I Possessed a Broken Academy Instructor - Chapter 89



Chapter 89

“Ideale Kukenhausen, General.”

Coldly stated, she was an awkward presence within the Kukenhausen family.

True to its moniker as the House of Iron Blood, Kukenhausen does not simply allow such beings to linger.

No, to be precise, the family silences its members to ensure they move in accordance with the grand strategy, and at times, they are truly eliminated.

This is not a matter of shame.

In a typical family, it might be considered so.

But Kukenhausen, wielding overwhelming influence—save for the Rosen within the military—was far from a ‘typical family,’ exercising power across dozens of planets when combining both collateral and direct lines.

On the surface, it appeared as an ancient military lineage that had formed alongside the establishment of the Synthetic Nation, yet internally, it was a gnarled root of power that had taken hold since the founding.

However, Ideale, who drifted on the periphery and despised factions, was not removed or silenced; she was merely relegated.

What was the reason for this?

It was simply because she was a Pentagier and an unblemished soldier.

Even the most hardened elders and the head of the family pondered her utility rather than her removal; she was that capable.

“The gendarmerie will return after gathering the cadets and the injured. Until then, we shall take care of this. Obia.”

“Yes, Headmaster.”

Obia Timist’s ability to project firepower did not mesh well with her.

Rolling her mischievous red eyes at the command, Obia, despite her nature, could not act recklessly in front of Ideale, so she assisted the gendarmes in gathering the cadets.

“Now, come out.”

Of course, she did not gather those who insisted on staying.

“It’s alright.”

“Is it? Understood.”

Miel, half in a daze.

Beatus, having run out of bullets and retired.

Hino Kanae, gasping for breath.

And even Pamiyu, who had already collapsed.

They were effectively rendered combat-ineffective and were transported outside the dome along with the injured.

“…I’m fine too, pfft.”

With a spear in hand, the gray-haired Baek Hui-young and the bronze-skinned Dokgo Ran, whose body was marred with wounds yet still glinted with fierce eyes, remained on the battlefield.

It was only natural.

They could still fight, and their desire to tear apart the King, who arrogantly looked down from the heavens, outweighed their fatigue and weary hearts.

“Absolute Vector.”

As the influence of Ideale projected forth, the bodies of the monsters, which had seemed ready to ravenously tear into the cadets, began to stiffen coldly.

All around, creatures bared their teeth, extended their claws, and at times moved countless legs, frozen in place like shards of ice—a truly wondrous sight.

Yet, this was merely a prelude, a greeting that barely scratched the surface.

“Haah.”

A breath exhaled briefly scattered like mirage.

The sudden drop in temperature would be a constraint for others, but for her, it was nothing but a comforting and serene embrace.

At last, as her black coat fluttered over her shoulders, she soared upward in an instant, whispering as she danced the frost above Stero Mer’s head.

“Blizzard.”

In that moment, a thick snowstorm engulfed the area.

—KRaaahhh!

The King’s body was shredded by the blade-like frost.

*

“…Cough!”

When Jin Crow opened his eyes again, the sight before him was, how should one say, familiar yet strange.

It was only natural.

Hadn’t the ground suddenly collapsed in the Atla Colony, sending him tumbling with creatures?

The difference was that back then, his injuries had been minor and somewhat bearable, while now he was on the brink of death.

“…Ugh.”

His entire body felt as if it were being torn apart.

There was no sensation in his legs, his vision was blurred, and there were fewer intact bones than broken ones.

And that was not all.

Disgusting wings and arms were beautifully embedded in his abdomen, writhing, while his legs lay buried beneath the rubble, unable to move.

He bit his lips absentmindedly to stave off the pain and awaken his senses, blood bursting forth, yet his consciousness continued to fade.

It would be better if he could just faint.

The effects of the pentacle lodged in his throat seemed to insist that it would not allow such a reprieve, each time his awareness threatened to slip away, it pounded harshly against his heart.

“Fuck.”

The raw curse spilled from his cracked and swollen lips, murmured low.

He forced his broken neck to turn and gaze at the space he had fallen into, but as he descended, it seemed another collapse had occurred, and not a glimmer of light was to be seen.

Was this what despair felt like?

He let out a chuckle without realizing it, his trembling fingertips searching through his coat as if to find a cigarette.

Amidst the torn and tattered fabric, he found a crumpled pack, but he could only click his tongue in dismay.

“……Nothing works. Cough!”

Indeed, the cigarettes were stained with blood, rendering them utterly unsmokable.

To be blunt, he could dry them out if he wanted to.

But he wasn’t mad enough to put something soaked in his and King’s blood to his lips.

Thud—.

Whether his hand fell first or he simply tossed the cigarette to the ground, he released the tension from his body, blinking as his eyes adjusted to the darkness.

‘What’s happening?’

He had pushed his body to the limit before, and the threat of death had always loomed, but looking back now, it seemed he had managed to survive.

At least he wasn’t buried underground with King rampaging above him.

Now that he thought it was time to die, the first feeling that struck him was regret.

‘I could have done better.’

What good was it to be a devoted reader for ten years?

Now that he had become the vessel, he found himself unable to do anything but follow the main thread of the original story.

Of course, he still questioned whether he should have to endure such hellish trials for a single heartfelt email expressing his regrets.

To speak coldly, it was uncertain whether he could twist the original enough to emerge victorious against the creatures if he continued on this path.

‘It’s not just about gathering OOPArts and assembling talented individuals.’

There were far too many trolls in the galaxy.

And far too many lunatics.

The problem was that most of those lunatics held power and strength.

Just look at King right in front of him.

With all that wealth and being called immortal, why would he conspire with the Red Hand to summon creatures and create this mess?

‘Jin Crow, I want to know more about you.’

He wasn’t a fool.

From the reactions of those around him and everything he had witnessed, he felt deeply that the original’s ‘Jin Crow’ was not the simple delusional villain he had once thought.

Who am I, really?

What is my past, and what burden do I carry?

“……Ugh, haah. Cough!”

Having thought this far, he coughed violently as nausea surged from his gut, soon feeling the warm blood soaking his wounded hand as he closed his eyes.

Slowly, the limit approaches. Sleep washes over me.

It seems the effects of the pentacle have finally worn off.

He stood, resigned to the death that loomed, feeling the gradual fading of all his senses.

But just then.

〔It is an honor to meet you, Irregular Jin Crow.〕

The underground, steeped in silence and stillness. Just before his consciousness slipped away, the soft, girl-like mechanical voice whispered, piercing through his mind.

〔From now on, in accordance with EVE’s will, I shall sever the first chain.〕

The last words he remembered were.

〔In reverence to your sacrifice.〕

Indeed, it was a warm yet guilt-laden phrase.

*

–

Officer in charge: Chief Researcher of the Cosmic Truth Society ■■■

Subject of record: Irregular

Observation: The subject suffers from severe mental and physical defects due to the aftermath of the ■■ experiment…

–

After Baek Hwi-young and the Star Heralds were commissioned, the ongoing conflict with the Empire, alongside the continuous sinking of creatures, led to the onset of the Fourth Galactic War.

Generations had already shifted since the Third Galactic War, making the term “war” feel quite foreign, yet the militaristic ethos remained, and the youth willingly donned their uniforms, soon countless fleets and ground forces were deployed across various fronts.

Naturally, Baek Hwi-young and the Star Heralds also participated in the war as special duty lieutenants, and true to their promising nature, they were all promoted to the rank of major within less than two years.

Considering the rapid promotion typical of special duty officers, it was indeed an extraordinary progression, but the reasons were abundant.

“Major Dokgo-ran, for moving through hyperspace to the enemy’s rear, colliding with their flagship and capturing the commander in close combat, is awarded the Third-Class Iron Cross.”

The fierce general, Dokgo-ran.

“Major Miel Anver, for successfully commanding an escape operation against a ten-to-one odds, is awarded the Second-Class Iron Cross.”

The virtuous general, Miel Anver.

“Major Hino Kanae, for severing the enemy’s center during the Ar Blitz and leading the operation to success, is awarded the Second-Class Iron Cross.”

The sharp general, Hino Kanae.

“Major Famiyu Dimezeahr, for brilliantly deceiving the enemy’s rear and cutting off supplies, leading the Ar Blitz to a preemptive strike, is awarded the Second-Class Iron Cross.”

The wise general, Famiyu Dimezeahr.

“Major Beatus, as the first staff officer to propose the Ar Blitz, is awarded the Iron Cross.”

The sagacious general, Beatus.

They all, in their own ways, were proving their worth on the battlefield, and Baek Hwi-young was no exception.

…Though, he had yet to earn a single medal, having poured all his capabilities into the creatures.

The interest of the Synthesized Nation lay with the Empire, not with some alien beasts that couldn’t even hold a conversation.

On the other hand, the Star Riders were quite the tight-knit bunch.

It was only natural.

Baek Hwi-young himself had forged that bond.

Even divided among forces across the galaxy, they still held regular hologram calls.

[Lady, why am I only a third-class?]

[I was surprised they even gave you a medal. They wrapped it up nicely, but the reality is you just crashed into the enemy flagship, Ran.]

[What of it? Fleet battles are all about close combat!]

[Space pirates would be more civilized than you, you know.]

Dokkoran and Pamiu were as they always were.

[I’ve benefited a lot from Beatus this time. I’ll be sure to show my gratitude.]

[What’s that between friends? If that’s the case, get me out of the staff. Show them the power of the Hino clan.]

[…Hmph.]

[Kanae? Huh? Miel! You too…!]

[I-I’m sorry, Beatus. But you’re just perfect for the staff.]

From noble mtl dot com

It was the same for Kanae, Beatus, and Miel.

Baek Hwi-young sipped his coffee from a stainless-steel cup, a gentle smile gracing his lips.

It was one of the few sights that could soothe his weary soul.

But then, Miel, glancing around cautiously, opened her mouth.

[Um, have you all heard the news?]

[What news?]

[Instructor Crow, you know? He’s been promoted to Penta Gear.]

[…Huh?]

[They say he might become one of the few Hexa Gears in history.]

The atmosphere turned icy in an instant.

Pamiu’s expression hardened, Beatus lowered his gaze, while Hino Kanae and Dokkoran showed interest as martial artists, but their looks were far from friendly.

[Miel, don’t pay him any mind. You know how many of our cadets that madman Crow has killed.]

[…I’m sorry. I guess I shouldn’t have said anything. But why is Hwi-young so quiet?]

“Just arrived, I see.”

Miel offered a sheepish smile, and since it wasn’t entirely her fault, the tension in the air soon dissipated.

Baek Hwi-young engaged in their conversation for a moment, then abruptly ended the call and took a drag from his cigarette.

Sizzle, hiss—

Black Star. A harsh smoke, yet it was his preferred brand.

He felt the heavy smoke press against his lungs, and his thoughts drifted to Jin Crow.

‘Not an overreaction.’

Instructor Jin Crow was sensitive, dogmatic, and increasingly, he was beginning to lose his grip on sanity.

More so than before, more abruptly than he remembered.

And ultimately, under the guise of training, he had killed a dozen cadets, and as punishment, he was assigned to a penal unit, fighting on the front lines.

‘There’s no reason for me to deal with this.’

Among the cadets he had killed, none were of significant importance; only a friend of Pamiu and Beatus had fallen.

Perhaps Miel had no ill intent.

Pamiu and Beatus. They had long been gnashing their teeth, vowing to kill him, so this was likely a twisted act of mercy, urging him to back off.

“Huh.”

Baek Hwi-young exhaled, as if trying to shake off the tangled thoughts.

He knew he was entangled in this mess, yet he chose not to delve deeper.

The Ministry of Defense wasn’t foolish.

If he had become a Penta Gear, they would take care of him themselves.

After all, he wouldn’t have to face them again.

“……Instructor.”

Yes, that’s what he thought.

Alongside Baek Hwi-young, Pamiu, Beatus, Dokgo-ran, Kanae, Miel, and the countless special officers from the fallen Synth Empire who followed behind, they gazed up at Jin Crow, who stood arrogantly atop the crumbled capital of the Synth Empire, smoking his cigarette.

“Crazy b*stard….”

“Is that… is that even a human?”

One day, Jin Crow had escaped from the penal unit, and the place he reappeared was none other than the Ministry of Defense, often referred to as the Nest of Stars.

He had killed fifty-three generals.

Yet he was not satisfied; he brought down the Ministry while committing slaughter alongside his mysterious special officers, and the result was what lay before them now.

“The capital of the Synth Empire…”

“……Estimated civilian casualties: one million. Is he insane?”

It was not merely a matter of inserting a core.

In literal terms, a million souls were slaughtered by the special operations officers who took to the ground themselves.

Naturally, all nearby units were deployed to suppress the chaos, leading to a brutal clash.

“……Grrk.”

“Cough!”

The special operations officers, whose origins were shrouded in mystery, emerged alongside Jin Crow, their eyes fixed on the Synthesized Nation with an unyielding hatred, even as they faced death.

It was a gaze that could drain the very spirit.

And finally, after three days, they reached Jin Crow, overpowering him only after the deployment of four Pentagear units, alongside Ideale.

“Haah. Hoo.”

Among those Pentagear was Baek Hwi-young.

With tingling fingertips, he gripped the spear.

He looked down at Jin Crow, who knelt amidst the wreckage, a cigarette dangling from his lips.

“…….”

“…….”

Silence enveloped them.

It was only natural.

The strength of the Synthesized Nation’s special operations officers must have been reduced by at least 5% due to this incident.

What the Empire’s Pentagear could not achieve, Jin Crow had accomplished.

The other Pentagear were already exhausted.

Thus, it fell to Baek Hwi-young alone to end his life. Bloodied and limping, he approached, aiming the spear’s tip at the jutting edge of Jin Crow’s chin.

“……Tsk.”

Jin Crow lifted his head, the sharpness of the spear’s point reflecting in his eyes, yet he did not withdraw his characteristic, sensitive, and ravaged gaze—one that was also steeped in arrogance.

His black pupils glimmered.

Baek Hwi-young’s ashen gaze met his, a mixture of contempt and fear swirling within.

He had no choice but to ask.

“Why, Instructor?”

Soon, the blood pooling at the corners of his mouth trickled down his jawline, mingling with the tip of Baek Hwi-young’s spear.

A fleeting stillness hung between them, and in that moment, he responded to his former student with action.

“Exhausting, isn’t it?”

“Ah.”

His body slowly tilted, and the tip of the spear held by Baek Hwi-young had already pierced his heart, reaching the very limit.

Puhk-.

Baek Hwi-young, frozen in a daze, stared at his final moments, and soon the galaxy fell to ruin once more.

“Ugh!”

With eyes wide open, Baek Hwi-young dashed to the bathroom, retching violently before whispering to his reflection in the mirror.

“…How many times has it been?”

His face was strikingly pale.