Academy's Silver Gatekeeper-Chapter 32

I managed to help the person who was struck by the Orox get back on his feet.

Yet he was far heavier than a partially conscious person. I never knew someone could feel this heavy when their body goes limp.

“Park Minho! You idiot! I told you not to get so worked up!”

“We need to get him treated quickly. Looks like a fracture.”

“Thank you. You saved us. Hey, Minho! Snap out of it!”

His teammates fussed over the unconscious ability user, still reeling from the shock. You might wonder if this was okay. Why were they crowding around him, instead of dealing with the monsters?

Uuuugh—!

Uu-uu—

A moment ago, those Orox creatures charged at us so fiercely. Now they were all huddled together in confusion, not sure what to do. Because of that, we suddenly had some breathing room, and reinforcements would arrive soon.

Uuuuu—

“Wow, they were just trying to crush us, but now they’re acting like big, cornered cows.”

It reminded me that herding creatures easily fell into confusion if they lost their leader. It might resolve itself with time, but not right now.

“More importantly, I felt my trait activate a moment ago.”

It hadn’t activated the first time I encountered the monsters. In fact, it had been quiet enough to make me swear I was fucked multiple times.

Yet now…

◎ Silver Gatekeeper

Trait activated.

◎ Sole Exanminer

Trait activated

The opponent has not received a promotion from Baek Seojin.

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Recognized as an examinee.

My trait was working normally, as if we were in the Academy evaluating students.

I thought it only activated inside the Academy. Both the Silver Gatekeeper and all the subordinate traits seemed useful only within those walls.

Yet the Eye of Insight was telling me otherwise. Throwing away that Orox chieftain was living proof.

“Come to think of it, it was weird in that game too. There’s no way my skill alone could have done that…”

Uuuu—!

The Orox creatures were howling in distress. The one I had thrown was trying to stand.

It shook its head, scanning the surroundings, and its gaze locked onto me. I could almost hear its growl: “You… You’re the one who hit me.”

Grrrr—!

It stomped its foot and charged straight at me. When a single person runs at you, it’s already alarming. This beast was the size of a dump truck, rushing toward us.

A normal response would be terror, wanting to flee, feeling desperation. Yet my immediate thought was, “I can handle this.”

It was still reeling from the impact. Its speed was fast, but not as fast as before. I was sure I could take it on now.

I picked up the sword of the superhuman who had been struck.

After all, the Orox never uses trickery. It’s a monster that attacks in simple patterns. It doesn’t lure bait like an A-rank monster would. It doesn’t wield abilities like a villain might.

Everything about its speed, physique, and straightforward behavior told me exactly how it would attack, and how I should defend. All of that combined in my head like puzzle pieces, revealing the answer.

Uwooo—

Not yet. Not yet. If I move too soon, it will react. Wait. Closer, closer. Until it can’t change direction.

“Look out! Dodge!”

Someone’s panicked shout rang out, but I ignored it. If I dodged now, my plan would fail, and I would only be more vulnerable.

Just a little more. A little more…

The ground shook, and the beast, once the size of a small car, suddenly loomed as large as a bus. For a second, fear flashed in my mind, urging me to jump aside, but I shoved that useless thought away.

If this beast could be stopped by my Gatekeeper trait, I had to do it. Otherwise, I would die anyway—or end up ruined. So I had to succeed.

Finally, it was right in front of my face. That brief instant felt like an eternity. I saw its bloodthirsty eyes, heard its ragged breathing.

I twisted my body sideways and thrust the sword in with all my might.

—!!

My fingertips registered a brief, jarring sensation before it vanished. So this was what it felt like to stab something so soft with a blade. I couldn’t think if it was pleasant or unpleasant.

All I could think about was whether it worked, whether I had struck the right spot. If I had failed, I would have to fight a furious beast. That fear filled my head.

Thud—!

The earth shook beneath a heavy crash.

Not long ago, that monster had charged as if it would run forever, but now it lay sprawled on the ground. It was completely still, not even breathing.

I had done it. I saved everyone from the monster, preventing it from reaching them.

“Hiyah!! So it can be done?!”

Wait a minute—when did that crazy woman get here?

“It’s tough just to stab a charging beast in the side, but you got it in one blow, straight to its heart?”

Then I saw her face as she turned to me. It was Irina, her eyes sparkling as if she were a child eyeing a brand-new model kit.

“Handsome Seojin Oppa?”

She suddenly leapt forward, shoving her face close to mine.

The more I looked at her, the more I shivered. Still, I couldn’t deny she was stunning. I felt crazy for noticing her looks at a time like this.

“You really can fight. More than I expected.”

“…Am I supposed to say thank you?”

“Who knows. It depends.”

Uu—

Uuu—

The other Orox creatures let out anguished sounds at the loss of their leader. Irina’s eyebrow twitched. Then she swung her arm.

Crash—!!

“…Insane.”

No shadow powers like Hyun, no spear like Gwak Hyuk. She just waved her arm, and the monsters exploded in a storm of flesh.

“Seojin Oppa. You’re certain you have no connection to any Elder?”

In a way, it made sense she would suspect that.

She was unbelievably fearsome. Even though it was labeled “a miracle ability,” I never imagined someone could kill a monster just by waving an arm.

Thankfully, I really had nothing to do with the Elders. If there was a connection, it was that the two Elders—male and female—both seemed weirdly curious about me.

“I don’t. You already know that. I’m just an ordinary public servant.”

“Right. That’s true. You’re just a public servant, after all. Then….”

Irina paused, a thoughtful look on her face that unnerved me. She was known among villains as “the crazy one.” I had to be careful.

“Do you want to go out with me?”

“…Huh?”

“Date me. Let’s be a couple.”

She had clearly lost her mind. My common sense told me to run.

My rational mind screamed that I was dealing with a crazy woman. Yet for a second, I found myself looking at her, hypnotized by her beauty.

“…Are you insane?”

My reason told me it was pure nonsense, but my heart skipped. I hated myself for wavering.

“Ahaha! Just joking! Me, date an older guy? That’s crazy!”

“….”

It stung that I let my heart race for even a moment. She was truly insane. Maybe she also had a mood disorder on top of everything else.

“Look at your face. Seems you were hoping for a moment.”

“I wasn’t.”

“Sure you weren’t? Actually, I prefer younger guys. But suddenly older men look appealing. Seojin Oppa, do you really not want to date me?”

“Get lost. That won’t fool me again.”

“For real! You don’t want me, Seojin Oppa?”

I cursed under my breath, telling her to leave me alone. She was unpredictable, like fireworks that shot up then fizzled out at random.

It was horrifying to realize that someone this unhinged was an S-rank Superhuman, actually the strongest in Korea.

At least she wasn’t a villain. If she were, it might have been the end of the world.

“Ugh, here they come, swarming like flies.”

Irina’s bright smile vanished in an instant, replaced by an expression of disgust that could rival a demon.

“Seojin Oppa.”

“Yes?”

“What are you standing there for? Hurry, grab my hand.”

She held out her hand, urging me to hurry. I suspected she was about to do something crazy. In that brief moment of uncertainty, I realized her plan.

“Reporters will be here soon. They can’t pass up a story: a Gate appeared despite the barrier, plus the unstoppable Irina. Then they see me, the top-tier, ultra-beautiful Irina, right on the scene.”

“…And?”

“And? This is my goodwill, isn’t it? I’m offering you a chance to warn that creep who tried to accuse you of sexual harassment or assault. Imagine tomorrow’s headlines: a special edition with a photo of you happily shaking my hand.”

It was basically a free intimidation tactic. The person who schemed to frame me for sexual crimes would see that shot and realize I had powerful backing. They would drop their plan and run for cover.

“There they are! Over there!”

“Irina! Ms. Irina! Ms. Irina!!”

They shouted all sorts of variations of her name, swarming in like a horde of zombies. I finally understood why Irina had groaned in annoyance.

“…All right. Just keep it vague. Say I’m a capable public servant or something, or don’t say anything at all. Let me handle it.”

“Sure. If they twist the story, I’ll pay them a visit.”

Irina’s face turned stony, sending a chill through me. Even I was shocked by how genuinely scary she looked.

“All right, let’s put on a good show. Handsome, skilled, and single, right? Our Seojin Oppa.”

“I’m not single.”

“No? Funny, people who deny it this fast are always single.”

Irina kept teasing me, but with a bright smile, she gripped my hand.

“Irina! How did you handle this Gate? They say it appeared despite the barrier!”

“Did the Association know in advance? Please say something!”

“Are you sure you arrived here by coincidence? Please share a comment!”

“Did you and this man eliminate the Gate’s monsters together?”

Irina ignored their questions. She just kept laughing and shaking my hand. I wanted to at least pretend to smile, but it was painfully awkward. Was it because I was nervous around the media, or because Irina was next to me? I wasn’t sure.

- External Academy Promotion Achieved.

- Sub-Trait Acquired.

◎ Sub-Trait:

Overtime

◎ Detail:

A true public servant is always buried in heavy work.

If the Gatekeeper condition is satisfied, you may conduct evaluations even outside your assigned location.

…Oh. Ohhh!