Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: Penny
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Civil and Martial Prodigy
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Park Ho-yeol was a superhuman ability scholar who had completed his PhD program in the United States.
He was talented enough to become a professor at a prestigious university.
He had taken the position as an instructor at Hero Academy at the request of Mask Rider.
It was to repay a life debt from the past.
Being an academy instructor was socially equivalent to being a professor, so it wasn't a huge loss.
Because of these circumstances, Park Ho-yeol had quite a bit of pride and often got into trouble with students.
Park Ho-yeol was well aware of the rumors about Shin Noda.
A freshman who had single-handedly taken down a Luna Bear during their first practical training.
Normally, it took two Awakeners of the same rank to handle a monster of that level.
Yet he had taken down a higher-grade monster all by himself, so he deserved the praise.
At first, Park Ho-yeol had high expectations.
How diligent could the guy be?
Maybe a real disciple worth teaching had finally appeared.
But the Shin Noda he saw when he entered the classroom was the worst.
He didn't seem connected to studying or diligence at all.
Irritated for no reason, he took it out on Shin Noda.
He gave a problem that was too hard for first-year level.
It was content from just five minutes ago in the lecture, but that was meant to be memorized as a formula, not proven from scratch.
A proof to calculate the amount of mana required to use a skill.
Unless you memorized the entire process, proving it from scratch required at least a college major in superhuman ability studies.
The other students looked baffled too.
Even those who had been listening intently shook their heads.
‘How could anyone solve that? He's just going to embarrass himself.’
Contrary to everyone's expectations, Shin Noda confidently began the proof.
Tap. Tap tap tap.
Shin Noda scribbled equations furiously.
As the equations took shape, the teacher's mouth fell open.
‘It's definitely correct. But...’
The introduction matched what he knew exactly, but it was subtly different.
Yet, thinking about it, it was right.
‘This works like that too?’
Flustered by this bizarre situation, Park Ho-yeol unconsciously rubbed his chin.
It was his habit.
Shin Noda's solution headed toward the end.
‘What’s that? That part should involve the mana constant?’
The established mana formulas still contained values humanity hadn't observed.
However, since the system handled the calculations automatically, it was just denoted as the constant ‘M’ in the equations.
Thus, modern superhuman ability studies presupposed the system's computational assistance.
But Shin Noda had plugged in a specific value instead of ‘M’.
After writing all the equations, Shin Noda quietly set down the marker.
Park Ho-yeol had a mountain of questions.
“This part—why did it come out like that?”
“It’s a way to use mana more efficiently.”
“What I mean is, isn’t that supposed to be the mana constant? Why arbitrarily specify an unmeasured value?”
Shin Noda thought for a moment, then picked up the marker again.
Tap. Tap tap.
He wrote a new equation.
“This proves the mana constant. It’s not really specifying anything.”
“Huh.”
Park Ho-yeol was speechless in shock.
A completely new approach.
This was Columbus's egg.
“H-How did you even think of this...”
He grabbed the marker and double-checked for errors, but there were none.
Lost in time, Park Ho-yeol stared at the blackboard.
The bell signaling the end of class rang before he knew it.
Park Ho-yeol felt a massive wall.
Even his mentor in America, hailed as a ‘Wizard,’ hadn’t reached this level.
“It’s clear you haven’t been attending my classes.”
A question mark appeared on Shin Noda’s face.
As if to say, point out any mistakes if there are any.
“You didn’t need to attend in the first place.”
“......”
“Where did you learn knowledge like this?”
“I just... figured it out as I went along.”
Park Ho-yeol felt the wall of talent and grew despondent.
“I acknowledge it. You don’t need to attend my classes anymore.”
The students, who hadn’t understood what was happening, finally grasped the situation from the teacher’s reaction.
“What? Shin Noda’s good at studying too?”
“What *can’t* he do....”
“Telekinesis as a skill is the only proof that God is fair.”
Park Ho-yeol politely asked Shin Noda.
“Any thoughts on publishing this discovery as a paper?”
He believed this proof could open the possibility for humanity to use superhuman abilities without relying on the system.
If it really worked that way, it would be the greatest discovery of the 21st century.
Shin Noda’s reaction was lukewarm.
“Eh... too much hassle....”
“I’ll write it all up. I’ll put it under your name, so please add me as a co-author.”
“If you’re going that far, sure. Do whatever.”
“Thank you.”
The teacher was convinced his paper would upend academia.
And he, the one writing it, would become a giant in superhuman ability studies.
He declared the class over and left the room.
Yang Min-seo inwardly praised herself for recognizing Shin Noda’s value and investing early.
Thanks to that, she’d even saved her life today.
‘I need to make him firmly my ally.’
From what she could see, Shin Noda didn’t seem interested in material things.
Yang Min-seo thought about what she could offer besides money.
‘S-Seduction?’
Overwhelmed by sudden embarrassment, she covered her face with both hands.
But Yang Min-seo shook her head, realizing that wouldn’t be easy either.
From what she’d seen earlier, Shin Noda already had a girl.
‘Her name was... Park Ha-yeon?’
She already knew they lived together.
‘A guy and girl in their prime living together. That’s totally......’
A weird thought crossed her mind.
That was when Shin Noda approached and spoke to her.
“Um....”
“Y-Yes! What is it?”
Yang Min-seo, who had been imagining things about Park Ha-yeon and Shin Noda’s relationship, startled and stammered.
“It’s nothing major. I need something.”
“W-What do you need?”
“The Philosopher’s Stone. I figured you could get it.”
“Of course. But is that really okay? Honestly, it’s pocket change compared to the value of my life.”
Shin Noda nodded.
He needed the Philosopher’s Stone as soon as possible.
Because of someone whining in his head.
***
Late at night.
Villain hideout.
Darkness Jumper pulled a black robe from her bag and checked the voice modulator near the mouth area.
“Yep. Perfect!”
A rectangular device constantly streamed radio chatter.
Beep beep bleep.
[Upper 13. Uljiro 11-gil. One presumed C-rank Villain. Requesting support.]
[Upper 2. Nearby... heading there now.]
[Upper 13. Using firearms.]
It was police radio.
Yoon Mi-so had bought this expensive device to impersonate Dark Knight.
Strictly speaking, she had “agreed” to buy it.
The seller had received bullets instead of money.
“Then, shall we deploy as Dark Knight?”
Villain name: Darkness Jumper.
The “Jumper” came from her teleportation ability.
Soon, the space around Yoon Mi-so shifted.
A back alley dense with shops.
Yoon Mi-so appeared at the scene where armed police faced off against a Villain.
They all startled at Dark Knight’s sudden appearance.
The Villain especially trembled in fear.
“D-Dark Knight!”
The Villain turned tail and fled, and Yoon Mi-so chased him.
The two remaining police reported to HQ that Dark Knight had appeared.
“Arrrgh!”
Soon, the Villain’s scream echoed.
Not long after, Yoon Mi-so, dressed as Dark Knight, appeared before the police.
She raised both hands to signal no intent to fight and approached.
The police aimed their guns tensely.
Darkness Jumper smiled as she passed the two police.
She said as she went by.
“You’ve worked hard.”
A mechanically modulated voice.
The police inwardly relaxed, figuring he really didn’t touch anyone but Villains.
Yoon Mi-so’s hand slipped slyly into her robe.
The price of letting their guard down was high.
“Bang~”
With a playful sound effect from her mouth, two real gunshots rang out.
Revolvers in each hand.
Loot from the detention center.
“Ehehe. Did that seem kinda cowboy-ish? Too bad no one saw it.”
That was when a hulking brute covered in muscle appeared.
“I saw it. You’re under arrest.”
Iron Fist.
Knuckles on, trench coat draped over.
A hero with Body Enhancement who had recently been promoted to B-rank.
Iron Fist had been secretly watching per Association orders—not to confront the presumed A-rank Dark Knight, but to recruit him if the chance arose.
But seeing “Dark Knight” suddenly shoot the police, he realized this was the fake from the rumors and stepped out.
“You’re definitely a fake.”
“What? I *am* Dark Knight. And what’s with the guts? Heroes don’t dodge bullets either.”
Iron Fist had something to rely on.
A supply item from his manager for his B-rank promotion.
Mana Coat.
Mana Coat mimicked how high-rank monsters enveloped their bodies in mana, protecting the wearer from bullets.
It was expensive, and each use consumed mana stones worth millions of won, so not just anyone could afford it.
But now wasn’t the time to worry about millions.
He activated the coat without hesitation.
A blue aura enveloped Iron Fist’s body.
Bang bang.
The bullets from Darkness Jumper failed to pierce the blue barrier around him.
Iron Fist closed the distance in an instant.
A punch swung at her.
It was so fast it sounded like kicking a soccer ball—*thwack*.
Yoon Mi-so dodged with teleportation.
She reappeared behind Iron Fist and stabbed at him with mana-infused dagger.
Mana Coat could be pierced with enough mana.
“Gahk.”
He yelled and spun, swinging a fist, but no one was there anymore.
“That gets through. But how much muscle do you *have*? Why won’t this thing stab properly?”
“......”
She twirled the dagger flashily to loosen her wrist.
“What’s your ability? Don’t tell me it’s Body Enhancement? Hahaha. No way someone with trash like that becomes a hero.”
“You know me.”
“What? Delusions of grandeur? I wouldn’t know a nobody like you. Just guessed from how muscle-brained you look~”
Iron Fist charged silently.
The distance closed in a flash.
He threw a full-power punch.
Darkness Jumper vanished right before his eyes.
He couldn’t connect.
The matchup was terrible.
At the same time, a mechanical voice in his ear.
“Kyahaha. You’ll never beat me.”
Darkness Jumper mounted his back like riding a horse and slashed at his neck.
Blood sprayed each time the blade sank in and out.
Iron Fist thrashed to shake her off but collapsed under the relentless cuts.
On the ground, before dying, he asked.
“Why... do something like this......”
She whispered to the fallen man.
“Your mom, dad, friends? Bet you bragged everywhere about being a hero. That changes after today! ‘Our son was Iron Fist~ Got miserably killed in some alley!’ Hehe.”
Darkness Jumper grinned ear to ear.
Iron Fist’s face twisted indescribably.
And that was his end.
Ting roll roll.
The sound of a discarded can rolling on the ground.
Darkness Jumper turned toward the noise.
Some young students were filming with smartphones.
“Hey hey, did you see that?!”
“Gasp. Run!”
She had known from the start.
She let them escape.