Chapter 2043 – 2043. Savior Of The Academy
Tenrai Nagisa nodded, looking at Seong Hari.
“That’s logical. But this isn’t a situation where we should act logically. If we give in to the Madojeong’s threats and do nothing, it will only lead to the worst possible outcome.”
“That’s not a reason for the kids to get involved. They’re not official heroes yet. They’re just first-year academy students.”
“The students gathered here are not ordinary. They have the skills to be active heroes right now.”
Seong Hari looked around at the students. As Tenrai Nagisa said, the students gathered here had the skills to be active heroes right away.
“Okay, I’ll admit that. But dealing with the Madojeong is a mission that even A-Class heroes find burdensome. Do you think these students are at the level of A-Class heroes?”
No matter what, first-year academy students couldn’t compare to A-Class heroes.
They were lacking in all aspects, including combat experience and stats. To have these students face the Madojeong? It was practically suicide.
“Did you think I would recklessly throw students in without considering that? There are ways to temporarily boost the students’ potential. The potential of the students gathered here is above A-Class. You can’t deny that.”
“…You know that potential isn’t everything for an A-Class hero. Even if you boost their potential with your abilities and items, it’s not enough. The Madojeong isn’t a group that can be taken down by a few A-Class heroes.”
“First, we need to correct a misconception. You’re overestimating the Madojeong too much. It’s often said that the Madojeong is in collusion with the Japanese government and controls the Japanese underworld. That’s an undeniable fact. But that doesn’t mean they’re the strongest military group in Japan. If they were, they wouldn’t be moving so secretly. In the past, the Japanese government and others have put pressure on us and interfered with matters related to the Madojeong. But not anymore. The Madojeong has crossed the line. They’ve crossed it way too far.”
“Does that mean Japan’s S-Class heroes are moving?”
“They’ve already moved. It would be stranger if they didn’t move in this situation. The S-Class heroes are cleaning up the Madojeong’s forces. The problem is that the Madojeong’s real goal isn’t terrorism, but a descent ritual.”
“If S-Class heroes are moving, we don’t need to move. We can just tell them to stop the ritual.”
“What’s important to politicians is to resolve social chaos as quickly as possible. No matter how many times I appeal to them to stop the ritual, they’ll stop the terrorism first. To them, the immediate visible crisis is more important.”
“……”
Seong Hari’s brow furrowed. She was a SS-Class hero from Korea. She couldn’t be unaware of the relationship between hero activities and politics. She knew that the Hero Association was ultimately beholden to the government.
“Even so, sending the kids is insane.”
“I have no intention of assigning the students the task of dealing with the Madojeong. They just need to disrupt the ritual. They just need to buy time so that other heroes can move and all the bombs installed in the academy can be disarmed.”
“I don’t see why that’s necessary. Can’t we just clean up after the ritual is over?”
“You’re arrogant. But that’s just like you. The power of the gods is beyond your and my imagination. Were you thinking of Susanoo’s power? Susanoo’s power isn’t a power received through a ritual. Why do you think the Madojeong crossed the line? It’s because they’re confident that they can clean everything up after successfully completing the ritual. Therefore, we must stop their ritual at all costs.”
Still, Seong Hari didn’t look convinced. Before she could object, Hyodo Yuki, the protagonist of Arashi Academy, spoke up.
“I think we should move as the headmaster says. It’s true that we might not be able to defeat the Madojeong with our strength alone. But we can at least disrupt them.”
Then, Mieko said with a determined voice.
“We have to stop the ritual, no matter what.”
Shinbo Reika also didn’t stay silent.
“We’re still students, but we’re not children. If the headmaster can temporarily awaken our potential, I think it’s definitely possible.”
I didn’t stay silent either.
“Mom. Don’t underestimate us too much.”
“……”
Seong Hari’s eyes wavered as if she was flustered.
Honestly, Seong Hari was 100% right. But the potential of these three was real. In terms of potential alone, they were all above S-Class. Even if they lacked combat experience, their potential alone was enough to be helpful. The protagonist’s group wasn’t the protagonist’s group for nothing.
‘Even if Seong Hari opposes to the end, it doesn’t matter.’
I had already decided. As the headmaster said, Japan could really be finished. And they wouldn’t be satisfied with just Japan. I would deal with it before things got more extreme. Above all, I had been wronged by the Madojeong, so I had to pay them back.
‘The problem is that I don’t know where they are.’
I knew that Amaterasu’s Magatama was on Mount Fuji. But I didn’t know the exact location. I had searched near Mount Fuji with Makina last time, but I couldn’t find it. There were no traces of the Madojeong either.
‘I should be able to find them now that the ritual is underway.’
The thought of killing Sanada Kenshi, the leader of the Madojeong, already made my hands itch.
All the students looked at Seong Hari with determined eyes. Seong Hari relaxed her furrowed brow.
“…I have a condition. You said you’d temporarily awaken their potential, right? If that power is below my standards, I won’t allow it.”
“That means you’re allowing it.”
Tenrai Nagisa smiled confidently.
“We can’t do it here, so follow me. I’ll explain the plan in detail as we go. First of all, you’re not the only ones moving. I also have a trump card… I’ve made them move.”
“Wait. Then the students don’t need to move.”
“They lack power. They can’t disrupt the Madojeong’s ritual with just them.”
“……”
“You should know that the Madojeong is conducting the ritual using Tsukuyomi’s Magatama and Amaterasu’s Magatama. The problem is the location. The location of Amaterasu’s Magatama is Mount Fuji, and Mount Fuji is also a suitable place to conduct the ritual… but the Madojeong gave up on an efficient location.”
Mieko was the first to understand Nagisa’s words.
“What you’re saying, headmaster… is that the ritual is being conducted somewhere else.”
“It’s to confuse us and prevent us from interfering with the ritual as much as possible. They underestimated me too much. Did they think I wouldn’t know just because they changed the ritual location?”
Hearing Tenrai Nagisa’s words, I realized that my search of Mount Fuji had been a waste of time. I think I had invested about 4 hours… it was just a waste of time.
The place we arrived at, following Tenrai Nagisa, was a space underground. I could feel a strong barrier.
“This is my workshop, study, and training room. First, I’ll awaken your potential. Come here.”
There were things that looked like magic circles drawn on the floor, and on one side, there were piles of items, reagents, and metals.
The potential awakening started with Hyodo Yuki.
‘Is he using reagents, items, and metals as a price? I can’t tell just by looking.’
The formation that looked like a magic circle shone, and the prepared items disappeared into light. Then, something began to seep into Hyodo Yuki. I could feel it. Hyodo Yuki’s power had become much stronger than before.
『Name: Hyodo Yuki
Strength: S Stamina: A+ Agility: SS- Durability: A+ Mana: A+
Trait: Infinite Swordsman (SS+)
Skills: Spiritual Light Path (S+), Gale Step (A+), Aikido (S)
Trust: 52』
‘…What the hell?’
As soon as I checked the status window, I cursed. Hyodo Yuki had become stronger than me in an instant. Even if he was the protagonist, wasn’t that too much?
“The potential awakening will last for about 15 hours. After that, it will return to normal. Now, this is a sword I prepared for you.”
Tenrai Nagisa handed Hyodo Yuki a sword that emitted an ominous aura.
『Cursed Sword Muramasa
Rank: S
Leads the user to ruin.
Elevates the user’s swordsmanship to the next level.
Muramasa’s power increases depending on the user’s stats.
Enhances physical abilities.
Can use Ten Thousand Demon Slash.』
I felt like I was dying of stomach pain.
Hyodo Yuki grabbed the cursed sword Muramasa as if he was possessed. The curse that led the user to ruin didn’t work on the future great swordsman. It was because of Hyodo Yuki’s trait.
I narrowed my eyes and took stock.
Could I win if I fought him now?
First of all, it was clear that I was at a disadvantage in terms of stats. S-Rank stats weren’t just for show. If I made full use of what I had?
I had more combat experience, but it wasn’t like Hyodo Yuki had no combat experience at all.
‘It’s hard to guarantee victory.’
I also checked Seong Hari’s reaction. She seemed quite surprised, judging by her wide eyes. Well, just looking at the power emanating from Hyodo Yuki now, it was comparable to an S-Class hero.
“Hmm. You really don’t disappoint me. It was worth spending 20 billion yen! Now, next is Mieko! It’s your turn!”
Mieko and Reika’s potential was awakened. It wasn’t as much as Hyodo Yuki, but they had become strong enough to not be ignored. They also received excellent items from Tenrai Nagisa.
“Next is Seong Yujin! Come here!”
Tenrai Nagisa called me, trying to hide her exhaustion.
How strong would I become? I approached her with anticipation.
Tenrai Nagisa started some kind of spell. The formation drawn on the floor shone for a moment.
“……Huh?”
Tenrai Nagisa looked flustered and activated the formation again.
“That can’t be… the potential awakening isn’t working. ……You have no potential?”
I felt disappointed, but I immediately accepted it. Potential was also a kind of talent. It was natural that I had no potential.
“Yujin has no potential? That can’t be! Do it properly!”
Seong Hari started to make a fuss.
“I’ll try again, so calm down! There must have been some mistake!”
