Chapter 8: Revealing Abilities (2)

 

As Yu Shia had said, I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

 

She was currently challenging the 8th stage.

 

She had to approach and defeat the golems that acted like stationary turrets.

 

Before the regression, during the first round of the entrance exam,

 

this was the stage where she had been brutally defeated.

 

But now,

 

-BOOM!!!

 

“Hyaaaah!!!”

 

‘She fights well…?’

 

At this moment,

 

there wasn’t a trace of the helplessness from back then in the way Shia charged through the barrage of magic bullets.

 

It was strange.

 

Her unique ability was A-rank, Shadow Walker.

 

An ability to manipulate shadows to assist in combat.

 

The 8th stage, with its full illumination and barrage of magic bullets, was her perfect counter.

 

Yet, she utilized her ability as if it was no hindrance at all.

 

She accelerated using the brief shadows cast by her feet.

 

The incoming attacks were blocked by creating a barrier from the slight shadows on her clothes.

 

And then,

 

“Take this!!!!”

 

-BOOM.

 

She closed in and broke through the golem’s barrier with her attack.

 

It was an overwhelming battle that made the surrounding spectators exclaim in admiration for Cheonhwa.

 

…It was impossible to do this with just an A-rank skill.

 

‘It’s not just a change in combat sense. She’s suppressing with skill effects, like Alice.’

 

My wives were completely different from before the regression.

 

Thanks to that, my head was spinning.

 

Could it be that they also regressed with me?

 

No, it can’t be. Their abilities got stronger, but their combat skills and usage of abilities are still at a beginner level.

 

If they remembered, they would have kissed me first thing.

 

Did my actions cause a butterfly effect?

 

That’s unlikely. It’s only been two weeks, so there can’t be a butterfly effect yet.

 

Besides, Alice just arrived in Korea.

 

No, it’s probably not that. Maybe.

 

…Just in case, should I check?

 

“Yu-jin, aren’t you staring too blatantly? Is that kind of outfit your taste….”

 

“Alice. Since we’re comrades with sharp eyes, let me ask you, what’s your ability rank?”

 

“…Huh?”

 

I asked casually.

 

A piece of information that only the awakened themselves know. Generally, a secret that should never be told to others.

 

However,

 

“If you tell me, I’ll tell you mine.”

 

“Hmm… Well, rank is okay. It’s S-rank.”

 

Alice answered nonchalantly.

 

She seemed to judge that it was fine to reveal her rank, even if not the exact ability.

 

It could be a lie, but…

 

Considering her personality, the likelihood of it being true was high.

 

She wasn’t the type to exaggerate and boast about her abilities.

 

In other words, Alice, and likely Yu Shia too,

 

had awakened skills of a higher rank compared to before the regression.

 

Fixing my gaze on Shia’s brilliant combat, I fell into an unanswerable contemplation.

 

‘What the hell happened in this second round….’

 

Why did their abilities evolve?

 

Was my regression the cause? Did something happen to my wives?

 

Is this world real? How did I even regress in the first place?

 

‘Just what am I….’

 

“Hmm. So, what about you, Yu-jin? Are you also S-rank?”

 

“I’m Ex-rank.”

 

“Really?!! Oh my god, oh my god!! That’s incredible… Oh, hehe. Yu-jin.”

 

“Yeah?”

 

“If you combine our ranks, it spells… s*x, doesn’t it?”

 

“———Pfft!!!?”

 

…My complicated thoughts were completely reset by the unnecessary sophistication of her dirty joke.

 

What kind of spicy joke is this? Is she really Western?

 

“That, ahem. Ahem. Girls shouldn’t say things like that.”

 

“Kuhuhu. Why are you so flustered? It’s just a dirty joke… hmm, I don’t know how to say it in Korean.”

 

“Anyway, don’t do it. Korea is more conservative about such things compared to the UK.”

 

“Hmm~ Are you embarrassed? How cute.”

 

‘It feels like I could get arrested because she’s 10 years younger! Although she’s 22, and physically, I’m actually two years younger!!’

 

Thanks to that, I forgot my worries and fumbled around.

 

“Whew… Hey, you!! I told you not to take your eyes off me!!”

 

“……!!!”

 

‘Shia’s pouting!!!’

 

Shia, who had fought hard and come out, was seriously sulking.

 

-Tch. Mutter mutter.

 

“It’s natural since there’s nothing to see, but why is she mad….”

 

“What? Hey, what did you just say?”

 

“Huh? I didn’t say anything.”

 

“You were mumbling something while looking at me!!”

 

Alice and Shia started bickering.

 

…It looked like they were fighting, but that probably wasn’t the case.

 

Alice wasn’t that kind of girl, and Shia wouldn’t unnecessarily clash with a potential recruit.

 

‘It looks like both of them haven’t come down from their adrenaline high. I was like that too in the first round. Yeah. It’s because they’re young, very young.’

 

“Seriously. Anyway, move aside now. I’m going to talk about the Solemn Eyes with Yu-jin.”

 

“…You guys drink that stuff?”

 

So, the entrance exam concluded with the three top scorers becoming friends.

 

* * *

 

Eventually, the three of us sat together.

 

Immediately after the entrance exam, there was the entrance ceremony. In the viewing seats.

 

“Having the entrance ceremony right after the exam is interesting, Yu-jin.”

 

“This is why foreigners… If we held the entrance ceremony first, everyone would be arrogant, so we have them experience the exam first.”

 

“I was talking to Yu-jin, why are you answering, Shia? It’s annoying.”

 

“You little…”

 

To my left was Alice. To my right was Yu Shia.

 

It could be said that I had flowers in both hands, but honestly, I couldn’t be happy about it.

 

The stares from those around us were piercing.

 

-Mutter mutter.

 

“Huh, if only I hadn’t tripped, I could have talked to him.”

 

“He looks good from a distance, but up close….”

 

‘…I feel so self-conscious.’

 

A guy sitting with two girls on his first day.

 

To others, it would definitely seem like that kind of scenario.

 

Honestly, even I thought it looked kind of sleazy.

 

In the first round, I was shameless, thinking, ‘A hero should have multiple wives’…

 

But now, I’m just a promising rookie with a bright future.

 

Acting like that would quickly label me as trash.

 

So, while the girls chattered on either side of me,

 

I added one thing to the top of my to-do list.

 

‘I need to prove my abilities. Before our reputations get ruined, as soon as possible.’

 

I was about to be exposed to the media.

 

The press wouldn’t be so kind as to miss out on the scoop of a future S-rank.

 

And the first articles they published would determine our reputations.

 

At this rate, I’d be seen as a womanizer, and they as cheap girls easily swayed.

 

Even if I didn’t care, my wives shouldn’t be treated that way.

 

‘So….’

 

“With that, we conclude the entrance ceremony, but we have an urgent additional event. Cadet Seo Yu-jin?”

 

While I was pondering, my name was called.

 

The same development as in the first round, I took a deep breath slowly.

 

With a light self-suggestion.

 

‘I, Seo Yu-jin, will not be flustered by anything for the next 10 minutes.’

 

[The subject falls into a ‘perfect’ state of hypnosis.]

 

“Could you come forward for a moment?”

 

“Yes. Shia, Alice. I’ll be right back.”

 

“What? Wait, what’s….”

 

“Yu-jin?”

 

Standing up simultaneously,

 

everyone’s eyes in the hall focused on me.

 

No. Just saying “everyone’s eyes” doesn’t do it justice.

 

That camera positioned in front of the podium.

 

It was broadcasting this entrance ceremony live to the world.

 

I was stepping out to face the world.

 

[This is a telepathic message. It might be your first time, but don’t be surprised and listen. Sorry, but I have a request….]

 

[An interview, right? Of course.]

 

[Hmm? How do you already know telepathy?]

 

[It’s because my abilities are in that category.]

 

I skipped the chairman’s explanation lightly.

 

The situation outside is chaotic because of you. At this rate, it won’t be good for you. We’ll guide the questions, so just say a few words.

 

I didn’t need to hear such obvious explanations twice.

 

I went up to the podium and positioned myself where the camera could capture me well.

 

[…Huh. He’s a perceptive young man.]

 

“Top scorer in the entrance exam, Cadet Seo Yu-jin. Please represent this class and answer a few questions.”

 

“Yes.”

 

The director also stood beside me.

 

A rapid exchange of questions and answers ensued.

 

Academy entrance, shortcomings, future aspirations, and so on.

 

Questions that no one was really curious about.

 

The real purpose of this interview, something everyone was genuinely curious about, came up at the end.

 

“Lastly… This is a personal question from me as a senior Awakener. What is your unique ability? I can’t seem to figure it out.”

 

[Close combat, long-range, magic. Support. Just give us a rough idea. Sorry about this, really.]

 

What’s your ability?

 

Interest, which had slackened due to the boring questions, sharpened once again.

 

Everyone seemed curious, after all.

 

…Well, it was only natural.

 

Considering my performance during the entrance exam.

 

Using a sword, reflecting magic. Knowing all the patterns.

 

It was understandable to be curious about what kind of ability I had to do all that.

 

‘I’m not really supposed to answer this.’

 

At the same time, it was a question even Yu Shia hadn’t dared to ask until now.

 

Revealing an Awakener’s unique ability was usually a suicidal act.

 

Asking for the exact ability was like inviting a slap, and even asking about the category was somewhat rude.

 

Even the director, the only S-class Awakener in Korea, had been apologizing repeatedly through telepathy, which said it all.

 

Nevertheless, I had no intention of hiding it.

 

“Ex-rank.”

 

“…Gasp?!!”

 

I spoke at precisely the calculated moment.

 

The director let out a gasp.

 

It was the rank that, along with my master’s, was the only one of its kind in the world, a rank many Awakeners had falsely claimed to have.

 

The symbol of the top S-class rank. The unique ability of the Ex-rank.

 

I revealed that I possessed it.

 

The fact that I, who had broken the record only my master had set, was saying this.

 

Even the veteran director’s astonishment was understandable.

 

[Hey, hey. Wait a moment. Whether it’s true or not, you didn’t have to reveal your rank.]

 

“My unique ability is….”

 

Ignoring him, I continued.

 

The one breakthrough I had considered.

 

To create the image of a ‘decent young man.’

 

“———Hypnosis. Complete hypnosis.”