Chapter 141
No. 66’s fist stopped right in front of Lord Biden’s nose.
No. 66’s assault toward Lord Biden had unfolded in a mere instant.
I couldn’t stop it.
If I interfered with her, my identity would undoubtedly be exposed.
At the same time, I was certain that even if Lord Biden punished No. 66, he wouldn’t kill her.
I didn’t know what he was thinking, but she was also an extremely important resource to him.
More importantly, there was something I wanted to confirm through No. 66.
Whether Lord Biden’s power had weakened or not.
After watching the brief clash between No. 66 and Lord Biden, I became certain.
Lord Biden had grown considerably weaker.
No matter how many absurd Traits No. 66 possessed as a main playable character, the fact that he allowed an opening large enough to become a fatal strike was unbelievable.
Of course, No. 66’s attack never actually reached Lord Biden.
However, she had noticed a gap in his defenses, slipped through it, and nearly landed a decisive blow on him.
Some might think it was simply because he let his guard down, but the difference in their levels was enormous.
Like the gap between me and the Heavenly Demon.
Still, No. 66 had fought remarkably intelligently.
Previously, she had relied purely on instinct when fighting.
But this time, she had appropriately utilized the abilities obtained through the Power of Predation, luring the Vampire Butler into lowering his guard.
She had accepted the advice I gave her.
For some reason, that made me feel oddly proud.
I looked toward Lord Biden.
Having completely restrained No. 66’s movements with magic, he appeared extremely enraged.
No one understood better than Lord Biden himself that he had allowed an opening.
As a High-ranking Executive of Pandemonium, there was no way his pride would tolerate such humiliation.
I looked at No. 66 with concern.
Judging by his expression, this wasn’t going to end lightly.
The researchers beside us had gone pale.
From their perspective, the current situation was nothing short of a catastrophic disaster.
His black cloak, formed from Demonic Energy, fluttered violently.
Dense Demonic Energy crushed the entire area.
Unable to withstand the pressure of his power, the researchers collapsed onto the floor.
“Kghhk……! Cough! W-we’re sorry, Lord Biden……. Please show mercy…….”
“Hngh, please spare us…….”
Despite the researchers’ desperate pleas, Lord Biden remained silent.
With a wave of his hand, the restrained No. 66 was hurled into the corner of the laboratory.
Immediately afterward, skeletons made of bones rose from the black Magic Circle engraved into the ground and swallowed her whole.
Clicking his tongue, Lord Biden turned his gaze toward the researchers.
“I will give you one week. Complete it.”
“If you say complete……?”
“Turn that thing into a vessel capable of containing my soul.”
“That’s…….”
“Why? You cannot do it?”
The researchers met his eyes, which emitted a white glow, and lowered themselves even further until they were practically prostrating on the floor.
They had realized their objections would never be accepted.
Without even waiting for an answer, Lord Biden disappeared.
The researchers looked at one another.
One week.
I calmly organized my thoughts.
Originally, No. 66’s escape was supposed to happen two weeks later.
But perhaps because of the Heavenly Demon’s intervention—
Lord Biden had become impatient.
As a result, not only had the two-week time limit been reduced to one week, but Lord Biden’s direct involvement had also been foreshadowed.
Which meant that No. 66 escaping on her own had become far more difficult.
In other words, outside assistance had become absolutely necessary.
And that wasn’t the only problem.
I also had to think about the aftermath after dealing with Lord Biden.
Although he was treated dismissively by the other High-ranking Executives, he was still one of the figures standing at the summit of Pandemonium.
If news spread that he had been taken down, the surrounding High-ranking Executives would certainly begin investigating.
And if they somehow discovered even the slightest clue, my betrayal would be exposed.
In that case—
After pondering briefly, I glanced at the cellphone in my pocket.
It wasn’t as if there was no solution.
A person who possessed both sufficient justification and enough power to kill Lord Biden.
If I borrowed Chun Ga-eun’s help, we could divert the attention of the other High-ranking Executives.
Furthermore, if she intervened personally, the Association would move as well.
Which meant they wouldn’t be able to tamper with the scene carelessly.
Since things had already come to this—
Wouldn’t it be better to use this place as an experience event for the Academy bastards?
According to Lia’s information, the Academy students’ level had risen considerably.
Instructor Chun Ga-eun’s training as a top-tier Hero surely helped, but their explosive growth was probably due to clearing the Fragments.
From what I heard, their current level was high enough to spar with Instructor Kang Jae-seok, even after he lost an arm.
At that level, they would be able to contribute sufficiently here as well.
I would be the one dealing with Lord Biden anyway, and if I used Solis, the Undead Legion he took pride in would melt away.
Of course, if they were as strong as the Vampire Butler, they wouldn’t completely melt, but their power would still be greatly weakened.
At that point, if the Academy students joined forces, they should be able to handle them.
To begin with, defeating Lord Biden was the role of the playable characters.
Giving them experience through something like this would be beneficial for the future.
Normally, I wouldn’t have even considered attempting such an operation.
It only became possible because Lord Biden’s power had weakened.
Truthfully, Lord Biden was one of the most troublesome bosses for players to face.
An endlessly surging Undead Legion, along with buff and debuff magic that weakened opponents while strengthening his own army.
And on top of that, killing him was extremely difficult.
Lord Biden’s true identity was a Lich.
Until the Life Vessel containing his soul was destroyed, he could not die.
In the game, players had to corner him through a total of four phases and force him to reveal the Life Vessel himself in order to unleash his true power.
What made it even worse was that if he entered the fourth phase with over 60% HP remaining, there was a high probability he would abandon his body and flee.
He was truly one of the most infuriating bastards in all of Become a Hero.
Defeating him wasn’t hard.
Killing him was.
Then suddenly, an idea came to mind.
If the Academy students were going to clean up the laboratory anyway, did I really need to cause chaos there myself?
Wouldn’t it be better if I struck first?
Right before he attempted to take over No. 66’s body one week later, I would attack Lord Biden’s Life Vessel.
If that happened, he would naturally come to wherever the Life Vessel was hidden.
Which meant the laboratory would remain empty during that time.
And while that opening existed, I could have the Academy students infiltrate the place.
I wouldn’t be able to personally deal with the Avatars, but the rest could be left to the Academy students.
Smiling inwardly, I reached for my phone.
---
“Instructor, thank you for your hard work!”
As soon as class ended, the cadets poured out of the classroom all at once.
Watching them, Chun Ga-eun clicked her tongue.
“They have no idea what kind of situation we’re in, yet they’re acting so damn cheerful.”
The atmosphere inside the Academy was currently far from normal.
The problems they had worried about were beginning to erupt one by one.
First, the power struggles between Guilds.
The support accepted to rapidly restore the Academy was instead becoming poison.
Scouts from various Guilds had begun appearing throughout the Academy, causing discomfort among the students.
There were even incidents where children from famous Guilds were pressured into signing contracts.
‘Now that Pandemonium has gone quiet, the Academy itself is becoming the problem.’
And that wasn’t the only issue.
Starting several weeks ago, the number of Fragments appearing within the Academy had increased explosively.
All of this had happened in just two or three weeks.
Through the efforts of the Student Council and instructors, they had managed things to some extent by clearing them immediately upon appearance, but it was practically a ticking time bomb that could explode at any moment.
‘If I knew it would turn out like this, I never would’ve accepted this damn position.’
Back then, what exactly had she been thinking when she accepted the instructor position so readily?
Frowning deeply, Instructor Chun Ga-eun habitually slipped her hand into her pocket.
She was looking for cigarettes.
At that moment, a familiar voice came from behind her.
“I thought you quit smoking?”
The one who called out to Chun Ga-eun was none other than Instructor Kang Jae-seok.
Dressed in a neat suit, he smiled lightly.
Clicking her tongue, she answered his question.
“I made a deal with the Principal when I took the instructor position. No interfering with my smoking.”
“You’re impossible.”
Instructor Kang Jae-seok had currently returned to the Academy and was working as an assistant instructor for the Special Class.
But Chun Ga-eun disliked his attitude.
It had only been two months since he awakened from his coma.
Even when everyone told him to retire or at least take a break, Kang Jae-seok refused to listen.
To Chun Ga-eun, who had made a deal with Yoo Sung-woo in order to save him, it was enough to drive her insane.
Kang Jae-seok’s body still hadn’t fully recovered.
His bodily functions had deteriorated during his coma, and he had completely lost one arm beyond recovery.
His life as a Hero was effectively over.
And yet, Kang Jae-seok refused to break.
After only a month of rehabilitation, he equipped a magitech prosthetic arm made of titanium to replace the one he lost and returned to active duty.
Chun Ga-eun was worried.
Worried that she might lose her friend once again.
To Chun Ga-eun, Kang Jae-seok was the only genuine thing in her otherwise fake life.
At that moment, Kang Jae-seok’s voice broke through her thoughts.
“I think your phone is ringing.”
“Hm?”
Chun Ga-eun reached into her pocket and pulled out her cellphone.
The number displayed as caller ID restricted.
The moment she saw it, her expression stiffened slightly.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Could you step outside for a moment? It’s an important call.”
“Understood.”
Nodding, Instructor Kang Jae-seok exited the classroom.
Once outside, he secretly raised his Mana and enhanced his hearing.
He had found his sudden survival suspicious.
Kang Jae-seok’s unique instincts had activated.
The wounds inflicted by the Demon and Berid had undoubtedly been fatal.
He had lost too much blood after his arm was severed, and bones throughout his body had been shattered.
Most importantly, his heart had been destroyed.
Injuries that modern medicine could never heal.
There was only one way someone like him could have been revived.
A power beyond reason.
Demonic Authority.
He suspected that Chun Ga-eun may have joined hands with a Demon in order to save him.
Chun Ga-eun was the strongest human he had ever met.
And she was also someone without moral boundaries.
Now, after working at the Academy, she had learned what human relationships were.
But when he first met her, Chun Ga-eun had possessed no sense of restraint whatsoever.
The line humans should never cross, morality, etiquette—
None of those things existed for her.
She was simply someone willing to use any means necessary to achieve her goals.
That was the true nature of Chun Ga-eun.
Which was why Kang Jae-seok was always worried.
Worried that she might someday do something irreversible.
Through his enhanced hearing, he could hear Chun Ga-eun’s conversation.
Judging by the voice, the caller seemed to be male.
Then suddenly, Chun Ga-eun’s voice struck his ears.
“Hey! Who said you could eavesdrop on my call?!”
Along with her shout, the wall of Mana surrounding her severed Kang Jae-seok’s eavesdropping.
Seeing this, worry deepened across Kang Jae-seok’s face.