Acquired the Scam Rune in the Academy

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Inwangsan Mountain Field in Seoul.

In the middle of it lies a high-level dungeon, a forest covered by snakes.

It was once an undiscovered dungeon that Hunting Team 5 had planned as a large project and attempted the first raid, but now that it has been cleanly conquered, it has become one of the main dungeons responsible for a large portion of the profits in <Judgement of Fire>.

On a Saturday, the start of a weekend holiday.

Kang Juyeon had been at the entrance of the dungeon since that morning.

It was to observe the practical interviews of the applicants for the <Second Half of the Year New Clan Member Public Recruitment> project currently in progress within the clan.

“…I’m a bit late.”

Among them were clan members like Hunting Team 5 leader Kwon Oh-jun and Scout Team leader Cho Gyu-hyuk, people quite close with Kang Juyeon.

They were all the interviewers for this practical interview.

They were closely checking the evaluation criteria of the applicants, from preparation to conduction to results of the hunt, and teamwork among party members.

“Oh! You’ve arrived, my lady.”

Cho Gyu-hyuk, who could be considered the closest to Kang Juyeon, was the first to greet her.

At that, Kang Juyeon’s eyebrows furrowed slightly.

“I told you not to call me my lady.”

“Haha. My lady will always remain my lady until you become a master or submaster.”

Kwon Oh-jun also let out a hearty laugh as he responded to her words.

Since they were uncles who had known Kang Juyeon since she was very young, they didn’t seem to have any intention of changing the way they addressed her.

It was faster to just give up.

Kang Juyeon let out a small sigh, then lightly nodded her head towards the other interviewers as well.

Since they weren’t particularly close with her, they politely exchanged greetings and bowed.

“How are the applicants?”

Kang Juyeon turned her head again and asked.

At that, Kwon Oh-jun waved his hand with a groan.

“Oh geez. Don’t even get me started. There’s no talent, none at all. I’ve been nagging and nagging to the master, and he exceptionally allowed me to observe the interviews this time but… this is just swatting flies.”

His expression was as if he was fed up.

At that, Kang Juyeon nodded her head.

“Aren’t they all B-grade Holders?”

Just as all Holders have differing ranks, the clan also divides recruits into ranks when selecting new clan members.

Among them, the interview Kang Juyeon was currently observing was for new B-grade clan members.

That could be seen from the location of the interview being the ‘Forest Covered by Snakes’.

However, Kwon Oh-jun heavily shook his head at her question.

“Even B-grades need to be decent B-grades to be useful. The majority are just Holders with the exterior of B-grades who don’t even know how to properly utilize their runes.”

Not all B-grade Holders are the same.

There were clearly gaps even among them.

Kang Juyeon herself had also spent her time as a rookie B-grade when she first entered the academy, and now many years later, she was reaching a mature stage.

But it seemed like the selected applicants this time were mostly rookie B-grade Holders like that.

“My lady. Isn’t there another kid like Do Jae-hyun? Without him and you leaving, Hunting Team 5 just can’t operate properly. Ah, really…”

Kang Juyeon felt strangely happy at his complaint for some reason.

The two months that Do Jae-hyun was active as a team member.

Even though he was just an intern, it seemed like he had fulfilled his role well.

It looked like that time had left quite an impressive memory on Hunting Team 5 as well.

She felt a bit proud as the person who had recommended him.

“But Jae-hyun… is a C-grade.”

Kang Juyeon was startled by the way she addressed him herself for a moment but…

Fortunately, none of the clan members noticed.

“That kid isn’t just a C-grade. He only lacks results, but his skills surpass most early B-grades. He was never lacking in getting work done.”

At that, Cho Gyu-hyuk, who was listening as well, smiled and spoke.

“Well, we did secure one talent, someone who seems like they could reach A-grade soon.”

“That kid is just too overwhelming. The other Hunting Teams will be coveting him too. We got pushed out and couldn’t recruit him…”

At that conversation, Kang Juyeon nodded her head.

“Who is… that person?”

“Ah. My lady might know her as well. Yoon Ji-ah, she’s a 3rd year student graduating soon from the academy…”

‘…Yoon Ji-ah?’

At that familiar name, Kang Juyeon tried to think back.

Ssssshhhhh-!!

Woooowoong!!

A monster appeared before the applicants preparing to hunt at the river by the dungeon entrance.

An electric eel with the speed of lightning that Hunting Team 5 had encountered before.

A B-grade monster, Electrophorus.

“Team 1, prepare for battle!”

A sharp voice rang out through the forest.

It was a female Holder holding a staff in the back, preparing magic.

And…

Kang Juyeon recognized her face.

‘..The vice president of the Circle.’

Yoon Ji-ah.

She was Kang Juyeon’s senior from the academy who had been the president of the <Flame Dance> Circle and was now the vice president of the <Anti-Villain> Circle.

She was originally famous as a skilled Holder within the academy, but she wasn’t a particularly interesting person to Kang Juyeon.

She was just…

One senior she got to know after becoming infatuated with the <Anti-Villain> Circle started by Do Jae-hyun…

Nothing more.

Yet that same person was calmly giving out orders among the clan applicants she teamed up with.

“Mages…”

Kang Juyeon muttered softly as she watched.

The party leader role is taken up by a Mage.

It was a rare sight in a typical Holder party.

At her bewilderment, Cho Gyu-hyuk smiled and nodded his head.

“It’s unique. Yoon Ji-ah isn’t just an outstanding applicant in terms of skill, but she’s also demonstrating excellent leadership in preparing for combat and leading the party.”

Kwon Oh-jun also watched with great interest as he continued.

“Take a good look, my lady. That lady might be able to handle fire better than you someday.”

Ssssshhhhh-!!

Woooowoong-!!

A total of four Electrophorus charged at Yoon Ji-ah’s team.

“Warriors team, take the monsters on the sides! All rear support focus your attacks on the front monster!”

As the monsters approached, Yoon Ji-ah’s voice grew faster.

“Recovery team, apply a slow debuff!”

“Uh, me?”

“Yes! To the monster furthest in the back!”

At the precise orders, the party members moved in perfect unison.

Each devotedly took on the role given to them, and the attacks containing the full force of the rear support rained down on the Electrophorus in front.

Thanks to that, the party members were able to focus on combat without panic despite being outnumbered by monsters compared to the tank.

‘They’re good.’

Kang Juyeon also quietly nodded her head.

The leadership was definitely outstanding.

Despite it being Kang Juyeon’s first time seeing a Mage take the party leader role, the party members followed her words without a peep.

It meant she had already earned the favor and trust of her team members before combat even began.

That alone was worth passing points from the interviewers, and her original capabilities were also exceptional.

She was the best of the B-grade Holders.

Her abilities gave the impression that she was right at the threshold of A-grade.

…And to top it off.

“Rain down.”

An ‘Oration’ flowed out of Yoon Ji-ah’s mouth.

The prerequisite to casting an Ultimate Skill.

B-grade Holder Yoon Ji-ah was a complete Holder who even knew how to utilize Ultimate Skills.

As large fireballs rained down from the sky…

The already settling situation came to an end.

Interview Team 1, which succeeded in perfectly hunting down four Electrophoruses without any major injuries.

The undisputed contributor was none other than the party leader, Yoon Ji-ah.

“Yes, yes. As expected, well done.”

Kwon Oh-jun clapped his hands as he sang praises.

Certainly, the battle just now was a perfect battle that deserved full points.

“What do you think, my lady? A Mage who can handle fire that well… doesn’t it stimulate you?”

Kwon Oh-jun subtly asked, seemingly wanting to stimulate her no matter what…

To be honest, it wasn’t very inspiring.

If she had felt inferior to top Holders, she should have felt that towards her father first.

Kang Juyeon answered without much change in expression.

“It’s good when skilled clan members join.”

“I guess… you’re right. Hrmm.”

Kwon Oh-jun’s gaze turned back towards where the battle had taken place.

Then, as if he was about to let out praise again, he stroked his chin and mumbled.

“Ah… I suddenly want to see her and that Do Jae-hyun kid fight together. If those two teamed up, it would be absolutely amazing. What a waste, a shame. If both of them were on Hunting Team 5, our team would be top for results…”

Startled-.

Kang Juyeon, who had been absentmindedly watching the applicants…

This time, reacted to Kwon Oh-jun’s words.

‘The two of them?’

From his position, those were just thoughtless words, but…

In reality, the two did have a close public relationship.

The president and vice president of the <Anti-Villain> Circle.

Student Holders leading the top ranks of the same Circle.

Perhaps because of that, an image of the two joining forces against <Villain> began to form in Kang Juyeon’s mind as well.

And that image was unexpectedly…

Quite fitting.

“My lady? Why the look, all of a sudden?”

“…….”

And in Kang Juyeon’s quiet heart.

A small flame began to kindle.

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