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The bald team leader, who had been away from the field for a long time.

He probably never dreamed that he would end up fighting today, having only come to stop Jeong Ha-yul.

Of course, his outfit wasn’t exactly combat-friendly.

It wasn’t Jeong Ha-yul’s suit, the protective gear heroes usually wear, or the bulletproof vests Association employees don.

It was just a simple suit, as if to prove he had rushed out in the middle of work at the Association.

At least he had a dagger tucked inside his coat, which was something to be grateful for.

I’m not sure what his main weapon is, but the team leader drew his dagger and took a stance.

In response, a villain with a bow pulled back the string.

*Whoosh—*

An arrow imbued with magic power flew at high speed.

Team Leader Jeong Ho-min tilted his head slightly to dodge it, spinning the dagger as he spoke.

“Don’t shoot arrows, huh? A stray arrow could kill the kid. Weren’t you planning to take this kid hostage anyway?”

“Kids grow up cooler after getting hit by arrows and swords when they’re young.”

I’m confident I’ll grow up cool even without your interference, you jerk.

“Mister, don’t worry about me and focus on fighting. I can block arrows.”

I can at least create a small defensive barrier with telekinesis.

When I tested it with Kang-woo’s help, it withstood drills and hammers.

‘Though it shattered with one flick from Jeong Ha-yul.’

But it should block an arrow, right?

‘…If it doesn’t, it’s going to hurt a lot.’

The bald team leader couldn’t attack recklessly because he was protecting me.

The villains took advantage of that, sticking to long-range attacks.

But for some reason, the female villain just stood there, doing nothing.

Is she from the Super Ability Category or the Magic Category?

One thing’s for sure—she’s not from the Physical Category.

While I was observing her to help the team leader even a little…

*Ting—*

An arrow flew straight at my face.

Thankfully, I had already set up a defensive barrier.

This pretty face almost got scarred.

No, it almost got a hole in it.

Luckily, the weak telekinetic barrier did its job.

“…How did you block that? Is it an Artifact?”

Even though she saw me using magic power, she didn’t seem to think I was an Awakened One.

I’m not sure if her detection skills are poor or if she thinks it’s impossible for someone my age to awaken, but her misunderstanding works in my favor, so I stayed quiet.

But then…

“Are your eyes just for decoration? She’s a Super Ability Awakened One, you idiot. Tsk.”

“…Sorry, sis.”

The villain who shot the arrow at me got scolded by her and then charged at the bald team leader.

The bald team leader, who was once the Demon King’s sparring partner.

It sounded like a lie, but it seems to be true.

With incredible movements, he didn’t allow a single attack to land.

Kind of cool.

His shiny, bald head reflecting the sunlight added a certain flair to the fight.

He’s like a Shaolin monk from a martial arts novel.

But why is he only showing this speed now?

If he had moved like this earlier, he would’ve already taken care of the villains.

‘Was I really that heavy?… No way.’

The bald team leader was fighting two villains while still checking on me occasionally.

At this level, he could still be active, right?

Jeong Ha-yul’s been feeling sluggish lately, so maybe he could spar with her.

Just as I was comfortably watching the fight…

The female villain, who had been standing still, finally made her move.

“Cutie. You must be bored. Want to play with me? Super Ability users should play with each other.”

“…Me?”

“Are there any other Super Ability Awakened Ones here besides you and me?”

“No, ma’am… The weight class difference between us is too…”

“Ma’am?”

The female villain’s eyes sharpened.

I thought I saw magic power gathering.

I braced myself, thinking she might shoot lasers from her eyes, but…

She was just glaring.

‘Fuck… my magic power…’

I used up all my magic power on that defensive barrier.

“Pfft, scared? I saw your cute little barrier.”

“….”

“Don’t worry. I won’t kill you.”

*Clang—*

A dagger flew between my legs and embedded itself in the ground.

“Ahhh!”

“Gyeoul!”

I thought I was dead! You said you wouldn’t kill me, you crazy bitch!

I wasn’t the only one startled.

The bald team leader gathered more magic power, shook off the male villains, and stood in front of me.

“Bald Prince? Did you come to protect the cutie? Pfft, hahaha!”

“….”

Was she trying to imitate me?

She made a childish voice and then burst out laughing.

She seems mentally unstable.

Well… you’d have to be to be a villain.

Jo Se-hee was a woman who didn’t deserve to be called a villain.

“Cutie, are you thinking about another woman in front of me?”

“…Huh?”

The female villain, who got angry for no reason, levitated all the hidden weapons she had on her.

“Don’t worry, Gyeoul. I’ll protect you with my life.”

“…Be careful.”

After watching him fight, I actually believe him now.

I have no doubt the team leader will block all the villains’ attacks.

Then…

‘They say crisis is an opportunity.’

Jeong Ha-yul is Physical Category.

Heinz is Magic Category.

I’ve never met a Super Ability user before.

I should take this chance to observe how they fight.

*Whoosh—*

A dagger thrown by the woman flew past the team leader’s face.

He swiftly tilted his head to dodge it.

At the same time, the male villains charged.

Blades aimed at his head and torso swung toward him.

The team leader lowered his stance, narrowly dodging the head strike and barely blocking the torso strike with his dagger.

With his hand on the ground, he kicked the villains away to create distance.

At that moment, the woman’s dagger, which he had dodged earlier, flew back toward him from behind.

‘A three-on-one?’

As soon as the female villain joined, their attack pattern changed.

The enemies were showing impressive teamwork.

But the team leader seemed too focused on the male villains to notice the dagger returning.

It was clear that shouting a warning would be too late.

I squeezed out the last of my magic power and created a barrier in the dagger’s path.

*Clang—*

“Thanks, Gyeoul.”

“No problem. I wish I could do more… but I’m out of magic power.”

“It’s okay. I’ll handle it from here.”

The team leader seemed to understand the situation just from the sound.

He thanked me and adjusted his stance.

From then on, the villains continued to pressure the team leader with perfect coordination.

Every time the team leader tried to strike, hidden weapons would interrupt him, and barriers would block his attacks.

I could feel how much of an advantage it was to have a Super Ability user supporting from a distance.

I think I could do that too.

Even if I’m not used to combat yet and can’t throw daggers in time, I could at least block incoming attacks.

But…

‘I need magic power for that.’

Damn it.

My magic power is still too weak to even dream of such moves.

If this keeps up, the team leader might lose…

A bad thought crossed my mind.

The seal in my head… should I try it?

If the team leader dies and I’m taken hostage, wouldn’t that be better?

The pain of breaking the seal might be better than actually dying.

At that moment, Heinz’s warning came to mind.

-If the magic power escapes control, it’ll turn into telekinesis and start messing with your organs, squeezing and twisting them.

Fuck. If that’s true, maybe dying would be better…

I closed my eyes tightly and gathered a tiny bit of magic power toward the seal in my head.

But what’s this?

The seal had a crack in it.

‘Is this good or bad?’

I’m not sure if it’s positive or negative, but… let’s try breaking it properly this time.

*Tap—*

The moment I touched the seal, the nosebleed I had just stopped started again.

It felt like my brain was melting.

The pain was exactly as Heinz had described.

My organs were being squeezed and twisted.

There was also the kind of pain where it feels like your testicles are being crushed and the pain radiates to your sides.

And the kind where it feels like you’ve fallen on your tailbone and electricity is running up your spine.

Stubbing your pinky toe on a doorframe would feel like a tickle compared to this.

It was even more painful than when the Fox Mask broke my ribs and almost tore my torso apart.

“Ughhh!”

I endured the pain and kept hitting the cracked part of the seal to break it.

Damn it! Just break already!

I’m almost at my limit.

The pain was so intense it’s a miracle I didn’t pass out.

“Ahhh!”

I gathered my magic power again, held my breath, and slammed all my strength into the cracked seal.

*Crack—*

‘It… it worked!’

The pain was worth it.

The seal in my head broke.

So am I S-Class now?

I was so excited I forgot the pain and tried to gather magic power, but…

‘…Why is it still so weak?’

Could it be that the seal isn’t completely broken?

Just in case, I tried pushing magic power back into my head, but…

The seal wasn’t just one layer.

Only after breaking the first layer did I realize.

The seal had seven layers.

And I had only broken the first one.

My magic power, which was F-Class, had only risen to E-Class.

Fuck… is this for real?

I endured all that pain just to reach E-Class?

Tears streamed down my face.

“Gyeoul! What’s wrong?”

Even in the middle of a tense battle, the team leader was completely focused on me.

It’s understandable, though. A kid who was bleeding from the nose, screaming in pain, and now suddenly crying.

“I-I’m fine. Focus on the fight.”

Even though the result was disappointing compared to the pain I endured,

At least I’m definitely stronger than before.

My magic power feels at least twice as much.

And it moves much more smoothly now.

…Maybe I can at least land one hit?

I focused on one of the daggers scattered on the ground.

Gathering all the magic power in my body,

I launched the dagger in an instant.

“Oh? Cutie, did you take some drugs? You got stronger all of a sudden.”

The dagger, which had flown with great force, lost its power with a single gesture from her and fell limply to the ground.

‘Are you fucking serious…’

Is this for real?

I don’t think I can even call myself an Awakened One at E-Class.

I’m completely useless! Damn it.

 

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