I Entered an Academy in a Ruined Game

Chapter 218 : White Castle (1)

Nam Tae-hoon had no memories of his father.

His father was once a hunter who was called a hero for stopping numerous gate waves.

And like many hunters of that era, he could not avoid the predetermined ruin of becoming a Ma-in.

This happened before he could even hold a first birthday celebration for his late-born son.

His father, whose merits were recognized, spent the rest of his life isolated in White Castle.

Nam Tae-hoon was born under such a father.

His uncle, concerned about the disadvantages he would face in the future, decided to register his brother's son under his own family registry.

'That was possible in that era.'

Much of society was still in chaos.

It was an issue no one verified.

All it took was slipping someone a bit of money, and everything else was easy.

'The absurdity of an unmarried man putting his brother's son on his own registry and living as a single father.'

Because of this, Nam Tae-hoon grew up believing his uncle was his father.

Contact with his biological mother, who had divorced even before his father's death and before her son's first birthday celebration, had been cut off long ago.

'She's probably dead. It was such chaotic times that it wasn't strange if a person or two died.'

Though his heart ached at his father's tragic end.

He felt nothing toward the death of his mother who abandoned him, gave up custody rights, and never once contacted him even after his father became a Ma-in and was imprisoned in White Castle.

Anyway, his uncle was a good person. He did his best at playing the father role.

But the blood of a powerful hunter father doesn't just disappear.

By the time he was leaving childhood, Nam Tae-hoon already knew he had special powers.

It was around that time his uncle's expression darkened.

He often seemed lost in thought, staring at the sky.

And one day, his uncle confessed everything.

About the secret of his birth. About his biological father's life, about the White Castle where he was detained.

And even the reason why he had never gone to visit his own brother all this time.

'They said his demonic nature had eroded him too much, and his memories and personality were already muddled.'

Nam Tae-hoon was too young, not even an elementary school student yet, to accept his uncle's confession—the tragedy of a father not recognizing his own son, a brother not recognizing his own brother.

But his uncle no longer hid the truth from him.

And he told him where he disappeared to every weekend, that secret too.

[Liberation Corps.]

A civic group demanding better treatment for those like Nam Tae-hoon's father who, far from committing crimes, had accomplished heroic deeds before becoming Ma-in and being confined to White Castle.

Most of its members were people like them, who had Ma-in as family.

"It was created because of the inherent irony of Ma-in existence itself."

"......"

Hong In-hyeon silently crossed his arms and closed his eyes at Nam Tae-hoon's words.

"Becoming a Ma-in is not necessarily his fault. That's a proposition even the most extreme Ma-in haters would have to agree with, right?"

"......"

Nam Tae-hoon continued speaking before Hong In-hyeon.

"Of course, now the group has become much smaller, essentially gone underground. Being designated as a 'group of concern' due to some bloody incidents is also a problem."

"Public opinion has worsened."

Hong In-hyeon, who had been silent, finally spoke.

"Right. In my father's time, many Ma-in were originally hunters who had accumulated demonic nature. Back then, many people viewed them with sympathetic and apologetic eyes."

But the world changed.

"Now that the rate of hunters becoming Ma-in has greatly decreased, most new Ma-in are either unlicensed amateur hunters or criminals from the underworld. As a result, citizens' feelings of hatred have increased considerably."

"Right. In a way, that's natural."

Hong In-hyeon shrugged.

"Isn't that why White Castle exists? Look at other countries. There aren't many that spend budget and manpower to dualize the system like this and acknowledge pre-transformation accomplishments. Isn't that showing some sincerity at least?"

"......"

"Most citizens would say that."

"You know it's still inadequate despite all that."

"So?"

Hong In-hyeon sneered.

"So you hid your identity and came here to play spy?"

"......"

"Do you want me to pity you? Why are you telling me all this?"

"Well."

Nam Tae-hoon gave a bitter smile.

"I don't intend to act miserable as if I've shouldered all the world's misfortunes. I'm not the only one with a messed-up life, am I? Dedicating myself to the Liberation Corps was my choice, and being groomed as an agent to infiltrate the academy was something I accepted."

"......"

Despite his harsh words earlier, Hong In-hyeon was quite docile in listening to Nam Tae-hoon.

'I didn't know this guy had such a story.'

He must have come knowing that Hong In-hyeon would feel a sense of camaraderie with his story.

Someone with his level of meticulousness and background would surely know that.

'I thought he was just some frivolous guy hanging around Jeong Su-hyeon with lots of secrets.'

"Let me ask you one thing."

"What is it?"

"Is Jeong Su-hyeon also on your side?"

"......Haha."

"What's so funny?"

"No, I just thought it might look that way."

Nam Tae-hoon shrugged.

"But I don't know either. I can't figure out his true identity. However, I don't think he's someone with some background behind him."

"......Hmm."

"But I get the feeling he's someone you shouldn't mess with."

"So that's why you stuck close to him?"

"That's right. Because he was a person of interest."

I still don't know his identity now, Nam Tae-hoon said with a shrug.

"When I was young, I resented my father at times. As much as I wanted to see him. But as I grew older, I became unsure. What I should do. Who I should resent."

"......"

Hong In-hyeon, who could sympathize with those feelings, closed his eyes.

"Right. The biggest problem is that it's not something that ends by resenting someone. Life is complicated, isn't it? Still, I thought I should at least do something, so I diligently carried out my mission at the academy. After all, this is the only kind of work I've done since I was young."

"......As you probably already know."

Hong In-hyeon said.

"Oddly enough, in my case, it was my maternal uncle who became a Ma-in. Both my mother and father are alive and well. But my uncle's name still remains like a yoke on our family."

However, he continued.

"Unlike your uncle's concerns, I haven't suffered direct harm. That's only natural, I suppose. So I don't have enough emotional factors to join the Liberation Corps or whatever it's called like you did."

It was a polite refusal.

And naturally, Nam Tae-hoon didn't expect to convert him with just a few words.

"It's hard to fully accept the state's treatment of my uncle, but I've gone to visit him a few times. He was still in a state where communication was somewhat possible."

"But there came a point when you couldn't go anymore."

Nam Tae-hoon cut off his words.

"Because once someone becomes a Ma-in, they can't be free from murderous impulses. Your mother probably found it difficult to continue seeing her brother's bloodthirsty gaze as he looked at her through the reinforced glass."

Knowing this was a typical case experienced by those with Ma-in family members, Hong In-hyeon sighed instead of answering Nam Tae-hoon's statement.

"Since coming to the academy and going on the intern practicum, your expression has been getting darker."

Nam Tae-hoon's words struck Hong In-hyeon's core.

"Just as there are evil Ma-in, there are also Ma-in who deserve sympathy. You couldn't blindly hate all Ma-in."

"Yes. I can't deny that much."

Hong In-hyeon answered.

"But my will is clear. I'll pretend I didn't hear your invitation to join."

"I expected as much."

Nam Tae-hoon chuckled.

"Like you, I too have walked a certain path. I also have goals I want to achieve. The sympathy and pity for my uncle cannot outweigh the priority of my parents and family."

"Hehehe. That's right. For an ordinary human."

Nam Tae-hoon laughed as he rose from his seat.

"Indeed. For someone who seems so frivolous, you're quite conscientious."

"Bullshit."

Hong In-hyeon frowned and asked.

"So, what do you want? You're not planning to just leave like this, are you?"

"......A little."

Nam Tae-hoon said with a heavy face.

"I'd like you to help me a little."

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"Where have you been at this hour?"

In response to my question, Nam Tae-hoon grinned.

"Just went for a walk, that's all."

"That's unusual."

"Why are you like this? Despite how I look, I'm quite a sentimental guy."

Nam Tae-hoon wiggled his finger.

"How was your sparring with Captain Ahn Byeong-jun?"

"Can't you tell by looking at my face?"

I replied.

"I got thoroughly beaten up."

"Hehe, you're exaggerating. I heard a rumor that Captain Ahn Byeong-jun left full of praise for you."

"Were you out for a walk or gathering information?"

"Haha. Gathering information?"

Looking at Nam Tae-hoon's reaction as he laughed it off.

'Something seems a bit off.'

I thought quietly.

'......Surely not, right?'

Even as I inwardly denied it, I couldn't help but wonder.

Originally, Nam Tae-hoon's "that incident" was something that happened after second year.

But now that the timeline has been distorted and accelerated, it was hard to say that anything had zero possibility.

'His eyes look different.'

They weren't the same frivolous, shallow eyes I'd seen until now.

They were the eyes of a man who had resolved to do something.

'......Could he have already found an accomplice inside?'

Reflecting on my playing experience, there were mainly two conditions for Nam Tae-hoon to take action.

One was a situation turbulent enough to warrant taking action.

The other was a definite accomplice within the academy.

'Who could it be?'

Since changing Nam Tae-hoon's mind had always been a failure in previous playthroughs.

The best choice I could make was to find out who his accomplice was and minimize the damage.

Because.

Like the shot at Sarajevo that sparked the First World War long ago, this would be the trigger for the great chaos that would be caused by [Sword of Belphegor].

'The most suspicious person is Cho Jin-myeong, the assistant who's an internal spy. But it could also be an instructor or cadet.'

Of course, frequency-wise, Cho Jin-myeong was the accomplice in nearly half the cases.

Because.

Though Nam Tae-hoon himself was still completely unaware.

The leader of the [Liberation Corps] had already been brainwashed by Hwang Won-jae, the second-in-command of [Sword of Belphegor].

'......Stupid fool.'

And despite knowing this fact, I still couldn't take any action yet.

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"The Execution Force bastards are preparing some kind of massive operation."

Hwang Won-jae said, having gathered the executives in the Catacomb.

"Under these circumstances, we too must advance our timetable."

"Hey, is that for real?"

Jang Su-il asked with an excited face.

"Isn't it too early? I'm a bit worried."

Noh Hajun spoke as if somewhat concerned.

"There's no need to worry too much. Plans don't always unfold as expected."

Hwang Won-jae answered.

"The die has already been cast. And we have enough pawns to use."

"Hmm."

"And this will be the declaration that announces the beginning of that grand prelude."

His gaze turned to an old man in a lab coat quietly sitting in the corner.

"Finally, it's your time to shine."

The old man smiled on his face covered with age spots.

"Kekeke, is it finally time?"

"Yes, it's finally time."

The two men looked at each other and smiled.

"We've waited long, comrades."

Hwang Won-jae, having put away his smile, solemnly declared.

"In the near future, the gates of 'Nastrond' will at last be opened."