Chapter 178: Vacation Homework (End)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 178: Vacation Homework (End)
Let’s think for a moment.
The biggest problem right now isn’t that she’s misunderstood the situation; it’s that I have no idea what her misunderstanding actually is.
To be honest, it’s fine if people I’m close to on a daily basis, like Professor Cathy or the other kids, get the wrong idea. Through conversation, I can usually figure out what they’re thinking and I’m confident I can react accordingly.
But Professor Park A-ram and I are strictly just a somewhat friendly professor and cadet.
We joke around occasionally, and she looks out for me, but we aren’t in a relationship where we bare our inner souls to each other. So, when she comes at me like this out of the blue, it’s flustering.
“I’d like you to be honest with me. Kang So-hyun is a cadet that our darling Cathy is fond of, and truth be told, he’s a student I quite cherish myself.”
…You do? I’m actually a little touched.
No, wait, that’s not the point.
Just how far does this misunderstanding go? I need to know the premise so I can act accordingly.
At the very least, based on what she said, it seems she doesn’t think Kang So-hyun and the wicked Masked Villain are the same person. Is that a relief?
[I have no idea what you are talking about. Why bring up that name so suddenly?]
Right, let’s just ask her straight out. Since this feels like the deduction phase of a mystery novel, she might actually spill everything quite easily.
“Yes, well. I didn’t suspect it from the start. But I started having doubts since the Hansol Orphanage incident. How could a mere cadet know the truth and even warn me to prepare in advance? And then there was the Succubus Incident, where he discovered the succubi alongside Cadet Lilac.”
She’s actually doing it. She’s laying it all out.
No, more importantly, why is everyone in this world such a talented novelist?
How on earth do you reach the conclusion that there’s some kind of connection between me and the Masked Villain from just that?
[And? What does that have to do with me?]
“Yes, looking at just that, it might seem unrelated. But I noticed something while reading Cathy’s report. She mentioned a masked woman who looked similar to you appearing in the Dream World.”
Is she talking about Sun Wukong?
“She and the succubi stated that their goal was to make Kang So-hyun the Consort of the Demon King. But where did they learn about his constitution? The fact that he is so familiar with Demonic Energy that he can adapt to it easily, yet possesses a Vessel of the soul strong enough to return even after being completely consumed by it.”
Uh, well. That is true.
Strictly speaking, I’m just using strangely favorable Artifacts and my vast Innate True Qi to offset the effects, but to others, it would certainly look that way. Usually, once you’re consumed by Demonic Energy, returning is no simple feat.
“As I examined the reports up to that point, it occurred to me. In the past, you claimed you put Kang So-hyun in danger to test Lilac, but for some reason, you saved him when you didn’t have to, didn’t you?”
Huh…? What…? That was just because I suddenly ran out of Innate True Qi, so I drifted into some favorability farming…
“You tried to act as if nothing happened, but the report noted that your movements looked strangely suspicious at the end. Here is what I think.”
[Fine. A delusion of that caliber is actually quite intriguing. Do go on.]
I wasn’t lying; I was being sincere. I honestly wish someone would teach Seo-ha how to write a story like this.
“You originally intended to truly dispose of Kang So-hyun, but you realized he possessed the constitution your comrades required and saved him, didn’t you? And through some means, you’ve been interfering with his actions ever since.”
Wow. So, she’s written this entire drama based on one similar-looking mask and past incident records? At this point, it’s not a delusion; it’s a talent.
[How could you possibly reach such a conclusion?]
“Yes, well, I know. It’s a ridiculous idea that borders on a delusion. But if that were the case, shouldn’t you have dismissed it as nonsense immediately?”
No, it was just so interesting, and I needed to know what you were thinking.
So, it seemed the Masked Villain and the Consort of the Demon King incident—two things that were completely separate in my mind—had somehow become intertwined in the professor’s head.
[If I were in league with them, how do you explain me stopping the recent drug incident? According to your logic, I should be on the side of those trying to make him the Consort of the Demon King.]
“Well, this is truly just my speculation, but perhaps there is more than one entity after him. With a constitution like that, any number of devils would be after him.”
Oh, I see. Right. There are seven actual Demon Kings, after all. If their goals overlap, it wouldn’t be strange for them to be hostile toward each other.
But there’s still a problem, isn’t there?
[…Fine, let us assume that delusion is correct. That raises one more question. If that is the case, why haven’t I kidnapped him already and handed him over to my comrades?]
“You came alone again this time.”
…Hm?
“Of course, it could be because you’re confident in your skills, but perhaps the organization you belong to doesn’t interfere with each other as much as one might think. An organization where everyone has their own set goals?”
Wait…? She’s taking it there…?
“An organization where, just as you are loyal to the new rules and your master, others have their own purposes—and while they don’t interfere, they don’t actively help each other either.”
Whoa, whoa. It felt a bit forced at first, but now that the settings are overlapping, it actually sounds somewhat plausible.
[Indeed, unless there is an order from that person, we tend not to interfere with one another much.]
“So, that’s my deduction. What do you think? Am I right? Or wrong? I’d like you to be honest.”
You’re so incredibly wrong.
I wanted to shout that right then and there, but I hesitated for a brief moment. I wondered if there was any benefit to jumping on this narrative. It was such a strangely plausible setup that I felt I could use it if I wanted to.
“Why aren’t you answering? I’m not exactly the type who enjoys waiting.”
[Hmph. Does this Q&A even have any meaning?]
“Pardon?”
[If—and I mean strictly if—that delusion were all true, what would you do? Would you give up the Philosopher’s Stone for the sake of your student?]
“Ah, the Philosopher’s Stone is certainly a waste to lose. Looking at its state, it seems very close to what I’ve been searching for.”
[Indeed. Then…]
“Since it’s a waste, I’ll just have to tell Cathy and Kang So-hyun to come find it with me. Hmm, if things go well, I might even gain a graduate student. That wouldn’t be bad at all.”
I had asked the question just to buy some time to think, but the answer I got was quite shocking.
There was no way she would give it up.
This was the woman whose life had been ruined because of that Philosopher’s Stone. In the original story, she was deceived by The Twelve, and before my regression, she was broken because I lured her into a trap.
“Why are you looking at me like that? Did you think I’d sell out someone my darling likes just for a piece of rock? I’m not that much of a piece of trash. I may be a witch, but still.”
Her words felt like a hammer blow to my head for the first time in a long while.
That’s right. In the original story, Professor Cathy dies. Before the regression, I, wary of her power, disposed of her before she could regain it.
I had never even had a proper conversation with her. No, perhaps until this very moment, I hadn’t even been looking at the person named Park A-ram properly.
Despite that, I had been certain that things would be no different this time.
A sudden wave of unpleasantness washed over me. Even though I thought I was viewing the people of this world as human beings, was I still, deep down, seeing them as dolls—as mere characters?
“Now then, I’ll ask one last time. Is this just my delusion? Or is it the truth? Depending on your answer, I’m sorry, but I might have to become your enemy!”
She was serious.
If I affirmed it as the truth here, she would become my enemy without hesitation. Even with the treasure she had sought her whole life, after having her true self sealed away, right before her eyes.
I forced myself to swallow the surge of self-loathing. Now was not the time to wallow in such feelings.
[I am sorry to say, but you are wrong.]
In reality, it was indeed just her delusion. But simply saying no wouldn’t be enough to convince her.
[At the very least, we have no intention of making that cadet you cherish into the Consort of the Demon King.]
“How can I believe that?”
[The devil’s proof. Suspicion for the sake of suspicion. Doubting is easy, but the effort to prove innocence always requires a mountain of evidence.]
Before she could say anything else, I quickly reached out my arm.
[However, I shall indulge you. I will show you through my actions.]
“Actions…?”
[I promise. You may consider it a contract. If a devil appears and targets your precious cadet again…]
“Wait, watch your phrasing, will you? It sounds a bit weird when you put it like that.”
Honestly, I was just saying whatever came to mind, so it probably did sound strange, but I had no intention of correcting it. I didn’t have the mental leeway to pick my lines carefully right now.
[I will stop them by any means necessary. As long as he does not desire the power of a devil himself, I shall prevent any devil from daring to covet him. Does that earn me some trust?]
“Ah, um. Why are you so confident? Was I really just mistaken?”
[I won’t say you were entirely wrong, but we at least have no intention of making him the Consort of the Demon King. The masked woman you saw is no devil. Though she does have rather poor taste. I shall tell you the rest once you decide to become our ally.]
— No matter how poor my taste is, could it possibly be as bad as yours?
I heard a voice that sounded indignant, but I didn’t have the luxury of paying attention to it. I held out the beautiful red stone in my hand toward her.
“…Eh? Wait, what does this mean?”
[A gift.]
“I haven’t said I’d be your ally yet. What if I just take this and run?”
Well, maybe she would.
But even if she did, I didn’t think I’d regret it much. Half of it was gratitude for her saying she could give up what she had searched for her whole life for my sake. Of course, Professor Cathy’s influence was likely much larger, but the fact remained that she had made a decision for me.
And the other half was an apology for still seeing them as characters.
“…Aha, so you’re saying you can easily get another one of these?”
No, that wasn’t what I meant.
[From my perspective, it was a gesture of goodwill.]
“…Look. I really don’t get it, so I’m going to ask plainly. What is it you actually want?”
Man, she really doesn’t believe me.
Can’t a masked villain just purely provide one of the world’s rarest alchemical treasures as an apology and a sign of goodwill?
Okay, that sounds like bullshit. I wouldn’t believe it either. Which means I have to give her a convincing answer.
Given the image I’ve built up, I could threaten her, or I could make a plausible prophecy using information about future events.
But I didn’t really want to do that.
[It is truly just simple goodwill.]
“Pardon? What?”
[Goodwill. Seeking the favor of someone I wish to make an ally. Is that not natural?]
“I don’t know how many times I’ve said this today, but you expect me to believe that?”
[What is there not to believe? Showing favor first to someone whose favor you desire, and hoping to receive it in return. Is that not basic communication?]
Looking at her dumbfounded expression, it seemed she found it incredibly hard to accept.
[Well, if you truly cannot believe it, then fine. Consider it a token of sincerity, expressing my hope that not only you but those around you will also look upon us favorably.]
Hm?
I had said it without much thought, but she shuddered violently. What was it this time?
“Aha, you have a nasty personality. So it’s a warning?”
…What is she talking about now? Why does this conversation feel like it’s on a loop?
“This is like something the Yakuza would do. They say that sometimes, the more necessary and appropriate a gift is, the more it instills fear in the recipient.”
No, it’s not like that! It’s just a gesture of goodwill. Why won’t you believe me?
“I should understand this to mean that if I don’t become your ally, you’ll make me regret it even more than the favor I’ve received, right?”
[I believe I said that was not my intention.]
“Fine. It’s not like I had much of a choice anyway. In exchange, if I join your side, you must absolutely guarantee the safety of my people.”
I almost reflexively denied it again, but I managed to hold my tongue. I knew for sure that if I tried to explain myself now, I wouldn’t be getting home today.
[Fine. You will think whatever you want anyway, so let us leave it at that. As long as they do not stand in our way, we have no intention of being hostile toward them either.]
“…What if.”
[Ah, just do whatever you want.]
“Pardon?”
Ah, wait.
I lost my focus because of the looping conversation and let that slip.
[I said do whatever you want. If our goals do not align, then betray us; if you think we are a threat, then eliminate us. Think and act for yourself.]
“No, wait, your vibe just now…”
She’s not letting that go…?
[Then, I shall take it that you have agreed to join us. I will relay the other details when we all meet face-to-face to talk.]
Leaving her behind as she sent suspicious glances my way, I injected Mana into the bracelet.
I don’t know anymore.
She said she’d join, right? Then that’s that.
A minor misunderstanding might have occurred, but future me will handle it.
“Wait a second…!”
[Have you ever seen a villain wait just because they were told to?]
I’m counting on you, future me!