How on earth could Seraph put this feeling into words?
Seraph was experiencing firsthand the sensation of utter uncertainty—like basking in gentle sunlight filtering through a quiet forest, feeling a cool breeze on the skin. Or the calmness of drifting along a still river. It was just an ordinary conversation, really, but every word spoken felt strangely sweet and soothing. The coldness in Seraph’s chest warmed, and a pleasant sensation swelled inside like a balloon filling with air.
“Seraph?”
“…Ah!”
Seraph snapped back to reality the moment she caught Kim Su-hyun’s unmistakable gaze.
“Ahem, ahem! User Kim Su-hyun, if you don’t mind, I’ll get straight to the point.”
Seraph coughed awkwardly, then spoke in a tone far more serious than she intended—though she wasn’t quite sure why. Kim Su-hyun, however, didn’t seem bothered in the slightest and nodded coolly.
“Go ahead.”
“Very well. I assume your visit today is to resolve the previously postponed compensation issue.”
“That’s right.”
“Have you considered what appropriate compensation you seek?”
“Yeah. I’ve thought it over… Is it possible to raise the rank of my Third Eye?”
“…Excuse me?”
Kim Su-hyun brought up the request casually, but Seraph narrowed her eyes in surprise. It wasn’t just that the demand was unreasonable—it was unexpected. Then, suddenly—
“I’m sorry, but even a little bit of that isn’t possible.”
A voice cut off Kim Su-hyun’s words abruptly. Before the deep, resonant tone faded, four clusters of light appeared simultaneously behind the altar. Taken aback by the sudden development, Seraph turned her head with wide eyes. When she saw the four figures stepping out of the radiant glow, she couldn’t help but spring to her feet.
“G-Gabriel…?”
“Hello, Seraph. And you as well.”
Long, pure silver-white hair flowing down to the floor. Eyes as calm and still as a tranquil lake.
Yes, the woman leading the group was none other than the Archangel Gabriel. Above all, the dazzling twelve pairs of wings illuminating the summoning chamber were proof that only one angel was granted such a privilege.
But that wasn’t all. Behind Gabriel, three angels stood in a line, as if acting as her guards. Seraph’s dazed gaze swept over them, and she was even more astonished to see each bore eleven pairs of wings.
“Michael… Raphael… Uriel…”
“Long time no see, Seraph. Apologies for dropping in unannounced.”
The woman on the far left bowed slightly, her fiery red hair cascading neatly. Despite her beautiful appearance, her tone was quite masculine, yet somehow it suited her dignified presence and passionate eyes.
“W-What brings the Archangels here…?”
“Why? Did we come somewhere we shouldn’t? Or is there something you’re hiding?”
Uriel, who had been glaring since their arrival, snapped sharply, clearly displeased.
“Hehe, I came because I was bored.”
Uriel’s glare shifted immediately to the side, where an angel with deep blue hair tied up prettily squatted on the floor, smiling brightly. Uriel ground her teeth.
“Raphael…”
“Now, now, let’s save the fighting for later and just relax. Oh, lying down is fine too.”
Gabriel lightly admonished, then actually lay down on the altar. She turned halfway, propping her head on one hand with a gentle smile. The pose was subtly seductive, emphasizing her curves, yet Gabriel carried it with the regal air of a queen.
The commotion settled for the moment, but Seraph felt an inexplicable anxiety. There was a reason for it. After sending Kim Su-hyun away without compensation last time, Seraph had been bombarded with countless criticisms.
“This won’t be overlooked today. Just wait and see.”
“I’ll personally bring this matter up. Mark my words.”
Seraph had issued warnings herself, but it seemed some angels had already taken action. So the Archangels’ visit today was clear—they had come to interfere with the compensation issue.
Gathering her thoughts, Seraph clenched her fists in secret. She wasn’t convinced her actions were entirely justified, but this made it impossible to face Kim Su-hyun with a clear conscience.
“Hmm. Is this your first time seeing me like this, User Kim Su-hyun?”
Gabriel’s relaxed voice suddenly brought Seraph back to her senses. She realized she’d been so focused on the Archangels that she’d forgotten about Kim Su-hyun. A sudden, inexplicable sense of foreboding washed over her. Kim Su-hyun hated demons with a burning passion, but angels weren’t exactly any easier to deal with. Yet when Seraph looked at him directly, she was taken aback.
“Wow, the Four Archangels all in one place. That’s quite a surprise.”
Unexpectedly, Kim Su-hyun’s reaction was calm. He showed a hint of surprise but didn’t lose his composure or show hostility. Compared to before, it was a remarkably innocent response.
As Seraph wondered what was going on, Kim Su-hyun shrugged and pulled out a cigarette.
“Arrogant human! How dare you call this safe…!”
Uriel exploded in anger as Kim Su-hyun nonchalantly lit the cigarette, but someone quickly stopped her.
“Gabriel said it’s fine for her to be comfortable, so this should be okay.”
Stepping forward slowly was Michael.
“I’ve heard the news. After that hateful Mammon, you even destroyed Pluton. It’s truly unbelievable.”
“Yeah? Well, it just kind of happened.”
“You ‘just kind of’ took down two of the fourteen demon lords? That’s quite the joke. Anyway, on behalf of all angels, I thank you here today.”
Michael bowed slightly. As Gabriel’s second-in-command and an archangel himself, his praise was sincere. Kim Su-hyun chuckled.
“No need to thank me. I was just doing what had to be done.”
“Oh?”
“Well, to be honest, I’m a bit disappointed. I wanted to make it harder for them, to cause as much pain as possible. I was hoping to hear at least one scream…”
“Good, very good. I like that. Makes me want to be your assistant.”
Michael smiled approvingly as Kim Su-hyun licked his lips in genuine regret. As a battle angel who always led the charge, his hatred for demons was stronger than anyone’s. So his offer to assist was heartfelt, though Seraph didn’t dare feel reassured. Because…
“Well, it’s nice to meet you too. Gabriel’s at the altar, and from the left, Michael and Raphael, right?”
“Hey! Why are you ignoring me?”
“You? You’re out of the picture until you start behaving.”
“W-What did you say?”
“Just kidding, just kidding. So, Uriel? Don’t get so worked up over what a mere human says. Ha ha.”
Uriel growled in frustration.
Seraph doubted if this laughing man was really the Kim Su-hyun she knew. He was joking, yet clearly steering the conversation. Considering the arrival of the Four Archangels had effectively shut down any chance for Seraph to intervene in the compensation matter, his smooth and flexible approach was impressive.
“Well, the mood’s good, so shall we get down to business?”
Gabriel finally spoke, watching Uriel grind her teeth in frustration. Kim Su-hyun exhaled a cloud of smoke and nodded in agreement. Seraph swallowed her tension, knowing this was just the beginning.
Their gazes locked, and Gabriel spoke first.
“First, we cannot grant your request to raise the rank of the Third Eye.”
“I’m not asking for a full rank up. S Plus would be enough.”
“That’s not possible either. The Third Eye is a very dangerous ability—more than you realize.”
“Is it really that dangerous?”
“Yes. Once it reaches S Plus, you can read the opponent’s thoughts. At EX rank, you can even see their past. Wouldn’t that make things too boring?”
“I’m not sure about boring… but it does affect the balance, right?”
“Exactly. …You’re more reasonable than I expected.”
“Well, then I have no choice. I’ll withdraw that request.”
The first exchange ended with Kim Su-hyun’s surrender. Seraph felt something was off but forced herself to keep a neutral expression. He gave up far too easily, as if he’d known it was impossible all along.
Could it be that… perhaps… User Kim Su-hyun was doing this on purpose?
“Then state your new demands.”
Just as this thought crossed Seraph’s mind, Kim Su-hyun spoke again.
“The Mercenary Academy… could we move its location? Into the city.”
“…The Mercenary Academy?”
Gabriel’s voice lowered slightly in surprise.
“Yeah. I’ve found new ways to use Magia. But it’s not really suitable for shared use. Besides, it’s better for the academy to be inside the city, right?”
Kim Su-hyun said with a casual expression.
“We could just build a new facility in the city and transfer the authority there. There’s a relocation coming up anyway, so it’s a convenient time.”
“There will be users who won’t look kindly on that.”
“I don’t care. I’ll take responsibility for that.”
“…Is that your demand?”
Kim Soo-hyun nodded as if to say he understood.
“Alright. If that’s all you’re asking for, I can accept it.”
Gabriel finally gave his approval, though his voice still carried a hint of skepticism. On the surface, the negotiation had gone smoothly. Soo-hyun hadn’t made unreasonable demands, and Gabriel had agreed. Maybe that’s why Michael was grinning from ear to ear, but Uriel shot a suspicious glance, clearly sensing something off.
“Heh, I thought you’d be stubborn, but you’re surprisingly reasonable. Are you really okay with just that?”
Rafael let out a heavy sigh, his expression like a disappointed child who didn’t get the gift he expected. Soo-hyun casually glanced up.
“Well, there’s one thing I’m curious about… It’s nothing major, just a personal question.”
“Hm? What is it?”
“I’m wondering how many rare or secret classes are still left in the Rite of Passage.”
“Ah, come on. That’s all? I guess there are about….”
At that moment—
“Rafael!”
The shout struck Rafael’s mind like a thunderclap, making him flinch and shrink back. The sound was so loud it made his head spin. It wasn’t Uriel—he’d been staring at Soo-hyun nonstop since earlier. The voice belonged to Gabriel, who was still lounging comfortably on the altar.
“Are you… crazy?”
“W-why? It’s just the number…”
“Watch your mouth. Don’t let it slip. From now on, say nothing.”
“……”
Rafael’s voice dropped to a whisper as he backed away hesitantly. Gabriel still wore a light, amused smile, but even the Seraph and the three archangels could feel the shift. The atmosphere in the summoning chamber, centered on Soo-hyun and Gabriel, changed in an instant.
Yet through it all, Soo-hyun remained unfazed.
“Alright, so the extra rewards are settled. Now, I want to use the original reward—the secret shop… Seraph?”
Startled by the sudden call, the Seraph quickly opened the secret shop.
『Using 77,777 Gold Points to open the user-exclusive secret shop.』
『Remaining GP: 20,609,683 Gold Points.』
An absolutely staggering amount of Gold Points. Soon, a list of items appeared before Soo-hyun’s eyes.
“Ah, you’re staying? The negotiation’s over, you know. But I don’t mind.”
The voice drew all the angels’ gazes at once. What was so amusing? Soo-hyun was flipping through the list, practically humming a tune. To an outsider, it might look like he was happily shopping. But beneath that calm exterior, his mind was racing.
‘How about this one?’
‘Then please take a look at this too. It’s a newly added item…’
Why had the Seraph acted the way he did earlier?
The answer was already clear. The moment Rafael’s words awkwardly cut off, Soo-hyun had almost certain suspicions. He’d figured out why the Four Archangels had appeared today. More precisely, what they were afraid of.
“Ten… huh. Still quite a few left…”
Soo-hyun muttered softly, almost to himself. In the quiet room, no one could have missed his words. Gabriel’s face tightened slightly, a clear sign.
But before anyone could say a word, Soo-hyun stopped scrolling and looked up.
“Seraph, there’s no purchase limit on this, right?”
“Huh? Ah.”
The Seraph looked down, then showed the item description.
『Rite of Passage Entry Ticket (150,000 GP).』
Description: Allows the user to enter the Rite of Passage area under their identity. Entry permits a stay of up to seven days.
Inside, the Seraph quietly rejoiced. Soo-hyun had caught on to his intention. Now he understood why the Seraph had acted so strangely from the start.
“Yes. This item has no purchase restrictions.”
“Good. Then…”
Hearing the answer he wanted, Soo-hyun smiled faintly and took a drag from his cigarette. In that brief moment, the Seraph clearly saw it.
Though Soo-hyun pretended to shield the cigarette, his tongue flicked out to lick his lips—a predator eyeing its prey. In truth, it was a habitual gesture before he set something in motion.
A moment later.
“Let’s start with ten of these. Seventy days should be enough.”
『Purchasing Rite of Passage Entry Ticket (x10).』
『1,500,000 Gold Points have been deducted. Remaining GP: 19,109,683 Gold Points.』
As the purchase confirmation appeared, Gabriel, who had been lounging comfortably until now, slowly rose. His face darkened as he fixed his gaze on Soo-hyun. The confident, relaxed demeanor he’d shown at first was gone without a trace.
Because now that the purchase was confirmed—no, now that the cards had been played—there was no room left for leniency.
“Wait a minute.”
Right. The negotiation wasn’t over yet.
“Huh? You’re not leaving yet, Gabriel?”
No, this was just the beginning.
---------------------------= Author’s Note =---------------------------
I have a couple of ideas I’ve been mulling over, but honestly, they feel a bit childish.
So, if it’s alright with you all, I’d like to ask for your help coming up with class names related to swords. (__)