11 PM, BattleNet Academy.
Seong Jihan frowned upon seeing the reporters gathered at the academy’s entrance.
‘This brings back unpleasant memories.’
They had forcibly interviewed Yoon Seah, who was devastated after receiving an F-rank gift.
The relentless pressure from the reporters eventually made Yoon Seah reveal that she had received an ‘F-rank’ gift.
‘I watched that scene from home, feeling helpless…’
His pathetic uncle was no help at all during that time. The interview with Yoon Seah spread widely on the internet, becoming a hot topic among people.
‘I need to handle this immediately.’
Seong Jihan approached the reporters with a commanding presence, drawing all their attention.
“If you’re here to interview Seah, you’re wasting your time. She won’t be giving any interviews today. Please leave.”
This statement made the reporters hesitate. Especially those who had faced him before seemed more cautious.
‘I don’t want to be paralyzed again…’
‘Who knows how long he’ll immobilize us this time?’
‘Should we pretend to retreat for now?’
But a few reporters who hadn’t experienced Seong Jihan’s power before bravely approached him.
“Excuse me… are you Seong Jihan? Can we interview you?”
With a swift move, Seong Jihan gestured, “No.”
His dominating Force pushed the approaching reporters back.
“Ah, understood…”
While most gave up after being pushed back,
“This is unacceptable! How dare you use telekinesis!”
“It’s inappropriate for a player to use their powers carelessly, especially against a reporter!
You’re denying the people’s right to information!”
Two reporters continued to protest vehemently.
“This won’t do.”
With a snap of his fingers, the mouths of the two protesting reporters were sealed, and their bodies froze, standing like statues at the school entrance.
“He’s got them. He’s really… terrifying.”
“Guess there aren’t going to be any interviews today.”
The other reporters reluctantly retreated.
Soon after, a security guard approached Seong Jihan with a weary expression.
“These people…When will they be released? You will release them, right?”
“Yes, they’ll be released once I go inside.”
“I was worried about what would happen if they stayed frozen like that.”
“But is the academy going to just let them stay out here like?”
Seong Jihan looked at the guard with an annoyed expression.
“I’d prefer not to see them when I come out with Seah.”
“The reporters were quite persistent…”
“We won’t give any interviews. Surely BattleNet Academy prioritizes its students over reporters, right?”
“Yes, you’re right, but…”
“If those reporters block our car or something…”
Seong Jihan gave a chilling smile.
“I can’t guarantee what might happen.”
The guard felt a shiver down his spine. Seong Jihan’s demeanor was far from ordinary.
“Understood. We’ll ensure they leave.”
“Thank you.”
* * * * *
The Gift Hall was quiet.
Unlike the entrance, there was no one inside except for a single guard.
“Are you here as Yoon Seah’s guardian?”
“Yes.”
“You can wait at that table over there.”
Following the guard’s instruction, Seong Jihan took a seat in the designated area. Checking the time, it was already 11:30 PM.
Not long now, Yoon Seah would receive her Gift.
‘I should have looked more into Seah’s Gift in my past life.’
However, the reason Seong Jihan valued Yoon Seah’s Gift was simple.
There was a Ranker in China with the same Gift as Yoon Seah.
She was the world’s second-ranked player who died during the final demotion match alongside Barren.
‘Every time I heard about her Gift, I remembered Seah’s death, so I avoided detailed information about it…’
While he knew the general story of how the Chinese Ranker had grown, he had avoided delving deeper due to the painful memories.
‘…At least, I know the direction to nurture that Gift.’
That knowledge was sufficient.
While Seong Jihan was deep in thought with his eyes closed, a familiar voice sounded.
“Hello~ You’re Seah’s uncle, right? I’m Heesu.”
“That guy…?”
From the corridor, the voices of Kim Heesu and a man echoed.
“…?”
Seong Jihan turned his head. Three people were approaching from the corridor: Kim Heesu, a middle-aged man with a camera, and a muscular young man in a sleeveless shirt.
“Seah will be out soon, right? We have an interview scheduled.”
“We decided not to do the interview.”
“No, Seah agreed to do it with us.”
Seong Jihan’s eyes grew colder. In his past life, Seah had no friends left, but recently, she seemed close to Kim Heesu.
“There’s no need for it.”
Seong Jihan replied firmly, but Kim Heesu’s smile widened.
“We. Agreed. To. Do. It. Right, Cousin?”
“Oh~Yes. So he’s that Bronze player?”
The young man in the sleeveless shirt walked up, his muscles unnaturally twitching and then solidifying.
“Stone Skin…”
“Oh! Bronze! You have a discerning eye.”
Stone Skin was a skill that Warriors could learn at level 50, essential for those who played the role of tankers. Using it so openly meant this young man was over level 50.
“You threatened reporters with telekinesis, huh? Isn’t that too much against ordinary people?”
“…”
“Just stay put until the interview ends, got it?”
“Ha!”
“Also, your niece will be hanging out with me for a while.”
Kim Insik blocked Seong Jihan’s path with a smug look.
“She’ll be an adult after her birthday anyway. So, no big deal, right? Might even pull an all-nighter. Hehe…”
Seong Jihan’s gaze turned icy. Whether it was Kim Gyuhyuk or this guy, there were too many crossing the line.
At least Kim Gyuhyuk had a reason, but this guy was just senseless.
Seong Jihan stretched out fingers.
“Oh. You want to show me your telekinesis ability? You think it’ll work on me?”
Kim Insik spoke confidently, but
“You think my ability won’t work on you?” Seong Jihan chuckled, as if amused.
“How about now?”
When Seong Jihan pulled his finger back,
“Wh…?”
Thud!
A tearing sound came from Kim Insik’s head.
* * * * *
[You’ve turned 18 years old and awakened as a player.]
[You’ve received a Gift.]
“Phew…”
Yoon Seah sighed unknowingly.
Thankfully, she had obtained a Gift.
Even for students of the academy, the chance of getting a Gift was not more than 50%.
More than half of the awakened players didn’t have a Gift, so she was off to a good start.
“…Status Window.”
Yoon Seah opened her status window and her eyes widened.
The very first stats shown were Strength, Agility, Stamina, and Magic Power – all of them were recorded as 10.
They were maxed-out stats!
Yoon Seah felt a surge of pride without realizing it.
But that joy was short-lived.
The most crucial part was yet to come – the slot for the Gift at the very bottom of the status window.
Of course, the initial stats were an essential factor in determining a player’s talent.
However, the grade of the Gift was even more vital in determining whether one would remain an amateur or turn professional.
“…Huh?”
And then,
Yoon Seah’s eyes widened once more as she saw her Gift.
[Gift – Late Bloomer (Rank F)]
“F…”
Rank F for the Gift.
No matter how random Gifts were…She never expected to receive such a rank.
She slumped down, feeling as if she couldn’t stand.
Even after awakening as a player and feeling healthier than before, she felt paralyzed.
…It was cold.
Despite being summer in August. She felt a chill throughout her body.
She couldn’t believe what she was seeing.
Hoping it was just a dream, she closed and opened her eyes repeatedly.
However, the Status Window was ruthless.
[Gift – Late Bloomer (Rank F)
[Great potential takes time to manifest.]
And there was even such a careless description.
It was simply absurd.
“Ha…”
Yoon Seah’s head drooped.
“Haha… Haha…”
She let out a bitter laugh.
Her dreams had shattered.
It felt as if the whole world was crumbling around her.
‘…Worst birthday ever.’
What should she do now?
She hadn’t considered the possibility of receiving an F-rank gift.
‘I can’t become a player now.’
With an F and an ambiguous Gift called “Late Bloomer”, the prospects of becoming a BattleNet player weren’t bright.
‘Should I prepare for college entrance exams?’
At least she had maintained good grades, so as not to tarnish the name of the Sword King.
She sighed again.
She just wanted to sit down and do nothing.
‘If it was going to turn out like this, why did the Gift Gem shine so brightly?…’
The Gift Gem, which shone even more brilliantly than that of a senior who received an S grade, had falsely raised her hopes.
She almost shed tears thinking about how hopeful she had been just moments ago.
“…I won’t cry.”
After taking a deep breath, Yoon Seah stood up.
What’s done was done.
Her uncle would be waiting outside, so she couldn’t stay slumped here forever.
‘Come to think of it… did Uncle know something?’
As Yoon Seah left the Gift Hall, she recalled how Seong Jihan had consistently emphasised that ‘Gifts are random’ recently.
He had stressed the randomness to such an extent that at times, it felt somewhat hurtful.
But after receiving an F, she felt grateful for his words.
If she hadn’t been prepared by his talks, her disappointment would have been even more profound.
‘First… let’s get out quickly. And… I should thank Uncle.’
Step by step, Yoon Seah tried to compose herself, rubbing her eyes as she slowly exited the Gift Hall.
Whoosh!
As she opened the door,
“…”
She saw something floating in mid-air and upon closer inspection,
“…Is that, hair?”
Short strands of sandy-yellow hair which was clumped together with wax was floating in the air as if it were a clump of weeds that had been plucked out.
Beyond the man’s hair, which looked like it was styled after a Japanese samurai was…
“It works, huh?”
Her Uncle, with one corner of his mouth raised, was making a gesture with his fingers.
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