Hand
The Day of Hand's Middle School Entrance
On the day I was admitted to Hand's middle school, I had to pack all my things and leave ho since the dorm was assigned.
My parents loaded all my luggage into the car and drove to Hand, then bought sothing delicious before I arrived at school since the entrance ceremony would not start until after 1 p.m.
"You need to take care of yourself even after you enter Hand."
"Never, ever get intimidated just because soone's stronger than you. If you do, you'll get eaten alive by those guys."
My mother and father gave worries and advice at the sa ti, and as I listened, I took a bite of at.
"I can't believe our Seongjin is entering a prestigious Hunter school. My little brother is the best!"
"What're you talking about? You're the little sibling."
My younger sister was making a fuss while eating cold noodles, acting ridiculously as always. She used to do this even at ho, and she kept it up even at the very last mont of parting with her big brother.
"Ugh, I'm embarrassed for my little brother!"
"How can you say that when you're supposed to be my big sister? And what's up with your height?"
"I might be small, but I'm more mature than you ntally. Go on, call 'big sis~'"
Smack-!
"Ow!"
"Stop fooling around. You won't see your big brother for a while. Are you really going to keep this up to the end?"
I lightly tapped Yunhee's head with my spoon as she misbehaved.
Yunhee clutched her head as if hit by hail and looked toward our parents.
"Mom~ Dad~ Oppa hit ."
Even in monts like this, Ma Yunhee would whine to our mother and father.
She used to do this every ti we fought at ho, so by this point, it was basically her ultimate move.
"Ma Yunhee! Your brother's right."
"Yeah, kid. You shouldn't keep pestering your brother, whom you won't get to see for a while."
After getting scolded by our parents, Yunhee's shoulders just drooped.
"I wanted to tease you more! If I don't do it now, when else will I get to ss with you?"
She poked with her chopsticks, stained with cold noodle sauce, as she spoke.
In reality, she was just feeling sad because we wouldn't spend ti together anymore.
She was just entering puberty, so her mischievous side was standing out.
"So you wanted to have that much fun with your big brother, huh?"
"Get over yourself! And you better send an S-grade monster sticker soon. You have to keep your promise."
"Sorry, but that promise never existed."
"I deleted the photos for you! Why are you so petty for a big brother?"
"Dad found out in the end anyway. And are you still talking about that after months?"
"Ugh...!"
Yunhee scrunched up her face and sharply turned away.
Living with her, I'd really co to understand the phrase "as incompatible as cats and dogs."
On top of that, Yunhee was still immature, so dealing with her required considerable effort.
"In any case, oppa, do well at school. I heard Hand is way more dangerous than you think, so don't get cocky just because you're talented."
"Yeah, thanks for the concern."
But Yunhee was my family, after all.
When I ruffled her hair as if she were endearing, Yunhee simply slurped up the rest of her noodles without a word.
"Listen to Yunhee—it's not just an empty warning. Things might feel safe here, but once you go inside, there are always Awakened clashing and fighting."
"That's right. It's no longer a world for ordinary people."
My mother's words were fairly accurate.
In the school I'd live at from now on, there'd be no ordinary people like my family.
It was made up entirely of students aiming to beco Hunters and the teachers instructing them.
But since all of us were monsters beyond human, school life would be extraordinary.
Here, there were no limits on using magic power.
"And one more thing! Just because Mom and Dad aren't there, don't you dare touch alcohol. Got it?"
"O-of course."
At my father's words, my hands and feet instinctively reacted.
When I registered at Hand last ti and returned ho, I'd tried to sneak so beer but had been caught by my father.
For soone as old as I was, drinking was second nature, but to them, I was just a minor.
I should be grateful Dad didn't co at with a club.
"Your mother thinks so too. There are all sorts of brats pretending to be adults and trying to buy booze at convenience stores these days. You know what'll happen if you get caught up in that, right?"
"Of course I do."
Honestly, I was dying for a beer, but I didn't want to get it that way.
If I tried, the part-tir who sold it to could get in trouble.
I wasn't about to make soone else suffer for my own comfort.
"Rember this. No matter how much power I have, I can't always protect you. If I try to cover for your illegal acts just because you're young, this dad of yours might have to leave his job."
As I made my way from grade one to grade six, my father had risen to beco a respected prosecutor.
He'd seen all kinds of juvenile cris up close over the years.
He knew too well what paths kids set free by the law could go down, so if a prosecutor's child went astray, the prosecutor himself would be held responsible.
"I'll keep it in mind."
"Thank you."
Hearing my answer, my father smiled with satisfaction and nodded.
It felt as if he trusted I'd never let him down.
"Why would Dad have to leave his job? Did he get hired as a muscle model or sothing?"
Yunhee misunderstood "leaving your job" and made a huge fuss.
But at her words, dad suddenly shrugged his shoulders and flexed.
"Do you think this dad has muscles?"
"Nope. Not at all."
"...."
Dad's face fell, as if he'd bitten a bug.
But Yunhee was totally right.
Wake up from your dream, dad.
****
After saying goodbye to my family, I carried my things to the entrance venue.
Middle School 2. It was the second of the five Hand middle schools founded.
Because of that, rumor had it that their training regin was tougher than the other branches.
'Not that it matters to , though.'
Inside the gym, new students like were lined up in rows.
Teachers walked among us, instructing us to get into proper lines and order.
I felt considerable magic power from them.
My elentary school's magic power instructors had been Hunters too, but here, the Teachers were of a whole different caliber.
'They seem in a whole different dinsion compared to ordinary magic power instructors.'
Kids with abilities completely on another level from other schools gathered here.
If you made it up to high school, there would even be students on par with S-rank.
To keep students like that under control, the faculty had to be incredibly strong.
'But the other kids...'
As expected, there weren't any particular standouts.
Occasionally there were kids who looked like elite mobs, but most were clear bottom-feeders.
However, I did spot one above the rest.
A girl standing closest to the podium, with a sharp look and red hair—
And horns on her head, signifying that she was a Mutamit...
'Huh?'
It was her. The girl I'd fought when I registered at the school. As I thought, we'd ended up at the sa school.
"...!"
The girl, glancing around, also noticed my presence.
She flinched and quickly looked away from .
It was only natural—after what had happened, eting my eyes would be difficult.
― Now, we will begin the entrance ceremony.
The ceremony itself was nothing special.
It was no different from events at any ordinary school, which was unexpected considering this was a massive academy.
'According to SNS, the middle school division is just the tip of the iceberg.'
As usual, there was the principal's address, then a rundown of school rules, and finally the oath by the representative new student.
Step, step, step—
A girl nominated as the representative walked up to the podium. Red-haired, horned... it was her.
The student selected as representative was always rated an outstanding talent even before admission.
With that in mind, it was no surprise to see her there.
Even now, she was astonishing.
If she set her sights on growth, no one here stood a chance, even if they all worked together.
Other kids were murmuring about her as well.
― She's the daughter of that Hwasan Guildmaster, right?
― She must be ridiculously strong, then.
― She's always been famous. Back in elentary, she left several magic power instructors covered in blood.
― Wow, she's more of a monster than I thought.
― Are we going to get wrecked by her like those instructors?
― Better not ss with her.
It sounded like her family was quite high up.
Anyone who was the daughter of one of South Korea's four guildmasters needed no further introduction.
But as the girl gave her oath, her expression suddenly darkened.
I could tell her face changed the mont the kids ntioned her making instructors bleed.
It probably had to do with the rampage I'd witnessed.
― And they say she sotis turns into a total monster.
― Thinking about it, she's kind of scary.
― Yeah, best to steer clear.
She must have had sharp ears, as she seed to hear everything they said.
If not, her voice wouldn't have trembled like that.
"W-with that... the oath is concluded."
The girl who'd strode up confidently finished with a devastated look.
It was as if her pride had been wounded—more accurately, like soone who'd been abandoned by the world.
Descending the podium, I sensed it from her:
'She's angry.'
Behind her immature, fragile appearance, there was a storm of emotion.
So much had accumulated that even she couldn't control it.
I had no idea who the target of her anger was.
"This concludes the entrance ceremony."
The mont I'd been waiting for arrived.
As the tedious ceremony ended and I exited the auditorium—
"Wait."
Soone called for as I walked out. It was her—the voice unmistakable.
"I have sothing to say to you."
The girl's na tag read 'Kwon Sang-ah'. She quietly led to a secluded spot.
She looked suspicious with her dark expression, but I followed her without protest.
"If it's about your wallet, I already gave it back. Plus, I made it clear I wasn't trying to pickpocket you."
As soon as we arrived at the secluded spot, I said this, wanting to clear any remaining misunderstandings.
But the inexplicable anger radiating from her made wary.
I'd already gone out of my way to return her wallet and left a ssage on the ground.
But from the start, she was venting her fury at the world.
It was like she might explode in a scream at any mont.
It felt like watching an unbridled colt, wild and uncontrollable.
"...!!"
Then—
Bang—!
An imnse crash shook the ground.
It was as if she'd slamd the floor with a powerful skill—but there was no fight.
She just drove her head into the dirt.
"I'm so sorry!!"
Huh?
"I've committed a terrible cri!!"
She used her head like a hamr, pressing her forehead into the ground and bowing deeply.
I was completely dumbfounded by how contrite she looked.
Despite the anger I'd sensed, she just bowed before in silence.
"If I must be punished, I'll accept it!!"
An overwhelming sense of sha completely dominated her body and mind.
The sight felt strangely familiar.
It was exactly like so idiot, long ago, who'd lost control after drinking and rampaged through the village with magic, before bowing in apology before all the villagers.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】
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