I Possessed a Broken Academy Instructor - Chapter 85



Chapter 85

“It was the last time I visited during my last vacation, but I didn’t expect to come back like this, yawn.”

Ideale nodded at Lilian’s words, yet he turned his head to glance at her with a hint of discomfort, as she insisted on following him.

Messy pink hair. A brown turtleneck layered beneath a voluminous white robe. And her eyes, slightly obscured behind horn-rimmed glasses.

In many ways, it was not the best attire for heading to the front lines.

Moreover, the researchers from the lab who trailed behind her.

‘……I cannot miss the chance to acquire a better specimen. Are researchers always like this?’

The catalyst was the creature training dummy that Jin Crow had persistently requested for study.

Surprisingly, the research team, including Lilian, found themselves intrigued by the very material of the creature training dummy.

In particular, they claimed the impact of striking the cadets was quite satisfying.

She had continuously requested more specimens from the higher-ups, but fortunately, perhaps due to the presence of many sane individuals within the Ministry of Defense, her requests were always denied.

Of course, from Ideale’s perspective, it was a fortunate turn of events.

As the discontent within Lilian’s research team grew, news of the Free Planet Alliance’s turmoil suddenly reached them.

〔Now, this is Richard, the Consul General of the Free Planet Alliance Embassy. There’s a riot, and, oh, creatures are…!〕

In response to the urgent communication from the embassy, which had always been preoccupied with economic issues, the Ministry of Defense hastily mobilized all its intelligence assets. Soon, they discovered that a clash among the five major factions had erupted internally, and suddenly, creatures had invaded.

Regardless of its known history or standing, the Free Planet Alliance was a nation that inevitably attracted a large populace.

“A true city of freedom and pleasure.”

“A paradise for mercenaries and outlaws.”

“A melting pot of races.”

“A city of tourism and family.”

Such contrasting evaluations coexisted, each perspective utterly incompatible with the others.

Ironically, when examined by district, none of these statements were entirely false.

Moreover, the middle class from various nations often took pride in having visited the only ‘foreign’ land they could claim—the Free Planet Alliance.

The so-called allure and fantasy of being abroad were wholly directed toward the Alliance.

‘The Empire and the Synthesized Nation are bound to clash.’

The Holy Galactic Empire was an absolute monarchy where the Emperor effectively ruled the state, with the half-elven and human royal family and nobility leading the Imperial Council, accommodating multiple ethnicities.

Each planet was a fiefdom of noble families, a feudal state with a class system comprising the royal family, nobility, commoners, and quasi-commoners.

‘In contrast, the Synthesized Nation is fundamentally different.’

It fundamentally espoused pure humanism, abolishing discrimination against androids and cyborgs—those resembling humans—yet it was steeped in an exclusive attitude toward other races, derogatorily referred to as ‘alien species.’

So much so that during the First Galactic War, the elven noble family that surrendered with their entire clan was executed without mercy.

Of course, afterward, as public sentiment turned against the generals and factions that led the charge, they were entirely purged, but even now, in a society where discrimination had lessened, the undercurrents of disdain toward other races persisted.

Furthermore, while it outwardly professed democracy, most people were aware of the truth.

The Synthesized Nation was riddled with the ills of mob rule, militarism, and excessive expansionism.

“Then came the Free Planet Alliance. Hah.”

“Indeed.”

At Lilian’s words, Ideale nodded absentmindedly.

The headmaster of the Central Special Officer Academy, Ideale, along with a dozen instructors trailing behind her, a gendarmerie company, and the research team from the research wing, including Lilian. The reason they headed towards the Free Planet Alliance with the Fourth Fleet was simple.

“So, what of the cadets recorded in the entry logs?”

Indeed, the cadets of the Central Special Officer Academy had records of entering none other than Mercato, the capital of the Free Planet Alliance.

If it were just one or two individuals, or if their importance were low, Ideale would not have bothered to move herself.

Though there were no superhumans of the Penta Gear class affiliated with the Fourth Fleet, they had enough special officers to trust in their capabilities and wait.

The problem lay with the families of the cadets currently isolated in Mercato…

“Instructor Jin Crow.”

A special officer presumed to be of the Gear Quad class. If a teacher from the Central Special Officer Academy was isolated there, the situation changed.

And then there were the likes of Dokgo from the Dokgo family, Kanae from the Hino family, Miel from the Anber family, and so on…

Individually, even if an unfortunate incident were to occur, it could somehow be brushed aside, but if all those families exerted pressure on the Ministry of Defense, it would be no easy matter, for the heirs of those prominent families were now isolated.

Considering that, it was certainly excessive for Ideale, a special officer of the Penta Gear, to act directly, yet upon hearing the news that Jin Crow was also trapped in Mercato, she boarded the ship without hesitation.

Of course, it wasn’t much of a secret that someone had let out a howl of resentment and despair in the headmaster’s office before that.

“…Admiral, how long until we arrive?”

“Soon, Brigadier General.”

Currently, they were aboard the flagship Barba of the Fourth Fleet, having entered the outskirts of the Rudos star system, where the capital of the Free Planet Alliance, Mercato, lay.

Under normal circumstances, this would be a clear violation of sovereignty, but what did it matter when both the Empire and the Synthesized Nation knew the Free Planet Alliance’s council was merely a puppet?

“All fleets, increase speed.”

“Yes! Admiral!”

The Fourth Fleet moved swiftly towards Mercato, and soon they could not help but witness a shocking sight through the flagship’s glass windows.

“Oh.”

Obia let out a characteristic silly laugh, exclaiming in awe.

“…My God.”

“How dreadful.”

Despite having roamed the battlefield for a long time, the admiral and the soldiers sighed softly at the sight before them, one they had never seen.

“Naomi.”

“Yes, I will record it.”

Lilian and the lead researcher, Naomi, gestured to their subordinates, quickly beginning to observe and document the exterior of the planet.

“…That is.”

And finally, Ideale captured the forms of the creatures that Jin Crow had so warily regarded within her distinctive white pupils.

The surface of the planet, often referred to as the paradise of the avaricious, was afflicted, more than half covered in purple void fissures that spread like tumors, and the fissures seemed relentless, eroding the planet as if they would not cease until they had devoured it whole.

“Creature.”

Not just she, but all who beheld the sight finally grasped the truth.

Perhaps, the foes of humanity would not be limited to the Empire alone.

*

“Instructor!”

“Ha.”

As Jin Crow spotted them, the cadets soon discovered him and hurried forth.

Of course, they were not alone.

Behind them, weary remnants of the Lemal Planetary Defense Force, bearing the marks of a grueling battle, trudged along.

“……”

Especially, when Jin Crow’s gaze met that of Satra, who stood at the forefront, he held her stare for a moment, but then swiftly turned his attention to Baek Hwi-young.

“Instructor, all cadets are safe.”

One could not help but notice, unless one were a fool.

Baek Hwi-young’s demeanor had shifted.

What could one say?

Until now, he had seemed like a man half-lost to madness, struggling to appear sociable, often flickering between sanity and a fit of rage. But now, his eyes were clear, and he appeared altogether normal.

‘This is unsettling in its own right.’

From noble mtl dot com

Unlike before, Baek Hwi-young’s smile, now distinctly focused, occasionally graced with a faint smirk, proclaimed his sanity, yet instinct screamed a warning.

Did they not often speak of the madman with bright eyes?

The face of Baek Hwi-young before him embodied that very notion.

“Ha, sniff! In-instructor!”

Yet before he could dwell on such thoughts, Miel, who had been holding back tears, rushed forward, grasping his hand and shifting gears.

“Hmm?”

Startled by her sudden action, Jin Crow instinctively reached out to grasp her head, but quickly halted as he recognized Miel’s abilities.

As expected.

The moment her hand made contact, the burden on his body, which he had been ignoring beneath the pain patch, eased somewhat. He absentmindedly stroked Miel’s tear-streaked head, her eyes red and glistening like a fowl’s, while he gazed at the cadets.

“We have two choices.”

He faced the collective gaze upon him, his tone flat yet inevitably cruel as he spoke the harsh truth.

“First, we can hold our breath, hoping the Fourth Fleet will come to our rescue. However, with all communications severed, we must pray for a miracle. If luck truly abandons us, we may find ourselves captured by the Empire or the Red Hand.”

It was cold, but it was reality.

Of course, the Synthesized Nation would not give up so easily, but the reality is far from beautiful.

“I know.”

“If caught by the red hand… just imagining it is horrific.”

That was their anticipated conclusion, in its own way.

Hino Kanae and Beatus nodded, and Satra did the same.

And then, at that moment, Baek Hwi-young, who had barely stopped crying under Jin Crow’s hand, looked at him with a voice full of conviction, as if to say this was the only answer.

“Or we eliminate the cause of this situation. Am I right, Instructor?”

“…Yes, that is correct.”

As their eyes met, Jin Crow had no choice but to take a drag from his Black Star, a cigarette devoid of awakening agents.

Not because it was wrong.

The change in attitude sent chills down his spine, beyond mere awkwardness.

It wasn’t just him who felt it; Pamiu, standing just behind him, also stared intently at Baek Hwi-young’s nape before locking eyes with Jin Crow.

“Curriculum—”

But just as Pamiu was about to say something.

A series of shadows loomed over their heads, and soon the mixed voices of cheers and relief from those fighting amidst the rubble nearby erupted.

“That’s…”

“A ship. But…”

Contrary to their relief, Jin Crow and the cadets could only stiffen their expressions.

It was only natural.

The ships that pierced through the Void Rift were not the angular designs of the Synthesized Nation, but rather the resplendent forms unique to the Empire.

“Imperial Army.”

A voice, untraceable, overlapped, and Jin Crow silently fixed his gaze on the ships, gripping his sword tightly.

How they had breached the Void Rift was a mystery, but unless they were mad, they would deploy a vanguard led by knights rather than attempt a direct landing.

That much would be enough to buy time.

If necessary, he could throw Satra to them and make his escape.

He thought of this without hesitation, knowing the cadets would be horrified, yet he did not avert his gaze from the ships.

〔We are the 52nd Division of the Holy Galactic Empire. Our home country is conducting humanitarian rescue operations in accordance with the Rothrivin Accord…〕

As expected.

They soon began broadcasting loudly enough for all nearby to hear, opening the hatches for an assault.

Because of that, just as Jin Crow was about to shout for the cadets to prepare for a clash…

-So loud, all of it.

As if the very planet whispered, a chilling voice pierced the ears of everyone at the same decibel.

And soon, under the weight that flowed down their spines, Jin Crow, Baek Hwi-young, and Satra shouted in unison, without a thought of who would go first.

“Down!”

“Ugh, ughhh!”

“Ahhh!”

Jin Crow pressed Miel’s head down, forcing her to crouch, and those who heard their cries instinctively followed suit, sinking to the ground.

And just after that.

Skrch-.

A sound like something being severed brushed against everyone’s ears, and they lifted their heads to gaze at the imperial fleet hovering above, as if time itself had frozen.

“Gah!”

Then, as if someone had triggered it, a breath escaped, shattering the silence, and a storm surged forth.

Kwahwahwahwahwahwah!

The debris of reinforced concrete crumbled, and those who stood were sent sprawling, as an overwhelming wind blew, mixing the blood of creatures and humans, pouring down like rain.

“……Hah.”

And after Jin Crow absorbed it all, he couldn’t help but let out a chuckle at the sight visible through his disheveled bangs.

Kugugugugugung!

Fwooosh!

Ships, easily over ten in number, erupted in unison, and soon, beyond the wreckage, a shadow of a being emerged.

-This, this irregular.

The form of a boy, with a body oozing a thick, foul ichor, perhaps from burns or the grotesque byproduct of some twisted evolution.

He waved the tips of his half-melted wings, locking his gaze directly onto Jin Crow and Baek Hwi-young.

-Thus, the. Pilgrim.

Within him lay a mix of hatred and fear, and further still, a certainty laced with jealousy.