Chapter 14 – Malice

‘Got it! I’ve unlocked 《Snipe》!’

After examining the effect of his newly acquired Awakening Skill Snipe, Kim Jinho let out a triumphant shout.

He realized that by activating Snipe, he could hunt even a 2-Star Monster right here, meaning it wasn’t impossible for him to hunt a 2-Star Monster before the Promising Candidates.

“If I hunt a 2-Star Monster, those guys acting all high and mighty as Promising Candidates won’t be able to ignore me anymore…!”

Unaware that Lee Hanseong had already captured a 2-Star Monster, Kim Jinho belatedly scanned Pigeon Park with his Thousand-League Eye, but of course, no 2-Star Monster was visible.

Instead, he only saw Lee Hanseong riding on some 1-Star Pigeon and the Examiner who had revealed himself before him.

“What’s going on? What happened?”

As his mind was filled with nothing but questions.

The three Promising Candidates arrived at the location his Thousand-League Eye was observing.

Seeing the Promising Candidates chatting amiably upon seeing Lee Hanseong, Kim Jinho was shocked.

He couldn’t believe that the Promising Candidates, who hadn’t even shown him any interest, were making such welcoming expressions towards Lee Hanseong.

“Why?”

“It seems the 2-Star Monster has already been captured. The situation is over.”

Perhaps his bewilderment showed on his face, as the Examiner who had assisted him when he raised his Synchronization Rate made a comment.

He seemed to have mistaken Kim Jinho’s confusion as being due to the absence of the 2-Star Monster.

“By any chance, who captured the 2-Star Monster…?”

“You’ll find out when the test is over.”

He didn’t get an answer, but somehow he had a feeling that it was Lee Hanseong who captured the 2-Star Monster.

“Then, I guess the test is over too.”

With most Trainees having evacuated due to the appearance of the 2-Star Monster.

It was more likely that the test would be concluded here rather than resumed.

“I suppose so. Shall we head back?”

“Yes.”

Kim Jinho headed out of the park, continuing to eavesdrop on Lee Hanseong’s conversation with the Promising Candidates using his Thousand-League Eye.

‘What are they talking about?’

It was frustrating not being able to hear the sound.

As if responding to that frustration.

[General Skill <???> Blooms into <Lip-Reading Art>.]

The previously blank Skill Bloomed just in time, allowing him to read what they were saying by the shape of their lips.

-You really won’t join a Guild? Because of me?

-Well, for me, being able to join the same Guild as you would be best… But then, I don’t think these guys would just stand by.

-Of course not. If you try to monopolize Hanseong alone, it’ll be the death of both of us.

At first, it was hard to follow the conversation, but it was clear that the Promising Candidates wanted Lee Hanseong.

-Considering the jointly owned greatsword, it would definitely be easier for the four of us to settle accounts if we party up. Okay, let’s do it. Party.

-Good thinking, Hanseong.

-Let’s go to the Association tomorrow and register the party formation.

‘Lee Hanseong is forming a party with the Promising Candidates?’

As for friendship, well, they were from the same Training Center, so that could be possible.

But forming a party? He was so envious he could go crazy.

‘I should have been in that position. If only you weren’t there…’

He wanted to kill Lee Hanseong so badly.

Then, he saw Lee Hanseong suddenly call the three Promising Candidates closer and whisper something.

Of course, with his Lip-Reading Art, Kim Jinho could see everything they were saying.

-Oh, right. Speaking of parties, it reminded me. I know a 4-person raid Dungeon. Let’s go there for our first hunt after forming the party.

-Most public Dungeons are owned by Guilds or the Association, so we can’t go, can we? Or did the Association Head promise us raid rights to an Association-owned Dungeon?

-Of course, that’s also a possibility. But the one I’m talking about is a Private Dungeon that neither Guilds nor the Association know about yet.

-Oh. There’s a place like that?

‘A Private Dungeon. I’ve heard something good.’

He thought he could paint an interesting picture if he told his Hyung about it.

* * *

“The Association Head’s son passed? He’s a 1-Star Contractor, they say! So the rumors about him Awakening were true?”

Clang!

The night of the Practical Evaluation, in a dark room.

A middle-aged man in an expensive suit threw an ashtray and shouted.

“There’s no need to worry. It’s just the Association Head’s desperate struggle.”

Even though he was hit on the forehead by the ashtray, the Secretary who didn’t shed a single drop of blood calmed the middle-aged man with a relaxed tone.

“Desperate struggle?”

“Yes. It seems he’s pretending his son Awakened to stop his falling approval ratings. It appears he also recruited the Promising Candidates of this Session for that purpose.”

“So the Awakening is a lie?”

“Yes. After checking the Practical Evaluation records, our internal meeting judged it to be 99% a lie.”

At the Secretary’s words, the middle-aged man suppressed his anger but still didn’t let go of his suspicion.

“What if it’s real with that remaining 1% probability?”

“In preparation for that case, I’ve arranged for a fixer. My younger brother found out that Lee Hanseong is planning to enter a Private Dungeon soon. I plan to have someone tail him and take care of it then.”

“Oh. As expected of Secretary Kim, very thorough.”

Seeming satisfied with the Secretary’s countermeasures, the middle-aged man leaned back on the sofa and sat comfortably.

“Whether the Awakening is true or not, Lee Hanseong is scheduled to die in an unfortunate accident inside the Dungeon. But what about the Promising Candidates who formed a party with Lee Hanseong?”

“Those brats were also recruited by the Association Head, right? Since it’s a Private Dungeon, no one will know who went in or out anyway, so just get rid of them all.”

“Yes. Then I’ll instruct accordingly.”

“Hehehe. Good. I like it very much. It seems it won’t be long before I become the Association Head.”

As the middle-aged man, with a smile on his face, put a cigarette in his mouth, the Secretary skillfully lit it.

For a while after that, only the middle-aged man’s laughter and cigarette smoke filled the room.

* * *

The day after the Practical Evaluation.

Lee Hanseong, wearing the uniform delivered along with his Awakened acceptance notice, entered the banquet hall of a hotel near the Association.

Today too, the Projection settled above his head patted his head.

[The Nameless Constellation praises your well-dressed appearance.]

‘Thank you, Lord of the Throne.’

It was a congratulatory party for the Trainees who had newly become Awakened.

Dun~! Dadadan~!

The sound of classical musicians’ instruments flowed inside the banquet hall, amidst the buffet food and drinks prepared in various ways spread all around.

The other successful candidates who had arrived earlier were eating, drinking, and enjoying the party atmosphere.

“Over here. Hanseong.”

Jin Yuseong, who spotted Lee Hanseong, called him.

Jin Yuseong had his hair slicked back and was dressed to the nines, and his uniform had a silver brooch that others didn’t have.

It was the brooch given to the second-place finisher of this Practical Evaluation.

“So you’re the runner-up.”

“Seongcheol got first place by a difference of two birds.”

As Jin Yuseong said that and pointed to one side, at the end of his finger was Park Seongcheol.

He was talking to someone in a suit, not a uniform, and his uniform also had a brooch.

It was the gold brooch given to the first-place finisher.

“But who’s the person talking to Seongcheol?”

“Seems like a scout from a Guild.”

Listening, he saw that here and there in the banquet hall, besides the successful candidates in uniforms, there were quite a few people in suits.

They were people from Guilds.

Today’s venue wasn’t just a simple congratulatory party for passing, but also a meeting place for new Awakened and Guilds.

“Didn’t anyone come to you?”

“You think they didn’t?”

In response to Lee Hanseong’s question, Jin Yuseong proudly held out a handful of business cards from various Guilds.

While it’s common to go to the Guild where the highest Spirit among the contracted Spirits belongs, since in the next Spirit Contract a Spirit belonging to a different Constellation might appear.

For Promising Candidates with Vessels of 6 or 7 Stars and above, it’s common to receive scout offers from Guilds serving other Constellations as well.

“You must have heard about the membership support Guilds provide. Still thinking the same?”

“It’s true that there’s a lot of support if you join a Guild. Full equipment support, they say they’ll teach Skill proficiency tips too. They even provide lodging and transportation if you want.”

“…So?”

“But I still want to party with you. The only thing that’s tempting is the raid rights to Guild-owned Dungeons, but that… you know, right?”

“Good thinking.”

It was a good idea to tell them about the Private Dungeon in advance yesterday.

Thinking that hearing the support Guilds offer might actually sway their minds, telling them in advance seemed to have become an opportunity to firmly decide.

Then, a loud voice was heard from Park Seongcheol’s direction.

“What exactly is the reason for your refusal! It seems you refused all offers from other Guilds too.”

“I’m sorry.”

It seemed the Guild representative couldn’t understand Park Seongcheol’s refusal and was being persistent.

“But I’ve already stated my intention. Thank you for the offer, but please stop now.”

“You’ll regret it.”

“That too is something I’ll have to bear.”

Murmur murmur.

Interested gazes looking at the two.

Perhaps sensing the eyes gathering due to the loud voice, the scout who was about to persuade Park Seongcheol further looked around and hastily left the spot.

Park Seongcheol, left in that spot, drank a nearby beverage with an indifferent attitude, as if the others’ gazes didn’t bother him.

“Was it necessary to refuse now?”

Jin Yuseong approached Park Seongcheol and asked.

“If you had put it on hold like me, there wouldn’t have been a commotion.”

“I thought giving an answer now was polite.”

“Ugh, needlessly honest.”

Jin Yuseong sighed at Park Seongcheol’s inflexible response.

“I think Seongcheol’s response isn’t bad either.”

“Wow. Hanseong, are you taking Seongcheol’s side?”

As he sided with Park Seongcheol, Jin Yuseong playfully pouted.

“What do you mean taking sides. It’s just what I think.”

“Whatever.”

“But hasn’t Sehee arrived yet?”

Looking around, Yu Sehee was still not visible.

“She’s over there.”

Where Jin Yuseong pointed, scouts were gathered as if surrounding someone.

“There? Ah.”

Sneaking a look through the gaps in the crowd, a woman in a dress with a bronze brooch came into view.

Her makeup and hairstyle had changed, so he didn’t recognize her at first, but looking closely, it was Yu Sehee.

“Wow.”

-Nya!

[The Nameless Constellation shouts at you to snap out of it.]

Dazed and admiring Yu Sehee’s beautifully made-up appearance, the Constellation displayed a message, covering his eyes.

‘Are you perhaps jealous, Lord of the Throne?’

[The Nameless Constellation loudly declares that if he regains his original form, he’ll be much prettier than that.]

Imagining the Constellation acting embarrassed as if hit where it hurts, Lee Hanseong smiled, cleared the message, and observed Yu Sehee again.

It seemed the representative who had just been refused by Park Seongcheol had also gone over there.

She was smiling warmly and gently refusing their offers.

‘It’ll take a while for that to wrap up.’

As he sipped a nearby beverage and waited.

Before he knew it, the host appeared and started the Association’s event.

“Now we will begin the award ceremony for the top performers!”

It was an event to give benefits to the top performers of the Practical Evaluation.

“First Place! Park Seongcheol! The above Trainee hunted a total of 55 pigeons, achieving excellent results, and is therefore awarded the Association’s rare-grade equipment selection right and an Association-owned 2-Star Dungeon Entry Ticket.”

“Second Place! Jin Yuseong! The above Trainee hunted a total of 53 pigeons…”

“Third Place! Yu Sehee! The above Trainee hunted a total of 41 pigeons…”

As everyone expected, first to third place were taken by the three Promising Candidates.

Since there was Association support given to top performers, the three could give up Guild support without much regret.

But one thing, the event wasn’t over yet.

The Association awards prizes up to fifth place.

“Next is fourth place! For fourth and fifth place, only general-grade equipment selection rights are awarded, excluding Dungeon Entry Tickets.”

Although the quality of the prizes decreased compared to 1st-3rd place, interest grew even more.

4-Star Contractors including Kim Jinho, hoping their names would be called, approached the podium where the host was.

“Fourth Place! Lee Hanseong! The above Trainee hunted 10 1-Star Pigeons and captured a 2-Star Pigeon equivalent to 30 1-Star Pigeons, acquiring a total score equivalent to 40 pigeons, and is awarded a prize.”

Kim Jinho, who had gotten his hopes up and was about to step onto the stage first, doubted his ears.

“Who did he say just now?”

“Me.”

He had considered making the tamed 2-Star Pigeon the Constellation’s third Devotee, but Lee Hanseong chose to kill the 2-Star Pigeon and convert it into points.

Although it had fallen to 1-Star after having all its Power of the Stars sucked out for Pheidippides’s Promotion, its body size remained as it had grown during its 2-Star Awakening, so if killed, it could only be seen as a 2-Star Monster.

He had no choice but to kill it to hide the traces of the Spirit’s Promotion.

[The Nameless Constellation pats your head, saying he had no intention of accepting prey as a Devotee anyway.]

Lee Hanseong chuckled at the Constellation’s response, noticing his discomfort and comforting him, then lightly pushed Kim Jinho aside, stepped onto the stage, and received the general-grade equipment selection right.

“Fifth Place! Kim Jinho! The above Trainee hunted 30 1-Star Pigeons and is awarded a prize.”

Kim Jinho’s name was called belatedly for fifth place, but he just stared at Lee Hanseong with blazing eyes.

He thought Lee Hanseong, who passed by smiling, was mocking him.

“Trainee Kim Jinho?”

“Ah, yes.”

Only after his name was called again did he step onto the stage to receive his prize.

But there was no attention as he had hoped.

“Lee Hanseong captured a 2-Star Monster?”

“Without an Awakening Skill, how?”

“If he targeted the 2-Star Monster right after its Awakening, when it was vulnerable, it’s not impossible.”

The Guild scouts and other successful candidates were all preoccupied with the fact that Lee Hanseong had captured a 2-Star Monster and paid no attention to Kim Jinho’s score.

Grind.

Feeling like if he stayed here any longer he wouldn’t be able to hold back from attacking Lee Hanseong, Kim Jinho gritted his teeth and left the banquet hall.

Bang.

Slamming the door open as if to break it, Kim Jinho emerged into the hotel’s back alley and immediately called his Hyung, Kim Jinsu.

Trurururu.

-Yeah, Jinho. What’s up.

“Hyung, about that Private Dungeon I told you about yesterday. The one Lee Hanseong is going to. …You’re going to take care of Lee Hanseong there, right?”

-Why do you ask? You don’t need to know that.

A cold voice came back.

At the answer that seemed to draw a line, he hurriedly continued.

“Ah, no. I want to lend a hand there too.”

-You?

“Just watching is fine too. I want to see Lee Hanseong die with my own eyes, that’s why.”

-Tsk. Fine. Do as you please.

After a moment of contemplation, Kim Jinsu clicked his tongue and answered with a sighing voice.

Knowing his younger brother’s stubbornness, he knew that if he refused pointlessly and Kim Jinho moved secretly, things would become more troublesome.

“Thanks! Hyung.”

-I’ll tell the fixer I entrusted the job to separately. They’ll contact you first. Wait quietly until then.

Click.

The call ended.

“Cutting off without even a goodbye…”

Ding.

After grumbling for a while, a message arrived from the fixer not long after.

[Kang Min: I decline to babysit, so follow on your own. If you get lost, I won’t look for you.]

Below the message, the time and place to join were written, but it didn’t register.

His eyes only saw the name of the sender, Kang Min.

‘Kang Min? Don’t tell me, that Kang Min?!’

A rookie fixer who made a name for himself, starting as a 4-Star Contractor with the same 4-Star Vessel as Kim Jinho, but after three Awakenings, obtained a 7-Star Spirit in his second Spirit Contract.

That was Kang Min.