Exactly two weeks had passed by since the Exhibition got under way.

And, as if to completely mock Sae-Jins initial worries of Will the public shake off their fear and unite for something as unimportant as picking new members for his Guild?, the whole thing continued on, while proving to be a roaring success in the process.

Now, the new worries were of people shaking off too much fear, and the excessively united solidarity of the citizens was rapidly changing into a problem instead.

Why didnt the fans stop at praising the candidates they liked, and found a need to irritate and attack others, too? Sae-Jin just couldnt understand it. But whatever the case may have been, 15 Knights and 15 Wizards, for a total of 30 participants were finalised.

And here on out, these people were to engage in things like physical battles between Knights, and magic competition between Wizards, and steal points from other contestants.

This is beyond the level of simple chaos, you know? Even in the Dawn, everyone is talking about this only. (Yu Sae-Jung)

While a refreshing smile was pasted on her face, Yu Sae-Jungs eyes were watching the TV, her right hand moved the mouse connected to the notebook PC, and finally, with her left hand, she was busy sending text messages via her smartphone.

It was a near-miraculous multi-tasking.

By the way, Sae-Jung Why are you so busy? (Sae-Jin)

Uh? Ah, well, Im quite busy lately just as much as you, Oppa. See, since Oppa doesnt wanna hang out with me no~ more, I was forced into discovering the importance as well as the joy of socialising. So, I went to lots of gatherings and stuff, and well, its like, people are really curious right now just what will be the next test, internally whom we are rooting for, that sort of stuff. (Yu Sae-Jung)

..Oh, really?

Sae-Jin sneakily shifted his eyes and looked at her phones display. Really, endless stream of messages were popping up on a group chat room she was participating in. However, the name of the chat room was The Dawn Knights Order 1st Team Super Elites Meet. Although it was a rather childish title, 1st Team was usually made up of the core fighting force of the Knights Order, so it wasnt a baseless boasting at all.

!

It was then, the eyes of the Wolf sharply gleamed. It was not because of the group chat, though no, it was because of a private messaging box floating on the middle of the phones display that popped up just as he sneaked a glance while Yu Sae-Jungs attention was turned towards him.

[Kim Jung-Ho: Miss Sae-Jung, whatcha doing?]

Even with a quick glance, that was a guys name; on the profile pic, even an image of a guy prominently on display, and to cap it off, those words that would be interpreted as that guy havinginterestin her, regardless of who read it

Thats a man. (Sae-Jin)

A cold voice leaked out of Sae-Jin before he noticed it. Yu Sae-Jung tilted her head in a slight bafflement.

.Eh?

That. That guy, on the phone. Thats a man, isnt it? (Sae-Jin)

Sae-Jin pointed at the phone. But, by then, the alert for receiving a PM had come and gone.

Her eyes followed his pointing finger, then her brows narrowed slightly.

What the. You were sneaking a look at my phone? (Yu Sae-Jung)

What do you mean, sneaking? I can see it plainly in the open. (Sae-Jin)

Oh, man. You dont let me see your phone no matter what, yet you look at mine without permission? (Yu Sae-Jung)

p>

She puffed her cheeks in a show of annoyance. However, he didnt have the leeway to mind that right now. Still, she did look quite adorable while doing that, so he patted her head anyways.

No, wait. You just received a text from a guy, see. And he was definitely flirting with you. (Sae-Jin)

This is a group chat, so no idea what you are talking about Wait, Oppa doesnt know what a group chat is? You know, group chat rooms. Thats where a group of people converse by sending text messages (TL: Well, some of you might think theres something a bit strange here, but thats because Yu Sae-Jung is using the abbreviated form for group chat room in Korean . The last one, she says it in full. Group chat room in Korean is . And I tried to TL as literally as possible. This is the result)

Kim Sae-Jins forehead creased up deeply. Was she treating him like an 80-year old or something?

I know what a group chat is, okay? But that message wasnt part of the group chat, but a private message. I saw it. (Sae-Jin)

.Mm?

Her face wavered in dazement. Sae-Jin didnt miss this chance and extended his hand out quickly.

His purpose was to forcibly kidnap, the aim being her phone.

However, she swiftly hid the phone behind her back.

Her reaction speed was really fast. But that only fanned the flames of suspicion, instead.

Sae-Jins brows quivered in dissatisfaction.

Give me that. Why arent you giving it to me? (Sae-Jin)

Wait, just wait for a second, okay? This, this isnt what Oppa thinks (Yu Sae-Jung)

That is why Im telling you to hand it over. Hey, why did that guy call you Miss Sae-Jung? (Sae-Jin)

Hes the son of Jaesung Groups VP. Because hes the last born, he cant inherit the family business. So he focused on being a Knight, and now, hes a High Tier with the Raven Order, and his future prospects are really promising (Yu Sae-Jung)

Yu Sae-Jung began spouting gibberish with a reddened face.

No, you dont have to read out his resume. Just give me the phone. (Sae-Jin)

R, really, its nothing important, really. Oppa also sometimes message Hazeline Unni, right? Its like that. (Yu Sae-Jung)

What?

Suddenly, he got really furious. The messages he sent to Hazeline now and then were.

Damn it, this is what they call double standard, isnt it?(TL: the author used a popular Korean abbreviation/slang word which can be literally TLed into: When I do it, its romance, but when others do it, its cheating. You probably can see why I omitted that and used double standard instead)

Sae-Jin held his breath back and calmed himself down, before slowly continuing on with his words.

Youre right. It could also be like that. However, heres the thing. Does that guy know you and I are in a relationship? (Sae-Jin)

Hazeline was acting in that way even though she knew this fact. However, she had the sort-of suitable excuse of Elves being hopeless in love, so what did this guy, Kim Jung-Ho, has for one?

Hearing his question, Yu Sae-Jung rolled her eyes over and over as if she was trying to think of something, but eventually, spat out a lengthy sigh and murmured her reply.

No. He doesnt know. (Yu Sae-Jung)

She utilised the moment of Sae-Jin freezing up in shock and poured out the rest of the story.

Well, within our Knights Order, not many people know of us living together. (Yu Sae-Jung)

..But, how come?

Thats because we havent officially announced it. (Yu Sae-Jung)

But, anyone with even half a brain should know by now. Weve been living together for so long now. No, wait. Fine, some people might not know, thats true, but didnt you say hes the last born from a big Chaebol family? So how can he not know? (Sae-Jin)

Yu Sae-Jung smirked slightly. Of course, within certain circles of reporters, her living together with Sae-Jin was already an open secret. But since almost all of them kept their mouths shut real tight, not even those commonly-seen office memos circulated. After all, being frowned upon by The Monster and the Dawn was buying a one-way ticket straight to career suicide.

Ng. He doesnt know. Its like hes been abandoned by his family, you know. Hes a really pitiable guy in that regard. People within the Knights Order think the same, too its like, were close siblings, an older brother and a younger sister. Except for Mister Joo Ji-Hyuk, though. (Yu Sae-Jung)

Really? No, there is no way thats the case. That guy most likely knows of our relationship already. No matter howabandonedhe is by his family, the big corporation (Sae-Jin)

Here. Here, why dont you take a look? Look first before you judge. (Yu Sae-Jung)

As if she thought Sae-Jin had softened enough now, Yu Sae-Jung handed over her phone quite easily.

Look, look. Its really nothing like I told you. (Yu Sae-Jung)

If Sae-Jin was a man possessing generosity that was as wide as open seas and endless rivers, then he might have returned the phone back to her while saying, No, I believe in you, with a firm, dignified, yet considerate voice.

But, well, open seas and rivers are just too small to contain a Leviathan, though. (Sae-Jin)

..What are you even talking about? (Yu Sae-Jung)

He muttered some incomprehensible excuse and checked the contents on the smartphone.

[Miss Sae-Jung, you coming to todays business conference?] (13th February, 10:03 AM)[Nope. Why should I go there?] (13th February, 09:43 PM)[Haha, is that so? I cant go there, even though I want to] (13th February, 09:45 PM)

== (Similar types of messages continue. Omitted by the author. No, really.)

[Kim Jung-Ho: Miss Sae-Jung, whatcha doing?] (4th March, 06:33 PM)

Sae-Jin found Yu Sae-Jungs defenses quite satisfactory. However, why on earth was this fool, Kim Jung-Ho, being so persistent? While he was concentrating on the phone, Yu Sae-Jung moved her agile, cat-like hands swiftly and snatched away his phone instead.

Im gonna look at Oppas phone, too. (Yu Sae-Jung)

In that moment, Sae-Jin froze up like a statute. Thankfully, though, he hadnt had much contact with women of late.

Even Hazeline stayed away, too. As if she became conscious of her actions, other than leaving comments such as Photo came out nicely on images he uploaded on his Insta*ram account every now and then, she did not make one single attempt to call him up for personal matters.

Hmm, hmm. Yep. Good. (Yu Sae-Jung)

Finishing her inspection in less than three minutes, Yu Sae-Jung put his phone down, quite pleased by the result. Then, she slid into Sae-Jins embrace quite comfortably.

Ah, thats right. Oppa, why didnt that Wizard from Bangbae-Dong become a candidate? (Yu Sae-Jung)

Mm?

No, I mean, doesnt he have a good relationship with us? He did give us all of his grimoires and stuff, too. I hear that the reason for the participating Wizards being so hands-on during the contest is because they wanna enter The Monsters members-only library, the only one in the world where the full set of his grimoires are being kept in one place. Also, didnt he release the grimoire number 25 not too long ago?

Two days ago, the Wizard of Bangbae-Dong published the grimoire number 25. It did incite the predictably-explosive reaction, but unfortunately for everyone, the only place this book was displayed, was The Monsters members-only library.

The reason why it hadnt found a home in other Wizard Towers yet, was because of the truly intense behind-the-scenes battle going on at the moment. Besides the excessive attempts at suppression, simple threats of exposing ones corrupt dealings if one did not give up trying to purchase the grimoire were thrown around, and even some local Wizard Towers lobbied the government to expel the members of overseas Wizard Tower representatives from the country

And Sae-Jin wasnt aware of such vulgar, disgusting, and desperate warfare happening beneath the surface.

Ah, the Wizard of Bangbae-Dong? (Sae-Jin)

Ng. Id like to meet him at least once. (Yu Sae-Jung)

Yu Sae-Jung spoke to him with a bright smile on her face.

Seeing her totally oblivious and quite adorable smile, Sae-Jin made up his mind, his lips quivering a little. It seemed that, the time to tell her the truth about this Wizard persona had arrived. She knew that his Trait was him transforming into the Leviathan. She also knew that he could borrow the Leviathans powers while he was human, as well.

The Wizard of Bangbae-Dong, is me. (Sae-Jin)

Ng?

After a lengthy silence, Yu Sae-Jung asked back with a dazed face.

What? What do you mean by that? The name of the Bangbae-Dong Wizard is Meh? (Yu Sae-Jung)

He thought she was joking, but her expression and the tone of voice were serious. Sae-Jin broke out in a hearty laughter and shook his head.

Hahaha. No, I am the Wizard of Bangbae-Dong. You havent noticed at all? (Sae-Jin)

Uh, uh. What did you say?! But, but how!! Youre lying!! (Yu Sae-Jung)

Utterly shocked out of her mind, Yu Sae-Jung jumped around wildly, then she grabbed his shoulders and shook him hard.

Think about it carefully, now. The Leviathan is a creature of magic. And why would the Wizard of Bangbae-Dong, who had no contact with us, give us the grimoires? (Sae-Jin)

.OMG. (TL: LOL, the raw doesnt say that, but I inserted that in. The raw is literally one word: Hul. It has no meaning other than to express ones shock.)

Within Yu Sae-Jungs eyes and mouth that couldnt get any wider, astonishment filled up. Although this was quite similar to when he confessed to being the Orc Blacksmith, the shock she received seemed to be far greater this time around.

However, she recovered not too long after, and then began calculating potential profit and losses.

O, Oppa, in that case, can you let the Dawn keep the grimoires of Bangbae-Dong Wizard? You know, right? That weve been working hard to establish a Wizard Tower for a while now. (Yu Sae-Jung)

..What the heck, thats all? You arent gonna be shocked anymore? (Sae-Jin)

Huh? Ah! No, Im really, stupefyingly stunned right now! Woo-wah!! Woooooowsers!!! Oppa, youre so amaaaaazing!! Really! (Yu Sae-Jung)

Seeing her like this, using hands and feet to express how stunned she was, she seemed definitely a lot more vibrant and cheerful than in the past. Comparing the first time he met her to her of now, it was to the point of him feeling a huge sense of change from her.

Oppa is so handsome, and his body is so buff, and he can make such nice weapons, and now, he can even use magic so nicely, too (Yu Sae-Jung)

Yu Sae-Jung dug deeper into his arms while whispering in a pity me, please type of voice. Sae-Jin stared at her dumbfoundedly, before a slight smirk crept up on his lips.

Lets do it this way. Divide the shares of the Wizard Tower between the Dawn and The Monster. With that, not only the grimoires will be furnished in their entirety, but even the Wizards name will be associated with the Tower. (Sae-Jin)

The negotiation began in earnest.

Yu Sae-Jungs eyes shook imperceptibly.

..Huh? But, but why? Why? That doesnt make sense at all The Monster didnt even help out when the Dawns been trying to set up a Wizard Tower until now. (Yu Sae-Jung)

But Ill be helping out with this, right? And itll also be a huge help, too. The grimoires of the famed Wizard, plus his name on top. With that, as soon as the Tower gets off the ground, Im pretty sure itll become arecognisedTower right away. (Sae-Jin)

.

Around three seconds of silence later, she sneakily slipped out from his embrace, took her phone, and made a call to someone.

Sae-Jin leisurely waited for the other sides opinion.

***

The middle of March. The martial contest between Knights and the magic competition between Wizards, that drew in over 40,000 live audience per match, finally came to a conclusion.

Kim Yu-Rin recorded an overwhelming 14 victories and zero defeats within the Knight category, while on the magic category, an unknown Elf Wizard named Emil Rerheu recorded the same overwhelming record as well.

Through various other tests such as defeating Monsters, contribution to the good of public interest, game show-like battle of common knowledge, etc, etc, twenty candidates out of remaining thirty got disqualified. And those who got disqualified, while leaving behind GIFs of themselves looking remorseful, discontent or furious one Wizard even broke down and cried his eyes out disappeared to where they came from.

Kim Sae-Jin then decided to have an one-on-one interview with the ten remaining candidates. He wanted to weed out bad characters, of course, and the broadcaster also wished to capture the process as well.

Pleasure to meet you, Wizard Emil Rerheu. (Sae-Jin)

Me too, its a nice pleasure~.

The first interviewee happened to be the Wizard, Emil Rerheu. He sensed a somewhat dangerous and insidious aura coming from her, but Sae-Jin decided not to judge too prematurely.

The scores for common knowledge is zero?! Reading up on the follow-up words of the judges, this is on the level of a primate or a reptile It seems that, you havent studied a lot until now? (Sae-Jin)

He deliberately threw out the sensitive topic first while activating the Eyes of the Wolf. He was trying to see into this Wizards heart and her personality.

..And what crappy thing are you trying to pull here? (TL: Guess who?)

She smirked refreshingly, before emitting a bit of Mana all around her, destroying every single camera installed in the interview room.

What the!! (Sae-Jin)

Id prefer you stop looking at me with those disgusting eyes. I mean, I came all the way here just to negotiate, yet youre making me want to kill you right now, you know.

Along with thick killing intent, the outer skin of the Elf Emil Rerheu melted down like a dough.

And the person revealed was Prillani Bathory.

Sae-Jin couldnt help but admire her perfect disguising technique. Really, did this mean that the queen in the state of perfection could even fool the senses of the Wolf?

Hello, kid. Been a while. (Bathory)

Bathory lightly tapped on his neck as she spoke. Right away, the interior of the room darkened and got separated from the rest of the world.

..Uh-whew. Yeah, it has been a while. Another isolation barrier? (Sae-Jin)

Unlike his relaxed exclamation, his heart was beating like crazy in his chest.

Yo. You dont have to tense up so much. I came here to cooperate with you, after all. (Bathory)

Cooperate? (Sae-Jin)

Thats right. (Bathory)

At Kim Sae-Jins still confused face, Bathory showed a cheeky smile.

You see, Ill help you kill the Vampire Lord. How about it? (Bathory)

What.?! (Sae-Jin)

Sae-Jins consciousness shook for a moment after seeing her smile. But that was all. Several alert windows indicating that Skills had been activated popped into his view one after the other, instead.

[The unique Skill, The Most Pure Divine Body has activated.] [Bathorys ultra-high grade Seduction magic has been resisted!] [A part of the Seduction magic has been reflected back to the original caster!]

Immediately, her brows quivered ever so slightly. The alert windows informed him of the reason. However, Sae-Jin maintained his poker face and tilted his head.

Whew-woo

So, this new Skill helped him out in this manner. Sae-Jin let out a silent sigh of relief while checking out the information window for The Most Pure Divine Body.

[The Most Pure Divine Body]

The hosts body will be purified of all impurities.

Depending on the will of the host, the physical strength of the body can be raised up to a maximum of 1000%. However, the higher the percentage, the shorter the duration.

The Proficiency Level of the Skill, Resistance, will be increased. And as a part of the defense mechanism, certain amount of the resisted magic or physical attack will be reflected back.

Will be applied to all Forms.

< 44. Suspicion and Alliance (2) > Fin.