A Plan Was Made, But Cheon Ji-yoon Became the Strongest Student
32. We made a plan, but to sum it up, Cheon Ji-yoon had become the strongest student at school.
The three-year educational curriculum. As it was the Hunter Academy, there was a ranking system for students who had awakened. After reporting her awakening this time, Cheon Ji-yoon declared her rank as B-rank just as she had coordinated with Cheon Ji-hoo, and listed her awakening skill as "swordsmanship."
She decided not to use features like Light Wings or Light Sword, which defined a knight in white armor. But even that was more than enough for Cheon Ji-yoon to claim the top spot at school. After all, no student could comprehend the mysteries of the sword spirit.
The sword intent and sword principle of the spirit sword, infused with the earnest wishes of countless swordsmen and blacksmiths—it was a power that could elevate a person to swordmaster level. It was only natural.
The first challengers were, as always, the three who had picked fights with her before. They had awakened through rift raids themselves, so this time they came at her with skills during what they called a sparring match.
The three charged, wooden weapons wrapped in multicolored auras. It was a tense, do-or-die moment, but Cheon Ji-yoon simply gazed at them calmly, holding a single wooden sword.
Too slow.
Slow—agonizingly slow. Slow enough for a fly to land on them. Cheon Ji-yoon raised her wooden sword.
It took just three exchanges to subdue them. She twisted her body to the right, striking the wrist of the one coming straight at her. Using the recoil, she thrust into the solar plexus of the one attacking from the right. Then, dropping low, she switched the sword to her left hand and stabbed deep into the thigh of the one on the left. Done.
What had just happened in that brief moment? The three who had charged in cried out in pain, dropped their weapons, and rolled on the ground.
Cheon Ji-yoon looked down at them with cold eyes, sheathed her wooden sword at her waist, and walked into the school grounds.
The students watching from the training field whispered among themselves. Her newly announced awakening rank was B-rank—one lower than expected. But what she had just shown was absolutely not B-rank level.
It was Cheon Ji-yoon's flashy school debut.
* * *
Cheon Ji-hoo slowly opened his eyes after emerging from the library world, reviewing it all in his mind. The library world was a realm of the unconscious—like a dream, its memories were fleeting like a precognitive vision unless organized in his head.
Recalling what he had learned about the Demon Kings, he let out a long breath and set his goal.
The first one is you, Silence Demon King.
A demon brazenly wandering around and even revealing its name meant it was likely holed up in some rift somewhere in the world. It was surely hiding out there. By hunting it down and killing it, he would declare war on the Demon Kings. This was his land. Anyone who disturbed his peace would not be forgiven.
So first things first.
He needed to pinpoint the location of the Silence Demon King. He had asked Tol of the Dark Clouds, but it only answered "crevice" without specifying where. So, to find it, he would need to create an artifact capable of detecting Demon Kings.
"Still, that Untraceable blessing is such a pain…."
A god's blessing couldn't be pierced by magic. It was a principle, a truth. Divine authority was, quite literally, something that gripped and shook the fate of the world—also called the flow or destiny.
Magic posed questions to reality and drew answers into physical form. But blessings and authority created an unalterable "fate."
To breach the Untraceable blessing, he had no choice but to use an opposing blessing.
Should I make some old-school magic detector?
Things would have been better if there were high-ranking priests on Earth. Priests of the Church of Blazing Flames borrowed the power of the goddess of light and salt to wield blessings. They excelled at detecting demons—enough to easily sniff out underlings, even if Demon Kings were a stretch. But he couldn't just open another dimensional rift….
"Hmm."
After a moment of thought, he pulled out his smartphone first. He opened a delivery app and ordered a hamburger from Sode Ria.
Food first, then think.
* * *
"President."
"What is it?"
In the Hunter Association building, on the top floor president's office. The president looked up from his work toward the vice president who had knocked and entered.
The vice president gauged his mood, bowed his head, and spoke.
"It's about that matter with Cheon Ji-hoo."
"Speak."
The article on Cheon Ji-hoo was already prepared. Many people had seen the dragon plume in Uijeongbu. It was huge enough to spot from afar, and it was one of the hot topics heating up SNS and video sites right now.
[Dragon plume in Uijeongbu amid monster wave?]
[Hunter Association: 'No big deal. Please wait.']
[Weather expert: 'Not something that can happen normally']
[No S-rank hunter capable of creating a dragon plume was present.]
[S-rank hunter Lee Woo-ju: 'Even an S-rank couldn't do it']
……and so on.
In any case, public opinion was clamoring for an official explanation from the Hunter Association. It was a massive dragon plume, acknowledged even by an S-rank hunter in an interview. Starting from barren land without a drop of water, piercing straight into the sky. Those who saw the hazy footage all thought the same thing.
It might have been the divine hammer of retribution from the heavens.
So the Hunter Association had prepared quickly under the president's orders and was about to make the announcement. But just before, the vice president came in and said,
"Shouldn't we reframe this? National glory? Ridiculous. He's just some returner—what kind of nonsense is that? Just because he took down one villain…."
The middle-aged vice president, who wasn't a hunter, hadn't been at the monster wave scene. Not having witnessed his prowess, he clearly resented the president elevating Cheon Ji-hoo to SS-rank hero status for saving the citizens.
The president narrowed his eyes at his words.
"What are you?"
"Pardon?"
"What do you think you are, saying crap like that? If you're gonna yap, go block a monster wave by yourself."
"What are you talking about? I'm not even a hunter…."
"Exactly. Do you know what the world is like these days? Rifts popping up everywhere like weeds, and the monsters coming out of them getting stronger by the day."
It had been ten years since the great rifts appeared. Humanity hadn't perished amid the chaos. A few small nations with few awakeners had fallen, but that was it. But starting four years ago, the number of rifts had surged, and monster levels had risen. Hunter levels rose accordingly, even prompting changes to awakening rank criteria.
"That's why every country set up academies—to raise great hunters from childhood…."
The president trailed off there and shut his mouth. Honestly, it was no different from training soldiers from childhood. Forcing kids at play age into it. What a twisted idea, burdening the future on children by turning them into hunters no better than soldiers.
"Anyway, as I've said countless times, the association's current goal is that: a focal point. After discussions, I decided Cheon Ji-hoo would be that focal point."
"Focal point…."
The president had made up his mind right after the monster wave. The spectacle he showed, the way he handled the demon. And the information on demons and Demon Kings transmitted directly into his head—it was enough to flip his stance in an instant.
Cheon Ji-hoo's intel was terrifying. Tied to a grave matter that could truly doom humanity, he immediately shifted course. His first goal: spread the word far and wide to the demons and Demon Kings hiding somewhere that Cheon Ji-hoo was here.
"So, no more nitpicking the plan."
"……Understood, President. But you'll regret this for sure."
The vice president said that and left the office. Alone now, the president laughed loudly at his parting words.
Regret? He'd done plenty of that already.
As he sat there satisfied, his phone rang. Checking the number, it was from Hong Ji-hwa.
"Yes, what is it?"
-Well, President. That is….
Hong Ji-hwa dragged out the end of her sentence. It was her tell when something was up.
"Speak."
-Cheon Ji-hoo is heading to raid an S-rank rift. Right now.
"Stop him NOW!!"
* * *
Cheonan. In front of the S-rank rift.
"Th-that is, please reconsider…."
"My courtesy ends with the notice."
Cheon Ji-hoo had asked Hong Ji-hwa for the S-rank rift's location, and she answered thoughtlessly before realizing what he intended. She urgently yelled to stop whatever crazy idea it was, but the call was already cut.
And now. Unlike lower-grade rifts, S-rank rifts were special, under special management, with association staff always stationed there. The S-rank rift staff had orders from above to stop anyone, and they blocked Cheon Ji-hoo.
"Step aside."
"No, I mean, you can't enter without hunter ID! And S-rank rifts require at least twenty A-rank hunters minimum."
"Tch."
Cheon Ji-hoo clicked his tongue at the staff's words and scowled deeply. Overwhelmed by his emanating displeasure, the staffer fidgeted and broke into a cold sweat.
I was considerate enough.
Closing an S-rank rift suddenly would cause chaos, so he'd revealed himself and walked over. Should've just prepped a candidate core if he knew it'd be like this.
Then his phone rang. Since Hong Ji-hwa had begged him to at least pick up last time, he answered this time. A man's voice came through.
-Is this Cheon Ji-hoo?
"Yes."
-This is the Hunter Association president. I called urgently since you're about to raid an S-rank rift.
The tone was extremely polite. He hadn't been like this before. Ever since Uijeongbu, the man had become much more courteous.
"And?"
-Well, S-rank rifts aren't something you can just raid right away. They're key national resources under management, so there are procedures….
S-rank rifts were vast inside. Observed environments so far included expansive plains, dense forests of ancient trees over 100 meters tall, vast sun-scorched deserts, endless oceans without footing, rugged mountain ranges. Far more value than C-rank damp caves.
Rare plants and minerals unknown on Earth. Climates defying earthly logic. Scientifically invaluable, so association policy was to avoid closing S-rank rifts unless necessary.
The one in Cheonan was filled with unearthly vegetation and relatively safe—the boss guarding the core didn't move unless provoked. High value all around.
But Cheon Ji-hoo furrowed his brow and spat,
"Not my problem. Anyway, I notified you. I'm going in."
Demons or Demon Kings might be inside—what procedures? He hung up and strode toward the rift.
The staff tried to grab him but couldn't move a step. Looking down, tree roots had bound their legs.
The massive S-rank rift. An unprecedented labyrinth of vegetation that couldn't be closed without meeting special conditions.
Cheon Ji-hoo stood before it with a blank expression and stepped in.
Hong Ji-hwa, arriving late, saw the immobilized staff, grinned, and muttered,
"Ah, fuck. We're screwed."