Chapter 27

“Livelier than I expected.”

It’s been quite some time since the midterm exams ended, and yet the outside is still bustling with talk of the midterms.

The midterm exams which dismantled ten groups. The articles are astonished, calling it the worst result ever among historical groups.

Amongst them, there are journalists who are quick to pinpoint me as their target.

Revisited: The eccentric behavior of ‘White Tiger’ Park Min-ji! In the past, she single-handedly dismantled eight midterm exam groups…

Could this have been the result of Sword Master’s actions again?

“…Single-handedly dismantled eight groups. Is this Sword Master any different…?”

Park Min-ji, White Tiger.

Comparing our sister’s past to me, the culprit who wrecked this midterm exam – could it possibly be me?

“These journalists, who are they? Sharp ones.”

Besides, our sister, did she cut through eight teams? All by herself?

Well, she was extraordinary right from our first meeting.

A sword master with razor-sharp insight in her demeanor.

Every move she made reflected her readiness to draw a sword at any moment, truly a human born solely for the sword.

Throughout the history of the Empire, such talent was rarely seen. If forced to compare, it would be like the Sword Master of lore.

“Whew~ As Mother said, it seems that in our family there aren’t any ordinary people. I’m kind of looking forward to seeing my brother.”

Aside from me, there were also many stories about other rising stars.

The top safety, Titan’s reasons for sending his son to the Korean Academy – ‘Yggdrasil’?

Pae-ung Gang Man-hee: “Titan’s son? My son is no slouch either!”

Will the recluse of Jin-ryong Family finally rise?

Attention focused on the Jin-ryong Family’s hidden secret weapon, ‘Jin Yu-ri’

Strangely, it seems these people here have a deep interest in superhumans. For me, it’s hard to understand why they are so interested in a mere institution for teaching kids.

“d*mn.”

But this year’s midterm exams being particularly loud is not without my influence. In fact, after the midterm exams, the second most talked-about topic was the mysterious ‘unknown magic circle’ that appeared in the Academy sky that day.

Yeah. That’s mine.

The sins inherent in being human.

Pride, envy, sloth, wrath, greed, gluttony, lust.

In this world, they’re called the Seven Deadly Sins.

I took the essence of these sins, gathered them all into one place and reinterpreted them into my own ‘truth’, which is an exclusive magic that only I can wield in this world.

Apocalypse (The End).

“Well, first it’s Apocalypse… anyway.”

If I’m honest, I have to say that calling what’s in the photo Apocalypse makes me embarrassed. It’s just a small taste of it.

If I were to quantify, it barely reaches one percent of its true potential.

Even this was enough to disarm Chief Choi Mi-jeong and Team 16.

And by disarm, I mean it wasn’t just figuratively. It was a literal disarming.

Armor, weapons… all the equipment the armed groups wielded, vanished without a trace after being absorbed by Apocalypse. And that wasn’t all. Half the field disappeared, and parts of the building crumbled too.

It was only the major magical defensive barriers around the academy that activated in the nick of time, or else everything affected by the ‘erosion’ — the field and parts of the building — would have completely vanished without a trace.

This was all thanks to a mere one percent of the Apocalypse.

So what’s the reaction from around me?

Of course, chaos erupted.

But if I were to pick one out, it would probably be the looks, right? With the spotlight and interviews, the way people looked at me was clearly different.

All sorts of persistent negative rumors such as incompetence, Mana Deficiency Syndrome, unfortunate, broken, etc., which used to plague me, disappeared without a trace.

Instead, what took their place was the label of ‘genius’.

Or rather, my situation has returned to what it used to be?

“Talented here, talented there. Whether here or in the empire, people really love saying the word ‘genius.’ All thanks to this, even though I went through a lot of hard work, the tags that followed me disappeared. Indeed, might is right.”

I expected this to happen.

Once again, Apocalypse is unconventional magic.

Magic that only I can use and interpret in the world.

Ignoring magical formulas, ignoring defenses, infinite coordinates, incalculable, form indecipherable.

Not to mention, the attribute is indeterminable.

Once this nameless, shapeless magic starts to erode, whatever it may be, it ceases to exist completely — this Apocalypse appeared in the academy’s sky.

Even the professors who were there saw it.

If you’re a scholar, a magician, curiosity is bound to arise no matter what. Jokingly speaking, the moment the fight ended, everyone rushed to the laboratory.

To interpret Apocalypse.

However, within a week? Or rather, in just a few days, everyone came back to me.

Naturally, they all failed to interpret it and have only sucked their fingers after trying.

“To begin with, the idea of interpreting ‘Personal Magic’ is impossible.”

I told them it was a magic I created myself to overcome Mana Deficiency Syndrome.

Just with this answer, I no longer had to explain how I overcame Mana Deficiency Syndrome or what this magic is.

And along with the ‘genius’ label.

This was the goal.

Not the attention, but the reputation of being a genius.

Once certified as a genius, people don’t try to understand you. They simply categorize themselves as different from you, and any incomprehensible incidents are passed off by muttering “He’s a genius.”

Someone once said it.

First, get famous. Then they’ll applaud even if you drop poop.

It’s true. I’ve personally experienced it.

Many eccentric actions I undertook during the imperial era.

For example, a magician sending a challenge to the knights and getting beaten up almost every day, or feeling the natural mana and strolling around for years in just their underwear.

Acts that normal people would mock as crazy are lauded as applause and praise when I do them.

What I aimed for wasn’t the embarrassing praise. Now, should I try some heroic stuff?

All I needed was understanding.

Understanding that didn’t require elaborate explanations for my own achievements.

I’m in too big a hurry to explain unnecessary things, it’s annoying.

And this was the real reason I took out Apocalypse.

Turning off the pad, I tossed it onto the couch, just as the clubroom door opened.

Mary and Jun-woo.

“Ki-hyuk!! The grades are out!! I ranked 9th!! 9th place!!”

“d*mn. Immediately.”

“Jun-woo is only third place according to rumors! You were saying you’d be second, but only third! Ha ha! Too proud, huh. Hu hu!”

“…Training.”

Cheerfully skipping, Mary immediately stripped off her top and added weight plates to the barbell.

With a smile, I caught the grade sheet Mary had magicked at me.

“Looks like we’ve set the first step right.”

I laughed.

A fresh and invigorating start.

The tension had loosened. With the announcement of the grades, the midterm exams were officially over, and the academy’s atmosphere became as relaxed as an overstretched rubber band.

“I want to have fun. To be honest, I’m having fun right now but I want to play even more wildly.”

“Squad Leader, could you do a favor and fake my attendance? Today, I’m not in the mood for studying.”

“Yeon-hee, do you know this guy? What?! Same club!! Introduce me! Introduce!!”

“Hehe. This life is a failure. Hehe, let’s enjoy. How about a drink??”

Some students feel relieved if they do well academically.

Others feel like giving up when they perform poorly.

With various excuses, days of lack of motivation continue.

The burning passion for learning has disappeared. Everyone is busy seeking out interesting ways to break the monotony of this tiresome daily life.

Ordinarily, professors would appear at this time, to reviving the students’ extinguished motivation. But regrettably, even the professors in charge weren’t in a good place.

Because of Park Ki-hyuk’s Apocalypse.

“…I really don’t get it. How does this formula continue?”

“d*mn! They’re clearly merged! So why isn’t it working! Why isn’t it working?!”

“…It’s impossible. I’ll have to ask Park Ki-hyuk. Excuse me, assistant, what class do the first years have?”

Professors are fundamentally magicians before they are educators.

They’re overly excited by the mysterious unknown that is Apocalypse, and how can they have the will to look after students?

If their hearts desire, they would want to drop classes just to conduct research endlessly. It’s a minor miracle they don’t miss more classes.

Unintentionally, Park Ki-hyuk’s Apocalypse has contributed towards ruining the mood at the academy.

Yet the main offender, Park Ki-hyuk, wasn’t even present at the academy.

“Do you know when our group’s volunteer work is? I thought it would be after the midterms, but there’s been no news.”

“Vol… volunteer work?”

“Yes. Even if we overlook it at the beginning of the semester, it’s time to start now. If we don’t, our schedule will be all messed up.”

“…Really?”

“Come on.”

“Ki-hyuk… you didn’t forget the plan, did you? Please tell me there’s a plan.”

“…”

“…”

“…”

“…”

“d*mn you!!”

The Korean Academy mandatorily enforces a substantial amount of volunteer activities as part of the basic moral education of superhumans.

Not participating leads to possible grade retention.

That’s why group leaders usually reserve volunteer activity spots early on. However, there was no way a socially inept person like Park Ki-hyuk would know about this.

Still, it’s fine.

Because even if he didn’t, his mother certainly did.

“Well, did you know there would be volunteer work? Good job realizing this on your own. Did the princess teach you? And do you have a plan? No? I figured as much. Don’t worry, don’t worry.”

“Mom’s here, right?”

Kim Yeon-hee is a veteran parent who has sent all her children to the academy, even graduating all her kids with top honors.

Veteran parents always have a plan.

The plan was already perfectly laid out.

So Park Ki-hyuk and the group headed to the place Kim Yeon-hee instructed them would be great for volunteer work.

And when they arrived, it was…