"How do you know about serial killers?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly.
Eunsol bead. "There were about three serial killers in my village! They were always telling and my friends they were going to kill us!"
My grip on my chopsticks tightened. ’Those bastards. I should have finished them all off back then.’
"...Ah, haha! Speaking of which, why don’t we turn on the news?" Bora suggested, forcing a brighter tone as she pulled up a news site.
’It has been confird that serial killer Armin Walter, 48, has entered the country. Police have established a joint investigation headquarters with the Executive Departnt to respond to the situation.’
’Neighboring countries, including China, Japan, and North Korea, are gripped by fear at the news of Armin Walter’s appearance. dia outlets in each nation have made this their top story and have increased security personnel for all flights and ships arriving from Korea by more than fivefold.’
It was clearly a massive incident. Every channel was dominated by news of the killer.
’The joint investigation headquarters advises citizens to refrain from going out after dark. Particular caution is urged during the early morning hours, when the killer is most active.’
"Yusin."
"What?"
I turned to see Bora with her shoulders hunched, pretending to be terrified as she placed a finger to her lips. "I’m scared."
...Here we go again.
Normally, I would have brushed her off, but I owed her for a few things recently. I let out a small sigh. "I’ll see you ho."
"Yes!"
"Seojin, if you’re leaving around the sa ti, give our potion specialist a ride."
Seojin, who was still scribbling on a contract while the rest of us ate, answered with a haggard expression. "I’ll get a blanket."
"A blanket? Why?"
"I plan on pulling all-nighters at the Magic Tower until he’s caught."
"Ugh! He always has to be so annoying about it!" Bora snapped. "Forget it! I’d rather get my own driver’s license!"
"Says the miracle driver who’s failed the practical exam for a Class 2 license six tis?" Seojin retorted.
"Hey! Are you trying to start sothing?"
While the two bickered, I opened my phone and read an article about Armin Walter.
’Officially confird deaths exceed 300, with the actual number presud to be much higher. Over half the victims were players or registered hunters. Walter himself is estimated to be a combatant on par with a rank-2 hunter.’
He was a monster. The thought of soone like that roaming Seoul sent a shiver down my spine.
Just then, a breaking news alert flashed across the screen.
[Breaking News: The Vatican’s ’Holy Knights’ are en route to Korea to apprehend Armin Walter. Archbishop Marcello leads the unit!]
[A ’Gravekeepers’ unit from Egypt has been dispatched to the country to arrest Armin Walter. Their forces consist of registered Hunters, including the 3rd Pharaoh, nes.]
Damn. This killer’s influence was no joke, drawing in even those arrogant foreign factions. A quick scan of the articles suggested both the Vatican and Egypt had their own reasons for wanting Walter. The mont they heard he was in Korea, they moved without hesitation.
"This is scary. What’s going to happen?" Bora asked, her voice laced with worry.
"What could happen?" I replied, spearing a sausage coated in tteokbokki sauce. "With the police, the Enforcent Bureau, and now foreign support, he’ll be caught before long."
"I hope so."
* * *
The next day. Incheon Airport.
Im Namjin, head of the Enforcent Bureau, stood waiting with his agents. The ’guests’ they were about to greet would be clearing customs and exiting through a rear entrance. Taking a drag from his e-cigarette, Namjin exhaled a puff of herb-scented vapor and chuckled. "Nervous?"
"N-no, sir!" an agent standing rigidly beside him stamred.
Namjin pocketed his e-cigarette. "No need to be intimidated. Just stick to the plan."
"Yes, sir!"
A short while later, two groups erged from the back of the airport.
On the right stood figures dressed from head to toe in immaculate, flowing white suits, with crosses hanging from their necks. They were ard with priceless hunting devices—swords and hamrs of the finest make.
From the opposite side approached a group of n with bronzed skin, their attire so minimal they were nearly naked. Their gold-crafted armor covered only the essentials, and their bodies were adorned with flashy jewelry. They carried no visible weapons.
The group in white was the Vatican’s Holy Knights. The other was Egypt’s Gravekeepers.
Namjin stepped forward. Both groups halted, and a representative from each ca to the front.
"Ah, thank you for Korea’s warm welco," said a young man with stark white hair, making the sign of the cross.
Namjin smiled and shook his hand. "Welco to Korea, Archbishop Marcello."
"Hahaha! We seem to have beco a burden during such an unsettled ti. Please, don’t worry about Armin Walter. We will ensure his capture."
"What a joke," a new voice cut in. A tall woman with dark skin, a toned physique, and an arrogant expression stepped forward. "I am the 3rd Pharaoh, nes."
"Im Namjin, of the Republic of Korea’s Enforcent Bureau."
Namjin extended his hand, but nes ignored it completely. "Where is she? Why did they send you?"
"The Association President is away on business."
"Hmph. A crisis indeed. This country is rather unimpressive without her, isn’t it?" she muttered, completely disregarding diplomatic courtesy. Her gaze shifted to Marcello. "Well, a killer is a killer. But I’d like to exterminate the bugs while I’m here."
"Still spouting the sa thick-headed nonsense, fledgling Pharaoh," Archbishop Marcello replied with a serene smile. "I’m thankful for the automatic translator. Hearing your deplorable speech unfiltered would surely make sick."
"Is that your long-winded way of asking to die, you long-tongued insect?"
’Fshhh!’
Mana erupted from their bodies, making the very air tremble. As if on cue, the hunters on both sides bristled with hostility, assuming combat stances. nes’s eyes blazed as she gripped a golden staff, while Marcello smiled coolly and brought his hands together.
Just as the two powerhouses were about to collide, Namjin intervened.
"Please stop." He stepped swiftly between them. "If you two unleash your power here, the entire airport will be reduced to ruins."
Marcello’s serene smile returned as he withdrew his mana. nes, however, still seething, turned her back in frustration. "I refuse to breathe the sa air as that trash for even a second. We will depart first."
Namjin’s expression hardened. nes and the Gravekeepers were leaving. He had hoped to discuss matters over a al, but under the circumstances, he had no choice. "I have a proposal for both of our esteed guests."
nes and Marcello turned to him simultaneously.
"I propose we form a joint investigation headquarters with our Enforcent Bureau. Let us set aside our diplomatic issues and old grudges to join forces for the sole purpose of capturing Armin Walter. We will share all of our intelligence."
nes scowled. "Join hands with those maggots? What an unpleasant suggestion. Besides, we will be the ones to catch Armin Walter. We have no intention of sharing the credit."
Marcello smiled gently. "I refuse as well. I find myself wondering, why bother?"
Namjin kept his expression neutral, but inside, he was boiling. ’These bastards.’
He wanted nothing more than to lash out, but both were figures of imnse influence in the hunter world. One wrong move could spark a war.
In the end, Marcello and nes departed in separate directions. With a grim expression, Namjin put the e-cigarette back to his lips.
’Haaah... I don’t even care about results. Just please don’t cause any trouble.’
* * *
I stopped by the Academy for the first ti in a while. It wasn’t for anything important; they just needed to pick up my diploma, since my early graduation had been processed.
Familiar hallways, a familiar scent. It felt nostalgic. Just a few months ago, I was a student here—a tenacious underachiever fighting tooth and nail to avoid expulsion. Feeling grateful for the opportunities I’d been given, I glanced into a nearby classroom.
’First-year Mana Studies. I got chewed out so much in there.’
I could picture my past self struggling at one of those desks. If I could talk to first-year Kim Yusin now, I’d tell him that even if the sky falls, there’s always a way out. Never give up.
’...Am I getting too sentintal?’
’I should probably see her while I’m here.’
I sent a text to Yoonjeong. I still thought of her as a friend, but she was still stuck in the sa spot, still fighting, while I was racing ahead.
—Yusin: What’re you up to? I’m at school, wanna et up?
I waited, but no reply ca. It was the middle of class, so I wasn’t surprised. I turned and headed for my original destination: the student council office.
"E-e-excuse !"
I turned around. A female student was staring at , her face flushed. "You’re Kim Yusin, right?"
I’d tried to be discreet, but her gaze was so certain that I could only give a slight nod.
"I knew it! Aaaah!" she shrieked, before clapping a hand over her mouth. After offering an embarrassed smile to the onlookers giving her strange looks, she rummaged through her bag for a pen and notebook. "Could I please have your autograph?"
"...Ah, sure."
She was shy, yet possessed an odd forcefulness. I felt like I’d get punched if I refused, so I quickly took the notebook. "What’s your na?"
"Aaaah! It’s Choi Yuram! I’m a huge fan!"
"Haha, thanks."
"Becoming a rank-4 hunter right after graduation is incredible! Oh, and I’m studying with the Kim Yusin Study thod!"
’...What? What the hell is the Kim Yusin Study thod?’
Seeing my clueless expression, she pulled a book from her bag. "You know this one, right?"
"A monster encyclopedia. I used that to study, too."
She nodded eagerly. "The books from your old dorm room are all the rage now! The ’Kim Yusin Study thod’ is the new trend at the Academy. Everyone’s trying to study exactly like you did!"
’Oh, for crying out loud.’ This was mortifying. I’d only read those because I was broke and had to pick up whatever used books I could find.
"You’re a legend! The hero of the Labyrinth Dungeon! Everyone wants to be like you, so they’re copying your thods. A lot of people are even saying it works!"
’No, that’s just a placebo effect.’
Desperate to escape, I signed my na as quickly as I could. "All done..."
"Ah, could you also write ’Good luck on graduating this year!’ below my na?"
She was even dictating the ssage. "Graduating? Are you aiming to graduate early?"
"Ehehe, it’s too late for that. I’m preparing for the final exams."
I paused, staring at her. ’She’s a fourth-year? My senior?’
"You’re... you seem to be my senior."
She waved her hands dismissively. "Oh my, no! The hunter world is based on class and rank, right? It doesn’t matter who ca to the Academy first. By the ti I beco an official hunter, you’ll be on a completely different level."
She took the signed notebook, smiling with satisfaction. "Thank you so much!"
The upperclassman, who insisted on treating like a senior despite being older, finally left. I let out a sigh of relief and glanced behind .
About ten people were staring my way.
"I-it’s really Kim Yusin!"
"I’m a huge fan, sir!"
"I even bought potions from your store!"
Hearing the commotion, students from the classroom across the hall ca flooding out. In an instant, I was surrounded. This was a problem. Every ti I tried to speak, my words were drowned out by their cheers. The bigger problem was that more than half of them were guys.
"Mr. President! I’m a huge fan!"
...Another gruff male voice. My head was starting to throb. As I desperately searched for an escape, I spotted Yoonjeong through the crowd. She must have been on her way to class.
"Hey! Yoon—!"
She saw , too. But her expression imdiately twisted, as if she’d just seen a ghost. Then she turned and bolted. ’What the hell? What’s with her?’
A strange, unsettling feeling washed over .
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