The school bell rang, announcing the end of the school day, and students began heading home, while Rico immediately rose from his seat, carrying his bag calmly, having already made his decision.
His goal was clear; to head straight to the principal's office to submit a request for early certificate issuance, as if this step marked a boundary between two phases of his life.
He walked down the hallway alone, his steps quiet, the sound of his shoes scraping the floor flowing amid the fading noise, while his mind was preoccupied with what would happen in the next few minutes.
He stopped in front of the principal's office door and stared at it for a long moment, as if bidding farewell to the last connection tying him to this school.
'Finally… I will leave this school.'
'I will officially become a learner of magic.'
He raised his hand and knocked on the door slowly, then lowered it, waiting for a response.
"Come in." the principal's voice came from inside, slightly loud.
Rico opened the door and entered the office quietly, finding the principal sitting behind his desk, a man in his sixties, his hair completely white, his sharp black eyes piercing, and authority clear despite sitting down.
"What do you want, student?"
"I want to submit a request for early certificate issuance."
The principal froze for a moment, then stared at Rico's face, as if trying to confirm what he heard before recognizing his features.
This is Rico… the weakest student in the school… asking for early certificate issuance?
'Is this a joke?'
"Boy… aren't you Rico?"
"Yes."
Signs of displeasure appeared on the principal's face, and his tone became stricter.
"Boy, you're weak… how can you even submit this request?"
"This request is only for talented students who learned magic quickly and managed to use it against real monsters."
Rico slightly raised his head and replied calmly.
"Principal… I have already become a hunter, and I can use magic."
The principal stared at him further, observing the faint red aura surrounding him, but he was not convinced.
"Are you joking? How can someone like you say that?"
"You can verify with the Black Scorpion Guild."
The principal's tone shifted to clear anger.
"You've taken this joke too far… you claim to be a hunter in a major guild?"
"You can verify." Rico said with full seriousness.
The principal remained silent for a moment, then reached for his mobile phone.
"I know someone important in the guild… I will check now."
"But if it turns out you're joking… the consequences will be severe."
The principal called and held the phone to his ear.
"Hello."
"Hello, Principal, how are you?"
"Good… I need a favor. Can you confirm if there is a hunter named Rico Kisaragi registered in the guild?"
"Okay… one moment."
The principal placed the phone on the desk while still on the call, looking at Rico with a stern expression, as if his gaze carried a clear warning.
Short moments passed that felt longer than they were.
"Principal!" came the voice from the phone.
The principal quickly picked up the phone.
"Did you confirm?"
"Yes… there is indeed a hunter with that name."
The principal's eyes widened, and he looked at Rico in clear shock.
'How…? A high school student… and already a hunter?'
"Principal… are you there?"
"Yes… thank you for your help."
He ended the call slowly, placed the phone on the desk, then reached under the desk and pulled out the approval paper.
He began writing on it while still stunned, thoughts crowding his mind.
'Perhaps… this is the greatest talent this school has ever seen.'
He finished writing, then pushed the paper toward Rico.
"Approved."
Rico took the paper calmly.
"Thank you, Principal."
He turned and left the office, closing the door behind him slowly.
The principal continued looking at the door, shock still clear on his face.
'This young generation… has become abnormal.'
Rico left the school, the gate behind him closing slowly, as if drawing the curtain on a complete phase of his life, a phase that ended without him feeling any real nostalgia.
This was his last day there, and now he had officially become a learner of magic, a simple step outwardly, but the beginning of a completely different path.
He walked through the streets of Seoul, carrying his school bag on his shoulder, his mind preoccupied with the future, with all the battles and tests awaiting him.
One thought kept repeating in his head: raising his level as quickly as possible, for time was no longer on his side, and he knew the path he chose would give him no opportunity to rest.
He longed to return to the Demon World gate and complete it as soon as possible, as if finishing it had become an urgent goal that could not be postponed.
A hidden sense of danger pressed on his chest, for he realized that his future would inevitably lead him to confront S-rank hunters, and that confrontation would not be a choice but an unavoidable destiny.
Suddenly, the weather turned, and heavy rain began to fall, cold drops hitting the ground and roads, then soaking him completely.
He continued walking until he reached a fence overlooking the sea, and stopped there, staring at the crashing waves, while the rain ran over his hair and clothes, soaking him completely.
He slightly raised his head, his sharp eyes glowing with a faint red color, a cold gaze carrying silent determination.
"I wonder… what disasters does the future hold for me?" he said in a low voice, almost lost in the sound of the rain.
Elsewhere, inside the Dragon Guard Guild headquarters in Korea, one of the strongest hunters sat in the dining room reserved for elite hunters.
A massive table before him was filled with various luxurious dishes, yet he ate very slowly, as if food were nothing more than a habit.
His body was muscular, his features handsome, hair brown, and his eyes carried clear coldness, a presence reflecting a power no one dared to question.
He sat alone, for the entire guild contained only one SS-rank hunter.
It was Seong Sung Ho… the strongest hunter in Korea, and the first to reach SS-rank in its history.
The door suddenly opened, and the deputy director entered with a slight bow.
"The director wants you, sir."
Sung Ho slowly raised his eyes, then replied in a cold voice.
"Fine… make him wait."
"As you command."
The deputy left and closed the door behind him.
"Annoying director…" Sung Ho muttered in a tone of displeasure.
Suddenly, an old scene slipped into his mind—a memory of someone dear to him falling helplessly before him, blood spreading around.
His expression changed for a moment, and without realizing, he clenched his fist tightly until the spoon he was holding broke.
'I will avenge you… no matter the cost.'
End of Chapter (21)