Chapter 89

This was the air-raid siren that hadn’t gone off even once since I entered the academy.

The moment I rushed out of the visiting room, an incredible scene unfolded in the distance.

The low hills scattered around the only road connecting the academy to the outside world.

From their peaks, dozens of beams, presumably from anti-aircraft cannons, swept the sky like brooms.

At the same time, horns blared as machine guns stationed at the watchtowers along the academy’s perimeter fence and the guard posts on the main gate sculptures began firing rapidly toward the front.

The target of all this attack was something black hurtling this way.

It was twisting and diving through the air like a falcon in the woods, defying the impossible with its agility.

What on earth is—?!

“Hmph, don’t know which villain it is, but quite the bad luck indeed.”

Following me outside, Half Wonder slowly revealed ice and fire energy in their hands and laughed.

“Just had to pick the spot where I, Half Wonder, am present?”

Their arrogance seems to know no bounds.

But this is Graford Academy.

A place swarming with heroes ranked B and above, even if none are S-ranked.

Even without Half Wonder, this academy has more than enough heroes capable of burying any minor villain headfirst into the ground.

A moment later, someone clad in a suit and holding a cigarette in their mouth flew over and landed nearby — Professor Hyun Ju.

“What kind of crazy villain is raising this ruckus from the start of the weekend?”

Already on edge from being on emergency duty on a Saturday, Professor Hyun Ju’s anger was boiling as the sortie added insult to injury.

Spotting her, Half Wonder widened their eyes and slapped her back twice.

“My, my, who do we have here? Not Crocobah, are you?”

“Huh? Half Wonder? What are you doing here?”

In stark contrast to Half Wonder, who greeted her warmly, Professor Hyun Ju’s expression was unenthusiastic.

“My, my, my, what a pleasant surprise. Who’d have thought I’d run into you here?”

“What’s that…?”

Professor Hyun Ju glanced at me. Shrugging, I pointed to the mysterious object piercing through the barrage.

“Looks like you know each other, but let’s deal with this thing first.”

“I’ve got it. Just stay back. For safety, maybe erect a defensive barrier in case something collapses.”

“Understood.”

As I set up a defensive barrier around the main gate structure, Professor Hyun Ju flicked her cigarette butt to the ground and prepared to soar into the air, her aura flaring like a missile.

At that moment, the black dot flying towards us suddenly vanished from sight.

It shot high into the sky like a raptor disappearing into the sun, blinking out of existence.

“Where did it go?”

“Professor Yu. I’ll set up a barrier while you secure the baseline altitude.”

“Got it. Support me.”

Meanwhile, Half Wonder, instead of helping, kept chattering away nonstop.

“Long time no see, huh? You seem skinnier than before. Are you still doing that kind of brutal mixed martial arts?”

“If you’re not planning to help, please step aside. You’re in the way.”

Just as I was about to shove Half Wonder aside, I sensed something strange. Quick on the draw, I erected a local defensive barrier.

“Attack from above!”

Simultaneously with Professor Hyun Ju’s shout, something collided into the barrier with an incredible sound.

Looking upwards, I noticed it was a person who had struck the barrier, now rolling along its boundary before falling to the ground.

“I’ll catch them!”

Professor Hyun Ju, breaking through the barrier, grabbed the black-clad villain rising unsteadily from the ground, then prepared to punch him in the face.

“My, my, look at that.”

Half Wonder gasped playfully, covering their mouth.

The villain, gripping the wrist that held onto his collar, effortlessly flung Professor Hyun Ju aside.

To so easily subdue Professor Hyun Ju, an A-Ranked Hero and close-combat specialist?

But there was no time to dwell further.

As the villain attempted to leap at a still-staggering Professor Hyun Ju, I countered by combining several complex defensive spells and bombarded him.

A tremendous roar, the vibration, and the screams of the surrounding defense squadron soldiers shook the scene.

“Ah….”

Amidst the chaos, only Half Wonder watched silently, clearly intrigued by my attack.

As the dust settled, the villain lay sprawled amidst the broken concrete splinters.

I slowly approached and nudged him gently with my toe.

“Come to your senses, Gos Hawk.”

“Ugh….”

Gos Hawk, with blood streaming from both nostrils, weakly opened his eyes.

“Where am I…”

“This is the main gate of Graford Academy. Your unauthorized aural flight led to being classified as an unknown aerial threat and attacked by the Academy Defense Brigade. You also attacked the emergency standby hero who had been dispatched to counter you — forcing me to personally subdue you.”

Not understanding what I said, Gos Hawk simply blinked, gazing blankly at the clear autumn sky.

“Still lost in la-la land while pretending to be a villain, huh?”

Arriving beside me, Half Wonder tut-tutted.

With his smoky makeup smeared and covered in dust, Gos Hawk contrasted starkly with Half Wonder, who still retained pristine makeup, making them worlds apart.

“Ow, what’s this, Professor?”

Professor Hyun Ju, rubbing her head, emerged from her entrapment, clearing away a broken tree branch.

“That’s Gos Hawk.”

“Gos Hawks? A hero, not a villain? What’s all this about then?”

“I don’t know exactly. He is a rather unpredictable hero, after all.”

“Hmm. If he’s not a villain, we should probably send him to the infirmary first. How far’s the support team from arrival?”

At that moment, several loud sirens signaled the arrival of the sortie support team inside the gate.

This team, designed to provide combat support and ensure safety in surrounding areas after the emergency standby heroes have secured the situation, comprised a substantial team including the armed infantry, medical personnel, tanks with machine guns, fire trucks, and ambulances.

Such a team would probably be unnecessary at a regular hero office, but this is an academy.

An entirely independent institution where ensuring students’ safety is the top priority, such teams are essential.

Outside, police and fire departments usually fulfill such roles in the society’s safety net.

Just as the sortie support team disembarked from the vehicles, Gos Hawk, who only moments ago lay like a corpse, abruptly sat up.

“Everyone, step back!”

In that short warning by Prof. Hyun Ju to the support team, Gos Hawk shot upwards like a fired bullet, clasping me around the neck with both hands.

“Motherfucker… how dare you dismiss me like that…?”

Gos Hawk, his smoky makeup smeared, glared with bloodshot eyes, and the smell of potent alcohol emanated from his breath.

How much has he drunk?

“Professor!”

“Not necessary. Let me handle this.”

I raised my hand to halt the rushing Professor Hyun Ju.

After all, Gos Hawk cannot possibly strangle me.

I had already preemptively applied a defensive barrier, reading her intention to choke me, surrounding my neck.

And this was not the basic physical barrier an A-Ranked Hero might break but a high-level composite defense barrier.

Capable of withstanding both physical attacks and auras up to a certain intensity.

“I’m going to kill you… going to erase you…!”

Whether aware of it or not, Gos Hawk was usinglessly wasting strength, his trembling arms trying to crush the defensive barrier around my neck.

The tough biceps under his black suit bulged, and spittle mixed with blood streamed down his mouth.

“Gos Hawk, let’s discuss the reason why you’re doing this.”

“You, you’ve disrespected me!…”

“When on earth have I disrespected you? You violated regulations by forcing a trainee into solo battle against a villain, then even challenged me for a duel as an Academy professor. I merely wanted to protect my trainee and avoid getting hit by you. I saved the trainee and properly won that duel. Where exactly do you think I disrespected you? If anything, isn’t that something I should say to you?”

“You called me foolish! You talked down to me using complicated words! You labeled me dumb just because I’m from the Third Training Center!”

“That’s not true. I referenced the law clearly to avoid any future disputes. As for the Third Training Center? Didn’t you say yourself you were Graford-born?”

“Even now! You’re still doing it! Apologize immediately! Did you really think you could disrespect an active A-Ranked Hero in public and get away with it?!”

Something seems off.

No matter how reckless the hero, causing such chaos during daylight in the academy? Does he have his wits about him?

Moreover, why the saliva?

Hmm, it’s not just the alcohol. He must have taken narcotics, too, Song Do-yoon mentioned suspicious syringes and medications in his wardrobe.

Given his usual behavior, it’s not surprising.

Driven to frenzy under the influence of drugs and alcohol, it’s no wonder.

He’s unlikely to stop acting like this anytime soon.

Then, it’s better to use this chance to straighten out his attitude properly and send him back, so I don’t have to deal with him again.

I sighed and smiled.

“Alright. I apologize. I’ll get down on my knees if I must. If it helps, I’ll lick your shoe soles.”

Upon hearing that, Gos Hawk’s grip on my neck’s barrier softened slightly.

“Then, let’s duel again, right here, right now. If I lose, I’ll do as you wish.”

“Du… Duel…?”

Gos Hawk hesitated and let go of my neck, allowing me to take a few steps back.

“There’s also other Academy professors here, including Half Wonder, the S-Ranked Hero. Plus countless other onlookers. Let’s settle this again where everything is transparent and all can witness. What do you say?”

Gos Hawk looked around nervously.

“Your choice, Gos Hawk. If you win, you have the satisfaction of an apology from me. If I win, this will put a stop to any further incidents. Of course, if you simply choose to walk away without accepting, I will say nothing further. What do you say? Shall we fight legitimately?”