I Possessed a Broken Academy Instructor

Chapter 30

In a room thick with shadows.

“It’s so boring.”

“…What do you mean?”

In response to Hughes’ softly muttered words, Philia asked him with a voice gentle, unlike the daylight.

Then Hughes lifted his head slightly from her embrace, curling his lips into a sly smile as he whispered.

“Isn’t it just too peaceful this time?”

Philia tenderly brushed aside his characteristic curly light brown hair.

“Certainly, it must be disappointing for you.”

“Yeah.”

He mixed formal and informal speech whimsically, yet she paid it no mind.

If those who remembered her from the day saw this, they might suspect she had a split personality, for his touch and gaze were filled with warmth.

“Haahm.”

Of course, Hughes continued his thoughts as if he cared little for how she looked at him.

“There should be some thrill in the inspectors clashing with each other.”

It wasn’t without reason that the position of the entrance inspector was avoided.

Rather, this case was the rare exception.

Even now, with the Ministry of Defense and various factions mediating, bloodshed was uncommon, but just a decade ago, the situation was different.

Fistfights were commonplace, and there were even reports of actual murders—what more needs to be said?

Isn’t it a pity?

He himself could certainly engage if he wanted to.

…Moreover, he had found a suitable opponent.

The thought of that unfortunate, ravaged face flitted through his mind, but he made no effort to reveal such inner turmoil.

“What can be done? The higher-ups have come to an agreement among themselves.”

As he spoke, Hughes freed himself from Philia’s embrace, resting his head against the pillow.

Then, he gently brushed her shining blonde hair, which sparkled even more under the soft light.

Sruuuk.

The touch that lingered at his fingertips before falling away was filled with unmistakable affection.

But why was it, then?

A bittersweet feeling lingers at the corners of her mouth, as if that affection were forever out of reach.

“…….”

No, the truth is she knows.

Hugh keeps her close not out of love, but because he projects someone else onto her.

Yet Philia does not show it.

Instead, she draws him back into her embrace, as if to cover the longing in his eyes for another with her own presence.

“…….”

“…….”

How long did that warm silence stretch?

Just as Philia, unable to resist the weight of her drowsiness, began to close her heavy eyelids and lower her head slowly.

Knock, knock—.

At the sound of a knock on the door of their lodgings, Hugh lifted his gaze toward it.

In turn, Philia, who had just begun to drift into sleep, opened her eyes once more and stared into the beyond.

“Hmm.”

Hugh averted his gaze to check the time.

It was just past one in the morning.

At such a late hour, it was unusual for anyone to visit the quarters of a special duty officer at the academy, who was treated almost like a guest of honor.

“This is troublesome.”

Moreover, if it were a delicate situation involving a breach of military decorum, it was even more so.

With a wry smile, Hugh gestured for Philia to get dressed, then hastily threw on a white shirt that lay draped over a nearby chair.

The buttons were left undone, casting shadows that danced with the movement of his muscles, and behind him, the silhouette of Philia slipping into her clothes intertwined with his.

“Who is it?”

As he asked, a voice soon came through the speaker, belonging to a man standing outside.

〔Instructor of the Defense Special Duty Academy. Rotten. I have matters concerning the cadets to discuss.〕

He glanced at the screen illuminating the door, confirming that, as he said, a familiar instructor stood alone outside.

Outwardly, there was no issue.

A visit at this hour, while rare, was certainly plausible.

…But why, then?

Why did it feel as if danger lurked just beyond the door?

“Discussion, is it? Understood.”

Hughes nodded at Rotten’s words, casting a fleeting glance behind him.

Philia had already donned her clothes, however hastily, and upon confirming this, Hughes opened the door without a thought to buttoning his shirt.

“Well, what brings you here?”

He opened the door, a friendly smile gracing his face as he leaned out.

Yet, what returned to him was not the salute of a mentor, but a spear thrust aimed squarely at his throat.

Pang!

In that fleeting moment, the sharpness of the extended spear was filled only with the intent to kill.

“Ugh!”

It was a blow that no one could possibly react to, yet paradoxically, the instructor who aimed for him let out a cry that was almost a sigh.

He felt it instinctively.

That his attack had failed.

And just as he was about to retreat immediately—

Creeeak—

The special operations weapon forged from carbine alloy.

With a sound of distortion at its tip, his vision darkened.

“W-what?”

A question that arose in bewilderment, like a dying scream.

That was the last of Instructor Rotten.

Crack—

Thud.

A black shadow, having precisely severed his throat, swiftly returned to Hughes’s side.

“Let’s see. The involvement of a special operations academy instructor means…”

He whispered softly to Philia, who had already drawn her sword, her smooth abdominal muscles exposed beneath her shirt, showing no intention of hiding them.

“Indeed, it must be a coup, right?”

And in that moment.

“No need to subdue them!”

“Kill them both!”

A series of special operations officers surged forth in unison.

And at that instant.

Kwaaah!

From every corner of the colony, sporadic explosions reverberated.

*

How many lower-tier special officers are needed to confront a higher-tier special officer?

The answer is simple.

‘Unknown.’

Gear, the very foundation of the superhuman, is a virtual organ forged within to wield ‘psionic energy’ more efficiently.

Naturally, the use and operation of it fall entirely upon the individual.

In other words, even if they share the same Gear, the efficiency and output vary from person to person.

‘…Five dual Gears. Two triple Gears.’

Jin Crow maintained his composure as he scanned those who surrounded him.

His aide, perhaps feeling like a hindrance, had quickly withdrawn, leaving behind one special officer among the remaining who, wielding a weapon that resembled a special armament, spoke into the air.

“No need for capture or defection. We end this here.”

Those words were not directed at Jin Crow, but rather at the defense special officers encircling him.

And immediately after those words were uttered.

KWA-BOOM!

With the explosion, the blade of the triple Gear special officer at the forefront surged forth.

“Don’t let your guard down! He’s at least a quad Gear!”

The shout carried not only hostility but also a resolve prepared for death.

Because of that, Jin Crow couldn’t help but smile wryly.

‘Who is it that’s risking their life?’

In truth, it should be them who are putting their lives on the line.

KAGANG!

Following the instinct, no, the path etched into his very flesh, a blade as dark as the abyss met the oncoming weapon with a clash, but this was merely the beginning.

“Grrk!”

KWA-HA-HA-HA-HA!

“I won’t let you escape!”

Vines piercing through the earth ensnared his ankles, while a special officer leaped from the tunnel’s ceiling, an axe poised to cleave his body in two with a single strike.

Just moments ago, no.

Had he not faced Liberto in battle, he would have been suffocated by the malevolence and murderous intent that surged toward him like a tidal wave.

But…

‘Cutting at the side, twisting the body to the left.’

Creeeak, creak-.

Two gears turning smoothly.

And a third, rusted gear, the Triple, grinding and squeaking as it turned.

The psionic energy writhing along the circuits etched within him seemed to assist his judgment and movements, as if it were determined to save its master, or perhaps to aid him in battle.

It was a sensation both familiar and alien, reminiscent of a past unconsciousness.

“Ugh!”

“Gah!”

I sliced through the vines that restricted my movement along my ankle, spinning the axe like a wheel as I lunged, searching for the opening of my foe.

KWAAM!

Thick dust enveloped my vision.

And in that fleeting moment, a flash glimmered before Jin Crow’s eyes.

“……!”

He turned his head, feeling the heavy malice pressing against the back of his neck.

In that instant, a long, spinning blade of a hidden weapon grazed the edge of his throat.

Splat!

Blood sprayed, and Jin Crow slowly raised his hand to brush his nape.

What he felt through the leather glove was the warmth of his own blood. He cast a glance at the special operations officer still glaring at him, a bitter laugh escaping his lips.

“Let me ask you one thing.”

“……What is it?”

“Why go this far?”

It was a nervous murmur.

As if to say, there’s no issue with killing you, but I’m curious about the reason why.

Perhaps he was overwhelmed by the atmosphere, or perhaps he hoped their pent-up frustration would reach him as well.

“I know the factions have abandoned the planet Lemaal. Is there any reason beyond that?”

The answer was spat out through clenched teeth.

At this, Jin Crow closed his eyes tightly, then slowly nodded.

“Right.”

The anger felt by those before him was justified.

He himself, in their eyes, would appear as nothing more than trash that consented to the assault, or perhaps an enemy.

‘There is no longer a chance for the planet Remal to be saved.’

It was not that he hadn’t mulled it over.

He knew well that the agreements of the factions were for their own convenience, not for the sake of the inhabitants of Remal.

Yet he could not oppose it.

Setting aside the fact that he was powerless, he simply could not conjure a better solution.

‘Then, must I die here?’

Surely not.

He shook his head.

Though he had been thrust into this narrative, the thought of becoming a self-sacrificing hero to save everyone was far from his mind.

Everything was merely a desperate struggle to move this broken body and somehow survive.

Swoosh—.

With his characteristic dark eyes quietly opened, he pushed his hand into his coat.

At last, he withdrew a heavy syringe filled with a blue liquid and quietly plunged it into the nape of his neck.

“……Guh!”

It was none other than ‘Pentacle.’

His pale, haggard visage twisted in agony, and the blood that flowed down from his tightly bitten lips mingled with the faint wounds on his neck, staining his white shirt with crimson.

Veins stood out, and his pallid skin turned even whiter.

His fingertips trembled, and a drop of cold sweat trickled down his cheek like a tear.

“……Wh-what.”

The special operations officers of the defense force did not move hastily at the bizarre sight.

No, it would be more accurate to say they could not move.

Jin Crow.

Though he had not intended it, the murderous intent he had half-instinctively suppressed until now erupted, engulfing the tunnel in an instant.

‘Wh-what…….’

Whether it was dual gear, triple gear, supernatural abilities, or martial arts, it mattered not.

Before the overwhelming predator, occupying the space, stretched its limbs, the only thought etched into the minds of the prey was singular.

‘Run.’

‘W-we are outmatched……!’

His fingertips trembled, and he dropped the enhanced round he had been about to load.

“Huuh…”

And at last, the moment when Jin Crow, fully suppressing the ecstasy and elation of the drug, the pain and the recoil, opened his eyes once more.

“Kill, kill them all!”

“Uwaaah!”

The special operations officers, now mere prey, unleashed their final desperate thrashings, instinctual and wild.

Kwaddeudeuk!

They kicked the earth, tore at the tunnel walls, swinging massive swords that dwarfed their own bodies.

Five dual gears, two triple gears.

The psionic energy they unleashed was laced with their individual malice and frantic struggle, tearing at Jin Crow’s flesh, seeking to shred him apart.

Kugugugugung!

At that moment, as the shockwave collapsed the tunnel, the weight of dozens, hundreds of tons bore down upon them.

Jin Crow, a fierce smile blooming on his lips, felt a thrill of ecstasy.

「National Army Swordsmanship No. 1.」

As if he had drunk the blood of his enemies, he whispered softly through lips split and bleeding.

「Horizontal Slash.」

In that instant, the world of his adversaries was cleaved in two.