20
Paaah!!
Yohen opened his eyes.
The instrument that had tormented him was dissipating.
It wasn’t a natural occurrence.
“What the owner of the voice just did!”
Indeed, faintly, such a cry was heard.
-Danger…!!
-Taking in the instrument with one’s own body?! Reckless!!
Yohen’s chest sank suddenly.
No one can survive taking in the instrument.
“Who on earth would take such a risk?”
Then, the voice is heard again.
-Didn’t I say it? I will never let this child die.
“Ah.”
Yohen’s heart trembled once again.
Who could it be?
Who could be so noble as to sacrifice for someone else like this?
It couldn’t be compared to his wretched self.
“I want to see who it is.”
Yohen earnestly hoped.
“If I can survive, I will definitely go and find out.”
Yohen’s consciousness faded away.
With the man’s voice engraved in his mind.
And a vow never to forget.
* * *
– Successfully treated the obsessed saint!
“Ugh, I thought I was a goner.”
I sighed as I read the message.
“Fortunately, I succeeded in purifying the instrument.”
What I attempted was to absorb and then separate and eliminate the demonic energy within the body.
“In the end, the instrument had demonic energy mixed with mana. I thought I could separate it with the Grandmaster’s ability, and I took the gamble, and it worked.”
Of course, it wasn’t an easy task.
It placed a considerable burden on the mana road.
“Ugh, I feel like I’m going to vomit. Did I get injured or something?”
“Thunk!”
Something surged up from within me and spat onto the floor.
It was black blood!
I was horrified, but a message popped up in my mind.
-“The blood vessels have been tempered during the instrument extraction process! Mana Road will be strengthened!”
“This is a really good effect, isn’t it?”
I blinked my eyes.
Mana Road Enhancement!
It was a rare occurrence in the game.
The stronger the Mana Road became, the more powerful it could unleash with the same amount of mana.
“It’s a technique that is a great help for someone like me with Mana Insensitivity!”
But that wasn’t all.
-“Absorbing purified mana into the body! The amount of mana increases!”
Almost the level of an ordinary potion was consumed!
Of course, since it was Mana Insensitivity, the actual increase in mana was only at a rate of 1 in 100.
“Still, a considerable amount of mana has gathered now.”
So.
It was a level close to half of a low-ranking apprentice mage.
…Still pathetic, but it was a significant amount to me.
Moreover, the benefits I gained were not just related to mana.
-“As a result of successful treatment, you become the ‘benefactor’ of ‘Region’!”
Legion was the name of the rebel forces.
Indeed, such a proclamation echoed.
“Are you okay, Lord Confucius?! To exert yourself like this to treat Saint-nim! Oh, thank you! Lord Confucius is a benefactor of our Legion!”
It was Ryan.
Especially witnessing me vomiting blood seemed to deeply impress him.
‘Is this an opportunity?’
At times like this, I had to pile on as much emotional debt as possible.
But emphasizing it too much here would seem amateurish.
As a former sales king, I knew the most effective way.
Go beyond just emotional debt, make it touching.
‘Act like everything’s fine on the surface, but subtly let the hint show. Like deliberately casual?’
The Black Flame Dragon stirred.
“Don’t make a fuss. I just did what needed to be done. This kind of thing means nothing to me.”
Slightly nonchalant.
But at the same time, projecting a cool demeanor outwardly!
Naturally, the effect was perfect.
“Oh. Creating such a miracle and still being humble. Lord Confucius, how much admiration are you trying to evoke?”
However, it seems the effect was even better than expected.
Ryan spoke with an impressed tone, going beyond admiration.
“The power of miracles, a perfect character. Perhaps Lord Confucius is the hero sent by the heavens to stand against the impending misfortune of the world.”
‘…No, could you not overdo it?’
I broke out in a cold sweat.
The heroes that heaven prepares are the protagonists. I didn’t want to hear empty words, even if I had to feign interest.
But Ryan’s eyes were dangerously bright with sincerity.
“…Let’s talk about the task.”
I wanted to gradually escape the slums.
“There is something you need to do for my appointment as a professor at the Rubiness Academy.”
* * *
Afterward, Ban left the Sarong Castle.
“Remarkable. I can’t believe Ban Gongja was such a remarkable person.”
Therapist Galak marveled as he watched Ban move away.
A completely changed attitude from when he first met Ban and dismissed him.
Ryan added one more thing.
“It’s not just that. Ban Gongja is a hidden dragon, a real hero.”
It wasn’t just about treating a young saint.
She recalled the appearances Ban had shown.
‘That dignity and nobility.’
Whoever called Ban a nobody?
Ban’s dignity was ‘real’.
Especially when Ban occasionally revealed his true imposing presence, it was enough to send shivers down one’s spine.
Until now, the clumsy appearance must have been an act. To make the enemies lower their guard.
A shiver ran down the spine.
It was a dreadful determination.
From Noble mtl dot com
Even a noble spirit that cares for others.
– I just did what needed to be done.
It was not an empty talk.
That dignified voice proved that he thought little of his own achievements, even considering the saintly Yohein.
Half urged to let everyone know that Yohein had driven out the instrument himself.
That it would help Yohein’s growth.
There was no shortage of admiration.
Even keeping Yohein away from the Rubiness Academy was probably out of concern for Yohein.
No one knew.
The Rubiness Academy harbored a great darkness.
Although all the other four academies also had darkness, for some reason, the Rubiness Academy had the deepest darkness.
Ryann mocked with a cynical smile.
There was concern that the Rubiness Academy might fall into the hands of darkness.
Ryann thought it would be disgusting to hear half of it.
With Master Ban present, it was needless worry.
Of course, Master Ban’s power is still infinitely small compared to the darkness entrenched in the academy.
However, Ryan never thought that half would succumb to the darkness.
It was an intuition that made her the ‘Watcher.’
‘It’s not just that. From now on, the name of Half Kongja will resound throughout the entire empire.’
People, intoxicated by peace, are unaware, but in the not-so-distant future, turmoil will befall the empire.
In the midst of that turmoil, Half will stand as a great hero.
‘We cannot fall behind Half Kongja.’
Ryan’s gaze sharpened.
“Are you ready to execute Half Kongja’s orders?”
“Yes, Lord.”
“Then start immediately.”
Ryan commanded coldly.
“Mobilize all the resources and connections of Saryong Castle to spread rumors about burying Professor Valik.”
* * *
Valik had been enjoying some pleasant days recently.
‘Impudent Half-Leg. How dare he rampage without even knowing the subject.’
Honestly, the sight of Half in the lecture hall that day was astonishing.
He solved the puzzle of basic magic.
-Professor Valik, can you really give him a score of zero?
-Zero is a bit…
Some professors expressed dissatisfaction, but who cares?
Luniven’s Academy is already half owned by the Raphaelt Duke.
This level of gathering was entirely possible.
“I could later lodge a complaint with the Eclesia Duke, but they’ll probably handle it from the family’s perspective.”
Was it because of the good mood?
Today, the weather seemed bright and sunny.
As I leisurely walked the grounds for a stroll, something caught my attention.
Oddly, people kept glancing at me.
“Do I look particularly handsome today? Well, being outstanding does have its difficulties.”
At first, I brushed it off with a good feeling, but it started to get on my nerves.
These weren’t just admiring glances.
“Oh, there’s Professor Balric.”
“Is that a rumor? Ugh, our eyes met.”
“Wow, I had a feeling, but I never thought he’d be such trash.”
“The day has come when I feel sorry for a senior like Rangreki.”
What nonsense is this?
As I was lost in thought, I heard an urgent voice.
“Professor Balric!”
“Oh, Director.”
It was Count Werner.
The younger brother of the Raphaelt Duke.
Balg and Werner, who were at the forefront of the magic guild, held the position of director at the Luminous Academy with incomparable noble lineage.
As he politely lowered his head, Count Werner did something unexpected.
Whack!
He slapped Balg’s cheek.
“Di-Director? No, Un-Uncle?”
“Uncle? Shut up!!! I’ve never had a nephew like you! What kind of nonsense have you been up to?!”
“Why, why are you saying this?”
“Ha!! Don’t you know what rumors are circulating in the social circles of the free city right now?!”
And then.
Balg’s complexion turned pale as he heard the story from the director’s mouth.
All the misdeeds he had committed secretly so far.
Everything was revealed and circulating as rumors.
Especially the wrongs he had done to Ban.
* * *
I whistled.
“Indeed. Stepping out of the Dragon Fortress, it’s a straight path.”
It was not to be underestimated, the slums.
In this free city, light and darkness were intertwined like a spider’s web.
There were countless individuals associated with the slums.
“Of course, the reason the rumors spread so dramatically is all thanks to Balg, that damn troublemaker.”
Valic was no better than Balik.
If there was a difference, it was that Valic was smart and cunning.
He committed all sorts of misdeeds since his academy days, but he managed to avoid responsibility by carrying the Marquis de Lafalte on his back.
“Thanks to him, many went scot-free for their wrongdoings in secret.”
“Watch closely,” Liran, a rebel’s eye.
It is said that Valic collected evidence of his wrongdoings to pressurize the Marquis de Lafalte in the future.
With evidence, one cannot deny the rumors.
“So, are all the wrongs that Banregi Gongja committed during his school days covered by that scoundrel Valic?”
“No, not all. Banregi Gongja is also trash. Still, Valic seems to be more of a scoundrel.”
“Well, I can’t believe Valic, the professor, is more of a scoundrel than the trash Banregi Gongja.”
…Unfortunately, a complete image shift seemed difficult.
Well, it didn’t matter.
This should be enough to achieve the goal.
“I heard that this time Banregi Gongja failed the appointment exam because of Valic, who made an unreasonable excuse.”
“Huh, is that true?”
“Yes, even though Banregi Gongja showed a remarkable performance in the exam, he was given a score of 0.”
“Yes, even though he solved the fundamental mysteries of basic magical studies. Normally, he should have been given 100 points.”
Such rumors spread like wildfire.
My failure is being labeled as unfair.
‘If such rumors spread, Rubyne’s Academy, precisely the board of directors, will surely feel the pressure.’
Currently, the Rubiness Academy is divided into two factions.
The board controlled by Count Laflapt.
The rest belongs to the former head faction.
Among them, it was the board that led to my elimination.
‘The board doesn’t completely control the academy either. If it continues like this, there’s a concern that it will give an opportunity to the head faction.’
There was a high possibility of reaching a reasonable agreement with them.
“Master, what will you do from now on? Will you negotiate with the board?”
“No, not now.”
“Master?”
I explained the ‘truth of negotiation’ that I learned in social life.
“Hans, do you know when you should negotiate well? It’s when you thoroughly stand in the position of the stronger party.”
I couldn’t say I was a perfect stronger party yet.
‘Soon, an angel will come to make me a perfect stronger party.’
Indeed.
It was when I was walking alone along the deserted riverbank after parting with Hans.
A creepy voice was heard.
“Van, you….”
Eyes shining ominously, as if about to cause a commotion right away.
“Testify right now that the rumors about me are not true. Otherwise, I will kill you right here.”
The ‘angel’ was Valic.