The Angel Absent from the Exam (11)
The professors of Central Superhuman Academy were strong. That was common knowledge among ordinary citizens. But the professors of Central Superhuman Academy were contenders for the strongest in the human realm. That terrifying truth was known only to the upper echelons of intelligence agencies.
Rusa's true epithet was God of Combat; "Elf Breaker" was merely a derogatory nickname that would be pinned on her in the future.
"Wait, how can a mere professor...?"
Another examinee soared through the air. Despite being top superhumans from around the world, the examinees couldn't block Rusa's casual swats.
Stronger than clan elders. Stronger than guild executives.
As this realization dawned, the examinees began to tremble in fear.
"What? Don't wanna pass the exam?"
Yet one examinee charged ahead despite knowing the truth. A black ponytail trailed her path, and silver-glowing horns heralded her approach.
"No."
Her name was Yumari, wielder of lightning. Her punches flew lightly without shifting her stance—mere feints, yet most examinees, Refri included, couldn't track their trajectories.
Two seconds passed. Rusa's form crumbled first. Trying to parry Yumari's fist with her shoulder, she left a wide opening at her side. Naturally, Yumari didn't miss it.
A powerful straight punch wrapped in lightning.
"You're young."
But it was a trap. Rusa recovered her stance at superhuman speed and grabbed Yumari's neck and arm, slamming her toward the ground.
She failed. At the moment of impact, Yumari twisted her waist with phenomenal strength, countering Rusa far beyond a comma throw.
Paradoxically, Rusa ended up the one held—by Yumari.
"Chance."
Hongwol, in her cat-like hunting pose with paws on the ground and hips swaying, seized the opening and lunged at Rusa. Her assault left sound in its wake. A white ring formed along her trajectory, ripping through the air with a tearing sonic boom that hurled nearby furniture aside.
Sonic boom...? Refri thought, suddenly craving popcorn.
"Not enough. Not nearly."
Yet none of the attacks touched Rusa. She slammed Yumari deeper into the marble floor, then swung her like a weapon to smash Hongwol's head.
They crashed through the wall of examinees, slamming into the far end of the hall.
"Urk!"
"Kyaa!"
Rusa stretched her legs as if finally loosened up, mocking them. "You girls lack the passion to pass, don't you?"
Yumari spat blood and muttered, "We're... staking our lives here."
"Lives? What lives?"
Crack-crack. Ominous sounds from Rusa's knuckles clashing.
"Anyone can stake their life for themselves."
Taat! Ever heard of Shrinking Earth? A legendary movement technique that shortens distances, said to be the quietest and swiftest of all. Rusa used it.
"...Staking your life for others? That's the hard part."
Hongwol's pupils dilated. A powerhouse rivaling her mother, wasting away as a mere academy professor.
Seeing this, Rusa smirked and landed a low kick on the fallen Hongwol's head. Why a low kick when she could have done worse? Because as Hongwol flew, she spun from the kicking stance and drove a backfist into Yumari's gut mid-attack.
The hall wall shattered, thick smoke rising.
"Cough—cough—"
"Got it?"
Yumari barely held back her vomit.
Amid this chaos, what was Refri doing?
"Truly great is the one who stakes their life... for others."
A boy was healing injured students with holy power. Rusa gazed at him sadly.
Holy power—white mana—was far more dangerous than other mana. Mana wasn't inherently good for the body, but white mana was outright harmful to flesh and mind. Pure and unmixable with any other mana, it rejected all impurity. And humans were plenty impure.
Thus, superhuman healers' lifespans rarely exceeded 30-40 years. And few knew that holy power corroded the body more with every use. That was why Rusa wore such an expression.
"Using holy power... for rivals who mocked him."
Yet Refri smiled. His Angel Power was duplicating right now.
He rushed to examinees battered by Rusa's monstrous strength, healing them with Angel Power before they could snap their bracelets and flee. Plus, his Life-Respecting Healing Angel's Cure had upgraded, yielding more healing for less Angel Power.
Talk about efficient...!
What's this? An Angel Power giveaway event?
The fallen examinees all saw one boy—rushing desperately as if afraid to arrive too late, before they vanished. Unhesitating to use dangerous holy power to heal them.
Today, many examinees beheld an angel. Of course, that angel's heart brimmed with mercenary desires: repayment in cash, stats boosted by Angel Power.
"Blazing darkness—"
Soya's spell completed, shifting the battle to its next phase. The flames enveloping her were unnatural—not emitting light, but absorbing it.
People called those flames...
"Black Flame...?"
Rusa's muscles tensed slightly. To think a high-level magic engineer capable of Black Flame lurked among the examinees.
Thus, the fight entered its next phase. Hongwol regained her stance. This humiliation—she, proud heir of the Dalgoyang clan, would never forget. Though the arm that guarded the low kick was mangled, she was a warrior before a girl.
She placed her hands on the floor again, swaying her hips to stalk her chance... but sensed someone behind her.
One of her recent treasures: Refri.
He was staring at her back. Only then did Hongwol check her pose.
Wait, this stance... isn't it a bit sexy...?
Traditional Dalgoyang assault pose or not, shaking her hips in skin-tight tights... wasn't it kinda...?
Th-this isn't some lewd pose. It's our tradition... Boy, stop staring!
Her face flushed crimson.
"Boy. Why interfere?"
"...Not interfering. Just healing your arm."
"N-no need."
But Refri ignored her, gently grasping her hand and invoking his power without question. Her swollen left arm slowly returned to normal.
As sensation returned, Hongwol's face burned hotter.
I'm holding hands with a boy right now... Ahem, no. This won't do. He's just a treasure I'm stealing. Treasures steal you—not the other way around.
Lately, she'd been too swayed by the boy. Unbefitting the next Dalgoyang matriarch. Theirs was a matriarchal society—women held far more power than men. Few males were even born; they came from outside.
A bit rough, but time to teach him the hierarchy...
Yet Refri's warmth lingered in her hand. Even Hongwol, hardened by cruelty, couldn't bring herself to be harsh seeing his face.
When stealing a person, steal their heart too. Clan policy.
Of course, "heart" involved drugs, violence, brainwashing—the clan's dark arts. But Hongwol didn't want that for Refri.
His smile flashed in her mind. 'I'll heal you with all my power.'
She couldn't forget it.
So...
...Just watch a little longer.
Hongwol didn't want to. Not yet...
To shake off these tangled feelings, she charged Rusa again. Nothing beat smashing something to clear a cluttered mind.
And so the exam ended.
Me... really...?
Refri couldn't believe he'd passed. Not just passed—nearly topped the rankings.
Thank you, broadcast station angels...!
Thankfully, unlike the future, no documentary filmed this time. The station wanted to proceed, but Dalgoyang clan—unwilling to expose their next matriarch's prowess—made the president an "irresistible offer." Poor guy would suffer nightmares for a while...
But fortune for Refri.
Passed examinees packed and headed out. Refri had nothing to pack, yet fussed over trivial things to take.
"In the end, we couldn't fail you."
Yumari approached. A Seocheon Yu limousine waited afar.
Unable to curse, Refri just smiled.
Saw my grim toilet mirror face—nothing scarier than that.
Best to flash a cocky grin.
"What exactly... is our connection?"
Yumari's senses were sharp. She'd long sensed Refri's complex feelings toward her.
Refri couldn't answer.
"Can't say? Fine."
Yumari thought her sins too great. The Seocheon Yu clan's sins, precisely. She'd investigate Refri immediately... but suspicions already brewed.
"...Sorry."
She muttered blankly.
Blank? Yumari, who could fake tears...?
Yet this girl stared at the boy with an unknowable expression, no acting in sight.
Refri's favorite hero, Half-Dragon Yumari—who'd fled to another realm as a full dragon—now seemed to apologize to him, like a fantasy...
"...Now."
He barely held back tears. Wiping his eyes, Refri muttered,
"Don't say that now."
Yumari wanted to say more. Her blank mask cracked...
Her fingers inched toward Refri.
But her limo awaited.
"Hmm, kid. This ain't good..."
After Yumari left, someone sought Refri: the three exam overseers.
Martial arts professor Rusa. Swordsmanship professor Park Jinho. Magic professor Klein.
Rusa spoke first. "Dragons obsess hard. And they're vicious. No idea your tie to that half-dragon, but get outta her sights ASAP."
"...Professors?"
The trio eyed Refri with eager anticipation.
"Refri. Let's talk."
"Shall we sit?"
Plush chairs and a table appeared. Bite-sized treats and teacups atop it.
"Ugh, annoying. Straight to it."
Gulp-gulp. Rusa downed her tea in one go.
"Kid. Be my direct disciple."
"Rusa, what? Refri's already set to inherit my swordsmanship..."
"Haha, you thick-skulled fools spout nonsense. Young one, obviously you'll study under me."
"You mad mage. Obviously...? Can't you tell? This kid's my disciple!"
"Haha, Rusa. Malnutrition rushed nutrients to your chest, skimping your brain?"
What the hell are these people saying?
The boy felt his mind reel.