12. Legion

+++

Ha So-ri had completely settled in.

Beyond the Academy grounds, this city—and the entire 1st floor—belonged to the Ha Family, so one might think it was understandable just from that, but the problem was that this mansion had been the house used by the Yu Family for generations whenever they dispatched instructors.

Naturally, the mansion was owned by the Yu Family. Precisely, it was registered under the family head, Yoo Tae-hee.

Moreover, recently, it had become a sort of newlywed home when Yu Ina, dispatched as an instructor, got married, so how infuriating was it to shamelessly plop down in the newlywed home?

"...So, when the hell is that lady leaving?"

It had already been three days since Tae-hee left.

Yu Ina had been asking that since morning.

"Why ask me?"

"Feels like you two are close."

Sihwan, getting dressed in appropriate clothes for heading to the Academy, and Ina, plopping her butt down on the bed.

She had quite a bit of pent-up frustration.

"Close my ass. You ask her."

"I'm kinda..."

"Why?"

"Well... given our positions, I can't just bring myself to ask..."

She trailed off.

On the outside, she looked like a cold, ruthless woman with no sense of propriety, but peek inside and she was surprisingly fragile—couldn't say no, couldn't voice complaints, and if pushed, she'd go along with anything in a daze.

Plus, the opponent was Ha So-ri.

A woman even Tae-hee, whom Ina found intimidating, was wary of—so Ina could barely make a peep.

That's why the one and only countermeasure and hope was Ryu Sihwan.

"You're good at saying what should and shouldn't be said, right?"

"Is that a compliment or an insult?"

"Both."

"Hmm... Fine. I'll mention it for now."

Sihwan nodded lightly.

She wasn't the type to leave just because someone asked, anyway...

"But why chase her out?"

"Why? It's our house—feels weird having a stranger camped out."

"You've got tons ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of slaves too, though. And Eun-hye's around. Be honest. You just wanna be alone with me, right?"

The male slaves were all dead or turned into Bari's test subjects, but there were still ten female slaves.

Add in the servants working in the kitchen and the guards led by Eun-hye, and that made about twenty people serving Sihwan and Yu Ina.

"Those are just things, so who cares? Eun-hye-ssi's a guard. You think I'm some instinct-driven brainless beast like you?"

"Yeah, I see your wild-ass thought process loud and clear."

Sihwan gave a half-assed reply and left the room.

+++

Ha So-ri roamed the city like a pro.

Even while holed up at Yu Ina's mansion, she'd wander around the plaza or bustling streets, sightseeing and shopping.

When she got horny, she'd pick out decent women and drag them to her room, but luckily, she never brought that shit home.

Anyway, the woman who got out a lot like that had now visited the Academy.

It was thanks to Yeonseo's nagging: if you're not going to the front lines and just gonna slack off, at least do something productive.

Thanks to that, a rushed schedule.

A 'Mock Raid' had been hastily put together—with her as the target, no less.

"As announced yesterday, today we have the founder of this Academy and our great hero, 'Ha So-ri'-nim, here as a special instructor."

"Woooah!!"

"It's really Ha So-ri-nim!"

The trainees gathered in the training grounds erupted in cheers.

Those who'd spent time with her knew she was a total asshole nuisance and a horny rapist bitch, but the vast majority, unaware of that, just saw her as the continent's hero.

"Nice to meet you all. I hear you're doing a Mock Raid against me today? Looking forward to seeing what you've got."

From the podium overlooking the training grounds, she opened her mouth with a haughty expression.

Her long straight hair ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠gently swaying in the wind and her icy cold glare scattering frost—it was so beautiful, it made you doubt if this was the same nuisance bitch from before.

Looking up from below, she was a straight-up goddess.

Thinking about how he'd fucked that face countless times made his crotch swell with pride for no damn reason.

"That bitch as special instructor? End of days."

Of course, separate from rational assessment.

"Still, her Nobling purity and volume were insane. On a whole other level from Jihye-ssi."

"Yeah? At least that's a relief."

"With her top-tier social status, she'd be super useful as a slave if you snag her."

"Damn, that's tempting."

She came down from the podium, and Deputy Chief Instructor Ha So-young went up to give a wishy-washy speech.

Something about hoping no one got hurt in today's Mock Raid and that it'd be good training.

"Ryu Sihwan, as trainee representative, you're the overall commander for this Mock Raid. Rihana, you're the deputy commander."

Before starting, Sihwan got called up with Rihana.

Overall commander, no less.

"Piece of cake."

Sihwan figured it'd be easy.

The loss condition was total trainee wipeout, and with the Absolute Suit, that was impossible.

"Hey. Ryu Sihwan."

"?"

On the way back to the training grounds, Ha So-ri approached.

She'd dolled up pretty good, so up close, she looked even hotter.

"Do you feel fear too? Can't wait to see how you handle being left all alone~."

"Hey."

"What? Scared?"

"When the fuck you heading back?"

"What? You too?"

"Time to bounce."

"Ha. Fucked my body to your heart's content, and now you wanna kick me out?"

"Fucked? I just tested the goods. That's plenty for you."

"Nope, not leaving. Not till you fuck me proper."

Pissed off, she flipped him the bird long and hard.

"Lookin' forward to today."

Yeah, no talking her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠out.

+++

The Academy's vast inner grounds.

A massive raid with over ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠460 attackers was about to kick off.

Like a game, everyone had HP, and when it hit zero, you were ruled dead and bounced out of the barrier—so unless you took massive damage, trainee safety was guaranteed.

If the trainees' attacks drained Ha So-ri's HP to zero, raid over on the spot.

Rewards for the victorious trainees, followed by Ha So-ri's light feedback.

"Think we can win?"

He glanced at deputy commander Rihana, casually puffing on her cigar.

"Obviously. You say that after seeing my power?"

"It's Bari-ssi's power, not yours."

"Same diff."

The trainees were showing all kinds of emotions.

Fear, anticipation, excitement, ecstasy.

Various feelings, but one thing in common: not a single one thought they'd win.

Even if So-ri didn't go all out, the gap between fresh Academy newbies and the woman who'd been crushing it at the front lines since a thousand years ago was insurmountable.

Hell, maybe not 400—even 4,000 or 40,000 wouldn't touch a hair on her.

"Should I step up too?"

"Yeah. Full power and all. Stick by me for now."

"Got it."

Sihwan looked around.

The A-Class kids serving as class reps were coaching their groups, trying to form ranks.

Seemed like they were using class lessons, but to Sihwan, it was garbage.

"Rihana."

"Yeah."

"Relay an order. All guys to the front lines."

"...Just the guys? You're not thinking what I think you are, right?"

"Hey now. Who was it that said they'd obey?"

"...Hah."

Chewing her lip in annoyance, she relayed the order.

All males up front.

The guys looked utterly baffled, but Ranking demanded absolute obedience, so they lined up front as Sihwan ordered.

"Hey. Just so you know, this ain't strategy or shit."

"Got it."

"...This is a huge chance. Seeing So-ri-nim in action ain't something you get every day."

"It'll be common from now on. For my girls, at least."

"Huh?"

"Drones don't just relay signals."

"...?"

The Satellite Drone he'd launched for phone use.

Multiple purposes, including video recording.

Meaning today's Mock Raid would be filmed and replayable.

"And honestly, it's pointless. The further up the tech tree we go, the less human fights matter."

"No clue what you mean."

"Yeah, figured."

Ha So-young's voice echoed through the barrier.

So-ri stretching it out, and the 400+ tense watchers.

In the midst of it, Sihwan spoke up.

"Listen up."

Out-of-nowhere speech.

Drew even more attention.

"You're all wondering why I put the guys up front.

No way he's lining 'em up single-file for a dumbass charge, right? That anxiety.

But that's exactly it. I'm sending you in to charge, and those spears probably won't even graze her."

"...He nuts?"

"What a chance and he's wasting it!"

Trainees buzzing.

The guys were already pissed, looking ready to explode.

"I'm not using strategy from the jump.

Strategy's for the weak and cowards' excuses."

"Crazy fucker for real."

"A mere human!"

"Knew it from his rep speech!!"

Curses and complaints erupting everywhere, even Deputy Chief Instructor So-young chimed in, but Sihwan didn't give a fuck.

"You'll charge and drop meaningless, but don't worry. Victory's ours anyway.

Be grateful for the early rest. You'll savor it fastest."

"Hey, Ryu Sihwan."

"Yeah."

"Same thought. No need for strategy."

"Why bother with strategy when you're gonna lose anyway?"

"Yeah, I'll win."

"Heh. With those punks?"

"Yep. I'll win."

Haljjak.

A long tongue licked Sihwan's cheek.

"That's what you think."

"!!! Wh-when?!"

Rihana, right beside him, whipped her head around in shock, but

Thung-!

A delayed impact rang out, and she got bounced outside the barrier.

"...What."

"What else? You're the last one left. All lonely."

Haljjak.

Three left on the vast grounds.

At the start, everyone except Sihwan and Bari had retired.