I Became an Academy Overpowered Growth Genius

I Became an Academy Overpowered Growth Genius – 47

EP.47 Park Shin-hoo in Crisis (1)

“Has god finally pointed out a true lover for me?”

– Hmm♥ Hmm♡ –

Credo embraced his arms as if embracing a pillow and squirmed like a puppy.

In his mind, he was already envisioning himself spending sweet time with Park Shin-hoo.

“……”

Since it wasn’t exactly a pleasant sight, the black nun quickly brought up the next matter.

“There’s also an unusual report separately delivered from the surveillance team.”

– Hmm~♥ Hm? –

Credo halted abruptly at the words of the black nun.

“An unusual report separately delivered?”

Usually, separately delivered reports without going through the higher-ups tended to be unpleasant.

“Yes. It’s about six members of the surveillance team who disappeared as if evaporated while tailing the target.”

As expected, there was always something.

“What does it mean they disappeared? Are you saying they died? Did they engage in combat with the target?”

If the surveillance team laid hands on the target first, things would get complicated.

Because prey that has been attacked raises its guard level significantly.

“We’re still investigating, but no bodies or signs of combat have been found within their activity radius.”

Fortunately, it seemed they hadn’t touched the target first.

“Then desertion?”

“We’ve investigated everything from portal usage records to smuggling records, but there’s no evidence suggesting they fled.”

“…? Then…”

If they didn’t die fighting the target or flee to seek a new life…

“Betrayal to the organization and surrender to a corporation or association?”

“…We’ll need further investigation, but that’s unlikely.”

“Well, that’s true.”

For those who betray the organization and rely on corporations or associations, their fate is often very miserable.

While higher-ranking Demons can trade information for favors, lower-ranking ones are simply used until they’re no longer useful and then discarded.

After being discarded, they end up living a worse life than even criminals, with their bodies filled with tracking devices.

In other words, betrayal or surrender for lower-ranking Demons was a worse option than suicide.

“So, what could it be?”

Credo chuckled with pure curiosity.

“Did they really vanish?”

“We’re also considering the possibility of a third party.”

“A third party?”

“Yes. It’s the possibility that hunters specialized in Demon hunting may have started operating from the stellaport.”

“Hmm… Indeed..”

Hunters specialized in Demon hunting were all extremely cautious and had the ability to vanish six lower-ranking Demons as easily as flicking their noses.

“But…”

No matter how cautious they were, they would inevitably leave some traces.

For a hunter, who was human, to erase the magic energy scattered by Demons, they needed a purification artifact.

But even that would leave some traces.

To completely erase traces to this extent, one of two conditions had to be met.

Either they possessed light attribute magic capable of purifying magic, or they possessed mana of S-rank or higher, strong enough to incinerate the magic.

“It sounds a bit far-fetched, doesn’t it?”

Neither possessing light attributes nor encountering S-rank hunters was easy.

They would probably be operating far away, across the sea, in legendary gates or the top floors of towers.

Moreover, it was even more implausible that such valuable individuals would move just to deal with a mere six lower-ranking Demons.

However, the black nun’s expression was firm.

“The two most influential corporations in Korea are collaborating. It’s quite realistic to assume that they are mobilizing S-rank hunters in cooperation to completely root out internal spies.”

“Hmm. Not a very pleasant story.”

It meant that in the worst-case scenario, they might end up fighting against light attribute possessors or S-rank hunters.

But he wasn’t scared or intimidated by that.

“But anyone who interferes with my hunting will die.”

His rank was A+.

Though not reaching S-rank level, he still stood a chance.

“I have a trump card.”

Credo pulled something out from behind.

– Squirm! –

What he revealed was a dagger covered in wriggling flesh.

It was a sinister dagger that greatly amplified the power of Demons temporarily in exchange for life force.

With this dagger, Credo’s rank would jump from A+ to S+ in an instant.

In that state, Credo was confident he could defeat anyone, whether a stronger S-rank hunter or a hard counter to Demons like a light attribute possessor, without any problems.

“I hope I can meet Shin-hoo soon~♥”

– Hmm♥ Hmm♡ –

Credo began to dance again, squirming like a puppy.

The excitement and dopamine exploded at the thought of taking Park Shin-hoo’s first time.

Seeing his eager demeanor, the black nun spoke with a stern tone.

“If this operation fails, it will be much more difficult to target Park Shin-hoo in the future. Upper management has entrusted you with an important opportunity, so please take it seriously.”

“My love is always serious.”

‘…This man. There’s a high probability he’ll violate Park Shin-hoo.’

The black nun felt the need to emphasize just one thing properly.

“…Whatever you do to him doesn’t matter. But the target must remain sober. We need to interrogate him on how he obtained our information.”

At those words, Credo’s black lips stretched all the way to his ears.

“Don’t worry.”

– Chirp! –

“But I can’t guarantee his innocence~♥”

====

***

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The next day.

A new week began.

The first class on Monday was an outdoor lesson.

It was a class where they searched for and collected herbs in the vast mountains.

“This looks like a good spot.”

Park Shin-hoo led his group to the most vibrant area.

There was a reason besides wanting to collect high-scoring herbs that grew only in vibrant areas; there was a more important reason.

“This soil is excellent.”

– Splash! –

Park Shin-hoo scooped up the moist soil with both hands.

The soil was covered in moss, with small worms swimming in the greasy soil.

At a glance, it was filled with the vitality and life force of nature.

“Hawop!!!”

Without any hesitation, Park Shin-hoo took a big bite of the soil.

– Gulp gulp! –

It was to increase his affinity with the spirits needed when contracting with the earth spirits.

– Gulp! –

“Kek! Kekkek…!”

Of course, the taste was terrible, and swallowing it was nothing short of torture.

– Hawop!!! –

– Gulp! Gulp! Gluck! –

However, Park Shin-hoo didn’t stop and continued to eat the soil.

It was his determination to break Kang Seo-Jun with the power of the spirits and prevail.

But it couldn’t be helped that his appearance, with mud smeared all over his mouth while eating soil, looked pitiful.

“Uh…”

“Ahem, ahem…”

“To that extent…”

Even the thugs who usually regarded Park Shin-hoo with awe and fear couldn’t help but send sympathetic glances now.

– Ting! –

Park Shin-hoo didn’t like those looks one bit.

“Kek! I’m just… Kek! Huh? Kekkek! Can we quickly find the herbs? Kek!”

Park Shin-hoo spat mud instead of saliva and urged them on.

“Yeah, right! Let’s find them quickly!”

“Let’s move!”

“That spot over there looks good!”

Only then did the thugs start searching for herbs by feeling the damp soil.

‘Kang Seo-Jun….’

– Squelch! Squelch! –

Park Shin-hoo tightly clenched his fist covered in mud as he chewed the last handful.

All this suffering was because of Kang Seo-Jun, that bastard.

‘If it weren’t for him… The top spot and the fruit of the sun would have been mine…!’

Now, I have to work hard even to obtain the top spot, even resorting to eating dirt.

– Squelch! Squelch! Plop! Plop! –

‘Just wait a little longer…’

Even a hair’s breadth difference wouldn’t matter.

Just once. I just need to break him once.

Then thoroughly crush him…

‘Hmm… But he’s already half-dead or something… How can I further break him? No, no! Wait!’

Park Shin-hoo vigorously shook his head to dispel such thoughts.

If he could gain the power to break Kang Seo-Jun somehow, he would relentlessly target him in every survival test.

Then Kang Seo-Jun would always be eliminated early due to Park Shin-hoo’s persistent attacks, lingering in the lower ranks of practical scores, and naturally, the top spot would be reclaimed by Park Shin-hoo.

‘My plan is perfect…! There’s no way I’ll fail when I put in this much effort!’

Park Shin-hoo smiled bitterly, imagining the moment when he would defeat Kang Seo-Jun.

It was when his teeth, covered in mud, sparkled in the sunlight.

“I got you.”

The sticky and viscous sound tickled Park Shin-hoo’s ears.

“!?”

Instantly, chills covered his entire body.

Park Shin-hoo turned around sharply, eyes wide open.

But all he saw was the dense forest path.

“What are you looking at? Hey, honey?”

The voice echoed again, right behind his head.

“What the!”

Park Shin-hoo turned back and swung his fist.

– Thwack! –

However, his punch, swung with some force, was easily blocked by the hand of a stranger.

“What, what!?”

His shocked expression twisted in disbelief as his punch was effortlessly stopped.

“Temper, temper.”

On the other hand, Credo Johnson, the man who blocked Park Shin-hoo’s punch, licked his lips with a blissful expression, as if he had a delectable dish in front of him.

“W-who are you!?”

– Pwahh!! –

“Ugh…!”

As Park Shin-hoo tried to speak, he was suddenly punched in the stomach and fell to the ground.

“Ugh…! Guh…!”

Credo looked down at Park Shin-hoo, who couldn’t even catch his breath, and chuckled.

“Poor thing. Doesn’t even recognize his husband, honey?”

“W-what…!!! Guh-haak!!”

The disgust of being punched in the stomach combined with the embarrassment of the situation made him feel nauseous.

The mud he had chewed and swallowed scraped his throat and flowed back.

– Plop! Plop! –

Mud, now mixed with saliva and gastric fluid, spewed out of Park Shin-hoo’s mouth.

It looked as if he was defecating from his mouth.

“Oh my♥. This isn’t my cup of tea either.”

This day was undoubtedly going to be remembered as the worst day for Park Shin-hoo.