Chapter 112
Chapter 112
Academy’s Gumiho is a Magic Genius – Chapter 112
The blackmail had ended in success.
Call it a form of extenuating circumstances, perhaps.
Termiya had convinced the village chief that while I was indeed their leader, there was no evidence I'd led the raid, so we should presume innocence.
With no other choice, the village chief nodded along with Termiya's words.
'I can roughly gauge that knight's standing in this village now.'
For a village chief leading such a harsh, remote place, he was bound to be rough around the edges and stubborn.
Yet he bent without hesitation to the knight's opinion.
'Just what is their relationship? Or before that, what kind of ties exist between Termi Village and the frontier city called Frontier for them to pull this much manpower to such an out-of-the-way spot?'
If my memory served, there were counties and duchies, but no viscountcies.
Viscounts were too low in rank to independently own and govern territory.
This hidden world was shaped differently.
...Or maybe it was the same as the medieval hierarchy I knew.
'A viscount calls the land under his control a viscounty in only one case.'
When the earl or marquis positions overseeing vast territories as landowners were vacant, and he temporarily governed as regent.
Outside of that, they didn't exist.
'Not enough info yet. Can't jump to conclusions.'
The Sword Saint's instincts were rarely wrong.
* * *
The massive screen set up in Chilseong Academy's grand auditorium.
Hundreds of feeds streamed across it.
Drone and body cam footage capturing students who'd entered the dungeons.
The people seated in chairs watched the real-time streams, filling out the white papers in their hands densely.
"Group 102 has an impressive swordsman. He's only trained for a month and thrown into combat, but his movements are stable. A-rank potential at least. What's that kid's name again?"
"Him? Choi Jin-cheol. One of the top ten admits out of a thousand freshmen. Impressive footwork for someone wielding two greatswords with brute strength, but check the girl in the feed next to him. Her movements are way more striking, aren't they?"
"Bullshit. It's not the movements catching your eyeit's her face and figure."
They bantered back and forth but never tore their eyes from the screens.
These people, absorbing hundreds of feeds at once, handled recruitment for various guilds. In this industry, experienced pros were fine, but scouting and nurturing surefire seeds was far more profitable.
S-rankers were 90% raw talent.
Most rankers above them, barring a tiny few, were the same.
The hundred high rankers worldwide? All geniuses.
If innate limits capped their potential grade and realm, it was better to scout and sponsor naturals than shell out for active players.
"I want that guy. How's talent like that even possible?"
"Who?"
"The A-rank dungeon one."
"Ah, Kyle Iris in the A-rank? Yeah, flashy movements and swordplay. Fitting for the scion of Greece's premier house."
"What are you talking about? I meant Leonhardt's eldest daughter."
In the midst of swapping intel, the recruiters' eyes metand clashed.
Opinions diverged.
Iris, symbol of Greece.
Leonhardt, symbol of Germany.
Both wielded global hegemony, evenly matched yet distinct.
Hence the fierce reactions.
"Nah, Iris over Leonhardt."
"No way. Let's check scores... Entrance rank: Leona Leonhardt 4th, Kyle Iris 1,053rd. Difference is clear as day."
"Entrance ranks are just numbers. What matters is how much they've internalized Chilseong training. Look at that bull-like power and charge. What talent lets you climb from four digits to that strength in a couple months? Bright future."
"Power and speed are Leonhardt hallmarks. White tiger king, lion's heirsbrave, swift, majestic. How's that like Iris? She's on a higher plane."
"Man, we just don't see eye to eye."
"Agreed."
Maybe because their guilds backed Iris and Leonhardt respectively, the bickering turned personal.
Truth was, no need to fight.
Iris, descendants of bulls and Minotaurs.
Leonhardt, heirs of lions and beastkin.
Both pillars of the Nine Heavenly Houses, emphasizing strength and speed.
Unlike Heavenly Fox Baek Family lords of divine power and mystery.
Or Sirius, pursuing stars and light.
Martial houses, starkly aggressive.
So debates always raged over which was stronger.
And those debates always concluded
"with Heavenly Fox Baek Family superior to all. Right, fellas?"
"!!!"
"Wh-who are you...!?"
The man seated before the arguing pair turned and joined in.
Stunned by the sudden intrusion, the recruiters' eyes twitched at the emblem on his chest.
Nine tails depicted.
The Nine-Tail Guild's symbol.
"Wh-why is Nine-Tail here...?"
"Didn't they swear off everything but dungeon clears?"
"Nah? No such rule. They just had no interest in rookie events."
One of the world's top five academies.
Dismissing Chilseong midterms as arrogant.
By his words, they'd never missed a rookie event.
Even for a top-ten guild, that was unacceptable.
As they geared up to lecture the young-looking man
"There you are."
"And who are you? Can't you see we're busy?"
A neatly dressed woman, secretary-like, appeared from nowhere.
Stunned by her stealthy precision, they waved her off irritably, faces sour.
Her expression screamed 'at it again.'
Uncannily readable.
"Mr. Omi, please mind your dignity. You're here as Nine-Tail Guild's face."
"...Do I have to?"
"You're the Fifth Tail of Nine-Tail. Act accordingly."
Her words froze the area solid.
Fifth Tail.
A moniker and epithet.
Not literal tails.
No Baek Family fox ears or tails on him.
"Hey, I told you not to out me in public. Every time you do, the vibe chills out."
"That's because you act unbecomingly when incognito."
"Sheesh, so stiff."
"It's my job."
"Fair enough."
The man overseeing Nine-Tail's Fifth Tail, Nine-Tailed Fox.
No direct or collateral Baek blood, no kin.
Just strong.
That was all.
"Besides, didn't you wheedle the guild master for this gig? Observe diligently, file that report."
"Gotta do it for real? Wasn't that just talk?"
Tails.
For foxes, beyond vital body parts.
Count symbolized power, proof of might.
Fitting for the strong to claim the title.
Omi was that rightful powerhouse.
"Why analyze kids? Even at their peak in ten years, they won't touch me. And anyway, no need for us to bother."
His words carried weight.
He wasn't analyzing or evaluating students.
No need.
"Sigh... Your work ethic isn't just poorit's abandoned. Reporting to the guild master?"
"Ah... That's harsh. Sorry, but it's not wrong."
"Reporting to the guild master?"
"...Spare me once. But I wasn't wrong."
Mention of the guild master soured carefree Omi's face.
The rigid 'First Tail' clashed with his free spirit.
She was a peak player, one of the Nine Lords Five Demons.
Holder of fourteen thrones.
How could it be comfy?
But he had his say.
"The best talents come to Nine-Tail anyway."
"Reporting to the guild master for real?"
"...I'll behave from now on."
No need to scout student data.
Tops always joined Nine-Tail.
Not blind loyalty.
Data-backed certainty.
Every year's top third-year grad joined them. Forever.
"Bulls, lions, wolves intrigue, but home draws most."
"You're not married."
"Figuratively. I'm wed to the guild, so Heavenly Fox Baek is my home."
"Sigh... If the new special unit team leaderthe chairmansaw this flippancy, might demote you."
"Team leader's right under me, no?"
"Formally, yes."
"So if I get demoted from Fifth Tail, I'd overlap with him? Sounds fun."
"No way... You don't mean the 'he' you mentioned is our special unit's new team leader chairman?"
"Yep, that one. Our boss's family head."
"Watch your mouth. Heavenly Fox Baek and Cheonho Pharmahis repsare our top sponsors and origins. Demotion? Guild master'd grind you."
"Ugh, pass. Sponsorship's our boss's doing anyway? I'm more curious about his team lead role than family head."
Special unit team leader.
Face aside, his track record screamed no dull feats.
If anything, explosive ones.
Broken engagements or uncleared dungeon clears.
Baek Seung-woo's deeds were always bold, decisive.
No hesitation in his actions.
Full commitment to what he deemed right.
Omi loved that drive.
Word was, it even led to hidden world jaunts now.
"Looking forward to it."
Omi's gaze fixed on the central monitor amid dozens.
The silhouette there thrilled him. Faint facial outline.
Enough to captivate most eyes.
"Pretty face. Prettier than our third sis, even."
"No, Third Tail's beauty is far more feminine... No comparison."
"Right? Skin white as if powdered like some gisaeng pretty boy."
Gisaeng pretty boytop male-on-male beauty compliment.
To Omi, Seung-woo looked a exquisite living statue. No, he was one.
Hence.
Thump thump. At first, excitement's pulse.
"What?"
His heart raced.
Arrhythmia?