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 home since the dorm was assigned.

My parents loaded all my luggage into the car and drove me to Hand, then bought me something 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 someone's stronger than you. If you do, you'll get eaten alive by those guys."

My mother and father gave me worries and advice at the same time, and as I listened, I took a bite of meat.

"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 home, and she kept it up even at the very last moment 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 mentally. Go on, call me '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 me."

Even in moments like this, Ma Yunhee would whine to our mother and father.

She used to do this every time we fought at home, 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 mess with you?"

She poked me with her chopsticks, stained with cold noodle sauce, as she spoke.

In reality, she was just feeling sad because we wouldn't spend time 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 me 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 come 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 become 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 time and returned home, I'd tried to sneak some beer but had been caught by my father.

For someone as old as I was, drinking was second nature, but to them, I was just a minor.

I should be grateful Dad didn't come at me 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-timer who sold it to me could get in trouble.

I wasn't about to make someone else suffer for my own comfort.

"Remember 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 become a respected prosecutor.

He'd seen all kinds of juvenile crimes 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 something?"

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 regimen was tougher than the other branches.

'Not that it matters to me, though.'

Inside the gym, new students like me 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 elementary 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 dimension 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 same school.

"...!"

The girl, glancing around, also noticed my presence.

She flinched and quickly looked away from me.

It was only natural—after what had happened, meeting 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 elementary, 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 mess 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 moment the kids mentioned her making instructors bleed.

It probably had to do with the rampage I'd witnessed.

― And they say she sometimes 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 seemed 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 someone 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 moment I'd been waiting for arrived.

As the tedious ceremony ended and I exited the auditorium—

"Wait."

Someone called for me as I walked out. It was her—the voice unmistakable.

"I have something to say to you."

The girl's name tag read 'Kwon Sang-ah'. She quietly led me 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 me wary.

I'd already gone out of my way to return her wallet and left a message 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 moment.

It felt like watching an unbridled colt, wild and uncontrollable.

"...!!"

Then—

Bang—!

An immense crash shook the ground.

It was as if she'd slammed 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 crime!!"

She used her head like a hammer, 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 me in silence.

"If I must be punished, I'll accept it!!"

An overwhelming sense of shame completely dominated her body and mind.

The sight felt strangely familiar.

It was exactly like some 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 -------------=

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