I Entered an Academy in a Ruined Game

Chapter 246 : Corruption (1)

"Truly remarkable."

Captain Gong I-an, who was directing the cleanup operation without having recovered from the battle fatigue, approached Su-hyeon who was resting among the wounded and offered his hand.

"Su-hyeon's skills and qualities exceeded what I had heard about him."

"It's an honor."

"No, really. This is by no means empty flattery."

Gong I-an said, feeling the calluses on Su-hyeon's palm and the traces of burns that remained from the fierce battle.

"If you weren't a cadet, I'd promote you to Squad Leader or higher right now."

"Does that mean I'm getting fired?"

Jo Sujin, who had been grinning beside them, cut in.

"Of course not! Our Senior Squad Leader is my most dependable subordinate."

"Hehehe."

"I made the right choice sending an intern to your unit."

"Right?"

Jo Sujin shrugged.

"Though we've only spent a short time together, we definitely deserve some credit for developing him. Don't you think?"

"Of course."

Jo Sujin asked, draping an arm around Su-hyeon's shoulder.

"!"

"!!"

Lee Yu-jin and Hwang Ji-su flinched.

"And that's not all. You all did incredibly well too."

Captain Gong I-an turned his gaze to the other cadets, including Seo Jun-seong, Hwang Ji-su, and Lee Yu-jin.

"This is far beyond what first-years should be capable of. No, even freshly graduated top students would have struggled to do better."

"That's right. Considering the quality of the real combat they've experienced, they've already surpassed typical graduates."

Jo Sujin, a former top graduate herself, agreed.

"I also saw Hae-na fighting well. Truly worthy of being the future 2nd Unit Captain."

Captain Son Ji-gwang turned his gaze to Min Hae-na.

"Thank you. But I regret that we couldn't capture [Sword of Belphegor] in the end."

"Well, what operation in this world ever achieves 100% of its objectives?"

Son Ji-gwang smiled brightly despite his face being full of fatigue.

"You can hold your head high."

"......Yes."

"And Instructor Kim Cheol-han."

Son Ji-gwang turned to Kim Cheol-han.

"You're such a kind teacher. Coming to personally support your students."

"I was very worried, but it seems my concerns were unfounded. These kids never cease to amaze me."

Instructor Kim Cheol-han bowed his head.

"I agree. Young people these days are frightening."

Son Ji-gwang laughed heartily and turned to Su-hyeon.

"But if we're to name the top contributor, it would have to be you, Su-hyeon. Capturing Little Evil Demon! He was truly a powerful Ma-in."

"That's right. I fought him once before and had quite a hard time. I couldn't even capture him in the end."

Ma Seunggeon, 8th Unit Captain, said.

"Indeed. To penetrate the Black Flame Dragon in that terrible heat and behead him? It would be impossible without superhuman endurance."

Little Evil Demon's head was worth that much.

"......And repelling Rusty Sword was also an amazing feat."

Gong I-an said with a somewhat bitter voice.

"......He's growing stronger at an abnormal rate. I can't believe Lee Cheong-myeong was......"

He looked at Lee Cheong-myeong, who had fallen asleep after being given a sedative for his pain.

"For now, make sure this doesn't leak out. Keep everyone's mouths shut."

"Understood."

"But Rusty Sword's power is truly strange. When he attacked the academy and lost an arm to Instructor Lee Ho-seung, his skills were clearly inferior compared to when he fought Captain Lee Cheong-myeong at Gwanghwamun Square."

Instructor Kim Cheol-han said with a dark expression.

"I suspect they have some means to strengthen Ma-in powers when certain conditions are met."

"That masked one is suspicious. What is his ability? Can he control Ma-in?"

In response to Captain Son Ji-gwang's words, Captain Gong I-an shared his opinion.

"......He's truly dangerous. I couldn't sense his personal power, but that too might be a disguise."

"Perhaps he's one of the leaders guiding [Sword of Belphegor]."

Son Ji-gwang sighed.

"It's disappointing, but on the other hand, we've gained valuable information. Let's leave the rest to the Chief of Staff and the staff department."

"Yes."

"Well then, Captain Gong."

Receiving Son Ji-gwang's signal, Gong I-an nodded.

"Everyone, thank you for your hard work. Today, let's raise our glasses to mourn our fallen comrades and share in the joy of victory."

A hint of playfulness appeared on Gong I-an's solemn face.

"And the kids can drink cola."

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Sword Warrior Lee Cheong-myeong's defeat, and his injury making his recovery uncertain.

Despite the strict gag order, his father, the Sword God, heard the news immediately upon returning home after the successful operation.

"......."

Sitting alone in the dojo, staring blankly at his sword, the Sword God closed his eyes gravely.

"......Cheong-myeong."

[The Execution Force announced that they achieved a great victory by raiding the site where [Sword of Belphegor] and their allies were forming an alliance.]

[Ma-in who were killed or subdued in this operation include 'Little Evil Demon' Noh Hajun, 'Akui' Kwon Sang-ik, and......]

With the news screen broadcasting the Execution Force's great victory.

Lee Un-hak was thinking about his youngest son's pain.

"Ha Jin-su. I should have executed you myself."

But regret always comes too late.

There is no such thing as timely regret in this world.

It was a blessing that when his son was on the verge of death after being defeated by Ha Jin-su, his granddaughter Lee Yu-jin and Su-hyeon appeared to rescue him.

Later, Su-hyeon, Instructor Kim Cheol-han, and Principal Min Jeong-gap's granddaughter Min Hae-na drove Ha Jin-su to near death with their combined attack.

But as long as he survived and escaped, that cockroach-like bastard would someday appear before them again, flaunting his tenacious life force.

The problem was that there would be no place for Lee Cheong-myeong to step up again when that happened.

Lee Cheong-myeong was a man like a sword tempered with endless pride and firmness.

Such a man was outmatched and defeated by the sword of a disciple who envied him and ultimately fell from grace.

The wounds may not even be healable.

He couldn't even imagine how much his son would be devastated and suffering from that fact.

How many seniors, comrades, and juniors had he seen broken before reaching the end of the sword's path?

Even the Sword God's iron-strong heart was being torn to pieces by the fact that his most proud successor, who had inherited everything from him, had met such a tragic end.

"How sorrowful, my son."

❀⋆｡°✿☆❀✿°｡⋆❀

The cadets, after finishing the non-alcoholic gathering at the site, left the seriously injured in the hospital and returned to the academy the next morning under the guidance of their instructors.

"Wait! I'll see you one by one!"

Cadets with injuries large and small were receiving treatment from Instructor Jang Jin-won, Song Yu-ha, and other healers.

Su-hyeon too was on his way back to the dormitory to rest after receiving treatment for the burns on his skin and being told they wouldn't leave scars if they healed properly.

"......."

Su-hyeon let out a faint sigh when he saw Lee Yu-jin walking toward him with a dark expression.

'She must be troubled.'

"Lee Yu-jin."

"Huh?"

Only then realizing Su-hyeon was in front of her, Lee Yu-jin looked up.

"Want to talk for a bit?"

"Here."

"Thanks."

Having moved to the top of the clock tower, Su-hyeon handed Lee Yu-jin a coffee.

"Did you contact your grandfather?"

"I haven't been able to bring myself to yet. But he probably already knows."

"......I suppose so."

Su-hyeon sighed while looking at the cloudless blue sky.

"He must be very heartbroken."

"......Yeah."

Lee Yu-jin said without even touching her coffee.

"When you pick up a sword, get up, and bleed, you might get hurt. You might lose your life. He must have been prepared for that. But."

It was none other than Ha Jin-su.

"The fact that he lost to a man who betrayed his father, his master, and became an enemy of humanity might be unbearable. Even if it were me......"

Squeeze.

Lee Yu-jin, who had gripped the railing tightly, relaxed her strength lest it crack.

"Su-hyeon. Is there any way Uncle could recover?"

"......It won't be easy. The characteristic 'Incurable Wounds' that 'Rusty Sword' possesses is a fairly high-grade curse."

Su-hyeon answered.

"But there might be a way."

"Really?"

"Do you know of a mythical creature called the Caladrius?"

"......What's that?"

"It's a legendary bird that heals the disease of those it looks at with its eyes, then disposes of the disease somewhere while healing itself. It's similar to the Pegasus that Captain Ma Seunggeon rides."

"......There's such a bird?"

"There is. Though it's just a rumor."

'It's an S-grade rarity among mythical creatures.'

The Caladrius belonged to the hidden pieces that couldn't be obtained by knowledge alone.

"But finding that mythical creature is an extremely difficult task, and we don't know how long it might take."

'The probability of an incident occurring before that is too high.'

Su-hyeon thought.

"......But there is hope, then."

"That's right. In any case, if that cursed wound can be healed, Captain Lee Cheong-myeong could wield a sword again."

"......Can I tell my grandfather about this?"

"Of course."

Su-hyeon nodded.

"He'll be happy to hear it."

"Yeah."

A faint smile finally appeared on Lee Yu-jin's face.

"That hope alone is enough for now."

"Now you're smiling."

When Su-hyeon laughed "hoot," Lee Yu-jin's face turned red.

"Sorry. Was I looking too dead?"

"No need to apologize. It would be stranger if you weren't."

Lee Yu-jin, feeling embarrassed, changed the subject.

"By the way, who was that masked Ma-in?"

To Lee Yu-jin's question recalling Hwang Won-jae, Su-hyeon shook his head.

"Who knows. But probably someone of leader rank."

"You don't know either, Su-hyeon?"

"No. Not yet."

Su-hyeon said meaningfully.

An identity unknown even to the prophet of the end.

Then what on earth could that identity be?

Seeing Lee Yu-jin's face growing serious again, Su-hyeon thought.

'I can't tell her yet.'

Not capturing [Sword of Belphegor], nor capturing Hwang Won-jae or removing his mask were certainly disappointing aspects of this operation.

'Well, I could unofficially give a hint to the Chief of Staff.'

Hwang Won-jae's human identity is the younger brother and outside director of the B&S Group chairman.

'That's not a size you can point to out of the blue without evidence.'

Besides, isn't Hwang Ji-su Hwang Won-jae's niece?

The shock that Hwang Ji-su would receive was also concerning Su-hyeon now.

Sword Warrior Lee Cheong-myeong's niece.

And the niece of humanity's great enemy, the still veiled Hwang Won-jae.

Su-hyeon smiled bitterly at the cruel contrast.

'You won't be able to hide forever.'

Enjoy the joy of victory, but this was not the time to be intoxicated by that victory.

It was time to prepare for 'that incident.'

❀⋆｡°✿☆❀✿°｡⋆❀

"Urrrgh!"

"Damn it, it hurts like hell."

"Just bear with it a little longer."

Inside the Catacomb, [Sword of Belphegor]'s hideout.

Ma-in who had suffered serious injuries during their narrow escape were groaning in pain as they received treatment from fellow healers.

"Your wounds are truly horrific. If you were human instead of Ma-in, you would have died long ago."

The Ma-in treating Ha Jin-su said.

"Damn it, shut up. I'm in a fucking terrible mood right now."

Ha Jin-su growled with an angry voice.

"Enough."

Hwang Won-jae, who had been silently watching them, turned his back.

"......."

Hwang Won-jae's eyes burned with anger.

'Damn it.'

The joy of escaping alive wasn't that great.

The losses were too severe for that.

'I failed to fulfill His will.'

It was a sad, bewildering, and frightening thing.

'But I can't just sit around.'

The authority, trust, and power lost in this single defeat.

There was no time to rest if he wanted to recover all of that.

But just then.

-Director, the Chairman is looking for you.

A single line message on the emergency contact phone made Hwang Won-jae frown.

-He says it's an urgent matter and asks you to come immediately.

"......An urgent matter."

What could be more urgent than this?

Being summoned at this most critical moment made Hwang Won-jae feel not just irritation but even murderous intent.

-I understand. Tell him I'll be there right away.

Hwang Won-jae's expression was fierce as he sent the reply.

"......Are you going right now?"

"Yes."

Hwang Won-jae nodded at the Vampire Queen's question.

"The timing is just perfect."

"I agree."

As Hwang Won-jae said this, a faint smile appeared on his face.

"But thanks to that, a good idea came to mind."

"A good idea?"

"I'm thinking of meeting someone urgently."

"......You don't mean...?"

Without answering that question.

Hwang Won-jae laughed silently.