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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Hunter Management Bureau (3)
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A phantom image formed on Ji Soyeon's retina.
The familiar shape of a star she had always seen.
What kind of potential could a boy hold—a disciple of Baek Seolhee, talent incarnate, and a person acknowledged by Cheonhwa and Tugyeon?
It would be a lie to say she had no expectations.
However, the star she actually saw from Jin Yuha was…
Just one.
That was the limit of the boy.
*
'Impossible… How in the world…'
She bit her lip at the utterly insignificant single star.
Having only one star meant that this boy's limit was ultimately just a little better than an ordinary person.
Unless something had suddenly gone wrong with her eyes, that had to be the case.
But what was this?
That single star was radiating a more brilliant light than any other star she had ever seen.
As if limits that sought to confine him were no impediment at all, an aura of light that encroached upon even 5-star brightness, surpassing 4-star.
Though unfamiliar, she knew what this meant.
Transcendence.
A state where one's potential expands by breaking past their limits.
Ji Soyeon knew only one person who had achieved transcendence around her.
A woman who had broken through her innate 4-star limit, even surpassing 5-star.
She turned her head to the side and saw the black-haired woman, her expression hardened as if something had happened to her disciple.
Baek Seolhee.
A monstrous colleague who possessed a high innate rank of 4-star but had simultaneously shattered that limit.
Ji Soyeon, who had watched her from close by, knew best what kind of grueling training she had undergone to break through that 4-star wall.
Something achieved by thinking only of the sword every moment, swinging it even while sacrificing sleep.
But even Baek Seolhee had started at 4-star.
A point reached by someone already considered a genius, yet labeled a madwoman by others.
But what about this boy?
His innate rank was merely a single star.
Yet, its light already shone brighter than other 4-stars.
'She's taken an even greater monster as her disciple…'
Goosebumps erupted all over her body.
Gulp.
Ji Soyeon swallowed.
'Terrifying…'
But at the same time, an even greater surge of pity welled up.
She couldn't even begin to imagine what a child, who had just entered the academy, must have done to break his own limits and forcibly expand his potential to this extent.
He must have lived a daily life that hell itself would pale in comparison to.
'He looks so ordinary right now, but is he truly alright inside…?'
What could have possibly driven this child to become such a monster?
At that moment, a flicker of doubt sprouted within Ji Soyeon.
"...Seolhee."
She lowered her voice and called out to her colleague beside her.
"What is it? Is there truly a problem?"
Baek Seolhee wore a worried expression.
Seeing her usually expressionless colleague display such varied emotions made her wonder, but…
"...How long has he been training with you? You didn't force a child who knew nothing to train from a young age, did you?"
If so, Ji Soyeon would feel considerable disappointment in her respected colleague for the first time.
Because that would mean she had forced torture-like training upon an innocent child.
Fortunately, Baek Seolhee shook her head.
"No. We've known each other for about two months. We were strangers before coming to the academy."
"Yes, that's right. I'm really glad I met Instructor Baek Seolhee at the academy."
Baek Seolhee and Jin Yuha spoke, and sincerity was evident in both their eyes.
Then that's a relief.
"...I see."
"Why do you ask?"
"No, it's nothing… It's just impressive and surprising that he's become this strong as a man."
At that, Baek Seolhee smiled, visibly relieved, saying, "So that's what it was…"
'Right, Seolhee isn't the kind of person to lie about something like this.'
Ji Soyeon looked at Baek Seolhee, dismissing her doubt, and nodded.
If so, this boy had voluntarily continued brutal training even before meeting Baek Seolhee.
"...Is something wrong with me?"
Jin Yuha, his expression equally serious, asked her.
"...No, no. For now, I have a few questions. Would that be alright?"
"Yes, please feel free."
"...How is Seolhee's training? Is it manageable? Is it not too hard?"
"It's hard, of course. But she teaches kindly and properly according to the standard methods, and I'm impressed every time I receive training."
Kindly, not terrifying…?
Standard, not unorthodox…?
Impressed, not horrified…?
Perhaps they really are two peas in a pod.
Ji Soyeon's poker face nearly crumbled, knowing full well how her colleagues who had tried to emulate Baek Seolhee's training, which produced overwhelmingly high scores, had ended up fleeing.
'...Right, this is a realm of madness I can't comprehend.'
"...What do your parents do?"
Ji Soyeon then suspected the boy's home environment.
Normal parents wouldn't force such training.
"...What do your parents do?"
"Both of them passed away."
Ah.
"The Gate Era, I see."
With that single phrase, the boy's past unfolded before her eyes.
Ji Soyeon couldn't hold back the emotions welling up inside her and suddenly pulled Jin Yuha into a hug.
"...Later, please, later, come find me. I can't now, but I'm looking for a way to break through limits. When I find it, I'll be able to help you."
The hand holding Jin Yuha trembled slightly.
* * *
'Wait, why is this person suddenly like this?'
Ji Soyeon suddenly asked about my parents, then abruptly hugged me.
She was even sobbing.
I was flustered.
Anyone watching would think it was really strange.
"It's, it's okay. Please, let go… Let go…"
I patted her shoulder, trying to stop her.
Then Ji Soyeon's tear-streaked face pulled away.
*Stretch*—
Transparent liquid stretched from her face as she pulled away. Her eyes, nose, and mouth left precise imprints on my clothes.
'Ugh, tear, snot, and drool marks on my clothes…'
Still, I couldn't show that I was annoyed.
Though I was confused about why she was acting like this, it wasn't a bad situation.
'She seems to be mistaken about something… For now, it's probably best to just let her be.'
Ji Soyeon.
This woman was a rather important character.
'She's the person who suddenly appears in certain events, raises a character's rank, and then leaves.'
In the Velvet Sura game, meeting her was a matter of luck.
Of course, there were events where she was guaranteed to appear, but otherwise, there was no way to meet her except by chance.
I was really surprised to see such a person at the Hunter Management Bureau; I hadn't expected it at all.
'A chance to escape 1-star!'
Of course, it seemed she wasn't ready yet, but Instructor Baek Seolhee really had introduced a miraculous opportunity.
'But I always thought she was quite cynical…?'
From the hug to the patting gestures, there was nothing but gentleness.
Looking at her now, there wasn't a trace of cynicism.
If she were an MBTI, she'd be 99% F.
'But why would such a person end up living a wandering life?'
Just then, a jolt of electricity ran through my mind.
'…Could it be that she was swept out with Director Kim Jiwon when he was demoted?'
That was a very plausible guess. From their current interactions, Kim Jiwon and Ji Soyeon seemed to be quite close.
'So, the reason she became cynical was because Kim Jiwon was ousted?'
If so, if I could prevent Kim Jiwon's demotion, I might not need to seek out this woman, and she could raise my rank right here at the Hunter Management Bureau.
'But if I tell her now, I'll probably lose all the goodwill I've built up and just arouse suspicious doubt…'
At that moment, Baek Seolhee, her face hardened, caught my eye.
Instructor Baek might be able to find something out, right?
Judging by today's reaction, she seemed to be quite an influential person at both the academy and the Hunter Management Bureau.
"What are you doing…?"
Then Baek Seolhee glared at Ji Soyeon and spoke in a chilling voice.
"...Huh?"
Ji Soyeon darted her eyes around nervously, an embarrassed expression on her face.
"I asked why you are suddenly hugging and weeping over someone else's disciple."
"Oh, oh-oh, yeah…? N-no, there was no special meaning! I-it's just, it's just so impressive! Thinking about h-how much he must have suffered to become this strong as a man!"
"You hugged my disciple because he's 'impressive'…?"
Baek Seolhee's eyes glinted dangerously.
Ji Soyeon sweated profusely and instinctively stepped back.
"Instructor! Just a moment!"
At that, I stepped in and stopped the instructor.
"I'm perfectly fine!"
"...Hmm?"
"Perhaps this person saw something special in me?"
I turned my head and winked one eye.
Ji Soyeon caught my cue and hastily nodded.
"Th-that's right! I-I'll explain now!"