[Actually, there is someone within Ares Academy who has been exchanging messages with us.]
“!!! Th-this is...”
As the statement of a Root operative began playing from the recorder like a video, the expression on the face of the Helios Guild Elder seated before me gradually hardened.
[Helios Guild raided the high-level secret storage facility we operated. As a result, we have suffered considerable losses...]
[Therefore, to warn Helios Guild, we intended to send a warning to Han Ji-hye, the Guildmaster’s daughter, to let her know that she was in danger...]
“!!! Stop it—!”
BANG—!
Slamming his hand against the table, Helios’s Seventh Elder shouted at me, as though he were ashamed that the secret they had so thoroughly concealed had been exposed.
“What are you trying to do here? Do you think this sort of video alone will clear your name? Something like this could easily be fabricated, could it not?”
Seeing the Seventh Elder trying to get himself out of the situation by calling it a fabrication, I smiled and spoke.
“Fabricated... In a way, Elder, you may be right. I did edit parts of this recording.”
“Th-then I was right.”
When I briefly played along with the Seventh Elder’s words by admitting that I had edited parts of it, his expression brightened slightly, as though he had been relieved.
However, the moment I continued speaking, his face twisted.
“I edited the most important part.”
“The most important part?”
“What Helios Guild was trying to steal from the criminal organization.”
‘!!!’
At my words that I already knew what they had been trying to steal, his face turned red as though an important shame had been exposed. His eyes changed as he turned to Headmaster Choi Hyeon-seok.
“Headmaster, please leave the room for a moment.”
“Pardon? Even so, this is my office...”
“I suppose you are not afraid of our Helios, Headmaster?”
“Ah, all right. I will step out for a moment.”
As I watched Headmaster Choi Hyeon-seok hurriedly leave, seemingly frightened by the Seventh Elder’s cold expression, I let out a deep sigh.
‘A man called a Headmaster, yet he is more concerned with a Guild’s mood... How pathetic.’
As I clicked my tongue while watching the Headmaster leave through the door, the Elder glared at me and spoke.
“How much do you know?”
“Well. If nothing else, I know that there is an Awakening Rank-Up Item.”
“I see. So that is what you know.”
The man nodded as though he understood. Then, with a gesture of his fingers, he summoned something and formed a red sphere.
“What do you think you are doing?”
“I believe it would be best for us to continue our conversation at Helios, rather than here.”
“What?”
“It may hurt for a moment, but do not worry. After investigating you at Helios, we will treat you properly and send you back.”
* BANG—!
DING—!
[Armor Equipped]
Army God [Army Tiger]’s armor has been equipped.
* Due to the effect of a ‘Mythical’ Grade Trait, danger has been detected and the armor has been equipped automatically.
All ‘Mythical’ Grade or higher resistances have been activated due to the armor’s effect.
“!!! Wh-what?”
Seeing that his attack had done nothing to me, the Seventh Elder looked utterly shocked.
“What do you think you are doing?! You attacked me without warning in the Headmaster’s office!”
“It was only meant to knock you out, but how did you block my attack...”
“What are you doing here?!”
“!!! How did you get here?”
As a ‘BANG’ rang out from outside, a man swiftly entered the Headmaster’s office.
‘Perfect timing. Seo Ha-yoon kept her word and sent someone from Abel Guild.’
The man Seo Ha-yoon had sent from Abel Guild entered the office at just the right moment. Having witnessed the situation, he glared angrily at Helios’s Seventh Elder.
“What do you think you are doing? Just because you are Helios, do you think you can attack a teacher at an Academy?”
“Why are you here?”
Leaving the startled Seventh Elder behind, the man who appeared to be an executive bowed to me and politely introduced himself.
“My name is Seok Jin-young. I am currently in charge of the security unit that protects Abel Guild’s principal executives.”
‘Seok Jin-young? He is the man called Abel Guild’s Last Loyalist! To think he is standing before me...’
In the previous life I spent as Cha Tae-seok, the Villain Sniper, Seok Jin-young had remained by Guildmaster Seo Do-gyeom’s side until the day he died.
Later, when factional infighting broke out, he had protected Seo Ha-yoon, Seo Do-gyeom’s granddaughter, from the opposing faction until his death.
‘Seo Ha-yoon sent the right man. To think she personally sent the man called Abel Guild’s greatest loyalist...’
“My name is Baek Seon-woo. You came at just the right time.”
“Seok Jin-young! What brings you here?”
“Teacher Baek Seon-woo here requested protection from Abel Guild.”
“!!! What? He requested protection?”
While the Seventh Elder looked shocked, I gave him a slight smile and waved my hand.
‘From the Seventh Elder’s perspective, this must be surprising. Not only did I block his attack, but I have now requested Abel Guild’s protection as well.’
I could defeat the Seventh Elder before me if I wanted to. However, in my previous life as Cha Tae-seok, I had learned firsthand that there were limits to solving every situation through strength alone.
That was why I had decided that, in this life, I would approach things differently instead of going it alone.
“That is correct. I do not know the exact circumstances, but I heard from Miss Seo Ha-yoon that Teacher Baek Seon-woo possesses important material that can clear his name and may face threats from outside. That is why he requested protection from our Guild.”
“A threat from outside... Your words seem to be directed at our Helios.”
“I cannot say so outright, but judging by what you did just now, that seems entirely possible.”
“!!! What?”
Angered by his provocative words, the Seventh Elder let out a red aura and spoke to Seok Jin-young.
“How dare you say such insolent things about Helios Guild, one of South Korea’s top three Guilds?”
“Insolent? Your words go too far. The attitude displayed by an Elder of Helios Guild looks quite insolent from Abel Guild’s perspective.”
“You bastard! Do you think you can defeat Helios?”
“Well, are you seeking an all-out war with us?”
“What?”
“Even if Helios Guild is called one of South Korea’s Three Great Guilds, you would suffer considerable losses if you waged an all-out war against Abel Guild right now.”
“...”
‘He is right. Even if Abel Guild is weaker than Helios Guild, it is still one of South Korea’s top ten organizations. Even an Elder would not be able to provoke them carelessly.’
Most people saw Abel Guild merely as a Guild with exceptional buff-potion manufacturing techniques.
However, to rank among South Korea’s top ten Guilds required not only technical expertise, but also formidable combat strength.
‘Now that Abel Guild has stepped in, he will not be able to act so easily anymore.’
“Hmph...”
When things did not proceed as he had hoped, Helios’s Seventh Elder thought for a moment. Then he picked up the recorder from the table and looked at me.
“We will take this.”
“As long as my false accusation is cleared, do whatever you wish with it.”
“You truly do not have a copy, correct?”
“Of course not. All I want is to clear my name.”
“You crafty bastard! To think you called Abel Guild here.”
“Rather than glaring at me, should you not be looking for the traitor within this Academy?”
“I will not forget today. And Seok Jin-young! I will remember your actions as well.”
BANG—!
The Seventh Elder looked thoroughly displeased as he took the recorder and left.
Once the situation had been resolved to some extent, Seok Jin-young bowed slightly and spoke.
“It seems things have been settled for the moment.”
“It appears so.”
“Then I will return to Abel Guild. Per the young lady’s instructions, I intend to assign several people to protect Mr. Baek Seon-woo...”
“That will not be necessary.”
“Pardon? No matter what, the opponent is Helios. Furthermore, that Seventh Elder is quite vindictive. You requested protection from our Guild, and there was also the young lady’s request, so at least for the time being—”
“I am truly fine. If a time comes when I need help, I will let you know then.”
“Hmm... Understood. If you ever need help, please contact the details printed on my business card.”
“Understood. I will be sure to contact you when I need assistance.”
“Then I will take my leave.”
Seok Jin-young bowed politely to me once more before leaving the Headmaster’s office.
Only then did I finally relax, sitting down on the sofa and letting out a sigh of relief.
“Whew... At any rate, it seems the false accusation against Baek Seon-woo has been resolved.”
CREEEAK—!
“I just heard from Helios Guild.”
“Headmaster.”
While I had been sighing in relief for a moment, it seemed the Seventh Elder had cleared my name with the Headmaster before leaving.
‘Even so, he is a man who keeps his promises.’
“Helios Guild confirmed the evidence you presented and concluded that there was no suspicion against you.”
“Is that so? Then I can be reinstated.”
“O-of course! Naturally, I must reinstate you. Hahaha—!”
‘It is absurd to see the very man who asked whether I would resign or accept suspension acting like that.’
Although Headmaster Choi Hyeon-seok smiled awkwardly as though he felt embarrassed, he soon stopped laughing and looked at me.
“Of course, I must reinstate you, but I do not think it can happen immediately.”
“What do you mean? Helios Guild has already cleared my name.”
“Well, the vacation begins next week.”
“Vacation?”
“Yes. Even if you are reinstated, there would be no class for you to be assigned to. How about resting during the vacation period and returning afterward? I will explain things properly to the other teachers.”
“Hmm...”
Since vacation began next week, it would have been awkward to return immediately. I agreed with Headmaster Choi Hyeon-seok and nodded.
“Understood. I will return after the vacation.”
“The new semester begins then as well, so it will be the perfect time to return. Hehe—!”
As Headmaster Choi Hyeon-seok continued to smile awkwardly, I remained in his office and discussed various trivial matters with him while planning my reinstatement.
2 months later.
On the day of Ares Academy’s opening ceremony.
“Who is that person?”
“Judging by his clothes, he does not seem to be a student. He looks like a teacher, but was there such a handsome man at our school?”
“Could he be a new teacher?”
As a man whom anyone would consider handsome walked into the school, everyone’s attention focused on him.
Ignoring their gazes, I confidently walked through the main gate and muttered softly.
“That chattering is driving me mad.”