I Entered an Academy in a Ruined Game

Chapter 249 : Corruption (4)

A week had passed since the Ma-in alliance was thwarted by Operation Caligo.

[This morning, the Execution Force announced through a press release that they raided the headquarters of the emerging powerful religious group "Apostles of the Stars," arresting dozens of executives including leader Park Hee-su, and confirming that more than half of them were Ma-in. According to the report, ten of them were on the wanted list as red Ma-in, and there is evidence that the leader directly ordered terrorism and civilian assaults...]

After dealing a heavy blow to [Sword of Belphegor], several instances of reactionary movements by panic-stricken Ma-in groups and anti-social organizations occurred.

However, the Execution Force, with morale boosted after their great victory, was crushing them one by one with unstoppable momentum, completely gaining the upper hand.

Moreover, for the organizations that had to face the Execution Force's attack near the Buyeo Hotel, bosses and executive levels were completely wiped out, leaving them in shambles.

There were so many remaining remnants left in such vulnerable positions that even the Execution Force couldn't clean them all up yet.

Citizens who had been anxious about the threat of resurgent Ma-in after the Blood Plaza incident were now enjoying a sense of liberation late into the night with peace of mind for once.

As a result, the popularity of the Execution Force, the heroes who restored normalcy to their lives, was skyrocketing.

Not only the well-known Captains and Squad Leaders of the Execution Force whose names and faces were public.

The names of supernovas like Su-hyeon, who had been gaining media attention for his achievements, and Min Hae-na, Seo Jun-seong, Hwang Ji-su, and Lee Yu-jin who combined both skill and background, were also widely circulated among the public.

Like sports stars, celebrities, or hunters who became celebrities with both skill and looks.

But.

"This is quite a headache."

Instructor Oh Chang-seong sighed as he watched the victory news being excitedly broadcast on TV.

"Of course, it's a good thing."

Thanks to this, from his position as an instructor, work had piled up like a mountain.

Understandably, the recent academic schedule at the academy was tangled in many ways.

Numerous instructors and cadets had been deployed for large-scale operations several times.

Many personnel had also been injured.

"The facilities were also destroyed when a portal opened inside the academy because of that Nam Tae-hoon guy."

Instructor Kim Cheol-han responded to his sigh.

"Well, yes. In fact, there's something off about holding classes as usual in a quasi-wartime state."

"That's right. In a way, they're constantly going through real battles that are several times more effective than inadequate practical training."

Of course, even amid all this, the academy made every effort to guarantee maximum learning rights for cadets who weren't deployed as interns and non-combat cadets.

As a result, the instructors were being worn out.

"By the way, isn't this conversely creating a state of neglect for the top-tier cadets, almost like they were third-years?"

At Instructor Oh Chang-seong's words, Instructor Lee Ho-seung cackled.

"How much is left to teach those kids? Just tell them to take it easy and recuperate. They've already become important forces."

"Hmm."

Instructor Kim Cheol-han nodded seriously.

"That's also true."

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Including myself.

A total of ten cadets who fought together at White Castle—Seo Jun-seong, Hwang Ji-su, Lee Yu-jin, Hong In-hyeon (who was unconscious), Kwon Seung-yeon, Kim A-yun, Choi Min-a, Kang Geon-woo, and Kim Ho-su—were each training according to their own routines or sparring with each other, preparing to respond to deployment orders at any time.

Of course, saying they were preparing to respond to deployment orders.

In other words, it was just a roundabout expression meaning they were all hanging out together, sipping coffee and killing time.

"Ah. This makes me feel like a college student."

Kwon Seung-yeon said with a languid face.

"Hmm. Wouldn't it be more accurate to say student soldiers?"

Kim Ho-su tilted his head.

"It feels strange."

Lee Yu-jin said.

"Like I'm skipping class, but not really..."

People like Seo Jun-seong, Lee Yu-jin, and Kim A-yun, who probably never did this sort of thing in their lives, looked quite awkward.

But guys like Hong In-hyeon, Kim Ho-su, and Kwon Seung-yeon were like fish in water, always smiling and making passing classmates feel jealous.

"Let's not get too lazy though."

Seo Jun-seong said while diligently eating a slice of cake.

"Tsk. Rest is also a form of training."

Kwon Seung-yeon wiggled his finger.

As he said.

The cadets, who had felt both confidence and inadequacy through this battle, were each trying to grow stronger somehow by acquiring new equipment or taking elixirs.

Gold spoons like Seo Jun-seong, Hwang Ji-su, and Lee Yu-jin were developing their strength commensurate with their increased skills by consuming high-grade elixirs sent from home.

The others were also using their reward money as best they could to buy and consume something.

Of course, the supply of goods for these guys was being handled by me and Kwon Seung-yeon.

'Without Nam Tae-hoon, it's really inconvenient.'

That guy.

What might he be doing now?

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Nam Tae-hoon was quickly learning his duties under the guidance of Director Moon, who had received special instructions from Old Man Jang.

"Good work."

"Hehe, you too, sir."

Director Moon Seong-il, who had worked with Su-hyeon once.

In his eyes, Nam Tae-hoon, who had discarded pretense and was displaying his real skills, was a promising talent with abilities no less than Su-hyeon of that time.

'Of course, Jeong Su-hyeon now has a completely different caliber than back then.'

"You're really good at this, kid."

"Right? I'm an experienced professional after all."

Director Moon chuckled at Nam Tae-hoon's banter.

'His sociability is much better than that guy.'

"Keep it up. The old man is quite pleased with you too."

"Hehe. That's fortunate."

Nam Tae-hoon smiled.

"I've been thinking this might be my true calling lately."

"You kid."

Director Moon, who knew Nam Tae-hoon's story, snickered.

"Life—as it flows, you end up somewhere."

"That's what I'm saying."

The two men bumped fists, feeling a strange sense of kinship.

"Anyway, this takes care of Jeong Su-hyeon's request."

"Yeah, well. It's a completely top-tier item."

Nam Tae-hoon licked his lips as he looked at the elixir carefully placed in a wooden box.

"Honestly, I'd like to buy it myself and drink it, even at a premium."

But.

"If that bastard Su-hyeon drinks this, it'll be like giving him wings. We have to give it to someone who'll do great things."

Nam Tae-hoon owed Su-hyeon for saving his and his uncle's lives.

He wasn't the type to wash his hands of such a debt.

"Right now, I can't reveal my position or identity outside."

Nam Tae-hoon said.

"But someday we'll meet again."

"Yes. You will. You could see him right away if he just came here to visit the old man."

"Nah, I should avoid him until I'm ready."

Nam Tae-hoon waved his hands.

"And we're going to be incredibly busy for a while, right?"

"Yes. You're right."

Thanks to the Execution Force's great victory, a huge power vacuum had been created in the underworld.

"The Vampire Queen's influence will falter for a while, and the remnants of the divided groups will somehow try to survive."

In other words.

"It's an opportunity for us to make our move, right?"

"Yes. If you don't act when you see an opportunity, you'll only fall behind."

When Director Moon Seong-il took out a cigarette, Nam Tae-hoon's hand was already lighting it.

"You bastard."

Moon Seong-il chuckled, thinking the kid was quite disciplined.

"Of course, the old man has no intention of missing this opportunity either."

"That's what I was hoping for."

Nam Tae-hoon grinned.

In this harsh era, he had no intention of making excuses for what he had done.

However.

'I'll pay for my sins with my own hands.'

He was determined to advance fiercely forward with the resolution to cover fault with merit.

'[Sword of Belphegor]. I'll never forgive you bastards even if I die.'

The man who would later be known by the alias Shadow Lord.

He had now decided on his own unwavering path in his heart, without any more hesitation.

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"Hey, how does your skill keep improving so rapidly?"

During sparring time with Su-hyeon.

After exchanging more than three hundred moves in a match using practice swords without using abilities or mana, Instructor Lee Ho-seung, who had achieved a win by forfeit, stuck out his tongue.

"Tell me honestly. Did you learn something amazing from Captain Ahn Byeong-jun?"

"You know, sir. His swordsmanship is something only he can use."

"I know. No matter how much I try to learn cutting according to the grain, it doesn't work well for me. What am I supposed to see?"

"Instructor Lee is terrifyingly strong even without such things."

"You kid."

Lee Ho-seung snickered.

"How was Ha Jin-su's sword?"

"To be honest, his technical aspect was significantly inferior to the Sword God, and of course, the Sword Warrior or you, Instructor."

"That guy's sword talent had its limits. His temperament itself was far from the calm path of cultivation."

"That applies to you too, Instructor..."

"What was that?"

"Nothing at all."

"Anyway. That's what I dislike about those Ma-in bastards."

Lee Ho-seung clicked his tongue.

"Having absolutely no skill, then becoming a Ma-in after acting however they wanted, and strutting around with even stronger power? It's really disgusting."

Of course, not all are like that, just bastards like Ha Jin-su, Lee Ho-seung added.

"Strictly speaking, it was originally a draw, no, not even a draw. If he lost one arm and had his chest cut, then that bastard lost. But he just forcibly claimed victory thanks to his recovery power and characteristic, right?"

"That's right."

"Ha. That fucking bastard, I was going to find him and kill him myself."

"But the outcome is fortunate since Lee Cheong-myeong is recovering."

"Right. Whatever miracle it is... our master aged ten years overnight and then rejuvenated about eight years."

To Lee Ho-seung who was chuckling, Su-hyeon asked.

"How is Captain Lee Cheong-myeong's condition these days?"

'Lee Cheong-myeong has awakened to demonic nature under Hwang Won-jae without anyone knowing.'

Without the help of the mythical creature Caladrius.

Su-hyeon was certain of this fact, knowing well that it was the only way to recover from the characteristic "Incurable Wounds."

"Well, about that. It's true he's showing rapid improvement, but..."

Lee Ho-seung said with a cautious expression.

Lee Cheong-myeong, who had brought joy to everyone by showing recovery that no one had expected.

However, the abnormal symptoms he showed during the past week as his wounds were almost healing had created a strange sense of discomfort beyond the hospital to the Execution Force as well.

"They say he suffers in pain when night falls, and shows unprecedented rough behavior toward medical staff trying to administer sedatives."

"......"

"Apparently after suffering all night, his wounds are definitely more healed the next day. They say he gets sensitive several times a day, then calms down and apologizes to the medical staff for being sorry."

"Is that so?"

"Normally, one would think he's suffering pain during the recovery process, but..."

Lee Ho-seung sighed.

"Instructor."

"Yeah, what?"

"...Don't you feel something is strange?"

"It is strange, indeed."

Lee Ho-seung said.

"Is there something that's bothering you?"

"Yes."

Su-hyeon carefully said.

"It's extremely presumptuous, but this resembles precursor symptoms."

"Precursor symptoms of what?"

"Don't you know?"

Their eyes met in the air.

"Ma-in transformation."

"...What did you say?"

Lee Ho-seung coldly became serious.

"Hey. Jeong Su-hyeon."

"Yes."

"You. Aren't you being too reckless with your words?"

"Instructor. I have never once opened my mouth carelessly."

Looking at Su-hyeon's resolute and confident face.

"......"

Lee Ho-seung's expression contorted as if he was about to cry.