I thought I was going to die. I was just an ordinary superhuman, and the opponent was an Elder. But for some reason, when I opened my eyes, I could still see the burning academy. I had expected my limbs to be shattered, but I could still move my arms and legs.
— Trait is currently active.
The only reason I survived must be because of this trait. It was so absurd that I couldn’t help but let out a laugh.
I know all too well from experience— A gatekeeper never lets anyone through. No matter what, they hold on and drag down whoever tries to pass. I fell to my knees 99 times because of that. And now, I’ve become that very gatekeeper.
As I stood up, a groan escaped on its own. My shoulder throbbed painfully, likely dislocated. In movies and dramas, people somehow pop it back in themselves, but... Damn it. I can’t do it. It hurts way too much. This isn’t something a normal person can do.
Barely managing to take a step, I noticed the Elder staring straight at me. He must’ve realized I wasn’t dead.
Can’t you just pretend not to notice?
I sighed internally, but it was do-or-die now. My trait was still active, and somehow, I had survived the Elder’s attack. If I could survive the first strike, maybe I could survive the second.
...Honestly, that was wishful thinking, but I had no other choice.
So I just went for it.
“I’m the Silver-Rank Examiner.”
At my answer, the Elder tilted his head, then slowly approached me, gripping his spear. Professors, students, even Kim Suhyeon—he didn’t spare them a glance. His eyes were locked solely on me as he closed in.
I wanted to run. I desperately wanted to stay alive. It wasn’t just fear. I simply didn’t want to be in pain anymore.
They say pain makes a person cowardly, and it’s true. I didn’t want to hurt anymore. I felt like I was dying already. I lost count of how many times I wanted to kneel and beg for my life.
But every time that temptation crept in, this thought held me back:
If I let this Elder pass me, what happens then? What will happen to Kim Suhyeon, and the 500,000 innocent people she will eventually kill?
Could I sleep peacefully knowing that?
If I hadn’t known, I might’ve turned a blind eye. But knowing what comes after, I couldn’t run away.
I wasn’t some hero wannabe or a hidden powerhouse. I knew this was a fight I was guaranteed to lose.
With that, the world seemed to turn pitch black, and I spun through the air. I didn’t even have time to feel pain. My mind couldn’t process what was happening.
I couldn’t breathe properly. Every bone in my body felt like it was breaking. When I finally looked around, I realized I had been slammed into debris again by the Elder’s spear strike.
I really thought I was going to die this time, but I survived again. It hurt like hell, but I managed to endure. Somehow, my dislocated shoulder had popped back in from the impact. Should I call that lucky? It was so ridiculous I almost laughed.
The Elder approached me again, this time with a hint of confusion in his voice. Understandable. A mere superhuman had survived two of his attacks. If I were him, I’d be curious too.
“Cough! Didn’t you hear me before? Cough, cough. I said I’m the examiner.”
I survived the second attack. Even though I felt like dying, a strange confidence began to stir inside me. Without thinking, I ended up speaking with a hint of defiance.
The Elder raised his spear again but hesitated.
He was conflicted—he wanted to toy with me out of curiosity, but he had a mission to complete.
I can’t let him go. If Kim Suhyeon gets taken, it’s all over.
Forcing my trembling legs to move, I stood up. I had to stop him here. I couldn’t let him pass.
Kim Suhyeon, and the 500,000 innocent lives at stake. I had to grit my teeth and endure one more time.
Perhaps deciding to focus on his mission, the Elder turned his body away, heading toward where Kim Suhyeon had fled. I had to stop him. I needed to provoke him.
Yeah, if he ignored that, he wouldn’t be a monster.
At my words, the Elder slowly turned back to face me. His gaze alone felt like it was tearing me apart, but I forced myself to stand firm. If I backed down now, it would be worse than doing nothing.
“I wanted to learn more about you… slowly.”
A grotesque hum resonated from the Elder’s spear. If that hit me, I’d die. Gatekeeper or not, I would truly die.
I needed to dodge, but damn it—my body wouldn’t move. Was it fear that froze me, or was I simply at my limit? No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t even lift a finger.
I thought this was the end. I wondered what would happen after I died.
At that moment, a sharp battle cry echoed, and someone suddenly appeared mid-air.
They blocked the Elder’s spear head-on. Though they looked worse for wear, I immediately recognized them.
A white-haired old man wielding a sword—there was only one person like that in the academy.
“You’re not an ordinary examiner, are you?”
Ma Hakjun chuckled, brushing aside the Elder’s spear.
“It’s been a while, Hyuk.”
“How did you escape?”
“Did you really think some brats could hold me back for long?”
It seemed they had stationed people to restrain him, but Ma Hakjun bore the marks of battle. To break through and get here—this was indeed the Ma Hakjun I knew.
“…Shame I couldn’t kill you earlier. But this works out well.”
“Is that so? But too bad for you. Even you can’t kill this old man in three minutes.”
“You must’ve realized by now. Reinforcements have arrived. And among them… ‘that person’ is here. In three minutes, they’ll be standing before you. What will you do?”
At the mention of that person, the Elder, Hyuk, narrowed his eyes. After a brief pause, he glanced in the direction Kim Suhyeon had fled.
“…How unfortunate. And…”
The Elder suddenly turned his gaze toward me.
“You. I’ll remember you.”
Whether it was admiration or a promise to kill me later, it didn’t seem like a good thing.
And with that, the Elder vanished without a trace.
…He’s gone. He’s really gone.
Unlike the original story, the villains failed to kidnap Kim Suhyeon. Their plan to brainwash her into the Crimson Witch had failed. Even if this wasn’t the end, I had overcome a major hurdle.
My body collapsed backward. As the tension left me, my vision went white. I think Ma Hakjun was saying something, but I couldn’t hear a word.
I just… want to sleep for a bit. I’m way past overtime today… so this should be fine, right?
◎ Required Threshold Reached:
Trait is being enhanced.
Ma Hakjun turned his head while receiving treatment.
"You’re here, Professor Han."
"Ugh, seriously. Can’t you just call me by my name?"
Han Jiyoon, covered in minor wounds, sat down beside him.
"Thirty-two dead. One hundred seventeen injured. The victims include students, faculty, and security personnel."
Han Jiyoon clenched her fists, cursing under her breath. Thirty-two lives were lost. Precious, irreplaceable lives had been taken.
"Well, at least... it could’ve been worse, right?"
The healer tending to Ma Hakjun cautiously spoke up. Han Jiyoon was about to lash out, but Ma Hakjun raised a hand to stop her.
"Forgive me if I spoke out of turn, but even the higher-ups and the Association view. Considering two Elders attacked and yet the death toll is only in the double digits... it could have been far worse."
"Worse? One death alone is a tragedy. Don’t spout nonsense like that."
Of course, Han Jiyoon understood. If the Elders had been intent on pure slaughter, she might have been the only survivor. Even Ma Hakjun wouldn’t have held out. He was a hero of the past, but the Elders were living nightmares.
Yet, one Elder merely stalled for time, while the other focused on something else. The villains they brought along were mediocre at best—clearly only meant to buy time.
"Hyuk... no, the 'Spear Phantom' was after Kim Suhyeon?"
"Yes. Survivors reported he was searching for Kim Suhyeon. And Hyun Sujin—that wretched woman—was obviously stalling."
Kang Minseong's granddaughter. A prestigious bloodline, yet lacking exceptional talent. That was the simplest way to describe Kim Suhyeon.
Ma Hakjun stroked his chin, deep in thought.
‘Why would they try to kidnap Suhyeon?’
Was it to threaten or manipulate Kang Minseong? It wasn’t impossible. Kang Minseong's love for his family was well-known.
Kim Suhyeon was the only remaining blood relative of Kang Minseong’s late daughter. His affection for her likely surpassed that for his other grandchildren.
"Careful now, on three. One, two, three."
The medics carefully lifted a man onto a stretcher. He wasn’t a student, nor a professor, nor a security officer.
It was Baek Seojin, the examiner dispatched to the academy today.
"That examiner, Baek Seojin."
"I heard. He took that water phantom's spear twice."
"Yes. Yet he survived. And he never backed down."
Even seasoned professors with vast combat experience couldn’t endure that. Ma Hakjun doubted he could withstand two strikes from that spear barehanded.
But Baek Seojin managed to stall an Elder. Without him, the situation could have been catastrophic. Even in the end, he never showed signs of retreat.
‘Baek Seojin… Baek Seojin.’
Both Ma Hakjun and Han Jiyoon watched as Baek Seojin was carried off to the hospital, lost in thought.