Chapter 153: Drug Incident at the Academy (8)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 153: Drug Incident at the Academy (8)
In a vacant lot a short distance from the Academy, a man was kicking a tree as if he couldn’t contain his rage.
“Fuck…! Goddammit! Those fucking idiots!”
He was the leader of a delinquent circle and the very person who had recently spread drugs throughout the Academy.
It wasn’t supposed to be like this.
He had only accepted the job because it seemed like a simple task with an infinitely low chance of getting caught. How did things end up this way?
He was an underachiever, someone being pushed further and further to the margins of the Academy. Even if he graduated like this, he would never become a famous hero. He had no other talents, so his life was destined to end after working some obscure job.
And despite that, as long as he was a superhuman, he would have to endure constant, rigorous surveillance.
At first, he acted out simply because he hated that reality.
He wasn’t the only underachiever at the Academy, so it was easy to band together. The fact that there were people who looked up to him just because he was in a higher grade seemed to soothe his inferiority complex.
Badmouthing people he didn’t like behind their backs and creating an atmosphere through artificial incitement to screw them over made him feel like he was actually someone important.
Yes, exactly that far. The Academy didn’t care as long as it stayed at the level of kids playing games.
To be precise, they did interfere, but it wasn’t anything serious.
As long as they were just hanging around in groups playing pathetic games, the Academy would try to rehabilitate them or, at most, give them demerit points if trouble broke out between cadets.
Because they were superhuman cadets.
This incident was actually an extension of those activities.
Except this time, there was actual profit involved, and the more he spread the drug, the more he stood to gain.
Honestly, wasn’t it true?
It wasn’t like this was such a bad thing. He was just distributing a drug that made people stronger if they took it.
It felt good, like he was getting revenge on the bastards who discriminated against people based on their abilities. He did it because he thought this might be a better path to success.
But why were people turning into monsters?
They told him it was just like a vitamin and that he wouldn’t get caught even if an incident occurred. So why was the Academy already talking about demonic energy?
Having never taken responsibility in his life, he chose to flee once again.
He looked for the cause in others rather than himself, searching for an excuse.
“Those sons of bitches, why the hell are they going berserk just because they took a little bit of that drug? I’ve used it plenty of times and I’m fine…!”
His reason had almost vanished due to excessive dosage, but naturally, the loss of reason was accompanied by a dulling of intellect. He was in a state where he couldn’t even notice the changes occurring within himself.
“Fuck, and this goddamn instruction manual too. It’s a scam. How can they just brush it off with ‘some side effects may occur’!”
Of course, no matter how much he screamed about it being a scam, there was no one to listen.
“Shit, what am I supposed to do now…”
This was of a different caliber than his previous minor pranks.
He hadn’t even set up a sophisticated route; he had just picked meeting spots and traded through social media.
If the Academy started a full-scale investigation, they would realize he was the culprit immediately.
The distribution of unauthorized drugs was one thing, but on top of that, demonic energy was detected?
He was dead to rights.
If things went wrong, there was a high probability he’d be imprisoned.
“FUCK!!!!”
“It’s quite noisy today.”
When he turned his head at the sudden voice, the man was there.
The one who had enticed him into doing this shit in the first place.
“You son of a bitch! What the hell happened! You said it was just a drug! You said it was a drug that enhances talent with a few side effects!”
“Yes, that’s correct. You know how much time and effort it takes to strengthen a talent, don’t you? Wouldn’t you say those are ‘minor’ side effects? Besides, it was all written in the drug intake instructions.”
“Who the hell reads that tiny print! Fuck, what are you going to do now? Are you going to take responsibility for ruining my life and the lives of the others?”
“Haha, how ungentlemanly of you! Where exactly does my responsibility lie? I asked you for a favor and paid the price. You’re the one who agreed to it. I don’t know why you’re trying to shift the blame onto me.”
It was all fallacies and sophistry.
Most of what he said was forced, a twisted leap of logic.
However, it was also true that he possessed the minimum level of logic required to suppress someone incapable of making a rational judgment.
And so, the demon dug into that opening.
“But I will take responsibility for you.”
“…What?”
As if there were no place left to retreat, he made the man believe all escape routes were cut off, then offered a rotten rope as if it were salvation.
Making him grab it even though he knew it was rotten.
That was the method this demon always favored.
“Even if it’s not my fault, it breaks my heart when victims arise from matters I’m involved in. I should help you, even if it takes a bit of effort on my part.”
The man’s face brightened. He was almost hooked.
“However, not everyone. You understand we can’t afford to take a loss either, right?”
The statement that the opportunity was limited possessed a magical power that made people anxious.
“Let’s make a formal ‘contract’ with us. I will save you. No, I suppose I could say we’ll become formal business partners now.”
“Formal partners…?”
“Yes. You never liked the Academy anyway, did you? You only got caught because of what those stupid juniors did. Don’t you think it’s a waste for it to end here when you’ve done nothing wrong?”
The demon in human form extended a hand.
“Just take this hand. Then you can become one of us. I will give you the power to achieve whatever you desire.”
In truth, many people make a mistake.
They think they can’t back down now, that there’s no turning back.
They should stop there, but humans often perform the strange feat of pressing forward with even more malice.
If he had apologized, admitted his fault, acknowledged his incompetence, and confessed his sins, he might have been fine.
But he didn’t.
He turned his eyes away from the truth and his own incompetence and took the hand of evil.
For the sake of his meager pride and his own safety, and because of his desire to crave the sweet fruit offered by the demon.
He began to cross the line.
The demon smiled where he couldn’t see.
Ah, what a sweet fool. To think he would trade his ‘possibility,’ the most precious thing of all, for something like ‘this.’
He is young. Because he is young, he is foolish and lovely.
This is why I and my master cannot help but love those who are slothful.
* * *
I’m screwed.
I don’t know how many times this makes it now, but I’m screwed again.
“…So you’re saying I shouldn’t fight directly?”
When Lilac suddenly told me not to fight on the front lines, I thought it was some kind of nonsense at first, but looking at the atmosphere, it didn’t seem like I had a choice.
“Well, it’s not exactly that. It’s just that the demon might be targeting you now, So-hyun. We’re just saying we should be careful.”
That’s the same thing!
You son of a bitch. After everything I’ve done for you since the regression, you’re doing this to me…? Is this betrayal… no, is it revenge?
“Cadet So-hyun. I think Cadet Lilac is right. If they really are targeting you, we can’t just give the enemies what they want.”
Professor Cathy began to persuade me with a serious tone for once.
“No, that’s exactly why I should go. I’m the one involved.”
“…Sometimes, you need to trust us and wait.”
“Exactly. Hey, honestly, you’ve been working so hard lately. Just take a break for once~ Don’t you trust us?”
No, Kang Ha-ni. It’s not a matter of trust. I appreciate the concern, but I’m really fine.
If I’m not there, this whole incident is going to get incredibly tangled.
From the perspective of someone who knows all the answers, how can I just sit still while I watch people trying to solve the case by calculating every little thing?
I wanted to say something right away, but since it was true that those bastards were targeting me for some pathetic reason, it was hard to explain.
I’m even more frustrated because the ‘Consort of the Demon King’ thing wasn’t even a setting I started!
What do they mean, Consort of the Demon King? No, even if I’m responsible for the Masked Villain, I didn’t start this one. Why is it holding me back…
…Hm? Wait, Masked Villain?
“…Are you guys sure you’ll be okay without me?”
Everyone’s expressions brightened significantly, thinking I had been persuaded.
“Yes, leave it to us this time.”
“Just wait with Ga-eul~ Your big brother will handle everything.”
“…Then I’ll trust you guys?”
I trust you.
The moment I said those words, my conscience pricked me a little, but the pain from my already worn-down heart was negligible.
“…Of course!”
Phew.
But guys, you have to understand my position too.
I really wasn’t going to do this. I was going to join forces with you and do things the right way this time.
But if you try to control and suppress me like this, I have no choice but to find another way.
— Why don’t you just admit you like it?
‘Ah, I don’t like it at all, okay? Seriously, what are you talking about? What if people get the wrong idea? Hah, really. Honestly.’
I felt like I could sense a wicked energy coming from the mask I had tucked away in my Pseudo-Inventory.
How dare you try to lock me up? I can’t stand for this.
It’s time for a Villain Drift.
* * *
“Ga-eul, your role is important.”
“Okay, I got it.”
After disbanding once, they had gathered again cautiously so that Kang So-hyun wouldn’t notice.
Just as Kang So-hyun had studied them over time, they had also studied him.
…Of course, there were some interpretations mixed with misunderstandings, but at the very least, they had a grasp of his basic principles and how he would react in certain situations.
They were certain.
“Yeah, honestly, So-hyun isn’t the type to just sit still.”
“…So-hyun—no, Cadet Kang So-hyun—doesn’t seem like the type to endure this kind of situation.”
Kang Ha-ni and Cathy honestly wanted to stay behind themselves if they could, but they also harbored a desire to thoroughly crush those who dared to touch him, so they decided to yield the role of watcher.
So, who was selected for that role? It was Kim Ga-eul.
A girl whose combat ability was weak, but toward whom So-hyun was strangely soft.
He wasn’t cold-blooded enough to brush her off and leave while she was watching him.
“Yeah, leave the information gathering and surveillance to me!”
…It felt a bit like leaving the fox to guard the henhouse, but what could happen on a weekday? It wasn’t even the weekend.
Thinking so, they decided to trust Ga-eul.
And Kim Ga-eul also intended to do her best in her role.
However, do you know? That trust is meant to be broken, and thoughts are meant to change.
A tiny seed that had been wriggling inside Kim Ga-eul began to sprout.
The trigger was nothing special.
It was because of a single remark Lilac had tossed out.
“Ga-eul! Don’t be too self-conscious about being alone with So-hyun! Call us if it gets dangerous! We’ll come running right away.”
…Just the two of them?
I see. Just the two of us. Yeah, that’s right. No, I mean, it’s not like I’m going to do anything just because we’re alone?
All sorts of thoughts began to pop into her head.
Ah, the others trusted me, so I should do my best. But in the process, wouldn’t it be okay to satisfy a tiny bit of my private desires?
Yeah, right. To keep watch and protect him, and to make sure So-hyun doesn’t run away, it’s only right to stay as close as possible.
Then there will be times when we’re in close contact, so wouldn’t it be okay to make some minor preparations?
“Just trust me!”
There were two women there who felt uneasy seeing the smile she put on with all her might.
“…Maybe I should stay after all?”
“…I think that would be even more dangerous.”
However, the two of them soon shook off their idle thoughts.
Half of it was due to their trust in him, thinking, ‘Well, it’s So-hyun, so it’ll be fine.’ And the other half was…
“U-heehee. Hehe… hee.”
Because of a somewhat disrespectful reason: ‘The opponent is just Ga-eul, after all.’
Unaware that she was being treated so pitifully, Ga-eul was busy planning various operations to try by his side.
Since they took a photo together last time, maybe they could go to a dessert shop together this time?
Or, since they held hands during the dance, maybe she could “accidentally” hold his hand again.
Ga-eul thought to herself.
I don’t think I’m as far behind as I thought?
Actually, aren’t I the one in the lead?
With her happy delusion, their meeting came to an end.