The S-Rank Warden Devours the Academy - Chapter 73

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 73

Se Yong cut across the Academy campus in long, purposeful strides.
‘What in the world is going on?’
He’d been in the Dormitory watching the live broadcast of the duels.
Then out of nowhere, Koh Yu-kwon went berserk in the final match, and that damned parachute Professor had subdued him.
And then the broadcast just cut off without warning.
‘I didn’t go because I couldn’t stand the sight of that arrogant bastard anyway….’
Something serious had clearly happened, but he’d been nowhere near the scene and had no way of knowing what it was.

-[Breaking: Mysterious explosion incident during Academy duel]
-[Duel suspended… Hunter Association ‘investigating’]

The media was only spewing speculative articles.
‘Why aren’t any of my classmates picking up their phones?’
This wasn’t helping at all.
Unable to bear the frustration any longer, he headed directly to the Grand Auditorium.
The Grand Auditorium, located farthest from the Dormitory on campus.
As the building’s outer wall came into view—
“…!”
The entrance was lined with vehicles bearing the Hunter Association mark.
Response team members in uniforms were cordoning off the area.
As Se Yong crept closer to peer inside, one of the stationed members spoke to him, sounding annoyed.
“Looking for friends? Everyone inside would’ve been transported to the Medical Ward.”
“…Pardon? Everyone—even the spectators?”
The question marks in his head kept multiplying.
Se Yong hurried toward the Medical Ward.
True to the member’s word, the emergency treatment room was packed with students.
But something didn’t match his expectations.
‘…They all look fine?’
Not a single wound on any of them.
As Se Yong furrowed his brow in bewilderment, a familiar face caught his eye.
“Ryu A!”
Ryu A, just emerging from the treatment room, turned her head sharply.
“Huh? What, Se Yong? What are you doing here?”
Ryu A tilted her head, narrowing her eyes.
“Aw, worried about your classmate?”
“What happened? Why is everyone here? What about the duel?”
Se Yong was only asking his questions, and Ryu A shook her tongue as if she’d known he would.
“Well, well, so you just came because you were curious about what happened.”
“So what’s going on?”
“…Sigh, fine.”
Ryu A exhaled and briefly explained what had happened in the Duel Arena.
From Koh Yu-kwon suddenly spewing Red Mist, to how Yeom Sa-hyeon had suppressed it instantly and ended the situation.
After hearing the whole story, Se Yong let out a hollow laugh as if he couldn’t believe it.
“Kwon Tae-jun got knocked out, and his uncle’s Defense Skill was broken. You’re telling me that parachute Professor took him down in one move? That doesn’t make sense.”
“Why doesn’t it make sense?”
Then, suddenly, warm breath grazed Se Yong’s ear.
“Ahhhhh!”
A chill ran down his neck.
Se Yong flinched violently and leaped forward.
He shook his ear roughly, trying to identify the owner of that unpleasant breath.
A student with pink hair stood clutching a small pouch in his arms, muttering.
“Hundreds of people witnessed it at the scene—there’s no way not to believe it!”
It was Hong Jun-yeong of the Tactical Unit.
Seeing Jun-yeong’s pupils gleaming with uncomfortable brightness, Se Yong’s face twisted.
“Weren’t you all under the effects of Koh Yu-kwon’s Skill? You probably saw some kind of illusion.”
“That can’t be! I saw it clearly! A true master standing tall to protect us, even as blood flowed from him!”
“Damn it, the true master must be freezing to death…. Did the real Skill just pickle his brain properly?”
Se Yong twisted his mouth and turned to look at Ryu A.
Still, Ryu A was A-Grade, so she had at least some immunity to Mental Contamination compared to those Low-Grade trash.
His gaze was pleading for her to join him in refuting this madness.
“Well… I can’t say about the true master part, but he did save us, didn’t he?”
But Ryu A only shrugged.
“And if you keep insulting Instructor Sa-hyeon like that, you’re in for it….”
She lowered her voice considerably, then pointedly swept her gaze around the room.
Se Yong’s eyes followed hers.
“…….”
Gleaming eyes watching Se Yong from here and there.
They were Low-Grade students whose purification was incomplete.
Their eyes all had that murky, settled look to them—it was clear they regarded Se Yong with displeasure.
Veins bulged on Se Yong’s forehead.
“Worthless things that don’t even make a proper fight….”
“Knock it off. You want to get expelled? Everyone knows that if a High-Grade student assaults a Low-Grade student, it’s an automatic dismissal.”
Just as Ryu A’s rebuke made Se Yong’s fists tremble.
His eyes locked onto someone entering the Medical Ward.
“…Uncle!”
Se Yong’s face brightened and he rushed forward.
He matched his pace to Jae-hyeok’s long strides and spoke.
“Uncle, about that Duel. You’re definitely doing a rematch, right? Without this accident, I could’ve easily won—”
“Be quiet.”
Jae-hyeok cut him off curtly without breaking stride.
“Don’t act recklessly.”
He added coldly and passed right by Se Yong.
“…….”
Se Yong stood frozen, his face flushing crimson with shame.
He was just biting down hard on his lip when it happened.
“Pfft.”
A clear snicker erupted from behind.
It was Hong Jun-yeong from the Tactical Unit and the other followers of Sa-hyeon.
Se Yong’s clenched fist trembled finely.
‘Damn it…….’
The uncle he’d believed in had just humiliated him like this in front of everyone else?
‘If it’s come to this….’
He still had one method left.
Se Yong grabbed his cell phone roughly.

* * *

A small conference room in the Medical Ward.
Sa-hyeon held a private meeting with the Association Director who had visited unexpectedly.
The Association Director had already received a briefing on the overall situation before departure.
Sa-hyeon disclosed everything—the Mana Stone embedded in Koh Yu-kwon’s Hand Wrap and the behind-the-scenes story of the Academy Chancellor who had delivered it.
“……So the Academy Chancellor orchestrated something so absurd behind the scenes.”
The Association Director pressed his forehead and released a long sigh.
“Why did we even promote someone like that in the first place?”
Sa-hyeon leaned deep into his chair and clicked his tongue briefly.
“…The amount of money the Academy Chancellor poured into the Foundation wasn’t small change. There were some higher-ups who looked favorably on it.”
“This time, promote someone who’s actually competent.”
“That’s not a decision I can just make on my own.”
The Association Director exhaled bitterly and added:
“The relevant agencies will need to convene and discuss. Since everyone involved is stubborn as a mule, coordination will probably take some time.”
Sa-hyeon crossed his legs and shook his head slowly.
“For the Association Director to be so powerless….”
“…Coming from you of all people, that’s an oddly unpleasant thing to hear?”
When the Association Director raised an eyebrow, Sa-hyeon shamelessly curled one corner of his mouth upward.
“Getting old, I suppose. Growing sentimental.”
“Anyway….”
The Association Director finally let out a genuine laugh.
Yeom Sa-hyeon nodded indifferently.
“Mark the coordinates I mentioned.”
“You’re leaving right away?”
“Of course. It’s been a while since I’ve picked up decent intelligence….”
“Fine. Just don’t go wild.”
“I only ever suppress what goes wild.”
“…If you can manage to keep your mouth shut.”
The Association Director was just exhaling a deep sigh as he sent the address to Yeom Sa-hyeon when—
Knock, knock.
A knock sounded in the quiet conference room.
As the Association Director gave permission, the door cracked open and Hae-seong carefully poked his head through.
“Association Director, Yeom Sa-hyeon. Professor Jae-hyeok has come to visit.”
“Professor Jae-hyeok?”
With the Association Director’s nod, Jae-hyeok stepped past Hae-seong and into the conference room.
“Then I’ll just wait outside—”
Hae-seong was lowering his head in a bow and reaching for the door when—
“You’re welcome to stay.”
Jae-hyeok spoke in a dry voice.
The Association Director looked confused, but answered accordingly.
“Professor Jae-hyeok seems to have something to discuss. Isn’t that right, Hae-seong?”
“…Ah, yes.”
Hae-seong sat down beside Yeom Sa-hyeon with an bewildered expression.
Jae-hyeok bowed first to the Association Director.
“Greetings, Association Director.”
“It’s been a long time, Professor Jae-hyeok. I regret that matters have come to this. It must be quite difficult for you as well….”
“Not at all. The fault lies with me for failing to guide the student properly.”
“There’s fault on both sides.”
When Yeom Sa-hyeon agreed, Jae-hyeok’s eyebrows twitched slightly, but he gave no other reaction.
He sat in the chair diagonally across from the Association Director—far from Yeom Sa-hyeon—and regarded him squarely.
“That’s why I’ve come to discuss it.”
“Discuss what?”
Yeom Sa-hyeon tilted his head languidly.
“The wager we made concerning the duel.”
“…We made a wager?”
The Association Director turned to Yeom Sa-hyeon with a curious look.
“And?”
Yeom Sa-hyeon ignored the Association Director’s gaze entirely, responding with an air of annoyance.
Hae-seong’s shoulders sagged.
Since the duel had been halted by an unforeseen incident, Jae-hyeok must be proposing to nullify this match.
‘It’s a shame. Our students were winning that game, too….’
It was in the moment Hae-seong swallowed his regret silently to himself.
“I accept defeat.”
Jae-hyeok said it.
Cough, cough!
Hae-seong choked, caught mid-breath.
‘This easily?!’
Even as Hae-seong reeled in shock at the terse admission, Yeom Sa-hyeon cleared his throat with an unmoved expression.
“That so?”
“Yes. Since Yu-kwon used an unfair method to seize victory, it should be counted as a defeat for us.”
Jae-hyeok spoke in an even tone.
“Then….”
Hae-seong mumbled uncertainly, finally suppressing his cough.
“I’ll provide you with private instruction, Assistant Director.”
“! What?”
Hae-seong’s mouth fell open blankly.
‘…Am I really about to get one-on-one lessons from an Academy martial arts instructor?’
So I’m finally stepping into combat-type Awakener training…!
He blinked, his face stunned.
Jae-hyeok’s expression still radiated coldness, but his eyes had softened ever so slightly.
It was clear he’d lifted a weight from his mind.
“Perfect timing, actually.”
Yeom Sa-hyeon opened his mouth with easy confidence.
“Since we’re already here…”
The corners of his lips curved up smoothly.
“Could I ask you to cover my class tomorrow too?”
Jae-hyeok’s brow, which had been smooth, crumpled miserably.
“…What did you just say?”
His face was painted with bewilderment and disbelief.
He’d swallowed his pride and come here, offering to teach the man his assistant techniques as compensation for losing, and now this guy was pushing it even further—trying to dump his regular classes on him too.
Even Hae-seong stood dumbfounded.
“I have somewhere urgent I need to be.”
Yeom Sa-hyeon gave a confident smile and patted Jae-hyeok’s shoulder twice.
“Then, I’m off.”
Leaving Jae-hyeok standing speechless in his wake, Yeom Sa-hyeon strolled leisurely out of the Conference Room.
Click.
The door closed, and silence settled over the Conference Room.
The Association Director pressed his temple and muttered quietly.
“…I’ll apologize on his behalf, Professor.”
It seemed a hundred years too early to extract a direct apology from that guy.
The Association Director left behind a sigh of resignation.

S-Grade Instructor Devours the Academy 73

Author
Baek Ruga
Publisher
Daon Creative
Planning / Editing / Production
Yun Tae-ri
Cover
Tonp

UCI
G720:N+A036-20260512043.0073

ⓒ2026, Baek Ruga

※ This e-book is protected under the copyright law of the Republic of Korea.
No part of this work may be reproduced or modified in any form without permission from the author and publisher.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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