From Hope to Despair
A pitch-black basement. A single bare bulb cast the only light across the concrete.
“...I’m sorry.”
The man spoke on his knees, head bowed.
“Sorry? For what?” The woman looked down at him, lips curling into a crooked grin.
“I failed to obtain Count Asura’s Ancient Book.”
“Hmm… Did you? Then I suppose you couldn’t form a contract with him either?”
“...No.”
“That’s fine. These things happen. Sure, sure. It can’t be helped.”
“...I’m truly sorry.”
“No need. These things happen. I’ll spare you, so go on. Get out.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Leave this room and I’ll let you live. You have ten seconds.”
“Thank you. I’ll be leaving now.”
Hope flared in the man’s eyes. He lunged for the doorknob.
Creak— Creak—
The door refused to budge.
He turned back to her, face drained of all color.
“Oh dear. Ten seconds are up already? I clearly gave you a chance to live.”
With those words, the woman began walking toward him, slow and deliberate.
“Oh. That expression is absolutely delicious. The way a face overflowing with hope drowns in despair.”
She broke into a radiant smile.
“Yes! Show me more. More!”
The man’s legs began to shake uncontrollably.
This woman had never intended to spare him. She had simply wanted to watch him—brimming with the hope of survival—collapse into utter despair.
“Just kill me already.”
He wore the face of complete resignation.
“Sure. I was going to anyway.”
The moment the words left her lips, a massive sword punched through his abdomen.
“Urk—!”
Blood poured from his mouth as he crumpled to the floor.
“Tsk. Got blood on my clothes.”
The woman brushed at her sleeve.
“Hello? Vice-leader, what’s up?”
“...I told you to use honorifics.”
“Being all stiff is no fun.”
“...Fine, whatever. Anyway, about tomorrow.”
“What about it?”
“I heard the guild you’re infiltrating is visiting Elphon Academy tomorrow.”
“And?”
“I confirmed your name is on the list.”
“...I wasn’t planning to go. Sounded boring.”
“The Leader gave a direct order. The idiot who tried to contract with Count Asura failed, so the plan’s hit a snag. Go check if there are any useful pawns.”
“...If the Leader said so, I guess I have no choice.”
....
I stared out the window. The night sky was so black it seemed to swallow the entire world.
I glanced sideways. Cha Jiyun sat beside me.
By the time the auction ended, it was already deep into the night. Public transportation had stopped running, so her driver had come to pick her up. I simply rode along.
“...Won’t you take it?”
In her hands was the ancient tome she had bought at the auction.
.....
I looked at the book in silence. I couldn’t bring myself to accept it. Five billion won. No matter how I thought about it, that was an enormous sum.
“...It feels too burdensome to accept.”
“There’s no need to feel burdened.”
“Pardon?”
“Didn’t I tell you? Five billion is pocket change to me.”
“...Is that really true?”
“....As if. Even I have to steel myself to spend that kind of money.”
She let out a small, amused laugh.
“Ah…”
“Still, I consider it insufficient payment for saving my life.”
“....Then I’ll accept it with gratitude.”
I carefully took the book from her hands.
“...Oh, right. I heard you and Radeon will be having a sword duel at the next festival.”
“Yes.”
“...I don’t think I’ve ever seen you use a sword. May I ask what you’re thinking?”
She tilted her head, silver hair shifting like moonlight.
“I’ll win. Without fail.”
As I spoke, my gaze fell back to the book. I still wasn’t sure I deserved to keep it.
Cha Jiyun studied me closely. After a moment, she spoke again.
“....That doesn’t seem correct.”
“Pardon?”
“.....You intend to use this book to defeat Radeon, don’t you?”
She pointed at the tome with a slender finger.
“.....I also heard that losing the duel means you will drop out of the academy.”
“.....”
“I don’t know the exact reason for the duel or what is at stake, but aren’t you trying to gain sword talent by sacrificing your lifespan?”
“......”
“...To obtain enough talent to beat Radeon, you would have to devote the majority of your remaining life. Even then, you might still lose.”
“....”
“...I don’t know the full story, but I don’t believe there is any reason to go that far.”
“....”
“...I obtained it because you said you needed it, but personally, I cannot recommend using it.”
Her expression was deadly serious.
I barely managed to swallow the laughter threatening to burst out. She had completely misunderstood everything.
Back in the dormitory, I lay on my bed and stared at the book.
It was known for raising talent at the cost of the user’s lifespan. That part was true. But there was another, hidden power sealed within it.
I placed my hand on the cover and poured my mana into it.
This book would only react to Nam Doyun’s unique magical signature. Only then would the true ability reveal itself.
Skill 4 - Mental Barrier
You will possess absolute power within your inner world.
Condition: Count Asura's Ancient Book (1/1)
Acquire the skill? [Y/N]
I selected Y.
Congratulations. You have successfully awakened the skill.
Skill 4 - Mental Barrier
You will possess absolute power within your inner world.
The next day.
“As I mentioned before, invited instructors from various guilds will be here today. You may go to whichever guild interests you. I’ll post the list on the board—check it and head to the appropriate classroom.”
Crystal Guild – Class 1-B.
Oris Guild – Class 1-C.
Mekin Guild – Class 1-D.
Comet Guild – Class 1-E.
I turned my head. Cha Jiyun wore a sullen expression. She was probably unhappy that her own guild hadn’t been invited. But her organization was still too small to have formed a partnership with Elphon Academy.
“When you enter a classroom, the instructor from that guild will administer a test. Passing it should leave a favorable impression.”
Students would take the tests prepared by each guild. Those who passed would earn the guild’s attention.
“Hey, where are you going?”
“Obviously Crystal Guild, the number one ranked one. Why even ask?”
“But their test is supposed to be brutal, isn’t it?”
“I’ll settle for Comet Guild. The top ones feel too risky.”
Students moved toward classrooms matching their own abilities. Naturally, the higher-ranked guilds had harsher tests, so no one blindly rushed to the very top.
“....I need to pass.”
The problem was that in this episode I had to take the Crystal Guild’s test. I needed to build a connection with them so they would help me later when fighting the demonic humans.
I headed for Class 1-B, where the Crystal Guild instructor waited.
Inside, the room was packed with familiar faces. It looked like every notable first-year had gathered. Radeon sat in the very back. I pulled out a chair at the front and sat down.
After a while, the door opened and two women entered.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Jin Hyewon from the Crystal Guild.”
She stood at the lectern and gave a polite bow. Then she gestured to the woman beside her.
“This is our newest recruit, Haze.”
“Hello. My name is Haze. It’s a pleasure.”
Creak—
At that moment, the front door opened again. A woman with long black hair stepped inside.
....?
Jin Hyewon and Haze stared at her blankly. She wasn’t wearing a school uniform. She clearly wasn’t a student.
Who was she?
“...What are you two doing here? Why are you in this room?”
The black-haired woman looked at them and spoke.
Jin Hyewon glanced at the woman’s name tag. It read “Oris Guild Invited Instructor.” Her name was Mari.
“Miss Mari. You’re from the Oris Guild, correct? The Oris Guild is assigned to Class 1-C. This is 1-B.”
“Ah… really? I thought Oris was in 1-B?”
“...It is not.”
Jin Hyewon frowned.
“Oh. My mistake. I didn’t know.”
As she spoke, Mari casually glanced at Jin Hyewon’s name tag.
“Anyone can make a mistake. Why the long face, Hyewon? Right?”
She patted Jin Hyewon’s shoulder a couple of times.
Jin Hyewon’s eyebrow twitched. She forced a smile.
“Yes. That can happen. Could you please leave now?”
“I was going to, but now that you’re acting like this, I suddenly don’t feel like it.”
In that instant, the thin thread of patience Jin Hyewon had been clinging to in front of the students finally snapped.
“By the way, how old are you?”
“...What?”
“How old are you to be speaking so casually? You look younger than me.”
.....
Mari stared at her with an icy expression.
At that moment, my heart sank.
Shit.
Why the hell is she here?
She was never supposed to appear in this place.
Just as humans formed groups, demonic humans formed their own organizations. Among them, the most infamous was Requiem. They were behind nearly every major terrorist attack and assassination in the world.
The problem was that they operated like a perfect cell structure. Only low-ranking members were ever caught, and no executive had ever been captured. Even if you tortured the grunts, they knew nothing about the higher-ups.
And every executive had contracted with high-ranking demons, granting them immense mana and physical ability. If they ever went on a full rampage, active Hunters would have to be deployed to stop them.
....
One of those very executives—Mari—was standing right here.
Of course, even if she caused a scene, she could probably be subdued. More than ten guilds were present today. The real problem was that students would die in the crossfire.
Normally, even Requiem executives wouldn’t rampage inside the academy. But Mari was different. With her personality, the slightest irritation could trigger a bloodbath.
Mari’s tongue flicked across her lips. That was a sign she was extremely displeased. Any more provocation and this classroom would turn into a slaughterhouse. The students here wouldn’t survive.
I stood up and walked forward, inserting myself between Jin Hyewon and Mari.
Mari frowned, clearly confused.
“Who the hell are you?”
Her expression darkened further. One wrong word and my head would fly off immediately.
But I knew the magic phrase that would soothe her mood.
“Wow. You were pretty even from a distance, but up close you’re fucking gorgeous.”
“.....”
She stared at me without a word. Then she let out a small snort of laughter, turned on her heel, and walked out of the classroom.