Returnee's S-Rank Management Guide

History's Strongest Audition (2)

Once the audition began in earnest, the busiest person was Alencia.

Since the audition itself was held privately, there were no reporters or TV cameramen present.

The goal was only to convey the feeling that the audition was proceeding as concisely as possible, along with just enough anticipation, so Alencia went around busily filming for the online broadcast.

Of course, she wasn't filming everything—just enough to capture a light atmosphere.

There was nothing good about broadcasting scenes of superiority and inferiority among S-ranks outside of the Odyssey.

'Naturally, the biggest crowd gathered around Yeon-ji, next was Ah-yeon, and lastly Soo-ah, right?'

In Alencia's case, there really wasn't a single person going to her.

No one felt competitive toward her, probably because of her otherworldly abilities.

People seemed to realize that Alencia was not an ordinary awakener.

As for Ah-yeon, the reason people flocked to her was that all the mages had gone to her.

There were also those who had gone thinking a mage would be easy prey, but I won't bother discussing the results.

"Is there anyone you sense demonic energy from?"

"Not at the moment."

I looked out at the stadium where the first audition was taking place, and asked Ardan, who shook his head, arms crossed.

"But as you know, it's difficult to find a human who's completely unified with a demon. The reason demons started merging with humans is partly because it's easier to exert strength on Earth that way, but..."

"To make it easier to hide as well?"

"That's right."

Among the thirty-four S-ranks, just how many were colluding with demons?

In truth, there was virtually no way to distinguish them.

Demons aren't stupid—they'd do their best to hide their demonic energy.

However—

'No, it's not that there aren't any at all.'

If I couldn't detect demonic energy, I just had to look for something else.

"Shin Ah-yeon."

"Yes?"

I walked up to Ah-yeon, who was taking a break from judging the audition.

Lined up in front of her were mages collapsed from depleted magic power.

Ah-yeon, on the other hand, aside from looking a bit tired, seemed to have no particular problems.

"Do you have a moment?"

"Of course. I'm pretty much done on my end anyway."

At her words, the mages collapsed on the floor flinched.

It looked like most of them hadn't even managed to fight properly and had been finished off instantly.

"... Th-this is ridiculous. She didn't even use circle magic."

At the mage's words, I looked at Ah-yeon.

"You didn't use circle magic?"

"If I had, they'd just complain that was why they lost, wouldn't they?"

To be honest, winning or losing this audition didn't really matter, but since she was the competitive type, she seemed to want to avoid anyone making such excuses.

It was for the same reason that she decided to duel with magic from this world, rather than using circle magic—a knowledge proven to originate from another world.

She just didn't want to hear people say she'd won by using knowledge from another world.

In a way, it was a very Ah-yeon-like reason.

'Moments like this show that, in a fight between mages, the hierarchy is painfully clear.'

If there's a difference in skill, the weaker mage can't even use proper magic, gets dispelled, and crushed.

That's what a duel between mages is like.

That's probably why the test area where Ah-yeon held her auditions was the only one left clean, without anyone seriously hurt.

"Anyway, what did you want?"

"Oh, it's just something I wanted to ask, just in case..."

I hesitated for a moment before opening my mouth.

"Have you used Estella's power since then?"

Ideally, I hoped she wouldn't become aware of Estella's power.

But by now, Ah-yeon had already inherited those memories and powers to some extent.

I didn't want to ask exactly how much.

It would bother me if unpleasant things from the past started resurfacing.

"I have...more or less, in various ways."

Ah-yeon's gaze fell on my chest.

She was probably investigating the power sustaining my life, which was Estella's power.

"But, to be honest, giving a direct response to wishes is still out of the question for me. It's not fully my power, after all."

Ah-yeon was never a Saintess to begin with.

She could only handle that power partially because she had lived as one in a previous life.

Much like Alencia's mother, Sarah Walker.

If Ah-yeon had truly been a Saintess, she—like Alencia—would not have suffered injury from mere physical laws.

Naturally, using divine authority in a pure human body was a considerable burden.

"I want to live a long life, so I don't plan on doing anything dangerous."

"That's a good mindset."

In any case, what I wanted wasn't for her to use Estella's authority.

All I was after was to find any powers derived from Estella's strength.

"Can you sense anyone here affected by divine art?"

"Divine art?"

"As you know, the only reason demons were able to merge with humans was because of the divine art completed by Benadic."

In other words, the demons ended up combining their Demonic Realm techniques with Benadic's divine art.

It meant they shouldn't have any knowledge of divine art itself.

"They might be able to hide demonic energy, but they probably couldn't erase all traces of divine art."

"That...makes sense."

Ah-yeon nodded and first looked at the S-rank hunters before her.

For a moment, I saw a faint golden light flicker in her eyes.

"... Hmm, it's not like I can point at someone and say 'That's it!' but I do sense something."

"When you say you feel something?"

"It's like an afterimage of a power? Let's say... only when they actually use a power, some of the traces show up."

Meaning, unless a hunter unified with a demon was fighting, she wouldn't be able to tell.

'Still, that's enough.'

It wasn't as if I planned to weed people out in the first test anyway.

The important parts were the second and third tests.

That's where I planned to find any demons who had infiltrated.

But I had to be careful. If any big shots were among the infiltrators—

They'd almost certainly target Ah-yeon first.

***

The day after the first test.

The number of S-rank awakener had dropped from thirty-four to twenty-four.

Ten had been eliminated in a single day.

The location for the second audition was in the mountains.

The area was definitely restricted for safety, just in case.

"Do you know how many will be going on the Demonic Zone raid?"

"I heard it'll be ten."

Those ten would, of course, include all the Unique hunters.

If Park Jung-woo planned to select more to join, it would likely be about five from this audition.

Five out of thirty-four S-rank hunters.

From a certain point of view, a severe selection.

"By the way, among the American hunters, it seems only Eugene is left."

"Well, the US already has Alencia."

It could be said two from America remained, but Kian's thoughts differed.

"I thought Ryan Knox would come too, though."

"True..."

Ryan Knox, the genius swordsman representing America.

He was a little older than Eugene, but his skills far surpassed what his age would suggest.

"Still, if even Ryan Knox left the homeland, that might be dangerous—so he probably stayed."

Ryan Knox was currently standing by at the White House.

Because of the ongoing series of terrorist attacks.

'Still...'

Eugene felt something was off.

From what he knew of Ryan Knox, he would have joined the audition regardless.

Wasn't he a swordsman obsessed with strength more than anyone?

"Well, it seems everyone's here now."

As those thoughts went through Eugene's mind, Jung-woo appeared.

'... A cat?'

Unlike yesterday, he was carrying a cat in his arms.

Why did he bring a cat here, of all places?

As everyone wondered, Jung-woo spoke.

"The second audition, starting now, will be a team battle where you'll have to work together."

Six teams of four.

Each of them a luxurious party composed entirely of S-rank hunters.

'But how do you assess teamwork between four S-rank hunters?'

It was a question everyone present shared.

Was there anything that could even stand up to four S-rank hunters at once?

'Common sense would suggest it's just a competition between parties.'

But it didn't feel like something so simple.

"Monsters in the Demonic Zone are strong. Among them, you might even encounter beings well beyond the S-rank hunters. They could be demonic beasts, or..."

With those words, Jung-woo gave a small signal with his eyes.

From behind him, a man came forward.

Another Unique manager—usually covered by Jung-woo's fame, but he too was known for his skills. He had once led a newly-formed A-rank party to great success in the Odyssey.

'His name was, if I recall, Ban Jae-hoon?'

But why was he here?

As the S-rank hunters looked at Jung-woo with such thoughts, the man smiled and spoke.

"Or a demon possessing immense strength could appear. Ah, and I don't mention demons because of the recent controversies. The Demonic Zone itself was always land for demons, after all, so that's why I said so."

Demonic Zone: the land for demons. At those words, the S-rank hunters were stirred.

"... But what does any of this have to do with manager Ban Jae-hoon being here?"

It wasn't Jung-woo who answered Eugene's question, asked on behalf of the S-rank hunters.

It was Ban Jae-hoon, or rather, Ardan, who had been silent until now.

"That's because I am a demon."

The moment his words ended, a cold chill swept over the S-rank hunters.

A tremendous cold that no ordinary human could emanate.

They could feel the ground freezing centered around where he stood.

'So that's why today's test was held outdoors!'

'Why is a demon with Park Jung-woo?'

As the S-rank hunters fell into confusion, Jung-woo glanced at Ardan.

His gaze seemed to ask if he sensed any demonic energy—but Ardan shook his head.

"In the Demonic Zone, you might well face demons. I'll show you what a demon of true power is like."

The Great Duke of Winter.

Once, Ardan had lost most of his strength, but in this world he had recovered a significant portion.

It was thanks to Jung-woo's help, but being mentally stabilized by Yeon-ji was also crucial.

"Ah, but you won't just be facing our manager Ban Jae-hoon in the second test. As I said before, powerful demonic beasts reside in the Demonic Zone."

Saying so, Jung-woo put the cat he was holding down on the ground.

'Don't tell me, is he saying that cat is a demonic beast?'

No matter how you looked at it, that was going too far.

The cat simply purred, showing zero interest in anyone there.

"Manager Park, with all due respect, are we really supposed to fight a cat...?"

Just as an S-rank hunter began to say that—

CRACK!!

With a sound of bones and muscles twisting, the cat's body grew bigger.

And it transformed into something grotesque.

A moving mass of flesh—a fitting description for its monstrous new appearance.

"... Looks like we've got a proper fight ahead of us."

They swallowed nervously.

They could feel it instinctively.

That thing, which had been a cat, was a demonic beast more than capable of handling four S-rank hunters at once.

If they judged by rank, it would clearly be SS-rank.

'He's been keeping an SS-rank monster as his pet cat?'

Even those who thought they were used to Park Jung-woo could not hide their shock this time.

"And one more thing."

Jung-woo still wasn't finished.

This second test was, in effect, an audition simulating a real fight inside the Demonic Zone.

Ssssshhhh!

They sensed demonic energy writhing from Jung-woo's chest.

The power of the Demon King.

Having gained partial control over it, the power flowed from his body and spread along the ground.

"......!!"

The faces of the S-rank hunters, which had hardly changed even with the appearance of Mimos, now stiffened.

Everyone suddenly felt their bodies heavy.

It became hard to breathe, as if they'd been transported to another world.

"This is..."

Some of the S-rank hunters who had participated in the assault on Sichelmond before recognized the sensation and muttered under their breath.

Demonic Zone.

They were now standing in the heart of another world.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

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