chapter 208 – First Sight(4)


    “Is it possibleto deliver?”


    “Yes.” Lee Manwoo, who checked then ten artifacts KangShin-hyuk had prepared, let out a sigh.


    “This level deserves a bonus. You’ve improved your skills again, buthow did you improve sofast?”


    “Where’d all of thise from? We just finished.” LeeNa-hee sounded a bit upset as she responded. She wasn’t very happywith the idea that Kang Shin-hyuk was hiding too many things from his partner.


    “I will also ept the next request. Are there manypeople looking for artifacts these days?”


    “Tons. As the number of gates increases, the number of new awakenings doesas well. You’ve heard of the new superhuman training center tobeestablished?”


    “Yes, I heard.” No one knew when they would awaken. Those whodid so during childhood were treatedas elites by the time they attended a superhuman school like Shinyoung,as they had theirwhole life to learn and umteskills systematically. That was what the superhumantraining center was for: to educate superhumans in themost urgentmon sensebat methods over ashort period of six months. However, as gates exploded in urrence after the previous raid, thenumber of awakened people increased as a result. The originaltraining center couldn’t handle all thesepeople, so a new one had to be established.That would exin why Shin Eunah was so busy, as allthose new superhumans neededteachers.


    “But we’re dealing with high-ranking guilds, sodon’t rushit.”


    “Yes, our brand will be going premium. I have tomake a high-end logo.” Lee Na-hee seemed to bethinking about the brand’s logo these days. It was something KangShin-hyuk had never thoughtof.


    “It’ll be a year or so until I graduate,so we must firmly establish our brand’s position.”


    “Can I get your autograph?”


    “How about K&L? Its official nameis K&LWorks…”


    “My name in front…?” Kang Shin-hyuk snorted, but Lee Manwoo looked a little surprised.


    “Na-hee, you…”


    “Oh, what is it?You’re still there, grandpa? Let’s work quickly.” Lee Na-hee beckoned for hergrandfather to go away, her face subtly red, butit was Kang Shin-hyuk who stood up.


    “Oh, I’ll go early today too. There is a call for the Wyvern Knights.Teacher, let’s leavetogether.”


    “…Do I have togo?”


    “Yes.” Lee Na-hee pouted, but Shin-hyuk didn’t noticeas he packed his bag. Then, Lee Na-hee puton her jacket and rebuttoned the shirt shehadreleased.


    “Then, I want togo seeEllie.”


    “Are you going to fight withus?”


    “Then, I’ll y with Karen.”


    “That…”


    “Let’s hurry!” Lee Na-hee grabbed his handand started to run, leaving LeeManwooughing alone as he saw them off.


    ***


    As soon as he arrived, he expected Eleanor would start dueling with himas usual, but today there was a man hehadn’t seen in a while in the center of the outdoor battleground. Overwhelmingsize, a muscr body. He swung his greatswordwith all hisstrength.


    “Dous Payne?”


    “Kang Shin-hyuk.”


    “What is it? Are you crazy about training these days?”Shin-hyuk tilted his head as he watchedDous go through a bunch of sword forms.


    “I’m here for the retirementceremony.”


    “You did it a whileago?”


    “Not retiring from the captain, but from the Knights.” Dous Payne pointedbehind him, towards the third years lined up.


    “Oh, noway.”


    “All third years will be retiring from the Wyvern Knightstoday.”


    “Still, senior, the second semester…”


    “It’s already in December.” It really was. Afterpleting Halo’s quest,he had repeated several small dimensional questsand shifted back and forth between the earth and other worlds,so he had forgotten even the passage of time.


    “There are quite a few clubs that hold retirement ceremoniesbefore the second semester. We dyed our retirement ceremonyto this time to hold a special ceremony.”


    “Special ceremony…” It didn’t seem like the hall was crowded with anyoneexcept for the third-years,though.


    “So, what are youdoing?”


    “Dueling.”


    “Ah, I see. How sneaky.” Kang Shin-hyuknodded, his face resolved.


    “After we go, you will be the main pir of theknights. The final test is to see if we canentrust it to you. It’s not sneaky.”


    “So do I have to fight too?”


    “Your turn ister. For the captain, in order…”


    “I’m ready.” Eleanor walked out from the other side of the hall,spear in hand. She raised her hand to greetKang Shin-hyuk happily, but soon looked confused as she noticed Lee Na-hee.


    “Na-hee?”


    “Oh, I followed him because I was bored. CanI look around?” At that, the members who were waiting around began to gossip.


    “Wow, they openly go together. Itlooks like they really aredating.”


    “Na-hee hasn’t denied it. Don’t they go well together?”


    “If the captain became MissShinyoung…”


    “Now, I’m pissed off.”


    “Shh, shh.” Eleanor looked back at the members then liftedherspear.


    “Let’s do it quickly. All at once.”


    “But thevice-captain…”


    “Everyone, hurry up.” Dous Payne’s eyes shone. No matter how badly he was beaten,it was futile to try and fight more than ten third-years at once. However,he wanted to see how farher limits were. He thought it important to know her abilitiesif he were toprotecther.


    “Okay, then. Everyone get ready.”


    “No, are you really going to fight?”


    “I don’t want to bully a child…”Given Eleanor’s height alone, it seemed like grown-ups were gearing up toharass a child. Hearing that, a fire began to burn in Eleanor’s eyes.Kang Shin-hyuk could tell that those around her were dead now. He took aseat near Lee Na-hee andsmiled.


    “It was a good provocation against our senior Eleanor.”


    “Our Ellie is very strong.”


    “She’s not just strong; she’s ahigh-ranker.”


    “They don’t know.” Lee Na-hee had grasped Eleanor’s true abilities while workingwith Masked Bhus. Asuperhuman experienced a dramatic increase inbat power when their rank rose,even if it was only by one, which meant that theirprobability of winning against Eleanor, who had been hiding her abilities, was practicallyzero.


    ‘It seems that she has no intention of properlyrevealing her rank, but she has power beyond it.’ The fight began. At that moment,Eleanor stepped forward and quickly swept her spear, throwing down two third-years. They hardlyknew what hit them as they werepushed hard to the side.


    “Why would you say she’s a child?”


    “Shh!”


    “Oh, another one is flying.” One of their senior’sswords was knocked away by the spear,and Eleanor quickly moved to evade Dous’s greatsword. She usedhis huge body as a shield to break theline of sight with the others, turning around him andshing out withherspear.


    “Kaah!”


    “Kaahk!”


    “Wow, we’re likeextras.”


    “That’s how it is when youfight the captain.” In an instant, only seven remained out oftwelve. The remaining fighters exchanged a nce and thengot into battle formation to push onEleanor.


    “It’s not a boss raid.”


    “It would’ve been effective had it beenone.” If they besieged her from all directions and rushed at once, their chancesof winning would have slightly increased, but as it was, they were takendown one by one. Despite being third-years belonging to theWyvern Knights, the strongest of the Knights Department, theycouldn’t even grasp the path of Eleanor’s spear.


    “Are they so weak?”


    “Senior is too strong.” Eventually, only Dous remained. Now that no oneelse was left, he strengthened his whole body withmagic.


    “Dous.”


    “I haven’t been still. Of course, you seem to be stronger as well…”


    “…I had a good partner.” Eleanor pointed herspear at him. Dous nodded in satisfaction, not even thinking ofasking who her good opponent was. The greatsword in his hand trembled as magic was concentratedinto it. Kang Shin-hyuk sat forward, interested in whether that washistrait.


    “Eleanor R. Algiers, I will leave it toyou for one year. I wille back to youin ayear.”


    “No, I don’t need it.”


    “This is my confession to you!”


    “I don’t need it!” The greatsword and spear collided with agreat roar. However, Dous’s sword was still insufficient to prate [Crab Volg].


    “…After all, she isa wonderfulwoman.”


    “…!” Eleanor’s spear mmed into Dous’s face, and she was annoyed to see he hada happy smile despite his attack beingpletely blocked. The members stoodup and pped as they watched Dous pass out. Withthat, it seemed like the retirement ceremony was over.”


    “It’s reallysilly.”


    “Oh, I have to test the vice-captain too! Wake up,everyone!”


    “Let’s take a look, now…” The wyvern knights would develop under areliable captain and vice-captain. The third-years retired with ease, trusting in theirjuniors.


    It was now early December.