Acquired the Scam Rune in the Academy - Chapter 117
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Lee Hyun-ho is probably the student here who hates <Villain> the most.
While others were merely harmed by <Villain> or saw people close to them get hurt…
Lee Hyun-ho lost his mother to a <Villain>.
‘The owner of the demon sword, Hwang Seong-yeon.’
Hwang Seong-yeon, a famous leader of the <Villains>, known as the Holder who wields the legendary demon sword [Dain Scythe].
He was a warrior-type Holder who had killed countless ordinary people and Holders, the worst murderer.
Lee Hyun-ho’s mother was one of the unfortunate victims murdered by Hwang Seong-yeon.
The ‘Gwanghwamun Plaza Massacre’ 10 years ago.
The worst crime in history, committed by Hwang Seong-yeon after unleashing the true power of the demon sword.
Countless people died in that indiscriminate killing, including Hyun-ho’s mother.
The hatred from that day must have left a strong trauma on Hyun-ho.
Since then, Hyun-ho and his father Lee Do-kwon had been tracking Hwang Seong-yeon relentlessly, but…
Hwang Seong-yeon, who evaded the nationwide wanted order, could never be caught by the tracking of just two Holders.
‘He was the second to apply after Yoon Ji-ah.’
That’s why.
Whenever there’s something related to <Villains>, Lee Hyun-ho participates recklessly, not thinking about his class and power.
He was the second to inquire about joining the <Anti-Villain> group after Yoon Ji-ah.
‘It was the same in the original work.’
In the original work, the mid-to-late part…
The ‘Academy Raid Incident’ caused by the ‘Villain Academy branch’ led by Cha Soo-yeon and Ji Yoon-jae.
As his younger brother Park Yoon-seo got involved, Park Jin-woo, who actively responded to <Villain>, was the first to reach out to Hyun-ho.
A Holder with the deepest hatred towards <Villain>.
Lee Hyun-ho joining the <Anti-Villain> group was a predetermined sequence.
“Holder Lee Hyun-ho is a 1st year student of the special class, evaluated as the most outstanding in the subclass of blacksmiths.”
While Choi Yoo-min stood out later, Lee Hyun-ho was a promising talent from the start as a blacksmith.
He had already succeeded in making rare-grade items in his first semester, and there were rumors he was preparing to make epic-grade items.
The son of the best blacksmith in the country.
His reputation and talent were unmatched.
“I think it’s good to have more diverse ways for our circle to oppose villains. Holder Lee Hyun-ho will not only prepare equipment to confront villain-side Holders, but also invent groundbreaking items or make special items… or identify villain items directly and find spies, expanding the scope of activities for our circle overall.”
The more talent in the circle, the better.
After explaining it well so that members could fully understand his joining the circle as a blacksmith, which may seem irrelevant, I finished introducing all 22 members.
Just the major names alone – Yoon Ji-ah, Kang Ju-yeon, Moon Ga-eun, Park Jin-woo, etc…
The members were of such a high caliber that I couldn’t count them on my hands.
It was a glamorous lineup for a new circle.
I turned my gaze back to Yoon Ji-ah and added.
“Also, Senior Yoon Ji-ah will serve as the vice president of the Anti-Villain Circle. She refused once, but considering her experience and year, I decided there was no one more suitable than her to lead the circle. Do you have any other opinions about this?””
I looked left and right, but there were no objections.
Of course.
Yoon Ji-ah herself was the president of the <Flame Dance> circle.
There would be no objections to making her the vice president when she gave up a large circle to join ours.
“Then, since there are no objections…”
“Wait a minute.”
…But there was an objecting member?
A male member from the 2nd year line who abruptly raised his hand to stop me.
A senior I was hearing the name of for the first time.
His name was probably…
Koo Myeong-hoon.
I didn’t remember his exact class and specialty.
Sitting in his chair with his arms crossed, Koo Myeong-hoon tackled me.
“I’m just not getting this.”
Ah, wrong move.
Other than Kwon Oh-jun, I hadn’t seen anyone sane who was so casual from the start…
From his hesitant posture and casual speech from the beginning.
He was clearly someone with no manners.
I barely held in my anger and replied.
“What do you mean?”
“I recognize your contribution in proposing the Anti-Villain circle and bringing Professor Kim Myeong-hyun as the advisor. But that’s separate from leading the circle. A 1st year student as the president? I’ve never heard of that in history.”
“…?”
I involuntarily made a puzzled expression.
What is this guy saying?
So.
He wasn’t dissatisfied with Vice President Yoon Ji-ah…
He was dissatisfied about me becoming the president?
I laughed in disbelief and said.
“It’s already been decided that I’ll be the circle’s president. Professor Kim Myeong-hyunknows that too.”
“Hmm. Isn’t the official circle registration next Monday?”
“…….”
This was true, what Koo Myeong-hoon said.
While the authorization for establishing a new circle was finalized by satisfying the minimum member requirements, the official registration was not yet complete.
Next Monday.
The day when new members of other circles get registered, new circles confirm registration as well.
Pointing that out, he was suggesting changing the president of the circle.
A circle I created, and he dislikes me being the president?
What nonsense.
In disbelief, I asked.
“Then who do you want as president? Surely not yourself.”
“Of course not me. I’m just noting that someone with more experience, who seems better suited to lead, should take the position. For example… someone like senior Yoon Ji-ah.”
At those words, Koo Myeong-hoon’s gaze turned to Yoon Ji-ah.
And that gaze…
Was far from ordinary.
Somehow, it seemed to harbor a strange, desirous look.
Seeing that clingy gaze, I finally realized.
‘Ah. This guy is a Yoon Ji-ah fanboy.’
Not all the recruited members have ill will towards <Villain>.
As I said before, some joined for other reasons. And among them were students who joined just because Yoon Ji-ah did.
Koo Myeong-hoon was a prime example of such Holders.
He joined the circle after seeing Yoon Ji-ah.
When he inquired about joining, there was no mention of this. I didn’t know until now seeing the situation.
He probably has no interest in the ideals or activities of the <Anti-Villain> group.
The likelihood is high that his previous circle was also <Flame Dance>, which Yoon Ji-ah belonged to.
And in that passionate gaze…
Yoon Ji-ah shook her head.
“I have no intention of becoming president. I think Holder Do Jae-hyun, who proposed establishing the circle and made plans, is much more suitable to lead the circle.”
However, Koo Myeong-hoon’s defiant attitude remained firm.
“No, Senior. While that may be for a common circle, our circle has the attention of the entire academy and external clans. The more such a circle, the president leading it must be a student with solid, strong credentials. But far from solid credentials, a 1st year president? The members of other circles will all laugh.”
A Holder with credentials should lead the circle.
It wasn’t a completely false claim.
Our activities themselves are dangerous, so it’s not a circle you can just casually participate in.
But it’s important that I was the one who established this circle and recruited members from the start.
The moment the authorization to establish the circle was finalized, my leadership was proven to an extent.
His logic was sophistry with a forced nature.
Moreover, even that logic was merely an excuse.
As a Yoon Ji-ah fanboy, Koo Myeong-hoon simply wanted her to become president.
“Even underclassmen can sufficiently serve as president. I was Flame Dance president in my 2nd year.”
“Haha. That was only possible because of senior Yoon Ji-ah’s excellence. And there is certainly a clear difference in experience between 2nd and 1st years.”
Crazy fanboy bastard.
What big difference could 1 year make?
Despite Yoon Ji-ah’s embarrassment at Koo Myeong-hoon’s firm attitude, I internally sighed.
A circle made to oppose <Villain> was murky from the start because an irrelevant person joined as a member.
‘But I have to resolve this.’
I wanted to just kick out Koo Myeong-hoon, who had little interest in the circle’s activities, but that wouldn’t resolve anything.
Simply taking such an extreme measure could instill negative perceptions in other members as well.
Resolving the conflict in a convincing direction like this.
That was operating a good circle.
With that thought, I slowly opened my mouth.
“Koo Myeong-hoon…”
“Yes, senior.”
But then an abrupt voice was heard from the side.
…It was Park Jin-woo, who had been silently listening.
At Park Jin-woo’s low call, Koo Myeong-hoon furrowed his brow as if he misheard.
“What, what? Huh?”
“Yeah, huh. If experience is so important, wanna fight? 1st year and 2nd year. Let’s see if the experience gap makes for a skill difference too.”
“What did you say?”
Koo Myeong-hoon’s face flushed a bit.
He had been giving me respectful senior treatment, but now Park Jin-woo was clearly looking down on him despite the superficial senior treatment.
Seeing his rather flustered reaction, Park Jin-woo smiled slyly and continued.
“Anyway, you seem to be the only dissatisfied student here. Let’s fight and prove it. Is a 1 year difference that big of an experience gap?”
I grasped my head.
‘Ah…’
When I tried to persuade the sophist…
Now a member appeared wanting to resolve everything physically.
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