Chapter 195
Chapter 195
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 195
Chapter Title: Why Did You Come to My House? (1)
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Having heard my opinion, Chancellor Kyung Hye seemed to have made up her mind, opening her mouth in a resolute voice.
"Then where should we base the defensive line..."
However, before she could finish speaking, she rose from her seat.
"Since we need to mobilize the entire academy anyway, we must convene a faculty meeting, so we'll discuss that there."
She was right.
In truth, the Demonic Arts Defense Research Group was just one of the many labs affiliated with the academy.
'Academy decisions are made in faculty meetings or the executive committee.'
With that, Chancellor Kyung Hye, now standing, issued various orders to the attending guiding professors.
"Professor Han Young, please go to the faculty research building and tell the professors and senior researchers to come to the main hall's grand conference room."
"Yes. I'll do that."
"Professor Jeong Geuk-kyung, go to the security office and declare a state of emergency."
"Understood."
"Professor No, head to the dormitories and relay the same to the other dormitory supervisors."
"Yes, ma'am."
As the professors hurriedly left their seats,
Chancellor Kyung Hye looked straight at me and spoke.
"While I'm convening the meeting, Student Eon Yong-un, please finalize the defense plans with the Demonic Arts Defense Research Group's members and come to the main hall's grand conference room. I trust Student Eon Yong-un's insight and the Demonic Arts Defense Research Group's judgment."
"Pardon? Ah, yes!"
She patted my shoulder and then left the Demonic Arts Defense Research Group.
At the sight of Chancellor Kyung Hye departing, my master's voice spoke from the sword at my waist.
- Doesn't that mean this nun named Kyung Hye is saying to do whatever you want, Yong-un?
'...Yeah, it seems that way.'
Of course, we'd still need to go through the faculty meeting procedure.
But in such emergencies, the academy rules concentrated authority on the chancellor to avoid divided opinions.
So ultimately, Chancellor Kyung Hye's intentions would decide the Righteous Martial Academy's response.
- ...Hah, in a way, she's entrusting the fate of the entire academy to you. Is it boldness or trust in you?
'Wearing the clothes of that salt-crusted black path scum and rolling around in them paid off.'
- ...? What are you talking about?
'It's a long story.'
Anyway.
With that, the emergency briefing in the Demonic Arts Defense Research Group concluded.
I immediately turned to my Eon family juniors.
"What are you waiting for? Let's move."
"What should we start with, Young Master Eon?"
"Silver Girl, let's ponder the defense plans together. You too, Jeon Gal Girl."
"Yes!"
"Got it!"
"Dang Ok-gi, go to your personal lab and grab Hong-ok, Seol-ryu, and all the tools there."
"Understood."
"Everyone else, move the Demonic Arts Defense Research Group's materials to the main hall's administrative storage. It's made of millennium cold iron, so it's the safest. No time—move fast."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ With Yin Ha-yeon's and Jeon Gal Seol-ji's help, I drew a circle on the blackboard mapping the academy grounds.
Scritch-
"So, this should work as our defensive line."
Curiously, the four great dormitories were not included inside the defensive line.
Considering the enemy strides I'd gauged in the tunnels and the dormitory-side intel from Heart Rhythm,
abandoning the dorms actually seemed safer.
'No room for greed.'
That was why I'd boldly excluded them.
Yin Ha-yeon, who had deliberated with me, seemed to have mixed feelings about the decision.
"Our Azure Bamboo Hall has Professor No fully backing Young Master Eon's idea, and honestly... well, that's beside the point. Anyway, will the other dorms accept this?"
- Why are you trailing off mid-sentence, Ha-yeon?
'She's probably about to mention Azure Bamboo Hall's reconstruction plans.'
That was right.
Azure Bamboo Hall was set to be demolished and rebuilt during the upcoming break anyway.
In other words, it didn't matter if the dorms were inside or outside the defensive line.
At that moment, Jeon Gal Seol-ji, understanding our thinking, spoke up.
"Azure Bamboo Hall will be rebuilt anyway, so no damage there, right, Ha-yeon?"
"Well, yeah."
"Yun Guo Hall will probably agree. They understand people are more valuable than money even without abacuses. The problem is Cloud Plum and Fragrant Orchid. They're full of people who hold courage and tradition as their creed."
At their words, I gave a wry smile and muttered.
"We'll make them accept it."
"True, Young Master Eon is a master at that. Then we'll go help the other researchers."
"Go ahead. See you soon."
With that, the detailed defense planning wrapped up.
I headed to the main hall's grand conference room where the faculty meeting was being held.
The room buzzed with murmurs upon my arrival.
"The chancellor declared an emergency, so I rushed here, but demonic cult attack? Not that it's happened, but scheduled? What nonsense is this?"
"Exactly."
As I entered, Chancellor Kyung Hye called the room to attention.
"Quiet, please. Quiet."
She pointed to the blackboard beside her and addressed me.
"Eon Yong-un, director of the Demonic Arts Defense Research Group, please brief the assembly on the current situation facing the Righteous Martial Academy."
Following her words, I first explained the infiltration of the Ho Won Dan Cheol Corps, the process, and the academy's current state.
"...Thus, we expect enemy movement as early as tonight, or by tomorrow morning at the latest."
But as soon as I finished, Chang Ryang, the Fragrant Orchid Hall dormitory supervisor, shot to his feet and raised his voice at Chancellor Kyung Hye.
"Chancellor! How can you permit such tactics? Demonic Arts Defense? Fine, even if they skirt procedures and rules, they're necessary given the times. But this crosses the line—way too far."
"......"
"Why do we call it Righteous Martial Academy? Don't you know why procedures and rules matter? What if all the other students follow Student Eon Yong-un's example?"
"...But didn't that reveal the severity of the situation?"
"Chancellor!"
"Of course, I'm not saying she did well. But shouldn't we discuss the situation first, Professor Chang Ryang?"
"Hah... Fine, for now."
Chancellor Kyung Hye deftly got Professor Chang Ryang to sit with appropriate words.
"Then, I'll continue with the defense plans."
In that atmosphere, I laid out the defense strategy.
"...So, centering on the medical office and main hall, setting the defensive line here allows the most agile response to various scenarios, minimizing casualties."
As my presentation ended with the drawn line,
Uncle Jae-hyeok, the Cloud Plum Hall supervisor, let out a long sigh and spoke.
"Hm. Surrendering the dorms to the demonic cult without a fight."
Evidently, Cloud Plum Hall's reverence for courage and no retreat was clashing with this.
At that moment, Professor Namgung Jeong-ho from Fragrant Orchid Hall chuckled bitterly and chimed in.
"Excluding the dorms from the defensive line—who came up with that? Places steeped in history and tradition, just handing them over?"
"......"
"I hear Azure Bamboo Hall is getting a new building, so that's why this line?"
My teeth ground together at that.
'When we should be uniting, here comes the bullshit again.'
Feels like a knuckle sandwich time.
But Professor Namgung Jeong-ho's words were phrased as a question, so I had to answer.
As I opened my mouth to reply,
Professor Chang Ryang clicked his tongue and stepped in.
"Tsk tsk."
What's this guy's nitpick now?
Surprisingly, Professor Chang Ryang's focus turned to Professor Namgung Jeong-ho.
"Professor Namgung, that's such a narrow-minded thing to say."
"...Pardon? What do you mean, Professor Chang Ryang?"
"History aside, how do you find tradition in mere buildings? Tradition lives on through descendants remembering their forebears. Student safety comes first. Weigh the priorities carefully."
"...Hm. Ahem."
Having silenced Professor Namgung Jeong-ho like a mute with honey, Professor Chang Ryang exhaled briefly, then fixed his gaze on me and spoke.
"Chancellor, I support this defense plan. And Student Eon Yong-un."
"Yes?"
"I still think sneaking into the enemy's lair and stirring trouble was wrong."
"......"
"But that was because I see you as a student under my protection. As Fragrant Orchid Hall's supervisor, I thank you for your courage and ingenuity."
With that, Professor Chang Ryang offered me a fist salute.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ My role in the faculty meeting ended with the report and defense plan presentation.
Having finished, I left the main hall to check on the Demonic Arts Defense Research Group and Azure Bamboo Hall.
'The research group's tasks are delegated, so Azure Bamboo Hall first.'
I opened the door to Azure Bamboo Hall's student council room with a creak.
Ha Seong was pulling out and stacking various ledgers one by one.
"Let's see, this one first."
At his actions, I bellowed.
"Hey!"
"Mommy!"
"Stop calling for your mom who's safe in Hwi-ju. Why stack them in order?"
I told them to hurry.
"...If this gets messed up, reorganizing later will be a nightmare, bro."
At Ha Seong's words, I sighed and casually raised my hand.
I meant to scratch my head, but he flinched, thinking I'd hit him.
"!"
I patted his shoulder with the raised hand instead.
"Ha Seong, that's for later. Right now, think one step ahead."
"......!"
"Just grab whatever and shove it in."
"...Yes, sir!"
Then,
From the right corridor, Dang Ok-gi appeared, struggling with bundles on his back, stepping carefully.
"Dang Ok-gi, what's with all that baggage? War break out?"
"......? It has, hasn't it?"
"Right, it has. I meant move the important stuff first."
"It's all important?!"
Seeing him sparked an idea.
"On second thought, that's not what you should be moving. Mara Hocho Powder— the kitchens and medical office have ingredients, so you can make tons quick."
"Uh, yeah?"
"Give me that and start making it now."
Those trained in chemical warfare could use it.
The poison wasn't lethal, but it'd create crucial openings.
"Got it. But don't just dump my stuff anywhere, okay?"
"Yeah."
"Don't half-ass it—show some sincerity! Don't say yeah without looking!"
"Huh?"
"Kyaaak!!!!"
"Ah, I was thinking about Mara Hocho Powder uses. Move carefully? Got it."
Thus, busily handling both the Demonic Arts Defense Research Group and Azure Bamboo Hall, moving documents and books—how much time passed?
"Bro Eon! Orders from the main hall! All students from other dorms and grad students are gathering at the front plaza!"
The faculty decision mandated assembly at the plaza.
"Let's go."
"Yes!"
I headed to the plaza too.
"Cloud Plum Hall, all present."
"Fragrant Orchid Hall, all present."
"Yun Guo Hall, all present."
"Azure Bamboo Hall, all present."
Following the four great dorm student council presidents, I reported as the Demonic Arts Defense Research Group director.
"Demonic Arts Defense Research Group, all present."
Then, Chancellor Kyung Hye on the platform spoke in a solemn tone.
"The demonic ones have set their sights on our academy."
At Chancellor Kyung Hye's words,
A small stir rose among the students who hadn't heard the full details.
"Demonic ones? The cult targeting the academy?"
"Wasn't it cleared when the Alliance Leader came?"
"Training exercise? They do that all the time in Eon Yong-un's lab."
The student council presidents turned to quiet their dorms, but
Chancellor Kyung Hye's voice rang out first.
"Let them be. Confusion is natural and factual. So feel free to panic now."
Her calm voice drew the assembly into silence.
"But this is real. The Righteous Martial Academy faces imminent battle with the demonic ones. Thus, no one should panic once my words end."
In that hush, Chancellor Kyung Hye continued.
"Ignorance breeds panic and fear. To counter that, we hastily formed the Demonic Arts Defense Research Group to learn who they are, but we still know little."
She concluded.
"However, you and I know one thing clearly: why the saying 'evil shall return to justice' exists. Today, we will show that the demonic heterodox dare not touch the righteous."