Academy's Silver Gatekeeper-Chapter 50

TN: Suhyeon's PoV

The negotiations that went on for two days finally bore fruit.

Grandpa told me to take it easy for a while longer, and we had even spoken to the Headmaster, but I left those worries behind. I managed to return to the Academy in the end.

‘I can’t believe it took two days. Two whole days to get back to the Examiner’s side.’

I feel terrible toward Grandpa. I know how concerned he was.

He kept asking what would happen if there was another attack. He begged me to rest just a little more. He practically pleaded, and I hesitated several times.

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Even so, the place I belong is beside him. I want to be right by the person I admire most and show him how I’ve grown. I owe all my progress to the Examiner.

“Miss, we’ve arrived.”

“Thank you. I’ll head inside now.”

I hurried away from the guards who came to see me off and dashed in. The place where Examiner Baek Seojin was stationed lay just ahead.

I kept imagining his reaction upon seeing me show up when he expected me to rest for a few more days. He would probably be startled that I came back this soon.

That surprise would last just a moment, though, and then I was certain he would be delighted. He cherished me deeply. That was simply who he was.

“Examiner!”

I considered sneaking up on him for a surprise, yet I forgot all about that idea once I actually spotted him. My lips twitched into a grin I struggled to hide as I called his name.

“Oh. Suhyeon!”

Examiner Baek Seojin wasn’t alone. Kang Hana stood next to him.

“Why is Senior here…?”

That single question flashed through my mind.

Why did she keep coming? She’d shown up not too long ago as well. Senior Kang Hana wasn’t Bronze or Silver. She was Platinum, so she had nothing to do with Examiner Baek Seojin. Then why did I keep seeing her by his side?

I pictured how often she must have hung around him while I was away. Then I imagined him treating her with the same warmth he showed me.

No. I hated it.

I didn’t want to watch Senior and the Examiner talk any longer.

Senior Kang Hana was on a whole other level, so much more accomplished than me, brimming with qualities I lacked.

That thought drove me to drop a piece of secret information I had been holding back. I felt no regret. He turned his attention to me because of it.

Please, Senior, hurry and leave…

No, that was wrong. The Examiner was kind, and so was Senior. She was someone who had looked after me, like an older sister, for a long time. I couldn’t let myself feel that way, because it would betray how she had helped me all this time.

Yes. She probably came here on some errand. She was Student Council President, after all. She’d leave soon, and I’d be the only one left at his side…

“It’s my off day.”

Senior said this and went back to talking with him.

My mouth went dry just hearing that. Then, when she spoke next, my heart dropped.

“Well, someone there wants to offer you a place in the clan.”

*

A clan invitation was the last thing he had expected. It never crossed my mind that such a day would come. Right now, though, it didn’t appeal to him at all.

He had no real reason to think about it. His answer was already decided.

“I appreciate the thought, but I’m not interested in joining a clan, Kang Hana.”

If he entered a clan, he would have to give up his role as Examiner. From his perspective, that would mean losing his most efficient path to growth.

The Silver Gatekeeper belonged with the Bronze students, not anywhere else.

He did think about Hana’s pride, so he pretended to mull it over for about thirty seconds, then shook his head and made his stance clear.

“I’m sorry. I really don’t plan on joining any clan.”

“Could you at least meet the person making the offer and talk it out?”

“It wouldn’t change my answer.”

Even on the surface, accepting the offer would create problems. He had already told students that he was doing this job for them, for the weaker ones. If he suddenly abandoned them for a clan, he would undermine everything he said.

“If I left for a clan now—or even just entertained that offer—the students would be really disappointed. I made it clear that I’m doing this for those less fortunate, yet if word spread that I jumped ship the moment I got famous, how would that look?”

“…They wouldn’t be happy.”

“Exactly. Could you let them know for me, Hana?”

She said nothing more about persuading him, and instead apologized for overstepping. She admitted that she hadn’t considered how it would look from his side.

“I’m sorry, Examiner. I think I approached this too lightly.”

“No, I feel bad too. It’s not every day that an elite clan like The Tower of Magic reaches out first. People would call me crazy for turning down something that rare.”

The Tower of Magic truly was a phenomenal place. For many ability users, it was their dream job. Outside of the clan led by Han Jiyoon, it was arguably Korea’s best.

They had offered him a position in person, and he had rejected it on the spot.

“Please pass my apologies to whoever contacted me about it.”

“Don’t worry. Once Dad hears the reason, he will definitely appreciate how much the Examiner values our Academy students.”

“Ah… You mean your father was the one who made the offer? So he’s a core executive in The Tower of Magic?”

That explained how they wholeheartedly supported Lee Hyunwoo earlier in the story. It wasn’t something a low-level official could do.

“Huh? Wait, you didn’t know? I thought you were aware.”

I was confused for a moment, but Kim Suhyeon answered on her behalf.

“Examiner, Hana’s father is actually The Tower of Magic’s Clan Master.”

So not just an executive, but the actual Master of The Tower of Magic? One of the strongest clans in Korea, with a legendary status in magic. He was the top figure of that place.

I made a mental note never to mention this fiasco to anyone else. If people found out The Tower of Magic’s clan master had personally reached out, then got rejected, I’d be pelted with accusations of arrogance.

Beep—

“…Oh, I’m sorry. Something else came up. I need to go! See you both next time!”

Hana checked her watch as it let out a noisy alert, then dashed toward the main building where the Student Council was located.

“She left,” Kim Suhyeon mumbled. At last, a smile returned to her face.

Please, Suhyeon, don’t get so intense. Let’s not go down that path.

“I figured you would do that, Examiner.”

“Do what?”

“Turn down her offer. I knew you’d stay here.”

I almost told her that it was simply a calculated move. Of course, I kept that to myself.

“Of course I’m staying. The students’ levels haven’t risen yet, plus Hyunwoo, you, and others have a long way to go. Many students have high expectations. I’m not leaving.”

“That’s what I expected. Yes. That’s how you are, Examiner.”

Kim Suhyeon flashed a brilliant smile and leaned lightly against me. It made me wonder how this girl could ever become the Crimson Witch.

***

“Done for the day!”

Kang Hana left the Academy, not heading home but turning in the opposite direction.

That district housed countless clan headquarters. Among those, the largest in size was none other than The Tower of Magic, her destination.

She stepped inside, and a few people greeted her along the way.

“Oh, welcome, Miss.”

“Really! I’ve asked you all not to call me that.”

“I can’t help it. The nickname’s stuck.”

Hana frowned at the clan member’s greeting, but they refused to drop the term “Miss.” In their eyes, that was an expression of trust toward the Clan Master’s daughter, as well as a show of closeness toward her. She gave up on correcting them and headed to the top floor.

Knock, knock—

“Dad, it’s me.”

“Come on in.”

A middle-aged man welcomed her kindly when she opened the door. He was Kang Inbeom, The Tower of Magic’s Clan Master, an A-rank ability user, and a master of fire magic.

“You’re here. Have you been well?”

“Yes. Oh, by the way, Suhyeon came back to school today.”

“Already? I didn’t think they’d let her leave so soon.”

Hana shrugged, then got straight to the point.

“The Examiner turned down the offer.”

“Even after I mentioned meeting in person?”

“I didn’t drop your name outright. I just said someone wanted to see him. I worried he might feel pressured or get the wrong idea. Did I mess up?”

“No, not at all. He saved the granddaughter of the man I respect the most. We can’t come off as rude.”

Kang Inbeom deeply admired Kang Minseong, though they were unrelated by blood. Baek Seojin was the one who saved that man’s granddaughter, so he was taking every precaution not to offend him.

“He seems truly admirable. When he explained his reason for refusing, I felt a little ashamed myself.”

Hana told her father why Baek Seojin had said no.

After hearing about the Examiner’s sense of duty toward the Academy students, Kang Inbeom let out a long exhale.

“What a fine young man, and we clumsily tried to recruit him. People like him are a rare breed these days.”

“I’m also worried we might have given The Tower of Magic a bad name in his eyes.”

“You’re right. We don’t want that. I’ve been thinking, and I have an idea. If the Examiner ever ends up in a tough spot, how about The Tower of Magic steps in to help him? That would probably be a little better, don’t you think?”

“Although it’s unlikely someone like him will face serious trouble… still, it’s not a bad plan.”

Without even realizing it, Baek Seojin owed a debt to The Tower of Magic.