Chapter 381: I Don’t Need It Anymore. (Final)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 381: I Don’t Need It Anymore. (Final)
Immediately after returning from the Association, I visited the Chairperson’s office to handle the last remaining task before taking a well-deserved rest.
As my Secret Friend No. 2 and someone I’d built a deep bond with, I expected our Chairperson to be moved by my brilliant idea and immediately agree to join me.
Strangely, though she initially seemed happy to see me, her expression stiffened as the conversation progressed. Her face shifted from shock to despair, then from sadness to impact, finally settling on a look of total transcendence—the kind of face I usually made right before reaching enlightenment.
“Cadet Kang So-hyun. What on earth are you talking about…? I think I must have misheard you. Could you explain it one more time?”
Haha, what? So she just misheard me. That explains the face. It happens.
It’s not like I’d refuse to explain it again to our Chairperson.
“Well, I’ve been thinking. I’m not sure if we really need those Association bastards.”
“Fine. I agree with you quite strongly on that point.”
“So I want to scrap the whole thing and create an institution that heroes can actually rely on instead of the Association.”
“Alright. That seems a bit excessive, but it’s a plausible opinion.”
“Since I was at it, I already declared war and threatened them, so please serve as the representative of the private organization I’m going to build.”
“Okay, this is where you lost me. Since when did you decide on this? You were called to the Association today, and you already declared war and threatened them? And why are you asking me to be the representative?”
“Because if you step forward with your real identity instead of your fake one, you’re the most trustworthy adult I know.”
“…Does that mean you want me to step forward as Leilan Claudia, the 32nd ranked hero?”
“Yes.”
“…Well, those who need to know my identity already do, but I’m keeping it hidden for a reason. Don’t you think there’s a purpose behind that?”
“To be honest, I know why you’re hiding it. But I’m asking anyway.”
There were several reasons why the Chairperson lived under a false identity instead of her true form, but the primary one was her distaste for the Academy being perceived as her personal property.
She believed that if she, a High Elf, continued to serve as Chairperson indefinitely, people would inevitably view Leilan Academy as her personal domain, increasing the likelihood of it being used as a pawn in power struggles.
Well, she wasn’t exactly wrong about that.
“…Fine. If it’s Cadet Kang So-hyun asking, I suppose you have your reasons. Then I assume you’ve prepared a justifiable reason for me to join this game, even if it means breaking my own convictions?”
Honestly, whether it was justifiable or not was for the Chairperson to decide, but knowing her personality, I didn’t think she would refuse.
“It’s because your ideals aren’t being respected anyway.”
“…Hmm?”
“Those who know your true identity treat your convictions as a tool to keep you bound, and those who don’t know who you are—ironically enough—compare you to your true self and try to belittle the current you as much as possible.”
“…Well, I can’t deny that.”
“Neutrality is already dead. No matter what you think, there are plenty of people who already view the Academy as your personal faction.”
“Wait a moment. I feel like I can see the future here. If I keep listening, I’m going to be persuaded. Can we take a short break?”
“Then let’s have a cup of tea.”
“…Fine. Is green tea alright?”
“I can keep talking while you brew the tea, right?”
“…I’ll just listen to the rest now.”
After suppressing the Chairperson’s minor rebellion, I resumed the conversation.
“Since you can’t be completely free from power struggles or political infighting anyway, isn’t it better to at least divert their attention away from the Academy?”
“…Are you saying that if I openly start building my own faction, the Academy will fall out of the spotlight?”
“Yes. Even the smart ones won’t be able to ignore it if you make a declaration in your true form. At the very least, it creates another target for surveillance similar to the Academy, which will mean fewer eyes watching the school.”
“That sounds like a tempting proposal if I only look at the benefits, but usually, such sweet offers have a catch, don’t they?”
“Normally, yes, but this isn’t a normal proposal. If you just lend me your name and face, I can handle the rest myself.”
“…Don’t you think that sounds exactly like something a con artist would say?”
“Don’t you trust me?”
“…For a moment there, when you said you’d retaken Alcatraz and killed Flash, you sounded more trustworthy than you do right now.”
She said that, but she was already almost convinced.
I didn’t just feel it instinctively; I could literally see what she was thinking.
‘…Right. Perhaps this might actually be better. If I sit in the representative’s chair, I can take the fall for him if something goes wrong, and dangerous villains will target me before they target Cadet Kang So-hyun.’
That’s our Chairperson for you.
Even if she acts like she hates it, she’s already planning to help me in her head.
‘And the Masked Woman might be among those villains.’
…Wait. You’re doing this to help me, right? I think I just saw a weird selfish motive flash by.
No, let’s just assume I saw wrong and move on.
It’s not like I can interrogate her about it right now.
“I guarantee you, the Association will be of no help in stopping the threats to come, and you won’t be able to protect the Academy on your own. You need me, and I need you.”
“…Fine. But my name alone won’t be enough. Do you have a way to pull S-rank heroes or others away from the Association?”
“Yes. Not immediately, but in the long run, we’ll be able to bring over those who no longer want to stay with the Association. It’s probably already starting to break as a news bulletin.”
“The news?”
With a puzzled look, the Chairperson turned on the TV mounted on the wall. A news report was just beginning.
— A massive giant’s silhouette appears in the sky! Is this the power of a new S-rank villain?
— A phantom or the truth? What is the goal of the person who terrorized the Association…?
— While there were no actual casualties in this terror attack, many people have collapsed after witnessing the sight…
“…Cadet Kang So-hyun?”
“Ah, I did do that, but that’s not it. That’s not what I’m talking about! I’m not trying to threaten them with force.”
“I can trust you on that, right? I really don’t want to be your enemy.”
“I don’t want that either, okay…? That’s not it. It should be coming out soon.”
— The Association’s response to this attack is… What? One moment. We are in the middle of a live broadcast, you can’t just—! Uh? E-Emergency breaking news!
“Watch.”
— From an anonymous informant…!
With a beep, the news suddenly cut off and a broadcast termination notice appeared. Of course, the news was just one method. Even a quick internet search on a smartphone showed trending terms like ‘Association Corruption’ and ‘Association President’s Affair.’
The results were being scrubbed immediately, but unless they shut down the entire internet, they wouldn’t be able to stop the deep-web sites.
Well, and it didn’t matter if the internet was blocked.
Rose was currently distributing physical flyers in real-time.
“…You certainly gathered a lot of evidence. It’s impressive, but even if all of this is true, only a fraction of it will reach the public, Cadet Kang So-hyun.”
“I know. That’s actually the point.”
“…Hmm?”
“When I threatened them earlier, I provoked them by telling them to try and block it all if they could. So they’ll mistakenly think my goal is to turn the public against them by exposing their corruption.”
“Is that not it?”
“Chairperson. Let’s say they use pressure to force the broadcasts and the internet to hold the line. But what are they going to do about the physical flyers? They’ll have to deploy people to collect them, right?”
“…I suppose?”
“No matter how great a hero is, they can’t collect flyers and evidence being distributed simultaneously across multiple locations in an instant.”
“Aha.”
“Then the relatively clean heroes—the ones in the white or gray areas—will be drafted into the collection operation.”
Exactly.
Public sentiment? Honestly, it’s already hitting rock bottom without me trying, and they’ll keep digging that hole themselves.
What I was really aiming for was the perception of the heroes who would be collecting those flyers.
If they collect the flyers on orders, they’ll inevitably see the contents. Even if they’re ordered not to look, suspicion will bloom—they’ll wonder what’s inside to warrant such a reaction.
It won’t take long for them to learn of the Association’s atrocities. Not just the righteous heroes, but even those who aren’t perfectly moral but have a basic sense of decency will start thinking, ‘This is a bit much.’
Or there will be those who simply don’t want to get caught in the crossfire.
As I announce more corruption and reveal more of the Association’s darkness, the number of such people will grow. Eventually, when a means to replace the Association is established, the only ones left who want to stay will be those who have gained too much from the Association—the ones already complicit in the corruption.
As for those being used by the Association because their weaknesses are being held against them, I’ll pull them all out before then, so it’s fine.
“I think this sometimes, but I’m truly glad Cadet Kang So-hyun doesn’t have evil intentions.”
“Pardon?”
“If what you were trying to build right now wasn’t an institution to replace the Association, but a Villain Alliance, the heroes would have been utterly helpless.”
…Uh, well. I can’t really deny that. I do have a track record of destroying the world, after all.
“…Why aren’t you answering? You’re making me nervous.”
“I just thought about it for a second, and I really don’t think being a villain suits my constitution.”
“That is very relieving to hear. So? Is there anything I need to do right away?”
“Not right now. I need to prepare, and the flyers need to be distributed consistently. You probably won’t have anything major to do until next year.”
“That’s a relief.”
“Ah, but I would like you to release one statement in your true form.”
“Something like, ‘I, the Chairperson, am disappointed in the Association’s conduct’?”
“You catch on quick.”
The Association bastards probably still think they can turn this around, that there’s a way out, but this was a game I couldn’t possibly lose.
It wasn’t because I was smart or talented; it was because I started with a hand that was impossible to beat.
If you don’t like it, you should have regressed too.
Anyway, it felt like I’d put out the most urgent fires and started the investment for the future.
“I can finally rest now, right? I’ve had a really productive day.”
I was starting to miss Luna and Wolf, and everyone was probably worried.
“Man, how long has it been since I was in the dorms?”
Time to go back.
* * *
“Luna.”
I had overlooked one fact.
“Hmph.”
What had I overlooked?
The fact that no matter how precocious our Luna was, and even if she was technically a deity, she was still a tender young girl with the sensibilities of a child.
To put it simply, Luna was sulking.
Even when I’d happily bought fried chicken on the way back, I never imagined such a trial would be waiting for me.
“I’m really sorry. Daddy tried to come home quickly, but I was so late you got angry, right…?”
“No. Daddy got healthy, so that’s fine.”
…Hmm, then what is it? I can’t read the mind of our precious princess since she’s a deity born from the stars.
“Then is it because I didn’t come to see you as soon as I arrived…? I should have at least shown my face to Luna before going to work, even if I was busy. I was mean, wasn’t I?”
“No, not that either.”
…Not that either? Then what? I’ve done so many things wrong I can’t even tell.
I looked at Ha-ni for help, but she was just grinning as if our interaction was the cutest thing in the world.
So mean.
“Can you tell Daddy what I did wrong? I’ll be really careful from now on. I promise.”
“…Daddy cheated on me.”
…Huh? Did dating a woman other than Ha-ni hurt her young heart that much? No, wait, you liked both Ga-eul and Cathy Noona.
“A nasty woman and a really strong woman.”
…Eh?
“You relied on those two more than me.”
I wondered what she meant for a moment, but then names flashed through my mind.
Could she be talking about Mara and Sun Wukong?
I’d wondered why our princess, who usually used polite speech, was so upset. From her perspective, relying on other ‘deities’ similar to herself while not relying on her was apparently a form of cheating.
“…You’re my believer. But you’re cheating on me with other gods.”
…I’m in trouble.
If I laugh, she’ll definitely never forgive me.
But she’s so cute I feel like I’m going to burst out laughing.
“Pfft.”
Ha-ni had already lost it and let out a leak of laughter. Luna looked at Ha-ni with a face of utter despair, as if she’d witnessed the ultimate betrayal.
But even that face was cute.
Seriously, who does she take after to be this adorable?
Ah, I wanted to just relax and rest.
It looks like I’ll have to suffer a bit more just trying to hold back my laughter.