Instant Kill, Time-Stop Spellcaster

“By the way, did you find anything out during the interrogation last time?”

“Didn’t get much. He was a total pawn.”

There were two meaningful pieces of information.

“They say the higher-ups are famous high-level awakened.”

“Hmm.”

And, I found out the address of the branch where the low-ranking guy worked.

Even though there’s probably nothing to gain by going there.

‘Let’s see how they react first.’

I killed the two they sent.

What will their next move be?

They might send stronger assassins.

They could try to make contact.

‘Either way, I don’t care.’

During my time as Kyle, assassination attempts were an everyday occurrence.

‘Let’s just keep doing what we were doing and wait.’

I need to raise my mana quickly.

###

F+ Level Dungeon:

I summoned Aden.

“A-rank disciple, appear!”

The monsters were immediately visible.

“Oh, those dragonflies I practiced with last time… Waaah!?”

Aden nearly fell backward again.

“Wh-what are those? There are so many!”

“Last time they were F-, but this time it’s F+. The species is the same, so there are more of them.”

“But this seems like way too many!”

If there were about 30 last time, now there are about 80.

“They say this is the hardest F+ area.”

“Did you choose this on purpose?”

“My mana’s at E-, so I wanted to see how this works.”

The dragonflies slowly began targeting us.

“Do, do you think we’ll make it? You couldn’t even stop the loan sharks last time.”

“The stronger the target, the more mana I use up. Simply having a lot of monsters isn’t as much of a burden.”

“Shouldn’t I just cast spells again, and you’ll stop them like last time?”

“Shut up.”

I lowered my mask.

“【Stop】.”

Kiing—

Aden, who was worried, gasped in amazement.

“Wow….”

The sight of them stopping was always mystical.

Especially with dozens of monsters floating in the air, it was even more mesmerizing.

“Wow… You’ve gotten much stronger, haven’t you?”

“Not yet.”

“What do you mean?”

“Ah, ahem.”

I cleared my throat.

Yesterday, before I received the call from Chief Choi.

I cleared a dungeon and received a reward.

From that, I unlocked a command.

“【Fall】.”

“Huh? Ugh, waaaah!”

The dragonflies, as big as eagles, all suddenly plummeted at once.

It looked as if they had been pressed down from above.

“Wow, now you can do two commands? With this many?”

“When I entered the E-zone, my mana increased quite a bit.”

“They say there’s a wall between each zone. Looks like it’s true. But…”

Aden looked up at the sky.

Around 30 of the dragonflies were still hovering in the air.

“Tsk, I still can’t make them all fall at once.”

If they were on land, I could just cut them down one by one.

But since they were floating in the air…

“You handle it.”

“Wait! If I go wild, you won’t have enough mana to stop them, right?”

“Forget that. Just use a decent spell to shoot them down one by one.”

“Got it.”

A reliable ice arrow spell was fired multiple times.

All the dragonflies were killed.

“Let’s pick up the mana stones.”

“Money!”

We finished the World Tree roots as well.

Rustle

[One hero has ‘Perfect Cleared (Solo)’ an F+ level dungeon…]

[Special rewards are granted for completing a dungeon ‘Perfect Clear (Solo)’.]

Another [Random Box (+2)] today.

“Opening now!”

“Let’s go!”

The familiar light and sound effects filled the air.

Ding!

[Item ‘Heartbeat of the Prey’ acquired.]

“Huh?”

It wasn’t a potion this time?

“Oh!? A ring? Could it be an item?”

“Let me see.”

[Heartbeat of the Prey]

This ring detects the killing intent of others, not just ‘killing intent’ but specifically murder intent. When detected, it points toward the person carrying that intent.

“Oooh?”

This is quite something.

In my previous life, I was constantly tormented by assassinations.

For someone like Kang Hyun, this was a very welcome item.

I told Aden about it.

“Hmm…? Isn’t this kind of vague? How often does someone try to kill you in life?”

“It happened just the other day, idiot.”

“Aha!”

Aden quickly changed her tune, giving a thumbs up.

“This is an awesome item!”

What a funny guy.

“This is why you can’t stop perfect clearing.”

I slipped the ring onto my finger.

“With the way you’re getting such good rewards in the F zone, I’m looking forward to the E zone.”

“Yeah.”

“How about trying the E- zone next? Let’s escape from the F zone!”

“They don’t give permission from E- zone onwards.”

“Huh? Why… oh, the collapse.”

In the F zones, even if you fail, they don’t collapse.

But from E- zone, it’s a different story.

So it’s strictly controlled.

“They said I’m crazy for wanting to do it alone.”

“I’d think the same.”

“What, idiot?”

“Hahaha! These Awakener HQ bastards! Not giving me permission!”

This guy’s such a nuisance.

“Snack confiscated. I won’t buy them anymore.”

“Ah! No, please! That was the first time I’ve had those snacks in 15 years! It was such a rare treat for me!”

“Is that so?”

What was life like for someone who had no residence?

At this point, I almost feel sorry for her.

“…Let’s go exchange the mana stones. I’ll buy you a lot of snacks. I’ll even buy you a meal.”

“Wow! Long live Perfect Clear Master!”

I guess I’ll have to provide some meals for her from now on….

‘Wait. I’m the academy director, and she’s the student.’

Shouldn’t she be the one paying?

But Aden broke the awkward silence and came in.

“What now? Does that mean I can’t ever go to the E- dungeon?”

Kang Hyun scratched his face.

He couldn’t form a team, after all.

I can’t use commands in front of others.

‘Do I have to keep running F+ dungeons?’

Oh, right, wasn’t it Chief Choi?

I had made an appointment.

‘I should ask him.’

If I can sell Aden, who’s A rank, maybe I can get some special privileges.

‘Maybe I’m just hoping too much.’

But I’ll at least talk to him about it.

###

Today was finally the day to exchange mana stones.

Kang Hyun waited eagerly in the lobby.

‘Yes, money.’

The money of modern society.

Even the hero Kyle would smile at that.

‘While I’m here, I should also update my Awakened rank. Now it’s E-… wait, hold on.’

Can I report directly to E- now?

I’ve grown too quickly.

Might attract some attention.

‘Sigh… It’s troublesome, all of it.’

It would be nice if I had some connections with the government.

Someone clever.

As I was pondering, it was finally my turn.

“Please head to the counter for your exchange~”

After entering, the receptionist picked up the phone.

“Chief Choi, the Awakener Kang Hyun is here.”

I entered the counter.

It was the same room as the registration counter.

Aden was here when I registered.

And for the third time, I saw the new female staff.

“Please put your mana stones on the scale.”

“Yes.”

I pulled out my pouch from my inventory.

The staff blinked.

‘Where did he pull that from?’

Is that some kind of magic?

But the staff’s question didn’t last long.

A massive amount of mana stones poured out.

The staff flinched.

‘Why… why are there so many?’

Wasn’t he just registered recently?

Did he gather all this in such a short time?

‘Wow…’

Maybe he’s a real powerhouse?

‘Wait a minute.’

The training manuals came to mind.

Awakener extortion.

Team member killings within dungeons.

Mana stone monopolies.

Item theft.

The staff felt a chill.

‘C-could it be…’

New employee manual, section 4.

No arbitrary judgments allowed.

If something seems off, consult the supervisor.

“Please, wait a moment….”

“Sure, take your time.”

The staff went out into the hallway.

She called the security team leader on the first floor.

‘If anything seems off, they’ll know how to handle it.’

If this guy really is a criminal Awakener…

It’s fine. The team leader is E+ rank.

A few moments later.

The staff came back to the counter.

After Her, the team leader from the first floor, wearing a suit, followed in.

“Ha ha, this newbie hasn’t learned how to convert mana stones yet. I’ll help out.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Kang Hyun fiddled with his phone.

The team leader from the first floor observed him carefully.

‘This guy definitely has an abnormal amount of mana stones… huh? Wait. That face?’

It’s him.

Kang Hyun?

‘Our company’s assassination target.’

The guy who borrowed money and awakened.

Why is he still alive?

The first-floor security team leader.

But at his core, he was just a lackey for the company.

His job was to steal information.

Handing over the data on newly awakened individuals to the company.

‘Wasn’t yesterday the day they were supposed to take action?’

The data I sent didn’t get through properly?

I’ll need to resend it.

‘This guy’s behavior is suspicious.’

I need to take care of him quickly.

At that moment.

Kang Hyun’s fingers twitched.

‘Huh?’

His fingers tightened.

It was the [Heartbeat of the Prey] ring he had acquired as a reward.

‘Oh? What’s going on here?’

When he relaxed his hand.

The ring moved his fingers and pointed at the security guard.

The guard had murderous intent.

Kang Hyun immediately stood up.

Boom!

“Ah, mother!”

Ignoring the staff’s surprise, he grabbed the guard by the collar.

“Ugh.”

“You think I don’t know you?”

The guard was shocked.

‘Wh-what’s going on? This crazy guy!’

But the opponent was F- rank.

He tried to reverse the grip, aiming to throw Kang Hyun off.

But—

‘Ugh… Why isn’t he moving!’

Kang Hyun had already gained the advantage in weight and position.

The guard was soon thrown onto the desk.

Crash!

“Ugh!”

“Ahhh!”

A ruckus ensued.

Chief Choi immediately came down after hearing the report from the desk.

“What’s going on here?”

Kang Hyun waved his hand.

“Ah, long time no see, Chief Choi.”

“Oh, long time no see.”

Chief Choi froze.

Who would’ve thought we’d meet like this?

And with me calmly greeting while holding down the opponent.

It strangely instilled confidence in those watching.

But the first-floor team leader felt puzzled.

‘Chief Choi? Why is he here?’

He’s someone famous for being capable in the headquarters.

This level of issue wouldn’t require his rank to get involved immediately.

A sense of unease crept in.

“Could it be? Has the spy been exposed… No, that’s just a speculation.”

The situation seems to be making him more on edge.

Meanwhile, Section Chief Choi quickly assesses the situation.

“Did the 1st-floor Team leader just get subdued by an F- rank?”

Can that really happen?

He’s briefly shocked, but the opponent is a Perfect Clear Awakened.

It makes sense now.

It’s probably different from what it seems.

“What happened?”

“This guy, is he really with the Association? It seems like he’s been hired by some weird organization.”

“What… What are you saying, you crazy bastard!”

A Team Leader from the Association.

In contrast, Kang Hyun has only just registered as an Awakened.

And there’s no evidence to support the claim.

But Section Chief Choi couldn’t just dismiss those words.

“Affiliation? Hired by a weird organization?”

And the fact that the target is a Perfect Clear Awakened?

Could this be a coincidence?

The thought crosses his mind.

“Could it be… a foreign spy?”

Not long ago, there was contact with Kang Hyun from another country.

It’s reasonable to assume that several countries have tracked down Kang Hyun’s whereabouts.

If that’s the case, this situation makes sense.

Attempts on the life of an Awakened are not uncommon.

Failed attempts to sway him?

Or is it just simple deterrence towards Korea?

The motives are overflowing.

“Perfect Clear Awakeneds are the kind of people they target.”

Section Chief Choi finishes his thoughts.

His eyes flash with anger.

“How dare they! Our Perfect Clear Awakened!”

The future of South Korea!

“Such a traitor!”

Thanks to Kang Hyun, the spy has been uncovered.

If it’s the 1st-floor team leader, they’ve been hiding in the Association for quite a long time.

How Kang Hyun found him, he doesn’t know.

“I’ll expose everything.”

Who’s behind this?

Has the headquarters been involved in shady things until now?

“Everything will come to light if I investigate.”

If he’s innocent, what’s the problem?

That too will be revealed.

“Security! Emergency! Suspected spy! Get the team leaders over here immediately!”

At Section Chief Choi’s shout, the 1st-floor team leader is horrified.

The 1st-floor team leader quickly starts thinking.

The pieces of the puzzle start to fit together.

An unfounded quarrel.

As if everything has aligned, Section Chief Choi quickly arrives.

“I… I’ve been exposed!”

The company’s lackey has been uncovered.

It was a trap!