READ NOVEL ONLINE Ch 09 - The Villain’s Playground
Chapter 9: The Villain’s Playground
A moment of silence.
The unexpected news had Chang Sik’s mind racing.
‘…Expulsion? Was this something that originally happened? Or has the future changed?’
Since he didn’t know every detail about “Kim Chang Sik’s” cadet days, this situation left him thoroughly confused.
As Chang Sik remained silent, the Vice Principal continued speaking with a smile.
“Our Academy has discovered evidence that Cadet Kim Chang Sik, who was admitted under the non-awakened applicant criteria, has been using an ability.”
After pausing for a moment, he stared directly at Chang Sik.
“Cadet Kim Chang Sik, do you acknowledge that you are an Awakened?”
After a brief moment of thought, Chang Sik quietly nodded.
“Good. That speeds things up. Based on this, your admission is considered fraudulent, and expulsion is the immediate consequence.”
The Vice Principal didn’t stop there, as if he still had more to say.
“However, I’ve also heard rumors that you, along with Cadet Gu Chi-seong, managed to take down the Flame Stalker. Is that true?”
“Does it matter?”
“Of course, it does. If it’s true, we can’t afford to lose a talent like you.”
Professor Eom Mi-hwa, who had been silently listening, suddenly jumped in, clearly startled.
“Vice Principal! You didn’t mention anything like this before!”
“Ah, that came up while you were away, Professor Eom. Taking down an executive of the ‘Villains’? That’s not something we should punish with expulsion. If anything, he deserves a reward!”
“That’s ridiculous! The whole premise is flawed. They’re lying! How could two mere cadets take down an A-rank Villain?!”
Chang Sik responded calmly.
“It’s true.”
“Lies!”
“If you don’t believe me, why don’t you check the CCTV footage instead of losing your temper?”
Eom Mi-hwa looked like she was about to explode, but the Vice Principal stopped her with his usual sly smile.
“Now, now, Professor Eom. Let’s maintain some decorum as representatives of a prestigious Academy.”
Turning back to Chang Sik, the Vice Principal stroked his chin thoughtfully.
“There aren’t many outdoor CCTVs, so it’s been difficult to verify the details. That’s why we called you here in person.”
“Is that so? Then even if I tell you the truth, you won’t believe me. So what exactly do you want from me?”
“Hoho, that’s precisely why I’d like to ask if you could demonstrate your ability for us.”
Without hesitation, Chang Sik activated *Rock Arm*.
*Crack!*
He casually raised his arm, now encased in solid rock.
“Is this enough proof?”
“Hmm…”
The Vice Principal inspected Chang Sik’s rocky hand closely, his expression skeptical.
“That’s it? Is that all?”
“What else do you want?”
“Well, according to witnesses, there were several explosions….”
Chang Sik thought of *Full Burst*, the skill that could create spatial explosions.
But he wasn’t about to reveal his out-of-spec *Modified Ability* just yet.
“That must’ve been Gu Chi-seong’s ability.”
“I see.”
The Vice Principal waved his hand dismissively, his face full of disappointment.
“Well, that’s unfortunate.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“We were hoping Cadet Kim Chang Sik possessed a remarkable ability, which is why we considered this special treatment. But… a rock? That’s just… underwhelming.”
And just then—
*Bang!*
The door burst open, and a man rushed in, panting heavily.
“Phew… Vice Principal!!”
“Hmm? We’re in the middle of a meeting.”
“Apologies! But this is urgent…”
The man, dripping with sweat, looked too desperate to be dismissed.
“…What’s so urgent?”
“We’ve just received a formal request for assistance from the Hero Association.”
“The Hero Association?”
“Yes, sir. They’ve officially requested our support.”
A formal request from the Hero Association was rare and meant the situation was critical.
“Are you saying the matter requires even our cadets?”
“Apparently so… they specifically asked for someone whose identity is unknown but whose skills are guaranteed.”
“Someone unknown, but skilled?”
“Yes. That’s why they’ve ruled out well-known professional heroes and are specifically requesting a B-rank cadet.”
The Vice Principal frowned and asked again.
“What’s the mission?”
“The association plans to raid the Villains’ hideout known as ‘Mouse,’ but they need someone to infiltrate the hideout as a decoy.”
At the mention of “Mouse,” Chang Sik’s eyes gleamed with interest.
In contrast, the Vice Principal’s expression darkened.
“Goodness… the Mouse hideout? They want to send cadets to such a dangerous place? They’re not even official heroes yet!”
“They won’t be engaging in direct combat with Villains, of course, but it seems they need someone capable of escaping on their own if things go south….”
“An unknown but capable individual…”
The Vice Principal rubbed his temples, clearly distressed.
The association’s formal request couldn’t simply be ignored, but it left him unsure of how to proceed.
And then, Chang Sik raised his hand slightly.
Noticing this, the Vice Principal felt a twinge of unease and addressed him.
“Ah, yes. Cadet Kim Chang Sik, you can leave now. As for what you’ve just heard—”
Before he could finish, Chang Sik interrupted him.
“I’ll take the mission.”
“Preferably—wait, what did you just say?”
The Vice Principal thought he’d misheard.
But Chang Sik looked him straight in the eye and spoke calmly.
“I said, I’ll do it.”
“…Excuse me?”
The room fell silent at his blunt, unwavering declaration.
For a moment, the Vice Principal’s office was steeped in stillness before the Vice Principal forced a laugh.
“Haha, Cadet Kim Chang Sik, if that was a joke, it wasn’t the best timing.”
“Sorry, but I’m serious.”
“…”
The sheer seriousness in Chang Sik’s expression left the Vice Principal speechless.
‘This lunatic.’
Of course, it wasn’t just the Vice Principal who thought that—everyone else in the room had the same thought.
“…Cadet Kim Chang Sik, if you think this mission is easy, that’s an incredibly reckless assumption. You could very well die.”
“You don’t seem to believe me, but I already took down the Flame Stalker.”
“Ha! Still spouting that nonsense!”
Eom Mi-hwa sneered, but Chang Sik didn’t flinch.
“It doesn’t make sense to you that a cadet could take down an A-rank Villain, does it? Fine, then I’ll prove it with this mission. You can decide whether or not to expel me afterward.”
Leaning back in his chair, Chang Sik looked completely unfazed.
“…Haha. Well, this is something.”
The Vice Principal wiped the sweat from his brow, trying to process the absurdity of the situation. His mind raced as he weighed the options.
‘Honestly, with most of the B-rank cadets being from influential hero families, having someone like him—who has no connections—volunteer is actually ideal. I should be thankful for this.’
Having made up his mind, the Vice Principal gave a subtle nod to the man who had delivered the Association’s request.
“Is there anything else to report?”
“Huh? Ah, no, that’s all. I’ll take my leave now.”
The man cast a strange look at Chang Sik before leaving the room.
Once he was gone, the Vice Principal put on a more serious expression.
“Cadet Kim Chang Sik, this seems incredibly reckless. Do you really think you’ll be able to get out of such a dangerous situation on your own?”
“If you can’t even do that, how can you be a hero?”
An attitude that shows absolutely no fear.
The vice president thought Chang Sik was foolish.
Even heroes must carry out their missions within their capabilities.
And the place where they teach those skills is right here, at Hero Academy.
But the guy is trying to break that board.
‘You’re just a candidate…’
We need to make this guy realize the harsh reality.
Moreover, isn’t that guy a candidate with unremarkable characteristics even by eye?
‘Okay, I’ll just let him get beat up and then I’ll expel him easily… .’
The vice president, who had been thinking for a moment, opened his mouth.
“Okay. Then, the candidate should take charge.”
“It’s nice and cool. Can we leave right now?”
But at that moment.
Tiring!-
A system window that confuses Chang Sik’s eyes.
He was quite embarrassed when he saw the contents.
‘What is this… .’
.
.
.
“Ahem! Then, we will proceed by gathering the opinions of candidate Kim Chang-sik.”
Druk-
After getting the Vice President’s consent, Chang Sik got up from his seat and went outside.
As Chang Sik left, the vice president leaned back in his chair with a stern expression.
I only had a conversation with one candidate, but I felt completely drained.
I feel like I’ve aged 10 years.
‘What on earth is that guy up to?’
A sudden and unexpected request from Chang Sik.
And because of what the guy said later, the vice president had no choice but to grant his request.
The vice president sighed, got up from his seat, and headed to the window.
“Wow, by the way, you really are a reckless guy.”
Through the window, I saw Chang Sik walking towards the dormitory building.
“… Doesn’t that guy know about the infamy of Mouse, the villain hideout known for its extreme cruelty?”
* * *
After leaving the vice president’s office, Chang Sik checked the system window again.
Tiring-
《The True Hero’s Path: The Fourth》
– Currently in danger of being expelled from the Academy.
– Help conquer the infamous villain hideout, Mouse, to let the Vice President know about your potential and continue your existence at the Academy.
[Clear Conditions]
1. Villain Hideout, Mouse Strategy (0/1)
2. Accompanying candidate ‘Kim Dae-chun’ (0/1).
[compensation]
1. Holy Sword ‘Sword Pentadium’
The sword that Chang Sik was looking for, the Holy Sword, the Pentadium.
It is a legendary artifact with tremendous power that can change the course of battle with just one sword.
It was a weapon that was difficult to handle right now, but it was something that had to be acquired.
‘But why does the system require Kim Dae-chun to accompany me?’
Fortunately, I was able to get permission from the Vice President using the information of Professor Eom Mi-hwa, who disappeared momentarily during the terrorist incident, and the whereabouts of the CCTV inside the building as an excuse.
Chang Sik couldn’t understand what on earth Kim Dae-chun had to do with this mission.
“Well, if you make a fuss, I can just leave you there and come back.”
Chang Sik touched the corner of his mouth as he casually said something that would have shocked Kim Dae-chun.
“By the way, it’s a mouse…”
The villain hideout, Mouse, was also a place that held quite a few memories for Chang Sik.
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen Mickey. I guess I’ll have to kill that guy’s temper.”
A smile appeared on his lips.
* * *
[Villain Hideout & Villain Office, Mouse]
“Drink and die! I’ll pay today!!”
A man wearing a famous rat cartoon character mask on his face shouted, drawing cheers.
A large man was trampled by the excited man’s eyes.
“Whoa!! That kid’s head is fucking huge. Shouldn’t you change the size of your mask to fit those guys?”
The large man turned his head and looked at the skinny man.
His face also had the same ‘character mask’ as the skinny man.
“What did you just say, you little anchovy?”
“What, anchovy? Is that what that pig just said to me?”
Knock!-
The two got up from their seats and started fighting, hurling harsh insults at each other.
However, both of them only made threatening motions and did not make direct attacks.
I’m just rolling my eyes trying to guess who the other person is.
A skinny man stepped forward and said,.
“Hey, take off your mask. Hey! Are you scared because of the size?”
‘That big guy, surely he’s not the A-class villain, FranKen?’
Even a man with a distracting bulk didn’t give up.
“Ha! You punk, look at your trembling legs and tell me. Aren’t you the one who can’t take your mask off because you’re scared?”
‘Damn, isn’t that a leg demon? Why are its legs so long?’
Here, masks were both chains that oppressed them and shields that protected them.
And the moment you throw away that shield and reveal yourself, it is a given that you will be eaten by those stronger than you.
So everyone here was wearing a mask at all times.
Likewise, a muscular, white-haired old man wearing a mouse mask shouted.
“What are those kids doing! Hurry up and stop! How many times have I told you that today is the day she comes…!”
Knock, knock, knock-
But he couldn’t finish his words because of the sound of heels clanking inside the store.
The villain’s hideout, where Mouse guarantees anonymity by wearing a mask.
Not wearing a mask in a place like that means you are confident that no one is stronger than you.
When a woman without a mask actually appears, everyone hangs their heads and trembles like an aspen leaf.
A skinny man who had not yet noticed her appearance and continued to swear at her.
“You take off your clothes when I go…! Keuk!”
Bam!-
There was a terrible sound and he fell to the floor.
The large man who saw that sight also swallowed his saliva.
It happened so quickly.
“Ha… it’s noisy.”
A clear voice like a cuckoo was heard.
But everyone who knew who the owner of that voice was couldn’t even breathe comfortably.
She reveals her bare, white face and wears a cute rat headband instead of a mask.
Her unique, sharp eyes matched her strangely cute hairband.
The large man, who noticed who she was, opened his mouth urgently.
“Wait a minute! That’s not it…!!”
Pfft!-
But before he could finish his words, a small fist was stuck in his neck.
She is the only woman in the mouse who does not wear a mask.
“Shut up, you little shits!!”
This is Mickey, the unofficial leader of the villain hideout Mouse.