Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Coincidence for the Transfer Student (9)
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The students' first reaction upon hearing Cheon Yeomyeong's words could be summed up in one line.
What the hell kind of crazy talk is this all of a sudden?
It was absurd enough that he'd suddenly slapped the Saintess across the cheek, but now he was saying he was going to pick people to fight?
Some tilted their heads, others furrowed their brows. A few even began drawing up mana.
But no matter how the students reacted, Cheon Yeomyeong ignored them and just said what he had to say.
"Enemies will soon barge into the shelter. I don't know their level, but it's certain they're beyond what ordinary students can handle."
Enemies are coming?
Most of the students scoffed in disbelief.
But the sharper ones swallowed hard as they watched the Gemini Teacher heading to the shelter warehouse to fetch weapons.
"The situation isn't good. Weapons are limited, and we don't have time to coordinate. So..."
Cheon Yeomyeong's golden eyes swept over the students.
"Anyone lacking the skill or the resolve to risk their life doesn't need to step up. Only those who can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with me and fight, please step forward."
The students were at a loss for words at the abrupt declaration, but the explanation didn't continue.
Cheon Yeomyeong crossed his arms and shut his mouth. As if to say, the choice is yours.
Why is she acting like this all of a sudden?
Is this a hidden camera?
Enemies? Does she think the academy's security is a joke?
From quiet murmurs to outright hostility. The relaxed atmosphere vanished, replaced by a tense seriousness.
Hey, but just in case...
Just in case what? How would she even know enemies are coming?
And so, quite some time passed with no one stepping forward.
Hey, wait, isn't that... the club weapons the teacher is bringing?
The Gemini Teacher, who had gone into the shelter warehouse, came dragging out a sack stuffed full of training weapons.
The students frowned as they saw her approach Cheon Yeomyeong.
If even the teacher was going along with it, that meant it wasn't just nonsense...
As tension began to build among the students, that's when.
Step.
Seti stepped forward.
She didn't go straight to Cheon Yeomyeong but instead approached the Gemini Teacher to help carry the sack.
Unlike the teacher who was dragging it along, Seti lifted the sack effortlessly, as if it were a light bag. And she did it all with the Saintess dangling from her back.
Seti, now in front of Cheon Yeomyeong, dumped the sack onto the floor.
With a clattering pour, the weapons spilled out... and their condition was, as expected, poor.
Swords, knives, spears, shields... Even picking out the least damaged ones left barely around ten weapons.
"...No warhammer, as usual. Unpopular weapons are always like that."
Seti grumbled as she picked up two swords from the sack. Not planning to dual-wield, she handed one straight to Cheon Yeomyeong.
The moment he took it, Seti winked with one eye. A wink no one else could see.
Cheon Yeomyeong stifled a hollow laugh and checked the sword's condition. The blade wasn't sharp, but its durability matched the iron swords used by Manchu mercenaries.
He swung it through the air a few times before saying to the students.
"Anyone else?"
This time, Soemiri trotted up to stand beside him. She just looked tense and didn't pick out any particular weapon.
Knowing that Soemiri used some strange invisible magic, Cheon Yeomyeong didn't push any weapons on her.
Instead, it was the Gemini Teacher standing next to them who picked up a weapon.
She grabbed a thin spear, took off her glasses and shoes, and tore the hem of her skirt up to her thigh.
Anyone could see she was preparing for combat.
By now, even the most oblivious students realized this wasn't a joke.
"Anyone else who'll fight with us?"
Cheon Yeomyeong asked the students again, but still, no one stepped forward.
Soemiri frowned slightly at the sight. As if she hadn't expected absolutely no one to step up.
But Cheon Yeomyeong wasn't particularly disappointed. He hadn't genuinely expected help from the students in the first place.
'No expectations, no disappointment.'
He glanced at the students for a moment, then checked the auxiliary pouch hidden inside his uniform jacket.
A pouch just big enough for a grenade or two contained Uragan's Hilt... and the golden seal.
'If things go south, open the shelter door and run.'
No need to reveal the golden seal's true nature, so he wasn't using it right now.
He had no intention of risking his life for the other students.
Of course, blocking the enemies here would be the ideal scenario...
"...Very well. Those not joining the fight, please keep as much distance as possible from the walls and retreat to the corner of the shelter."
Cheon Yeomyeong spoke politely, but still, no one backed away. Instead—or as a poor substitute—the students bombarded him with questions.
"Is this for real? Not a hidden camera?"
"How do you know enemies are coming!?"
"Why should we fight? What are the academy staff doing?"
"Y-you'll protect us, right?"
"Teacher! Say something!"
The students' shouts, infused with mana, echoed through the shelter. But Cheon Yeomyeong faced them with the same calm expression.
And as the chaos dragged on, he channeled mana into his feet and stomped down with True Strike.
Boom!
Dust rained from the shelter ceiling, and the questions cut off instantly. Cheon Yeomyeong tilted his head and said.
"If you don't believe me, don't. If you want to live, figure it out yourself. We'll handle our part."
His tone held not a speck of consideration. Some students' faces twisted in anger, but others showed a completely different reaction.
Like Wesley, for example.
"Uahaha! Yeah, that's right! If you're not fighting, shut up! I don't know what's going on, but count me in!"
Starting with the buzz-cut guy striding forward with a grin, a few students followed.
Superhumans, mages, priest aspirants...
At least twenty in number. Impressive courage for students, but Seti intervened and sent most of them back.
"Those who can use healing magic, it's better if you support from the rear rather than the front. Mages... anyone have reagents or staves? No? Then you can only manage a few support spells at best, so rear support fire is better."
Her strict standards applied even to the superhumans.
Some lacked suitable weapons, others the skill...
A few protested, but Cheon Yeomyeong sent them back himself. Being on the front line meant any lack of skill equaled death.
After all the filtering...
Excluding Wesley, only one remained.
Jeon Yunseong. Rank 1 in superhuman martial arts admissions.
He kept glancing at Soemiri as he picked up a shield and sword from the sack.
It was obvious he was interested in her.
'...Wonder if he can actually fight properly.'
His reputation suggested skill, but Cheon Yeomyeong clicked his tongue inwardly and checked on the rest of his group.
Fortunately, Soemiri, preparing for battle, seemed oblivious to Jeon Yunseong's gaze. Seti, on the other hand, made a disgusted face and ignored him.
Wesley didn't even pay him any mind, as if the male students already knew about Jeon Yunseong and Soemiri's dynamic.
'...Better not expect much.'
In any case, Cheon Yeomyeong and his group formed a circular defense around the shelter wall to prepare for battle.
A short time passed, and sweat beaded on the hands gripping weapons.
Rumble...!
A massive something approached from beyond the shelter wall.
***
Groan.
Margan stretched. After writing reports all night, even his sturdy dwarven joints screamed.
"...How long has it been since I pulled an all-nighter?"
His usual wake-up time and tea time had long passed.
Right after returning from his trip, an all-nighter for reports... He shook his head and stood from his seat.
He splashed water on his face at the sink and downed an indeterminately old cup of coffee in one go.
Only after shaking off the sleep could he sit back down and continue the report.
[Confirmed that Cheon Yeomyeong possesses a secret relic related to the 'Comet Sword.']
[The relationship between the Holy Sword and Cheon Yeomyeong exceeds the Australian government's expectations...]
The report wasn't coming together well. Cumulative fatigue made his eyes blurry.
Margan rubbed his brow and thought of the ultimate fatigue cure.
Thinking of someone having it worse than him.
The first who came to mind was Medga, the Admissions Director who had forcibly sent him to Manchu.
Margan himself could just finish the report and be done, but...
The Admissions Director clearly had to deal with the fallout of the transfer admission—running around to every media outlet and even the Prime Minister's office in Sydney.
He'd been called to an emergency meeting just yesterday.
'...Fucking politics professors.'
Margan hadn't attended due to the report, but the purpose of that emergency meeting was obvious. Director Nikolai targeting the Admissions Director...
WEE-OOOWEE-OOOWEE-OOO!!
Right then, an alarm blared across the entire island.
It was a Level 3 alarm summoning all staff, but Margan stood without any tension.
'Again?'
Alarms had gone off falsely several times already this year.
'Last year was fine... This year has been especially bad.'
Maybe file a complaint with the surveillance tower. Thinking that, Margan opened the window.
And the next moment.
He sensed mana blowing in from outside the window and frowned.
"Scouting magic... deactivated?"
Just as superhumans extended their senses, scouting magic spread mana across the island to monitor for enemies.
The mana carried on the wind was undoubtedly the remnants of that magic.
Only then did Margan realize this was no ordinary matter and pulled out his cellphone.
Beep—beep—beep—
But it was already dead. Wi-Fi and satellite connections cut off—someone had deliberately severed communications.
"Damn it..."
Not a mere mishap, but a real situation. And today of all days, when all students were gathered in one classroom.
Was targeting this day mere coincidence?
Judgment was swift, action swifter. Margan headed straight out of the staff dorms.
He ran toward the grade school building first. Or tried to.
But the moment he saw the enormous number of wriggling things along the island's coastline beyond the dorms.
He stopped in his tracks and narrowed his eyes.
"...Insane."
Margan spat a curse upon confirming what they were. The coastline was packed with... zombies.
Special zombies wrapped in enough mana to resist rotting in seawater.
Unconsciously, Margan looked where the zombies were heading. At the end of their long march, he saw the building and gritted his teeth.
The 1st-year main building where all students were gathered.
It was already swarming black with zombies.
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