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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Peptobismal]
[Proofreader - Max]
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Chapter 29
"Hey, did you hear? Arche is dead."
After the weekend, Monday arrived, and the academy was abuzz with the murder incident.
One or two students dying at Masterclass wasn't a big deal, but it was different when the victim was a student council member.
"Who would have imagined? That Gianluca would die like that."
"I heard Professor D was arrested and imprisoned as a prime suspect?"
"Wow, that's creepy..."
The students clicked their tongues, saying they knew it would happen.
Professor D, who had been surrounded by dangerous rumors even before the new semester.
Many students were puzzled because, contrary to the rumors, he had solved the theft case as soon as he arrived, and his lecture evaluations were good, but in the end, this major incident occurred.
"See? There's no smoke without fire."
"I told you. That professor had bad physiognomy."
Whoever said physiognomy was science? The students reaffirmed the truth that permeated the universe and whispered amongst themselves.
Then someone refuted them.
"No. I heard Professor D was released yesterday without charge."
"What? How?"
"I heard a student testified that they were with Professor D at the time Arche was killed..."
When a student who was quick to hear the news said that, everyone was dumbfounded. Everyone was curious about who the student was that proved Professor D's alibi, but that was information the students couldn't know.
"Is that why the Deconstructionist Department lecture wasn't canceled today?"
"Then who killed Arche?"
"Who knows? It's not like unsolved murder cases are rare in this academy."
In the end, the students clicked their tongues and passed by, saying that only the dead were unlucky.
Of course, everyone secretly thought it was a good thing that a spot in the upper rankings had opened up.
***
While the whole academy was noisy with the Arche murder incident, the atmosphere in the Deconstructionist Department classroom, the center of the incident, was quite different.
When they heard the news of Arche's sudden death, all the Deconstructionist Department students had the same thought.
'Finally, my chance has come!'
Arche was dead, and it was clear that Seo Su-kyung, who had been utterly humiliated, would leave the Deconstructionist Department.
With the two most powerful predators gone, it was a golden opportunity for those in the lower ranks to become aces.
However, when the students, full of anticipation, arrived at the classroom, an unexpected reality awaited them.
"That, that girl is...?"
There was a new face in the Deconstructionist Department classroom. Of course, it wasn't uncommon for new students to join during the semester at Masterclass.
But it was different when the new student was someone everyone knew.
"W-why is Shin A-sol here...?"
In the center of the classroom, in the seat that Arche had once occupied, sat Shin A-sol, a member of the student council. Her sharp eyes held a mix of complex emotions such as sadness, anger, and regret.
Her presence in the center of the classroom was so overwhelming that no one even noticed who was sitting next to her.
Okamoto, whose presence faded next to Shin A-sol, scratched his head awkwardly.
'Why did I follow her here?'
Okamoto regretted his decision.
He had naturally expected that Shin A-sol wouldn't stay still after hearing about Arche's death two days ago. There was no way Shin A-sol would just let her friend's death slide.
But he never thought that the truth behind the mysterious murder would be revealed through Professor D's lecture.
Professor D's lecture, wasn't it the most dangerous class in this academy right now?
'But I can't let the needle go where the thread doesn't follow... Oh, my fate!'
No one in this academy considered Okamoto to be Shin A-sol's thread, but that's how Okamoto saw himself.
Of course, that wasn't the only reason he followed the Deconstructionist Department .
'To be honest, I was curious too... about what he teaches.'
Professor D had blocked the Phantom Thief's spell with his bare hands in the library.
Okamoto, who was at the scene, couldn't forget that sight. Since he was here, he secretly wanted to take the top spot in the Deconstructionist Department .
Since Shin A-sol was always sticking to the Defence Department and was weak in theoretical classes, it wasn't an impossible goal for Okamoto to become the top student in the Deconstructionist Department if he set his mind to it.
If only one person hadn't shown up...
'...Why is that guy here?'
Okamoto glanced back. Not only Okamoto, but all the students except Shin A-sol were glancing at the back of the classroom.
At the very back of the classroom was a group occupying an entire row, and among them sat a man with an especially strong presence.
Yang Hak-je, the Fallen Heavenly Emperor.
A student council member like Shin A-sol and Okamoto, the one who ranked 2nd overall, and a descendant of the Chinese imperial family that had continued for thousands of years...
"Huh, how dare you look at my face so carelessly..."
Yang Hak-je, sitting with his arms crossed, looked down at the classroom with a stern face and said, "You know no manners. Do you all want to be punished?"
A heavy silence fell over the classroom along with his resounding voice.
The students who had been glancing back were startled and quickly turned their heads. Okamoto was, of course, one of them.
'Damn it, why am I intimidated by that guy?'
Despite being ranked 4th overall, Okamoto was ashamed that he couldn't meet Yang Hak-je's eyes. That's how great Yang Hak-je's presence was in this academy.
The son of a Military hero known throughout the world. The aloof young master who never set foot in the annex building, calling it "low-grade”. An unrealistic figure who looked like he came from another world...
Why on earth would such a person come here on a whim?
He understood why Shin A-sol suddenly applied for the Deconstructionist Department lecture, but he couldn't even guess why Yang Hak-je was here.
But that wasn't the end of Okamoto's surprises.
Slam-!
The classroom door suddenly opened roughly.
The students' eyes widened at the sight of the person entering.
"It's Seo Su-kyung?"
"Wasn't she leaving the Deconstructionist Department ?"
"Is she really going to continue attending this lecture after such humiliation? That proud Seo Su-kyung?"
Seo Su-kyung was holding a thick stack of papers and began to distribute them to the students one by one.
The students, having checked the contents, went from shock to disbelief.
"This is... today's lecture material?"
"Why is Seo Su-kyung handing this out? Isn't that something the assistants do?"
"Is Seo Su-kyung now the Deconstructionist Department assistant...?"
It was truly unbelievable.
Each department had teaching assistants who assisted the professors with their classes.
However, generally, only students majoring in that particular department could become assistants.
In other words, Seo Su-kyung's actions meant that she had changed her major from Emission Department, her original major, to Deconstructionist Department .
Sword Saint, who had held the position of ace in the Emission Department since the beginning of the semester.
The sight of her acting as an assistant in the unpopular Deconstructionist Department came as a great shock to everyone.
Especially to Shin A-sol, who had known her since childhood.
"Su-kyung, what, what are you doing?"
"..."
"I'm asking you, why are you handing these out?"
"...Why do you care?"
"What?"
"I said, what does it matter where I am or what I do? Mind your own business,” Seo Su-kyung spat out coldly.
Shin A-sol was so surprised that she could only open and close her mouth, speechless. She had never heard such harsh words from Seo Su-kyung before.
"See, I told you. There's no point in being nice to her..."
Okamoto, who had been whispering, quickly shut his mouth when he saw Seo Su-kyung's eyes glaring at him.
"Ahem!"
Just then, a loud, booming sound resonated from the back of the classroom.
As the students turned their heads in pain from the earsplitting sound, Yang Hak-je was looking down at them with a stern face.
"It's disturbing to see insignificant beings quarreling before my eyes. The lecture will begin soon, so take your seats and calm your minds."
"...What?"
"Insignificant beings?"
The three, who had been instantly reduced to insignificant beings, glared at Yang Hak-je as if they were about to attack him.
The other students caught in between felt like they were dying. The classroom felt suffocating, to the point where they missed the simple rivalry between Arche and Seo Su-kyung.
'I thought school life would be more comfortable now that Arche is dead...!'
'Damn it, why are those monsters causing a scene here?!'
'I'm sorry, Mom. I don't think I can stay in this academy anymore...'
Slide-
And once again, the owner of the classroom entered at the perfect timing.
Professor D appeared, looking no different than usual.
He glanced at the students and walked straight to the platform. Standing on the platform, Professor D spoke as if deeply impressed.
"It seems you've all already overcome the death of your comrade. As expected of the excellent students of Masterclass."
The students felt a pang of guilt at his words. It was clearly sarcasm.
"I hope you don't misunderstand. I mean it sincerely. If you're going to be Military leading the frontlines against great villains, you need this level of mental strength."
Contrary to his words, a smirk played on Professor D's lips. The students were increasingly confused by his words.
"In that sense, I admire you. That you've come to attend the lecture of this troubled department despite this incident. Don't you agree, Shin A-sol?"
Shin A-sol narrowed her eyes and glared at Professor D when he called her name. Professor D clearly knew why Shin A-sol came to attend this lecture.
As if he knew everything about this classroom, Professor D said with a smirk, "Well, everyone knows the new assistant, so introductions aren't necessary. Shall we begin today's lecture?"
The sudden death of Gianluca Arche.
The student council members who appeared due to her death...
Thus, the Deconstructionist Department lecture resumed in an unprecedented atmosphere of tension in Masterclass history.
***
"...Here are the handouts for the next lecture."
After the lecture, in the professor's office.
Seo Su-kyung placed dozens of sheets of paper on the desk.
I glanced over them and nodded.
"I heard it was your first time as an assistant, but you're very quick. Seems like you're quite suited for the job."
"...If there's nothing else, I'll be going."
"Ah, wait."
Seo Su-kyung stopped in her tracks as she was about to turn and leave.
I took off my shoes and held them out.
"It rained suddenly today, and my shoes got a bit wet. Could you drop them off at the dry cleaners on your way?"
Seo Su-kyung's eyes suddenly filled with rage.
Her hand unconsciously moved towards her waist where her sword hilt was, but then she stopped and trembled.
"...Give them to me."
She struggled to suppress her anger and snatched the shoes away.
Slam-!
The door slammed shut with a resounding bang. Of course, the sound itself wasn't cheerful. At least, not to me.
"To think the Sword Saint would obey me so meekly."
As someone who had died countless times to Seo Su-kyung's schemes, I was simply amazed by her current behavior.
No, it was more than amazement; it was even enjoyable.
In the story, Seo Su-kyung was a character with such a strong sense of pride that she would even cut down her superiors if angered.
She was a character who, in her life, had never experienced, nor would ever experience, being ordered around like this.
"Moreover, our current relationship is the worst."
Due to yesterday's incident, the relationship between Seo Su-kyung and Do Jin-hak in the relationship system had fallen from "Uncomfortable" to "Hateful." At this level of relationship, she should be disgusted to even be in the same room, but she was enduring it well.
"Was her sexual identity such a big secret?"
Honestly, I was a bit surprised when I discovered that Seo Su-kyung's feelings for Shin A-sol were serious.
Seo Su-kyung's personal story centered around her having a huge complex due to not being recognized by her family. That's why she was obsessed with rankings and became cunning and vicious.
"This is all part of Seo Su-kyung's known setting."
It was something any Military Chronicle player would know. She was such a famous character that many players delved into her personal story to gain her favor.
But even I had never heard that Seo Su-kyung wasn't heterosexual.
I had wondered why none of those many players had unlocked a romance route with Seo Su-kyung...
"Now I understand."
Honestly, I wondered if it was that big of a deal. Was it because I had lived as a villain for so long? I felt like I had become desensitized to human relationships.
Anyway, Seo Su-kyung wanted to keep this secret at all costs. Now that I held her secret and she had even signed the oath contract, she would have no choice but to obey me.
"It's a shame that I lost Gianluca... but I've picked up a useful sword."
The plan to make Arche my comrade had failed, but I had gained Seo Su-kyung instead. Honestly, it's more like gaining a phoenix instead of a chicken.
"Besides, it's easy to order her around."
In a way, this completely superior relationship might be better than a comrade relationship with Seo Su-kyung.
As long as I held her weakness, she wouldn't dare betray me.
"Anyway, it seems unlikely that I'll be in danger because of the curse for the time being..."
I picked up the list of new Deconstructionist Department students on the desk. At Masterclass, you could freely change your major anytime if you felt it wasn't the right fit for you.
So it wasn't uncommon for new students to join during the semester, but...
"I never thought these guys would join."
Shin A-sol, Okamoto... and Yang Hak-je.
It was surprising that Shin A-sol, known for sticking to her major in Defence Department, chose Deconstructionist Department as her minor, but Yang Hak-je's appearance was even more surprising.
"Shin A-sol's purpose is probably to investigate Arche's death... but I don't know what Yang Hak-je's intentions are."
Yang Hak-je was a person who believed that he was the heavens, and all other humans were beneath him.
That's why he was nicknamed the Fallen Heavenly Emperor.
He seemed like a similar character to Seo Su-kyung, but they walked different paths.
If Seo Su-kyung was a character who desperately tried to become successful to overcome her birth complex, Yang Hak-je was a complete character who was born successful.
Perhaps his only flaw was that he looked down on others because he was born too perfect.
"Come to think of it, the timing is strange. To appear at this point in time."
Yang Hak-je was a character who played an important role in the upcoming Villain Field Training.
In the story of Military Chronicle, the player experiences a tremendous difference in skill compared to the student council members on the day of the practice, and among them, Yang Hak-je appears as the biggest obstacle for the player.
"It's a story where the main character awakens their abilities amidst such frustration... but that won't happen here because there's no player."
This world where the story progresses without a player.
I couldn't help but be concerned about what Yang Hak-je's sudden appearance meant.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Peptobismal]
[Proofreader - Max]
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