Ch.197Why the Academy Again? – 3

When the Korean side had finalized the personnel composition of students to be sent to the Union Academy.

Countries around the world had also determined who they would send to that massive educational institution.

It would be a lie to say that the influence of power or money wasn’t exercised in that process.

In any situation, in any world, one cannot be free from those two factors.

But this time, ability was prioritized more than ever before.

In a moment when the entire world is undergoing dramatic changes and superiority must be established amidst it all.

An opportunity not just for national prestige but also to attract promising individuals to one’s own country.

That’s why everyone in the world was on high alert, their eyes gleaming with anticipation.

From traditional superpower nations to countries that had just recently joined.

All who could send people to the Union Academy did so.

All of them would now live in Korea and strive to gain something.

[World Union Academy Establishment]

And finally, the Union Academy was completed and revealed itself.

*

These crazy bastards. They really built this in just a few months? I don’t even know how to express my amazement.

Actually, maybe what the Gate incidents left humanity with wasn’t monsters and superpowers, but enhanced recovery capabilities?

How is it possible to just whip up an academy of this enormous scale?

[The Union Academy consists of a main building and auxiliary facilities…]

[An educational institution that accepts and nurtures carefully selected superpowered individuals from countries around the world…]

[Maximum capacity is 2,000 people, with a large-scale complex site for students being established nearby…]

The day when it was first shown to relevant parties before officially revealing itself to the world.

I was also invited in my capacity as an S-rank and Arbiter.

Thanks to that, I could check everything about how it was built while holding this guidebook.

“This is incredible. I thought it would take at least half a year.”

Rina, walking beside me, mutters in disbelief.

If even she says something like that, it means I wasn’t exaggerating.

“Oppa. Did you hear? They say the money spent on this place equals two years of Korea’s budget.”

“I heard. And I also know that’s not the end of it.”

The two years’ worth of budget they’re talking about only includes what’s been spent so far.

More buildings will be added in the future, and once students arrive, many more things will be needed.

So when you think about it, an astronomical amount of money has gone into this academy.

“This is such an insane waste of money. I suggested it, but wow…”

“What can we do? It’s a place where promising students are coming. If there are any flaws, it would only damage the reputation of the Union Academy from the start.”

Rina shrugs her shoulders once, seemingly in full agreement with my words.

“Seojin!”

When I turned my head, Jiyoon Han was approaching, waving her hand.

I heard she’s also going to be a dispatched professor at the Union Academy?

Instead, she’ll be stepping down from Korea’s Superpower Academy, which is quite unfortunate.

“You came early? I heard the others aren’t here yet.”

“Why can’t everyone be punctual?”

“You be quiet. If you cause trouble, you’re really dead.”

These two start bickering as soon as they meet. It’s a different feeling from when she’s with Soohyun.

The good thing is that Rina doesn’t try to dominate Jiyoon Han.

Whether it’s respect for a senior or affection for someone she calls “unni.”

“Ah, look. They’re coming.”

In the direction Jiyoon Han pointed, there were dozens, hundreds of people appearing through portals.

“I didn’t expect them to install portals directly inside the academy.”

“There were concerns about it costing too much money and possibly being misused.”

“Usually, portals are all designated and managed by the state.”

Even at Korea’s academy, there are no portals operated under ‘Academy Management.’

They’re all directly managed by the state, which checks the personnel using them.

But this time, the Union Academy’s portals were strictly placed under ‘Academy Authority.’

To accommodate students, faculty, and guests from all over the world.

Many countries complained that being tied to the Korean side would be inconvenient.

So both sides agreed to transfer portal usage rights to the academy.

“You should have used your influence.”

“Me? Why? You didn’t even ask me to.”

“I thought you’d do it out of patriotism, so I kept quiet.”

“I know patriotism is necessary, but nothing good comes from having too much of it. Honestly, does patriotism feed me? I love our country because I receive something in return. There’s no need to do more. They’re already working us too hard these days.”

Rina’s words were such obvious facts that I couldn’t even refute them.

Even Jiyoon Han beside us could only let out a groan of agreement.

The workload for S-ranks has been too intense lately.

Gates are bursting open more and more at their own will.

Meanwhile, monsters are getting stronger, so what should be B-rank requires A-rank to handle.

The dungeons are all so advanced that the casualty rate among superpowered individuals has skyrocketed.

Until now, S-ranks only covered S-rank gates or dungeons, but not anymore.

Even when an A-rank appears, we have to be tense wondering if it might actually be an S-rank.

The one fortunate aspect is the fall of the “Elders.”

‘If those bastards hadn’t split up on their own… shit, I don’t even want to imagine it.’

They were a group that couldn’t, or wouldn’t, integrate into society because they were intoxicated by their own power.

When such people met, it was inevitable that they wouldn’t get along.

According to Sujin Hyun, they had established minimal rules to operate by.

But when the situation changed with this great upheaval, they immediately stabbed each other in the back.

“And I properly crushed that bitch’s skull.”

Sujin Hyun smiled coldly as she mentioned an Elder woman she particularly disliked.

Looking at her, I thought this might be the true balance patch.

With monsters getting so strong, it would be too much to deal with villains too.

“So here you all are.”

“You’ve arrived, Chairman Kang.”

“What? The old man is here too?”

“Why? Am I not supposed to be here?”

How could that be? Some of the money invested here is yours, Chairman.

I heard from Soohyun. The Kang family provided enormous financial support.

Considering that the Union Academy initiative was spearheaded by Minseong Kang’s disciples.

Minseong Kang’s influence in this massive place can only be significant, not small.

“Hey, you fool. Did you come all the way here to brag about your money?”

Of course, that only applies to others.

To Hakjun Ma, it’s just ‘a friend spending money recklessly.’

“If you received a plaque of appreciation, just be quiet about it. Please don’t show off anywhere.”

“Look here, Hakjun. It’s my money I spent, what’s wrong with showing off a little? My granddaughter, Soohyun, is entering the Union Academy! I need to exercise some influence to make sure she doesn’t get caught up in strange situations!”

“I still don’t understand what kind of trouble your granddaughter could possibly get into.”

She’s an A-rank and her boyfriend is an S-rank, so what exactly is there to worry about?

Hakjun Ma, who was berating Minseong Kang for his unnecessary actions, turned his gaze toward me.

“I heard on my way here. Everything is prepared.”

“Are you certain? There absolutely cannot be any hitches. If things go wrong through any channel, many people could die or be seriously injured. The Union Academy would collapse before it even begins.”

“Why wouldn’t I know that? That’s probably why the Elders are targeting this place. They’re saying that when you all gather, you’ll only illuminate the place where we’ll set fire.”

Looking at the current forces, the Elders are at a disadvantage unlike before.

However, while we have many responsibilities, they don’t.

That difference is what leads to incidents like an academy attack.

“But will it really be okay? I’d still like to modify the operation.”

Hakjun Ma seemed uncomfortable with the idea of luring Elders into the Union Academy.

And for good reason—it’s too obvious what would happen if we fought here.

This beautiful and magnificent place we’ve built would become ruins overnight.

But there’s no choice. If we modify the operation now, word will surely leak out.

The Elders aren’t fools; they’ve likely placed villain minions here and there.

In that process, they might realize something has gone wrong and not show themselves.

We can’t let that happen. We need to crush them completely this time so they can’t recover.

From now on, we need to focus solely on monsters and gates.

Even if some villains remain, they shouldn’t be like daggers held to our throats.

“Why do you all keep doing this? Oppa’s plan is so good. Tomorrow, when people flood into the academy, the Elders will appear too. Then we’ll quickly evacuate people using the ‘other’ portal we’ve secretly created, and during that time, we’ll annihilate the Elders. It’s perfect, what’s the problem!”

“I agree with Rina. How can we ignore information we’ve obtained? Compared to before, less than half of the Elders remain, and this is a golden opportunity to reduce that number by half again.”

After Rina, Jiyoon Han also strongly advocated for proceeding with the plan.

In response to their reactions, Hakjun Ma sighed and looked at me, and I gave a definitive answer.

“There will be no change in the operation. Tomorrow, when they come, we’ll give them a grand welcome.”

“Sigh… Alright. If three S-ranks insist, I can’t say anything more.”

“Just make sure you handle the evacuation properly tomorrow, old men. No matter how old and slow you’ve become, you can at least do that right?”

Um, Rina. No matter what, isn’t that a bit disrespectful?

“Ack! O-Oppa! Why are you hitting me?!”

“To remind you to watch your manners. I apologize, Chairman. And Principal.”

When I apologized on Rina’s behalf, both elderly gentlemen burst into laughter, saying it was fine.

They never dreamed someone would handle Rina like a cat.

*

The second day of the Union Academy completion ceremony arrived.

Today, all the figures from various countries who couldn’t attend yesterday had come.

Especially the students who would receive new teachings at this Union Academy—they had all arrived.

Sssss—

And among them, those who weren’t invited anywhere had also entered.