Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Apologies from the Heart
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Even though I'm the one who created this mess, it feels weird for me to say this.
"A first-year? It's a first-year. You're insane."
"...Yawn..."
May you rest in peace, Park Shin-woo.
He must be pretty pissed that his specialty, the Sleep spell, failed on two people including me.
Veins were bulging on Park Shin-woo's forehead. His tone was sharp, too.
In fact, I'd been irritating him the whole way here, but that's none of my business.
But I'd be mad too. A mission that was almost complete is about to fail because of some random guy who shows up out of nowhere. And that guy is slow as hell but keeps dropping obstacles while running away.
If you think about it, spending your whole life honing Sleep Magic, only for it not to work on two candidates who aren't even heroes, and then some weakling from a lower year stands up to you...
I'd be mad. I couldn't hold back either. Right?
But there's one thing he's getting wrong. Park Shin-woo is an elite spy nurtured by the Magic Association, a specialist. It's natural for him to be stronger than Justitia's students. He's on a whole other level.
Except for that guy and Kim Tae-hyun. Especially that brown-haired dude yawning sleepily no matter what nonsense gets spewed in his face.
That guy is...
The one you absolutely shouldn't mess with in this world after demons. The human you have to be most cautious of.
"You done with your bullshit?"
"Bull... what? You little shit."
But there's no way Park Shin-woo knows that. Aside from Isia, whom the Anti-Magic Association ordered him to target, he probably never even spared a glance at any first-years. He'd spend that time drawing one more line on his magic circle.
That's probably how he came to that conclusion.
"...What are you doing?"
Mana gathered in Park Shin-woo's hand. Not the usual invisible transparent magic circle, but a flashy, brilliant one meant to intimidate and overwhelm enemies.
He must have realized the deed was done, and if he didn't capture Isia here, it would be big trouble, so he planned to suppress her with force and hunt me down.
Of all his options, this was the worst choice. He'd already disturbed that guy's sleep, so getting beaten was inevitable, but deploying a full magic circle turned a light beating into something much worse.
The future was clear as day. I watched the scene unfold, palms sweating.
The most entertaining spectacles in the world are...
First, watching a fire.
Second, watching a fight.
"Scared? Surrender and tell me about the guy who ran here."
Dozens of magic circles had deployed behind Park Shin-woo's back. Enough to make an ordinary person piss themselves on the spot. Even active heroes would struggle with that many.
But...
Snap—
A crisp finger snap echoed at the same time.
"Huh?"
They vanished. The magic that had been primed to fire, glowing brilliantly, returned to nothing.
Park Shin-woo, left with nothing, tried to draw another circle in panic, but his hands just waved in the air—nothing appeared.
"I have no idea what's going on."
Oh Seung-jin approached. Slowly, fists clenched.
"Waking me up pisses me off enough, and now you're talking shit and threatening me with magic?"
Seeing that, Park Shin-woo assumed a combat stance. Switching to close quarters when magic failed showed solid training.
Mages usually focus solely on magic and skip close combat training. But as a spy, close quarters was basic for Park Shin-woo. Among first-years, few could beat him hand-to-hand.
Too bad. Like I keep saying, that's Oh Seung-jin you're facing.
"Time to take a beating."
Then came the dull thuds. Sounds you couldn't imagine coming from hitting a person. I turned away, stomach churning at the one-sided beatdown where he couldn't even resist.
There sat a black-haired beauty. Long straight hair cascading to her waist.
At least we rescued our funding source—no, our maid, no, our heroine. Silver lining, right?
Just chalk the guy getting pummeled up to karma.
More importantly, if Isia wakes up now, won't I look like the kidnapper?
"Don't get up. Just stay down."
If she wakes now, it'll be a hassle. Wait until things settle.
Did my prayers reach her?
The beating sounds lasted minutes, then quieted as Park Shin-woo couldn't even groan.
"Mm...?"
Isia rubbed her eyes.
Oh no. Please.
"Where... Oh."
Her eyes met mine. Her gaze darted quickly. Her mind cleared. The last scene she remembered. Alone with me in a tight space.
Isia bolted upright, hugging herself and crawling into the corner.
Her expression was like she was staring at trash. That hurts a bit. I rescued you, you know?
Her lips moved, about to spit something out. I knew what it'd be without hearing it, so I rushed over and clamped her mouth shut.
This totally makes me look like the kidnapper. But no choice.
If she screams now, Oh Seung-jin's mess could spread here.
"Mmph—!! Mmmph!! Mmph!!!"
I couldn't make out the words. But probably something like "You trash!" No, please.
I always think this. Why do I, with my weak strength, always try to pin people down physically? Do I lack learning ability or something?
Isia easily shook off my hand, jumped up, and backed away, arms shielding her body and face.
Then she opened her mouth.
"You trash!! I knew it would be like this!!"
Loud enough to echo across the rooftop. Her voice was like she'd swallowed a train horn.
"I knew from when you said I should be your maid!! You pervert!!"
She's ranting stuff like "You're done for!! My association will!!" Please. Just stop.
If this keeps up, Oh Seung-jin—
I froze. I'd been trying to shush Isia, but it wasn't necessary anymore.
I'd locked eyes with lifeless brown ones.
"You think I'm easy just 'cause I lost once?! I have enough power to protect myself—"
Oh. Please.
"Shut up for a sec...."
Please.
"Apology?"
"I'm sorry."
"Again. Put your heart into it."
"I'm sorry...."
"More. With more remorse."
"I'm... I'm so sorry!!!"
I nodded at Isia's deep bow. Apologies have to come from the heart. Obviously.
We're currently standing in front of Park Shin-woo's body (not really). Oh Seung-jin glanced at us and left without a word.
Probably a mix of reasons, but mostly laziness. Lucky he's so moody.
It took quite a while to make the damn black-haired girl understand. Explaining was quick, but calming her down took forever.
She thought I was a full-on criminal and even started deploying magic. Without Lachesis, I thought I was dead.
I even saw Grandma waving from the Jordan River.
"If you're sorry, do what I tell you from now on. Got it?"
"...That's a bit much. Huh? What are you doing?"
"Autopsy."
"That's for dead people!!"
He's half-dead, so autopsy fits. I rummaged through Park Shin-woo's battered body. Not my thing at all. Just checking for anything useful.
Don't look at me like that, Isia.
After groping around, I felt something on his chest. Pulled it out: an artifact like a magic plaque.
"Oh."
Jackpot. Heaven must recognize my hard work. I grinned and slipped the magic plaque into my Inventory.
This is an escape artifact from Park Shin-woo's organization, called Reverse Summon Magic. It teleports you to a pre-set location. Why didn't he use it earlier? Blame Oh Seung-jin's unique mana.
Anyway, I got a one-use life extension. Can't complain. I can ask Lachesis or Benia to tweak the coordinates later. Benia's sleeping, so Lachesis it is.
"What was that just now?"
Isia asked. Ugh, annoying. Should I tell her to stand over there with hands up? Nah, she's not a kid. I ignored her and kept searching the body.
Hoping for more goodies. But what came out was unexpected.
From his back pocket: a badge. A pendant with the Magic Association's Grimoire emblem crossed out in red—an Anti-Magic Association mark.
Useless to me, so I tossed it to Isia.
"Guy from the Anti-Magic side. Looks like he was dead serious about infiltrating. Tell them to tighten security."
"Huh? Anti-Magic? For real? Wait?"
I ignored Isia's confused stare and stood up. Rescued Isia, looted Park Shin-woo—no reason to stick around.
"Where are you going?"
"To get help. Stay here."
In the original story, Park Shin-woo loses to Kim Tae-hyun, escapes with the artifact, bides his time, and raids the academy again.
But we took him down early and uncovered his identity sooner, so the Association will handle precautions.
Isia's dad is a total daughter dotist. Cold and harsh on the surface, but the biggest daddy's girl type deep down. He'll probably assign escorts.
Meaning I don't have to get involved directly anymore. I'd be crazy to unless something like today happens.
Magic Association forever. Daughter doters forever. My brilliant brain forever.
I went to the staff room, told a woken teacher there was big trouble on the rooftop, then headed back to the Cooking Club to grab Raphael and Lachesis before going to the dorms.
Quite a few people were up, but Sleep Magic durations vary, so many were still out. Including our angel.
"Slept well? Then carry yourself."
"This is the way to our dorm? It's a street?"
Why does this damn cat pretend not to hear? I'm exhausted to death. Partly from running around carrying Isia, partly from piggybacking Raphael on the way back.
She's surprisingly light too. Compared to how much she stuffs herself. Where do all those calories go?
Overhearing chatter on the way:
—Slept so well. Suddenly got super sleepy, weird right? Fell asleep without realizing.
—You too? Me too. So strange~
—Saw on the board earlier. Someone from Magic Research Club messed up and deployed it by accident?
Already turned into some minor happening.
Justitia covers incidents well. What do you expect from an academy made in South Korea? Scary.
I barely made it to the dorm and laid Raphael on the bed. Then collapsed onto mine.
What a brutally tiring day. Wonder if it's okay to be this wiped. Decided: no more rolling up my sleeves from now on.
New motto starting today.
Interfere: Kim Tae-hyun. Roll in the dirt: Kim Tae-hyun.
Good. Great motto.
I was about to close my eyes naturally when something hit me, and I opened them.
"Gotta lay low tomorrow."
Magic Association related, after all. Probably the person I'm thinking of will come investigating. Annoying one. Better hide to avoid entanglement.
"Lachesis."
"From now on, keep people matching this description away from me."
Tch. I clicked my tongue, closed my eyes, and tried to sleep.
"Reveille!!"
Thanks to the angel who slept all day and woke up late, I couldn't sleep until way past bedtime.