Conquering the Broken Heroine?

Seo Han-byeol.
The most senior professor at the Hunter Academy.
A veteran who has traversed battlefields with heroes.

Her blue hair flutters gently.
Her yellow eyes scan numerous displays.

Students are reflected.
The sight of students conquering the hunting ground in pairs is reflected in her eyes.

“This side is hopeless! This one’s not bad! That one is…!”

The criteria for the practical evaluation are simple.
Students are, after all, children.
But at the same time, they are military resources treated as quasi-hunters.

Just how much awareness do they have as hunters?
That was the point.
There was no meaning in just conquering quickly.

Since it’s a test for students, powerful monsters weren’t introduced.
But it was still a real-life situation, unchanged.

Basically, monsters were strong.
Humans were weak.

Cooperation was essential.
It was right to approach with a serious attitude.
For whatever reason.

Some might say.
That this is closer to a personality assessment than a test.
That it’s not a fair evaluation.

Seo Han-byeol’s answer to that was simple.
The Hunter Academy was a military facility.
Hunters were military resources.

Where on earth was there a reason not to include a personality assessment?

A hunter’s job is not hunting in hunting grounds.
It’s a wild battlefield.
It’s a war where unknown monsters rampage.

Today, thanks to the activities of great heroes, the vast majority of gates and monsters have been conquered.
However, that doesn’t change the essence of what a hunter is.

It was only natural not to entrust your back to someone untrustworthy.
An Awakener who was only strong wasn’t a hunter.

A hunter is a wise being.
They were David, hunting monsters stronger than themselves with wisdom.

[Now, it’s only forward! The goal isn’t far!]
[Ye─s.]

Of course, since the test subjects are still students, there’s room for re-evaluation, but separately from that, the personality assessment score will come into play.

“…That side is hopeless!”

And in that sense, Seo Han-byeol was certain.

The grade for this test of the S-rank talent that the Hunter Academy was focusing on was the alphabet F.
No matter what bribe came in, she couldn’t give any higher.

Noblesse oblige is fine.
She could praise that belief at least.
A one-man show made possible by confidence in one’s abilities.

The problem was that the word ‘overconfidence’ didn’t exist in Baek Da-eun’s dictionary.
It wasn’t desirable for a hunter.

“Even S-rank Awakeners are still students.”

Let’s assume, just hypothetically, that a gate suddenly opens in the hunting ground and an A-rank or higher monster appears.

Additionally, the faculty had to leave their posts due to an unexpected situation.

In such a situation, would Baek Da-eun really be able to step forward alone?

“How immature!”

She could state with certainty.
Even if she could step forward alone, Baek Da-eun would die.

“But it’s also fortunate! Because we could discover it early!”

She’s still a first-year student.
There was plenty of room for improvement.
But─

“─The problem is over there!”

She turns her gaze.
The problem wasn’t Baek Da-eun, but her team member.

Han Seoyeon.
A girl with black hair and red eyes.
From the slums.
The E-rank powerless person who’s the talk of the academy.

Generally, the rank of Awakeners goes up to alphabet D.
The E rank was created when humanity still didn’t know much about mana.

It was an extinct rank now that the vast majority of humanity had become Awakeners.

Her ability type is creation.
The ability to create a sword.

The ability to create weapons was fairly common.
Even hero Lee Yeon’s ability was of that type.

The problem is that she can only create one sword.
She can’t do anything else.

As can be seen from her black hair and E rank, the amount of mana in her body is infinitely close to 0.

If not for the precisely developed modern ability testing technology, it wouldn’t be strange if she was evaluated as an old human without any ability at all.

Therefore, when the girl was selected for the academy, there was no small controversy.
A powerless girl was selected over other candidates at the academy that prioritizes ability.

There was a lot of talk.
Whether there had been corruption.
Whether she had sold her body to buy a student position.

It was a false rumor.
Seo Han-byeol could prove it.
The academy is an important national facility directly managed by the hero as the principal.

Such a thing couldn’t happen in South Korea, a hunter powerhouse.
Above all, the examiner who actively supported Han Seoyeon’s admission was none other than Seo Han-byeol herself.

Seo Han-byeol had taken notice.
That absolute combat sense displayed in the academy’s entrance exam.

That was a separate domain from ability talent.
Because hunters aren’t determined by ability rank.

However, she honestly hadn’t imagined that Baek Da-eun and Han Seoyeon would be in the same team.
The two combinations were exhibiting the worst synergy.

To Baek Da-eun, who only tries to protect the weak regardless of the form, Han Seoyeon, an E-rank Awakener, is not a collaborator, but an object of contempt and protection at the same time.

She thought it was better to put friendly students together for group assignments.
Why did these two, who weren’t even on good terms, form a team?

“I don’t know!”

Seo Han-byeol, who had never been without friends in her life, didn’t know the reason.

“From next time, the professors need to decide the members for group assignments!”

Seo Han-byeol only resolved to do her best as a professor.

[Emergency Disaster Text]

That’s when it happened.

[Gate occurrence forecast for Seoul Special City, Jongno-gu, Bukchon-ro 15 area. Estimated rank: S. All hunters in the vicinity are requested to gather at this address as of the current time.]

The emergency line rang.

Developed human technology established a system to predict when and where gates would appear by measuring areas where mana levels fluctuate rapidly.

“Isn’t that the former Constitutional Court, now the Hunter Management Bureau headquarters!”

That text came to Seo Han-byeol.

“…This is troublesome. Of all times!”

Regrettably, the test had to be suspended because of this.

“Professor Seo Han-byeol.”

An unfamiliar voice reached her ears.

“Who is it!”
“I’m Choi Min-hyuk, newly appointed this time.”
“I see!”

With the new semester and school year, some professors had also changed.
It’s still a time when even the professors are unfamiliar with each other.

“I’ll control the students. Professor Seo Han-byeol, you should go first. You’re an ‘S-rank’ hunter, aren’t you?”

Seo Han-byeol, who had been busy preparing for the first practical evaluation, hadn’t been able to interact with others recently.

“I think it would be better for you to go quickly rather than me.”
“Understood!”

At the newcomer’s consideration, Seo Han-byeol flew without hesitation.
While running, a strange thought briefly crossed her mind.

While abilities have ranks, all hunters are comrades.
Even if there are ranks, hunters aren’t divided by grades.

One of the common misconceptions that ordinary citizens, not hunters, have is that hunters also have grades.

Seo Han-byeol didn’t mind.
Given the urgent situation, he must have misspoken.

That the emergency disaster text was fake.

That the newly appointed professor had intentions to harm the students.

That this new professor was actually someone else hiding their identity.

That despite having such wit, he made a verbal mistake.

She thought of all possible scenarios given her profession, but soon forgot.

An era where past common sense has been completely shattered.
Yet it was too extreme a conspiracy theory.

“Now, with the obstacles taken care of…”

Who would imagine that such an implausible conspiracy theory would become reality?

“Soon, all the kids will gather too.”

The man smiled.

[The Constellation ‘Manager of the Abyss’ smiles along.]

His Supporting Star also smiled.

There were no more monsters in the hunting ground.
Because they were a nuisance.
For having a conversation.

In a space with only two girls, something that made their skin tingle flowed.

“The unfinished conversation…”
“We both have things to say, don’t we, Senior?”

Killing intent.
A color that shouldn’t be directed at people.

“As a consideration for my junior, may I ask the first question?”
“I don’t mind.”

What could have made this young girl like this?
Michaela needed to know.

“Senior. I’ll ask straightforwardly.”

She was indeed a senior, as she said.

“What do you think about Seoyeon?”

Han Seoyeon.
At Han Suho’s question, her friend unexpectedly came up.

“…What do I think? That’s a vague question in intent.”
“You don’t need to think too hard about it.”

Han Suho recited in a low voice.

“Just tell me as it is.”
“She’s a friend. A precious one.”

A precious friend she made for the first time.
That’s what Han Seoyeon was to Michaela.

“Is that so…”

Han Suho’s killing intent remained.
As if the question hadn’t been resolved, her eyes looked dark red.

“Honestly, it’s not easy to accept.”
“Why is that?”
“Seoyeon is powerless, isn’t she?”

One must be suspicious.
Because it’s a world where a father abandoned his daughter in a trash heap just because she was powerless.

“You, Senior, are an S-rank Awakener.”

So she must confirm.
Even if it’s someone her sister has a one-sided crush on.

“I’m suspicious. Is there, perhaps, some other purpose─”

Han Seoyeon, though removed from the family register, is still of the bloodline of the Firefly Group, a prestigious hunter family.

Someone might focus on that point.
Who knows, maybe.

Europe might try to use Michaela Wittelsbach as a face to attempt contact with the Firefly Group.

“You know, Seoyeon is a kind child.”

The possibility of her being used is unforgivable.

“Bright, often smiling, always trying hard, always trying to help others…”

Trampling on such a bright sister’s face is.

“I want Seoyeon to become happy.”

She’s only been robbed of time for the past 10 years.
Now it’s time for her to be happy.

“Can you make Seoyeon happy, Senior?”
“I don’t know.”

Michaela answered firmly.

“This is my first time making a friend. I don’t know what kind of relationship friendship is. So I don’t even know what to do or how.”

Friend.
It was an unfamiliar word to Michaela.

“But there’s only one thing I can say.”

She has a small capacity.
She was nothing more than a scabbard.
She wasn’t someone great enough to comment on others’ lives.

“I am Han Seoyeon’s friend. There is no other answer. That’s all.”

There was only one truth.
The fact that they are friends.
That was all.

“…”

Han Suho’s dark red eyes scanned the bioelectricity flowing through the girl’s body.

No lies came out.
The worst answer she had imagined didn’t come out.
But neither did any sugar-coated words.

Of course, she couldn’t completely trust it.
However.

“…You must keep those words.”

For now, she accepted it.
But still warned.
The younger sister will punish bad people who trouble her sister.

“Now it’s my turn to ask.”

Michaela opened her mouth.

“What was the reason for assaulting those two students?”
“It’s not a difficult reason.”

Han Suho answered terribly brightly.

“Those people were trying to rape Seoyeon.”
“─”

Michaela was silent for a moment.

“The only evidence is my ears, was I too excessive?”

The only evidence was the voice.
She didn’t know if they would have actually done it.
Han Suho assaulted two students based on just suspicion.

“…No.”

Michaela couldn’t deny it.
She closed her eyes for a moment.

[What, you’ve already found it?]

What came to mind was the past.
One she remembered despite reincarnating across worlds.

[You’re quick. Well, you were different from other women, you didn’t flirt with the hero.]

Back when she was a member of the hero’s party.
More precisely, when she was a member of the hero’s party for the last time.

[Thinking about it, that sage bitch is really detestable. Who does she think saved her from that chamber?]

They talk of regret.
They talk of expulsion.
They talk of obsession.
They talk of ruin.

Without any context.
For arbitrary reasons.

[How is it, do you regret it? Now that the guy you dismissed as baggage is gone, the party isn’t functioning properly, is it?]

Her karma that she can’t forget even if she wants to.
The sin she committed.
The crime that can’t be forgiven by forgetting.

[No matter how much you beg, it won’t work. I won’t go back. It’s already too late.]

That man was baggage.
Of unknown origin, with black hair and eyes.

[I’ll give a chance to you who found me first. Want to come with me? Come to think of it, you’re a victim too. A victim who had your achievements stolen by the hero.]

A man with black hair like Han Seoyeon, but unlike her, with a twisted nature.
Who disparaged and belittled the hero who should have been a comrade.

[It was your sword that beheaded the Demon King. But people only kept praising the hero.]

Baggage who considered himself a victim.
A traitor who claimed the hero stole his achievements.

[That hypocrite bastard, he didn’t help at all in catching the Demon King─]

Thus, the name of the sin was murder.
The murder of a comrade.

“That’s unexpected. I thought you’d say something.”
“I have no right to do so.”

Michaela only offered advice.

“Do you have no regrets?”
“None at all.”
“But you might have lingering attachments.”

Han Suho only sneered at the sincere advice.

“Because of such human trash?”
“No.”

There’s no regret for the act committed.
Because she believed it was right.

[Why.]

Only lingering attachments remain.
Because no matter what excuse there is, murder is ultimately just a sin.

[Why, why did you, do such a thing…]

“If the one you cherish sheds tears because of your sin.”

The hero couldn’t even cry.
Watching the criminal who had cruelly murdered a former comrade.

“There’s no way you won’t have lingering attachments.”
“…”

This time she couldn’t laugh.
Her dark red eyes sank.

“Two are a bit late. It’ll be dangerous if we don’t start soon…”

The man muttered.

“It’s a shame, but I guess we can do without two people?”

The man asked his Supporting Star.

[The Constellation ‘Manager of the Abyss’ stamps his feet, urging to start soon.]

Since the viewer wanted it so much, as a broadcaster, he couldn’t wait any longer.