Chapter 933
Chapter 933
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 933
Chapter Title: Savior of the Academy
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My daily routine has undergone a bit of a shift recently.
During the day, I attend classes at the academy like any other student. But in the evenings, whenever I’m free from other commitments, I head out into the city as a Dark Hero. My primary objective? Hunting down villains and eliminating them permanently.
Killing small-time crooks doesn't do much for my Karma, but it can’t be helped. The high-level targets are experts at staying hidden, and tracking them down manually is a massive chore. To be honest, even with my knowledge of the original story, there’s only so much I can find on my own.
For now, I’ve delegated the intelligence gathering to Makina. As a machine spirit, she’s essentially a ghost in the machine; she can scour the cyber world for real-time leads. It sounds like an invincible plan, but even she has her limits. Many villains in this world are smart enough to stay off the grid entirely.
"Ugh, this is so frustrating!"
Makina, who had been trawling the web for hours, finally vented her annoyance.
"It's exhausting, Yu-jin! Why won't you just sign with a hero management firm? They’d hand us premium intel on a silver platter, and we could make some serious cash while we’re at it!"
"I already told you—no. Most of their contracts are for dungeon raids or monster hunts. It’s a waste of time."
"This is a bigger waste of time! I can only do so much on my own!"
"Then hack the Hero Association's database or something."
"I tried! But their firewalls are insane. Even I can't crack them without triggering every alarm in the building."
There are Awakeners with cyber-pathic traits in this world, meaning Makina isn't the only 'hacker' in town. She isn't omnipotent.
'Makina’s whining is getting harder to ignore... maybe I should look into a specialized management firm after all?'
Even as a Dark Hero, a management contract could be lucrative. Popular vigilantes often pull in more money through sponsorships and exclusive deals than government-sanctioned heroes. Of course, I’d have to keep any such contract strictly off the books.
"Found one!"
"Where?"
"Gangnam! There's an active bank robbery in progress!"
"When did it start?"
"The report hit the secure channels less than sixty seconds ago."
"Manageable."
I sprang up from the sofa. I summoned Stormbreaker—already fused with the Fiendish Clown Mask—and equipped the armor before allowing Makina to possess the suit. With a red demon-like helmet and a sleek cybernetic chassis, I was no longer a student. I was the Dark Hero, Redlight.
I tore a spatial transfer scroll and warped directly to the heart of Seoul.
'Makina, go invisible. Keep the jet engines at a whisper.'
I streaked through the sky, weaving between skyscrapers to avoid detection. The sensation of zipping through the city was actually pretty exhilarating.
-Right! Left! Now drop!
Following Makina's precise navigation, I arrived at the scene. Black SUVs were clustered in front of the bank, their positions carefully chosen to block the main entrance. A crowd of civilians had gathered at a safe distance, watching the building with bated breath.
'Heavenly Eye, activate.'
I peered through the solid walls. Eight robbers were currently looting the vault. None of them gave off particularly dangerous mana signatures. Concealing my presence completely, I slipped through the doors.
Around thirty bank employees and customers were face-down on the floor, trembling in fear. I also spotted four corpses—likely the hero-certified security guards who had been on duty.
-I've hijacked the local CCTV feeds. Police and Hero response units will be on site in about sixty seconds.
'That’s more than enough time.'
I moved like a shadow, approaching the robber standing in the far corner. I clamped my left hand over his mouth and drove the blade from my right gauntlet into his throat. He died silently, and I lowered his body to the floor without making a sound.
"Money! Get it into the bags! Move!"
"Sixty seconds and we bail! We’re going to be rich, boys!"
"I'm moving as fast as I can! Quit riding my ass!"
The robbers were high on adrenaline, their eyes wild with greed as they focused on the stacks of cash.
'No detection-type users among them. This is too easy.'
I moved to the next target, sliding my blade into his throat with clinical precision.
"Hey, what’s taking you guys so long? Get your—?"
One of the robbers glanced toward the corner. While I was still invisible, the corpse I’d just created was very much visible.
"Fuck! What the hell happened to him?!"
He screamed, and the rest of the crew whipped their heads around.
"He's dead?!"
"There's someone else in here!"
"What are you waiting for? If it moves, blast it!"
The robbers opened fire, their automatic weapons barking in the small space. Bullets pinged harmlessly off my suit. Since the element of surprise was gone, I charged, dropping my cloak as I moved.
"Redlight...!"
"Why the fuck is HE here?!"
One of the robbers tried to flank me. His fists transformed into massive stone blocks as he slammed them down toward my head.
Clang!
The impact was loud, but it didn't even scratch my helmet. The guy was a low-rent thug who couldn't even regulate his mana. He was just an ordinary Joe who’d lucked into a basic Awakened power.
I delivered a single punch that caved his skull in, spraying the floor with blood and bone.
"M-Monster...!"
"You call yourself a hero?!"
The remaining robbers began to back away, their bravado evaporated.
"I’ve never once claimed to be a hero," I said, my voice modulated into a terrifying mechanical rasp. I took a slow step toward the nearest target, my heavy boots echoing in the sudden silence.
"Stay back! I’ll kill her! I swear to god, stay back!"
"Kyaaaack!"
The robber grabbed a female teller, dragging her in front of him as a shield. I did a quick scan. She was wearing heavy makeup, but her features were plain. Not exactly a beauty. I didn't stop moving.
"D-Damn it! I said stay back! I'll do it!"
He pressed the barrel of his gun against her temple, his hand shaking violently.
"Like I said. I’m not a hero."
Click!
The blade on my gauntlet extended to its full length.
I honestly didn't care if he killed her. I was only playing the part of the Dark Hero for my own reasons, and if he pulled the trigger, it wouldn't be on my conscience. I could even kill them both if it made things faster; I could handle the Karma penalty.
"U-Uwaaaah!"
Consumed by terror, the robber shoved the woman away and tried to run. Most bank robbers aren't the type to kill for fun; they use hostages as leverage. With that leverage gone, he chose flight.
"You think I'm going to let you leave?"
I was on him in an instant. A single horizontal swing literally bisected him at the waist. Blood and viscera spilled across the marble floor.
"Urk... bleeech!"
One of the surviving robbers actually vomited into his balaclava.
Thud!
Another dropped to his knees. Judging by the way the others looked at him, he was their leader.
"R-Redlight! Please, spare me! I'll turn myself in! Take the money, take everything, just let me live...!"
He was begging for his life. A smart move, really—no point in being a rich corpse. The rest of the crew followed his lead, kneeling and sobbing for mercy.
"Do you truly understand the gravity of your actions?"
"Y-Yes! I swear I’ll never do it again! I'll surrender the moment the cops get here! Look, I’m letting the hostages go right now!"
The leader babbled desperately. He even tore off his balaclava, revealing a face pale with sweat and terror.
"I promise! I’ll go straight, I’ll get a real job! Just please, don't kill me...!"
"I see. I hope you keep that promise in the next life."
Vmmm.
A black sword aura coated my blade, swirling like thick, dark smoke.
"Y-You said you'd spare me...!"
"I never said that. Your deaths are far more useful to me than your repentance."
I swung the blade. The bank was suddenly filled with the sounds of wet tearing and final screams. I killed them all—those who tried to run, those who stayed on their knees. No exceptions.
...Damn it.
This wasn't how I planned it. I expected a Good Karma boost, but my Evil Karma ticked up instead. The reason was obvious: the system judged that the robbers had genuinely intended to repent.
-Why the long face? Did things not go your way? Whatever it is, you need to get out of here. Fast.
Boom!
A pillar of golden light crashed through the ceiling, slamming directly into me. I was sent flying back, scanning my attacker as I tumbled through the air.
It was a woman in a skin-tight blue bodysuit that left nothing to the imagination. She was a stunner—long blonde hair swept back from her forehead, a sharp face, and a figure that was easily an F-cup.
The arms and back of her suit were covered in the logos of a famous energy drink brand. She likely made billions in endorsements every month.
-Whoa! We've got an A-rank hero on the scene!
Makina pulled up her profile without being asked.
'With stats like those, she’s top-tier among the A-ranks. I’d lose a straight fight 100% of the time.'
My vision flashed gold.
Suddenly, the Gold Lady was right in my face. She gripped both of my arms, golden light pouring from her body and binding me in place. No matter how hard I strained, I couldn't break her hold.
"Don't resist," she warned. "I’d hate to have to slice your limbs off to make you comply."
"...You stink."
"Stink?"
She instinctively took a sniff, her face twisting in immediate disgust. The only thing she could smell was the thick, metallic scent of blood and entrails from the robbers.
"The scent of a virgin. You’re definitely a virgin, aren't you?"
"Ha... you arrogant bastard!"
She delivered a savage headbutt to my visor. The reinforced metal actually dented slightly. She had a hell of a temper.
"Before I haul you in, let’s see what’s behind that mask. I’ve been curious."
She seized my helmet with one hand, golden light flaring from her palm.
-Aaaah! The heat is insane! The helmet is starting to melt! At this rate, your face will be exposed in forty seconds!
'Thanks for the update.'
-How are you so calm?! Your identity is about to be leaked!
'That’s why I’m calm. Winning a fight with her is hard, but escaping? That’s child's play.'
I just needed to use a spatial transfer scroll. I just had to make sure no one saw me do it.
'They might have a counter for scrolls like they did in my first run. I need to break this bind first.'
Activate Heavenly Heart.
The golden light binding me shattered into harmless sparks, and Gold Lady's hand slipped off my smoking helmet.
"What?"
She faltered for a split second. I didn't let the opening pass. I thrust both palms forward.
Heavenly Demon Divine Art: Heavenly Demon Divine Palm.
I delivered a dual-palm strike directly into her chest, the force absorbing into the curves of her bodysuit.
"Kyahk?!"
The impact sent her reeling back, crashing into the bank's far wall.
"Nice and bouncy. I like it. Catch you later, secretarial babe. Next time, I’ll do more than just touch."
"You filthy prick!"
Go Yu-rim swung a fist, unleashing a concentrated beam of light toward me.
'Acceleration. Moment.'
I sidestepped the beam, fired up my jet engines, and blasted through the front windows. I took to the sky, glass shattering behind me. Yu-rim wasn't giving up; she pursued, her body wrapped in a golden aura.
'Makina! Give me everything you’ve got!'
-I'm already at max output!
I accelerated, creating a sonic boom that echoed through the skyscrapers. Luckily, Gold Lady couldn't maintain her speed. She wielded light, but she was still human; moving at true light speed was impossible for her. If it weren't, she’d already be the strongest being on the planet.
I tore a scroll in a secluded alleyway and returned to my dorm, a satisfied grin on my face.
"Gold Lady... what a sleek woman."
Those breasts. I definitely wanted another chance to grope them.