Chapter 111: The Talent Gap Randall, sitting in his usual disrespectful, relaxed posture, suddenly had a change in his eyes as he read the report.
"..."
What he held in his hand was Sophia's report—though it was more of a diary than a formal document—and the other members of the 4th Division began to read the room.
In particular, the agent who had served as Sophia's mentor noticed the shift in Randall's aura and quietly stood up, intending to slip away to the restroom.
Randall silently scanned the report, then picked up a previous one from his desk, comparing the two side-by-side.
The tone had definitely changed.
At first, he thought Sophia was simply flustered by Seo Yeon-woo's eccentric behavior—specifically, the animalistic sex he performed right in front of the two of them—but her reports had shifted subtly ever since that incident.
"Kosuke."
"Yes! Ah... I was just... going to the bathroom..."
Kosuke, who had been trying to flee, froze in a stiff posture the moment Randall called his name.
Regardless of whether he was going to the bathroom or not, Randall didn't care. He tossed the report he was reading onto the desk and spoke.
"Melissa and Sophia are returning today, right?"
"Yes! That's correct. I'll make sure to give Sophia another thorough round of training—"
"Forget that. Prepare for Verification."
"Uh... that's already scheduled and prepared, but..."
Kosuke didn't understand why Randall was bringing this up.
Normally, investigators undergo a process called 'Verification' after completing an investigation mission.
The fact that investigators are looking into a suspect means they are simultaneously exposed to danger if that suspect harbors ill intent. Since it's impossible to know what kind of influence they might have fallen under during their time together—or if their minds were dominated by magic—it's a standard procedure to check their status.
Even Randall, the team leader of the 4th Division, has to go through it after an investigation mission, so there was usually no need to mention it.
As Kosuke looked on in confusion, Randall spoke calmly.
"Take it up to Level 3."
"...Level 3? For Melissa?"
"Yes. Up to Level 3."
"Melissa is going to be furious..."
"Is Melissa's anger more important to you than a threat to the Government?"
"..."
Realizing Randall wasn't joking, Kosuke shut his mouth.
Verification usually consists of four levels.
Level 1 involves checking for any magic they might have been unknowingly affected by and a simple psychological assessment.
Level 2 is a more in-depth, precision examination building on Level 1.
From Level 3 onwards, the subject is classified as a potential threat. The investigation becomes closer to an interrogation, and for the sake of impartiality, a different division takes over the verification.
Level 4 involves confirming the subject as an enemy, paralyzing their reason with drugs, and verifying them through mental magic.
Since Level 4 carries the risk of causing permanent disability and is a coercive process that ignores human rights, it is almost never used. Most cases, no matter how suspicious, conclude at Level 3.
Therefore, declaring a Level 3 Verification for Melissa, who had been loyal and served the Government for so long, was an affront to her honor.
Kosuke, looking at Randall in dismay, soon regained his composure and asked.
"Who should I request it from?"
"The 5th... no, leave it to the 6th Division."
"The 6th Division?"
If it was left to the 6th Division, with whom they had a poor relationship, the two women would suffer immense humiliation and hardship.
This went beyond simply hurting Melissa's pride; it was something that could shatter the team's trust. Kosuke's expression hardened.
"How many times do I have to repeat myself? Tell the 6th Division to prepare for Verification."
"But..."
Kosuke tried to protest one more time, but at Randall's cold gaze, he turned away with a face full of dissatisfaction.
*
A few days later, Randall received the verification report for the two women.
Nothing particularly stands out. Just that Sophia feels some level of affinity for Seo Yeon-woo...
Since he suspected Seo Yeon-woo but didn't treat him as an outright criminal yet, Sophia's affinity wasn't a major issue.
The man was handsome and popular with women; it was a plausible occurrence for someone like Sophia, who still lacked a proper sense of duty as an agent.
But something still feels off. I'll have to observe him over time.
Randall set down the verification report and looked at the two women standing before him.
Though she didn't voice it, Melissa's eyes were filled with rage.
Sophia looked a bit haggard, likely having been harassed by the 6th Division, and was merely gauging his reaction.
The reports had felt strange, but both were the subordinates Randall knew.
"I apologize."
"Seeing as you're using formal speech, it seems you're aware you did something wrong."
"Hieek—"
At Melissa's sharp tone, Sophia flinched and shrank back.
"Even if it was to create a debt with the 6th Division, I did you both a disservice."
"...To create a debt?"
"Yes. As you know, the relationship between our 4th Division and the 6th isn't good, but there is a scheduled collaboration coming up. I had to take a step back and let them win this one so they won't pick a fight over every little thing in the future."
"..."
"Even if it was necessary, I apologize for pushing you both without any explanation."
Randall stood up and bowed his head in apology.
"No, sir. If that was the situation, you may use me anytime."
"Ye-yes! I-I'm okay too... Team Leader."
The two women, unable to see Randall's expression because he was bowing, were moved by his apology.
In reality, he had suspected them, but by using the power struggle with another division as an excuse, he actually gained their trust.
Having skillfully navigated the situation by using them, Randall watched their retreating figures intently before turning his attention back to the reports.
It was a strategy that yielded nothing, just as he thought.
He had assigned agents to prevent Seo Yeon-woo from contacting the demon, but instead, a heavy-hitter with a heavy ass had shown up.
To think that in the blink of an eye, Yukina was suddenly sitting on Seo Yeon-woo's lap...
That was Logard's authority.
This meant that not only Seo Yeon-woo but also Yukina had met Logard, which was beyond his expectations.
Randall frowned, unable to tell if Logard had stepped in directly because he had interfered by attaching agents, or if it was someone he had intended to meet from the start.
On top of that, he was now in a situation where he had to suspect his own subordinates.
No matter what you do, you always slip past my predictions.
Randall grew even more wary of Seo Yeon-woo, scouring the reports even more thoroughly to see if he had missed anything.
Finally, freedom.
Well—it's not like it was particularly uncomfortable when Melissa and Sophia were around.
Actually, it was rather good.
Yukina and the others were totally fired up, so I had sex with a voyeur watching, had a 5P with Setsuna, and even seduced Sophia.
I was thinking about how to make a move on Melissa too, but I had to stop because I was afraid of approaching her too hastily.
Still, I've scattered plenty of bait.
I'm letting her go for now, but who knows what'll happen next time.
The unexpected gain was Sophia.
In a different sense from Angelica, Sophia is timid and always on edge, which makes her fun to tease.
I wonder if the 'Black' in Black Agent stands for 'Black Company,' because the two of them monitored me in shifts, sleeping only four hours a day for a week.
While Melissa was sleeping, it was time for storm-like sex with Sophia.
I don't remember specifically training her, but by the end, Sophia was clinging to me as if she'd give her life for me, calling me 'Yeon-woo-nim.'
I told her she might undergo a harsh verification process, but I wonder if she held up well.
'To think Yeon-woo-nim would worry about me! It's an honor!'
It was a huge turn-on when she sucked my dick while looking at me with those sparkling eyes.
This wasn't just about lusting after Sophia's body.
In the 4th Division, which looks down on me, having someone who is head over heels for me—well, I don't know about head over heels, but having someone who has an affinity for me is important.
If this can keep Randall in check even a little bit, it's a win.
I'm not planning to do anything, but that guy Randall is subtly trying to mess with me.
Just focus on Akito like you're supposed to.
Are you okay with Logard snatching Akito away while you're busy worrying about me?
Come to think of it, that's not bad.
If I can draw Randall's eyes away by sacrificing myself while Akito and Logard cooperate according to the original scenario, it's not a bad trade.
Akito, you better save the world and treat me well.
Give me material rewards, not those gay-ass looks. And if possible, share some of the heroines.
Anyway, the two of them left, my break ended, and it was time to return to Yggdrasil.
There's still no distinction between semesters and vacations here.
As I was heading toward the training room through the bustling crowds, August called out to me.
"Seo Yeon-woo, let's have a word."
"I didn't do anything wrong."
"I didn't say you did. Is there something weighing on your conscience?"
Nothing in particular, but everyone's always nagging me.
Still, despite his stiff attitude and lack of common ground, August—along with Derek—is one of the most trustworthy 'true teachers.'
I thought I'd be called to something like a faculty office, but August sat down on a nearby bench.
"I heard you want to learn Space Magic. Is that correct?"
"...Do you know Chin-bro?"
Frey, who had been teaching me well, still hasn't shown up at the training ground, so Turk has been looking after me instead.
Since Frey laid a good foundation, my masochistic meat-shield build is growing without issues, but I wanted to apply things I felt were necessary from actual combat or ideas I got from other content. Without Frey, progress on that has been sluggish.
Turk is a good teacher too, but he's not exactly a god-tier mentor who hands everything on a silver platter.
I figured I couldn't just wait for Frey forever, so I asked if I could learn Space Magic, and Turk reacted strangely.
'Space Magic is blood... no, if it's you... hmm—maybe, yes, right.'
He muttered to himself, questioning and then convincing himself, before saying he'd talk to Frey and let me know.
I thought Frey could just come herself if that was the case, but why is August suddenly here?
"Chin-bro? I don't know such a person. I came at Erin's request."
"Calling her by name instead of 'Principal,' you must be close with Erin-ssaem?"
"...Is that where your interest lies? I don't know about being close, but she was my former superior."
Oh... August was a much more impressive person than I thought.
Well, I guess you have to be at that level to be called a true teacher.
Just the fact that he worked with Erin, one of the 12 Zodiacs, shows how outstanding he is.
"You know that Space Magic isn't normally taught to others, right?"
"Why is that?"
"...You don't know?"
Come to think of it, there isn't a single thing related to Space Magic in the classes.
As I stared blankly, August looked at me strangely before explaining calmly.
"Space and Dimensional Magic require a specific talent. It's often passed down through blood, so it's also called Bloodline Magic."
Ah, is that why there were so few characters who used it?
Space or dimension-related abilities are practically a passive for isekai protagonists because they're so useful.
I can tolerate not being a munchkin, but I can't tolerate not having an inventory with infinite storage.
Wait...? But didn't you just learn it by reading a magic book?
August says it's Bloodline Magic, but from what I remember, not only Akito but other companions could learn it just by clicking a magic book item.
I've even played around like Lu Bu by equipping Chika and Shizuka with short-range teleportation magic, so August's words didn't quite make sense, but I just nodded as if I understood before I said something weird.
"I trust Erin... but honestly, I don't think you'll be able to learn it. Ah, this isn't because you're lacking, but a matter of unavoidable family lineage."
Lineage is important, sure. Akito dominates with the Daihara family name, and Shizuka's Asagi family and Angelica's Graham family are all strong on average.
"Then, are you from a prestigious family too, August-san?"
"People call it Bloodline Magic or whatever to sound sophisticated, but you can't call a family prestigious based on that alone. How can one become a great mage just by using a bit of Space Magic?"
Isn't it... possible? It's weird not to be great when you're using awesome magic that others can't.
Anyway, I just nodded and pretended to understand.
So, my request went through Chin-bro to Frey, Frey to Erin, and then finally to August?
Were Frey and Erin close? Well, at that level, they'd have some connections.
"According to the @%### theory, under favorable conditions, @#$%@ increases arithmetically. The total amount of mana increases as 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, but the resulting load increases by one unit at a time, so as not to weight the #@$@#—"
???
What the hell is he talking about?
He was explaining the theory of Space Magic, but since there are no classes on it at Yggdrasil, I couldn't understand a word coming out of August's mouth.
Aside from what Yggdrasil taught me, I only have internet knowledge, you know?
"No, even if you explain it like that, I can't understand any of it."
"It is an important theory. I heard you could learn anything."
"...Where did you hear that?"
"I heard it from Erin. The reason I'm trying to teach you Space Magic, which isn't normally taught, is because I became interested in those words."
That's because Frey taught me well.
Did Frey tell her all that too?
I scratched my head and told him how Frey had taught me.
"...She just demonstrated it in front of you and provided mana induction when you used the magic? You learned it in such a crude way?"
"Mana induction is hard, you know."
Don't look down on mana induction. I tried it with Setsuna, and it was harder than I thought.
August stared at me with a confused expression, which was unlike him.
He always has a stoic face, so seeing him look dumbfounded was funny, but is it really that strange?
Is it because Frey has the 'Training Instructor' trait?
"You're saying all you need is the magic formula...? Without even understanding the theory?"
"Sorry for being stupid."
"...Let's go to the training ground."
August looked at me with disbelief before leading me to an empty training ground.
Then, after showing me the magic formula, he placed his hand on my back and told me to try the magic.
I constructed the spell according to the formula and left the difficult control to August as I manifested the magic.
Following his induction, I remembered how the mana flowed inside my body and how the released mana was structured as I flipped a coin I was holding.
The coin spinning in the air hit the floor with a crisp ting and swapped places with a coin that was far away.
"..."
"Oh—it worked. You're a good teacher too, August-san."
"..."
Did I mess something up?
The coins swapped perfectly, didn't they?
Even though the magic worked perfectly, August stared at me with a face as pale as lead.
Why are you being creepy...
"It took me a year to fully master this."
"Ah—uh... it's because you taught me so well, August-san..."
"..."
It took about 30 minutes to memorize the formula, test the mana flow, and master it.
Since saying anything more would just be teabagging him with the talent gap, I shut my mouth and just watched his reaction.
I had learned the Space Magic I'd been longing for, but August looked so discouraged that I couldn't even celebrate.
"Uh—sorry?"
"..."
I shouldn't have said anything.
August's expression as he stared blankly with his mouth open was just too stupid.
Give me back the cool and calm August.
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