The evaluation hall of Tenka Academy, Tokyo's most elite hunter training institution, buzzed with energy. Students, instructors, and recruiters from across the nation filled the marble-floored atrium, their eyes drawn to the center of attention: a girl with silver-blue hair tied in a high ponytail, her posture regal, her expression unreadable.
Ayasia Ryombi, daughter of the legendary Rumi Ryombi, the 8th-ranked S-Class Hunter known as the Ice King, stood tall in her pristine white uniform. Her presence alone commanded attention — not just because of her lineage, but because of the results that had just been posted.
B-Rank. At nineteen.
A murmur rippled through the crowd. Whispers of admiration, envy, and awe.
"She's already B-Rank? Without even stepping into a dungeon?"
"Must be the Ice King's blood…"
"She's going to be a monster in a few years."
Beside her stood her personal guard, a stoic woman with short-cropped hair and a scar running from her brow to her cheek — Kaede, an A-Rank assault specialist assigned by the Ryombi family. She stood like a statue, arms crossed, eyes scanning the room for threats.
Ayasia approached the receptionist's desk, her voice calm and clear. "Ayasia Ryombi. Here for orientation."
The receptionist, a young man with glasses and a nervous smile, nearly dropped his tablet. "Y-Yes, of course! Miss Ryombi, we've been expecting you. Congratulations on your evaluation. B-Rank at nineteen is… well, it's unprecedented."
Ayasia gave a polite nod. "Thank you."
Kaede leaned in slightly. "Is the headmaster available?"
"He's in a meeting, but he'll be joining the orientation shortly. Please, make yourself comfortable."
As they moved toward the waiting area, more eyes followed. Some with admiration. Others with jealousy. Ayasia ignored them all, her mind already focused on the path ahead.
---
Meanwhile, across the city, in a different evaluation hall reserved for private candidates and special recommendations, another storm was brewing.
Raijo stood beside Yumi Ichoshima, known to the world as the Crimson Inferno. Once the strongest fire mage in Japan, now retired — though her presence still commanded silence and respect. Her long black hair flowed like ink, her crimson coat catching the light with every step. Even now, she looked like royalty. And the young man beside her? A mystery wrapped in muscle and quiet fire.
Whispers followed them as they entered.
"Is that… Miss Ichoshima?"
"She hasn't shown up to an evaluation in years."
"Who's the guy with her? Her student?"
"Her boyfriend?"
Raijo ignored the stares. He was used to being invisible. Now, suddenly, he was the center of attention — and not because of pity or mockery. Because he was standing beside a legend.
A woman in a sleek black suit approached, her heels clicking sharply against the floor. Her hair was silver-blonde, her eyes sharp and calculating.
"Sakura," Yumi said, her tone neutral.
"Yumi," the woman replied with a tight smile. "Didn't expect to see you here. Thought you were too old for this scene."
Yumi raised an eyebrow. "Still not married, Sakura? I thought you'd be busy raising your grandkids by now."
Sakura's smile twitched. "I'm here with Liliana. Our prodigy. C-Rank healer at twenty. Not bad, right?"
A girl stepped forward, dressed in a pristine white uniform with gold trim. Her long auburn hair was braided neatly, and she wore a smug smile.
"I hope your little… project doesn't embarrass himself," Liliana said, eyeing Raijo. "It'd be a shame for someone to come all this way just to be a side character."
Raijo didn't respond. He just stepped forward as his name was called.
The glowing orb sat on a pedestal in the center of the hall. Candidates placed their hands on it to reveal their affinity and potential rank. Most orbs glowed blue, green, or white. Some flickered with gold or silver.
Raijo placed his hand on the orb.
The room dimmed.
The orb pulsed once — then erupted in a swirl of black and red light.
Gasps echoed through the hall.
"Black…?"
"Wait, is that… necromancer?"
"No way. That's a forbidden class."
"But there's red too. Fire?"
The orb spun violently, the black and red lights coiling around each other like twin serpents. The colors thickened, deepened, until the entire hall was bathed in their glow.
The display lasted only seconds — but it was enough.
The screen above the orb flickered, then displayed the results:
Class: Dual Affinity — Necromancer (B-Rank), Fire Mage (B-Rank)
Silence.
Then chaos.
Recruiters whispered urgently into comms. Students stared, jaws slack. Even Sakura's smug expression faltered.
But none of them moved.
Because he wasn't alone.
He was with Yumi Ichoshima.
And no one dared approach the Crimson Inferno's chosen.
---
Raijo strolled back toward Yumi, hands in his pockets, the weight of every stare in the hall trailing behind him. She was at the front desk, casually signing off the final paperwork for his academy registration, her posture relaxed, her aura anything but.
He leaned in slightly, voice low. "We should bounce. This place makes me feel like your kid."
Yumi didn't look up. She just smirked and murmured under her breath, "Stay a little longer and I'll reward you with that thing you begged for last night… and maybe a private shopping spree before school starts."
Raijo froze mid-step. His mouth opened, then closed. He straightened up, cleared his throat, and stood silently beside her like a well-trained guard dog.
Yumi chuckled softly, signing the last form with a flourish.
Behind them, Liliana approached, her expression softer now, more curious than smug. "Hey," she said, her voice calm and clear. "I just wanted to say… I think we got off on the wrong foot. I'd like to be friends."
Sakura, watching from a few steps behind, didn't interrupt. In her mind, she nodded in approval. Smart girl. Befriend the threat before he becomes a problem. That's my genius.
Raijo turned to Liliana, his expression unreadable. Then, with a slow grin, he reached out and gently lifted her chin with two fingers.
"Sure," he said. "But just know… women who get close to me tend to fall for my… charms. And I'm not the type to turn down beauty."
Liliana's eyes widened, a flush creeping up her cheeks. She stepped back, flustered but smiling despite herself.
Sakura's eyes narrowed. Her hand twitched, rising halfway to deliver a slap.
But before it could land, Yumi's voice cut through the air like a blade.
"Try," she said, without turning around, "and die."
Sakura froze mid-motion. The entire hall seemed to hold its breath. Even the orb on the pedestal dimmed slightly.
She lowered her hand, composed herself with a tight smile, and gave a curt nod. "We'll be seeing you at the academy."
Liliana glanced back at Raijo, her voice softer now. "Goodbye, Raijo. I'll see you soon."
He gave her a wink. "Looking forward to it."
With that, the Korean delegation turned and left, the crowd parting for them like waves before a ship.
Raijo exhaled, finally relaxing. "You really are terrifying, you know that?"
Yumi handed him a sleek black access card. "And you're really bad at keeping a low profile."
He took the card, flipping it between his fingers. "Guess I'm not built for quiet."
"No," she said, eyes gleaming. "You're built for fire."
They walked out of the hall together, the crowd still buzzing behind them. But no one dared follow.
Because when Yumi Ichoshima moved, the world made way.
—
End of chapter 5