A Veteran Teaches Very Well - Chapter 55



part 55

The first raid team returned with the best results.

The raid party completed their strategy up to Stage 2 and finished setting up the makeshift gate.

The makeshift gate is a device that allows the next raid party to move directly from the starting point to the point the previous party conquered.

Wow──

The returning heroes were greeted with thunderous cheers.

Everyone welcomed their comrades back with joy, celebrating their successful return.

“The departure went very smoothly.”

“An SS-grade dungeon is nothing special!”

“Great! Let’s keep this momentum going until the end!”

The first to approach me was Lishaow.

“Professor Cha!”

We embraced each other without a thought of who would go first.

“Thank you for your hard work. I believed you would make it.”

“It’s all thanks to you, Professor Cha.”

As Lishaow said, it was indeed because of me.

Still, I humbly praised their efforts.

“It’s thanks to all of you. This is an achievement we all accomplished together.”

One by one, members of the other raid party approached us.

I embraced each of them just like I did with Lishaow.

“We couldn’t have done this without you.”

“Professor from Korea! You were even more amazing than we expected.”

“We will never forget your contributions.”

The S-grade heroes, the pinnacle of their respective countries.

The connections with them could prove beneficial in some way in the future.

It was best to create a good impression now; there was no harm in that.

The last to arrive was Wang Sheng.

“Hey, small country… no, Korean professor. I, uh, I’m sorry for ignoring you.”

I never expected that prideful person would utter an apology.

When I looked at him in surprise, Wang Sheng shouted back.

“What are you looking at? Acknowledging excellence is only natural.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. It’s just a given.”

As I chuckled softly, Wang Sheng quickly turned his head away.

His face flushed bright red, perhaps out of embarrassment.

Commander Edeline of the expedition team approached us.

“Everyone did a great job.”

Edeline beamed a smile as bright as the sun.

She was genuinely happy that everything was progressing smoothly without anyone getting hurt.

“To think we’ve already cleared Stage 2… This speed is faster than anyone expected. At this rate, we might finish the dungeon before the monsters come through the gate.”

“It’s too early to say that. There are still countless variables in the dungeon.”

“But we have a powerful weapon to counter all those variables.”

“A powerful weapon, you say?”

Edeline smiled and pointed at me.

“Yes. We have Professor Cha with us.”

The other heroes chimed in enthusiastically.

“Right! Professor Cha, if you lead us, we won’t be afraid of any SS-level dungeon!”

“Exactly!”

“Professor, even if you order me to stab Hanson, I’ll trust and follow you!”

“What? Crazy girl, why would you stab me?”

“I just meant it as a figure of speech. Just a figure of speech.”

The solid trust from the heroes made my shoulders involuntarily lift.

It was a more satisfying outcome than I had anticipated.

With this, the Hero Association could no longer afford to neglect me.

Chairman Daniel.

Given how things have turned out, his plans must have changed.

Now, he would want to draw me to his side rather than oppose me.

If we successfully complete this expedition and return, Daniel’s influence will only grow stronger.

Who could refuse a leader who successfully resolved humanity’s worst disaster?

The public knows nothing of what transpired in the expedition team.

What they remember is simply the fact that we cleared an SS-level dungeon, the achievement itself.

If I needed power, aligning with Daniel could be a viable choice.

Of course, I had no intention of that.

Where I belong is the academy, and my role is that of a professor.

What I need is a force that can protect me from getting entangled in annoyances and can act when necessary.

If I get involved with a politician like Daniel, he will inevitably try to manipulate me to his will.

But Daniel, where on earth is that man?

Everyone is celebrating the victory, yet the president of the Hero Association has yet to show his face.

“Where is the president?”

“Well, I haven’t seen him since earlier.”

The one who appeared in place of Daniel was Andrew, an executive of the Hero Association.

“Thank you for your hard work. Your efforts will be remembered in history.”

“Hey, Andrew. Where’s the president?”

“Surely the professor invited by the unicorn isn’t sulking like a little shrimp because of his achievements?”

At someone’s words, the room erupted into laughter.

Only the heroes closely tied to the American Hero Association couldn’t laugh and turned red.

Andrew replied calmly.

“The president is unwell and is currently resting.”

“Wasn’t he perfectly fine just a moment ago? Did he catch a fit of anger?”

The room erupted into laughter once more.

Andrew left without retorting, merely repeating that the president was ill like a parrot.

Seong-woong spoke up.

“With a leader of the Hero Association so narrow-minded, tsk tsk.”

Narrow-minded?

That can’t be true.

Daniel is always like a lizard, ready to cut off his own allies.

That bat-like man would strike the backs of all the guilds that follow him and side with the unicorn depending on the situation.

In fact, there was a route like that in the game as well.

If the Daniel I know were here, he should have been making moves to recruit me by now.

This was precisely the moment when it would be most typical of President Daniel to step forward and act friendly.

The fact that he’s lying down right now might mean…

A thought flickered through my mind.

“Professor Jo, could you lean in for a moment?”

I quietly conveyed my thoughts to Jo Sung-woong.

I wasn’t certain, but it was a speculation with enough possibility.

Jo Sung-woong’s eyes widened at my words.

“Could it be… that Professor Cha is mistaken?”

“It’s just a guess. Nothing is certain yet.”

“Then, what should we do?”

“Just follow my instructions.”

It wouldn’t hurt to be prepared.

Preventing an incident before it happens is important.

* * *

In a room deep in the night, aboard the ship.

There were Andrew and two S-class heroes from the United States.

All of them wore rings engraved with the symbol SH.

This was akin to a membership badge for the terrorist organization, SH.

SH.

Though known to the public as a terrorist organization, that was merely a label slapped on by ignorant fools who knew nothing.

Awakened ones, superhumans, are a superior race evolved from humans.

It is the natural order for superhumans to dominate inferior humans.

Though currently bearing the stigma of a terrorist organization, soon the world will call SH a prophet.

“Now is the perfect opportunity. With most of the S-class heroes of the United States tied up in the Pacific… we could easily turn America into a sea of flames.”

“If we can turn America into a sea of flames, our comrades will surely increase.”

“Exactly. All awakened ones know the truth. We are superior, and they are inferior. But they are merely brainwashed by the false morals instilled by inferior humans.”

Andrew chuckled heartily.

The grand plan had already begun.

I had no doubt that soon, awakened ones around the world would understand SH’s intentions.

If we could successfully keep the heroes’ feet bound in this Pacific dungeon, everything would be resolved.

From noble mtl dot come

The variable was Cha Eun-woo, that guy.

Cha Eun-woo’s presence had accelerated the dungeon’s conquest at an abnormally fast pace.

This was problematic.

“It’s a sad night. To think we have to kill the superior superhuman with our own hands.”

Killing Chairman Daniel was something Andrew had no qualms about.

In fact, he felt almost pleased.

Daniel was the worst kind of human, incompetent despite his inferiority.

Andrew had always regretted making him the head of the association.

No matter how grand the scheme, it was hard to watch such a man treat superhumans with disdain.

But Cha Eun-woo was different from Chairman Daniel.

He was a talented individual capable of leading the superhumans of the future.

However, he was using that exceptional ability in the wrong way.

Even if it was unintentional, obstructing SH’s plans was something that could not be tolerated.

“I will kill Cha Eun-woo. Then the operation will be significantly delayed. If all goes well, the expedition team might just fall apart.”

“Yes.”

They erased their presence and moved to Cha Eun-woo’s room.

He was making a noble sacrifice for the world of superhumans.

Andrew decided that after changing the world, he would commemorate him.

The SH members opened the door and entered the room.

Andrew silently drew his dagger.

Cha Eun-woo lay on the bed.

‘Everything is for the superhumans!’

Andrew struck down with the dagger like lightning.

Then a loud metallic sound echoed.

Clang-!

“……!”

It was a metallic sound, not the sound of flesh being pierced.

In that moment, the SH members realized that everything had gone wrong.

Flash!

The room was suddenly bright.

As the lights turned on, Andrew spotted a camera in the corner of the room.

He had intended to kill him without anyone knowing, but now there was undeniable evidence left behind.

Only then did he grasp the true nature of the situation.

“…You knew we would come.”

“Yeah. From your perspective, it seems this was the only choice you had.”

You thought from our perspective?

That statement sounded as if the SH agents had known from the beginning that they were hiding among the expedition team.

How could that be?

Now that it has come to this, there is only one way.

All SH members are S-rank heroes.

The only option left is to forcibly kill Cha Eun-woo and escape──

Swoosh!

“Gah!”

It was a swift movement.

One SH agent’s head flew off.

No matter how much of a surprise attack it was, there weren’t many heroes capable of instantly killing an S-rank hero.

Andrew and the other agents tensed up, their eyes drawn to their fallen comrade.

There stood Professor Cho Sung-woong.

A former S-rank hero of Korea.

“Repeat after me: you are all dead. Who dares to touch Professor Cha?”

Andrew quickly racked his brain.

In his active days, he was only the fourth-ranked hero in Korea.

Moreover, now he was just a retired professor.

It was hard to comprehend that one of his subordinates had died so easily at the hands of such a man.

‘He must have skills specialized for ambushes.’

Ambushes are only effective in situations where one is unaware.

If you know an attack is coming, it’s not threatening at all.

“Kill him!”

“Yes!”

At Andrew’s command, the SH agent lunged at Cho Sung-woong.

Earlier, they had used underhanded tactics, but now it wouldn’t be so easy.

There was no way an old man, dulled by retirement, could handle an active hero.

“Professor Cha, it was good that you drew us out, but your response is lacking! To leave just that old man behind! The weapons he possesses are no longer effective!”

“Weapon, you say?”

“Yes! Surely, a skill specialized in ambush… uh, uh?”

Swish-!

The sound of a blade slicing through skin echoed.

In just five exchanges, the SH agent’s head was severed.

Andrew gaped, staring at his subordinate’s lifeless body.

“How… how could this happen? A hero who was only ranked 4th in Korea during his active years…”

“Heh, it’s true that I couldn’t catch monsters like those above me.”

“Mon… ster?”

“But I’ve never lost to a person in my life, that’s what I’m saying.”

There were swordsmen ranked higher than Cho Sung-woong during his active years.

Yet, only Cho Sung-woong was called a sword master.

Anyone who had faced Cho Sung-woong with a sword would unanimously agree.

No human could defeat Cho Sung-woong in a one-on-one match.

However, Cho Sung-woong’s strength could only be exerted in one-on-one situations.

Lacking the ability to subdue multiple foes at once, he had achieved little as a hero hunting monsters, given his capabilities.

“Are you going to come at me too?”

It was incomprehensible.

Why had it come to this?

Everything was for the superior humanity; we had to complete our mission here for the greater good.

How did Cha Eun-woo know about the ambush in advance?

Could there be a traitor within SH?

Andrew believed that all his comrades were trustworthy.

The thought of a traitor among them was utterly unfathomable.

Yet, the situation had become one where he could only think there was a traitor.

Who could it be?

Who dares to obstruct the revival of the superhumans?

“Uaaah!”

Andrew let out a beast-like scream and charged at Cho Sung-woong.

There was no need to swing his sword.

As Jo Sung-woong lightly tripped him, Andrew fell.

“Ugh, ugh!”

“Weren’t we both S-class? Why are you so weak?”

Jo Sung-woong pressed his foot down on Andrew’s back.

With overwhelming force bearing down, Andrew felt as if his entire body was restrained, unable to move.

“Damn it, damn it…!”

Cha Eun-woo looked down at Andrew and said,

“I think we have a lot to talk about.”

* * *

Jo Sung-woong easily subdued Andrew and his subordinates.

It was worth trusting and keeping them on standby.

Andrew’s face turned crimson, perhaps out of frustration at the situation.

“How did you know we were coming?!”

“It seems you haven’t grasped the situation yet.”

With a firm press of his foot, Andrew’s expression turned pale.

He gasped for breath, choking on his words.

Before long, Andrew lowered his tail.

“…How did you know we would attack?”

There was still room for more punishment, but compared to his initial arrogant tone, he had become somewhat more bearable.

As I raised my hand to signal, Jo Sung-woong relaxed his grip.

Andrew’s complexion began to return to normal.

“You must have some idea, right?”

“Ugh!”

Andrew’s mind must have been in turmoil.

He was likely thinking about traitors or something similar.

Of course, there were no traitors.

But Andrew, unaware of the truth, was surely nurturing seeds of distrust in his heart.

As much as I wanted him to pay for the evil deeds he had committed right away, I had to hold back.

Here, hitting the pyramid means nothing.

The target is the big fish.

I need to use this guy as bait to draw out all the others behind him.

“There’s a Korean proverb that says, ‘It’s good for the sister and good for the brother-in-law.’ I’m happy to get rid of Chairman Daniel, who constantly interferes with me, and he’s happy to get rid of you, who’s such a nuisance. How great is that?”

“That guy, you mean?”

“What does it matter to a dead man?”

Andrew was a well-known hero in the U.S. during his active years.

Given that, he must hold a decent position in SH as well.

If I could shake Andrew here, it would create significant chaos in SH.

“Yeah… I see…”

Andrew wore a displeasing smile.

When I feigned confusion, he grinned.

“Professor Cha, if there’s a next time, it would be better not to capture him clumsily but to subdue him completely. Well, there probably won’t be a next time.”