Why Only Attack the Academy? - 3
Of course, I thought I was going to die. I was just an ordinary ability user, and my opponent was an Elder. But when I opened my eyes, the burning Academy was still in sight. My expectation that my limbs would be shattered had also missed the mark. Both my arms and legs moved freely.
Silver Gatekeeper: Trait is currently active.
The reason I survived was probably because of this trait. The absurdity of it made me burst out laughing without realizing it. I knew it all too well from being on the receiving end so many times. The Gatekeeper never lets anyone pass. It clings to their ankles and drags things out until they ultimately cannot move forward. After kneeling like that ninety-nine times, now I was the Gatekeeper myself.
“Ugh…”
When I tried to get up, a scream escaped on its own. My shoulder throbbed like it was about to explode—maybe it was dislocated. In movies or dramas, people somehow pop their shoulders back in… Damn it. I couldn’t do it. It hurt too much. It was impossible.
“What are you?”
As I barely managed to take a step, the Elder ahead was staring straight at me. He had immediately noticed that I was still alive.
‘Couldn’t he just pretend not to see me?’
I let out a sigh, but at this point, it was all or nothing. The trait was still active, and somehow I had survived the Elder’s attack. If the first time was possible, the second should be too.
…Honestly, it was just wishful thinking, but there was no other way.
“Me?”
So I just went for it.
“I’m a Silver-rank examiner.”
At my answer, the Elder tilted his head, then raised his spear and approached. It was as if the professors, the students, even Kim Suhyun behind him didn’t exist. His gaze was fixed solely on me as he slowly closed the distance.
I wanted to run. Even now, I just wanted to stay alive. It was terrifying, but more than that, I desperately didn’t want to get hurt anymore. They say pain makes people cowardly, and it was true. I didn’t want to hurt more. It already felt like I was dying—how could I endure any further? The urge to drop to my knees and beg for my life flashed through my mind several times a second.
But every time that temptation arose, another thought held me back. If the Elder passed me and went about his business? What would happen to Kim Suhyun? What about the over five hundred thousand innocent people who would later be sacrificed because of her?
Knowing all that, could I really stretch out my legs and sleep soundly?
‘Damn it…’
If I hadn’t known, I would have pretended not to. I would have shut my eyes tight and run. But because I knew what came next, I simply couldn’t.
I wasn’t some lunatic playing hero, nor was I a pathetic loser hiding his power. Even knowing this was a fight I would lose a hundred times out of a hundred…
“Interesting.”
With those words, the world seemed to darken, and everything spun. There wasn’t even time to feel the pain. I realized my condition too late.
“Guh! Kack! Ugh!”
I couldn’t breathe properly. Every joint in my body felt like it was breaking. When I finally looked around, I realized I had been sent flying by the spear shaft and was once again buried in rubble.
This time I really thought I was dead, but I survived again. It hurt, but somehow I had endured once more. In the process, my dislocated arm had somehow popped back into place. Whether it was luck or not, it was so absurd I almost laughed.
“…What the hell are you?”
The man approaching asked again. Unlike before, there was a faint trace of bewilderment in his expression. It made sense. An ordinary ability user had taken two of an Elder’s attacks and lived.
If it were me, I’d be curious about this bastard’s identity too.
“Cough! You heard me earlier. Cough, cough. I said I’m an examiner.”
I had survived a second time. Though the pain was killing me, strangely, confidence welled up. Without realizing it, I spat out a provocative remark.
The Elder raised his spear again, then hesitated, his face showing conflict. He was torn—fascinated by me and wanting to toy with me longer, yet needing to complete his objective here quickly.
‘I have to stop him. If Kim Suhyun gets taken, everything’s ruined.’
I forced my trembling legs to stand. I had to hold him here no matter what. I couldn’t let him pass. Kim Suhyun, and those five hundred thousand innocent lives. Just endure one more time, gritting my teeth. I had to endure. Especially after making it this far already.
“Hmm.”
At that moment, the Elder seemed to prioritize his mission over curiosity. He turned away from me, intending to head toward where Kim Suhyun had fled.
I had to stop him. To do that, I had to provoke him.
“Running away?”
Yeah. If he left after hearing that, he’d be the crazy one. Especially a monster like him.
At my words, the Elder turned back to face me. Just meeting his gaze felt like my body was being torn apart, but I forced myself to endure. Backing down now would be worse than doing nothing.
“A shame.”
What was a shame?
“I was going to take my time figuring out who you are.”
Woooooo——!
A bizarre wailing sound began emanating from his spear. If that hit me, I was dead. Gatekeeper or not, I would truly die.
I needed to dodge, but this damned body wouldn’t listen. Whether it had frozen from fear or was exhausted past its limit, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t even twitch a finger.
So this was really the end. If I died, I wondered what would happen next.
“Huuup!!”
At that moment, a fierce battle cry rang out as someone appeared in midair. Kwaaaang—!
They blocked the Elder’s spear head-on. Though the impact left them in terrible shape, I recognized them immediately. White hair and wielding a sword—there was only one such person at the Academy.
“Are you alright?”
“Hah, Principal?”
“You’re no ordinary examiner, are you?”
Clicking his tongue, Ma Hakjun knocked the spear aside.
“…Ma Hakjun.”
“It’s been a while, Hyeok.”
“How did you escape?”
“Don’t underestimate this old man too much. Those brats were only good enough to hold me for a bit.”
So Ma Hakjun had stationed people as well. Sure enough, traces of battle marked his body here and there. To break through that and reach here—truly worthy of “Ma Hakjun.”
“I was disappointed I couldn’t kill you before leaving, but this works out.”
“Is that so? But what can you do? Even you can’t kill this old body in three minutes.”
“…”
“You’ve noticed, haven’t you? Reinforcements have arrived. And among them is ‘that guy.’ No matter how late, he should reach you within three minutes. What will you do?”
At the mention of “that guy,” the Elder called Hyeok narrowed his eyes. After a brief moment of contemplation, he turned his head toward the direction Kim Suhyun had disappeared.
“This has become quite regrettable in many ways. And…”
The Elder folded his spear and suddenly turned his gaze to me.
“You. I’ll remember you.”
Whether it was admiration for blocking his path or a vow to kill me for provoking him, it didn’t sound like anything good.
With those words, the Elder vanished in an instant. Like a ghost had come and gone, leaving no trace behind.
‘…He’s gone. He left. He really left.’
Unlike the original flow of events, the villains had failed to kidnap Kim Suhyun. Their plan to brainwash her into the Red Witch had suffered a major setback. Even if this wasn’t the end, we had overcome one major hurdle.
“Haa.”
My body collapsed backward on its own. As the tension drained away, my vision turned pure white. Ma Hakjun seemed to be saying something, but I couldn’t hear a thing. I just wanted to sleep like this for a while. There was still plenty of time before the end of the workday, but… I’d put in overtime today, so this much should be fine.
Number blocked: 10 (10 / 10)
Requirement met: Trait has been strengthened.
*
“Principal.”
Ma Hakjun, who had been receiving treatment, turned his head.
“You’re here, Professor Han.”
“Ugh. Just call me casually, please.”
Han Jiyun, covered in minor wounds, approached and sat beside him.
“What’s the damage situation?”
“32 dead. 117 injured. Victims range from students to faculty and security personnel.”
“…Shit.”
Han Jiyun cursed and clenched her fists. Thirty-two people had lost their lives. Those precious, pitiful souls had left this world.
“Still, isn’t it fortunate it’s only this much?”
The ability user treating Ma Hakjun carefully spoke up. Han Jiyun was about to snap at the nonsense, but Ma Hakjun stopped her.
“I apologize if it was unpleasant. But the higher-ups and the Association share a similar reaction. Even with two Elders appearing, having only double-digit casualties instead of total annihilation is truly fortunate.”
“Fortunate, my ass. Even one death is a tragedy. What kind of nonsense is that?”
Of course, Han Jiyun understood. If the Elders had come with the intent to slaughter, she would have been the only survivor. Even Ma Hakjun wouldn’t have held out. He was a hero of the past, and his opponents were living nightmares.
However, one Elder had only bought time while the other focused on something else. The villains they brought were mediocre at best—clearly just meant to stall.
“Hyeok. No, ‘Changgwi’ was targeting Kim Suhyun.”
“Yes. From the survivors’ testimonies, they were looking for Kim Suhyun. And that rotten woman Hyun Sujin was clearly stalling for time as well.”
Kang Minsung’s granddaughter. An ability user with an excellent bloodline but lacking personal talent. That was the simple summary defining Kim Suhyun.
Ma Hakjun stroked his chin, lost in thought.
‘What was their intention in trying to kidnap Suhyun?’
Was it to blackmail or persuade Kang Minsung? It wasn’t entirely impossible. Kang Minsung’s love for his friend’s child was well-known. Moreover, Kim Suhyun was the only remaining blood relative of Kang Minsung’s deceased daughter. His affection for her was likely deeper than for his other grandchildren.
“Carefully now—one, two, three.”
The paramedics carried away a man on a stretcher. He wasn’t a student. Not a professor, nor a security guard. His identity was Baek Seojin. The examiner dispatched to the Academy today.
“…Jiyun.”
“Yes.”
“That examiner named Baek Seojin.”
“I heard. He took the Water Ghost’s spear twice.”
“Yes. And yet he survived. And he didn’t back down.”
Even the professors with abundant combat experience couldn’t hold out. Ma Hakjun himself wasn’t confident he could block that spear twice barehanded. Yet against such an Elder, Baek Seojin had succeeded in buying time. If it weren’t for him, the worst-case scenario would have unfolded. Even in the final moments, he showed no sign of retreating.
‘Baek Seojin. Baek Seojin.’
Both Ma Hakjun and Han Jiyun watched the stretcher carrying Baek Seojin to the hospital, deep in thought.