I Became the Academy’s Kibitz Villain

It’s not that anyone would say anything, even if you extended your hand out of pity or sympathy.

Black Taejo, no, the real Taejo, proved himself.

He ensured that he wouldn’t turn into a demon in any situation, using an internal safeguard to prevent himself from darkening.

Such a man couldn’t be left to live as a mere kid or an S-class Scanner forever.

Of course, I had taken advantage of and guided such situations.

Firefox, Yoon Iseon, made a splendid debut using Armored Taejo in the process of becoming an S-class.

But Taejo himself would understand that.

Armored Taejo had shown some childish behavior.

I think that’s better.

Thinking of himself as a sinner, killing his own self and only acting in important matters for the nation, is not good for a child.

In terms of age, he was 17.

He was just a high school freshman.

No matter how different ability users were from ordinary people, Taejo still needed to enjoy his adolescence a bit more.

For Taejo’s healthy mind.

“I refuse.”

Taejo flatly rejected my proposal.

“Why? If you think I’m not treating you as an adult, that’s a misunderstanding.”

“That’s not it. I understand the sentiment behind your words. But I have no intention of letting go of the matters happening behind the nation’s scenes.”

Taejo clenched his right hand into a fist and placed it over his chest.

“To dedicate myself to the nation. To do my best. To step up where others can’t. This isn’t something someone orders me to do; it’s something I want to do.”

“Are you not brainwashed by someone?”

“No.”

I glanced at Yumir.

At least in matters like this, Yumir was better at reading people’s minds.

“Wow…”

Yumir wiped away tears, looking moved.

The look in her eyes as she gazed at Taejo wasn’t one of those drafted for a memorial service on Memorial Day but one of genuine respect for those who have dedicated themselves to the nation.

“Oppa, this person is really amazing.”

“Is that so? Not just treating him as a kid because of his age. Indeed, that was my mistake. I apologize.”

“No need to apologize.”

Taejo bowed his head, looking apologetic.

“Really… it’s amazing that you grew up so upright. Even though I didn’t have much influence on your life, I feel grateful.”

“Many people helped me. Especially my grandfather… the President helped me a lot.”

“The President?”

“Yes.”

Taejo smiled faintly, fiddling with his wrist.

“Since my affairs could cause great harm to me and Irin if revealed to the public, he became the nation’s highest authority.”

“Huh…”

“Please don’t tell others. If it’s revealed that the President, who should work for the nation, became President to protect his family politically, there will be huge political attacks in the National Assembly.”

“I never intended to reveal your past anyway.”

Even Min Ji-young’s affairs were kept quiet by both parties.

At least until Haegneul was pushed to the brink of destruction and all the documents in Haegneul’s cabinet were spread to the world, the story about Min Ji-young would never come out.

Even more so about Taejo’s father.

“And Gwang Ik Gong has also considered me in many ways, and many people have cherished and loved the unruly Taejo on the surface, so I’ve managed to get by without any major issues.”

Although Taejo was called an S-class Scanner, at least his popularity in Korea was comparable to that of any idol.

A character like a troublemaker or a mischief-maker, a hero who drove both fans and haters crazy, was rare in Korea.

“I think it’s better for the unruly Taejo to step up. There is a big reason for this….”

Taejo created eight chairs at the table.

“S-classes are all serious or introverted, so we need at least one person who can show active and outgoing performances.”

Ah.

“Gwang Ik Gong bears the weight of being the world’s strongest. Snow White has long surpassed her Ice Princess image. Tosin is overly serious, Cheok Jun-kyeong is gloomy, and Baridegi, though my sister, is quite eerie. The only active one is Lightning Emperor, and the newly promoted S-class Firefox is more like a serious leader due to her role as the student council president.”

“In other words….”

“If I also become heavy-hearted, all of Korea’s S-classes will become gloomy.”

Taejo smiled brightly, pointing to his hair.

“Dyeing my hair blonde, acting playful, and being a bit cheeky - having one person like that livens up the atmosphere. Especially if that person is the youngest, the ‘lowest S-class.’”

“Is there a need to go as far as being a clown…?”

“Yes.”

Taejo smiled awkwardly and created new chairs next to the eight chairs.

“It would be nice to have such S-classes, but what kind of country is this? It’s a Confucian nation.”

“…….”

Confucian nation.

With just those words, I understood how Taejo lives brightly and cheerfully as the ‘S-class Scanner’ on the surface while bearing his own crown of thorns.

“You were bearing your own crown of thorns.”

“…….”

“To hide the bloodstains on your back, always showing a smiling face to everyone, you were such a true hero.”

Indeed.

Heroes in Korea who were classified as S-class weren’t heroes for no reason.

Staying in Korea despite the numerous negative experiences Black Taejo had faced there, even though it would be frustratingly foolish, was because they were truly suitable to be called ‘heroes.’

Indeed.

I couldn’t become a hero like them.

To show the same spirit of sacrifice as them, I was too selfish and self-centered.

“I’m envious.”

“…Hearing that from the Goblin makes me a bit embarrassed.”

“I’m sincere. Regardless of age, I want to say I respect you as a person.”

“If you put it that way….”

Taejo scratched his head and smiled faintly.

That expression, typical of a 17-year-old high school freshman, made me smile.

Suddenly, Yumir poked my waist from the side.

Was there something she wanted to say, or had Cheonma or Rasputin come to their senses? I tensed for a moment, but Yumir looked up at me with half-closed eyes.

“…Why?”

“Are you trying to seduce a man now?”

“Don’t say such dangerous things.”

I lightly grasped Yumir’s head.

“As a man, I just think he’s amazing and admirable. I’m heterosexual.”

“I think so too… As a big brother and a person with abilities, I think he’s amazing, but that’s about it.”

“…But you’re seducing him right now!”

Even though I emphasized that both Taejo and I were patriots seeking harmony, Yumir still glared at me, grumbling.

“If Taejo were a woman, you’d definitely be hitting on him by now. Right?”

“But he’s a man.”

“Right.”

If he were a woman, maybe, but since he’s a man, it wouldn’t happen in the first place.

“And making him one of us means establishing a ‘cooperative relationship’ with the Secret Society, not a romantic relationship.”

“…….”

I was speaking to Yumir, but it was also directed at Taejo.

“Taejo, if what we’ve talked about so far was as a fellow Korean and a man, from now on, I’m speaking as the ‘Goblin of the Secret Society.’”

Admiring Taejo’s patriotic side was one thing, but what’s important was the matter at hand.

“How you live is your choice, but from now on, let the Secret Society handle such matters. The government will deal with things south of the demilitarized zone. But if something happens north of the demilitarized zone that must not be discovered by anyone, call us.”

“The Secret Society?”

“Yes. That’s not wrong. The Secret Society exists everywhere. And it’s not you joining hands with the Secret Society.”

Thud.

I took out the Goblin Bat.

“When they try to steal the resources of the Korean Peninsula, it’s just a coincidence that members of the Secret Society happened to be there.”

“…….”

“I’ve already discussed this with Gwang Ik Gong.”

Strictly speaking, not at all, but since I was the Black Flame King and Gwang Ik Gong hadn’t stopped me, there shouldn’t be a big problem.

“There are countless ways to handle it without revealing you’re with the Secret Society. If killing them is one, erasing their memories and throwing them over the border is another. If not, we can do ‘ideological education.’”

“…Like the Sephiroth Knights did?”

“Yes. Or as some people say, putting them in a drum with cement and burying it.”

Yumir’s expression soured, so let’s skip that.

“Imprisoning them in the Secret Society’s prison is another way. What do you suggest?”

“…If we kill them, it will only provoke other countries. For me, it’s enough to just drive them away….”

“If you do that, they’ll come back here.”

I extended a hand to Taejo.

“Leave it to me. Let’s make a deal. The Secret Society will handle them. You clean up what’s left here and return with all your agents alive.”

“…How will you solve it?”

“There are many ways. First.”

It’s a matter of choosing a method.

“Let’s kidnap all the thieves here through the dimensional gate.”

“Where are you taking them…?”

“Well.”

Whatever method we choose, the first step was clear.

“To the sorting center.”