Fated to Die in an Academy Novel – Chapter 154

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: JayM
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The ranking competition proceed as normal despite the incident.

Though for the first time ever, the academy banned mid-competition doping, and experts were invited to check if the participants had any reaction to demonic energy.

Well, if there had been any casualties yesterday, it would have become a major problem, and the competition would have been canceled, but since it didn’t lead to such a big incident, this was the appropriate response.

…If I went to the chairman’s office, she’d probably greet me with a haggard face, but it wasn’t my fault, was it?

Well, even though it was the end-of-semester ranking competition, for the most part, it wasn’t much different from the ranking competition at the beginning of the semester.

The students below probably tried to narrow the gap, but the ones at the top weren’t just sitting around either.

I was probably the one who had changed the most.

In the previous ranking competition, I had an ambiguous result of 2 wins and 3 losses, but this time, I defeated all the guys who challenged me while being blinded by jealousy, and I also defeated the guy who was ranked right above me.

5 wins, 0 losses.

Well, no one among them had a much higher ranking than me, but I think with this, my ranking would rise by quite a bit.

So, that was it. I messed up last time, but I did well this time.

“You can just do better next time, right, Ga-eul?”

“I don’t know, I completely messed up…”

Then there was this girl named Kim Ga-eul who faced the rather pitiful result of 5 losses and 4 wins, even more disastrous than my previous result.

For some reason, she had dark circles under her eyes since this morning, and as expected, she couldn’t concentrate on her matches.

“There’ll be plenty of ranking competitions in the future, so why are you so worried already, Ga-eul~? You can just do better next time.”

Ha-ni tried to comfort her, but since she didn’t fight Lilac or Cheon Yoo-hak this time, she, like me, had a record of 5 wins and 0 losses.

And since she had fought some high-ranking opponents, her points should rise by quite a bit.

“Han-hee, you won all your matches! Winners like you and So-hyun wouldn’t understand how a loser like me would feel!”

In other words, Ha-ni’s comfort could sound like a taunt to the listener.

“Why am I the only one who lost when everyone else won…!? I can’t stand it. So, buy me something delicious!”

Ga-eul, after throwing a tantrum, suddenly made that demand.

…No, seriously, she was said that so confidently that for a moment, I thought that there was a new law that said “Kang So-hyun must buy delicious food for those who fail their exams.”

Why was she asking me to buy her food when Ha-ni was the one who stepped on the landmine?

Well, I didn’t think much of it.

I could comfort her just this once. It wasn’t like I was buying her food every day. In fact, Ga-eul often gave me snacks and other things.

“Okay, what do you want to eat? Tteokbokki and sundae? Or should we go for pork cutlet?”

I felt like something was off when my friends exchanged glances in front of me.

Something smelled fishy.

Come to think of it, it was strange.

Lilac, the after-party ghost, said nothing, and Ha-ni and Cheon Yoo-hak, the embodiments of competitiveness, didn’t fight Lilac either.

They were even subtly looking at each other.

“…Are you guys coming too?”

“Ah, no!? I have plans today.”

…Lilac, are you really acting right now?

“Hmm, I should probably train alone today. I need to work hard if I want to be the top student.”

Ha-ni, you were always a natural at acting, but why couldn’t you look me in the eye when you said that?

Hello? Ms. Kang Ha-ni, look me in the eye. Why can’t you do it?

I glanced at Cheon Yoo-hak, and he just chuckled with a “Hmph,”and then he turned his head and looked at a distant place with a deep gaze.

Yeah, the girls who liked you usually let you get away with that when you had nothing to say, right? But I’m not them, you bastard.

I looked around, but since no one could meet my eyes, I had a rough idea.

They said that they would officially join the investigation tomorrow, but they were probably planning to join today.

The reason they lied to me was probably because they thought that I would break my promise and show up at the scene no matter what.

Seriously, you guys should never try to scam anyone. You honest fools.

Anyway, honesty aside, I was a bit offended. You guys don’t believe me? How much trouble have I cause?

Of course, I was actually planning to go, but even in a mafia game, it’s a bit unfair to get caught when you’re the mafia.

Honestly, I wanted to ask them if they thought I was a pushover, but since I was going anyway, it wouldn’t do me any good to raise their guard.

“Really? That’s a shame. Then I’ll just go with Ga-eul. Just tell me what you want to eat.”

“Huh? Hmm. Then should we have something that takes a long time to eat today?”

…Seriously, you guys would never be able to do an infiltration mission.

“What are you talking about? Let’s just go eat pork cutlet.”

So, Ga-eul was the lookout? It was a good choice since she couldn’t participate in combat, but did you know I was one step ahead of you?

After saying goodbye to the others, I spoke to Ga-eul.

“Hey, they’re joining the investigation today, right?”

“Huh!?”

I was grateful for their concern, but since they also tried to deceive me, then we were even.

I’m not holding back anymore.

“Wh-What are you talking about, So-hyun! Ah, I’m hungry! Let’s go eat!”

“Why are you so flustered, Ga-eul? I’m not blaming you.”

“Ugh, I don’t know! No! I can’t say anything! I promised them!”

“Why are you making such a fuss? Who said anything? I just asked if they were investigating the incident today.”

“You’ll just go if I tell you!”

“…No, I won’t.”

When I said that with a slight pause, Ga-eul’s eyes widened as if she had caught me.

“See! You hesitated.”

Ah, seriously, why was she so cute?

Our Ga-eul, you know that’s practically the same as telling me they’re investigating today, right?

“Ga-eul, I’m offended. You guys don’t believe me.”

“Huh? Huh?”

“I’m so hurt that I don’t think I can do anything else today.”

Ga-eul looked at my face with a worried expression, wondering if I was serious.

But how could she see through me when I had the ‘Acting’ trait?

“Ugh…”

“So, Ga-eul, if you don’t want to disappoint me further, could you let me join them?”

“Huh? Huh…? Ah! You again!”

“Pfft… Ah, seriously, Ga-eul is so cute.”

“Compliments won’t work. I won’t fall for such temptations!”

“Really?”

“Huh?”

“Are you sure you won’t tell me?”

As I slowly approached her and spoke in a gentle voice, Ga-eul blushed and started to get flustered.

“Huh…? Huh…? So-hyun…?”

The little kids at the orphanage used to give up easily when I did this. Seo-ha told me never to do this to anyone else.

“I’m just kidding. Let’s go eat pork cutlet.”

“Huh?”

“Why do you keep saying ‘huh~’? You guys are just worried about me, so I can’t force my way in. Instead, you have to hang out with me today, Ga-eul.”

Ga-eul’s face was strangely red.

…I was seriously worried that she would try to buy something like a talent-enhancing electric blanket later.

“Are you not coming?”

“I-I’m coming! I’m definitely coming! I don’t mind paying for the pork cutlet, so let’s go!”

“What are you talking about? I’ll pay. It’s a consolation party, and I’m not sending you home early today.”

Ga-eul’s face turned bright red again.

She looked like an apple. Why was she so red? It makes me want to take a bite out of her.

Well, this should be enough of a smokescreen. Would I really give up this easily? No way.

You guys might think Ga-eul was watching me, but she was going to be my alibi and witness.

The ‘me’ here would be eating and playing with Ga-eul, so shall I start moving?

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They wouldn’t suspect the Masked Villain was me, but for a perfect crime, I left a clone with Ga-eul, so there was no risk of my identity being revealed even if something happened.

“I’m one step ahead of you.”

-Aren’t you sorry to the kids who are worried about you?

‘Honestly, I’m a bit sorry, but what if they get into danger? I’ll just watch as long as they don’t take too long of a detour or get into danger.’

It felt like it had been a while since I wore it, but the formal suit made of Ruyi was size-adjustable, so it always fit perfectly.

And the mask…

The bewitching, pure white demon mask, which I seriously suspected had some kind of mind-corrupting function, came into view.

It felt like it was tempting me to wear it.

-I don’t feel any such aura.

Honestly, I was a bit worried.

Was it right for me, who had lived so horribly before I regressed, to act as a villain now, even if it was just an act?

It was true that I had such thoughts.

-…You’re not even pretending to listen to me now.

But my worries were short-lived.

It was for their sake, and for this world.

And above all…

…a fake villain with a backstory was more popular than a regular villain…!

It was the perfect setting to make this world a little more enjoyable.

I put on the mask, and the perception distortion effect activated.

I slowly cleared my throat and accepted my role as a villain, which had become even more natural due to my acting.

[Now, it’s time to execute evil.]

It’s villain drift time, you guys! You should have just taken me with you!

Who told you to exclude me!?

-Hmm, I want to join in sometimes too, so get me a mask similar to the one you used in the dream world.

…Uh, I’ll think about it.

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It wasn’t much of an investigation.

They already had evidence and testimony about the distribution, and they confirmed that the delinquents within the academy were spreading the drug.

The chairman, Reilan Claudia, who personally participated in the operation to take responsibility for this incident, was keenly aware of her responsibility.

She left things to the cadets’ autonomy while saying that in any group, there would always be dropouts, and…

…wasn’t it because she focused on reducing their numbers rather than caring for them that this happened?

Such thoughts continued to torment her.

With a complicated heart, she looked at their hideout and prayed…

That they wouldn’t resist too much, that they would surrender peacefully, or if possible, just give themselves up.

That it would end with just demerits or simple community service.

That she wouldn’t have to label them as villains and punish them.

But that hope faded as they got closer to the building known as their hideout.

The expert she brought with her to detect demonic energy sent a warning.

“The concentration of demonic energy is quite high from here on out.”

She knew that…

Thanks to her long life as a high elf, she had some knowledge of demonic energy, and she had the means to sense it.

Her ears tingled strangely, and her stomach churned.

The spirits, angered by the low-level demonic energy, were also proof that there was demonic energy nearby.

Maybe it was too late.

She had regrets, but she wouldn’t hesitate.

As one of the few S-rank heroes in the world, she couldn’t afford to waste time on irreversible things.

“Chairman, we need to prepare.”

Cathy, who had a strangely business-like attitude due to being on the field, approached her.

“We’ll arrest those who surrender, and we’ll allow lethal force if the resistance is severe.”

“…Lethal force?”

“We should avoid it as much as possible, but if they are completely consumed by demonic energy, it’s only right to no longer consider them cadets.”

…There’s no way to turn them back anyway.

The chairman swallowed the last words she was about to say.

Strictly speaking, there was a way to turn back those who were completely consumed by demonic energy.

It wouldn’t be impossible if a much higher-ranking demon appeared and removed all the demonic energy while being careful not to damage the soul, or if a monster capable of stealing the contract appeared.

‘A foolish delusion.’

But that was a vain hope.

Why would such a high-level demon come here and help people?

It was only right to be firm now.

From now on, what was behind this weren’t cadets, but villains.

She shifted her mindet and blocked the warmth in her heart.

What stood here now wasn”t an elf who loved humans, but a hero who was endlessly cruel to villains.

“If you intend to surrender, open the door within 30 seconds and disarm yourselves.”

Of course, there was no answer.

It was a common mistake villains made.

They followec the common sense of ordinary people, which didn’t apply to superhumans, that inside a building was safer than outside.

“I see.”

But a complete superhuman was no different from a natural disaster.

Would you be safe inside your house during an earthquake?

The flow of the atmosphere. Her talent, which controlled the wind, shone, and the building began to shake from the outside.

“I will consider your lack of response as an intention to resist and will now use lethal force.”

The surrounding atmosphere compressed, and the crushed building collapsed.

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T/N – Damn, chairman Reilan is OP. We saw her crush a car already early on, but to crush a full on building…

Also, I knew it. The MC really did leave Ga-eul to a clone. Mwahahaha, yes! Let the White Oni Masked villain spread chaos. I really hope the MC can also get Sun Wulong a mask. That would be hilarious.

If you find any mistakes, feel free to point them out in the comments.