Chapter 6
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Entrance Ceremony (4)
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-The first one is the Villain Alliance. It's an organization formed by all sorts of criminals from around the world. If they grow too big, they'll eventually swallow up countries one by one.
"So the Villain Alliance is classified as a world-class criminal organization, right?"
-Yes. For now, just think of it as the last destination for criminals with nowhere else to go. Plus, if they catch someone talented, they'll even send people to help break them out of prison.
"......"
It was saying that criminals get help with jailbreaks for talent recruitment.
"What's the success rate for those jailbreaks?"
-If the Villain Alliance goes all out, it's 100% success. But they won't move like that often.
I interpreted that as meaning even the criminals we catch could be released anytime.
'Is this world okay with that?'
Of course, since I wasn't the one catching criminals anyway, I let it slide.
Still, considering my and Lee Seojun's ultimate goal, I figured the Villain Alliance wouldn't last either.
-The second is the Geneva Cult. They possess a vast number of healers, so the whole world cheers them on.
"Weren't we talking about criminal organizations?"
-That's just the facade. The reality is different. It's an evil place that offers people, treasures, artifacts, and such as sacrifices.
I nodded upon hearing about the second group, the Geneva Cult.
"That Geneva Cult... No one else knows they offer sacrifices, right?"
-Unfortunately, yes. And if they grow, they'll sacrifice an entire country to summon a god from another realm.
"A god from another realm..."
-Just so you know, if that otherworldly god descends, it's game over for everything. That's why I focused on keeping the Geneva Cult in check.
Lee Seojun seemed to have operated specifically to counter the Geneva Cult during his previous active days.
Separately, I thought even if an otherworldly god descended, I'd find a way to win, but I didn't bother saying it.
-The third is the Doomsday Cultists. Remember that guy who talked to you, Lee Seongmin, on the way to the auditorium? He's one of them.
"What's the deal with the Doomsday Cultists?"
-They're the ones who want to destroy the world. They operate in secret... but their scale is no joke.
Lee Seojun even explained their size.
-In terms of sheer numbers, they're the largest. They approach desperate people and make contracts to spread.
I felt a slight discomfort at the word "contract."
I'd ended up like this because of a contract with the Creator God.
"The contracts must be something special."
-Exactly. For example, "I'll heal your sick family, so work for me for 10-20 years." They make deals like that.
"Sounds flimsy. What if someone just ignores the contract?"
-It's a soul-binding contract, so no dice. Their leader is the Demon of Contracts to begin with.
"Not human, but a demon?"
I asked again, and Lee Seojun nodded.
-There was that worst gate break in Libya a while back. The Demon of Contracts is a monster that crawled out of it.
"Sounds like they're hiding somewhere, steadily increasing their contract targets."
-Spot on. Those who make contracts lose about half their growth potential. More precisely, that growth goes straight to the demon.
"Does the demon have to make the contracts personally?"
-No. Anyone who's already contracted can do it too. That's why they're the biggest of the three criminal organizations.
Being called the Demon of Contracts suggested it grew stronger through contracts.
But with only one demon, something felt off, so I asked Lee Seojun.
"Anything else about the contracts?"
-Of course. During the contract period, you can't refuse the demon's orders. If it tells you to kill someone, you'll do it regardless of your own will.
"As expected."
I knew there had to be a catch.
-But the demon itself has to issue the command directly for it to work. Orders from other contracted people don't count.
I nodded to show I understood, then thought about the Demon of Contracts.
My guess was it already held considerable power.
"How strong is the Demon of Contracts right now?"
-Not that strong yet. It wasn't specialized for combat to begin with. But later on, it ascends to Demon King and burns the world.
"So once it gets strong, it rampages as it pleases."
-No wonder they're called Doomsday Cultists.
Having heard about all three world-class criminal organizations, I thought calmly for a moment before speaking.
"The Geneva Cult and Doomsday Cultists haven't revealed themselves yet, right?"
-Correct. But they'll start showing up little by little while you're here.
"This is the Hero Officer Academy, though. Do they ever attack this place?"
-Yes. They raid it pretty frequently.
"......"
I stared at Lee Seojun for a moment at the words "pretty frequently."
-Think of it like a game story. Games would be boring if it was just endless studying and training.
"Might be boring in a game, but reality's different. Why do they attack here anyway?"
-I told you, the Hero Officer Academy has all kinds of facilities. More than half use mana, which means there's something supplying that mana.
From Lee Seojun's explanation, I could roughly guess their goal.
"They want whatever supplies the mana?"
-Yes. Specifically, it's the Dragon Heart. That Dragon Heart endlessly provides mana.
"Dragon Heart means someone killed a dragon, right?"
-Our country's greatest hero, Joo Tae-ho, slayed it. He also founded this Hero Officer Academy.
"Then they can fend off criminal organization raids without issue."
I figured someone who could slay a dragon wouldn't be weak.
But after hearing me, Lee Seojun scratched his cheek awkwardly and explained otherwise.
-The problem is he suffered permanent injuries from that fierce battle with the dragon. He can't fight more than five minutes now.
"Hm."
Fair enough. Whoever Joo Tae-ho was, I'd handle the fighting.
Plus, Lee Seojun would tell me when and where they'd attack, so no issues.
'If they really bug me, I can hunt them down right away.'
Lee Seojun seemed to think similarly and said it would be fine.
-It'll be okay anyway. With your abilities and my experience combined, we can handle it easily.
"Yeah, of course."
If I struggled against mere criminal organizations, all my past opponents would be shedding tears of sorrow.
-Ah, lunch time's coming up. Before you head to the cafeteria, register your watch and tablet.
With that, I rummaged through the stuff I'd received at the auditorium entrance, pulled out the watch and tablet, and registered them one by one.
-Once registered, wear the watch on your left wrist.
"Is there a reason I have to wear it?"
-Yes. Everything in the Hero Officer Academy runs on points.
"Points?"
Lee Seojun nodded and explained the academy's system.
-From meals to supplies, outings, overnight stays—everything costs points.
"What about money?"
-You can't spend a dime. More precisely, money isn't accepted.
It seemed we had to earn points instead of money to live here.
"If even meals cost points, you'll need a lot."
-They give points for diligent training and classes. Plus, you can get almost anything here. If not, you can even order custom.
His explanation reminded me of Lee Seojun saying the academy had every facility imaginable.
"Hold on. You said there are various facilities here? Using those costs points too?"
-Yes.
"......"
Seeing my inwardly exasperated expression, Lee Seojun reassured me.
-Like I said, diligent training and classes give enough points for meals.
"Doesn't matter to me, but... can people really live on just food?"
-It's not that tight. Points add up over time.
Come to think of it, the school wouldn't be clueless about this.
They probably gave a bit extra on top of meal points.
-Oh, and you can buy Skill Stones with accumulated points.
"Just from the name, it sounds like they let you acquire skills."
-Right. The key is that the Hero Officer Academy sells Skill Stones. You need to buy Multi-Calculation among them.
Multi-Calculation seemed to be the multi-casting skill Lee Seojun had mentioned before.
One of my goals here was Absolute Clone anyway, so getting related skills wasn't bad.
-For reference, Multi-Calculation costs 5,000 points.
"Sounds like no small amount just hearing it."
-No one's actually bought it. Think of a single meal as 5 points.
I did some quick math.
Three meals a day: 15 points.
Even saving every point, it'd take 334 days.
"Even hoarding meal points, it'd take nearly a year."
-Well, Multi-Calculation is a must-have for any magic-type hero. Plus, it's an A-rank skill, pricier than others.
"A-rank, huh..."
The explanation made perfect sense.
Then I remembered Lee Seojun mentioning he'd gotten Infinite Power before.
"By the way, you said you got Infinite Power earlier?"
Infinite Power made MP infinite for a set time.
Magic types would exploit it best, I thought.
-As you guessed, I went full magic build. But I got Multi-Calculation from the tower later on.
"Tower?"
-I'll explain slowly. Lunch time first—go eat.
Lee Seojun figured I was hungry and urged me to eat.
I could eat here, but I wanted to check out the cafeteria at least once, so I stood up.
"The cafeteria is to the left of this dorm building, right?"
-Yes. Big three-story building. First-years only use the first floor.
"Separated by grade, I see."
With that, I headed to the cafeteria with Lee Seojun.