Chapter 5
The inside of the Illusion Academy felt strangely buoyant, perhaps because of the evaluation. Those who had entered the academy the day before finished breakfast and waited in their rooms for the upcoming test.
Most had already formed small groups, discussing the examination among themselves. The same was true for the room where Hyeok Ryeon-hwi was staying.
In the room housing thirty people, four factions had already formed. Divided into groups of five to ten, they kept each other in check, whispering in tones low enough that only their own members could understand.
The only ones not part of any group were Hyeok Ryeon-hwi and Bi Seol.
Since finishing her meal, Bi Seol had been sitting idly, glancing around. After a while, she cautiously approached Hyeok Ryeon-hwi.
Leaning against the wall with his eyes closed as if asleep, he didn’t move even as she sat beside him and carefully spoke.
“Hyung-nim. Are you sleeping?”
He didn’t respond.
Just as she was about to speak again—
“I’m not.”
With that, Hyeok Ryeon-hwi slowly opened his eyes. The moment Bi Seol met his cold gaze, she felt again what she had felt when they first met.
No matter how many times she saw them, his eyes were breathtakingly beautiful.
She stared blankly, momentarily captivated, until he spoke.
“You started talking first. What are you spacing out for?”
His cool remark snapped her back to her senses.
“I saw the others gathering in groups to share information. I thought maybe we should also talk about the upcoming test.”
Hyeok Ryeon-hwi looked at her as if surprised.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked.
“It’s strange.”
“What is?”
“Wouldn’t it be normal to hope I fail?”
“Why?”
“I’m holding your weakness. If I were you, I’d hope someone like that would be eliminated.”
“Ah… I hadn’t thought of that.”
She muttered as if regretful, but Hyeok Ryeon-hwi could tell it wasn’t sincere.
That was precisely why he couldn’t understand her. That should have been her first thought.
But as if unaware of his inner suspicions, Bi Seol continued brightly.
“You’re going to pass anyway.”
“…What do you mean?”
“I mean you’re not the kind of person who’d fail just because I wished for it.”
“Why?”
“Hmm… Just a feeling?”
She trailed off vaguely.
In truth, she hadn’t seen his abilities firsthand. But she could sense it—through the smallest movements, and especially from the moment he untied her hair ribbon with that precise flick of his hand.
He was qualitatively different from the other martial artists in this room.
And as he said, it wasn’t exactly ideal for her to stick close to him. He was the only one who knew her secret.
But avoiding him wasn’t wise either.
If she offended him, her secret might truly be exposed.
It was better to appease him and fulfill the promise she had made.
Having spent years attending her master, serving one man as “hyung-nim” was hardly a burden. Besides, she doubted anything he asked of her would be too difficult.
After silently observing her, Hyeok Ryeon-hwi raised a hand and pointed toward a group.
“Stop chattering beside me. If you’re curious, go ask them.”
The largest faction—ten men gathered together, whispering while keeping watch—sat where he pointed.
Though they spoke quietly, none of their words escaped Hyeok Ryeon-hwi’s ears. They were discussing past examination formats.
It would be more productive for her to extract information from them than to sit beside him.
Bi Seol glanced at them, then shook her head.
“They probably won’t let me join.”
“Why?”
“They seem to think I’ll fail this exam.”
She looked down at herself.
She was tall for a woman, but her slender arms and legs made her appear anything but strong.
“Do I look that easy?”
“Yes.”
He answered without hesitation.
She pouted, rubbing her thin forearm.
It was true—she looked unthreatening.
But judging by appearance alone was something only third-rate fighters did. By that measure, the ten men over there were third-rate.
What impressed him more was her composure. Even knowing she was being underestimated, she showed no irritation.
To ignore dismissive stares so calmly required confidence in one’s own strength.
Unshakable certainty.
If that certainty was confidence rather than arrogance—
His thoughts ended there as he looked forward again.
The details of the exam remained unknown. The format changed every year.
After listening quietly for a while, Hyeok Ryeon-hwi suddenly spoke.
“If you promised to serve me and then fail, isn’t that a breach of contract?”
If she failed, it wouldn’t trouble him greatly—but Hwan-ya would become twice as busy, and that was inconvenient.
He had matters to attend to. And too few people to help.
Trust?
Trust was childish.
In the martial world, the trusted were the first to be stabbed in the back.
The only thing more reliable than trust was leverage—a weakness that rendered the other party helpless.
Bi Seol fit perfectly.
She was entering the academy with him, and he held a fatal secret over her. If he spoke, she would be expelled instantly.
What he intended to assign her were minor things—running errands when he had to leave, reporting rumors, handling tedious academy tasks.
Nothing dangerous. Nothing complicated.
But it all depended on her passing.
Feeling his gaze, Bi Seol blinked.
“Do you think I’ll fail?”
“I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking.”
“Come on. I told you before—I came from far away. If I were just going to fail and return home, why would I travel so far?”
“What does coming from far away have to do with passing?”
He sounded incredulous.
“Don’t worry. I’ll show you what I can do.”
As she boasted, he took a coin from his robe.
Without a word, he pressed one side lightly with his finger, leaving a barely noticeable nick.
Then he suddenly clenched his fist and flicked the coin.
Ting!
The coin spun fiercely and embedded itself into the opposite wall.
Everyone in the room turned to look.
Ignoring them, he spoke.
“Top or bottom.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“Is the nicked side facing up or down?”
“Why all of a sudden—”
“You said you’d show me. I want to see whether you can take responsibility for your words.”
His gaze bored into her.
The coin was lodged in the wall with the nick hidden against it. Simply enhancing one’s eyesight wouldn’t reveal the answer. One would have needed to focus from the very beginning.
He hadn’t warned her.
It was a difficult question—constant focus was no easy feat.
He hadn’t expected much.
Then Bi Seol answered without even turning her head.
“Bottom.”
All eyes shifted to the coin.
Would she be right?
At that moment—
Bang.
The door opened. Bu Ui-min, the martial instructor in charge of the room, entered.
“Everyone out. We’re moving to the first-round examination hall.”
At once, the room emptied.
The coin no longer mattered.
Bi Seol waved from the doorway.
“I’ll go ahead, hyung-nim.”
When she left, Hyeok Ryeon-hwi approached the wall and pulled out the coin.
“It seems,” he murmured quietly, slipping it back into his robe, “you’re quite capable.”
