HLSEBT - 82

“Doctor! Yoon Taeha has confirmed she received the weapon safely!”

Dawn was breaking, but the research lab was as bright as midday.

The man sitting in his chair leaned back when he heard the news from his subordinate. His pale blue eyes were striking, and his hair—pure white, like freshly spun thread—was immaculate, without a speck of dust.

“And the gift?”

“Ah... She said she’d think about it again.”

“Tsk. It’s not that hard. Why is she playing hard to get?”

“What gift did you ask for?”

“A passport photo of Taeha in her school uniform.”

The subordinate who had approached him remarked that such a request would likely never be granted. Doctor Blue, as the man was called, pouted and grumbled.

“It’s not that difficult!”

“Yoon Taeha is sensitive about photos, you know.”

The employee seemed completely unfazed by Doctor Blue’s otherworldly appearance, which could easily pass for non-human.

Blue eyes glared at him, but the subordinate merely shrugged.

“It’ll be public eventually anyway. Being so picky doesn’t suit her. No charm. Can’t even fetch a decent fish price.”

The employee’s lips twitched momentarily.

“Doctor, you’re really starting to sound like a human now.”

“It’s been seven years since I moved here.”

Doctor Blue preened, running his slender fingers through his pristine white hair.

“Cleaning this hair is such a hassle...”

He ignored his subordinate’s silent lament and continued.

“My intellect and linguistic abilities are on an entirely different plane than yours, so adapting to Earth speech shouldn’t be surprising.”

“Yes, indeed. But just now, you weren’t talking about ‘fish prices’—you meant ‘face value,’ right?”

A flicker of confusion passed through those pale blue eyes. The subordinate seemed to mentally review the history of how he’d been teased by the doctor.

Chuckling, the subordinate corrected himself.

“That is, unless you’re trying to turn Yoon Taeha into a fish. Fish become seafood, after all.”

“Taeha isn’t a fish. What fish could ever be that beautiful? Unless you’re talking about a mermaid princess.”

“Then face value it is.”

“Fine, let’s call it that.”

Doctor Blue skimmed through the report brought by his subordinate—a detailed update on Yoon Taeha’s newly repaired weapon.

“The Shadow of the Abyss is flawless. Naturally, since it’s my masterpiece.”

At the top of the report was the name of the weapon:

〈Shadow of the Abyss〉

“Technically, the Shadow of the Abyss was a collaborative effort, wasn’t it…?”

The pale blue eyes flared with intensity. The subordinate took a cautious step back.

“Yes, of course. But your contribution was the most significant, Doctor.”

“Did you say there’s a new function added?”

“Jet will relay that information.”

“No matter how much I think about it, you people are torturing machine civilization. Aren’t you afraid of a rebellion?”

The employee blinked blankly, clearly having never considered that possibility.

“When the usage footage comes up, bring it to me immediately.”

Doctor Blue waved dismissively, shooing his subordinate out of the room.

________________________________________

Finally, the morning of the evaluation match arrived.

For some, it was a day they had eagerly awaited; for others, it was one they wished would never come. From the early hours, the campus was enveloped in a solemn atmosphere.

The cafeteria, which usually opened at 6 a.m., was open by 4 a.m. Upperclassmen swarmed in, grabbing sandwiches and boxed lunches prepared by the staff.

Since the western shelter wasn’t small, the first day of the evaluation matches was primarily reserved for upperclassmen.

Naturally, the graduating class’s tournament matches were scheduled for the first day as well.

“How many vitamin pills did you take this time?”

“Three. All of them.”

“All of them? What about the later matches?”

“Have you seen our opponents? We can barely handle them once, let alone plan for the future…”

Yoon Taeha, who had only managed to catch a few hours of sleep on her new blanket, wandered around the campus, gathering intel on the students.

“This time, I’m definitely taking down that guy. He’s been getting on my nerves since last time.”

“Just don’t drag me into it. Whether you kill or spare them is your choice, but don’t involve me.”

“You’re irresponsible as a Guide! My enemy is your enemy too, isn’t it?”

“I don’t feel like cheering for someone running wild on their own, you know?”

It seemed the students had each taken amplifiers for their own reasons.

After finishing her early morning stroll, Taeha returned to her dorm room.

She washed herself thoroughly with icy water that felt like it might freeze her skin, dried her hair, and summoned Jet.

“Jet, remind me of the precautions again.”

• Understood. I’ll go over them slowly.

As Taeha listened to the reminders, she changed into her outfit for the evaluation match.

She wore a tight black short-sleeved top and comfortable long pants designed for mobility. Holsters were attached to her waist and thighs for her weapons.

She slipped two extra elastic bands onto her wrists and tied her hair low into a single ponytail. A smartwatch for communication with the school headquarters was secured next.

She didn’t forget to put on her glasses for evidence collection, though they were inconvenient. Today, there was no helping it.

• Good luck today!

“You seem excited.”

-Jet’s simulations show there’s a high probability we’ll obtain crucial evidence today.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

-Me too.

Taeha pulled on the sturdy boots issued by the shelter and stepped out of the dormitory.

Though she hadn’t slept long, her body felt light and refreshed.

________________________________________

The place where she met Cheon Geonyoung was in front of the main stadium.

His attire wasn’t much different from hers, though his clothes looked slightly more uncomfortable than usual.

Taeha deliberately averted her gaze from his broad chest.

“Did you sleep well?”

Cheon Geonyoung asked the question in a calm tone, free of yesterday’s fluster.

“I slept well. Deeply.”

As Taeha emphasized the word “deeply,” their heads both dipped simultaneously. Geonyoung smiled faintly, but the smile quickly vanished, leaving traces of unresolved tension.

The evaluation matches were divided across various locations, with the main stadium at the center.

They blended into the bustling crowd of students, exchanging casual conversation along the way.

Two incidents occurred before they reached their destination.

First, a student’s wristwatch exploded with a loud pop.

Instead of calling for medical help, everyone immediately checked their own and their partner’s watches.

Taeha, with her sharp eyesight, spotted the incident from afar and quickly summoned medical personnel.

“Agh! What’s happening?! My shoes are acting weird!”

“Take them off right now! They’re melting!”

Not long after the watch incident, an Esper collapsed, clutching their foot. It seemed a chemical substance capable of dissolving material had been embedded in the shoe’s sole.

Once again, Taeha was the first to call for medical assistance.

Witnessing these events, Cheon Geonyoung commented in a less-than-pleased tone:

“Quite the flashy start.”

“Our side doesn’t teach sacrifice for teammates first… We’re different.”

Taeha whispered awkwardly, feeling the need to defend herself even though she hadn’t orchestrated the incidents.

After witnessing a few more minor incidents, they arrived at their designated building.

The first person to greet them was Kim Doo-eon.

“Are you two participating in the first round here?”

On his arm was an armband labeled “Safety,” which seemed ready to burst at any moment.

“I have high hopes for you two. That’s fine, right?”

With a friendly smile, Kim guided them personally to the waiting area.

“I can’t reveal the dungeon names, even if you ask. Don’t take it too hard.”

Both already knew the dungeon names, so they simply nodded and moved on.

“If anything unexpected happens, teachers are on standby, so don’t worry. By the way, quite a few agents from ARK have arrived.”

Taeha feigned ignorance and asked:

“From ARK?”

“Yes. Several times more than last year.”

“Isn’t it because of last year’s accident?”

“When have shelters ever been a priority… Ahem. Forget I said that.”

Kim Doo-eon left after a nod, heading to his own post.

The waiting room was filled with anxious students.

Some blatantly drank water laced with amplifiers, a fact everyone knew but chose to ignore. Guides were no exception.

Taeha and Geonyoung waited without drinking a drop of water. When the time came, a concise announcement played over the speakers.

• The first evaluation match will begin. Please check the screens in the waiting room and proceed to your designated location.

After confirming the names on the screen, Taeha glanced at Geonyoung.

“Basement Level 1.”

“That’s right.”

With equally bland responses, the two left the waiting room. Kang Jin-ho and Yeo Pil-joon were nowhere to be seen.

They met Kang Jin-ho and his partner at the central plaza of Basement Level 1. Students regarded everyone except their own partners with suspicion.

Kim Doo-eon, hands resting on his hips, counted the participants.

“Everyone’s here, right? Let’s see… Yes, all accounted for.”

Behind him stood three Espers from ARK and three shelter teachers. Their expressions were as tense as the students’.

Only Kim Doo-eon was smiling.

Behind the adults stood seven arched doors, waiting for the participants. When suspicious sounds echoed from beyond the doors, one Guide visibly shuddered.

“I’ll announce the dungeons you’ll enter. Everyone must be nervous, so let’s make this quick.”

The students urged him on with their eyes.

Taeha subtly turned to gauge Kang Jin-ho’s reaction. As expected, he appeared calm, while Yeo Pil-joon seemed slightly excited.

She knew Kang Jin-ho had been given prior information about the dungeon.

Both she and Geonyoung already knew the dungeon names.

“Kang Jin-ho and Yeo Pil-joon. And Kwon Hee-seong and Jeon Seong-ha. Your dungeon is ‘The Heart of the White Whale.’”

No sooner had Kim Doo-eon finished speaking than the other students audibly sighed in relief.

“Lucky charms worked, huh?”

“Phew, we’re safe…”

The participants themselves didn’t seem particularly surprised. Kim Doo-eon chuckled.

“Were you avoiding this one? The solution is simple, isn’t it?”

“It’s underwater combat.”

One student muttered quietly, but Kim Doo-eon dismissed it as no big deal.

“Let’s hurry inside.”

Kang Jin-ho urged impatiently. Taeha noticed the veins in his arms were more pronounced than usual. Silently, she sighed.