novelraw Chapter 14 : Chapter 14
Chapter 14 : Chapter 14
Chapter 14. Malice
‘I did it! I've unlocked 《Snipe》!’
Kim Jin-ho, after examining the effects of his newly acquired Awakening Skill, Snipe, cheered inwardly.
He realized that if he activated Snipe, he could hunt even a 2-Star beast from this spot, meaning there was a non-zero chance that he could hunt the 2-Star beast before the promising talents.
“If I hunt the 2-Star beast, even those condescending pricks who act all high and mighty as promising talents won't be able to ignore me anymore…!”
Kim Jin-ho, unaware that the 2-Star beast had already been caught by Lee Han-seong, belatedly scanned the entire Pigeon Park with his Clairvoyance, but of course, the 2-Star beast was nowhere to be seen.
Instead, he only saw Lee Han-seong perched on some 1-Star pigeon and an examiner who had appeared before him.
“What? What happened?”
While his mind was filled with questions.
The three promising talents arrived at the location his Clairvoyance was looking at.
Kim Jin-ho was shocked at the sight of the promising talents talking animatedly with Lee Han-seong upon seeing him.
He couldn't believe that the promising talents, who had paid him no mind, were showing such a pleased expression to Lee Han-seong.
“Why?”
“The 2-Star beast has already been caught. The situation's over.”
Perhaps his bewilderment showed on his face, as the examiner who had been standing guard while he raised his synchronization rate said a word.
He seemed to have mistaken Kim Jin-ho's bewilderment as being due to the absence of the 2-Star beast.
“By any chance, the one who caught the 2-Star beast was…?”
“You'll find that out when the exam is over.”
He didn't get an answer, but he somehow had a feeling that the one who caught the 2-Star beast was Lee Han-seong.
“Then, the exam must be over too.”
With the appearance of the 2-Star beast, most of the trainees had evacuated.
It was more likely that the exam would end here rather than be resumed.
“That's probably what will happen. Shall we head back?”
“Yes.”
Kim Jin-ho headed out of the park, continuously eavesdropping on Lee Han-seong's conversation with the promising talents through his Clairvoyance.
‘What are they talking about?’
It was frustrating that he couldn't hear the sound.
Was it in response to that frustration?
[The common skill blossoms into
The blank skill blossomed just in time, allowing him to read what they were saying by the shape of their lips.
-You're really not joining a guild? Because of me?
-Well, for me, being in the same guild as you would be the best… but I don't think these guys would let that happen.
-Of course not. If you try to monopolize Han-seong, it's you and me to the death.
At first, it was hard to follow the conversation, but one thing was clear: the promising talents wanted Lee Han-seong.
-Considering the jointly owned greatsword, it would definitely be easier to settle accounts if the four of us partied up. Alright, let's do it. A party.
-Good thinking. Han-seong.
-Let's go to the Association tomorrow and register our party formation.
‘Lee Han-seong is forming a party with the promising talents?’
He could understand the friendship, since they were in the same training center.
But to form a party, he was going crazy with envy.
‘I should have been in that spot. If only you weren't here….’
So much so that he wanted to kill Lee Han-seong.
At that moment, he caught sight of Lee Han-seong suddenly calling the three promising talents closer and whispering.
Of course, to Kim Jin-ho, who had Lip Reading, he could see everything he was saying.
-Oh, right. Speaking of parties, there's a 4-person raid dungeon I know. Let's go there for our first hunt after forming the party.
-Aren't most of the public dungeons owned by guilds, so we can't go? Or did the Association President give you raid rights for an Association-owned dungeon?
-Of course, there's that too. But what I'm talking about is an undisclosed dungeon that neither the guilds nor the Association know about yet.
-Oh. There's a place like that?
‘An undisclosed dungeon. I've heard something good.’
He thought he could paint an interesting picture if he told his brother.
***
“The Association President's son passed? I thought he was a 1-Star contractor! Was the rumor that he awakened true?”
Clang!
The night of the practical evaluation day, in a dark room.
A middle-aged man in a high-end suit shouted as he threw an ashtray.
“You don't need to worry. It's just the Association President's desperate struggle.”
Despite being hit in the forehead by the ashtray, the secretary, who didn't shed a single drop of blood, calmed the middle-aged man with a relaxed tone.
“A desperate struggle?”
“Yes. It seems he's trying to hold onto his falling approval ratings by pretending his son has awakened. It looks like he has won over this batch's promising talents for that purpose as well.”
“So you're saying the awakening is a lie?”
“Yes, after checking the practical evaluation records, our internal meeting concluded that it's 99% a lie.”
At the secretary's words, the middle-aged man calmed his anger but did not let go of his suspicion.
“What if it's real with that remaining 1% chance?”
“In preparation for that case, we have a fixer ready. My younger brother found out that Lee Han-seong is scheduled to enter an undisclosed dungeon soon. We plan to have him tailed and dealt with then.”
“Oh. As expected of Secretary Kim, very thorough.”
Satisfied with the secretary's countermeasure, the middle-aged man leaned back and sat comfortably on the sofa.
“Whether he has awakened or not, Lee Han-seong is scheduled to die in an accident inside the dungeon. But what should we do about the promising talents who have formed a party with Lee Han-seong?”
“Those bastards were won over by the Association President, you said. It's an undisclosed dungeon anyway, so no one will know who went in and out. Just get rid of them all.”
“Yes. I will give the order as such.”
“Hehehe. Good. I like it very much. It won't be long before I become the Association President.”
As the smiling middle-aged man put a cigarette in his mouth, the secretary skillfully lit it.
After that, for a while, only the middle-aged man's laughter and cigarette smoke filled the room.
***
The day after the practical evaluation.
Lee Han-seong, wearing the formal uniform delivered with his Awakener acceptance notice, entered the banquet hall of a hotel near the Association.
Today, as well, the projection perched on his head tapped his head.
[The Unnamed Constellation compliments you, saying you look cool in your formal attire.]
‘Thank you, Your Constellation-ness.’
It was a celebration party for the trainees who had newly become Awakeners.
Taaan~! Tatadan~!
The sound of classical musicians' instruments flowed inside the banquet hall, and a variety of buffet foods and drinks were spread out everywhere.
The other successful candidates who had arrived earlier were eating and drinking, enjoying the party atmosphere.
“Over here. Han-seong.”
Jin Yu-seong, who spotted Lee Han-seong, called out to him.
Jin Yu-seong was dressed to the nines with his hair slicked back, and his formal uniform had a silver brooch that others did not have.
It was the brooch given to the runner-up of this practical evaluation.
“So you're the runner-up.”
“Seong-cheol became the top student by a difference of two.”
As Jin Yu-seong said so and pointed to one side, at the tip of his finger was Park Seong-cheol.
He was talking to someone in a suit, not a formal uniform, and his uniform also had a brooch.
It was the golden brooch given to the top student.
“But who's that talking with Seong-cheol?”
“Seems like a scout from a guild.”
Now that he mentioned it, there were quite a few people in suits in the banquet hall, besides the successful candidates in formal uniforms.
They were people from the guilds.
This event today was not just a simple celebration party for passing, but a meeting place for new Awakeners and guilds.
“Did they not come to you?”
“No way, you think they didn't?”
At Lee Han-seong's question, Jin Yu-seong proudly showed a handful of business cards from various guilds.
It was common to go to the guild to which the highest-ranking spirit one contracted with belonged, but since a spirit from another constellation's affiliate could be contracted next.
Promising talents with vessels of 6, 7-Star or higher tended to receive scouting offers from guilds serving other constellations like this.
“You must have heard about the joining support the guilds offer, is your mind still the same?”
“It's true that they offer a lot of support if you join a guild. They said they'd support all equipment and teach skill proficiency tips. They even offered to provide accommodation and transportation if I wanted.”
“…So?”
“But I'm still partying with you. The only thing that's tempting is the raid rights for guild-owned dungeons, but that… you know?”
“Good thinking.”
It was a good thing he told them about the undisclosed dungeon beforehand yesterday.
He had told them in advance, thinking their minds might waver upon hearing the support offered by the guilds, and it seemed to have been a catalyst for them to firm up their decision.
At that moment, a loud voice was heard from Park Seong-cheol's side.
“What on earth is the reason for your refusal! It seems you've rejected all offers from other guilds as well.”
“I apologize.”
It seemed the person in charge from the guild couldn't understand Park Seong-cheol's refusal and was being clingy.
“But I have already stated my intentions. I appreciate the offer, but please leave now.”
“You will regret this.”
“That too is something I will bear.”
Mumble mumble.
Gazes watching the two with interest.
Perhaps feeling the gazes gathered due to the loud voice, the scout who was trying to persuade Park Seong-cheol further looked around and hurriedly left the spot.
Park Seong-cheol, who remained there, picked up a nearby drink and drank it with an indifferent attitude, as if he didn't care about others' gazes.
“Did you really have to refuse right now?”
Jin Yu-seong approached Park Seong-cheol and asked.
“If you had just put it on hold like me, there wouldn't have been a scene.”
“I thought it was polite to give an answer now.”
“Aigoo, so unnecessarily honest.”
Jin Yu-seong sighed at Park Seong-cheol's inflexible response.
“I don't think Seong-cheol's response was bad either.”
“Wow. Han-seong, are you taking Seong-cheol's side?”
As he sided with Park Seong-cheol, Jin Yu-seong playfully pouted.
“What do you mean taking sides? That's just what I think.”
“Whatever.”
“By the way, has Se-hee not arrived yet?”
Looking around, Yoo Se-hee was still not visible.
“She's over there.”
Where Jin Yu-seong pointed, scouts were gathered as if surrounding someone.
“Over there? Ah.”
Moving stealthily and looking through the gap between people, a woman in a dress with a bronze brooch came into view.
He didn't recognize her at first because her makeup and hairstyle had changed, but on closer look, it was Yoo Se-hee.
“Wow.”
-Nya!
[The Unnamed Constellation yells at you to get a grip.]
As he was absent-mindedly admiring the beautifully dressed Yoo Se-hee, the Constellation displayed a message, covering his eyes.
‘Are you perhaps jealous? Your Constellation-ness.’
[The Unnamed Constellation boasts that if it regained its original form, it would be much prettier than that.]
Lee Han-seong, smiling as he imagined the Constellation getting embarrassed as if he'd hit a sore spot, dismissed the message and looked at Yoo Se-hee again.
It seemed the person who had just been rejected by Park Seong-cheol had also gone over there.
She was smiling sweetly and gently refusing their offers.
‘It's going to take a while for that to wrap up.’
As he was waiting, sipping a nearby drink.
An emcee appeared and started the Association's event.
“We will now begin the award ceremony for the top performers!”
It was an event to give benefits to the top performers of the practical evaluation.
“Top student! Park Seong-cheol! The aforementioned trainee has hunted a total of 55 pigeons and achieved an outstanding score. Therefore, we present him with a choice of Rare-grade equipment from the Association and an admission ticket to a 2-Star dungeon owned by the Association.”
“Runner-up! Jin Yu-seong! The aforementioned trainee has hunted a total of 53 pigeons….”
“Third place! Yoo Se-hee! The aforementioned trainee has hunted a total of 41 pigeons….”
As everyone expected, the first to third places were taken by the three promising talents.
With the support from the Association given to the top performers, the three could give up the guilds' support without feeling too much regret.
However, the event was not over yet.
The Association awarded prizes up to the 5th place.
“Next is 4th place! The 4th and 5th place winners will only be given a choice of a Common-grade equipment, excluding the dungeon admission ticket.”
The quality of the prize was lower than for 1st-3rd place, but the interest was even greater.
4-Star contractors, including Kim Jin-ho, approached the podium where the emcee was, hoping to hear their names called.
“Fourth place! Lee Han-seong! The aforementioned trainee has hunted 10 1-Star pigeons and a 2-Star pigeon, which is equivalent to 30 1-Star pigeons, thereby earning a score corresponding to a total of 40 pigeons, and is awarded a prize.”
Kim Jin-ho, who had counted his chickens before they hatched and was about to go on stage first, couldn't believe his ears.
“Who did you just say?”
“Me.”
He had also considered making the tamed 2-Star pigeon the Constellation's third follower, but Lee Han-seong chose to kill the 2-Star pigeon and turn it into points.
Although it had been demoted to 1-Star after having all its star power drained for Pheidippides' promotion, its body was still the size it had become during its 2-Star awakening, so if he killed it, it would have to be seen as a 2-Star beast.
He had no choice but to kill it, if only to hide the traces of the spirit's promotion.
[The Unnamed Constellation pats your head, saying it had no intention of accepting prey as a follower anyway.]
Noticing his discomfort, Lee Han-seong chuckled at the Constellation's comforting response and gently pushed Kim Jin-ho aside as he went up on stage to receive the choice of a Common-grade equipment.
“Fifth place! Kim Jin-ho! The aforementioned trainee has hunted 30 1-Star pigeons and is awarded a prize.”
Kim Jin-ho's name was belatedly called for 5th place, but he only stared at Lee Han-seong with blazing eyes.
He thought that Lee Han-seong, who had passed by smiling, was laughing at him.
“Trainee Kim Jin-ho?”
“Ah, yes.”
Only after his name was called again did Kim Jin-ho go up on stage to receive his prize.
But there was none of the attention he had expected.
“Lee Han-seong caught a 2-Star beast?”
“How, when he doesn't even have an Awakening Skill?”
“It's not impossible if he aimed for the 2-Star beast right after it awakened, when it was vulnerable.”
The guild scouts and other successful candidates were all preoccupied with the fact that Lee Han-seong had caught a 2-Star beast and paid no attention to Kim Jin-ho's score.
Grit.
Feeling like he would attack Lee Han-seong if he stayed here any longer, Kim Jin-ho gritted his teeth and left the banquet hall.
Bang.
Kim Jin-ho, who opened the door with enough force to break it and came out into the back alley of the hotel, immediately called his brother, Kim Jin-su.
Trrrrr.
-Oh, Jin-ho. What's up?
“Hyung, that undisclosed dungeon I told you about yesterday. The one Lee Han-seong is going to. …You're going to take care of Lee Han-seong there, right?”
-Why do you ask? You don't need to know.
A cold voice came back.
At the answer that seemed to draw a line, he hurriedly continued.
“Ah, no. I want to lend a hand there too.”
-You?
“It's fine if I just watch. I just want to see Lee Han-seong die with my own two eyes.”
-Tsk. Fine. Do as you please.
Kim Jin-su, who had been contemplating for a moment, clicked his tongue and answered with a sigh-mixed voice.
Knowing his brother's stubbornness, he knew that if he refused, things would get more troublesome if Kim Jin-ho moved secretly.
“Thanks! Hyung.”
-I'll tell the fixer in charge. He'll contact you first. Until then, wait quietly.
Click.
The call ended.
“What's with hanging up without even a goodbye….”
Tiring.
A moment after he grumbled, a text message arrived from the fixer.
[Kang Min: I refuse to babysit, so follow on your own. I won't look for you if you get left behind.]
The meeting time and place were written below the message, but they didn't catch his eye.
His eyes only saw the name of the sender, Kang Min.
‘Kang Min, could it be, that Kang Min?!’
A rising star fixer who, like Kim Jin-ho, started as a 4-Star contractor with a 4-Star vessel, but made a name for himself by obtaining a 7-Star spirit in his second spirit contract after three awakenings.
That was none other than Kang Min.