I Entered an Academy in a Ruined Game

Chapter 177 : Request (6)

"The situation isn't looking good."

Song Jaejun, who had been watching the fight at the construction site through the eyes of his summoned bat Ma-in, stood up.

'I already knew Director Moon's skills, but was Jeong Su-hyeon this strong too?'

Song Jaejun smiled as he confirmed Su-hyeon's abilities exceeding his expectations.

'Interesting. This is how it should be.'

Wouldn't this give him a justification to intervene himself?

'Even if I lose a few of those guys and the operation fails, my lord won't mind such minor losses.'

It was nothing compared to the Queen's power and wealth.

Above all, her motivation lay elsewhere.

'Even so, proper obedience is my duty.'

But.

To be honest, he was displeased that his lord showed interest in such an unripe youngster.

'So I'll confirm it myself. Whether you're worthy of my lord's attention.'

If the guy couldn't handle him, wouldn't that prove he was only worth that much?

Then his lord would be disappointed but wouldn't blame him.

'According to Alistair, his power is already at the upper tier of B+ grade. But it's uncertain whether he's broken through the wall of A-.'

Had Su-hyeon already broken through that high wall?

'Ko Kyeong-ho, Kang Woojung. Though lowly, they were quite powerful. If it's true that Jeong Su-hyeon defeated them with pure strength, he might be able to give me a good fight.'

However, for him, a trusted servant, to step forward directly required the Queen's permission.

Therefore, he sought his lord's permission.

[My lord.]

The Queen immediately responded to Song Jaejun's telepathy, possible only as her minion.

[What is it, my child?]

[The battle situation isn't favorable. Jeong Su-hyeon and Director Moon are too powerful, and there's a risk the operation might fail.]

[Yes. I've been watching too.]

[My intervention seems unavoidable. I'd like your permission.]

At that moment.

[Unavoidable, you say.]

Along with the Queen's cold voice, Song Jaejun felt an unbearable pain in his heart.

"Gack!"

The Queen mocked Song Jaejun as he clutched his chest and collapsed.

[You've grown quite bold. Are you trying to deceive me now?]

"...!"

Thud!

Song Jaejun prostrated himself, banging his head against the ground hard enough to break his knees.

[I'm sorry, my lord!]

[That quick admission saved your life.]

As if nothing had happened, the Queen's voice softened and the heart pain disappeared.

'...!'

[Trying to fool your parent with such a shallow trick. Where did you learn such impertinence, mixing personal feelings into my orders?]

[I apologize, my lord.]

[Do you dislike Su-hyeon? Are you jealous?]

[Jealousy? Absolutely not. I just...!]

[If you lie to me one more time, I'll tear your mouth apart.]

Shiver!

A chill ran down Song Jaejun's spine, and only then did he abandon all pride and admit it.

[...It's as you say, my lord. I was consumed by jealousy and almost ruined the operation.]

[Operation? This is just a pastime project.]

The Queen cackled.

[Jaejun, my child. I understand your feelings perfectly. A child being jealous of another child taking their parent's attention, a pet dog baring its teeth at another dog receiving affection from its owner. That's a natural emotion.]

Despite the insulting words comparing him to a dog, Song Jaejun could only swallow dryly.

[But you must never try to deceive me by acting against my will, no matter what. Is this so difficult that I need to explicitly say it?]

[No, my lord.]

[But I'm curious too. Between you and Su-hyeon, who is stronger?]

[...With all due respect, I don't think I would lose.]

[Oh my. Is that so?]

Jeong Su-hyeon.

The Queen smiled as she recalled that bold and beautiful young man who had interfered with her business once again after the black market incident.

[Then go and fight him. Prove that your strength surpasses that child's.]

[...I won't kill him.]

[It seems you've finally gained some sense.]

The Queen ended the telepathy with a laugh.

"......"

Song Jaejun clenched his fist, swallowing even a single curse like "damn it" that he dared not utter.

'Jeong Su-hyeon. I'll give you terror no less than death itself.'

Swoosh.

Song Jaejun's body was enveloped in a cape and vanished the next moment.

At that time.

Vampire Queen Seong Yeonhui, who had been watching the construction site from afar through the bat's eyes, smiled faintly.

"Jaejun is still the same."

'That dullness, blindly worshipping me without even properly knowing his own strength.'

Though that was quite lovable in its own way.

'He's gotten a bit presumptuous.'

The Queen's smile had somehow changed into a dry sneer.

'But if he's willing to become a sacrifice for that child, I have no reason to stop him.'

"Let's see how you do. I'm looking forward to it."

❀⋆｡°✿☆❀✿°｡⋆❀

"Is it melting well?"

"Yes. It's melting nicely."

After subduing everyone at the scene, I borrowed a lighter from Moon Seongil and melted the adhesive stuck to my Moonless Sword.

"It's done. I just need to clean it once more when we get back."

"Hmm. I thought it was a troublesome ability, but I didn't expect it to be this vulnerable to fire."

Moon Seongil, who had cleaned his bloodied throwing stars, smirked as he looked at Director Han Myeongju—or rather, the doppelganger—who had watched the entire fight while neatly tied to a chair.

"You've caused us quite a bit of trouble. What should we do with you?"

"...!"

Just as a look of dismay appeared on the doppelganger's face.

"That's far enough."

Along with a chilling voice, a swarm of bats flew in from somewhere and transformed into a human shape.

"Finally, the leader appears."

Moon Seongil lowered his stance, gripping his throwing stars in reverse.

"You're the boss, right? If you had come earlier, you could have fought with more numbers. Coming now after everything's over, aren't you just setting yourself up to be attacked by both of us?"

"Watch your tongue, human. I'm not one to be defeated by the likes of you."

The vampire, who had finally returned to human form, spoke coldly.

'So it was him after all.'

Vampire Song Jaejun.

Though not among the strongest of the Queen's minions.

For my previous self, he would have undoubtedly been a formidable enemy difficult to defeat at this point.

"I'll handle this one."

I stepped forward.

"I'm enough on my own."

"Hmm."

Moon Seongil retreated without argument.

"Then I'll just secure that guy properly."

"Thank you."

Song Jaejun, who had been listening to our conversation, spoke softly.

"The act is over. Get out of the way."

"Yes, sir."

Rustle.

The doppelganger, who untied himself, changed his face back to its original form.

Whoosh!

Moon Seongil clicked his tongue as he watched the doppelganger instantly escape through the window and run to the empty lot.

"Trying to lure me away? Swifter than he looks."

"I'll leave it to you."

"I'll entrust him to you for now. He's not our primary target anyway."

Swish!

Moon Seongil disappeared in pursuit of the doppelganger, and.

"Then shall we settle this between ourselves?"

In response to my words, Song Jaejun elongated his nails and said.

"Arrogant bastard. Don't get cocky."

Swoosh!

When his right hand sliced through the air, five slashing attacks flew at me.

'A technique the Queen favors.'

Woong.

I swung my Moonless Sword infused with sword energy and launched a Flying Strike.

Crash!

The two slashing attacks met in mid-air and canceled each other out.

'No, my Flying Strike is stronger!'

"Hmph!"

After swinging his nails once more to barely neutralize my Flying Strike, I taunted Song Jaejun.

"Not much of a challenge."

"I told you to watch your mouth."

Song Jaejun's eyes narrowed.

"Shouldn't you show some power that would make me want to watch my mouth before saying things like that?"

"Gladly."

Song Jaejun's body transformed into hundreds of bats.

Screeeech!

The hundreds of bats flew toward me simultaneously.

'Eye Power activated.'

With enhanced vision, I kept launching slashes like a sword dance with fluid movements, cutting through the swarm of bats.

Slish-slash-slash!

Dozens of bats were instantly sliced apart.

"Argggh!"

The bats that scattered to avoid the slashes sank their teeth into the fallen Ma-in and sucked their blood, then grew larger than pigeons.

'...Is this for real.'

Both the way they made even their own kind targets for predation.

And visually, it was quite a disgusting scene.

"Screeeech!"

Piew! Pieeew!

The blood spat out by the bats was fired at me like bullets.

Slish-slash-slash!

I created a large shield around myself and retreated to the open space.

'I'm at a disadvantage in confined spaces.'

"Where do you think you're running!"

Meanwhile, the bat swarm gathered in one place and reconstructed Song Jaejun's body.

'His size has increased, and I can sense stronger vitality.'

I suppose that was to be expected.

After all, he had consumed the Ma-in's blood and all the mana contained within it.

"It's useless. Changing the battlefield won't change the outcome."

"I suppose not."

The blood seeping from Song Jaejun's fingertips gathered in the air and formed a large sphere.

Swoosh-swoosh-swoosh!

I leaped into the air to avoid the spikes shot from it.

'Each one is like a bullet fired from a high-caliber sniper rifle.'

Without a shield, it would probably have enough power to crush my bones if I took a direct hit.

'Eye Power, Tachypsychia Mode.'

Keeeeeng!

I narrowed the distance by running above Song Jaejun's head, stepping on dozens of Mana Shields randomly scattered in the air.

'Damn, it's impossible to dodge everything.'

Slish-slash-slash!

As I got closer, the number of attacks hitting my shields increased, but.

'No problem. Their stopping power isn't enough to block me.'

Finally, when I reached striking distance, I swung my Moonless Sword.

Clang!

Song Jaejun parried the sword strike with a cross-shaped longsword made of blood.

"A vampire wielding a cross-shaped sword. What twisted taste."

"Don't you appreciate the irony?"

Clang-clang-clang!

Song Jaejun's body was pushed back as he blocked the series of swift sword strikes delivered in one breath.

'He seems flustered.'

I thought as I saw the dismay on his face.

'His power is certainly impressive. Superhuman strength, speed, and reflexes.'

But so what?

My physical abilities, maximized through the characteristic 'Unlimited,' had already surpassed not only vampires with similar specs but even lycanthropes.

'Not to mention my martial prowess.'

Slash!

With our swords locked, I twisted my wrist to disarm him and then sliced across his wrist.

Thud.

Song Jaejun bared his sharp fangs as he looked at his right hand that had been cleanly severed.

"Grrrr."

As his wrist immediately regenerated.

Swoosh!

A giant stake emerged from behind to target me, but.

Slice!

I leisurely evaded its trajectory and swung my Moonless Sword to cut the stake.

"Too soft."

"You bastard!"

'His blood manipulation technique and combat skills are both immature. Typical type who relies only on innate power.'

It wasn't an uncommon sight.

An innate sense of superiority, superhuman regenerative abilities that could survive even decapitation, and strength that was powerful without any effort.

'But such people ultimately can't defeat humans who have honed their power through intense effort.'

And this was the result.

Swoosh!

I dodged his powerful straight punch that flew like a cannonball, cut across his midsection making his intestines spill out.

"Kuhak!"

Then I turned and struck his back diagonally.

"Hmmph."

Multiple slashes launched with my Moonless Sword gripped in both hands cut off Song Jaejun's limbs.

Thrust!

Then I stabbed him in the chest, embedding the Moonless Sword in his heart.

"Kuk, kuuuk."

The sight of Song Jaejun regenerating despite having his heart pierced and limbs severed was evidence that he was an especially weird and ominous existence even among Ma-in, but.

"Among all the opponents I've faced, you're the first who is so incapable of properly using the power you have."

Although my strength had increased since then.

Despite having superior specs compared to Ko Kyeong-ho and Kang Woojung, his combat ability was insignificant compared to theirs.

"I won't kill you."

I looked down at Song Jaejun, who was writhing in pain and anger with a sword pierced through his heart, and said.

'If I kill you, your comrades will come after me for revenge.'

And that's still a situation I'd have difficulty handling alone.

As if reading my mind, he bit his lip with a more distorted face and said.

"You cunning bastard. If I don't kill you now, I will regret it for a long time."

"Do you have a way to kill me?"

"No. That's why I won't forget this and will return to kill you for certain."

"Do as you please."

I shrugged my shoulders.

Isn't it the golden rule not to fear someone who says they'll settle the score later?

"Just come a bit later."

[You have defeated Vampire Song Jaejun!]

[Achievement points 800 awarded!]