Chapter 27
Chapter 27
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: The Re-Examination
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Class B freshman Kang Jae-hyeok's circumstances of fraudulent admission have come to light."
The Security Force was one of the nine martial units stationed at Lion's Castle.
Unlike the teachers who answered to the principal, they served the chairwoman directly as their superior.
However, Security Captain Byeon Cheon-ju hailed from the Association.
Since he wasn't one of Seol Su-ah's close aides, he was unaware of the behind-the-scenes story of Jae-hyeok's admission.
"He burst in just before the Leech King triggered its second explosion, securing the number one spot on the contribution rankings and successfully completing the raid."
"Is this true?"
Seol Su-ah's smile vanished from her face as she read the report.
A rare sight.
It meant she was quite shocked.
Byeon Cheon-ju, who had thought this was a chance to boost his performance and gain favor, responded vigorously.
"Yes! With eighty eyewitnesses, there's no room for fabrication. Further investigation revealed that he consistently outperformed his peers in regular training as well. Kang Jae-hyeok's level is estimated to be at least 30. Yet he enrolled in Class B."
Level 30.
Just ten more levels, and he'd be classified as a C-Rank Player.
In a class full of mostly newbie freshmen, raw stats alone would make him a bully.
A freshman's level exceeding 30?
No matter how low-grade his skills were, he should have enrolled in Class A at minimum.
That was the only way to maintain class balance and conduct fair lessons and training.
"You must thoroughly investigate Kang Jae-hyeok and whoever handled his admission screening. Uncover the truth and mete out severe punishment..."
"We should give him a reward. A massive one."
"Pardon?"
"That child saved the lives of several students, so we must reward him."
Byeon Cheon-ju was flustered by the unexpected response.
"B-But the fraudulent admission..."
"I personally handled Kang Jae-hyeok's admission screening."
"...!"
By now, Seol Su-ah had regained her smile.
Byeon Cheon-ju knew that expression didn't stem from kindness or goodwill. She had worn that very smile when smashing an S-Rank boss monster's head.
"I confirmed with my own two eyes that Kang Jae-hyeok was level 1. Fraudulent admission? Does Security Captain think Lion's Castle is a pushover?"
"N-No, of course not!"
"Are you calling me incompetent, then?"
"I would never!"
"So you're doubting me? Come on, then—be honest about what you really think of me. I need to hear it so I can fix what's wrong."
"That's absurd!!"
Thud!
Byeon Cheon-ju slammed his forehead against the table.
His true master was the Association Chairman, but he had zero intention of crossing a National Treasure.
A National Treasure was transcendent.
No matter the faction or power, falling out of their favor meant certain loss.
He could be assassinated without a trace.
'Damn it, I knew something was off when she talked about rewards, but I went and poked the hornet's nest anyway.'
"What do the other captains think?"
Seol Su-ah waved her hand in the air.
The large door to the chairwoman's office burst open.
'Invisible Force Manipulation!'
Byeon Cheon-ju's face paled as he glimpsed a fragment of her transcendent power.
The captains who had just arrived at the office door tensed up as well.
The door opening on its own with Invisible Force Manipulation, and the Security Captain with his head planted on the table.
They realized they'd come at the worst possible time.
But retreat wasn't an option.
"Come in."
At Seol Su-ah's command, the principal, the Search Squad leader, Raid Squad 2's captain, and Raid Squad 5's captain entered cautiously.
Unlike Byeon Cheon-ju, these were heavyweights from the Association.
"Do you all think Kang Jae-hyeok is a fraudulent admittee as well?"
"That's the prevailing opinion, Your Excellency."
The principal dabbed the cold sweat trickling down his bald head with a handkerchief before speaking slowly.
"Most of the faculty suspect fraudulent admission. It's impossible for a level 1 player to perform like that in a C-Rank raid. Of course, we know Your Excellency personally handled Kang Jae-hyeok's screening... but Mana Orbs do malfunction from time to time, don't they?"
"Did I fail to notice a broken Mana Orb?"
"Who would dare doubt Your Excellency's discernment? It's merely a hypothesis. Kang Jae-hyeok could have tampered with the Mana Orb out of ulterior motives. Though that's not my view—the faculty's suspicions are growing uncontrollably."
The principal was a plant from the Association to check Seol Su-ah.
With outstanding ability and prestige, plus a formidable background, he could speak his mind even against a National Treasure.
Catching his cue, the accompanying captains chimed in.
"Based on data accumulated by the Assault Teams, the possibility of Kang Jae-hyeok being level 1 is zero. The faculty's suspicions are justified."
"The Search Squad agrees."
"Couldn't Kang Jae-hyeok possess a bloodline skill?"
"Your Excellency, that's going too far with the jokes."
The odds of a bloodline skill awakening were exceedingly low.
The world's prestigious families had poured efforts into producing heirs to increase bloodline skills, yet achieved nothing.
Even multiplying bloodlines dozens or hundreds of times yielded almost no cases of two consecutive generations awakening bloodline skills in one house.
That was why House Silla was so remarkable.
"Even if by some miracle Kang Jae-hyeok awakened a bloodline skill, performing at that level at level 1 would be difficult. No skill wields full power without stats to back it up, after all."
"Exactly. And if Kang Jae-hyeok had awakened a bloodline skill, would he have even enrolled here? He'd have gone public with it immediately, started active duty, and paraded around as House Kang's heir."
'Right. That's common sense.'
Even with a bloodline skill, a level 1 player shining in a C-Rank raid bordered on impossible.
Yet Kang Jae-hyeok had done it without even awakening.
The most baffled person in this situation was none other than Seol Su-ah.
'Just what are his stats? How intensely did he train over those eight years...?'
Letting out a hollow chuckle as she reread the report, she got to the point.
"So the conclusion is to re-screen him?"
"Yes. Please convince public opinion through an open process, Your Excellency."
It wasn't an unreasonable demand.
Admissions were originally conducted publicly.
But she hadn't expected Association personnel to press so overtly.
''Orders must have come down to deal with the Yaksha's son. The Association's old fogeys must find his performance quite irksome. No surprise—I was shocked myself...'
A concealed dagger.
The child she'd hidden in her sleeve had popped out after just ten days.
Now, there was only one answer.
Break through head-on.
It was the development Seol Su-ah wanted.
"If it turns out my private screening was wrong, I'll suffer great humiliation. Plus, I'll be implicated with House Kang."
"Heavens, no. They'll just think the Mana Orb malfunctioned. And even if Your Excellency accommodated House Kang, what crime is that? It's hardly illegal."
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Seol Su-ah's fingertips drummed the table as she stared impassively at the babbling principal. She deliberately wore a grave expression, dragging out the time.
When her hand finally stopped.
"Fine. I'll play along. If it's proven that Kang Jae-hyeok hid his level at admission, we'll take appropriate measures. However, separately from that, we'll issue the reward first. Saving several students' lives is a fact."
"But..."
"Is there a problem? Rewarding a child who protected the nation's future talents."
"..."
"And relay this straight to that old raccoon at the Association: if it's proven there's no issue with Kang Jae-hyeok's level, someone will be held accountable."
"Accountable how?"
"That raccoon will understand well enough—you lot needn't worry."
"..."
The principal and captains exchanged glances.
But their judgment remained unchanged.
Even if the sky split in two, Kang Jae-hyeok was still a fraudulent admittee.
"We'll convey that."
***
"What the hell! We should be heaping rewards on him, and now they want a re-screening? What nonsense is this?"
Kim Jin-myeong's neck veins bulged as he checked the ridiculous official notice about re-screening due to suspected errors in Kang Jae-hyeok's admission.
"Even if Jae-hyeok used some shady method to enroll, so what? Thanks to him, several lives were saved!"
"Watch yourself. Rules exist to be followed."
"Vice Principal!"
"And what's the problem with a re-screening? Just prove there was no issue with Jae-hyeok's admission process. I can't fathom why you're getting so worked up."
"I'm worried about the child's feelings. He risked his life fighting for his classmates, only to face suspicion instead of praise! How heartbroken and angry must he be?"
"They suspect because it's suspicious. Common sense says how could that be level 1?"
"The guy who should've gone to Class A sneaks into B and messes with scores like crazy. Just like the delinquent who racked up 20 demerits in a week—total pro at dirty tricks."
"That's the Yaksha's blood for you. Just look at Kang Dae-seong and Kang Hyeon-ah..."
The other teachers chattered loud enough for all to hear.
As Kim Jin-myeong's face flushed red.
"Kang Jae-hyeok isn't a delinquent. Zero demerits."
Class A homeroom teacher Park Ju-bong interjected abruptly.
It was the first time the apolitical man had stepped into such matters, drawing all eyes.
"Teacher Kim Jin-myeong and I gave him merit points. Risking danger to save students makes him a role model—shouldn't he get rewarded? Right, Teacher Kim?"
Some color returned to Kim Jin-myeong's face.
"Absolutely right. Isn't it, Teacher Gu?"
Kim Jin-myeong and Park Ju-bong's gazes turned to Gu Baek-gi, slumped lifelessly in the corner.
Class C homeroom teacher, present at the raid site.
"...Me?"
"Didn't you see Jae-hyeok's performance too, Teacher Gu?"
"So what?"
"Hmm, maybe chat with Park Si-woo student..."
"I did! I just gave Kang Jae-hyeok 10 merit points! It's on record!"
Gu Baek-gi grimaced.
The piercing stares from fellow Association teachers stabbed his back, but he had no choice.
***
Two days later.
News of Kang Jae-hyeok's admission re-screening spread throughout the school.
"Who's Kang Jae-hyeok?"
"Some freshman. Don't know, don't care."
"If he really faked his level for Class B, he's a total loser. Wanna watch?"
"Nah, too much hassle. There's always one or two like that every year—what's the big deal?"
The few third-years at school, mostly on dispatch, reacted indifferently.
"Kang Jae-hyeok—the Yaksha's son?"
"He shone in the Leech King raid, but turns out he's a fraud."
"Makes sense—a level 1 can't handle a C-Rank raid."
"Scared of comparisons to Shinra-kyung if he joined Class A? Pathetic fallen noble."
First- and second-years were mostly negative.
Even students Jae-hyeok had helped harbored doubts.
"Finally."
Jae-hyeok himself was thrilled, grinning from ear to ear.
He was finally shedding the stigma(?) of being an Awakener.
How stifling it had been, dealing with all the nonsense.
Especially skill training class.
Why the hell do I have to take that?
"Huh? Baek Do-jin, why do you look like you got punched in both eyes again?"
"Some punk badmouthed you, so I beat him up. That guy's got black eyes on both sides now."
"You fight every day.... Still got energy for sparring?"
"Of course! Come at me, Jedi!"
"It's Chae Da-hee!"
With his stats surging lately, Jae-hyeok cut back on solo training time.
But his overall workload increased.
Alternating 1v1s or 1v2s with Do-jin and Da-hee was twice as grueling as swinging his sword alone.
Stamina, mental fortitude, swordsmanship mastery, and combat sense all rose sharply.
[Settlement is nearing completion.]
[A new First Skill is about to awaken.]