After Returning, My Abilities are Infinite
chapter-19

The End of the Month Examination (4)

The battle test, which was expected to be quite fierce, ended very quickly. Two hits – no, it was over in one hit.

There were some who predicted Jeong Si-woo would win, but no one expected that the victory would come too fast.

The guild officials watching the event were surprised and began discussing with themselves.

“What is that movement? Even if someone is awakened, can a cadet pull off that swordsmanship?”

“Honestly, a lot of hunters can do the job of cutting bullets from training guns. I think swordsmanship of at least D-rank along with good physical ability can make cutting training bullets possible.”

Instead of answering the guild officials, the professors and instructors were in a discussion of their own.

“It’s the same as before. Cadet Jeong Si-woo’s level doesn’t seem right. What if we promote him immediately to second grade?”

“No, forget about the 2nd grade – that talent is too much for him to stay for two more years until the 4th grade.”

“Compared to graduates preparing for the actual hunter’s examination, he seems to be at par already. That swordsmanship is comparable to a beginner hunter.”

Comparisons about Jeong Si-woo and other hunters continued to float around the room.

Prof. Seong Hyun-im was quietly listening with a thoughtful expression.

Then, she spoke.

“Then, how about we pass Cadet Jeong Si-woo now?”

At that remark, the conversations around the room subsided.

“Wait a minute, Professor Seong Hyun-im… isn’t that too hasty? What do you see in him, who had just taken the second evaluation in his 1st grade?”

“I’ve seen a lot of great things in him even in the 1st grade. Everyone will agree that his analytical and monstrosity achievements he had shown today are even better than some professors or analysts. He just set a record score for the 1st graders.”

“But… the only first grader that has been promoted immediately was Seong Yoo-hyun… Are you saying that the potential of Jeong Si-woo is similar to Seong Yoo-hyun?”

“It may be similar. Or it could be better.”

“… … !”

Shock filled the room with the bold remark.

Seong Yoo-hyun is considered the best jewel produced by Hwayeon Choin Academy. At the age of 23, he already reached the status of First Class Hunter, the best of the best, regarded as beings in the sky. With a young and observant appearance to go with outstanding abilities, he is currently the most popular hunter in Korea right now.

It was almost outrageous to compare him with a first-grade student.

However, it was Professor Seong Hyun-im who made the comparison; hence, it had weight.

Professor Seong Hyun-im discovered Seong Yoo-hyun and brought him to the academy, which raised him as the best hunter. Hwayeon Choin Academy has the person who had the best eyes in the awakening industry.

A scout then spoke after a moment of silence.

“I agree that staying in the academy is a waste of time for Jeong Si-woo. Perhaps it would be better for him to drop out and join a guild? Some cadets opt to go that way, after being offered a contract…”

“I don’t blame them,” Prof Seong Hyun-im answered coolly. “However, Cadet Jeong Si-woo wants to graduate from Hwayeon and enter the hunting industry after completing all training courses. I understand a lot of you don’t want to miss talent, but my estimate is that he is still too raw in some areas. I’m not as talented as compared to you, guild scouts, but what I think would be best is…”

The guild officials and scouts were silent and respectful. They were obviously stronger than the professor, but no one could make eye contact with her as she spoke.

“… to wait at least until the end of the semester. Then, we can provide a more comprehensive evaluation. We can then decide if Cadet Jeong Si-woo could be promoted to the graduating class,” she finished.

The guild officials and scouts stayed quiet, mulling it over.

Eventually,

“We believe you, Professor Seong Hyun-im, so we won’t offer contracts yet. It will only be ten months before the semester ends, so we can wait that long. Instead, we would like to give support for Cadet Jeong Si-woo…”

Professor Seong Hyun-im smiled softly.

* * *

‘What happened?’

When I opened my eyes, there was an unfamiliar ceiling, and strange equipment surrounding me.

I tried to move, but the teacher beside me advised not to move and rest so my injury could recover properly. I was in the infirmary.

“Teacher… is it possible for anyone to cut a bullet like that?” I asked him.

It could not have been possible.

It was hard to say that cutting and bouncing off bullets for more than ten times was just a coincidence, though.

“You’ve worked as a hunter before entering the academy, right?” I continued asking him.

“Well,” the teacher seemed to hesitate for a bit. “not as a hunter, but I worked with them during clean-up as part of the support team. My abilities are impractical for crack attacks. Maybe you can even beat me in a fight,” the teacher laughed.

“Are there hunters who work with firearms?”

“Absolutely! Even those who aren’t awakened can work as a hunter, so long as they have powerful weapons.”

“Well, have you seen any hunter who can block another hunter’s bullets, or cut them in half? If there is, I wonder what rank they are…”

* * *

The Hunting test followed the Battle test.

It was done in a labyrinth-type test site, and the goal was to find the hidden nucleus and destroy it.

It took some students ten minutes to complete the test; others needed hours.

The labyrinth was elaborate enough to resemble the inside of a real crack.

[Jeong Si-woo, Cadet, Hunting Division]

[Time required: 02 minutes 51 seconds]

Of course, it was too easy for me.

There is nothing to write about.

A crack that I have attacked in the past was the style imitated by the test site.

As I walked out after crushing the nucleus, I was greeted with loud cheers from other students.

The traveler was elated upon seeing the reaction.

[That’s great, it’s great. It’s too much for someone who is just attending the academy. Well, being a user of the Akashic Records, I guess I couldn’t expect less…]

“I prefer a normal life,” I answered roughly as I walked stiffly.

My end-of-month exams were all perfect. I didn’t mean it to be so, but right now, I was just waiting for the academy to confirm that I got the first place.

[Then, why didn’t you choose to get the second place instead of being the first place if you didn’t want much attention.]

“Oh, that’s it.”

I walked down the hall, answering the questions the traveler asked.

“I deliberately delayed training time, less preparation… you didn’t have to challenge me to link up in front of the scouts and professors.”

[Hmm… I didn’t think people will notice the difference in your mana that much.]

“But you didn’t have to teach me that strong a skill in public. I had no clue, I have never used it before.”

[Bah, don’t try to hide too much. Now that you are more powerful, you’ll get more attention, and people will know you’re a great person.]

“I can make friends myself without showing off.”

It’s not yet time.

However, the traveler wanted to see me quickly becoming famous, and he continued to talk about it…

“Hey, that’s okay. Stop it now,” I answered him bluntly.

Suddenly, the traveler’s face turned into a frown.

“Why do you look that way?” I asked him.

[Head down.]

The traveler commanded in a very urgent tone. I bowed my head down immediately.

Wickedness!

Something flew above where my head had just been!

“Wow, you were able to avoid it…” said a voice.

I looked upward to find out who it was.

A woman stood.

Long red hair that falls to the chest, bright red eyes, a striking appearance that takes every man’s attention…

She continued speaking.

“Did the ghost tell you? You seemed to be talking to yourself, are you actually talking to the ghost?”

She wagged her finger back and forth and giggled a little.

“Ah, I should have done it in one shot. Now, I’m bothered…”

I looked at her and swallowed my saliva involuntarily. The insane tone and expression, that look, the habit of wagging her fingers.

The woman was one of the characters I knew well.

God must be listening to me when I said I wanted to meet her.

It was Han Yeon-soo.

The Freak herself.

[What is wrong with that woman? I don’t know anyone who would dare ruin the minds of Akashic Record users. It’s a very valuable skill!]

The traveler was obviously angrier as he looked at the smiling woman.

“… …”

[If I didn’t interfere, you would have been destroyed by that woman’s skill!]

That was correct.

Of course, it may not be as fatal as a traveler thinks. It was clear, however, that an unpleasant situation would emerge if she had hit me.

[Jeong Si-woo, you’re an Akashic Record user. If she hit you and succeeded with making you lose your mind…]

“… … .”

[Even if the mental interference she used on you was not that powerful, with such a complicated skill in your head, you would have gotten insane!]

“… … !”

What the traveler said was like a punch to my stomach.

I thought he was overreacting. What the woman shot was a little mental interference that could make me have a crush on her.

I thought nothing about it and felt rather lucky that a woman like her was interested in me.

[Make sure you realize how important it is.]

However, the traveler’s continuous nagging was very determined, and it helped me clear my mind.

The ability I have now is not just a peculiar skill like Excellent Insight.

What I have now is an ability with the power to reverse the destruction that would come to this world.

The woman was still smiling and started to approach me slowly.

“Let me put my hand on your head just once, okay? I’m going to do it right this time. Don’t move away.”

It seems like I have no other option.

I need to protect myself if I can’t avoid her hand. But how? Her power is almost equal to a whole guild’s.

“I don’t know what will happen if you refuse…” she continued approaching.

She had a very quirky character.

If I fail to do what she wanted, who knows? She may pull one of my arms out or break my neck.

She was the type of person to do that, even if she’s in the middle of the city, surrounded by people.

In Korea, a hunter as powerful as Han Yeon-soo can commit murder without fearing the consequences.

“Uhh…” I tried to say something.

“Child, be quiet. Stay still…”

The Freak is not someone who allows other people to speak. She talks to others as if she is talking to pets.

[… Very rude. Nevertheless, she has quite a strong force in this world’s standard. She may be too tough for you to deal with.]

“… Right.” I answered.

[Then I can’t help it.]

The Freak’s hand slowly rose upward.

[My rule is not to interfere with my travels to other worlds. I hate it that I have to break my own rule.]

[I will help you only once.]

Suddenly, the traveler’s ghost-like transparent form became solid.

“Huh?” Her face looked confused. “What is that…”

Before she finished, the traveler swooped in and held her hand.

[If there is one thing I learned while traveling through countless worlds and dimensions.]

The Freak’s face hardened.

[It was: Know yourself.]

The sound of a rumbling began to rise from her hand, the hand the traveler caught.

[Know how small and humble you are, foolish and insignificant.]

The rumble continued. It was an unpleasant sound. But instead of her expression showing pain or remorse…

“Ah… Ahhh… … .”

Her face looked ecstatic as if she was a little girl filled with joy.

Suddenly, notification windows popped up.

Only

[Han Yeon-soo’s mental domination fails.]

[The penalty is applied as the ‘Queen’s Dignity (S)’ is destroyed.]

[Penalty – ‘Han Yeon-soo’ was fascinated by ‘Jung Woo-jung’.]

[Penalty- The ‘Little Crush’ effect is applied as the ‘Charge that can’t escape’ effect.]

I stared at the notifications, fascinated, but unsure what they meant.

Suddenly, The Freak’s eyes changed.

She glanced at me while wagging her fingers.

What is this?!