Fated to Die in an Academy Novel – Chapter 153

—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: JayM
—————————————————————–

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

A man was kicking a tree in a clearing a little ways away from the academy, as if unable to contain his anger.

“Damn it…! Fucking hell! You idiots!”

He was the leader of the delinquent circle and the one who had recently spread the drugs in the academy.

This wasn’t supposed to happen.

He accepted this job because it was simple and the risk of getting caught was almost zero. How did it come to this?

He was a failing student, gradually being pushed out of the academy. He wouldn’t become a famous hero even if he graduated, and he didn’t have any other talents, so his life was destined to end with some insignificant job.

And even then, he would be under constant surveillance because he was a superhuman.

At first, he just went wild because he didn’t like that reality.

He wasn’t the only failing student in the academy, so it was easy for him to gather like-minded cadets, and the fact that the younger students looked up to him just because he was an upperclassman seemed to soothe his inferiority complex.

He felt like he was something special when he talked shit about the people he didn’t like behind their backs and messed with them by creating a hostile atmosphere with artificial incitement.

Yes, up to this point, which was up to the level of children’s games, the academy didn’t care.

Strictly speaking, they did interfere, but not too seriously.

When they were just roaming around in a group and playing stupid games, they tried to reform them, and when trouble broke out between cadets, it ended with just a demerit.

Because they were superhuman cadets.

This incident was actually an extension of that.

Just that this time, there was a profit to be made, and the more he spread the drug, the more he could get.

That was it, right?

It wasn’t that bad, was it? He just spread a drug that made people stronger.

It felt good, like he was getting revenge on the bastards who discriminated against people based on their abilities, and he just did it because he thought it was a better path for him.

So why were people turning into monsters because of the drug?

They said that it was like a vitamin, so he wouldn’t get caught even if something happened, so why were there talks of demonic energy in the academy already?

He, who had never taken responsibility for anything in his life, ran away again.

He tried to blame others instead of himself and looked for excuses.

“You bastards, why did you have to go on a rampage just because you took some damn drug? I’ve used it a lot, and I was fine…!”

He had almost lost his reason from excessive use, but of course, his lack of reason was accompanied by a decline in intelligence, so he didn’t even notice the changes in himself.

“Damn it, and this fucking instruction manual. It’s a scam. How can this be brushed off as ‘some side effects may occur’!?”

Of course, no one would listen to him no matter how much he complained.

“Damn it, what am I supposed to do now…?”

This was different from the minor pranks he had pulled before.

He didn’t have a very elaborate plan in the first place, and he made deals by choosing meeting spots through SNS.

If the academy started a full-scale investigation, they would find out that he was the culprit in no time.

The distribution of an unlicensed drug was already a problem, but demonic energy had also been detected in it.

He was cornered.

He could even be arrested for this.

“Damn iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!!!!”

“You’re quite noisy today.”

He turned his head at the sudden voice and saw him.

The one who had tricked him into doing this.

“You bastard! What is this?! You said it was just a drug! A drug with some side effects that enhances your talent!”

“Yes, that’s right. You know how much time and effort it takes to strengthen one’s talent, don’t you? Isn’t this a ‘minor’ side effect in comparison? And it’s all written in the drug intake instructions too.”

“Who reads that tiny thing?! Damn it, what are you going to do now? Are you going to take responsibility for ruining my life and the lives of the other bastards!”

“Haha, you’re not being very gentlemanly! Where is my responsibility in this? I paid you a price and asked for a favor. You’re the one who agreed. Why are you trying to shift the blame to me?”

It was all sophistry and fallacies.

Most of what he said was forced, something that twisted and distorted logic.

But it was also true that it had the minimum logic to subdue an opponent who couldn’t make rational judgments.

That was why… the devil dug in further.

“But I’ll take responsibility.”

“…What?”

He made him feel as if there was nowhere else to go, as if all his escape routes were cut off, and then offered him a rotten rope, as if it were his only salvation.

…So that he had no choice but to grab it, even if he knew it was rotten.

That was the devil’s favorite method.

“It’s not my fault, but it pains my heart when someone gets hurt in a matter I’m involved in. I should help you, even if it’s a bit of a hassle for me.”

His face brightened. He was almost there.

“But I won’t help everyone. You know we can’t take a loss, right?”

The words that made it seem like the opportunity was limited had a magic that made people anxious.

“Let’s make a formal ‘contract.’ I’ll save you. No, it would be better to say that we’re becoming official business partners.”

“Official partners…?”

“Yes, you didn’t like the academy in the first place, did you? You’re in trouble only because of what those stupid underclassmen did. It’s not your fault, so isn’t it a waste to end things here?”

The devil in human form extended his hand.

“You just have to take this hand. Then you can become one of us. I’ll give you the power to achieve anything you want.”

Actually, many people were mistaken.

That they couldn’t back down anymore, that they couldn’t turn back.

They should have stopped when they had the chance, but humans often made the strange decision to push forward even if it meant struggling in futility.

If he had apologized, admitted his mistake, his incompetence, and confessed his sins, he might have been okay.

But he didn’t.

He denied the truth and his incompetence and took the devil’s hand.

For his petty pride and his own safety, and because of his desire for the sweet fruit that the devil had offered…

He began to cross the line.

The devil smiled, unseen by him.

Ah, what a sweet fool. To trade ‘potential,’ the most precious thing of all, for something so trivial.

Young, and because of that, so foolish and lovely.

That was why he and his master couldn’t help but love the slothful.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

I was screwed.

I didn’t know how many times this has happened, but I was screwed again.

“…So I’m not supposed to fight directly?”

When Lilac suddenly told me not to fight on the front lines, I wondered what kind of nonsense he was spouting, but the atmosphere was such that I couldn’t refuse him.

“Hmm, it’s not exactly that, but since the devil might be targeting you, So-hyun, it’s better to be careful here.”

That’s what that meant!

You bastard. After everything I’ve done for you since I regressed, you’re doing this to me now…? Are you betraying me… no, are you getting revenge?

“Cadet So-hyun, I think Cadet Lilac is right. If the enemy is really targeting you, we can’t do what they want.”

Professor Cathy started to persuade me with a serious tone for the first time in a while.

“No, that’s why I have to go. I’m the one involved.”

“…Sometimes, just trust us and wait.”

“That’s right. Hey, honestly, you’ve been through a lot lately. Just rest for a bit~ Don’t you trust us?”

No, Ms. Kang Ha-ni, it’s not a matter of trust. I’m grateful for your concern, but I’m really okay.

Things will get really complicated without me.

I knew all the answers, but they were trying to solve the incident by calculating everything. How could I just stand by?

I wanted to say something, but it was true that the delinquents were targeting me for some ridiculous reason, so it was difficult for me to explain it.

And I didn’t even start the “Consort of the Demon King” setting, so it was even more unfair for me.

What Consort of the Demon King? No, the Masked Villain was one thing, but I didn’t even start this one, so why was it holding me back…

…Huh? Wait a minute… The Masked Villain?

“…Are you really sure you’ll be okay without me?”

Thinking that I had been persuaded, their faces brightened considerably.

“Yes, leave it to us this time.”

“Wait with Ga-eul~ Hyung will take care of everything.”

“…Then I’ll trust you guys.”

‘I believe in you…’

I felt a pang of guilt as I said that, but the pain from my worn-out heart was negligible.

“…Of course!”

Huu.

But guys, you have to understand my position too.

I really didn’t want to do this. I was going to cooperate with you and use a direct approach this time.

But if you’re going to control and suppress me like this, I have no choice but to find a way out.

-Why don’t you just say that you like acting as the villain?

‘Ah, I don’t like it at all. What are you talking about? What if people misunderstand? Really now.’

I felt an evil aura emanating from the mask in my pseudo-inventory.

As if it was saying ‘How dare you try to lock me up? I won’t stand for this.’

It was time for the villain to come out.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

“Ga-eul, your role is important.”

“Yeah, I know.”

After they disbanded once, they carefully gathered again so that Kang So-hyun wouldn’t notice.

Just as Kang So-hyun had learned about them over time, they had also learned about Kang So-hyun.

…Of course, there were some misunderstandings, but at least they had a rough idea of how he operated and how he would react in certain situations.

They were confident…

“Yeah, honestly, So-hyun isn’t the type to just sit still.”

“…So-hyun, no, Cadet Kang So-hyun doesn’t seem like the type to endure a situation like this.”

Kang Ha-ni and Cathy honestly wanted to stay behind themselves, but they also had a strong desire to thoroughly crush those who dared to touch him, so they decided to give up the surveillance role.

So who was chosen for such an important role? It was Kim Ga-eul.

The girl whose combat ability was weak but whom So-hyun was strangely soft on.

He wasn’t cold-hearted enough to push her away and leave while she was watching him.

“Yeah, leave the information gathering and surveillance to me!”

…It felt a bit like entrusting a fish to a cat, but what could happen on a weekday? It wasn’t even a weekend.

They thought so and decided to trust Ga-eul.

And Kim Ga-eul also intended to do her best.

But did they know? Trust was meant to be broken, and thoughts were meant to change.

A small seed that had been stirring within Kim Ga-eul began to sprout.

The trigger was nothing special.

It was a single comment from Lilac.

“Ga-eul! Don’t be too conscious of being alone with So-hyun! Contact me if it gets dangerous! I’ll come running right away!”

‘…Alone?

I see. We’re alone. Yeah, that’s right. No, it’s not like I’m going to do anything just because we were alone.’

Various thoughts started to surface in her mind.

‘Ah, they trust me, so I had to do my best. But in the process, wouldn’t it be okay to satisfy my personal desires a little?

Yeah, right. To keep an eye on him and prevent him from running away, I have to stay as close to him as possible.

Then, since we would be in close contact, it should be okay for me to make some minor preparations, right?’

“Just trust me.”

The two women, who saw her best-effort smile, looked anxious.

“…Should I stay behind?”

“…That seems more dangerous.”

But the two quickly shook off their thoughts.

Half of it was because of their trust in him, thinking ‘Well, it’s So-hyun, so it’ll be okay,’ and the other half was…

“Hee, heehee, hehe… hee.”

…for the rather rude reason of ‘It’s Ga-eul, so it’ll be alright, right?’

Unaware of their rather pitiful opinion of her, Ga-eul was busy planning various strategies to try on So-hyun.

She took a picture with him last time, so this time, they could go to a dessert shop together, right?

Or since they held hands during the dance, it would be nice to hold his hand again while pretending it was a coincidence.

Ga-eul thought to herself.

‘I don’t think I’m that far behind.

In fact, aren’t I in the lead?’

Their meeting ended with her happy delusion.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

T/N – Sorry for disappearing on you guys. A week prior, my aunt died.

I’ll be back to my usual schedule by tomorrow but I need some time for the chapters I owe you guys. I had to help with funeral arrangements, so I wasn’t able to translate any chapters. I’ll make it up to you guys next month. For now, I’ll release the mass release chapters I was holding on to.

Thank you for your understanding. (9/29/25)

First up, a heads up. In this arc, I’ve been using the term “demon” for the, well, demon that is pulling the strings behind the drug incident up until now. But in the past, the terms “devil” and “demon” have been used interchangeably and even one of the MC’s artifacts is called “Devil’s Touch”. So in this chapter, I used “devil” for the being instead of “demon”. Feel free to tell me which you prefer, but for now, I think I’ll keep using “devil” instead.

Second, yes! Let the Masked Villain out, MC! The Masked Villain and the secret evil organization shall return! 😂

Lastly, damn, Ga-eul’s imagination is really going wild. Though the MC will most likely just leave her with a clone.

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