Ch.29Episode 7. Joint Class Sparring (2)

* @ *

“Hah… So it failed…”

Moonlight crumples Yoo Ari’s profile paper. His hands trembling as he grips it tightly, he throws the paper to the ground.

“…Yes. Instructor Eugene suddenly appeared and subdued the operative by cutting off his fingers. The others we had positioned nearby said they couldn’t bring themselves to attack in the face of the Thunder God’s intimidating presence.”

“Useless fools.”

This created an unavoidable problem for Akcheon.

Originally, the plan was to push Yoo Ari’s mind until her rationality completely snapped. When she could no longer distinguish between good and evil and killed someone to become a villain, they would bring her to Akcheon.

Knowing her troubled family background and that she had no one to rely on, they intended to approach her under the pretense of offering support.

But Eugene’s intervention had thrown all their plans into disarray.

“How is Yoo Ari’s condition?”

“For some reason, she cut her bangs that had been covering her eyes all this time.”

‘She cut her bangs…?’

Moonlight immediately understood the reason behind her change of heart.

“It won’t be easy to pressure that girl anymore.”

“Pardon?”

“The girl who had no one to rely on now has someone. And it’s the most troublesome person for us.”

“You don’t mean the Thunder God?”

“Yes.”

Moonlight swept back his white hair and let out a deep sigh.

“But we’re not out of options yet. Even if she has someone to rely on, we can still break her mentally.”

‘We’ve been careful not to push her too far until now to avoid completely breaking her…’

“Why was the Thunder God assigned to the Special Class?”

“To control the Special Class, I assume. I’ve heard that even other instructors can’t handle the Special Class students. Someone as strong as the Thunder God would be able to control them.”

“…That’s probably part of it. But I don’t think that’s the real reason.”

“Then what other reason could there be for him taking charge of the Special Class?”

Moonlight pondered Blade’s question, picking up Eugene’s profile paper. After reading through it intently, he spoke.

“The Thunder God might know that we’re targeting the Special Class students.”

“What? That’s impossible unless there’s a spy in our ranks.”

“My instinct tells me so.”

Moonlight closed his eyes tightly from the mounting stress and leaned back on the sofa. Labored breaths escaped between his parted lips.

Blade could only tilt his head in confusion at the sight.

It was incomprehensible that one of the leaders of Akcheon, a massive villain organization that even the Association struggled to subdue, would display such a passive attitude.

“Can’t we just kill the Thunder God?”

“He’s the one who easily subdued Gongsang, one of our Seven Executives, and handed him over to the Association. He’s not someone we can easily kill.”

“But at this rate, we’ll lose valuable operatives without even expanding our organization.”

“Still, confronting him directly is out of the question.”

“I think… even against the Thunder God, I could win.”

Blade clenched his fist as he spoke. Moonlight’s gaze lingered on him briefly.

“…I doubt it. That guy is a monster. If we face him head-on, we must assume we have no chance of winning.”

His statement essentially implied that Blade couldn’t defeat the Thunder God. And Blade understood that meaning.

“I was sure he was a villain when he destroyed ‘Ground Level.’ But suddenly he’s on the hero path? Talk about fickle.”

Who could have predicted that he would ignore their offer of a ten billion advance and the promise of fulfilling all his desires upon joining Akcheon, and instead choose to oppose them?

“…By the way, I heard there might be a joint training session between Class A and the Special Class this afternoon.”

“Joint training, huh.”

Moonlight tapped the armrest of the sofa and spoke softly.

“If there is a training session, plant Jeokwol in Class A. We also have someone skilled in ‘Disguise’ hiding in the academy. Tell them to cooperate.”

“Understood.”

“After gauging the Special Class’s abilities, if it seems feasible, we’ll attempt a kidnapping operation.”

“I’ll follow your orders.”

After Blade disappeared, Moonlight rose from his seat and carelessly tossed the paper onto the table.

He walked straight to the veranda, opened the window, and filled his lungs with the cool sea air.

After gazing at the edge of the sea for a long time, he muttered.

“It’s about time I called an executive meeting.”

* * *

“I want to do it!”

It was the emergence of an unexpected variable.

Thinking about it, it made sense.

Jung Iyeon was supposed to join the Special Class after the joint training. But in this world, she had entered the Special Class upon admission.

The cause of this changed future was probably because I had saved Jung Iyeon while tracking Akcheon.

At that time, I had told her my name thinking it would be less burdensome to approach her if she had problems, but that seemed to have caused an issue.

Even so, there was no reason for her to show such competitive spirit…

“Huhuhu, finally a chance to show my authority to those inferior humans who ignored me! I’ll bestow despair and frustration upon them all in my flames! Now! It’s time for destruction!!”

“…”

I silently stared at Gu Yeonhwa before sighing and shaking my head.

“Eek! What’s with that reaction! Don’t ignore me!”

She protests, pointing her finger at me.

“Gu Yeonhwa, you’re too loud.”

Yeon Muhui, who had been quietly watching while polishing her sword, calmly pointed out. In response, Gu Yeonhwa folded her arms and snorted.

“Hmph! I don’t listen to people weaker than me! Stay out of it! If you don’t want to die!”

“Really? Then shall we have a match? Let’s make it clear who’s superior.”

Killing intent seeped into Yeon Muhui’s red eyes. Facing her, Gu Yeonhwa’s right eye turned golden.

“Gladly!”

“Don’t.”

“…Okay.”

Yeon Muhui, who had been glaring at Gu Yeonhwa, looked at me and sheathed her sword.

The tense situation that seemed about to explode into conflict was surprisingly resolved with just one word from me.

Does that mean my influence has grown that much?

“Hmph! You chickened out!”

“Not really. I just didn’t feel you were worth my time.”

“That attitude… I don’t like it!”

“I don’t care. Try to change it by force if you can.”

“Eek! You think I can’t?!”

As the two continued their confrontation, the atmosphere in the classroom instantly froze. I tapped the podium and issued a warning.

“I said both of you stop.”

“Hmph! You don’t even recognize my true power! Let me tell you! On the day I fought with the instructor, he said I was a genius after taking just one hit!”

I never said such a thing…

Did you get amnesia after that flick to the head?

“…”

The brief confrontation ended with Yeon Muhui maintaining her silence. With the situation settled, I turned back to Jung Iyeon and spoke.

“…You don’t have to participate in this training if you don’t want to.”

“No. I really want to.”

“Why?”

She hesitated briefly at my question. There seems to be something there.

“I want to give those who look down on the Special Class a new impression.”

She doesn’t seem to be lying, but somehow I feel that’s not her only reason.

“A new impression…”

“The Special Class seems to have a much worse image compared to the regular classes.”

“Well, that’s…”

I shifted my gaze between Yeon Muhui and Yoo Ari.

It was only natural, considering two uncontrollable troublemakers had tormented the academy teachers for a year.

With such bad precedents, and now two more problem students added to the mix who still maintained their arrogant attitudes toward teachers other than me, there was no way the image could improve.

“You don’t need to worry about the Special Class’s image. Graduating safely from the academy and becoming heroes is enough.”

“It’s not enough for me.”

She’s determined.

Something definitely happened.

“I need to show them clearly.”

“If that’s your reason, it’s better not to participate. Winning in training won’t make people view the Special Class favorably. Rather…”

They’ll just talk behind our backs, calling us trash who rely only on our abilities.

“But if we refuse now, it’s obvious they’ll say we chickened out! If false rumors spread that I, the Dark Wizard Magician, the strongest in this world, chickened out, my pride would be hurt and I’d surely be bedridden for days!”

How can someone who gets bedridden over such trivial matters claim to be the strongest?

“…Alright, alright. Then who wants to participate in this training?”

“Me!”

“Me! I’ll make those who pointed fingers and talked behind my back atone! Kufufufu…”

Look at that grudge. She’s been holding onto what happened in the student cafeteria.

“Um… In-Instructor…”

“Yes?”

Yoo Ari timidly raised her hand slightly.

“If I participate… what’s good about it?”

“Since you’ll be training against opponents whose abilities you don’t know, you can see how effective your abilities are in actual combat, and you might also form connections with students from regular classes through the training.”

I said this, but forming connections would be difficult.

Considering the rumors I’ve heard during my time at the academy and the atmosphere I felt in the original story, they would likely reject us.

“Th-Those are all unnecessary things…”

“Even if you set aside making friends with others, gaining practical experience is important.”

“Then if I w-win in the training… will you p-praise me?”

At this unexpected question, everyone except Bin Yuni, who was dozing off, looked at Yoo Ari strangely.

As the attention suddenly focused on her, Yoo Ari’s eyes wandered. She seemed to be thinking of what excuse to make.

“Ah… I-I mean…”

“You want me to praise you?”

“N-No, not really…?”

She lowered her head, conscious of those around her. Her ears, visible through her flowing hair, were bright red.

Her bashfulness was quite adorable. She was like a pure minor who had just discovered the opposite sex for the first time.

“…I want it…”

The honest answer that came after a long pause made me chuckle.

To think they were going to turn such an adorable character into a villain. That’s 100% the author’s fault.

“Okay. I will.”

I’ll praise her abundantly and boost her self-esteem.

“Y-Yes… Then I’ll participate too…”

She nodded timidly and spoke shyly.

Watching from the side, Gu Yeonhwa suddenly raised her hand.

“Instructor!”

“What?”

“Did you brainwash Yoo Ari?!”

I laughed at Gu Yeonhwa’s remark.

I was curious about what kind of person I was in her mind.

“I didn’t. And aren’t you forgetting to call her senior?”

“But Senior Yoo Ari’s attitude is completely opposite from a few days ago!”

“Stop saying strange things and fix your own attitude first.”

“Huhu, I’ve always been righteous. The problem lies with all humans except me!”

Where’s your conscience?

Seeing Gu Yeonhwa casually say things that would instantly turn everyone against her, the others looked like angels in comparison.

“You… Don’t say such things in front of others.”

“Huhu! Instructor, you’re a coward! But don’t worry! I’m super strong! No one will dare speak ill of me!”

After being thoroughly criticized in the student cafeteria last time and feeling dejected, she’s lying…

“Anyway, I didn’t brainwash her, so stop saying nonsense.”

“I know.”

“Then why did you bring it up?”

“Just because. I was worried you might have enchanted Yoo Ari with that handsome face of yours!”

At Gu Yeonhwa’s thoughtless remark, Yoo Ari’s fidgeting intensified. She was clearly affected.

“Th-That’s not entirely wr—”

“Alright! That’s enough chitchat.”

I raised my voice to drown out Yoo Ari’s words.

If she had confirmed it here, the situation would become more than awkward—it would put me in a difficult position.

There were already rumors among the instructors about me having students in my room last weekend.

I didn’t want to become known as an instructor who made advances on students after just a month.

“I didn’t expect this… Could there be a new rival…?”

Jung Iyeon glances at Yoo Ari while nervously biting her nails.

…A new rival?

“Yeon Muhui, what about you?”

“…Not interested. They wouldn’t be a match for me anyway.”

It was absolute confidence.

Only someone who didn’t doubt their abilities in the slightest could speak like that.

“I see.”

“Yeah. I’d rather train with you, Instructor.”

“As long as I’m your instructor, I’m willing to train with you anytime. Just attend classes properly.”

“…That’s boring.”

“You sound like Gu Yeonhwa.”

“Wow… That’s harsh.”

Yeon Muhui leans back in her chair and stretches. Despite her usually expressionless face, she now grimaces.

“Am I an insult?!”

Gu Yeonhwa bristles, looking back and forth between me and Yeon Muhui.

“So only three will participate in the training?”

“Don’t ignore me!”

I checked off the three names on the attendance sheet.

Bin Yuni had no reason to participate since her abilities weren’t combat-oriented.

“That concludes our homeroom. Pay attention in class today.”