The Time for Change - 3

The strikes were fast. Sharp. And brutally cruel in a way that sent chills down the spine. Those were the only words I could find to describe Kim Suhyun's swordplay.

According to Suhyun herself, this was her holding back significantly. Because her opponent wasn't Irina. If it had been, they might have actually hurt each other. She was swinging her blade with the maximum restraint she could manage.

When I first heard her say that, I was utterly speechless. If this was her holding back, what would her sword look like when she poured every ounce of her rage into it? Just how vicious would those arcs become?

Of course, her swordsmanship wasn't flawless yet. It was more accurate to say she had only just begun. I could see faint traces of uncertainty, tiny tremors in her form. Even so.

She wasn't falling behind her opponent at all.

'The Red Witch. I'm so glad I saved her from the Elders back then...'

If I hadn't rescued her—if I'd simply watched as the Elders dragged her away—I would have regretted that foolish choice for the rest of my life. I would have spent every day drowning in self-loathing while witnessing the horrific massacre unfolding before my eyes.

Clang—!

Clang—!

Sword met sword, edge clashed against edge, ringing out with clear, resonant tones. At a glance, it almost looked like a beautiful dance. But the terrifying killing intent flowing beneath it could not be hidden.

The student facing Suhyun was a Platinum-rank cadet. I think she mentioned being somewhat close to Kang Hana. Thanks to that, we'd exchanged greetings a few times.

The reason I'd suggested this spar between her and Suhyun was simple.

'I need to prove it. Both to myself and to Suhyun.'

Change was necessary. And change couldn't be achieved through words alone. It had to be shown.

So I showed them. What kind of examiner I truly was.

And then I showed them again—who would break free from Bronze and step into Silver.

In truth, I'd originally planned to choose Lee Hyunwoo for this. I'd practically decided on him. There simply wasn't anyone else who stood out. If it was him achieving the first Silver promotion, no one would complain. Even if there was a penalty, it would be worth enduring. The Sweet After Bitter trait was a shame, but it was time to let him go.

But yesterday, when Suhyun came to me and asked to take the exam...

'She's insane.'

I'd muttered those words to myself and completely changed my mind.

"Examiner."

That moment still hasn't left my mind. The way Suhyun stood before me when she called my name was the very picture of the Red Witch.

Her eyes, turned crimson by the Red Witch trait, glowed with an even deeper shade of scarlet. A faint red aura even swirled around her body. She was trying to contain it, but she couldn't completely erase that unique aura that clung to her.

And my prediction was confirmed the moment I used the Third Eye.

Just as my own trait had strengthened while conducting the Silver-rank exam, Suhyun's Red Witch trait had also been reinforced. From the exponential growth to every other aspect. And on top of that, a sub-trait was going to be created.

"Suhyun."

Her appearance was so different from usual. Even her suddenly strengthened trait. That's when I instinctively realized—this situation was no coincidence.

"Something happened to you, didn't it?"

Yes, something must have happened. And something significant, at that. Otherwise, the Red Witch trait couldn't have strengthened to this degree.

Suhyun seemed slightly startled by my words, then nodded. Only then did I realize how nervous I'd been. I had been terrified that something bad had happened to her.

Had I been too distracted by the academy's practical training to notice? Or had something terrible occurred while I was unconscious?

All sorts of thoughts raced through my mind until Suhyun slowly opened her lips.

"Actually... I've been fighting with Irina constantly."

"...What?"

The thought that came to mind after hearing those words? None. I genuinely couldn't think of anything. The statement was so absurd and unbelievable.

Who did she fight? Irina? That crazy yellow bitch?

The woman even the villains—no, even the Elders—avoided because she was too much to handle? The one whose parents were so dangerous that the underworld had an unspoken rule not to touch them?

"S-Suhyun, why would you fight with Irina...? Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?!"

It wasn't an overreaction. I was genuinely shocked. Had anyone ever fought Irina and come out unscathed? Never. And Suhyun was practically a rookie compared to her. Even though she'd awakened as the Red Witch, it was still in its early stages. A single flick of Irina's finger could deliver a fatal blow.

"I'm fine."

But Suhyun spoke as if it were nothing, her voice indifferent.

"Someday, without fail, I will defeat that woman. And I will definitely..."

"And? Definitely what? Tell me, Suhyun."

"...I will protect. I will safeguard it. No matter what."

She never answered what exactly she intended to protect. That part of Suhyun left me uneasy. Based on how she'd behaved until now, she should have answered my question. The fact that she kept it hidden until the very end made it impossible not to worry.

Still, the silver lining was that it didn't seem to be a serious situation. If it had been a major problem, Kang Minsung would have taken action before I even knew about it. And considering the sparring location was none other than the Kang family residence, it seemed the old ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠man had judged there was no real issue and simply allowed it.

Perhaps it was thanks to those repeated duels—or fights—with Irina. The Red Witch trait had been strengthened, and Suhyun's own skills had skyrocketed. The moment I tested her, the words 'What the hell is this?' slipped out involuntarily.

'That's why I decided. The first person to pass the Silver-rank exam. The first honorable promotion. I would give that title to no one but Kim Suhyun.'

The loss of the Sweet After Bitter trait was just as regrettable for Suhyun. She had already grown incredibly strong—investing in her now would only make her even better. I'd had that thought at least a hundred times since yesterday.

But the current situation was demanding change from me.

If I wanted to continue acting as the Silver Gatekeeper, if I wanted to keep my position as promotion examiner, I had to offer the students a real possibility of advancement.

In that regard, Suhyun—along with Hyunwoo—was a candidate who could be promoted immediately without raising any eyebrows. And if I had to choose, Suhyun was the more suitable one.

Hyunwoo was still growing steadily on his own, so it might be better ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to let him accumulate more stacks of Sweet After Bitter. On the other hand, Suhyun had suddenly exploded in strength through her clashes with Irina.

"No way. Is that seriously Kim Suhyun?"

"That's impossible. She was Bronze until recently. I remember. She was honestly pretty mediocre!"

"Tell me about it. I heard people say she was a disappointment for the Sword Demon's granddaughter. But now..."

You're all shocked too, right? Surprised? That the same Kim Suhyun could change this much. I get it. Honestly, even I didn't expect her to transform like this. I thought it would take more time. Why did she suddenly leap forward so dramatically?

'...No, wait. When I really think about it, isn't this actually perfectly natural?'

She was always destined to awaken as the Red Witch. Whether the trigger pulled her toward light or darkness, once it activated, that was it. And when that happened, Suhyun would grow to a monstrous ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠degree—on par with Hyunwoo.

Taang—!

A slightly heavier sound rang out than before. By the tiniest margin, the Platinum-rank student had gained the upper hand against Suhyun. As if on cue, both of them lowered their swords.

"Thank you for the excellent spar."

"Not at all. If anything, I've realized I can't afford to remain complacent."

If that had been a real life-or-death battle instead of a spar, I doubt Suhyun would have withdrawn so obediently. Even if she lost, she would have turned her opponent into a bloody mess first.

Right now she could hold her own against Platinum ranks, but as time passed, her growth would only accelerate. She would shoot upward at breakneck speed.

'So yes, she's more than worthy of being the first Silver promotion.'

In truth, what worried me most wasn't the loss of the Sweet After Bitter trait.

It was the fact that, while possessing the Gatekeeper trait and having just conducted a Silver-rank exam, I had allowed someone to pass instead of blocking them. The fear of failing to uphold the Silver Gatekeeper's duty weighed on me far more.

The moment I approved Suhyun's entry into Silver after her exam, ominous messages appeared through the Third Eye, as if they'd been waiting.

What kind of penalty would I receive this time? How much would it stack? Those worries had kept me from properly celebrating with the overjoyed Suhyun.

Fearing she might notice something was wrong, I forced a smile and patted her shoulder—right as another message flashed through the Third Eye.