Chapter 004
Chapter 004
The next day.
Kang-hyun headed to Lumen Academy with Lee Se-young.
Vrooom-
It felt like they had been driving for 10 minutes, but they were still inside the academy.
'This place is fucking huge.'
Lumen Academy.
A global educational institution founded under the mission of protecting humanity from the threats of dungeons and monsters appearing on the surface.
As a place to train Hunters, it had to be located in the safest place from dungeons.
'The insane idea of building a floating island in the sky and creating a city-sized academy is truly... astonishing.'
Looking out the window, they were at eye level with the clouds.
The Floating Island housed not only Lumen Academy but also world-class guilds, amenities, external companies, and residential spaces for cadets, faculty, and civilians.
At this point, it was almost like an independent nation.
'...Come to think of it, what on earth does Se-rin's mother do to own a private mansion with a yard on a Floating Island like this?'
Kang-hyun's gaze turned to Lee Se-young, who was driving.
Naturally, the land on the Lumen Academy Floating Island was limited, and there were many people who wanted to get in.
Because of that, the land price was whatever the seller asked for.
Even an executive belonging to a decent large-scale guild would struggle to afford a house like that, right?
Now that I look at it, the car cushions are super plush, and the ride is so smooth... something feels suspicious...
Screech—
The car came to a smooth stop. It was the main building of the Production Department.
"Hyun-ah. Will you be okay on your own?"
Lee Se-young asked with worried eyes.
Lumen Academy wanted a private meeting with Kang-hyun. As his guardian, Lee Se-young naturally protested, but they were so adamant that she had no choice.
"Don't worry. I'll do well."
"If anything happens, make sure to call me. Ajumma will help you."
Kang-hyun got out of the car, looked up at the massive main building of the Production Department, and clicked his tongue.
'Fucking huge.'
They say there are many academies, but Lumen Academy is the best in terms of scale and infrastructure.
Indeed, the size of the building alone is overwhelming.
'Let's see. They told me to come to the Department Head's office, right?'
He checked the information board and walked until he reached the top floor.
A large door made of luxurious ebony wood was firmly shut.
'Is this it?'
Kang-hyun was about to open the door but stopped his hand.
"——So that was Professor Kim Se-young's arbitrary——!!"
"———!! It goes against the academy's founding philosophy!! Just look at it and judge—!!"
Shouts from a man and a woman leaked out from inside the thick door.
One was Professor Kim Se-young, and the other was an unknown man.
"Hmm."
After a moment of hesitation, Kang-hyun opened the firmly shut door and stepped inside.
"Student Kang-hyun? You're here already?"
As Kang-hyun entered, Kim Se-young acknowledged him.
Kim Se-young was sitting on the left side of the table in the center of the Department Head's office, while a strange man sat on the opposite side.
He was wearing a shiny silver suit, and his buttons looked like they were about to burst due to his protruding belly.
With his thin eyes and hair slicked back with wax, he had a rather petty-looking impression.
"Are you that student, Kang-hyun? Tsk. You're here for an interview with the Department Head, yet you lack the basics in your attire."
Kang-hyun's attire was plain.
A white shirt and cotton pants that Lee Se-young had prepared for him.
It wasn't overly formal, but it wasn't sloppy either.
Kang-hyun's eyebrow twitched at the behavior of someone clearly trying to nitpick, and just as he was about to say something,
"Vice Department Head Han Seung-mok. What's wrong with Student Kang-hyun's attire? He's dressed neatly."
"No, his basic attitude is lacking. Attitude! Does that attire make sense for an interview with the Department Head?"
Kim Se-young frowned. It was an unreasonable demand with no logic.
"Professor Kim Se-young, are you arguing with me right now? Huh?"
"That's not it, right now—"
"It's fine, Professor."
Kang-hyun interrupted.
Both of their gazes turned to Kang-hyun.
Kang-hyun looked straight at Han Seung-mok.
"Vice Department Head. If my attire is the problem, I'll dress more formally next time. But we didn't come here today to talk about clothes, did we?"
"......Ha. Look at this kid talking—"
"It seems the Department Head hasn't arrived yet, so I will wait a moment."
Not long after Kang-hyun sat opposite Professor Kim Se-young, the door opened.
"Did you wait long? I apologize, the meeting ran long."
It was Department Head Choi Byeong-jun.
"Oh, no. Not at all, Department Head."
Han Seung-mok, who sprang up like a roly-poly toy, bowed deeply.
Choi Byeong-jun was an elderly man. He had neat hair mixed with gray and a sharp gray suit. His gait and tone were also gentle.
Kang-hyun habitually examined Choi Byeong-jun's hands.
"......"
There were calluses and scars.
There weren't many, but they were old ones.
'He's held a hammer before.'
Choi Byeong-jun sat at the head of the table and looked at Kang-hyun.
"Nice to meet you. Student Kang-hyun."
"Yes. Hello."
Kang-hyun greeted him respectfully.
He knew well enough how to behave in front of high-ranking people.
Han Seung-mok, arms crossed, grumbled while glancing sideways at Kim Se-young as if dissatisfied.
Choi Byeong-jun slowly opened his mouth.
"The reason we are gathered here today is because of what happened during the first round of the exam. Student Kang-hyun, you personally destroyed the result that received a passing grade."
"Yes."
"May I hear the reason?"
Kang-hyun answered as if it were obvious.
"Because it was a failure."
Han Seung-mok's eyebrow twitched.
"A Rare-grade weapon is a failure?"
"By my standards, it was a failure."
"Hah, geez. Either he has no manners, or his standards are too high..."
Han Seung-mok muttered irritably, as if wanting to be heard.
"Vice Department Head Han Seung-mok. You are in front of a student."
Choi Byeong-jun warned him quietly. Han Seung-mok shut his mouth, startled.
"Student Kang-hyun. Since there is no result, it is difficult to take the second round of the exam. According to the regulations, you are disqualified."
Kang-hyun knew that too.
"—Nevertheless, the reason you were called here today is because of Professor Kim Se-young's strong request."
Choi Byeong-jun turned his head toward Kim Se-young.
"Professor Kim Se-young. Tell me. Why should we give Student Kang-hyun a chance?"
Kim Se-young pushed the documents she had prepared onto the table.
"This is the appraisal report of Student Kang-hyun's first-round result. It ultimately received a Rare grade, but that's a low evaluation. You have to consider the original state. If given proper materials and environment, a Heroic grade was fully possible. It's too much of a waste of potential to drop him like this."
After catching her breath for a moment, Kim Se-young continued.
"...I looked into it, and in cases like this, special admission based on practical competence is possible through the Department Head's discretion. So, giving Student Kang-hyun one more chance is—"
Bang!
Han Seung-mok interrupted, slamming the table.
"Let's be honest. Should we give special treatment just because he got lucky and produced one Rare grade?"
Han Seung-mok didn't even look at the documents Kim Se-young had pushed forward and waved them in her face.
"And! If his skills were that good in the first place, he should have made it well from the start, right? We must base it on the results according to the regulations!"
"I believe I told you that the result was good?"
Han Seung-mok shouted as if filled with malice.
"Aren't you the one who made the examinee destroy the result, Professor Kim Se-young? And this isn't even the first time! Is it that genius sense or whatever you've been blabbering about since the old days again?"
Kang-hyun narrowed his brows at the excessive, over-the-line behavior.
The target Han Seung-mok was aiming at was clearly Kim Se-young.
'That guy isn't angry at me. He hates Professor Kim Se-young for taking notice of me.'
In Kang-hyun's view, that was closer to something mixed with an inferiority complex.
Han Seung-mok's hand, shaking the documents, caught his eye.
There wasn't a single scar on his white, clean hand.
'No, wait. There is one, actually?'
It was such a small mark that if it weren't for Kang-hyun, he would have just passed over it.
It seems he did hold a hammer when he was very young.
"Student Kang-hyun."
Choi Byeong-jun, having calmed Han Seung-mok down, turned his head toward Kang-hyun.
"What do you think of the current situation?"
"May I speak honestly?"
"Go ahead."
Kang-hyun pretended to think for a moment.
"I know that rules are rules. But......"
Kang-hyun slowly met Han Seung-mok's eyes.
"Before you disqualify me, isn't it the proper order to verify my skills yourself?"
"The first evaluation serves that role!"
Han Seung-mok retorted immediately.
"There's no result, so I can't evaluate, and since I can't evaluate, you're disqualified. Isn't that a simple story?"
"If so."
Kang-hyun nodded.
"Can I make it right now and show you?"
Silence flowed.
Choi Byeong-jun looked at Kang-hyun without a word.
Han Seung-mok opened his mouth in an irritated voice, as if dumbfounded.
"Right now? Ha. Seriously... I'm dumbfounded. It's not like the entrance exam is some neighborhood talent show!"
"If you just prepare the materials and the furnace, I will prove it."
"Does that make any sense? Do you know where you are—!"
"Vice Department Head."
Choi Byeong-jun spat out coldly.
"I am currently talking with Student Kang-hyun."
"Hup...! Ye, yes. Department Head. I apologize."
Choi Byeong-jun, who had made eye contact with Kang-hyun, opened his mouth.
"Student Kang-hyun is disqualified according to the regulations, but as Professor Kim Se-young said... in special cases, special admission is possible at the Department Head's discretion."
A moment of silence passed.
"However, to exercise this, we need grounds. The appraisal report alone is not enough, and you must show skills that everyone present can be convinced by."
Choi Byeong-jun looked at Han Seung-mok.
"Vice Department Head Han, you have no objections, right?"
Han Seung-mok's mouth opened for a moment and then closed.
The Department Head said he would consider his discretion after seeing and judging for himself, so if he blocked even that, he would look like he was being unreasonable.
"......Well, I mean. If I'm convinced."
Han Seung-mok muttered.
"Student Kang-hyun."
"Yes."
"Are you confident?"
"Of course."
There was no hesitation.
Choi Byeong-jun looked at Kang-hyun for a moment and then slowly nodded.
"Good. However, showing you making it alone is no different from the first evaluation. We need evaluation criteria."
Kang-hyun turned to look at Han Seung-mok.
"Then, why don't you judge it yourself, Vice Department Head?"
"......Me?"
Han Seung-mok asked back, as if dumbfounded.
Did he say that knowing that he was the one who wanted to drop Kang-hyun more than anyone else in this room?
Han Seung-mok looked like he had been hit, trying to say something but unable to get the words out.
Kang-hyun grinned.
"Are you scared?"