episode_0061

061.

“~♪”

A young girl was smiling brightly.

Her hair, devoid of any color as if it had been bleached, looked faint and ethereal.

Thin bandages were wrapped around her arms and legs, and her clothes were torn in various places.

While there were some bloodstains, overall, she looked slender and delicate, reminiscent of a high school girl.

Although she wasn’t wearing a uniform, considering her age, she could be a Union Academy trainee.

However.

Everyone knew.

That girl was not just any hero trainee.

“……”

“……”

“……”

More than twenty academy students stood frozen, their faces stiff as they swallowed nervously.

Overwhelmed.

Yes, they were overwhelmed.

By the girl with white hair who was quietly smiling.

Just looking at her calmly made their hearts race and their breaths grow ragged.

The hairs on their necks stood on end, and a cold sweat trickled down their spines due to the tension.

It felt like encountering a terrifying monster in a dark alley at night, alone.

The hero trainees bit down on their lower lips forcefully.

It was almost a primal instinct.

A visceral fear enveloped their bodies.

She was stronger than anyone else here.

Overwhelmingly so.

Everyone could see that she was in a league of her own, unlike the third-rate thugs they had encountered before.

Her intense aura made it impossible to calm their trembling arms and legs.

Some trainees who had never experienced such a strong aura gritted their teeth.

The frightened ones took hesitant steps backward.

For trainees who had not experienced real combat, a villain of this level was pure terror.

‘That girl…?’

Of course.

Not all trainees were paralyzed by fear.

‘That aura that reminds me of the Black Hand Long-Armed Monkey.’

Jin So-yeon stared at Yoo Da-hee with a silent gaze, gripping the black handle tightly, trying to understand the white-haired girl even a little bit.

‘No, maybe even more than that.’

Jin So-yeon, along with Lee Si-woon, Yulia Troianova, Lee Jin-hyuk, and others, were relatively calm compared to the other trainees.

This was a difference born from real combat experience.

They had fought for their lives against the Black Hand Long-Armed Monkey that appeared in the academy.

Moreover, the first-year, first-class trainees had already experienced Hong Da-ye’s aura.

There was no substitute for experience.

‘Villain… Is she a villain? She looks like someone my age, but how can she have such an aura…?’

Just judging by her aura, she was almost on par with Hong Da-ye.

She was at a level close to a high ranker at a similar age as Jin So-yeon…

It was not a joke.

If she was at that level, she would be a giant in Korean history, standing shoulder to shoulder with the legends of past generations. A strong figure revered as a legend, surpassing the giants of the past. That girl couldn’t be at that level. No, she shouldn’t be.

If she was really that strong, there was nothing they could do against her.

“Huh? Seong Yu… No, that woman has subordinates too.”

“……Yes.”

Yoo Da-hee glanced briefly at the four villains who had been fighting Jin So-yeon and her group.

They were sent by Seong Yu and had decent skills.

“They seem to be quite injured. I’ll take care of the rest, so why don’t you retreat first?”

“……”

“Don’t worry too much. I’ll handle it with them.”

“……”

He stared blankly at Yoo Dahee, who was waving her hand with a smile as if urging him to go in quickly.

He could have just backed off and received a scolding from Sung Yura, but ignoring Yoo Dahee’s words felt burdensome in many ways.

Even Sung Yura couldn’t dare to do anything to Yoo Dahee.

The assassins, who were contemplating for a moment, began to quietly leave with their heads down.

Yoo Dahee watched the disappearing assassins and then turned her head towards the children.

“Alright, now that all the ones who need to leave have left, shall we start watching?”

How these next-generation heroes act.

“Alright, Union Academy students?”

Yoo Dahee smirked mischievously.

“We don’t have much time, so let’s make it quick. You two over there. Yes, you two.”

She pointed her finger at two students.

The chosen students flinched.

“W-what, why are you pointing at us?”

Yoo Dahee started saying something that didn’t make sense.

“I’ll give you one minute. Fight each other.”

“……What, what?”

“The winner will be spared. Now, begin.”

“What nonsense!”

The children looked at Yoo Dahee in disbelief, but she shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly.

They could have naturally resisted such a ridiculous demand, but the children only glanced nervously at each other.

Just now, they saw those villains obeying the girl’s command and retreating.

They couldn’t accurately gauge the girl’s abilities, but it was clear that she was superior to the villains from earlier.

Those four villains were more than just ordinary pro heroes.

For villains who followed the law of the jungle, power equaled order, so if they could command those villains, how much skill did the girl really possess?

Just by the subtle aura she exuded, it was clear that she was beyond their level.

Of course, judging her abilities based on just her aura was not accurate, but among so many hero trainees, it was rational to assume that she had that level of skill based on her confident behavior.

Therefore, the hero trainees couldn’t move recklessly.

If they acted without thinking, they could easily become the girl’s prey. It was frightening to attract attention for no reason.

“35 seconds have passed.”

“Guys…”

The one who was chosen glanced at the other trainees discreetly, but some of them avoided eye contact as if they had lost face.

The thick, dense aura she had exuded earlier was unforgettable.

Fear had already taken root deep in the trainees’ hearts and was growing.

If the girl had skills comparable to her formidable aura, they could face a significant change if they acted unnecessarily.

And if they went out alone and the other trainees didn’t help but turned away?

They could end up being left alone.

So, they needed to hold on a little longer.

Maybe the safety agents or exam proctors would come to rescue them.

Some children even thought that it might be best to try to delay the time without attracting the girl’s attention as much as possible.

Truly cowardly.

“…Yoo Dahee’s aim was probably this from the beginning.”

Lee Jinhyuk quietly observed the current situation while holding his breath.

Yoo Dahee was probably filming everything with a mini body cam or something similar.

The next generation of heroes who will be responsible for the future, timidly looking around, obeying the orders of villains out of fear, and submitting helplessly.

They plan to reveal the recorded videos to the whole world.

If people find out how the seeds of hope acted like fools in front of a mere villain, the reactions will be heated in various ways.

“Even if the kids don’t listen to Yoo Da-hee and resist, it doesn’t matter.”

No, from Yoo Da-hee’s perspective, it might even be better.

Because if they don’t thoroughly trample and obey the orders, they will truly suffer a terrible fate.

Therefore, Yoo Da-hee is waiting.

For the aspiring students who will step forward without understanding the theme of being heroes.

“Has one minute passed? In that case.”

“There are only two people who can step forward in this situation.”

With a sense of doubt, Lee Jin-hyuk quickly turned his head.

Rok San-neu was sweating slightly and hesitating, while Jin So-yeon was biting her lower lip, seemingly preparing herself slowly to take a step forward…

No, wait!

Lee Jin-hyuk reached out his hand with a surprised expression.

He knew this would happen. Knowing Jin So-yeon’s personality, she couldn’t just stay still. He quickly grabbed Jin So-yeon’s wrist.

In a situation where even Lee Si-woon, Yulia, and Lee Jung-hoon were discreetly watching and hesitating, why would Jin So-yeon try to step forward!

I know your personality is as stubborn as a mule, but please don’t step forward at a time like this, really.

“So-yeon, what are you trying to do? Stop unnecessary thoughts and stay still.”

“….”

“In a little while, Instructor Hong Da-ye will come, so just stay still until then….”

“I’m sorry.”

With a faint smile, Jin So-yeon gently shook off Lee Jin-hyuk’s hand.

I know you’re worried.

But still, I can’t just stay still.

You know, that’s not what heroes do.

“Due to the lack of time, you two…”

“Huh?”

“Hey, you.”

With a tight grip on her sword, Jin So-yeon spoke confidently.

“If you want to touch these two, you’ll have to deal with me first.”

“Hmm.”

There’s no way to stop that girl.

Even if the other kids don’t help, it doesn’t matter.

Jin So-yeon’s path was not to obediently submit to the villain’s orders. Even if she breaks, she had to stand against the evil.

That was the path Jin So-yeon was walking.

No matter how powerful the opponent, if she gave in, she could no longer call herself an aspiring hero.

Therefore, Jin So-yeon hesitated.

“So stop the useless talk and come at me.”

“Fine.”

Prepared to sacrifice for the other kids.

She had just heard that Instructor Hong Da-ye was coming.

If she could buy a little time until the instructor arrived, Jin So-yeon’s sacrifice would not be in vain.

The time she bought could save the lives of other kids.

“You look pretty. You go first as an example…”

“Stop.”

At that moment.

Lee Si-woon stepped forward.

“You’ve been quiet like a coward, and now you’re finally stepping up?”

“I don’t know who you are, but I won’t tolerate any more misbehavior.”

Lee Si-woon drew his sword and stood in front of Jin So-yeon.

“Oh, during the assessment, when Team 1 all stepped forward, it would be a bit strange if I just stayed still, right?”

Having observed the movements of Lee Si-woon, the top-ranked newcomer, and Yulia, ranked 14th, the other kids began to murmur.

“I don’t know. So-yeon, I’ll step forward too.”

“F*ck, this is really pissing me off. Why are you scared of a girl?”

Eventually, Kim Yuseong and Lee Junghoon also took a fighting stance.

Kim Yuseong had a subtle setting of liking Jin Soyeon, and Lee Junghoon, due to his high self-esteem, seemed to find himself disgustingly scared of Yudahee.

As one by one they started to step forward, most of the kids were now ready to fight, glaring at Yudahee.

Yudahee glanced at the faces of the kids.

It seemed like Jin Soyeon’s actions were a turning point.

‘I didn’t expect everyone to move like this.’

What should I say?

Should I say that the atmosphere changed when that girl stepped forward?

Straightforward gaze, confident expression, a voice filled with courage, and so on. There is something that moves people.

Something that awakens and compels those in fear. It could be called charm or charisma.

‘Does she have some kind of talent?’

A talent necessary for a hero. A mysterious power that naturally leads, awakens, and compels people.

Hmm.

I thought she was just a pretty face, but she seems to have some talent of her own.

What if another trainee had stepped forward like Jin Soyeon?

Would the kids who were scared and just watching have dared to step forward, or would they have pretended not to know?

‘…Good, I like it.’

Anyway, Yudahee stood alone, nodding her head.

‘As an example, it’s quite satisfying to ruin things.’

Since she made the scared kids move, she must take responsibility for it. Right?

Snap!

In an instant, Yudahee’s figure flickered.

“Ah…!”

“Where did she go?!”

“Illusion? What’s that? I didn’t see…”

“Ishiwoon! Look in front! Look in front!”

In the blink of an eye, Yudahee appeared in front of Ishiwoon, who swung his sword with all his might.

A powerful strike imbued with magic.

The sharp blade cut through Yudahee’s body, but her figure disappeared as if it were an illusion.

Phantom Step.

One of the top-level spells that creates an afterimage to deceive the opponent’s gaze.

‘…What kind of voice should I cry out with?’

Deceiving the gaze of all the kids, Yudahee suddenly occupied Jin Soyeon’s back.

As Yudahee reached out like a flash of light to attack Jin Soyeon from behind.

Swish!

With a cutting sound, Yudahee reflexively stepped back.

Using magic, she distanced herself from the kids.

Yudahee glanced down at her hand for a moment.

A tingling sensation was coming from her peripheral nerves.

“…?”

Drip, drip. Blood was flowing.

Her hand was slightly cut.

By a sword.

‘…Was I cut?’

By me?

Yudahee was slightly puzzled.

She had a considerable level of body protection, so it would be difficult for a student to injure her. That’s why, ignoring the sudden blade that pierced through, she tried to attack Jin Soyeon, but the blade pierced through Yudahee’s body protection.

‘…No, did he read the path of the Phantom Step?’

Phantom Step is a top-level spell.

If it was the first time seeing it, one would be deceived.

Even that Ishiwoon was deceived and surpassed by it.

But that guy…

“…”

Yudahee glanced sideways.

A small drop of blood on the sword. And that sword was quietly pointed at her by a man staring at her.

It was none other than Lee Jinhyuk.