Academy's Silver Gatekeeper
Ch. 121

From S-ranks called the highest power to D-ranks barely reaching ability user level.

Everyone fought monsters with all their strength and succeeded in closing gates.

But unless you're a god, no one can safely save everyone.

If there are survivors, there are also victims. That's the inevitable result of tragedy.

And Friday evening, people were visiting the hastily prepared memorial altar.

- Joint Memorial Altar for Gate Incident Victims -

Someone was unfortunately directly caught up in a gate.

Someone else had some distance but was eventually caught by monsters.

Yet another person could have escaped but was helping people evacuate.

For various reasons, countless people met their fate.

Different genders, different ages, but each of their deaths was tragic.

People came and left flowers, shuddering at that misery.

And among those people, Baek Seojin was included.

"..."

He came out wearing glasses and a mask, worried about getting involved in unnecessary trouble.

He kept watch around, wondering if Hyun Sujin might appear again.

Or worried that Irina might suddenly appear.

It would be better not to come out at all.

Nevertheless, the reason Baek Seojin came this far.

It was because here, there was a person who absolutely shouldn't be here.

"Ryu Jinhyeok... Ryu Jinhyeok. If it's the person you're looking for, it's probably this person. Magic-type ability user, age twenty. Was studying abroad until recently, returned home. Hoped to join the academy during second semester."

"Oh. That's accurate. Thank you, Chairman. Thanks to you..."

"Listen to the rest. This young man you were looking for. He died during yesterday's gate incident."

"...What?"

"He was killed by a boss monster while helping civilians during the gate incident. He's listed in the casualty database that our people confirmed everything. I already confirmed directly with the association."

The moment he heard Kang Minseong's words, Baek Seojin almost shouted:

That's impossible. It shouldn't be like that. Why did that guy die!

Ryu Jinhyeok. Originally someone who would join in the second semester to take on another fire support role in Lee Hyunwoo's party.

If Kang Hana showed particular strength in various support and environmental changes with ice magic.

Ryu Jinhyeok was a 'one-shot burst dealer' essential to the team as an ability user who, while having long 'cooltime' with fire magic, guaranteed damage.

A person with a set appearance time, different from others already at the academy.

So I intentionally didn't look for him immediately and planned to wait until second semester.

I never imagined losing him so futilely without being able to do anything!

"..."

Baek Seojin silently stared at the photo posted at the joint memorial altar.

It's Ryu Jinhyeok. Certain. Looking at his appearance, it was definite.

An ability user I planned to recruit to the team later, decent personality and above-average skills.

Of course, he wasn't a complete character so he naturally needed more growth.

But he had a good foundation, so I had temporarily set him aside.

'Damn it. I was too complacent. Things seemed to be going too well...'

Should I have kept him close from the beginning? Should I have forced him into the academy?

But since he had recently returned from abroad, that was almost impossible.

No matter how great my personal connections, the academy is still the academy.

You can't just insert a student in the middle of a semester without even an exam.

That's why I planned to wait until second semester transfer exams, but things got twisted like this.

Swish—.

Silently placing the flower I was holding at the memorial and praying for the deceased's peace.

A person I never met, never even talked to, but I still felt sorry.

I knew the situation was flowing completely differently, so I could have prepared in advance.

If I had paid a little attention, I might have prevented such an absurd end.

Though it's not my fault, I can't help feeling bitter.

"...Annoying."

On the way home from the memorial altar. Baek Seojin looked around at the surrounding scenery.

The world that was so noisy just a few days ago is now too silent.

There are still plenty of noisy sounds, but something is definitely different from before.

Fear and dread coming from a future no one can be certain of anymore.

Right. Those very things were heavily pressing down on every corner of the world.

Uuung!— Uuuung!—

Couldn't just leave Baek Seojin alone like that?

The phone in his pocket vibrated very loudly.

Baek Seojin looked at the phone screen briefly and chuckled.

Then he pressed the call button and parted his lips.

"Yeah, Suhyeon. Yeah. I had some business for a moment. ...Here? Why suddenly. Yeah. Yeah. ...You have something to say? Then couldn't you just say it now... You have to meet to say it? Um... I understand. The examiner will come."

Why is she suddenly acting like this? Is there some problem?

After ending the call, Baek Seojin looked at his phone briefly then shrugged his shoulders.

Kim Suhyeon's gradually changing appearance was always nice to see.

"I prepared as you asked, Suhyeon. But will it be okay? Looking at Examiner Baek Seojin's personality, I'm worried whether he'll agree to rest in the current situation."

Grandfather's worry was valid. Given the current situation, the examiner might refuse.

I appreciate the concern, but right now moving forward is more important than resting.

If he says that, I have no confidence to persuade the examiner further...

...No. I still have to persuade him. That's necessary for both the examiner and myself.

Certainly difficult and devastating things happened, but we can't carry that forever.

The examiner said so too. If it's too hard, take some rest.

Doing so will give you strength to move forward again!

"...You'll persuade him? Alright. I understand. Our granddaughter will handle it well. This grandfather always supports you. You can't lose to Irina. Our granddaughter, fighting!"

Right. For grandfather's faith and hardship, I must accomplish this.

You can do it, Kim Suhyeon. If you really care for the examiner.

Sometimes you must be able to make that examiner change his opinion!

"Suhyeon."

I turned to see the examiner waving and approaching.

Quite late, and I requested a meeting quite suddenly.

Yet the examiner came all the way here without showing any displeasure.

"You said you have something to say. Why? Did something happen?"

The examiner is always like this. Always worried something might have happened to me.

Actually, the examiner fought more and got hurt more than me.

The one who should be worried about is not me but the examiner.

That's why I want to carry out this resolution I'm holding even more.

Because you fought a lot and got hurt a lot, so you must be very tired.

As the examiner said, I want to give you just a brief rest.

"Um... Examiner. That... this weekend. I mean, from tomorrow to the day after."

"Yeah. Why?"

"That... Examiner. So... this weekend."

Ugh! It's not even difficult words, why do they keep getting cut off?

Say it confidently, Kim Suhyeon! It's not embarrassing or bad.

This is for the examiner. So say it confidently!

"Re, rest a bit! H, how about it?!"

I, I said it! I did it! Thank goodness. Right, finally...

"Of course we should rest. How much hardship have we endured these past few days? I'm planning to rest without moving a single step from home. Were you worried I might work on weekends too?"

"Eh?"

No, no. That's not it. What I wanted...

"Did Lee Hyunwoo say something strange? Like we have to have examinations on weekends too, or since we train on weekends, examinations should be on weekends too?"

"What? Oh, there were about two times like that..."

"I knew it. This crazy guy really. Why does he tell people to work on weekends?"

The examiner passionately spoke about bronze comrade Lee Hyunwoo.

Starting from his civil servant days to now, why won't he give up.

Weekends exist for rest, so why make others tired!

I found myself unconsciously saying "Right, right."

But this isn't it. What I wanted to say wasn't this...

"E, Examiner! Rest! We, weekend! There's a villa grandfather prepared! Re, resting quietly there this weekend! H, how about it!!"

"Oh? A villa?"

You're doing well, Kim Suhyeon! Keep pushing forward!

"Yes! It's... really quiet! A place where no one is. Recently, the examiner seems to have too many various things! You look a bit. No, very tired. So I asked grandfather. To find a place where you can rest fully for two days without being disturbed by anyone!"

Haa, haa... I, I'm out of breath. It's been a while since I said so many words so fast.

Did I miss anything? Nothing that would be strangely conveyed? No, nothing. I conveyed everything.

"A villa. This weekend."

"Yes, yes! Rest. Let's rest well!"

"Hmm..."

"You were really busy when your house suddenly collapsed a while ago. Then that woman Irina kidnapped you and you stayed at her house very uncomfortably! Plus you fought tremendously two days ago. The examiner must have accumulated fatigue in your body without knowing!"

Does he think my words are quite reasonable? The examiner is nodding.

Good sign. Right, I have to push forward like this.

I can't keep chasing after that woman Irina's tail forever.

I'll move proactively. I'll try to be next to the examiner!

"You're right, Suhyeon. Certainly, there's been a lot recently."

"Right?! Then, since I've already finished all preparations, you can just go with your body..."

"Wouldn't it be strange for just us to go? We all fought together."

"...Eh?"

E, Examiner? What are you saying right now?!

"Let's take Kang Hana, Yoo Dasom, and Lee Hyunwoo too. Since we'll be moving as one team from now on, it would be good to become closer through this opportunity."

...Heeeeing!?!