Caw. Caw.
A flock of pitch-black crows covered the sunset sky.
In an empty lot of a ruined city, a girl was gathering dirt, shaping it into a small hill.
She occasionally hummed a tune and muttered to herself.
“It’s done.”
After diligently pressing the dirt, she finally pulled her hands away.
Atop the completed mound of earth, something was extending out.
“How unfortunate.”
It was a human arm.
The girl scooped up a handful of soil and gently sprinkled it over the faintly visible face. Then, as if smoothing it over, she lightly patted it down with her palm.
“Why do people die so easily?”
For the finishing touch, she placed a wooden cross at the head of the grave. As she gazed at the now-complete burial pile, a faint smile crossed her lips.
“I don’t really get it. Do you?”
Creak.
As if in response to her words, the cross wobbled up and down.
After a hectic dungeon expedition, I was finally commuting to the academy again.
Stepping off the bus, I checked my class schedule on my smartphone. Professor Oh Yeon-hee’s Mana Utilization class, huh? Looks like I won’t be getting any sleep today.
As I stood at the crosswalk waiting for the signal, I noticed a strange man on the other side of the street.
I wasn’t sure if it was just my imagination or if Jin Bora’s paranoia had rubbed off on me, but that guy was staring at me with an intense gaze.
‘What the hell?’
I glanced away for a moment before looking back, but he was still staring.
And now, as if to confirm, ‘Yes, it’s you,’ he nodded at me.
…This is seriously uncomfortable.
The light changed. As I crossed the street, the man hurriedly ran towards me.
“Excuse me! You’re Kim Yushin, right?”
“Yeah, and?”
I kept walking briskly, but the man matched my pace, continuing the conversation.
“Haha! I knew it! I heard you did something incredible in the Lava Cave!”
Lava Cave? Didn’t Jin Bora say that incident got buried?
“How do you know about that…?”
“Everyone in this field knows.”
I took the business card he handed me.
A guild scout, huh? I never thought I’d have anything to do with one.
“Sorry for the late introduction. I’m Kwak Chan-hee, a scout for the Grimoire Guild.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Since we’re already talking, I’ll get straight to the point.”
Kwak Chan-hee adjusted his tie and spoke with a serious expression.
“Our Grimoire Guild would like to formally extend an invitation for you to join us.”
Wow.
I never expected something like this to happen to me. It’s probably just a mid-tier guild I’ve never heard of, but still, it’s kind of interesting.
But why the sudden recruitment?
“I don’t have great grades at the academy, and I don’t really have any major achievements. What exactly are you basing this offer on?”
As if it were a great question, Kwak Chan-hee raised a finger.
“That’s easy! It’s your potential! One of the hunters who was at the Lava Cave with you spoke very highly of you during the press conference. He said, ‘I barely did anything. The only reason over a hundred people made it out safely was thanks to Kim Yushin from the academy!'”
Oh, that idiot…!
I appreciated him sharing the boss fight rewards, but he’s been nothing but trouble ever since.
“The process isn’t too complicated. Just a simple entrance test, and you can start working with us immediately.”
His voice and gestures exuded confidence, as if my acceptance was a given.
Well, for most hunter trainees, receiving a guild scout offer is a dream come true.
“The academy you attend is great, sure. They sponsor expeditions, support dungeon training… But there’s one thing they don’t provide—income!”
I have to admit, that word did make me hesitate for a moment.
Sensing an opening, Kwak Chan-hee continued rapidly, not giving me any time to think.
“A guild offers a steady salary! Plus, you get real combat experience and the stability of working with a fixed party! It’s time to graduate and hit the field. The earlier you start as a hunter, the better! You should start earning while you’re still young!”
I stopped walking. Taking it as a sign, Kwak Chan-hee grinned and opened his notebook.
“So, when should we schedule your entrance test—”
“No, that’s not it.”
“Haha! Still unsure? Think it over carefully. This kind of opportunity won’t come twice.”
I silently raised a finger and pointed.
Kwak Chan-hee followed my gaze.
At that moment, the crowd in front of the academy’s main gate suddenly widened their eyes and came running toward me.
“There he is!”
“Kim Yushin!”
“We’re from Freeman Guild!”
“We’re from Cheonrang Guild!”
In an instant, a swarm of scouts surrounded me. Some were dressed in sharp business suits, others in flashy full-body suits.
“Kim Yushin! Come with us!”
“Let’s talk somewhere quiet!”
“What’s there to talk about? Let’s negotiate your salary right here! How much do you want?”
“Just sign here! No conditions, we’ll take you in immediately!”
I glanced at Kwak Chan-hee.
His once-confident expression had stiffened, but unwilling to lose his prey, he shouted,
“Have some ethics! I was negotiating with him first!”
The other scouts turned to him, then scoffed.
“Grimoire Guild? Stay in your lane.”
“Low pay and the highest dungeon casualty rate? Why would a rising star like Kim Yushin join them?”
Kwak Chan-hee’s face darkened at the brutal remarks.
The situation was heating up, so I decided to intervene.
“I…”
“Yes! Which guild will it be? It’s Cheonrang, right?”
“How about a 300-million-won signing bonus? No, 350 million!”
“Trying to lowball him? We’ll offer 400 million!”
“I just got approval from our president—500 million, separate from the salary!”
…Wait, what? These people won’t even let me speak.
BEEEEEP!
Just then, a sedan suddenly change course onto the sidewalk, sending the scouts scrambling back in panic.
Screech!
The car stopped just short of hitting anyone. The door clicked open, and a sharply dressed woman stepped out, her heels clicking against the pavement.
As she approached, the scouts parted like the Red Sea.
“Are you Kim Yushin?”
“Yes.”
“I’m from Snow Guild.”
The weight of those words was immense. The entire crowd froze, and even I was caught off guard.
Of course, Snow Guild was ranked fourth among Korea’s top guilds.
“The hero of the Lava Cave and the slayer of an irregular monster—our guild master has taken a great interest in you. Please come with me.”
Murmurs spread through the crowd.
Truthfully, Snow Guild wasn’t a bad option. They were one of the few capable of keeping Unix in check, a major threat in the future.
“Would I be joining immediately?”
“You would need to pass an interview, an entrance test, and a medical evaluation.”
“I see.”
“Do you accept our offer?”
It was tempting, but my answer had already been decided—No.
I already had a faction. In fact, I was its leader.
I just needed to decline politely.
“I don’t think I’m ready yet. I’d like to stay at the academy and continue studying for now.”
The scouts’ jaws dropped.
They all had the same dumbfounded expression—‘He turned down Snow Guild?!’
But the woman wasn’t angry. Instead, she gave a faint smile.
“I understand your intentions.”
Great. Now, if she’d just leave—
“The early graduation exam is coming up soon, isn’t it? You want to graduate by your own merit and prove your worth first.”
No! That’s not what I meant at all!
“You truly are an ambitious student. If you can’t even pass the academy’s early graduation test, you wouldn’t be worth recruiting. I’ll be sure to inform our guild master of your proposal.”
…I never proposed that!
I don’t understand why all scouts are like this.
When someone talks, they should at least listen.
Do they think that just because they extend a hand, every student will bow and accept it?
Fed up, I quickly slipped out of the cluster of scouts.
But this time, I had to face a new crowd.
“Did, did you hear? He turned down the Snow Guild!”
“That’s not it, idiot! He made a counteroffer to raise his value! It’s all part of the strategy.”
“Who’s that guy? What grade is he in?”
“When will I ever get surrounded by scouts like that?”
The commotion had drawn academy students like a swarm of clouds.
I could already hear the sound of my school life getting more annoying.
“Ah, move! Move!”
Just then, pushing through the crowd, second-year class representative Go Shinwook barged in.
“As expected, you’re amazing, Yushin! I knew you’d make it big!”
Out of nowhere, he threw his arm around my neck like we were close.
“Make way, make way! The future Snow Guild member is passing through! Haha!”
I punched Go Shinwook in the side and walked into the campus alone.
He groaned but still hurried after me.
By the time I came to my senses, I had somehow become the eye of the storm within the academy.
Rumors spread that I had single-handedly taken down four clubs in one day—an unprecedented feat.
On top of that, there was today’s Snow Guild scouting incident.
No matter where I went, it felt like I could hear people whispering about me.
“Kim Yushin.”
I was lost in thought when I was suddenly startled back to reality.
Professor Oh Yeon-hee was squinting at me.
Uh-oh.
Getting on her bad side would be a huge hassle.
As I cautiously watched her expression, she suddenly smiled.
“I’d like you to demonstrate the application of mana chambers.”
‘Huh?’
From that day on, Professor Oh Yeon-hee’s attitude toward me changed completely.
…That proud professor even used the word ‘please.’
“Understood.”
I walked to the mana projector and performed a simple demonstration of mana chamber applications.
Gasps and cheers erupted from all around.
A scene completely different from a week ago.
Even Professor Oh Yeon-hee looked like a fangirl who had just spotted her favorite idol.
…Please don’t look at your student like that.
“I actually fought Kim Yushin once!”
“For real? What happened?”
“Come on, how could I win? But I put up a good fight.”
Meanwhile, that damn Go Shinwook was shamelessly using my name to boost his own reputation.
“That was excellent. Everyone, give him a round of applause!”
The lecture hall filled with loud applause.
All this fuss.
Feeling a bit awkward, I returned to my seat.
“You’re quite the star now, huh?”
Han Yoonjung, who sat beside me, muttered.
Class ended, and lunchtime arrived.
As I packed up to head to the cafeteria with Han Yoonjung—
“Yushin! Yushin!”
Go Shinwook stuck to me like a loyal dog.
“Your mana chamber demonstration was incredible! I wish I’d seen the part where you created that giant tree, but I was stuck on dungeon duty. What a shame, haha!”
“Hey, just in time. Earlier—”
“Kim Chun-chuuuu!”
Clatter!
The classroom door burst open, revealing Ma Yeon-gyeong, leader of the Historical Drama Club, and Lee Chan-hee, leader of the Aegis Club.
“…It’s Kim Yushin.”
“Oh, whatever!”
“Why are you in a second-year classroom?”
“Does a vice-club leader need a reason to meet their club leader?”
She winked and held out approval documents and a pen.
“…Didn’t we agree you’d handle club operations?”
After taking over four clubs, I had demoted the original leaders to vice-club leaders while delegating all authority to them.
This whole takeover was just to get Jin Bora involved, and now that she had joined the Mage Tower, it was no longer my concern.
But just leaving the clubs immediately would have looked bad, so I kept my title for appearances.
“You could at least sign off on this, right? It’s a budget approval document.”
It seemed these seniors liked me more than I expected.
Reluctantly, I signed it, and this time, Lee Chan-hee chimed in.
“Kim Yushin! Thanks to you, our club applicants have skyrocketed! We’re having a gathering tonight, so as club leader, you should at least give a toast!”
“Sorry, I have plans tonight—”
“Hey, Kim Chun-chu! Why are you talking to that guy instead of me—!”
Ugh, this is exhausting.
Ignoring them all, I turned to Han Yoonjung.
“Yoon-jung, let’s just go.”
Screech.
“Do you really need to eat something as ordinary as cafeteria pork cutlet with me?”
Leaving only those words behind, Han Yoonjung turned coldly and walked away.
Ugh, what’s with her now?
“Tsk, tsk, look at that attitude.”
Watching her leave, Go Shinwook clicked his tongue.
“If your friend rises, isn’t that good for you too? How dare some loser act like—”
“…Shut your mouth before I beat you to death.”
At my icy remark, Go Shinwook instantly became as submissive as a lamb.
I left the lecture hall alone.
-Excellent, Tower Master. That’s the spirit.
Eia, who had been quietly observing, spoke up.
-The Mage Tower Master must be someone admired and respected by all. It seems the people of Earth are finally beginning to recognize your greatness. This is the most favourable development.
‘Greatness, my ass.’
Sure, attention is nice.
I won’t deny I had anticipated something like this when I set things in motion.
…But this is more exhausting than I expected.
Ugh, I just want to go back to the Tower already.
-If you’re heading back, please bring me melon-flavored ice cream.
‘…Didn’t you just talk about universal respect and admiration?’
