Brother 1

South Korea was a safe country.

From Gates, monsters, and terrorism.

All hunters are under the control of the Management Bureau.

They deploy the right talent at the right place when needed.

To prevent crimes caused by abilities, Awakeners are managed at a national level.

In the twilight of law and morality.

Only South Korea could maintain order.

It was because they had a great leader.

However, the two recent consecutive terrorist attacks wounded South Korea’s pride.

Events that should only happen in failed states occurred in the most beautiful country in the world.

Of course, mere terrorists couldn’t dare to harm South Korea.

In the end, there were no casualties.

All the perpetrators of the incidents were caught.

“It’s unpleasant.”

But what mattered was the objective fact.

That they allowed terrorism to happen twice.

“I’m very displeased. It’s extremely unpleasant.”

The hero deemed this unacceptable.

“It seems I’ve somewhat overestimated today’s youth.”

Lee Yeon, uncharacteristically, was somewhat emotional.

The leader of the people should always be calm.

The strength of an ability is basically determined by the innate rank and total amount of mana.

The earlier one awakens in childhood, the more mana they can accept.

The first hunters almost all awakened as adults.

In contrast, most of today’s hunters completed their awakening during childhood.

The first hunters learned hunting know-how by trial and error.

Unlike them, today’s hunters often had safe opportunities to learn hunting know-how.

The basic potential is different.

There’s a path pioneered by those who went ahead.

So, it was natural to have expectations.

The youth were the talents who would lead the country in the future.

“I’m greatly disappointed.”

The disappointment was even greater because of the expectations she had.

Lee Yeon decided to lower her expectations for the youth a bit.

“─That’s how it is.”

In the end, the one she placed her expectations on was a comrade already proven.

A colleague who once formed a party and roamed the battlefield together.

Gray hair and ash-colored eyes.

A woman wearing a grayish-white uniform somewhat different from the Academy uniform sits there.

“I need your help, Nanhwa.”

“What…?”

Seo Nanhwa.

Sitting on the sofa facing the hero, she blinked and asked back.

“No, Chief, wait a moment…”

As if she couldn’t believe it was true.

She waves her hands and stammers.

Normally, this wouldn’t be possible in front of the hero.

However, she was one of the very few humans capable of doing so.

“…So what you’re saying, Chief, is that I should be appointed as an Academy professor to prepare for potential terrorism, and also monitor suspicious students and professors, is that right?”

“I’m glad you understand quickly. That’s exactly right.”

“…Are you serious?”

“I am serious.”

She was a comrade who had been through thick and thin with the hero since the first Gate incident.

Even if in the shadows.

“Chief, what principal in the world would entrust a professorship to a thug who’s only eaten sword rice!”

“There’s one right here.”

“That’s not what I meant!”

She was a hunter among hunters who personally took care of the country’s dirty work.

“There’s already Seo Han-byeol at the Academy! Why not assign it to him, why me?”

“Isn’t he ignorant about ‘this side’?”

“…Well, that’s true.”

Seo Han-byeol is an incorruptibly honest person.

About things like human experimentation and such.

This was also intentional.

At least one completely clean good person was needed, just in case.

“I’ll give you sufficient compensation. There’s no one more suitable than you.”

“…Sigh. That’s just my fate. To think my superior would be such an evil boss.”

Seo Nanhwa sighed.

But in her heart, she was already prepared.

“So, specifically, who am I supposed to monitor?”

“To be precise, it’s targets. One you should already know, the famous foreign exchange student. And the other one is…”

This damn black company job.

If it weren’t for patriotism, she would have quit long ago.

Time flows, and the original story continues to unfold.

Han Seoyeon’s daily life didn’t see much big change.

Going to school with Michaela.

Attending classes with Baek Da-eun.

Spending lunchtime with both of them.

Only one thing changed.

Her twin younger brother is rarely seen.

Arriving at school just before classes start.

Disappearing somewhere during breaks.

Not seen at all during lunch.

A child of a prestigious family second only to Lee Yeon.

While he would be busy, at this point, it was reasonable to suspect that he might have cut ties.

“Ah, Suho─.”

“…”

In the Academy environment.

Sometimes they would meet in the hallway, and she tried greeting him with some familiarity, but he cleanly ignored her and passed by.

She thought it could happen once or twice, but in Han Seoyeon’s memory, this had happened more than five times.

What could be the reason?

The reason.

“…Senior.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Am I unpleasant or something?”

“How could that be?”

“What about you, Da-eun?”

“Not at all. Nothing like that.”

“Hmm…”

Was it because she asked her friends?

There were no negative answers.

“Is that so…?”

In fact, it was probably a good thing.

For an extremely obvious reason.

Originally, all the burdens Han Suho should have carried were taken up by Han Seoyeon.

In a sense, Han Suho is no longer a character related to the original story.

It’s okay to ignore such an incompetent older sister.

It’s okay to ignore her and pursue his own happiness.

“Why are you suddenly asking such things?”

“It’s nothing!”

After all, that’s why Han Seoyeon was playing the role of the munchkin protagonist.

Han Joon-hyuk is human trash.

But if his child is an S-class Awakener, he would have given appropriate treatment.

So, a few times, even after being driven out to the slums, she sneaked into the city to check on her brother’s well-being.

And accidentally got caught, ending up face to face with him.

There was no abuse.

There was just a wealthy young lady living well.

That was enough.

It might be self-consolation, but for Han Seoyeon, that was sufficient.

“By the way, what’s today’s schedule?”

“We’re to gather at the main auditorium by 13:00. I heard some newly appointed professors are coming in.”

Despite it not being the usual appointment period, new professors are being invited to the Academy.

“…Right. That’s right.”

The daily life ends, and the original story resumes.

Hunter Academy Main Auditorium.

The place that could accommodate all students with plenty of space left over was unusually bustling today.

“Attention!”

In place of the absent Hunter Academy principal, Seo Han-byeol opened with a resounding voice.

“As you students know, new professors have been appointed to the Academy today!”

A booming voice.

His confident attitude exuded charisma.

“There are several reasons.”

The unstable defenses of the Hunter Academy.

The hero’s disappointment in the existing faculty.

Everyone knew these facts in their hearts.

They just hesitated to say it out loud.

“But I won’t speak at length! It would be boring!”

A declaration that shocked both the watching professors and students.

“I just hope you’ll welcome them with applause! That’s all!”

Seo Han-byeol stepped down from the podium.

At the same time, as if it were a variety show, two professors appeared from behind the curtain.

One was a tall, handsome man with golden hair.

One was a woman openly showing her annoyance.

“Hey, that, that person…”

“No way, is it real?”

The students stirred.

The students, especially the female students, focused on the handsome man.

“Nice to meet you all.”

The man opened his mouth.

A truly bewitching voice that captivated the female students’ ears.

“My name is Lee Yong-hyun.”

For a moment, silence spread.

“As you may well know, I am indeed the 7th ranked hunter.”

Then, it was replaced by a huge cheer.

“Kyaa!”

“It’s real! It’s really him!”

“Oppa, I’m dying!”

As if it were an idol concert venue.

‘Wow…’

Han Seoyeon frowned.

There was a creature in front of her whose mere existence was unpleasant.

Hunter ranking.

Literally, a measure of hunters’ grades.

It’s obvious, but this was far from official.

Hunters are all comrades.

While abilities have ranks, there are no ranks among comrades.

Although separate ranks might be organized for wartime operations, unlike the military of the old era, people weren’t divided like tools by rank.

The hunter ranking was a kind of popularity ranking.

In short, they were idols.

“I’m inadequate, but I look forward to working with you all!”

Sometimes people mistook this for strength, but it wasn’t a measure of strength.

“…I’m Seo Nanhwa.”

Rather, what truly deserved attention was the shadow hidden by the flashy light.

“Please take care of me.”

Seo Nanhwa.

If Seo Han-byeol was the hero’s right arm, she was the left arm.

There won’t be any direct involvement right away.

But someday, they will face each other.

It was necessary to pay some attention in preparation for that time.

“You’re staring quite intently.”

Michaela asked.

“Is that kind of man your type?”

It was half-jokingly said.

Normally, she would have easily accepted it.

“…Senior. Even as a joke, that’s a bit…”

Han Seoyeon responded seriously with a disgusted voice.

──────────

[Lee Yong-hyun]

Lv. : 60

Exp : 118/9405

HP : 170

MP : 90

[Status]

Strength : 63(Rank : B)

Agility : 60(Rank : B)

Intelligence : 20(Rank : D)

(Remaining distributable points : 0)

[Special Skill]

Supporting Star – Rampaging Black-Eyed Dragon{Rank : ■}

[Original Skill]

Unique Ability/Trait – Black Flame(Rank : S)

[Normal Skill]

Harem Aura(Rank : A)

──────────

Because the man was a Player.

Moreover, he was also a stepping stone.

In some ways, a man more pathetic than Maeng Jeong-hwan.

There are two types of villains.

Those with their own stories and charisma, like Lee Yeon or Kim Il-soo.

One-time stepping stones like Choi Min-hyuk or Maeng Jeong-hwan.

Lee Yong-hyun was the latter.

Seemingly impressive at first glance, but in reality, nothing special.

A level of 60, pitifully low for a named Player.

Relying only on his ability, focused solely on seducing women.

Chuunibyou was a bonus.

Moreover, with the ‘chapter’ opening early, Players would become a bit stronger than in the original story.

Yet, his stats were hardly different from the original.

It must be because he didn’t make an effort.

Because he used his efforts on chasing women.

Above all, he’s a man.

A delinquent man intruding in a yuri story is unnecessary!

“I’m a one-track minded devoted lover!”

“A devoted lover, huh…”

A glance.

Michaela’s gaze turned towards Baek Da-eun.

“Well, that’s reassuring.”

“Ahem! You can be as reassured as you want, okay?”

Why was it?

It was just a single glance.

“…”

Baek Da-eun, overwhelmed by an indescribable sense of powerlessness, just clenched her fist.