I Possessed a Broken Academy Instructor

“What ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍exactly is this Eve you're talking about?”

“…….”

Ner ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍did not answer Jin Crow’s question.

She ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was probably implying that she could not talk about it yet.

‘Eve, ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍huh.’

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍first thing that came to mind was Eve from Adam and Eve.

He hoped she did not literally mean the one from the Bible.

He respected religious beliefs, but still. In an age where humanity had expanded its sphere of life across the galaxy, it felt like an old, outdated tale to bring up.

“If you cannot speak of it, then forget it.”

If someone refused to talk, there was no point pressing them.

So instead of forcing an answer from her, Jin Crow chose to bring up something more practical.

“What I asked was, ‘Why should I keep you with me?’ Yet ever since last time, you've been trying to dodge the question with things that make no sense.”

Silence settled between them.

Ner slowly opened her mouth.

“I understand. You want a more practical and realistic reason?”

Of course, Jin Crow already knew.

He knew there was no disadvantage in keeping Ner, who had the Mother AI implanted within her and clearly knew things others did not.

But if that was all, then it was only natural to be somewhat disappointed.

Placing the empty hip flask on the table in front of the sofa, he met Ner’s clear, transparent golden eyes.

A silent affirmation.

After confirming it, Ner seemed to think for a moment before continuing.

“At one point, Stero Mer collected information related to OOPArts.”

“What exactly?”

“Information regarding the locations or current owners of OOPArts whose existence has been confirmed.”

“……Hmm.”

「OOPArts (Out-Of-Place Artifacts)」

Originally, the term referred to "Out-Of-Place Artifacts" and was commonly used in occult circles, conspiracy theories, and pseudo-history.

But in this world, it was different.

Because actual artifacts beyond the reach of science and the laws of physics truly existed.

‘Although Nectar wasn't an OOPArt but a Mother AI.’

OOPArts and Mother AI.

Their values could not truly be compared.

Not because one was overwhelmingly more valuable than the other, but because comparing them in the first place simply did not work.

They belonged to entirely different fields.

Science and the mystical, so to speak.

‘This is definitely useful.’

From that perspective, Ner’s words piqued his interest.

Of course, Baek Hui-young had also spent every vacation collecting OOPArts, so he knew where many important ones were. However, the galaxy was vast, and with it came the histories of countless races that humanity had dismissed as mere subspecies.

Naturally, there had to be many OOPArts that had never appeared in the original story.

“And in addition to knowledge related to biotechnology, I also possess extensive knowledge regarding business management.”

Perhaps because his silence did not seem like approval,

Ner continued listing her value one after another.

He was just about to tell her that she had already done enough when—

“Oh, and I also possess access authority to the cryptocurrency personally managed by Stero Mer.”

“……What?”

“It has decreased somewhat due to expenditures such as conducting transactions with the Red Hand and constructing additional research facilities, but there should still be around 20 billion Credits……”

“You pass.”

There was no need to hear any more.

Jin Crow quietly rose from the sofa and headed straight for the balcony.

Whoosh.

A cold wind brushed across his cheek.

His now somewhat longer hair fluttered across his pale forehead, and he silently sat on the small chair he had brought there some time ago before putting a cigarette between his lips.

“Hoo.”

The cigarette tasted unusually sweet.

...It was probably just his imagination.

Ignoring the strange gaze he could somehow feel from behind him, he stubbed out the cigarette that had already burned to its end in the ashtray before lighting another.

The reason to keep her had become perfectly clear.

The only problem now was how.

‘Keeping her in the dormitory will eventually become troublesome.’

For now, he had explained that she was an orphan he had taken in, but considering the nature of the instructors’ residence, it was impossible not to attract attention.

Of course, if necessary, he could simply ignore it.

Still, if someone wanted to make it an issue, they certainly could.

‘But leaving her at outside accommodations isn't exactly reassuring either.’

Jin Crow had many enemies.

Not just Creatures.

The world was not a romantic place, and there were countless people willing to abandon even the last shred of humanity if it meant causing suffering to someone else.

Would they really leave Ner alone if she stayed in an outside residence with comparatively lax security?

“Tsk. This is a difficult problem in its own way.”

He could hardly give up 20 billion Credits that had fallen into his lap.

No—

He could not give up the Mother AI.

‘Should I discuss it with Ideale?’

Several minutes passed as he pondered what to do with Ner.

He had already finished his second cigarette and was about to put a third between his lips.

Ding.

A notification appeared on the watch around his wrist.

“This is……”

「Come to the Research Building.

Sender: Naomi」

It was quite an unexpected summons.

The Creature T.D. (Training Dummy), proposed by Instructor Jin Crow and developed in Professor Lillian’s laboratory, had become quite a noteworthy creation.

Of course, the attention it received was rather mixed.

“Even if this is supposed to be the finest educational institution, something like that is a bit……”

“You can call it a training dummy all you want, but ethically it's hard not to feel uncomfortable with it.”

In truth, those reactions were the majority.

Naturally, neither Lillian nor Jin Crow cared in the slightest.

“Oh, you're here.”

The person Jin Crow met after arriving at the Research Building was Naomi, the lead researcher, who looked haggard and utterly exhausted.

She was an android who normally never tired.

Seeing such an expression on her face made him curious.

Instead, upon noticing Ner following behind him, Naomi’s eyes widened slightly.

“This child is……”

“What happened?”

“Ah, right. My apologies. Please come this way first.”

Realizing what was more important, Naomi nodded and quickly led the way.

They passed through corridors where researchers in white lab coats, some with unwashed stubble and smudged makeup from days without proper rest, wandered around like zombies while the scent of energy drinks, coffee, and cigarettes lingered in the air.

“Ugh…… Please. Please let me sleep, Professor.”

“Oh, come now. Once this project is over, you can sleep. Here, have another drink.”

He thought it every time he came here, but seeing someone hooked up to an IV drip filled with fluorescent-colored energy drink was something he simply could not get used to.

Passing through the somewhat eerie corridor, they arrived at an external research facility lined with warehouse-like hangars.

At that moment, a familiar voice thundered through the thick metal door.

-Why! Why are you saying no?!

“Lillian?”

“P-Professor!”

The moment he heard the voice, Jin Crow found himself muttering unconsciously.

Meanwhile, Naomi, whose usually composed face had turned deathly pale, hurried forward.

Beep.

As the security card was scanned, the thick steel door opened, revealing everything inside.

And the scene before him was—

Far beyond anything Jin Crow had expected.

“Damn it! Just because you're my senior? We only graduated from the same university! Who the hell do you think you are, barging into someone else's lab and causing trouble?!”

“Hey! Stop her!”

Lillian was grabbing the collar of a man in a brown coat and violently shaking him while the surrounding researchers desperately tried to pull her away.

Considering how she normally acted like a sloth, too lazy to care about anything outside her research, it was an utterly unfamiliar sight.

“Damn it! You're ridiculously tall! Hey! Get down here!”

“Hahaha…… Professor, please calm down. Our professor is a little tall……”

But Jin Crow’s attention was not on Lillian’s unexpected side.

His eyes fell upon the man she was grabbing and the woman awkwardly trying to stop the two of them with an embarrassed smile.

“Sigh. Let go first, Professor Lillian. I thought you only lacked common sense, but it seems you also lack manners.”

“P-Professor, you should try controlling your temper too.”

“Rico, you're far too lenient.”

Dark stubble.

Disheveled hair.

Heavy exhaustion layered together with cynical eyes that seemed to look down upon everything.

A metallic voice completely at odds with his thin frame.

And a detached, icy gaze sharp enough to cut.

“Professor Lee Su-jong.”

“Hmm?”

Jin Crow unconsciously spoke the name of the man before him.

There was no way he could fail to recognize him.

In this world, the man was something akin to a prophet.

‘The man who struggled to warn the world about the terror of Creatures, only to fail in the end.’

Alongside Baek Hui-young, he was one of the characters who received the greatest sympathy from readers.

Although he was merely a supporting character whose past remained shrouded in mystery, one line he had once spoken to his lover and assistant, Rico, surfaced in Jin Crow’s mind.

Rico.

Yes, Professor.

……I'm surrounded by idiots. Destruction is already right in front of us, yet nobody does anything. Even our…….

If he remembered correctly, Rico had quietly embraced him at that point.

Readers had filled the comments asking what he had been about to say.

But no answer had ever come.

‘Still, the most likely possibility is……’

Jin Crow’s gaze shifted away from Lee Su-jong toward Rico.

But before he could think further, Lee Su-jong released Lillian’s collar and walked over to him.

His deep brown eyes filled Jin Crow’s vision.

“Now that I'm closer, I can tell. My apologies. My eyesight isn't very good.”

A large but bony hand was extended toward him.

Jin Crow stared at it for a moment before taking it.

Almost simultaneously, the two introduced themselves.

“My name is Lee Su-jong.”

“Instructor Jin Crow of the Central Special-duty Officer Academy.”

Their meeting created an oddly fitting picture.

Ner looked up at Lee Su-jong with eyes full of curiosity.

Rico smiled awkwardly, her slightly drooping eyes closing as though relieved.

Perhaps because of that,

Lillian, who had become unusually emotional for someone like her, finally seemed exhausted. Sitting in a chair brought over by the researchers, she irritably put a cigarette in her mouth and shouted,

“Anyway! I'm not handing over my precious research materials, so get that through your head!”

As she shouted, her crooked horn-rimmed glasses slipped down and came to rest against her chest.

Naomi let out a quiet sigh before gently placing the glasses back on Lillian’s face.

“What happened?”

Naturally, Jin Crow could only ask while looking at Lee Su-jong.

He had deliberately stayed out of it, but he had certainly been curious.

What kind of conversation could have agitated the normally apathetic Professor Lillian this much?

“Come to think of it, the actual decision-maker was here all along.”

In response to the question, Lee Su-jong spoke with deep, dark brown eyes.

“I'll be direct. I need the corpses of the King and Queen.”

“Hey!”

Ignoring Lillian’s outburst, he continued looking directly into Jin Crow’s eyes.

Before long, Jin Crow realized what he was seeing.

Within the man's pupils burned a conviction so absolute it bordered on madness, one that no one could ever shatter.

“For humanity.”

It was the same thing he had seen in Baek Hui-young.

The same thing he had once seen reflected in the mirror.

The man before him was clearly looking at Jin Crow—

Yet what he truly saw was never Jin Crow himself.

“You of all people will understand.”

…It was nothing less than

an absolute certainty that the apocalypse would inevitably come.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!