End of Semester (1)

Jin Tae-shik was shocked.

The reason was because he recognized who the people standing in front of the chairman were.

"... So what we're supposed to do is, when Han Soyeon comes here for the upcoming Divine Descent ritual, we incapacitate her so she can be manipulated at will. And bring that guy, Kim Dojun, here, right?"

"That's right."

"Well, doesn't sound all that difficult."

"Even if your opponents are just students, you'd better be careful. That Kim Dojun kid is the disciple of Explosion God, you know."

Although Chairman Ji Seung-gon tried to warn with those words, the sorcerer killer spoke lightly, as if it was no big deal.

"Explosion God, Explosion God... Haven't heard that name in quite a while."

If anything, the mention of "disciple of Explosion God" made the sorcerer killer smirk and mumble to himself, then look at the chairman and respond.

"Don't worry too much, no matter whose disciple he is, he won't be able to beat me. You know my sorcery too, right? Besides—"

The sorcerer killer pointed at the men behind him, each wearing a different robe.

"—Even if I don't go myself, things will be taken care of thoroughly enough by my colleagues here, so don't worry. Especially if your opponent is Explosion God's disciple and uses Thunder God Art, all the more so."

After finishing his statement, the sorcerer killer stood up from his seat.

"Well, I've heard all I need, so I'll go ahead and put the plan into action. Still, I'd appreciate if you've prepared some route for infiltrating the Sorcery Institute?"

"Don't worry, I've already taken care of it."

"That's some thorough preparation; maybe that's why you became chairman."

Well then, let's see each other again tomorrow. Leaving those words behind, the sorcerer killer headed for the exit but, seemingly remembering something, turned back.

"Oh, you know about the payment, right?"

"Of course. Once the great task is accomplished, you'll be compensated properly."

"Good."

Only after hearing the chairman's reply did he finally leave.

Jin Tae-shik, who had been observing, turned to the chairman and spoke.

"Will you be alright with this?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean those people."

Of course, Jin Tae-shik was aware of "their" existence.

Those who operate in dark places, places deeper even than the Temple of All Spirits, plotting something in secret.

But he only knew of their existence; he had never known the actual identities of those within the group, so seeing the people who visited the chairman today had left him surprised.

Not only the sorcerer killer, but the two sorcerers behind him were both classified as first-class criminals by the current Sorcerer's Association.

However, the chairman responded to Jin Tae-shik's worried words nonchalantly.

"Don't worry. They aren't going to betray us."

"... Is that so?"

"There's, if not a complete overlap, at least some alignment of interests between them and us."

Chairman's words.

Jin Tae-shik already knew this, but due to the nature of their counterparts, he wanted extra reassurance.

After all, it wasn't the chairman but Jin Tae-shik himself who had kept in regular contact with them, even if he didn't know the full roster.

"So don't worry. We're just receiving their help. We receive help, pay the price they demand. So both sides can win."

As the chairman wrapped up,

"So let's focus on our own preparations; the preparations for the ritual... and make sure we're ready for them to bring Han Soyeon and Kim Dojun here without a hitch."

He looked directly at Jin Tae-shik.

"Understood. I'll make preparations at once."

With a respectful bow, Jin Tae-shik quietly exited the underground chamber.

Now alone, the chairman of the Sorcerer's Association, Ji Seung-gon,

"..."

Lowered his gaze to his own hand.

Unlike his youth, his hand was now wrinkled with age.

Staring at his hand for a while, Ji Seung-gon muttered inwardly:'Just a little longer now, and the great task I've awaited will finally begin. Just a little longer...!'

Twisting his face with greed, he smiled.

####

Avalanche's hideout in the province of Naples, Italy.

Within that, the office of Tia, the boss, decorated in a classic and antique interior style.

"... Over the last month, we dealt with thirty-two Scarab groups, and even when you weren't moving, we cleaned up about five more within the organization. However, we couldn't find any information about 18yoHighSchoolGirl-chan."

Listening to Diego's report, who had removed his half-gloves, Tia scowled.

"Not even a single clue?"

"No."

"Not even a speck?"

"That's right."

"Haaa."

As if stressed out by Diego's words, she pressed her fingers to her forehead.

'Her emotions have gotten much more varied lately.'

Watching her, Diego collected his thoughts and refocused on her next words.

"What about the list of enemies mentioned at the busted locations?"

"We did get it, but they're all places we've already taken care of, or the word got out that we've been attacking Scarab, so they all went into hiding."

"Track those bastards down and take care of them all."

"Understood. Ah, also, I have a few more items to report."

"What is it now?"

"It's a report concerning Cargo-Nord and Alba-ce."

"... Those bastards, are they holding out on payments again?"

Tia thought of those two companies.

Cargo-Nord and Alba-ce.

Major distribution companies currently active in the Naples province.

Though Tia didn't like them—despite being under Avalanche's protection, they arrogantly balanced between the government for better protection rates.

'If they were any smaller, I'd have crushed them ages ago.'

But their size made it more troublesome, and the protection money was at least lucrative—so she let them act out. Now, hearing their names, Tia scowled, anticipating more hassle.

"No, on the contrary, both paid their protection fees for this month exceptionally well—with interest, even."

"... What? Why?"

She looked baffled. Diego explained further:"It seems the Scarab kept causing trouble in the wholesale market. They asked the government for help but only got extorted, but since we got rid of the Scarab, things are much easier now."

"Huh?"

"It wasn't our original intention, but cracking down on the Scarab turned out to be a positive for them."

"... Really?"

Though Tia didn't look thrilled, she simply nodded and dismissed Diego, thinking about the minor upside that came as a side effect of hunting 18yoHighSchoolGirl-chan.

'Still, I'm not about to forgive that bastard.'

Tia hardened her expression as she thought of her.

'Looks like I'm going to have to gather as much information as possible from within the game.'

She resolved herself.

####

"You know, when a person is underwater and can't breathe, they start to suffer,"

"...."

After nearly a week, Kim Dojun met Han Soyeon again and was listening to her various stories.

"Of course, if you're not careful and go over a minute, you can suffocate, so you have to be careful."

... Truly, various stories.

"I see...."

Every time he talked to Han Soyeon, Kim Dojun found himself reassessing the personalities of the future bosses.

'Honestly, not dying would be more painful for those kids.'

He started to feel sorry for Han Soyeon's victims.

'Not that they don't deserve it.'

Kim Dojun, who believed those who cause trouble should take their punishment, figured those bullies who harassed Han Soyeon for years deserved whatever happened to them. Still, curiosity made him ask,

"So, are you still bullying those guys these days?"

"Of course~ Just yesterday I played PikXchu with them."

"PikXchu...? Game?"

Seeing Kim Dojun's puzzled expression, Han Soyeon nodded and explained.

"I stuck electrodes on their thighs and ran electricity through them."

"That's... how is that PikXchu?"

"Because electricity flowed. It was actually pretty fun."

Kim Dojun couldn't help but gape, thinking, is she seriously crazy?

"Next, I'm thinking of trying CatXfish."

"What's that?"

"Dunking their heads in a lake until they drink water."

"There's an actual term for that; it's called water torture."

"For CatXfish, you have to spray water from your mouth."

"... Wut?"

"Why?"

"Is that what you were researching?"

"Yeah?"

"I see... Out of curiosity, none of them died from this, right?"

"Huh?"

"... I mean, the ones you've been tormenting."

'From what I've heard, it'd be strange if they weren't dead already.'

Thinking of all that Han Soyeon had done to them, they should be dead from exhaustion, so he asked, and Han Soyeon calmly replied.

"Of course they're fine. When I do experiments, I use other people."

"... Wut?"

"Oh, don't worry—they're just unwanted guests."

"You didn't kill them, right?"

"Of course not!"

What on earth is she up to? thought Kim Dojun, but he refrained from voicing it.

"... Well, leaving the unwanted guests aside, don't you think it's about time to deal with the others?"

"You mean kill them?"

"Considering what they did to you, I think that's fair."

He started planting the idea in Han Soyeon's head again.

'Well, I'm not expecting her to do it immediately, but I'd like it done early next semester...'

Recalling the Shin Se-yeon episode expected after the end of semester, Kim Dojun commented,

"Still, it'd be a bit of a waste to just kill them all at once."

"I'm not saying you have to do it now."

Kim Dojun gently began to persuade her.

After a little while—

"... From what you're saying, maybe it is time. I'm not trash like those guys. I'll let them go peacefully."

"... Well, killing them would probably make them peaceful."

Kim Dojun, recalling all her stories, replied.

"Alright, then, I'll start letting them go soon."

At her response, he couldn't resist a small fist pump.

Having convinced Han Soyeon meant that after this summer vacation, at the start of the second semester, he'd be able to deal with as many as three maglignant spirits!

What took three years, he'd cut down to just three or four months, so Kim Dojun nodded with a spontaneous smile.

And so, in the following days, the end-of-semester at the Sorcery Institute drew near.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.