I Became the Must-Have Character of the Academy City - Chapter 104



103 – My Role

[Encountered Omega, the Human Traitor. Achievement unlocked.]

[Acquired 40P as an achievement reward.]

A memory.

It had been a while since achieving an achievement just by meeting someone.

He was sure it was 50P when he encountered a main character.

The reward might not be determined solely by brute force, but Omega achieved a stalemate only after completing preparations aimed at the main actors. Seems like a fair point to me.

Besides, for some reason, the designation is Traitor to Humanity.

Not just with Omega, but with Hex, too.

Rohan didn’t know why it wasn’t Reverse Praise Society but Traitor to Humanity.

The community was just filled with speculation.

Abyss City hadn’t yet reached the point in the story where the meaning of the achievement was fully interpreted.

‘Hah.’

Actually, this wasn’t the time to dwell on such things.

Death, not even allowing a desperate struggle, was bearing down on Rohan.

‘This is complete bullshit.’

Rohan was certain. Utterly excessive bullshit.

Could there be such misfortune in the world?

Of all places on this vast deserted island, it *had* to be Omega’s spawning ground? What were the odds of encountering an enemy like this?

“An Academy cadet, eh? Heh heh heh! I’ve come to the right place.”

The pressure emanating naturally from the Omega that emerged from the worm.

Even without intentional coercion, Rohan almost dropped the sword he was holding.

‘Right… good. So this is how they’ve been infiltrating.’

The opposite of the main actors.

The raw, bloody stench isn’t concealed, possessing a qualitative, pitch-black malice.

Its soul must be as black as coal.

‘Calm down.’

At least Rohan had the hope that Omega was bound to the promise it made with Hex.

“He will be pleased. Shall I send him a sample to taste?”

─ *Khuweeeeik!*

The worm opened its maw wide at Rohan!

Its posture suggested it intended to swallow him whole, as if it was harboring the Omega inside.

‘Just as I thought.’

It’s trying to capture the Academy cadet.

Proof that the promise between Hex and Omega exists.

The stifling tension broke, creating an opening. Rohan focused on the sensation of relief, lowering his stance.

‘I won’t die. I won’t die. I won’t die. I won’t die. If I just buy time, somehow it will work out.’

The madman who revels in pleasure killings, he won’t kill.

That alone is enough.

Calm returns to Rohan, and his breathing eases.

“Hoo!”

The Omega seemed to find Rohan’s attempt to fight amusing.

His face, scarred and shriveled by burns, creased into a smile.

“A rather bold one, aren’t you. Dance for me a little.”

─ Kwiirr! Kwiieeeek!!!

The worm plastered its massive body against the earth, then opened its hideous maw, intent on swallowing Rohan whole.

Rohan’s eyes widened, and he gripped his sword tightly.

‘Will the sword even work?’

That worm was different in color and size than the specimen from the textbooks.

Likely, it was a monster that Hex had created by modifying its genetic structure.

‘Scorching Blade.’

Rohan’s sword flushed red with heat.

As he prepared the Heavenly Sun Holy Judgement Sword, sparks began to spill from his flesh.

“Fire?”

The Omega’s face twisted in a grimace as fragments of flame leaked from Rohan.

As expected, he hadn’t completely overcome the terror of that day when his entire body was consumed by flames.

To conquer this trauma nailed deep within his mind, he realizes once again that the only solution is to defeat the one who inflicted that burning pain.

“This damned heat is making me reconsider.”

─ Kwirrre···.

Clicking his tongue, the Omega put the worm on standby.

His amusement was gone.

To encounter a fledgling who wielded fire right from the start.

He didn’t like it.

Irritation rose, and the image of Rohan begging for his life, his spirit broken, was growing more and more appealing.

‘Should I indulge in a little play before the main event?’

His promise to Hex was simply to send back a student alive, with all limbs attached.

Within that line, many actions are possible.

Krrrk!

From Omega’s back, tentacles of a vivid blue octopus erupted.

His flesh, already a collection of modified monsters. The thick tentacles wriggled, aiming for Rohan.

“Little whelp.”

“…”

“Such a taciturn one. Not even a flicker of surprise… Doesn’t even pose a question.”

Omega watched Rohan, unable to shake the feeling that he was a strange fellow.

He almost wanted to crack open his skull and see what was inside. He couldn’t fathom what the boy was thinking.

“Good. Struggle with your friends, then.”

At the word “friends,” Rohan’s eyes widened.

Sensing a faint presence growing closer, he turned and shouted,

“Don’t come any closer!!! All of you, go back!!!”

Omega grinned at the sight of Rohan straining his neck, veins bulging, as he yelled.

“Now, *that’s* a reaction worth playing with.”

Omega’s tentacles extended, reaching towards the undergrowth.

Rohan couldn’t even follow their movements with his eyes.

“aaagh!”

In a flash, Corinne was seized by a tentacle.

Instantly, the decision was made.

Noah and Ichinose burst from the forest. Rohan charged at Omega.

Rohan’s double-handed thrust, Ichinose’s sword strike, Noah’s kick.

Omega simply endured it all.

“Not bad for academy students. More useful than the average soldier.”

Rohan’s blade, wreathed in Scorching Flames, stabbed relentlessly at Omega’s throat, yet the edge couldn’t penetrate so much as a fingernail’s breadth.

Similarly, Ichinose’s sword, aimed at the tentacle binding Corinne, was ineffective.

Noah’s kick landed squarely on Omega’s temple, yet his head didn’t even twitch.

A perfectly landed blow, but utterly without effect.

A wall of immeasurable height.

They were left starkly aware of the gulf between them.

“Who’s this old man!”

“This… this is dangerous.”

From noble mtl dot com

Ichinose and Noah recoiled, their faces etched with question.

Having grasped the gravity of the situation roughly, their expressions were nothing short of severe.

“…”

Rohan, sensing something, was not pleased by the reinforcements’ arrival.

Even if told to flee, neither would abandon Corrin, and the Omega would never let them go.

‘This is bad. The worst.’

The Omega was supposed to radiate magic power to provoke Juyeon, seeing the empty patch of ground.

That process was skipped by this encounter.

If the Omega were to recall Hex’s promise to capture students for his personal amusement, Juyeon’s awareness would be slightly delayed.

The deserted island would be a complete pandemonium by now.

“Little whelps. Where did your earlier spirit go? Come, charge at me again.”

“Augh…”

The octopus leg subtly adjusted its grip, squeezing Corrin.

Despite having the strength to crush her effortlessly, the Omega curled its lip, teasing the trio’s impatience.

“…”

The three quietly shifted their feet, taking their positions.

The Omega, arms crossed, scanned the female students.

He banished the irritation he’d felt towards Rohan, thinking he had hit the jackpot.

“Ah, yes. Are these the key ingredients then?”

It was clear at a glance who they were.

Since he was already making a grand gesture, weren’t these Ichinose Jun’s daughter and the White Tiger Emperor’s descendant, the ones Hex had emphasized to secure?

*Kududuk!*

From the Omega’s shoulder, a crimson snake rose, lifting its head high.

The moment the three, forming a coordinated attack, charged forward, sensing their opponent was about to do something—

*Kaaak!!!*

The snake’s head emitted a malicious cry.

The status effect inflicted upon the students present was a heart-wrenching terror.

A forcibly injected fear that shrunk the mind. A tremor that seized and cleaved the brain.

“Ah… ahhh… ah…”

Korin, caught in the octopus’s tentacles, foamed at the mouth and fainted.

Her trembling was pitiful, but Ichinose and Noah felt their entire bodies paralyzed, unable to move.

Slumping to the ground was inevitable; dropping their weapons, a natural consequence.

“Ugh…!”

“Eugh!”

Ichinose and Noah, their minds reeling, could barely suppress their nausea.

Yet, they deserved praise for maintaining consciousness.

It was thanks to having constantly witnessed and stood near titans of strength.

“Hahaha!!!”

Omega burst into laughter, observing the two girls who hadn’t lost consciousness.

Even with controlled power, it was beyond expectation. They proved they were born with remarkable blood, despite their youth.

But above all else…

There was one thing that wildly exceeded expectations.

Omega’s gaze fell upon a male student, one absent from Hex’s key roster.

‘A mental defense type skill, perhaps?’

He didn’t possess an impressive amount of mana, yet his mind was the most perfectly anchored.

That one was merely frozen in place; his consciousness, clear.

‘Or perhaps… his spirit is strong enough to endure through sheer force of will?’

Either way, he piqued Omega’s interest.

For Rohan, it was as he wished.

“Ugh!”

There was no time to be lying face down like this.

To calm his trembling body, Rohan decided on a drastic measure.

A solid, jagged stone lay exposed on the ground.

Rohan slammed his head against it, thud! Thud!

To combat the unbearable terror, he was breaking his own mind.

“…”

Droplets of blood sprayed in every direction.

Omega and the two students watched the action in stunned silence.

“Irohan. Get a grip. Have some shame.”

To have overcome death’s doorstep so many times in a past life, and now cower in a situation where they only seek to capture you, not kill you?

Does that even make sense? This is beyond humiliating.

“Haa.”

Blood drips steadily from his forehead.

With searing pain, the freedom of his limbs slowly returns.

‘Alright. I can move.’

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

His heartbeat reverberates through his entire body.

‘Don’t tremble. Get up. Don’t tremble. Get up. Don’t tremble. Get up.’

Ever since suddenly finding himself in the position of a cadet, he had always thought:

There must be a reason I was dropped into this world.

A distinct role for me to play, without a doubt.

Now it is clear.

Only now is it certain.

‘I will protect.’

No need to name who.

I will make them laugh as much as they made me laugh. Because their life deserves nothing less than pure joy.

Finally, *thud!*

Rohan slams his head into the ground.

‘Irohan. Fulfill your role.’

Do you remember the arrogance Omega displayed in Abyss City?

If so, analyze their sadistic tendencies, remember the warped desire to subjugate others.

Ensure no one else is abducted here.

What plan can buy time until the protagonist arrives?

Calmly seek a solution.

“…”

Silence broken, Rohan raises his head.

Forcing his stiff neck to lift, his eyes meet the Omega’s gaze looking down at him.

Blood flowing from his forehead paints Rohan’s pupils crimson.

The vision blurred, which was almost a relief. There was nothing he could see and avoid anyway.

───*Thwack!* Rohan’s fingers scraped against the dirt as he seized the fallen sword.

Grit and grime pressed into his palm.

Rohan rose slowly.

Falling into his usual stance.

“Do whatever the hell you want. You son of a b*tch.”

Rarely did such raw profanity escape Rohan’s lips.