Episode 14
"Taehyun Kim. "Where have you been?"
Among the crowd of children, Lim Ah-young suddenly approached and asked.
He looked as if it was his duty as a class leader.
"I went to the nurse's office."
"The nurse's office? "Where does it hurt?"
He was on his way to leave Kim Myeong-gyun in the care of Choi Na-young at the nurse's office, but he didn't give any details.
"What do you know? Do we have to report all of that individually?"
Lim Ah-young fell silent for a moment at Tae-hyeon's words.
I realized that I was being foolish, but I felt like I had to say this.
"… be careful. "Because the movements of Lee Jeong-jae's gang are unusual."
Jeongjae Lee.
The weight of that name was not light in a school receiving financial support from Taesan Electronics.
Just 10 years ago, Konkuk High School was criticized for being a low-quality school and was on the verge of closure.
With the rumor that such a school had begun to receive financial support from Taesan Electronics, talented children flocked to the school.
In addition, the rumor that Lee Jeong-jae, the third-generation chaebol successor to Taesan Electronics, would enroll in Konkuk High School moved the hearts of parents who wanted to make a 'string'.
As a result.
Konkuk High School has become the most prestigious high school in the region, full of awakened people.
Taehyun was the same.
I applied to relieve some of the burden when I was told that tuition would be waived if I enrolled, and I was recognized for my potential and was accepted.
If I had known that the school would be so swayed by Lee Jung-jae, I would have thought differently.
That was already a thing of the past, and there was nothing more to do at school.
Because today will be the last time Taehyun stops by school.
"Thanks for the advice."
"… … ."
Lim Ah-young looked a little surprised by Tae-hyun's reaction.
Taehyun returned to his seat and opened the status window.
Name: Taehyun Kim
Age: 19
Grade: C
Strength: 30 Stamina: 32 Speed: 31 Horsepower: 65
Fatigue: 30%
Remaining horsepower: 36/65
[skill]
Predation (22%) – Can prey on the desired target. Magic power: 15
Stone Skin (C) – Can strengthen the body. Magic Power: 9
Stealth (C) – You can hide your body. Horsepower: 8
Paralysis (C) – Restrains the subject's body. Magic power: 7
'It would have been nice if Psychometry had been registered.'
Even though it was a fact I had already confirmed, I couldn't help but feel regretful.
The skill was clearly used properly, but only one skill was absorbed from Kim Myeong-gyun.
'Is it because my abilities are low? Or is it that only one can be absorbed from someone who possesses multiple skills?'
Predation.
The more I used it, the more I felt like my questions were increasing rather than being resolved.
'But that doesn't mean I can't use Predation one more time.'
It wasn't just because of the cooldown time.
If it was a fatigue issue, I had already solved it with the potion I had in my pocket.
only.
'That guy Myeong-gyun Kim. 'Payment is confirmed.'
Unlike Bae Hyuk-soo, what Kim Myeong-gyun suffered was a C-grade 'predation'.
The guy who didn't have any body strengthening skills was in worse shape than Bae Hyuk-soo and was moved to the nurse's office.
With the absurd reason that he fell down the stairs.
If Taehyun hadn't controlled his power, he would have died like Han Sangdo.
'I'll have to focus on conquering the dungeon again starting tomorrow.'
Taehyun closed the status window and made an expression that it wasn't that bad.
There will be a lot of time and a lot of skills that can be exploited.
Taehyun's body heated up as he thought about how strong he could become.
'Lee Jeong-jae guy. 'Your face is worth seeing.'
This is a guy who didn't do the dirty work himself.
How will he react since both his right and left arms, which were used to handle work on his behalf, have been cut off?
Just thinking about it gave me a sweet feeling. Today was also a satisfying day.
* * *
Players Association. Association President's Office.
Ji Jin-hee looked around at the five players sitting on the sofa.
"okay. "Have you all seen a lot of talented people?"
Five conductors with measurement skills nodded at his words.
This is because, even though we only looked at high schools in the Seoul area, we found many people who were quite awakened.
The reason why only five people showed this level of efficiency was thanks to the data provided by Night Walker.
"There were more children who were better than I thought."
"If we just lower the difficulty of the test, I think we can increase the number of students by at least 300."
"President of the Association, have you forgotten your principles? "The difficulty of the test is not lowered."
"Then, the final successful candidates will be around 50 people."
The four assistant managers discussed the upcoming player qualification test, each weighing the possibilities.
"What about Deputy Director Go? "You were in charge of Konkuk High School, right?"
Two students who were recommended by Yoo Ah-young.
Ji Jin-hee, who remembered that they were both from Konkuk High School, asked with hopeful eyes.
"yes. Ayoung Lim and Jeongjae Lee. "It seems likely that both of them will become national-level forces in the future."
At those words, the other conductors started to get upset.
"National-level power. Is that really true, Deputy Goh?"
"Deputy Director Go inspected it, so it must be certain."
Even if they have the same skill, the user is ultimately the awakened person.
Therefore, depending on how the skill was trained, it displayed different levels of power.
In that respect, Go Tae-wook was famous for having top-notch technique even among players with measurement skills.
That was the reason why Ji Jin-hee entrusted Konkuk High School to him.
"but. Now is the time for our country to have that level of power. "We can't lag behind Japan forever."
"This is all because the president of the association has a close relationship with the four major guilds."
"No. "As one of the citizens of the new Korea, this is something I must naturally do."
Ji Jin-hee, S-rank player.
A considerable amount of time has passed since he retired from active duty and assumed the position of president of the association.
His influence was great in helping the four major guilds, who had been fighting for each other's interests, maintain friendly relations and cooperate on the surface.
"Now that I think about it, there is talk that Japan is also lowering the age for the qualification test."
"It's already been 10 years since the 'saint' appeared. "It's understandable to be nervous."
"In the future, there will come a day when not adults, but people with ability, will be able to play as players regardless of their age."
There were other things discussed, but what it all boiled down to was about the upcoming player exam.
"good. Then, send invitations to the children you identified this time."
With those words, the five deputy directors left the association president's office.
"Deputy Director Go. You didn't look good from earlier. Is something wrong?"
"haha. Did you happen to be reverse-detected while detecting national talent? "Our Deputy Goh Tae-wook of the world?"
Go Tae-wook burst into laughter as he watched the other conductors talking jokingly.
"Well, that could be possible."
"Wow, this really must be an all-time great talent to the extent that our late Deputy Director says this, right?"
"The future of the new Korea is bright."
Among the conductors who were excited about new talents, Ko Tae-wook opened his mouth without thinking.
"You-all. Do you remember when the saint's abilities were first measured?"
"It's strange that I can't remember. "It was 2,500, wasn't it?"
"That too at the age of 19. "It was a ridiculous number."
"Asia was shocked by the unprecedented talent. "It's hard to believe that a mere teenager possesses such abilities."
"But why are you suddenly asking that?"
"… no. nothing"
"… … ?"
After parting ways with the deputy managers and entering his private office, Go Tae-wook found a document on his desk.
This was information requested from the association's background check office.
'Is your name Kim Tae-hyun?'
The only non-awakened person at Konkuk High School that he asked for.
The document listed information about Kim Tae-hyun who was seen that day.
Although the grade was marked as unknown, Go Tae-wook was confident.
That he had awakened some special power.
Otherwise, it would be impossible to explain the blocking of his skill and the numerical value that briefly came to mind.
'You haven't applied to become an awakened person yet.'
Usually, when non-awakened people awaken a skill, they immediately notify the Awakened Association.
Although there may be individual differences, it may be because of the sadness of living as an unawakened person, or because of the hope that one's life will become a flowery path in the future.
However, Taehyun Kim did not do that.
'There's definitely something there.'
Since the awakened person was not registered, it would not be possible to send an invitation to the player certification test.
so.
"I have one more child to watch over."
Go Tae-wook looked at Tae-hyun's photo with an expression that said he didn't hate him.
* * *
"Hey, did you hear that?"
"what. "The Players Association is sending out invitations to talented people?"
"No, not that one."
The day after Go Tae-wook visited Konkuk High School.
Taehyun's class had been upset since morning.
"Class 7 Kim Myeong-gyun. "I heard you were hospitalized at a university hospital?"
"It means that he is unconscious like Bae Hyuk-soo... ."
"They say the first discoverer was Kim Tae-hyun."
"Is it Kim Taehyun again?"
Gossip and gossip.
Taehyun turned the pages, ignoring the gaze focused on him.
I know that there are only three minutes left until the bell rings to signal the start of first period.
At that time, Lim Ah-young approached.
"Are the rumors true?"
Ignoring it.
Taehyun turned the pages of the book.
It was expected anyway that Kim Myung-gyun was hospitalized in the same hospital as Bae Hyuk-soo.
Not only did they not take their lives, but they made sure to step on them to prevent them from talking about predation.
"Taehyun Kim. Violence cannot be justified under any circumstances. If you are... ."
widely.
Taehyun closed the book he was reading and looked into Lim Ayoung's eyes.
"Fuck the sermon."
The bell rang to signal the start of first period.
Grumble.
Taehyun stood up and whispered softly into her ear.
"Don't be too proud."
"what?"
Taehyun headed to the rooftop without answering. It was a place that preyed on Bae Hyuk-soo and Kim Myeong-gyun.
'Lee Jeong-jae. It's bothering me.'
I thought I wouldn't have to go to school anymore.
Because I achieved everything I wanted to achieve in school.
Nevertheless, the reason I came back to school was because of a phone call I received last night.
[Kim Tae-hyun. Are you really awakened?]
A voice that seems to look down on a person.
It was Lee Jeong-jae.
"Hang up."
[Wow. Please wait a moment. You live at your aunt's house, right? It didn't look like I had enough to live on... How would she feel if her store went bankrupt because of her nephew?]
"Just tell me what you want."
[Kkkkkk. Now it makes sense. Taehyun Kim When the first period bell rings tomorrow, come up to the rooftop. alone. You must not tell anyone.]
Pop.
The phone call was cut off with a unilateral notification.
And it was today.
'Lee Jeong-jae. 'You're crossing a line.'
I could fully guess why he asked me to come to the rooftop.
The arrogance of trying to subdue Taehyun where he lost his own limbs.
That guy would have done enough.
just as expected.
Two men were waiting on the rooftop.
They were Lee Jeong-jae in a school uniform and a middle-aged man in a suit.
"Welcome, Taehyun Kim. "You don't look good?"
Then, when Lee Jeong-jae nodded, the man next to him used a skill.
[Skill use has been detected. You are under enhanced hypnosis (A). It resists with mysterious power. Resistance was successful.]
A message window appeared in front of me.
"Are you done?"
Even though there are S-class awakeners and A-class awakeners in front of him, he does not feel intimidated.
"okay. "You have to do this to have fun."
Lee Jeong-jae made a sinister expression.
After that.
The corners of Taehyun's mouth rose.
Now that I'm out of school.
I was definitely planning on collecting transportation expenses.