Chapter 8 : Academy Entrance Exam (3)

“Are you coming to the academy without even knowing what Ideation is?”

“That’s not true.”

“Then you have doubts about this instructor’s testing method.”

Then he suddenly drew his sword.

Before the sharp sound could be heard, his hand was already holding the sword.

!!!

Then, with an indifferent face, he said something amazing.

“Kill me.”

“Yes?”

“Show me the best move you can make. I will see and judge whether Ideation is contained in it.”

Achilles said with interest.

[Ho, your posture is correct. This man in front of you is not a mere swordsman. He is one who carries his soul on the tip of his sword.]
“What’s that?”

[It means he’s a few levels above you. You won’t die, so go all out. But, never open your eyes. He’ll probably find out right away.]

[You may be the only one in the world who can see Ideation with your eyes. Even if you are unfolding Ideation, it is only you who are sensing it. Implementing Ideation in reality is a separate story. That swordsman’s intention is to know your level through your attack, so let’s do as we learned for now.]

Does that mean he’s an S-rank hunter because he’s telling me not to open my eyes?

Just hit me with all your might.

It seemed too simple and ignorant to be an evaluation method.

But on second thought, this also had its own logic.

If there is a skilled swordsman who can evaluate an opponent with just one move, there would be no simpler and more efficient method than this.

If he likes my attack, it seems that he will give me the acceptance necklace he is holding.

“Can I have a little time?”

“It doesn’t matter. Just think about making the best move.”

A blunt personality.

The examiner stood still, holding his sword.

It’s strange that I’m muttering to myself.

‘He seems to be looking through me.’

This is an S-rank hunter.

A presence that makes people uncomfortable with just one look.

‘Unlimited preparation time, is that it?’

Especially, isn’t I the owner of Asadia, whose attack power increases the longer I wait?

Fumble, fumble.

I took out a revolver from my pocket.

Clank.

The dull metallic sound spread like a short wave in the silence of the test center.

Perhaps it was because I took out the gun.

His gaze, which was observing me with a detached curiosity.

The interest, or perhaps expectation, quickly fades away. Instead, indifference takes its place, as if he had already seen the predetermined ending.

He feels like I can’t do anything.

That’s right.

I would too.

Who in the world is a hunter who shoots a gun?

Moreover, I am visually impaired.

‘It’s a shame I can’t open my eyes.’

If I could see that examiner’s status window, it would be easier to take the test by identifying his thoughts or weaknesses.

The bullets that were in the pistol I picked up were a total of 3 rounds.

One shot at the World Boss.

I already used it all by shooting two shots at the maggots on the 1st floor of the tower.

The empty chamber will only make a dull, dry sound, no matter how many times I pull the trigger.

But, it’s okay.

I have a plan.

‘I’ll just shoot with Ideation.’

I listen to the tremors flowing through the air.

I feel the breathing of the earth transmitted from my toes.

To survive in a world without light, my body had to learn how to use other senses.

Maybe that’s why.

I was remarkably good at handling senses other than sight.

‘For example, like this.’

Ideation started from within me.

The will that flowed like blood from deep inside my body gradually spread out and devoured the world.

Is this what synesthesia is?

It felt like I had finally faced the side that the world had hidden.

All senses were mixed together, delivering a new level of information that I had never felt before.

‘You said you would evaluate whether I can handle Ideation, right?’

Ideation.

A kind of supernatural power that combines consciousness and mental energy.

I heard that hunters must be able to handle Ideation to use martial arts or magic.

It’s like the most basic condition for moving mana.

But.

The way heroes use Ideation is a little different.

Not long ago, when I was learning how to use Ideation from Achilles, I asked.

“But I don’t have a narrative. I was born blind, abandoned by my parents, and lived like a loser trapped in darkness all my life.”

Achilles used to say this.

[That is enough.]

How should I put it.

My heart was touched.

A gaze, not of pity.

A stare, not an aversion.

I used to be defined by only one thing in my life.

“Poor child.”

Just because I couldn’t see, people pitied me.

Even that pity often changed shape depending on the situation.

In uncomfortable moments, I was often ignored.

The world was so cold to me, and my existence was just a pitiful consumable.

But Achilles looked straight at me.

He didn’t feel sorry for me.

‘Even this is a narrative.’

It’s not just about spreading Ideation and recognizing the surroundings.

Furthermore.

So that this world responds to my story.

I superimposed myself on the world.

An operation to reconstruct the law so that a piece of reality matches my perception.

“Phew.”

With a short exhale.

The narrative released from me flowed together with Ideation.

Darkness squirmed.

‘I’ve lived in darkness all my life, so it looks a little creepy.’

It was strange just looking at it.

It was too black, too cold, and something……………. it felt creepy just looking at it.

It was amazing and a little scary that something like this was created in my hands.

‘Well, what can I do? I can’t help it because darkness is the only thing I’ve seen and felt in my life.’

It’s actually natural that the bullet I, a visually impaired person, made is like this.

It’s a bit, gloomy, but.

Conversely.

A bullet that condenses darkness.

‘If I had to name it, wouldn’t it be Matan or Satan?’

Satan, the bullet shot by the Reaper.

Even I think the naming sense is amazing.

‘You said you would evaluate whether I can handle Ideation, right?’

Then.

I’ll shoot Ideation itself.

A black bullet made of Ideation was loaded into the chamber.

With my eyes closed, I aimed the muzzle.

Tang!

The gunshot rang out.

The test center was a wide open dome-shaped space.

A huge screen on the wall was showing the test space.

And now, the figure of an examiner and a 12-year-old girl was on the screen.

The girl was small and looked so fragile that she would break if you touched her.

The murmurs of those gathered in the dome grew louder.

Whispered, murmured, and laughed.

“That’s the one who got a perfect score on the written test.”

“A disabled person beat out promising candidates and got first place in the entrance exam. Something unbelievable happened.”

“I guess Professor Park Hankyeol leaked the exam questions. Or, well…. they know each other.”

“Know each other? Did he hide a niece or something?”

“But that kid, isn’t she Western? I don’t think it’s a blood relationship…….”

“Then maybe he had compensated dating. I saw her once from afar, and even though her eyes were covered, she looked quite cute.”

“Heh heh heh. Crazy bastard. You don’t hold back with an elementary school student.”

“You never know. Maybe she’ll grow up to be a busty blonde beauty.”

They laugh boisterously at the vulgar joke.

Even while rebuking the out-of-line remarks. Their voices were tinged with ridicule.

Even with the best academic background in the world, the academy is a meritocracy. ᅲ

It attracted talent from all over the world because it maintained the best reputation, but at the same time, it also gathered all kinds of human beings.

Those who were arrogant because they were from chaebol families, those who pretended to be cultured and distanced themselves from the vulgar crowd, those who seemed to have been dragged from the streets, and those who were like gangsters.

The scenery created by various people gathering was complex.

Hidden intentions behind laughter, poison hidden in jokes, and rough, sharp gazes.

“Anyway, there’s no way that kid will pass the practical exam.”

“That’s right. How can a disabled person get an acceptance necklace from ‘Blink Sword’ Kim Seokhoon.”

“It’s fortunate if she doesn’t get her heart broken.”

“She’ll definitely feel the wall and be frustrated.”

Kim Seokhoon.

An S-rank hunter who is counted among the best in the world.

The S-rank is never light.

The mere fact of facing him is an honor.

Even a word of advice is a valuable experience.

Even if they didn’t have the ability to enter the academy, there were people who applied just to hear a word of advice from the professors who were known to be so strict.

Then.

Fumble, fumble..

The blind girl fumbled in her pocket.

What came out was a revolver.

The standard issue pistol used by the Korean police.

“A gun?”

“A disabled person with a gun?”

“Are you kidding?”

“Am I seeing things wrong? There’s actually a guy who brings a gun to the academy?”

Silence fell, and then a bigger laugh broke out.

“A kid who can’t even see with a gun!”

“Did she really come here to film a comedy?”

No matter how fast and powerfully a gun is fired, it is only a weapon designed for humans.

It was common knowledge in the industry that it was powerless against monsters.

It’s not impossible to strengthen firearms with magic stones or scrolls from the tower and make them into hunter equipment.

Not only guns, but also each bullet must be made of magic stones.

That level of technology and capital?

A leading conglomerate.

Even the chairman of Cheonryong Corporation would not be able to do it.

It was because an unrealistic sight was captured on the screen.

Clang!

Kim Seokhoon’s sword broke in two and bounced into the air.

The fragments of the cut sword slowly fell, reflecting the light in the air.

No one realized what had happened.

It happened in an instant.

Just.

A gunshot rang out once.

In the silence.

He put down the half-broken sword and personally put the acceptance necklace around the girl’s neck.

“The future of the academy is here.”

The highest praise.

Various emotions were mixed in Kim Seokhoon’s eyes.

Surprise, interest, and perhaps even a little awe.

But soon, as if to organize everything, he nodded his head.

It meant that she should leave now.

The girl nodded silently.

Then she left.

“What? What did I just see?”

“Did Kim Seokhoon just personally put the necklace on her? Is it real?”

“That blunt guy?”

“Fck. This is international news material?”

“What? That sword…………. Is it really broken? Isn’t it a show?”

Low, shallow whispers spread like waves among the examinees.

But the reality in front of them was undeniable.

Everyone held their breath and just looked back and forth between the broken sword and Kim Seokhoon.