Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Educating the Self-Proclaimed Expert
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"Th-the... Masked Instructor... footage of him entering the Black Gate... just arrived in our broadcasting station's email."
The moment the interviewer spoke, silence fell over the studio. Professor Shim Ji-hyuk scowled as if he'd misheard, then asked,
"What did you just say?"
The interviewer enunciated clearly in response.
"It looks like the Masked Instructor really entered the Black Gate. The evidence footage just arrived, and they're deciding upstairs whether it can be aired."
"Ha."
Professor Shim Ji-hyuk let out a hollow laugh, his face saying I knew it.
"I won't believe it until I see it with my own eyes. It's impossible from the start. Theoretically impossible. Can you crack a rock with an egg? It's exactly like that."
His stance was firm.
At that moment, another message came through the interviewer's earpiece.
- Permission to air granted. You can broadcast the footage.
Hearing this, he quickly manipulated the artifact to prepare the video.
"Professor Shim, we just got approval to air it. If it's not too much trouble, would you mind watching it with me? I haven't seen it yet either."
"Let's take a look, at least. See what kind of nonsense this is."
-Ziiiiing
A brief noise crackled, and then the Masked Instructor appeared on screen.
-Whooooom
As the Masked Instructor placed his hand on the Black Gate, an enormous surge of demonic energy began rushing toward his body.
"Ooooh!"
"Is... is that even possible?"
"Heh heh..."
"No way it was actually true..."
The audience erupted in shouts, their faces twisted in shock. It was no wonder. Absorbing the demonic energy from a Black Gate was something no one had even attempted before.
What would happen if someone jumped into lava? Everyone knew they'd melt away without even touching it. No one would try it. That was common sense. Yet right before their eyes, something even more absurd was unfolding.
-Whirrrrr
A vicious demonic energy so foul it devoured even the surrounding life force was being sucked madly into the Masked Instructor's body.
And soon after, demonic energy burst forth from the Masked Instructor's form.
-Piiiing
The released energy coalesced into a black dot that shot straight into the sky, hovering in the air for a long while before finally exploding.
-KABOOOOM!
-Boom!
-PSSSHHH!
It sounded like thousands of fireworks detonating at once. Even with the volume adjusted, the sheer force of the noise overwhelmed everyone. And above all...
-Siiiizzz
The aftermath in the sky after the demonic energy exploded. The heavens were blanketed in pitch black, devoid of any life force. It took quite some time for the effects to fade back to normal.
What the fuck is this?
Professor Shim Ji-hyuk couldn't believe his eyes—or rather, his brain was rejecting the information they fed it. He was a renowned magic scholar with a doctorate and over twenty years in the field. He knew every theoretical aspect of magic inside out and constantly pursued new research.
But his eyes were now reflecting something that defied the laws of physics.
Impossible... utterly impossible...
He couldn't accept it. Even ordinary demonic energy would kill most people if absorbed directly. For a mere human to inhale the massive amount sealing a gate? That was impossible unless you were a monster.
"It's... it's manipulated! Has to be!"
Professor Shim Ji-hyuk shook his head vigorously, denying the scene before him. It was the moment all the laws he'd studied his entire life crumbled in an instant.
The interviewer looked at him with pitying eyes.
"Professor... the chance of this being faked is extremely low. They already ran a preliminary authenticity check before approving the air. No signs of tampering."
"How can you conclude that from a single preliminary check? You need secondary, tertiary, and cross-verification at minimum! Ridiculous. This can't happen. Can you cover the sky with your hand? No. It just looks that way—it's not real. That act is no different from trying to block the sky with your palm. Is that man a god or something?"
"..."
Shim Ji-hyuk spat in excitement, foaming at the mouth.
"If it's not manipulated, then it's absolutely impossible. Don't make me laugh. If something like that were possible, people wouldn't fear Black Gates so much."
"And that's not all. Using a Black Gate as an energy source for magic? Even assuming it's real for argument's sake—if that were possible, that person would be a walking nuclear bomb. If they used that power with malicious intent, who knows what catastrophe could unfold."
Shim Ji-hyuk emphasized how absurd the phenomenon was while simultaneously laying traps to drag the man into ruin even if it proved true.
Fuck... how did things turn out like this?
The reason he was flailing so pathetically was because Shim Ji-hyuk was, in fact, a plant inserted by the Magic Tower Lord.
On the day the Masked Instructor and Baek Juseok had their public duel in the past, the Magic Tower Lord had clashed with the Masked Instructor.
Right after, she summoned Shim Ji-hyuk.
- What brings you to call me, Tower Lord?
- Dr. Shim Ji-hyuk. You've always said you wanted a high position in the Magic Tower, right?
- Yes, it's the lifelong dream of anyone researching magic, not just me.
- Do me one favor, and I'll give you one of the real power seats in the Tower.
- Really?... What... what favor...?
- Simple. You know that Masked Instructor causing all the fuss lately, right? I had a run-in with him recently.
- I know who you mean. What do you need me to do?
- You're on all those programs as a panelist. Just periodically criticize his external mana use or teaching methods. Call it unverified and dangerous. A fraud. Be creative, but make sure to tarnish his reputation. Doesn't have to be external mana—nitpick his videos or actions as much as possible. Especially jump on anything that could damage his image.
- That's all?
- Yes. You have recognition on those shows. People will take your word as fact subconsciously, true or not. I'll manipulate parts of the media too. You just stir things up from the front.
- If I succeed, exactly what position will I get?
- Any seat except Tower Lord or Vice Tower Lord. Whatever you want.
- Th-that's... you're serious?
Shim Ji-hyuk stared blankly at Tower Lord Shin Yura.
Shin Yura replied with evident displeasure.
- Doubting me? I keep my word. Provided you completely destroy the Masked Instructor's reputation. So give it your all.
Through years as an instructor and TV appearances, Shim Ji-hyuk had become a familiar panelist on most programs.
But he wasn't a genius. To laypeople, his knowledge seemed impressive and his tongue sharp enough for TV fame. Yet the Magic Tower, the dream of magic scholars, ignored his talents.
The more famous he got, the deeper his inferiority complex grew.
How much more fame do I need just to get a foot in the door there?
His curiosity turned to passion, then persistence, and finally obsession and madness.
I have to set foot there, no matter what it takes.
He'd devoted his life to magic studies. He wanted his bones buried in the Tower. To magic PhDs, it was that kind of place—a holy grail for those deeply immersed in the art.
No... this was my golden opportunity.
Until now, he'd viciously criticized external mana, the circuit break the Masked Instructor revealed, and various theories. Unproven stability. Foolish challenge to divine authority. Reckless magic detached from theory that could kill him any moment from bodily strain.
Words like that sowed vague unease, gradually eroding the Masked Instructor's image. Truth didn't matter. Verification wasn't needed. The key was planting doubt.
Even a celebrity's good deeds mean nothing once rumors of assault spread—perceptions shift dramatically.
[What if?]
That simple phrase held immense power. People start seeing good acts as fake, interpreting kindness as malice. Without evidence, it simmers without a finishing blow. So Shim Ji-hyuk had waited for solid proof.
And now, the perfect chance had come. One that could fulfill the Tower Lord's request and crush the Masked Instructor's reputation.
Rumors spread that the Masked Instructor had forcibly opened a Black Gate and saved those inside.
Hearing this, Shim Ji-hyuk realized: the moment the man didn't refute it, inspiration struck.
A liar desperate for fame and heroism, even fabricating it. A vile opportunist exploiting deaths for personal gain. A filthy coward letting misunderstandings fester for profit.
A prime chance to turn him into public enemy number one overnight.
My plan was perfect. Humans can't forcibly open Black Gates. Absolutely impossible.
Shim Ji-hyuk repeated it to himself over and over. No way. He couldn't be wrong.
"Everyone, you can't possibly believe that footage!..."
He turned to the audience but froze, mouth agape.
-Splash
They stared at him with cold, chilling eyes.
In that instant, a tiny seed of doubt had sprouted in their minds.
What if Shim Ji-hyuk is just spouting nonsense out of ignorance?