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News about Lee Ha-yan awakening as an S-Class was spreading everywhere.

It hadn’t been officially reported yet, but it was expected to break out soon.

– Did you hear? A sixth S-Class has appeared.

– A friend who works at the Association said things were super tense yesterday, both inside and outside.

– I work at a small entertainment company managing heroes, and I got turned away yesterday when I went for work. Something’s definitely up.

– Why isn’t the Association announcing it quickly if an S-Class has appeared?

– Are you crazy? Right after awakening, an S-Class can’t control their magic power properly and might even be worse than a veteran F-Class.

– What do you know? Are you an S-Class?

– Stop talking nonsense.

Meanwhile, the Taebaek Guild didn’t try to hide or block the news and immediately held a press conference.

“Kim Dae-gi from Hero Daily here. Is it true that Lee Ha-yan has awakened as an S-Class?”

“Yes, it’s true. The Association completed the grade assessment yesterday.”

As the fact that the sixth S-Class awakened had been confirmed, the reporters began to buzz.

It wasn’t a rumor. The sixth S-Class had appeared in the country.

“What category did she awaken into?”

“Magic Category.”

“What about her ability? Can you tell us about that?”

“That’s difficult to disclose.”

“Why? Is it so weak that it’s hard to reveal?”

The reporter, known for producing fake news that only drives up views, was clearly unqualified as a journalist.

“Please escort that reporter out.”

“What is this? Just because you’re a big guild, you can do this?”

The fake reporter was dragged out by Taebaek Guild staff.

“Can you believe that guy calls himself a reporter?”

“Get out of here, you disgrace!”

“It’s because of people like him that we get called fake news.”

The reporters actually sided with the Taebaek Guild.

The rude question about the awakened one’s ability and the subsequent rude remarks.

There was no one in this press conference room who sided with the dragged-out reporter.

“Sorry for the commotion. Let’s continue with the questions.”

“Will she be enrolled in the Hero Academy?”

“Of course. Currently, Hero Jeong Ha-yul is personally teaching Ha-yan, but we can’t keep burdening her.”

“…The Demon King?”

“Is the Demon King backing the Taebaek Guild?”

“It’s the first time the Demon King is personally teaching another hero!”

“Well, he did teach his younger sister.”

“Ah, Jeong Gyeoul.”

The mention of the Demon King’s name made the absurd statement about an individual backing a guild sound completely normal.

Because if it’s the Demon King, it’s possible.

As the Demon King’s name came up, the press conference turned into chaos.

“What exactly is the relationship between Hero Jeong Ha-yul and Lee Ha-yan?”

“Jeong Gyeoul and Lee Ha-yan are the same age. Are they entering the Academy together?”

“Can you tell us exactly what they’re learning?”

“Why specifically Hero Jeong Ha-yul?”

“The Demon King…”

“The Demon King…”

“To Jeong Ha-yul…”

“Taebaek and Jeong Ha-yul…”

Realizing that the press conference could no longer continue, Lee Ha-yoon quickly wrapped it up and stepped down from the podium.

She seemed flustered as she exited, but she was smiling.

***

Alchemist Park Seol-hwa frowned as she watched Taebaek Guild’s Lee Ha-yoon’s press conference.

“There she goes again. Look at her pretending to be flustered. What an actress.”

“I think it’s a normal demeanor for a guild leader to have.”

“We don’t need that kind of facade. Just selling potions is enough to make people grovel.”

“The problem is you’re not making those potions properly. Please stop following Jeong Gyeoul around.”

“…How can someone live just working all the time? You need to heal, enjoy hobbies, and relieve stress.”

“All day? Just work? If you worked just four hours a day, the guild would run smoothly.”

Demand was pouring in, but supply was dwindling.

Park Seol-hwa’s potions couldn’t be mass-produced like in a factory; each one had to be handmade.

But Park Seol-hwa was too busy chasing after Jeong Gyeoul to focus on potion-making.

“Just make 20 a day, and we’ll handle the rest.”

“…Fine.”

“If you disappear again to go see Jeong Gyeoul, I’m really going to resign.”

“Aren’t you tired of threatening me with that? Change your repertoire. The tension’s gone.”

“…”

Park Seol-hwa’s secretary half-pulled out a resignation letter from her pocket to show her.

“…Was that for real? You really carry that around?”

“Office workers always carry it with them.”

“I’ll do better.”

“We’ll see.”

“But I have to go to Gyeoul’s entrance ceremony…”

“If you enroll in the Hero Academy, no one can attend the entrance ceremony.”

“…Really? What if I go as a specially invited instructor?”

The secretary responded by pulling out the resignation letter again.

“Okay, okay, stop threatening me!”

***

Lee Ha-yan learned magic control and combat techniques from Jeong Ha-yul and Jeong Gyeoul, growing through real battles against them.

Jeong Gyeoul also grew significantly through sparring with Ha-yan.

Time flew, and soon the Hero Academy entrance ceremony approached.

“Are you really okay with this? Everyone else is 17 or older, some might even be 20.”

For Jeong Gyeoul, who was on her second life, school life wasn’t necessary, but Ha-yan was on her first.

Knowing the importance of middle and high school friends, Jeong Gyeoul couldn’t help but worry.

Moreover, at the Hero Academy, students lived in the dormitory on weekdays and could only go out on weekends.

“But aren’t we the strongest?”

“That’s not the point… Ugh…”

Like Jeong Gyeoul, Ha-yan had gone through puberty and nature, living with the Demon King’s family, training under him, and sparring with him, becoming increasingly fierce.

‘I realized something this time… I’m the only normal one.’

As sparring continued, it was clear that Ha-yan’s personality was changing.

Because of this, Jeong Gyeoul, who once dreamed of a personality breakdown, became more calm and composed.

– Ah! Gyeoul! Blood!

Ha-yan, who used to scream at the slightest touch during sparring, now checked Gyeoul’s condition herself.

– Gyeoul, are you okay? What, it’s just blood.

Now, she didn’t even flinch at blood.

‘Is this a good thing…?’

Since she decided to live as a hero, this personality is better than being fragile.

Every day would be soaked in monster and villain blood, and being cut, torn, and beaten would be routine.

‘Well, good is good.’

“Let’s go, Ha-yan.”

“Okay!”

The Hero Academy entrance ceremony.

As soon as they entered, they saw the seating chart.

Each class and the names of the assigned students were listed.

The students headed to their respective classes.

They couldn’t pull the same tricks as in elementary school.

Yet, Ha-yan and Gyeoul were assigned to the same class.

“Guess we’re destined.”

“More like lucky.”

“…I hate you.”

“Let’s just go.”

As Ha-yan and Gyeoul entered, the auditorium fell silent.

….

“That’s them, the youngest S-Class and the youngest awakened duo.”

“That little girl is the sixth S-Class?”

“Lee Ha-yan… To be born in the same generation as her.”

“And what about Jeong Gyeoul… I heard she’s taking B-rank classes at the Clock Tower.”

The two girls weren’t interested in the other students.

After checking their seats, they smiled at each other and headed straight to their spots.

“Clock Tower B-rank classes are for A and B-Class heroes. Is she at that level?”

“Once the ranking battles start, they’ll be crushed by her.”

“Don’t be discouraged! They’re just two 14-year-old kids.”

“One awakened at 8, and the other is S-Class…”

“…”

The chattering students sighed.

“What did they do in their past lives to be born like that? I feel so deprived.”

“Non-awakened would say the same about you. Instead of envying others, train more.”

Of course, not all students paid attention to them.

“Talent? I’ll show you that effort can win.”

“There are plenty of A-Class who beat S-Class, grades aren’t everything.”

“Special admissions don’t even participate in ranking battles, no need to worry.”

The Hero Academy had ranking battles.

Originally, all students participated in the ranking competition, but special admissions were exceptions.

Special admissions were for those who were S-Class, had recommendations from two or more S-Class heroes, or had opened over 300 magic circuits despite being non-awakened.

There were other criteria, like capturing extinction-level monsters, but they were so absurd that even the Academy’s administrative staff had forgotten about them.

Special admissions were essentially for those for whom ranking battles were meaningless.

“What are they talking about? They look serious.”

“Maybe about the future of the hero scene, since they’re both siblings of top heroes.”

“Maybe the direction the guilds and Association are heading. It would’ve been nice to be in the same class for some insider info. Too bad.”

In reality, Jeong Gyeoul and Ha-yan weren’t thinking about anything.

The future of the hero scene?

The direction of guilds and the Association?

They were more curious about the lunch menu and thinking about the cafeteria’s location.

“What’s for lunch today?”

“…Gyeoul, you’re a pig.”

“Pigs are all muscle, thanks for the compliment.”

“…Gyeoul, you’re a glutton.”

“But did you know? I’m skinnier than… Ugh.”

“Be quiet, you shouldn’t talk during the sacred entrance ceremony.”

As Jeong Gyeoul grinded her teeth, thinking about how to get revenge for the knuckle rap, the entrance ceremony began.

 

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