Chapter 74: Joaquin Graduate School (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 74: Joaquin Graduate School (3)
The Association employees dispatched on duty to Gehenna were the cream of the crop within the organization.
One wrong move, and it was easy to get severely injured or killed. Even with hazard pay factored in, their salaries didn't even reach a quarter of what hero agencies paid.
Even so, there was never a shortage of applicants.
'Because it’s the only opportunity and channel to meet personally with our director, the Heavenly Sword.'
Perhaps for that reason, the members of the dispatch team envied Weapon. It was because he boasted an intimate friendship with the Heavenly Sword.
'Those fools have no idea...'
A famous actor once said:
Life is a comedy in long-shot, but a tragedy in close-up. Weapon wholeheartedly agreed.
"It couldn't have been an easy decision, so thank you for readily accepting the professorship offer."
"No need for thanks. I am merely worried, as this is my first time teaching anyone. Let alone a Majin, to think it would be humans. Still, since you said it is for the preservation of the world, I shall gladly accept."
"I feel relieved to hear you say that. Well then, I will briefly outline the plans for the future..."
The two of them (?) pleasantly exchanged words. Only Weapon looked pale as a sheet.
'Director... You said you were inviting someone knowledgeable in magic, but how can they not even be human?!'
He couldn't bring himself to ask right here.
Besides, he knew it would be useless to press him about it later anyway. Sure enough, he would only get a response like this:
'Does race matter?'
"..."
To emphasize once again, Weapon's subordinates held Kang Geomma in deep respect. Not only were they a generation that grew up watching his back, but a good number of special admission students from Joaquin were among them.
A great hero revered by all nations, transcending status.
Even if humanity were threatened by foreign enemies, Kang Geomma would stand as the last bastion to stop them. As proof, Kang Geomma was still active on the front lines.
A man who was a textbook definition of a hero.
A great man who personally uprooted the prejudices embedded in this world. Weapon stared at the side profile of Kang Geomma's face.
'He's been like this since back in the day.'
Kang Geomma's hair was black. Just because of that, the cadets used to view him through prejudiced eyes. Bias, prejudice, and bad habits.
Kang Geomma hated bad habits. He threw himself into fighting against unfair biases. Even now, he was systematically smashing widespread customs one by one.
'He really has no...'
...prejudices, the director.
He lacked them to an extreme degree.
'Inviting a dragon as a professor.'
'I’ll have to report this news to the Association President.'
Because that was why the director had brought him along to this meeting.
'HOLLY.'
It was a bed of thorns, pure and simple.
'Why on earth do my subordinates envy me...?'
Those fools don't know.
The sorrow of middle management.
The grief of being stuck in the middle of a sandwich.
And that this was the future awaiting a graduate student.
Episode. Joaquin Graduate School
'His complexion looks terrible.'
Looking over at Weapon while chatting away with Valerion, he noticed Weapon looking like he was suffering immensely all by himself.
'Ah, he's intimidated.'
Valerion was the Dragon Lord.
Weapon's reaction was actually far above average. If it were ordinary people, their eyes would have rolled back into their heads already.
'He's only holding out because it's him.'
Good job, Weapon.
Tap, tap.
"Are you alright?"
"...Yeah."
"I understand why you're shocked."
"Shocked? Thanks to this, I think my heart got scratched up pretty bad."
Dragons were demons of the highest order, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the Corps Commanders in terms of true strength even back when those commanders ran rampant.
Even the perverted psycho 2nd Corps Commander Kuarne didn't mess with the Dragon Clan. Plucking scales off a sleeping dragon meant the Human-Demon War wouldn't even be able to start.
'It's a relief the Dragon Clan hates getting involved in worldly affairs.'
Then as now, the Dragon Clan stood at the pinnacle of demons and represented the culmination of the Demon Realm. Some considered them to be superior upgrades beyond merely inheriting the traits of typical elves in this world. In addition to a divine atmosphere like elves, they were overwhelmingly strong and possessed outstanding looks.
Due to these characteristics, Weapon and his dispatch team, despite constantly traveling to and from the Demon Realm, had never encountered the Dragon Clan before. Even when I tried to arrange a meeting, both sides found each other burdensome. The Dragon Clan wanted to keep a comfortable distance from humanity.
I brought them in. Something I couldn't have even dared in the past.
'Even the Dragon Clan feels a sense of crisis.'
The Parsi Massacre.
The appearance of Ragnarok caused quite a shock even to the Dragon Clan. Because an enemy at or above the level of a Corps Commander attempted to bring down not just the Human Realm, but Gehenna as well.
'No matter how transcendent dragons are, they must now step up to the front lines.'
In my mind, I was looking even beyond that. Responding to the Apocalypse wasn't just up to humanity. Demons were also natives under Miracle Blessing M.
'Together.'
Joaquin Graduate School would become the bridgehead for a grand scheme. Fortunately, the dragon elder understood my intention.
It was truly a precious visit. The only other time he had personally stepped into action was when he unlocked my Demon Eye.
"Um..."
Weapon, who had been treading carefully, cautiously spoke to Valerion. Valerion gestured with a tilt of his chin.
"Yes."
"As an Association employee, I'd first like to ask: how did you cross through the Gehenna Gate? We have Association personnel stationed there, along with multiple layers of special wire fencing."
"I simply crossed through."
"Pardon?"
Valerion scratched his temple with his thumb. Looking closely now, his fingernails were triangular.
"Geomma-nim. It seems an explanation is needed. If you permit, may I clarify to this gentleman how I crossed over?"
"As long as there's no risk, feel free."
"Why are you deciding my level of risk, Director?!"
"This is why quick-witted guys are..."
"Just tell me, you bastard—!"
Weapon pounced in a frenzy.
Snap!
At that moment, a crisp sound rippled through the air. As Valerion snapped his fingers, Weapon's world went dark.
...A few hours later.
"Ugh, mmm..."
Weapon, who had been sprawled on the floor, squirmed and soon woke up. He looked like a magpie had built a nest on his head and moved out several times over.
"Sleep well?"
My lips twitched into a smirk.
"...I slept?"
Wiping away drool with dazed eyes, he suddenly snapped back to reality.
"Me?!"
"You were sleeping so soundly that I felt bad waking you. You were reciting the names of members from that idol group you're into lately. At first, I thought you were chanting Buddhist scriptures."
"Arrrgh!"
Weapon hurriedly flattened his messy hair with frantic hands. Then he glared at me venomously.
Valerion explained on my behalf.
"It is not a spell that forces sleep or induces hypnosis. It is magic that efficiently melts away accumulated physical fatigue in a short period, and it simply manifests through sleep."
"Come to think of it..."
Weapon suddenly rotated his shoulders. Joints that had been creaking clicked smoothly into place.
"I feel so refreshed."
His head was clear, too. It felt as though his cranial pressure, which had soared from overwork, had dropped drastically.
"Normally it concludes within an hour, but you slept for three hours," Valerion said. "You seem to be suffering from severe overwork."
"..."
"I understand how you feel."
Hearing just that much made Weapon choke up. He could feel the implicit meaning beneath those words.
-You are striving so hard so as not to fall short while standing beside Geomma-nim.
Weapon wrinkled the bridge of his nose. A sudden warmth washed over him. Weapon squeezed his eyes shut, opened them, and changed the subject.
"For now, I will properly convey your intentions to the Association President."
"Thank you for your hard work."
"However, as for revealing your identity to the public, skeptical views will likely dominate in both the Academy and the Association."
Valerion nodded.
"I am aware. Therefore, I have no intention of making it public."
"By now, you've realized why I brought the Association's rising star, right?" Kang Geomma tipped his chin up.
"You want me to whip up a fake identity, don't you? Honestly, you crafty bastard." Weapon rubbed the back of his neck. "Got it. I'll take care of that separately after I report to the Association President."
"I'm counting on you, Weapon."
"Thank you, Weapon-nim."
Weapon felt a lump in his throat.
Has anyone ever received a request from both the Heavenly Sword and the Dragon Lord? He was surely the first and last. Weapon puffed his shoulders up with pride.
'By the way.'
As Weapon stood there hesitating, Kang Geomma nudged him with an elbow.
"If you have something to say, say it."
"...It's just that, while I believe he's the Dragon Lord..., I'm worried the Association President won't."
"Are you asking him to show his true form?"
"..."
Weapon lowered his eyes.
'H-How am I supposed to just say I want to see a dragon in person?!'
He was someone who had yearned to see dragons just as much as he admired great heroes. A man who had never gone crazy over horns, wings, and dragon breath was no man at all. If gaunt dinosaur bones made his heart thud, how would it feel to see the real deal?
'You're so transparent.'
Kang Geomma let out a sigh and turned his eyes to Valerion.
"That's what he says."
"It is not a difficult request. Conveniently, magic power is circulating in the Human Realm as well."
"Th-Then...!"
A full bloom of joy lit up Weapon's entire face.
"If proof is needed, very well."
Valerion stood up from his chair. He slowly took a few steps back. Weapon looked like sweet honey was practically dripping from his eyes.
"I shall begin."
"Yes!"
Valerion parted his lips.
A moment later.
Ooh, ooh!
A massive shadow loomed over Weapon.
Ooh...!
From the massive silhouette, a pair of protrusions sprouted. Horns.
Ooh...
Fwooooosh. Wind swept through the secret room. A potted plant placed to one side fell over and shattered to pieces.
"..."
Weapon's lips, which had been rounded in awe, were suddenly clamped shut in a tight line.
Grrrrrrr...
The air vibrated. The incandescent lights flickered precariously before snapping off completely.
Glowing in the pitch-black darkness was a pair of dots. The blood-red, gleaming eye-light of the Dragon Lord.
They approached—right in front of Weapon, so close his nose would touch if he fell forward.
Phuuuu.
Valerion flared his nostrils. A gust of hot snort pushed Weapon's bangs straight back, neatly exposing his forehead.
"Is this sufficient?"
With his whole body frozen in utter defenselessness, Weapon could only mouth words silently. Kang Geomma chuckled.
"The professor is asking you."
"A-Ah, yes."
It is more than sufficient.
Abundantly sufficient, indeed.
My bladder is also abundantly full.
* * *
Weapon bolted for the restroom as if fleeing for his life.
Valerion and I watched his retreating back and shared a thought.
"You have a good friend."
"Yes. Among the people in the Human Realm I can call friends, he's the best."
"How surprising. Given your standing, Geomma-nim, I assumed you would have many friends. You are quite selective."
I offered a brief smile.
"The Dragon Clan doesn't really mingle with other races either, does it?"
Valerion's gaze deepened.
Dragons were a race a level above other demons. They were merely lumped together under the broad label of 'demons' by happenstance.
To demons, the Dragon Clan was an object of dread—and had been for so long that tracing its origins was meaningless.
"It is similar. It seems people find it difficult to approach me."
The Dragon Clan naturally came to keep to themselves in Demon Realm society. I thought to myself: Perhaps the Dragon Clan couldn't easily approach others simply because no one approached them first.
Having heard my thoughts, Valerion spoke in a low voice.
"If you permit it, Geomma-nim, I could become your friend as well."
"What are you talking about?" I looked at the Dragon Lord. "Lord, you are already my friend."
"Just a moment ago, you said Weapon-nim was practically your only friend."
"In the Human Realm, yes. I also have a squirrel friend."
Valerion burst into a chuckle a beat late. I laughed along with him.
Having finished his business and returned, Weapon just blinked, completely bewildered.
"Ah, right."
I shoved a document folder toward the thoroughly spooked guy. Weapon scanned down the document with a dubious look. It was the faculty roster I had envisioned.
"Hey... Geomma."
It's been a while since someone called me by my name.
"Are you in your right mind?"
My planning ability seems to have caught him off guard. Even after seeing a dragon elder, he sure has a rich reaction.
"Look forward to it."
I assured Weapon, and the Dragon Lord as well.
"Things are going to change a lot from now on."
* * *
Day by day, time drifted past almost imperceptibly.
In just one week, the construction reached its final stages. Leaked information had reached somewhere, causing a swarm of foreign construction companies to join in alongside H Construction.
We wish to contribute to the construction of a new educational institution. Though they put forward such noble pretenses, their true motive was damage control and rivalry.
If Korea's H Construction successfully completed Joaquin Graduate School as well, and at an absurd speed no less?
They would be completely ousted from the market. They had to etch at least one letter of their names onto the construction partnership roster before their livelihoods dried up to survive in the industry. A sense of crisis pushed them forward.
"For Joaquin Academy, it's a welcome competition," Ryozo said, moving her quill pen. "Not only does it shorten the construction timeframe, but the CEO of H Construction promised to lower material costs for us as well. See? Service quality really improves when there's competition rather than a monopoly."
Standing with my back to the window, I massaged Ryozo's stiff shoulders. I sent micro-currents through her to stimulate the muscles.
-To use lightning magic for something like that!
Lycan's magic was truly versatile.
"Who do you think leaked that information?"
"Naturally..." Ryozo looked back at an angle. The backlighting caused by my shadow split her face in half. "...me."
"As expected of our Academy Principal. A master strategist."
"Could you call it 'using my head smarts' instead, Heavenly Sword?"
Sunlight seeped into our skin.
"The opening ceremony is in three days."
"Indeed. Starting today, it's interviews for the applicants."
"And the interviewers are..."
Abel, Lee Won-bin, Choi Seol-ah, and so on. Assembled from Joaquin Academy's core personnel.
"In particular, Secretary Kim (Choi Seol-ah) seemed really passionate. Saying something about giving back as good as she received..."
"That girl, it's because she's a villain."
"Her personality really does seem like a villain's sometimes."
She's literally a villain, Ryozo.
"As the Academy Principal, shouldn't you go check on the interviews?"
"I don't have time. Combining my original duties with establishing the graduate school means I can't lift my butt off this chair."
'I'll have to ask Valerion one more time.' As I gave a knowing nod, Ryozo continued speaking.
"You know the grade-skipping system was introduced, right?"
"Yeah. The system where top students can skip grades to enter the graduate school even if they haven't graduated yet. We discussed a few days ago how the selection criteria were vague."
"Right. It was ambiguous. But there are three clear candidates, aren't there?"
"Three candidates?"
"Yup."
The participants from the Academy Exchange Meet.
Joaquin had agreed to grant one wish to the cadets as a victory reward—less of a wish, and more of assistance regarding their career paths.
"All three of them requested to advance to the graduate school. By skipping a grade."
"...All three?"
"When I asked if they had colluded, they said they didn't interact before or after the Exchange Meet."
Knowing their personalities, that tracks.
"..."
"Lina, are you worried about your cousin?"
"It's not so much worried as, just..."
Ryozo overlaid her hand on top of mine.
"Go on. Your hands aren't just meant to rub my shoulders. They're meant for the future of the Academy."
* * *
Meanwhile, in the interview room.
The interview of Ji Chang-hyuk, who had participated in the Exchange Meet as the 2nd-year representative, was underway. He sat hesitantly across from the interviewers.
"Cadet Ji Chang-hyuk." Choi Seol-ah put on airs.
"Yes, sir! I mean, yes!"
"You applied to skip a grade to Joaquin Graduate School, correct?"
"Yes, yes..."
"For what reason?"
"Th-That is..."
Ji Chang-hyuk stole a glance at Abel and lowered his head as if ashamed. He confessed his innermost feelings.
"...At the Exchange Meet, I was carried by the Imperial Princess and Chae Lina. Though I stepped up as the 2nd-year representative, it was a pathetic sight. So I pondered a lot. I felt that if I entered a place like Lancelot Company with skills like mine, I'd only be laughed at..."
"Hmm. Go on."
"Rather than that, I wanted to use the grade-skipping system to enter graduate school even a year earlier to learn more."
"Low self-esteem. You are perfect for a graduate student. An inflated ego is no good."
"Thank you..."
Huh?
Did I mishear?
"Cadet—no, Teaching Assistant Ji Chang-hyuk."
"Yes, yes!"
Ji Chang-hyuk raised his head in confusion. Choi Seol-ah tapped the bottom hem of her gloves. Looking closely now, she was even wearing sunglasses with pointed lenses.
"Are you good at printing?"
"Printing... as in using a printer?"
"What about washing teacups?"
"...What are you talking about...?"
"Have you ever washed socks?"
"Um... Instructor..."
Ji Chang-hyuk stared at Choi Seol-ah. Her lips were utterly serious.
"...Is this some kind of leading question?"
"No." Choi Seol-ah firmly shook her head. "It's the mindset of a graduate student."
"..."
"Welcome. You passed, TA Ji Chang-hyuk."
Choi Seol-ah curved her lips into a beaming smile for the first time. Abel and Lee Won-bin pressed their foreheads in exhaustion.
A chill ran down Ji Chang-hyuk's spine.
However, it was too late to back out.
The die of fate had rolled a 1.