Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Evidence Destruction
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Kang Sung-ho, the Hunter Association President, spoke to me.
"I've made the contact for now. Not sure what they'll do about it, but still."
"Thank you. That's more than enough."
I bowed my head in thanks, and Kang Sung-ho waved his hand dismissively.
"If anything, I should be thanking you. Cough—!"
Kang Sung-ho hadn't fully recovered yet. He spat out a thin stream of blood.
"Hoo... Sorry about that. The demonic energy's gone from my body, but I'm still not in great shape."
Kang Eun-byeol looked at her father with worried eyes.
"Dad, are you okay? You're not going to collapse again, are you...?"
"I'm fine. A day or two of rest, and I'll be good as new. Don't worry too much."
While the father and daughter talked, I asked Kang Sung-ho a question.
"By the way, who gave you that artifact to use? Whoever handed over something with that much demonic energy can't have been an ordinary person."
Kang Sung-ho looked troubled as he replied.
"Well... To be honest, I can't remember clearly right now. No matter how hard I try to recall, all I know is that I used the artifact and collapsed. Nothing else comes to mind. I'm guessing they used some kind of vow magic to ensure secrecy. The artifact vanished right after I used it, too."
"Hmm... That's a tricky situation."
For example, if they'd used the [SSS] Oath Magic Circle:
[Condition]: Use the artifact.
[Result]: Lose all memories related to the artifact.
If they'd agreed to that after using it, losing the memories would be entirely possible.
Of course, I had no idea why the Hunter Association President would accept such a stupid condition, but I couldn't exactly grill him about why he'd done something so idiotic when he couldn't even remember it himself.
"Sounds like a real mess for you. But one thing's clear: that person was trying to assassinate you."
"Yes... I agree with what you said, Instructor. Once I'm fully recovered, I'll track down whoever did this as best I can. If someone's got ill intent toward me, they might go after my daughter or my other contacts too. I don't even want to think about it if that happens."
Kang Sung-ho let out a deep sigh and continued.
"Truth be told, I'm most worried about my daughter. Similar things have happened before, but up until now, I never really worried about her safety no matter what. I figured she'd be perfectly safe inside this building. But looking at that wall now, I realize even that's not true."
Kang Sung-ho pointed at the wall I'd smashed to pieces.
"Sorry about wrecking the wall."
"No, I didn't bring it up to complain. It's just... if someone as powerful as you turned against me in my current state, how am I supposed to protect my daughter? Hell, I might not even be able to protect myself like this."
"I... I'm fine, Dad. Don't worry about me! I'm a B-rank mage, you know!"
"That's exactly the problem. There are way too many people stronger than you out there. Even I got taken down like this out of nowhere—who's to say the same won't happen to you?"
"..."
Kang Eun-byeol, who had been pouting sullenly off to the side, looked at me and spoke up.
"Um... Masked Instructor, I saw that video of yours before. You were recruiting disciples, right?"
At that, Kang Sung-ho's face lit up.
"Oh, is that true?"
"Yeah, well... I am."
"Would you take my daughter as your disciple? I'll accommodate whatever you want."
Kang Eun-byeol murmured quietly from the side.
"I... If you accept me, I'll work really hard..."
I looked at Kang Eun-byeol silently.
Her magic aptitude's around B-rank, so I could whip her into shape pretty quick. Her dad's the Hunter Association President, and his connections look pretty useful too... Taking on a disciple like her wouldn't hurt at all.
Having made up my mind, I turned to Kang Sung-ho.
"Sure, I'll take her. Once I've got all my other disciples lined up, I'll let you know."
"Thank you so much. If there are any conditions you want, just tell my secretary and she'll pass it along."
"Hmm... If it's not too much trouble, could you get me an S-rank artifact called the Demon's Mask? I'll pay for it separately."
"The Demon's Mask? That just changes your face and only to one specific look—not super useful. Pick something else, and you can have it for free, no need for money."
"No, I've already gotten a great artifact from you. Taking another for free would make me look like a thug. You can see I wear a mask for my activities, so in daily life, it'd draw too much attention. I really just need that one, so if you could get it, I'd appreciate it."
"Ah, got it. I'll contact you through Eun-byeol once it's ready. Take good care of her from now on."
Kang Sung-ho bowed to me in thanks, and Kang Eun-byeol bobbed her head too.
Finally, we exchanged phone numbers and said our goodbyes.
"I'll be heading out now."
Kang Sung-ho asked.
"Where to, sir?"
"To watch Baek Juseok crash and burn."
"Hmm... Doesn't sound like a simple grudge. Anyone who earns the enmity of someone as powerful as you... I almost feel sorry for the guy. Good luck to you."
"Thanks."
-Step
-Step
I headed toward Baek Juseok's mansion.
I walked slowly and arrived at Baek Juseok's mansion. Already, a swarm of inspectors in NPS robes were bustling around.
Oh, looks like NPS actually came through. Wasn't sure if they would, but they're moving fast.
Then, one of them stopped me.
"Sorry, but this area's off-limits. Please head somewhere else."
"Ah, got it."
I stepped back a bit, put on my mask, and pulled out an artifact to drape over myself.
-Swoosh
Stealth activated, and I slipped past the agent who'd stopped me earlier, smooth as could be.
Hmm...
Looking around inside the mansion, inspectors were posted everywhere, but things seemed to be wrapping up—less commotion than I'd expected.
I overheard their conversation.
"Team leader, checked everywhere here. Nothing."
"Dig deeper. Make sure there are no hidden spaces. Upper brass said to comb every speck of dust."
"Got it!"
-Pat pat pat pat
Only inspectors were rushing around inside.
Weird. Why's the mansion completely empty?
Normally, it should just be Baek Juseok and Baek Hyunseo living there.
Baek Hyunseo would be at the academy right now, so an empty house made sense.
If this were a normal situation.
But Baek Juseok had been arrested. That sly bastard wouldn't have overlooked a raid like this.
I'd figured he'd prepped people to destroy evidence in a pinch, but contrary to expectations, the place was eerily empty.
Hmm...
"Sage's Eye."
As I chanted the spell, everything around me became see-through, like X-ray vision.
Then, one spot caught my eye.
Whoa, this crazy son of a bitch.
Only after using Sage's Eye could I see the faint mana flow. I touched the spot, an artifact activated, and in an instant, I was whisked to an underground space.
-Whoosh
It was nearly silent, and I'd tunneled right into the earth.
Looking around, it was a massive cave.
Sage's Eye. Output info on the current space.
He set up something like this?
Just then, two men walked past me in my stealth.
"Ah~ fuck, Baek Juseok that bastard's a moron too."
"You always gotta curse that guy."
"Can you blame me? When we kept telling him to make this underground space, he flat-out refused. But after that intranet incident blew up last time, he flips out at us and makes us build it anyway. You know how many people we threw at this to rush it? I nearly died back then."
"Still, it's coming in handy now for destroying evidence down here."
"True. But seriously, we good smashing these?"
The man held two familiar objects in his hands.
Something I knew well: the artifacts Baek Juseok always carried—the Helmont Academy Intranet Master Keys.