Chapter 135: The Angel Who Prevents Terrorism (8)

Episode 135: The Angel Who Prevents Terrorism (8)

This was what happened in a world that is now gone, a time that can never return.

[Breaking news: An unprecedented terrorist attack has occurred in the heart of Old Seoul, sending shockwaves throughout the nation.]

Thick smoke, the blazing flames, as if mocking the notion that war was something extraordinary. The screams were so numerous that they no longer sounded like screams.

[We’ve just received a report. The casualties are estimated to be over ten thousand, and the number of seriously injured alone…]

Thousands had died in an instant.

The boy remembered that horrific scene.

Back then,

The place where the terrorist attack occurred…

[Yes, the area around the Superhuman Management Bureau headquarters, where the terrorist attack took place, is in a state of complete chaos. Despite restricting entry to all personnel within a 5km radius…]

It was the terrorist attack on the Superhuman Management Bureau headquarters, something Leffrey could never forget.

*Rumble—*

The floor of the Superhuman Management Bureau cracked with a *Crack-Crack* sound. The dust falling from the ceiling foreshadowed the building’s imminent collapse.

“…Iriel.”

Leffrey muttered with resentment. The conversation he had with her last time began to resurface.

[“So you’re saying that money and authority are the true power of the Central Superhuman Academy?”]

Such un-angelic words.

Even though Leffrey was quite the fake angel himself, Iriel often showed a very frightening side. An extreme pragmatist, one could say.

Leffrey hated that ‘it couldn’t be helped’ attitude.

[“Yes. They’re powers that are universally acknowledged to everyone in this world.”]

[“I’m not denying that, but…”]

The boy trailed off.

The cards had clearly shown that the Superhuman Management Bureau was the one planning the terrorist attack. But the terrorist attack Leffrey remembered was one that destroyed the Superhuman Management Bureau.

The culprit back then was undoubtedly the Western Revolutionary Army. It made sense, since the Western Revolutionary Army was a democratic group that hated superhuman politics, but…

‘However, the Superhuman Management Bureau, whose headquarters collapsed due to that attack, was severely weakened. And the faction that filled the power vacuum at that time was the Cheongu Guild.’

And he had learned after entering the academy that the guild master of the Cheongu Guild was Park Jin-ho. And Park Jin-ho’s superior was Iriel.

‘Then, ultimately, the faction that benefited the most from that terrorist attack was the Central Superhuman Academy. If the Western Revolutionary Army isn’t the culprit, then naturally, the Central Superhuman Academy must be.’

So why then was karma pointing at the Superhuman Management Bureau as the culprit? Leffrey couldn’t figure out the answer.

‘I went to Iriel’s Silver Castle to probe her… but I couldn’t even bring up the main topic and just ended up learning about a technique to handle karma.’

Karma doesn’t lie.

Then it meant that the terrorist attack that would destroy the Superhuman Management Bureau… was planned by the Superhuman Management Bureau.

An unsettling thought arose.

[“You don’t have to give me money. I’d just like you to do me one small favor…”]

Leffrey, to alleviate those anxieties, had asked the head guard for a favor, then went to meet the deputy director.

And during his conversation with the deputy director, Leffrey realized that his suspicions were true.

‘The Superhuman Management Bureau was the culprit.’

The Superhuman Management Bureau was planning a terrorist attack.

Of course, it wasn’t an attack on their own headquarters, but an attack somewhere in Old Seoul. They must have acquired a massive mana bomb, using their authority as a government agency.

‘And Iriel must have foreseen this future.’

Headmaster Iriel would certainly have seen that future.

That if this terrorist attack occurred, an entire district of Old Seoul would be destroyed, and hundreds of thousands would die.

‘But she couldn’t wage an all-out war against the Superhuman Management Bureau to stop this. Such a civil war… That civil war would mean the destruction of this country, of this world.’

Then what could she do to reduce the casualties. To prevent this evil organization called the Superhuman Management Bureau from massacring people in the future.

She had to orchestrate the collapse of the Superhuman Management Bureau.

However…

‘Mana bombs are strategic materials. They’re not something an educational institution like the Central Superhuman Academy can acquire.’

They were impossible to acquire. But it was easy to dismantle an already installed mana bomb and install it somewhere else.

No one could match Professor Klein’s magical engineering skills and Professor Merrill’s stealth.

Iriel’s voice came from somewhere. It was probably a telepathic message sent through Professor Klein.

[“There was no other way. If the Superhuman Management Bureau and the Central Superhuman Academy waged an all-out war, then this country would be destroyed. If we let this terrorist attack happen, then hundreds of thousands would die. And if we don’t cripple the Superhuman Management Bureau, then good people will continue to die because of their terrorism.”]

The Iriel in the illusion muttered.

[“This is the only way to save more lives.”]

No, but that doesn’t change the fact that thousands will still die.

[“I’m stopping a terrorist attack as an angel.”]

The Angel Who Prevents Terrorism.

Iriel.

Leffrey, at that title, couldn’t speak.

‘No, you’re not an angel who prevents terrorism. You’re a cruel angel.’

Leffrey gritted his teeth and looked at the Deputy Director with a resentful expression.

“Your master is a cruel angel.”

“…This is impossible.”

“You were just being used!”

He could feel the building’s foundation twisting. This building, built as the world’s strongest fortress, was crumbling from a single explosion.

‘Just how many mana bombs did they prepare?’

But just like how that building, the one that was struck by a plane, didn’t immediately collapse in the past, this building would also hold out for at least ten minutes.

(TL Note: HUH? IS THIS 9/11??? WTF AUTHOR.)

Ten minutes.

Leffrey gathered Angelic Power into both hands and activated his Ultimate Skill’s passive ability. The passive ability of Ain Soph.

He could strengthen his Angelic Abilities by restricting them.

He changed [Blessing of the Power Angel who Graced the King] to [Blessing of the Power Angel who Graced the Building]. He could only bless buildings now, but its power had been greatly enhanced.

‘I’m sorry for tormenting you, building.’

Just like how people smash a champagne bottle before a ship sets sail, or hold a ceremony before a building is built, people often bless an object, hoping that it would last a long time.

And angels could also give such blessings.

‘Please hold on a little longer…’

Leffrey pleaded with this building. For it to hold out a little longer. To keep protecting the people inside.

After giving his blessing, he quickly checked the situation on the lower floors.

And then he saw it, through his angelic sight. The head guard was evacuating the flustered bureau staff.

Quite a number of people had already escaped.

[Saving people through orders is an angelic act!]

[You have gained Angelic Power.]

The head guard had been obedient. Leffrey, as soon as he got into the golden elevator, had sent a signal, and the head guard, responding to that signal, had sounded the emergency evacuation alarm, ordering everyone in the headquarters to evacuate.

Except for the Superhuman Management Bureau leadership on the top floor.

Of course, the high-ranking executives of the Superhuman Management Bureau would scoff at a mere head guard’s order…

*Rumble—Crash—*

As the dust falling from the ceiling intensified, their suits turned white. They were flustered, helpless, just screaming while waiting for the elevator.

“The emergency stairs have collapsed!”

“Deputy Director, this is an emergency.”

“Damn it! There’s no way the elevator will come up with the stairs collapsed!”

Leffrey floated in the air, silently watched them.

For a proper judgment of their sin, he had to abandon them. After all, the very crime they were trying to commit was terrorism. And for a terrorist to die in a terrorist attack, it was a fitting punishment.

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

An absolute law that had existed since even before humans established language.

A perfect judgment for the sake of justice. Even Iriel, who wasn’t the Angel of Judgement, had also planned this, thinking the same way.

“Everyone, come over here.”

But Leffrey wasn’t an angel who descended to pass judgment. Yes. Leffrey wasn’t that kind of angel.

“I’ll help you all escape.”

At Leffrey’s murmured words, The Superhuman Management Bureau executives began to gather toward him.

“Swear on the Great Mana. That you will confess to the terrorist attack you planned and accept your punishment once you get down.”

But despite quickly gathering around him,

No one took the oath.

“Are you not going to swear? Then I’ll go down first.”

They didn’t have much time left.

Leffrey pretended to start descending.

And then, an executive, as if possessed, took the oath.

“I swear, I swear! I swear on the Great Mana. If you save me, I’ll confess to all the terrorist attacks planned by the Superhuman Management Bureau and accept my punishment!”

“That traitor!”

“Shut him up!”

The other executives tried to stop him. Leffrey easily subdued them and then lifted the fat executive who had taken the oath with magic.

“Is there anyone else?”

The first step is half the battle. There’s a saying that the first step is the hardest. And that saying fit well in this situation.

Once one person took the oath, the other executives began to swear on their mana as well. Half of them were non-Awakened.

But even non-Awakened individuals would become crippled or die if they lost their mana… So, they had no choice but to keep their oath.

‘Besides, the only one who can ignore a mana oath is a monster like Jeb Arcada, the captain of Mariana.’

Or like Jeb Arcada,

have an insanely high Strength stat like him.

‘I really don’t want to save these people, but they’re all Angelic Power.’

Leffrey, after listening to all their oaths, used Klein-style Magic, enhanced by his training and Angelic Power, to lift an entire office.

As he lowered them, he shouted to the citizens gathered on the ground.

“Everyone! Evacuate! This headquarters is about to collapse!”

An angel’s voice has a persuasive power to it.

And seeing the Superhuman Management Bureau building tilting precariously, it was clear that his words weren’t a lie.

People fled. And so did the suited executives.

“…Can I save them all?”

But there were still many people left.

Leffrey flew up, determined not to give up and to save them all. And at that moment.

“What are you doing all alone?”

A blunt voice. But a very familiar voice. Leffrey smiled upon hearing that voice.

“Just what the hell is going on here?”

“Soya…!”

Soya, with her arms crossed as if full of complaints, was sitting atop Tantalus, not even looking at Leffrey.

“Soya, help me. There are still people trapped in that building.”

“…Leffrey.”

Could it be, she’s not going to help because she’s upset?

But she’s supposed to be a hero, how can she not help in a situation like this?

Just as Leffrey was starting to feel confused…

“I’ll help you. But you know.”

“Yes?”

“I helped you before, and I helped you when you were pulling out the holy sword. I’ve helped you countless times.”

“Yes!”

Just what was she trying to say?

Leffrey felt an unknown sense of unease.

“Now I want something in return.”

“Uh, how much?”

“Not with money! Anyway, I’m getting something in return. In the way I want! Got it?”

“…Uh-huh?”

Something in return? Her way?

Just what on earth did this black mage want from Leffrey?

Given the urgent situation, Leffrey had no choice but to nod.

“Okay. A reward, a reward…”

Soya, who was laughing like ‘Hehe’, pretended to sulk again when she looked at Leffrey. With a grumpy expression, she muttered.

“Then I’ll help you. Unlike a certain someone, I’m not the kind of friend who just runs away without saying a word.”

With that, Soya began to form hand seals.