Chapter 747
Chapter 747
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 747
Chapter Title: Academy's Savior
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Sshhhaaah.
The wind blew in. The sound of it brushing past was chilling, like the laughter of a demon.
"Dodge."
I said it. Kim Cheon-woo and I leaped back at the same time. Black flames erupted from the spot on the ground where we'd been standing.
'Not ordinary flames.'
I could sense demonic power emanating from the black fire. It was a dangerous, repulsive blaze.
I immediately scanned for Yoo Seung-jun. He wasn't coming after me—he was charging straight at Kim Cheon-woo like a bullet. A red tengu mask covered his face, and black crow wings flapped on his back.
'He's targeting Kim Cheon-woo, not me. Guess Kim really pissed him off.'
I considered jumping in to help, but decided to hold back and watch. I was curious about Kim Cheon-woo's true capabilities anyway, and trash like Yoo Seung-jun wouldn't stand a chance if I got serious.
'Might as well let Kim rack up some experience while I'm at it.'
Kim Cheon-woo activated his Holy Knight (S) trait. Golden holy energy cloaked his greatsword. Spear met greatsword in a clash. The one pushed back was Yoo Seung-jun, gripping his spear. It wasn't a difference in raw power—it was a matter of compatibility.
Yoo Seung-jun ground his teeth.
"That power! Damn holy power! I lost last time because of that!"
Yoo Seung-jun shot into the sky. Not to flee, but to claim the high ground. Kim Cheon-woo couldn't fly, so he had no way to strike back.
From above, Yoo Seung-jun wildly swung his spear. Gusts of wind and black flames spewed from the tip, slicing toward Kim Cheon-woo like blades.
Kim Cheon-woo moved with cool precision. Unlike before, he kept his composure all the way through. No signs of losing control.
"Think you can dodge forever? Die! Hahaha!"
Yoo Seung-jun, on the other hand, was drunk on demonic power. Endless mana no matter how much he burned through, and the fight going all one-sided. Like playing a game with cheats enabled.
He glanced my way. I thought he might be asking for help, but no—he bolted toward the forest.
"Kim Cheon-woo! You're already in my grasp!"
Yoo Seung-jun pursued with wild eyes. I'd been pushed out of his focus entirely.
'Good. Makes gathering evidence a breeze.'
I pulled out the camera I'd been hiding and openly followed them into the woods.
The one-sided beatdown I expected flipped the moment they hit the trees. Kim Cheon-woo scaled a trunk, leaped high, and sliced off Yoo Seung-jun's wing.
"Graaaah!"
Yoo Seung-jun crashed to the ground with a scream. Against anyone else, the wing might've regenerated, but it was a bad matchup for him.
'No need to watch anymore. It's over.'
Yoo Seung-jun couldn't keep up with Kim Cheon-woo's skill. Demonic power? His black flames and winds crumbled before the golden light without doing a damn thing.
Clang! Clank! Chaaang!
Greatsword and spear collided and rebounded over and over. Gold light and black flames mixed, canceled each other out, and vanished. The fight dragged on, damage piling up on Yoo Seung-jun's body.
"Graaaah! Why! Why are you getting in my way?!"
Yoo Seung-jun lost his mind and let his mana run rampant. His body eroded under the power. His mistake. The fragile balance shattered, opening a huge gap. Kim Cheon-woo didn't miss it.
Slash.
Yoo Seung-jun's right arm came clean off and thudded to the ground. His face went pale.
"I-Impossible. I...!"
He staggered back. Eyeing the exhausted Kim Cheon-woo, he turned to run. Without me there, he might've made it. But I stepped in and kicked him square in the back.
A burst like a kicked soccer ball. Yoo Seung-jun tumbled across the dirt. Dark red blood gushed from the stump.
"Sung Yu-jin...!"
He propped up his torso. Grinding his teeth, he glared daggers at me. I stomped his head into the dirt. Thud!
"Aaaagh! You bastard!!"
Mana burst out. He flailed his remaining left hand at me.
'Thunderbolt.'
Bzzzzzzt!
"Gaaaaah!"
His scream echoed. I didn't stop—swung my sword to sever the left arm too, then struck his pressure points to pin him down.
"Yu-jin. Isn't that a bit much? What if he dies...?"
Kim Cheon-woo approached. I let out a hollow chuckle.
"A demon like him won't croak that easily. You okay? You look beat."
"I'm... fine."
Kim Cheon-woo's face was ashen. Up close, his hands and feet were trembling. The battle adrenaline hadn't worn off yet.
I pressed my blade to Yoo Seung-jun's throat. He met my eyes, terror in his gaze as the cold metal bit in.
"No need to drag this out late at night. Answer straight, and we all go home."
I interrogated Yoo Seung-jun for over two hours. But the intel was slim. Just his identity and scraps on Japan's Magical Directorate.
"So. You know nothing about the other demons at Maruhan Academy?"
"Nothing. How many times do I have to say it? I work solo on my missions."
"No way the Directorate trusts a screw-up like you to handle everything alone."
"Believe what you want. I don't know."
"This prick. Won't lower those eyes?"
His glare pissed me off, so I booted his gut full force. He wailed in agony.
"Kim Cheon-woo. Anything you wanna ask this bastard?"
Kim Cheon-woo, who'd been watching quietly, stepped up.
"Yoo Seung-jun. Why become a demon? With your talent and skill, you could've been a hero without devil powers."
"...I'm an orphan. Joined the Directorate to survive, took the demon's power. Without it, I'd be a cold corpse rotting in some alley."
"......"
Kim Cheon-woo's face darkened. I clapped a hand on his shoulder.
"You don't buy that crap, right?"
"No reason for him to lie. Yoo Seung-jun made a pact with a demon just to survive..."
"You're hopeless."
Whack!
I smacked the back of his head. He rubbed it, glaring.
"What the hell?"
"You're frustrating me. Listen up. Yoo Seung-jun's no orphan—parents are alive and kicking. And 'survival pact'? Biggest bullshit excuse ever. In this world, demons get treated like garbage and erode your body. Orphanage odds are way better."
"It was... a lie...?"
"He's a demon. You're the idiot for swallowing it whole. Hell if I know why you bought it."
Caught in the lie, Yoo Seung-jun sweated bullets, eyes darting. As he opened his mouth to spin something, I waved my sword in the air. He shut up fast and peeked nervously.
"Even if it were true, don't waver. 'Tragic past made me demon'? No forgiveness for that. You know it, Kim Cheon-woo. Let him go, more people die later."
"...I just got shaky 'cause I'm green."
Kim Cheon-woo gripped his greatsword again, steadying himself.
"Sung Yu-jin, what about Yoo Seung-jun?"
"Was gonna kill him... Think you can?"
"Leave him to me. I can do it. He dies here."
"Told you, was gonna kill him anyway."
"...Not killing him? We squeezed all the info."
"Him dying and vanishing causes a mess at the academy. One student gone poof? Chaos inside and out."
Everyone knew Kim Cheon-woo and I weren't buddies with him. His sudden disappearance would stir shit up.
"Hand him to the Hero Association?"
"Don't want the hassle. Can't trust them anyway—Japan's Directorate could pull strings easy."
"Then what?"
"Someone capable, powerful, trustworthy."
"Who?"
"Got one."
I pulled out my smartphone and called. A calm voice came through the speaker.
-What is it?
Maruhan Academy's dean, Kang Ji-young.
"Auntie. Problem."
-Didn't you say you'd handle the last one?
"Not Hero Union stuff. Worse."
A sigh.
-...Spit it out.
I explained Yoo Seung-jun. Demon. Kang Ji-young switched to dead serious, asked our location.
She's Maruhan Academy's dean. Wants peace on campus. She'd hush this up. What happens to him after? Not my problem.
"Yoo Seung-jun. Iron-Blooded Lady's coming. Say your goodbyes. Bye."
"F-Fuck..."
Kang Ji-young's rep was steel. No mercy, no flexibility. Not entirely accurate, but zero pity for enemies? Spot on.
Armless Yoo Seung-jun peeked at us, then bolted upright to flee. I kicked a nearby rock. It sliced through the air, nailing his skull. He crumpled.
"Where you going? Kim Cheon-woo. Chop his legs."
"...That necessary? He might die..."
"Demons don't die that easy. Potion if needed. Not going soft on him, are you?"
"...Mercy for demons is a luxury."
Stoic-faced, Kim Cheon-woo advanced with his greatsword. It fell from above. A gruesome scream echoed.
Morning assembly.
Yoon Hee-jeong entered the classroom in a somber mood, unlike usual. The students, sensing the vibe, watched quietly.
"Bad news, everyone. Yoo Seung-jun dropped out yesterday."
"......"
Silence. No arguments or questions for Yoon Hee-jeong. Given his attitude, most figured good riddance.
'Not really a dropout, though.'
Kang Ji-young decided not to reveal he was a demon. Word of one infiltrating the academy? Reporters swarm, dean takes the heat.
I backed her call. Dean wobbles, academy crumbles. That's why I handed over Yoo Seung-jun and evidence to her. She keeps it running smooth.
'Yoo Seung-jun... either dead or locked up somewhere.'
"Uh... no questions, I guess. Today's schedule's as planned: dungeon training. You'll get results matching your prep, so relax and do your best."
Yoon Hee-jeong wrapped up quick and headed to her office. I slipped out quietly and followed.
Dungeon training began. Groups 1, 2, and 3 went in simultaneously. Waiting students watched progress on TV screens. Fair enough—each group had different dungeons.
"Group 6. Heard about you. Teammate Yoo Seung-jun quit? Tough for two. Forfeit?"
Gi Pil-woo.
The dungeon training instructor approached me and Shin Jung-mi. Burly build, black crew cut.
"We're good. We can handle it."
"Yeah. We've prepped as a duo."
Shin Jung-mi and I replied confidently.