Chapter 63: Waiting Quietly (4)

"Would you like to go with me?"

It was when I was organizing study materials in the staff room.

Those were the sudden words of Abel, who barged in.

I looked at Abel with a candy still in my mouth.

'Ah, he was always this kind of guy.'

The principal's hunting dog.

Some Crimson Blaze, something dog.

Despite those nicknames, he's quite diligent and an exceptional elite, which I had forgotten.

Abel's dream was to be a hero who ruled the back alleys.

'What kind of hero wants to rule the back alleys.'

I'm a man without prejudice, but sometimes I get dizzy dealing with the students here.

"What are you suddenly talking about."

"Um…oh, it seems I skipped the difficult part. It's quite simple, actually."

Extending his index finger, Abel said with a sly, unpleasant smile, and his eyes narrowed into crescents.

"It's a simple story. Back alleys are common places for villains to emerge. We sort out their ranks and then suppress them."

"Suppress?"

Not eradicate?

Prejudice is not good. Those on the path to ascension must always break free from the constraints of prejudice.

'No, there's some logic to it.'

In fact, Abel's words do hold some merit.

Villains take on the role of evil.

Even with the power to defeat a Demon King, poverty cannot be eradicated.

Because human greed is endless.

Some are content with their lives but wish to trample on others and climb higher.

No place in the world is truly affluent.

Then, perhaps regulating evil isn't such a bad idea.

Could that be why?

I found myself nodding.

Seoul.

The capital of South Korea. It is also a place ruled by the Iron-Blood Sword Clan.

One of Korea's five great families.

Iron-Blood Sword Clan rules Seoul, while the Magic Shin Clan rules Busan.

Mysterious Yoo Clan has its roots in Daegu, and Shadow Jo Clan quietly hides itself in Gwangju.

The Mighty Seo Clan resides in the northern part of Gyeonggi Province, hunting monsters on the front lines.

"However, even Iron-Blood Sword Clan cannot truly settle in a place mockingly nicknamed 'Seoul Republic.'"

Therefore, the Iron-Blood Sword Clan desired to rule over the prime lands.

But some did not wish to be ruled by them.

This is especially true in the Gangdong area.

"Perhaps Gangdong should be called the dark side of Seoul. There are many such people there."

Even if it's defined by law, evil exists everywhere.

Evil exists in Seoul, too.

Those known as evil may better uphold goodness than expected.

"But that doesn't make them good."

That was right.

Seoul's gangsters and villains.

The businesses they run are defined as evil.

Drugs. Or prostitution. Usury.

They try to keep to the defined good in their way, but they don't deny that their actions are illegal.

"So, we should just smash them?"

"Isn't that a bit too barbaric? Always resorting to smashing things…"

Han Seojin lightly lifted his fist.

"…But that's one way, though not the method I would use right now."

"Then?"

"Domination. As I mentioned before, it's about dominating the underworld."

"Dominating…"

"It's simple logic. They are evil, albeit small and minor. But when you gaze into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you. Small evils accumulate and become great evils eventually. What I want to do is…"

Abel's slitted eyes opened slightly.

"… Cut the bud before the small evil becomes a great evil. Prevent ordinary people from encountering small evils, from sprouting the seeds of evil. Keeping ordinary people only in the light. That is my ultimate aspiration."

It's an absurd dream.

Han Seojin thought so.

Despite possessing the power to kill the Demon King, one cannot eradicate evil.

Because evil spreads in all directions like ink spilled on a canvas.

"I wish evil would only occur within its domain."

Therefore, Han Seojin quite liked what Abel said.

"Evil cannot be eradicated, no matter what measures are taken. Even in the so-called Holy Empire of America, evil exists. Crime is an inevitable presence. However, I wish that its domain would not extend beyond this place."

"Grandiose and arrogant."

"Yes, that's why I need power. Then, I can prevent the spread of evil to some extent."

Abel looked at Han Seojin. Abel was smiling broadly.

As if to say that's why he needed Seojin.

'That's a burdensome look.'

Han Seojin looked ahead.

"To be honest, I never thought you, a professor, would get involved in such things and think such thoughts."

"Is that so?"

"You have that sort of image—like you would smash anything that stands in your way. You act as if you have nothing to fear."

"So, there's no need to make the boss kneel specifically?"

"That's right."

Han Seojin wore a puzzled expression.

"Why is that? Isn't it more convenient if they kneel?"

"Yes, that's why I'm taking action like this."

"Then that's settled, what else."

Crack.

Han Seojin opened a can of cola. Smiling at the pleasant fizzing sound, he drank the cola.

"But you really do like carbonated drinks."

"I haven't been able to have them for a while."

Crunch.

Han Seojin crushed the can and briefly looked at his outfit.

A black short-sleeved tee with black jeans.

He had chosen black clothes because he was moving at night.

'Because black was the only suit I had.'

So, he had picked something casually.

"Shall we start moving then? Oh, and I've prepared the outfit you'll use in advance, Professor."

"Outfit?"

Abel pulled out two masks and a black coat from his embrace.

"What's this?"

"These are masks. They are actually quite efficient. They prevent villains from recognizing our faces and are also popular on their own."

"Nice."

"And this coat. Traditionally, if you want to rule over evil, you have to wear a coat."

"…"

Han Seojin put on the mask. And he draped the black coat over his shirt as well.

It felt familiar. He was well-adjusted to wearing masks.

It was his second and third life.

During his third life, he wore one when the righteous faction was chasing him. In his second life, he wore it often to fit in with the hobby of the Duke of Extermination.

"Shall we go?"

On the rooftop of a high-rise.

Abel jumped towards the rooftop railing.

'Seriously, what a variety.'

Han Seojin chuckled and leaped over the railing.

Swoosh.

The shadow swallowed Abel. I entrusted my body to the wind.

'Does his actions right now have something related to the dark attribute?'

He's familiar with handling darkness. Being a vampire opposing the light wouldn't be too bad, either.

I landed lightly with a smile.

And a little later, they both landed in the back alley.

"This is troublesome. I was quite confident in falling."

"What you're confident in, your professor does even better. Remember that."

"What confidence…"

I walked on, leaving Abel, who chuckled bitterly behind.

"It seems like you've decided who to beat up today."

"Yes, they're called the Viper Gang. It's a place with five novices who have just started with mana and a mid-level villain."

"Are you saying he's attached to one of the organizations in the underworld?"

"Yes. Surprisingly, it's a bit of a headache."

Abel tapped the bracelet lightly. A hologram appeared.

"I will send you the location of the Viper Gang."

"Alright."

I pinpointed the location. It was an exposed place. Seemed crowded, too.

'A club.'

We moved forward.

"Did you hear about this time? There's a rumor that Abel, the principal's hunting dog, is going after the Viper Gang."

"I heard he sent a warning, too? But can Abel really take them down this time? The Crimson Blaze Noble is impressive, but I heard the Viper Gang recruited some remarkable person."

"You sent warnings?"

"It looks cooler, doesn't it?"

Crazy guy.

I smirked and sprinted forward.

I split the wind with Wind God's Steps. Ordinary people can't follow me with their eyes.

'Well, most heroes probably can't see through me either.'

After running for a while, I finally arrived at my destination.

"Wow, I'm confident in my speed too, but Professor, you're several steps ahead."

"Of course, that's obvious."

From the beginning, the Wind God Technique is that kind of movement technique. Faster and more secretive than anyone.

'Well, I've been using the Wind God Technique quite effectively.'

Glacial Heavenly Moon, Brilliant Blazing Fire.

I've transformed both spells in my way.

The same goes for martial arts.

The legendary martial art known as the Heavenly Demon Godly Technique has been altered to my taste, becoming the Heaven-Surrendering Godly Technique.

The Wind God Technique is different.

Should I say it's unique to me? It's the only power I use exactly as someone else created it.

It's captivating and fast. That's all, but it has the advantage of being the fastest among all martial arts.

To the extent that I don't need to bother with modifying it.

'If I had to say, it's closer to a trait.'

That is the perfect description.

Traits possess such qualities. The power that is easiest to use at each level.

My Wind God's Steps is the same.

'From the beginning, this is a power close to a divine power.'

But then.

I looked ahead.

The destination, the club.

There were few people. A pungent smell of gunpowder brushed past my nose.

The smell of gunpowder?

"Seems like something happened?"

"Since we sent a warning before coming, maybe they did it to prepare?"

No.

While Abel's words were partly true, my senses told me another intruder had arrived first.

'Who could it be?'

I pondered, but no one came to mind.

Perhaps the Viper Gang had pulled someone in, and that person caused trouble.

Or a third party intervened.

'It seems like one of those two.'

Thinking that, I immediately covered my head with my hands. I also covered Abel's face.

"What the…"

Bang!

At the same time, the sound of a bomb exploding was heard. A tremendous blast echoed, scattering fragments.

Black smoke was slowly rising from the entrance of the club.

"What?!"

"It seems we have guests who arrived earlier."

But it's quite spectacular. Using a bomb in the middle of downtown.

Dudududu!!

Faint sounds of gunfire were also heard.

I looked at Abel.

"Do you have any idea who it might be?"

"No, I don't. Initially, no one in their right mind would openly fire guns downtown like this… Ah."

Abel frowned as if he had someone in mind.

"It's still a guess, but we'll know when we see the body."

"Really?"

We ran towards the entrance of the club.

Bang bang!

The further down we went, the louder the gunfire became.

Corridor.

There, many people were seen lying down.

'Huh.'

It seemed someone with a talent for shooting had been at work; the shots were clean. Most of the fallen clutched their arms and legs.

'These shots were meant to incapacitate.'

And there were two aiming for the heart and head.

Those two were bleeding, but…

'The blood is black.'

I could feel demonic qi seeping out of the black blood.

It seemed like the one who did this knew about it.

"What a mess…"

"Who is it?"

"Whoever it is, they've precisely aimed for the limbs but targeted those who look like minions for the head and heart. All non-lethal shots. And there's only one person I can think of who would do something like this."

"Who is that?"

"The Problem Child."

The Problem Child, is it Yoo Eunchae?

'Well, if she aims to change her traits or add anything, that reasoning wouldn't be a problem.'

But her going on a shooting spree like this?

I didn't quite understand.

"Still, doesn't she choose her battles a bit?"

"…?"

Abel's expression was extremely sour.

It was like the expression of an older brother who sees his sister, who fights with him every day, acting cute.

"Even if you are a professor, please don't talk nonsense. It's because you've been pushing her around lately that she hasn't caused any trouble."

"Is that so?"

"That bastard… no, Yoo Eunchae, is a disaster of disasters. No, that's understating it. She's basically a beast. Calling her non-lethal while she calmly shoots people? That's not a person; that's a beast in human skin. Remember that."

I was taken aback by Abel's words, which were filled with malice.

What did he go through to harbor such resentment towards Yoo Eunchae?

After passing through the blood-soaked alley, we could see one thing.

What was seen there?

"Kkahaha! Die, just die!"

"Firing guns in the middle of downtown! You're really insane!"

"Don't worry! It's in non-lethal mode!"

Yoo Eunchae, laughing while firing a machine gun.

So, what's this non-lethal mode?

No matter how you look at it, she was firing a machine gun with live ammunition?

"You beast! Let's decide today!"

Dropping formal speech and showing his blood-red eyes, Abel charged at Yoo Eunchae.

'Really, there's not a single sane person.'

I, the only sane one, should understand, I guess.