I Became the Academy’s Heroine Stalker – Chapter 28

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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– *Crack!*

– *Kieeek…*

I was straddling the Hobgoblin, raining punches down on its face.

I couldn’t remember.

How did this happen?

Even with the temporary power boost, this didn’t make sense.

The gap between me and the Hobgoblin was too vast to have been bridged by a single potion, let alone to the point where I was now on top of it.

Was this a dream?

…Or reality?

If this was reality, then my vision was too hazy, as if shrouded in fog, and a dreamlike hallucination was too vivid.

No sound reached my ears except for my own ragged breathing, breaking the silence.

Like waking from anesthesia, the world was blurry, and my vision swam.

A hollow chuckle escaped my lips.

A strange, unfamiliar pleasure coursed through me.

Was this what it felt like to be high on drugs?

It was a refreshing sensation, like layers of grime being scrubbed away from the crevices of my mind.

A primal urge to rip out my freshly cleansed heart and display it to the world surged within me.

Base instincts took over, and rational thought was devoured.

– *Crack!*

Ripping out the Hobgoblin’s fangs sent a thrill through me.

– *Smash!*

Crushing the Hobgoblin’s skull filled me with intense euphoria.

Was this the destructive instinct inherent in all humans?

It was thrilling, electrifying.

Wait.

What was this?

I looked down at my left hand.

It was completely black.

A glossy, polished black, as if dipped in a bucket of paint.

Another hollow chuckle escaped me.

Was this a side effect of the Berserk Potion?

…Well, it was a pretty cool side effect.

[Kyaaak!]

A scream echoed from somewhere far away.

Muffled, as if I were wearing earplugs.

Drawn by the faint sound, I turned my head.

I saw Seo Yoon-ji, petrified with fear.

A surge of rage ignited within me, hot as a blacksmith’s forge.

My instincts bared their ferocious fangs.

And they yearned to devour Seo Yoon-ji.

I lunged at her, swinging the Hobgoblin’s club as if to crush her face.

I wouldn’t hold back just because she was a woman.

This was a dream, after all.

– *Kwang!*

A satisfying impact reverberated through my hand.

Seo Yoon-ji flew like a bullet, crashing through a thick tree and landing with a thud.

Splinters and dust flew everywhere.

Seo Yoon-ji struggled to her feet.

Fortunately, she had blocked the blow with her shield, so she wasn’t dead yet.

But her shield was shattered, only half of it remained.

Again.

– *Thwack!*

I quickly closed the distance and swung the club. Seo Yoon-ji flew away without a scream.

And *thud!* This time, she crashed into a boulder.

The traitor, Seo Yoon-ji, couldn’t get up.

Refreshing.

Exhilarating.

Addictive.

Punishing the traitor was so satisfying that I wished this was real.

She had abandoned her duty.

Broke her loyalty.

Betrayed our trust.

A traitor, a coward, a deserter. Seo Yoon-ji deserved to die.

If she wanted the privileges that came with being the party’s tank, she shouldn’t have stabbed her comrades in the back.

This was just punishment, a fitting retribution.

And since this was a dream, it was a satisfying revenge, a righteous act of violence.

A shiver ran down my spine, and goosebumps erupted on my skin.

I almost died because of that damn bitch.

No, since this was a dream, perhaps I *was* already dead.

Perhaps my fading consciousness was projecting a final glimmer of hope before descending into the afterlife.

Using regret, sorrow, rage, and lingering attachment as kindling for a final blaze.

Hoping to fulfill my last wish.

And I couldn’t remember what had happened right before I crushed the Hobgoblin’s skull.

I didn’t know how I got from consuming the potion to this state.

Since the process was missing, perhaps death had come during that missing time.

Then…

Even if I couldn’t take that bitch with me to the afterlife, I had to exact my revenge in this dream, so I wouldn’t have any regrets.

That must be why my fading consciousness was burning with this final desire.

I dragged the bloodstained club across the ground and approached Seo Yoon-ji.

It took about five hits to crush the Hobgoblin’s skull.

I wondered how many hits Seo Yoon-ji’s skull could withstand.

Lost in that pleasant thought, I approached her, but my body felt heavy, and my limbs wouldn’t move properly.

My strength drained away, as if I were sinking into quicksand.

Ah, it was because this was a dream.

I focused my hazy, drunken mind and glared at the fallen Seo Yoon-ji.

I mustered all my remaining strength and raised the club.

Then…

[…Mas…!]

I heard a voice.

A familiar voice.

[…ter…!]

Who was it?

Who dared to interrupt my vengeance?

Holding the club in my left hand, I looked around.

It was difficult to see clearly with my blurry vision.

But I saw someone standing there.

[…Waaah!]

They were crying, looking at me.

Were they mourning my death?

Wait, did anyone even care if I died?

[…Mas…! …ter…! …Please…!!]

I saw the silhouette of a woman, practically wailing.

She had two horns on her head and was bathed in purple light.

…Ah.

Bersha…?

– *Flash!*

As soon as I recognized her as Bersha, a bright light flashed, and my vision cleared. My swirling gaze stabilized.

The hazy fog lifted, and my muffled hearing returned, clearly capturing the sounds of the world.

The fiery rage that had consumed me cooled down.

The grime that had been washed away returned, filling the crevices of my mind and concealing something once more.

Instinct receded, and reason surfaced.

And…

I saw Bersha, in her full succubus form, weeping.

“Sob… Master, please… please stop…!”

Black magic power extended from Bersha’s hands, coiling around my arms and legs.

Ah… I thought my limbs were heavy because this was a dream, but it was Bersha holding me back.

Had my five-minute Overheat Max state dragged even Bersha into this?

…So, this wasn’t a dream? Was it real?

As my clouded mind cleared, the missing pieces of memory returned.

Consuming the potion, losing myself to Overheat, piercing the Hobgoblin’s heart with a magic arrow, and then unleashing my rage with its club.

The sequence of events flashed before my eyes like a slideshow.

I turned my head and looked down at Seo Yoon-ji.

Her shield was shattered, and she was lying in a pool of blood.

But her chest rose and fell faintly; she was still breathing.

“…How could you.”

“Please…! Please stop! Master…!”

– *Thud.*

I dropped the club.

I pulled the unleashed magic power back into my core.

And I looked at Bersha.

“…Bersha. It’s me.”

“Waaah—! Master—! You’re back!”

At my quiet call, Bersha withdrew her magic power, rushed towards me, and embraced me.

I was still dazed.

The delusion I had mistaken for a dream was reality, and the dissonance between the two confused me.

But one thing was certain.

If it weren’t for Bersha, I would have actually crushed Seo Yoon-ji’s skull.
[T/N: That’s why she’s the GOAT, THE GOAT]

I held Bersha tightly and stroked her back.

As I embraced her, my racing heart gradually calmed down.

My adrift mind, like a lost ship, found its lighthouse in Bersha and steered towards the light.

“I was so scared you were going to die—!!”

Bersha pounded on my chest, venting her fear and frustration.

It hurt a little.

But I was so grateful to her that I just held her tighter.

If it weren’t for my summon, I would have earned the villainous title of “Hunter Slayer.”

I could only comfort her.

“…I’m sorry, Bersha.”

And so, the eventful group project came to an end.

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[Kyaaak—! It’s a C-rank monster! We’re all going to die—!!]

[Yoon-ji!]

[Sister—!!]

[That fucking bitch.]

In the main building of the Academy, inside the faculty meeting room…

Unsurprisingly, Group 4 was the main topic of discussion after the graduating class’s group projects concluded.

Group 4, led by the rising star Han Tae-jin… the professors gathered in the meeting room were analyzing the video footage of their dungeon practical.

The footage from the bodycams and the drone that followed the party played on the screen.

[Damn it! Switch to three-person formation!]

[Right!]

[Yes, brother!]

When Seo Yoon-ji fled, a collective groan arose from the professors, especially from Ella, her homeroom professor.

They watched in silence as Han Tae-jin, Baek Mi-jin, and Yoo Soo-ah executed the three-person formation.

But even so, it was impossible to defeat a Hobgoblin, known for its difficulty even among C-rank monsters, without a tank.

Soon, Yoo Soo-ah collapsed, followed by Baek Mi-jin.

If this had been a live broadcast, all hell would have broken loose.

But since the incident was already resolved and they had all heard about Han Tae-jin’s actions, the professors calmly focused on the footage.

And then…

The critical moment appeared.

[Boom!]

A magical explosion erupted from Han Tae-jin’s body, like a Big Bang.

And in that instant, the cadets’ bodycams and the drone were destroyed, ending the recording.

‘…’

Principal Kim Ki-hwan, looking at the speechless professors, turned to Park Na-yeon, who was attending the faculty meeting for the first time.

“Professor Park Na-yeon. Can you tell us about the situation when you arrived?”

“As you saw in the video, Cadets Baek Mi-jin and Yoo Soo-ah were unconscious, and the situation was resolved.”

“Resolved?”

“The Hobgoblin was dead, its skull crushed, and only Cadet Han Tae-jin and his bodyguard, Reina, were present. Oh, and Cadet Seo Yoon-ji was also unconscious.”

The mention of Seo Yoon-ji caused a stir in the room.

Principal Kim, who had already received a brief report from Professor Ella, remained calm and asked, “Unconscious? Did she run away and then return to fight the Hobgoblin?”

“I don’t think so. Reina said she found Seo Yoon-ji fleeing and brought her back.”

“…Then, why was she unconscious?”

“Reina said that when she arrived, Han Tae-jin was fighting the Hobgoblin, and during the fight, the Hobgoblin attacked Seo Yoon-ji.”

“Is that true?”

“Well… there’s no recorded footage, and Cadet Seo Yoon-ji has lost her memory due to the shock and head trauma, so it’s difficult to verify.”

Seo Yoon-ji, the most severely injured of the four group members, was hospitalized.

The doctor diagnosed her with partial amnesia due to a concussion.

Tae-jin, preoccupied with his own recovery, had simply said he didn’t know.

“Expel Cadet Seo Yoon-ji.”

“W-what? Principal…! But it was an emergency, and she’s just a trainee…!”

Ella, Seo Yoon-ji’s homeroom professor, tried to protest, but Principal Kim’s stern warning cut her off.

“A party’s life is always shared. It’s not a matter of ethics or promises, but a rule, a vow. Abandoning that shared life and fleeing is unacceptable, regardless of the reason. Haven’t you taught your graduating class that they are no longer naive trainees but bear the same responsibilities and duties as seasoned Hunters?”

“Ah… I… I apologize…”

Ella lowered her head.

There was no room for argument.

Deserting during battle was grounds for severe disciplinary action, regardless of the reason. If a seasoned Hunter did that, they would be permanently banned.

Their career as a Hunter would be over.

Seo Yoon-ji was expelled and would have to apply to a different academy.

But the title of “Runaway Tank” would follow her for the rest of her life.

Abandoning her comrades in a life-or-death situation was akin to abandoning herself in the Hunter world.

With Seo Yoon-ji’s case settled, Principal Kim looked at Professor Park Na-yeon.

“I heard that you took Cadet Han Tae-jin as your personal disciple, Professor Park. Is that true?”

“Yes.”

“Then, do you have any analysis regarding the magical surge in the video?”

“Cadet Han Tae-jin experienced Overheat before, but his growth hasn’t stopped. It seems he has a trait that allows him to utilize Overheat, but I’ll need to investigate further to be certain.”

Principal Kim nodded repeatedly, seemingly agreeing with Park Na-yeon’s analysis.

He had never heard of a Hunter utilizing Overheat, but Han Tae-jin had demonstrated this possibility twice now.

“A cadet who utilizes Overheat… that’s an interesting theory. We’ll leave the investigation to you, Professor Park.”

“Yes.”

Principal Kim then called on Ella.

“And… Professor Ella?”

“Y-yes?”

“As his homeroom professor, have you noticed anything unusual about Cadet Han Tae-jin? Like him dabbling in dark magic, or having a patron or some catalyst that could explain his rapid growth?”

“…I haven’t noticed anything unusual.”

She had been following Han Tae-jin whenever she had time for the past few days, but she hadn’t found anything out of the ordinary.

Ella’s head drooped.

Compared to Park Na-yeon, who readily provided satisfactory answers to the principal’s questions, her own answers were pathetic.

Especially as his homeroom professor.

“Hmm, is that so? Please make more of an effort. It would be problematic if any unforeseen incidents occurred. There’s always a reason behind unusual occurrences.”

“Y-yes… I apologize.”

Ella lowered her head again.

When she looked up, her gaze met Park Na-yeon’s across the table.

She gritted her teeth.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that Han Tae-jin had been stolen from her.
[T/N: wtf lololol what kind of cuck play is that? LMFAO]

Whenever Han Tae-jin was mentioned, Park Na-yeon’s pride seemed to grow, while hers diminished.

Moreover, Park Na-yeon was just a temporary visiting professor.

Unlike Ella, a full-time professor, Park Na-yeon wouldn’t be reprimanded for a lack of results, yet she had gone through the trouble of taking Han Tae-jin as her personal disciple.

Could she be somehow involved in Han Tae-jin’s growth?

She seemed to know a lot about it, judging by her analysis.

‘Or… is she a hidden… older sister or something?’

Park Na-yeon and Han Tae-jin did share a resemblance, so it wasn’t entirely impossible.

Other professors had mentioned it occasionally.

And Tae-jin’s background check revealed nothing about his birthplace, as if his records had been wiped clean.

‘I need to investigate Professor Park Na-yeon as well.’

With that thought, Ella glared at Park Na-yeon for a while before looking away.

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Meanwhile…

Tae-jin found himself in an annoying situation.

Choi Do-han was blocking his path.

In the alleyway leading to his home.

“What do you want now?”

“I have a question.”

“So, what is it?”

Do-han had felt uneasy since entering the dungeon; the scenery was different from the original story.

And despite reaching the vicinity of the boss sector, the Golden Goblin hadn’t appeared.

After completing the group project, he learned that the Golden Goblin had appeared in Han Tae-jin’s group.

So, he sought out Tae-jin.

“…What are you, Han Tae-jin?”

The cause of the deviations from the original story.

Do-han was now certain that Tae-jin was the culprit.

“Are you still on about that?”

“Have you ever heard the expression, ‘I’m the only one having a good time in the Academy’?”

He asked indirectly, trying to gauge if Tae-jin knew about the original story.

Tae-jin flinched and retorted aggressively, “What the hell are you talking about, you nerd?”

He no longer had any reason to be intimidated by Choi Do-han.

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