Chapter 73
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Role (2)
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"Why did I get banned?"
Bihyeong finished his regular classes and went straight to his supervising professor to demand an explanation.
The response he got was this.
"Ah, I misspoke. What I meant is you can't participate in the 'student' exam."
Something along those lines.
"...You mean I can't join the student exam, so I have to take some other test?"
As far as he could recall, were there any other options besides the standard academy exam?
...Tsk. No? There weren't.
'It can't be the teaching assistant exam either.'
No. He was still just a first-year, and becoming a TA... well, it might be possible.
Sometimes the professors looked at him like birds of prey spotting dinner!
But there had to be limits, right?
"What kind of exam is it?"
Depending on the answer, he was seriously considering applying for a formal challenge against the professors.
He didn't think he'd win, but if he went berserk like a mad dog, maybe they'd back off?
While Bihyeong pondered how to throw a fit,
"Before I explain that, let me tell you about this regular exam. We're borrowing the yokai domain beneath the academy to help students understand the fear yokai instill."
Through that, they'd evaluate the students' responses and provide special training before the break.
All to gather the minimum data needed for it.
"...Why are you doing that?"
"So the kids won't die so easily starting next semester, obviously."
"...Pardon?"
"I told you last time. I have a plan in the works."
Watching the professor's grin, Bihyeong thought,
'Death. If that's what he means... does it refer to missions?'
The academy's missions came in two forms.
One was simplified.
These existed for lower years or those with low Hierarchy Ranks.
'Dealing with yokai and ghost stories rated low by the Association.'
The other was official missions.
Unlike simplified ones, these didn't involve low-rated yokai.
'But even these mostly assist Association personnel.'
Of course, truly strong students—like the student council president or Eun-ha sunbae—handled independent requests.
Hadn't he seen, right after enrollment, that Eun-ha sunbae was on a mission needing her barrier techniques at the library?
'Still, even if it's just support, anything can happen in a yokai domain.'
You never knew when, where, or how you'd die.
That was the essence of yokai and ghost stories.
'...Especially if contamination occurs.'
The phenomenon where two or more ghost stories or yokai merged.
Their rules warped and intertwined, making it tough for exorcists to tackle.
So Bihyeong figured that's what the professor meant.
But in the end, his guess was...
"Huh? Nope."
Completely off the mark, absurdly so.
"Because starting second semester, you all have to enter the 'Demonic Realm'."
At those words, one thing instinctively flashed in Bihyeong's mind.
Inhuman Demonic Realm.
One of the academy's forbidden zones.
The professor was saying they had to go there.
"Don't worry, though. Like this."
Snap!
Reading Bihyeong's eyes, the professor flicked his fingers and forged a talisman with spiritual power.
The white paper's surface gleamed with intricate designs, like gold embossed in relief.
A work of art that could fetch a fortune at a gallery.
But Bihyeong recognized its true value.
'...I've seen that in a game before.'
A protective charm penned by the Association President.
Even as a consumable item, it was ranked '9th Hierarchy'.
'...No way they'd distribute something like that to every student.'
So it had to be lower-ranked than what he remembered.
Even so, the talisman's aura was profoundly intimidating.
'At least 6th Hierarchy or higher.'
To mass-produce something like that...
...He was seriously insane?
Noticing Bihyeong's gaze flicker with greed for a split second, Professor Shin-hu waved it away, dissolving the talisman.
"I know it's tempting, but hold back. You'll be carrying tons of them starting second semester anyway."
"...Forget tempting. How did you even get your hands on that?"
"This? I mentioned it to the Association through the council of elders, and they sent it over."
He said there were more: communication talismans to track positions, portal talismans for emergency intervention, and such.
...All crafted by the Association President, apparently.
"To be precise, her 'clone' is making them."
"A clone?"
"Yeah. That's why the ranks are lower. But it should be enough not to die at the Demonic Realm's entrance... probably fine, right?"
"...Feels like I just heard something I shouldn't have."
"Anyway."
This guy was blatantly changing the subject.
Bihyeong's eyes narrowed, but Shin-hu ignored him with a straight face.
"You can't take the regular exam as a 'student'. Instead, I'm asking you to fill another 'role'."
Another role?
'What other roles are there in the exam...?'
As Bihyeong's head tilted,
a sly smile crept across Shin-hu's lips.
"You're going to instill some 'fear' in the cadets."
With that, Bihyeong pieced it all together.
Ah.
In short, they wanted him to play the 'yokai' role.
'...To the cadets?'
He wasn't kidding around.
＊＊＊
Time passed, and the day of the regular exam arrived as scheduled.
The first-year cadets gathered by class in the academy's central plaza.
Their class supervising professors stepped forward.
"The regular exam starts today. Expected duration: two weeks. There are two ways to score points."
"One is clearing the 'domains' pre-activated with ritual formations. Think of it like conquering a dungeon in a game."
"The other is fighting and defeating the yokai lurking inside."
Of course, no real yokai would be used.
The professors would play the yokai roles, they'd said.
'...Why me, though.'
Naturally, Bihyeong had also been selected as a special event mob to bring despair and fear to the cadets, alongside the professors.
Runner-up Mina was no exception.
"Let's do our best, Bihyeong!"
Her eyes sparkled, fists clenched tight—she brimmed with enthusiasm.
...But Mina, if we try hard, the other cadets won't score any points, right?
"Hmm. Still. There must be a reason the professor asked us. So I'll give it my all!"
Ehehe.
Bihyeong nodded at her beaming smile.
She had a point.
The professors had pulled them aside for the exam precisely because the gap between them and regular cadets was vast.
Even if someone was hot on their heels at 1 Hierarchy Rank difference, the wall between upper and mid ranks was huge.
There was no better lineup to terrify them and teach firsthand how to act in yokai and ghost story domains.
'Ta-da. And of all people, those two are half-yokai?'
If Eun-ha sunbae joined, they could put on a full half-yokai revolt.
"So let's not reveal ourselves too much."
It wasn't just about hiding their identities.
There was another reason.
Bihyeong recalled his earlier chat with the professor.
-You, that aura? Nah. Anyway, you have something that gives off intimidation, right? Can you control it?
-That? Why?
-Feels similar to aura. Martial arts have realms like that too.
Formless Kill.
-Infusing aura with killing intent to slay foes is called Intent Wounds Man, but this feels even more refined.
A realm where aura alone could take a breath away.
Of course, wielding that power required at least high Hierarchy Rank.
And only against those of lower rank than yourself.
Far different from Bihyeong's presence, which worked even on higher ranks.
But.
-If you go full power, the kids won't survive. Tone it down a bit, yeah? Can you do it?
-Sure... I got it.
That was the conversation.
'Just the right level... enough to make them flinch but not pass out.'
He remembered the time he'd freaked out Yeo-ui by suppressing his presence.
Who knew life experiences like that would come in handy.
'That level. Enough to startle and make them back off.'
Okay.
Recalibration complete.
As Bihyeong regulated his presence with deep breaths,
Mina suppressed hers too.
She'd grown a lot lately, so uncontrolled, it'd be just like his.
Just as the two finished preparing,
"Alright then."
Professor Shin-hu grinned at the cadets before them and stomped the ground.
"Shall we begin?"
The central plaza shuddered violently, earth surging upward.
Rumble!
Amid the rising soil, massive stone pillars emerged, resembling a temple entrance.
Shin-hu tapped the pillars and said,
"Cursed Sea Domain. The name of the yokai we're entering now... and once, one that ruled the terrors of those waters."
Whoosh...
A chilling sea breeze swept in.
Bihyeong waited for all cadets to enter, then joined the professors and received robes proving their 'yokai' status.
They explained the rules for their group.
"You'll pressure the cadets and earn points each time one drops out."
"Pressure how? Just brute force?"
"That works, but remember those domains? Controlling them to wear down the cadets is the standard play."
"Got it."
"You'll only appear at night, so when day breaks, the device in your robe signals. Hide anywhere and activate the built-in ritual. It'll send you to assigned quarters."
With that, Bihyeong entered the Cursed Sea Domain with Mina.
Space rippled, his gut churning.
The telltale sign of entering a yokai domain.
Caught up in the sensation, Bihyeong didn't notice.
...Hum.
His Dokkaebi Club.
The faint tremor that rose from it... then vanished.