Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: The Instructors' Verdict
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Jin Chang-hyeok, whose body was slightly pushed back, looked at Su-hyeok with bewildered eyes.
"It's not a monster. He's human."
Human.
Though he had emitted monster-like hostility toward them, he was still a person.
Realizing that fact, the eyes of Jin Chang-hyeok, who had lost all reason amid his boiling emotions and fought wildly, cleared up.
"Thank you."
Jin Chang-hyeok bowed his head to Su-hyeok, who had stopped him from becoming a murderer.
Su-hyeok gave a light nod and turned cold eyes toward Kim Cheol-ik.
He too shook his head frantically, trembling all over.
"That, we didn't do it because we wanted to. It was all that witch who made us..."
He denied it.
How were they all so alike?
As Su-hyeok started to approach, his legs gave way, and he collapsed right there on the spot.
A dark wet stain was visible spreading between his pant legs.
"Scared?"
Kim Cheol-ik didn't answer.
Instead, he nodded his head like a madman.
"You only had the courage when you thought you'd always be the one in the perpetrator's position?"
"Th-that's..."
"I hope this chance teaches you just how terrifying violence is when you're swinging it around without a clue."
Su-hyeok clicked his tongue, lifted his foot, and slammed it hard into Kim Cheol-ik's shoulder.
The sound of bone cracking rang out, followed by a scream that echoed everywhere.
"Aaack-!"
Retribution.
All three men, who had tried to inflict the same on others, now lay collapsed themselves.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The fight that broke out between Team 3 and Team 8 was a major incident.
It had escalated from a clash between instructors to friction among the trainees.
And every single trainee from Team 3 had ended up with broken bones or battered internals, forcing them out of training.
Jeon Su-jeong, who had a black eye from clashing with Shar, along with the instructors from Team 11, had all gathered in one place.
A long silence flowed.
In the meantime, they had all read and reread the reports detailing the incident.
"Hoo."
"What in the world..."
Sighs leaked out here and there.
Plenty of resentful glances were cast toward Shar and Jeon Su-jeong.
It was because of the dishonorable nature of the incident.
"Have you all understood the circumstances?"
A man in his thirties with slicked-back hair, black horn-rimmed glasses, a dignified impression, and a full suit opened his mouth.
"We understand."
"After seeing the video, what more is there to say..."
Shar had pulled out a hunter-issue magic communication device right before the fight broke out—at the moment Jin Chae-yeon's first arrow flew—and recorded the whole thing.
To clearly convey the actual situation to everyone.
In the end, the way they kept flipping through documents without a word was just frustration at the stuffiness of the situation itself.
The moment they had all watched the video to the end, they had already made up their minds inwardly.
Some had decided their stance even before seeing it.
"Normally, Overall Instructor Lady Shar should lead this meeting, but given the circumstances, I'll take on the temporary overall instructor role."
"Very well."
"I agree."
No one voiced any objections to the words of the horn-rimmed man, Im Sa-yeol.
As a Rank 12 Awakener and vice president of Baekdu-san Guild—one of the top three guilds—he was someone who would have naturally taken the overall role if Shar hadn't been there.
"First, regarding the withdrawal of Team 3 trainees, I express my regrets. However, in my personal opinion, it wouldn't be right to hold the trainees responsible for this incident."
"But one of those trainees is the one who left all of Team 3 in that state."
Lee Sang-uk, the Team 11 instructor who looked over fifty despite being in his thirties due to his half-bald head, spoke up.
His brow was deeply furrowed, clearly displeased with Im Sa-yeol's words.
"It might look a bit heavy-handed, but it was self-defense."
Im Sa-yeol stated firmly.
"How is that self-defense?! Team 8 is unscathed, while all my trainees are wrecked!"
Jeon Su-jeong cried out desperately.
She still couldn't believe it.
That Lee Jeong-uk of all people would crumble in one blow.
Even after replaying the video more than five times, she wanted to deny it inwardly.
But it was reality.
All the Team 3 trainees who had followed her were now hospitalized in an Awakener specialist facility, receiving treatment.
They wouldn't be able to move for at least a month.
"Imugi Guild's Black Cloud Witch, Jeon Su-jeong."
Im Sa-yeol's cold voice spread lowly around the room.
"Your guilt is the greatest—you caused discord among instructors over something as trivial as a lovers' quarrel and incited the trainees to fight."
"You...!"
"As former overall instructor and the one currently handling judgment for this matter."
"Perhaps you should watch your words."
Jeon Su-jeong ground her teeth and averted her gaze.
Whatever the case, she was clearly in the position of the accused here.
"The trainees' withdrawal is regrettable."
"But they're not dead, and there will be other chances, so let's move past it."
"Above all, as I keep saying, it was self-defense. As you can see from the video, Team 3 struck first."
"Even so, there's a hierarchy issue here. Are we really letting this slide?!"
"Well, I'd like to handle it my way, but I can't just do that. With all you instructors here, let's vote on it."
Im Sa-yeol shrugged and looked around.
"Looks like there's only one trainee we're considering punishing. In the end, the one who put all of Team 3 in that state is Team 8's trainee, Yang Su-hyeok."
Yang Su-hyeok.
The moment that name came up, the atmosphere stirred briefly.
They all had eyes.
No, they were all people who belonged to the elite with outstanding achievements.
In their eyes, what was this trainee Yang Su-hyeok?
Just like Jeon Su-jeong couldn't believe it, they too found it hard to accept that fight easily.
It was, without a doubt, overwhelming.
Not the level of a mere trainee.
He already possessed power that made rookies, whom guilds cherished and nurtured, look laughable.
Talent?
No need to mention it.
He was a genius.
They were covetous.
Both the Association and the guilds wanted Yang Su-hyeok.
Punish him now?
They didn't have enough time to raise him quickly and make use of him.
At minimum, he could bolster Korea's prestige—and perhaps even become a solid backing for Earth, which had weak influence in the Dimensional Alliance.
The majority gathered here did not want that.
"So, does anyone here want to punish trainee Yang Su-hyeok? Raise your hand if so."
A quiet silence flowed.
Lee Sang-uk, who had first voiced complaints, looked around in inner panic.
'What the hell, these bastards?'
He'd heard that he wasn't the only one paid off by Imugi.
Several others were supposed to back him, but it was silent.
Why had the situation flipped so suddenly?
Lee Sang-uk easily found the answer.
Yang Su-hyeok.
The moment they saw the video, the majority here decided they didn't want to make an enemy of him.
They started wanting to build friendly relations and embrace him.
A great hero could elevate a guild to world-class status—were they going to throw that away for a bit of money?
Lee Sang-uk had made a foolish choice from the start.
And he realized it far too late.
"Well, it seems no one wants to except Jeonho Guild's Director Lee Sang-uk."
Im Sa-yeol said with a smile.
This story would inevitably reach Su-hyeok's ears somehow.
And naturally, it would also echo to the president or master of Jeonho Guild.
And Lee Sang-uk would be kicked out.
On the pretext of letting slip away a talent who could skyrocket Korea's 10th-ranked guild overnight. And for a chance to salvage anything, severe punishment.
Lee Sang-uk, easily inferring that, began trembling violently.
His life of lording it over as a director of a major guild was crumbling.
The tower he had built was toppling.
That scene blurred hazily before his eyes, as if in a lie.
'Foolish.'
Im Sa-yeol no longer spared Lee Sang-uk a glance.
That was why Jeonho Guild was still hovering around the top 10.
They probably wouldn't escape that position for life.
"Next, let's move on to the instructors' issues."
If the disposition of Yang Su-hyeok had been settled with tacit agreement, the matter of the instructors was different.
Quick glances were exchanged among them.
Im Sa-yeol calmly watched.
And as those glances ended, he slowly spoke.
"First, regarding Overall Instructor Shar's position as overall instructor. Those in favor of dismissal, please raise your hand."
This too proceeded smoothly.
More than half—most—raised their hands.
After all, her role in inciting the fight was clear, so punishment was needed.
"Then, Shar will be dismissed as overall instructor, and I'll take over. All in favor?"
Everyone raised their hands at Im Sa-yeol's words.
As said, it would have been his position without her.
"Lady Shar will be demoted to regular instructor. Some might say that's light punishment, so how about adding a fine of 100 million won donated to the Association? Those in favor, raise your hand."
Again, more than half approved.
Only the trembling Lee Sang-uk couldn't raise his.
"Instructor Shar, any objections?"
Shar, who had stood silently, stepped forward and shook her head at Im Sa-yeol's question.
"No. I consider it an dishonorable fight. I'll gladly accept the punishment."
"Good."
At the same time, Jeon Su-jeong, who had been furrowing her brow, suddenly burst out.
"Are you kidding me right now?! Stripping the overall position?! A 100 million fine?!"
The overall instructor role for trainees wasn't some grand authority anyway.
If anything, it came with more hassle and annoyances.
She'd gain influence leading meetings like this, but for an elf from Elvenheim like Shar, it was unnecessary.
100 million in cash was the same.
Did it seem hard for an elf of Shar's caliber to gather 100 million won in Korea?
If she steeled herself for a hunt, it wouldn't even take a day.
"I think it's appropriate, but any objections?"
"Of course! This is ridiculous!"
"Hm." Im Sa-yeol's mouth twitched.
It was a small change, but one of the reactions he showed when angry.
"Anyone want to say something?"
"Isn't this just toying with our Imugi Guild?"
Jeon Su-jeong swept her gaze over the seated instructors.