Chapter 26

The mere mention of approaching a demon was enough to warrant a high reward of 5 million won, even though it was just an investigation request with a no-contact restriction.

Demons were intelligent beings who wielded their abilities, and their danger level was far beyond that of monsters. They were predators who hid among humans and hunted them.

"But that quota student, a demon…?"

Kang Do-hee's sleepiness vanished instantly. She focused her mind and began to read through the information that had been sent to her.

At the very top of the document was a title.

[E-grade Gate, Report on Camella's Forest – Hunter Management Bureau-]

As she skimmed through the contents and was about to swipe to the next page, Kang Do-hee's finger paused.

Jin Yuha – Hunter Grade F

"That's impossible."

Jin Yuha.

Although she didn't like how he had acted overly familiar with her from their first meeting, Kang Do-hee had to admit that she recognized his abilities.

There was no way she couldn't.

His physical abilities were almost on par with hers, and his swordsmanship was exceptional. A man with such skills was unheard of, and there probably wouldn't be another like him in the future.

She had wondered why such a capable man had chosen to enter as a male quota student, but now everything made sense.

Kang Do-hee's arms broke out in goosebumps.

'If he's a male quota student… He could have avoided the mandatory status window check during the entrance exam.'

The male quota system, which admitted students solely based on their gender.

It was a ridiculous system that had been created at the cost of the guild master's sacrifice.

A useless, worthless system that had no real value or effectiveness. Kang Do-hee was already fed up with the Hunter Management Bureau's behavior, which had done the bare minimum and called it a day.

"But a demon used that system to infiltrate the Academy…

Kang Do-hee's eyes darted back and forth as she thought.

"The records from before and the records from Camella's Forest are too dissimilar… Suspected to be a demon."

Indeed, the achievements of an F-grade hunter were too extraordinary to be true. Moreover, Jin Yuha was recorded as the most outstanding performer in that gate.

Then, she remembered what the instructor had said when Jin Yuha first demonstrated his swordsmanship.

-It seems like this is the first time you've held a sword.

-You don't seem to know how to use your body either. You haven't been using it for long, have you?

Sudden growth.

Unrefined, uncanny power.

An enchanting appearance that didn't seem human.

All of these were characteristics of a demon.

"...Jin Yuha, that bastard. He's a demon."

Kang Do-hee bit her lip.

"So, I received the designation request because we're training together."

Normally, she wouldn't have given a damn about a request from the Hunter Management Bureau, which had sacrificed the guild master.

But this time was different.

This request had to be accepted.

It was an incident that took advantage of the loopholes in the male quota system, disrespecting the guild master's sacrifice.

Just then.

Ring─♪

Her phone rang again.

"...What's this now?"

Sender – Black Snake.

"Black Snake?"

She knew this person.

An occasionally annoying but quite generous client.

The person had sent her an email.

The email's subject was [Jin Yuha Video]

"This bastard, he's from the Management Bureau...!?"

All this time, she had been doing the dirty work for the snake bastard without even realizing it. Kang Do-hee's insides boiled with rage.

In fact, the initial request had come from the Hunter Management Bureau, and the video from Shin Se-hee, but since they had both sent information about Jin Yuha at the same time, Kang Do-hee had assumed they were working together.

'Black Snake is from the Hunter Management Bureau…'

"Hmph, let's see if I'll take another request from this snake bastard."

However, since she had already decided to accept this request, Kang Do-hee opened the email and played the video.

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"Why did you rush the operation like this, Miss Shin Se-hee?"

Kim Secretary asked in a flustered tone.

"...The plan fell apart."

Seated at the desk, Shin Se-hee rubbed her temples.

"I was going to create a scandal first and then have Jin Yuha by my side later…"

"But now, the situation has changed. Jin Yuha is already being targeted by the Hunter Management Bureau, and Kang Do-hee has received a designation request for him."

Shin Se-hee's eyes narrowed dangerously.

Shin Se-hee had been eating lunch with Jin Yuha in front of people for a reason.

While it was partly to annoy Kang Do-hee, the more important reason was to intentionally create a connection with Jin Yuha.

It was a move to ensure that he would be by her side in the future.

Even though they had made an equal deal, Shin Se-hee had no intention of giving up on Jin Yuha. He was too valuable a talent to let go.

However,

Her plan had been ruined from the very beginning due to the sudden appearance of a certain woman.

Lee Yoo-ri.

"What is it about her that draws my gaze so strongly…?"

Shin Se-hee pondered, and eventually concluded that it must be an unconscious manifestation of a 'skill'.

"Even though I'm sensitive to magic power, ordinary skills are usually ineffective in me…

In other words, the skill of that ordinary girl must be incredibly powerful to overwhelm even me."

Shin Se-hee bit her lip.

"It's scary."

The mere casual encounter made her feel as if all her carefully hidden secrets would be exposed.

Shin Se-hee felt a sense of fear from this unfamiliar sensation.

"...Until I come up with a proper plan for that woman, I can't touch Jin Yuha."

"That woman?"

"Secretary Kim, you don't need to know. Just think that I don't have a hobby of stirring up trouble."

"Yes."

"So, did you send all the Jin Yuha videos to Kang Do-hee?"

Originally, she had planned to stir up Kang Do-hee's emotions to the bottom and have her struggle with Jin Yuha, with the guild master's identity hanging over her head.

But that was just a hobby.

Now, nothing else mattered.

If she did something to annoy Jin Yuha, that monster of a woman might show up again.

"No, I only sent the edited videos so far."

"...Chet, We're doing Kang Do-hee a favor. I really don't like her."

Shin Se-hee clicked her tongue.

"Well, whatever. Send them sequentially as they're completed. That was the deal in the first place. Quickly connect the two and make the deal happen. We also need to catch the unconfirmed necklace thief."

"Yes!"

Tap, tap…

Secretary Kim began working on Shin Se-hee's orders.

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Something's been a bit strange lately.

First of all, Shin Se-hee no longer approaches me.

I understand that.

She seems to be unusually afraid of Lee Yoo-ri.

'...But why is Kang Do-hee acting like that? Her eyes are completely out of focus.'

She glares at me as if I'm her mortal enemy.

The [Intuition] trait, which alerts me to the appearance of boss monsters, is ringing like a bell.

Of course, Kang Do-hee just watches from a distance and doesn't approach me directly.

But it's hard to ignore her. Her glare forces my [Intuition] skill to activate.

So, my personal training today was a wash. I can't focus on swinging my sword.

'Did I get caught up in Shin Se-hee's scheme?'

I had given her a preemptive shot, but it didn't seem to be working yet.

'She'll come to me when she can't stand it anymore.'

Anyway, Shin Se-hee's operation seemed to have borne some fruit. Originally, Kang Do-hee looked at me like a pebble on the roadside, but now she's staring at me with such intensity.

"It's still annoying, though."

"Annoying?"

Instructor Baek Seol-hee, who had been personally supervising my sword training, spoke up.

"No, it's not about the training."

"Starting this weekend, you'll be sparring with the other group. Last week was for forming teams."

"Yes."

"Until now, I've turned a blind eye to your personal training during the joint training, but from today onwards, you need to participate in the joint training."

'Turning a blind eye…? Did you mean to say the times when I was being left out?'

I glared at Instructor Baek Seol-hee, conveying my meaning, but she frowned.

"Jin Yuha, it's natural to have personal ambitions, but you need to know when to hold back."

"..."

She reprimanded me like a teacher.

"As an instructor, I've been giving you a lot of leeway. So, give up your ambitions and join the group training."

"...Yes."

Honestly, I had a lot I wanted to say, but I swallowed my words and nodded.

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"Then, let's begin the joint training. It will be practical, so wear these magic-restricting devices."

Magic-restricting devices.

It seemed like Shin Se-hee and Kang Do-hee were being penalized with these.

"...What about Jin Yuha?"

"Male quota students don't wear them."

Shin Se-hee asked with a resentful tone, but the instructor ignored her.

"That's so unfair."

"If you don't like it, enter as a quota student."

Shin Se-hee grumbled but put on the device. On the other hand, Kang Do-hee hesitated, glancing back and forth between me and the device, before finally putting it on under the instructor's gaze.

And so, the joint training of the male quota student and the special admission students began.

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