Chapter 131 : Chapter 131
Chapter 131: Rome Academy (3)
Please unfasten your seatbelts and exit slowly.
It was an honor to serve you.
Thank you.
As the in-flight announcement ended.
De Marco, who was in charge of protocol, stood in the center of the aisle.
Shall we go then?
To Rome Academy.
Tension and anticipation bloomed simultaneously on the children's faces.
Yeah, let's go.
Yoo Jin was the first to rise from his seat.
It was a field trip to Rome Academy, something that had never happened since its opening.
The moment I stepped off the private jet.
Whoa......
The breathing of Class A changed.
Air different from Korea.
Something hard to explain in words was mixed in the air.
Sniff, sniff.
What is this?
Ye-na touched the tip of her nose.
It was clear yet heavy.
Something invisible lightly tapped her skin and then tickled her nose.
The reactions of the other children were the same.
It was certainly not a sensation one could typically feel.
That must be why all the Class A children made similar expressions.
Is it Mana?
Seong-hyeon said briefly.
You're right.
And it's incredibly dense Mana.
It feels like being inside a Dungeon.
When the voices of the twins followed, the Class A children nodded.
Even if they were students, they were from the prestigious Taewoon High, known as one of the three great schools in South Korea.
Furthermore, it was a class packed with the talents that South Korea was waiting for.
The A-rank children were the first to notice the thick aura of Mana mixed in the air.
However.
It's not... Mana.
At that lightly echoing sound, the gazes of the Class A students focused on one spot.
Jin-ho was standing there.
It's not Mana?
Is there anything else besides Mana that can be felt at this concentration?
The twins shot back.
As Jin-ho hesitated to answer while stroking his chin under the twins' gaze, a voice flew in from the side.
Jin-ho is right.
This isn't Mana.
Well, it's understandable to mistake it for Mana.
But... since we're far from the center, I think it could be misunderstood as Mana.
Kang Tae-wook's firm voice rang out.
The twins and Seong-hyeon scratched their foreheads and sniffed again.
Concentrating with all their might.
Sniff, sniff.
Heavy air unlike the usual.
No matter how much I focused and sniffed again, this was Mana.
No matter how many times I smell it.
It's Mana, right?
If this isn't Mana, what is it?
Are there different types of Mana?
The twins' and Seong-hyeon's furrowed brows turned toward Kang Tae-wook.
They might not know.
Actually, even if it weren't them, any Awakened brought here would say it is Mana.
But Tae-wook knew.
Jin-ho did too.
The two of them knew where this smell came from.
Because they had entered a place where there was Mana much heavier than general Mana.
'Demonic Energy.'
Tae-wook and Jin-ho's eyes met.
They weren't speaking, but they were conversing through their eyes alone.
Naturally, their gazes turned toward Yoo jin.
The gazes of the other children did too.
Yoo jin, who was reaching into the air as if gesturing to touch the atmosphere, nodded.
Well, it might not make sense, but this is not Mana.
You might mistake it for high-density Mana because we're a bit away from the center, but as Jin-ho and Tae-wook said, this is Demonic Energy, not Mana.
Demonic Energy...?
What is Demonic Energy?
It felt a bit late to explain now.
Anyway, even if they knew of its existence, the children wouldn't be able to feel Demonic Energy even as time passed.
So I skipped the long explanation.
It exists.
Something only Returnees can use.
The pupils of the Class A children wavered.
What that meant was.
That Holy King or whatever is quite something.
Not just the Academy... but this entire city of Rome is surrounded by Demonic Energy.
An amount of Demonic Energy sufficient to protect a whole vast land the size of a region, no, a nation, rather than just a single location.
I can't gauge how strong they are, but just possessing this ability.
Impressive.
From the mouth of the Returnee called the Demon King, for the first time regarding someone other than his students.
A compliment popped out.
As time passed, the children gradually adapted to the Demonic Energy.
To begin with, the concentration was weaker than inside the Gourd that Jin-ho and Tae-wook had entered.
Since the Demonic Energy was being used as a national defense wall rather than for training purposes, adapting wasn't that difficult.
Now then, first, you must pass through the main gate to get to the Academy.
De Marco's voice rang out loudly.
At the end of the runway.
A large arched Gate stood there.
A thin curtain of light was visible between the marble pillars.
It's a Mana scanner for visitor verification.
It's a device to check if the personnel are pre-registered and if there are any danger factors.
Is it like airport security?
When Jin-ho asked, De Marco nodded.
It's similar.
However... it's a bit more honest.
There is nothing you can hide.
At those words.
The expressions of several children hardened slightly.
Especially.
Ex... excuse me.
One of the twin brothers raised his hand.
By any chance... does it filter out snacks too?
......Pardon?
De Marco lost his words for a moment.
Snacks are fine.
Phew....
The twins swept their chests simultaneously in relief.
Hey, why are you worrying about that?
The Italian cookies looked delicious, I was afraid they'd take them away.
At Seong-hyeon's question, Im Jong-sin and Im Jong-il simultaneously revealed the cookies they had received as dessert from the in-flight meal, half-sticking out of their inner pockets.
***
Seong-hyeon's eyes became narrow lines.
The expressions of the children around them vanished.
Jin-ho and Ye-na laughed.
Kang Tae-wook sighed and shook his head.
And then, Thump! Thump!
Dull sounds followed.
Yoo jin lightly struck the heads of the twins with the bottom of his fist.
In Yoo Jin's mind, he had hit them lightly, but half of the twins' bodies ended up stuck in the ground.
Ha... ha... ha....
Unlike the children shaking their heads, a small smile hung on De Marco's face.
After the small incident passed.
A moment later.
Then, let's have the students pass through first.
At De Marco's words.
Seong-hyeon stepped in front of the Gate first.
the thin curtain of light wavered before his eyes.
Kkadeuk—
A small vibrating sensation.
At the same time, a magic circle rose above the Gate.
[Physical Armament : Low]
[Mana Quantity : Excellent]
[Danger Level : Permissible]
Click.
The jewels embedded on both sides of the Gate glowed green.
You may pass.
Seong-hyeon glanced back.
Whoa...... it's like a game......
Leaving those words behind, as he passed through the Gate.
Second, third, fourth.
The children entered the curtain one by one.
Each time, different figures appeared.
[Spatial Perception Ability : High]
[Cognitive Ability : High]
[Physical Strength : High]
[Mana Purity : Special]
[Mental Stability : Caution]
What's up with the Mental Stability Caution......
Who is that......
I can tell who it is without looking......
Seong-hyeon glanced at Tae-wook, and Tae-wook looked at the sky, pretending not to notice.
Buzz, buzz.
De Marco let out a smile as if it were interesting.
...As expected of prestigious high school students from Korea.
What is?
At Yoo Jin's question.
Overall, the balance is incredibly good.
It's rare for these kinds of figures to come out of a single class.
Is that so?
Yes.
Most schools lean toward one side.
Attack-specialized, magic-specialized, support-specialized... like that.
There aren't many classes where the abilities are leveled up across the board like this.
De Marco swiped down on the tablet screen once.
Moreover, they are overall optimized for 'combat'.
Yoo jin smirked.
Of course.
They are the students of a Returnee.
That's right.
And so, all the students passed through the Gate.
The last two remaining people.
Yoo jin and Lee Si-wang.
Then finally, Hunter Lee Si-wang and the Returnee.
De Marco gestured politely.
Please pass through, teachers.
Ah, do I have to do it too?
Me too?
According to regulations... yes. I'm sorry.
Facing each other, Lee Si-wang and Yoo jin shrugged their shoulders as if it were a chore.
Fine.
Whatever.
If Teacher Yoo Jin is doing it, I should too.
I'll go first.
After finishing his words, Lee Si-wang walked into the Gate.
The thin curtain shook slightly.
At that moment.
Kkadeuk—
The curtain wailed as if it were surging.
......?
The magic circle above the Gate began to spin frantically.
[Mana Quantity : Highest]
[Danger Level : Highest]
[Mana Purity : Special]
[Classification : A-Rank - Dangerous]
'Beeeeeeeeep!!!'
An alarm sounded.
Eh?! What's this?
Why is it like this......
De Marco approached the Gate.
He then tapped the tablet several times with a flustered face.
[Subject of Surveillance : Designated]
[Entry : Limited Permission]
A small sphere next to the Gate glowed as if opening a red eye.
As expected of the undisputed number one A-rank of a nation.
It seems it even judged the danger level.
Perhaps the combat experience accumulated over time was measured as well.
Oh, as expected of the Ignis Vice Guild Master......
He's impressive when you see him like this.
It wasn't even this much when Tae-wook passed by.
Compare things that are comparable.
Is a prospect the same as the official number one?
Assistant Homeroom Teacher, oh......!
At the voices of the Class A children, Lee Si-wang's shoulders bounced for the first time in a while.
A smile spread across Lee Si-wang's face at the feeling he hadn't felt in a long time.
At that sight, a smile also formed on Yoo jin's face, who was in the back.
Honestly...... he's a kid, a kid.
Then finally, the Returnee.
Yeah.
Yoo Jin stepped forward toward the Gate without hesitation.
Gulp.
The children who had already passed the Gate swallowed hard.
Even the assistant teacher, Hunter Lee Si-wang, was at this level.
Let alone the homeroom teacher, Yoo jin, who was a Returnee higher than S-rank.
It wouldn't be strange no matter what reaction came out.
As Yoo jin's foot passed the Gate.
BEE—EEEEEEP!!!!!!
The crystal ball next to the Gate flashed red and then emitted a black light.
[Mana Quantity : Uncalculable]
[Danger Level : Immeasurable]
[Classification : Exception]
BEE—EEEEEEP!!!
A massive warning sound resonated in all directions.
Beyond the Gate shaking, it fluctuated as if it were about to break.
It's an error.
Error?
De Marco said with a stiff face.
I'm sorry.
One moment...... Please wait just one moment!
He hurriedly pressed the tablet.
I had already reported to the Holy King...... what on earth......
BEE— EEEEEP!!!!!
The warning sound grew louder and louder, becoming uncontrollable.
Ugh!
Agh, my ears hurt.
The children raised both hands and clutched their ears.
[Error]
[Error]
Beyond the warning sound notifying an emergency, even a mechanical voice announcing an error echoed from the Gate.
When it wouldn't be controlled no matter how much De Marco tried.
Hmm....
Yoo jin, who was scratching his forehead.
Boom!
He smashed the Gate with his fist.
Uh......
......
The Gate, which regained its silence in an instant.
It's dead......
The Gate... died......
Sayonara......
A moment later.
Exception processing complete.
Entry permitted.
Instead of a mechanical voice, a fabricated voice popped out of Yoo jin's mouth.
And then he passed through the Gate with an nonchalant expression.
The children watching this scene from behind buzzed.
Wow, it's a truly versatile bug......
I wonder what kind of world the teacher is living in......
Unlike the children who wore stunned expressions, Yoo jin had a calm look on his face.
It's finally quiet now.
At the time Yoo Jin and the Class A students were passing through the Gate connected to the Academy.
Inside the Academy.
The Principal's Office.
Koong!!!!!
The ground shook as if an earthquake had occurred.
Simultaneously, the eyes of the Principal of Rome Academy and Holy King Karina, who were sitting together, met.
Maria, what is... this......
***
The Holy King's eyes were shaking violently.
Maria...?
The Holy King, who was drinking tea, wiped her expression.
I think this person is even more incredible than I thought...... Grandfather......
It was the first time since the opening.
Even the Supreme King who had visited secretly.
Even the Heavenly King who had come recklessly saying he wanted to fight.
Something they couldn't do.
The blessing called the Shield of God.
The connection with the Gate, which was made so it could never be pierced by physical force, was severed.
Did he release all of his Demonic Energy?
The Holy King couldn't even imagine that he had broken it with his fist.