Chapter 169: The Last Nemesis Before Summer Vacation (11)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 169: The Last Nemesis Before Summer Vacation (11)
Preparing for her final attack, Park A-ram nodded to herself.
This year’s freshmen… it isn’t enough to simply say their level is high.
Originally, the reason for putting first-years through such a trial was, on a small scale, to cultivate a sense of prudence they lacked, and on a large scale, to teach them the importance of cooperation.
Those blinded by competition who neglected to assess the situation were disqualified. Those who prioritized fighting others when they should have been cautious were also disqualified.
The purpose of this exam was to filter out the “real deal” from the rest. It was to find the children who carefully observed the situation and didn’t just treat the exam as a mere test, but tried to dig into its very essence.
Honestly, for a first-year, reaching this point was already a passing grade. Even those who weren’t prudent but managed to endure through sheer ability could be given a passing mark.
The next thing to observe was their response.
If they survived the sudden event of a professor’s ambush on the first day, what kind of behavior would they show? Those who trembled in fear or gave up were disqualified, and those who tried to ensure their own safety by using others as bait weren’t even worth discussing.
Most chose the path of forced cooperation at this stage. Cooperating with those they were just fighting—those who might even betray them for the sake of points. It might seem meaningless in the moment, but it was an experience they absolutely needed for the sake of their future.
The exam was actually supposed to end there.
It was a test that should have concluded with the thought: ‘Haha, let’s see what choice you make in the face of such an overwhelming trial!’ as the children sought a path of cooperation and struggled to survive.
And yet.
This year’s first-years had done far too well.
At first, when Lilac and Cheon Yu-hak acted arrogantly without regard for their surroundings, she thought her expectations had been too high. But then, a single cadet settled everything and unified them.
As if he already perfectly understood the message they intended to convey through the exam, he coordinated the situation and showed them the realm “beyond” the perfect answer they had desired.
He didn’t stop at mere cooperation; he went further and deliberated, devising a scheme to tear down the Absurdity.
How could she not have high expectations when he was already demonstrating a level that should only be tested in the second semester, or even the second year?
Of course, the process wasn’t perfect. He showed a somewhat coercive side, and there was a tightrope walk that bordered on a dangerous gamble.
Nevertheless, because he was a cadet so complete it was almost excessive, she wanted to test him further. The light of possibility that overcomes Absurdity was always beautiful.
So, she ended up cornering him, providing an even greater trial to see how he would avoid it this time. She had gotten excited, acting unlike an adult.
She kept pushing a boy who was already doing well enough.
Originally, Lilac should have cut through the magic, and she should have let herself be defeated.
But under the excuse of expectation and the name of an exam, she crushed his strategy with simple, high-level stats and forced a choice upon him once more.
Victory or comrades?
If he protected his comrades, did he have a plan for what came after?
The next step. And the step after that. She wanted to see him stand up without breaking.
She prepared a new spell. All to see him rise again after his possibilities were crushed.
However, he did not rise. He couldn’t make a choice.
Hesitation took root, and regardless of his instructions, one cadet leaped out to protect another and was disqualified.
It was at that moment she snapped out of it.
Ah, this is an exam.
An exam might look like Absurdity, but it must never truly be absurd. Rather than demanding the resolution of an impossible problem, it is only fit to be called an exam if it teaches an attitude toward such problems and provides a lesson.
At the very least, pressing down with raw power to see their limits was not the Academy’s way.
In the end, he strayed from the realm of reason. He took his first step onto a path a hero should never walk.
As if declaring that if his opponent forced Absurdity upon him, he would become Absurdity himself.
A heterogenous energy, different from Mana, erupted from within him.
For a fleeting moment, his eyes were dyed purple. A dangerous Demonic Energy swirled around the noble flower, and the dagger in his hand ruthlessly tore through her Mana.
This isn’t right.
She scattered the magic she was preparing in all directions as a distraction and ran toward him. She couldn’t let a cadet who was already doing so well be ruined because of her. She couldn’t let him lose to the temptation of Demonic Energy.
She knew the end of that power better than anyone. Because she herself was once called a witch, a person who didn’t originally belong to this world and had pawned her soul to a devil.
Come to think of it, they said he had been encroached upon by Demonic Energy during the last incident. There was every possibility of a relapse triggered by stress or external shock.
She had been too ignorant. Too foolish.
There was no time for excuses like “I didn’t mean for this to happen.”
To bring him back, she fired a spell mixed with Mana that repelled Demonic Energy, and at the same time, his dagger swept past her throat.
‘…Haha, if there weren’t safety devices, I would have died, wouldn’t I?’
* * *
I didn’t realize it because it seemed so ineffective, but in the final clash, it felt like I’d been hit by some kind of magic. A wriggling Mana remained in my body, pushing and breaking the small amount of Demonic Energy left.
If there had been a lot of Demonic Energy left, it might have been different, but since I had already retracted it all, it wasn’t very effective. Still, seeing her relieved expression, I felt a bit of a pang in my heart because I think I understood what she was thinking when she used it.
She’s mistaken.
I’m not sure exactly what the misunderstanding is, but judging by her words just now, I’ve clearly become the protagonist of some heart-wrenching story in her mind.
…Wait, why?
Usually, if you notice someone using Demonic Energy, shouldn’t you suspect they’ve fallen to corruption? Especially since a devil-related incident just happened recently?
Honestly, I was prepared to make excuses for that, so it’s awkward to respond when she acts like this.
Besides, Professor Cathy and the other kids were all startled and looking at me with sparkling eyes as if I’d actually defeated Professor Park A-ram, so it’s hard to explain everything when she’s trying so hard to cover for me.
I mean, well. In a way, you could say I defeated her, but my conscience pricks a bit.
If you look at it this way, I tied up Professor Cathy using personal matters, and Professor Park A-ram self-destructed because of a strange misunderstanding.
Regardless of whether I could win or not, if Professor Park A-ram had used her magic with the sincere intent to intercept me, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve such a clean victory within the time limit.
“That was impressive, Kang So-hyun. I was completely beaten.”
If she had at least asked me something, I could have tried to answer, but since she was looking at me with such deep, trusting eyes, I didn’t have much to say.
In the end, the situation concluded with me nodding back with an apologetic face.
The time limit ended, and we became the first first-years in history to capture three professors.
* * *
“Huh? What happens to our grades?”
After we released Professor Cathy, the first thing the kids showed interest in was their grades.
“This exam is originally designed to see if cadets can make rational judgments in sudden situations. Since you all showed what can be called a perfect response, everyone receives the highest score.”
Ah, what a relief. Honestly, I was worried because I had just been guessing when I told the kids that.
Aisha, the only one whose bracelet was broken, had a dark expression, but Professor Cathy looked at her and nodded reassuringly.
“Cadet Aisha, you don’t need to worry either. No matter how you look at it, A-ram unni… Professor Park A-ram’s final attack went beyond the boundaries of the exam. There will be no damage to your grades.”
Thank goodness.
Wow! Everyone gets top marks! Gryffindor wins!
Perhaps because the reality that the exam was over finally sank in, everyone’s expressions brightened, and they began to chatter. I particularly noticed Ha-ni approaching Aisha with a complicated expression.
She’s probably planning to thank her for blocking that last hit.
“Thanks for earlier. You saved me.”
“Oh my, there is no need for thanks. In a real battle, it is a tanker’s natural duty to protect the dealer. Besides, selling you a favor is beneficial for me as well! Ohohoho!”
If only she could do something about that artificial laugh, the kids would get close to her in no time.
“Seriously. If only you’d keep your mouth shut… So, what’s the benefit you’re trying to get by selling a favor?”
“Well, it is nothing much. I heard you are Kang So-hyun’s closest friend, so you just need to vacate your dormitory room on the days I want. Ah, do not worry, I will make sure to get the scent out. Deodorizers these days have excellent performance.”
“…I’m grateful, but I really don’t think I can ever be friends with you. Just try coming near the dorms. I’ll report you to the proctor immediately.”
“Seeing you reject me so fiercely, could it be that you like me so much you don’t want to yield Kang So-hyun to me?”
“Do you want to get lost before my gratitude disappears?”
…Maybe not? It might be hard for them to become friends.
Afterward, Lilac jumped in, saying he couldn’t agree that Ha-ni was the one closest to me, and with Cheon Yu-hak and Ga-eul joining in, the atmosphere became quite boisterous.
“Now then, the exam is still ongoing, so the instructors should return to their positions, and the cadets can use this return portal.”
Everyone seemed to have become somewhat acquainted, so I guess it ended well.
Actually, I originally wanted them to learn that they didn’t need to feel burdened by using each other even if they weren’t close. But if they overcame even that and became friends, that wasn’t bad either.
This is more hero-like, anyway.
Seeing them grow through the exam, even if only for a short period, and proudly stepping through the portal one by one made me feel strangely proud.
Watching everyone leave, it was finally my turn. Just as I was about to go, Professor Cathy approached me with a beaming smile.
…Is she mad?
“Noona isn’t mad, so don’t worry, So-hyun.”
I see. But usually, the people who say they aren’t mad are the ones who get angry the moment you let your guard down.
“I’m not mad, but I was a little disappointed~”
Hmm, would she forgive me if I kowtowed?
However, the professor laughed as if it were a joke and brushed off my shoulder.
“Just kidding. It’s okay. If anyone should be sorry, it’s me.”
The hand that touched my shoulder trembled slightly as it slowly moved down to my abdomen. Even though it was through my clothes, it felt a bit ticklish.
“You must have been in a lot of pain, so I should be the one thanking you for forgiving me. Having the attitude to utilize everything available isn’t a bad thing.”
Is she really not mad?
“So, So-hyun, you know you shouldn’t think it’s bad for Noona to use her wish, right?”
Never mind. I don’t know what she’s planning to do, but I’d better be prepared.
Just as I was about to leave her smiling face behind, this time Professor Park A-ram called out to me.
“Kang So-hyun, can I see you for a moment?”
Ah, right. It wouldn’t be that easy to just move on, would it?
“…First of all, I’m sorry. As a professor, I crossed the line. No matter how much I had to play a threatening villain, that wasn’t a spell I should have used against a first-year cadet.”
Contrary to my expectation that she would eventually interrogate me about the Demonic Energy, her eyes were full of goodwill and worry.
…It’s actually a bit scarier when someone who isn’t usually like this acts this way.
“Don’t worry. You must have been flustered, but that’s something that can happen. That power is easily influenced by human emotions, Kang So-hyun.”
No, seriously, what kind of state am I in right now inside our Little Witch’s head?
“Someone who has been encroached upon by Demonic Energy once may manifest it again if they experience excessive stress or if a gap opens in their heart. I suppose the influence from the Nightmare Incident remained in you, Kang So-hyun.”
…Ah, so that’s how she’s misunderstanding it?
Inside the heart of Kang So-hyun, who had been corrupted by the Touch of the Devil during the Nightmare Incident, the Seed of the Devil was still slumbering. And while he usually overcame it thanks to the power of his friends’ friendship and his own willpower, the darkness in his heart squirmed because he was pushed excessively into a corner.
Well, it’s probably something like that.
…No. It sounds plausible, but it’s completely wrong.
And does she know that my friends and Professor Cathy are trying to hide that from me?
A flustered Professor Cathy approached, but Park A-ram’s attitude was firm.
“Stay back. He needs to know. Blindly hiding it isn’t for his sake.”
After glaring at Professor Cathy for a brief moment, she turned her gaze back to me.
“Still. Even though this happened because of me, let me tell you one thing. You must not give in to the temptation it offers. Even if it seems to lend you power for free right now, that power never gives anything without a price. We might not be the most reliable, but Cathy and I will help you.”
She stroked my hair apologetically, making my conscience feel strangely guilty.
“I’ll make sure you don’t have to rely on such power. I guarantee it, Kang So-hyun, you can become a wonderful hero!”
At those words, my heart felt like it was sinking.
A wonderful hero.
Could there be any words less suited to me?
Honestly, I don’t think I can become a hero. No, to be precise, I should say I can’t even think about it.
I haven’t paid back anything yet. I haven’t stopped anything yet.
I didn’t have the right. Not the right to call myself a hero, nor the right to dare say I would stand by your side.
“…Kang So-hyun? Are you okay?”
Even so.
“Yes.”
More than that, I was grateful.
That someone said even I could become a hero.
“Thank you, Professor.”
The professor, who had been staring blankly at my face for a moment, dropped the lollipop she was unwrapping.
“Uh, wait. Stop. I’m not really into younger guys. It’s no use smiling like that, so go do that to Cathy.”
…Do what?
Anyway, I thought it was all over now. With that thought, I walked toward the portal as the professors saw me off.
That’s right. I had forgotten once again.
Thinking that “it’s all over now” is a flag that a transmigrator or a regressor should never, ever trigger.
But by the time I remembered this, it was already too late, and my body had already been sucked into the portal.