Ch.84A Time for Change – 3

Fast. Sharp. And, horrifyingly cruel.

That was how I could summarize my impression of Soohyun Kim’s sword.

According to Soohyun Kim herself, she was already holding back significantly.

Because her opponent wasn’t Rina Lee. Because if she went all out, they could both get hurt.

She claimed to be wielding her sword while restraining herself as much as possible.

I can’t describe how dumbfounded I was hearing those words from Soohyun Kim.

If this was her holding back, what would her true sword be like with all her anger unleashed?

Just how vicious a trajectory would her blade trace?

Of course, her swordsmanship isn’t flawlessly complete.

Rather, it would be more accurate to say it has only just begun.

I can see slight instabilities, subtle tremors in her movements.

Nevertheless, in combat against her opponent, she wasn’t falling behind at all.

‘The Crimson Witch. Really… it was fortunate that I rescued her from The Elder back then.’

If I hadn’t saved Soohyun Kim, if I had watched her being dragged away by The Elder.

I would have regretted my foolish choice for the rest of my life.

I would have blamed myself for the brutal massacre unfolding before my eyes.

Clang—! Chang—!

Sword against sword, blade against blade collide with clear, ringing sounds.

At a glance, it might look like a beautifully choreographed dance.

But the chilling killing intent flowing through it couldn’t be erased.

The one facing Soohyun Kim is a Platinum-ranked student.

I believe they’re acquainted with Hana Kang. Thanks to that, they’ve become someone I exchange greetings with too.

The reason I suggested a match between that student and Soohyun Kim was simple.

‘Because we both need to prove something. Both me and Soohyun Kim.’

Change is necessary. And that change has its limits when expressed only in words.

It needs to be demonstrated. So I showed it. What kind of examiner I was.

And next, I showed who would leave Bronze behind and advance to Silver.

Actually, I had thought it would be better to choose Hyunwoo Lee for this.

I had almost decided on him. There wasn’t really anyone else worth considering.

I thought if it were him, there would be no complaints about the first Silver promotion.

Even if there were penalties, he would be able to endure them.

Despite the regrettable Bittersweet Triumph trait, I thought we should let him advance.

But just yesterday, when Soohyun Kim came to me asking to take the examination.

‘Insane.’

I muttered that to myself and changed my decision.

“Examiner.”

That moment still hasn’t left my mind.

Soohyun Kim standing before me, calling my name, was the very embodiment of ‘The Crimson Witch.’

Her eyes, turned red by The Crimson Witch trait, showed an even deeper crimson hue.

Even around her body, a faint red aura of light swirled.

Along with that unique energy that she was trying to suppress but couldn’t completely hide.

And that prediction was confirmed through my Third Eye.

◎ Soohyun Kim

: The Crimson Witch

◎ Details

: A being who has finally bloomed, steeped in the blood of the battlefield.

She grows exponentially stronger the more blood she sees in battle.

Her heightened sensory state persists until her killing intent subsides.

The probability of sustaining injuries decreases, and even if injured, she never weakens.

As long as there is someone to guide her, she will not falter and will grow stronger.

– The trait has been strengthened.

– Additional sub-traits will be generated.

Just as my trait was strengthened when I took the Silver rank examination.

Soohyun Kim’s Crimson Witch trait had also been strengthened.

From the part about growing exponentially stronger to all the other aspects.

And it even said additional sub-traits would be generated.

“Soohyun.”

Her appearance was so different from usual. Along with her suddenly strengthened trait.

That’s when I sensed it. This situation was definitely not a coincidence.

“Something happened to you, didn’t it?”

Yes, something must have happened. Something very significant.

Otherwise, the Crimson Witch trait couldn’t have been strengthened like that.

At my words, Soohyun Kim seemed slightly surprised, then nodded.

I can’t describe how shocked and tense I was.

I worried if something bad had happened to her.

Was it because I was too focused on the Academy training and couldn’t pay attention to her?

Or had something unfortunate happened while I was unconscious?

I was thinking all sorts of things when Soohyun Kim slowly opened her lips.

“Actually, I’ve been fighting with Rina Lee continuously.”

“…Huh?”

My thoughts after hearing that? None. Really, I couldn’t think of anything.

It was too surprising and absurd.

Fighting with whom? Rina Lee? That Yellow Madwoman?

Even villains, no, even The Elders avoid her because she’s too much to handle.

It’s so bad that villains have an unspoken agreement not to mess with her parents.

“S-Soohyun, why are you fighting with Rina Lee… are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”

This wasn’t an overreaction. I was genuinely shocked.

Has anyone ever come out unscathed from a fight with Rina Lee? Absolutely not.

Moreover, Soohyun Kim is just a novice compared to Rina Lee.

She may have awakened as The Crimson Witch somehow, but she’s still in the initial stages.

Even a flick of Rina Lee’s finger could be fatal to her.

“I’m fine.”

But Soohyun Kim spoke indifferently, as if it were nothing.

“Someday, I will definitely defeat that woman. And I will definitely…”

“And? Definitely what? Soohyun, tell me.”

“…protect. I will protect. Definitely.”

She never answered what she wanted to protect.

That part of Soohyun Kim made me uneasy.

Considering her behavior so far, she should have answered my question.

The fact that she was hiding her answer until the end couldn’t help but worry me.

The fortunate thing was that it didn’t seem to be a serious situation.

If it were a major problem, Minseong Kang would have taken action before me.

But considering that the sparring venue was none other than the Kang family home.

It seemed that Minseong Kang saw no major issues and was allowing it.

Additionally, perhaps thanks to her matches or fights with Rina Lee.

The Crimson Witch trait had been strengthened, and Soohyun Kim’s own skills had improved tremendously.

When she took the examination, I couldn’t help but say, “What is this?”

‘So I decided. The first Silver rank examination passer. The honorable first promotion. Should be given to none other than Soohyun Kim.’

The Bittersweet Triumph trait is regrettable for Soohyun Kim too.

She’s already become incredibly strong, and if we invested in her, wouldn’t it be even better?

I must have had such thoughts at least a hundred times yesterday.

But the current situation was demanding change from me.

To continue being The Silver Gatekeeper, to maintain my position as a rank examiner.

I needed to present the possibility of promotion to the students who are the subjects.

In that regard, Soohyun Kim, along with Hyunwoo Lee, was a candidate worthy of immediate promotion.

And if I had to choose, I judged Soohyun Kim to be more qualified than Hyunwoo Lee.

Hyunwoo Lee is still growing on his own.

So it might be better for him to accumulate more of the Bittersweet Triumph trait.

In contrast, Soohyun Kim had somehow grown rapidly through her matches with Rina Lee.

“This is insane. Is that really Soohyun Kim?”

“No way. She was Bronze until recently. I remember. She was really nothing special!”

“Who said she wasn’t? I heard she was quite unremarkable for Minseong Kang’s granddaughter. But…”

You’re surprised too, right? Amazed? That Soohyun Kim has changed like that.

I understand. To be honest, I didn’t expect her to change like that either.

I thought it would take some time, but why did she grow so suddenly?

‘…No, that’s not right. Thinking about it, is it actually quite natural?’

She was destined to awaken as ‘The Crimson Witch’ from the beginning.

So whether in a positive or negative direction, all it took was for the trigger to activate.

Once that happened, Soohyun Kim would become as strong as Hyunwoo Lee, truly formidable.

Thud—!

A slightly duller sound than before was heard.

By a very narrow margin, the Platinum-ranked student gained the upper hand against Soohyun Kim.

With that, both Soohyun Kim and the student withdrew their swords as if by agreement.

“Thank you for the good match.”

“No, thank you. I’ve gained the conviction that I shouldn’t be complacent.”

If this had been a real battle with lives at stake, what would have happened?

I guarantee Soohyun Kim wouldn’t have backed down so easily.

Even if she were to lose, she would have left her opponent covered in blood too.

Right now, she can fight at a level comparable to a Platinum rank.

But as time passes, she’ll accelerate and rise rapidly.

‘So, she’s perfectly suitable as the first Silver promotion.’

Actually, what I was most worried about wasn’t the Bittersweet Triumph trait.

Having the ‘Gatekeeper’ trait, and even conducting the Silver rank examination.

The situation just now where I let someone pass instead of blocking them.

As The Silver Gatekeeper, I was more concerned about not blocking the path to Silver.

The moment I granted Soohyun Kim entry to Silver at the end of her examination.

As if it had been waiting, frightening messages appeared through The Third Eye.

– You have failed at being a Gatekeeper.

– The examination was conducted within the Academy.

– The physical damage received is extremely minimal.

– The mental damage received is extremely minimal.

What penalty would I receive this time? How much would accumulate?

With these worries, I couldn’t properly appreciate Soohyun Kim’s joy.

Fearing she might notice, I barely managed a smile and patted her shoulder.

– The Third Eye is activating.

As if the Gatekeeper trait had sensed my concerns.

Another message began to flicker through The Third Eye.

– A sub-trait has been generated.

◎ Sub-trait

: The Gatekeeper’s Heart

◎ Details

: One cannot forever firmly block the gate to Silver.

After arduous efforts, it is the natural order for those with proper qualifications to emerge.

Individuals deemed to have ‘qualifications’ are not included in the penalty count.

– The sub-trait ‘The Gatekeeper’s Heart’ is applied.

– The penalty gauge will not increase.