Report
------------------
HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Helga ]
[Proofreader - Starfall ]
Join our Discord for release updates!
https://discord.com/invite/dbdMDhzWa2
------------------
Chapter 4
"Now, go ahead and take a sip."
The short, middle-aged man, whose stature belied his powerful position as the vice principal, held out a coffee cup as if it were a prized possession.
“I had this special blend brought in from Africa after hearing that Professor Do enjoys coffee.”
I alternated my gaze between the dark liquid in the cup and the smiling man across from me.
Dressed in a perfectly tailored, designer suit, Oh Ji-sung appeared to be nothing more than a short, fussy nouveau riche.
But looks could be deceiving. He was the vice principal of Masterclass.
“Of course, it would be a mistake to simply think of this as a fine cup of coffee.”
Noticing my intense gaze, the vice principal grinned.
“There’s a little secret to this coffee. I’ve heard rumors that Professor Do can quickly identify anything, whether it’s a villain or an object.”
“Are you saying I should analyze the composition of the coffee?”
“Don’t worry, I haven’t poisoned it. As I said, this is just a simple test.”
Although he called it a simple test, the vice principal’s gaze was sharp and piercing.
It was as if he was daring me to show off my supposed abilities.
‘This guy must be desperate.’
In the story of Military Chronicle, Vice Principal Oh Ji-sung was often portrayed as a villain who could potentially become an enemy, depending on the player's choices.
He was a man who had risen to the position of vice principal through cunning and political maneuvering rather than any real abilities.
Always feeling insecure about his position...
‘That’s probably why he brought Professor D to the academy after hearing about him.’
Chimera research, which could significantly increase the abilities of soldiers.
If that research was successful, the vice principal, who had brought Do Jin-hak to the academy, would also see his position strengthened.
So, he probably wanted to see for himself right now just what kind of abilities did Do Jin-hak really have?
“...Very well, then.”
I picked up the coffee cup and pretended to savor the aroma, closing my eyes for a moment. I could feel the vice principal's suspicious gaze burning into me, but I wasn't worried.
As soon as the scent of the coffee reached my olfactory cells, memories I didn't know I had began to surface.
To be precise, they were memories that Do Jin-hak had.
“This aroma... it’s an Ethiopian single origin. The profile is chocolate with citrus and cherry notes. Judging by the freshness of the crema, the beans must have been roasted this year.”
“...Is that all?”
The vice principal looked somewhat disappointed.
But what I had just said was something any coffee expert would know.
Do Jin-hak's knowledge was far beyond that.
“The beans have been genetically modified to rearrange their base sequences. Thanks to that, they can grow at high altitudes while still having the tropical acidity, which gives it this deep flavor.”
“Oh...! And, and what else?”
Intrigued, the vice principal narrowed his eyes.
I set the coffee cup down and said, “That’s it. There’s no other secret to this coffee.”
The vice principal looked surprised.
Then, the corners of his mouth turned up into a satisfied smile.
“Correct. In fact, there is no secret to this coffee. I was just testing you."
As expected.
I had thought as much. In the story, the character Oh Ji-sung was known for his boastful nature.
“As expected of a master of the Deconstructionist Department. To analyze it so accurately just by the aroma, your reputation is well-deserved.”
Satisfied with my answer, the vice principal finally enjoyed his coffee.
I smiled slightly, covering my mouth with the coffee cup.
‘...Analyzed accurately?’
Of course. What I had just said was something Professor D would have said.
Thanks to spending the past month fully utilizing the 5% of Do Jin-hak's essence and reading dozens of books, I had significantly increased my Deconstructionist skills.
If not, I wouldn't even be able to tell if this coffee had been made with maggots or feces.
After all, as a blood vampire, I couldn't taste anything except blood.
Beep-
[You have passed the final interview.]
[You have been appointed as a full-time professor at the Masterclass Deconstructionist Department!]
[The current status of the Deconstructionist Department is as follows:]
[Number of students: 2 majors, 4 minors.]
[Department ranking: 13th.]
A message appeared after passing Oh Ji-sung’s test.
It was a message unlike any I had seen in previous playthroughs.
‘The status of the Deconstructionist Department... Is this information only shown to players who have taken on the role of professor?’
For some reason, the [system] in this world recognized me as a player. I was the only one who could see these messages, and the system would provide me with information and content relevant to my situation.
‘Only two majors and four minors? Are there really that few students?’
That was strange. As far as I could remember, the Deconstructionist Department hadn’t had such a small student body. It was an unpopular department, but even so, this number was ridiculously low.
‘Could this mean... that there's some other plot point I'm unaware of?’
This was my first time taking on the role of a professor, so there were probably settings I didn’t know about.
As if reading my mind, Oh Ji-sung glanced at me over his coffee cup.
He looked somewhat uncomfortable.
It seemed like he had something to say.
“There seems to be a problem. Don’t be hesitant. Just say it.”
When I pointed this out, Oh Ji-sung looked startled, as if I had read his mind, before finally opening up.
“Well, it’s nothing major, just one small issue.”
“What kind of issue?”
“I mean, of course, I know about Professor Do’s abilities, but many others in this academy don’t.”
I see.
I already knew that from the game. Given my knowledge of [Military Chronicle], I was aware that Professor D wasn’t very popular at the academy.
But the vice principal began to explain a background detail I hadn’t known.
“Actually, many people opposed Professor Do’s appointment. They argued that a department like the Deconstructionist Department would be of no use to the students.”
“Is that a problem?”
“Not immediately. But if those people continue to cause trouble... I won’t be able to cover for you forever.”
Hearing the vice principal's serious tone, I couldn't help but become serious myself.
In other words, I might lose my job at the academy.
‘But that didn’t happen in the game, did it?’
Even after 137 playthroughs, Do Jin-hak had never been expelled from the academy.
A new storyline was unfolding that I hadn't experienced before, and I began to feel nervous.
The vice principal continued.
“Currently, there are 13 departments at Masterclass. Of these, the Deconstructionist Department has the least number of enrollees this semester.”
“Well, since this is the first time the Deconstructionist Department has been established, isn’t that natural?”
“Not always. Even considering that it’s a new department, the numbers are unusually low.”
The vice principal's expression turned serious.
“You must do whatever it takes to show people the value of the Deconstructionist Department this semester. If you can’t, I won’t be able to help you.”
Beep-
[A new main quest has arrived.]
[Main Quest 2: The Vice Principal’s Worry.]
[Content: Oh Ji-sung is troubled by the low popularity of the Deconstructionist Department. Increase the status of the Deconstructionist Department and solve Oh Ji-sung’s problem.]
[Reward: Increase in Oh Ji-sung’s favorability, maintenance of the Deconstructionist Department, increase in special attribute experience.]
As soon as the vice principal finished speaking, a quest notification appeared.
‘...So that’s it.’
Looking at the quest notification, I understood clearly.
This was definitely a personal quest that Do Jin-hak had experienced in Masterclass.
In the main storyline, Do Jin-hak had solved the quest given to him by the vice principal and remained at the academy.
‘...The problem is that I don’t know how Do Jin-hak had solved the quest.’
I thought I could simply impersonate Do Jin-hak, but...
I was faced with an unexpected quest right from the start.
How could I solve this?
Suddenly, a loud noise came from the hallway below.
I glanced down and saw a group of students walking down the corridor.
It was impressive how the other students quickly parted to make way for them.
"Those are the student council members,"
The vice principal said with a satisfied expression.
"They're very popular in the academy. Wherever they go, students flock to them."
Student council?
I turned my gaze back down to them.
The student council plays a pivotal role in the early stages of Military Chronicle.
At the beginning of the game, players typically aim to join the student council as one of their primary goals.
"Keep an eye on those kids.Someone can join the student council only if they have top-notch grades. They're basically the ultimate weapons of humanity, destined to lead the frontlines against future villains."
The vice principal said, gazing at the student council members with a look of satisfaction, as if admiring precious jewels.
I didn't need him to explain.
No one in this world knew the student council better than I did.
Every detail – their faces, their eyes, their gestures, their footsteps – was etched vividly in my mind.
"...Of course, I've died more than a hundred times trying to take them down."
No matter what I did, those damned Seven Heroes always managed to kill me.
* * *
"Wow, look! It's the student council!"
"That's Seo Su-kyung and Shin A-sol!"
"No way, this is the first time I've seen them in person!"
In the central hall of Masterclass, whispers grew louder among the students as they passed by.
Even though they were all students at the same academy, they looked at the student council members with a mix of awe and admiration, as if they were celebrities.
In fact, some of the student council members were quite famous.
Their combat videos had millions of views, and their personal social media accounts had millions of followers.
Beep, click, click, click-
The new students desperately tried to capture the famous faces with their cameras.
Of course, not all student council members enjoyed such fame.
"Tch, how pathetic. You'd think a superstar had just arrived,"
Okamoto muttered, clearly annoyed by the constant clicking of cameras.
Although he was a member of the student council, he was different from Shin A-sol and Seo Su-kyung.
With his gloomy demeanor, he was less popular.
Being overshadowed by the two of them wherever he went was incredibly frustrating for Okamoto.
"Don't you know that everyone here is a competitor? New students are so clueless."
Seo Su-kyung whispered to Okamoto, just loud enough for him to hear.
She seemed accustomed to this situation and even posed for the cameras.
Okamoto found her artificial pose incredibly irritating.
"You're really enjoying this, aren't you, Seo Su-kyung? Do you really think those kids are your fans? You're delusional!"
Okamoto spat out his words with as much venom as he could muster.
"They'll all turn on you someday. Just wait until they figure out how to knock you off your pedestal."
There were only ten seats on the student council, and Okamoto knew that everyone was vying for them.
He knew that while they were fawning over the student council members now, they were secretly jealous and waiting for an opportunity to take their place.
But Seo Su-kyung had a deeper understanding of human nature.
"Of course they will. That's why you have to show them clearly."
"What?"
"The reality, I mean. That we live in different worlds."
Unlike Okamoto, who was always on guard against new students trying to take his place, Seo Su-kyung didn't consider them to be her rivals.
A lion and a hyena don't compete just because they live in the same jungle.
In Seo Su-kyung's philosophy, the world was a hierarchy, and the pyramidal system of Masterclass was the perfect reflection of human nature.
"Are you afraid that they'll threaten your position someday? Then don't give them any openings."
If a lion doesn't show its wounds, a hyena won't dare attack. Seo Su-kyung had no intention of giving these new students any false hope.
She wanted to remain an untouchable idol, someone they could never hope to surpass.
That was how Seo Su-kyung, the heiress of the International Group and known as the "Sword Saint", had risen to the top of Masterclass.
Okamoto glared at Seo Su-kyung.
"Amazing. You can say something like that with a straight face..."
In his eyes, Seo Su-kyung was someone who needed therapy.
How could she make such backhanded comments about her own fans while smiling?
"Compared to you, she's an angel,"
Okamoto muttered, looking at Shin A-sol.
Shin A-sol was surrounded by new students as well, but the atmosphere was different.
"Senior! I'm going to join the Emission Department this semester!"
"Wow, really? Professor Kim Taekhee's class? What you should prepare for..."
Shin A-sol was talking to the new students with a friendly smile, unlike Seo Su-kyung who seemed to view them as potential threats.
‘Everyone at Masterclass is a comrade and ally.’
Seo Su-kyung scoffed at Shin A-sol's naivete. In Seo Su-kyung's eyes, Shin A-sol was too innocent for her own good.
"Tch, that's why I can't stand her. She's too soft."
Seo Su-kyung believed that Shin A-sol was destined to get hurt one day.
"Hey, isn't that the vice principal?"
As they walked down the hallway, someone pointed to the second-floor terrace.
Sure enough, Vice Principal Oh Ji-sung was sitting at a table on the terrace, chatting with an unidentified man.
"Why is the vice principal meeting someone at a cafe? He usually just drinks coffee from the vending machine."
"If he's going out of his way for someone, then that person must be pretty important. Do you know who it is?"
The students were curious about the identity of the vice principal's mysterious guest.
As speculations flew, someone gasped.
"Wait... Could it be him? The new professor of the Deconstructionist Department?"
"The Deconstructionist Department professor? You mean Professor D? Is that him?"
A murmur spread among the students.
Shin A-sol's eyes narrowed as she looked up at the second-floor terrace.
"That's Professor D...?"
As the dangerous figure finally appeared, Shin A-sol's eyes filled with suspicion. She could hear the students' whispers.
"I heard he's a complete psychopath from the things posted online..."
"Me too. I heard he experimented on his own parents' corpses to see if he could turn humans into villains."
"I heard there's a mountain of stolen villain corpses in his research lab..."
"In Japan, he offered students A+ grades if they agreed to have villain organs transplanted into them to create new abilities..."
Given the numerous rumors surrounding him, a dark atmosphere quickly enveloped the students.
It was only natural for heated discussions to ensue, ranging from whether or not they should take classes under Professor D to why he had been invited to the academy in the first place.
As Shin A-sol listened to the students, her expression darkened.
"I can't believe it. Someone like that is going to be our professor..."
"I know, right? This is crazy."
While agreeing with Shin A-sol, Seo Su-kyung glanced at her friend. She could see the determination in Shin A-sol's eyes to get rid of Professor D.
It wasn't just Shin A-sol. All the students, teachers, and everyone passing through the hallway looked at Professor D as if he were a monster.
"...This is perfect. How could things turn out so well?"
Seo Su-kyung couldn't help but smile.
A new professor with a terrible reputation.
Students who were wary of the new professor.
And Shin A-sol, who was determined to get rid of him...
Everything was exactly as she had planned.
‘Actually, I was the one who spread those rumors about Professor D.’
Seo Su-kyung had known about Professor D for a while. She also knew that his Deconstructionist Department could be incredibly useful in combat.
So, when she first heard that Professor D would be the new professor, she was overjoyed.
'It's too difficult for most students to learn, but it can be a powerful weapon if you master it.'
She had always been interested in the Deconstructionist Department and planned to take it as a minor. She had even read a few of Professor D's papers.
But she had discovered a problem.
'It was much harder than I thought.'
The Deconstructionist Department was much more difficult than she had anticipated.
However, as the ace of the Emission Department and the heiress of the International Group, she had to be the best at everything.
'I can't afford to be at the bottom in any department, especially a minor one.'
She couldn't bear the thought of being surpassed by Okamoto in any subject.
'That would be a nightmare.'
She needed a way to ensure she would be at the top of the Deconstructionist Department. And finding a way was easy. All she had to do was look into Professor D's past and spread rumors about him.
It was incredibly easy to turn someone into a villain with the International Group's public relations team.
The rumors about Professor D that were circulating around the academy were all created by her.
'So, Professor, why did you let so many rumors spread about yourself?'
Seo Su-kyung watched with satisfaction as Shin A-sol and the other students looked at the new professor with hostility.
It was a pity that Professor D was becoming a public enemy without even realizing it, but she didn't care.
In this academy, everyone was just a pawn.
And she would do anything to reach the top of the pyramid.
------------------
HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Helga ]
[Proofreader - Starfall ]
Join our Discord for release updates!
https://discord.com/invite/dbdMDhzWa2
------------------
