〔If you wish to take revenge on Instructor Jin Crow, open the attached file.〕
The moment they saw that sentence, Aton and Martin became entranced, opened the attachment, mastered the Galaxy Heavenly Demon Divine Art, and successfully took revenge on Jin Crow...
As if something like that would ever happen.
“...What a pathetic joke.”
“Those cowards couldn't even look us in the eye. Fucking irritating.”
That was how both Aton and Martin reacted at first before trying to ignore it.
What era did they think this was?
Who in their right mind would casually open an attachment from an unknown sender?
Of course, cadets were invaluable strategic assets to the nation.
The watches they wore and the accounts they used were protected by top-tier security.
In other words, unless it was an exceptionally vicious and sophisticated program, it would be filtered out automatically.
‘Take revenge on Instructor Jin Crow.’
‘Could that really be possible?’
Perhaps because of that lingering thought...
Aton hesitantly opened the attachment.
The holographic message contained neither the virus nor the suspicious spam he had expected.
Instead, it displayed only a simple map marked with coordinates and a string of incomprehensible code.
“This is...”
“Coordinates.”
Coordinates indicating the outskirts of the academy.
And a code that appeared to be some sort of password.
At the very least, that alone was enough to tell them this was no ordinary prank.
The two stared silently at each other for a long while.
Then, as though they had made the same decision without speaking, they began walking toward the coordinates.
Perhaps because it was already late.
Since it was an isolated area on the outskirts, they encountered no one before arriving at their destination.
It was none other than a vending machine standing in the alley beside the rarely used 15th Training Ground, a place abandoned due to its age and distance.
〔Beep. Beep-. Please insert your card.〕
The machine had evidently gone without maintenance for a long time.
A crackling recorded voice played through its worn speakers.
“There's something here.”
After watching it for a moment, Aton noticed something crude lodged inside the drink dispenser.
He bent down and pulled it out.
Slide.
A small metal box appeared in his hand.
As though steeling himself, he entered the code into the box.
A metallic click followed.
Its contents were revealed.
“This is...”
“A syringe. And a note. Is that a security key?”
Looking uneasy, Martin glanced around the area.
Aton, however, unfolded the note without hesitation.
It looked like an ordinary piece of paper.
In reality, it was an expensive encrypted sheet embedded with Nanomachines that could only be read once.
‘So it isn't a prank.’
Perhaps because of that...
The tiny shred of suspicion Aton still held disappeared completely.
This had gone far beyond an ordinary joke.
The message itself was brief.
And chilling.
「Training Dummy Crazy Virus (T.D Crazy Virus).
All traces disappear within ten hours after use.
Professor Lillian's Research Wing.
Current personnel on duty: 2.」
“...Holy shit.”
After reading it, Martin was equally horrified.
A moment later, the note reached the end of its lifespan.
The internal circuits melted, scorching the paper black before destroying it.
Still, neither of them was foolish enough not to understand what it implied.
“A-Aton, this means...”
“Shut up, Martin.”
Frowning deeply, Aton silenced him before staring at the syringe and the Research Wing security key in his hand.
Tiny particles floated inside the syringe's faint green liquid.
They were so small that anyone short of a superhuman would have failed to notice them.
Their identity was obvious.
Nanomachines carrying the virus.
Exactly as the note claimed, they would self-destruct after ten hours.
A virus designed specifically for Training Dummies.
That was not all.
There was also a security key granting access to Professor Lillian's Research Wing, the place supplying T.D.s to Instructor Jin Crow.
What else could all of this mean?
‘They're telling us to commit terrorism, those bastards.’
Aton was not completely stupid.
Anyone who thought about it for even a moment could tell this was not a gift offered out of kindness toward him or Martin.
No.
This was not kindness.
It was far closer to a poisoned chalice.
‘It'll feel satisfying now.
But sooner or later, it'll come back to bite us.’
Logically speaking, the obvious choice was to do nothing.
The problem was that his pride had already been trampled into the dirt.
All he could think about now was finding some way to screw over Jin Crow and Baek Hwi-young.
“Aton, this is a little...”
“I told you to shut up!”
Biting his lip, Aton glared at Martin, who had broken out in a cold sweat.
Groups brought together by convenience rather than friendship naturally developed hierarchies.
And Martin had always been beneath Aton.
“......”
No matter how pathetic Aton had looked recently...
Martin could no longer bring himself to stop him.
Aton had already gone half mad.
Crunch.
Gripping the syringe tightly, Aton muttered under his breath as though something had possessed him.
“...Right.
We've already crossed the line anyway.”
The words carried a madness that bordered on insanity.
Already overwhelmed by Aton's presence, Martin could only follow behind him toward the Research Wing with a sinister smile.
...
After all, there was no other path left.
Jin Crow's lecture, 《Understanding Space Monsters》, had become known as the boldest new course ever introduced since the academy's founding.
Ironically, Jin Crow himself could not have cared less about such a reputation.
What was the point of reputation?
Even if his course had been dismissed as worthless garbage, he would still have poured every ounce of his ability into teaching about Creatures.
Naturally.
Because the true enemy of this world was the Creatures.
No one knew that was his real motive.
And even if someone did...
The instructors belonging to rival factions had no choice but to view Jin Crow unfavorably.
“He could have brought even greater honor to the Kukenhauzen family.”
“...What can we do? Headmistress Ideale is still too immature and insists on opposing her own family.”
“Haa. We should remove those riffraff surrounding her first.”
Needless to say, the Kukenhauzen faction reacted that way.
The coalition of smaller factions was not much different.
The strange part was that the instructors belonging to the Rosen faction—
Who should have been the most eager to support Jin Crow—
Remained completely silent.
“Is the rumor true?”
“Instructor Jin Crow is apparently part of a minority group within the Rosen faction?”
“Otherwise none of this makes sense. It almost looks like Ideale herself is protecting him....”
“So it's practically confirmed that the two have joined forces.”
The Central Special-duty Officer Academy was unquestionably the greatest educational institution in the Human Composite State.
Naturally, politics was deeply intertwined with it.
And with politics came endless power struggles.
That was only natural.
At its core, it was simply a fight over interests.
Because of that, countless instructors secretly waited for an opportunity to tear Jin Crow down.
“So be careful.”
Jin Crow slowly studied Ideale's face as she finished her lengthy explanation in her usual blunt voice.
Her white eyes were partially hidden behind strands of hair that had slipped loose.
Dark circles beneath her pale skin stood out noticeably.
It seemed she had gone several nights without sleep.
“Are you worried something will happen soon?”
“...There's no harm in being cautious. I'm sure you agree.”
Instead of answering immediately, Jin Crow lifted the teacup before him and took a sip.
The bitter taste of black tea slid across a tongue long dulled by alcohol and nicotine.
Looking at her, he finally replied,
“Understood.”
There really was nothing else to say.
Factional conflict was a deeply rooted disease within this nation.
One he neither had the means nor the ability to solve.
‘The Rosen faction.’
There was one part of Ideale's warning he could not help agreeing with.
The matter concerning the Rosen faction.
He could understand why others assumed he belonged to a minority within it.
After all, the last real connection he had with the Rosen faction had been Lieutenant General Regchap—
A man now dead and gone forever.
There were certainly Rosen instructors within the academy.
But he had virtually no interaction with any of them.
It was less that Jin Crow intentionally kept his distance.
Rather, they themselves had shown no desire to associate with him.
‘It wouldn't be wrong to say they're simply standing by and watching me.
No...
Perhaps this is merely the calm before the storm.’
He wanted to think,
‘Maybe the Rosen faction is simply leaving me alone because things are going well.’
But he could confidently rule that out.
It was far more believable that they were plotting something.
The time simply had not arrived yet.
Beep.
Just then.
The watch on Jin Crow's wrist chimed, informing him that lecture time was approaching.
He moistened his lips with the last of his tea before standing and giving Ideale a brief salute.
“Then I'll be going.”
“Very well. And regarding the teaching assistant we discussed, I'll approve it soon, Instructor Jin Crow.”
He gave a slight nod before leaving the Headmistress's office.
Originally, he had intended to leave everything entirely to Ginatio.
The problem was that selecting a cadet as a teaching assistant required the Headmistress's approval.
Not the assistant instructor's.
The instructor in charge of the course had to submit the request personally.
“So today's the day we use Bishop.”
At least the meeting had not been a waste of time.
Ideale's warning might have sounded like unnecessary interference.
Even so, it had reminded him of another group of enemies he had temporarily forgotten while dealing with the Creatures.
‘The Rosen faction, the Kukenhauzen faction, the smaller faction alliance...
In the end, every one of them must either be eliminated.
Or brought under my banner.’
The problem was that reality was never that simple.
...As always, this galaxy was far too vast.
Its countless interests were hopelessly intertwined.
‘The only real answer would be an overwhelming coup.
Then purge every opposing faction during the process.’
Of course, that was impossible in reality.
Everyone knew it.
That was precisely why the Rosen faction, the Kukenhauzen faction, and even the coalition of smaller factions all maintained a delicate balance through occasional concessions.
At present...
There simply was no answer.
Step.
Step.
After walking for some time, Jin Crow realized he had reached the Central Training Hall.
He entered the drill grounds.
His eyes swept across the waiting cadets, Ginatio, and the researchers before he stepped behind the instructor's podium.
His gaze briefly shifted toward Naomi.
The moment she noticed him looking, she smiled without hesitation and raised a thumbs-up.
Seeing that, Jin Crow brushed back the hair that had now grown long enough to completely cover his eyes before speaking.
“Today, you'll be facing a new Training Dummy.”
At that very moment—
Bishop's eyes lit up crimson.
“Bishop.”
Its gaze was savage.
Aggressive.
It carried the same terrifying presence as though it were truly alive.
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