Chapter 8

“Park Minji! Park Minji!!”

“…….”

Park Minji, who was in the middle of organizing her sword, looked up at her friend’s call.

“Wow! Minji, your brother caused trouble again!!”

“So what.”

“Before you say ‘so what,’ at least manage your expression. Your pupils dilated.”

She must have reacted reflexively to the word ‘brother.’

Her friend, who was making a fuss, held out her phone to her face and said,

“Look!”

Park Gi-hyuk’s ‘Character Test’ Disguised as a Beating!

Victim K, “He threw me a protective helmet and then started punching me without any weapon!”

‘Leader’ is given too much power. Experts criticize one after another.

……

…

Is this how the Korean Academy should be?

“I’m going crazy! He knocked out a 28-year-old. With his bare hands! No weapon! Wow! He’s a real man!”

“…….”

“I asked a classmate at the academy. They all used magic and abilities.”

Her brother fought 28:1 with all his powers unleashed.

From the knights’ reactions, it seems he knocked them all out.

“You said before that he’s a genius on top of a genius. Your brother even acknowledged him as a monster.”

“……When did I?”

“Three days and seven hours ago. At Tori Chicken, where we often go, when you were really drunk. You said if the youngest hadn’t fallen into mana depletion, I wouldn’t have been a match for him.”

“…….”

“You also said that your brother was so cute when he was little, and that you used to snatch him from your mom and carry him around.”

“Stop! Stop it!!”

“Hee~ Minji’s blushing.”

“Damn.”

This damn alcohol is the problem.

She must have let her guard down and spoken her true feelings again. Her friend, who seemed to understand Park Minji’s heart, chuckled and patted her shoulder.

“Why don’t you forgive him now?”

“…….”

“Gi-hyuk did wrong to you and your family, but he must have had his reasons. Besides, he has amnesia. When he came to, he was hated for something he doesn’t remember. Poor guy.”

“Stop it. It’s not your family’s story.”

“Hee~ Are we strangers? I thought we were family, but we’re strangers?”

“No, no. That’s not what I meant.”

“Kik, Minji, you’re so cute when you’re flustered.”

Her friend hugged Park Minji and spoke calmly.

“He seems to be trying hard. It’s a rumor at the academy! He lives in the training ground.”

“…….”

“I’m not saying you should forgive him for someone else’s sake. It’s for your own good. You like your brother, don’t you?”

“I don’t care. I’m not interested.”

“Alright, alright. I’ll stop. I’ll stop.”

When her friend raised her hands, Park Minji resumed her stoic face and organized her sword.

“But what does Gi-hyuk plan to do about the ‘evaluation’? It seems like his team is short of members…….”

Startled!

“Hee~ Minji flinched.”

* * *

This is, in fact, a memory from the old days with the old man.

I was a street urchin who was chosen by the old man, the master of the Black Tower, and my status changed overnight.

If you only heard this much, you might think it was a rags-to-riches story.

But is life that easy? As soon as I entered the tower, all sorts of rumors started.

“What kind of lowly person dares to come here!”

“Damn, some people serve as attendants for years, while others become the master’s disciples just by walking down the street. Damn. Damn!”

Jealousy, envy, and contempt……

This memory is of the conversation the old man had with me when I was secretly crying from the discriminatory gazes.

“……So, are you just going to cry over the rich kids’ gossip?”

“I, I’m not crying! It’s just dust in my eyes.”

“It’s okay. You grow by crying at your age. Yes, that’s right. Huhuhu!”

“No, I’m not, old man!!”

“K, kid. You’re so cute.”

He patted my head and continued.

“You already knew you wouldn’t be welcomed, didn’t you? You didn’t forget what I told you last time, did you?”

“……Think from their perspective.”

“You, being as clever as you are, should understand why they reject and discriminate against you.”

“I understand, but it’s unfair.”

“You’re right. It’s unfair. It’s unfair, indeed. After all, your only sin is being chosen by me. That’s why I just want you to think about it. You don’t need to understand.”

“Hmph…… We’ll see. I’ll bring them down a notch.”

“That’s a great attitude. That’s what I hoped for from you.”

“……?”

“I’ve seen many talented people. There was a merchant’s son who grew up drinking elixirs like water, and a noble who was blessed by elementals from birth.”

“…….”

“Geniuses, prodigies, and geniuses. I’ve met countless talents. They came to me with mountains of gold, hoping to become my disciples. But I didn’t accept them. Why?”

“……Why?”

“I realized that talent isn’t everything.”

“……?!”

“Of course, the ‘magic’ you possess is real. Don’t doubt it. It’s a talent I chose. Compared to the talents I’ve seen, it’s no less. What I’m trying to say is that I value you not just for your talent.”

“Then what?”

“Grit, spirit.”

“Spirit?”

“Yes, spirit! The spirit to never give up on your dreams, no matter how dire the situation! The spirit to never back down, no matter how many trials you face. That spirit in your eyes captivated me.”

In the end, it’s about human nature.

Achieving your dreams, perfecting your talent.

In the end, it’s something humans must do.

From then on, I lived obsessed with magic.

I never took my eyes off the magic books from morning till night, often skipping meals. Later, I even created a ‘light sleep’ spell to save time for studying.

When others gave up or compromised, I didn’t stop. I ignored the world’s gazes and the shackles of discrimination, focusing only on the path ahead.

I turned the pages with desperation and searched for magic with urgency.

For ten years, I lived with a spirit full of grit.

When I came to my senses, I was alone.

That’s how I became the heir to the Black Tower.

* * *

“……Look…… Look.”

“…….”

“Leader, open your eyes.”

“……!”

I opened my eyes to a sweet voice.

“5:00. Time’s up. No one came.”

“Seems that way.”

There’s no difference from when I closed my eyes.

The princess looks at me with concern, and the guy is as engrossed in his book as the first time we met.

That’s it.

Just the two of them.

It’s funny. Almost 30 people, and they all ran away after just one punch.

If I had followed the old man’s advice, I would have reported it. It’s so absurd that I can’t help but laugh.

“It’s not a time to laugh. It’s serious.”

“Serious?”

“Yes. It’s just the three of us. Groups of three don’t exist. We need to call people now.”

“Hmm, I thought you were lazy, but you’re more proactive than I expected?”

“I’m lazy. But you, you’re lazier than me.”

The pronunciation is fine, but the word order is awkward.

So, you’re usually lazy, but you’re moving because you’re frustrated with us, right?

This kid is unexpectedly cute. I smile.

“You’re smiling? You’re not focused. If this continues, we’ll have to take the evaluation!”

“Alright, alright. I’ll move. Moving is fine, right?”

I picked up my phone, almost pushed by her.

She nods at the sight. It’s as if she’s satisfied with my decision.

A moment later, we faced this.

“……What is this?”

“It’s food. That’s a pork cutlet, this is black bean sauce noodles. There’s also miso. And fried chicken.”

“I know that. Didn’t you call the team members?”

“Why would I call them? Let’s eat quickly. I prepared all kinds of food because I didn’t know what you like. He’s already eating.”

The guy, who was focused on his book, had already put a piece of pork cutlet in his mouth. His reflexes are truly amazing. And he didn’t take his eyes off the book.

I’ve noticed before, but this kid is quite something.

Meanwhile, I’m still in shock.

“I, I don’t know. It’s just us in the group. We’re three, and if this continues, we’ll spend the first semester as a group of three. But the leader ordered food. A lot of food. I’m confused. Are all Koreans like you?”

“I mean, let’s talk while eating. Here.”

I hand her a chicken leg. Her pupils dilate at the crispy chicken, and she finally gives in.

Crunch!

She succumbs.

I watch the two of them with satisfaction and quickly stir-fry and finish the black bean sauce noodles.

“Don’t worry too much. To be honest, I expected this.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“I knew it would be just the three of you.”

You can sense it when you’re with someone. You can tell what mindset they have when they stand before you.

The old man called this ‘body language.’ From years of experience, it’s a fairly accurate way to gauge someone.

Isn’t there a saying that the body is honest?

The mouth can lie, but instincts don’t.

“I gave them protective gear. They even put on gloves. But they went down in one hit. They could have fought back, but they gave up. They had no will to fight.”

“Because you’re strong……”

“That’s not an excuse. They’re not ordinary people.”

Let’s get to the core.

What’s the point of being a superhuman?

Killing. That’s the essence, no matter how many euphemisms you use.

So, what is the academy for?

To become strong, to learn the skills to cut off the enemy’s breath.

“But if the enemy is strong and they’re scared, they give in? That’s a serious problem. It means they don’t understand the concept of power. That’s when I realized, these kids don’t have a clear goal.”

“You’re asking too much. What you’re saying is what we learn at the academy. Most people are like that.”

“Exactly. That’s why. That’s why they didn’t come today, and that’s why you’re eating with me.”

They don’t know why they need to get stronger, why they need to improve their skills.

But these two are different.

“You guys…… I keep calling you ‘you guys,’ it feels a bit off. Let’s introduce ourselves. I’m Park Gi-hyuk. Your team leader.”

“I’m Sheikh Mehran. Just call me Mehran. I’m from the Middle East.”

“I’m Han Jun-woo.”

“Good. Mehran, Han Jun-woo. What did you think when I hit you?”

“……I was displeased. I didn’t expect you to break my ‘sand.’”

“It will be different next time.”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

Mehran is displeased, and Han Jun-woo denies it.

That means they have pride in their abilities, and they’ve worked hard to develop that pride.

But to admit it so easily? That doesn’t make sense!

Proving yourself is ultimately up to you.

At least to me, these two are normal, and the ones who ran away after one hit are the abnormal ones.

“I don’t have the confidence to lead even the basics of raw beginners. I don’t even feel the need to.”

“Wait, Gi-hyuk. Did I misunderstand? You’re not seriously planning to form a team of just three, are you?”

“You understood correctly.”

“God…… Do you really think that’s feasible? The ‘evaluation’? How do you plan to do the evaluation?”

Here, the evaluation is the ‘performance evaluation.’

Due to the nature of the curriculum, which involves practical tasks and various tests at the gate, a minimum level of combat ability is evaluated for safety.

Originally, this evaluation is a formality.

It’s not an individual test but an evaluation of the team’s overall combat ability.

“The average number of first-year team members is 13.3. If we meet this average, we pass the evaluation. But you’re suggesting we do it with three?”

That’s right.

Passing the academy entrance exam means you have the basics.

As long as the quota is filled, the evaluation is passed.

But as you can see, we are three.

We need to cover the equivalent of at least 13 people with three.

“It’s simple.”

I smile and point at Mehran with my finger.

“You, one.”

Then I point at Han Jun-woo.

“You, one.”

Finally, I point at my own chest.

“I, eleven.”

Total: thirteen.

“Isn’t that enough?”

Is there a problem?