I Became an Academy Overpowered Growth Genius

I Became an Academy Overpowered Growth Genius – 30

EP.30 Metamorphosis (2)

Late afternoon.

Underground parking lot of the Seongjin Group building.

Seo Eun-ha, along with her three team members, was lurking inside an SUV, waiting.

It was to make contact with Director Kim Hak-yong, identified by Kang Seo-Jun as Demon.

– Took.

–

Manager Go leaned on the window and murmured with dead eyes.

“My weekend….”

Seo Eun-ha, sitting in the driver’s seat, commented on that sight.

“Next week, I’ll give you time off from Friday.”

“I’ll work hard!”

Time was already 8:02 PM.

As Kang Seo-Jun said, Director Kim Hak-yong was supposed to finish work by 8 PM and soon come down to the parking lot.

“Get ready, everyone. The target will appear soon.”

The team members checked their weapons, unable to hide their uncertain expressions.

“Team leader, do you really believe that man’s words? Director Kim Hak-yong as Demon. No matter what that man says, this case seems a bit absurd.”

Seo Eun-ha shook her head.

“I’m sorry. All we have to do is confirm his identity with holy water, and if that guy is wrong, there won’t be any bloodshed.”

Then, one of the team members looked ahead and said.

“Team leader, the target is coming out over there.”

A seemingly ordinary middle-aged man, to the extent that one could never think of him as Demon, was coming out, loosening his tie.

“Everyone remember the briefing?”

The briefing was simple.

If the opponent transforms into Demon, surround immediately.

Then, maintain a distance while taking turns in combat until Demon’s power weakens.

“Yes. No problem.”

“We’re all aware.”

“Good. Operation start.”

Seo Eun-ha announced the start of the operation, and the team members got out of the car.

Step by step.

As several footsteps approached, Kim Hak-yong, the director, stopped his steps and turned to look when the footsteps were getting closer towards him.

“Huh?”

Seo Eun-ha walked up to him, bowing briefly and introducing herself.

“Hello. Director Kim Hak-yong. I’m team leader of the Execution Team 2. Seo Eun-ha.”

Kim Hak-yong, with a friendly smile, glanced at each team member and asked.

“Yes, Miss Eun-ha. I know you. But what’s the matter…?”

“Excuse me for a moment.”

Seo Eun-ha signaled her team members to detain Director Kim Hak-yong as a precaution.

“W-What!?”

The process of confirming whether the opponent is Demon or human could never be gentle.

Asking for permission to impose Holy water from now on might allow the opponent to play some trickery.

Manager Go and the team members grabbed Director Kim Hak-yong’s arms and exerted force.

Before Director Kim Hak-yong could resist by pushing his arms away,

– Swish! –

Seo Eun-ha forcefully thrust the bottle of Holy water, contained in a glass bottle, onto Director Kim Hak-yong’s face.

“…….”

“…….”

– Drip, drip.

–

Shimmering liquid dripped from Director Kim Hak-yong’s cheek to the chin.

“What is this…? What are you doing?”

However, there was no change.

He just showed an annoyed expression at the unexpected splash.

In response to that consistent attitude, Manager Go and the team members felt something was wrong and loosened their grip on the hands they were holding.

“Let go of this!”

Director Kim Hak-yong forcefully shook off the arms that were holding him tightly.

The team members only looked at Seo Eun-ha with expressions like ‘Did we get this wrong?’.

However…

“I will report this to the higher-ups. What is this… What kind of joke is this?”

Director Kim Hak-yong, trembling, walked back towards his car while holding his head.

‘Did we get this wrong…?’

As Seo Eun-ha stared blankly at Director Kim Hak-yong’s retreating figure,

– Thud.

–

Suddenly, Director Kim Hak-yong knelt down and sat on the spot.

“Ah… Aah… Aaah!”

Then, he began screaming as if his face were burning, covering his face with his hands.

“Te, team leader!?”

“Wait! Look over there!”

As if Kim Hak-yong’s back was gradually swelling, black spikes suddenly protruded, transforming into a form far from human.

“What… What did you sprinkle, aaagh…!”

Kim Hak-yong’s voice was completely different from before.

It was a thick, low, hateful voice, mixed with various tones of negativity.

Seo Eun-ha quickly assessed the situation and gave orders.

“It’s Demon! Everyone, prepare for battle! Draw your weapons!”

“Yes, got it!”

“I-Is it really Demon!”

The team members, although surprised, moved calmly in accordance with Seo Eun-ha’s instructions.

“Aaaah—!”

– Kwag! Kwang! –

The Demon, who had grown into enough to reach the ceiling of the parking lot, grabbed its melting face with one hand and wreaked havoc on the surrounding vehicles with the other as if venting its frustration.

“Watch out for debris! Everyone, shields up in formation! Take your positions!”

“Positions!”

Seo Eun-ha and the team members quickly crossed the debris, blocking all sides of Kim Hak-yong with shields.

“Who dares! Who ruined a plan dedicated for 25 years!”

Kim Hak-yong, half in frenzy, swung his giant claws at the team members.

Those massive and ominous claws were weapons surpassing bear claws by far.

– Kagagagak! –

Seo Eun-ha managed to divert it with her shield and countered by thrusting her cherished sword into its torso.

– Clang! –

However, seo Eun-ha’s sword couldn’t pierce the tough armor-like skin of Demon.

“What?”

“Put your toys away!!!”

The Demon swung its massive muscles and struck Seo Eun-ha with a menacing blow.

– Kagagak! –

The claws left a deep mark on Seo Eun-ha’s shield.

If it continued like this, the shield would shatter after a few more strikes.

– Woong! –

Once again, Demon’s menacing blow descended.

– Kagak! –

This time, the blow penetrated Seo Eun-ha’s shield.

“It’s done!”

This was what Seo Eun-ha had aimed for.

She twisted the shield to secure Demon’s claws in place, preventing it from coming off the shield.

“Manager Go!”

Then, she shouted the signal for them to bring out the hidden trump card they had concealed.

“Yes!”

Manager Go took out an sword hilt from his arm.

It was the sword that Kang Seo-Jun had handed over to Seo Eun-ha earlier, a powerful Demon weapon.

It was a light sword.

Manager Go infused mana into the sword and charged.

Soon, a long, white blade emerged from the hiltless sword.

“What-! What is this?!”

The white blade horizontally slashed through Mine’s spine.

– Shaaaah! –

“K-! Kaaargh!!”

The armor-like skin that had repelled the blade was now split and torn.

A violet liquid sprayed like a fountain from the long, gaping wound.

While Demon writhed in pain, seo Eun-ha pulled out the spike stuck in her shield. Other team members readjusted their positions.

“How…! How on earth!”

Demon swung spikes in all directions as if in a fit of frustration.

However, the flow of the fight repeated as before.

The shield blocked, Manager Go slashed, and the rest of the team members blocked Demon’s path.

Deom, repeatedly struck by Manager Go’s light sword, soon collapsed on the spot.

As mana leaked from the wounds, the once massive body shrunk and twisted like an old mummy.

“Well, maybe it’s really…”

Though victorious in battle, no one in the security team showed a relieved expression.

“That man was right.”

An executive from Seongjin Group, and a high-ranking one at that, was revealed to be a spy for Demon.

“How on earth did he get this information…!”

====

***

====

Kang Seo-Jun’s dormitory.

‘If Seo Eun-ha can retrieve the necklace from Demon by at least tomorrow….’

There is time until tomorrow. So, the only thing Kang Seo-Jun could do was one thing.

Mana Training.

[With poor mana manipulation, mana experience points slightly increase.]

[With poor mana manipulation, mana experience points slightly increase.]

[Lucky bonus! Great fortune inspires the training! Mana experience increases significantly!]

.

.

.

If he continued to train his mana like this at every opportunity, he could raise [Basic Mana Manipulation Lv. Low] to a normal level in no time.

By raising Mana Manipulation to a normal level, he could learn [Circle Meditation], a technique that carves a loop into the heart to draw pure mana, or internal martial arts handed down between the 2nd and 3rd grades.

[Stealing host’s experience points, increasing health experience points!]

[Stealing host’s experience points, increasing Endurance experience points!]

[Stealing host’s experience points, increasing Strength experience points!]

Park Shin-Hoo also seemed more focused on training today, perhaps stimulated by the afternoon duel.

Both magical and physical abilities were smoothly increasing, so at this rate, it wouldn’t be long before he reached the level of normal student.

While pondering over such thoughts,

– Ding Dong.

–

“Huh?”

Someone rang the front doorbell.

– Ding Dong.

–

Kang Seo-Jun hesitated for a moment, and the doorbell rang again.

Kang Seo-Jun looked at the clock.

The current time was 3 AM.

It was far beyond the dormitory curfew hours.

It wasn’t a time for someone to come visit.

– Ding Dong.

–

The doorbell rang once more.

It seemed like they would keep ringing until Kang Seo-Jun answered.

“What kind of ridiculous event is this.”

Kang Seo-Jun grumbled as he got up and walked to the intercom.

And as he lifted the intercom, a small and cute face appeared on the entrance door camera.

Kang Seo-Jun spoke into the intercom.

“It’s very late. Who is it?”

“…. It’s me. Se-rin.”

The response that came back was a voice far from what Kang Seo-Jun had anticipated.

As the small and cute face raised its head, Jin Se-rin’s face truly appeared on the screen.

“Huh?”

“It’s me. I found out who you really are.”

“What!?”

In the middle of the night, what on earth was this sudden revelation?