Even Today, the Ranker Dreams of Retirement

In truth, Kang Taeseo arrived at Ullim International High School a little later than the Chae siblings.

The reason Kang Taeseo volunteered to come instead of another Apostle was simple.

‘If the others came, they’d discover Hyun Habin’s existence right away.’

If one of Errata’s close associates came to Ullim International High School, it would only be a matter of time before they learned about Hyun Habin. After all, she was the face Errata had ordered them to find.

‘There’s no need for them to know right now.’

He wanted to delay it as long as possible.

‘Is Hyun Habin really a prophet or the Guardian of Deception?’

Kang Taeseo still didn’t know about that part.

What was certain, however, was that if Hyun Habin turned out to be the Guardian of Deception, all his plans would fall apart.

‘I need time to think.’

If Hyun Habin wasn’t the Guardian of Deception, it would be even better for her well-being to avoid getting entangled with the likes of Errata and Minor Patch.

Those guys would attack first and ask questions later, without even verifying the truth.

It was characteristic of the other Apostles he knew to kill a threatening Hyun Habin first and then go, “Oops? She wasn’t the one? Sorry!”

So before that could happen, it would be better for Kang Taeseo to find the real Guardian of Deception.

If the real Guardian of Deception appeared, interest in Hyun Habin would fade. They’d just assume there had been a flaw in the lottery and move on.

The other problem was…

‘If Hyun Habin really is the Guardian of Deception…’

“……”

Kang Taeseo frowned with a troubled expression.

‘Let’s think about that when the time comes.’

Anyway, it was better for Kang Taeseo to come to Ullim International High School. Whether Hyun Habin was the real Guardian of Deception or not.

‘And from now on, let’s avoid running into Hyun Habin as much as possible.’

If he got close to her, Errata’s radar might pick up on Hyun Habin.

That’s why Kang Taeseo hadn’t encountered Hyun Habin since coming to the school. Instead, he had to meet with Fides and the Chae siblings.

“…What brings you here?”

Fides asked in a guarded tone. Kang Taeseo always felt that Fides’ reactions towards him were strangely sharp. Sometimes he even got the feeling that Fides might know all about his double life.

‘That can’t be…’

If he knew, would he let him live like this? If it were Kang Taeseo, he would have silently killed anyone suspicious in this situation.

Kang Taeseo gave an ordinary reason.

“The Ministry of Education recommended it. And when I heard Solaris was participating, I couldn’t miss out.”

Solaris and Caligo, living up to their nickname as the two wings of Korea, cooperated in many areas but also maintained a competitive relationship.

They needed to recruit better Hunters to build their guilds, which inevitably led to fierce recruitment competition within Korea.

“I plan to sponsor students I find promising as a teacher under Caligo’s name.”

There was a particular buzz this time about an S-rank minor Awakened appearing for the first time in five years. Due to the uproar over this year’s Ullim International High School valedictorian being S-rank, the public had already speculated that Solaris and Caligo’s simultaneous appointment at Ullim International High School was related to this.

‘Solaris and Caligo’s tug-of-war over recruiting the S-rank student!’

‘Who is the legendary freshman that Solaris and Caligo are even becoming teachers to recruit?!’

Of course, Kang Taeseo wasn’t interested in the valedictorian at all. However, it served as a good pretext. The Solaris side had asked about it too.

“We didn’t expect Caligo to come as well.”

Chae Jise spoke with a warm smile. Despite her gentle tone, her nuance was clear.

“I came to see the rumored S-rank student.”

“I see.”

That excuse was enough for Chae Jise to let it go without further questions. It was convenient for Kang Taeseo to avoid troublesome inquiries.

In the end, Kang Taeseo decided to keep a low profile at this school. Especially avoiding Hyun Habin. Fortunately or unfortunately, Hyun Habin’s side also didn’t bother to come see Kang Taeseo. No, it was beyond not seeking him out; she didn’t even seem to care if he was there.

‘…Did she not hear that I came?’

Even though someone she knew had come to the same school as a teacher. Wasn’t she even curious?

He felt a little, just a tiny bit, that way.

‘It’s better not to meet.’

There’s nothing good that can come from meeting now.

Hyun Habin’s side had already rejected joining Caligo, and they didn’t even demand the training institute attendance records, so there really shouldn’t be any reason to get involved.

Kang Taeseo looked around the teacher’s research room assigned to him. Ullim International Magic School provided each teacher with their own research room to support curriculum development and magic research for students.

Knowing that Fides and the Chae siblings would be watching, Kang Taeseo planned to quietly stay in his research room during his time here.

“You’ll have to go around instead.”

-Meow?

“You can do simple reconnaissance, right?”

Kang Taeseo asked the round monster he had grown accustomed to. The monster was sucking on a fruit candy placed on the research room table.

-Meow… Meoow…

Judging by its gloomy attitude, it didn’t seem very willing.

“You still have to do it.”

Kang Taeseo added firmly.

If it can’t even do simple reconnaissance, this shadow monster is truly useless. Taeseo put a necklace item with recording capabilities on the monster. This way, even if they couldn’t communicate, he could check what the monster had seen.

“Don’t be too surprised if you see Hyun Habin.”

-Meow? (That woman?)

“She’s not dangerous.”

-Meow! Meow! (Liar! You’ve been deceived by that woman!)

The black monster threw a tantrum. Kang Taeseo placated it indifferently.

“She’s actually nice if you get to know her.”

-Meow! (Being nice and being scary are different things! I’m scared when I see that woman!)

“I wonder if it actually understands…”

Leaving the monster tapping on the desk by itself, Kang Taeseo fell into thought.

‘That appearance is too conspicuous right now.’

If someone discovered a round, black lump rolling down the corridor meowing, they might immediately judge it as a monster and kill it.

‘To move around without restrictions, a more approachable appearance than a round lump would be better.’

Having finished his thought, Taeseo gestured as if he’d made a decision. The round monster’s appearance smoothly changed.

A black cat with soft fur.

-Meow!

Surprised by its transformation, the monster peered curiously at its newly formed tail and paws.

-Mee! Meow!

After initially feeling unfamiliar, the monster seemed to finally adapt to its new body, trying to catch its own tail and rolling around on the sofa. It looked quite excited.

Watching this, Kang Taeseo said,

“Change your cry too. Cats don’t meow like that.”

-Meow! Meow! Meow! Meoooow! (Don’t ruin my individuality! I’ve been meowing like this since birth!)

“……”

It seemed to have no intention of changing.

◆◇◆◇◆

‘…It was so stubbornly useless back then.’

But it seems it had no choice in front of Hyun Habin.

-Meow, meoow…

Kang Taeseo now watched the black monster desperately pretending to be a cat, cautiously eyeing Hyun Habin’s touch.

-Meooow! Meoow!

‘Now it’s meowing quite convincingly like a cat.’

-Me, meooow!

The black monster, trying its best to act like a cat, stretched languidly and even swished its tail. It even rolled over exposing its belly without hesitation when touched, and readily offered its paw pads.

‘Cats don’t usually show their bellies like that…’

Kang Taeseo frowned slightly at the inaccurate portrayal.

“Taeseo, what’s this little one’s name?”

Habin asked. Kang Taeseo, distracted by the monster’s clumsy acting, unconsciously gave a familiar name.

“…Kkamang-i.”

-Meow? Meow? Meoooow? (K-Kkamang-i? Kkamang-i?! Human, I am a shadow born in the Demon King’s office! I cannot accept such a thoughtless name!)

Thump thump!

Kkamang-i, seemingly offended, immediately launched into a flurry of cat punches towards Taeseo.

Taeseo ignored it without much reaction. But Habin’s response to those words was peculiar.

“Kkamang-i…?”

Habin’s hand, which had been reaching towards the cat, paused.

“That’s the name of the cat you saved before, isn’t it?”

“……”

“Now that I look at it, the black fur… does look similar.”

After a brief silence, Habin added with a sheepish expression.

“Ah, if I’ve brought up any unpleasant memories, I’m sorry!”

“……”

Kang Taeseo didn’t answer. Kkamang-i was indeed a cat that Kang Taeseo had found before, as Habin said. The incident where he had rushed to an animal hospital trying to save a sick cat.

He didn’t expect Hyun Habin to remember that.

“It’s fine.”

Kang Taeseo shook his head.

The time he spent taking care of the black cat after its treatment, bringing it home… If he had to say, those were among the few good memories he had left.

Of course, it probably doesn’t mean much now. That Kkamang-i died long ago.

“This Kkamang-i is so cute too! Really gentle.”

It’s like a dog in a cat’s body!

Habin asked while gently stroking the new Kkamang-i’s head.

“Oh, is this one neutered?”

-Meow…? (N-neutered?!)

Kkamang-i hesitated at the ominous word. Seeing it slowly backing away, Habin added,

“Come to think of it, is this one male or female?”

-Me, meow! Meow! (A shadow doesn’t have a gender, human!)

Kkamang-i hissed defensively.

‘When did it learn to hiss?’

“…It’s neutered.”

Kang Taeseo quickly answered, perhaps worried that Hyun Habin might examine Kkamang-i more closely.

‘Since it’s a shadow and neither male nor female, let’s just say it’s congenitally neutered.’

-Meow! (Well done, human!)

While Kkamang-i was meowing excitedly, Chae Jiseok, who had been quietly observing nearby, said with an intrigued expression,

“I didn’t know you had a pet cat…”

“Oh, right? I didn’t see it when I visited Taeseo’s place last time!”

Hearing that, Habin also raised her head with a curious expression. Taeseo smoothly made up an excuse.

“…I brought it home recently.”

“I see! If you suddenly brought it home, did you rescue this one too? Found it on the street? Chosen by fate?”

Habin patted Kkamang-i, adding with a pleased expression,

“Kkamang-i is so lucky! It found a good butler.”

-Meow? Meow? Meoooow! (What? What did you say? Absolutely not! That guy is a stupid, frustrating idiot!)

Kkamang-i jumped up and flailed around, expressing its indignation at those words. Habin tilted her head at the intense reaction.

“Why did it suddenly get upset? Is something uncomfortable?”

Or maybe it’s hungry?

“Ah!”

Habin nodded as if she’d just thought of something.

“Kkamang-i, do you like Churu?”

-Meow?

Habin reached into her inventory. Two Churu treats came out with her hand.

“I’m so glad I bought these just in case!”

She had bought them planning to feed Churu to Cerby and other feline magical beasts the next time she went to Kill Screen.

“Taeseo, is it okay if I give Kkamang-i some Churu?”

Habin first asked Kang Taeseo for permission. Taeseo nodded as if to say do as you please.

-Meow, meow…? (Churu? What’s that?)

Just as Kkamang-i tilted its head in confusion, Habin tore open the Churu packet.