Episode 527. Spilt Milk (4)

Victoria Academy guarantees professors freedom in their classes, but representatives from each department must regularly report their lesson plans to the Chairman.

Not only the faculty but also departments without classes, like the medical team and security team, submit plans, also reporting through one chosen representative.

“I’m definitely quitting the next representative position. What is this, right after getting discharged.”

“Still, it’s fortunate that everyone acknowledges Sol.”

“It’s the idiots who are acknowledging her now that are stupid.”

Im Sol, the representative for the magic studies department professor, and Baek Ahyoung, the representative for the medical team, entered the student council room for their regular report.

It was ironically due to her defeat in a sparring match against Lee Hoyeon that Im Sol, who had previously kept her distance from the Academy’s professors, became the department representative.

– Professor Im Sol truly… is a genius mage. I have no choice but to acknowledge it.

– Anyone who doesn’t acknowledge Professor Im Sol’s skills even after seeing that match is a disgrace to mages!

In fact, Im Sol had proven her abilities several times before, but people only believe what they see with their own eyes. The match shown in the Academy’s sparring arena completely broke the pride of the professors who had previously looked down on her.

And Im Sol unanimously became the representative in a vote she never even applied for.

“How can they include me in the vote when I never ran?”

“Hmm… Actually, I never said I’d take the representative position either, but at some point, it just happened.”

“Aren’t these guys deliberately giving us troublesome tasks? I even lost the sparring match.”

Actually, the win or loss of the sparring match didn’t matter. Just because a human lost to a bear doesn’t mean anyone thinks humans are weak. Lee Hoyeon’s combat power was already considered beyond human.

Knock knock.

Im Sol and Baek Ahyoung knocked on the student council president’s door and entered.

“Welcome. Professor Im Sol. And Saint-nim.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“Good morning. Student Council President.”

Moon Surin, who was in the student council president’s office, stood up to greet them. The regular reports had been made to the Chairman until last time, but due to the Chairman’s deteriorating health, Student Council President Moon Surin was acting as a proxy.

“Please have a cup of tea.”

“You’re working hard too, Student Council President. Taking on troublesome tasks like us.”

“Sola. You shouldn’t say things like that in front of the Student Council President.”

“It’s fine. I’m okay.”

Moon Surin smiled as if nothing was wrong, and Baek Ahyoung also responded with a smile before sitting down. It was a formal occasion, so they maintained their etiquette.

Sip sip.

After bringing the tea to her lips out of politeness. Baek Ahyoung presented the prepared documents.

“This is the medical team’s regular report.”

“Thank you. I’m always grateful to you, Saint-nim.”

“I’ll put the magic studies professors’ lesson plans here too.”

“Yes. Thank you, Professor Im Sol.”

Im Sol found this situation very awkward. Moon Surin was the Chairman’s proxy, so she had to be treated with respect, but she was also her student. Im Sol couldn’t accept using honorifics towards her student as a teacher.

After reading the documents Baek Ahyoung handed over, Moon Surin nodded and said.

“I agree, it seems fine to abolish the infirmary. By now, Saint-nim should be adapted to the Academy. It seems there were issues because the position was created haphazardly.”

“It’s okay. Things happen. We were very busy back then, so I’m actually grateful to the Academy for creating that position for me.”

“Right. Come to think of it, you came without a proper contract, and there were many blank spaces on the contract. My grandfather, I mean, the Chairman, is a bit weak in those areas.”

“Ah… I suppose I transferred in hastily back then….”

It felt like just yesterday she quit the Hunter Association and came to the Academy, blinded by Lee Hoyeon, but she had already adapted to the Academy.

Moon Surin naturally presented the contract, much like an insurance agent recommending an insurance policy.

“Then, let’s rewrite the contract this time. How long should the term be?”

“Huh? Uh… Hmm. Let’s make it two years then.”

Baek Ahyoung blinked, looking at the contract that had somehow ended up in her hand.

‘How did things end up like this…?’

While Baek Ahyoung felt puzzled about renewing the contract without realizing it. Moon Surin smiled, looking at Im Sol.

“Professor Im Sol, you’re always perfect.”

“Thank you. Student Council President.”

“You can speak casually. I learned under you too, Professor.”

“… I suppose that’s okay then? You’re my student.”

Im Sol finally nodded with satisfaction. As expected, the Student Council President’s character was perfect.

“It seems there are no particular issues with either of you… Ah, lately, many professors have been questioning the Academy’s safety, so I’ll inform you both as well.”

As Pandemic’s terrorist attacks increased, anxiety within the Academy grew exponentially. Accordingly, the Academy’s leadership also prepared countermeasures.

“We’ve basically doubled the security personnel. Naturally, additional security magic circles have been installed, and you two can also request VIP-exclusive personal protection.”

Moon Surin showed them the documents, explaining the necessary procedures. Of course, Im Sol and Baek Ahyoung wouldn’t need security or personal protection, but they couldn’t just not mention it.

“… Huh?”

Just then, Baek Ahyoung, looking at the documents Moon Surin was showing, tilted her head.

---

• Personal Protection Request Form –

1. Lee Hoyeon.

2. Kang Hyorin.

.

.

.

---

This was because the name ‘Lee Hoyeon’ was written on the very unsettling document titled ‘Personal Protection Request Form’.

“… What is this?”

“Ah. How did this document get here? You don’t need to worry about it.”

“Wait a moment. Student Council President.”

Startled, Baek Ahyoung placed her hand on the document. The moment she saw Lee Hoyeon’s name, she couldn’t just let it slide.

“Hoyeon needs personal protection… Is there a reason?”

“My student needs personal protection? Is something wrong with my student?”

“Hmm… Just a moment.”

Moon Surin gathered the documents, letting out a sigh.

‘How did this get mixed in here?’

Documents containing personal information should be stored separately, but it seems she was overloaded with too much work. Of all people, to get caught by these two.

The position of Student Council President involves receiving a vast amount of information. Moon Surin naturally knew that Im Sol and Baek Ahyoung had a deep relationship with Lee Hoyeon. Judging by their reactions, her suspicions seemed correct.

Moon Surin continued speaking, looking at Baek Ahyoung and Im Sol, whose expressions had stiffened.

“Have you heard of a demon named Lucifer?”

“Lucifer…?”

“I heard he’s a dangerous demon who recently entered Korea….”

“Right. I received something about him too.”

Lucifer was a name both Im Sol and Baek Ahyoung had heard of.

“Recently, the Academy formed a pursuit team, and information was sent to VIPs. Anyway, there was intel that this demon named Lucifer was targeting Hoyeon, so I recommended personal protection.”

“… Is that true?”

“I heard it from a reliable source.”

“I didn’t hear anything about that….”

Baek Ahyoung muttered to herself, head bowed, with a look of utter despair. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she snapped her head up.

“… So when I heard Hoyeon recently became a VIP, I wondered why, and it turns out the Student Council President initiated it?”

“Yes. That’s right. Hoyeon is a talent worthy of VIP treatment.”

“There wasn’t any personal bias involved, right…?”

“I’m not sure what you mean, Saint-nim…?”

“….”

Im Sol blinked, watching Baek Ahyoung suddenly become aggressive.

‘Ahyoung always changes like this when it comes to her student.’

In truth, Im Sol was content as long as Lee Hoyeon was safe. If Hoyeon became safer by becoming a VIP, she should be grateful to the Student Council President.

Just as she was about to moderately dissuade Baek Ahyoung and return to her lab.

Ssssk-

“… Huh?”

Goosebumps rose all over Im Sol’s body. She involuntarily jumped to her feet.

“So, giving Hoyeon VIP status and personal protection, you didn’t receive anything in return…”

“… No. There’s no way I would do such a thing.”

“Both of you, be quiet for a moment.”

Im Sol frowned and drew up her magic power. A foreign sensation filled her body. And anxiety. As she raised her magic power into combat readiness, she could sense the cause. An unknown magic power was approaching their location.

“This place isn’t the target. Is it spreading spherically from the center?”

“Sola, what’s wrong?”

“Student Council President, I’ll put up a barrier for a moment.”

Im Sol quickly constructed a magic circle. What was needed now was a strong barrier. For Im Sol, proficient in all magic, it was not a difficult task.

Chyrurururuk-

A thick barrier magic circle unfolded in an instant. Im Sol felt the approaching magic power and reinforced the barrier with her own magic.

‘… I can’t block it?’

The approaching magic wave had a peculiar magic pattern. It was the same magic power as the black pillar Lee Hoyeon used. There wasn’t enough time for Im Sol, who had just been discharged, to prepare.

“Everyone should get away….”

Kwagagagag-

This was before Baek Ahyoung and Moon Surin had even noticed. An intangible magic power engulfed the student council room.

*

Lee Hoyeon, having entered Victoria Park, headed towards the location where the fake dungeon magic circle was installed, avoiding people’s gazes. Pushing through the bushes into an area without a path, he could sense the magic he had scattered.

“Damn, they installed it in a really remote place.”

The top of the black pillar was visible beyond the trees. Luckily, most of the hunters were around the black pillar, so there were no signs of people in this vicinity.

“It was here.”

Jiiing-

The magic circle, reacting to Lee Hoyeon’s magic power, slowly revealed itself. Since he had cast a rune barrier, he could examine the magic circle slowly.

“Come to think of it, there’s no need to examine it.”

He wasn’t here for a routine check like usual. Today, he needed to retrieve the magic circle quickly.

Seureureuk-

Lee Hoyeon began to quickly reverse-calculate the magic circle. It was a reverse-calculation process, tracing the path of magic used when drawing the magic circle backward. It was Lee Hoyeon’s specialty, but the fake dungeon magic circle was such a large magic circle that it required time.

‘… If I retrieve this, what should I do next?’

The fake dungeon was the most crucial element in preparation for the harem ending. If this disappeared, there would be even more to consider.

‘No, stop thinking uselessly and focus.’

Chap chap.

Lee Hoyeon, slapping his own cheek, focused on controlling his magic power. Was it from the day he started consciously focusing his clear mental strength? He worried more about the harem.

Jingjing- Seureureuk-

A path of blue magic covered the magic circle. The magic circle reverse-calculation proceeded quickly. It was much easier because it was a magic circle Lee Hoyeon had created himself.

“If it goes like this, within 5 minutes… Hmm?”

When he had retrieved about half of the magic circle. Lee Hoyeon detected strange magic power inside the magic circle. The Underworld’s magic power, subtly mixed in to the point where someone other than Lee Hoyeon wouldn’t have noticed. A stroke he hadn’t drawn was passing through various core formations of the magic circle.

‘This is….’

The fake dungeon magic circle was something Lee Hoyeon and Rebecca created together. All the Underworld magic power entering the magic circle was engraved directly by Lee Hoyeon. He had checked the core formations countless times during inspections. There was no way a stroke he didn’t know would only be discovered now. In other words, it was evidence that someone had tampered with the magic circle recently.

“Ah, fuck.”

Chwaak- ppadeudeudeuk-

As soon as he sensed something was wrong, he twisted the magic circle. It was an immediate response only Lee Hoyeon could execute. However, the fake dungeon magic circle had already begun to glow, beyond his control.