At 8 a.m., instead of heading to our respective classrooms, our squad left Gwangcheon.

“HAUT’s meeting point is Seoul Station, right?” Seo Yui asked, looking at me.

“Yes. The schedule says we gather at Seoul Station and take a bus to the training ground.”

“Why make us go all the way to Seoul Station? We could just take a taxi straight to the training site,” Meiling said, arms crossed.

“The address is on the schedule anyway. Let’s just call a taxi.”

“There’s no reason to get on anyone’s bad side before we even start. We’re already getting unnecessary attention because of someone,” I said.

“So you’re saying it’s my fault?” Meiling shot me a look.

“If you know it, then please behave once we get there. Don’t go picking fights with those two.”

“Do you think I’m an idiot?!”

“Asking whether you’re allowed to kill someone in sparring—if that’s not idiotic, what is?”

“Urgh!”

“H-Hey, no, Meiling!” Lumina threw her arms around Meiling, blocking her from lunging at me. Then she turned and stared at me. “Y-Yein, that’s enough. Let’s not fight among ourselves.”

I wasn’t fighting—just offering a helpful warning to an idiot. Even now, the memory of every stare we drew because of her question made my scalp prickle.

She’s bound to cause trouble at the training ground too.

If we could spar on day one, I’d worry less, but unfortunately sparring only comes after the curriculum gets going. She’ll spend the whole time picking aura fights instead. I needed a plan.

When we reached Seoul Station by bus, several selections from other academies were already there.

The Martial God Academy students stood out first—uniforms like dojo gi, postures straight and impeccable, the very picture of strict discipline.

A little farther off were the Magica Academy kids. With summer heat still lingering in September, none of them wore the robes embroidered with the Magica sigil.

I also spotted Ucheon Academy’s picks—Bella’s group.

And deepest inside stood Crystal Academy’s selections, immaculate in white uniforms that would show even the faintest stain. Iris stood there with her arms folded, saying something to her schoolmates. I clicked my tongue.

Moments later, the Dai’o Academy group arrived, and right after them came a balding, bespectacled middle-aged man.

It was the same man who hosted the HAUT orientation in Crystal Academy’s great hall.

Jang Jinseong, wasn’t it? I didn’t remember him from the game.

“Selections, please line up by academy. We’ll depart after headcount.”

At his instruction, the students shuffled into place. With a tablet in hand, he checked each face one by one.

“Alright, let’s board the bus. Follow me.”

He led us to a single mid-sized coach. With 24 participants—four from each academy—one bus was plenty.

Our squad split across the middle rows: Lumina and Meiling in front; Seo Yui and I behind them.

“Lucky we’re heading out right away. Less chance of a run-in,” Seo Yui whispered at my ear.

“Exactly.”

Thanks to Dai’o Academy arriving just before Jang Jinseong appeared, there hadn’t been time for any entanglements.

We drove for about forty minutes. The farther we went, the fewer cars we saw, and the high-rises thinned out. We passed the occasional derelict building, steel bones laid bare—a sure sign we were leaving the city for Seoul’s outskirts.

When the bus finally stopped, I let out a low groan.

“Yein? What’s wrong—car sick?” Seo Yui asked.

“No. I’m fine.” I looked out the window again. My stomach still flipped.

I’d known from the game where HAUT would be held. It didn’t help. My body recoiled on instinct.

“Everyone, please disembark.”

We obeyed, the grit of hard earth pressing up through our soles.

“What is this place?”

“It looks ancient.”

“Pre–Human–Demon War facility?”

“We’re doing HAUT here?”

Bewildered voices rose all around.

“Follow me,” said Jang Jinseong, setting off.

Ahead sprawled a wide dirt parade ground, with a platform and stairs, and flagpoles at the back—bare, no flags raised.

As we followed our chaperones, the Crystal group at the front stopped.

“What?”

“Why’d they stop?”

A heartbeat later, the rest of us halted too, realizing the reason.

An old man stood on the platform, watching us.

His hair was snow-white, flowing long, and so was his beard. Despite the lingering summer heat, he wore a thick purple robe. In his hand was a staff capped with a large amethyst that glowed faintly violet.

“What is this feeling…” Meiling murmured, face gone stiff.

Lumina and Seo Yui were the same—tense, eyes locked on the platform.

“Who is that old man?” Meiling asked.

“Riyu Homar,” I answered, still staring ahead. “Known as the Amethyst Sage. HAUT’s executive chairman, and the fifth-strongest Hunter in the world. Official Level: eighty-seven.”

“E-Eighty-seven??” Lumina gulped, eyes round. “That’s practically ninety.”

Seo Yui didn’t take her eyes off the platform. “He feels different from the Mayor or that psycho woman.”

I agreed. From Cheon Jiweon you felt a crushing pressure; from Persilla, a blade-edge murderous chill. From Riyu Homar came a prickling surge, as if my whole body had been shocked with live current—his very presence needled the skin without rest.

Everyone here felt it. That’s why we all froze.

“Why are you all standing there? Come here,” the old man called.

His voice rolled across the open ground—not loud, but weighted, a low register that lodged in the ear. The spell broke, and the students began moving toward the platform again.

Jang Jinseong hurried ahead and spoke up from the foot of the stage. “Sir Chairman, the induction was set for eleven, after the selections drop their bags and tour the—”

“Do you take me for a dotard with dementia?” the old man snorted. “I simply wanted to see their faces a bit earlier. I have a feeling there are some aMartial Godg ones among this year’s crop.”

With that, he stepped down from the platform.

“Now then, line up in a single row in front of me.”

At his words, the students moved as if hypnotized, forming a neat line.

Starting from his right, Riyu Homar went down the row, studying each face. Passing Martial God and Magica, he made thoughtful sounds—“Mm,” “Hoh”—as if filing away impressions.

He stopped in the middle—before Crystal Academy.

“You’re Iris An, aren’t you?”

“Yes, sir,” she answered, shoulders squared.

“Hocheol talks about you often,” he said. “Says you’re the finest talent in Crystal’s history.”

From the world’s top Hunter academy, to be called the greatest in its history—no higher praise existed for an aspiring Hunter. Iris accepted it with the expression of someone hearing what was only natural.

If I could just smack the back of her head once, I’d sleep well tonight.

“We’ll see whether it’s true,” Riyu Homar said mildly. “I’m looking forward to it.”

He moved on, smiling faintly as he passed Ucheon and Dai’o—then—

“Hmm.”

He stopped in front of our squad.

“You’re the selections from Gwangcheon, yes?”

“Yes, sir,” I answered for us.

Riyu Homar posed his next question.

“Three of the four of you are first-years, aren’t you?”

“Yes, sir.”

Gasps rose from nearby. Clearly, not everyone had been aware of our details.

“Unusual. First-years have joined HAUT before, but to be blunt, they weren’t ready. Every one of them quit within a week of training.”

The chairman of HAUT smiled suddenly.

“But you four… you won’t have that problem. It seems Gwangcheon has produced some very interesting students.”

Riyu Homar tore his gaze from us and looked at Jang Jinseong.

“That’s enough. Take them along.”

“Yes, sir.”

Jang Jinseong resumed the lead, guiding us up the stairs.

At the back of the group, I turned my head.

Riyu Homar was still staring, stroking his beard. When our eyes met, he lifted a hand and waved casually, like greeting an old friend.

I turned quickly and bowed my head slightly before hurrying after the others.

“Do you think that old man can actually see our status screens?” Meiling whispered beside me.

“He probably just read our level reports from Gwangcheon.”

Status Vision could only be obtained with the Lens of Lavzahi. No skill or ability existed that revealed another person’s stats. And I was the only one in this world who possessed the Lens.

My hand brushed against it inside my pocket. At once, glowing text rose before my eyes—every nearby person’s status laid bare.

Like sneaking an answer sheet into an exam hall.

Cheating, yes. But in hardcore difficulty or higher, surviving without this kind of edge was impossible.

“This will be your quarters for the next two weeks.”

Jang Jinseong pointed toward a low, single-story building stretching long to either side.

The moment I stepped into the central hall, dizziness nearly knocked me off my feet.

The familiar layout dredged up cursed memories I’d rather have buried.

“Yein, are you alright? Are you sick?” Lumina’s worried voice reached me as I stared down at the stone-tiled floor.

“I’m fine. Nothing’s wrong.”

Physically, yes. Mentally? Not so much.

“Really…?”

“Yes.”

At that moment, Jang Jinseong addressed us again.

“Male participants will stay in the dormitory to the left, female participants to the right. Your names are posted outside each room. Please find your assigned room and unpack. You have until 9:50.”

With that, the students split in both directions.

“See you later.”

“Yein, catch you in a bit.”

Seo Yui and Lumina waved before disappearing with Meiling around the corner to the right.

I pressed a hand to my chest to calm the churn in my gut and headed left.

“Whoa, what is this place?”

“These rooms look over a hundred years old.”

“We’re supposed to use this antique wardrobe?”

Voices of disbelief echoed.

“There aren’t even beds.”

“What’s this ratty mat? We’re supposed to sleep on this?”

I checked the name list posted beside the first door.

[ Dormitory 1 ]

Nam Yein (Gwangcheon)

Rio Kalves (Ucheon)

Jang Taeil (Dai’o)

Zen Maya (Magica)

Jin Cheongryong (Martial God)

Toby Hobbes (Crystal)

I slid the door open. Everyone already inside turned their heads toward me.

The room was symmetrical, rows of bedframes with storage chests opposite the door, two ceiling fans spinning lazily above. Against both walls, military-style lockers stood overlaid with faded green mats.

I shut my eyes tight for a second. I’d known it, but seeing it in person still felt like hell. Just imagining living here made my body feel cut in half.

“Looks like we’re roommates,” Jin Cheongryong greeted.

“Yes. Let’s get along.”

“Likewise. We’re stuck together for two weeks.”

He checked his watch. “Still ten minutes until fifty. How about we do introductions?”

No one refused.

“Then I’ll start. Jin Cheongryong, Martial God Academy, third year.”

“Toby Hobbes, Crystal Academy, third year.”

“Zen Maya, Magica Academy, second year.”

I already recognized the three.

Jin Cheongryong, with cropped jade hair and arms like tree trunks.

Toby, lean and sharp-featured, brown hair, almost too handsome.

Zen, small in stature, with navy hair and a cute, boyish face.

Next, a tall, broad-shouldered boy stood. Dark brown skin, sandy curls, voice bright and cheerful.

“Rio Kalves, Ucheon Academy, third year. Let’s get along.”

Finally, a boy with tied-back black hair and features similar to mine rose. His build matched mine too.

“Jang Taeil, Dai’o Academy, second year. Looking forward to the next two weeks.”

“And the last one.”

All eyes turned to me. I cleared my throat.

“Nam Yein, Gwangcheon Academy, first year.”

As I scanned the group, I noticed Jang Taeil staring at me, lips pressed thin. His look wasn’t friendly.

What’s his problem?

Choosing the bed closest to the window, I started unpacking my bag onto the locker shelves.

Suddenly—screams erupted outside.

High-pitched cries from the girls’ dorm.

My heart lurched.

Had Meiling attacked Rune already?

I shoved my feet into my shoes and bolted out into the corridor.

(End of Chapter)

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