Fated to Die in an Academy Novel – Chapter 111

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: JayM
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It turns out that when you witness something completely absurd, you don’t really think much of it.

It was still relatively early, 11 AM, which was more than two hours before the outside festivities were supposed to begin, but the city was already buzzing with excitement.

Well, the city being full of excitement was understandable.

But for that excitement to be perfectly orchestrated and maintained without a single incident? That was absurd.

How should I describe it?

The city itself had transformed into a massive, controlled festival ground. The excitement was perfectly managed, a coexistence of enthusiasm and order.

It seemed like everyone who could participate was already there as the streets were packed with people. Judging by their excited faces as they awaited this unprecedented event, incidents should have already occurred, but it was surprisingly well-organized.

“You can get your numbered tickets here!”

A numbered ticket system to prevent line-cutting before the main festival.

“Drinks are provided here! Please wait your turn!”

Drink stations every 200 meters.

“We’ve reached an ‘agreement’ with the surrounding buildings and rented them for the day, so if the restrooms inside the venue are crowded, you can use the restrooms in the surrounding buildings. However, please maintain decorum, as they are only rented.”

The scale of renting entire buildings.

“Ah, why are numbered tickets so important! If there’s an empty seat, it’s fair game!”

“No, sir, fights break out because of people like you!”

“You little brat!”

The moment he raised his hand, a suited guard appeared out of nowhere and grabbed his arm.

“Yes, sir. You didn’t read the flyer we handed out before you got in line.”

He made eye contact with the middle-aged man causing the commotion and slowly emitted magical power. The man’s angry expression gradually turned hazy.

“Huh? Huh? Who are you!? I’ll tell everyone that the Cheon-hwa Group assaults people…! …Huh?”

“Yes, that’s right. Look here. Nothing happened, right? You’ll be resting at home, drinking beer and eating chicken, right?”

“Oh, right… What am I doing on such a wonderful day off…?”

After the man left in a daze, he sent a radio message.

“D-line, number 767, public disturbance. Please check it out.”

Superhuman guards were deployed to handle potential incidents with… humane(?) methods.

The most surprising thing was that amidst all this perfect control, a red carpet was laid out from the center of the party venue all the way to the main building.

…Mr. Cheon Mu-jin, how much money did you pour into your son’s birthday?

“Hey, Yoo-hak.”

“I don’t know.”

“No, hey, seriously, how much did this cost?”

“…I really don’t know. But it must have been an astronomical amount.”

Seeing him clutching his head in distress made me feel slightly sorry for teasing him yesterday.

Judging by the slightly overwhelmed expressions of the others, they probably felt the same way.

“…We have to walk from here. Those who aren’t used to the attention, be careful.”

I didn’t understand what he meant at first, but the moment Cheon Yoo-hak stepped out of the limousine, I understood.

All eyes were on him as he stepped onto the red carpet that stretched through the crowd.

As expected.

So, the red carpet was for this.

The moment someone stepped onto the red carpet, the crowd waiting for the festival instantly became an audience.

The scene was being broadcast live nationwide and streamed live via airships, so it would be imprinted in people’s memories for a long time.

And whether they realized it or not, most people watching this would perceive those walking on the red carpet as superior.

The protagonists of the festival, walking under the gaze of the unchosen, entering a hall accessible only to the chosen… It was a meticulously calculated scene to display who held the power.

So, it wasn’t just about throwing money around.

Cheon Yoo-hak, who always enjoyed being the center of attention, walked confidently.

The crowd gasped softly as he walked down the red carpet with an aloof and elegant demeanor.

…He was quite handsome, in a flashy way.

Next was Joo-ri.

She couldn’t stand next to him, but she started walking with a proud attitude, as if claiming the spot behind him.

Then, my sister got out, and that was the limit for people who could handle the attention casually.

The rest of us, including me, were a bit pale.

“So-hyun, what are you doing?”

“…Huh?”

“You have to get out too. Cathy unnie, come on.”

Ah, right, everyone except Lilac and Yoo-na was my partner, so I had to get out, but it was incredibly nerve-wracking.

“I…”

“Stop making excuses and get out.”

“Yes.”

Damn it. I couldn’t run away, so I just had to put on a brave face.

The moment I stepped out, I felt the gazes that were watching from the sides focus on me.

Huh? This didn’t feel so bad.

I thought I would be sweating and scared, but I was okay.

As I walked forward naturally, the gazes following me felt strangely… natural.

…Was I surprisingly good at being on stage?

But I felt a bit embarrassed when Professor Cathy linked arms with my right arm and my sister with my left.

“…Noona?”

“What?”

“This feels strange.”

“What’s strange? Can’t a noona link arms with her younger brother?”

…Is that how it works?

“…Professor?”

“Is this okay? I actually wanted to come with just So-hyun.”

“…Of course.”

“Hmm.”

Ha-ni looked at us with a sullen expression as if she didn’t like something, then approached us with a playful smile.

“Oh, a flower in each hand. I’m jealous.”

“Do you want to join? Want to switch? Or should I let you hold my shoulder since my hands are full?”

“That sounds fun, but I’ll pass. I have a better idea.”

Ha-ni quickly walked in front of me, bowed formally, and then stood slightly to my right.

I didn’t understand her intentions at first, but since she was blocking the front like a bodyguard, she was almost the only thing I could see.

…You’ll concede my arms, but you want my attention…?

She was truly amazing.

It was the best way to make me aware of her without looking too strange to others.

What cross-dressing, you little vixen. You’re a vixen from now on… Anyway, judging by her playful smile, she seemed satisfied.

“…Me too.”

Ah, and there was someone here who was scared of the attention and wasn’t enjoying this.

“I want to hold on too…”

Ga-eul grabbed the hem of my jacket fearfully.

The professor and my sister glanced at Ga-eul, but she quickly regained her composure and gripped my jacket tighter.

“I’m going to hold on too…!”

Well, it was good that she was confident, but was it really okay to just grab the hem of my jacket…?

No, seriously, what was this?

Why did I have to enter the party venue with girls on both arms and someone holding on to my front and back?

This looked like a punishment game.

Lastly, Lilac, acting like a protagonist, bowed his head to everyone watching and joined this insane charade with Yoo-na.

…I suddenly felt like becoming a masked villain.

Well, this might be a better way to attract attention.

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Before the party officially began, some of the older VIP guests and those who couldn’t enter through the main entrance for various reasons were already gathered in the main hall exchanging greetings.

Most of them were high-ranking government officials or board members of companies associated with the Cheon-hwa Group, but there were also some renowned heroes including Reilan, the director of the academy, and guests from overseas.

The main interest of most people here was the next generation.

They were here to observe who would stand next to and succeed Cheon Yoo-hak, the undeniable protagonist of this party.

Some heroes hoped to form connections with promising successors of other groups surrounding Cheon Yoo-hak and receive their sponsorship, even if they couldn’t approach Cheon Yoo-hak himself.

And a very small number…

Those who came purely out of interest or for their own amusement were acting as they pleased.

It was almost time for the entrance.

The gazes of those chatting naturally turned towards the entrance of the hall.

Some were openly staring while others pretended not to.

As if answering their gazes, the door opened, and the first thing that caught their attention was the vibrant blonde hair.

He scanned the crowd with his orange eyes that matched his blonde hair and smiled confidently.

His demeanor, instantly shifting from being evaluated to evaluating, made people shrink back.

The boy exuding the aura of a prince, though without a crown, enjoyed the attention and confidently walked into the hall.

But something was strange.

The announcer should have announced his entrance and his partner’s name, but there was no such announcement.

It was the same when his secretary and classmate entered.

Even though people with outstanding appearances entered the hall, there was no introduction.

Was there some kind of mistake?

Did the Cheon-hwa Group, of all groups, make a mistake?

But such thoughts didn’t last long.

A floral fragrance filled the enclosed hall.

The hall, which hadn’t smelled unpleasant to begin with, was now filled with a gentle floral scent that softened people’s hearts.

They naturally turned their gazes towards the source of the sudden fragrance.

Jet-black hair, a stark contrast to Cheon Yoo-hak’s blonde hair.

A somewhat small figure with a frowning expression.

And even entering with women on both arms, a ridiculous act.

It was a sight that anyone would consider rude, but most of them couldn’t bring themselves to think that way.

His red eyes, which seemed to flash gold for a moment, didn’t scan the hall.

Or rather, it was more accurate to say that he didn’t even seem interested in the people in the hall.

He walked with a willful attitude, as if he had already decided on his destination.

The fragrance…

A gentle, yet strong fragrance filled the hall with every step he took.

“Mr. Kang So-hyun and partners Mr. Cheon Yoo-hak, Mr. Kang Han-hee, Ms. Joo-ri, Ms. Kim Ga-eul, Ms. Cathy, Ms. Park Ah-ram, and Ms. Kang Na-hyun are entering!”

Finally, people understood who he was and why there hadn’t been an announcement until now.

But even if they understood, they couldn’t comprehend it.

What was this absurd situation?

Multiple partners, one of them being Cheon Yoo-hak, the host of the party, and there was even a guy among them. They couldn’t understand it, but what was most incomprehensible was his attitude.

Under the downpour of gazes, he continued walking as if he didn’t care about the attention.

Finally freeing his arms, he looked in a certain direction without hesitation, and most of those watching him followed his gaze.

“Huh…”

And they saw him.

The head of the Cheon family smiling like a child who had received an unexpected gift.

He, who usually maintained composure in such settings, spread his wings and slowly took flight.

Red eyes followed him as he gradually approached them.

“It’s been a while. Did you like the gift I prepared?”

It was a relatively normal greeting, but it definitely wasn’t appropriate for the current situation.

But that was why Cheon Mu-jin couldn’t help but laugh heartily.

Right, there was this kid. He almost forgot because he was dying, but there was this promising brat.

His son’s first friend and rival.

His friend’s son.

The one who stopped his son’s rampage.

The child who reached out to the boy everyone feared.

And the child who roughly rejected the hand he offered in return.

“Yes, Kang So-hyun, it’s been a while. I’m glad to see you’re healthy.”

The boy he thought was dying was not only alive, but was thriving and even brought him such a gift. How could he, as an adult, not be happy?

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My first feeling upon entering the hall was bewilderment.

No, why were all these people looking at me instead of Cheon Yoo-hak?

Ah, was it because my black hair stood out?

No, wait. Come to think of it, if I saw some crazy bastard entering a party venue with two girls in his arms, I would stare too.

I guess I had become too accustomed to this novel world and lost my sense of normalcy.

It would get worse after the entrance announcement, but I didn’t really care what they thought of me.

I was worried I might not attract enough attention, but this was perfect.

I hadn’t heard where he would be, but knowing him, he would be there.

A place where he could clearly observe the hall.

And a place where he could show off his flamboyance.

I looked up and forward, and our eyes naturally met.

Cheon Mu-jin, the Heavenly Demon.

He was flying towards me.

Hmm, what should I say to please him? It would be better to be a bit over the top, right?

“It’s been a while. Did you like the gift I prepared?”

He burst into laughter.

He seemed a bit too happy, but it couldn’t hurt to overdo it.

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T/N – Damn, girls in his four cardinal directions. This is really feeling like a harem novel now. There is the stepsis route, the professor route, the roommate who is secretly a girl route, and the bully turned friend route. This is giving me sister-leveling vibes.

Also, I’m quite curious about Mu-jin’s powers as it seems like he has wings and can fly. There’s also his title.

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