Academy’S Gumiho Is A Magical Genius [EN]: Chapter 153

Academy Gumiho is a Magic Genius – Episode 153

Teacher (3)

Since birth.

I have never once, in my entire life, thought about wanting to live due to the influence of my will to survive.

If I die on the battlefield.

That would also be an inevitable end as a child soldier.

But I lived.

Over several years.

Several times a day.

Thousands of times a year.

I didn’t survive because I was strong.

I didn’t become strong because I survived.

I didn’t live because I wanted to live.

I just opened my eyes to find that everyone except me had died.

Only I survived.

I have never once feared death.

Eventually, I became bound by precepts and laws, and this wretched life.

I could never abandon it.

It’s not that my life is precious, but because the precious lives sacrificed to protect this wretched life are too valuable.

To prove that their lives did not end in vain.

I had to live today as well.

* * *

The sword swept through the underground.

I poured most of my remaining energy into ending everything.

As a result, the deep ceiling that formed the underground was pierced.

Starlight hung in the dark underground.

The chill of the night lingered in the underground.

“This is the end of this too.”

That was the sentiment I expressed while looking at the broken sword.

The treasured sword imbued with Taoism [a Chinese philosophical and religious tradition] becomes a sufficiently excellent bludgeon even without sharpening its blade.

Because the pure energy of Taoism always surrounds the sword.

The 「Baekseon Sword」 that I wield automatically repairs itself even if cracks appear and boasts considerable hardness.

And in this very place.

Such a treasured sword was shattered.

Clang!

Fragments of the split blade fall to the floor.

Some were swallowed and melted away by the sword energy and the heat contained in the stars.

But the sword’s handle, the hilt, remained in my hand.

─It looked like something precious to you. Is it okay if it’s broken?

“Weapons are bound to break when used.”

─Hmm, you don’t seem to be in a very good mood considering that… Anyway, what do you think of the current situation?

Tamamo changed the subject.

I responded because I didn’t have anything particular to say.

“Well, honestly, there’s no way to know what was in this underground right now.”

The underground was devastated.

The cavern, which was so deep that not a single ray of light could enter.

Became the highest point to receive moonlight and starlight first in the vicinity, as the ceiling was pierced.

The sight reflected by the starlight was neither terrible nor surprising.

A barren field.

It’s clear that there’s a wide space, so it seems like something was done.

But my sword energy completely cut through it, and the soil and rocks from the pierced ceiling scattered together, making it impossible to tell what’s what.

─Not even the Count’s corpse. Not even a single drop of blood.

As she said.

The only ones in the area were the seven children protected by the golden barrier, except for me. Count’s wife and her son were gone.

Well… they’re probably dead.

Unless they have the same powerful durability and regenerative power as Knight Commander Termia.

─That just means they’re dead.

“Maybe not. Maybe the Count’s bloodline is a descendant of an Absolute.”

I said that, but I know.

The Count’s family must have been annihilated.

As evidence of that.

[You have killed the Frontier Lord ‘Count Epotts’!]

[His death was destined, but by accelerating his death directly, the world begins to accelerate towards the correct ending.]

[An unexpected achievement! +3 points (P) are awarded.]

The system proved that I killed the Count.

In the end, I killed a family.

I don’t feel guilty about that fact.

“…….”

I was just silently staring at the message.

[You have achieved the minimum requirement for 攻略 [capture or conquer], ‘Progress 50% or higher’.]

[You can 攻略 [capture or conquer] the Otherworld, ‘■■■■ ■■ ■■’.]

[Would you like to complete the 攻略 [capture or conquer] now?]

“Ha.”

It’s absurd.

It was so ridiculous that a hollow breath came out.

“Can you really use the word ‘攻略 [capture or conquer]’ after seeing this sight?”

The sky is full of stars that seem to be pouring down at any moment, and not a single cloud can be seen.

In the midst of that, there are so many stars nearby.

If I didn’t know that I made it with 「Star Cluster Wave」, I might have thought it was a sign of a meteor collision.

Is the land safe when the sky is in such chaos?

‘It’s even worse.’

The mansion built on the hill is on fire.

The houses and downtown area below are engulfed in a huge fire, filled with the wails and screams of people.

Kyaaak, a piercing scream.

Even this is considerably quieter compared to 10 minutes ago.

Because about half of the people who were screaming have died.

Anyway, looking at everything.

“There’s no separate hell. It might be more terrible than any war zone in this world.”

Hell that has come to this world.

Ah, it’s already a destroyed world.

The expression ‘this world’ might not be very fitting.

Still, hell is hell.

If you don’t consider this terrible sight as hell, what in the world is hell?

‘It could be traumatic for the students.’

Even I, who have seen all kinds of wars and deaths.

I have experienced more terrible sights than this dozens of times.

Even if those dozens of times are a number infinitely close to 100, it’s not an experience that students who have never had any related experiences can’t overcome.

It was a sight that could remain a lifelong shackle.

“What the hell happened here?”

“What kind of disaster is this……?!”

“Everyone be careful. Hide and secure a high position.”

“Aren’t we here to occupy it now?”

“……I smell Teacher.”

“Everyone stop chattering. After seeing that light just now, do you have the luxury to act carelessly? Easy, never let go of your shield at the front. No matter what happens.”

A small voice was heard.

They seem to be whispering quietly in their own way, but it was heard better than anything else in the quiet underground.

Perhaps it’s because my hearing has become particularly sensitive because I was in a dark place.

‘The students have come.’

─Now we can just go back. Buy me plenty of fried tofu when we get back. I couldn’t fully enjoy it because of the capacity of the space in the ring.

─Students? Come to think of it, Master, you came with some young kids. But Dalgi, what’s fried tofu again?

─Fried tofu? You’ll never get any.

─Is it that delicious? Then I want to try it at least once.

─Ha, what kind of gourmet are you going to be when you swallow everything without chewing because of your snake’s appetite? Why don’t you just eat a rat lying on the street?

─……Dalgi, even though I’ve fallen into this state. I’m not going to be told that by you. You’re just a young fox.

The voices of the students and the voices of the two ghosts overlapped, making my head noisy.

It would be different if it was an interesting topic.

I didn’t have the luxury to listen to the bickering of two dead ghosts, or two monsters, until the end. I glared and declared.

‘Both of you shut up.’

─But Contractor, this reptile……!

─But Master, this little fox……!

As if they had agreed, they started with the same word order at the same time.

I was annoyed by that and said firmly.

‘If you don’t shut up, I’ll seal both of your mouths shut.’

─…….

─…….

It finally became quiet.

The words ‘seal your mouth shut’ are conversations that can often come out among people.

But since the two ghosts are involved with me.

If I wanted to, I could actually seal only their mouths, so they both shut up.

It’s different from a metaphor.

In my case, there is coercion.

‘I don’t have time to pay attention to you right now. If there’s anything you want to eat, I’ll buy it all for you outside. Close your mouths and think about what you want to eat.’

I muttered in my heart and ended the one-sided notification.

There was no answer.

It’s not because I threatened to seal their mouths shut, but because I said I’d buy them everything they wanted to eat, right?

‘You sneaky bastards.’

I cursed inwardly.

The cunning snake and the seductive fox were races that were well-versed in playing with people’s psychology in this way.

There was even an idiom related to this, wasn’t there?

I knew that fact.

But I didn’t expect them to do it so openly.

I’ll have to keep that in mind from now on.

“Everyone’s here.”

“Teacher? How did you get here before us, Teacher?”

“Yura. Stop for a moment.”

“Isis? Why all of a sudden? Why are you glaring at Teacher with such scary eyes?”

“This place is a battlefield where blood is rampant and death is prevalent. Then, even if it’s our benefactor, it’s natural to be suspicious first.”

A girl born in the North, with pure white hair fluttering and icy blue eyes shining. Isis, who seems to have winter in her body, suited this frontier more than anyone else.

The North is a barren and difficult land to live in.

Therefore, you must have strong power.

And you must not stop suspecting and guarding others in order to protect yourself and your family.

In extreme situations, humans are literally beasts themselves.

No, perhaps they show cruelty and coldness beyond that.

Her current appearance was the most adapted to this harsh land than anyone else, including me.

Ah, as a teacher, I couldn’t help but admire it.

‘I taught well.’

Perhaps it was what Isis learned in the land of bears before coming to Korea.

But the fact that that proud girl is my student has not changed.

“Come to think of it, it’s strange. Only Teacher is fine in this ruined place.”

“That’s technically wrong. Even if all of Teacher’s limbs are attached, it doesn’t mean he’s fine. Look at his broken wrist and dangling right foot. Even a cripple wouldn’t look like that, would he?”

“Besides, it’s not just Teacher who’s fine! There are children over there too.”

“However, the point is that he survived despite being in that state. No matter how ‘unexpectedly’ skilled that guy is as a magician, it’s highly suspicious that he survived that destructive light just now.”

She wasn’t the only student I taught well.

The students began to suspect me in turn.

They began to put forward their own reasoning and judgment based on the situation, rather than the person in front of them.

Good, good.

This kind of growth is of great help to the students’ independence.

“I don’t care about that. Anyway, all the first-year students who have entered the Otherworld. Congratulations.”

But that shouldn’t be done now.

We had no reason to be here anymore.

“We have succeeded in bringing this barren northern land halfway closer to the correct ending.”

“Wh, what the hell is that……?”

“Everyone, let’s just stop here and return.”

“!!!!!”

Return.

What that means is one of two things.

Either give up the exam, or meet the minimum requirements for 攻略 [capture or conquer].

And the answer is, of course, the latter.

“I met the last condition because a very big unexpected situation happened. With this, the minimum conditions for 攻略 [capture or conquer] have been met. You just have to get out.”

Including active and retired players from all over the world, the record of 攻略 [capturing or conquering] the Otherworld to date is only a few hundred people.

Boys and girls who are only 17 years old have set foot on that glorious record.

The exam is over now.

It was clear that everyone would receive the best grades, whether it was A+ or 1st grade.

The children have finished all their duties as students.

So we, as players.

There was no reason to be on this land anymore.

* * *

It was a natural thing to say, but the students opposed my words.

“Are you running away to my world, leaving behind the struggling citizens now? That’s not what a player should do!”

“Easy, there’s no need to be so angry. But as the eldest of the high-ranking Sirius family, it’s not an easy choice to abandon honor in this way.”

“That’s what I think too! I can’t just stand still with the honor of our family at stake!!”

Those were the words of Easy, Isabel, and Sung Yeon-hwa in turn.

There was some truth in their words.

But we no longer had any reason to sacrifice ourselves for the dead.

At the point of achieving the intended purpose, further involvement was nothing more than meaningless service.

“Honestly, it’s not a rational choice, but I’d have a hard time agreeing to run away too.”

“Teacher…… I’m sorry, but I have a hard time agreeing with your choice this time.”

“……Me too.”

When I didn’t answer their words.

This time, the remaining three students.

Isis, Noh Yura, and Seo Yerin said.

I listened to the students’ words quietly and closed my eyes without saying a word.

Are they too young?

‘Foolish children who don’t know the ways of the world…….’

I couldn’t think of a suitable way to teach them.

The foolishness of these people does not change by teaching them.

Only experience.

Only the sense of loss of losing everything will open the children’s eyes.