Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 389 90.2 - Underneath

There were countless different things that could be included in a fantasy game. It all comes into the imagination of the developers as well as their budget for the project.

In this case, one could easily say that <Legacy of Shadows: Hunter's Destiny> was a game that had a huge budget.

The game was vast and contained huge elements of things in the world. Most importantly, all of these elements were in the third-person view.

Contrary to many games with such rich worlds, the game gave the players the chance to taste the combat from a very close perspective.

That alone made the game a top-notch one.

'Yet, now that I think about it, it has always been a strange thing that such a game could be developed in such details with rare loopholes.'

Being in the game world and living as one of the characters….All those things made me think about that.

Especially seeing the woman before me, with the symbol appearing right in her eyes.

'To think that I would see this right now.'

A lot of things happened after I fused with Astron, yet even then, the time passing here wasn't that big. Considering the fact that, right now, in terms of the game's scenario, we would still have been in the first arc.

At this point, it was nearly impossible for the player to come across a person belonging to them, let alone see the logo exactly.

'Since they are rather a group operating deeply and secretly.'

Even at the end of the game, their purpose was not revealed completely. They were an organization that simply existed and did some things with Ethan.

Sometimes, it appears right when the Player feels lost or when the story can no longer move forward.

They were a mysterious organization that was engrained deep into the world. Their motives and leader were unknown.

Their structure and headquarters were unknown. Rarely something was known about them, and there were almost zero clues about them in the game as well.

'Just their name….Only their name…'

One only knew their name….Even that was because there was an event where a member was captured by the InfernalCovenant, and using [Psychic Magic], the name was purged from the consciousness.

But that was only the name.

While those thoughts were wandering in my head, my eyes were locked into the emblem in the woman, Reina's eyes.

It stirred some emotions in me and deeply affected my head. I felt the world spinning just by looking at it as if I was looking at something I shouldn't be.

Countless different threads and voices entered my head in that split second, countless images forming in my head.

It was as if the information was constantly being poured into my head, with overwhelming amounts on top of that.

In general, there was this idea of knowledge being the strongest weapon in the world. While that was certainly true, the same knowledge could also be the tightest rope that one could hang themselves with.

Since, sometimes, it was better to remain unknown.

The information entering my head wasn't something that was fundamentally helpful to me, either. It was rather harmful since it constantly bugged my head, messing with my thoughts.

Yet, who was I?

A mere information is not something that can defile my head.

'Slow down.'

While researching the [Psychic Magic], I came to the realization that mana could be used not only in spells but also in the mind itself. Though it was just a thought, I tried something.

'Mind Palace.'

Creating a palace of memories and sorting them according to a specific order. A mental institute is one that one creates so that one can use one's brain with the utmost efficiency.

It was a psychological technique without any supernatural forces involved. But then what would happen if mana was involved?

The result was clear.

'The information is being sorted out.'

Like a digital algorithm storing the data, analyzing it, and then filtering the necessary ones, my mind palace was doing the exact thing.

And in that split second, that wave of information was turned into a dam, only for me to utilize it.

The mystery of the eye was deflected, making me relax.

"It seems you had already understood that your admission to this academy was not simple," And then a voice entered my head.

It was from the woman, Reina.

She had been gauging my reaction for a while now. This was probably another assessment as to how I would react.

Since the way one would react to that Symbol itself would give an insight into their characteristic. Though this knowledge is one of those rarest clues, one could get into this organization.

I only gave a reaction according to the character I wanted to be visualized in Reina's eyes.

"…..Yes…." Giving a slightly dazed response to show that I was in awe and confusion was the first step.

Reina continued, her tone measured and deliberate. A quite professional, yet I could say she was not that adept in using the logo.

'Let's not jump to any conclusion.'

"Your admission to this academy was orchestrated because of your potential. 'They' saw something in you, something that could not be wasted."

She threw a quick glance at Garrett, who remained silent but watchful. "The organization recognized your unique abilities and wanted to cultivate them. They believe that you have the potential to become a significant asset."

That made sense. Even from the start, things related to Astron's admission didn't make the connection. Arcadia Hunter Academy wouldn't accept a person with such a talent, especially when there were countless people waiting to join.

Even though Astron's talent limit was quite high, it wouldn't be enough. Thus, I naturally looked over the past Astron's memories, yet there weren't many clues.

Even during my time on his necklace, I couldn't see anything related to that, not even from my investigations. Hence, I stopped thinking about these things at that time, but now things are starting to reveal themselves.

I nodded, maintaining my facade of awe and confusion. "What do you want from me?" I asked, my voice tinged with the right amount of uncertainty.

Reina's gaze softened slightly, though her expression remained guarded. "Since they saw something inside you, they naturally want you to reach your full potential. And, now that I have directly witnessed your prowess, I can easily say that you have passed the first test."

"Test…."

"Yes. A test. Since they wanted to make sure."

"I see…"

My mind raced as I processed her words. This was an opportunity, albeit a dangerous one.

The organization, with its unknown motives and immense power, saw something in me, or the previous Astron, that they deemed valuable.

'Potential…Fate...Demon's Massacre of village….Her death….'

My head was suddenly overwhelmed.

For a split second, my vision was blurred. The information that I had previously sorted out was now flowing out of the palace as if something inside the palace had opened the gates.

'Urghk-!'

The pain overwhelmed my head for a split second, and then the world turned dark. My vision blurred, and I felt myself slipping away from reality.

In the darkness, a small light began to illuminate the void. It was a crescent moon hanging in the sky, casting a faint glow over everything. As my eyes adjusted, I realized that the ground beneath me was covered in a shallow layer of water, shimmering with bioluminescent noctiluca. The ethereal light of the moon reflected off the water's surface, creating a mesmerizing, almost surreal landscape.

Right under the moon, I saw a faint silhouette of a person. The figure stood still, almost blending with the darkness around it. I squinted, trying to make out any details, but the figure remained elusive, shrouded in mystery.

Before I could make any sense of what I was seeing, a voice echoed in my head. It was ethereal and soothing, yet it felt distant like a whisper carried on the wind.

"....st....k...th...nsw...i.....u....ho....."

The words were cryptic and blurry, their meaning eluding me. I tried to grasp their significance, but the voice faded away, leaving me with more questions than answers.

The figure under the moon remained still, its presence both comforting and unsettling. I felt a strange connection to it as if it held the key to understanding the mysteries that plagued my mind.

Suddenly, the darkness began to lift, and I found myself back in the penthouse, the pain in my head subsiding.

Reina was still standing before me, her expression unreadable, and Garrett remained watchful.

I shook my head slightly, trying to clear the lingering fog from my mind. The cryptic message echoed in my thoughts, but I pushed it aside for now. There were more immediate concerns to address.

"Are you alright?" Reina asked, her tone measured.

"Yes," I replied, regaining my composure. "Just a momentary lapse."

Reina nodded, seemingly satisfied with my response. "Don't worry, it is just a side-effect."

"Side-effect?"

"Oops, I didn't mean to say that."

Seeing a grown woman like her acting like that, I could only roll my eyes.

"..."

"In any case, since you have passed the initial test, I can inform you of what is to come." Turning back into her usual serious face, Reina continued.

"In any case, since you have passed the initial test, I can inform you of what is to come." Turning back to her usual serious demeanor, Reina continued. "After your semester ends, you will be expected to come into the organization during the one-

month holiday. You will start as a trainee."

"What if I refuse?"

"If you refuse…..You will face the consequences." The moment she said that an immense amount of pressure overwhelmed me. She was releasing a strong killing intent.

'For her to have such a strong intent….She is not simple, it seems.'

The woman named Reina…..I will remember it.

"Understood." Since I have no intention of organizing such an organization, I played along.

"Good."

She then reached into her coat and threw a small box toward me. I caught it effortlessly, feeling its weight and shape in my hands.

"That box contains a smartwatch. We will contact you via that, so you should start wearing it from now on," Reina explained.

I opened the box, revealing the watch inside. Its design was... unusual, to say the least. It was a bulky, metallic piece with an overly intricate design that seemed more ornamental than functional. My eyebrows shot up as I examined it.

"Why did you choose this outlook for the watch?" I asked, holding it up.

Reina narrowed her eyes and looked at Garrett, who had been silent the whole time. "It was his choice," she said, her tone carrying a hint of annoyance.

Garrett could only avert his gaze, looking somewhat sheepish. "I thought it looked... good. Isn't this how youngsters like to wear these days?" He mumbled.

'This guy…..Aren't you my guardian? At least remember what kind of things I like….'

I sighed inwardly but decided not to press the issue further. "Alright, I'll wear it," I said, slipping the watch onto my wrist. Despite its cumbersome design, it fits comfortably.

"But I will change the design; it is fine, right?"

"No problem."

Reina gave a curt nod. "Good. Remember, this is just the beginning. Prove yourself, and you will gain access to greater knowledge and power."

She said, slowly leaving.

"But, don't ever disappoint…."

And then she left, leaving me and Garrett alone.

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