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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: JayM
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Reilan Academy was currently embroiled in controversy.
Well, it was only natural.
Even if the terrorist attack was the work of outsiders and was successfully thwarted without casualties, an incident caused by a professor within the academy couldn’t simply be glossed over just because it was handled well and that there were no casualties this time too.
I was worried they might try to cover it up, but thankfully, the Chairman wasn’t that kind of person. She instead took the bold step of disclosing the incident before the media did.
In the end, the Chairman of the academy apologized publicly, and all faculty and staff underwent investigations. Some might consider this a stain on the academy’s reputation at best, but knowing the original story’s progression, I thought they had done a really good job.
“Um, cheer up.”
So seriously, could you stop being so depressed?
The Chairman, who had summoned Lilac and me to her office, had her head buried on her desk while looking incredibly dejected.
Seeing her like this, it was hard to believe she was one of the few S-rank heroes in the world.
“Chairman, there are students present.”
“Yes, I know. I know that, but I can’t help it.”
Perhaps she realized that she couldn’t show such a weak side of herself in front of the students, so she raised her head and met our gaze.
She seemed to want to put on her usual confident expression, but the fatigue in her eyes only made her look more pitiful.
“Well, I suppose I should thank you first. Cadet Kang So-hyun, who noticed the villain’s actions and headed to the site faster than anyone else, and Cadet Lilac, who immediately responded to his friend’s call late at night and prevented the incident from escalating. Both of you responded admirably to the crisis, beyond what I would expect from students.”
She looked at us with pride, her words seemingly sincere.
She liked this side of people, so we were probably quite to her liking.
“If it weren’t for the two of you, the academy wouldn’t have been able to resolve this situation just by apologizing and giving up some of its authority. No, I don’t care about the academy’s authority or apologies. Without you, there might have been many casualties, and that would have been an irreplaceable loss, incomparable to the academy’s reputation.”
She bowed her head to us with a serious expression.
“Setting aside my position as Chairman of the academy, I’m truly grateful as a person.”
“It’s what we should have done.”
Lilac seemed to think that the Chairman’s gratitude was excessive, but it wasn’t.
Students had stopped a hostage situation caused by a professor.
By the way, since she mentioned giving up some authority, it seemed that, like in the original story, external forces would be entering the academy.
I would have liked to prevent that too, but since I didn’t completely stop the incident, it couldn’t be helped.
They probably wouldn’t have as much influence as in the original story, so I could probably deal with them later.
“Anyway, the situation isn’t ideal, but simply expressing gratitude verbally isn’t Reilan Academy’s style.”
Oh? Perhaps?
“You’ll be awarded certificates of commendation and a considerable amount of points. This is your second time, Cadet Lilac, isn’t it? You’ll be shooting up to the top of the rankings because of this.”
Yes, this was a much better start than the original story.
In the original story, the academy was in chaos due to the consecutive terrorist attacks and kidnapping incidents, so rewards and penalties weren’t properly distributed.
Lilac was a saint who didn’t mind not receiving what he deserved, and Cheon Yoo-hak completely ignored the incidents as long as they didn’t affect him or those around him, so the points weren’t properly calculated.
Compared to that, steadily accumulating points from the beginning would definitely help Lilac with his growth.
Ah, was this how parents felt when raising their children…?
I felt strangely proud.
“Chairman, actually, I have something to say about that.”
It seemed Lilac had something to say to the Chairman.
Yes! Do whatever you want, Lilac!
“I’d like to share half of the points I received for the entrance ceremony incident with Cadet Kang So-hyun.”
No, you crazy bastard, what do you mean you’re sharing some with me? Don’t do whatever you want, Lilac!
Lilac, who had instantly transformed from my precious child to “crazy bastard,” started spouting nonsense.
“Hmm?”
“Huh.”
Lilac’s words seemed to have surprised both the Chairman and Professor Cathy, who was standing next to her, as they both tilted their heads in confusion.
“Cadet Lilac, direct points transfers between students are prohibited. Trading is one thing, but allowing unilateral transfers could lead to violence and disputes between students. It’s in the school rules. You’re not going to say you didn’t know, are you?”
“No.”
A glint of interest appeared in the Chairman’s eyes.
“Then why are you making such a request, knowing that?”
Yes, you crazy bastard, why are you giving me your points? Did I tell you to do that?
“Actually, I wasn’t sure before because he denied it, but I’m certain now. On the day of the entrance ceremony, I was able to use my power beyond my capabilities, and just like this time, it was thanks to So-hyun.”
Ah, damn it.
As expected of a genius, he seemed to have realized that the Enhancement he received this time felt very similar to the sensation from that day.
Cathy and the Chairman both knew about my talent and its penalty.
They were probably also aware of the truth behind the incident.
Hey, my secret friends #1 and #2, could you please stop this guy from spouting nonsense?
“If that’s true, shouldn’t we also confiscate Cheon Yoo-hak’s points and divide them among the three of you?”
Seriously, what was she talking about?
“No, I was the one who received help. And I know we can’t re-evaluate the incident and redistribute the commendations now. So-hyun wouldn’t want that either.”
You knew me so well, so why were you doing this?
“I just… I think I’ll feel better this way.”
My heart was breaking.
I didn’t even need the points.
“Alright, Lilac, I understand what you’re saying. But don’t you feel that it’s a waste? It’s a chance to significantly increase your points and rent an artifact you like.”
“How can someone aspiring to be a hero be swayed by material desires? It’s what I should do, so I have no regrets.”
“We have many good students, no, kind children this year.”
The Chairman seemed to be quite fond of Lilac.
Damn it, she was probably going to grant his request while saying that his intentions were noble.
Did he think I was just going to watch him do this? Stop being a pushover, Lilac!
“Yes, it’s good to see you overcoming your greed and staying true to yourself. As you requested, Cadet Lilac…”
“Wait.”
“Hmm? Cadet Kang So-hyun?”
“Who said you could give away your points? I don’t want them.”
You didn’t see this coming, did you, you bastard?
“So-hyun?”
“Huh.”
The Chairman’s previous dejection was gone, and she seemed to be enjoying the situation.
Denying it here would be a bad move.
It would be pointless since Lilac and the other two knew the truth.
“I’m not going to shamelessly take someone else’s points, and I didn’t do it expecting anything in return. Cadet Lilac already saved many students from the explosion at that point, and I would have been seriously injured too, or maybe even dead, if it weren’t for him.”
Yes.
If I couldn’t deny it, I would just change their perspective.
“And even if I hadn’t helped him back then, Cadet Lilac would have been able to stop it.”
That was a bit of a lie, but I knew he would have tried to stop it.
There might have been some casualties, though.
“That’s not true! I couldn’t have handled those flames…!”
“Stop.”
Lilac tried to speak, but the Chairman stopped him.
As expected of Secret Friend #2! I knew I could count on you!
“I understand what you’re trying to say. But then, Cadet Kang So-hyun, are you planning to disregard your friend’s goodwill?”
But I kept getting stabbed in the back by the person I trusted.
She was probably trying to pressure me and see my reaction, but yeah, there was no way I was going to give in.
“Yes.”
“…What?”
“I’ll disregard it. Very… thoroughly.”
It was a bit much to say “fucking thoroughly” in front of an adult.
“May… may I ask why?”
“Yes, of course. As a fellow student, I want him to learn that unwanted favors and goodwill can be unpleasant, and as a friend, I don’t want to share what could be helpful to him for such a reason.”
It was cheesy, but there wasn’t a single lie in my words.
Lying was pointless to someone who could see through them.
I didn’t want Lilac to live as a protagonist driven solely by goodwill.
I wanted him to learn about the evil in the world and grow into a more mature protagonist.
And it was also true that I wasn’t interested in the points he was offering.
“Is that all? You could buy elixirs that would help with your constitution with those points, you know.”
Her gaze, which was asking if there was anything else, seemed to expect more from me, but I had already given a satisfactory answer to the Chairman, so I didn’t intend to elaborate.
“I don’t need them. I can handle myself.”
Considering Professor Cathy’s situation, blindly increasing their goodwill wasn’t a good idea.
Maintaining an appropriate distance was essential.
“Hehehe. Yes, that’s right. ‘I can handle myself.’ That attitude is important.”
What?
My answer, which was practically telling them to screw off, seemed to please my secret friends.
Had I already raised their goodwill so much that my rudeness was seen as boldness…?
Lilac looked a bit disappointed, but he nodded as if he understood and looked at me with a determined expression.
I didn’t know what he was thinking, but don’t do whatever you want, Lilac!
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Alcatraz, the superhuman criminal containment facility.
A new inmate was scheduled to enter this infamous prison island that was known to be inescapable.
Jin Kyung-tae.
Once a Monster Studies professor, he was now just a criminal, his body shackled as he waited for the ship that would soon come for him.
“What crime did you commit?”
Normally, he wouldn’t answer such a question from an adult, a dirty prisoner. But perhaps because he was bored, he answered the other prisoner’s question.
“Crime? I was just trying to educate my students because I didn’t want to see them become despicable adults.”
“Students? Are you a teacher?”
“Something like that. I was a professor at Reilan Academy.”
“Aha, so you’re the professor who caused trouble at the academy because you hated adults and got fired? Everyone’s talking about it. I didn’t realize I was speaking to a celebrity.”
“Celebrity, my ass. I’m just a captured villain now.”
“An ordinary villain wouldn’t be sent to Alcatraz. It’s where they send the most heinous criminals.”
“Aren’t you the same as me? What crime were you captured for?”
Only after asking that did Jin Kyung-tae realize something was strange.
He was in a similar situation now, but he originally hated criminals.
Politely answering questions and even asking one himself was unthinkable for him before.
“Well, I guess this is the limit of my magic. No, wait, we both know each other’s true nature, so let’s drop the formalities.”
He finally saw the other prisoner’s face, which had been obscured up to this point as if covered in darkness.
To be precise, he saw the rabbit mask he was wearing.
A ridiculous and unpleasant rabbit mask that he, a former academy professor, couldn’t possibly not recognize.
“We haven’t met before, but you should know who I am since you’re a former professor, right? I’m Choi In-ho, here to scout you.”
“…Huh?”
“He said your answer might have changed by now. Have you considered joining ‘us’?”
“Us?”
“Yes, he wasn’t originally a direct subordinate, but I received some help from him during my escape, so he’s under my wing now.”
“I don’t think we’re a good match.”
They both wanted to kill students, but one was driven by inferiority, and the other by twisted affection, so they actually disliked each other quite a bit.
“And you seem to have used magic to manipulate my consciousness just now, so how can I trust you?”
“Does that matter?”
“What?”
“Does that really matter? If you refuse my offer, you’ll just rot in prison for the rest of your life. Don’t you have unfinished business? I do.”
Yes, he did have unfinished business.
“Even if I join you, how are we going to escape?”
“It’s simple.”
He brought an unconscious guard from somewhere and cast a spell.
“Polymorph…?”
“It’s Camouflage, a much lower-level spell. It only changes the appearance and doesn’t copy any abilities. But it’s enough to buy us some time. Someone will come to pick us up once I get you out.”
The guard, transformed by the spell, became Jin Kyung-tae.
“How about it? Last chance, do you want to escape?”
A fleeting sense of disgust towards criminals surfaced briefly from within him, but Jin Kyung-tae smiled right after.
He was a villain now, wasn’t he?
“…Yes, there’s a student I want to see, and I think I can be of some help. I know a student who would benefit from this.”
He smiled at the thought of being able to continue his unfinished lessons.
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T/N – Of course, they escape. They’re like cockroaches, hard to get rid of unless you thoroughly burn them with fire. Though, judging from the past chapters, the MC is pretty willing to kill if given the chance. Hopefully, he can off these guys the next time he meets them.
If you find any mistakes, feel free to point them out in the comments.
Don’t do whatever you want Lilac!! 😅