Chapter 38

EP.38 Fetal Movement (3)

Incantation.

The words uttered by a Rune Holder when using their ultimate skill.

One of the conditions for using the ultimate skill, in my case, [Wave Heaven Sword], is the incantation "Explode."

However, when I first used it with limited proficiency, the skill was cast without the incantation due to my lack of mastery.

But in most cases,

the Holder utters this incantation when using their ultimate skill.

Ignite.

It was clearly the incantation for [Inferno], the ultimate skill of [Unextinguishable Flame] that Kang Juyeon possessed.

An ultimate skill that is only obtained halfway through the peak, yet Kang Juyeon was already using it skillfully, even uttering the incantation.

“G-Gaaaah…!!”

The berserk Ando Kwon was completely incinerated by [Inferno].

Even with my considerable fire resistance, I doubt I could have easily withstood such a high-level magic.

If I hadn't, I might have died.

“Professor Lee Cheol-ho! Water magic!”

“It’s already prepared!”

As if to voice that thought,

the professor who had retired earlier regained his composure and poured water magic over Ando Kwon.

After all, Ando Kwon was an important figure who needed to be captured and interrogated.

I looked at the professors holding weapons in an awkward stance.

Including the supervisor, there were a total of five professors.

The professors responsible for the safety supervision of the end-of-term practical combat evaluation this semester were particularly lax and of low quality.

No matter how much Ando Kwon's abilities had doubled due to his berserk state, it made no sense that five professors couldn't contain him.

‘Is this also the work of the Villain?’

It was only natural to have such thoughts.

In the original work, the murder of a fellow Holder during the end-of-term evaluation is only mentioned in passing.

Therefore, it was unclear how the supervisor and professors on the scene responded, or how the incident was handled afterward.

It was only revealed that Ando Kwon was affiliated with <Villain> and that it was a scheme to shake up the Academy.

That's why I began to doubt the professors' response earlier.

There are more than a few <Villain> spies who have infiltrated the Academy.

“…Are you okay?”

Kang Juyeon asked in a low voice.

Kim Chae-eun and I, who were caught up in the incident, were in a terrible state.

If it weren't for her help,

we would have been seriously injured by the unexpected variable.

I nodded slightly in response.

“I’m fine. Thanks. You saved my life.”

“…No, it’s nothing.”

Kang Juyeon's ultimate skill, which I saw for the first time today.

Considering the long preparation time required for [Inferno], it seems she started preparing as soon as I used [Declaration of War] and descended.

Otherwise, it would have been impossible to time it so perfectly.

Moreover, after obtaining this skill,

she had never shown it anywhere.

I felt both amazed and grateful that she used this skill for the first time to save me.

Is this the camaraderie built through dungeon runs?

Pak Jin-woo and Moon Ga-eun had also come down to the exam room and were looking at us with worried eyes.

“Hey, Joo Jae-hyun! What the hell is that guy? Why is he like that…”

“Shut up. You’re making my ears ring.”

“Huh? Oh, sorry.”

“You fought well. Take it.”

After returning the sword to Pak Jin-woo,

I turned my gaze to Ando Kwon and the professors.

Ando Kwon, who had completely lost consciousness, was finally being restrained and escorted away, while the professors were still flustered and fumbling to handle the situation.

‘There’s definitely something off here.’

The average Holder grade of the professors is B to A.

No matter how much Ando Kwon was a <Villain> spy and had become absurdly strong due to his berserk state, there was no reason why five professors couldn't contain him.

The professors' overly helpless appearance was suspicious.

‘I should talk to a professor about this.’

If there’s a professor I trust in this Academy,

it’s only Professor Tack Won-ho and Professor Kim Myung-hyun.

Especially Professor Tack Won-ho, who is one of the administrators running the Academy, could provide a clear answer to this.

And…

[You have won the duel! Due to your high contribution in the duel, your victory is recognized. By the mysterious power of the Rune Hunter, you can duplicate one of the opponent's runes. Please select the rune to duplicate.]

The judgment on the victory contribution this time was also generous.

What exactly is the criterion?

* * *

-Another student almost died. What has the Academy been doing all this time…

-The incompetence of the Academy professors. How much longer must we endure?

-After the appearance of a monster, a berserk Holder. The work of <Villain>?

-A-grade Holder Jang Yu-wan, “The Academy is just a place to get a diploma”

“Damn it!”

An old man in a suit roughly threw his phone.

His name is Tack Yun-jae.

The head of the Tack family, a renowned martial arts lineage, and also the chairman of the foundation that exclusively runs the Seoul Holder Academy.

Tack Yun-jae had been in a very bad mood yesterday and today.

Because the media, whether newspapers, TV, or the internet, were all pouring out stories about the Academy.

Naturally, the direction was… extremely negative.

In front of several people gathered at the table,

Tack Yun-jae shot a sharp glance and said,

“Do I have to read such articles?”

“No, Father.”

His eldest son, Tack Won-hyuk, hurriedly bowed his head in response.

He had often seen his father in this state.

Tack Won-hyuk was the person who knew best how to calm his father in such tense moments.

First, whatever the case,

nodding in agreement with his intention would suffice.

“You said it well. Then tell me what’s wrong with it.”

“Pardon?”

But this time was different.

Tack Yun-jae was furious.

“Just how poorly are you running the Academy that the professors are called incompetent and it reaches my ears!!”

Whether it was the appearance of a monster, a near-murder, or the involvement of <Villain>,

such gossip was not important to Tack Yun-jae.

Only honor.

The fact that the Academy's management was flawed and a mistake had occurred, tarnishing his honor,

was the only thing that Tack Yun-jae was intensely concerned about.

Tack Won-hyuk bowed his head again.

This time, he had completely misjudged the timing.

“…I’m sorry.”

“The only thing you know how to say is sorry, sorry! You’re a fool who can only say sorry.”

A rage that wouldn’t easily subside.

Seeing this, the second son, Tack Won-sang, stepped forward.

“Father, may I speak?”

“Oh, go ahead. Won-sang. Tell me how to avoid seeing these damn articles.”

Tack Won-sang, in a respectful posture, clasped his hands and said,

“Yes, Father, as you know, our Seoul Holder Academy, unlike the golden age, does not have many highly skilled professors. There are only ten A-grade Holder professors, and even they are inferior to the A-grade Holders of successful clans.”

“Hmm…”

“The reason is simple. It’s more profitable to join a clan and earn money by running dungeons or fields than to receive a salary as a professor at the Academy.”

Tack Yun-jae asked in surprise,

“But hasn’t it been running well so far?”

“That’s only because there haven’t been any major incidents at the Academy. There have been minor complaints, but they were at a low level. However, with the recent appearance of a monster and the attempted murder, whether <Villain> was involved or not, these incidents have brought the lack of personnel to the surface.”

Tack Won-sang’s words were reasonable.

In the current Holder world, where one can easily earn money with the right skills, the position of a professor at the Academy is not a preferred career.

The pay is low, and teaching Holder students is not easy.

Therefore, those who take on professor positions are mostly educators with clear beliefs and a passion for education, or Holders who lack the ability to join mid-level or higher clans.

Tack Yun-jae nodded, stroking his chin.

“Then what do you suggest?”

“Ultimately, it’s about support. We need to significantly increase the professors' salaries to attract high-quality personnel. If Father provides me with additional budget, I and the Academy’s personnel department will take responsibility for improving the quality of the faculty.”

“Hmm…”

The management of the Academy.

Tack Won-sang, who was in charge of the personnel department,

was suggesting that he be given the budget.

Tack Yun-jae pondered for a moment, then slightly turned his head.

“……”

The youngest son, who was more skilled in swordsmanship than his older brothers and was a likely successor to the family,

a Holder who was both a member of the Academy administration and a professor.

The youngest son, Tack Won-ho, who had been silent until now.

“Won-ho, what do you think?”

Suddenly thrown the question,

Tack Won-ho hesitated for a moment before answering.

“I agree with what Won-sang said.”

“You mean significantly increasing the budget for the personnel department?”

“Yes, but with a different approach.”

“Approach?”

Tack Won-ho nodded and said,

“Yes. Instead of mediocre Holders, we need to recruit clear strongholds and famous Holders.”

“Hmm…?”

Clear strongholds and famous Holders?

Tack Yun-jae looked at him with a puzzled expression.

Tack Won-ho continued confidently.

“I think we should use the entire additional budget to recruit S-grade Holder Yu Eun-sul, who is currently not affiliated with any clan, from the Assassin class.”

One of the five S-grade Holders.

A celebrity in the Holder world and a figure who can break through the most lacking Assassin class.

Holder Yu Eun-sul.

Tack Won-ho was advocating for her recruitment.