Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Who is the Villain?
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Hero aspirant Kang Yuna.
When she came to her senses, she had become a hero who saved civilians from villains.
Thanks to her 'incredible' performance, she even received extra points on the exam.
"Ah, I saw it with my own eyes, I tell you! In the world, that junior definitely resisted the Smiling Man! You don't believe me? Then check my body cam attached to me here!"
The hero who claimed to have witnessed it firsthand conveyed the account forcefully.
Catching three third-rate villains was fine as a feel-good story for an aspirant.
But surviving a face-to-face encounter with the Smiling Man was a different story.
She had boldly stood up to a villain that even S-Rank heroes dreaded!
"The body cam confirms she really faced the Smiling Man."
"Impressive. She held out in front of him without even fainting."
"According to her statement, the Smiling Man caught the villains... What do we do about that?"
"Does that make sense? With a hero right there? He probably tried to kill the aspirant and swept up the villains in the process. Manage the reporters well. Don't let any weird articles come out."
This news soon reached the Union Korea Branch.
And the branch decided to give a gift to this promising aspirant.
"Miss Kang Yuna."
"Yes, yes!"
"Unfortunately, immediate admission isn't possible. We have to ensure fair competition. But we can't ignore your performance, so the Union Korea Branch has decided to award you extra points in the final evaluation."
"Ah...!"
"Good luck on the exam. I hope to meet you again as a proud student at Hero Academy."
Kang Yuna had already passed the document screening. She scored high on the theory evaluation too.
She excelled in the first exam and got good reactions in the interview.
The final exam wasn't much of a challenge for her either.
The only issue was the higher tension than before, but even that was resolved.
'Compared to facing the Smiling Man earlier... this has zero tension.'
She realized what it meant to be able to cut off someone's breath with sheer presence alone.
She understood why facing someone with far superior abilities brought such pressure.
Recalling that moment in the alley made the final exam seem utterly trivial.
And the next day.
[Kang Yuna: Final Admission Passed]
"I-I did it! I passed! I made it!!"
Hero aspirant Kang Yuna evolved into Hero Academy student Kang Yuna!
"Hahaha..."
She was still dazed, unsure if this was a dream or reality.
She had to pull herself together. Hero Academy wasn't a place to take lightly.
Passing the exam was just the beginning. There were mountains of preparations to make.
"Basic supplies are provided by the academy. Dormitory options are prioritized for those from out of town. And as future heroes, we even get a certain amount of living expenses... Wow. This is pretty amazing."
The night before enrollment, Kang Yuna was too excited to sleep.
Hero Academy in Korea was on a higher level than others.
For that reason, international students flocked here too.
The competition would be fierce. She would have to fight once more in this place.
To become a hero. To become a righteous apostle who protects people.
"What touching self-sacrifice."
Suddenly, the Smiling Man's voice echoed in her ear.
It was clearly mocking her. Undeniable ridicule.
But why, then, did he say that afterward?
"Sometimes, lift your head and look at the stars. I can't do it either."
She didn't know. Why the villain Smiling Man had helped her.
When he could have easily killed her. Why he only threatened her and then stopped.
"Miss Kang Yuna."
And why he spoke as if he knew her from the start.
The day of Hero Academy's entrance ceremony in Korea.
The usually bustling campus was even noisier than usual today.
The students gathered in groups, whispering busily.
"Did you see this year's freshman lineup? It's insane."
"The instructors told us to stay on our toes. If we don't want to get outdone by the juniors."
"It's scary because it feels real."
"That's why the dispatched instructors this time are such big shots, right? S-Ranks? Is it okay to send them all? As far as I know, they're all field agents?"
Instructors were usually retired field heroes.
So everyone was shocked that field agents had been sent.
Vrooom!-
At that moment, a heavy exhaust roar announced the arrival of a motorcycle.
A sleek beauty in a leather jacket glanced around sharply.
Then she strode toward the whispering students.
"Hey. You there."
"Us?"
"Yeah. Where's the entrance ceremony being held today?"
"Ah. Are you a freshman...?"
"What? Me? Ahahaha!"
The leather-jacket beauty suddenly clutched her stomach and burst into laughter.
Then she patted the student's shoulder as if to say, 'I like you!'
She completely ignored the student screaming 'Aaaah!' in pain.
"Right? No matter how I look, I have such a youthful face, huh? I could pass for a freshman?"
"Uh, uh yeah?"
"But ta-da! I'm actually a newly dispatched instructor this time!"
Wait a minute. Come to think of it, this woman looked vaguely familiar.
The students who tilted their heads soon realized who she was and gasped in shock.
"Va-Valkyrie?!"
"Valkyrie? Is it really Valkyrie?"
S-Rank hero Valkyrie. Affiliated with the Union Korea Branch Special Task Force.
A specialist who had hunted countless villains and monsters.
She had appeared at Hero Academy!
"Hehehe!"
She pulled out sunglasses from her leather jacket and put them on stylishly.
This is it, she praised herself inwardly as Valkyrie spoke.
"That's right. It's me, Valkyrie, so if you want autographs, line up."
"You're really here as an instructor?!"
"The branch chief ordered it. Apparently, this year's freshmen are full of promise?"
Valkyrie's following explanation was something the students already knew.
First, the Sword Saint's granddaughter was entering as a freshman.
The heir to the major conglomerate Hwiwoon Group was also coming.
Next, the youngest daughter of Britain's 'Bullet' family was joining the first years.
There was also a daughter entering to avenge her hero parents.
Valkyrie added that there were plenty more promising ones, which was why a field agent like herself had been assigned as an instructor.
"Oh. And one more. You saw the articles, right? The Smiling Man has been spotted in Korea again."
"There are already tons of related videos and shorts on YouXube!"
"Yeah, yeah. You know how dangerous the Smiling Man is, right? There was an aspirant who resisted him this time. Passed the final exam too. She's coming in as your junior this year?"
Right. She'd heard something about an aspirant saving civilians.
But for the Smiling Man to be involved? That was astonishing.
For a mere aspirant to hold out against a villain that even S-Ranks struggled with!
"What's that junior's name?"
"You'll find out soon enough."
"I'm curious! If we know early, we can at least greet her first!"
"Oh? True. In that case, as a special treat from Instructor Valkyrie, who met you first, I'll tell you! The rising star. The one who might be this year's dark horse. That student's name is!"
"It's you."
Kang Yuna, lost in awe at the massive scale of Hero Academy.
At first, she thought it was directed at someone else.
But soon she felt someone staring and turned her head.
"A-Are you talking to me?"
"Yeah. Kang Yuna, right? I saw the articles. Fighting villains. Resisting the Smiling Man."
"That..."
She did fight the villains, but she didn't resist the Smiling Man.
She wasn't even in a position to resist or anything...
Kang Yuna had half-given up on explaining.
No one listened or believed her anyway. There was nothing she could do.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Seo Ha-eun. Fellow freshman."
"Ah, yeah. You already know my name."
She thought it was a senior at first, but they were classmates.
It was a bit daunting starting in a place with no familiar faces.
Having someone approach and greet her first eased her worries a little.
"Impressive."
"Huh?"
"Fighting the villains. That's the only reason I came here too."
"Ah, I..."
"We have to wipe out every last villain. Yeah. That's right."
"...??"
She had only stepped up to save people.
Villains were enemies, sure, but she'd never thought 'kill them all.'
But this girl, who introduced herself as Seo Ha-eun, was different.
Raw hatred, anger, and hostility swirled in her eyes.
It was clear she harbored a massive grudge against villains.
'What happened to her?'
She was curious but decided not to ask. It felt better not to pry.
Bzzz!-
Seo Ha-eun's phone vibrated.
"Nice meeting you. Let's get along from now on. Become great heroes like this, and someday we'll catch every last villain together."
"Uh... Y-Yeah. Sounds good. Take care, Ha-eun."
After exchanging greetings with Kang Yuna, Seo Ha-eun tapped the call button.
"Hello."
[Yeah. Ha-eun. It's your uncle. Did you get to the academy okay?]
"Yes."
[Good. Call if anything tough comes up.]
"Yes. Thank you for looking out for me in so many ways."
[It's only natural. Your mom and dad took care of me like their youngest back in the day. I have to repay that. Call when it's over. Your uncle will treat you to celebrate your enrollment!]
"I'll call."
[Alright. See you then.]
The short call ended. Seo Ha-eun pocketed her phone.
Holy Knight