Chapter 69

Chapter 69

I Became the Only Non-mage in the Academy.

Episode 69: The Brigade Of Eternal Heaven (2)

An abandoned factory was suffused with a tense atmosphere. Shattered windows punctuated the mood.

In the center stood three people.

A woman with blue hair and a man with blood-red eyes. And another man was swathed in black cloth.

“The plan is roughly like this. Any objections?”

“…Interesting. I didn’t like that guy anyway.”

“Would someone with your terrible personality even like anyone?”

“Shut your mouth, whore. You reek.”

Ignoring the red-eyed man’s words, the woman with blue hair spoke.

“…So, the deputy leader and that guy are handling the Red Tower Master?”

“That’s right.”

“Fine by me. This time, the Red Tower Master is hosting a small party with insignificant guests to watch. Oh, right. Isn’t a promising student from the Korea Heroes Academy coming as a guest? I’ll take him.”

“You’re obsessed with men.”

The man clicked his tongue.

The Brigade of Eternal Heaven.

A group of villains united by their own interests. They boasted a small but elite force.

Despite being part of the same group, they were at odds with each other, which was typical for villains who acted on their whims.

“So, Harun and I will take on the Red Tower Master.”

“I’ll spread the chaos?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Then what about the spoils?”

“I covet the Heart of the Red Demon that the Red Tower Master possesses.”

“I’m after his magic book.”

“Then I’ll take his ring.”

“The one made of blood gold? That’s just a gem.”

“Tsk tsk. This is why men are no good. You dismiss such an ornament as a mere gem.”

“Enough. We need to start the plan.”

The man in black cloth mediated the argument between the man and woman.

“Ah, speaking of which, what about the mission the leader recently received?”

“About capturing the boy at that school?”

“Why capture him? What’s so special about him?”

The man pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket.

On the paper was the name and photo of a boy, a man of peerless beauty as if a god had sculpted him.

“…Oh my? To capture such a handsome boy? I want him.”

“Don’t covet him. I know you’re unrestrained, but I trust you to know your place. It’s a direct request from the Seven Evils.”

“…Directly from the Seven Evils?”

“Yes.”

The man enveloped in cloth gazed at the boy with dark eyes.

Honestly, he didn’t want to capture this boy. It was because of news that the Emperor, Seo Ye-bin, was taking an interest in him.

‘The Seven Evils are bothersome, but Seo Ye-bin is tricky.’

She was a figure who had risen from Puppeteer to Emperor.

Her stars were really troublesome. While not Transcendents, all of them had seen the pinnacle of their power. Even two or three of them could stop a Transcendent.

The Brigade of Eternal Heaven was a powerful villain group, but Emperor Seo Ye-bin alone could eradicate them.

On the other hand, the Seven Evils had many complications. Recently, they had attacked the Korean Heroes Academy and provoked Seo Ye-bin, putting them on guard again.

If they provoked another incident, it would be truly fatal.

The treaty made by the great and legendary hero would strangle them.

‘I don’t know why the leader accepted such a mission.’

If that boy might grow to be greater than Seo Ye-bin, stopping him now was the right choice.

“How about we try to capture the boy alive?”

“I agree with this prostitute here.”

“Hey! Why am I a prostitute!”

“You’re obsessed with men. If not a prostitute, then what? Hmm, but how are we going to deal with the heavily guarded Korean Heroes Academy now?”

“That’s a problem for the future.”

The man with blood-red eyes chuckled at the deputy leader’s words.

“Right. That makes sense. First, we kill the Red Tower Master, then we decide.”

The deputy leader said with a bright smile.

The party was splendid.

Despite the Red Tower Master’s modest nature, someone of his status couldn’t simply do things.

I found myself at a corner of the party, sipping grape juice with Ershil.

“Are you feeling better now?”

“…Was it that obvious?”

“Your face changed dramatically as soon as Hong Yu-hwa provoked you. If this weren’t the Red Tower Master’s birthday party, you might have challenged her to a duel on the spot.”

Ershil’s eyes curved into crescent moons.

“But seeing you like that, Seo-ha, was surprising.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes, it was refreshing. It felt like discovering a new side of you.”

Ershil spoke while elegantly sipping juice from her wine glass.

“Do I interest you that much?”

“Well, you are a rival.”

Ershil blushed for a moment. Perhaps it was the atmosphere.

I thought about Ershil.

She was upright and cunning.

Initially, she wasn’t a hard worker.

Being cunning, she relied more on luck than effort.

But after meeting Melanie, she saw the ‘false world’ created between reality and fantasy and became a woman striving to create that world.

And although a character of goodwill, she sometimes fell into despair and became the ‘Apostle of Despair’ in other routes.

‘Well, Ershil was prone to falling anyway.’

I took another sip of my grape juice.

‘What about The Brigade of Eternal Heaven?’

My thoughts turned to The Brigade of Eternal Heaven.

This group of villains was famous for being small but elite.

This band of thieves, composed entirely of top-notch members, would steal anything they desired by any means necessary.

That’s why they were villains.

They were irredeemable, even in the Hundred Temple.

And today, they planned to kill the Red Tower Master and steal his possessions.

‘The members are Parang, Harun, and the deputy leader.’

They were a well-balanced team. Harun was strong, the deputy leader specialized in assassination, and Parang was adept at creating chaos by beguiling others.

The deputy leader was particularly troublesome for magicians to handle.

An assassin who commanded the shadows and excelled in stealth kills.

Harun was a straightforward berserker. Parang, a magician who specialized in sowing chaos.

Parang could be countered by Ershil. Although Ershil was clearly outmatched, she had Melanie’s support.

‘Then, my task is clear.’

I needed to thwart the deputy leader while also fending off Harun.

‘The deputy leader might assassinate the Red Tower Master.’

There was a significant gap in strength between the seasoned mid-level Red Tower Master and the newly advanced top-level deputy leader, yet their conflicting dispositions precipitated the situation.

Most importantly, the Winter Sword in the deputy leader’s possession posed a particular threat.

‘I must acquire the Winter Sword.’

It was one of the blades I required to master dual-wielding.

To collect the Spring Sword, Summer Sword, Autumn Sword, and Winter Sword was to complete the Four Seasons Swords set, known for its unparalleled power in this world.

However, the real challenge lay in capability. I could defeat those at the top level under the right conditions, but the highest level was another matter entirely.

With the Conceptual Stat Energy of Defying Heaven, I could vanquish top-level adversaries, but my prospects against those at the highest level were filled with uncertainties.

‘I have only recently attained the middle level.’

As I pondered, I sensed someone’s gaze upon me. It felt as though I was being watched.

Turning my head swiftly, I saw a striking man with red hair and crimson eyes.

He appeared to be in his mid-thirties, middle-aged, adorned with spectacles and regarding me intently.

I recognized this man.

He was among the titans at the helm of the Magic Tower.

The Red Tower Master.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

The Red Tower Master greeted me.

“Yes, hello.”

“Indeed.”

He appraised me as he spoke, and within his gaze, there lay a palpable bewilderment.

“Hmm, my granddaughter seems to like this man… I knew he was someone special, but I didn’t expect this much.”

“…So Hong Yu-hwa does like Lee Seo-ha.”

“…Hong Yu-hwa?”

Ershil bit her lip slightly, and I was puzzled.

I had never felt such emotions from Hong Yu-hwa.

Even Fate had described her feelings towards me as competitive.

“…? My granddaughter doesn’t like you?”

The Red Tower Master then whispered very softly.

“She isn’t collecting photos of the person she likes?”

I would have missed that very faint sound if not for the sharp senses granted by my talent as the Sword Demon.

“I’m sorry. It seems I was mistaken.”

“It’s okay.”

“Still, you have an upright aura. You seem to be a talent worthy of Emperor Seo Ye-bin’s expectations.”

“Did the principal say that?”

Ershil was surprised at the Red Tower Master’s words.

“Yes, recently she talks about you to every acquaintance she meets. I was curious who this person she cherishes and nurtures is.”

The Red Tower Master said this, whispering only for my ears to hear.

With magic.

-But be careful. Her essence is that of a Puppeteer. She might try to turn you into one of her stars.

The Red Tower Master walked away after saying that.

‘Strange.’

The Red Tower Master recalled the boy he had seen earlier.

The boy showed nothing. Not even with the Eyes of the Sage.

Yet, there was something visible.

His aura, atmosphere, and the level of his trained body.

Even through his clothes, his physique radiated excellence.

Like a finely honed sword.

However.

‘I don’t think he’s as exceptional as Seo Ye-bin claims.’

It wasn’t that Lee Seo-ha lacked talent.

Being at the middle level at his age, he would be one of the world’s rare geniuses.

He could be a talent coveted by the stars.

But it was the first time Emperor Seo Ye-bin had praised and claimed someone as her own so publicly.

It must be his talent that contributed greatly to that.

A talent that even Emperor Seo Ye-bin, with eyes far surpassing his own, would be captivated by.

“……”

Thinking this, the Red Tower Master’s expression hardened.

A very faint magical reaction occurred, one that touched the essence of his being.

The magic was of flames.

Then.

Kwaang!

An explosion sounded, accompanied by the faint sound of breaking glass.

“Aaaah!”

“Crazy! An explosion in the heart of South Korea?!”

It was an attack.