episode_0026

Tadadak..!

Only one minute left until curfew.

I was sprinting with all my might from Heukseok Station.

‘This crazy school… why is it so far from the subway station!!!!’

As is always the case with most universities.

Central Academy was also quite far from the station.

Because it was late at night, I couldn’t catch a taxi at all.

In the end, I had no choice but to sprint with all my might.

“Huh…Huh…Huh…“

I barely arrived at the entrance to the dormitory building before the door closed.

In front of him, Surtur looked at me with a wooden sword on his shoulder.

“Oh, are you here? Freshmen.“

“Ugh… Wow… I’m late… sorry… “

Surtur clicked his tongue and then threw an object at me.

I immediately snatched it from the air and looked at a piece of blue light.

It was a plastic key card with [#1306] written on it.

‘Is it room 1306 again? It’s the same as before…’

“The room number written on the key is your room number. Since you were absent from the dormitory OT held this evening, you will have no complaints about any disadvantages you may face in the future.“

“Phew…ha…ha… Yep, there is no point. I’ve already read all the rules…“

“Okay, don’t be late from now on. Go early.“

I bowed my head politely to Surt.

I went inside the dormitory building.

Perhaps because it is a newly remodeled building this year.

Among the academy dormitories, it was one of the cleanest.

I walked through the long hallway and found room 1306.

I quietly opened the door and went inside.

“Oh, I was wondering when it would come. Nice to meet you.“

“Hello.“

A two-person dormitory that can be found everywhere.

Clean, new furniture and even a study desk.

Plus, I see my old dorm roommate for the first time in 5 years.

It was very similar to the sight I saw that day.

“Is that my roommate? This is unexpected. I couldn’t see him during OT and he was just carrying a lot of luggage, so I wondered what he was doing… but I never thought he was the new student that was rumored.“

“Okay, nice to meet you.“

I immediately jumped onto the bed mattress and

I buried my body and closed my eyes for a moment.

” This is it… This is the bed… “

I immediately took off my jacket and threw it on a hanger.

I looked at my roommate sitting on the other side of the bed.

Black horn-rimmed glasses and a red checked shirt.

Plus, he has unkempt hair and a skinny body.

He had the appearance of an ordinary Korean man that made you feel at ease just by looking at him.

My roommate, who I became close with while living in the dormitory.

When I earnestly pray for awakening, please don’t have this ability…!

You will be the person responsible for the [Grasshopper Obsession Maniac] who shouted,

Of course, I’m not really a [grasshopper obsessed fanatic],

He has the ability to be a [Biological Expert] and only collects grasshoppers.

Even if you call me a grasshopper obsessive, it wouldn’t be a problem.

“So, why didn’t you come to the dorm during OT? They say there will be a penalty point if you don’t come.“

“Oh, that? are you okay. I’m close with the chairman. It only takes a few penalty points to win the store.“

“Hmm… Yeah, anyway. Let’s get along. I was hoping that I could write it alone. Since there was no one there, it was quite lonely. My name is Taejun Park. Let’s get along well.“

“I’m Han Seo-jin. I am asking you to take care of me this time as well.”

My roommate raised his glasses and gave a thumbs up.

Soon, he began humming as he assembled the grasshopper model.

“Oh, if you are afraid of bugs, please tell me. I plan to put up a grasshopper poster on the wall later.“

“I don’t really care. Oh right. Did you see anything strange on the way?“

“Something strange…? Well, it’s strange…“

He scratched the back of his head and thought carefully,

He then pointed to my desk as if something had occurred to him.

“Oh, that’s right, someone asked me to give this to you earlier. I put it on your desk.

“Oh. As expected, thank you.“

I got up and carefully opened the box on the desk.

Inside was a broken piece of a blade.

Like last time, the first piece of the broken sword seemed to have been provided by my dorm roommate.

‘Is this the first one… I guess I’ll have to go collect this too…’

I slowly got up and started to pack up my belongings when I arrived at the dormitory.

The piles of luggage had a strong peach scent, probably because they were packed with care by Lee Yu-ri.

Inside, there was a post-it note placed on top.

「Please continue to treat me well, Master! “I will always be there to help you at the Academy!”

‘Yuri… he has a cute side sometimes.’

I chuckled and placed the post-it note on one side of the desk.

All the remaining luggage was also neatly organized.

——

smart.

I knocked on the door of the student council room.

But I didn’t hear any answer.

I carefully opened the door.

“Hmm….“

“Queunnng…“

Inside the student council room, wearing a robe

Two women were seen playing baduk early in the morning.

They were so focused that they didn’t even notice me coming in.

Because I couldn’t stand to disturb them,

I just quietly stood aside and watched the situation of Baduk.

‘Maybe black has a bit of an advantage… I’m not sure…’

For me, who doesn’t know how to play baduk, it’s just black and white.

And I could only watch as they painstakingly placed the stones one by one.

At that moment.

Clink—!

A baseball flew inside, shattering one of the windows,

Wajangchang—!

The baseball ball flew straight toward the checkerboard.

After completely hitting the checkerboard with numerous stones placed on it,

It caused numerous baduk stones to fly in the air.

“Ah…Ahh…! If I just had to do a little more, I would have won!!!“

“Hehe, everyone is very energetic since the morning.“

The girl in front of me got up from her seat and walked towards the broken window.

A voice came from beyond, ‘I’m sorry!!!’

“Be careful in the future! The long-awaited match has been ruined somehow!“

She threw the baseball to me with a friendly smile.

Only then did he turn his gaze to the entrance and notice my presence standing there blankly.

“Ah, I’m sorry. We didn’t even know you visited because we were both playing baduk.“

“It’s okay. I didn’t even have to wait long.“

“Please wait a moment, I will clear the table soon…“

I set the board upright and picked up the stones, one in each hand.

And then, just like I remembered,

One by one, I remembered their locations and started embroidering them.

White and black stones in all directions and empty spaces.

I slowly thought of each of these things and placed the stone as my hand guided me,

Thump, thump, thump, thump.

So let’s make the final move.

The checkerboard was restored as it was when it was last embroidered.

They opened their eyes and looked at me,

Afterwards, I began to admire the positions of the stones placed on the checkerboard.

Of course, I knew very well that this was not a common occurrence.

As I joined with the enthusiastic support of the Chairman,

I wanted to prove to them that I was not an ordinary student.

“You…! This is truly amazing. I thought I left it there randomly… but it’s the same as before…!“

“Okay, let’s continue. I was also wondering who would win.“

They happily sat down again and started playing baduk.

So after a while.

The woman sitting in front of me crossed her arms with a satisfied expression,

The student on the other side put down his baduk stone and bowed his head.

“It was a great fight. It hasn’t caught up with me yet, but it’s almost there.“

“As expected, Chairman… It’s not easy.“

‘Ah… is this woman the student council president?’

So the girls smiled and took off their robes.

The face hidden inside was someone that made me doubt my eyes.

“Ah. I’m sorry for making you wait so long. Xiaoda is currently serving as the president of the student council.”

‘Shit…’

One of the organization’s four senior executives.

[Little Heavenly Demon Xiao.]

The first time I encountered her was at the end of season 3, which was full of all kinds of devastation.

Xiao became one by receiving some of the knowledge from an ancient god-like being that the organization idolized.

After that, he awakened into a complete Heavenly Demon (天魔) itself.

Just as the quality of the vessel holding something is high, the quality of the result is also excellent.

As he is a person who is praised as the best masterpiece that the organization carefully selected from the original itself.

Dealing with her when she was fully awake was also incredibly difficult.

If only the last gamble hadn’t worked because of heaven’s fortune,

I felt like it was natural that my colleagues and I would all die before we could subdue the awakened Xiao.

“The story about you was well received. The chairman highly recommended you.“

“Yes, I did ask for it.“

“Oh? Is that so? Is that ability you just showed… a power gained through awakening? It’s quite a unique talent.“

I looked at her without saying anything.

She is full of charisma and at the same time exudes strange power.

Xiao now doesn’t look as threatening as he did that day,

It was quite different from the feeling I had that day, when I felt like she had transcended human limitations.

‘Still… I haven’t awakened yet…’

However, we do not know what her current relationship with the organization is.

If we proceed carelessly like Yoo Ji-hye, there is a possibility that we will be the one to suffer.

I calmly took a deep breath and looked at her.

Then he smiled brightly and extended his hand to Xiao.

“Thank you for your continued support. Chairman Xiao.“

“Ah, please take care of this one. Hmm… let’s see… have you thought about what department you would work in? If you have that ability, I think the accounting department would be fine…“

Xiao sat down on the chair and took out the document with my information on it and read it.

A student who was playing baduk with her whispered something to her.

“Chairman, the Chairman said that he is a talented person worthy of being put into the leadership department.“

“Ahh…! You mean the leadership department… Well, there just happened to be a vacancy…“

Xiao slowly looked at me with his clasped fingers,

Soon he came up to me with a smile and handed me a blue armband and badge.

“Now, Han Seo-jin. Congratulations on becoming a member of our student council from now on. This armband and badge have great meaning… Please become a talent worthy of this great meaning.“

I carefully put on the badge and shook hands with her.

Then he looked into her scarlet eyes and smiled meaningfully.

“Of course. As long as I am here, I will prevent any terrorist attacks from happening at this academy.“

“Hmm…that’s pretty bold. Can I ask where your confidence comes from?“

I pointed my finger at my head and smiled.

“I have a good memory.“

The corners of Xiao’s mouth rose and he smiled at me with meaningful eyes.

I, too, was not swayed by her momentum and responded with a smile.

I wonder if the smile she gave me was a mockery,

Or is it really just support from the president?

I had a feeling that I would definitely find out someday.

——–

“Now~ This part is quite important. You must read this picture and the explanation below carefully~“

Classroom on a sunny afternoon.

Classes were in full swing at the academy.

I was writing down things in my notebook and organizing my head.

The existence of Little Heavenly Demon Xiao.

And that she is the student council president of this academy.

This information alone was already giving me a headache.

‘Well… there were loopholes in the Academy, but the reason they were robbed so often… was probably possible because there was a traitor inside…’

As I guessed, there was a traitor at school.

Not just a student, but the student council president.

Xiao was even one of the elite who received a lot of trust from Beatrice.

There is only one reason why I didn’t know of her existence until now.

She dropped out of school right before the academy’s midterm exams.

After that, he completely disappeared from the world.

This is why even I didn’t know she was the student council president.

‘Then can we broadly see three possibilities…’

One, like Yoo Ji-hye, there is a possibility that she has not yet joined the organization or is currently receiving love calls.

Second, there is a possibility that he has joined the organization and is preparing for future terrorism.

Third… There is a possibility that an ancient god has contacted her body and awakened her as a Heavenly Demon.

‘No, it was five years ago now. It’s still unfinished to use her as a vessel. Besides, that look in your eyes…’

The cruel and cold eyes of that day we met on the battlefield.

With one swing of the sword, a mountain is cut down,

What followed was the day when blood sprayed from the severed necks of our allies flowed like a river.

Those merciless yet infinitely quiet dead eyes.

But she was quite different from before.

Because my skill rank was still low, I couldn’t read deep into the mind.

Xiao, whom I met in the student council room, was looking at me expectantly.

‘Anyway… there’s still time left… I think I’m caught up in some trouble…’

Square…square…

That moment when you focus your mind while thinking about other things.

The teacher tapped the blackboard and called my name.

“Student Seojin Han~!“

“Yes…yes!“

I immediately stood up and looked at her,

The teacher asked me a question.

“Now… What are the prerequisites to defeat a level 2 monster? Shall we answer this?“

I sighed in relief and answered confidently.

“Two tanks, three dealers, and one supporter. If you have a healer, party management becomes easier even if you exclude one tank and supporter.“

“Correct answer! I did something else during class and now I know it well~“

She smiled and clapped for me.

Then everyone in the class started applauding me.

Out of shame, I bowed down and thanked everyone.

“But doing anything else during class is prohibited? Go out into the hallway and stand with your hands raised.“

“Ah.“

I was kicked out of the classroom.

——-

‘I’m actually glad that it ended up like this anyway.’

Turn crisis into opportunity. No, it’s a bit insignificant to be considered a crisis.

Anyway, since I was kicked out of the classroom, I was hiding here and there in the academy.

I decided to find the hidden piece of [Levatain].

‘It will take a year to repair it anyway… but if we save up now, we might be able to repair it before the first terrorist attack.’

I looked through the classroom window,

Still 30 minutes before class ends.

Time was still leisurely.

Find 6 hidden pieces scattered throughout the academy within 30 minutes.

That was my goal now.

There was no need to make a fuss to find all the pieces in the current situation,

Like all high school boys, he seemed to have a tendency to be obsessed with things like this.

‘Then… get ready…’

I stretched my ankle and prepared to run.

‘depart…!’

I ran down the long hallway while making as little noise as possible.

To find as many pieces as possible within 30 minutes.

Tadadadadak—!

A huge flower bed at the main entrance to the academy.

In February, the soil was frozen solid,

I took out my flame katana and immediately threw it into the ground.

Then, flames came out from the sword body and the frozen ground melted little by little.

sparkle—!

“Found it…!“

After finding a hidden piece in the flower bed…

I immediately ran towards the nurse’s office.

Grrrgh!

The school nurse here was always absent,

So thanks to that, I don’t have to act out this or that.

I immediately found another piece attached to the foot of the white bed in the nurse’s office.

‘bingo.’

Then I went straight into the cafeteria where the cooks were busy working.

He was close to the wall, hiding his presence, looking for a box.

“Found it…“

The red [meal suggestion box] that was always attached to the cafeteria.

Of course, the lunch menu has not changed over the past three years, to the point where I doubt whether it is doing its job…

I carefully took out the bar magnet and pushed it inside…

Just–!

Then, the hidden piece hidden inside stuck exactly to the magnet.

‘Okay… next…’

Then, after going into the library,

I immediately found the romance section and looked at the numerous books on the bookshelf.

There were a lot of pornographic books with a variety of titles lined up in plain sight.

I started remembering the name of the book Lapis had told me that day.

‘What was it… her and her and her and her and her love…?’

The moment I scanned it with my eyes and thought of it.

My eye was drawn to a book stuck in the corner of a bookshelf.

“Bingo..!“

I immediately got up on my tiptoes and took out the book.

Instead of a bookmark, there was a piece of a knife stuck inside it.

‘Two to go…!’

Then I ran straight towards the gym.

Then, go into the gym warehouse where no one is looking,

The Taegeukgi flag and the president’s photo hanging on the wall were turned over one by one.

Then another piece of the broken sword appeared behind it, taped together.

‘Thank you… Mr. President…!’

I saluted the portrait of a benevolent face, then quickly and carefully placed it back in its place.

‘Now there’s only one piece left… it goes to the rooftop…!’

I smiled and ran up the stairs to the rooftop.

Let’s carefully open the iron door,

There was a thick odor of cigarettes with a hint of menthol.

When I stick my head out and look at the rooftop,

Surt was seen smoking alone in a separate smoking room for faculty and staff.

‘Oh… that’s right, there was a smoking area here as well.’

I looked at my watch,

There are only about 10 minutes left now.

‘I could wait for Surtur to go down like this, but…’

Due to her smoking habits, she smoked at least three cigarettes every time she sat down to smoke.

Besides, seeing him sitting comfortably like that, it seemed like he had free time.

It was clear that after finishing his cigarette, he planned to lie down there and take a nap.

‘Hmm… Then there’s nothing we can do, we have no choice but to force our way through.’

I slowly walked towards her,

Surtur looked at the snow-covered rooftop and blew out thick white smoke from his mouth.

I cleared my throat and sounded like a different person.

“Instructor Surt. I would have told you that smoking is prohibited on campus.“

“Ah…! crime…! Sorry!“

Has she not yet shed her military attire?

As soon as I acted, I immediately stood up and put out my cigarette.

“Ha…please take a look… I just quit smoking…“

“Wow, thank you for your hard work. Mr. Surt.“

“Surprise… Mr… startling people. What are you doing if you’re not going to class? Don’t you just rush in?“

She must have been very surprised and was holding the cigarette pack tightly.

Thanks to this, only the innocent cigarette smokers inside were destroyed.

“Ah… it was a double…“

“Mr. Surt? Smoking is not good for your health. How about quitting now?“

I approached her with a friendly smile,

Then Surtur was embarrassed and took a step back.

“Uh…uhh, I understand…well…what, it’s a secret from everyone.“

“Of course~ But, I wonder if there is any point in me keeping it a secret. The smell of cigarettes permeates your clothes like that…“

“Keuung… Okay, just go to class. I’ll also keep the fact that I missed you a secret.“

While Surt took out a new cigarette and put it to his mouth,

I climbed up the ladder behind her, quickly jumped to the rooftop, and climbed on top.

The view of the academy from the rooftop was very open,

Just looking at it from up here made me feel refreshed.

“Hey, hey, it’s dangerous, come down.“

Surt took out a cigarette and waved his hand at me,

I picked up the last hidden piece buried in the snow and came down.

“Oh, that’s right, Mr. Surt. Is the blacksmith shop still in operation?”

“Huh? That’s right, but…how do you know that?”

I put all the sword pieces I had collected in subspace into a box,

He handed it to her slowly.

“Now, it’s a gift. I think you know what this is… Oh, you’ll need a rather large bellows. Because it has to be melted at a very high temperature.”

“Reba…Tane…? Seojin, how did you do this…?”

Surtr caresses the broken pieces of Levatein with a puzzled expression.

And I left her behind and ran straight toward the stairs.

“Mr. Surt, see you later!!“

“…Okay. Get in quickly. See you later.“

I chuckled and returned to the classroom, leaving her behind.

Is it because she was 5 years ago?

Surtur looks younger and fresher for no reason.

I miss the days we spent together even more.

Let’s run so quickly and arrive in front of the classroom,

I immediately raised my hand and faced the wall.

With good timing, the teacher came out of the classroom right away.

She grabbed my shoulder and dragged me back into the classroom.

“Now, student Seojin Han? Have you reflected sufficiently? You’re not allowed to do anything else during class?“

“Yes~ Of course~“

I sat down with a friendly smile.

I imagined Surtur repairing the broken Levatein as soon as he got home.

I started to organize my thoughts about what to do next.

Let’s turn our heads and look at Seo Arang’s seat.

Today again, she was nowhere to be seen.

‘Then… let’s look for Arang first…’

Thinking of her, who is probably clinking somewhere right now,

I briefly closed my eyes and looked out the window at the winter day.