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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Mod7
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The security office staff granted us temporary permission to use our abilities while working.
In other words, they would allow us to use our abilities, to a certain extent, in capturing the Chinese intruders.
However, I wasn’t allowed to use weapons like blades.
Apparently, the higher-ups would reject the request, citing the complicated procedures required for using such weapons.
I ended up bringing two wooden bats.
I asked if I could borrow some restraining equipment, but…
“Our team leader needs to open the storage room using his vein authentication, and if we call him on a weekend, we’re all screwed.”
“Can’t you just take them out discreetly? There must be a master key or something.”
“A former employee secretly registered his own veins and got caught. They chopped off his hand, and he became known as ‘Ah-gwi’ (One-Armed).”
That was a harsh punishment.
“Isn’t cutting off a hand a bit excessive?”
“He was caught grilling samgyeopsal and ordering fried chicken inside the storage room.”
“…They only cut off his hand?”
Correction:
That was a merciful punishment.
As if he had heard our conversation, one of the staff members who was watching the CCTV footage waved his prosthetic hand at us.
That guy deserves to have everything above his shoulders chopped off.
Bring me the guillotine, bastards.
Having finished our business at the security office, we were now wandering around the academy.
According to the information they provided, there were eight Chinese intruders we needed to find.
Not a huge number, but not exactly a small number either.
I was contemplating a plan when Hye-ji asked,
“So, Shinwoo, how are we going to blow them up?”
“…Bringing them in and blowing up have nothing in common except for starting with the same letter. We’re heading to the broadcasting room.”
“We’re short on time, Master. Why the sudden detour to the broadcasting room?”
“Are you going to make a lost child announcement, Shinwoo? Those Chinese guys don’t have parents, will it even be helpful?”
Hye-ji made a valid point.
But it’s alright.
I already had a plan.
“You saw what happened with the elf funeral, right? I have everything planned out.”
“Shinwoo, you always have a plan, don’t you?”
“…Was that crazy elf’s speech Master Shinwoo’s doing?”
Jung Ah-yeon’s face contorted in disgust.
I quickly clarified, worried about her misunderstanding.
“I just wanted to balance things out between the World Tree and other trees.”
“What kind of balance is that?!”
She was still angry.
It seemed she didn’t understand, so I explained further.
“If the elves only love the World Tree, the value of other trees will decrease, you know?”
“Isn’t that obvious? The World Tree is like a mother to them!”
“I felt bad for the other trees, so I had him say that it’s ‘just a big tree’ to balance things out.”
“Are you even sane? Are you crazy???”
Those who already loved all trees wouldn’t be affected by this.
However, those who only loved the World Tree would have to make a difficult choice.
But honestly, it felt unfair.
I had resolved things through a civil “conversation.”
“And even though I used the pact to force him, I didn’t force him without a proper conversation.”
“…I don’t even want to ask, but what kind of conversation did you have?”
Jung Ah-yeon asked, curious.
I replied calmly,
“I brought a chainsaw.”
“What kind of conversation is that?!”
She yelled, her face red with anger.
It was an understandable reaction.
After all…
“I knew you’d get mad. I should’ve brought something with more firepower.”
“Stop being a smartass!”
It lacked firepower.
Hye-ji said magnanimously,
“Shinwoo, I’ll add a few white phosphorus bombs next time.”
“You’re the only one who truly understands me, Hye-ji.”
“You’re welcome. Praise me some more.”
“You’re all insane. You’re all insane. You’re all insane.”
At least I could have a conversation with him thanks to the chainsaw.
Just like Brother Doomguy said, it was a suitable communication tool.
Jung Ah-yeon mumbled, “I was a fool for following you,” looking dejected.
She just silently followed us with lifeless eyes.
Hye-ji and I ignored her and continued towards our destination.
We finally arrived at the broadcasting room.
As soon as we entered, I explained the situation to the staff member.
“Yes, I understand the situation. But how can I help?”
“One moment, please.”
I transferred a file to her from my phone.
“Did you receive it? Can you please play this in 15 minutes?”
“This file? Yes, I can. How long should I play it for?”
“Just ten minutes.”
“Okay, I understand.”
The first part of the plan was complete.
It was time to move.
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As soon as we left the broadcasting room, we headed to the archives.
It might seem random, but I had my reasons.
What kind of species are the Chinese?
Shameless information thieves.
They steal everything, from phone numbers to confidential security information.
They even think it’s their right to do so.
Because they have this fucked up mentality that a great nation can do whatever it wants to smaller nations.
So it was obvious where they would head.
We reached the archives after a short walk.
I spoke to Hye-ji and Jung Ah-yeon,
“Hye-ji, can you wait outside?”
“You’re leaving me behind again? To have fun together? You always leave me out.”
“I’m not abandoning you, so stop acting like it’s a heavy drama. This is a light novel.”
Her eyes turned lifeless.
But then they flickered back to life.
“Okay, I’ll believe you this time. What should I do?”
“When the broadcast starts, watch for anyone reacting violently, trembling, or frantically searching for the source of the sound. Just take them down, no matter the reason. I’ll take care of the rest.”
She wiggled her fingers excitedly, her eyes sparkling like a child asking for candy.
“Can I blow them up?”
“…Just make sure to keep their heads attached, alright?”
“I’ll try to keep them alive.”
Hye-ji’s task was assigned.
Now it was Jung Ah-yeon’s turn.
“Master Shinwoo, what shall I do?”
“Come with me. We’ll capture anyone who reacts to the broadcast inside the building.”
“Understood. Let’s go.”
Jung Ah-yeon and I entered the archives.
The exterior was the same as any other building.
But the interior was different.
The first thing I noticed was a long, wide staircase leading downwards from the entrance.
Desks with partitions lined the entire length of the room, extending from the bottom of the stairs to the far wall.
Bookshelves packed with books lined the edges of the room.
It looked like a library or a study room.
Even more so if it weren’t for the phone charging ports on the desks.
Just then, we spotted a few people.
They weren’t quietly reading books or browsing their phones at their desks like the others.
They were moving frantically from desk to desk, repeatedly connecting and disconnecting their phones from the charging ports.
‘They came here without realizing that phones not registered in the academy system wouldn’t work, huh?’
There were five of them.
Then, we saw another person shoving books into his backpack.
Honestly, they were idiots.
I wondered if it was even worth catching them.
Their phones were useless.
The books held no valuable information, maybe just some restaurant recommendations.
But they could steal students’ phones and use them.
Because they were Chinese.
‘I won’t forgive those voice phishing scammers who broke my heart.’
The broadcast started.
The time had come.
After some static, the speakers blared,
– BGM: 我愛北京天安門 (I Love Beijing Tiananmen)
As soon as the music started, the individuals we were watching reacted exactly as expected.
Some started convulsing, some slumped to the ground, covering their ears, some frantically searched for the source of the sound, shaking their heads wildly.
It was confirmed.
We had six people to catch.
They practically had Pavlovian responses.
Welcome, dogs.
“Jung Ah-yeon, I have a job for you.”
“They all seem to be ability users, shall we subdue them immediately?”
“Let’s go! Tang Clan Ah-yeon!”
“The Tang Clan’s surname is Tang! Tang!!!”
She corrected me, then summoned her creatures.
She was quite diligent, I’ll give her that.
A total of 12 creatures materialized.
They were all white wolves, but slightly larger than before.
The wolves, without hesitation, charged towards the Chinese intruders.
Two wolves per person.
The Chinese, incapacitated by the BGM, were easily subdued by the wolves.
And they confirmed their nationality by speaking in Chinese as they were being pinned down.
I couldn’t understand what they were saying.
But it seemed the last one had lost his precious parts.
Which means? Time for a gender bender!
This is Nopia, after all.
There’s no shortage of jobs.
Although I doubt they’d hire a Chinese.
The five Chinese intruders tried to use their abilities, but none of them succeeded.
They were too tightly restrained by the wolves.
The wolves would bite them at the slightest movement.
The black numbers above a few of their heads increased, but nothing happened.
They eventually gave up.
‘They couldn’t escape in the futures they saw, so they resigned themselves to their fate as soon as they regressed.’
But one of them was different.
The bald Chinese man who was closest to me.
His number increased right before the wolf pounced on him.
He was also suffering from the BGM’s effects, but he suddenly snapped out of it and grabbed the wolf by the snout and jaw.
He spread his arms, tearing the wolf’s mouth apart. He offered his right arm to the other wolf that was lunging at him from the side.
The wolf bit down hard, but the man didn’t even flinch. He punched the wolf’s head with his left fist.
The wolf disappeared, and I saw his right arm.
It was completely unscathed, as if it had never been bitten.
*’No injuries and that kind of strength. He’s pretty good at physical enhancement.’ *
I threw one of the wooden bats at him.
And charged down the stairs, gripping the other bat in my right hand.
I shouted in Korean, not sure if he’d understand,
“What the hell are you doing! You said you wouldn’t forget Tiananmen and fight for democracy!!! Why did you become a lapdog for the Party!”
“You bastard! Shut the fuck up!!!!!”
He understood Korean.
4885, it was you.
You voice phishing scammer, you bastard.
He swung his right arm outwards, deflecting the bat.
I reached him just as he did that.
My enhanced physical abilities allowed me to approach him in a way that was previously impossible.
I didn’t lose momentum. I planted my right foot and swung the bat downward.
Crack!!!!
This time, he blocked it with his left hand.
The bat shattered upon impact, but he didn’t even flinch.
And his right fist was already cocked back, ready to strike.
*’If I clash head-on with his enhanced fist, I’ll just break my arm.’ *
I decided to deflect the attack by angling my arm.
I clenched my left fist, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
At that moment, the number above his head increased.
He regressed.
But this time…
A shard, like a fragment of a mirror, appeared, hovering before him.
I thought I was seeing things.
My eyes must be malfunctioning.
‘I’m only 20! I haven’t overused them!’
I focused on the shard, trying to understand what was happening.
Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my left eye.
Then, a bright light emitted from the shard.
Something strange was happening.
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