The Academy's Deceased Ate It All

Chapter 174

"I think the story will be long, so I'll quickly explain the important things first, and then move on."

Saying so, I stared at Jin Ye-Seul, and she nodded as if she understood.

"Do I just have to tell what I found out?"

"Yes. Please."

"Um, first of all…."

As if agonizing for a moment, Jin Ye-Seul frowned and opened her mouth.

"First of all, it seems that until recently, the Big Watch and children of Milited not only interacted with each other but also cooperated. It was the children of Milited who strengthened the ability of Dmitry, who I killed earlier."

[Did you see their faces?]

At Evangeline's question, Jin Ye-Seul shook her head.

"I'm not sure because they were covering their faces. The next is the location of the last vein. As soon as you come out of Urea's main gate, turn right and then go to...."

When Jin Ye-Seul specifically explained the location of the last vein, I could see Evangeline and Lee Ye-Eun giving orders to someone to send people there.

"Ah, the information I extracted also includes the locations of various bases of the Big Watch and where the members of the organization mainly live. In addition, speaking of their leader Isaac McDowell's ability, he can replicate other people's abilities and use them, though there is the case of meeting some pretty difficult conditions...."

In that way, Jin Ye-Seul laid out the information she had found to them in detail.

The fact that the children of Milited found out the location of Jin Ye-Jeong and informed Dmitry about it.

And the fact that they have already done something tricky to the veins.

The fact that I too was one of their targets, and that their purpose was the pendant I obtained in a dungeon in the past....

Most of them weren't any different from what Jin Ye-Seul had secretly told me earlier while coming here before the conversation began.

Meanwhile, Lee Myung-Joon, who was listening to the story with a serious look, gently raised his hand.

[Can I ask one thing?]

"What is it?"

[How did you get that information? Did you get a confession from them, or....]

"Oh, it's nothing."

Jin Ye-Seul replied as if it was really nothing.

"I just killed them, opened their skulls, and while digging through their brains, put some iron needles in. I can extract other people's memories in that way."

[…….]

Hearing those words, Evangeline made a startled look.

On the other hand, Lee Myung-Joon just nodded slightly.

[I guess it's not a method we can reveal openly. Then we can't go head-on either.]

[There were circumstances where Isaac McDowell was suspicious, but there was no solid evidence. In addition, he is now at the Orhe Academy as an invited professor. How are we going to do?]

[First of all, we have to cut everything, from the limbs. Evangeline, as you said, we can't touch them from the front. Then, if you press them, they will naturally show movement. Then they'll definitely reveal their tails.]

Lee Myung-Joon muttered as if he were tired.

[First, let's share the bases or the coordinates we just found out with all six guilds. As soon as each one is done preparing, we can sweep them up and subdue them in one fell swoop. If it's monsters, we won't be blamed, and even if it's human beings, we can make any number of excuses. They won't have any choice if we come from various places at once.]

He said, staring at Jin Ye-Seul.

[They wouldn't even think that information was leaked in that way.]

[Children of Milited... these guys are really unpredictable.]

[What are you worried about?]

Lee Myung-Joon shrugged his shoulders.

[Isaac McDowell, if we dig through that guy's brain, we could perhaps find some information again.]

He stared at Jin Ye-Seul, saying so.

[When the time comes, are you willing to help us, Miss Jin Ye-Seul?]

"If Ji-Hyuk allows it."

Jin Ye-Seul replied, bowing her head slightly toward me.

"Because I'm Ji-Hyuk's."

Suddenly, the eyes of the three focused on me, and I nodded, slightly flustered.

"Of course, I will help as much as I can."

Then I added in a low voice.

I thought my face must have been dyed red with embarrassment.

"… and please don't mind what she just said."

It was Lee Myung-Joon who opened his mouth first in the atmosphere that had been hardened for a while.

If it wasn't a fault caused by my mood, he definitely for a very brief moment, but glanced at the side where Horie Yuzuki was, and then turned his eyes to me.

[… well, ahem. Good, then I think it's student Yoo Ji-Hyuk's turn to explain now... Why is there not much left until the seal collapses?]

[Lee Myung-Joon-nim, is it okay for me to explain that instead?]

When Lee Ye-Eun opened her mouth in a relaxed voice, Lee Myung-Joon nodded as if saying, please.

[First of all, please understand that what I am about to say is not with any particular intention, but simply to help explain.]

Lee Ye-Eun scanned everyone once with her overbearing and intellectual eyes, as was known to the world.

In particular, her gaze stayed on Jin Ye-Seul for a longer time.

[Clan of the World Tree… Among them, the people of the so-called main family, who have inherited the blood densely and have manifested their abilities, can feel the energy sensitively. So, a few days ago, when the people of the association came to us with the words that there were traces of the Seven Evils within our clan's territory. At that time, the reason I was able to deal with it one step earlier was because I could feel the energy of the Seven Evils, though weakly.]

[Wait, you can feel the energy of the Seven Evils?]

Lee Ye-Eun nodded at Evangeline's question.

[It doesn't matter because everyone here knows anyway. At the time when the Thorns Cross Society invaded our clan's territory, one of the Seven Evils appeared. With the help of many people, we were able to repel that Seven Evil, and at that time I was quite close to that Seven Evil, so even if not in detail, if I'm close, I can sense the energy of the Seven Evils to some extent. In fact, I also sensed the energy left behind by the Svengali, I mean, the repelled Seven Evil.]

[That is true, but do not worry.]

Svengali whispered quietly.

[I am now assimilated to you, so there is no way I will be sensed in that way. My energy is your energy.]

Hearing Svengali's words, I nodded slightly as if I understood.

Lee Ye-Eun continued to explain and pointed at me with her hand.

[And as you all know, Yoo Ji-Hyuk, he can be said to be a member of a clan that has inherited the power of the World Tree to the extent that it is comparable to me, the Clan Head. In other words, he, like me, can sense things related to the Seven Evils to some extent.]

[That means….]

[Probably our Ji-Hyuk, keuhm. Excuse me.]

Lee Ye-Eun gave a small cough.

She was looking toward where Jin Ye-Seul was.

[Yoo Ji-Hyuk carried out the task of going around the various branches and securing them. In the process, he might have sensed something strange.]

"… yes, it's as it was said."

I nodded at Lee Ye-Eun's words.

Lee Myung-Joon and Evangeline each looked worried, and Lee Ye-Eun looked at me and sneakily winked.

I nodded slightly at her appearance that looked as if she was asking if she did well.

[… good, then there's no point in delaying it further.]

Lee Myung-Joon said, nodding his head.

[First, we will strengthen the occupation of the secured veins a little more and go in the direction of continuing the investigation. Of course, this process includes the assumption that the seal may collapse in the near future.]

He continued his explanation in a quiet voice.

[Unfortunately, there is not enough material evidence, so it seems difficult to expect help from the Association. Well, I honestly don't think the association will be helpful in this matter, but... Instead, we will mobilize all the power we can.]

"That means…."

[We'll bring all the Ten Strongests together.]

Lee Myung-Joon nodded quietly.

[I carried that name in order to be worth my salt at a time like this.]

* * *

"I'm sorry, I'm a little late."

"~~~~~~~~!!!"

Laune, who saw me coming back after a long time, grabbed my arm without saying a word and shook it.

I handed an apology to him like that and looked at the side of the desk.

There stood the alter ego of Esmeralda, who had changed her appearance to me.

"Good job."

"Yes, I'll be on my way then."

Esmeralda, who had returned to her own appearance before I knew it, quietly added a few words.

"… I went to class regularly, so you don't have to worry about it. There was no sign of suspicion from people around you, and as you said before, when it seemed like I was going to get found out, I overcame it with the help of that person, Evangeline."

At the end of those words, she disappeared, as if melting away before I could respond in any way.

Perhaps, I thought, it was her way of thanking me for the warning I had given about Lydia's danger.

[Heh, if you ask now, he will say it is okay to chew on his own body.]

Meanwhile, Svengali looked at Laune, who was clinging to my arm, and muttered, clicking his tongue.

Then, as if hearing that sound, Laune raised his head and shook his roots as if in anger.

Seeing that, I embodied Svengali's mouth and eyes and said to him.

"Laune is much more precious to me than you, so don't say anything to him for no reason."

"…!"

Upon hearing my words, Laune trembled as if he was deeply moved.

And Svengali rolled her eyes as if he was dumbfounded.

"Huh, this is how you treat me, who desperately gave you advice to save a guy who was going to die in pieces?"

"What the hell kind of nonsense are you spouting?"

"Haa… this stupid guy, really."

Svengali rolled his eyes and stared at me as if he were speechless.

"Can you not remember what it was like earlier when that woman talked about the problem with her sister's position?"

"What about Ye-Seul?"

After all the important talk, it was true, as Svengali said, that there was some friction between Jin Ye-Seul and Evangeline regarding Jin Ye-Jeong's position.

Evangeline said she would be protecting her thoroughly while being right next to her because she had already been caught, and Jin Ye-Seul shot back with a smiling face, looking at her like that.

‘I can't leave it to you, who already made Sister die once, and almost let her die once more.'

After arguing with each other, saying that they would be in charge of her, in the end, it was concluded that they should ask for the opinion of the person involved.

To be honest, I thought Jin Ye-Jeong would choose Evangeline here.

But she looked at the two alternately with trembling eyes and soon said like this in an ashamed voice.

I'm going to follow Ye-Seul.

Please understand me.

When she heard those words, the empty expression Evangeline made as if betrayed was something I could never forget.

In the end, it was concluded on the spot that Evangeline and Horie Yuzuki would take turns protecting until Jin Ye-Seul was ready to take charge of Jin Ye-Jeong.

"… you did not notice the expression that woman named Jin Ye-Seul made at that time?"

Svengali muttered so in a quizzical voice.

Meanwhile, his eyes looked at me calmly, and soon began to shake slightly.

"Ah."

"What, what's wrong with you?"

There was a sound like he was swallowing his saliva slightly.

I turned my head because he was looking behind me, but there was nothing there.

"Oh, no. It is nothing...."

He muttered so in a trembling voice.

Then he answered in a low voice, avoiding my gaze.

"Uh, Keuhm. That, well. I just want you to think that the noise I am going to make beside you from now on is just me talking to myself in a dimension of concern for you. It does not mean anything more than that."

Saying so, Svengali began to hurriedly turn his eyes here and there.

Meanwhile, he shouted while staring at the fish tank with the fish that Han Soo-Young and Choi Hyun-Woo had given me as a gift the other day.

"My God, that fish! That fish looks very hungry right now, so go quickly and feed it!"

At the end of those words, he shut his mouth.

I wondered what the hell he wanted to do, but when I came to my senses, my body was moving toward the tank without realizing it.

"… boring guy." [Note: or wishy-washy guy.]

I muttered so, looking at the closed-mouthed Svengali.

"Come on, you should eat, too. That woman probably took care of you too...!"

For a moment, the fish flew its body with momentum, as if to eat my finger.

I hurriedly pulled my finger back, but a part of the World Tree I had pulled out to embody Svengali's body was devoured.

"… what is this?"

This is a fish that signifies proof of friendship...?

I smacked my lips in amazement and looked down at him.

Meanwhile, I got a call from one of the people who gave this violent fish as a gift.

It was Han Soo-Young.

"Yes, Soo-Young. Why. What's going on?"

A happy voice came out when I answered the phone.

― Oh, Ji-Hyuk. I'm in front of the men's dormitory now. I'm here to get what I asked for the last time.

"… what did you ask for?"

When I asked back, Han Soo-Young said in a voice that seemed to ask, have you forgotten?

― Yes. What, did you forget?

"Uhh, that's not it, but… that, what was it?"

When I asked again with an awkward smile, Han Soo-Young let out a small sigh.

― Introduction to alchemy. You said you have it.

"Oh, ahh. Right. I did!"

I nodded and replied that I would bring it to her soon.

Then, Han Soo-Young hung up the phone, saying, it's okay, so don't get hurt in a needless hurry.

"Hey, go in. Hurry."

"… um, yes."

Svengali, who had been absent-minded for a while, nodded.

Just before he disappeared, his eyes were toward the fish tank.

I grabbed the thick 'Introduction to Alchemy' book and immediately walked out of the dormitory.

There, Han Soo-Young was waiting, kicking a stone.

"Soo-Young."

"Ah."

When I called her name, her expression, which was hardened coldly, softened instantly.

I approached her and handed her the 'Introduction to Alchemy' book that I had brought with me with an apology that I was really sorry for forgetting it.

"Umm…."

However, Han Soo-Young was staring at me without accepting the book I handed her.

When I looked at her, wondering what she was doing, our eyes met, and she finally smiled a little.

"Oh, it's really Ji-Hyuk."

"… uh? What are you talking about?"

"What am I talking about?"

Han Soo-Young said so and nodded her head.

With a small smile on her face, she pushed the Introduction to Alchemy book I was holding back to my chest.

"I never asked you to lend me this."

"……."

"Too much, you, Ji-Hyuk. Really too much."

Han Soo-Young was still smiling.