I Ended up Doing Too Well as a Professor of the Enemy Nation - Chapter 66

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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 66. What Kind of Young Master Are You? (4)

 

Ginseng Superior called him crazy, but Ruin was serious.

 

‘If it’s addressed to the Hero, what kind of severance pay would that be? Wouldn’t money from selling out the Empire come out?’

 

Then he could pay off his debts in one go and retire!

 

Finally, beekeeping at a cozy villa!

 

The best route!

 

「…It’s a plan with absolutely no thought of consequences, isn’t it?」

 

‘What do I care? I just need to borrow money and run.’

 

Because running away was Fire Butterfly’s specialty!

 

When Ruin’s eyes turned to money, Ginseng Superior sighed. He wondered what on earth had made Fire Butterfly like this.

 

「Even that kind of plan is only possible if you catch Echo.」

 

Right. That’s why Ruin had replied to Echo.

 

-Negotiation OK.

 

Yes. In reality, it was a meeting to catch Echo, but on the surface it took the form of a ‘deal’ where special grade wanted criminals shared profits.

 

So formally, it was a ‘negotiation’.

 

But then…

 

Tick tick tick tick tick.

 

“Aaaahhhhh!”

 

“Run away!”

 

“It’s a bomb!”

 

Damn it, what the hell is this now?

 

In the Ashford Region where Haven is located, there’s Haven City. Well, simply put, you could think of it as a huge commercial district that formed around Haven.

 

“Kyaaahhh! Save me!”

 

This place, which had everything from amusement parks to shopping districts, became a scene of chaos in an instant. It was because of a sudden bomb terror attack. Screams, smoke, and cries erupting from all directions came rushing like waves.

 

Ruin looked at the small bag placed in the center of the meeting place, the epicenter of this situation. Inside it was a paper crane made by Echo.

 

When Ruin unfolded it, with a bang! sound, a code was revealed.

 

‘Knox… wartime code?’

 

It was a special communication code that Echo used.

 

Ruin quietly took out an aerial communicator from his waist and entered the code. After a moment, the familiar voice of a madman could be heard.

 

[To think you’d solve this. Our dog-like butterfly, you really were alive?]

 

It was Echo.

 

Ruin sighed.

 

“You’re the one who planted the bomb, right? Why do such troublesome things?”

 

[What? Why? How long do you think I’ve been watching you? Obviously you were planning to catch me, hand me over to the Union to get merit rewards, and maybe even get promoted, right?]

 

Hmm. He was found out. More specifically, he had been thinking of catching Echo, using him, then handing him over to the Union before retiring.

 

But that was still before execution, and this negotiation was just bait anyway.

 

“So what about the information?”

 

[Money first.]

 

He knew it would be like this.

 

Ruin held up a small pouch wrapped in cloth and shook it indifferently.

 

“I brought it. Not cash, but convertible bonds.”

 

Actually, it was a subsidy he had hastily obtained from the Principal for ‘educational purposes’.

 

‘Though I have no intention of handing it over.’

 

Echo said excitedly.

 

[Good. I’ll tell you our information.]

 

Ruin narrowed his eyes and opened his ears.

 

[First, the special grade wanted criminals are planning to kidnap Duke Isles’ daughter to break their leashes.]

 

So Judith Isles was the target after all.

 

[Second, Five Evils Catalun has joined hands with Toad.]

 

‘Ah. That gentleman of all people.’

 

At the same time, he recalled the Demon Emperor’s order from not long ago.

 

-Stop Catalun’s movements.

 

Was that what this meant?

 

Perhaps Catalun was targeting the Demon Emperor’s Heart.

 

[Third, a spy sent by Five Evils has infiltrated inside Haven.]

 

Ruin’s eyebrow twitched slightly.

 

…There’s a spy I don’t know about? Inside Haven? Breaking through my surveillance network?

 

[And the last one is…]

 

Ruin’s eyes narrowed.

 

If this is the last one, now he’ll talk about severance pay.

 

[…Ah, um, there isn’t any! Oh, and by the way, you’re right about me impersonating you, but I was just commissioned by Toad. I had no ill intent. That’s all.]

 

Ruin bristled with disgust.

 

This bastard… he won’t say until the end that he’s after my severance pay?

 

「Isn’t that the most important thing?」

 

Exactly.

 

[Anyway, be careful. The Hero might have noticed your identity.]

 

Hm? He knows my identity but still treats me with such courtesy?

 

Why?

 

Well, since he directly confronted the Hero not too long ago, something might have happened then…

 

[Yeah. It’s my intuition.]

 

What nonsense.

 

Anyway, that’s not what’s important.

 

“Fine. Disarm the bomb first.”

 

[Don’t order me around, bastard. And I said money comes first.]

 

“Right. What’s the delivery method?”

 

[You came out with the students today, right? Judith Isles is among them, isn’t she?]

 

This bastard is up to something.

 

“I refuse…”

 

[Well, I already attached it.]

 

“!”

 

Ruin hurriedly looked toward the students who came with him.

 

“Miss, there’s something strange attached to your back!”

 

“My goodness, what is this?!”

 

The students wearing Haven uniforms were in an uproar.

 

There was a strange fragment attached to Judith Isles’ back. Numbers written in light. It was even flowing in real time.

 

-14:28

 

[It’s my beautiful work of art. I call it ‘Flower Blooming Over a Girl’s Heart’! Hahaha! Don’t worry! Just bring the money and I’ll disarm it right away!]

 

Ruin frowned. He couldn’t remove that fragment right now.

 

‘It’s Echo’s magic. Touch it and you die.’

 

That’s when it happened.

 

“Is it a bomb!”

 

“Chairman! Principal!”

 

A familiar face greeted Ruin. The Principal, who had stopped by for Magic Tower commerce, looked perplexed as he examined the students.

 

“I happened to stop by for a business appointment here, but it seems you’ve gotten caught up in something strange.”

 

“Charlotte, can you remove it?”

 

At the Hero’s words, the Principal who was examining the fragment turned pale.

 

“The core used in this bomb… it’s an ‘Ether’ fragment. Why is this here!”

 

Ether?

 

Ruin narrowed his brow.

 

Wasn’t that the forbidden magical substance that Princess Lucerin, the former Magic Tower Master, had developed to annihilate the Demon Race? Yes, the item that Ruin had personally ‘frozen’ that project.

 

‘Why is that substance here?’

 

One thing was certain.

 

‘If that explodes, this entire city will be blown away.’

 

Soon the Hero approached Judith Isles.

 

“It’s connected to her heartbeat. A typical bio-linked detonation device.”

 

And then as he tried to draw his sword-

 

Clack.

 

Ruin stopped the Hero.

 

“Professor?”

 

“I know you’re trying to remove the bomb with Luck Power.”

 

“My Luck Power is 100%. I don’t fail.”

 

“Don’t be overconfident in that Luck Power.”

 

“I see. I understand.”

 

The Hero suddenly changed the direction of his sword. It was toward Judith’s heart.

 

“Chairman?!”

 

As everyone was shocked, Ruin twisted and blocked his hand.

 

“What are you trying to do.”

 

Why are you suddenly trying to kill a student?

 

The Hero looked at Ruin’s restraint with incomprehension.

 

“The current population here is around 20,000. If that thing explodes, the number of casualties would be unimaginable.”

 

“….”

 

“If we can protect tens of thousands with one student’s life, it’s a cheap price to pay.”

 

Judith began trembling, her face pale as a sheet.

 

Ruin grabbed the Hero by the collar and pulled him away.

 

“That’s not something to say in front of a student.”

 

“Haven’s students are soldiers who prepared for death from the moment they enrolled. I don’t worry about it. Moreover, Judith Isles can’t use magic or even her legs. She has no value as military strength. Instead, she’s a troublesome burden who could provide tremendous magic power if she falls into enemy hands.”

 

Ruin unconsciously bit his lip.

 

Ha, what a fucking bastard.

 

This guy is a real war maniac.

 

Ruin swallowed his curse and looked at Judith.

 

The girl trembling faintly with the sculpture attached to her back. Though she maintained a calm expression, her face was frozen at the word death. She wasn’t a soldier but just one ordinary student.

 

That’s why Ruin glared at the Hero.

 

“Good. Then in the next war, you should go out with the number 0 tag around your neck.”

 

“?”

 

“100% Luck Power, the strongest military force, but a being who becomes a disaster if captured by the enemy. You’re the weapon who can save or kill tens of thousands with just yourself.”

 

「That’s Seed. You’d be the same if you were captured.」

 

Ruin turned his head as if the Hero wasn’t worth dealing with and patted Judith’s head.

 

“It’s okay. I’ll carry it instead.”

 

“Professor…!”

 

He smiled briefly at Judith, who looked up in surprise. Then he picked up the communication device again.

 

“I’ll carry the bomb instead. Is that possible?”

 

[There’s no way that’s possible! You idiot!]

 

This bastard?

 

“I’ll take the money.”

 

[You’re even worse, you idiot!]

 

Then Judith suddenly stood up, holding the thick money envelope in her hand.

 

“It’s okay. I can go.”

 

“Princess.”

 

“This is something I started.”

 

“Are you really sure you’ll be okay?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Judith quietly headed alone to the promised location as instructed. When she arrived at the designated spot below the old stairs and stood there silently—

 

“Shh. Pretty lady, very well done.”

 

“!”

 

A hushed voice from behind. Soon a strange man pressed an awl against Judith’s nape, accompanied by a sweet lemon scent.

 

“Don’t turn around. Not if you want to live.”

 

“…!”

 

That low voice had a strange mix of playfulness and murderous intent.

 

Judith realized immediately. This man isn’t just an ordinary demon.

 

‘A special grade demon…!’

 

On his forearm was unmistakably carved

 

An inverted triangle seal mark.

 

It was definitely the symbol of a Special Grade Wanted Criminal and Echo’s tattoo.

 

Everyone here would die if they fell into this man’s hands. She couldn’t even guess how well the professors could handle him.

 

And for some reason she didn’t understand, he somehow felt similar to Professor Ruins Wayne.

 

He took the money envelope Judith was holding.

 

“Good. The contents are correct. Well done, lady. I’ll disable the bomb.”

 

That’s when it happened. Echo snapped his fingers. That was the signal to stop the bomb. Then he leisurely turned and walked out of the building.

 

Judith quickly turned around, but the man had already disappeared without a trace.

 

* * *

 

Echo was in a good mood.

 

“Damn, they’re paying this much?”

 

The money envelope was heavy and more reliable than a house.

 

He almost started humming from the feeling of pulling off a proper job after so long. This was even the first time he’d extorted money from that Fire Butterfly.

 

‘That bastard became a professor and is playing teacher now?’

 

What? I’ll carry it instead for the student?

 

‘Pfft! Butterfly, you’ve gotten docile.’

 

But that’s when it happened.

 

[Kyaaaaaaah!]

 

[Run away!]

 

[What’s wrong, what’s happening!]

 

[The, the bomb won’t turn off!]

 

Countless voices came through Echo’s communication device. It was the wiretap attached to the bomb he had planted.

 

Echo’s expression hardened rapidly. Judith’s urgent voice trembling through the wiretap struck his ears.

 

[The numbers keep counting down! The bomb won’t disappear either…!]

 

Judith’s trembling voice hit his ears.

 

Echo took a short breath and glared at the communication device.

 

‘It didn’t deactivate?’

 

Damn it, why won’t it deactivate?

 

This doesn’t make sense. He sent the signal correctly and confirmed that the bomb’s Core Nucleus had responded.

 

‘But why?’

 

Echo wondered what kind of trick this was, then suddenly realized.

 

‘Fire Butterfly.’

 

That bastard was around here.

 

He didn’t know the reason, but when you’re near that guy, even things that should work don’t work, and even falling backward would break your nose.

 

Right. That’s Fire Butterfly’s curse.

 

‘Misfortune’!

 

That must be what’s affecting it.

 

This was troublesome. He could escape by running away like this, but…

 

At that moment, an angel and devil began fighting inside him.

 

‘Just ignore it and run. It’s not your problem anyway.’

 

‘But that bomb uses ether! Even with the Hero there, they can’t stop it. Everyone will die!’

 

For just one moment, his conscience tugged at his collar.

 

Echo gritted his teeth.

 

“Fuck.”

 

Finally spitting out a curse, he tracked the bomb’s presence and sprinted at full speed. The bomb’s reaction coordinates were nearby.

 

A few seconds later, Echo arrived at the Small Plaza where Judith was and shouted breathlessly.

 

“Where is it! What’s… huh?”

 

That’s when it happened.

 

Grab.

 

Something cold and hard gripped his collar. Echo’s pupils shook under the suffocating pressure that seemed to stop his breath.

 

When he looked up, a cold smile greeted him. Black suit, chilling smile, and those familiar, spine-tingling eyes.

 

“I trusted your conscience. Echo.”

 

…What?

 

There was no one there except Fire Butterfly—no, Ruin. With a face that said he didn’t even need to catch him, as if he was already in his grasp anyway.

 

And Echo realized.

 

This time he was completely played.

 

Shit.

—————
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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