Chapter 101
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: Uninhabited Island Survival (4)
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'Hmph. To think I'd end up infiltrating the Hero Officer Academy.'
Wang Ji-rung, who had stormed into the Hero Officer Academy alongside his fellow Villain Alliance members, headed straight for one of the buildings.
His plan was to kidnap the prettier students inside, have his fun with them, and then sell them off on the dark web.
'Since it's the Hero Officer Academy, their talents are guaranteed.'
Especially now, with his comrades and monsters rampaging everywhere.
Slipping in during the chaos to snatch them away might mean no one would even track him down.
'Oh.'
As Wang Ji-rung entered the building with that thought, he spotted a female cadet—talk about good luck.
'Not bad at all.'
A tall, slender figure around 170cm, with long, straight black hair as dark as night.
And those isolated eyes that seemed to draw a line against the whole world.
Wang Ji-rung made his decision on the spot.
'She'll be my first one.'
Of course, he couldn't kidnap every student here.
His oversized sack was only big enough for two at most, so he had to grab them quick and get out.
'Her magic power feels like at least B-rank.'
But the girl he ran into right upon entering checked every box: looks and strength.
Feeling lucky, Wang Ji-rung charged at full speed to knock her out.
"......"
The girl simply stared at him blankly as he rushed her.
Sslash—
"Wha...?"
Wang Ji-rung suddenly felt his vision tilting wildly on its own.
His upper and lower body neatly severed came into view along with the skewed perspective.
'When the hell...?'
He couldn't believe an A-rank like himself hadn't even sensed the attack.
His consciousness was already fading fast, leaving him no chance to figure it out before collapsing.
"......"
The girl who had felled Wang Ji-rung... Ryu Ye-reong, the top 2nd-year cadet, looked down at the corpse and thought.
'He's dead.'
As if she'd killed him without realizing it.
She stared at the body for a while, pondering how to dispose of it.
Beep beep beep—
Her watch alarm blared. Checking it, she saw an emergency message.
[Multiple villains attacking. Gather together and head to a safe location as much as possible. If unavoidable, resist actively.]
'A villain, huh.'
Ryu Ye-reong felt a slight relief.
No need to dispose of the body if it was a villain.
Hell, even if she handled it herself, they probably wouldn't make a fuss.
'Maybe I should take out a few more.'
Ryu Ye-reong, gifted with assassin-level talent since childhood, set out to satisfy her urges by hunting down the remaining villains.
Beep beep beep—
'Hm?'
I'd been using my ability to build a decent house when the watch started blaring noisily.
Pausing my work, I checked it out and saw a weird message.
[Multiple villains attacking. Gather together and head to a safe location as much as possible. If unavoidable, resist actively.]
'What the...?'
Lee Seo-jun, peering at the message on my watch beside me, spoke up like it was big trouble.
—It's a group text sent to the entire grade. Looks like villains are attacking the Hero Officer Academy.
"Weren't events off the table until next month?"
—That's normally true. But this seems to be blowback from what you did before, Seong-min.
In simple terms, sowing discord between the Villain Alliance and the Geneva Cult had led to this attack.
Since it was clearly happening, I pondered my options and asked Lee Seo-jun.
"What do you think we should do?"
The reason I was asking was because deploying the Destroyer or the Grand Sorcerer could be tricky.
Neither had any real ties to the academy, so showing up suddenly might raise suspicions.
—Hard to say. But the Villain Alliance wouldn't attack with just Jake and his crew.
"Then?"
—There has to be at least one S-rank. That's the minimum firepower for something like this.
Hearing there was at least one S-rank in the Villain Alliance didn't help much right now.
—Also, just my guess, but you might not even need to step in, Seong-min.
"No need for me to get involved? Kang Ju-young's here too."
—Getting back to the Hero Officer Academy is a snap for her. Plus, that guy's at the school.
I thought for a moment about who he meant, then it clicked.
"Joo Tae-ho?"
—Yeah. With Joo Tae-ho there, they'll hold the line somehow.
"Hold up."
Lydia, who had entered the Hero Officer Academy and was tracking the healer's trail with [Memory Observation], suddenly halted everyone.
"What's wrong?"
"I see her going into that house over there... but then..."
Through Memory Observation, Lydia had watched the healer enter a house deep in the bamboo grove with Kang Ju-young.
Looking a bit further, she saw them come back out—but then the problem unfolded.
"......"
"But what? Something happen?"
"The healer's gone."
The Villain Alliance crew, including Della, frowned at Lydia's words.
"Gone? Like the disguised guy and the Destroyer, vanished in an instant?"
"No. She summoned some kind of door and went through it."
"A door?"
"Probably an innate ability. She entered it right around here, but..."
Lydia checked further with Memory Observation, then shook her head.
"Never came back out. I think it's an ability that summons a door somewhere else."
"Hah. Teleportation plus portal doors? Are spatial abilities trending these days?"
Jake spat out his irritation at coming this far for nothing.
Lorella, who had traveled from afar just for the healer, asked coldly.
"So? What's the plan?"
"Trail's dead. Time to head back."
"You're joking, right?"
Della insisted they leave empty-handed, but Lorella pushed back.
She'd unleashed the monsters under her control to stir things up—no way she'd accept retreating with nothing.
"She vanished here, so let's draw her out again."
"How do you call back someone who went through a weird door?"
"She has resurrection powers. Kill some instructors and cadets, and she'll show up."
"......"
Della thought it made sense but was still too risky.
"No way. Every hero under the sun will swarm here soon. Even you can't take them all."
"So we just bail like this?"
Lorella's S-rank power came from her controlled monsters.
She'd used up a bunch for this academy raid, leaving her weakened.
No way she'd return after all this with nothing but depleted forces.
"Lorella, I get it, but luck wasn't on our side this time. Can you even fight the reinforcements coming soon?"
With monsters, sure—but after burning through so many, no.
And as Della said, lingering meant getting caught, so Lorella bit her lip and nodded.
"Fine, got it."
"Smart choice. Some of the scattered guys are probably killing instructors and cadets right now."
"Even if they kill a few..."
Crunch—
Lorella cut off at the sound of footsteps from one side.
She and the others, including Della, turned toward the noise.
"I was wondering who barged into my house."
A sturdy old man in his mid-60s approached casually, like he was out for a stroll.
Della's crew instantly recognized him from the files they'd reviewed before coming.
"Joo Tae-ho..."
"Judging by your looks, small fry from the Villain Alliance."
Joo Tae-ho sized up the six and pegged them easily.
A gut feeling honed from countless run-ins with Villain Alliance scum over the years.
"Small fry? Intel said the dragon's curse left you bedridden."
Della calmly recited Joo Tae-ho's info.
Even without non-combatant Lydia, they had one S-rank and three A-ranks.
More than enough to take a cursed old man.
Yet Joo Tae-ho replied nonchalantly.
"The dragon that cursed me died to my blade. What can you lot do?"
"Might work out even better. Kill Joo Tae-ho now, grab the body. Kang Ju-young will bring the healer running."
Della quickly calculated and addressed the group.
Kang Ju-young bringing the healer here suggested some rapport.
Killing Joo Tae-ho and taking his corpse might lure her out with the healer in tow.
Joo Tae-ho caught on immediately.
"So the healer's your target. Can't let you live, then."
He decided their fate and calmly drew up his magic power.
Rooooar—
The Villain Alliance members flinched at the heavier-than-expected pressure.
"This geezer under a curse still got some kick?"
"Careful. He's top-tier even among S-ranks."
Jake scoffed at Della's warning about top-tier.
"Careful, my ass. I'll end it quick."
Jake's confidence stemmed from his innate ability.
First-timers always panicked at his vanishing act over short distances.
Strike a vital in that gap, and even heroes went down easy.
"Let's see the Dragon Slayer's skills!"
Thud—
Jake kicked off the ground at full power toward Joo Tae-ho.
Fast, but S-rank Joo Tae-ho blocked with a single sword swing.
"Oho? Pretty sharp. Aren't you pushing too hard?"
"Why push against small fry?"
"......This old bastard."
Jake tried closing in a few more times, but it was tough.
Joo Tae-ho's swordsmanship had reached mastery; a light swing was enough to repel him.
Jake, going all-out, burned stamina like crazy by comparison.
"Hey! You guys help out!"
He called to his crew—not just for aid, but to split Joo Tae-ho's attention.
"Hm."
As expected, Joo Tae-ho's gaze shifted to them.
'Now.'
Whoosh—
He instantly blinked to Joo Tae-ho's left rear via his ability.
With the sword in the right hand, aim for the neck from a safer spot.
Splatter! —
"Wha...?"
No sooner had he appeared than something slashed his body.
Joo Tae-ho cut him down without even turning, like it was amusing street theater.
"Jake Pitt. You thought I wouldn't know you?"
"Y-You son of a...!"
Jake glared murderously at Joo Tae-ho before collapsing limply.