The Angel Fallen into the Exam (5)
Deep in the water. The boy reached out to the girl. The gray-haired girl collapsed powerlessly into his arms, and the boy exerted every ounce of strength to shake off the undines, heading toward the surface.
But the undines grabbed his ankle. If Refri had looked even remotely menacing, they might have sneered and let go. But undines never just let a beautiful boy like Refri slip away.
"Play with us—"
"Play—"
The grinning water girls.
But that grin didn't last long. Refri had once heard a silly old joke. Apparently, Moses was a superhuman with insane muscles, and parting the Red Sea was his feat of unleashing a barrage of straight punches. People naturally took it as a joke.
It's no joke...!
Yumari's straight punch toward the surface. In one blow, the water filling the hall split apart, and the undines harassing Refri screamed as they vanished.
The moment the water drained from the hall, Refri immediately checked Soya's breathing.
She's breathing.
No need for CPR. Refri activated his Divine Ability of healing, beginning to mend the wounds still lingering on Soya.
Saving a future hero is truly the act of an angel!
You have acquired a large amount of Angel Power.
Along with it, the status window popped up. Feeling the surge of Angel Power, Refri turned to look at Yumari standing behind him.
Yumari stared coldly at Soya and muttered, "As expected of this exam."
If you weren't skilled in intrigue, you'd end up used and killed. Yumari gazed at the boy who had saved even someone she despised, sacrificing his own body. A flicker of anger rose at his foolishness.
Yumari, who always hid her emotions behind a mask, let a sliver of feeling slip through.
"You."
"Why...?"
"If you're going to act like that, you should give up on this exam."
But someone sneered at her advice. The pink-haired girl, Hongwol.
"Who do you think you are? Who are you to threaten Refri like that?"
"Hongwol."
Refri was a bit surprised. Had he ever told Hongwol his name? He couldn't recall doing so, no matter how hard he thought...
Of course, Refri hadn't told her. The info on Refri was something Hongwol had dug up herself.
The Dalgoyang cat clan was one of the dominant forces in the underworld, naturally skilled at gathering intel traded in the shadows. As the next clan head, Hongwol had tucked Refri away nicely at home and gathered every scrap of info on him. No family, history of mental illness, a hard life... and even his search history.
From the searches mostly on Central Superhuman Academy, she could tell he was aiming to enroll there too.
Hongwol thought it was perfect. She wanted into Central Superhuman Academy herself—not for school life, but to steal that incredibly valuable "treasure" there. And if she could snatch another unexpected treasure along the way...
Refri muttered cautiously, "Friends...? Nah, nothing like that."
Hearing that, Hongwol shouted excitedly, "See? You're the one who doesn't belong here. You, a dragon turned snake from the heavens..."
"Miss Hongwol, I want to have a good relationship with you. Let's talk later."
Yumari flashed a friendly smile again and offered a handshake. Hongwol muttered tensely, "You're fun. I can feel the killing intent even through that smile."
Hongwol said seriously, "...I misspoke. Forgive my rudeness."
"Misspoke? That killing intent was a slip-up? This is getting really fun."
Hongwol's already toned thighs began to harden further, wrapped in white mana. Though she looked just a bit younger than an adult, she now resembled a seasoned warrior.
Yumari stared expressionlessly at her. "Fun for me too."
An uncle chewing squid muttered nearby. It was Rusa, the academy professor overseeing the entrance exam. Her true form was a beautiful elf, but for some reason, she disguised herself as this plump middle-aged man during tests.
"These kids not even dry behind the ears already trying to flex on each other. Humans are running their world just fine. Fun to watch."
But the two girls were utterly shocked at the sight. In the Seocheon Yu family, only a handful could match Yumari. In the Dalgoyang clan, only her mother and elders could catch Hongwol.
Yet this unknown middle-aged man had grabbed both from behind? They figured he was an academy professor, but not that he was this skilled.
"Don't fight. It's not just your day today."
Rusa grinned—pure evil. Then Park Jinho scolded her with a pitiful look.
"At your age, seriously— Get inside. I'll wrap it up."
"Yeah, yeah. Great Park Jinho will handle the wrap-up perfectly?"
"Then we'll begin the critique."
With a tsk, Rusa vanished. He looked at the three in turn and said,
"If you become active heroes, you'll often enter unknown places. What you need then is quickly assessing threats and perfectly judging the current location. Places with continuity leave traces. If there are none, the enemy hid them—meaning they've likely set up some 'work' there."
Park Jinho praised each one with detailed feedback.
"Miss Mari of the Seocheon Yu family— as expected from working ops with active heroes. Excellent judgment spotting no traces here and that it was a rescue setup for other exams. And Miss Hongwol. Cat-like senses worthy of Dalgoyang. Traps won't touch a hair at that level. And..."
Park Jinho looked at Refri.
"Mr. Refri."
"Yes."
Gulp— Refri swallowed hard. To think they'd observed the examinees this closely. He couldn't help it in this situation.
Would his meager specs be exposed? Would they find out he knew the exam format? And disqualify him right away...?
Park Jinho said, "Someone with only raw power is no different from a storm. Without direction, that power scatters, shredding everything around until it burns out. But with conviction... that power focuses into one, making goals far easier."
He patted Refri's head kindly. Even the iron-willed Park Jinho, called Iron Blood, couldn't help finding the slightly cowering, scared boy adorable.
He dives into chaos to save a girl he just met, yet gets scared here. Strange kid. And here I am thinking this isn't so bad... Wait, what the hell is my hand doing? Petting his head?
Park Jinho quickly pulled his hand away and gave his assessment.
"This professor saw your conviction today. I rate you the highest."
The highest? Above even Yumari and Hongwol?
A recommendation letter was suddenly in Refri's hand.
"There are three professors handling this exam. Get all three recommendations, and by academy tradition... you receive a legendary artifact."
Artifacts. Special items amplifying superhuman power—even the lowest cost as much as a fancy new car. A legendary one? Refri could slave away his whole life and never touch the price.
Get a legendary artifact and sell it right away...?
He could live in luxury until the world nearly ended... Vulgar thoughts, of course. Just imagination. No point in luxury if the Demon King smashed everything.
"You can get it. I expect great things."
"Thank you...!"
Refri bowed repeatedly. Park Jinho couldn't hide his pleased smile—unfitting for his Iron Blood moniker.
Yumari had beamed respectfully at Park Jinho's appearance, but sobered instantly when he left, telling Refri, "Give up on the exam, Refri."
"...Why are you after me? Did we meet before the exam?"
Yumari smiled faintly—whether acting or genuine, only she knew.
"No."
"Then don't worry about it."
Yumari organized her thoughts. A top student passing the first exam with her, but inexplicably hostile. She wanted him out.
"Give up, and I'll compensate you generously."
"Even as rivals, isn't that too much?"
The angry boy. Yumari caught the angelic scent from him. With it came her mother's face. Used up and dead. In her words...
"Just hear me out."
Yumari reached for Refri. Hongwol bared her teeth.
"Who the hell are you touching?"
Hongwol pulled Refri toward her and muttered. The two girls stared each other down.
The hero world was brutal. Yumari didn't think a good kid like Refri could survive. This heavenly-scented boy would die pathetically like her mother.
No, that's not why I'm doing this.
Whether this boy she'd just met died miserably or not wasn't her concern. To survive, she had to pass this exam, and he was a clear risk factor.
"Fine, got it."
Refri bit his lip, thinking, Showing your true colors at last! Traitor to humanity...!
Of course, he wanted to curse, but his racial trait blocked it.
Angels cannot utter vulgar language!
What the— ridiculous...
In the end, Refri could only smile and say, "...I'll be waiting."
No curses, so other words were pointless. Even stern like an angel, he wasn't scary. So he bluffed with a smile.
Seeing that, Yumari misunderstood again.
Foolish guy. Can't even get properly angry. Just like Mom...
Something stabbed at a corner of her heart. In her expressionless mind, an inexplicable question kept rising.
You hate me so much, so why did you help me?
Her misunderstanding deepened. For the first time in ages, she felt guilt.
Making a future hero realize their sins is the act of an angel!
You have acquired Angel Power.
Why's Angel Power coming in now?
His hands trembled slightly. Only then did Refri realize he'd left them broken. Activating angelic healing—the supreme heavenly skill incomparable to any earthly heal—mended his hands perfectly.
Swish— swish— Her tail swayed happily. One pink girl watched delightedly.
She hurried to Refri, kneeling at chest height like she wanted pets.
"Boy, don't worry. Team up with me and..."
"...Ahaha."
Refri dodged Hongwol immediately. Left alone, Hongwol thought,
Boy... why so cold now? You weren't like that night. Wait, when did I kneel?
Only then did she realize she was on her knees. Why had she knelt? What did she want...?
That unforgettable winter night. The hand that had stroked her warmly. She longed for that touch...
I'm no beast. I won't be ruled by primal urges...!
Blushing with shame and confusion, she unconsciously sought a rest spot. There—an ideal box.
As the girl tried crawling into the box, a girl on the damp floor twitched.
"Ow... hurts."
The gray-haired girl barely sat up and muttered, "A black-magic hating trap from the start..."