episode_0087

After the great upheaval, modern society entered a peaceful era, overcoming the chaotic times.

In the global youth future hope survey, there was a fiercely contested occupation that consistently held the first and second spots for decades.

Either a hero or a hunter.

The position of idol has always been held by these two occupations without fail.

There are many reasons for this.

One being that it is a profession that one can only attempt if the luck of ‘awakening’ comes to them among the entire population.

Another reason is the immense average income.

Furthermore, there was a significant perception of the occupations of hero and hunter.

A hero wields a sword to subdue the calamity of monsters and protects humanity as a shield.

A hunter is an explorer who fully utilizes their abilities to traverse unconquered territories and discover all sorts of treasures.

Conversations related to real hero stories, which are rare among the themes that come out when five children gather, were a result of the continuous image-making of the hero and hunter occupations by the association.

Those who knew the truth understood that they were all the same people and that the results of image-making were known, but deep down, they all harbored a similar sense of admiration.

Regardless of rank, becoming a hero or hunter was evident by the returning gazes of those around them.

It wasn’t just made up words for image-making.

There are countless individuals who have fought monsters and died for humanity.

There were those who achieved great feats and had their names written in history, and even if their names were not recorded, there were surely individuals who sacrificed themselves for humanity.

Siyeoram is an institution that stands out even among the institutions that nurture such heroes.

It would be embarrassing to be compared to an institution operated by one of the five towers.

News of Siyeoram was something that everyone, not just industry insiders, would pay attention to.

[Writer: ㅁㅁ]

[Title: Special Admission <— What is this?]

[Weren't these ancient decorative policies? Why are they real now?]

For over a hundred years, the news of a student with the title 'unprecedented' from Siyeoram, which has been in existence for so long, was a major topic of discussion.

[Comments]

– Because of that, the industry is in chaos now.

– Isn't it 'jji' instead of 'jjin'? Of course, it's nonsense, so I ignored it.

└ It seems like special admission students are showing up in the enrollment status. Information will probably be released soon?

└ Wow, damn, it's real envy.

└ Looking at the community atmosphere, it doesn't seem enviable…

[Writer: ㅁㅁ]

[Title: I read the Siyeoram regulations]

[Regarding the admission process regulations:

② General admission is selected through exams designated by the Siyeoram Central Administration.

⑦ Recommended admission is selected through evaluations by the Siyeoram faculty. This is conducted to measure the qualities of the students under the professional judgment of the faculty.

㉑ The authority for the selection and management of special admission belongs to the president.

This was a content that was even in the regulations of Siyeoram in the year of its establishment]

[Comments]

– Wasn't that a hundred years ago? It's like our grandfather's era, haha.

– Building up over centuries, it's crazy.

…

A sensation that swept the world.

It was natural for the internet to be ablaze with excitement over such a perfect material for chewing and tearing.

[The special admission student from Siyeoram, who appeared after 100 years of its establishment. What is the identity of the blind person who can't see ahead?]

[Comments]

– Do heroes fight with their eyes closed these days?

└ I heard he's an observer-type superhuman? If that's the case, isn't it possible to replace eyes?

└ Observational abilities are not that accurate and convenient.

Furthermore, due to the characteristics of the special admission student, they became even more of a sensation.

A blind person who can't see ahead and a mute person who can't speak.

These were fatal flaws for a hero whose main focus is combat, and it was not an appropriate label to attach to the unprecedented special admission student status.

Therefore, regardless of reality and social media space, public opinion on the special admission student, Yi Hayul…

– Why are you so handsome, damn it?

– Why is the guy prettier than me?

– Ah, life is like a gacha game.

It wasn't as bad as expected.

An overwhelming beauty with a special charm that evokes fondness.

Sympathy and pity from a difficult family background.

There was public opinion questioning the reason behind the selection of the protagonist of growth…

Of course, there were those who were consumed by jealousy without considering him, but they were a minority.

The current internet was not the same as the network before the great change.

The undersea cables that connected the world had long been destroyed by monsters living in the sea.

The artificial satellites that once floated in space were unable to function properly due to magical interference.

The current internet, a virtual network, was a function derived from the power of the Tower of Harmony.

Because openly expressing crude desires could lead to the summoning badge of the association, the internet became a relatively pleasant space.

Time passed like that.

Industry insiders nodded their heads, hearing about the growth trajectory of the special admission student from Siyolam, acknowledging the reason behind the protagonist of growth's selection.

The general public who did not hear this information continued their peaceful daily lives, thinking that it would eventually be revealed.

[Local time, 12:15 PM. A series of dungeon explosions centered around the Shifnaha region in Scotland have occurred.]

The terrible news struck the peaceful daily life a few days ago.

Even in the midst of a time touted as peaceful, the news of disaster striking during an already peaceful period had a great impact on the world.

At the same time.

In the midst of the disaster, the heartwarming deeds of a young hero who risked his life to save many people spread.

"…Sniff."

"Miss?!"

Hong Yeonhwa's stomach, unable to resist the emotion, was torn apart in a pitiful manner.

It was an incident that happened before her stomach, which had collapsed several times, could be restored.

It was spring.

Hong Yeonhwa, caught in the trial that she thought she could not overcome, struggled for days with her ankles caught.

The guilt piled up on Ihayul was much more than Hong Yeonhwa had realized. Because of that, she couldn't move forward properly.

If time had passed like that, it might have been dangerous. She might not have known that she needed to call the elders of the family for help, and even if she had done so, there might have been some lingering effects.

But she overcame it.

Thanks to the help of someone other than the elders of the family.

– [I made it.]

– [Compared to buying it with money, it might not be very impressive, but I would be happy if you accepted it.]

– [There's nothing wrong with Hong Yeonhwa, so it's okay.]

– [Please don't get hurt.]

It was because she comforted herself who was feeling guilty and made a gift with sincerity.

The handmade red scarf was safely stored in the dormitory safe.

She could use it right away if she wanted to.

But she was afraid of damaging it, so she couldn't use it.

While trembling as she moved it, she realized that the scarf itself was a magical tool with durability enhancement and temperature regulation.

The emotions she felt at that time were indescribable.

Thanks to Ihayul's warm affection, Hong Yeonhwa was able to overcome the trial.

That was a few days ago.

– "Miss…"

– "Why? Eri… Why do you look like that?"

– "That's… because of the young master…"

– "What. What's going on to make that kind of expression?"

The day she overcame the trial and stood tall.

The day she heard the news that Ihayul was trapped in the dungeon explosion and isolated.

The day she heard that Ihayul suffered casualties and was unconscious, being taken to the healing center.

At that time, her world truly turned upside down.

If Erial hadn't blocked the way, Hong Yeon-hwa would have grabbed her weapon and crossed over to Scotland right away.

By the time the news was reported, it was already too late.

After spending a few hellish days, Hong Yeon-hwa boarded a warp gate and crossed over to the United States.

The United States… more specifically, the Washington D.C. area had once been swept away by monsters, but still played a crucial role in the world.

The presence of the Space Tower and the Headquarters of the Association contributed to its significance.

Lee Ha-yul was currently hospitalized in the Headquarters of the Association's intensive care unit.

With dozens of high-level healers on standby, and the option for the most skilled healers to directly treat urgent cases, it was the world's best healing facility.

Hong Yeon-hwa, with her eyes wide open, moved forward silently. A tense atmosphere surrounded her, making it difficult for others to approach.

Occasionally, those who passed by would glance at her complexion in surprise and quickly move away, but Hong Yeon-hwa paid no attention.

Or rather, she had no energy to spare. Her mind was focused on Lee Ha-yul's condition.

"Don't worry too much… um… well, you should, but don't be too disheartened."

Amidst it all, her friend's voice barely reached her mind.

When she turned her stiff neck, she saw Baek Ah-rin, who had accompanied her for the hospital visit, holding a bag as a gift.

"The top healer is assigned to you, and once you recover sufficiently, you can regenerate your arm through a combination of healing and medication."

Common sense had changed before and after the Great Change.

The loss of a limb was still a serious injury, but in this world, it was not an irreparable one.

Knowing this, Hong Yeon-hwa nodded her head.

Her family had plenty of resources. Money was a given, and there were plenty of medicines that money could buy.

"I wonder what kind of regeneration potion there was… Anyway, I'll just take everything."

As she casually thought about her mother, Choi Ji-yeon, her stomach churned, and she stopped in her tracks.

A door appeared, with the name Lee Ha-yul written on the label.

Her throat tightened involuntarily. She had heard about his condition, but seeing it with her own eyes was daunting.

If his state was worse than she imagined…

– Squeeze…

She clenched her fist, forcibly cutting off the unwanted thoughts.

Either way, there was no turning back from here.

And if the injury was worse than she thought, she could simply take the medicine from the family's vault.

She would gain the authority to do so later, and there would be no objections if she used it a few years early.

With that determination, she opened the door to the healing room.

Lee Ha-yul was clinging to Atra and Baekkob, looking determined.

"……."

Was it wrong that the first thing that caught her eye was the arm tightly wrapped around his waist, rather than the fluttering sleeve of his left arm?

"Whoa… Ah!"

As Baek Ah-rin followed Hong Yeon-hwa inside, the sight that greeted her made her jump back in shock.

She felt a chill from the arm covered in fluffy feathers. Menacing… and chilling.

It was strange. Especially for Baek Ah-rin, who had a specialty in freezing magic, to feel this level of chill?

Surprisingly, this chill was emanating from the terrified Hong Yeon-hwa.

"Should I go back?"

An escape route appeared in Baek Ah-rin's mind.