Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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>Translator: Lord First
>Chapter: 18
>Chapter Title: A Status Window on the First Day of School (2)
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*
It was something many students would never even consider, but the staff of a university actually included countless laborers besides professors and teaching assistants.
For example, security guards were responsible for campus security and safety.
Or office assistants managed the entirety of administrative work.
Just as the cleaning staff in a dining hall often go unnoticed during a meal, there are people who appear in one's peripheral vision and vanish if not consciously acknowledged.
A gardener was much the same. That was why Elizaveta had placed Ivan in that position.
It wasn't a conspicuous job like a professor or a teaching assistant, and it was an obscure post where his presence anywhere wouldn't seem strange.
At the same time, it was a position with no set duties. A gardener was only needed if there was a garden, and Saint Yansk University had no garden.
"Hmm."
It was only natural. It was unthinkable that a university built in the heart of the capital would waste land on something like a garden or a flowerbed.
Therefore, even if the princess created the position, no one would be suspicious.
They would likely think that if he were a truly important figure, or if Elizaveta were planning some sort of clandestine operation within the university, she would have placed her agent in a more significant role.
The prince's faction probably assumed that one of Elizaveta's subordinates had simply pulled some strings to get an acquaintance a job.
This was nothing more than a minor infraction, the kind of "pulling strings for an acquaintance to snag a pension" that was rampant in the kingdom. (It wasn't illegal. Even in the House of Lords, this level of corruption was considered a sign of integrity, ironically enough.)
"Just as I thought."
Thus, the gardener of Saint Yansk University had a lot of time on his hands.
Enough to engage in ample leisure activities.
At this moment, the leisure activity of the Saint Yansk University gardener was bomb disposal.
'He considered the guards' patrol routes, the flow of people on campus, and the line of sight from every building.'
These guys were 'professionals'.
Ivan narrowed his eyes as he disarmed the third explosive. It was a crude, homemade mana bomb, but for that very reason, it was impossible to pinpoint the culprit.
The reasons Ivan had identified and sought out the explosives were as follows:
One, it was 'common sense' for an attack to occur at an academy entrance ceremony.
One, at a time like this, with bombers in the sky and the Counter-Intelligence Command on high alert, any organization capable of attacking the academy had to be composed of 'professionals'.
Thinking along these lines and reverse-engineering the enemy's movements allowed him to pinpoint the locations where the bombs would be planted.
A place hidden from the guards' eyes.
>At the same time, a blind spot unexposed to any potential civilians.
>On top of that, a dead angle invisible from the windows of every building.
Searching the intersection of these conditions would yield a bomb. At this point, it was no different from harvesting potatoes.
Roughly identify the location, stroll over casually, and just pluck it out.
"Now, the only question is who's behind this."
That was the problem.
There were too many suspects.
The demons. The least likely, but suspicious for that very reason.
They had ample motive to terrorize Saint Yansk University. But at the same time, unless they were fools, they wouldn't try something like this again so soon after their last failure.
The elves. Rather suspicious, but their motive was faint.
They still had their warship floating above the university, making it easiest for them to carry out such an act.
However, even if the elves were to tarnish Krasilov's reputation by doing this, they had very little to gain.
The Crown Prince's faction. The most likely culprits, by his estimation.
They had both the means and the motive to attack Saint Yansk University. But it would have been difficult today. The Counter-Intelligence Command, having directly incurred Elizaveta's wrath, was guarding this area with fire in their eyes.
So, while there were many suspects...
>It meant that a secretive, unidentifiable organization had planted a highly competent operative within the academy.
'A typical academy story, I see.'
At this point, Ivan actually felt a sense of relief.
Yes. An academy story isn't an academy story unless there's an attack on the entrance ceremony and secret agents planted within the school.
He had been feeling anxious that among this year's freshmen, there were no students who would suddenly draw their sword, or introduce themselves as the Heavenly Demon, or a cowboy chewing on a blade of grass while firing a pump-action shotgun, or a strangely foul-mouthed young girl who was a tanker.
Ivan shook his head with a wry smile and headed toward the next predicted bomb location.
And just then, he heard a strange voice.
Very faintly.
-What's that? Santa Claus?
Ivan's eyes sharpened. He bent down as if he hadn't noticed a thing.
There was a perfectly sized pebble.
He picked it up as naturally as if tying his shoelace and threw it in the direction the voice had come from.
-Clang!
The sound of something being deflected. Simultaneously, Ivan's body shot forward like a lightning bolt, straight toward the source of the sound.
*Pat, patter!* The sound of swift footsteps receded, and Ivan eventually had to stop.
They had vanished without a trace. Into the massive crowd outside Saint Yansk University, waiting for the entrance ceremony to end.
"Santa Claus, he says."
Ivan let out a hollow laugh and turned back. Retracing his steps, he soon found a pebble, cleanly split in two.
He broke down the information and reassembled it.
-Swordsmanship.
-A young male, or female. If male, at least before his voice had broken.
-The voice was too faint to identify. I'd need to hear it a couple more times to be sure.
-Height, unconfirmed.
-Swift movements. Quick reflexes. This is probably... danger sense.
-An ability difficult for a student to possess, but the probability of them being a student is extremely high.
He changed direction and walked away. This time, into the campus.
Toward the most dangerous place in Saint Yansk University. Toward the main auditorium where Elizaveta was observing the entrance ceremony.
And toward the Counter-Intelligence Command's field control room, which was bound to be nearby.
"Santa... Claus, he says."
In this world, there was no folk legend of Santa Claus.
Naturally, there was no Christmas either. No righteous red thief of an old man who puts candy and toys in stockings.
>That was why he had reacted so sensitively to such a trivial mutter.
Which means.
Which means.
"A transmigrator."
Did this person also write a [5,700-Character Critical Review of Gratitude]? Or was it a product of some coincidence? Was he hit by a truck? Diving into the Han River is too cliché, so let's rule that out. Of course, he could be the original author. That happens a lot too.
By what means, in what way, did he fall into this world?
But one thing was certain.
He knew that this game was an academy story. That was the only reason a transmigrator would bother to enroll or get a job at the university.
If that's the case, then this person...
Knows the [Original Story].
Knows what will happen next.
Knows the ending.
"Hey, hold on. Stop right there! This is a restricted area!"
"Get Dmitry."
"What? I don't know what you heard or where you came from, but..."
-Crack!
Ivan twisted the arm of the uniformed soldier blocking his path. The soldier reacted instantly, drawing a pistol from his sleeve, only for Ivan to twist the slide lock and dismantle it in one fluid motion.
The soldier whose arm was caught stared blankly at the pistol in his hand, now just a grip.
The next moment, *click, clack.* Gun muzzles appeared in an instant.
Five of them. Their training is good. Their disguises are well done, too.
The five soldiers surrounding him were all dressed differently, like ordinary citizens one might see anywhere.
After sweeping his gaze over the surrounding soldiers, Ivan took a deep breath. And exhaled shortly.
Anger simmered. Impatience crackled, burning away his patience.
"Get Dmitry."
"Do you know the Lieutenant Colonel? Please don't cause a scene here. Let's go somewhere quiet..."
"Ivan."
"...Excuse me?"
"My name is Ivan Petrovich. Annihilation Squad. Any of you from there?"
"I was in the last class, sir. Senior. Pardon me, but may I see your face...?"
The soldier who had been forced to his knees by Ivan carefully raised his head. He slowly set down the pistol grip he was still holding and opened his hands wide.
He studied Ivan's face for a long moment with a bewildered expression, then raised a hand to gently cover the space below Ivan's nose.
"My god. It's really... 'Little' Ivan...?"
A cold sweat dripped from the soldier's face as he examined Ivan's eyes, the bridge of his nose, and his forehead.
He hastily gestured for the surrounding soldiers to stand down. He bowed his head with a respectful expression.
"Lieutenant Colonel Petrovich. It is an honor to meet you."
"Your name?"
"Osip Sorenof, sir. You probably don't know me. I was with the 3rd Strike Team, and I've only ever seen you once, from a great distance."
"I remember now. Osip."
Ivan released the soldier's arm and stepped back. Osip dusted off his knees a couple of times, stood up, and extended a hand respectfully. Ivan took it and they shook.
"Do not mourn those who have gone before."
"For I stand in the same ranks as they."
"We heard you were killed in action, Lieutenant Colonel. I'm certain I saw your nameplate at the national cemetery..."
"I, too, never thought there would be any survivors from the 3rd Strike Team."
"I survived in place of the finest men of this age."
"We all did."
The final mission given to every strike team of the Annihilation Squad was the 'assassination of the Seven Dragon Generals'.
Therefore, including Ivan's team, the only one to return, if there were any other survivors...
They were merely remnants who owed their lives to the finest men.
Ivan patted Osip's shoulder a few times and spoke again.
"Get Dmitry for me. And tell him I need a list of all enrolled students... no. A roster of the entire student body and all faculty members. The observers, VIPs, their families, acquaintances, and relatives who attended the entrance ceremony. Tell him I need a list of every single person who has access to Saint Yansk University right now."
"Yes, Lieutenant Colonel. Hey, tell Lieutenant Colonel Cherkatov! We have an emergency!"
The agents, who had been standing by with confused expressions, unable to keep up with the situation, hastily departed.
Gazing at the main auditorium where the entrance ceremony was in full swing, Ivan took slow, deep breaths.
A transmigrator.
Is he Korean? No, it doesn't matter what he is. It means he's from Earth.
A compatriot from my homeland. Sadly, that's what he was.
He was. A bitter feeling washed over him. Both Kim Seon-woo and Ivan.
Because he would have to be killed.
He needed information about the ending.
>He needed to eliminate any variables that could alter the path to that ending.
>And most importantly...
"I am not some NPC."
Ivan closed his eyes.
*I am not some NPC. My memories, my experiences, my career are not a prologue. I am not some NPC.*
*My life is not just some passing background story. I... I...*
*I must survive and go back.*
*So, I have more reasons to kill you than to let you live. Before I hear that I, 'Ivan Petrovich,' exist in your damned 'original story'.*
>*Before it's too late. I must.*
*
"Hah, haah... huff... What the hell was that crazy bastard...?! An aggro monster? I never heard about anything like that! Dammit, dammit, where did it all go wrong!"
As I was panting and wiping away cold sweat, I heard a familiar voice.
It was 'Father'.
"You're back. Where have you been... Never mind. You pathetic thing."
"Father..."
"Sit down. Causing such a commotion just to use the lavatory. You're as useless as ever."
This damned 'debauched youngest son'.
Isn't the 'debauched son' in a classic fantasy supposed to be coddled and pampered right after transmigration?
I was supposed to heroically stop this 'Academy Attack' and start turning things around, but the quest suddenly got canceled!
[“D-Rank Quest” Thwart the Academy Attack -Canceled-]
>[The academy is under attack by an unidentified group! Stop the attack on the main auditorium and faculty buildings during the entrance ceremony!]
>[Objective: Remove explosives on campus 3/3 (Removed)]
>[Optional Objective: Eliminate intruders -Canceled-]
>[Optional Objective: Protect the freshmen 0/322 -Canceled-]
>[Reward: -Canceled-]
"Dammit."
I lost an important early-game quest. Isn't an academy attack supposed to be the protagonist's debut stage?
It was the perfect chance to make a strong impression on the heroines and future comrades, and to earn the respect of the instructors...!
>The quest just canceled itself out of nowhere, so I rushed over in surprise, only to run into some freak who looked like Santa Claus!
And what's this now?
[“???-Rank Quest” The Gardener of Saint Yansk University.]
>[You have caught his eye. May fortune be with you.]
>[Objective: Eliminate the gardener of Saint Yansk University, Ivan Petrovich]
>[Optional Objective: Persuade Ivan Petrovich]
>[Optional Objective: Conceal Information]
>[Additional Objective: Survive]
>[Failure Penalty: Death]
*