I Possessed a Broken Academy Instructor

Squad ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍One had fought far better than expected.

Against ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the previous Pawn, they would have succeeded in hunting it.

But ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍they had been unlucky with their opponent.

The ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Knight T.D. created by Lillian, who had brought back far more Creature corpses from Mercato than ever before, had been further reinforced in defensive capability at Jin Crow's request.

With ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the exception of the Bearers of the Stars, who had unexpectedly experienced the Mercato incident firsthand, an ordinary cadet was still no match for a Knight.

‘......Almost ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍ten minutes. They've grown.’

Ginnatio unconsciously found himself thinking that before flinching in surprise.

Naturally.

Considering what had happened just moments ago, it would have been normal for no one to pay any attention to the lecture itself.

But what was the reality?

It wasn't just Ginnatio.

Not only the original cadets,

but even the two hundred cadets who had newly joined the lecture had become so absorbed in the duel between Squad One and the Training Dummy that they had completely forgotten what had happened earlier.

‘So this... is his leadership......’

It felt as though everything he knew about being an instructor had been overturned.

Of course, there was a need for what people commonly called a tiger instructor.

Education without discipline was no different from neglect.

But if that discipline meant firing a bullet in front of someone's face...

Well.

The problem was that it had produced immediate results.

‘......I don't know anymore.’

In the end,

Ginnatio arrived at only one conclusion.

He stopped thinking and decided to focus solely on the task before him.

What could he possibly do anyway?

His position,

his reputation,

his ability—

none of it could compare to Jin Crow's.

Ginnatio knew that better than anyone.

All he could do was hope.

‘Headmaster... this is too much for me......’

That Ideale Kukenhausen...

would somehow be able to keep this man under control.

Meanwhile,

even as Ginnatio was thinking all that,

the lecture continued as smoothly as flowing water.

“Next. Squad Two.”

“Yes, Instructor.”

Baek Hui-young's gentle voice answered.

Soon,

the familiar faces of the troublemakers came into view.

However,

there was one major difference between them and Squad One.

Their formation.

“......”

Jin Crow silently observed them.

Then, a glimmer of interest appeared in his eyes as he examined their positions.

Squad One had also fought in formation.

The Martial Arts cadets with superior breakthrough capability stood at the front,

while the Ability-type cadets provided support from the rear.

However,

that was merely the most basic formation for fighting against other humans.

Squad Two, led by Baek Hui-young, was different.

“Hoo.”

“Don't be nervous, Ran.”

“Who said I was nervous?”

Dokgo Ran stood at the very front,

bandages wrapped around her fists.

Half a step behind her stood Hino Kanae,

drawing her keenly sharpened Japanese sword.

‘The Attacker responsible for the main offensive.’

Standing at the center of the formation,

holding his spear with an enigmatic smile,

was Baek Hui-young.

‘The Defender, supporting the Attacker while protecting the rear.’

Famille, wearing open-finger gloves as she regulated her Psionic energy,

and one step behind her,

Beatus attaching a suppressor to his anti-materiel sniper rifle.

‘The Striker responsible for firepower and decisive finishing blows.

And the Keeper, who protects the Striker while supporting the offense.’

Attacker.

Defender.

Striker.

Keeper.

These were not names Jin Crow had invented.

They were the official Special-duty Officer combat roles that also appeared in the original story.

‘And even a Supporter is positioned between the Striker and Keeper.’

A total of six people comprised the team.

After the Great War and the war against the Creatures, Special-duty Officers became increasingly scarce, causing the distinction between Keeper and Striker to blur.

Nevertheless,

this was the textbook composition.

“Ran.”

“I know!”

As soon as Jin Crow gave a slight nod after confirming their formation,

Hino Kanae and Dokgo Ran charged forward simultaneously.

They kicked off the ground,

scattering their respective Psionic energies as they closed in on the monster before them.

-Grrrrrrrr.

A deep, lifelike growl echoed from the speakers.

A massive fist slammed down between the two of them.

BOOOOOOM!

The earth trembled.

Dust billowed into the air.

Yet neither of them remained where they had been.

“Hup!”

“......Hah!”

The instant the fist struck the ground,

Dokgo Ran had already leaped high above the Knight's head.

Meanwhile,

Hino Kanae concealed herself within the cloud of dust,

stepped onto the Knight's knee,

and thrust her Japanese sword, shimmering with her unique Psionic energy, into one of its joints.

Kagagagagakang!

Sparks burst beneath the grotesque purple exoskeleton.

Then,

accompanied by Dokgo Ran's cheerful, exhilarated laugh,

her fist crashed down onto the Knight's head.

“Dieeeee!”

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

Before the Knight could even react,

the tremendous explosion scattered shockwaves in every direction.

Even Ginnatio instinctively separated space around himself to avoid the cloud of dust.

“W-What was that?”

“......Insane.”

The two hundred newly recruited cadets were utterly speechless.

“D-Did they kill it?”

Seeing Dokgo Ran apparently bring the Knight down with a single blow,

they cried out in astonishment.

Meanwhile,

Jin Crow merely wrote a single line on the evaluation sheet in front of him.

「Dokgo Ran: Excellent strength and mentality, but inferior technique and judgment compared to the average cadet. Securing a supporting partner or improving her intelligence is the highest priority.」

It was an unusually harsh evaluation.

Yet the result soon unfolded before everyone's eyes.

-GROOOOOAR!

The Knight,

its waist bent from Dokgo Ran's attack,

immediately grabbed the girl standing atop its head and hurled her away.

“W-Waaaaah!”

Hino Kanae,

who had embedded her Japanese sword into its knee,

was likewise forced to abandon her weapon and retreat to avoid the incoming fist.

“Tch!”

Her long black hair scattered wildly.

A moment later,

Dokgo Ran crawled out from the shattered concrete rubble,

her distinctive bronze skin covered in dust.

“Ptooey!”

She spat the bits of stone from her mouth.

Then,

her voice filled with competitive spirit and irritation,

she shouted at the Knight standing before her.

“Fine then! You're dead today!”

-GROOOOOOOOOAR!

Unlike before,

the Knight let out an overwhelmingly threatening roar.

It crouched low,

bending its knees into a familiar stance.

“Huh?”

“W-Wait... Is that......”

The other cadets failed to recognize it.

But those who had encountered countless Knights and Pawns on the battlefield instantly recalled a certain memory.

The Knight lowered its body.

Bent its knees.

Its crimson Gleaming eyes blazed.

Then it kicked off the ground.

Watching all of this,

Dokgo Ran twisted her body as though ready to charge.

Instead,

she looked behind her and shouted toward her squadmates and the cadets lined up directly behind them.

“H-Hey! Get out of the way!”

“Huh?”

“I said move!”

-GRAAAAAAAAAAAH!

At that instant,

the Knight's crimson Gleaming eyes erupted with light.

Then it charged straight toward the wall of the training hall.

“Ran!”

“I know!”

A giant over four meters tall,

armored like a knight,

charging head-on.

Taking that attack directly would leave even a Superhuman severely injured.

Knowing that,

Dokgo Ran and Hino Kanae immediately threw themselves aside.

Behind them,

Famille and Beatus also halted their attacks and prepared to evade.

Then—

“Famille. Beatus.”

“Hm?”

“Aim your strongest attacks at its head.”

A calm,

almost playful voice completely at odds with the urgency of the situation brushed past their ears.

It was very different from the Baek Hui-young they had known before.

“That's what a Defender is for.”

Beneath his tousled ash-gray hair,

his eyes shone brilliantly.

Twisting the shaft of his spear,

he awakened his Psionic energy.

A short breath escaped his lips.

The Knight's shoulder filled his vision as it closed to within five meters.

Yet his gaze remained fixed on Jin Crow,

who was watching him from beyond the charging monster without the slightest hesitation.

There was no concern.

No worry.

Not even expectation.

Only those black pupils,

cold enough to seem empty.

Seeing them,

Baek Hui-young could only become convinced.

‘Instructor... I'm certain now.’

He was still a variable.

Still an existence complicated enough that Baek Hui-young did not know when he would eventually have to kill him.

But after returning from Mercato,

there was one thing he had become absolutely certain of.

‘Jin Crow is preparing for the war against the Creatures.’

He did not know why Jin Crow had changed so drastically.

Whether it was because time itself had twisted after the regression,

or because of a butterfly effect caused by something overlooked in his previous life.

He did not know.

But moments ago,

Baek Hui-young had clearly seen it.

The emotion reflected in Jin Crow's eyes as he looked upon those who endlessly belittled the Creatures and mocked everyone struggling to prevent humanity's destruction.

‘Contempt.’

Only Baek Hui-young could fully understand that emotion.

He had been disappointed.

He had despaired.

He had been exploited.

Even after hope itself had been trampled beneath his feet...

Wasn't that the gaze of a revenant who still could not abandon a certain sense of duty?

‘I'm your only one who truly understands you.

And the same is true for you as well.’

Gripping his spear,

he twisted his body and swung toward the Knight's shoulder just as it reached him.

He could no longer see his instructor.

And so,

Baek Hui-young unleashed a spear strike incomparably sharper and more powerful than before.

-GROOOOOOOOOAR!

The Knight roared as though victory were assured.

But the body of the programmed creature,

devoid of any soul,

was cleanly split in half.

The darkness filling Baek Hui-young's vision parted diagonally.

Beyond it,

he clearly saw Jin Crow watching him.

BOOOOOOM!

The flames erupting from the Knight's collapsing body brushed against him,

singeing the tips of his hair.

“......”

No one could speak.

‘He destroyed that by himself?’

‘W-What the hell? Isn't Baek Hui-young only around the middle of the rankings?’

Even the researchers who had personally calibrated the Knight could only cover their mouths,

shivering at the unbelievable sight before them.

‘W-We spent days working overtime to calibrate that!’

‘I-It's destroyed. Recalibrating it is going to......’

‘Ah......’

Of course,

their concerns were somewhat different from the cadets'.

Then—

“Baek Hui-young.”

Breaking the silence,

Jin Crow quietly called his name with those same deep, unreadable eyes.

“Yes, Instructor.”

Still wearing the awkward smile he had yet to grow accustomed to,

Baek Hui-young waited for what came next.

Then,

hearing Jin Crow's next words,

he instinctively blurted out,

“A perfect score. From now on, considering Squad Two's strength, I'll assign two Knights.”

“...Pardon?”

“Next.”

Naturally,

no further explanation followed.

“Instructor, you know why I'm here, don't you?”

After the lecture ended,

the one waiting for Jin Crow outside the training grounds was none other than Ovia Timist,

whom he had rarely seen lately,

along with a group of military police wearing white uniforms.

She still wore that oddly airheaded smile as she casually held out a pair of handcuffs.

Then she stepped closer and whispered softly,

“......There's nothing personal about this. Honestly, if a cadet refuses to listen, giving them a little extra iron in the head isn't the worst idea. I completely understand.”

“You don't look like someone who has no personal feelings.”

“Is it that obvious?”

“Very.”

Jin Crow quietly sighed before extending his wrists.

Seeing that, Ovia Timist casually tucked the handcuffs she had been spinning around her finger back into her pocket and said, “Well, it's not like this is serious enough to actually put handcuffs on you. Hahaha.”

“......”

Jin Crow found himself seriously considering something.

Specifically, whether he should physically provide Ovia Timist with a little extra iron to the middle of her forehead.

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