Chapter 33: The Little Prince (2)

The Little Prince (2)

"... At that level... how much do you think it is?"

Han Yeon-soo's expression was blank as she asked me.

"Well, I'm afraid it will be at least a second-class hunter..."

"... he's over second-class hunters at that age?"

"Can't you see it?"

"Honestly, um... yes. He looks more powerful than a lot of them," she said with a serious tone.

"What are we going to do now?" I muttered.

"Yeah?"

"We can't even measure his power." I kicked the metal pieces in front of me.

"It's a shame..."

The device was crushed into an unrecognizable piece of scrap.

In what remained of the screen where the numbers were supposed to be displayed, the word ERROR was flashing.

"I didn't know how weak it was," Han Yeon-soo was apologetic. "I will choose a better one."

"No, you don't have to."

I shook my head. She seemed to think it was her fault for getting the wrong thing.

"This is an Association device," I told her. "There is no tougher device than this."

It was not her fault.

"It's just because Hyun-woo was too strong," I added.

"In terms of instantaneous destructive power, those who could compare with him in the whole awakening industry could be counted in one hand."

"..."

"It would be terrible if the Association catches him."

We looked at Hyun-woo, who was playing with the smashed pieces of metal floating in the air.

Han Yeon-soo let out a deep sigh.

"Next time," she said, "let's train him outside."

I nodded. "Yep."

The windows were shattered, and there were huge holes on the walls from Hyun-woo's blast.

A single gesture from his little hand.

"Ugh, how will I clean this up?!" Yeon-soo screamed in frustration.

* * *

The weapon on his hand changes appearances almost every second. The diversity of the weapons that appeared seemed to be confusing, but he handled them all skillfully.

A sword brought an opponent down with a single blow; a spear flew and struck like a lightning bolt; shields get crushed by a heavy ax. He was a master in close combat.

However, his opponents shouldn't even think about increasing the distance between them. His archery skills were famous, one that not only students but also professors admired.

The arrows he shot were like magnets drawn to the target.

Among the cadets in the senior year, no one could match Jeong Si-woo's skills.

"... Surrender/"

In the end, the winner of the senior class' <Dueling Test> is Jeong Si-woo again, as expected.

The cadet who faced him in the finals was completely overwhelmed and didn't even manage to use his sword.

The crowd watching was buzzing with admiration.

"Huh, he looks like he's not just a senior, but a hunter! How could a cadet do this?"

One of the professors watching the scene laughed at he said it. He had been a professor for more than ten years after retiring from the hunting industry.

He stared at the cadet in front of him while matching him against different prospects in his mind.

There wasn't a matchup that Si-woo wouldn't overwhelm. Jeong Si-woo seemed to have no weaknesses, and most definitely didn't suit the modifier 'cadet'.

"He's definitely excellent," a man sitting next to the professor agreed. "The only cadet who was promoted to the senior class besides me... I needed to see how great he is... Well, I have no words after watching that."

"Hahaha! If he hears that, Cadet Jeong Si-woo would love it. A hunter like Seong Yoo-hyun recognized his talent!"

"Honestly, I think he's even better than me in my second year, or even my senior year. I would have believed it if someone cut that scene and showed it as a hunter's training video in the guild."

Several professors and instructors had surprised expressions after hearing the remarks of the Seong Yoo-hyun.

The best hunter ever produced by Hwayeon Choin Academy.

He is the most popular hunter in Korea, a first-class hunter at the age of 23.

His words had weight even to the professors, who were, at their best, third-class hunters during their generation.

"I'll have to talk to him when I get the chance in the future."

"...!"

"I need to go now; the test is over. And oh, please tell Professor Lim Seong-hyun I'm sorry I couldn't see him today. The schedule is so tight... please give him the gifts I brought."

The mood once changed after Seong Yoo-hyun announced he was leaving, and several professors and instructors tried to get a word with him, but he did not pause and started walking briskly outside.

However, as he headed out, someone caught his attention, causing him to stop walking.

"What the... the Queen, the Queen!"

Someone who is as famous as Seong Yoo-hyun, or maybe even more. Han Yeon-soo was standing with her arms folded by the front door of the Academy.

"I told you not to call me like that."

"Huh, then what should I call you? Everyone calls you that. Shall I call you 'big sister'?"

"Off, you bastard!"

"Ahahaha! What are you doing here? The presence of the Queen doesn't seem to go along with the Academy."

"What does it matter to you where I want to go? And you know what, you fit here. You look like someone who hasn't learned enough."

"Uh, I graduated here. But why are you dressed up like this? Are you going to meet your lover?"

As they were first-class hunters in the same district of Seoul, the two were close. Of course, to someone who was not familiar with their bond, it would look like Han Yeon-soo hated Seong Yoo-hyun.

"... Shut your mouth. Go quickly. Go ahead."

Han Yeon-soo pushed Sung Yoo-hyun's back.

"Ah, yes, it's a busy day. Yes, see you next time!"

He laughed and waved.

Han Yeon-soo didn't wave back, but Seong Yoo-hyun took out his cell phone from his pocket without paying much attention.

He typed in a few words on it.

-Hwayeon, Jeong Si-woo, Prospect.

He saved the words as a reminder.

To invite him to join their organization.

His ringtone suddenly rang, and he picked it up right away.

"Yes, Mr. Association President. I watched it. I'm leaving now."

Seong Yoo-hyun smiled as he listened to the heavy voice on the other line.

"There was one with good talent. He looks like he would go along very well with us."

* * *

"Hey, that was a little decent today..."

"What?"

As I turn my head and focused my gaze at him, Kim Hyun-tae trembled.

Before the duel examination, he was screaming that I would get my nose broken.

But by the end of the examination, I have overwhelmed the opponents without even getting a single fingertip land on my body.

With a small sigh, I twisted my neck from side to side to relieve the stiffness. Then I stretched my arms upwards to loosen my shoulders.

"Hey, what..."

"Huh?"

With those little movements I did, he seemed to tense up and let out a sharp whimper, as if he was scared.

"What was that sound?" I asked him.

"Ah, a hiccup. I must have eaten lunch too quickly," he pretended.

"Did you get scared?"

"What? What?! Ah... come to think of it; my stomach hurts now. I need to go to the bathroom, haha."

"..."

"Alright, see you on the next exam!"

He suddenly turned and ran off to the bathroom.

I laughed a little at his absurd figure.

After the duel examination was the hunting test, where Kim Hyun-tae struggled for 20 minutes against an ogre.

Twenty minutes was not bad, it was the average time for cadets, but the whole hunting process he did was very funny.

-Do not come closer!

-Are you going to swing the club? Do not swing! I will kill you! If you don't want to die, put it down.

-Ah. It's really scary. Ah...!

Kim Hyun-tae was a man with a lot of expressions.

* * *

Han Yeon-soo was waiting for me when I got out of the Academy.

"Are you finished now?"

"Uh-huh."

"Did you do well on the test?"

"So-so."

"Where's Hyun-woo?"

"Oh, I don't think I should get him outside yet... he's waiting in the car."

As I peered in the car windows, I saw Seong Hyun-woo in the back seat.

"Okay. Let's go."

Han Yeon-soo's driver opened the car doors for us.

It was a comfortable ride.

Today, instead of training with Seong Hyun-woo, or eating with Han Yeon-soo, we had a different destination.

It was the only day after awakening that I decided not to train.

[What? Okay... I will understand you for just one day.]

It was important that I go with them to make sure that nothing abnormal happens.

[I hope this boy doesn't look more unhappy. Children suffering... my anger soars just by looking at him.]

I nodded at the Traveler. Originally, I was worried because the Traveler heard what Hyun-woo said at the time.

But his reaction was bleak. The only reaction he said after hearing that I have returned, 'it was no big deal.'

I was learning how transcendent he was. I don't have a clue how powerful he was.

<Myth>

The Akashic Records categorize him as such. Wasn't that like a 'god'? Was it not a figurative expression, but a literal one?

As I was thinking about it, the car door suddenly opened.

"We're here," the driver said.

"Oh, thank you."

I got off and looked around. Seong Hyun-woo slowly followed me out of the car.

His hands were trembling slightly.

"... Don't worry too much," I told him.

His face was pale as he stared around the crowded area. The situation was a little tense.

I worried about Seong Hyun-woo's psychological condition, but there was also another greater worry.

Please, I hope that the stress he accumulates does not explode.

If that happens, it would not be only the Association's measuring that will be destroyed.

Buildings around Seoul will sink to the ground, and Seong Hyun-woo will be categorized as a security risk.

"Just do what you've been training for, okay?"

"Huh." Seong Hyun-woo nodded.

Even as he did it, I wasn't relieved.

I looked at the Association's building, standing tall in front of us.

Today, we came to register Seong Hyun-woo as an official awakener.

It was the first step for the world to accept him as a hero in the future.

To seek permission to save the world with his power.

I glanced down.

On Seong Hyun-woo's left wrist, a silver bracelet glowed softly.

It's a control mechanism that prevents figures from being properly displayed in the 'precision measurement' device.

I had no choice but to hope that the artifact was effective.

"Uh..."

As he looked at the people passing by, Seong Hyun-woo's eyes shifted violently from person to person.

Perhaps, according to the Traveler's explanation, it was because of his inability to fully control his memory-reading ability.

Only

"Hyun-woo, if you're getting dizzy, just close your eyes. Hold my hand tight."

The child nodded.

I guided him slowly inside the Association building, holding his hand.

"You have to go alone from here," I told him. "I'll wait for you here. Do well!"

"Huh!"

His expression was better after getting inside the building.

His face was carefree, and he gave a little wave at me.

Who knew what would happen in a few hours...