Chapter 96: Salvation

At a time before Hilleon launched an attack on Broad Academy, Lee Hyun-seung and Chae Jung-hoon were having a conversation.

Inside Broad Academy, the deputy director of the Department of Magic Research was speaking with two researchers.

Researcher Choi Chi-moon addressed the deputy director, Lee Seo-cheol.

“Deputy Director, I can’t help but wonder if what we’re doing is the right thing.”

Hearing this, the deputy director raised an eyebrow, looking puzzled.

“Why?”

“To be honest… if it hadn’t been for Madam Kim Hee-ra’s instructions, we would’ve likely agreed to the use of the

mana database instead of rejecting it. Even His Majesty sent an official document suggesting we review the matter

positively. But to justify our actions using the excuse that the stalking incident is trivial… It feels questionable to me.”

“Choi Chi-moon. Don’t overthink it. Even without using the mana database, the false accusations against Lee Hyun-seung might naturally be resolved. If he’s truly innocent, there might be other evidence, right?”

“…That’s exactly why I’m concerned. I’ve looked into the case, and it seems Lee Hyun-seung’s only hope lies in that

one smartphone. Two unidentified ‘mana traces’ remain on the device, and it’s been concluded that the owners of

these traces are likely accomplices of the true culprit. To prove his innocence, we need to identify the owners of the

‘mana traces’ left behind…”

He continued with a serious expression.

“If we reject the request to use the mana database, we won’t be able to uncover the identities behind the mana traces

or determine who the real culprit is. And to make matters worse, the person opposing him is none other than Yoo

Hee-yeon, the daughter of the Artemis Guild’s leader. On the other hand, Lee Hyun-seung is an orphan… He has no

power to back him up. If he’s truly innocent, this could destroy an innocent person’s life. You’re well aware of what

happens when someone earns the ire of the Artemis Guild…”

“Sigh…”

Deputy Director Lee Seo-cheol let out a heavy sigh. He knew all too well what it meant to be on the bad side of the

Artemis Guild. There was no need to even consider the malicious Kim Hee-ra. If someone ended up on the wrong

side of the cold and calculating Yoo Han-beom, a person’s life could be completely destroyed with ease. Yoo Han-

beom’s approach was straightforward:

[Return kindness with gratitude, and harm with revenge.]

If someone earned his favor or gratitude, Yoo Han-beom would repay them excessively. Though his rewards were

mostly monetary, they were so immense that recipients often found them overwhelming. Many people even sought

to gain his favor, desperate to benefit from his generosity.

Conversely, if someone wronged him, Yoo Han-beom would ensure that revenge was exacted thoroughly. The

retribution would be so ruthless that the person might wish to leave the country permanently. Survival alone would

be considered fortunate. Because of this, few dared to stand against the Artemis Guild.

Even Hilleon had chosen the roundabout method of stalking to send a warning, knowing Yoo Han-beom’s nature all

too well. Directly revealing their crimes would have been too risky, so they opted to frame Lee Hyun-seung as a way

of indirectly warning him to stay away from their business. They eliminated risks while achieving their goal.

Deputy Director Lee Seo-cheol finally spoke.

“I don’t know what’s right anymore. For now, we just have to follow the director’s decision.”

At this, both researchers, Seo Hyun-ji and Choi Chi-moon, fell silent. They, too, understood that the final decision for such a critical matter rested with the director. Nothing they said would change that.

“This just leaves me feeling uneasy… Let’s take a break and have a cigarette,” Lee Seo-cheol said to the researchers.

Seo Hyun-ji shook her head.

“You know I don’t smoke, Deputy Director.”

Choi Chi-moon, on the other hand, responded differently.

“I was trying to quit, but I’m too stressed. Let’s go, Deputy Director.”

With that, Lee Seo-cheol and Choi Chi-moon stepped outside to smoke, leaving Seo Hyun-ji alone.

“Sigh…”

She couldn’t stop thinking about Lee Hyun-seung. She knew the real reason why their magic research institution

hadn’t granted permission to use the mana database. It was because of Kim Hee-ra’s request. Fearing the loss of her

financial support, they couldn’t refuse her demands. The root of it all was money. It frustrated her that they had to

act against their conscience because of it.

‘Haa…’

Seo Hyun-ji prided herself on living with integrity. Even when she had no money, her love for studying magic kept her committed to her goals, and she stayed at the research institute.

As one of the founding members of the magic research institution, she deeply understood the importance of funding.

Yet, she believed that sacrificing integrity for money wasn’t the answer. If she overlooked this incident once, similar

situations would arise again in the future. With this in mind, Seo Hyun-ji resolved to persuade the director.

She headed toward the area where Chae Jung-hoon was located.

At that moment—

-Rumble, rumble, rumble-!

A massive earthquake-like noise echoed, followed by an emergency announcement blaring through the facility.

[The Broad Academy has issued an emergency evacuation alert. Currently, an unknown force from the outside is…]

As soon as the announcement echoed through the air, Seo Hyun-ji’s body reacted before her mind could. She

immediately deployed a detection spell.

Being a mage, she was particularly vulnerable to sudden attacks. And being alone made her situation even more precarious. She cast the detection spell quickly to assess her surroundings.

-Beep!

Before long, she detected an ominous presence within her detection radius.

-Swish.

Seo Hyun-ji glanced around nervously. Unfortunately, she was completely alone. There wasn’t a single person nearby who could help her. All she could do was desperately hope the mana she sensed wasn’t from an enemy.

The mana’s presence steadily approached her, closing the distance. Soon, the mysterious presence was separated from Seo Hyun-ji by only a single wall. It wasn’t long before it reached right in front of her.

-Tap.

-Tap.

The sound of footsteps grew closer, and then a man stepped out from the alley. Wearing a grotesque mask, he stared at Seo Hyun-ji intently for a moment before grinning sinisterly and muttering,

“You’re quite the pretty one, aren’t you?”

His tone was slimy, laced with malice, making it clear his intentions were far from good.

“Ugh… They keep giving me annoying errands, but at least I found a little bonus here.”

The man, referred to as Number 27, mumbled to himself. Another man appeared from the shadows and spoke to him.

“Number 27, we need to prioritize the mission assigned by the executive. We can’t afford to waste time here.”

“Ah… yeah, yeah, I know. I’ll just deal with this one and catch up. Wouldn’t finding the target sooner be better if we split up? Wasting time arguing with me isn’t helping either. Just get lost already.”

After a brief silence, the other man responded.

“Number 27, once this mission is over, I will report your behavior to the executive.”

“…What?”

Number 27’s expression shifted instantly.

-Swoosh!

In a flash, Number 27 disappeared and reappeared before his colleague, driving a dagger straight into his heart.

-Squelch!

“Number 27… you… this… this is… treason…”

“Blah, blah, blah. Talkative until the very end, huh? But once you’re dead, who’s going to know this was treason?”

-Slash!

As Number 27 pulled his blade from the man’s chest, blood spurted everywhere, and the other man collapsed lifelessly.

-Tremble.

Watching the scene unfold, Seo Hyun-ji’s entire body began trembling uncontrollably.

‘I-I have to run…’

She had to escape. She needed to get out of there immediately. But her legs wouldn’t move. Her whole body felt frozen, like ice, her veins contracting and expanding erratically.

The man turned toward her, gesturing at the corpse on the ground.

“Hey, don’t even think about running. You saw what happened, right? If you don’t want to end up like him, you’d better stay put.”

He smiled chillingly and started walking toward her.

“I can’t help it when I see pretty girls. I just can’t resist. You like me too, right? We’re meant to be together, aren’t we? Say it. Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“S-Save me… please, don’t do this…”

Seo Hyun-ji begged, her voice trembling with fear. Her pleas only made Number 27’s expression twist in anger.

“Why…? Why are you looking at me like that? You’re afraid of me? You don’t like me?”

His voice rose to a shout.

“You’ve betrayed me, haven’t you? You pretended to like me, but you were just playing with me, weren’t you?”

Hilleon. The group he belonged to was the worst criminal organization imaginable. Given its massive size, it wasn’t surprising that it harbored maniacs like him. If anything, it was abnormal not to have people like him in such a group.

As Number 27’s erratic behavior escalated, Seo Hyun-ji slowly and cautiously backed away, inch by inch.

But then, he lunged at her.

-Swish.

He reached out, attempting to run his hand through her hair.

-Smack!

Seo Hyun-ji slapped his hand away.

-Crack.

Number 27’s expression hardened.

“You also despise me, don’t you? Just like those other bstards, you look down on me. Because I have nothing,

because I’m from a lowly background, you think I’m dirty, don’t you? Fine. I don’t care anymore. I never trusted

any of you, anyway. Bstards like you deserve to die. You should all just die.”

Eventually, the knife in Unit 27’s hand was raised toward the sky. Seo Hyunji stared at the blade, silently praying.

‘Please… Please let all of this be a dream…’

She didn’t want to die. There were still so many things she wanted to do. Research in magical studies, foods she

wanted to eat, sights she wanted to see—there was still so much left. Yet, she knew she wouldn’t survive. She felt

powerless. She had prepared for situations like this by studying thousands of spells, but in the face of real danger,

fear paralyzed her, making it impossible to control her mana.

-Swoosh!

The man’s knife lunged toward Seo Hyunji. In that instant, her life flashed before her eyes, and a deep regret surged within her.

‘This… this is my punishment.’

Punishment for ignoring the injustice she had witnessed. This situation was divine retribution for turning a blind eye to Lee Hyun-seung’s unjust treatment and for failing to strongly persuade the director on his behalf.

“Kuh… kuhuhuh….”

Tears streamed down her face as she lowered her head, resigned to her fate.

Just as Seo Hyunji prepared herself for death.

-Bang!

A gunshot echoed from afar.

-Clang!

The knife in Unit 27’s hand clattered to the ground. His gaze shifted sharply to Lee Hyun-seung.

Unit 27 spoke, his voice laced with malice.

“If you leave now, I’ll let it slide… I don’t care about this mission. I just want to have some fun with this b*tch, so get lost.”

“And if I refuse?”

“If dying is your wish, I’ll gladly grant it for you.”

Unit 27 smirked coldly, turning his full attention to Lee Hyun-seung.

‘A gun…’

Seo Hyunji immediately recognized the man standing with the pistol as Lee Hyun-seung. After all, according to her investigations, he was the only one in Broad Academy known to wield firearms.

‘Even now…’

Despite her fear, Seo Hyunji shouted desperately.

“Y-you have to run! This guy… He’s absurdly strong! You won’t stand a chance!”

If Lee Hyun-seung fled, she would surely die. However, if she recklessly asked for his help and he ended up dying too, it would be an even greater tragedy. She had already wronged him once. That was enough.

It was then.

-Whoosh!

Lee Hyun-seung’s figure disappeared. Moments later, he reappeared right in front of Unit 27.

“What… What the hell…!”

Unit 27 hastily adjusted his stance, preparing to swing his knife at Lee Hyun-seung.

-Crack!

Lee Hyun-seung grabbed Unit 27’s face with his hand and slammed it into the wall.

-Boom!

-Blood dripped in streams.

The face of Unit 27, crushed against the wall, oozed blood profusely. Lee Hyun-seung leaned closer to the twitching man and whispered in a low, menacing voice.

“You’re not even strong. So why the hell are you acting so cocky? Say it again. Who’s killing who?”