"Could it be that you came to the Academy without even knowing what Ideation is?"

"That's not the case."

"Then you must have doubts about my method of examination."

With that, he suddenly drew his sword. Before the sharp sound could even be heard, his hand was already gripping the blade. A slash so swift it almost seemed like space itself had been cut! Then, with an indifferent face, he uttered something astonishingly matter-of-factly.

"Kill me."

"What?"

"Unleash the best move you can muster. I will judge with my own eyes whether it contains Ideation."

Achilles spoke as if he found the situation intriguing.

[Ho, your stance is well-formed. The man before you is not just an ordinary swordsman. He is one who carries his soul at the tip of his sword.]

"What does that mean?"

[It means he is several levels above you. You won’t die, so attack him with all your might. But never open your eyes. He will likely notice instantly.]

"More importantly, I already use Ideation in my daily life. If he's such a great person, shouldn’t he recognize it immediately?"

[You are likely the only one in the world who can see Ideation with your eyes. Even if you are utilizing Ideation, you are the only one who can perceive it. Manifesting Ideation into reality is an entirely different matter. That swordsman likely wants to gauge your level through your strike, so just do as you’ve learned.]

If he was telling me not to open my eyes, did that mean he was an S-rank Hunter? All I had to do was land a single full-powered strike. As an evaluation method, it seemed excessively simple and crude.

However, when I thought about it further, it actually had its own logic. If there existed a swordsman skilled enough to evaluate an opponent with just one move, then no other method would be as straightforward and efficient.

If my attack impressed him, he would likely hand me the acceptance token he held.

"I need a little time, is that alright?"

"I don’t mind. Just focus on delivering your best move."

A curt personality. The examiner stood motionless, sword in hand. He didn’t even seem to find it odd that I was muttering to myself.

'It feels like he's seeing right through me.'

This was an S-rank Hunter. A presence that could unsettle someone with just their gaze. Still, as long as I had enough time, there was no better situation for a sniper.

'Unlimited preparation time, is it?'

Especially since I was the owner of Asadia, which grew stronger the longer I waited.

I rummaged through my belongings and pulled out a revolver.

Click.

The dull metallic sound rippled briefly through the silent examination hall.

Perhaps because I had drawn a gun, I caught a fleeting shadow of disappointment in his eyes. A momentary flicker of curiosity—or perhaps expectation—vanished instantly.

Instead, an air of indifference, as if he had already foreseen the outcome, settled in its place. It was the look of someone who assumed I wouldn’t be able to accomplish anything.

Of course. Even I would think the same. Where in the world was there a Hunter who fought with a gun? And on top of that, I was blind.

'It’s a shame I can’t open my eyes.'

If I could see the examiner’s status window, I might be able to analyze his thoughts and weaknesses to make the test easier. But it didn’t matter.

I had a plan.

'I’ll just shoot Ideation with the gun.'

I listened to the tremors flowing through the air. I felt the breath of the ground rising from my toes. Even without focusing, every sound permeated my being. To survive in a world without sight, my body had no choice but to adapt and refine other senses.

Perhaps because of that, I had become remarkably adept at handling senses beyond sight.

'Like this, for example.'

Ideation emerged from within me. The will that flowed like blood deep inside me gradually expanded, swallowing the world. Was this what they called synesthesia? It felt as though I had finally glimpsed a hidden aspect of reality.

Sounds seemed to have a taste, and scents translated into touch. All my senses blended together, relaying an entirely new dimension of information to me.

'He said he would assess whether I could wield Ideation, didn’t he?'

Ideation—an amalgamation of consciousness and spiritual energy, a kind of supernatural force.

From what I’d heard, Hunters had to be able to manipulate Ideation to use martial arts or magic. It was said to be the most fundamental prerequisite for moving mana.

However, the way a hero used Ideation was slightly different.

A hero etched their story onto the world, overlaying their soul upon the laws of reality.

Not long ago, when I was learning the fundamentals of Ideation from Achilles, I asked him a question.

"But I don’t have anything that could be called a Saga. I was born blind, abandoned by my parents, and spent my whole life trapped in darkness like a loser."

Achilles simply replied,

[That is enough.]

Somehow, his words struck a chord deep within me.

It was not a gaze filled with pity. Not an avoidance, but an acknowledgment.

For the first time, I felt like someone was truly seeing me.

Throughout my life, I had always been defined by one thing.

"A poor child."

People pitied me just because I was blind. That pity took different forms depending on the situation. Sometimes, when it became inconvenient, people simply ignored me instead. The world was unbearably cold to me, and my existence was nothing more than a disposable tragedy.

But Achilles looked at me directly. He didn’t pity me. Instead, he told me that all my wounds and shortcomings were part of my unique Saga.

'Even this is a Saga, huh.'

I wasn’t just spreading Ideation to perceive my surroundings.

I was going further.

So that the world would respond to my story.

I overlaid myself upon the world.

A reconstruction of the laws of reality so that a fragment of it aligned with my perception.

"Hoo..."

With a short breath, my released narrative merged with Ideation and flowed outward.

Darkness drifted lightly.

‘Maybe because I’ve lived in darkness all my life, its appearance is a bit unsettling.’

It was obviously strange. Too black, too cold, something about it... Just looking at it gave me chills. It was fascinating yet slightly terrifying that something like this could form from my own hands.

‘Well, what can I do? I’ve only ever seen and felt darkness my entire life, so it can’t be helped.’

It was only natural that the bullet I created as a blind person took on such an ominous shape. A bit eerie, perhaps. But at the same time, I felt it suited my alias rather well.

A bullet condensed from darkness.

‘If I had to name it, wouldn’t it be something like Devil’s Bullet or Satan’s Bullet?’

A bullet fired by a Death God—Satan.

Even I had to admit, my naming sense was impeccable.

‘They want to evaluate if I can wield Ideation?’

Then, I would shoot Ideation itself.

A pitch-black bullet formed from Ideation was loaded into the chamber.

Eyes closed, barrel aimed.

My small hand pulled the trigger.

Bang!

The gunshot rang out.

The examination hall was a vast, dome-shaped space. Enormous screens on the walls displayed the test area. At that moment, the screen showed a proctor and a twelve-year-old girl.

The girl was small and looked frail, as if she might break at a mere touch. Moreover, she was blind.

Murmurs in the dome grew louder.

Whispering, muttering, mocking.

"I heard she got a perfect score on the written exam."

"A blind girl surpassing all the promising candidates to take first place in the written portion of the entrance exam? Something absurd must have happened."

"Professor Park Hangyeol must have leaked the questions. Or maybe... they know each other."

"Know each other? Could she be a hidden niece or something?"

"But isn’t she Western? They don’t seem related by blood..."

"Then maybe it’s an improper relationship. I saw her from a distance before; even with her eyes covered, she looked quite cute."

"Heh, you’re insane. Saying such things about a kid."

"Who knows? She might grow up to be a stunning beauty."

Their crude jokes turned into fits of laughter. Even as they scolded each other for crossing the line, their voices dripped with ridicule.

Even at the world's most prestigious academy, strength was the only true measure of value. While it maintained a reputation that attracted talent from all over the world, it also gathered all sorts of human filth—

Arrogant elites born into wealth, pretentious intellectuals distancing themselves from the vulgar crowd, rough street survivors, and outright delinquents.

The scenery painted by this mix was chaotic.

Hidden motives behind laughter, venom within jokes, and piercing gazes filled with hostility.

"Either way, there’s no way that girl will pass the practical exam."

"Exactly. How could a blind girl possibly earn the acceptance token from ‘Blinking Sword’ Kim Seokhun?"

"She’d be lucky if she doesn’t break down in despair."

"She’s bound to hit a wall and give up."

Blinking Sword.

Kim Seokhun.

One of the most renowned S-rank Hunters worldwide. The title of S-rank was not to be taken lightly. Just standing before such an individual was an honor. Even those who lacked the ability to enter the academy applied just to hear a word of advice from its notoriously selective professors.

At that moment, the blind girl fumbled through her pockets.

What she pulled out was a revolver.

Its design was unremarkable. It was the same standard-issue firearm used by the Korean police.

"...A gun?"

"A blind girl with a gun?"

"This has to be a joke."

"I’m not seeing things, right? Did someone actually bring a gun to the academy?"

A moment of silence passed before louder laughter erupted.

"A blind girl with a gun!"

"Is she here for comedy hour?"

"You can’t imbue a firearm with Ideation."

"And it’s not like she’s casting magic either."

No matter how fast or powerful a gun was, it was still just a weapon designed for humans. Against monsters, it was common knowledge that firearms were ineffective. Even if one enhanced a firearm using Magic Stones or enchanted scrolls from the Tower, that alone wouldn’t be enough.

Not just the firearm—every single bullet would have to be made from Magic Stones as well. The level of technology and capital required?

Even the chairman of a top-tier conglomerate wouldn’t be able to afford it.

The laughter and mockery reached their peak.

And then—

Their lips all shut at once.

On the screen, an impossible scene unfolded.

Clang!

Kim Seokhun’s sword split in two and flew into the air. The shattered fragments reflected light as they slowly descended.

No one understood what had just happened. It had all occurred in an instant.

All that had happened was a single gunshot.

In the profound silence, all eyes turned to Kim Seokhun.

Lowering his now broken sword, he personally placed the acceptance token around the girl’s neck.

"The future of the Academy is here."

The highest of praises.

His gaze held a mix of emotions—astonishment, intrigue, and perhaps even a hint of reverence. However, he soon shook his head, as if organizing his thoughts.

It was a signal.

She should leave now.

The girl gave a silent nod, holstered her gun, and bowed deeply at the waist. Polite.

Then, she casually trotted out of the examination hall.

"What the hell did I just witness?"

"Did Kim Seokhun actually put the token on her himself? For real?"

"That man? The stone-cold instructor?"

"Damn. This should be all over the news."

"Wait... That sword... Is it really broken? That wasn’t a trick?"

The murmurs spread like ripples through the examinees.

Yet no one could deny the reality unfolding before them.

Everyone held their breath, staring in disbelief at the broken sword and Kim Seokhun, shifting their gazes back and forth between them.

An anomaly had struck the Academy.