Ch.38Episode 8. Parent Visitation (3)

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“We’ve lost contact with the operatives we managed to infiltrate while avoiding the chancellor’s eyes. What should we do?”

Blade asked cautiously.

Moonlight was seething inside after hearing his words.

It was bad enough that he had already taken another hit from Eugene, but now he was about to lose all the operatives infiltrated into the academy, making it difficult to maintain his composure.

“It was him again. That bastard again…! He interfered with my plans!”

He tore papers to shreds and scattered them across the floor while breathing heavily. The papers contained Eugene’s profile pictures.

Moonlight had thought Eugene was just playing hard to get, so he was willing to let it slide once. But now this issue had cost him most of the operatives he had planted in the academy.

Even if he wanted to believe there was a reason behind Eugene’s actions, the situation wouldn’t allow it.

“This confirms it. Eugene knows not only our objectives but also how we’re going to move.”

“But that’s impossible unless there’s a spy among us.”

“A spy? Don’t be ridiculous. I thoroughly manage everyone under my command. I know their every move. If there were a spy, I would have been the first to notice.”

“Then how does the Brain God know?”

“I don’t know! That’s why I’m so frustrated!”

He was feeling beyond anger—he felt humiliated.

Interpreting it as a clear provocation against him, he exhaled roughly while desperately trying to come up with the next plan. He couldn’t just sit back and take it.

“…Should we attempt assassination?”

“Do you think that would work? The Brain God is an exceptional individual. He can single-handedly turn the tide of battle depending on whether he sides with heroes or villains. Do you think someone like that would fall to mere assassination?”

‘He single-handedly destroyed Jihyeong, which even South Korea’s top heroes found difficult to handle. He killed all the executives in just one week. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have recklessly tried to scout him… If I had known it would be like this, I should have investigated faster and found out his face sooner!’

He couldn’t understand why Eugene had suddenly taken the hero path. No, he didn’t want to understand.

“Stay put. If we lose any more strength, the other executives will start eyeing my position.”

“…Yes.”

Evil Sky was formed by the merger of numerous villain factions, so internal factions remained strong and the atmosphere within the organization was chaotic.

That was precisely why there was no boss of the organization despite having seven capable executives.

They were all watching for opportunities to take the top position.

Moonlight had planned to secure the leadership position by recruiting Eugene.

However, nothing was going according to his plans, and the situation was truly at its worst. It was becoming increasingly difficult to claim the leadership position.

“For now, we observe the situation.”

“Pardon?”

“We’ll monitor changes in the upcoming curriculum and target the vacation season. Now that the Brain God has started cooperating with people inside the academy, all we can do is hide.”

“Isn’t that too passive…? Couldn’t we infiltrate the academy when they allow parents to visit?”

“If we show ourselves, Eugene will definitely catch our trail. Stay put unless you have a death wish.”

“Oh~ Moon Jeongsu. Want to die?”

At the unfamiliar voice, Blade grabbed the sword on his back. Moonlight stopped him.

A woman with ash-gray hair who appeared like smoke in the space that had only contained the two of them just moments ago giggled and perched on the sofa.

“…I told you not to call me by my real name. Lee Gureum.”

“How childish. Why don’t you call me ‘Cloud’ instead?”

She flipped her wavy hair back and crossed her legs.

“Sigh. Why are you here? The executive meeting should be on April 27th.”

“Oh my. Do you have to be so formal between us?”

“What exactly is there between you and me?”

“My~ How can you talk like that after we’ve shared such intimacy?”

“The ones who shared intimacy with you would be the men under your command.”

“That hurts my feelings.”

She twists her hair and pouts her lips. She pretends to be shy, blushing her cheeks. Moonlight gritted his teeth, increasingly irritated by her appearance.

“I’m already annoyed, so if you came to pick a fight, get out now.”

“Tsk~ You can’t even take a joke!”

Cloud clicked her tongue, offended by Moonlight’s cold attitude. Eventually, she crossed her arms, wiped away her smile, and spoke.

“It seems ‘Starlight’ has greatly expanded their forces recently. I heard they absorbed the remnants of Jihyeong after it collapsed a few months ago. Did you know?”

“…Yes, I knew.”

“Of course, someone who wants to become the boss of Evil Sky more than anyone wouldn’t be unaware. So that’s why you’ve been running around so busily.”

“Did you come just to tell me this?”

“I was planning to take your side if a faction war broke out in Evil Sky. But if you keep acting like this, I’m hurt.”

“…How can I believe you’d take my side? Couldn’t you join Starlight or Soleta’s forces and stab me in the back?”

“Don’t worry about that. I won’t betray you unless your handsome face gets mangled by burns.”

“What?”

Moonlight burst into a hollow laugh at Cloud’s absurd statement.

“So, how about a round tonight?”

“Get out, whore.”

“Such rude language. Fine, fine. I’ll see you at the executive meeting. Save it up until then.”

Making a kissing sound with her lips, her body turned to smoke and disappeared.

Blade, who had been listening to the entire conversation, was bewildered but impressed by her ability to infiltrate without making any sound.

Moonlight, on the other hand, simply disliked her sexual innuendos.

“…Crazy bitch.”

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Clang!

Crack!

“More!”

Clang!

Crack!

Sparks flew each time her red blade collided with the sword in my hand.

“Huff! Huff!”

The face of the woman crossing swords with me contorted in pain.

Even she, whose expression rarely changed during training, seemed to be getting tired as fatigue deeply permeated her face.

“How…!”

“Talk less, swing more.”

Clang!

Crackle!

Her sword created friction against mine, making a noise like electricity flowing.

Finally unable to endure, she collapsed. She dropped the sword she was holding, and the red blade turned black.

Yeon Muhui’s training clothes were completely soaked with sweat, changing color.

At a glance, it looked like she might suffer from dehydration, but I had given her breaks to drink water, so there shouldn’t be any problems.

“Is that all?”

I sheathed my sword as I looked at her, unable to lift her head and with her shoulders heaving. The sparks disappeared.

“Muhui, your ability-based stamina hasn’t improved at all. Haven’t you been training continuously?”

“…I, I have been.”

“Then why hasn’t it improved?”

“W-well, training ability-based stamina is important, but I, I can’t neglect sword training either…”

In other words, she hadn’t used her skills to the point of complete exhaustion because she was focused on sword training.

Didn’t I tell her that ability-based stamina is built by using skills to the extreme, like wringing out sweat?

“You know what they say about trying to catch two rabbits and ending up with none?”

“But… s-sword skills are important too.”

Is she planning to defeat her father with swordsmanship?

Of course, I don’t think it’s bad to try.

However, Yeon Hwaryong was the very person who made the Yeon family’s swordsmanship even more powerful. At her current level, she could never win.

Moreover, even if she denied her father, the swordsmanship she had learned was still from the Yeon family.

Whether it was the basics or the forms.

No matter how she developed it, it would inevitably remain a ‘derivative’ of Yeon family swordsmanship.

“That’s true. Since you have a unique skill related to swords, swordsmanship is certainly important. But when ability users fight, they inevitably use their unique skills. To use unique skills, you need stamina. That way, you can freely increase your power and reduce the burden when learning new skills. You know that.”

I could teach her techniques she could learn right away, but without the stamina to back it up, the efficiency would inevitably be lower.

And at this point, reaching S-rank in two years was extremely tight. There was no time to waste even if we focused solely on the goal.

There was no luxury to invest time in unnecessary areas.

“I know, but…”

“Without stamina, you can’t start anything.”

I acknowledge Muhui’s talent, but she entered the academy to deny her father’s teaching methods.

At this rate, she’ll end up having to acknowledge her father’s methods.

“Let me tell you in advance. You’ll never defeat your father with that swordsmanship.”

“What…”

“Rather than studying forms, focus on the basics of swordsmanship. With just the basics, you can fully draw out your unique ability. Let’s focus on building your stamina until the vacation. Understood?”

It seemed reasonable to have her build stamina over several months, and once she reached stability, I could suggest the direction for her skills and have her learn them one by one.

“Still, since I’m coming this time… I want to show him. That I’ve grown…”

Having regained stable breathing, she struggled to get up. Muhui, who had returned to her expressionless state, revealed her determination.

“I want to show… to prove it.”

“Prove?”

“I want to… land a hit on him.”

She’s really asking for the impossible.

If that man fought seriously, there would be nothing we could do. However.

“There is a way to land a hit, but I can’t guarantee it will work. Besides, we don’t know when the parents’ visit will be.”

“If there is a way, please tell me.”

Muhui speaks formally for the first time.

That’s nice. I should tell her then.

“Hmm. It’s—”

“T-teacherrr…!”

Just as I was about to mention the unique skill to Muhui, a drawn-out voice came from behind.

I turned around.

I saw Yu Ari timidly peeking her face out from the entrance of the training ground where we were standing.

“…Yu Ari? What’s the matter?”

“W-what are you t-two doing alone?”

She approaches with very quick, small steps. In the blink of an eye, she was in front of me, looking up.

It was quite close. Our chests were almost touching.

“Ah… I was just helping Muhui with her training.”

“I-I see… C-can you help me too?”

“Huh? Well… I don’t see why not…”

“R-really? That’s a relief.”

“Ari. You’re in the way.”

Muhui said indifferently. Ari kept her head fixed and only rolled her black eyes to the side.

“…M-monopolizing the t-teacher is b-bad.”

“I’m doing something important right now. Could you please stop interfering and leave?”

“I-I’m going to t-train with Teacher Eugene too.”

“I was here first.”

“Y-you’ve already had your turn.”

“It’s not over yet.”

“You’re being greedy.”

“If you’re going to be annoying, leave. Or I’ll cut you down.”

“I-I’m not going to g-give in either.”

I stared blankly at the two who were suddenly ready to fight with weapons.

What are you two doing…?

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