Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Isolated Disciples [Horror]
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While resting at home, my phone rang.
'This is the old cell phone I used back when I was an academy instructor.'
-Bzzzzt
I tried to ignore it, but the persistent vibrations made me check the number.
'What the hell? I've never seen this number before. There's no way there's a number I don't know.'
Something felt off, so I picked up.
-Hello?
But there was no response.
'What's this? Why call and say nothing?'
-Hey? Who is this?
Still no answer.
'I'm already in a shit mood, and now prank callers are after me too.'
Anger surged, but I reined it in and spoke.
-If you don't answer, I'm hanging up.
My firm tone finally got a girl's voice.
-In... Instructor... I have something to say...
I recognized her instantly. Of course I did. The bitch who shoved me into hell. The one who wrecked my entire career, forcing me to wear a mask and wander like a ghost. Baek Hyunseo.
Even hearing her voice, I couldn't believe it. What conscience let her call me? If she had any guilt, she'd avoid me forever, staying out of my sight.
Her voice made my blood boil. Food churned in my stomach, veins swelling across my body.
I spoke in a cold, flat tone.
-You... Baek Hyunseo?
She replied.
-Yes, it's me... I really needed to tell you something...
-Hold on. I have nothing to say to you. You know my life's ruined because of you. Do you have any idea how I've been living lately? Every fucking day is pure hell.
Baek Juseok, the Baal Guild Master, Magic Tower Lord Shin Yura, and all the guilds he bribed.
I'd spent exhausting days clashing with them. Hell, I'd massacred an entire guild recently. If Baek Hyunseo hadn't ousted me, I'd still be an admired instructor at the academy.
No mask to hide my face, no wasting time recruiting disciples, no dealing with worthless idiots picking fights, no killing or seething with hatred and rage.
I could hang up, but rage boiled over, so I pressed her more.
-I can't fathom what you were thinking. But if you hated me and wanted to destroy me, you succeeded perfectly. Congrats, happy now? Don't get too smug. I'll drag you down to the abyss eventually.
-Instructor... I understand you hate me. I agree it's all my fault. No excuses. I did something trashy to you. But...
-Click
'What other bullshit is she gonna spew?'
I hung up fast.
At the academy where Baek Hyunseo was.
She pleaded desperately with Choi Juwon.
-Instructor... I understand you hate me. I agree it's all my fault. No excuses. I did something trashy to you. But...
-Click
-I'm truly sorry... It's been so hard since that day... I miss you so much, Instructor... I only liked you, I never thought it'd blow up like this. What do I have to do for you to forgive...
Her words never reached him.
"Sob..."
Baek Hyunseo stared at the disconnected phone, tears streaming down.
Yoon Seulgi, who had been watching from afar, approached and asked.
"Hyunseo... From your face, it doesn't look like the talk went well..."
"Hic... sob..."
Baek Hyunseo couldn't even reply, just sobbing uncontrollably.
Yoon Seulgi held her shaking shoulders, quietly staying by her side.
"Hyunseo. Do you think we'll ever be forgiven by Instructor Choi Juwon? If we apologize sincerely, can we go back to how things were?"
Baek Hyunseo shook her head slowly and whispered.
"I don't think so. He seems set on never seeing us again."
Yoon Seulgi gazed sadly into space.
"In a way, it's natural... He treated us so well, and we betrayed him overnight. Even after quitting Helmont Academy, bad rumors spread through other academies... He must've suffered terribly during that time. Instructor Choi Juwon... He still seems holed up at home, no activities. How much resentment and pain must he have felt alone...?"
With that, Baek Hyunseo and Yoon Seulgi lingered there for a long while.
The next morning, Yang Hangil gathered all his lecture students and shouted.
"Listen up. After agonizing all day, I've decided you need a more extreme approach to grow."
"When does a person unleash their strongest power? When their life or a comrade's is at stake. People awaken superhuman strength in desperate situations. Proven by countless cases."
"So, when is someone pushed to the brink? You all know the answer."
The students eyed him fearfully. He grinned.
"Looks like you do. Exactly. Starting today, I'm sending you into a dungeon."
Baek Hyunseo jumped, asking.
-Instructor... Are you coming with us?
Yang Hangil scowled irritably.
"Me? Why would I enter a dungeon for savage hunters? You'll explore alone. I'll wait outside."
Normally, Practical Magic [Beginner] class students never entered dungeons solo. They always brought parents or experts.
It was obvious. [Beginner] students were all mages, individually not powerhouse fighters. Dungeons from gates spawned randomly with hordes of monsters. Mages alone? Death waiting to happen.
Choi Juwon used to send his students in often, but he always tanked upfront, shielding them, practically carrying the run.
"It... seems too dangerous..."
Baek Hyunseo trembled. Yang Hangil just stared, then spoke.
"Damn right it is. It has to be dangerous to awaken you. Your stats stagnate or drop like bugs—how else to boost them? I have to make you grow, no matter what. Even if it risks lives. If not, I'm fucked."
The students stared blankly at his nonsense. He yelled.
"No choices anyway. You went occasionally before, right? Just pretend no guardian. It's a C-rank gate."
C-rank dungeons were conquerable by dozens of Helmont's Practical Magic [Beginner] students. Conquerable didn't mean safe, but Yang Hangil didn't care. More dropouts meant no hope for him.
"No more questions. Protest or babble, and I'll beat you first. Shut up and follow."
-Thud thud
Yang Hangil walked, students trailing.
After a long trek, they reached a gate.
"[Beginner] class first. I called [Intermediate] and [Advanced] too—they'll join later."
Students hesitated. He roared.
"Get in now, you fucks!"
-Tadadak
-Whoosh
Dozens rushed in at his shout.
"Kyaaak!"
Baek Hyunseo screamed upon entry. Others trembled in fear.
Everywhere, dense forest. Trap-heavy terrain—needed caution.
'Sca... scary...'
Baek Hyunseo had only dungeoned with her father or Choi Juwon. Pure terror gripped her.
Before she could adjust, monsters swarmed.
"Kieeeek!"
Goblins cackled before the panicking students.
"G-Get away!"
"K-Kids, snap out of it! More come, we're surrounded in seconds!"
"Scary... save me..."
Reactions split wildly.
"Kieeeek!"
A goblin charged frozen Baek Hyunseo.