I Entered an Academy in a Ruined Game

Chapter 250 : Tragedy (1)

Lee Cheong-myeong might have become a Ma-in?

Lee Ho-seung didn't want to acknowledge Su-hyeon's words.

But contrary to his feelings, intellectually, it was also a fact that he couldn't outright deny Su-hyeon's statement.

Therefore, Lee Ho-seung had to find a compromise.

"Are you free this weekend?"

"I do have a training routine, but..."

Lee Ho-seung waved his hand at Su-hyeon's response.

"Spare some time. You're not exercising all day anyway, right?"

"Yes."

"Then I'll make sure it doesn't interfere with your training time as much as possible."

"Understood."

He would see with his own eyes and judge.

If Su-hyeon's words were correct...

'Then I don't know what my senior might do.'

Perhaps he might face his master's resentment.

'But I cannot allow the hands of a hero to commit crimes.'

That, at least, was unacceptable.

"Is Lee Yu-jin coming too?"

"Hmm."

Lee Ho-seung sank into thought.

'If what this kid says is true and my senior has really become a Ma-in?'

Would it be right to show that to his niece?

"Instructor."

"Yes?"

Su-hyeon, who had read Lee Ho-seung's concerns just from his expression, said.

"Lee Yu-jin is strong."

"......"

It was truly a simple and clear statement.

"Yes. That's right. I know that better than anyone."

Lee Ho-seung, who had watched Lee Yu-jin since she was a baby, grinned.

"Alright. Let's take Yu-jin too."

"Yes."

"You tell her."

"Me?"

Looking at Su-hyeon, who tilted his head, Lee Ho-seung said.

"She'll only follow if you ask her to go, right?"

"Hmm. Is that so?"

"One hundred percent, kid."

Lee Ho-seung cackled, saying it's useless to adore his niece anyway.

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Having obtained Lee Cheong-myeong as a chess piece, Hwang Won-jae had already decided in his mind how to utilize him most effectively.

"I'll make Lee Cheong-myeong go berserk and massacre the wounded in the hospital. After that, I'll send a recovery team to help him escape."

"Why the hospital specifically? I thought you'd use him to take the heads of guys like the Chief of Staff or the Sword God."

Hwang Won-jae shook his head at Jang Su-il's question.

"Lee Cheong-myeong is a rookie who's just become a Ma-in. No matter how much I help, it's difficult for him to skillfully suppress magical energy."

"Hmm."

"Right now, he's in the position of a hospitalized patient, so any slightly suspicious aspects can be glossed over. But deceiving the eyes of those who've spent their entire lives hunting Ma-in and attempting assassination is not an easy task."

"I guess that's true."

"Rather than that, wouldn't it be cleaner to have him commit a catastrophe that will surely become everyone's nightmare?"

Jang Su-il nodded at Hwang Won-jae's counter-question.

"That makes sense."

"Think about it. The injured and medical staff massacred by a berserk Execution Force Captain who became a Ma-in. Quite a nice picture, isn't it?"

"Hehehehe."

Jang Su-il laughed, quite pleased with that idea.

"You really are a vicious bastard."

"Well. One must return what one receives."

Hwang Won-jae turned his gaze to the side.

When they attacked White Castle using the [Liberation Corps].

Among the prisoners recovered through Jang Su-il, three Ma-in in particular had the skills and reputation sufficient to be appointed as executives right away.

"Kang Ui-jin."

"You called?"

A middle-aged man with a pale complexion from not seeing sunlight for a long time opened his eyes.

"You and Ha Jin-su will lead the recovery team to pick up the 'Sword Warrior'."

"I like that."

Hwang Won-jae nodded at the refreshing answer.

"Ha Jin-su. You prepare too."

"Hehe. Our fucking master will be delighted to death."

Ha Jin-su giggled.

"When are we going to do it?"

"Well. The sooner the better, I suppose."

After gauging Lee Cheong-myeong's recovery power in his mind, Hwang Won-jae then said.

"Friday night, or Saturday morning."

"Can we make it Saturday?"

Ha Jin-su asked.

"It doesn't matter to me. Why?"

"I want to watch soccer at dawn and then sleep."

Even in turbulent times, still.

Or perhaps because of them, even more so.

Professional sports persisted tenaciously around the world.

"Hmm."

Though it was half a joke, Hwang Won-jae closed his eyes, thinking that wasn't a bad idea either.

'The night when most are asleep would be good too.'

Considering that quick countermeasures could be taken by reserve forces on standby and alert.

'Perhaps the weekend morning, when security becomes lax and everyone is in a relaxed mood, wouldn't be bad either.'

And above all.

"A catastrophe occurring in broad daylight would be nice too."

"That's exactly it."

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Time flowed, and Saturday morning dawned.

"Make sure you don't neglect personal maintenance and skill development even during rest."

"Understood!"

"This concludes the roll call."

The cadets, who had completed roll call and physical training even on Saturday morning, dispersed in droves to either catch up on much-needed sleep or have breakfast.

"Su-hyeon."

Lee Yu-jin approached Su-hyeon's side.

"Did you sleep well?"

"Of course."

Su-hyeon nodded.

"With no one tossing and turning beside me, I slept comfortably."

"......"

Seeing Lee Yu-jin's face, unsure whether to laugh or not, Su-hyeon chuckled.

"I'm joking."

"Yeah."

"We agreed to depart at nine, so get washed and ready, and let's meet in front of the faculty office by eight-thirty."

"Okay, see you later."

"Sure."

As Su-hyeon was about to return to the dormitory, Lee Yu-jin asked.

"Su-hyeon, do you want to have morning coffee?"

"Hmm."

After thinking for a moment, Su-hyeon shook his head.

"Let's have it at the rest stop."

Rest stops were indeed an essential part of any trip.

"Okay."

Lee Yu-jin's face, having been tipped off by Su-hyeon about the purpose of the hospital visit, was full of tension and worry.

But mixed in was also the hope that it wasn't true and the joy of going to see her uncle.

'...This will be harsh for Lee Yu-jin.'

Su-hyeon turned his back to hide his bitter face from Lee Yu-jin.

"See you later."

"Yeah."

"Hmm. Your attire is satisfactory."

Instructor Kang Jun-man, with dark circles under his eyes from duty work, nodded as he saw the two dressed in neat and tidy outgoing attire.

Normally, outings would not be easily permitted unless for urgent reasons.

Thanks to Su-hyeon's status as Special First Place, Lee Yu-jin's situation as niece and uncle, and the justification of Instructor Lee Ho-seung's direction, the two had been granted permission for a day trip.

'...It won't end as just a day trip.'

Su-hyeon thought.

While he didn't know exactly what Lee Cheong-myeong would do, it was clear that some incident would occur.

'We'll have to face Lee Cheong-myeong, who has recovered from his injuries and gained even more powerful strength by becoming a Ma-in.'

It was clear that it would be a very difficult fight.

'I've made all the preparations I can.'

Not only had he increased his mana capacity once more by consuming the elixir received from Old Man Jang.

He had also purchased a skill with his accumulated skill points and had almost completed adaptation.

"But I don't understand why you need swords."

The two had received permission to carry the Moonless Sword and Willow Water Sword under the condition of being supervised by Instructor Lee Ho-seung.

"Because we don't know what might happen in these times. I think he believes that if a terrorist attack suddenly occurs on our way, we should be ready to step in right away."

"Well, while you might be fine without a sword, Lee Yu-jin might need one."

"Still, it's better to have them if possible."

"Hehe. If you say so."

Kang Jun-man chuckled, saying it didn't matter either way.

"Anyway, have a safe trip. With Instructor Lee Ho-seung and you two going together, what could go wrong?"

Instructor Kang Jun-man, who had participated in Operation Caligo together, had to admire the skills the cadets showed that day multiple times.

'It's commendable.'

To think that cadets who couldn't do anything against his abilities on the first day of admission would show such outstanding growth.

'Well, that guy was different from the start.'

Didn't he try to tear off his balls out of nowhere?

"Have a safe trip. Give my regards to the Sword Warrior too."

"We will."

"Now go. I need to finish my shift and get some sleep."

"Thank you for your hard work."

Kang Jun-man, watching the backs of Su-hyeon and Lee Yu-jin as they left the faculty office with their outing permits tucked inside, tilted his head.

"But why does that guy have such a stiff expression?"

There was a strange atmosphere like they were dating.

Is he nervous because it feels like he's going to greet family elders?

Thinking this, Kang Jun-man shook his head vigorously to shake off the uncomfortable feeling.

'...I'd prefer it if it were such a cute reason.'

Inside Lee Ho-seung's car.

Su-hyeon, who had been quietly looking out the window while listening to a playlist with mixed eras and nationalities according to the driver's taste, said.

"Instructor Lee."

"Yeah, what?"

"How about stopping at a rest area?"

"Why? Need to use the bathroom?"

"No."

Su-hyeon shook his head.

"I want to eat a hot dog."

"......"

"I'd like some tteokbokki."

Lee Yu-jin, sitting quietly in the back seat, also gave her opinion.

"And I'd like to have coffee too."

"Look at you two. Really getting into the outing mood."

Lee Ho-seung asked with a hollow laugh.

"You're paying, right?"

"Excuse me?"

"I have installment payments to make, you brats."

Lee Ho-seung said firmly.

"And you guys are going to receive some reward money from this operation, right? Haven't you received it yet?"

"We have."

"Then, you brats, can't you show some appreciation to your instructor who's working hard? Hmm? Can't you show such virtue?"

"Taking money from kids with runny noses..."

Lee Yu-jin pouted her lips.

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"Urrghhh."

A painful scream leaked out between tightly clenched teeth.

[Lee Cheong-myeong. Accept your fate now.]

All night long, someone's voice in his head had been making his head feel like it was being split open.

'Damn it. My voice won't come out.'

His mouth and body wouldn't obey him and remained frozen as if dead.

To anyone watching, it would only appear as if he was suffering in pain.

The mental strength of Lee Cheong-myeong, who had continued this lonely battle all night long, had already been pushed to the limit.

[As expected of Lee Cheong-myeong. Mental strength and pride worthy of the name Sword Warrior.]

Even Hwang Won-jae expressed admiration for that will.

[I've already shaken his mind and succeeded in brainwashing, and even the Ma-in transformation is taking place. To resist like this—you'll truly make an excellent chess piece.]

'You fucking bastard. Who the hell are you?'

[You'll know soon.]

Throb!

As if to signal the end, the pain in his head intensified, and the magical energy that had been eating away at his heart began to spread rapidly throughout his blood vessels.

"Aaaaargh!"

At last, the scream that had been circling in his mouth resonated throughout the hospital room.

"Urrrgh."

Lee Cheong-myeong realized that he had crossed a river from which there was no return.

A little later.

After showing a calm and peaceful demeanor to the medical staff who came following his scream, as if nothing had happened, Lee Cheong-myeong said casually to the nurse measuring his pulse.

"The sun is good today."

"What? Y-yes. It is."

"Could I go for a little walk?"

"Umm..."

The nurse, checking Lee Cheong-myeong's condition, nodded ambiguously.

"I'll ask the doctor in charge."

"Please do."

"Captain!"

Two Execution Force members patrolling inside the hospital spotted Lee Cheong-myeong and ran over hurriedly to salute.

"C-can you walk now?"

"As you can see."

Lee Cheong-myeong smiled gently as he examined the two's armed state.

"This is really fortunate."

"It's a miracle. For you to recover like this..."

"Thank you."

Looking at the swords hanging at the members' waists, Lee Cheong-myeong said.

"You use a sword."

"Yes, yes! I do. Although I'm in a different unit, I deeply respect Captain Lee Cheong-myeong and wish to follow in your footsteps..."

"That's good to hear."

Shing.

Lee Cheong-myeong, who had drawn the sword from its scabbard, smiled as he ran his finger along the blade and flicked it.

"It's well-maintained. Quite a good sword."

"...Captain?"

The member, sensing something cold in that voice, called out to him a bit anxiously.

Slash!

The next moment, his head flew into the air.

"W-what is this?!"

Shrrk!

The other member, who was trying to retreat in shock, was cut from the crown of his head to his groin in a single sword strike, spilling blood and dying instantly.

"Indeed. It cuts well."

"Aaaagh!"

People screamed and fled at the sudden atrocity.

"I'm sorry, but."

Whoosh!

The flying strike that Lee Cheong-myeong released in one breath cut off their necks, waists, and legs.

"...No one can escape from here."

Lee Cheong-myeong's fierce smile was reflected in the bloody blade.