Acquired the Scam Rune in the Academy

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While I was receiving attribute lectures on [Taming Contracts] from Professor Kang Dong-wook.

About two hours after establishing a foothold on Ganghwa Island, the main force members who departed late finally all arrived. To be precise, they didn’t all gather on Ganghwa Island, but were dispersed to different locations near Incheon. It was Professor Tae Won-ho’s idea that the <Villain> Clan’s bases wouldn’t be established on just a single uninhabited island.

‘How fascinating.’

While watching their flawless strategy unfold, I couldn’t help but be impressed.

The Academy’s Treasure, [Order of Harmony].

Using it as bait to lure out the <Villain> Clan’s headquarters.

This process didn’t exist in the original story I knew.

‘Because there was no Hwang Seong-yeon back then.’

The ‘Academy Raid Operation’ that should have happened exactly 1 year later.

There was no involvement of submaster Hwang Seong-yeon.

It was a raid operation with massive participation from Cha Soo-yeon, Ji Yoon-jae, and the Academy spies, and at the time, they were able to fend it off without losing the item thanks to Park Jin-woo’s awakening and the participation of key figures.

That’s why even towards the later parts of the story when Park Jin-woo went to clear the ‘City of Distorted Wolves’ dungeon, the <Villain> Clan was still fine.

The only thing that was caught was the Academy branch, the clan heads Hwang Dong-yeon and Hwang Seong-yeon didn’t reveal themselves much.

‘So I didn’t even think about catching the Villain Clan….’

Completely suppressing the massive criminal organization <Villain> Clan felt like something only far in the future.

In the first place, even my plan after first possessing this body was to move while avoiding the <Villain> Clan if possible.

Perhaps because the sequential plans got tangled and operations continuously failed…

Unexpectedly, the <Villain> Clan launched a reckless raid operation on the Academy, and due to that, they truly ended up in a dangerous situation.

The golden opportunity to completely destroy the massive criminal organization <Villain> Clan.

It was something that happened before even 1 year passed since I possessed this body.

‘We absolutely have to catch them this time.’

I steeled my resolve.

The <Villain> Clan is unquestionably a social evil.

If we just get rid of those guys, there wouldn’t be any factors that could impede my Holder life going forward.

“Oh boy, I’m so excited.”

While briefly lost in thought, a familiar voice rings out from beside me.

It was Park Jin-woo, who arrived on Ganghwa Island after joining up with the main force.

The guy ended up in the same search team as me among the newly organized search teams.

“Weren’t you completely uninterested in stuff like this before?”

I suddenly recalled how in the original story, he didn’t participate in defending the Academy until his younger sister Park Yoon-seo was victimized, so I asked.

At that, Park Jin-woo scoffed.

“What are you talking about. Those Villain punks messed with our circle. I can’t live after being pushed around. We gotta hit back as hard as we got hit.”

I was the one confused by his reply instead.

“Our… Circle?”

“Yeah. Why, it’s true right?”

“…….”

This guy…

So you were actually fully sincere about the <Anti-Villain> while pretending not to care, huh?

As I blankly watched Park Jin-woo nonchalantly inspecting his equipment, I soon averted my gaze.

Nearby, there were not only Park Jin-woo, but also familiar faces gathered.

“…Jae-hyun ah, hi.”

“Oh, you came? Did you fully recover your body?”

“…Yeah. I rested well.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Kang Juyeon, whom I met again after just a day.

And Kim Chae-eun, who had her arms crossed as she sent me a sharp glare I didn’t know the reason for.

“Why don’t you say hi to me too?”

“Huh? I just noticed you now, that’s why.”

“Something’s changed.”

“…What now.”

“Dunno. But something’s different!”

“…How do I get you to let this go.”

“After the operation ends, make me cream pasta. Promise.”

“In the end that’s what it was….”

I heaved a deep sigh and turned my head towards Moon Ga-eun next to me.

“Ga-eun too, hi….”

“What.”

“Why are you like that too.”

“Tch. Since when did you call me by my name? Do it like usual.”

“Ah… Why is everyone like this to me.”

I scratched my head with a troubled expression.

The women around me were simply impossible to get a handle on their moods everyday.

“Do Jae-hyun.”

“Ah, Team Leader Kwon.”

The one who saved me when I was in danger was Kwon Oh-jun.

Behind him were his team members Shin Yu-na, Kim Seong-cheol, Choi Dong-wook, and Lee Soo-mi.

Kwon Oh-jun talked to me with a smiling face.

“We ended up in the same team again, huh.”

“At this rate we might as well start up a clan or something, who knows.”

“Haha, don’t even joke about that. It’d be faster for you to join Judgement of Fire instead.”

“Well, that is true.”

The Dungeon Hunting Team 5 reunited into the same party once more.

It was the party assigned to lead the main force’s search.

They composed teams of around 15 people each, with 4 people in the Warrior and Mage classes, 2 people in the Assassin and Archer and Divine classes, and 1 person in the Special class.

That was why Judgement of Fire’s Dungeon Hunting Team 5, who had pretty good coordination, was assigned to our team, then people from the <Anti-Villain> side like me, Kang Juyeon, Kim Chae-eun, Moon Ga-eun, and Park Jin-woo were added, making 10 people.

After that, 1 Divine class, 1 Archer class, 1 Mage class, and 1 Special class from other clans were added as well.

And finally…

“Teacher. It looks like everyone’s preparations are complete.”

I approached a woman at the front and spoke.

White martial arts uniform and snow-white hair cascading down.

The S-grade Holder Yoo Eun-seol, emitting a clean, pure vibe.

She was the strongest of this operation and the Assassin class of our search team – she was the party leader of our party.

Yoo Eun-seol nodded her head and answered me.

“Yes, then let’s head out. Holder Do Jae-hyun is like the vice party leader of this party, so please consistently report our party members’ conditions and movements to me.”

“Understood.”

With that, preparations were complete, and our party boarded the ship headed towards the uninhabited island.

Unlike Ganghwa Island, there weren’t any [Warp Gates] on the uninhabited island, so we had to physically board ships to move.

Our search island was Gijangeum Island.

It was where the [Order of Harmony] was located, according to Professor Kang Dong-wook’s bug.

Whoosh—

After everyone boarded, the small ship departed towards Gijangeum Island.

“…….”

Perhaps because we were facing a fight against a massive criminal organization ahead, tense, nervous energy filled the ship’s party members.

Even Park Jin-woo who was usually so talkative was silently inspecting his equipment now.

I was also slowly looking over my Holder information and runes, preparing for battles that might occur ahead.

“Um, Jae-hyun.”

While doing so.

Someone grabbed the collar of my clothes and talked to me.

From the tone and voice I immediately recognized, there was only one person who would address me like this.

When I turned around, it was indeed Lee Soo-mi.

I smiled and answered her.

“Not calling me Chairman today?”

“…It doesn’t feel like the mood for joking around.”

“….?”

What?

Is this really Holder Lee Soo-mi?

Such unexpected words left her that I was stunned for a moment.

The unique nasal tone she would always add was gone, as was the calm voice and serious tone.

‘Come to think of it…’

I hurriedly looked her up and down just in case, and her outfit was also uncharacteristic of her.

Whether she was working within the clan or dispatched to sites, she would always wear somewhat revealing nun outfits…

But today, the style of clothes she wore completely covered her body.

Nun outfit, robe, and staff.

It was attire fitting of a standard Divine class member, but it looked very awkward on Lee Soo-mi.

“Do you need something?”

“…It’s not that. I just have a request.”

“A request? What is it?”

What kind of request could a Holder of her caliber have for me?

Lee Soo-mi pondered for a bit while looking around, then talked to me while slightly biting her lip.

“If you happen to come across Soo-yeon… I mean, Cha Soo-yeon during this operation. I want to kill that woman with my own two hands.”

And the words that left her were…

Quite shocking.

Killing Cha Soo-yeon, one of the <Villain> Clan’s core executives, with her own hands.

It was not something that could simply come out easily without an enormous grudge.

‘Ah right, last time.’

And I suddenly recalled Lee Soo-mi’s reaction was odd when she saw Cha Soo-yeon before.

Fear yet simultaneous hatred towards Cha Soo-yeon…

It was an emotional wave unbelievable for two people meeting for the first time.

I found it strange even back then when I saw her reaction to Cha Soo-yeon, and after hearing her words today…

There was definitely something between the two.

My suspicions were immediately solved with Lee Soo-mi’s next words.

“That woman… Is my older sister.”

“…What?”

“Cha Soo-yeon. Real name Lee Soo-yeon. The worst psychopath who killed my entire family except me 10 years ago. That crazy woman is my sister.”

After hearing that shocking confession…

Everything made sense.

Lee Soo-mi’s odd reaction, Cha Soo-yeon’s vicious smile too.

It was all a reunion created by their tangled past.

Just like how the members of our club directly joined the <Anti-Villain> to try and erase their trauma themselves…

Lee Soo-mi was another victim of the <Villain> Clan.

“The turning point that led to the Villain Clan’s destruction, as well as finding Cha Soo-yeon… It was all possible because you moved the Anti-Villain, Jae-hyun. So I wanted to tell you.”

Lee Soo-mi’s words were like pouring out her past self.

At that, I made a troubled expression.

While I fully understood her feelings, when it came to murderers…

There were parts that couldn’t simply lead to fulfilling personal greed.

“Holder Lee Soo-mi, that’s…”contemporary romance

“I know. That I can’t simply kill as I wish, and you don’t have that kind of authority either. I just wanted to say it out loud. And in case I do get my revenge, I was hoping you would condone it, Jae-hyun.”

My silence was equivalent to affirmation.

Since her words were just a kind of declaration anyways, I had nothing left to add.

As if Lee Soo-mi understood that well…

She took a step back while smiling like usual.

“Huh- Not only are you cool when speaking seriously, Jae-hyun, I like it. Anyways, don’t get hurt and do well, kay?”

Right after the brief words, Lee Soo-mi entered the cabin.

I stood still for a long time like that as well.

Then I emptied my complicated thoughts while looking out at the ocean.

‘I have to definitely succeed in this operation…’

It wasn’t merely a fight against a criminal organization.

Contained was the revenge and indescribable grudges of many people against the <Villain> Clan.

The all-out war against the <Villain> Clan was right before my eyes.

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