Ch.199Academy Silver Gatekeeper – Complete

# The Third Eye is activated.

◎ Seojin Baek

: The Silver Gatekeeper

◎ Details

: No one can pass without the Gatekeeper’s permission.

◎ Number blocked

: 882 (882 / ???)

Hmm. That annoying bracket is still there. Damn it.

I wasn’t expecting much, but I thought there would be some change once I started.

I guess this still isn’t recognized as proper Gatekeeper work?

“Damn Asian!”

I slightly raised my head to check those standing before me.

Three men and women, three Elders. Three calamities.

I was worried it would be really troublesome if four or more showed up, so this is fortunate.

Rina must have successfully provoked them to draw them to her.

I’m starting to think her real superpower is making people unable to resist fighting her.

“This is ridiculous. Another S-rank appeared? Was Korea always such an amazing country?”

Sorry, but that’s just because the world setting itself is Korea-centric.

Call it Korean nationalism if you want, but there’s nothing we can do. The person who created this world is Korean after all.

More importantly, you guys are quite considerate. You even brought simultaneous interpreters?

I was wondering how the Elders could understand Korean, but they’re really thorough.

Or maybe the world setting itself unconsciously pushed things that way.

“Focus. Let’s quickly get rid of this guy and push into the main building.”

The hairy man mutters while drawing out his nails.

If he pulled them out from between his fingers like Wolverine, it might look cool at least.

With that long beard and those long nails, he looks like some wild beast.

KWAAANG!—

The magic that had been bothering me since earlier struck again, aiming for my back.

I took it head-on the first time, but getting caught by the same trick twice wouldn’t be human.

“You little rat!”

Thanks for the compliment. That’s basically like saying “you’re playing the game like a pro.”

Inwardly laughing, I initially sliced through the incoming fireball directly.

Soon, with a tremendous boom, the magical energy composing the fireball scattered in all directions.

This moment is the best timing to distract the opponent’s mind.

“Think you can escape!”

Obviously I can’t escape. I never intended to anyway.

I deliberately positioned myself and pretended to dodge a few times to draw in more magic.

Then immediately after, I redirected the next incoming spell toward the hairy Elder.

“Oh shit!”

The hairy one cursed while dodging the spell, then violently swung his nails.

KWAAANG!—

I wish he’d taken some damage from his ally’s fireball, but that would be too much to hope for.

As I caught my breath while walking through the smoke and magical energy, long nails shot out.

Ugh. Look at the dirt between them. Just a scratch and I’d be headed straight to the afterlife from infection.

KAGAGAGAK!—

While their maintenance is questionable, their strength is impressive—they remain intact even when clashing with my magic-infused sword.

I was planning to break his fingers if the nails didn’t work, but that wasn’t going well either.

As expected of an Elder, even the smallest parts were annoyingly durable.

As I engaged in a power struggle with the hairy one, another Elder who had been waiting in the back started moving.

He had a longsword in one hand and a dagger in the other—dual swords no matter how you look at it.

Dual swords, huh. I heard wielding dual swords is a death sentence, doesn’t he know that?

“Die… Wh-what?! Kugh?!”

What a shame. If he had taken just two more steps, I could have put a wind hole under his chin.

It was quite regrettable to miss the instant kill timing by a hair’s breadth.

Especially since once this attack is detected, much of the advantage for the next ambush is lost.

“Why is that woman’s shadow…?!”

The dual-sword Elder swung his swords several times to shake off the shadow, then retreated in confusion.

Then he looked around, as if searching for Sujin Hyun.

‘No, that’s not it, idiot.’

Not missing his moment of confusion, I gifted him with Hyuk Kwak’s thrust this time.

After only swinging a sword until now, suddenly using a spear made all three Elders visibly surprised.

Or maybe it’s because they witnessed Hyuk Kwak’s thrust, something they can no longer see.

“What the hell is with this crazy bastard? Shadow. Why is he using the Spear Wraith’s thrust with that woman’s technique!”

Because I learned it. Or should I say I stole it? Yeah, let’s say I stole and learned it.

For your information, I have many other techniques besides this one. For example—

KWARRR!—

“Oh shit! You’re supposed to be Support Class! Why are you using magic?!”

The Crimson Witch Soohyun’s trademark, river of surging flames.

To be precise, it’s a technique she can’t use yet but will use later.

Currently, Soohyun is still growing, and this is what she’ll use when she truly reaches the ranks of the powerful.

When she literally erases her enemies from existence with her ultimate move.

How am I already using it? I knew it from the beginning, of course.

I had a lot of contact with Soohyun, so I learned early on how her flames burn.

All that remained was controlling those flames in my way, not the “Crimson Witch” way.

‘I can handle this. I can do it. It’s incomparably harder than before, but I can block it.’

I pour out everything I’ve seen, experienced, and learned so far.

They are trying to break through me to achieve their goals.

Conversely, I’m trying to stop them to achieve my personal goals.

These are truly the toughest opponents I’ve ever faced.

Not just one or two, but three coming at me makes it even more tense.

One wrong move and both the gate I’ve established and myself will be pierced through.

But that won’t happen.

‘You absolutely cannot pass. Not by anyone’s will.’

◎ Sole Arbiter

: Trait is activated.

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

: Recognizing as examination subject.

This is the Academy. The place where I’ll continue to work as an examiner in the future.

My stage. A stage solely for me, only for me.

Having met that examiner here, I must prove that I’m worthy of advancing to Silver.

KUGUGUGU!—

KWAKWAKWANG!—

Magical energy shatters and explodes in all directions.

Wounds increase one by one on my body and on the Elders’ bodies.

Gradually but surely, my body is getting tired.

The body that had been responding in split seconds is getting slower.

But contrary to that, my mind became clearer.

That was why my confidence grew even as my body became more exhausted.

I can see it. What attacks will come, how to block them.

I know which attack to use next to sink the opponent completely.

– Gatekeeper trait is maximally manifested.

– All abilities have been amplified.

Just a little more, just a little more. If I continue, I can finally move forward.

Something else that wasn’t visible until now was right in front of me.

KWAAANG!—

“Kheuk!”

It was the moment when I avoided all three attacks coming from all directions.

While simultaneously planting my fist precisely into the solar plexus of the dual-sword Elder.

◎ Required ‘level’ reached

: Trait is strengthened.

Trait has been maximally strengthened.

Finally! Damn, finally it’s here! Is this the ultimate upgrade!?

◎ Seojin Baek

: The Silver Gatekeeper

◎ Details

: No one can pass without the Gatekeeper’s permission.

No matter who they are. Even if they were a god.

“Huh?”

…Is that it? Wait, is this really it?

You add that childish phrase and call it “trait maximally strengthened”?

Even third-rate games write it more impressively than this!

Hey, Third Eye! This isn’t right, is it? Give me something cooler and more impressive!

If this is it, there was no point in drawing in these three Elders all the way here!

“Where are you looking?!”

KWANG!—

The world spins with a sharp pain.

I only regained my senses after my body had rolled on the ground several times.

Damn. That really hurts. I shouldn’t have taken even one hit.

It wasn’t a simple fireball. It contained poison too.

Black light and purple smoke linger along the wound before disappearing.

This is why Elders are problematic. They have no romance, no romance at all.

Why does everyone use poison whenever I let my guard down?

As I grit my teeth and burn the poison flowing into my body with magical energy.

Suddenly, another message appeared before my eyes with a swoosh!

◎ Number blocked

: 0 (0 / 3)

Oh. Yes. So you did have some conscience after all, Third Eye!

Thanks for removing the bracket! And telling me to block exactly three!

Not one, not two, not four, but exactly “three”!

I had no intention of letting them pass anyway, but this confirms it.

Today, no one will cross the Silver wall. You bastards.

*

“Keu!”

Hyunwoo Lee, having defeated the last villain, exhales with relief.

Anyone watching might think he just finished a large carbonated drink.

“What’s this? You’re still struggling after fighting minnows?”

Turning my head, I saw Rina Lee approaching with a nonchalant demeanor.

At a glance, it might seem like she hadn’t fought at all.

But in reality, she had knocked down two of the four Elders in the plaza before returning.

“Examiner! Why did you come here?!”

Soohyun Kim, who had been herding villains into a large crematorium on the opposite side, comes running over.

Naturally, she had expected Rina Lee to go support Seojin Baek.

Several Elders had participated, and some of them must have gone after Seojin Baek.

She seemed uneasy that Rina, their strongest force, had come to them instead of him.

“Hey. I already visited oppa first. Do you think I’m crazy enough to come see you guys first?”

Rina clicked her tongue and slightly moved to the side.

Behind her, Seojin Baek was walking over with a groan.

“Examiner!”

As soon as she saw Seojin Baek, Soohyun Kim threw away her sword and ran to his side.

“Oh, Soohyun.”

“Are you okay? Y-you seem hurt! Senior Dasom! Please come here!”

“I just got scratched a bit. More importantly, how is it here? This place is also…”

Seojin Baek stopped mid-sentence and groaned.

Perhaps it was because Hyunwoo Lee and Soohyun Kim were there. The villains that had filled the plaza were all swept away.

The reason their numbers had decreased from the beginning was probably because they were burned by Soohyun’s flames.

“Hmm. Everyone defended well.”

“Of course! After all the hard work we did beside you, Examiner, how could we let mere villains break through! Ahaha!”

Hyunwoo Lee seemed to be in an especially good mood today.

He had gained practical experience, confirmed his improved skills.

And having realized his shortcomings, he would now go back and train again—

“Junior. You’re thinking about training again, aren’t you.”

“Gasp. No, I’m not.”

Looking at Hyunwoo Lee and Dasom Yoo bickering, and Hana Kang watching them with a smile.

And at Soohyun Kim and Rina Lee squabbling on his left and right sides.

Seojin Baek chuckled, thinking what consistent people they were.

– Welcome to the World Alliance Academy. –

The interior of the Alliance Academy was in disarray from the aftermath of the battle.

Yet somehow that banner remained relatively intact.

‘Yes. Welcome indeed. Welcome indeed.’

When the first semester of the Alliance Academy starts next year, what kind of students will I meet?

How many of them will be able to surpass my standards and reach Silver?

Seojin Baek approached his team members, enjoying the thrilling and pleasant imagination.