Only a small number of members from the Dohwa Group joined us.

Since it was an incident that could raise sensitive jurisdictional issues among major academies, we couldn't deeply involve the entire organization.

Se-ah asked for my understanding on this, but I was rather grateful.

I was relieved enough.

Moreover, one of the strongest members in Aseong High School, the head of the Volunteer Club, had joined us. It seemed she had agreed to Se-ah's request.

First, we equipped a Dohwa Group vehicle with radio wave detection equipment and formed a search team.

The discipline committee members Park Min-hyuk and Yoo Do-ha accompanied us.

I repeatedly told them to stay in the vehicle as much as possible.

If the discipline committee members, especially executives, showed their faces in Ma Hyun High School's jurisdiction, there was a high risk of being caught by the security drones. It would definitely be reported to Ma Hyun High School, and things would go awry.

The search team headed towards Ma Hyun High School's jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, the remaining members prepared for battle by equipping the discipline committee's gear on the Dohwa Group's vehicles and checking the equipment.

Crack!

I practiced my unique ability alone in the training ground.

'It's going pretty well.'

Setting coordinates had become much easier than before.

Although it was still difficult to move to distant locations like Golden Sheep, I could almost accurately create a rift at the desired location if the distance was close enough.

At least, the mishap of trying to go to my shower but ending up in Baek Seo's shower wouldn't happen again.

'Is it because I've been replaying battles in my mind?'

In my experience,

I felt like the result was thanks to repeatedly replaying my battles with Moon Chae-yeon and mentally rehearsing the parts that needed improvement.

No wonder my space leaps had been going well while searching for Baek Seo.

Of course, the accumulated practice so far had laid a solid foundation.

Bzzz.

Suddenly, my smartphone vibrated.

I clenched my fist and dissipated the rift, then answered the call.

─ Senior, we found it.

It was Se-ah's voice.

─ We detected a place with a lot of electromagnetic waves that didn't make sense. We also detected some unnatural heat. We wouldn't have noticed if we hadn't specifically been looking for it. "Where is it?" ─ Let's see.... It's on the outskirts. We didn't approach it as you ordered, so we don't know the exact origin.

The outskirts of Ma Hyun High School's jurisdiction were empty plains.

There was no way Moon Chae-yeon's hideout was blatantly there.

In other words,

'Underground.'

The hideout seemed to be underground.

─ By the way, you know that guy you had with his head in the toilet? Can't we extract information about the hideout from him?

She was referring to the man I dealt with the day I met Moon Chae-yeon.

"Where did you get that information? The investigation records should be confidential." ─ Ye-song told me. Was it sensitive information? “…That guy is a contractor. He doesn't know anything."

It was something I had already found out before.

If the guy with his head in the toilet had known anything important about Chae-yeon, she wouldn't have left him alone.

─ I see.... That's unfortunate. I was a bit curious. "Don't get any funny ideas." ─ Of course~. I'll withdraw for now! "Okay."

If we approached the hideout, there was a risk of a fight breaking out.

We couldn't afford to let our eagerness ruin things.

Of course, the place could be a trap set by the six sinners. Even so, we couldn't give up on going there.

Click. I hung up the phone.

We shouldn't delay, but charging in recklessly was a foolish move.

So, thorough preparation was needed.

Checking equipment and assembling forces, the operation would start this evening.

In the evening, as the sky turned red with the sunset,

‘Everyone's gathered.’

Only the executives of the Aseong High School discipline committee, including myself, were to move.

As mentioned earlier, discipline committee members like us, who were well-known externally, could be easily spotted and identified in another academy's jurisdiction.

However, just in case, we established a reserve grenade launcher unit.

The command role was assigned to Yoo Do-ha. In other words, Do-ha would remain here.

Also, it was obvious we couldn't take the discipline committee vehicles. They would definitely be detected by Ma Hyun High School in advance.

So, the discipline committee's combat gear was installed in the vehicles provided by the Dohwa Group.

The Dohwa Group members who joined the team were the drivers and a sniper named Lee Jung-mi.

In addition, the Volunteer Club joined. Se-ah's friends and the head of the Volunteer Club.

The most noticeable person was Lee Jung-mi.

She exuded the elegance of an elite and had a refined magical aura.

However, she made it clear that she was only there to protect Se-ah. She wouldn't get involved in anything else.

I was grateful for any kind of cooperation.

“You seem deep in thought.”

While everyone was checking their equipment or getting ready,

A muscular female student, the head of the Volunteer Club, Kang Hee-yoon, approached me.

She stood next to me.

“…Thank you for stepping up to help.” “Don't mention it. As the Volunteer Club, it's natural to help those in need. And... I owe a lot to Se-ah. I couldn't refuse her request.”

I looked at Se-ah, who was talking with the Dohwa Group members while checking the equipment.

Se-ah noticed my gaze and smiled brightly like a fox.

“Again, it might be dangerous.” “I don't mind.”

The Volunteer Club head, Hee-yoon, spoke in a serious tone.

“'We're saving Baek Seo.' That's our only task, right? How could we leave such a good person because of danger?” “…I'll repay this debt later.”

Hee-yoon scoffed.

“No need. Don't you think I know you've always helped our Volunteer Club members and the needy? You're already an honorary member of the Volunteer Club. Helping each other is what members do. That's loyalty…!”

Hee-yoon gave a thumbs-up and winked.

Sparkle. Hee-yoon's eyes shone brightly for a moment.

“Okay…, thank you.”

When I extended my arm, Hee-yoon bumped her arm against mine.

Soon, all preparations were complete.

Four executives of the discipline committee.

One of them, Yoo Do-ha, stayed with the reserve grenade launcher unit.

So, it was me, Ha Ye-song, and Park Min-hyuk—three in total.

Five members of the Dohwa Group, including Lee Se-ah, and four from the Volunteer Club.

A total of twelve people formed the task force.

The task force members all looked at me simultaneously. They were waiting to hear from me before departing.

Suddenly, I recalled the time when I searched for Kim Dal-bi alone in my childhood.

Unlike then, now I had people to help find Baek Seo.

It felt reassuring.

I took a deep breath and solemnly spoke.

“Thank you for gathering. As I said before, I will take all responsibility for anything that happens.”

Today, surely many troubles would arise.

We planned to engage in combat with a sinner in another academy's jurisdiction without following legal procedures.

I hadn't reported to the student council.

It was all solely my decision.

No matter how hard we tried, it would only delay being hindered by Ma Hyun High School.

Getting caught by the Aseong High School student council or Ma Hyun High School's discipline committee was just a matter of time.

After today, a disciplinary committee would likely be convened.

But no matter what happened,

I was determined to bring back Baek Seo.

I cursed the fact that I was born again into this world.

I hated this detestable place that had tormented me so much from the factory.

Even if being born wasn't my choice,

At least I would change the future as I wished.

And Baek Seo had to be there.

I had already decided.

“Get ready to raise hell.”

I said, putting on my black gloves.

“Let's go.”

The discipline committee executives responded with a firm “Yes!” and the Volunteer Club members laughed wickedly and cheerfully.

Se-ah smiled like a fox, and the Dohwa Group members nodded.

The next discipline committee head. A genius without equal. The youngest to reach the 6th rank. A possessor of top-tier magical power.

Whenever Baek Seo was praised for her abilities, she would only smile gently.

Baek Seo's abilities were recognized everywhere, and everyone wanted to win her favor.

Compliments that felt burdensome always followed Baek Seo.

Since she was good-looking and kind-hearted, it was natural that she was highly regarded.

However, to Baek Seo,

All of it was just detestable.

Outstanding ability. Amazing. A genius. No one can catch up to Baek Seo. Heaven bestowed her with unparalleled blessings. She might even rival the great Goliath.

‘...Annoying.’

Baek Seo's gentle smile concealed a fierce disgust that churned in her stomach.

All her exceptional abilities were cultivated by the Principal's will.

The praise towards Baek Seo only revived memories of her cursed past.

Having endured the torturous training during the Golden Time, becoming the Principal's hunting dog and Spartoi, killing many human scumbags,

The wretched human that was cultivated was herself.

That’s why, whenever people praised her abilities, it made her nauseous.

In the end, unable to bear it, Baek Seo often vomited with her head in the toilet.

It wasn't about blaming those who praised her abilities.

Baek Seo simply hated herself.

She found herself detestable.

‘I will become the next discipline committee head.’

Then, a man caught her eye.

Everyone believed without a doubt that Baek Seo would become the next discipline committee head of Aseong High School.

Yet, An Woo-jin confidently proclaimed without hesitation that he would be the next discipline committee head, as if he didn't see Baek Seo as a competitor.

Baek Seo felt a faint curiosity towards Woo-jin.

So, she talked to him.

Just to find out if he knew who she was.

However, Woo-jin naturally knew Baek Seo's stature.

But he didn't show any signs of being wary of her or trying to flatter her abilities.

He simply treated her as an equal and ordinary peer.

Baek Seo passed it off without much thought, but she felt no disgust towards Woo-jin and started talking to him again.

As expected, Woo-jin continued to treat her as an ordinary peer.

Baek Seo felt strangely comfortable.

Her curiosity towards Woo-jin gradually grew stronger.

One day, while working with Woo-jin, Baek Seo brought up an honest question.

‘Have you ever seen me as a competitor?’ ‘What?’ ‘Everyone thinks I’ll be the next discipline committee head. Don’t you have any sense of competition?’

She deliberately asked with subtle aggression and mockery.

To test Woo-jin's sincerity.

‘What are you talking about.’

Woo-jin answered indifferently.

‘I just find you comfortable.’ ‘...What?’

Unexpectedly, Baek Seo's eyes widened.

She immediately controlled her expression.

‘That’s all.’

After hearing that, Baek Seo stopped testing Woo-jin.

She simply stayed by Woo-jin’s side, feeling at ease.

Then one day, as she was about to go to bed,

Baek Seo felt a sudden stir in her chest.

At some point, Woo-jin had seeped into her heart.

Drip.

“…….”

Baek Seo regained consciousness, tears of blood flowing.

She slowly opened her eyes, feeling the cold sensation of metal.

It seemed she had lost consciousness and wandered through her past.

“You're awake?”

A faint voice made Baek Seo look up.

Moon Chae-yeon greeted Baek Seo.

Chae-yeon was checking a mechanical device, dressed in a tank top and shorts. She wiped her sweat while brushing up her brown hair.

“Are you in a lot of pain? How many times have you fainted now? Well, extracting your unique ability is quite painful, right? It should be better now, though.”

Chae-yeon tapped her neck lightly with a monkey wrench as she approached Baek Seo.

The machine restraining Baek Seo displayed ‘95%’.

The device had patches of strange flesh and skin attached to it. It was hard to see it as purely a human creation.

“Almost done. It’ll be over in two hours. As you know, when your unique ability is taken, you'll be dead. It's essentially euthanasia.”

Chae-yeon spread her legs and sat backward on a chair.

Baek Seo's eyes were blurry. She barely held onto consciousness.

The lingering pain felt like blades stabbing into every corner of her skin. She didn’t even have the strength to make a sound.

Chae-yeon smirked at Baek Seo’s pathetic state.

“So, why did you go against the Principal? No matter the reason, you received freedom from the Principal, didn’t you? You should have lived quietly instead of acting out. Tsk, how pathetic.” “…….” “…Before you die, let me ask you one thing. How did you get your freedom? The Principal wouldn’t have let you go easily. The Principal's side surpasses you in every aspect except raw power…. Ah, did you catch some kind of weakness and make a deal? Is that it?”

Baek Seo's head remained down.

Chae-yeon sighed, then stood up and approached Baek Seo.

Swish. Chae-yeon grabbed Baek Seo's chin and lifted her head.

A strange indigo pattern, glowing with magical light, had crept up Baek Seo's neck. When the pattern covered her face, it would be the end for Baek Seo.

“What should I call this? Awake yet mentally gone...?” “…….”

Chae-yeon's eyes darkened.

“…Baek Seo. I think you were foolish. Surviving is the most important thing. If you throw away your life so easily…. We can’t find any hope.”

“…….” “I'll survive. I won’t act foolishly like you. Even if I have to lick the Principal’s shoes like a dog, I'll survive. So in the afterlife, blame me if you want….”

At that moment,

A loud alarm rang from Chae-yeon’s wristwatch.

“……!”

Chae-yeon looked down at her wristwatch.

The slot in the watch was glowing red.

“How…?”

Chae-yeon was surprised, then smiled with admiration.

“Someone found me…. Your boyfriend is impressive.”

Chae-yeon chuckled bitterly and released Baek Seo’s chin.

Screech. Click.

Particles newly formed around Chae-yeon's body, densely clumping together to form mechanical armor.

“Kim Dal-bi or you..., I think I understand a little why you both like the Aseong High School discipline committee head so much. Well, I won’t let you go alone.”

Chae-yeon turned her back on Baek Seo with a smiling face, then her expression hardened.

“…That’s my minimal mercy.”

She spoke quietly and walked away.

Swish.

Mechanical eye shields began to form around Chae-yeon's eyes. They were called protectors.

At the same time, she swiped her fingers across her lips, smearing lipstick.

It was time to face the Aseong High School discipline committee head.