I Became a Disaster-Class Sorcery Genius

Final Exam (3)

The top floor of the Sorcery Association.

Inside the association president's office, there were two men.

One was Jin Tae-shik, the vice president of the Korean branch of the Sorcery Association.

The other was Ji Seung-gon, the true power in the Sorcery Association and a man also known by the alias "Hidden Falsehood(裡面假)".

He was watching the video Jin Tae-shik had brought, caressing the wrinkled back of his own hand as he looked at the TV.

After the continuous video of Han Soyeon ended, Ji Seung-gon spoke as if organizing his thoughts.

"So, to sum up what you're saying, there was no probability that Han Soyeon was hiding her strength, and she suddenly awakened after entering the Sorcery Institute... That's what it sounds like. Is that correct?"

"Yes, that's correct."

"Awakening, awakening huh..."

Ji Seung-gon thought back on the video of Han Soyeon he'd just seen and then spoke.

"Certainly, those with talent in sorcery can sometimes experience a sudden surge in spiritual power or sorcery skills through some trigger. But there must be some catalyst—did you investigate?"

"Yes. In fact, while looking into Han Soyeon's information, the report was a bit delayed."

As if he'd been waiting for this, Jin Tae-shik handed over a file folder.

Ji Seung-gon silently browsed through the documents he received.

"... Kim Dojun?"

"Yes, it appears that Kim Dojun is connected to Han Soyeon's awakening."

"Kim Dojun, Kim Dojun...."

Ji Seung-gon, muttering as he stroked his wrinkled chin, soon nodded as if he remembered.

"He's the one rumored to be the disciple of Explosion God, right? Is that correct?"

"Yes, that's correct."

"So, Han Soyeon suddenly awakened because of the disciple of Explosion God... I see."

"I haven't confirmed the details, but according to the intelligence team leader, the probability is very high."

Jin Tae-shik added to Ji Seung-gon's musings.

After a moment's silence, Ji Seung-gon chuckled and said,

"Well, whatever the case, this is a very good thing. Her talent is far too precious to simply 'remake' her into a hunting dog. Originally, we brought her here to act as a 'key' rather than just a hunting dog."

"That's right."

Jin Tae-shik nodded in agreement with Ji Seung-gon's words.

"Then, it's finally time to start what we've been anticipating for a whole ten years."

Smile on his lips, Ji Seung-gon turned to Jin Tae-shik and asked,

"When does the Sorcery Institute conclude its semester?"

"There are just a few days left."

"The timing is perfect. On the last day, summon Han Soyeon here."

Once again nodding affirmatively, Jin Tae-shik hesitated a moment before speaking.

"But..."

"What is it?"

"There is, in fact, a part I'm concerned about."

"A part you're concerned about?"

"Yes."

Glancing at the now-dark TV monitor, Jin Tae-shik continued.

"According to the intelligence team leader, Han Soyeon is currently not in a state that can be easily subdued."

"Well, that's certainly true."

Neither Jin Tae-shik, who'd spoken, nor Ji Seung-gon, who'd heard him, bothered to check the information themselves, but it was something they both had to admit.

The impact Han Soyeon displayed in that short video was just too powerful; even just from watching, Ji Seung-gon and Jin Tae-shik could tell how strong she was.

However, despite that, Ji Seung-gon wore a relaxed expression.

"Don't worry."

"Do you have a method?"

"Just contact 'them' and make sure you bring Han Soyeon into the association on the day of the semester's end. After that, they'll handle the rest."

That was all he said.

"If it's them, then... understood."

With Jin Tae-shik's affirmation, Ji Seung-gon added one more thing.

"Oh, and bring that kid as well."

"... That kid?"

"I mean Kim Dojun."

At Ji Seung-gon's words, Jin Tae-shik tilted his head slightly, questioning.

"Kim Dojun, you mean?"

"Yes. If Kim Dojun is connected to Han Soyeon's awakening, wouldn't he be useful too?"

"Certainly, it would be good if we had him, but..."

"If it's just because he's the disciple of Explosion God, don't worry. We'll use him for a bit and 'put him back' as he was."

Ji Seung-gon's words.

To that,

"Understood."

Jin Tae-shik ended the discussion with a nod, indicating he understood.

####

The first-year final exam of the Sorcery Institute was, by tradition, always determined randomly and announced to the students on the day itself, which did not please them.

"Ah...."

"Survival?"

"Ah~ if I'd known, I would've at least brought something."

"Wait, last year, I thought we were supposed to clear out the spirit zone within a week. Why did the difficulty spike all of a sudden—?"

Students were murmuring in various tones of resignation.

However, Kim Younghan, the instructor who had just informed the first-years about the contents of this semester's evaluation, simply looked around calmly and spoke.

"Silence. I'll explain the final evaluation from here on. I'll only explain once, so listen carefully."

"

"...."

"

Kim Younghan pulled out five talismans from within his clothes.

He displayed talismans in white, yellow, orange, red, and black.

"These talismans are currently held by shikigami wandering inside this part of Doryong Mountain. The white is held by a grade-9 shikigami, and sequentially, the darkest black is held by a grade-5 shikigami."

He glanced around and continued.

"By now you should have a rough understanding, but for this final evaluation, over the next three days and two nights, your task is to survive and hunt down the shikigami released in Doryong Mountain and collect these talismans."

"Of course, the colors of the talismans correspond to points. White is 1 point, yellow is 3 points, orange is 5 points, red is 10 points, and black is 20 points. Also—"

Fwoosh!

After saying that, Kim Younghan burned the talismans he was holding, and then produced a teal-colored talisman.

"There is only one grade-4 shikigami wandering Doryong Mountain right now—the only one. Defeating it will net you the teal talisman."

Flutter.

"This talisman is worth 400 points. If you manage to defeat the grade-4 shikigami by any means, first place is practically guaranteed. Moreover, instead of one, there are six teal talismans. However, that shikigami is the shikigami of Choi Yuron the Hundred Styles God, so it will be stronger than a typical grade-4."

Fwoosh!

He burned the teal talisman with one more flick of his hand.

"In any case, to summarize: your task is just to survive for three days and two nights, hunting down the released shikigami. On the final day, you only need to submit your talismans and get your points."

He concluded his explanation, then pointed to one side.

"Thirty minutes from now, the final exam will begin. Until then, receive your talisman from Instructor Miyatsu. If you wish to give up survival partway, just tear the talisman."

"Also, all electronic devices you've brought must be surrendered alongside receiving your talisman. The inside of Doryong Mountain is under formation control, so you won't be able to use them anyway, but if you're caught using one, you'll be treated as not having taken the exam."

With that, Kim Younghan left the podium, and students began heading to receive talismans from Instructor Miyatsu. Seeing this, Kim Dojun nodded with a satisfied expression.

'The content of the final exam hasn't changed. Well, there was no reason for it to.'

Naturally, Kim Dojun already knew everything about this final examination.

'In the game, catching as many shikigami as possible to rack up points gave players a bonus boost to spiritual power experience—a most generous event... but there's no way that'll happen here.'

He knew very well that such events would not occur in reality.

'Well, what good would spiritual power experience be for me; I don't even use sorcery.'

He couldn't even use sorcery anyway, so he neatly put that thought aside and shifted focus.

'Well, everything you can obtain in this final exam is important.'

All the items to be gained from this final exam.

Kim Dojun needed every last one of them, so he saw this final exam as a highly beneficial opportunity.

'All right, time to feast.'

Unconsciously rubbing his hands together, he glanced over at the timer ticking down to the start of the survival section.

####

While Kim Dojun was licking his lips at the prospect of the items to come, Go Seung-jun—watching Kim Dojun as he headed towards Instructor Miyatsu—twisted his lips into a crooked smile.

'Everything's going according to plan.'

Ever since he'd learned the final exam would be held at Doryong Mountain, Go Seung-jun had prepared a great deal to crush Kim Dojun.

A truly immense amount.

'All preparations are complete.'

Looking at Kim Dojun, Go Seung-jun envisaged the plans he'd set up in advance and grinned.

If everything went as he expected, Kim Dojun would be in absolute misery less than a day after the survival started.

And that, by his own hand.

'Let me show you the power of money.'

With that, Go Seung-jun smiled as he took up the last position in the students' line.

After about eight minutes, every student—including Kim Dojun—had received a talisman.

Finally, it was Go Seung-jun's turn.

"..."

Instructor Miyatsu handed him the talisman with a meaningful look.

"Thank you."

"Do your best."

After the standard greetings, Go Seung-jun smiled subtly at the object he felt behind the talisman and made his way to the starting point for the final exam.

Meanwhile, instructor Miyatsu, after glancing once at both Kim Dojun and Go Seung-jun (who had received their talismans), began sending messages on his smartphone.

And then—

"The shikigami aren't going to directly kill you, but if you sustain a critical wound, you must use your talisman."

"But keep in mind—if you can't endure the survival, use your talisman, or finish in the bottom 30% of the rankings in this final, you will no longer be able to attend the Sorcery Institute."

"Best of luck to you all."

With the final warning from Kim Younghan—

"Now then, let's begin the final exam."

The first-year final exam of the Sorcery Institute had begun.

####

As soon as the final exam started, the students split into two groups.

The first were those who formed alliances.

The students already fully understood the rules of the exam.

Scores would be based on how many talismans they submitted on the last day—meaning, catching a shikigami wouldn't immediately yield points; during the three days and two nights, you had to keep and then turn in the talismans for them to count.

So, as soon as survival began, the students formed teams on the spot.

Some teams were as small as two, others as large as ten.

Yes, this meant they'd have to catch even more shikigami to maximize their points, but they still chose to form teams.

More stability, and with more people, they could capture many more possessed entities.

So, while one group joined together, others chose to go solo.

These were typically the children of prestigious families or students confident in their own abilities—for them, soloing was more convenient, and most importantly, it was the only way to finish with top honors.

Of course, Kim Dojun also chose to act alone, rather than with others.

"This should be about the spot."

He was currently searching for the first opportunity available on Doryong Mountain.

"Hm."

Kim Dojun looked around.

All he could see was mountains, mountains, and more mountains.

Trees and rocks filled his field of vision, but that wasn't what he was searching for.

'... A cave. Where is it, really?'

He was after a cave.

'It'd be nice if there was some kind of marker, like when I was searching for the precious liquor bottle.'

Regrettably, even in the game, this opportunity only popped up when you chose "Explore the eastern forest" — there was no distinguishing marker.

"Damn it, finding my way around here is annoyingly tough...!"

Because of that, Kim Dojun was wandering the eastern part of Doryong Mountain, lost.

'Calm down, there's plenty of time. I'll just take it slow and look around.'

He soothed himself, surveying the environment calmly.

About five hours passed in this way.

'Did the game developers have parents?!'

Only after painstakingly searching even the lice out of the eastern mountain did he manage to find a cave that looked just like the illustration he remembered.

"Damn, finally found it."

Cursing the developers but feeling proud of his accomplishment, Kim Dojun muttered to himself.

He entered the cave to obtain one of the two items available in Doryong Mountain.

After walking for a while,

Kim Dojun reached a central chamber where a moderate-sized cavern had formed.

"Oh."

In the center, something was displayed as if on a pedestal.

'That's it.'

Smiling gleefully, he walked toward it.

Vmm—

"?"

He felt something.

A very strange, but at the same time, somewhat familiar sensation.

As Kim Dojun looked around with suspicion—

Whish—!

Violet magic power began materializing before Kim Dojun's eyes.

Spiritual power, writhing around him as if alive.

And then—

[Malignant spirit, 'Revi of Revery' appears!]

"What...?"

Just as he muttered in confusion at the abrupt notification—

Whooooosh—!

Violet magic power poured forth from in front of him, and he was forced to face forward.

There, in the place where his opportunity should be, he saw a girl.

A girl with purple hair and eyes twinkling like a galaxy.

She was undeniably beautiful.

There was an air about her, as if from a dream.

But the feeling Kim Dojun got while looking at her was not beauty or wonder, but tension.

"-"

In an instant, Kim Dojun's muscles tightened.

Crack—!

The ground beneath Kim Dojun's feet caved in, and the violet spiritual power vanished in a single stomp.

At the same time, as Kim Dojun drew back his fist for his signature pre-emptive strike,

"At last, we meet, Kim Dojun. I got a little tired from waiting so long."

He heard her voice.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
【「(°ヘ°)?】