12:45 PM. There are still 15 minutes left until lunch hour.
To be honest, I had absolutely no desire to come early. I followed Suhyeon's strong opinion, that's all.
"Headmaster. This is Examiner Baek Seojin."
As I slightly opened the door and entered, only Ma Hakjun was sitting in the Headmaster's office.
I did come too early after all. Coming 15 minutes early doesn't really change anything. I would have been better off chatting with Suhyeon for those 15 minutes.
"You came early. The other professors haven't arrived yet."
"Well, it seemed like it would be an important discussion. Somehow, I ended up coming early."
My answer seemed more enthusiastic than expected, and Ma Hakjun smiled. Seeing that, I thought I might have made the right choice following Suhyeon's advice.
"Come to think of it, you probably don't know yet."
"You mean the reason we're gathering in the Headmaster's office? About that..."
"I already mentioned that earlier. What I'm talking about is something else."
Ma Hakjun, rising from his seat, asked me to look around the Headmaster's office. Wondering if there was something special, I did as told, but saw nothing different from before. So when I showed a face that conveyed my complete lack of understanding, Ma Hakjun said:
"Do you know how many professors there are at this Academy?"
"I believe it's at least in the double digits."
"That's right. Yet, this Headmaster's office where I've called everyone to gather is too small, isn't it?"
Oh. When I think about it, it really is! This is the Headmaster's office, not a conference room.
Why would he call me, not to mention all the professors, to the Headmaster's office instead of a conference room when there's something to discuss? I had missed a point that naturally should have raised questions.
"...Could there be a secret space or something?"
It was just a random question, but Ma Hakjun nodded. Then he approached the bookshelf and pulled out one book.
With a heavy sound, the bookshelf opened, revealing a door beyond.
I followed Ma Hakjun inside. The space inside was completely different from the not-too-spacious Headmaster's office.
A large table, dozens of chairs, and a huge screen at the front. It gives off the feeling of a "command center" like in movies.
'What is this ridiculous situation?'
I was naturally bewildered. A secret conference room in the Headmaster's office, of all places. They could have set it up anywhere in the Academy, so why specifically the Headmaster's office?
"You must find it strange. Having something in the Headmaster's office."
"To be honest... it's very strange."
"To explain, this is a place used for truly important meetings."
In other words, it's not used regularly. Given that it's set up in the Headmaster's office, that honestly makes sense.
You can't be crazy enough to attach a conference room to the Headmaster's office. He wouldn't know if the meeting details are entering through ears or nose.
"And the professors I call are only those I can absolutely trust. Those who have been thoroughly investigated."
"Aren't all Academy professors selected based on trustworthiness?"
"They were. But it's better to be safe than sorry. Above all, your opinion was quite convincing."
My opinion refers to the possibility of a traitor within the Academy.
Villains attacked the practical training groups with such precision. This couldn't be a coincidence. There must be a traitor inside. I had expressed this opinion to Han Jiyoon, saying we need to examine the inside.
And it seems Han Jiyoon clearly conveyed that opinion to Ma Hakjun.
"Are you really sure there's a traitor inside the Academy?"
When Ma Hakjun asked this, I answered without a moment's hesitation.
"Yes. Traitors exist in every organization in the world."
"Even when they receive the best treatment and are guaranteed the highest honor?"
"If such things could explain it all, the world would be a very peaceful place."
They might have been threatened, or they might have succumbed to persistent temptation. Even the rich can be greedy for more money. Whatever the villains offered, if it was enticing enough, a "yes" could have been given.
"Then the professors who received this summons..."
"Are those who have passed verification after verification. Professors who are spotless."
If Ma Hakjun, of all people, says this, it's trustworthy. Despite countless attempts to infiltrate spies, Ma Hakjun caught them all.
Recalling that, the professoriate he verified were definitely allies.
"...It seems they're starting to arrive now."
At Ma Hakjun's words, I slightly listened and indeed heard movements outside.
"Take a seat. The meeting will start soon."
The professors summoned by Ma Hakjun take their seats in the secret conference room beyond the Headmaster's office. They've already been briefed on the general situation. Given the current climate, everyone wore serious expressions.
After all the professors are seated, Ma Hakjun also takes his seat. And a moment later, a middle-aged man appears on the screen in front.
[Did everyone have lunch?]
"Yes, Association President."
The man's identity is none other than the Ability Association President. A position more powerful than most ministers.
[First, I apologize for gathering all of you busy professors . But given the nature of the agenda, I hope you understand.]
After quickly offering an apology and seeking understanding, the Association President got straight to the point.
[You've all probably heard the general news. The recent tragedy in Gangwon Province.]
At the Association President's words, Ma Hakjun and the professors show somber expressions.
The tragedy that occurred in the abandoned mine dungeon in Sokcho, Gangwon Province. A group of A-rank ability users who entered for dungeon subjugation were annihilated.
These weren't newly promoted A-ranks who were still close to B-rank. They were experienced hunters, veterans with extensive practical experience, and yet they were hunted themselves.
[The investigation regarding that has been completed.]
"What's the conclusion?"
[It appears that the level of the monsters has significantly increased compared to before. However, the dungeon is still measured as A-rank.]
At this, murmurs arise among the seated professors.
Skilled A-rank ability users were literally annihilated. Yet the dungeon's rank remains unchanged, still A-rank?
"Association President. Is this possible? A-ranks being annihilated, yet the dungeon rank still measuring as A-rank."
[We naturally considered raising it to S-rank. But no matter how we measured, the dungeon kept coming out as A-rank. We'll probably need to check again after it regenerates.]
The murmuring among the professors didn't subside. The professors gathered here were also once ability users active in the field. That's why they couldn't understand how a dungeon that could annihilate A-ranks could still be classified as A-rank.
[Therefore, we're currently presenting several possibilities. First, villains used some method to abnormally enhance the monsters inside the dungeon.]
It's not entirely impossible or absurd. Research on temporarily enhancing ability users by injecting specific drugs has existed for a long time.
Though it's now prohibited in all countries as an inhumane act. Some villains are intensively researching this. And they might have applied the results not to ability users but to monsters.
"But how would villains breach the security and enter the dungeon? And considering the dungeon's clearing conditions, even if they did such a thing, they would immediately suffer the consequences."
At one professor's opinion, other professors, as well as Ma Hakjun, nodded.
If villains enhanced monsters through some method, they would ultimately have to enter the dungeon. How did they breach the security around the area, and how did they clear it and escape? Considering these aspects, there were many points that didn't make sense.
The Association President also seemed to acknowledge this, nodding in agreement.
[I understand. That's why we're leaning more towards the second possibility.]
"You mean mutations?"
At Ma Hakjun's question, the Association President nodded.
Monsters are also living beings in the broader sense. And living beings can naturally mutate. The professors seemed to find this theory quite credible. Especially since they had encountered such cases at least once when they were active in the field.
[That's right. The government seems to be hoping for the second prediction to be correct. If they were mutations, then it was truly a coincidental, unfortunate encounter, so there's no problem.]
"So they're suggesting our juniors were just unlucky."
Ma Hakjun's voice grows cold, indicating his displeasure.
Multiple ability users perished, and they're attributing it to mere bad luck. Even if that's true, it feels very unpleasant and unsettling.
"Association President."
At this point, Baek Seojin, who had been sitting among the professors, cautiously raises his hand.
[Ah. Examiner Baek Seojin is also here.]
"Yes. Wait, should I not be in this meeting?"
[Not at all. In fact, if you weren't here, I would have asked the Headmaster about it.]
Saying so, the Association President told Baek Seojin to speak if he had something to say.
The large-scale ambush by villains, and the battle with the Elder. Though overshadowed by these events, Baek Seojin is actually related to this matter.
According to reports, a similar incident occurred in the dungeon that Baek Seojin's practical training team was assigned to.
It was definitely a dungeon chosen to match the Academy students' level. But the monsters that appeared towards the end were above their level, according to the students' testimonies. Additionally, the boss was even at a level where it could have reversed the situation against the students.
"Didn't you mention that mutations are the most likely possibility?"
"I really hope it's just a coincidence. But I think the situation might be more serious."
[If you say the situation is more serious, what kind of situation are you referring to?]
After taking a deep breath in response to the Association President's question, Baek Seojin answered.
"The monsters are changing. More precisely, they're also growing."