Chapter 29: Opening of the Holy Sword

Self-Declared Day Off  

Reason: Just didn’t feel like going to school.  

Professor Shin Arin of the Combat Department was well aware that this was the latest trend among college students. 

Though it had been nearly a decade since her own university days, she still remembered what it was like to be a bright-eyed student. 

She understood the sentiment—but the Shin Yuseong she knew would never do something like that.  

“That kid attends my lectures more diligently than anyone! I asked other professors, and they said his eyes are always sparkling until the very end of class.

He doesn’t slack off just because he’s talented—he puts in the effort too. There’s no way he would skip school just because he didn’t feel like it!”  

‘…But what if he’s just having a really bad day today?’  

For an ordinary person, that might have been a plausible excuse. 

But Shin Arin had only taught Yuseong for a little over two weeks, and she was certain—  

‘Any other student, maybe. But not our Yuseong.’  

She hadn’t seen the full extent of his potential, but she had a feeling.  

“He’s the best. By the time my bones are too brittle to keep hunting, I doubt I’ll ever meet anyone better than him.”  

In every possible way—his focus in class, his growth potential, even his current skill level—he was on a completely different level. 

Given a little more time, he might even surpass her strength.  

Despite her immense expectations for him, she still worried.

After all, he was her precious student.  

***

“Come out.”  

Just as I was debating whether or not to start causing chaos, a dark mage finally came for me.  

Not the high-ranking ones who kept bringing strangers to gawk at me—this was the woman who had been eyeing me from a distance. 

Even now, as she dragged me out of the cell, her gaze was filled with a perverse hunger.  

‘I know this is a reversed world, but facing this kind of look in person is… surreal.’  

The dissonance between this and my past life made everything feel unreal.  

‘Is this really happening?’  

[The goddess, unable to hold back any longer, crunches loudly on popcorn.]  

[（◠‿◠）]  

[She watches with eager anticipation.]  

At least the goddess seemed to be enjoying herself. That was enough for me.  

‘If the old man and the others from the hero party saw me accidentally infiltrating a dark mage hideout like this, they’d lose their minds.’  

No matter how I looked at it, aside from being a bit annoying, this situation had its perks.  

***

“Ladies and gentlemen of the underworld—the most ruthless and thorough dark mage villains among us! Today, the Black Chronicle Auction proudly presents an ultra-premium product!”  

Motivated by their ridiculous theatrics and the sheer stupidity of their actions, my fingers began to twitch.  

‘Hmm. Maybe it’s time to draw it.’  

“Lot 127! Fifty sheets! An enchanted artifact from an A-rank dungeon—with two unused enchantment slots remaining! Not only is it rare, but its functionality alone makes it invaluable! One! Two! Ah! Bidder 40 with sixty sheets! And now Bidder 127 with seventy!”  

The dark mage overseeing the auction—the head of Black Chronicle’s smuggling and slave division—smiled smugly as she raised her hand.  

“Ah! Bidder 127 wins the artifact from the A-rank Abyssal Dungeon for ninety sheets!”  

Today’s auction was going well.  

The atmosphere was electric from the start, with dungeon items that usually sold like hotcakes in other markets.  

‘With all these big shots gathered, the bids are skyrocketing.’  

She was a criminal organization executive who excelled at swindling others—but the guests today were even more notorious.  

A drug lord infamous for his new-age digital narcotics.  

A professional hitman who would assassinate anyone for the right price.  

The Face Collector, a dark mage known for skinning handsome hunters.  

Mane, a high-ranking executive of the Central Demonic Cult.  

Even Count Vermouth, a fallen dark knight who would’ve been a top-rank hunter if not for his revoked license.  

And with the heavy-hitting leaders of Black Chronicle and other department heads gathered here for formalities—  

‘Ah, so this is power.’  

She couldn’t help but feel exhilarated.  

This wasn’t her stage alone, but the fact that these powerful figures had gathered to watch her performance sent a thrill of dopamine straight to her brain.  

And as the bids climbed higher, the commission she’d pocket grew more staggering by the minute.  

“Ah! Bidder 127 wins the Siren Queen’s Trident for one hundred twenty sheets!”  

How could she not be excited?  

And the main attraction hadn’t even been unveiled yet.  

Just thinking about the product they had secured made her mouth water.  

‘Now, all that’s left is to turn it into money.’  

Of course, for a dish this enticing, they needed an equally mouthwatering appetizer.  

And what they had prepared was nothing short of legendary.  

“Next up! A male student brimming with the potential to become a top-tier hunter! Ah, and as a special note—this boy is the favorite disciple of that mad dog Shin Arin! And after our own verification, we can confirm—his looks are exceptionally premium!”  

Top-ranked student at Seoul Superhuman Academy.  

Heartthrob.  

Cherished protégé of an S-rank hunter.  

The more prestigious the titles, the more it whet the buyers’ appetites.  

Sure, it also meant a higher chance of being hunted down by the Hunter Association or the government.

‘But we’ll figure that out later.’  

This was just another day in the life of a career criminal.  

With a triumphant smile, the auctioneer raised her voice.  

“Now, ladies and gentlemen! Please welcome the most beautiful warrior to ever grace the history of our auctions!”  

At her signal, the curtain on the stage was drawn back.  

And there he stood—Shin Yuseong.  

“Oh.”  

Just as described—an exceptionally handsome face, a perfectly balanced physique, and rumored to possess monstrous talent in both magic and martial arts.  

Most of the attendees’ eyes gleamed with interest.  

Whether he was the real deal or not would require closer inspection, but at first glance—  

‘He’s perfect.’  

“Starting bid—thirty sheets!”  

A steep starting price.  

But for these perverted dark mages and ruthless villains, a rare male student like this was irresistible.  

The auctioneer grinned.  

This was going to be fun.  

***

The hideout’s overseer had no idea what was about to happen.  

‘What could a male student—shackled with mana-suppressing cuffs—possibly do?’  

She never imagined the quiet boy would suddenly cause trouble—so when the unexpected occurred, she couldn’t react in time.  

Sschk!  

A faint sound, like something being cut, echoed through the auction hall.  

Out of place amidst the heat and excitement—but barely audible.  

As a high-ranking dark mage on the cusp of greater power, she only realized something was wrong when it was too late.  

Clatter.  

Clang—  

The auction’s flow was disrupted—but not enough to seriously impact sales.  

She was about to brush it off when one detail caught her eye.  

“…What is this?”  

She picked up the shackles and examined them.  

The cut was clean.  

Not worn out from age—but severed by something with terrifying precision.  

On the stage, where only she and the boy stood—  

‘Who could’ve brought a cutter up here without me noticing?’  

For a moment, she was speechless.  

‘No, now’s not the time to panic. Keep the auction lively.’  

But a lifetime of crime had honed her instincts—and they screamed at her to run.  

Too late.  

“May the blessings of the gods be with you.”  

The dark mage suddenly realized—  

‘I’m already falling.’  

SCREEEECH—  

Her vision tilted, confusion setting in.  

The cross-section of her body burned—then turned ice-cold.  

“Holy Sword—Unleashed.”  

And with that—  

The entire factory was split in half.