Chapter 737
Chapter 737
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 737
Chapter Title: Academy's Savior
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‘Sung Yu-jin likes me.’
From Choi Da-yeon’s perspective, Sung Yu-jin couldn’t care less about Lee Kang-hu. You could tell just from the way he looked at Lee Kang-hu and treated him. Logically speaking, there was no reason for someone like Sung Yu-jin to give a damn about him. And yet, he’d used Lee Kang-hu as an excuse to get close to her.
‘He demanded compensation from me, citing Lee Kang-hu’s rudeness and mistakes.’
She felt responsible for not having full control over Lee Kang-hu, so if Sung Yu-jin wanted money, she’d pay up; if he wanted weapons or armor, she’d procure the best ones as recompense. Taking responsibility came naturally as the superior.
‘But what Sung Yu-jin really wanted was a hug with me.’
Mentioning Lee Kang-hu had just been a pretext.
And a hug could only mean one thing.
Sung Yu-jin had feelings for her.
Choi Da-yeon’s face, usually so aloof in public, flushed faintly.
‘He won’t confess right away, though. Sung Yu-jin has his pride, and there are always eyes watching.’
Someone of his stature couldn’t ignore the surroundings the way she could. But it wouldn’t be long. He’d confess the moment he got the chance.
‘The son of Sung Ha-ri, once hailed as the greatest hero and still one of only five S-rank heroes in Korea... The Sung family is the True Spirit Sung Clan. Their prestige might not match the Gold Coin Group, but their history and traditions outshine it.’
Sung Ha-ri’s name alone made him untouchable, and his family was exceptional too. Sung Yu-jin had a background that wouldn’t bend to hers.
Lost in thoughts of a future with Sung Yu-jin, Choi Da-yeon nodded unconsciously.
‘...Not bad. Sung Yu-jin’s personality doesn’t seem off-putting. And...’
She recalled the sensation of that hug. For a split second, her mind had gone completely blank. His embrace was warm, and the way he held her tight was so profoundly fulfilling it defied words.
Above all, that pressure against her lower abdomen. Something radiating an overwhelming presence.
Sung Yu-jin was definitely packing.
Yoo Seung-jun, skipping academy, sat on his bed replaying yesterday’s memory. The sensation of Kim Cheon-woo’s greatsword slicing through his body wouldn’t fade.
‘Kim Cheon-woo...!’
Hatred and rage boiled up inside him.
That hypocritical bastard pretending to be a good guy. Just imagining academy life alongside him made his stomach churn.
‘Kim Cheon-woo ruined my academy days from the start. And Sung Yu-jin, siding with him—that fucker’s no better.’
Kill Kim Cheon-woo. Sung Yu-jin later.
‘Couldn’t use my demon powers in the simulator room with all those eyes... But without witnesses, beating Kim Cheon-woo would be easy. I’ll kill him!’
Yoo Seung-jun ground his teeth.
Three days passed.
I headed downtown around midnight, slipping into the back alleys to visit the Jewel of the Backstreets.
“You’re here.”
Yoon Hee-jung spoke. Her voice was distorted, and she wore a black robe that shrouded her entire body except her eyes, which were heavily made up to obscure their shape.
“How’d my request go?”
“Handled it as asked. Added insulation and boosted the defense. I guarantee you’ll be pleased.”
Yoon Hee-jung lifted the box containing the clothes. I touched them—warmth radiated through.
“Payment’s settled. Oh, got another request if that’s alright?”
“No reason to turn it down.”
After wrapping up the extra commission, I stood and started undressing.
“W-what are you doing taking your clothes off?!”
“Testing the performance. Wearing it myself is the surest way to check, right?”
“...You’ve already verified it, haven’t you? And paid up front...”
“I know the enchantment worked—that’s why I paid in full. This is for the fine details. I’m the type who tests gear the second it’s in my hands.”
“Haa... Fine. I’ll give you space. No need to come back out; just head outside when you’re done.”
Yoon Hee-jung slipped through the inner door. I changed into the enchanted clothes. Warm, but not generating heat on its own—just specialized for insulation.
Once I confirmed she was gone, I activated Spirit Eye. Claiming a performance test was just an excuse to get her out of the room.
‘Yup, there’s a barrier inside. Sneaking in won’t be easy.’
I could see the barrier, but manipulating it was beyond me. Smashing it wouldn’t help either.
I pulled a small camera from my inventory.
‘Better than some magical gimmick.’
With only a chair and table around, planting it carelessly would be obvious. After a moment’s thought, I headed to the corner—a spot that could capture both the inner and outer doors.
I drew a small knife from my pocket. Sword aura flickered at the tip.
Carved a shallow hole in the wall, slotted the camera in, and patched it up to hide it completely.
‘Here’s hoping it catches solid proof that the Jewel of the Backstreets is academy teacher Yoon Hee-jung...’
I didn’t stop at just this spot. There could be other passages connecting elsewhere, so I planted cameras in different alleys and near the academy teachers’ dorms too.
Lamia: Yu-jin-nim. Info on Yoon Hee-jung as ordered, plus details on Hero Union, holders of her debts.
Lamia had sent the message.
She was my devoted slave—more like a secretary in practice. She was living apart from me now. Her official cover was pianist. Regrettable, but it was better for her freedom if we stayed separate.
‘Hero Union.’
Hero Union.
A company founded decades ago by hero alumni. They handled all sorts: securities tied to clans, loans to heroes, support for hero clans—basically mimicking the association.
‘What Hero Union’s really after is the second Korean Hero Association.’
Near impossible. Wouldn’t happen unless the Hero Association suddenly collapsed.
‘They know that. Their true play is a hero-specialized finance firm. They want to run money games with high-earning heroes.’
I pored over the data Lamia sent. She obeyed perfectly, but her intel-gathering wasn’t pro-level. Still, it had everything I needed.
‘As expected, Hero Union’s been up to illegal shit on the sly. Heh.’
Time to move.
Today was Saturday—no academy—so I had plenty of free time.
‘There it is.’
Walking the Seoul streets, I spotted my target.
A small office on the second floor of a building tucked in a street corner.
Omeome Capital.
Loan shark joint, plain as the name.
I strode up to the second floor and threw open the door. Inside was a surprisingly clean office, not the dive I expected.
“Welcome!”
A sweet-looking female clerk greeted me with a smile. Heavy makeup hid her true face, but she couldn’t fool my sharp eyes. Plain as hell without it.
I flashed her a big grin.
“You fucking bitch. Get the boss.”
“Pardon?”
“Get the boss!”
I grabbed the massive air conditioner by the door with one hand and hurled it. It whooshed past the clerk, smashing into her desk. Crash! Shards of AC and desk flew amid the racket.
“Kyaaaaah!”
The clerk screamed and crumpled.
My gaze shifted right. A door flew open, and men poured out.
“What the fuck?!”
“You punk! Know where you are, causing a scene?!”
“Deputy Kim! You okay?!”
Four guys, all built like tanks with rough faces. I snatched a nearby potted plant and chucked it at the leader—the one in the priciest suit.
“Agh!”
Direct hit to the head. Pot shattered, soil and unidentified plant spraying everywhere.
“Boss! You alright?!”
“This bastard! Lost your mind?!”
One lunged at me. Too fast for a normie, steps trained.
‘Awakener? Barely scratched the surface.’
Jab flew at my face. I tilted my head back, dodged, and drove an uppercut into his chin. He rocketed backward, crashed, and went lights out.
The men’s faces hardened. They’d clocked me as an awakener.
“W-what’s this all about?!”
The boss stepped forward, demanding answers.
“You asking ‘cause you don’t know?”
“If we screwed up, just tell us!”
“You screwed up somehow.”
“What...”
No more chit-chat. I charged, unleashing fists and feet with gusto. The clerk got no mercy either. Not cute enough.
After the storm, they knelt, heads bowed.
‘Brings back memories.’
Academy’s Savior, round one.
Back when I ran as a villain.
Fucked every beauty in sight, killed every annoyance. Stole whatever I wanted, bombed city centers when bored. Rampaging my way became the first SSS-rank villain.
‘Mekin. If that fucker hadn’t stabbed me in the back, I’d have ruled the world, every babe at my feet... Damn him. I’ll kill him for sure.’
Irritation surged; I backhanded the boss’s head.
“Gack!”
He tumbled across the floor, blood trickling from his ear—eardrum busted.
“C-can’t we talk this out...?”
“You’d get it if I talked?”
“I would...! Just say what you want!”
“Shut down.”
“Huh?”
“Talking back again, huh.”
Bam!
Kicked his gut. He clutched it with both hands, resuming position.
“Shutting down. I said.”
“Outta nowhere?! Who the hell are you?! Think you’ll walk away scot-free? World ain’t that soft!”
Tough nut after a beating. Loan shark life toughens you.
“Can’t handle nice words, huh.”
“Nice? You barge in and beat us...!”
“No time for your bullshit.”
I stood, planted my right foot on his back, grabbed his arm with my left. He realized, face draining white.
“N-no fucking way...!”
“Should’ve listened when I was nice.”
Yanked with force. My physicals made ripping an arm live easy. Mana too. Him dying mid-process? Whatever.
“S-stop...! My bad...! Shutting down... please...”
“Too late.”
“Arrrraaaghh!”
Arm tore free. Tricky to isolate just the limb. Tough bastard—didn’t die. Hit pressure points to staunch blood, stomped his head.
“Shut down by end of day. Open tomorrow? Your head’s next, not arm.”
“Ughhh.... Y-yes.... Shutting down...”
Lifted foot. He lay trembling, unable to rise. Glanced sideways—staff avoided my eyes like plague.
Heading out, cops burst in.
“Police! Hands up!”
I raised mine.
Neighbor heard the noise and snitched, or a staffer sneaked a call. Staff looked relieved at the cops.
“Holy shit! Arm’s gone! Call an ambulance!”
“What the hell are you?!”
Guns trained on me. I said calmly,
“Why guns on me? I’m the victim here.”
“Victim? In this mess?! You’re an awakener, right? Hands up and kneel!”
“Ah, fuck. Officers. Know who I am? Academy student.”
“...Academy student?”