Chapter 28: The Grim Reaper (1)

The spirit revealed its form as it froze.

Haruki frowned at the indescribable unpleasantness.

A liquid clinging to smooth skin. Countless tentacles extending. An unfathomable multifaceted shape. A distortion that evokes instinctive disgust.

It’s not a picture that suits a pretty girl. The gap that came from that was great.

‘Ugh, it looks like it’s going to move with some strange intentions right now. Does she have no prejudice? Is it because she’s visually impaired?’

Her heart was heavy. It felt like condoning child abuse.

Nevertheless, she wasn’t proactive because she thought the contract would be impossible in the first place.

Ernian was calm. She sees a different world in the first place.

As long as she can use insight, her eyes see a different image.

Seeing the true form.

It was a moment when each other’s thoughts diverged sharply.

‘It’s kind of cute? Not as much as Hayang, though.’

It was her first contract, but she knew what to do. She calmly exchanged essence.

The boundaries crumbled, and each other’s ideation and stories were mixed.

Memories of the spirit, traces of existence, fragments of ancient times.

An ordinary person would have died instantly. That’s what a death spirit is.

They are inevitably destined to die during the contracting process. All those written on the page did so.

But, Ernian’s rank is national power level.

Since the difference in rank was clear, there was no way she wouldn’t accept it.

Contract.

Conclusion complete.

Instantly, the status ailment was released.

The spirit twitched and trembled its tentacles.

Even a King-class spirit seemed to have no choice in front of the modifier [Death God].

It unconsciously took a polite posture, but then it seemed to rebel slightly as if blatant obedience was hurting its pride.

“……”

It was a horror she had never seen in her life.

Haruki automatically foamed at the mouth and fell backward. Her timid nature was revealed as it was.

On the other hand.

Ernian slightly raised the corners of her mouth.

She obtained the death spirit.

[You brought something strange.]

It’s strange. Others couldn’t see it. As expected of a World Boss.

But. He didn’t seem to recognize Blackie’s cuteness.

I felt a little sad.

“Even if it’s not as much as Hayang, Blackie is also quite cute, you know?”

[I realize that you are disabled at times like this.]

He’s from another world, so he says whatever he wants. It’s hard to tell if it’s rude because the standards of common sense are different.

And then I realized. This is cute only to my eyes.

[Don’t reveal that bizarre thing carelessly. Any power, to those who do not understand it, becomes fear, so you have one more thing to hide.]

“Tch.”

I don’t know if I’m cute.

But words that my child is cute? I always like hearing it.

When I go out for a walk once or twice, there are always people who approach Hayang with goodwill.

Asking if they can pet him.

At times like that, my shoulders would rise slightly.

I felt sorry for Blackie, thinking that he was excluded from this happiness, and my cheeks puffed up automatically.

Stretch stretch.

I pointlessly sucked on the straw of the drink cup. The cold cup was in contact through my thin clothes, and a slight chill permeated my chest. But anyway, I’ll get used to it soon.

It’s fitted just right, so there’s no chance of it falling off. It’s the only advantage.

[Still, you did well. If it weren’t for you, the academy itself would have disappeared.]

“What are you talking about?”

[A form in which a story has gained life. Do you call it a spirit? If it had scattered death, the situation would have escalated into a catastrophe. If you hadn’t stopped it, the guy would have engulfed the academy like a fire, and everyone would have been helplessly swept away and met their deaths.]

“Oh, come on. No way. There are S-rank hunters here, too?”

[I’m telling you that if that guy gets out of control, even S-ranks won’t be able to handle it. I need to be wary of who brought such a thing into the academy.]

……That much?

I couldn’t feel it. Blackie, who is so docile in front of me, is strong enough to chew up S-rank hunters.

That means.

Did I, get a spec upgrade?

A vertical rise from an academy elementary school girl to an S-rank hunter?

Instantly, my chest puffed up slightly.

An immediate retort came.

[Don’t get ahead of yourself.]

Achilles’s serious voice.

[From what I see, a contractor borrows the story of the spirit. I can’t originally handle a story that I don’t have, but I use the story that nature has accumulated through a contract. In the end, it depends on your capabilities.]

“Then, I need to find out how to handle spirits well.”

[That’s right.]

This… Should I have applied for the spirit studies major too?

It seemed useless, so I didn’t even apply.

But the course registration is already over.

Additional application? Correction period? It’s all over, what can I do?

Besides, the academy’s required courses or popular lectures are fiercely competitive, so it won’t be solved by asking a professor. I don’t have any close professors either.

A deep sigh.

I threw the drink cup I was drinking roughly. It went into the trash can like a sniper.

Then I turned off the lights.

It’s time for a good child to sleep soundly.

The next day.

Morning came.

Hunters are a warrior race, and South Korea is Hell Joseon.

Ranking was the secret to rapid growth. Grades are class, and rankings are power.

Me? Still 1st place.

That’s why the dormitory is like a top-class hotel. Top floor, large single room, fluffy bed, and a beautiful view of the academy city outside the window.

But….

The rooms of the lower-ranking students are different. Cramped and humid 4-person rooms. Squeaky iron bunk beds. The windows don’t even open properly. I’ve also seen posts on the community saying that it’s hard to find monthly rent because the land price of the academy city is crazy.

You also have to get breakfast served. Standing in line, holding a tray.

Everything is based on ability. Comfort, trivial consideration, and even the air.

If I lose 1st place?

I will also go down there.

So.

Stretching exercises.

When I stretched my arms and arched my back, my chest moved along.

Softly, elastically. There’s also a slight rubbing sensation. The presence is unique.

“What will happen to this later?”

Maybe it’s because I’m Western.

Even now it’s this much, I’m really afraid of the future.

Shake shake.

Shaking off my thoughts, I poured milk into a bowl.

Drizzle.

There is only one thing to add on top of that.

Cereal.

I also mixed in chocolate balls to suit my taste.

The ratio of chocolate was a bit biased, but that’s why it’s good.

I ate it vigorously while it was crispy.

What about the remaining liquid?

This is the best part. The sweetness is properly soaked in the milk.

“Slurp.”

It’s hearty.

Tiger energy is surging.

There’s no need to stand in front of a mirror.

Hair styling, clothes.

Omit everything.

Because I lived as a visually impaired person for a long time.

A life without caring about the gaze of others.

I didn’t care about what was visible on the outside.

Sunglasses are enough.

I put on my sneakers.

And left the house with Hayang.

Blackie?

I don’t know the reason, but he’s clinging to my leg.

It’s not particularly inconvenient, and anyway, others can’t see it. Revealing its appearance is possible when the story is properly revealed.

If you just put on a backpack briskly?

Preparation for going out is complete.

Today.

There is a field trip.

I am a sniper.

There is no curriculum for snipers in the academy.

No, anywhere in the world.

Because there are no hunters in the world who shoot guns.

Bullets are threatening enough, but they don’t do much damage.

Only with ‘attack power’ can you kill monsters in the tower or gate.

Hunting is established only with the correction of the [System].

So.

I really listened carefully to the martial arts and magic classes.

I’m still a first-year.

It’s before the cherry blossoms bloom. I haven’t learned anything other than the basics.

Nevertheless.

I never thought it was boring.

The academy is the best prestigious school in the world.

Others have already done all the pre-learning and came in.

Even though I’m still in 1st place.

I thought I was behind.

After the midterm exam? There may be a change in the rankings.

I might be kicked out to a shabby dormitory.

It’s not like I don’t have enough money to starve.

But considering the prices in the academy city, unnecessary expenses should be minimized.

Because students should concentrate only on studying.

Physical training in the morning.

Mana theory at lunch.

I read papers at night.

Even though my reading speed is significantly faster than others, my day was very busy.

Without a break, I moved between classrooms and listened to lectures.

Others shook their heads.

You’re going to grab both martial arts and magic? They said I was crazy.

But I have no choice.

Because I can see that I’m growing noticeably.

Whether it’s exercise or study, everything is fun.

It’s a tough schedule for an elementary school girl, but my heart was full.

Because I believed that someday all of this would become my nourishment.

So I was looking forward to it.

Field trip.

Others thought it was a picnic, but I didn’t.

It’s an opportunity to get out of the classroom and see the actual field in person.

The world’s strongest hunter superpower, South Korea.

Among them, one of the top 9 prestigious guilds.

Taesanbukdu (Mt. Tai and the Big Dipper).

It’s hard to get in.

Ability, connections, luck. You need all three.

It’s to the level where banners are hung in the neighborhood even if you just pass the application.

Naturally.

I felt refreshed.

“Wow.”

“It’s awesome.”

“Look at the equipment over there.”

“Is this a professional hunter?”

The students were also excited.

Sincerity was buried in every word.

The hunters also smiled and exchanged jokes.

“We had times like that too.”

“I remember cramming the day before the exam.”

“It was thrilling when we ordered chicken, avoiding the dorm supervisor.”

“Is that supervisor still there?”

The atmosphere was good.

But.

There’s a guy who spoils the mood wherever you go.

The bigger the company, the better the character of the people, but.

The hunter industry is a place that values ability the most.

Ability was often prioritized over character.

A criminal who once caused social controversy?

If they have the ability, they are employed.

“Oh. I heard that the academy is coming for a visit. Is it because it’s a place that’s only good at studying? There aren’t any pretty girls.”

A swaggering voice. A slow gait.

A man is scanning the female students.

Wherever his gaze touched, the air became heavy.

Shoulders stiffen. Lips try to move and then close.

Someone clutched their bag straps tightly.

The guy laughed as if the reactions of the female students were interesting.

When I gathered the whispering sounds, he’s a person with serious problems.

His name is Kang Sihoon.

Someone who once had allegations of sexual crimes.

The case ended vaguely.

It’s not easy to prove charges for things that happened inside the gate.

But.

His gaze, which was constantly looking around, openly lingered on me.

The greasy gaze doesn’t leave.

No, rather, it became bolder.

Up and down.

Slowly, slyly.

Like a beast that found fun.

“Oh? Was there such talent in the academy?”

Something.

I had a bad feeling.