A Tense Deal and a Sparring Challenge
Leaving Wibel's words behind, Seongjin exited the director's office and descended the stairs to the floor below, knocking on the door of the assistant's room.
Knock knock.
"Who is it?"
A woman's voice came from inside at the knock. Seongjin cleared his throat with a ahem and leaned close to the door before speaking.
"It's Professor Han Seongjin. I have some personal business."
"......"
"......"
Silence followed his words. No response came from inside.
What the hell?
Someone was there since she'd answered at first. Had she not heard him? Puzzled, Seongjin spoke again.
"Professor Han Seongjin here. Is Iris in?"
"...Please wait a moment."
The door opened soon after, and stepping inside revealed a lab-like room filled with all sorts of equipment and machinery. In the center sat a woman with black horns on her head, perched on a desk chair. It was Iris.
As Seongjin's gaze shifted to her face and their eyes met, she quickly looked away.
"Hello. Long time no see—about three weeks, right?"
"...Yes."
In that brief moment their eyes locked, Seongjin read her reaction. Trembling pupils upon seeing him, cold sweat trickling down her neck, subtle spasms. Somewhere between fear and revulsion. It was the same as when they'd first met, even after three weeks apart. He hadn't done anything, yet she reacted like this.
Even for Seongjin, this kind of treatment stung a bit. With a wry smile, he walked further in and sat on the guest sofa right in front of her. He didn't know the reason, but any fool could tell Iris was uncomfortable around him, so he got straight to the point.
"I heard from the director. You're making a device to detect demon beasts and rifts."
Iris tilted her head curiously at his words, then pointed to a small compass-shaped gadget on her desk.
"Is this what you mean? It's technically an algorithm that reverse-traces demonic energy waves. Still a prototype, though."
"Why's it incomplete? Not enough research?"
"The theory is perfect. But I'm short on a specific material..."
"What is it?"
"A high-purity demon beast core. It needs to serve as the core reference point to minimize errors."
Seongjin narrowed his eyes at that. A demon beast core? Demon beasts had cores?
I only knew they were bad guys. Figures.
"What's a demon beast core? Like their heart?"
"Not the heart. It's a kind of... internal organ somewhere in the demon beast's body."
"Do all demon beasts have them? I've hunted plenty, but I've never seen one."
"Your experience is spot on. Most demon beasts don't have cores. Only high-rank demon beasts do."
"High-rank? They have ranks?"
"Yes. They're classified as low, mid, or high based on demonic energy measurements."
"Oh... News to me."
Demon beasts had ranks too. A year into this world, and Seongjin had learned something new.
Finishing her explanation, Iris leaned back in her chair with a deep sigh.
"There are no demon beasts of that caliber near the academy, so research has stalled. Without data, this detector might as well be scrap metal right now."
Seongjin's lips curved up slightly at her words. Perfect—his needs matched hers exactly.
"So if you get a demon beast core, you can finish the detector?"
"Yes? But..."
"Simple enough. I'll get you one."
Iris's eyes widened as she stared at him. The fear she'd shown moments ago seemed forgotten.
"...Did you hear me right? It's not an ordinary demon beast. High-rank ones are on another level entirely. The last one that appeared was taken down by Aiden Crossfield."
Seongjin sank deeper into the sofa, replying indifferently.
"Sounds like S-rank handled it easy. No problem then."
"......"
Iris was at a loss for words. But then she realized he might actually rip out a high-rank demon beast's core single-handedly, and her shoulders twitched again.
"Fine. But on one condition."
"Name it."
"If you bring the core, I'll complete the first detector using it and give it to you. I'll also share info on any demon beast habitats within its range."
"Not bad. Actually, excellent."
A satisfied smile spread across Seongjin's face. Few rewards appealed to him like this.
"So, where might one of these high-rank demon beasts be? Not too far, I hope."
"High-rank demon beasts generate rifts just by existing. We can search based on that..."
Iris fiddled with her tablet for a moment, projecting a hologram map. A point on it began flashing red.
"About 1,200 kilometers northwest of A City, there's a volcanic zone. Reports say rift generation has spiked there recently. Probably a good bet for a high-rank demon beast."
"1,200 km..."
Seongjin memorized the hologram map, calculating routes in his head. 1,200 km. Round trip from Seoul to Busan and back, plus extra. Far, but...
Doable. Plane gets me there in a day.
Way closer than the Great Forest, at least.
"Got it. It'll take some time, so I'll make arrangements."
"...You're really going alone?"
"Yeah. Why, you wanna tag along?"
At Seongjin's half-joking question, Iris's face drained of color. She shook her head vigorously, retreating behind her desk.
"N-no! Absolutely not! I'll handle data collection and support from here!"
"Just kidding. Relax."
Seongjin let out a hollow chuckle at her overreaction.
She's got a cute side, in a weird way.
A thought that would terrify her if she heard it. Seongjin stood up.
"I'll contact you before heading out. See you."
As he turned to leave, Iris urgently called out.
"Wait, Han Seongjin."
"Yes?"
He paused. Her stopping him like this was new. What now?
Iris bit her lip, looking resolved as she approached. Then, in a tiny but clear voice:
"I have... one favor to ask."
"What favor?"
She hesitated, then spoke. And what came out was completely unexpected.
"...Could I draw your blood periodically?"
"......My blood?"
The faint smile on Seongjin's face hardened coldly. The air in the assistant's room grew heavy in an instant.
The academy physical said he was fine, but he was fused with a demon beast. Half-human, half-something-else per his status window. Handing over blood—periodically, no less—was like offering his throat for her to uncover his secret.
It was more than enough to grate on his nerves. Iris must have mustered courage seeing this side of him, different from her first impression. Whether it was wise was another story.
"Why do you need my blood?"
Seongjin's voice rumbled low through the room. Iris swallowed hard at the shifted atmosphere.
"...For research. Just one small vial."
"Related to the demon beast detector?"
"Different research."
"If it's superhuman enhancement blood you need, ask someone else."
"...Only yours will do, Han Seongjin."
"What kind of research?"
She hesitated at his question, then squeezed her eyes shut.
"...I can't tell you."
"Hah."
Seongjin scoffed in disbelief. At this point, she might as well know his secret. Meeting his icy gaze, Iris gripped her trembling fingertips and pressed on.
"It... won't harm you."
"How can I trust that? Looks shady as hell."
With that, Seongjin slowly approached her. Each step he took, she retreated one. Closer, farther, until—
Thud.
Iris's back hit the corner of the wall. Nowhere left to go.
Seongjin planted one hand on the wall beside her, trapping her. Corner behind, him in front. She was cornered.
Thick killing intent poured from his body, filling the room.
"...Hah, huff."
She could barely breathe. Her instincts screamed in protest. Kneel, beg for mercy, now! Heart pounding wildly, mind blanking white, legs buckling like a fawn's.
But she didn't close her eyes. Tears welling, she stared straight into Seongjin's red eyes.
"...Kill me, then."
Trembling with fear, yet fiercely resolute. Looking into those eyes, it was hard to believe she was the same terrified girl from when he'd entered.
Something more important than her life. Something she wouldn't yield, even in death.
Seongjin stared into her eyes for a long moment. Then—
"......Hoo."
He picked up a small vial from the desk, bit his thumb with his teeth. Red blood dripped in. He filled it and handed it to her.
"Here. Do whatever with it—I don't care. But if you cross the line into my secrets... look forward to what I'll do then."
"...Thank you. Truly."
Iris cradled the vial like a treasure, hands gentle, as if she'd never let go.
Seongjin sighed at the sight.
Was feeling good, then this.
He added Iris to his mental watch list. No need for hostility yet, but he had to monitor how close her research got to his identity.
Without lingering, Seongjin turned and left the assistant's room. He heard her collapse behind him—legs giving out—but didn't look back.
His next tasks were set. And now, someone to watch.
"Damn it."
Out of the main building, Seongjin kicked the ground. Mood soured all around.
Best cure? Run it off. No worry too deep that a good sprint couldn't blow away.
The night had already darkened, but it was no obstacle for him. His body shot forward like an arrow.
The next day dawned, the second class day. Seongjin arrived at the training field to face an unexpected situation.
"I request a spar, Professor."
Ethan Miller, with his bright gray hair, and Leo Grant, the blond giant. The two top first-year cadets stood before Seongjin, declaring it. Behind them, the other 27 cadets watched.
...Look at these guys.
His lips curled up involuntarily at their words.