Chapter 23
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Apostle's Contractor
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Two days later.
Today, too, after learning from Wol Ha-yeon how to shape an aura core to fit my body and finishing a solid swordsmanship training session, I had some time left before morning classes.
I was sitting in the corner of the sparring room with her, chatting.
"So, the midterm sparring evaluations are starting soon. Have you decided which category you'll enter?"
"... Who knows. Applications are due by Friday this week, so I need to decide quickly, but I'm still torn."
Starting next Wednesday through Friday, the second main story event—the first-year first-semester midterms—would begin.
Of course, since we hadn't covered much in the other classes yet and the content was pretty thin anyway, it was hardly a real exam.
It felt more like they tacked on a few subjects just to call it a midterm schedule around the Friday sparring evaluation.
In any case, it wasn't a tough test where you'd fail if you didn't study extra.
Most of the theory I already knew inside out, and written exams never scored high no matter how well you did anyway...
But the sparring evaluation was different.
It was like a college amateur baseball team showing off to pro scouts to get drafted.
The Academy's sparring evaluations were broadcast live to everyone—from Korea's seven major guilds to mid-tier and small guilds, and even famous overseas ones.
You had to give it your all.
Show every last bit of what you had, scraping the bottom of the barrel.
Of course, students who entered with guild sponsorships or had awakened B-rank traits or higher would probably land in a decent mid-tier guild without screwing up too badly.
I had no intention of joining a guild from the start, since any restrictions on my future activities would be a problem...
But I had another reason to ace the exam.
'Damn... To live like a human, I need at least some upkeep money...'
I wasn't getting any real benefits from the Academy right now.
At best, free dorm access and some on-campus facilities?
Even that so-called paradise for Awakeners—the deep mana training room where mana density was at least ten times richer and a huge boon for training—was too expensive for me to use.
But if I shot up the rankings in one go, some achievement award or whatever...
Whatever it was called, if I showed eye-catching, remarkable growth, the Academy would hand out scholarships, grants, and upkeep stipends in celebration.
So, I planned to hit at least top 100 in this sparring evaluation, climb the ranks as high as possible, and gobble up all those funds.
"Kuh... Can't wait."
"...? What was that out of nowhere?"
Wol Ha-yeon, waiting for my answer beside me, gave me an incredulous look when I let out that weird "Kuh..." out of the blue.
"Anyway, you should decide ASAP. I chatted with Kim Do-yoon briefly yesterday, and he hasn't picked a category either. Looked like he's waiting to see what you choose."
"... So Kim Do-yoon's holding off because he wants to fight me? Wait, before that—when did you two get chummy?"
I was a bit bothered by why that guy was suddenly acting like this.
But more importantly, how the hell did those two end up talking?
I asked out of pure curiosity, no ulterior motive.
But Wol Ha-yeon either misunderstood or something, because she gave me a meaningful smile, stared for a second, then reverted to her usual blank expression and answered flatly.
"Just yesterday after afternoon classes. We bumped into each other in front of the main building on the way back."
"We barely knew each other beyond faces, so I was just gonna nod and pass, but he suddenly started talking. Brought you up first."
"Kim Do-yoon talked about me?"
"Yeah. What'd he say... Oh, right. He asked me to let him know if you two ever spar next time. Said he wants to see you fight in person. Mentioned he was really impressed by that dungeon footage of you and Lee Soo-hyuk battling..."
"......"
I let out a deep sigh without thinking at the completely unexpected info from her mouth.
"Hah... That's kinda awkward. What'd you tell him?"
"Obviously, I'd ask you first and let him know. I don't care who sees, but you might."
"... Thanks for the heads-up."
Wol Ha-yeon shrugged and turned her head.
"Whatever, I was gonna tell you anyway even if you hadn't asked. And... I'm not buddies with Kim Do-yoon or anything, so don't worry."
"... Huh? What're you talking about all of a sudden? Worry about what?"
I made a total confused face, and she stared right at me before adding in her usual deadpan tone laced with a hint of playfulness.
"What, you didn't ask because you're bothered I got close to another guy?"
"... Where the hell did you get that ridiculous idea?"
"Wasn't it? Whatever then."
"...."
Wol Ha-yeon nodded slightly, slipping back into her calm expression, then pondered for a moment before continuing.
"And this is just my personal take, but right now, you're way behind Kim Do-yoon in both magic and swordplay, aren't you? So for the evaluation, to put up your best score and actually compete with him, wouldn't picking magic—where your talents are closer—make sense?"
"Your swordsmanship growth is faster than I expected, sure, but Sophia said your magic progress is unbelievable. Like you've learned it before or something?"
"... Magic's whatever... Wait, Sophia? When did you get close to her...?"
I shot back with a bewildered look, but Wol Ha-yeon just gave me an unreadable expression, stood up first, strapped her twin moon swords to her waist, said she'd head out ahead, and left the sparring room.
"... What was that? What the hell was that face?"
Five minutes after she left, I shook off my daze and headed out too, a nagging unease lingering.
That evening.
In the penthouse dorm reserved only for students who awakened S-rank traits, the top scorer, and runner-up.
As Wol Ha-yeon finished her day and relaxed, black smoke billowed before her, revealing a man.
"Lady Wol Ha-yeon, I've compiled everything you requested."
He bowed politely and placed a briefcase on the table.
"Faster than I expected. Sit."
Wol Ha-yeon gestured casually to a seat. He sat, pulling out a tablet and stack of printouts.
"As requested, I've secured all available info on student Kang Hyun-sol."
"Good work. Explain."
"Yes."
He swiped through the tablet as he began.
"Kang Hyun-sol. Age 19. Family confirmed deceased in that incident ten years ago."
"No notable background in wealth or connections. Well, his mother's side was a bit—or a lot—famous, but on the surface, he looks like a lucky Awakener freshman."
Wol Ha-yeon nodded blankly, gesturing for him to continue.
She wanted traces hidden beneath the basics.
"But... there are a few oddities in his pre-enrollment records."
His finger paused, bringing up cross-verification charts.
"Up through high school second year, he was utterly average. No Hunter Academy history, always bottom ranks in mana aptitude tests—basically deemed un-Awakenable. School evals were meh. But around third year, some life record data gets murky."
"Murky how?"
"Yes. Subtle inconsistencies. Like accident reports and attendance logs not matching times, or volunteer records overlapping medical files from totally different regions."
Wol Ha-yeon's brow furrowed slightly.
"Signs of tampering?"
"Exactly. But so meticulously done, originals are unrecoverable."
"He definitely lived as a regular human until twenty, and awakened his trait right before the Academy entrance exam."
"... What trait?"
"... Unmeasurable. Three retests, all failed. Even with Korea Hunter Association's top machine—the world's most accurate—nothing."
"That means..."
Wol Ha-yeon instantly considered one possibility.
It explained the unmeasurable rank and the weird feeling she always got around him.
The man took a breath.
"Two options. An SS-rank trait like yours that needs adaptation... or..."
"He's a Mine, contracted with at least Apostle-level demon... Right?"
"... Yes. Bottom line: Kang Hyun-sol has a thoroughly hidden past by someone's hand, and his current self seems more planned than coincidence."
He bowed, adding,
"Deeper digging needs time. But at your requested depth, it's suspicious enough."
Wol Ha-yeon closed her eyes, deep in thought, then sighed long.
"...... Is Kang Hyun-sol really a Mine contracted with an Apostle-level demon?"
"... Hard to say."
Demons had six ranks: Soldier-Elite-General-Lord-Apostle-Demon King.
From C-rank Hunter-level soldier demons to...
De Nol, Apostle of Hypocrisy, who ten years ago descended from the Demon Realm for the third Apostle Descent, killing eight S-rank Hunters and hundreds of thousands.
Up to the Demon King commanding them all.
Humanity had fought demons for decades, but the war showed no sign of ending.
"... If Kang Hyun-sol really is tainted by an Apostle's power."
Wol Ha-yeon traced the document with his info slowly.
"It could trigger the fourth Apostle Descent. Worst case, a full descent—damage incomparable to ten years ago."
But her cold expression softened, a faint smile forming.
"But... if that unmeasurable result is just unknown potential?"
"It'd be a huge boon against the demons."
"Exactly."
Two emotions crossed her heart.
Vigilance and intrigue.
If even slightly suspicious, she'd handle it or take measures.
But equal curiosity burned to know more about him.
The man hesitated, then asked carefully.
"Shall I order deeper investigation on Kang Hyun-sol? Or stop here?"
"......"
Silence fell briefly.
Wol Ha-yeon lifted her wine glass from the table corner, swirling the red liquid lightly, then shook her head.
"Stop. No need to go further."
"... You sure?"
"Yeah. Can't stir up needless trouble over unconfirmed suspicion. Instead..."
She gazed out the window at the moonlight sparkling in the night sky, speaking slowly.
"Whether he's truly bearing an Apostle's shadow... or humanity's hope... I'll confirm it myself, up close."
"...."
The man didn't press further after her words.
He simply bowed to Wol Ha-yeon, then vanished in black smoke just as he'd appeared.
Alone now, she stared out the window a while longer before murmuring softly.
"... Kang Hyun-sol, I hope you're not a Mine. I really like you."
Her eyes gleamed deeper and colder than ever.