LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 27
Chapter 27
“The suspicion has been raised that Kang Jaehyuk of First Year Class B entered the institution fraudulently.”
The guards were one of the nine military organizations within the Lion’s Castle.
While the teachers followed the principal, the guards served directly under the director.
However, Byun Cheonju, the captain of the guards, was from the association and was not a close advisor to Seol Soo-ah, so he was unaware of the backstory behind Jaehyuk’s admission.
“He jumped in right before the Leech King triggered the second explosion and successfully ranked first in contribution, thus succeeding in the raid.”
“Is this true?”
The smile disappeared from Seol Soo-ah’s face as she read the report. It was a rare sight, indicating she was quite shocked.
Byun Cheonju, who saw it as an opportunity to improve his track record and gain credit, answered energetically.
“Yes! With eighty eyewitnesses, there is no room for manipulation. Further investigations show he’s dominating his peers in training, consistently achieving high marks. Kang Jaehyuk’s level is estimated to be at least 30. Yet he has been admitted to Class B.”
Level 30.
Just ten more levels and he would be classified as a C-rank player.
Among the majority of newcomers who were rookies, someone with stats like that could easily bully others.
A freshman’s level exceeding 30? Regardless of his skill grade being low, he should have been admitted to Class A.
This way, class balance and fair lessons and training could be maintained.
“You must thoroughly investigate both Kang Jaehyuk and the person responsible for his admission review. Uncover the truth and administer strong punishment…”
“He deserves a reward. A significantly big one.”
“Excuse me?”
“He saved many students’ lives, so we should reward him.”
Bewildered by the unexpected reaction, Byun Cheonju was taken aback.
“But he was admitted fraudulently…”
“I was in charge of Kang Jaehyuk’s admission review.”
“…!”
Somehow, Seol Soo-ah had regained her smile.
Byun Cheonju knew her expression did not originate from kindness or goodwill.
She had the exact same smile when she blew the head off of an S-rank boss monster.
“I personally verified Kang Jaehyuk being level 1 with my own eyes. Fraudulent admission? Does the Lion’s Castle seem so easy to you, captain Byun?”
“No, never!”
“Then are you calling me incompetent?”
“Certainly not!”
“Are you doubting me then? Go ahead, tell me honestly what you’ve thought of me all this time. I should hear it and correct any faults.”
“That’s absurd!!”
Thud!
Byun Cheonju’s forehead hit the table.
Although his true loyalty lay with the association president, he had zero intentions of antagonizing the National Treasure.
The National Treasure was a transcendent being. Displeasing them meant inevitable loss, regardless of factions or allegiance. One could be killed without a trace.
‘Damn, I should have realized from the talk of rewards that I had stirred a hornet’s nest unwittingly.’
“What do the other leaders think?”
Seol Soo-ah waved her hand in the air, and suddenly, the large doors of the director’s office swung open.
‘Telekinesis!’
Witnessing a glimpse of transcendental power, Byun Cheonju’s face turned pale. The captains who had just arrived outside the director’s office also became tense.
Using telekinesis to open doors while the guard captain had his head on the table was a clear sign they had come at a bad time. But it was no situation to back down.
“Enter.”
At Seol Soo-ah’s command, the principal, the exploration leader, and the leaders of Strategy Team 2 and Team 5 cautiously entered the room. Unlike Byun Cheonju, they were senior members of the association.
“Do you also think Kang Jaehyuk was admitted fraudulently?”
“The public believes so, Your Excellency.”
The principal, wiping his sweat-drenched bald head with a handkerchief, spoke slowly.
“Most faculty suspect fraudulent admission. It’s impossible for a Level 1 player to perform as he did in a C-rank raid. Of course, I know Your Excellency personally handled Jaehyuk’s admission review… But sometimes the mana measuring device can malfunction, can’t it?”
“You think I failed to notice a malfunction in the mana measuring device?”
“Who would dare question Your Excellency’s judgment? It’s merely a hypothesis. Kang Jaehyuk might have tampered with the device with malicious intent. Although I think differently, the suspicion among faculty is growing uncontrollably.”
The principal was placed by the association to keep Seol Soo-ah in check. He had outstanding skills and charisma, backed by a considerable background, allowing him to speak his mind even against the National Treasure. Once he initiated, the accompanying leaders chimed in.
“Based on the data the strategy team accumulated, it’s impossible for Kang Jaehyuk to be a Level 1. The faculty’s doubts are reasonable.”
“The exploration team agrees.”
“Couldn’t Kang Jaehyuk be a holder of bloodline skills?”
“Your Excellency, your jest goes too far.”
The likelihood of developing a bloodline skill was extraordinarily low.
Despite aristocratic families around the world striving to expand their bloodlines, there have been virtually no cases of consecutive generations developing bloodline skills from the same family.
This is why the Silla House is so remarkable.
“Even if Kang Jaehyuk did develop a bloodline skill, managing such performance as a Level 1 would be difficult. Regardless of the skill, it needs accompanying stats to exhibit power, doesn’t it?”
“Indeed, and if Kang Jaehyuk had developed a bloodline skill, would he have enrolled in this school? As soon as the skill emerged, he’d likely make it public and play the heir card for the Kang family as an active player.”
‘Right, that’s common sense.’
However, Kang Jaehyuk hadn’t even awakened yet claimed the top contribution in a C-rank raid. Seol Soo-ah, more than anyone, was baffled by the current situation.
‘Just how high are his stats? How intensely did he train for 8 years…?’
Re-reading the report, she chuckled before getting to the point.
“So, the conclusion is to conduct a reevaluation?”
“Indeed. Through a transparent process, please alleviate public suspicion, Your Excellency.”
Their demand wasn’t unreasonable. Initially, admission reviews were conducted publicly. But she hadn’t expected the association’s representatives to demand so bluntly.
‘It seems the order to dispose of Yaksha’s son has been given. The association’s elders appear to be quite disgruntled over the boy’s recent achievement. I was as shocked.’
A sharp object piercing through from a cloth pouch. The child hidden in the pouch surfaced within just ten days. At this point, there was only one solution left.
A frontal breakthrough.
It was the scenario Seol Soo-ah desired.
“If it’s revealed that my private admission review was flawed, I’ll suffer great humiliation. Moreover, they’ll accuse me of being colluded with the Kang family.”
“Not at all. People will think the mana measuring device was merely faulty. Additionally, even if you’ve favored the Kang family, what’s the harm in that? It’s not a crime.”
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Seol Soo-ah stared blankly at the unaffected principal as he continued prattling on, tapping the table with her fingertips. With a serious expression deliberately crafted, she bided her time.
Eventually, when her hand ceased.
“Fine. I’ll play along. If it’s proven that Kang Jaehyuk deceived his level during admission, appropriate actions will be taken accordingly. However, irrespective of that, we should award him first. It’s true he saved several students’ lives.”
“But…”
“Is there an issue with rewarding a kid who saved the future pillars of the nation?”
“…”
“Also, convey this clearly to the association president, that old fox. If it’s proven there’s no issue with Kang Jaehyuk’s level, there’ll be accountability.”
“By responsibility, what do you mean?”
“The fox will inevitably understand, so it’s none of your concern.”
“…”
The principal and leaders exchanged glances. However, they didn’t waver in their decision. Even if heaven fell, Kang Jaehyuk was a fraudulent entrant beyond doubt.
“I’ll relay that.”
***
“This is absurd! Instead of offering him an award, they want to redo his admission review? What nonsense is this?”
The reassessment due to the detection of irregularities in Kang Jaehyuk’s admission process frustrated Kim Jinmyung as he fumed, spotting the ridiculous official document.
“Even if Jaehyuk used underhanded means to get in, what of it? Thanks to his admission, several lives were saved!”
“Calm down. Rules exist to be followed.”
“Vice Principal!”
“And what’s the problem in redoing the admission review? It’s about proving there were no issues with the process now, isn’t it? I truly don’t understand your agitation.”
“I’m concerned about how the kid feels. He risked his life for his classmates just to receive suspicion instead of praise! How heartbreaking and frustrating must that be?”
“If there’s suspicion, it’s for a reason. Common sense dictates how can that be a Level 1?”
“A kid who should have been in Class A was manipulating grades in Class B. Typical rogue behavior, receiving 20 demerits in a week.”
“That’s what you get for being Yaksha’s kin. Just look at Kang Daesung and Kang Hyun-ah…”
Other teachers spoke loudly enough to be heard. Kim Jinmyung’s face turned red with embarrassment.
“Kang Jaehyuk is not a rogue. He has no demerits.”
Suddenly, Park Jubong, the homeroom teacher for First Year Class A, interjected. Being indifferent to factions and politics, it was unusual for him to involve himself in such matters, drawing the attention of other teachers.
“Both Kim Jinmyung and I awarded him merit points. Since he risked his life to save students, he naturally deserved recognition, right? Isn’t that so, Mr. Kim?”
Kim Jinmyung’s face regained some color.
“Indeed, Mr. Park, you are right.”
Kim Jinmyung and Park Jubong turned their attention to Gu Baekgi, who sat in a corner, silent and sullen. He was the homeroom teacher for First Year Class C and had been present during the raid.
“… Me?”
“Mr. Gu also saw Jaehyuk’s performance, didn’t you?”
“So?”
“Well then… perhaps I should have a word with Park Shiwoo…”
“I also! I also just gave Kang Jaehyuk 10 points! I’m recording it now!”
Gu Baekgi made a grim face. Although the sharp stares from the association-affiliated teachers pierced his back, he had no other option left.
***
Two days later.
News of Kang Jaehyuk’s admission review spread like wildfire throughout the school.
“Who is Kang Jaehyuk?”
“He’s supposedly a freshman. Not interested, don’t care.”
“If it turns out he really faked his level to get into Class B, he’s just a pathetic coward. Shall we go and watch?”
“Bothersome. Annually there’s always one or two like that. What’s so special?”
The scarce number of third-year students seemed apathetic as most were dispatched elsewhere.
“Kang Jaehyuk, isn’t he Yaksha’s son?”
“All this noise about his contribution in the Leech King raid, but he really was a fraudulent admit.”
“Come on, it made no sense for a Level 1 to perform in a C-rank raid.”
“Was he worried about being compared to Shin Lakyung and resorted to tricks? Disgraceful for fallen nobility.”
The reactions from the first and second-year students were generally negative. Even those whom Jaehyuk had helped nurtured suspicions.
“Finally.”
Ironically, Jaehyuk himself couldn’t stop smiling, feeling elated.
At last, he could shed the label of being an awakened one(?). How uncommunicative it had been all this while. Especially in skill honing classes.
Why on earth did he even need to attend that?
“Hmm? Why do you look like you got punched, Baek Dojin?”
“Some bastard bad-mouthed you, so I beat him up. That guy has black eyes on both sides now.”
“You never have a day where you aren’t fighting…. Still have energy for dueling?”
“Of course! Bring it on, Jedi!”
“It’s Chae Dahui, not Jedi!”
Recently, with his stats soaring, Jaehyuk reduced his solo training time. But paradoxically, his training volume increased.
Alternating with Dojin and Dahui, he repeated 1-on-1 or 1-on-2 duels, which was doubly grueling compared to swinging a sword alone.
His physical strength, mental resilience, swordsmanship proficiency, and practical sense rapidly improved.
『Settlement is almost finished.』
『A new first skill is about to blossom.』