I Ended up Doing Too Well as a Professor of the Enemy Nation - Chapter 39
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 39. I’m a Professor, So I’ll Take a Self-Declared Break (4)
‘Crazy woman.’
Ruin, who had climbed up to Haven’s rooftop, let out a sigh.
She did seem insane, but she was indeed a dangerous hero.
‘That hero’s ability is a cutting ability that can slice through anything her eyes can see.’
In fact, it was the same earlier.
‘That woman, going straight for someone’s throat without warning.’
It was fortunate that he had subtly dodged without her noticing.
「Obviously someone from an Underworld Family, right?」
‘Yes. Special-grade heroes are certainly different.’
「Hey, someone like you could bury about two special-grade heroes without anyone knowing.」
‘You’re rating me too highly.’
「The Demon Emperor doesn’t dote on you for nothing.」
So he dotes on me to turn me into taxidermy?
「Honestly, you’re among the top ten in Pride by skill. Someone like that wouldn’t be afraid of special-grade heroes.」
‘No matter how skilled I am, I’m still afraid of Fire Butterfly obsession patients.’
「Fire Butterfly obsession…? Ah. Come to think of it, you stole secret techniques from Underworld Families, so they’re grinding their teeth at you, right? They were in chaos when their secret techniques were cut off.」
‘That’s not it.’
「What? You weren’t the one who stole them?!」
‘I didn’t steal ‘only’ from those Underworld bastards.’
「….」
‘What.’
「…You deserve to get beaten to death on a dark street.」
‘How unpleasant. It was the Demon Emperor’s order, wasn’t it?’
Since they offered overtime pay and even field work allowances, he had completely cleaned out the secret techniques of Union’s major families. It was for his precious retirement.
「…You’re a monster for succeeding at that. That’s why all the upper echelons covet you.」
However, Ruin lightly ignored this and quickly moved across the rooftops to find the Hero Statue on Haven’s south side. Then he placed his hand on the statue and-
‘Dispel Magic.’
He slightly twisted one of the magic formulas. To use an analogy, it was like slipping out a single gear to stop the mechanism from working.
Crack!
With that, the Communication Interference Magic was stopped.
At the same time, Ruin quickly wiped his hand as if he didn’t want to touch the Hero Statue, then swiftly returned to the Clock Tower’s Secret Space.
Then he took out the hidden old-style communicator again. He had to finish his business and restore the magic to its original state before Kalon came for regular inspection.
‘Well, it’s been 50 years, so I’m not sure if it’ll work.’
Soon, as Ruin infused his magic power, the communicator flashed with light and activated.
Fortunately, it seemed still usable.
Soon Ruin activated the communicator and whistled. After a moment, static came from the communicator in response to that melody. A connection had been established.
The other party, though not showing it, seemed somewhat flustered as they asked.
[What’s the sun’s position?]
“25 minutes past 12.”
[Water or cigarettes?]
“Water, please. Three drops in a cocktail glass.”
At those words, the other party’s voice trembled even more. He could even sense a strange excitement.
[Last question. What’s your code name?]
“The ember of destruction that came in the quiet night.”
As soon as the exact words were spoken, multiple voices came frantically from within the artifact.
[Fire Butterfly? You were alive?]
[So it was true that you returned? My heart dropped when I heard the whistle.]
[My goodness, the Fire Butterfly himself! I’ve only seen the Fire Butterfly Whistle in textbooks, this is my first time hearing it in person!]
Incidentally, responding so immediately meant they had the power to support him right away. At the same time, it meant they were people in such positions.
“I’m requesting help.”
[By all means! To think we can help the Fire Butterfly, any kind of help…!]
“I need to infiltrate Haven from now on, so please draw the heroes’ attention for a while.”
…Excuse me?
According to the code table, infiltrate meant penetration.
But what? Infiltrate where?
Silence flowed.
[…Wait, …I think I heard wrong. That… where?]
“Haven.”
Silence again.
And then the shouting that followed.
[Are you insane! Are you going there to die?]
[Why there!]
Why indeed! To get back my severance pay and retire!
But if his allies knew that, they would obviously start saying things like ‘Why is Fire Butterfly retiring already!’, ‘Please don’t go!’, and such.
“It’s a mission.”
[…Huh? But we’ve never heard of such a mission….]
Ruin’s eyes flashed with displeasure.
“This is a direct order from the Demon Emperor.”
Of course, it was a complete lie.
[The, the Demon Emperor directly?]
[…As expected of Fire Butterfly!]
[Understood! We’ll provide full support!]
The voice cut off and Ruin sighed. He could hear Ginseng Superior’s mocking laughter.
「The Demon Emperor’s order? What are you going to do about the consequences of that lie?」
Lie?
‘It’s true that I was told to spy on Haven. This is just a support request for that purpose.’
「How much are you going to exaggerate.」
At that, Ruin’s eyes flashed.
If you have complaints, give me another severance pay! Who was it that covered up their weaknesses? Should I just expose their weaknesses instead!
* * *
Haven Military District.
The atmosphere in the military, which was planning war while engaging in local battles with Pride, was serious.
“It seems like many moles have been sneaking in recently, but we haven’t caught a single one.”
“Yes. We need them to be active to catch anything, but these guys just stay submerged and don’t act.”
“After Fire Butterfly disappeared, they’ve become more cautious too.”
At that, hollow laughter erupted from around them.
What? Cautious? Are they joking right now?
“Our barriers aren’t that easy to break through. Honestly, that Fire Butterfly bastard was exceptional. 90% of Union’s information was stolen by him.”
“There’s no one like him, before or since.”
It was true. Wasn’t he a unique existence who could ghost through any trap, any great army, and steal everything?
“Anyway, this is troublesome. We have information that one of the ‘Special Grade Fugitives’ is trying to push through the Rhine….”
At those words, the General tensely furrowed his brow.
‘A Special Grade Fugitive.’
It referred to the named individuals existing in Pride. Terrifying beings that even Union’s ‘Special Grade Heroes’ wouldn’t dare to fight.
Of course, ‘Fire Butterfly’ was also one of those Special Grade Fugitives. That’s why they sighed.
“Still, now that a Demon Hunting Professor has arrived, we should see some talent produced. The battlefield can be at ease.”
“Was it Ruins Wayne? The professor who took the position this time seems different. I think he’ll produce upper-grade heroes too. But where is the Commander?”
“Well, he said he’d be here soon….”
Bang!
At the same time, the military’s door opened.
“He’s here.”
A man wearing a military uniform jacket like a cloak over his shirt. It was the Hero. But he looked exactly like someone who had worked overtime.
“You don’t look to be in a good mood.”
“I’m being stood up.”
The General was bewildered.
Stood up? By whom?
‘The Commander of Union, no less?’
No, more than that, did there exist a human who would dare stand up Union’s Commander?
The Hero furrowed his brow as if troubled. He had no choice but to sit through Charlie’s messy class, not knowing whether it was a lecture or babbling, so he could only mutter.
“Does he hate me enough to put a colleague on the podium instead? The Wayne Family might do that, but… if neither power nor gifts work, what exactly does he like.”
“Um… Commander?”
At the General’s voice, the Hero finally went “Ah,” and acknowledged him.
“So, another mole appeared? Is it Fire Butterfly?”
“Ah, no, that’s….”
“Is it Fire Butterfly?”
“N-no. They appear to be upper-grade demons, but it’s not Fire Butterfly….”
To those words, the Hero responded.
* * *
“Small fry.”
Ruin held the back of his neck while mulling over the Hero’s words.
Having eavesdropped on the conversation by installing a wiretapping device on a military newcomer, Ruin was dumbfounded. He never expected the Hero to just say that and turn around to leave.
‘My allies even went to the trouble of creating a diversion, and he ignores it?’
And what’s more?
‘Mobs? Small fry?’
The professors on duty are sufficient, so handle it yourself?
At Ruin’s murderous glare, Ginseng Superior clicked his tongue.
「Weren’t the ones you summoned also high-ranking? Isn’t that worthy for the Hero to face? Are you treating our Seed like trash by saying it’s not you? Our Seed is impressive, you know?」
Being impressive isn’t the problem!
Still, the gains were significant.
‘I thought I’d be treated like a ghost after 50 years.’
This was a very significant achievement.
Honestly, he was relieved to be treated as a hero rather than a has-been.
Moreover, a spy’s priorities are: 1st – their own mission, 2nd – their own life, 3rd – colleagues’ missions. Since this was someone else’s mission that could involve the Hero, it was a top-priority dangerous task that they might not have helped with.
‘I can ask for more favors later.’
So the problem is that Hero bastard.
‘I never expected him to treat even high-ranking demons as small fry.’
I’m grateful he thinks highly of Fire Butterfly, but it’s useless right now!
And that’s not all?
「Since you refuse to meet him, now he says he’ll wait indefinitely in the Healing Arts classroom until you come. You’re so loved, so very loved.」
Ruin rubbed his brow.
‘As expected of someone with maxed Luck Power, he’s incompatible with misfortune.’
He’s damn incompatible with me.
At that sight, Shadow God chuckled.
「The Hero’s luck activates according to his desires, right?」
‘Yes. That’s roughly how I understand it.’
The Hero’s Luck Power works in a direction that ‘unconditionally benefits the Hero.’
Simply put, even if items are sold out, stock gets replenished when the Hero arrives, or even if he’s late, he coincidentally meets an important person and ends up not being late – that kind of extreme luck. You could say he’s the complete opposite of ‘Murphy’s Law’ that others commonly experience.
Even accidents and relationships that occur by chance are all connected to the Hero’s wishes. That’s why Ruin’s affairs are getting tangled up like this.
‘Judging from the letter, the Hero still seems to want to catch Fire Butterfly.’
The more he thinks about wanting to catch Fire Butterfly, the more his Luck Power activates in a direction where Fire Butterfly will be caught no matter what. Of course, he can uniquely avoid that with his misfortune.
In short, it was a battle between ‘Misfortune’ and ‘Luck.’
‘Let’s see whether misfortune wins or luck wins.’
I’ll make that precious ass get up and move.
Fire Butterfly’s eyes blazed as he pulled out the attendance record.
* * *
The classroom door opened roughly.
Slam!
As soon as Ruin entered, he immediately snapped his fingers.
‘Move.’
The papers that flew up into the air fell with a flutter in front of the students. Then, without even receiving greetings, he spoke.
“We’ll study the Five Evils.”
Huh? The Five Evils?
The confused students hurriedly checked their teaching materials.
“What? Did he mistake the class?”
“Was this a Demon Hunting Studies class?”
The students who checked the paper contents were even more bewildered. No matter how they looked at it, it was a paper about demon hierarchy, not Healing Arts.
The puzzled students raised their hands.
“Professor. This class is a Healing Arts class.”
However, Ruin answered coldly.
“Didn’t I say I would link this lecture with Demon Hunting Studies?”
…That’s true, but why the Five Evils of all things?
“I’ll give points to whoever gives a proper answer. Who are the Five Evils?”
Hands immediately shot up.
“They’re the bosses of Pride.”
“Wrong. Did you sleep during Demon Hunting Studies?”
“We never learned about it.”
“Is that something to be proud of?”
“Ugh.”
At the same time, another student triumphantly raised their hand.
“They’re the named ones of Pride.”
“The one who never learned would be better than this level.”
“Grk…!”
Ruin picked up the chalk.
-Demon Emperor.
-Five Evils.
-Special-class wanted criminals.
-Demon Army.
Thud!
Ruin, who struck the board as if he would break the chalk, narrowed his eyes.
“First, Pride’s leader is the Demon Emperor. As you know, there are no humans who can face the Demon Emperor except for the Hero who is the Chairman. The Hero is a disaster bastard.”
Excuse me?
“-A Transcendent at the level of a disaster.”
He immediately changed his words and spoke about other Transcendents.
“And the Five Evils are five archdemons who have lived much longer than the Demon Emperor. Simply put, they’re archdemons that even the Hero can’t easily handle. Above all, they’re very important beings to the Union.”
Then the Imperial Princess raised her hand as if to object.
Ruin tilted his head.
“What is it, Winberg.”
The Imperial Princess spoke with sparkling eyes.
“I understand that the Five Evils are essentially abstract beings that humanity has no reason to fight. Rather, Pride’s named ‘special-class wanted criminals’ seem more important.”
At her words, all the students nodded. Karin confidently continued.
“That’s right, special-class wanted criminals like Fire Butterfly. In reality, what the Union will clash with in Rhine are them.”
The Shadow God laughed.
「Well said. Guys like you are more important than bastards like the Five Evils.」
However, Ruin looked at them like they were monkeys.
“Half correct, so Gold Gate gets a full deduction.”
Wh-what?!
“It’s good to show off knowledge, but such complacency is very disappointing.”
C-complacency? Disappointing?
Karin’s pupils shook. She had tried to appeal for the teaching assistant position, but did she fail?
Karin’s pupils shook, but Ruin’s eyes grew sharp.
“Certainly, as Winberg said, what you’ll encounter in Rhine are the special-class wanted criminals. Yes, ‘Fire Butterfly’ whom you all know well is among them.”
When Fire Butterfly’s name came up, everyone focused and gulped. He was an enemy they were that interested in.
“As you know, special-class wanted criminals are incredibly strong irregulars. Each one has general-level power. Some are so militarily strong they’ve destroyed nations single-handedly.”
「Could any match you, who destroyed an empire with scandal.」
“Their bounties are also incredibly high. Enough to make a territory seem trivial.”
「For you, even a country is trivial.」
“No, Professor! Fire Butterfly’s bounty has risen so much that he could probably establish an empire now!”
“…”
「Wouldn’t it be faster to just turn yourself in? Rather than pathetically digging tunnels.」
…Please be quiet.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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