“What are you kids doing over there?”
“Dani?”
It was Choi Sunhye, the homeroom teacher of Class S for the third-years, and also in charge of Korean language. Accompanying her was Moon Ira, who taught English.
Seeing the student council president Sun Woo-gyeong, the notorious troublemaker Ham Honggi, and the school's most dangerous individual, Gidan, all gathered in front of her class, Choi Sunhye frowned.
“Why are you all huddled up like that? And Dani, what are you even doing at school? You're here to stir up trouble again, aren’t you?”
“Aw, teach. I’ve been working really hard on my school life lately. I’ve been coming regularly because I wanted you to praise me, but ouch, that hurts.”
“You dare try to act cute in front of your godlike teacher?”
Gidan bowed politely even to Moon Ira, who taught English. Moon Ira returned the gesture with a smile.
Choi Sunhye narrowed her eyes as she scanned the three of them.
“Whatever it is, knock it off. You’re all about to graduate soon, aren’t you?”
At that, Sun Woo-gyeong stepped forward.
“It’s nothing like that. Dani just dropped by for a bit since he knows Honggi. I ran into them on my way into the classroom and just stopped to say hi.”
“Really...?”
It was the word of Sun Woo-gyeong, the school’s top model student. There was no reason not to believe her, so Choi Sunhye dropped her suspicion and nodded.
“Ah, Gidan, what’s your class doing for the festival?”
“We haven’t decided yet, but maybe something like a café?”
“Everyone’s doing cafés. You all need to do something else. Don’t go stealing all our customers.”
“Then I’ll come up with some suggestions just for you, Teach.”
“You say that now. I’ll be watching to see if your class actually does something other than a café.”
Gidan inhaled sharply, checked the time on his phone, and said,
“Teach, I’ve got class, so I’d better get going.”
He gave a quick bow and dashed off in long strides, prompting Choi Sunhye to shake her head.
“See? All talk. Come on, kids, let’s go in. Ira, see you later.”
“Go ahead.”
Moon Ira waved her hand lightly and headed toward the neighboring classroom.
Clack—
“Alright, everyone, to your seats.”
Choi Sunhye stepped up to the podium and began calming the noisy students.
As Ham Honggi returned to his seat, he muttered under his breath to Sun Woo-gyeong,
“I’m out. I’m done with this.”
Sun Woo-gyeong clenched her fist tightly.
The Newcomer of Hyeonak
In November, the lobby of Hyeonak was more crowded than usual, with a line of people forming at the reception desk.
Just as local districts scrambled to fix roads before year’s end, guilds were likewise rushing to wrap up their assigned social contribution projects.
By the Guild Management Act, all guilds were required to contribute to various aspects of society.
Raising public awareness of Awakened individuals, nurturing talent, community development, solving other social ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) issues, and so on...
Hyeonak was no exception.
This time, however, public attention was especially focused on Hyeonak, making it difficult to even handle the influx of visitors with the available personnel.
Of all times, it had to be now...
The receptionist, eyes dull from exhaustion, greeted the next guest in line.
Like a broken recorder, she recited the standard response she had said countless times before.
“Hyeonak is currently not accepting rookie Hunter applications. Next year’s schedule is still undecided. An announcement may go out early next year, so please check individually. You can register for short-term training or observation programs on the second floor, but you must bring—”
A boy suddenly cut into what seemed like an unending spiel.
“Then where does Gnosis go?”
“...Excuse me?”
The receptionist focused her gaze on the boy.
Beneath soft, light-brown hair, heterochromatic eyes—one golden, one blue—seized her attention.
A foreign boy with a striking face and unusual eye colors asked again.
“Where does Gnosis go?”
Her expression immediately twisted.
“Gnosis...?”
A sigh escaped her lips.
The rude tone, the golden eye on one side... she’d seen this kind before.
Why do they like this crap?
It happened sometimes. Idiots claiming they were part of some villain organization and trying to threaten Hyeonak...
Threatening to bomb the building or go on a skill rampage was practically mild in comparison.
What was so romantic about claiming to be part of a villain group? These fools tossed around the names of every organization they could think of.
In her two years at the reception desk, she’d lost count of people claiming to be part of Gnosis, the New Legion, or One Riot.
Stuff like this from kids didn’t even surprise her anymore.
“If you’re joking, that’s not funny. This is the Hyeonak Guild, so please keep that in mind. Impersonation is a criminal offense. Last time someone impersonated Gnosis, they didn’t end up in jail—they got committed to a psychiatric hospital. Next guest.”
With a snide remark, she looked past the boy.
Behind him, Serhi scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.
“I’m not joking. Why does no one recognize me?”
Recognize you for what...
Then suddenly, the bustling lobby fell silent. People stopped moving and slowly turned their heads to look at her.
Her heart dropped with a thud.
Everyone stared at her like they were trying to say I’m not human.
What the hell...
Her vision went white, cold sweat breaking out across her back.
At the same time, several guild members in the lobby drew their weapons and surrounded Serhi.
Blades of all kinds were pointed at him.
While keeping their eyes on Serhi, they also shot glances at one another.
Not one of them had noticed that a third of the crowd passing through the lobby weren’t even human.
Unbothered by the hostility aimed his way, Serhi kept his eyes on the receptionist.
Coincidentally, Raid Team 1’s Son Jaeha was in the lobby and stepped forward, sword raised at Serhi.
“You... What the hell are you?”
Serhi slowly turned.
Son Jaeha lifted his sword to the boy’s throat.
Serhi glanced at the blade tip, then blew and popped a balloon.
“Serhi. Probably sixteen.”
With that brief self-introduction, Serhi activated his skill.
[Skill ‘Dust to Dust, Ashes to Ashes’ has been activated.]
Shhhk—
Every mannequin disintegrated into fine sand and scattered across the floor.
Everyone in the lobby swallowed hard at the unbelievable sight.
“So, now will you tell me? Where does Gnosis go?”
The seminar room of Hyeonak transformed into an interrogation chamber in an instant.
On the far side of the round table sat Serhi. Facing him were Jurim, the Raid Team 1 leader, and Gidan, who had stubbornly barged in saying he had to see Gnosis for himself.
No one spoke easily.
No one had expected Gnosis to show up like this.
But Serhi was completely unfazed by the silence, casually fidgeting with his phone.
Jurim sat with his legs crossed, tapping his index finger on his thigh as he stared intently at Serhi.
He’d heard about this from Guru back in the [RP-Rank Dungeon]. The story of Jin Siwon, Gnosis, and the farm where they grew acorns.
In short, Serhi had saved Guru at the auction, and that led to Guru “picking him up by the stream.” After that, he’d joined up with Jin Siwon and lived a quiet farm life together.
When Guru realized Serhi was Gnosis, he had pushed her to run away and deliberately didn’t follow her.
Jurim remembered Guru’s sullen face as she told him all this.
It had been brief, but she’d clearly grown fond of him. That’s why Jurim thought he’d better make sure Serhi wouldn’t ever reach a hand toward Guru again.
And yet, here he is on his own two feet.
Name: Serhi. A pretty boy with heterochromatic eyes. This must be him.
Jurim finally asked in a slow, calm tone,
“This isn’t the Bureau or the Awakened Crimes Task Force. Why would Gnosis come to Hyeonak of all places?”
“Why do criminals go to the police station?”
“...You came to turn yourself in?”
“I came to fuck over Gnosis. Hyeonak is the top dog in Korea, right?”
Gidan’s eyes widened at the familiar phrase.
Top dog?
There was only one person in Gidan’s world who used that phrase.
“...Don’t tell me—are you being controlled by Guru?”
Jurim sighed deeply and closed his eyes at the absurdity, while Serhi, expression crumpled, leaned his elbow on the table.
Is this kid stupid?
He briefly recalled a four-year-old baby smugly declaring she was hiding her true power.
“Is Hyeonak like, a loser club or something?”
“...Can’t say you’re wrong.”
“Aw, come on, hyeooong...”
Jurim muttered under his breath, while Gidan grumbled and crossed his arms.

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