novelraw Chapter 229 : Prophet of the End (2)
Chapter 229 : Prophet of the End (2)
While Su-hyeon, who had met with the Chief of Staff, was returning to the academy.
The eight cadets who had left the academy without permission at dawn and fought against the Liberation Corps at White Castle were under disciplinary probation and had been waiting all morning.
"Should we consider this fortunate?"
Kwon Seung-yeon muttered.
"It is fortunate! Nobody was seriously injured, and the instructors didn't seem particularly angry, right?"
Kim Ho-su said with a giggle.
"That's definitely fortunate."
Seo Jun-seong, who had been lost in thought, opened his eyes.
"Looking at the results, we successfully stopped the gate wave and suppressed the White Castle attack. Though it's true we overstepped our authority in the process."
"You never know. The principal and vice principal have opposite personalities, so it depends on whose voice is louder."
Hwang Ji-su said.
"By the way, it seems the wave caused less damage than expected?"
"Yes. It's currently the dormancy period, so the instructors and assistants are standing guard until dungeon entry, according to what I heard."
Lee Yu-jin said, showing a text message that came to Song Yu-ha.
"That's a relief."
Kang Geon-woo sighed with relief.
"It seems Nam Tae-hoon didn't open the gate to kill everyone after all."
"......."
All the cadets' expressions became gloomy at those words.
"Ah sorry, I said something unnecessary."
"It's fine. It's all over now anyway."
Hwang Ji-su sighed.
"He escaped, so he'll either die somewhere or change his name and live his life."
"He doesn't seem like the type to die that way."
Kwon Seung-yeon, who had worked closely with Nam Tae-hoon, shrugged.
"......I still don't know. How to think about Tae-hoon."
Kim A-yun mumbled timidly.
"Regardless of the process and motive, he committed a clear act of terrorism and deceived us. That fact doesn't change."
Seo Jun-seong summed up coldly.
"......Right. Jun-seong is correct."
Lee Yu-jin held Kim A-yun's hand.
"Let's not think too deeply about it right now."
"By the way, what's going on with this? There's no word on how long we need to wait."
Hwang Ji-su frowned as she leaned her back against the makeshift chair.
"Well. Anyway, seeing that Jeong Su-hyeon was separately summoned to headquarters, it probably won't go in a bad direction?"
Kim Ho-su cautiously speculated.
"There's no need to be so nervous, right?"
"That's true. If it weren't for us, something even worse would have happened."
Kwon Seung-yeon boasted.
"What if we also receive commendations for this?"
"Honestly, that's possible."
As the cadets were getting excited and each saying something, at that moment.
"Hey~ everyone!"
Min Hae-na poked her head in as the door of the waiting room slid open.
"Hae-na-sunbae?"
Seo Jun-seong stood up in surprise.
"I came to visit!"
Min Hae-na said, showing a bag full of snacks.
"Is it okay to be doing this when everything's in chaos?"
"It's because everything's in chaos that it's okay to do this."
Min Hae-na, who easily dismissed Seo Jun-seong's concern, smiled while making a V sign.
"Really now."
"By the way."
Min Hae-na looked around at the cadets and asked.
"Our Su-hyeon isn't here?"
'Our?'
The eyebrows of several cadets twitched.
"Did he go to the bathroom?"
"No. He was summoned by the Chief of Staff."
"Wow. The scale is different indeed."
"Haven't you seen him, Noona?"
"Of course I haven't. I'm just an intern after all?"
Min Hae-na waved her hands.
"I've only seen our Captain Son a few times."
"......Come to think of it, even I only met him for the first time since my internship."
"More importantly, how's the Captain's condition? I heard he was injured?"
"It's not a major injury though. You don't need to worry."
"Well. Who would worry about whom."
Min Hae-na chuckled.
"Seeing it in person. The Ma-in called 'Asura' was too strong."
Seo Jun-seong's expression darkened.
"Even after an intense battle with Captain Son, he still looked completely fine when escaping."
"That strong?"
"Whether it's Battle Maniac or Asura. It seems like Ma-in are getting stronger and stronger."
Hwang Ji-su, who had been eagerly waiting for a chance to join the conversation with Min Hae-na whom she respected, opened her mouth.
"Hmm. Well, I heard that when Captain Son fought Asura before, he pushed him quite hard. Does this mean Ma-in are still getting stronger?"
"That's for sure."
Lee Yu-jin jumped in, not to be outdone.
"When Rusty Sword Ha Jin-su attacked the academy, he was at a level where his arm could be cut off by Instructor Lee Ho-seung, but by the time of Blood Plaza, he was fighting much better against my uncle."
"That's true. Though he did lose to Captain Lee Cheong-myeong."
Min Hae-na nodded with her arms crossed.
"That organization called the [Sword of Belphegor] is really a mystery. I wonder who their leader is?"
"Whoever it is, they're definitely cunning and meticulous."
Seo Jun-seong said.
"To have such intelligence and rationality despite being a Ma-in, what kind of human were they?"
"By the way, Noona."
"Yes?"
"What happened with the demonic beast wave? It seems like it ended well without major issues."
"Yes, that's right. But there was one breathtaking moment."
"Breathtaking? Was it dangerous?"
"Hmm, if you ask if it was dangerous, it was. For mental health, that is."
"Mental health?"
"It was about two hours in, I think? Suddenly, insect-type demonic beasts came swarming out in droves."
"Ugh."
"So gross."
Hwang Ji-su and Kwon Seung-yeon shuddered.
"Ants, bees, spiders that looked even bigger than large dogs came rushing out in swarms....... oooh."
Min Hae-na rubbed her goosebump-covered arms as if she didn't want to think about it.
"I almost threw up."
"It's fortunate you were at White Castle."
Min Hae-na strongly agreed with Kwon Seung-yeon's words.
"Yes, yes, I totally agree with that! If I had to choose, I think I would have gone to White Castle too."
"I don't really mind bugs, so I probably would have stayed here."
Seo Jun-seong said indifferently.
"Oh, those who haven't seen it really don't understand! Those things that are already creepy when they're just the size of a finger......."
Min Hae-na asked with a fuss.
"So, how was it on your side? I heard it was quite serious."
"It was extremely serious."
"I haven't heard the details either, what happened? And who is this Tae-hoon kid?"
"Well, so......."
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"It's an unprecedented situation."
"I seem to be hearing that word quite frequently these days."
The instructors, who had been blocking the demonic beast wave all dawn, cancelled all class schedules, and gathered in the conference room excluding some injured personnel and those assigned to gate observation, had expressions full of fatigue.
"When will you let us sleep, sir?"
Lee Ho-seung asked with a face covered in dark circles.
"Don't ask me. I'm also in the mood to faint while standing right now."
Vice Principal Gong Gi-jeong, who was wearing disposable lenses instead of his glasses that broke during the intense battle, answered gruffly.
"And the situation isn't completely over yet, is it? It's only over after entering the dungeon, breaking the crystal, and coming back out."
"Nam Tae-hoon, that bastard, if I had known this would happen, I should have failed him and kicked him out."
Instructor Kang Jun-man, who was greatly disappointed and shocked by Nam Tae-hoon's defection, muttered half-jokingly, half-seriously.
The unprecedented incident in the academy's history—a cadet's terrorism followed by disappearance.
And the demonic beast wave caused by that terrorism, along with the shocking attack on White Castle.
The academy's prestige, which had been endlessly threatened this year, was no longer the same as before.
"It's my lack of virtue. I think it's time for me to retire."
"What are you saying!"
The instructors unanimously requested reconsideration at the words of Principal Min Jeong-gap, who looked like he had aged several years in a day.
"If you hadn't taken charge and commanded us this time as well, who knows how many people would have been injured by those insect creatures."
"That's not all. Without the weight carried by the name Min Jeong-gap, the authority and prestige of the academy as it is now wouldn't have existed in the first place."
"It's just an outdated name now. Ji-gwang would think so too."
The news that battle-hardened veteran Son Ji-gwang, who was still active in service unlike himself, had struggled against 'Asura' Seong Ji-cheol, made Min Jeong-gap feel bitter.
'But it's not just something to be sad about.'
"Aren't there good things too? The actions shown by the nine cadets led by Cadet Jeong Su-hyeon were truly excellent. Especially Su-hyeon. 'Spear Devil,' 'Goblin,' 'Lion King.' None of these are names that can be taken lightly, are they?"
"As you say."
Instructor Kim Cheol-han didn't hide his pleased expression.
"This is exactly what they mean by 'the water behind pushes out the water in front of the river.' I can't help but feel grateful for the fact that the era of old people like me is passing, and the era of young, promising talents is coming."
"That's exactly right."
Vice Principal Gong Gi-jeong agreed.
"The actions of the top-tier cadets, including Jeong Su-hyeon, Seo Jun-seong, and the Special First Place, although problematic in process, resulted in the best outcome and more. How could we punish them for that?"
"Seeing even the Vice Principal agreeing with my thoughts, I wonder if the sun rose from the west today. I didn't notice because it's been so hectic, has anyone seen it?"
The instructors laughed softly at Principal Min Jeong-gap's joke.
"Not just me, anyone would agree. However, a process of holding them accountable, at least in form, is necessary."
"That's correct. The issue is deciding at what level."
"In principle, I think it would be appropriate to cover their faults with their merits, but......."
"Let's discuss specific measures after taking some time."
Principal Min Jeong-gap neatly summarized the conversation.
"How is Cadet Hong In-hyeon doing?"
"I heard from Instructor Jang Jin-won that he's quite distressed."
"He'll need counseling. I understand his circumstances fully."
"The fortunate thing is that given how chaotic the situation was, very few people know the truth. If the individual himself accepts it."
Instructor Kim Cheol-han hesitated a bit before saying.
"......It would be best to let it pass as much as possible."
"The premise you mentioned is the problem. Will he accept it?"
"We have to make him accept it. By letting him achieve merits, for example."
"Let me guess what Kim Instructor is thinking."
Principal Min Jeong-gap grinned.
"I see now, you......."
It was at that moment.
Knock, knock.
"Come in."
The principal's secretary entered the conference room and said.
"An official letter has arrived from the Chief of Staff!"
"Let me see it."
Principal Min Jeong-gap, who received the letter, made sounds like "hmm" and "huh."
"What does it say to make you react like that?"
Lee Ho-seung, with a face that seemed dying of curiosity, asked.
"See for yourself."
The instructors who saw the reward policy for Su-hyeon written in the letter also made the same expression.
"It's unprecedented."
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Duduududu!
Loud propeller sounds, scenery visible beneath my feet.
I was returning to the academy on a helicopter provided by the Chief of Staff.
'How much does it cost to fly one of these?'
It was already quite burdensome.
'......Things will get even busier from now on.'
While reviewing the conversations I had with the Chief of Staff, I continued to formulate plans for the future.
'There will be more variables in the future, and many situations that cannot be perfectly controlled.'
That's just how it is when taking an untrodden path.
'It's been quite a while since I last acted as a prophet who warns of the end in advance.'
It was a meta I tried extensively around the 150th playthrough.
Of course, even with that approach, I didn't see a clear ending.
'This time is different.'
Above all, my verbal skills were different.
The timing was also different.
'Chief of Staff, instructors within the academy, Ahn Byeong-jun, Jo Sujin, Sword Saint, Old Man Jang.'
Unlike before, there were many people who would listen to and support my opinions.
'Above all, I should actively save people who can be saved.'
With the mindset of preparing an ark, there was also a need to build a fortress.
'......For that, I need comrades who share the same purpose.'
It's impossible for me to do all of that alone.
I needed colleagues who had skill, background, and credibility.
'Lee Yu-jin.'
The first name that came to mind.
'......And Hwang Ji-su, Kwon Seung-yeon, Seo Jun-seong, Kim A-yun, Kang Geon-woo.'
Classmates who had grown stronger together and crossed the line of death together.
I needed their strength.
'......I should try to persuade Hong In-hyeon too.'
His strength and sense would be a great help.
'He must be blaming himself quite a bit.'
I would need to soothe that first before starting.
'There will be a lot to talk about.'
It was a concern.
While I needed to tell the truth to gain trust.
There were definitely truths that I couldn't reveal due to my position.
'If I say I was just playing games in my room and then fell here, they'll just think I'm crazy.'
"We're about to arrive!"
"Thank you."
Thanking the Execution Force member in charge of escorting me, I took in the scenery of the academy visible in the distance.
Traces of the battle that occurred during dawn still remained.
'The die has already been cast.'
A path of hardship that couldn't be undone or avoided was unfolding before my eyes.