Chapter 402
Chapter 402
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 403
Chapter Title: Morning Briefing
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The Special Task Force's morning meeting continued under Kim Deokhyeon's lead.
To summarize the content, it was like this.
The demon group 'Ten Demon Society' hidden in Baekil was currently on the verge of annihilation, and their master, the 'King,' was moving directly to bring about a new change.
Moreover, behind them lurked a massive force wielding immense power, likely organized in the form of a corporation.
After that, the briefing began on methods to track the 'King' and the Ten Demon Society's hideout.
Traces obtained from the Demon Gate incident and a small clue left by an agent who went missing while pursuing the Ten Demon Society...
As the explanation continued, astonishment and shock spread across the agents' faces.
...And so time passed.
"That's the end of the briefing. Since one of our agents went missing, there's a high chance our information has leaked to them. Everyone, prepare for possible ambushes."
Once Kim Deokhyeon finished explaining, a brief silence fell among the agents.
But it didn't last long. The agents seemed to have sorted their thoughts and muttered one by one.
"The Demon Gate incident was just the tip of the iceberg."
"Yeah... But who the hell is the force hiding behind the demons?"
"There are rumors it's the Hanseong family."
"Nah, no way..."
At that moment, one agent shot his hand up.
"Team leader."
"Speak."
"How will we form the operation team? We're short on manpower with Jaun and the disaster-grade beast incidents lately."
Kim Deokhyeon stroked his chin for a moment before speaking.
"This operation will involve everyone here. Of course, not everyone will be in the combat unit—they'll be assigned to various roles like intelligence gathering and security."
"...Hmm. As expected."
The situation was unfolding just as I'd predicted.
The opponent wasn't just the Ten Demon Society.
Behind them was the Hanseong family, known as the second largest force after the Association.
No matter how powerful the Association was, taking on the Ten Demon Society and the Hanseong family at the same time would be tough.
The silver lining was that Han Sejin hadn't fully taken control of the Hanseong family yet.
At that point, Kim Deokhyeon spoke up.
"Oh, and the trainees and interns are excluded from this operation for now."
At those words, everyone's gazes turned to me, Lee Seojun, and Yoo Ara.
"Hang on, Team Leader. We're announcing the license exam results today—aren't they pros now too? It's a waste to bench them just because they're trainees when they've got that kind of skill."
"Yeah. Even if we don't put them in combat, they can handle other roles just fine."
As the agents chimed in, Kim Deokhyeon let out a sigh.
"As I said earlier, one intelligence agent pursuing the Ten Demon Society recently went missing."
A heavy silence settled at Kim Deokhyeon's words.
"And the missing agent was an S-Rank powerhouse. That means this mission is extremely dangerous."
"...Still, wouldn't it be okay if we don't deploy them to the field?"
Kim Deokhyeon shook his head.
"There's a very high chance our intel has leaked to them too. Headquarters ordered us to assemble an elite team for security reasons."
As he said that, Kim Deokhyeon's gaze turned to me. Then, in a voice too quiet to hear, he muttered.
"...Though I don't know if that's the real reason."
The unexpectedly long Special Task Force meeting finally wrapped up.
The agents dove into preparations for their assigned missions, while the three of us—me, Lee Seojun, and Yoo Ara, who were excluded—returned to our seats.
Yoo Ara sat in her chair, let out a short sigh, and slumped over her desk.
"...What a bummer. I really wanted in on this op."
"What can you do? Once we get our pro licenses, they might bring us back in."
When Lee Seojun tried to console her, Yoo Ara pouted.
"Still. I want to rack up experience as soon as possible."
Lee Seojun gave a wry smile at Yoo Ara's ever-enthusiastic words.
"Right. By the way, how much longer until the pro license results?"
"Five minutes."
At my answer, both their gazes simultaneously flicked to the clock on the wall.
10:55.
The pass rate for the exam was 100%, so in five minutes, we'd become official pro wizards.
"...We're pros now too, huh. Feels kinda weird."
Yoo Ara murmured softly with a thoughtful expression, then suddenly turned to me.
"...By the way, that's unexpected."
"What is?"
"Being excluded from the op. I figured you'd be the most bummed about it."
I blinked blankly.
"Me? Why?"
"You seemed pretty passionate about the Task Force... And you're always super into big incidents like this."
Her words carried some inexplicable weight.
Her eyes were odd too.
"...Well, I kinda saw it coming."
This Ten Demon Society subjugation was too high-level for trainees like us.
Plus, we'd only gotten our pass results—there was still time before the license ceremony.
In the original story's flow, the King's subjugation wouldn't happen during the Task Force's operation anyway.
......Really?
Yoo Ara stared at me blankly and nodded.
Ding.
As we chatted idly, an alarm rang from the smart student notepad.
I instantly realized it was the pro wizard license exam results.
We exchanged glances for a moment before checking our notepads simultaneously.
[Pro Wizard License Pass Results Announced.]
The pass rate was 100%, but my goal wasn't just passing—it was hitting A-Rank...
Would I make A-Rank?
I checked the list without hesitation.
It didn't take long to find my name.
[1. Kim Sunwoo: A-Rank]
"...Phew."
Even closing my eyes and looking again, it was clearly A-Rank.
The words "A-Rank" sat plainly next to my name—something I'd never achieved even in my previous life.
A smile crept onto my lips, and an indescribable sense of satisfaction filled me. At the same time, messages appeared before my eyes.
[You have acquired the qualifications of an A-Rank Wizard.]
[You have achieved the 'A-Rank Wizard License Acquisition' feat.]
[As a reward, you acquire 10,000 points.]
[Your understanding of mana increases slightly.]
[The proficiency of 'Mana Control Technique (A)' increases slightly.]
[A small change in the future has been detected.]
[Karma increases by 0.3.]
Nice rewards. I hadn't expected Mana Control Technique and karma to go up too.
Worth the hard work to hit A-Rank.
Then messages popped up on the smart student notepad.
Not just one, but several.
[Congrats on A-Rank, Sunbae-nim!!! (clap clap clap clap emoji)]
[Congrats on A-Rank, Sunwoo!]
[Whoa~ Kim Sunwoo A-Rank?? 天才 (genius in kanji)]
[Congratulations on A-Rank, Student Kim Sunwoo! Remember me? I contacted you before about guild recruitment...]
......What the.
Messages from Choi Seoyoon, Yoon Hayoung... Shin Youngjun, and various guild scouts.
Even Choi Seoyoon—shouldn't she be in class right now?
[I saw on the news that getting first place with A-Rank is the first time in 22 years.]
[Somehow it makes me fired up too...!]
[I gotta work harder so I don't fall behind Sunbae-nim]
[(flame emoji)]
[!!!!!!!!!!!!!]
"...She's making a huge fuss."
She seems happier than I am.
Must be sneaking peeks in class, but her typing speed is insane.
As I was about to send a quick thanks, another message appeared before my eyes.
[Countless people praise and call you a genius.]
[You achieve the 'Manufactured Genius' feat.]
[As a reward, you acquire 10,000 points.]
Whoa. What?
Points again. Another 10,000.
Heh. That's more like it.
"Kim Sunwoo. You finally hit your goal. Congrats."
Lee Seojun's voice came from beside me. I smirked at him and said.
"You too, congrats on A-Rank."
Lee Seojun had hit A-Rank too.
Two first-rank A-Ranks born in one year. The media would make a huge deal out of it.
Something like 'The Birth of Korea's Two Geniuses.'
As we exchanged warm congratulations, my eyes happened to meet Yoo Ara's.
Unlike with Lee Seojun, her gaze held a hint of bitterness.
She was probably bummed about being the only one with B-Rank.
But B-Rank wasn't bad.
......Congrats on A-Rank.
......Uh, yeah. You too on B-Rank.
It felt like she needed cheering up, so I added.
"Hey, B-Rank is still great. In exam terms, that's second place."
At that, Yoo Ara's eyes narrowed.
"You're teasing me again, aren't you?"
A dark space thick with chilling demonic energy.
For the first time, a human had entered the Ten Demon Society's hideout, long reserved only for demons.
The residents eyed him warily but didn't attack.
The reason was simple.
He was Han Sejin, the human formally invited by the 'King.'
"...So this is where you hid."
Han Sejin looked around.
Countless buildings and demons. And various spell devices blocking demonic energy from leaking outside.
The interior of the Ten Demon Society he saw resembled an underground palace... no, a city.
If the legendary Demon Subduing Hall existed, wouldn't it look like this?
Just then, a demon approached him.
"Follow me. The King awaits."
Han Sejin followed the demon.
Soon, he arrived before a massive door etched with countless patterns.
Rumble...
The door opened, and Han Sejin slowly stepped inside.
"—You've come?"
A chilling voice from beyond the darkness.
A voice carrying enough pressure to terrify even high-rank wizards, yet Han Sejin's face showed not a hint of change.
He slowly walked toward the source of the voice and stopped.
"...This is the first time seeing you like this. Is that your true form?"
Han Sejin murmured while gazing at something shrouded in darkness.
On the floor lay a brutally mangled corpse spurting blood, and atop it loomed the King, its pitch-black eyes gleaming as it absorbed human blood.
Beside it lay what appeared to be the corpse's ID.
[Magic Association Intelligence Team Grade 2 Agent Shin Seongwoo]
The King stopped feeding and turned its gaze to Han Sejin.
"...Impressive. Even without cultivating mana, you show not a shred of tension before this body."
"I'm just naturally bold. It's a trait all in my family share, you could say."
Han Sejin flashed a sly smile and continued.
"...Anyway, preparations on my end are complete. I've secured a good amount of the family's treasures, the Divine Items too."
"Is that so... The time of the prophecy approaches."
The King murmured softly.
Han Sejin stared at him impassively and asked.
"So, what's your plan? The Association's watch is tightening, and we can't stall much longer. There's still the Chung Mountain issue, isn't there?"
At Han Sejin's question, the King lightly waved an arm.
At once, thick demonic energy swirled violently in the air.
"For this day, I gathered the mana essences of countless humans. Absorbing the essences will awaken my power temporarily... Once that happens, no one but the child of prophecy can harm me."
It was a simpler plan than expected.
Just absorb lives to grow stronger.
But seeing the confidence in his voice, it seemed the 'awakening' would grant tremendous power.
What concerned him more was something else.
"...By the way, child of prophecy? What's that?"
Even Han Sejin, with his vast intelligence network, was hearing this for the first time.
The King answered.
"The child of prophecy is the natural enemy of demons, born with the power of demon extermination... According to the previous King's prophecy, that child will take my life. And I have found that existence as prophesied."
For a split second, Han Sejin's eyes trembled.
Child of prophecy? Such a thing really existed?
If that was true, it wasn't something to brush off.
That single existence could ruin all his plans.
"...If that's true, eliminating the child of prophecy comes first. So, who is this child of prophecy?"
At Han Sejin's question, the King replied.
"Kim Sunwoo."