Chapter 40: The reunion with the redhead was the worst (1)

A student has gone missing inside the academy.

Naturally, this fact sent immense shockwaves beyond the academy.
People who already saw the academy as a thorn in their side began to tear into it at this opportunity.

Following the aftermath of the ogre attack, which allowed a monster assault, an even more severe incident of a student’s disappearance occurred.
Of course, someone had to be held responsible.

The vice principal suggested to the principal that they minimize the incident as much as possible, but Principal Ban Serin did not.
Of course, this incident was not enough to bring down Principal Ban Serin.

She still had a powerful background.
It wasn’t for nothing that she was serving as principal despite all the penalties.
She was there to use her connections in times like these.

However, that didn’t mean she intended to let this incident slide.
Ban Serin had noticed it too.
That some person was continuously and intensively intervening in this matter.

‘You vermin-like bstard, how dare you challenge me?’

The student’s disappearance was a significant problem, but it carried a greater, more calculated meaning.
The academy was not just an educational institution that taught young students.

Heroes were strictly a human resource, and at the same time, a promising potential to lead the future.
Hyun-woo, in particular, was a considerably rare resource, being in Class A.

And he was openly snatched away right before their eyes.
Two of them, no less.
Naturally, the calculating Principal Ban Serin couldn’t help but be furious at this fact.

‘But something is strange. How on earth did they get through my magic and take the student?’

Of course, it wasn’t as if Ban Serin had been idle.
On the contrary, until now, the academy had been an invincible fortress that had never once allowed an infiltration or an attack.

Ban Serin’s magic played a very large role in this.
In other words, to kidnap a student or launch an attack on the academy, one had to break through the magic Ban Serin had cast.

At least until now, no being had been capable of that.
Not just humans, but even monsters included.
But that was shattered today.

Even if there was a traitor within, her magic was not something that could be broken by a few traitors.
Especially if it was on the level of kidnapping a student, there was no way she wouldn’t have noticed.

Despite that, the opponent had brazenly kidnapped the students.
There was only one possible scenario for that to happen, which meant the opponent was a magician who surpassed even her own abilities…….

‘I want to deny it, but it’s not entirely impossible.’

In any case, alerted by this incident, Ban Serin mobilized all the power she could.
And among the forces she mobilized were the Student Council and the Disciplinary Committee.

“I promise you that I will find your brother.”

“Thank you, Principal.”

“I am sorry.”

“No, it’s alright.”

The Head of the Disciplinary Committee, Kang Seol-yeon, appeared as composed as possible on the outside, but her insides were burning to a crisp.
Her precious younger brother had disappeared, after all.

It was only natural.

Seol-yeon let out a deep sigh and left the principal’s office.
Her steps were unusually weak today.
A girl was waiting for her in front of the principal’s office.

She was a girl with white hair.
A girl with a physique so small that a stranger might mistake her for an elementary school student.
Seol-yeon looked at her and spoke.

“I don’t have time to play with you today.”

“You’re as rude as ever, Head of the Disciplinary Committee Kang Seol-yeon.”

“…….”

Was she waiting just to make a cheap provocation?
Just as Seol-yeon was thinking what a bored person she was, unexpected words came from the girl’s mouth.

“I’ll promise you this one thing. I will definitely find your brother.”

What?
You’ll definitely find my brother?
You?
For a moment, Kang Seol-yeon wondered if the sun had risen from the west, then she came to her senses and glared at the girl.

“What are you plotting now?”

“I’m offering to help, so what’s with that attitude?”

“Of all people, there’s no way you would help me.”

“You could think that.”

It wasn’t wrong.
If the situation were reversed, she would have been just as suspicious.
But this matter was different.
The girl nodded and said.

“But this time is different. It’s a case of a student being kidnapped. The Student Council is also responsible for incidents and accidents that happen at the academy.”

“…….”

“Even if that student is your brother.”

“You sure talk a good game.”

If Kang Seol-yeon hadn’t grasped the inner thoughts of the girl before her, she might have fallen for it.
However, Seol-yeon knew who she was.

A person who strictly separates public and private affairs, who only pursues things that benefit her.
A dmn woman who, following the principal’s creed, had made the academy’s law of the jungle even stronger.

The Student Council President, Park Ha-yeon.

Because she understood her true nature, Seol-yeon did not fall for it easily.
Of course, even so, Student Council President Park Ha-yeon’s words were not a complete lie.

Just as Principal Ban Serin felt a sense of crisis, Student Council President Park Ha-yeon also recognized this academy as her territory.
And someone was brazenly causing a ruckus in such a place?

This was like smearing mud on her own face.
In fact, public opinion outside was already growing, demanding that the academy take responsibility.
Absolutely unforgivable.

‘And putting the Head of the Disciplinary Committee in my debt wouldn’t be a bad thing either.’

Due to their different ideologies, they were rivals who pointed swords at each other.
For that reason, they acknowledged each other’s abilities.
If Seol-yeon were incompetent, Park Ha-yeon would have won long ago.

But in terms of simple combat prowess, Seol-yeon was a cut above her.
Although she was a cut above, they were so evenly matched that the outcome of a fight could not be guaranteed.

In addition to that, Ha-yeon possessed political skills that Kang Seol-yeon lacked.
Thanks to that, a precarious balance was achieved, with the student council holding a slight advantage.

‘I can’t trust the Student Council President.’

There was no way Seol-yeon hadn’t noticed that the Student Council President’s intentions were not pure.
Despite appearances, they had been at odds with each other since Park Ha-yeon was a first-year student.

Of course, she couldn’t refuse the Student Council’s help because of her pride.
Whatever the case, her precious family was on the line.
But she couldn’t just stand by and watch either.

You must find what is precious to you with your own hands.
As it happened, Seol-yeon knew friends who could help her at this opportune moment.
No, to be more precise.

It could be said that they were the only people she could call friends.

“So, you want us to help you find your brother?”

“That’s right.”

Naturally, the people Seol-yeon went to were Yoo Shin’s party from S-Class.
Selena, who had recently recovered and returned full of energy, was training Ha-young and Yuri.

Yuri, who had realized her limits, and Ha-young, who also didn’t want to stay idle, had asked Selena to train them.
Selena had gladly accepted the request.

So they were training in the S-Class exclusive arena using their S-Class authority when Seol-yeon suddenly appeared.
Thanks to this, Selena was over the moon.

“A-A request from the Head! Of course, I’ll do it!”

“Oppa, I think it’s right to refuse.”

“Why?”

“I’m sorry, Seol-yeon, but we’re not that close to Kang Hyun-woo.”

Hyun-woo was trash, but his older sister, Seol-yeon, was clearly a person worthy of respect.
So Yuri spoke as politely and indirectly as she could.

In fact, it wasn’t that they weren’t close; they were practically enemies.
Especially for Yuri.
He was annoying enough as it was, but he kept hitting on her and pestering her.

On top of that, he had subtly spoken ill of her brother.
There was no way she had any good feelings for him.
And it was the same for Ha-young, who had been nothing more than Hyun-woo’s lackey.

However, badmouthing a missing person in front of their family was, no matter how she thought about it, crossing a line.
So she had no choice but to phrase it nicely.

“No, we’re helping this time.”

“Oppa?!”

“Yoo Shin, are you serious? You’re really going to look for Hyun-woo?”

“We have to. He’s an acquaintance, after all.”

“Thank you so much!!”

Perhaps she hadn’t expected him to agree so readily.
Seol-yeon’s eyes welled up with tears as she grabbed Yoo Shin’s hand and shook it.
Her grip was so strong that his body shook violently.

Of course, Yoo Shin wasn’t doing this for Hyun-woo’s sake.
Even as he spoke, Yoo Shin’s gaze was fixed on Athena, who was behind Yuri and Ha-young.

Athena gave a slight nod.
Since that day, the day Hyun-woo disappeared, Yoo Shin and Athena had been secretly investigating the remaining traces.

And the result was just as they had expected.
It wasn’t magic implemented according to the laws of this world, but an all-too-familiar magic.
There was only one person who could handle such a formula.

The Sage.

The one he thought he had killed was still alive.

He had to find him.
Find him, and kill him again.

Before he could pull any more foolish stunts.