Returnee's S-Rank Management Guide

Chapter 107 : Creeping Shadow (3)

Creeping Shadow (3)

Challengers was a sport for Awakeners that anyone could apply to participate in, as long as they were Awakener.

Currently, it was centered around Denver, Colorado, but recently the league was expanding, and stadiums were being built in other states to host Challengers matches.

Especially, many Awakeners who didn't want to be 'Hunters' chose to become Challengers athletes, and the popular ones were even sponsored by companies.

"Patrick Wheaton of Group 147, and Layla Johnson, please step forward."

Although anyone could participate in Challengers just by filling out an application form, actually competing required passing a certain test.

This was especially true for the unlimited weight class, where those who were significantly below the standard were often filtered out during the test.

At minimum, you had to be D-rank to qualify for unlimited weight matches.

"Hey, isn't that Alencia?"

"Oh, yeah. She really signed up for Challengers, huh? Honestly, I thought it was just nonsense."

The ones talking were Liam and Derick, hunters from Pandemonium.

Derick, a D-rank Awakener, was busy flattering Liam, the A-rank Awakener, like a dog wagging its tail.

"I wonder what kind of face she'd make if she knew Hunter Liam was competing."

"...... Well, to be fair, it's rare for A-rank Awakeners to participate in Challengers."

Since the market for Challengers had only recently started to grow, the earnings paled in comparison to what Hunters could make. Naturally, for A-rank Hunters, who could be considered the main profit drivers for management agencies, Challengers didn't hold much appeal.

So there were only a few A-rank Awakeners competing as athletes in Challengers.

Even Liam's participation now could be considered highly unusual.

'If it weren't for Hunter Eugene's command...'

Wasn't that producer's name Heo Seong-man?

A few days ago, that PD from the Korean TV station passed along word that Hwang Yeon-ji and Alencia, who had knocked out Eugene, would be participating in Challengers.

Because of that, the fired-up Eugene hinted at wanting to participate in Challengers as well, but unfortunately, S-rank Hunters couldn't enter Challengers.

"So, let's see whether the skill that sent me flying was a fluke or the real deal."

"...... And what if it turns out she really is that skilled?"

Eugene looked at Liam as if asking why he was questioning the obvious.

'He's looking at me like it's a given. But isn't she still just a kid?'

Of course, even heaven-like S-rank Hunters couldn't be told that to their faces.

In the end, Liam had no choice but to join Challengers.

The fact that Derick had been lumped in as baggage throughout the process was the bare minimum for his conscience.

It would have been too much for the pride of an A-rank Hunter to join Challengers as a team with only A-ranks.

Derick, apparently thrilled to be competing alongside Liam, spoke with a confident face.

"Don't worry, I'll totally crush Alencia for you!"

'How impressive.'

As far as he knew, Alencia was an F-rank Awakener.

Seeing Derick, a D-rank Awakener, boasting like that against an F-rank only looked pathetic.

'That's why you shouldn't just look for talent but also character when hiring recruits.'

As Liam clicked his tongue, a familiar name was called.

"Hwang Yeon-ji of Group 182, and Alencia Walker, please come forward."

At the test judge's words, two women appeared.

Even with countless Hunters watching, the composed Hwang Yeon-ji.

And Alencia Walker, merely pretending to be composed.

Liam's interest, among them, was focused on Hwang Yeon-ji, who had slammed Eugene into the ground.

"Please use magic or your physical abilities to strike this device."

The test was conducted in a very simple manner.

They needed to inflict a certain level of damage on a piece of equipment designed to measure impact.

The device looked much like a basic sandbag, but it was actually an advanced piece of magic-engineering equipment—one also used in actual Awakener rank measurements.

"...... Ugh."

'Is Alencia going first?'

As Alencia stepped forward hesitantly, Liam soon lost interest.

After all, only a few weeks ago, Alencia had been an F-rank Awakener.

Even if Derick's comment was true and something dramatic had happened, she would at most be E-rank by now.

So Liam only waited impatiently for Alencia's test to end and Yeon-ji's turn to come.

Bzzzt.

'Hm?'

At that moment, Liam's sensitive ears caught a sound like static electricity.

'What's that?'

Maybe there was a short circuit somewhere, he thought for an instant.

BOOM!

A thunderous explosion, as if lightning had struck, filled the air.

Startled, Liam hurriedly turned his gaze.

He saw the equipment, blackened and frozen still, and Alencia, staring down at her own fist in shock.

***

To begin with the test results: both Alencia and Yeon-ji had passed.

"...... B-rank."

The problem was that, considering Alencia was originally F-rank, she was measured far too highly.

"Can't be helped—as I ended up using all the energy I charged up yesterday at once."

Normally, you couldn't just use up all your magic power by willing it.

Doing so would cause problems with your mana hall, possibly leading to a major hindrance.

Hadn't Shin Ah-yeon's mana hall shattered for just such a reason?

But Alencia was different.

Because her control over her strength was still unskilled, she'd dumped it all out at once, resulting in a potency far beyond expectations.

"What do I do?"

Alencia muttered with a dazed look.

It didn't help that she had broken the machine, of all things.

It now looked as if it had been destroyed by a blow that was simply too powerful.

In fact, the equipment had broken down due to excessive electrical discharge, not from the impact of her strike.

If it could break that easily, it shouldn't have been used to measure A-rank Awakeners' attacks in the first place.

"I think it's fine, though."

Unlike Alencia, who was weighed down by being assessed far in excess of her actual skills, Yeon-ji seemed fascinated.

"If anything, won't this make people hesitant to pick a fight?"

As Yeon-ji said, thanks to Alencia being rated as B-rank and passing the test, their group now consisted of one A-rank and one B-rank.

Of all the participants, their group probably had the highest average rating.

"On the contrary, people might gang up on us. That'll be the only way they can win against us, anyway."

"That's just as well; it'll be easier to clear them out in one go.........."

Yeon-ji cocked her head to the side as she spoke.

"Since Pandemonium entered, if their group joins together, that really could be tricky."

Apparently, A-rank Hunter Liam and D-rank Hunter Derick from Pandemonium Guild were at the testing venue. An odd pair, but Liam would be more than enough on his own.

'Since Derick knows Alencia, maybe he volunteered to be in the same group.'

Either way, you never know until things actually play out.

Worrying before the match started was pointless.

"By the way, Alencia."

"...... Yeah?"

"Didn't you say you had plans today?"

Back at Minerva, Alencia had said she had someone she needed to meet once she got to Denver.

'She said it was her mother's friend, if I remember?'

Something about that comment kept nagging at me.

As far as I knew, Alencia's mother, Sarah Walker, had been a researcher, and Denver housed the Polaris Research Institute, the largest energy lab in the country.

It might have been mere coincidence, but I didn't think the overlap was random.

"Oh, right. I'm supposed to meet her today. The event starts tomorrow, right?"

"Yes, just make sure you're here by 12 p.m. tomorrow."

"Okay!"

After checking the time for a second, Alencia spun around and dashed off.

Her fast recovery was surprising, given how just moments ago her mental state had been shattered.

"She really is energetic, isn't she?"

Yeon-ji muttered, looking at Alencia's departing figure with a hint of amazement.

"You sound oddly mature, saying that."

"I—I do NOT!"

Sensitive to the mention of age, Yeon-ji jabbed me in the side with her elbow.

Seriously, if I were just an ordinary human, I wondered what they'd do if they kept jabbing my sides like this.

"Anyway, there is one thing bothering me......."

I carefully explained to Yeon-ji my suspicions about Alencia's mother and her so-called friend.

Even though my reasoning was mere speculation, Yeon-ji nodded with a surprisingly serious expression.

"I think you have a point."

Yeon-ji, thinking it over with a pensive look, seemed to share my thoughts.

Sarah Walker, Korean name Yun Sarah.

It might sound like an English name, but surprisingly, it was her original Korean name.

She'd immigrated to the U. S. and worked at a "special" research facility in Denver, Colorado, retiring later due to health concerns.

"Even so, Alencia doesn't seem like the daughter of such a brilliant mother."

"Children don't always resemble their parents."

"But still......."

Just then.

Yeon-ji, who had been bantering for no reason, suddenly stopped talking.

"What... is this?"

With a pale face, Yeon-ji looked up at me.

Except for things related to Shin Ah-yeon, Yeon-ji was usually calm—but now, her agitation was obvious.

"This is......."

It made sense.

This sharp demonic energy pointed straight at us right now—

Even I had to admit, it was surprising.

"Seems they're not very good at sending 'invitations' out."

Really, how insolent.

***

Denver was a special city to Alencia.

It was the place where she'd spent her childhood, and where her mother had been at her healthiest in her memories.

"You've grown so much, Alencia."

A gentle-looking middle-aged man gave Alencia a warm smile.

His blond hair, now faded in color from what she remembered; the wrinkles around his eyes spoke of times gone by.

"It's been a while, Leon."

"Yes, it's been almost ten years, hasn't it?"

"Yeah, it's already been that long?"

Ten years. For Alencia, now twenty years old, that was nearly half her life.

"The place has changed a lot too."

Walking through the institute with Leon, Alencia commented.

Back as a child, she'd often visited with her mother.

Denver's Polaris Research Institute.

This was the largest magic-engineering research complex in the United States.

"It sure has. A lot has changed."

Leon agreed with Alencia.

Ten years ago, the Polaris Research Institute was already huge, but now it was even larger.

"That's all thanks to Sarah."

"...... Even when you say that, it doesn't really hit home for me. All I've heard was that Mom was an outstanding researcher."

"Didn't James ever tell you?"

"Nope. Dad barely talks about her at all."

At Alencia's grumbling words, Leon gave an embarrassed smile.

He could more or less guess why James had been that way.

"Ah, ahem. But anyway, I'm curious—why did you suddenly come by, given you haven't visited in so long?"

Switching topics abruptly, Leon prompted Alencia with a sidelong glance.

"I can charge my magic power with electricity."

It was quite a shocking thing to say out of the blue.

"The more electricity flows into my body, the more I can feel magic spreading inside me. But it's different from ordinary magic power."

As Alencia said this, she observed Leon's face.

"......."

His expression said he didn't know what to say.

There were many emotions in his face, but none of them was 'surprise'.

Nor was there any "doubt" that would signify he thought she was lying or joking.

Given the type of research conducted at this lab, Leon's reaction was all too mild.

"So Leon, you knew already, didn't you?"

"Alencia."

"I kind of figured as much. You were Mom's partner, after all."

Alencia's mother, Sarah Walker, had many secrets.

She had told her of being a reincarnator, but never what kind of person she'd been in a "different world."

Most of her stories had been about the saint and heroes who saved the world three hundred years ago.

【Alencia, I'm sure you can become an amazing person.】

That phrase her mother always used—wasn't just an abstract, vague hope.

There was something, something truly different about it.

"Hey, Leon."

Until now, she had thought it was just her own misunderstanding.

But after meeting Park Jung-woo, that thought had changed.

What were the things her mother never got to tell her?

"Who am I?"

Now, Alencia was desperate to know.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

Hmm, I guess Leon is not a demon if he knew about Alencia's abilities.

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】