The Support Ate it All

Late at night.

In a dark alley where not even the moonlight reached, black silhouettes began to gather.

The Thieves' Club side consisted of Dang Gyu-young, Chae Da-bin, the twins, and other second- and third-year members.

Like before, I was playing the role of the mysterious master that Dang Gyu-young had brought in.

The Martial Arts Club was likewise made up of its president, Kim Gap-doo, and several large masked second- and third-years.

Masked Gap-doo confirmed with Dang Gyu-young.

"So this settles the debt between us, right?"

"Clean slate."

Back during the first mentoring session, Kim Gap-doo had staked a pile of club rights as the betting pot only to lose them all.

That debt had lingered all the way into the middle of the second semester, and now, she had agreed to wipe it clean by having him help with this temporary storage infiltration.

Of course, this arrangement covered not only the manpower reinforcement but also the penalty points and disciplinary measures his members would face if they were caught.

Once Dang Gyu-young gave him a definite answer, Kim Gap-doo returned to his members.

He let out a low sigh and apologized.

"…Sorry."

The big masked members responded with gruff remarks.

"As expected, you went crazy over a girl. If it worked out, we'd at least congratulate you, but look at this mess."

"You've only gone and drained the club's foundation."

"Do that again and you'll be buried under the floorboards."

"And buy us a meal, you punk."

"No, no. This time you owe us coffee too if you want forgiveness."

Still, the faint traces of laughter between their words made it clear they weren't truly angry.

It meant that, for all his faults, he was respected.

Angel Gap-doo simply nodded silently.

"…Thanks."

Once the little melodrama had wrapped up, Dang Gyu-young scanned the group and spoke.

"If you're ready, let's get moving."

"Got it."

The two presidents then divided their members into four parties, just as they had planned in advance.

They made sure each group's fighting power was roughly balanced.

For example, the party I was assigned to had fewer members, but each individual's skills were outstanding.

Dang Gyu-young, Kim Gap-doo, a third-year martial artist, Chae Da-bin, and the second-year twin brothers.

With a lineup like this, we probably wouldn't be at much of a disadvantage even against the Disciplinary Committee—

At least, if our numbers were equal or greater.

Soon, the party assignments were complete, and before departure, Dang Gyu-young and Kim Gap-doo each gave brief instructions.

"Keep reporting your position. If you arrive before we do, wait for our signal."

"Good luck to you all."

Then, each group began moving toward their assigned temporary storage sites.

Our destination was an abandoned building between the Dragon Slayer Academy grounds and the downtown area.

The very same place that had served as our control tower during the Black Market operation.

Perhaps because of that, Dang Gyu-young came up beside me and muttered in a low, bitter voice.

"The more I think about it, the more pissed I get. Do you know how much work we put into that place? And now they're just using it as a storage site?"

"Getting angry means you've already lost, you know that, right?"

"I know, but I can't help it. Grrr… I'm going to give them a real beating today."

She was fired up, ready for some bat-swinging payback.

We pushed through the forest for a while until a shabby three-story building came into view.

At Dang Gyu-young's hand signal, everyone stopped. Chae Da-bin cloaked a scouting drone in invisibility and sent it out.

She tapped away at her tablet and reported,

"Two second-years and one third-year patrolling, and another third-year on the rooftop."

"That's it? What about inside?"

"No readings from inside."

"….…"

The group exchanged curious glances.

The defenses were far weaker than expected. There were only two second-years and two third-years.

Of course, that could just mean they were confident.

They'd stationed the bare minimum, planning for Kwak Seung-jae to provide reinforcements through a wooden door the moment they came under attack.

Kim Gap-doo asked,

"Dang Gyu-young, what's the plan?"

"……"

She looked to me with the same unspoken question.

We'd pushed ahead with the operation trusting my word alone, without a clear countermeasure for this kind of situation.

Well, it's about time I showed them.

Since I had to keep playing the role of a mysterious master, I spoke quietly so that only Dang Gyu-young could hear.

"Let's go in right away."

"You sure?"

"I'm sure."

Without pressing further, Dang Gyu-young relayed my orders to the party.

A few looked puzzled, but once Kim Gap-doo also voiced agreement, no one objected.

I stepped out from our hiding spot and walked straight toward the third-year Disciplinary Committee member on patrol.

At the same time, a dark red flame began to rise from my clenched fist.

Fwoosh—

A diversion is pointless if you keep it subtle.

The louder and flashier we made it, the more attention would turn our way, and the easier it would be for the other parties to carry out their work.

So, I went all in and unleashed an Inferno Fist.

"……!"

The next moment, the third-year Disciplinary Committee member spotted the blazing flames and started to shout something.

But by then, the storm of fire was already crashing down on him.

Boooooooooom—!

With a deafening roar, one side of the building was engulfed in flames.

Naturally, there was no way the rest of the Disciplinary Committee could miss a commotion like this.

"They're here!"

One second-year sent out a message somewhere, while another ran straight toward us, and the third-year on the roof leapt down in a single bound.

In his hands was a large axe gleaming with a reddish light.

The Hell Axe.

I never learned its official name. I just called him "Hell Axe senior" because he used an A-rank axe by that name.

He looked us over and spoke.

"Dang Gyu-young. You again? You never get tired of coming back, do you?"

"Who's Dang Gyu-young? I'm the Dark Shadow Lord. Number One."

"What kind of ridiculous joke is that? And what's with this 'Number One' nonsense?"

"It means I'm the most important one. Remember that."

Deciding there was no point in trying to talk to her, the Hell Axe senior shook his head and moved on.

When he recognized Kim Gap-doo, his expression tightened.

"Unexpected. What's someone of your caliber doing mixed up in something like this?"

"I'm paying off a debt."

"Seems like there could've been other ways, but I'll give you this. You know how to keep your word."

"No, I mean I owe a debt."

"No need to be humble. I understand."

"I said no."

Kim Gap-doo kept denying it, but Hell Axe senior's eyes burned with the warmth of a man seeing a true brother-in-arms.

Then, slowly looking over our group again, he said,

"Looks like you've brought some decent firepower. Even an Inferno Fist user among you. But don't you realize it's all for nothing?"

"I dunno. If we take you and those two second-years out, it's over, right?"

Dang Gyu-young replied with bored indifference, but the answer came from elsewhere.

"No, you're forgetting me."

Out of the flames strode a knight clad in full plate armor.

As expected of a third-year Disciplinary Committee member, he'd endured the Inferno Fist.

The high defense of the knight class must have helped as well.

Still, the surprise attack had done some damage, so at least it had served its purpose.

Even counting him, the Disciplinary Committee only had two third-years on the field.

On our side, we had Dang Gyu-young, Kim Gap-doo, and a Martial Arts club member. So we had three in total.

Hell Axe senior seemed to grasp this as he went on.

"Even so, you're still outnumbered. But holding out should be no problem for us."

At least until Kwak Seung-jae arrived with reinforcements.

Then he began to draw himself up, his presence swelling, and the axe in his hands took on an even deeper blood-red hue.

"Come on, then. Let me have a bit of fun, if only for a moment. You're the ones racing against the clock, aren't you?"

He was right, and the rest of us began making our own preparations for battle.

Shadows stretched out long on either side of Dang Gyu-young, slowly rising into human shapes.

A bluish aura surrounded Kim Gap-doo's fists.

Just as the two sides were about to clash—

Rumble…

A wooden door suddenly sprang up in one corner of the battlefield.

Hell Axe senior caught sight of it and curved his lips into a satisfied smile.

"Looks like you're already too late. What a pity."

In contrast, our group tensed up immediately.

I pointed my staff at the door and began chanting the trigger words.

"Caw?"

"……?"

"……?"

Everyone stared at me like I'd lost my mind at the sudden burst of crow imitation, then turned their eyes back to the wooden door.

But even after a long moment, the door showed no sign of opening.

In the silence, Dang Gyu-young finally spoke.

"…What the heck?"

***

Disciplinary Committee Office.

Kwak Seung-jae and the other members of the committee sat quietly in place.

Even though there were over a dozen people present, not one of them spoke.

They simply kept their killing intent honed sharp as a blade, waiting for the right moment.

Then, a second-year member's voice came through the radio.

– They're here.

– Inferno Fist confirmed as well.

– We're engaging.

Finally, they've shown themselves.

Today, they would capture them.

Today, they would reclaim their tarnished honor.

With that resolve, Kwak Seung-jae rose to his feet.

He gave instructions to the waiting committee members.

"We're moving in immediately. Prepare yourselves."

After a brief round of casting, a wooden door suddenly jutted up from the floor of the office.

Rumble…

The second- and third-year members moved closer, ready to step through the moment the door opened.

At last, Kwak Seung-jae seized the handle and swung it open—

…Or rather, he tried to.

Clunk.

But what followed was a sound that should never have been heard.

The handle wouldn't turn, as if the door were locked.

"……"

Kwak Seung-jae silently stared down at the knob, then let go.

After counting a few seconds in his head, he grabbed it again and twisted.

Clunk.

But the handle still wouldn't budge.

The once-silent committee room began to stir.

"What's going on? What happened?"

"Seung-jae, what are you doing?"

"It won't open?"

The stares converging on him felt unusually sharp today.

For the first time in his life, Kwak Seung-jae felt cold sweat trickle down his back.