Chapter 96.1

Chapter 96 – Rule 30: The Disciplinary Committee Leader Doesn’t Lose (5)

“Finally, you’re here, little sister!”

Five minutes ago, in the Zero Zone.

Hong Kyu enthusiastically greeted the girl with sky-blue twin-tails approaching him—Hong Bin. As Hong Kyu tried to hug her, Hong Bin stretched her arms out and pushed him away.

“Get lost.”

“Ugh, that coldness! I love my sister like that!”

“Please, just shut up.”

Hong Bin shot Hong Kyu a look of disdain.

She then glanced around.

The Heavenly Banquet Offering was still in effect. Soldiers of Gluttony were following Hong Kyu.

“You missed them, didn’t you?”

“Ah, Kim Dalbi barged in. That’s how it happened.”

“Kim Dalbi…? She really messed things up in the end. That damn girl.”

Hong Bin clicked her tongue, then noticed Hong Kyu’s meaningful smile.

“Why are you smiling?”

“The one who had Kim Dalbi come this way—it was all according to the Head Principal’s plan.”

“…What?”

Hong Bin couldn’t comprehend what he meant.

Hong Kyu pointed to the back of his neck.

“Kim Dalbi engraved a mark on Ahn Woo-jin. Whenever Ahn Woo-jin is in danger, the Goblin finds out. The Head Principal learned about this.”

“So?”

“If Ahn Woo-jin gets captured, Kim Dalbi will show up, and it’s obvious that she’ll try to resist the Heavenly Banquet Offering. And when that happens?”

“…I get it. Kim Dalbi rarely uses her powers, so this is a chance to make her use them and turn her into a complete weapon. The penalty for Kim Dalbi using her ability is the loss of precious memories. If the problem is her constantly protecting Ahn Woo-jin, then they’ll just make her forget Ahn Woo-jin altogether and drill into her head that she’s the Head Principal’s tool.”

“Exactly. Whether Kim Dalbi succeeds in resisting or fails, Ahn Woo-jin can’t escape from here anyway. We’ll capture Ahn Woo-jin at our leisure as planned, and then retrieve Kim Dalbi once she’s forgotten about him.”

The Head Principal wasn’t just targeting Ahn Woo-jin.

She was also targeting Kim Dalbi.

“So that’s why Kim Dalbi was allowed into the barrier. She probably thought it was my mistake. Hah, what an idiot.”

“You haven’t found the other two yet?”

“They’re hiding well. It’s almost like they’re locals here.”

“……”

“Anyway, we’re spread out, searching everywhere, but we haven’t seen them yet. Since this is the Head Principal’s domain, it’s hard to just destroy everything while searching. That’s why I was waiting for you, little sister. Right?”

“Sigh.”

Hong Bin sighed, closed her eyes, and extended her arms forward.

She opened her hands, turning her palms downward. From her hands, transparent winds flowed and spread in all directions.

Unique Ability, ‘Hunter.’
Magic Technique Type 1, ‘Radar.’

A detection technique that spreads an almost imperceptible amount of magic power to locate the target.

Soon, Hong Bin stopped channeling her magic and opened her eyes.

“Found them. Let’s go.”

“As expected of my little sister! You’re amazing, Hong Bin! I love you, Hong Bin!”

“You’re annoying. Shut up.”

The Gluttonous Twins and the Soldiers of Gluttony all headed toward the abandoned hospital.

“Huh?”

Hong Bin spotted a man sitting on the steps in front of the abandoned hospital.

Wearing a black school uniform.
His head wrapped in bandages.

He was gripping what looked like a three-section staff in his right hand, his head lowered.

As if he had been waiting for the Gluttonous Twins all along.

That man was Ahn Woo-jin,
the Disciplinary Committee Leader of Ahsung High.

A chilling aura emanated. The Gluttonous Twins unknowingly swallowed dryly, bewildered by the unease.

“You couldn’t even figure out the hospital location?”

“There’s no hospital sign on the building; how was I supposed to know that bastard would figure out it’s a hospital? But he’s a cheeky one… He’s got no magic, and yet he’s waiting for us?”

He had rested for barely an hour. There was no way he could have properly recovered in that condition.

It was improbable that he’d encountered a miraculous healer; even if he had, it would take much longer for his depleted magic to recover.

In short, Woo-jin was seemingly waiting for them, the Gluttonous Twins, instead of fleeing.

To Hong Kyu, he seemed insufferably arrogant.

“Did he realize he couldn’t escape? He doesn’t even know exactly what my ability is, right? Or did he come up with some useless plan…?”

While Hong Bin eyed Woo-jin with suspicion, Hong Kyu extended his arm sideways, blocking her.

“That’s not possible.”

It didn’t matter.

“I’ll take him down.”

Hong Kyu stepped forward. With both hands in his coat pockets, he shouted toward Woo-jin with a grin.

“So you didn’t run away!? I commend your bravery! But so what!? This place is just a dining table where you’ll be devoured…!”

“……”

As Woo-jin lifted his head, Hong Kyu stopped in his tracks, trembling. Hong Bin showed a similar reaction.

Woo-jin’s piercing teal eyes, filled with a lethal resignation, coiled around the siblings like a snake. A chill ran down their spines.

Magic resides in human eyes.

Something untouchable was contained in those eyes.

“That bastard… Hmph.”

Hong Kyu squinted at Woo-jin, then smirked.

Just when he thought the end of a boring plan had come, it seemed like there was still more to enjoy.

“I believe you’ll make the remaining time enjoyable.”

Hong Kyu extended his right arm. Crack! His arm swelled and turned a dark blue, transforming into the shape of a round monster.

The creature’s large maw opened, revealing evenly arrayed teeth. A monstrous mouth had also appeared on Hong Kyu’s palm.

Unique Ability, Shikigami.
Magic Technique Type 1, ‘Devourer.’

Woo-jin rose from his spot, advancing toward the Gluttonous Twins and the Army of Gluttony. He halted, assuming a combat stance.

His heart pounded.

A burning desire to destroy everything was hammering inside his chest.

This explosive emotion rekindled the feeling Woo-jin had during his battle with Han Seo-jin.

Woo-jin decided to believe in the potential of his own magic.

Flash!

Woo-jin and Hong Kyu kicked off the ground toward each other.

Boom!

As Iron Dragon Staff and Devourer clashed, teal lightning erupted, accompanied by a crackling sound.

Hong Kyu’s eyes widened, then a smile spread across his face. He realized the teal lightning wasn’t coming from Woo-jin.

Last time, Ahn Woo-jin used Platinum Mileage from the Federation Council to enhance the Iron Dragon Staff once more.

Iron Dragon Staff, Second Enhancement.
The new additional effect imbued basic strikes with lightning magic, stored similarly to the Lightning Rod.

While the wielder’s magic encircled the Iron Dragon Staff, the power of the lightning magic amplified further.

However, for Woo-jin, whose magic was depleted, it was a useless feature.

Clang!!

The difference in strength was clear.

Woo-jin was easily knocked back, rolling across the ground.

Without the ability to strengthen his body with magic—

“Ugh!”

Hong Kyu sneered at Woo-jin.

Whoosh!!

Soldiers of Gluttony rushed past Hong Kyu, charging at Woo-jin. Wind whipped around, fluttering Hong Kyu’s coat.

Woo-jin hastily got up and braced himself against the incoming attack.

Crackle!

Clang!!

The Iron Dragon Staff clashed with sharp teeth, creating sparks and shockwaves. Another soldier then struck Woo-jin, throwing him violently.