the portal.

As soon as I arrived in Samcheok, I reached a place with an ominous aura.

‘Of all places, it had to be near the sea.’

Gates don’t only appear on land.

Sometimes they’re unluckily generated underground, becoming dungeons.

And some are created in the sea, which is another headache.

Gates formed in the sea produce monsters similar to marine life.

The problem is that these monsters are “amphibious.”

They suddenly emerge from the sea and turn the coast into a wasteland.

From people’s perspective, they’re helplessly attacked without even a chance to escape.

And this time, that sea gate happens to be S-rank.

I’ve heard that in such cases, it’s either a giant octopus or an endless shark.

Whoosh!

Judging by that shadow, it’s not the latter. It seems to be an octopus.

No, let’s call it by what ability users call it—an S-rank monster, the “Kraken.”

Wooooo—

An ominous howl comes from the sea.

It has noticed my presence. It acknowledges me as the biggest threat.

This leads to one of two conclusions: flee or fight.

And the Kraken chose to fight.

Does it think rarer prey is more delicious?

Or is it targeting the people evacuating behind me?

Whatever the reason, it doesn’t matter. It’s coming in, and I’m blocking it.

– The Third Eye is activated.

◎ The Silver Gatekeeper

: Characteristic activation conditions have been met.

: Characteristic is activated.

: Readjusting opponent’s rank.

: Rank adjustment – Master level or higher detected

As expected, it’s not an easy opponent. Master level or higher, this might take some time.

Well, “taking some time” doesn’t mean I can’t win.

◎ Sole Arbiter

: Characteristic is activated.

: This is an opponent who has not received promotion from Seojin Baek.

: Recognizing as an examination subject.

I’ve been feeling extremely good lately. I couldn’t be more refreshed.

First, the academy students are working very hard.

Although some results are a bit lacking, the process is just as important.

My goal isn’t for all students to become incredibly skilled anyway.

Surviving in this harsh world and pulling their own weight.

That’s enough for me to consider it successful.

‘Plus, Soohyun, Hyunwoo, and the other team members are growing steadily.’

I’ve also significantly reduced the villain forces.

About half of that was unintentionally aided by the gate incidents, but still.

Whatever works, works!

Whoosh—

The sea parts, waves surge, and a giant octopus appears between them.

…Or should I call it a squid? I’m not sure what the exact term should be.

Anyway, Kraken, you coward! Using tentacles in a fair fight!

If that’s the case, then I can use something other than my two arms too, right?

I recently succeeded in controlling another shadow.

I was quite troubled because I had no opponent to test these two shadow streams on.

And now here’s a perfect target that came on its own—one that my shadows can easily pierce.