Chapter 118
Chapter 118
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: Episode 38. The Thing Writhing in the Depths (8)
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Shocked Soon-heum and Vice Principal Ma Nam-jun. The disciplinary officers also stood up.
For a moment, Vice Principal Ma Nam-jun's face twisted into a scowl. But even he smoothed his expression and had no choice but to stand.
A skinny, tall man. Irritable wrinkles were visible beneath his sunglasses. He was one of the 'Five Transcendents,' evaluated as the strongest human in Earth's history since ancient times—a being where one man equaled an army.
He was the superhuman ranking No. 2, the 'Returner' BM.
Beside him stood the world's strongest mage, who had recently become the head of the prestigious Myeong family—one of the twin pillars of the Tower of Mages and magical academia.
Superhuman ranking No. 8, the 'Regeneration Druid' Myeong Yong-ha.
Both were among the 30 superhumans who held the 'Free Dungeon Conquest Privilege,' also known as the 'Dungeon Free Pass.'
They were the ones leading the trends in the global superhuman industry.
"Skip the greetings. I'm busy, so let's get to the point."
BM grabbed any chair and sat down.
20 minutes earlier.
As he pulled out his suit for the first time in a while and put it on, BM thought to himself.
A few days ago, he'd gotten a call from Yoo Ji-tae. He wanted a favor soon. So BM had said okay.
Deep down, it was a hassle, but given who the guy was, he accepted first and figured out the details later. Worst case, refusing meant getting the knife to his throat.
Plus, ever since the Melishia ballroom incident, he'd developed a bit of awe toward him.
That said, acting as someone's mouthpiece rubbed BM the wrong way.
It was the first time since returning and setting foot on Earth. He was always the one making others move, never following someone else's orders. That's what being a top-tier global ranker meant.
Do you know how much I'm worth per day?
Damn it...
—Making a heart. Isn't that tough?
But his follow-up words made the complaints vanish.
It was about creating a 'humanoid chimera,' BM's lifelong obsession.
—I know a way.
That's why he was dressed up now.
Still, doubts lingered. A being that strong—why was he at a school? Why play guardian to kids?
What the hell were those kids? How amazing could they be?
Of course, he himself, holed up researching chimeras, wasn't one to talk. Most superhumans had a screw loose somewhere. With the war over, there was no reason to risk life hunting monsters anymore. Half the old heroes from back then were just living their dreams in their own corners.
That guy's hobby is babysitting, I guess.
Thinking that way, it made some sense.
But even so, the man's actions had too many oddities.
He was the one who'd foreseen a disaster-class demon's plan, orchestrated the raid, and killed Noah.
And now, here he was at a kids' playground of a school, asking for a defense.
BM couldn't hide his bewilderment.
So he'd asked the 'Pharmacist,' the aide who served Yoo Ji-tae.
He got the hobby of raising kids. But why stir up this mess? What did he want?
The aide's (Pharmacist) answer was this:
—He can see malice. Laughably, as soon as one cadet starts getting attention, malice spreads across the entire Lair.
—So to maintain daily life, he preemptively blocks nuisances.
—Doesn't the human heart always have something writhing deep inside? Without power, individuals become targets—and that's no small hassle. Shameless fleas and gnats swarm in. Miss the timing, and your routine gets disrupted.
—Thus, he sees the need for a false faction. And now, he's creating one.
Through repeated cycles, the regressor had found efficient ways.
When an incident occurred and he responded—what worked most efficiently? It was a question he obsessively clung to like a habit.
Once, he'd resolved it peacefully through talk. Next time, he'd crushed rivals with just enough force. But those weren't efficient.
So what was?
Humans trust what they see most. They prove things with objects, court love with actions. Even the excited ones hold back at the sight of a blade.
And more—humans dying of thirst in a parched desert see an oasis. Desperately wished-for illusions become reality.
So he'd started this, and in doing so, it snowballed until he pulped the head of student affairs.
On the way to the meeting room, BM stopped by the clinic's ER and ran into Sillard Leo for the first time in ages.
The sturdy giant, wrapped in bandages, chuckled in disbelief.
"BM..."
"Nice look."
"What're you staring at? Come to gawk?"
"Should've died."
"Yeah, my bad. Embarrassing."
BM exchanged quick greetings and was leaving when he bumped into Myeong Yong-ha, face altered with a disguise mask.
"Huh?"
"Grasshead."
"What's up, BM? Why're you here?"
Seemed he'd been summoned too.
Chatting with Myeong Yong-ha on the way, BM learned more specifics about Yoo Ji-tae's thinking.
"Haha. But it's kinda weird."
"What is."
"I get he's strong, but no organization base? And making a fake family? That'll only last five years tops."
Unless you build something real.
Empty shells get exposed eventually.
"..."
BM had no answer.
He didn't know Yoo Ji-tae only needed the 'family' for the five years the dragons attended school.
And now, here they were.
Dubious stares poured in. BM calmly met them through his sunglasses. Yeah, it'd be weird. Even he'd think so.
Now, the two of them had to create a fictional 'Yoo family.'
Make the nonexistent seem plausible. An omnipotent clan.
"S-so, what relation do you have with Cadet Yoo Ji-tae's guardian...?"
"He's my mentor."
"Ah... I see. You look quite young."
"Does age matter in exchanging favors?"
"True. Of course."
Myeong Yong-ha's words brought bewilderment to the old puppet's eyes.
"We're work colleagues."
BM's follow-up was a magical answer that shut down questions beforehand. What job could the world rank No. 2 have? Curious, but no one dared ask in an official setting.
No one imagined he'd passed it off as doctor-nurse relations.
He pushed up his sunglasses and spoke.
"Things got big. First, on behalf of Yoo Ji-tae's guardian, I apologize."
"Ah..."
"Saw Sillard on the way. Tough guy's sturdy as ever. His shield's just scratched shards. Minimal damage—lucky."
"..."
"Meanwhile, a young cadet's life was nearly at risk. Heard it was the supply depot's fault. We regret being the trigger."
It pinned root responsibility on the academic affairs office.
Discomfort flickered on the disciplinary officers' faces.
"Hearing it out, I get the arm-bending now. I'd do the same."
BM voiced displeasure, tone low. But his aura was fierce. Just a compliant nurse before others, he was infamously a mad scientist among superhumans.
In the tense room.
Vice Principal Ma Nam-jun, the only one not tense, blurted out, cutting BM off.
"But as you know, there were many witnesses. This riot violates school rules. As Lair operators, we can't ignore fairness."
"Fairness. You like that stuff."
"Indeed. At least, the guardian staying in the Lair... socially, isn't it tricky? Plenty to consider."
Ma Nam-jun's eyes curved like a snake's.
He'd planned to exploit if the 'Yoo family' was middling. But with BM and Myeong Yong-ha showing up, this disaster-class demon changed tack.
Yoo Ji-tae had to be kept far from the Lair.
"Ah, but! Not everything rolls that way, right?"
Then Myeong Yong-ha spoke with a friendly smile.
"...Care to elaborate?"
"Checked the rules on the way. Wanna see?"
Myeong Yong-ha snapped his fingers.
His wrist split lengthwise, turning wooden, and spat out a small book.
"Article 17, Clause 4 on punishment—punish guardians after cadet graduation."
"...Yes. It exists, but."
"Lair prioritizes cadets, right? My cousin graduated two years ago—know it well."
A post-war rule revision. No precedents yet.
"But no precedents. Hard to decide lightly."
Myeong Yong-ha laughed heartily.
"Make one now."
A near-threat from a smiling face.
Undeniable confidence in his voice.
The academic affairs mid-lifers groaned inwardly.
These guys barge in like telling tenants to mow the lawn. Yet he had the right—as International Superhuman Alliance VVIP. Like the landlord's buddy.
Ma Nam-jun, brow furrowed, forced a smile with fake forehead wrinkles.
As a 'disaster-class' demon and head of 'Invisibility,' he was confident facing both.
They were just pushing with authority.
Can't let the mood go this way. As Ma Nam-jun opened his mouth—
"Hey, we didn't come to fight. Regrettable. Teachers. Noble posts, noble work—tough job."
BM spoke leisurely.
"Did military, so I know. Pure, good work—yet squeezed here, there. Brass bitches. Clans check you. Annoying, right? Get power, they strong-arm."
"What're you getting at."
Ma Nam-jun, fed up, showed irritation.
Sunglasses eyes grazed his.
"...Who'd strong-arm and hire Myeong Yong-ha and BM as spokesmen? Staring at ink on paper—you haven't grasped the situation."
Several academic affairs faces darkened.
"Shall I ask? Yong-ha."
"Huh?"
"Alliance chair asks for defense—you thrilled?"
Myeong Yong-ha chuckled.
"Am I crazy?"
BM laughed too.
But no one from academic affairs laughed.
Ma Nam-jun bellowed, no longer hiding displeasure.
"BM! Flaunting authority in an official setting?"
BM smirked.
"Old man. Great War—I was 3rd Brigade Captain of the Karian Legion. War merits got me ROK Superhuman 4th Division Commander. Then 2nd Corps Commander, 1st Army Vice-Commander. Now Alliance Last Stand Unit Vice-Commander. Catacomb Vanguard Royal Advisor."
"..."
"Alliance VVIP. One of 30 with Free Dungeon Pass. Rank 2. One word from me, Alliance flips nations for a rat. Me wielding authority—what? Got a problem?"
"...!"
"The 'Returner' here, personally defending someone—what's that mean? Can't grasp it?"
Known facts differ from hearing face-to-face. They shut mouths, harboring thoughts.
Ha Seok-mu glared at Ma Nam-jun, hiding turmoil. Ma Nam-jun suppressed boiling killing intent.
Thoughts differed, conclusion same. They all harbored the maddening question.
What the hell was the 'Yoo family'?
"I know you cling to rice bowls, weathering Alliance crap. Don't wanna lose? Straighten up. Ceiling's lower than you think. Heads snap easy."
As even Ma Nam-jun shut up and quieted, BM drove the nail.
"So bow and scrape. Pretend you didn't see."
The meeting ended there.
Yoo Ji-tae got 10 hours campus service and a fine.
Many puzzled, but zero protests.
Because Ha Seok-mu publicly apologized to the 'Yoo family' for the supply depot's fault.
Meanwhile, colluder Kang Mun-gu got death in military court. Sharp Lair guardians knew something passed hands.
Thus, the 'Yoo family' name rippled through the Lair.
The day after the incident.
Mallunga heard unbelievable news.
All of Kanae 'Superhuman Cultivation' went dark. Including his family.
And his ward was found dead in the stable corner, high on drugs.
"..."
He'd always been more realistic than most. Quick to adapt, actions over words. So when the unbelievable became reality overnight, his judgment turned radical.
Mallunga hanged himself.