Ch.51Red Yellow Red – 5

Another rank evaluation, and another experience.

Through it, I could realize once again.

The Crimson Witch, Soohyun Kim.

If that woman had become a villain, she would have been the most terrifying nightmare.

“Huff, huff…”

Once again, my chronic stamina problem held me back.

Soohyun Kim, who had been breathing heavily, ended up collapsing on the spot.

But her offensive capabilities were truly jaw-dropping.

Even for me, who had witnessed two Elders and the superhuman Rina Lee.

Soohyun’s wave of attacks was so fierce it sent chills down my spine.

After the Elder and Rina, Soohyun was the first to give me that “creepy” feeling.

‘Really… she’s definitely as broken as Hyunwoo Lee.’

If Rina was a complete powerhouse from the beginning,

Hyunwoo and Soohyun could be described as gradually evolving powerhouses.

Honestly, I wasn’t worried about Hyunwoo since he was growing well on his own.

The only one left was Soohyun, and if she continues like this, I couldn’t ask for more.

‘Thanks to them, I’m improving rapidly too.’

As for my stamina, I’ve been exercising like crazy after work.

But for practical experience, there’s a limit to what simple rank evaluations can provide.

Thanks to Hyunwoo and Soohyun, I’ve been able to fill that gap.

The more evaluations I conduct, the better my judgment, response abilities, and movements become.

Just from clashing with the Elder once. Just from facing Rina’s momentary power.

Even if I can’t replicate them exactly, I’ve reached a level where I can at least somewhat imitate them.

‘At this point, it can only be explained by the Gatekeeper trait.’

Otherwise, I must be some superhuman who escaped from a research facility.

That’s the only way to explain my current growth ability.

Anyway, I’ve found another reason why I need to continue acting as the Gatekeeper.

I need to keep facing more exceptional individuals, competing with them and absorbing their movements, judgments, everything.

To the point where I can even recognize and distinguish their combat breathing.

For that, the improvement of those being evaluated is essential.

There’s no benefit in evaluating people who can’t grow.

It’s like a high-level player hunting in a level 1 hunting ground.

“I’m, I’m sorry. I can’t go on…”

“No, you did well. I think this is enough.”

Honestly, I just want to collapse, but I’m an evaluator after all.

It wouldn’t look good if I announced “Failed the rank evaluation again!” and then collapsed.

So I gritted my teeth and forced strength into my trembling legs.

“I failed the rank evaluation again today. I’m sorry. I really tried my best…”

“If you’re apologizing, what about the others? You shouldn’t say things like that.”

Soohyun has mostly overcome her severe inferiority complex by now.

But there are still faint traces of it remaining.

That self-deprecation that emerges as soon as she feels even slightly inadequate.

I can’t be at ease until that completely disappears.

They say that illnesses of the mind aren’t completely cured, but endured for a lifetime.

Recalling words I’d heard somewhere, I comforted Soohyun.

“By the way, Soohyun. Did you learn swordsmanship from Chairman Minseong Kang?”

“What? Ah… he showed me a few times, but I didn’t learn in detail like my cousin. At that time, I… I was too inadequate and pathetic… I cried and refused…”

So, she’s this good without even being directly taught?

Even without proper instruction from Minseong Kang, known as the Sword Wraith.

I, who could easily handle villains at the edge of B-rank, was momentarily pushed back.

“Hah…”

I couldn’t help but let out a sigh of amazement.

If what she said is true, Soohyun’s talent is truly overwhelming.

If her superpower had properly awakened earlier, what would have happened?

Her family is the best in the Weaponry Class, and she has an excellent mentor like Minseong Kang.

With numerous other excellent superpower users around, growth would have been inevitable.

Why did someone with such incredible talent develop an inferiority complex?

How did someone who could have become an exceptional superpower user fall behind?

No matter how much I think about it, I just can’t understand.

‘…No, maybe it’s natural. She was a character created for this purpose.’

A figure standing at the opposite end of the protagonist Hyunwoo Lee, more dangerous than any other villain.

These are devices created to emphasize that aspect as much as possible.

I should consider myself fortunate just for having directly broken those chains.

Even with half of what I’m seeing now, she would have reached Gold by Academy standards.

Even accounting for her stamina issues, Silver would be guaranteed.

“Why, why are you looking at me like that? Did I do something wrong?”

“Huh? No, no. That wasn’t a sigh, Soohyun.”

“Oh… is that so? That’s a relief. I thought…”

Soohyun strokes her chest in relief.

Yes. That’s how those traces still remain.

She seems fine now, but if impurities enter through those cracks, they’ll widen again.

Fortunately, there haven’t been any notable problems until now.

But now it’s different. Soohyun has already bloomed as the Crimson Witch.

If psychological issues resurface in this situation, it would be disastrous.

“Soohyun.”

I’m not completely insensitive. Who is Soohyun relying on right now?

‘Me. Seojin Baek.’

Of course, she also relies on Minseong Kang and her grandfather, but not as much as on me.

In the current situation, I’m the only one who can control Soohyun and guide her in the right direction.

So I use it. This situation, Soohyun, and myself.

For the best outcome for both of us. In the most positive direction possible.

“I just remembered, we couldn’t have dinner together last time, right?”

“Oh, ah… that’s right. Those villains ambushed me at that time… I’m sorry…”

“Why are you apologizing again, Soohyun? It’s not your fault.”

“But…”

I patted Soohyun’s head once to indicate that it was okay.

Although villains targeted Soohyun, that doesn’t make it her fault.

“So, are you free for dinner today? Honestly, I was really looking forward to what kind of dinner you’d treat me to. Ah, if it’s too much to ask…”

“No! No!! Not at all! I’d love to! To-today?! Today works for you?!”

Wasn’t she exhausted and collapsed on the ground just seconds ago?

Suddenly, she’s jumping up and down with energy from somewhere, grabbing my hands.

And how her eyes sparkle!

I felt that if I were to say something like ‘Actually, today doesn’t work,’ Soohyun might immediately transform into the dark Crimson Witch.

“Ah, now! We can go now! Should we go now?! I’m free until today anyway!”

“Soohyun. Calm down. I’m still on duty.”

Even though the principal is covering for me and I’m Rina’s acquaintance,

I’m still a civil servant, so I should work at least until closing time.

I might consider legal salary embezzlement, but I want to stay away from illegal activities.

Soohyun seems to have realized that she got too excited.

Though she still can’t control her hands trembling with excitement.

“Let’s meet at the main gate after I get off work. Okay?”

“Yes!”

Seeing Soohyun so happy made me feel a bit better too.

*

…I didn’t expect this situation at all.

After finishing work in a good mood, I headed to the main gate as promised to meet Soohyun.

Hoping that villains wouldn’t attack again today.

I wanted to congratulate Soohyun for finally getting on the right track as a superpower user, but…

“There he comes. Long time no see, handsome oppa?”

“…Rina?”

The Yellow Madwoman. Rina. That woman was standing in front of the main gate.

‘Why is this person here again?’

I glanced to the side.

I could see Soohyun with a vigilant gaze and the security guards on high alert.

Especially Soohyun, who kept glancing at Rina…

That look in her eyes is not good. Really not good.

‘No, Soohyun. That woman is still beyond your level.’

Either unaware of Soohyun’s reaction or deliberately ignoring it,

Rina approached with a gentle smile and made a small “hmm” sound.

“Strange. You seem even more handsome than before.”

“I’ve never had plastic surgery.”

“Right. You wouldn’t have had plastic surgery.”

Suddenly, Rina lunged forward.

A strangely soft fragrance rushed into my nostrils.

“Instead, you’ve gotten stronger, haven’t you?”

That comment snapped me back to reality.

As I hastily stepped back, Rina smiled broadly.

She really is crazy, but damn, she’s pretty every time I see her.

…Maybe I’m crazy too for thinking this.

It seems like her madness is contagious.

“Off work now?”

“Yes. As you can see.”

“Then come with me for a bit?”

“I’m sorry, but I…”

“The Arbiter has prior plans!”

Before I could answer, Soohyun shouted.

Her voice was so loud that even the security guards nearby were startled.

“…Huh. Did you just yell at me?”

This is fresh? Rina looks at Soohyun.

She’s still smiling for now. She’s smiling, but her eyes already have a cold glint.

“Do you know who I am? Yelling like that, I might get startled and go ‘Oh my! You scared me!’ and hit you. Then you might be found all squashed.”

A clear threat. The security guards flinch.

But they don’t dare to step in. After all, the opponent is Rina.

“The Arbiter has prior plans.”

But Soohyun seemed determined to tell her to get lost.

If this continues any longer, she might grab Rina by the collar.

The Crimson Witch versus the Madwoman. A truly volatile situation.

Of course, Rina would win easily. She could eliminate the current Soohyun in 5 seconds.

I really hope she gets scared and backs down now.

But Soohyun showed no signs of such thoughts.

“…Seriously, I can’t believe this.”

Then, something completely unexpected happened.

Rina, who would normally hit first and ask questions later, that madwoman…

“Hey, Seojin oppa? What’s with her? Who is she to be so confident?”

She backed down first with an incredulous expression.

“I’ve never seen someone like her before. Does she not know me? No way, right? In this hell-Joseon… sorry, in South Korea, there’s no one who doesn’t know the super-beautiful, super-powerful Rina?”

She can say such things in front of people without any hesitation.

Indeed, the nickname “madwoman” isn’t given to just anyone.