Chapter 225
Chapter 225
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 225
Chapter Title: 76. Seasonal Transition (1)
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Unlike other educational institutions, Lair—run by relatively young people—often held quirky events.
「Ha Seok-mu's Five Transcendent Cadets Selection Exam」
Such as this, for example.
Originally, 'Kalliovan's Five Transcendent Beings' was a title given by the Federation Chairman 'Kalliovan' to those who could stand against battalion-level superhumans purely on the basis of individual 'prowess,' regardless of their ranking scores.
Lair's principal, Ha Seok-mu, had put his own name to it and ran a simplified version at the academy.
Limited to second-year cadets, they took a special exam. Among them, the top five performers were awarded the title of 'Transcendent Cadet.'
Like a certification. Or a spec booster. Cadets with this title could prove their worth. As 'Transcendent Cadet Qualified' or similar.
Plus, a Transcendent Cadet sticker went on their name tag.
Even if they wandered around casually, people would go, 'Oh, check that one out.'
But the cadets didn't like the event.
It was because of the title's name.
"Ugh. So cringe. Seriously."
It was when Team Mochi—Yoo Yeoreum, Sophia Borcova, Kim Ji-in, and Hisaki Sojiro—were chatting in a cafe.
Sophia grumbled.
"I mean, are they insane, those boomers? 'Five Transcendent Cadets'? Who came up with that lame name?"
"Right? Why's the wording so weird..."
Kim Ji-in nodded solemnly too.
For cadets in their sensitive mid-teens to early twenties, the phrase 'Ha Seok-mu's Five Transcendent Cadets' was somehow embarrassing to even say.
"Still, compared to some stiff title, isn't it kinda cool? Proof of being a cadet who transcends the norm—"
"What're you on about, you weeb..."
"Huh? Ji-in. It's not just an empty title. If I became one of the Five Transcendent Cadets, they'd hang a banner in my village. For a title with that much power and prestige, doesn't it fit pretty well?"
"Hey. Sojiro."
"Yes?"
"Every time you do this, I wanna kick you off the team. For real."
"Eek."
"Me too."
"Wait, hold on."
"Shut your weeb mouth..."
"Shut your weeb mouth. Please, just stop, Sojiro."
Sojiro, who had been full of energy, deflated after getting chewed out by Sophia and Kim Ji-in.
"That's mean..."
But Summer was unusually quiet today. The cadets turned to her.
"Yoo Yeoreum. What do you think?"
"Huh? Me?"
"Isn't 'Five Transcendent' totally lame?"
Summer, who had been slurping her coffee until then, replied.
"Yeah. Sounds retarded."
"Right?"
But Summer's response felt kinda soulless. Sophia twirled her long hair while checking Summer's complexion, when Sojiro piped up.
"Speaking of, Summer. You doing it?"
"Huh? Doing what?"
"What else? The Transcendent Cadet exam. If you join, one spot's already taken."
Summer thought blankly for a moment.
She had already proven her qualifications by taking first in the competition.
The strongest peers had gathered at Lair.
And among them, she had proven herself strong enough to represent a whole year.
So there was no need for another qualification.
No one could match her anyway.
The competition would be meaningless.
"Eh, too much hassle."
"Heh. As expected. Amazing how you can pick and choose even first place."
One regret was not facing the two strongest first-years.
Yong Tae-ha of the Yong clan.
And Tyr Bljenk, son of Oscar Bljenk.
She wanted to crush those two once, but the Ha Seok-mu Five Transcendent exam didn't include PvP.
"Hey. No take-backs later, okay?"
Sophia, who had been slyly eyeing a spot among the Five Transcendent Cadets, probed. Summer shrugged nonchalantly.
"Not interested in kids' games."
"Ooh. Confidence."
"Crazy bitch. Thinks she's a world ranker?"
Summer liked her own words quite a bit.
And she liked even more that they came out so naturally.
I'm the strongest.
No cadet could argue that. At least not in second year.
"Go work hard, you shrimps."
Wanna try taking Ha Seok-mu's Five Transcendent Cadets exam?
At Yoo Ji-tae's words, Autumn blinked.
"Huh? Me?"
Winter blinked beside her too. Why you...?
"You've learned some fighting basics now. Shouldn't you test it in a mock battle at least?"
"Uh, um, well..."
Autumn scratched her head in confusion. Then asked again.
"Me?"
"Yeah. You."
"Uh... I'm not confident..."
"It's fine. You don't have to place in the top five."
Yoo Ji-tae handed Autumn some documents.
Autumn opened them and checked. Winter and Spring peeked over from both sides. Dungeon maps and exam details were listed.
"Just give it a shot."
"......"
Autumn dazedly fiddled with her hair.
It was as expected.
Autumn wasn't learning combat magic because she liked it. If she had any self-esteem, she'd refuse things she didn't want to do. But even that she couldn't.
Repeated failures and giving up had shrunk the child.
Her rock-bottom self-esteem swept her along like a reed in the wind.
"Got it?"
"Yes. But... don't get mad if I mess up...?"
"I won't. No pressure."
"Okay..."
Even now, it was the same. Because her guardian deemed it the right path, Autumn just followed.
According to Spring, to spark even a little motivation in such an Autumn, constant fuel was needed.
Spring yelling during training.
Yoo Ji-tae praising after.
They were just stoking Autumn's flickering will bit by bit.
But this was an exam that many would watch.
Maybe worth some anticipation.
"You not doing it?"
Yoo Ji-tae asked Summer, who was sprawled on the hallway floor far off.
She half-ignored him.
"Summer."
"......"
"Yoo Yeoreum."
Only then did her head lift.
"Asked if you're doing it. Thought you'd like this."
"Others can..."
Yoo Ji-tae paused briefly.
When he went quiet, Summer sneakily checked his mood instead. He was looking down at his desk.
He was lost in thought.
Summer's progress had slowed lately.
Because she was slacking? No. She was still training hard lately. Pushing her body to the brink. Desperately striving to grow stronger.
Yet the slowdown's biggest cause was 'working hard.'
Until recently, it had been 'life-or-death' intensity.
Her sense of crisis had diluted.
Summer dies if she stops.
Only 'advancing' keeps her alive. That's why she plays games—advancing is her reason for living, her life's meaning. Why the Red clan obsesses over strength, forsaking their beloved booze, gambling, sex.
But already so far ahead of others, how could she feel crisis?
Subconsciously, fear of return day lingered. But that was distant.
She needed short-term crisis sense, and it was lacking.
Evidence supported it.
He ignored her showing dislike toward him.
Scales Eye showed 'like' in her preferences. Truth was, she didn't hate him.
Yet she refused 'instruction' from him.
That wouldn't do.
He could handle Red clan mana. For this stranded young Red Dragon on Earth, he was a once-in-a-lifetime master.
If she had any short-term crisis sense, refusing his teaching would be unthinkable.
So amid his worries, a good rival appeared.
"Winter. What if sis gets beat by a monster?"
"...Sh-shall I help?"
Yoo Gaeul.
He decided to sketch a blueprint.
First. Pit the two in competition.
Most important: No animosity between Summer and Autumn.
Conflict and rivalry without bad blood would benefit both.
Problem: He couldn't imagine how young dragons' conflict would unfold.
So he consulted an expert.
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Sounds good. Summer's never even considered Autumn a rival. Reds always obsess over hierarchy. If Autumn suddenly gets strong enough to compete, she'll feel massive crisis."
"Chance of them falling out?"
"Hm... 50%?"
"Too high."
"Then 0.1%?"
"What's the difference."
"Front's if left alone. Back's if Summer wins in the end."
Spring's words felt off. 'Summer wins in the end' was just the result.
Don't relationships sour in the process?
"You want me to rig it. Make sure Summer wins last."
"Yes. Better if she actually wins."
Yoo Ji-tae didn't reply to that.
"Oh, and it'll help Autumn too. She knows how amazing Summer is. Acts cool in front, but admires her behind closed doors. Beating or matching Summer even briefly would boost her self-esteem."
He nodded.
"Any deviation, and it'll be a headache."
"Super sensitive..."
"You mediate in the middle."
"Yes, Ajusshi."
Night.
When the kids were asleep.
In the Shallowest Abyss. Yoo Ji-tae tended Jeong Tae-baek's corpse. Removing the chimera's traces—tens of thousands of sharp fishhook-like remnants one by one—sometimes brought thoughts to mind.
Was it because Tae-baek's head was red?
A Red Dragon popped into his head.
—What the fuck. You?
Not Summer.
—You know who I am and you're doing this?
—Hey. You crazy? Huh? Can't let go?
—Get off! Fuck, get... off, I said—urk!
Dragged to the underground labyrinth by the throat.
—Heyyy! You fucking bastard—!
—Can't you hear me? Open the doooor—!!!
Resembling Summer.
Some girl's memory.
5th round.
When Yoo Ji-tae wasn't yet complete as a superhuman.
He'd seen new possibilities in the 4th round.
By the time that light faded.
He dragged out the problem he'd ignored. As the core theme.
Power lacked to uphold beliefs. Too many compromises.
So he had to grow stronger.
World superhuman ranking 3rd. One of Kalliovan's Five Transcendents. Free qualification dungeon conqueror privileges... etc.
Known as strong, but no fancy modifiers hid it: he was weak.
To grow stronger, he chained hatchlings in the underground labyrinth. Having mapped all their 4+ round regression-point locations, it was easy.
—What'd I do wrong? What'd I do so wrong to you...?
—Why're you doing this to me...?
A certain Red Dragon hatchling who fled the labyrinth, burning her own heart.
In his absence, she blazed heroically.
Crushed violence urges rode mad mental waves and exploded.
The hatchling waged war. Raged wildly, becoming humanity's target.
By the time he returned late upon hearing, she was caught in his hands—body torn, shattered, broken.
The child who never once complained of pain in captivity.
With her one remaining eye, looked at the regressor and,
—It hurts.
—My chest... hurts.
Moved her ruined jaw to beg.
—Please... kill me...