Chapter 118: The Thing Wriggling in the Depths (8)
In surprise, Chun Qin, the assistant principals and the school inspectors all stood up.
For a split second, Assistant Principal Ma Namjoon’s face crumpled viciously but he too, had no choice but to stand up after changing his expression back to normal.
The tall and thin man had cranky wrinkles visible underneath his sunglasses. He was considered one of the strongest humans in the history of Earth, one of the so-called Five Transcendents, and he alone equaled a regiment of soldiers.
He was BM the Returnee, ranked 2nd worldwide.
Next to him was the strongest magician, who had just recently become the family head of the Myung household, which was one of the two leading organisations alongside the Tower of Mages in magic research.
Myung Yongha, Druid of Regeneration ranked 8th worldwide, was standing next to him.
They were both one of the 30 superhumans who possessed a Dungeon Free Pass, which was the right to enter any dungeon worldwide – they controlled the flow of the superhuman industry worldwide.
“Enough for greetings. I’m a bit busy, so let’s start straight away.”
BM casually sat down on an empty chair.
***
20 minutes ago, BM thought to himself while wearing a tuxedo for the first time in a very long time.
He had received a message from Yu Jitae a few days ago, saying that he wanted him to come help in the near future. And BM had agreed.
Although it was slightly bothersome, he agreed because it was none other than Yu Jitae. If he pointed a sword at him because BM didn’t help him out, that would be the end. Besides, he had begun to have some respect for him ever since the Melissia Masquerade.
Even then, BM was slightly discontent with the fact that he had to move personally just to stand up for someone.
It was the first time he had to do this ever since he had returned to Earth. He had always been the one ordering others around, and not the other way around. That was what it meant to be at the very top.
Does he know how expensive my day is?
Damn it…
– Isn’t it difficult, making the heart?
But one sentence caused all his dissatisfaction to sink back in. It was because that one sentence was directly related to BM’s lifelong wish of creating a human-type chimera.
– I know a little bit about it.
That was why BM was currently wearing a tuxedo.
Meanwhile, he remained doubtful in a corner of his brain. Why was such a strong existence staying at school? Being a mere guardian of some kids?
What in the world are those kids? Are they that incredible?
Of course, he wasn’t the one to speak considering that he was staying holed up in the workshop, researching chimeras. Most of the superhumans were slightly sick in the head and now that there was no longer a reason to put their own lives at risk with the end of the war, most of the heroes from back then did whatever they so desired.
Maybe that person just liked looking after kids.
It was understandable once he thought about it like that.
However, the man’s course of action had a lot of doubtful aspects. Quite recently, he had predicted the strategy of a catastrophe-ranked demon, organised a countering strategy and had killed Noah.
And yet now he was asking him to come stand up for him at a place for kids to fool around.
BM could not find the answer to his curiosity, so he asked the ‘Pharmacist’, who supported Yu Jitae as an aide.
I get that raising kids is his hobby, but why is he doing this – what does he desire?
The aide (Pharmacist) said the following in response:
– That being can see the hostility of others. Funnily enough, when one cadet became the focus, hostility became rampant all over Lair.
– Therefore, that being is planning to stop the troublesome things from happening in advance, in order to protect the daily life.
– Isn’t there something wriggling in the depths of a human heart? An individual without a backing always tends to become the target of others and it’s extremely troublesome. Random fleas and locusts jump in without fear and the daily life might be interrupted.
– Thus, that being has felt the necessity of a fake background, and is now planning to make it.
Through the repetitive regressions, the Regressor managed to find an efficient method.
When trying to deal with an incident that has occured, what was the most efficient way to handle it? That used to be the biggest question that remained habitually inside a corner of his head.
In the past, he had tried solving things peacefully with a conversation. And after that, he crushed all the competitors with pure strength. None of them were very efficient.
Then what was efficient?
Humans trusted what they saw the most. They prove to others by showing physical objects as evidence, and prove their love with actions. Even someone enraged would not dare act without care when there was a sword being pointed at their throat.
That wasn’t the end. When dying of thirst, humans see an oasis in the middle of the vast desert. What they desire the most appears in reality, despite being an illusion.
That’s why he had acted, but it snowballed in size somehow and he ended up crushing the leader of the sentries.
On the way to the conference room, BM stopped by the first-aid centre and encountered Sillardo Leo after a long time.
The tough giant gave a dumbfounded grin while being enveloped in bandages.
“BM…”
“You don’t look too bad.”
“What are you looking at. Is it fun?”
“You should’ve died instead.”
“I should’ve. It’s quite embarrassing.”
BM was walking out of the room after a light farewell when he met Myung Yongha, who had hidden his face with a different mask.
“Huh?”
“Little Grass.”
“What’s up BM? Why are you here?”
It seemed that he had also been called here. On the way to the conference room, BM had a conversation with Myung Yongha and had a clearer idea about what Yu Jitae had in mind.
“Uhaha. It’s a little bit strange though.”
“What is.”
“I understand that he’s strong, but it’s strange that he doesn’t have any organisations, and it’s also strange that he’s trying to create a fake household. Something like that will only last 5 years at max.”
It might be better instead to do something for real and make something genuine. An empty suit would be discovered sooner or later.
“…”
BM couldn’t reply either.
It was because he also didn’t know that households only mattered to Yu Jitae for 5 years, the schooling period of the dragons.
That was what had happened before they walked into the conference room.
Inside the conference room, gazes filled with curiosity were gathered at the two of them and BM calmly returned their gazes. It was natural for them to be curious, and even he himself would’ve been if he was in their shoes.
From now, the two of them had to create an imaginary household, the ‘Yu household’.
They had to turn something that didn’t even exist to a plausible organisation, an omnipotent and almighty household.
“Uhh, could I ask what the relationship is between you and Guardian Yu Jitae…”
“He is my benefactor.”
“Ahh… I see. He looked a lot younger though.”
“I don’t think age matters when it comes to benefactors.”
“Of course. You’re right.”
In response to Myung Yongha’s words, confusion appeared in the eyes of the old figurehead.
“We work together.”
The next response from BM was a magical reply that rejected any further questions upfront. They were curious what world’s Rank 2 was doing, but no-one dared to ask him about it during an official conference.
No-one could ever guess that BM was just talking about him being the nurse and Yu Jitae being the doctor.
He opened his mouth while pushing his sunglasses up.
“Things have gotten slightly out of hand. First off, let me apologise in Guardian Yu Jitae’s stead.”
“Ahh…”
“I’ve met Sillardo on the way but that friend really is quite tough. The shield only has a small crack on it and it’s fortunate that the losses aren’t too big either.”
“…”
“On the other hand, an extremely young cadet could’ve died on this side. I heard it was because of something that happened in the munitions department. What a shame that the incident originated from that place.”
He was practically shouldering the blame on the munitions department, which was the cause. It was evident that the school inspectors were becoming slightly displeased.
“Near is the shirt, but nearer is the skin. From what I’ve heard, I think it’s understandable that you would want to cover for the ones closer to you. I probably would’ve done the same myself.”
BM expressed his dissatisfaction with a low voice. Despite his low voice, the aura he was emanating was very fierce. He might be a nurse that listened nicely when he was with someone specific, but he was originally known as a mad scientist among other superhumans.
While everyone became nervous, Assistant Principal Ma Namjoon, the only one not nervous, intervened and cut him off.
“But as you know, there were a lot of eyes looking at us. Such rampages go against the regulations and we can’t not consider the equity of regulations as the authority maintaining the rules of the academy city.”
“Equity. You like that a lot huh.”
“Of course. At least in my opinion, the guardian staying behind at Lair… would be difficult due to the conventional thoughts of the society. There are lots of things to take into consideration after all.”
Ma Namjoon’s eyes bent like a snake.
He had been planning on using the Yu household if it was a half-assed organisation but since BM and Myung Yongha suddenly appeared out of nowhere, this catastrophe-ranked demon had to change his plan.
Yu Jitae had to be distanced away from Lair as much as possible.
“Ahh. But you know! It’s not like we have to do that right?”
That was when Myung Yongha opened his mouth with an amiable smile.
“…Please elaborate.”
“There’s this regulation I found on the way here. Would you like to look at it together?”
Myung Yongha clicked his fingers. Soon, his wrist divided and turned into tree branches, before spewing out a book.
“Punishment Regulations Article 17 Paragraph 4 says that guardians can be punished after the graduation of the cadet.”
“…Well yes. There is that but.”
“Doesn’t Lair prioritise the cadets above anything else? I know this because my cousin graduated 2 years ago.”
It was one of the regulations that had been made after the war, but there were no precedents of the regulation taking effect.
“However, there is no precedent. We need to inspect it a little bit more before we can make a decision.”
Then, Myung Yongha laughed heartily.
“Then why don’t you make one now.”
It was an imposing sentence with a commanding tone despite his smile. There was an undisguisable trace of confidence in his voice.
The middle-aged men of the education department gulped.
Right now, they were suddenly visiting a house and were telling the tenants to mow the lawn, but he had the right to do that. As a VVIP of the International Hunter Association, he was like a colleague of the house owner.
Ma Namjoon hid the frown by forcing a smile on his face. As a catastrophe, and as one of the heads of the undetectables, Ma Namjoon was confident that he would not lose to them even if he had to face the two of them at once.
And yet they were pushing through with their public authority.
Things couldn’t go this way. Right when Ma Namjoon was about to say something,
“Right, this isn’t why we came here, but it’s unfortunate. Sirs, I know that you’re having a hard time doing great things at great places.”
BM slowly opened his mouth.
“I’ve been in the military and I know myself. You’re all innocent and doing great things but you get pushed around left and right. The ones above talk shit and the households try to keep you in check. It’s uncomfortable right? They think they’re strong and do unreasonable things.”
“What are you trying to say.”
Ma Namjoon was unable to hold it in any longer and asked without hiding his displeasure. A pair of eyes behind the sunglasses glanced past him.
“…But what unreasonable household would possibly be able to use Myung Yongha and BM as spokespeople? It seems that you’re slow on the uptake because you spend all day looking at ink and documents.”
The expressions of several staff members turned dark.
“Let me ask you a question, Yongha.”
“Hmm?”
“Would you be his spokesperson if the Association Head asked you to do so?”
Myung Yonga chuckled.
“Why the heck would I.”
BM followed him and laughed.
But no-one was able to laugh from the education department’s side. Ma Namjoon did not even bother hiding his discomfort now as he yelled out loud.
“BM! Are you trying to assert your public authority during an official conference?”
BM grinned.
“Listen mate. I led the Third Kalian Brigade during the great war and later became the head of the Fourth Division of Korea’s superhuman soldiers. Then, I became the deputy commander of the First Division of the Second Corps. Now, I’m the deputy commander of the Association’s last resort Suicide Squad, the consultant of the Catacomb Vanguard Royals.”
“…”
“And a VVIP of the Association. One of the 30 with the right to raid dungeons at will, and ranked 2nd worldwide. One word from me and the Association will turn a country upside down to catch a little rat. So what if I assert my authority. What, you have something to say?”
“…!”
“Do you not understand what it means for me, this ‘Returnee’, to directly stand up for someone?”
Knowing something and listening to it be spelled out were different. Each and every one of them closed their mouths but with differing thoughts. Ha Sukmoo glared at Ma Namjoon with a myriad of thoughts while Ma Namjoon had to suppress his overflowing killing intent.
Their thoughts were different but the end result was the same. They had no choice but to harbour a question that drove them crazy.
What in the world was the Yu household?
“I know you’re all holding onto your dear positions no matter what the Association says to you. If you don’t want to let that go, don’t be too straight. The ceiling is lower than you think, and losing your job is also easier than you think.”
When Ma Namjoon also closed his mouth and turned quiet, BM threw his final remark.
“So just lower your head and live. Pretend you didn’t see it.”
That was the end of the conference.
Yu Jitae was declared to be punished with 10 hours of campus community service and some fines.
There were many that questioned the decision but none of them voiced it out to the public. It was because Ha Sukmoo apologised to the Yu household publicly, saying that it was the fault of the munitions department.
Meanwhile Kang Mungu, who had been bribed, received a death sentence at a military trial. Other guardians of Lair who had quick insight, quickly saw that something had happened behind their backs.
Just like that, the name of the Yu household was spread to every corner of the city.
***
The day after the incident, Malunga received unbelievable news.
It was that they were no longer able to contact anyone from Kanaye’s superhuman nurturing team. Within them was also Malunga’s family.
And his cadet, Malta was found dead in his room, dead from drug abuse.
“…”
He was a realistic person, and was quicker at adapting to the situation than others. So when unbelievable things became reality in the span of one day, the decision he made was also extremely rapid.
Malunga strangled himself.