Chapter 228 – Subject (1)
Yc7YThe ground twisted in an instant. The wings of flocks of birds preparing for hibernation could be heard flapping as they rose into the sky. Wild animals, terrified, were driven from their homes, their eyes gleaming with panic. The full moon hanging over the mountain peak visibly trembled.UgigS
c69sdWith that convulsing world as a backdrop, Meain descended step by step down the stairs. With each beat of her clean, flat shoes hitting the ground, the earth and sky trembled.dGe0GAd
Q0VPdEQThud. Thud. Rumble.hn6
WtnaCUEven so, Kojima feigned calm as he watched his master.Gn2GOL
Zs83SDUThe surprise was only reflected in a brief shiver. Nothing more.nZwfVm1
9G2uAfter all, he had witnessed that power a few times before. Although back then, only from a distance…SlAS
JrWazb0‘She must have weakened after wandering through the Demon Territory, but her presence is still overwhelming.’4sN
OC47It was staggering. Was this what it felt like to witness the realm of awakening?B7BSeD
rwHgwKEThanks to that, his doubts dissipated. That glimmer he had seen decades ago—he wasn’t sure back then. But now he confirmed it with his own eyes.g7uobSp
QxZjLpKojima’s lips twitched. Meain spoke with a cold, sharp voice.z8f
HnM“So there’s no misunderstanding, this is not the power of Awakening.”m143RbB
VYRLoy“I know. But I also know that that depth of power was strengthened thanks to the Awakening. And also…”DnX
U0mItaNKojima looked around. A purple veil enveloped the area in the shape of a hemisphere. A subspace barrier had been deployed.H9arY
J4HjNIZ“Despite saying you’d kill me, you’re still benevolent. You’ve activated an entire subspace barrier out of consideration for your disciple.”aUoY
yYotYKMeain let out a snort. Her steps were slow but elegant, firm, and she walked without hesitation toward her disciple.YLZ
n9GmE“Unfortunately, killing is not allowed within the academy. And the children are probably already asleep—I’d feel bad if we woke them with such a commotion.”0SWyOb
mxZf“You’d feel bad, you say…?”m6Qm
Gd2The trembling gesture on Kojima’s lips turned into a straight line.o2ip
QkMKWith a suddenly sorrowful expression, he extended his hand to the side.13H3
SEoeFM“And do you not feel bad for my wife? The one who died forty years ago because you didn’t go to war.”Zjr
xLxPm1dFrom his ring suddenly emerged the elongated shape of a bow. Unadorned, with the natural texture of cedar. The S+ grade weapon, Ameno Habaya.dx87
SxkZz“If I had had your power, my wife wouldn’t have died. Or at the very least, if she had died, she would’ve awakened her Blessing and wouldn’t have been forgotten.”QBTqV
h3cx2pKojima notched an arrow on the bowstring.oGvV3l
gYH0l“…Kojima, you really are completely insane. Now you’re trying to blame me for your wife’s death?”YSI
qG5lD9d“You may despise me however you wish, Master. But today, no matter what, I must obtain the secret of Awakening.”qvs
RdVOnly twenty paces away. The sharp arrow was pointed directly at Meain.psU
CEGs8l“I can’t allow my daughter to become someone forgotten by everyone.”NKRrH0
WcYfMeain frowned.BJPEDP
suZeJVo“And you’re going to do all this out of selfishness? Ignoring your daughter’s will and life?”sSQB
J9WFsT“Someday, she’ll understand too. Because she’s the daughter of Kojima Saki. It can’t be any other way.”35A
Z95bFinally, Meain let out a dry laugh.YpQ
6uSFfDE“Pfft. I really doubt that, you know?”0LtOBz
eJ2Z4g“And on what grounds do you say that? I find that offensive.”p2o
KfnWIWThen Meain, with a cold gaze, declared.cBiULK
WbHXwRH“Because she’s a member of my club.”iYZn9h
7shtJgmBoom.auiHxl
aEcA sudden explosion shook the area. The sound of impacts rang out one after another.Cki2
6kFBut all that chaos was contained within the subspace barrier surrounding the place.porHy
ki0oee***pVWvHG
llUA day passed, then two, then three.ibLoC
hxy4UI leaned back in the chair. The backrest tilted with me. Completely exhausted, the only thing I could move was my neck, which lazily rolled from side to side.ImzytJ
XdoaOE“Ha, at this rate, I’m gonna throw out my back.”26RGBC4
wGuZExaggerating a little, I think over these past three days I slept maybe one hour per day. That’s three hours total.Eh8
QVZK9JAnd it wasn’t even proper sleep in a bed. It was more like a semi-conscious state, slouched in a chair like I am now.Cs0F1pa
QTgI’d been working to the brink of death, literally. Even so, what comforted me was that starting today, I’d finally be free of some of that burden.2dd5CAJ
IewfUCLAs I stared at the ceiling of the private archive room, I muttered.uMh
Zw20z“Tomorrow the Heavenly Class is finally being inaugurated.”v2IA
c46Since it had to be kept secret, speed was everything. And we managed to complete the goal in just one week after the decision was made.JwgCz0
3LEqNMy teammates and I burned the midnight oil to meet the schedule. Though some association staff helped us from within the academy, most of the operational work was done by us.BO6
fbGgRemembering it made me chuckle.chw78o
LZkvjThe very students who were supposed to attend that class were the ones who built it. It was a little ridiculous. Normally, that’s work for adults, not teenagers. And on top of that, none of them were obligated to help.ihFV4
WcsaHAAnd yet, they did so with a sense of duty, volunteering from the very start.V2I1RON
ZoJOIt all started the night Senior Ha-na visited us.6Rk
bJU3AdFI took that opportunity to clearly explain why I wanted to create the class. Up to that point, I’d always dodged the topic with vague excuses, but that night, I finally let out what I’d been keeping inside.EiCjdX0
zo1yOf course, I couldn’t say everything. There are things that only make sense if you know I’m possessed. So I summarized it in a way that made sense in context.TB49
KdHRpThe idea was this—I formed the Heavenly Class with Leon at the center. Everyone selected had been carefully chosen, after much reflection. All with the purpose of helping Leon achieve his Awakening as a Hero.48U1F
X3vWith my poor oratory skills, I did my best to explain everything.eeB
loudQVThey asked if it was really necessary to create a new class. I answered that the demons’ movements were far too suspicious.XxjN
ZlkovBAlso, since they were close to me, there was a high chance they’d become targets. That’s why they needed to understand how unstable the situation really was.jszbdn
qfcZ3After listening to me, everyone wore a serious expression. Maybe they already suspected it, so it wasn’t all that surprising.7QdpPwl
HxTbAfter all, in just one year, two Corps Commanders had appeared. It was more than obvious the demons were up to something. And if I, a Hero of the Seven Stars, was confirming it…cxQGw
M3BSku1Their faces darkening was natural. It would be stranger if they just heard all that and shrugged.Cyv0Het
wk3SH9uBut the worry didn’t last long. Once they understood the gravity of the situation, my teammates jumped in wholeheartedly to help me.Eor5eK
9rxlThey said they couldn’t sit by and do nothing and stayed up all night working with me. That hit me deep.t9lNR
dAg7KlIn this life, I’m an orphan. My parents disappeared. If it hadn’t been for them, I would’ve kept living in crushing loneliness. But they filled that void. Without them, I’d be just a thug with a sword in his hand.Cot
DQPV4qB“How cheesy.”j18j
NNZxI laughed to myself and slowly straightened my back. Then I started reading the news on my phone. Since becoming a member of the Seven Stars, I’d picked up that habit.a1J
JlU“Might as well get to know the big shots of the country—even if only by face through a screen. I don’t want to be the idiot who doesn’t recognize someone in person.”vAqH
n7MyHIf I pretended not to know them, my reputation would tank. I wouldn’t care, but I have to protect the image of the Swordmaster, who recommended me.O3VO
u11AB“Up early… what a life…”vwBBUZ
EophwIn my past life, I used to follow the boss to the fish market at dawn. Now, instead of reeking of fish, I start the day smelling ink on print.uk6ezq
Neg6『Former director of the Lancelot Agency resigns due to corruption. New director appointed All Mute, Khan Elizabeth.』DbI
oQJf0『Mao twins of the Iron House declare, “Regretful of our past deeds, we have decided to retire to the Shaolin temple.”』2yw9
lxZNames vaguely familiar filled the headlines.PDoz
g4N0G“All Mute taking over that agency is fine but seriously, those trash twins went to a Shaolin temple?”ua7
ZVQuI couldn’t believe it. Doubting the article, I checked their photos. They were fully shaved and doing the Shaolin salute seriously. They even had eight dots tattooed on their foreheads.RnsL9x0
fE5A5RA“They really reformed? Those bastards?”qgUId0t
FfMWell, nothing could erase the atrocities they’d committed. Better for society that they isolate themselves.FGHN
IXnlKswI kept scrolling. I’d already read the big headlines. Time to skim the smaller stories.FUTb
HyoThat’s when a tiny article in the corner caught my eye. I almost missed it.Dlx
cJD2HI『Saki Kojima, during his visit to Korea, is admitted to Joaquin Academy’s affiliated hospital due to health issues. Spokesperson assures it’s just the flu. (…)』y1oUyNO
mtgOuzI frowned.geN
PrvF6“Why’s this buried so deep?”1FDAO
A1aEven if it’s just the flu, if it affects a Hero of the Seven Stars, that’s an international security matter. There’s no cure for age—most of the Seven Stars are in their seventies. A minor illness could become serious fast.0dGkG
NP1The health of the Seven Stars is the safety of humanity. If one of them falls ill, the whole world panics. The press and public getting worked up is normal.5YK5lT
fE53aBut this article was barely visible. That could only mean one thing. Kojima’s office was trying to suppress it.zbnTBj
8rlEn0l“This must’ve slipped through accidentally.”p8L
GaqYogXAnd seriously—hospitalized for the flu? Come on. He’s not a baby; he’s an old man over sixty.dnr
rjar55Almost confirming my suspicion, the article vanished instantly. In the blink of an eye.J4eGAxY
YG0“Now it doesn’t even sound like the flu.”89J
BNFI stared at the screen a moment longer, then turned off the phone and massaged my eyelids.UKdtf
xvp0LT“I’m the one who should be hospitalized, and I’m here worrying about someone else.”7Cmq
TdOtU5On top of that, Kojima’s a detestable person. Even the Swordmaster and Changseong, who can’t stand each other, would temporarily work together if he was involved. And his own daughter couldn’t stand the sight of him.nzV
TbgOTeMy impression wasn’t any different.QmuWMl
NxYAlthough he seemed friendly on the surface, his speech was twisted. He always made me feel like he saw people as tools.YFv
ILIQ9N‘If he were really sick, he would’ve gone back to his own country. Not to the academy hospital.’Sh8
OP0EjI closed the train of thought and got up to shower. That’s when the phone buzzed.XsSe74E
mFC1MBzzz—1RERTJ
IX1oI calmly looked at the back of it and brought it to my ear.9mUlc
2Um“Yes, Director.”nEP
uOdoX[Ah, Geom-Ma. You picked up fast.]opq
XOijA somewhat nervous voice. I could clearly feel what Director Media was going through—discomfort.QZOfou
Bygvs“Did something happen?”VdDPx2
hKHT[It’s just that… you see…]XzEJ7vo
ns4VMedia composed her tone before continuing.yNWp6s
0v7GjF[My sister… Meain Poison, did she tell you anything?]7WD6
hOdVg3“Three days ago she came in person and told me she was accepting the role as the teacher in charge of the Heavenly Class. So yesterday, we officially registered her name as the Heavenly Class instructor. Everyone who needed to know already knows, but the official announcement will be made this afternoon. Along with the news of her return.”mWdMq1
v2Ju[Ah, that too, yes… But that’s not what I called about…]3EC
zoow6There was a silence, then Media let out a deeper sigh.DaZ8yM
bbVWbO[See… my sister… Meain Poison… it looks like they’re going to issue a warrant for her arrest…]7ha
7o0JA“Excuse me?”u2p
6DjY5What the hell? Arrest warrant? Bounty? Why?wSt
vBi[Listen calmly and don’t freak out…]eZX1FF
nWcMedia let out a bitter laugh, like she was in pain.4n7
5im1w[…Your homeroom teacher… left the Prime Minister of Japan half-paralyzed.]gxib
o4aMy phone slipped from my hand. The screen that hit the floor shattered like a cracker.YyKCTy
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Haimiya_cutie.
MahayanaGood he deserves that. Maybe he’s acting to arrest meain because he have a grudge against her cause he thinks she was reason his wife is dead well whatever even he die its doesn’t change a thing.