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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: JayM
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Jin Kyung-tae.
In the original story, he was a pleasure killer who murdered about ten students under the guise of a class.
Driven by an intense longing for youth and a hatred for adults, his modus operandi was to force sacrifices from the students and kill them, force competition and kill the losers, and enjoy the sight of them fighting and dragging each other down in the name of failure.
And to the student who survived this horrific game, he would offer the reward of “the right not to become an adult” and then kill them.
Due to the nature of the poisonous insects he mainly used, the victims’ appearances were truly gruesome.
He would spout nonsense about how the pain, sorrow, and resentment were all part of youth, and that they would be happier than becoming adults. He revealed all of this himself when he was captured.
“There’s no need to hide it. That fear is a symbol of youth.”
And the villain in front of me was undoubtedly the same bastard described in the book.
And hey, bastard, thanks to my ring’s buff, I’m not scared anymore.
Even if he tried to signal his monsters, they couldn’t approach me, or rather, the repellent I was holding.
A repellent made with a low-grade green magic stone shouldn’t have been this effective, but with the power of Enhancement, it was emitting an output greater than even a mid-grade blue magic stone.
“You know, Cadet So-hyun, I understand you’re quite capable, but what are you planning to do with that? Just hold out indefinitely? Even if you called for backup, using that kind of output will drain the device quickly. What do you think will happen first, your backup arriving, or you losing that tool and having a fun class with me?”
“That’s not something you should worry about.”
“That’s true. I was just curious. Ah, by the way, even if you somehow managed to enter, this is a hidden room, so it will be difficult for your backup to find you. The password must have changed since you entered.”
“Really?”
Of course, I knew.
I had already sent the passwords to his room to several people while running here.
“Hmm, judging by your lack of reaction, you must have made some preparations. Then…”
Just as he was about to say something, the light of the repellent in my hand flickered and started to waver.
It seemed to be overloading due to the output exceeding its design limits.
“Now, I was just about to ask, what are you planning to do once that light goes out?”
What was I going to do? Obviously…
I scattered the numerous pest repellents I had brought on the floor.
“Who said I only brought one?”
“…I didn’t expect that.”
What, did you think I was going to fight you directly?
Don’t be ridiculous.
Actually, it was half a bluff.
My Enhancement had the fatal flaw of consuming innate Qi, and although I had more leeway now thanks to diligently training my talent and trait, enhancing all of these devices would only buy me a one-way ticket to the afterlife.
But what was I supposed to do?
Without knowing the details, he would think all of these repellents were already enhanced.
I had already called for backup.
Since he was a tamer, his own combat abilities were weak, so the game would be over as soon as one of them arrived.
There were only two things I had to be careful about.
First, not revealing that my Enhancement was limited.
It went without saying, but if he found that out before my backup arrived, I would be dead.
I was managing my Enhancement well for now, but if he went on a full-scale offensive and I had to maintain the enhancement continuously because of it, I wouldn’t last ten minutes.
Second, there was the possibility of the Creator, my friend, interfering with the setting.
That omnipotent bastard might try to screw me over again.
“Cadet Kang So-hyun.”
“What, Mr. Madman?”
“Why are you interfering with me?”
“Well, I know you’re crazy, but are you actually a completely insane lunatic?”
“Ah, I apologize. I misspoke. To be precise, I’m asking why you still came even though you knew of my plan. It would have been safer to just pretend you didn’t know. Even if you didn’t pretend, you could have just told another professor that I was planning something. Why did you come here yourself to stop me?”
“I didn’t want to do this either, damn it. And considering your image, who would believe that you, a diligent and popular academy professor, are a crazy lunatic without any proof?”
I only bought the repellents as a precaution. Originally, I was just planning to subtly interfere with the setting from behind Lilac.
And while I was at it, I could give Kim Ga-eul, who was scared, some character development by helping her.
“Aha, that’s true. It’s just a plan in your head, so there’s no evidence before the incident occurs.”
“Yes, as expected of a criminal, you understand crime well.”
“How do you know so much about criminal psychology, Cadet Kang So-hyun? This is suspicious.”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
“Because I’m very close to the being who brought you into this world, you bastard.”
It was the undeniable truth, but he seemed to think I was insulting him, and his smile faltered for the first time.
“Heh, I see. Provocation is good. Agitated opponents lose focus and make mistakes easily. Actually, not many people know this, but from second year onwards, the academy offers a class that specializes in trash talk. But you, Cadet Kang So-hyun, won’t need it. Most criminals would have already attacked you.”
“You must be happy that you’re not like ‘most criminals.’”
“…I think they should cancel that class. What good would learning how to curse do for growing children?”
“No? Judging by your reaction, it seems quite effective.”
“Cadet Kang So-hyun.”
“What, you criminal bastard.”
“…You’re not alone. You’re protecting the many students behind you, so what’s the point of provoking me?”
“Why wouldn’t there be a point when it’s this safe? I gain something just by making you frown.”
“I’m a professor, you know. Do you think I can’t even get past that pathetic repellent?”
He could. With my current level of enhancement, if he used his full power, he could force his monsters to break through.
That was what I was aiming for.
To create a perfect stalemate, and not just this precarious balance, I needed to leave a strong impression on him.
An overwhelming display, like Lilac or Cheon Yoo-hak.
Of course, I didn’t actually have that kind of power.
But I had the ability to make him think and feel that I had.
Thanks to the Saint’s Will, my mind was clear, and the trembling had subsided.
There was no reason for me to fail at managing my expression.
With an arrogant demeanor like Cheon Yoo-hak, and a confident attitude like Lilac.
“Try it.”
“…What?”
“I said, try breaking through if you’re so confident.”
“I really misjudged you. I thought you were the cautious type who wouldn’t take risks.”
“That’s right. I am that type.”
“Then why are you acting so arrogant now?”
My voice was calm and confident, my movements slow and deliberate.
“Jin Kyung-tae. Talent: C-rank Monster Taming. You specialize in taming small animals and insect-type monsters, and your limit is taming larvae and eggs, raising them yourself.”
His face started to change as I continued.
“You were betrayed by your mentor, whom you admired like a parent, when you were young, and after having your achievements stolen by a superior during a mission, you developed a hatred for adults and became an academy professor.”
“How do you know that…?”
“Why? Should I tell you more? For example, the reason you’re doing this ‘education’ nonsense is because of your pathetic delusion that adults are all corrupted.”
“Shut up.”
Yes, get agitated. Get agitated and attack with your full power.
“Ah, and I also know that you’re a pre-sex offender who can’t get aroused unless the target is a student. Why are you scared of adult women? Are you afraid that they’ll betray you too?”
“I told you to shut up.”
The monsters under his control forcibly lunged towards us.
Those who were tied up complained, annoyed that I was provoking him, but most were too busy screaming.
This was it.
I unleashed the innate Qi that I had been using sparingly all this time like a leaky faucet, and a torrent of power surged from within me, enhancing the repellent’s output.
For a fleeting moment.
For one fleeting moment, the repellent, amplified by Enhancement, burned all its magic power and emitted a powerful magical wave.
-Kyaaaaaaaaaaa!?
Several centipede monsters screamed and died as they were hit by a magical wave comparable to that of an artifact.
It hurt.
It hurt like I was dying.
I felt like I was going to die after using about half of my innate Qi all at once, which was almost a full ordinary person’s worth, but I endured it and smiled.
I managed to force a smile.
“Is that all?”
It was a little embarrassing that everyone, including the psychopath, was staring at me with shocked expressions, but it was time to bluff.
His talent was only C-rank, but mine was A-rank.
Since the output itself was different, there was no way I would lose in a short burst of power.
“What… the… What is this?”
If he realized I was in pain, it would be game over.
I had to maintain my composure.
“What’s what?”
I had to make him think that what I did was easy for me and that I could do it a few more times so that I could maintain the balance of power.
“I just showed you that you’re a loser.”
Fortunately, shock and wariness filled his face, but honestly, I didn’t think I could hold out much longer since I used up more power than I intended.
Lilac, you clueless bastard, hurry up and get here…!
No, anyone would do, just get here!
I was dying…! Really dying…!
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-“Try it.”
-“Try breaking through if you’re so confident.”
He was crazy.
That arrogant attitude resembled Cheon Yoo-hak, overwhelming and dominating the crowd.
The others told him not to provoke the professor, but he didn’t even listen.
-“Why? Should I tell you more?”
His smiling face as he casually revealed his opponent’s secrets, combined with the classroom’s atmosphere, was a bit terrifying, but it also had a strangely captivating power.
He was truly crazy.
While everyone else screamed, closed their eyes, or looked away, she was the only one who watched without looking away.
She witnessed his confident, laughing face as he unleashed his magic power.
She saw everything clearly, from the overwhelming pressure resembling the magic emissions of combat instructors to the monsters, who had terrified them, collapsing.
-“What… the… What is this?”
Facing the bewildered villain, he spoke calmly, as if stating a simple fact. He looked completely different from the loser who usually endured her teasing while telling her not to bother him.
-“What’s what?”
-“I just showed you that you’re a loser.”
Her face felt hot.
His face, which she had thought was decent if he just styled himself a bit, now seemed even more handsome.
His red eyes, filled with magic power, shined through his black hair. It looked sharper and more intense than when they first sparred.
She even sensed a faint annoyance in his gaze, as if asking, “Is that all? Is that all you’ve got?”
He was a crazy bastard…!
Kim Ga-eul, unaware of Kang So-hyun’s true state, was just fidgeting, wondering what to do at his unusual behavior.
Not only Kim Ga-eul, the other students who also saw him instantly defeat the monsters reacted similarly, although not as intensely as her.
Yes.
Simply put, although Kim Ga-eul wasn’t aware of it herself, she was the type who liked not only overpowered characters like Cheon Yoo-hak, but also the “loser hiding his power” trope.
The person involved felt like he was dying from the strain, but no one noticed thanks to his brilliant poker face.
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T/N – Well, someone’s panties got wet after that last part. Also, the MC reminds me of someone from another novel. I just can’t remember who.
If you find any mistakes, feel free to point them out in the comments.
I felt my soul wince just for a second.