Chapter 934
Chapter 934
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 934
Chapter Title: Academy's Savior
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Crack!
Gold Lady ground her teeth in a fit of silent rage. Kim Seo-jun, her subordinate who had arrived at the bank alongside the police, swallowed hard. He knew that look; his superior was beyond furious.
“C-Chief. I’m sorry we’re late.”
“...It’s fine. I know you moved as fast as you could,” she replied, though her voice was cold.
Kim Seo-jun glanced around at the carnage. Corpses were strewn across the marble floor like discarded trash. He let out a heavy sigh.
“All the robbers are dead, as expected. Are the hostages safe?”
“One security guard didn't make it, but the hostages are all physically unharmed.”
“Just as I thought...”
Redlight—or Redlight, as the public had begun to call him—wasn't called a Dark Hero for nothing. Even when he barreled ahead with reckless abandon, the results were almost always favorable. And he left absolutely no traces behind. Public opinion was tilting heavily in his favor, and even the higher-ups at the Association were starting to view him as a useful, if volatile, asset.
The guy was blessed with an infuriating combination of god-tier skill and devil's luck. A real bastard, in Seo-jun’s opinion.
“Chief... I saw you chasing him earlier. Did he get away?”
“Yeah. His top speed rivals a fighter jet. We can’t catch him without proper preparation.”
“That’s a problem. We can’t just whip up a specialized task force on demand. Jet speed, high-level invisibility... catching Redlight is going to be a nightmare.”
Kim Seo-jun scratched his head in frustration.
“We have to,” Gold Lady insisted. “That bastard isn't a Dark Hero. He’s something else entirely.”
“What happened?”
“Take a look at this.”
She tossed her laptop to him. On the screen was the raw, unedited footage from the bank's CCTV: a video of Redlight mercilessly slaughtering the crew.
“You’ve already secured the footage? Quick work, Chief.”
“Cut the crap. Just watch.”
“......He doesn't hesitate. Not even when they grab the hostages. It’s like they don't even exist to him.”
“The aftermath is the real issue,” she pointed out. “The robbers surrendered. They dropped their weapons and begged for mercy. But that monster killed them anyway. He butchered them when they weren't even fighting back. That’s not vigilantism. That’s murder.”
“...You're right. He’s dangerous. The profilers say he's one bad day away from crossing a line we can't uncross. If he turns those blades on civilians... it’ll be a catastrophe.”
“The higher-ups know this, don't they? Tell them to bump his crime rating and put a bounty on his head now.”
“I’ve suggested it a dozen times,” Seo-jun sighed. “But the response is always the same. Between the rising monster counts and hero shortages, they’re 'exploring options' to utilize assets like him.”
“Fucking lunatics. If you're going to play with fire, at least wear gloves.”
Gold Lady clicked her tongue. Seo-jun’s gaze drifted down, catching the sharp outline of her chest against the skin-tight suit. He quickly looked away, embarrassed.
“What are you staring at?”
“N-Nothing! I was just... in the footage, he attacked you. That black energy... was it mana? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. It was just a shove to clear the way—it didn't even leave a bruise. And it wasn't mana.”
“It wasn't?”
“It was similar, but... fundamentally different.”
An hour later, the edited CCTV footage was released to the public. With so many bank tellers acting as witnesses, the Association couldn't keep the event under wraps any longer.
---
???
Lying back in my dorm bed, I checked the forums before calling it a night. As expected, the internet was practically exploding over the "Redlight" incident.
The sentiment online was far more supportive than I’d anticipated. Even the mainstream media, while outwardly critical, seemed to subtly defend my actions.
'I’m scratching an itch they didn't know they had.'
A world plagued by monsters and criminals had no room for mercy. People wanted results, and I was giving them exactly what they craved.
'Gold Lady's agency is Pista Hero Management... maybe I should drop in.'
The thought of seeing her reaction when we were forced to work together was enough to give me a pleasant chill. Plus, Makina’s intel-gathering had its limits; a professional firm would have access to high-grade gear and exclusive leads.
'I'll think about it. If it gets too annoying, I’ll just leave—no contract is strong enough to bind me.'
I tossed my phone aside and closed my eyes. Flashes of the women I’d claimed recently filled my mind. I wanted to see them again, but they were all behind bars now.
'Maybe I'll stage a prison break later just to have some fun with the inmates... I hope a new beauty crosses my path tomorrow.'
---
???
After class the next day, I headed to the training hall. But I wasn't there for Ryu Hana this time.
I sat in the lobby and waited. A few minutes later, Kim Cheon-woo and Ma Jin-bae walked in together. I stood up to meet them. Cheon-woo looked surprised, while Jin-bae’s face immediately hardened. I knew why—I’d threatened to kill his younger brother if he ever crossed me again.
“Yu-jin? Were you waiting for us?”
“Just you, Cheon-woo. Are you free this weekend?”
“Yeah, I think so. Why?”
“Something important came up.”
Cheon-woo’s expression turned serious. He probably assumed it was demon-related. He wasn't wrong.
“Wait a minute. Where are you planning to take him, Sung Yu-jin?” Jin-bae demanded.
“None of your business.”
“Answer me properly!”
“I said it’s none of your concern. Do I need to remind you about our last conversation?”
“H-Hold on!” Cheon-woo stepped between us. “Jin-bae, why don't you head into the training room first? I’ll talk to Yu-jin and catch up with you in a minute.”
“...Cheon-woo. This guy isn't your friend. You shouldn't be hanging around someone like him.”
“Yu-jin isn't that bad,” Cheon-woo muttered, though he sounded uncertain.
“Not that bad... Tsk.” Jin-bae clicked his tongue and stormed off. Cheon-woo turned back to me with a heavy sigh.
“Yu-jin. What did you say to him?”
“I told him that if he acted up, I’d track down his brother and end him.”
“...What?” Cheon-woo’s face twisted in anger, his fists clenching at his sides. “That’s way over the line. How could you even think of threatening his family like that?”
“He’s the type that doesn't listen to reason. It was better to cut through the bullshit early to avoid a headache later.”
“Jin-bae isn't someone you just 'cut through'... sigh. You need to apologize to him.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because you were wrong! If you just explain yourself properly, he’ll forgive you. I can help facilitate that.”
“Forget it. I’m not interested. Just follow me—we need to talk privately.”
I led him into an empty training room and locked the door.
“Cheon-woo. This weekend, we’re going to Baengnyeongdo. I’ve secured an invitation to an illegal auction. Make sure you have a disguise and a mask ready.”
“Baengnyeongdo? Why an illegal auction? Explain.”
“I have intel that a demon has infiltrated the event. That’s our target.”
The moment I said the word 'demon,' the atmosphere around Cheon-woo shifted. A palpable wave of fighting spirit erupted from him, catching even me off guard.
'He’s gotten significantly stronger. As expected of the protagonist.'
He was still nowhere near my level, though.
“That’s the gist of it. Be ready by the weekend. And keep your mouth shut—don't tell Ma Jin-bae or anyone else.”
“...Understood. If there's a demon... I’ll make sure it never leaves that island,” Cheon-woo muttered fervently.
---
???
Sung Ha-ri and Choi Jung-hwa disembarked the ship at Baengnyeongdo. They were there to attend the same underground auction.
Since the event was highly illegal, both women were wearing masks. Ha-ri had opted for a simple wolf mask, while Jung-hwa wore an elaborate, jewel-studded butterfly mask.
“Why on earth are you wearing that uncomfortable dress?” Ha-ri asked, gesturing to Jung-hwa’s navy party gown.
“The attendees here are all multi-billionaires. This is a formal business event, not a place for your jeans and t-shirt. Here, I brought one for you. Change into it.”
Jung-hwa held out a garment bag, but Ha-ri didn't even look at it.
“No thanks.”
“Ugh.” Jung-hwa shook her head. She should have known better.