I'm Neither the Mastermind nor the Villain

Chapter 14

After a little more time passed and all the freshmen had entered the classroom, with not a single empty desk left.

A long shadow sticking out from the front door slithered across the floor like a snake and moved toward the podium.

It looked just like a snake made of darkness, creeping along the floor.

The lively atmosphere in the classroom instantly froze cold at that sight.

Even though these are ability users who entered Korea's top academy, most of them are still greenhorns under twenty, and only a few have actually faced monsters.

So, when an unknown abnormal phenomenon appeared before those rookies, it was inevitable their faces stiffened in fear.

The shadow that reached the podium curled itself into a round shape, and from it darkness rose and gradually began to take form.

Perhaps the only peculiar thing was that the shape had two legs and two arms, resembling a human.

The darkness, which could only mimic a human silhouette at first, soon fully took on the shape of a person.

That person made of darkness looked as if wearing a coat, with the upper body long and stiffly hanging downward.

Color slowly filled in the complete human form, and soon it turned into a real person.

The man who emerged from the shadow had heavy dark circles, and his hair was as black as if dipped in ink.

His skin was pale, he was tall and skinny, and there was an inverted triangle tattoo beneath his left eye.

The man with pupils black as ink opened his mouth.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Lee Gilyoung, in charge of this class. Call me whatever you like, teacher or professor."

After saying that, the man glanced around the classroom once.

For some reason, it felt like his gaze lingered on me a bit longer, but maybe it was just my imagination.

The man finished scanning the whole classroom, nodded, and spoke again.

"Alright. Let's start with this question. Why did you come to Warna Academy? Um... ah, yes, Miss Lee Yerin? Why did you come to Warna Academy?"

Apparently having reviewed the roster beforehand, Lee Gilyoung called out a student's name and asked.

"M-me? I... um, to become stronger...?"

The girl with sky-blue hair called Lee Yerin hesitated and then replied.

At Lee Yerin's answer, Lee Gilyoung nodded and continued.

"That makes sense. Most of you came here to get stronger, to experience various supernatural abilities, or to build connections.

We welcome you. Here at Warna Academy, you will experience various supernatural abilities-"

The man paused briefly there, then resumed speaking.

"...Ah, of course, except for shamanism. You will build friendships with people from diverse fields,

and in the end, a much stronger version of yourself will be waiting for you."

As he said that, Lee Gilyoung pointed to himself with his index finger.

"And you will have those experiences right here at Warna Academy. Just to be clear, try not to break the school rules.

Minor infractions are fine, but please use common sense to restrain yourselves from troublesome things like school violence and so on. If things get weird, everyone just ends up exhausted.

If you really want to hurt or fight each other, I'll guide you to the sparring hall. Go fight 'legally' there. Or, I could even make one right now."

Lee Gilyoung pointed with his index finger at a white line drawn on the floor.

At his gesture, all the students looked at the white line.

"This line is drawn for sparring purposes. Think of this as your ground. If you just clear out the desks, this becomes the sparring arena. So, what do you think? Does your heart race a bit?

Still, don't try sparring just yet. Just in case, really just in case, is there anyone who's already so fired up that before I even entered, you were about to start fighting among yourselves,

and you feel like you won't be satisfied until you smash some part of that guy's body you already dislike?"

Lee Gilyoung looked around the quiet classroom and then nodded.

"Thankfully, no one. Good. Anyway, you are now proud members of Warna Academy.

Starting tomorrow, just come straight to the classroom. Don't wander off somewhere weird. That's all I have to say. Dismissed, go home."

As he showed signs of wrapping up and leaving, one student hurriedly raised a hand.

"Yes, student. What is it?"

"When do we apply for dormitories?"

"Dorm applications start tomorrow. Even at the earliest, first years can't use the dorms for a week, so don't bother hanging around there and just go home quickly."

With those words, Lee Gilyoung turned back into a shadow snake and swiftly exited the classroom.

Like reversing the previous process,

his color faded, his shape blurred, and his form gradually melted away.

And as if sinking into darkness, he slowly slipped into the shadow, eventually becoming a single elongated shadow.

Then he slithered out of the classroom like a snake.

Right through the crack of the door without even opening it.

'This is different from what I expected.'

The protagonist's Class 4 had a kind and beautiful female teacher, so why did our class get this kind of man?

And one who talked a lot but only said what he wanted, leaving such a strange first impression.

"He is quite unusual."

"Actually, I'm even more interested now."

"Feels like we got an entertaining teacher."

As soon as Lee Gilyoung left, the students' chatter resumed.

It was fascinating.

Just a different class, yet the atmosphere was so different.

By now, Class 4 is probably having a pleasant, harmonious time with their kind and beautiful female teacher.

But Class 1's male teacher appeared suddenly as a shadow, said his piece, and just left.

"Our homeroom teacher is pretty unique. Feels like he just said what he wanted and left."

Kim Gabyeol, who had turned around again at some point, said.

"Haha, he was quite amusing. I found him rather likable."

"It was fun, yes. But I wouldn't say I liked him."

Lee Gilyoung... I've never really heard of him.

Even before transmigrating, when I read the original story, I don't remember seeing him.

The original mainly focused on the protagonist's Class 4.

That's why Kim Gabyeol, who was in a different class from the protagonist, had little presence.

Maybe he was mentioned once or twice, but I didn't remember the original story that well.

Even after transmigrating, I'd never heard the name Lee Gilyoung.

Of course, I hadn't really done much since transmigrating.

I made a contract with Marbas, learned dark magic, and such, but I didn't go around gathering information.

'If I knew the teacher would be like this, I should have tried to gather some intel.'

The classroom, which had been silent while Lee Gilyoung was there, was now bustling again.

Some people were packing up their bags and getting ready to leave, while others kept chatting with acquaintances.

Kim Gabyeol also slung her bag over her shoulder, ready to go.

"Are you leaving?"

"Yeah, aren't you?"

"I have some things to do nearby."

At my words, Kim Gabyeol tilted her head.

"Going to kill someone?"

"Kill? How could you say something so harsh!"

Honestly, it felt like I might have to kill a few people if things went wrong, but how dare she slander me like this? Unforgivable.

Maybe thinking my reply was a joke, Kim Gabyeol chuckled softly.

"Well, just don't kill too many. See you."

I waved at the departing Kim Gabyeol.

I stared at the back door of the classroom for a while, then turned on my phone and opened my contacts.

Right at the top of the list appeared the three characters for Kim Gabyeol.

We had exchanged contacts earlier.

Maybe because her surname is Kim, she occupied the very top line of my contacts.

[To think you're this happy... Tsk tsk, with a contractor like this, my dignity is truly in shambles.]

Marbas was muttering something, but I didn't really pay attention.

Isn't exchanging contacts with your favorite character basically winning at life?

Who cares about the muttering of just one demon.

I stood up from my seat as well.

Since we finished early today, there was a place I wanted to visit.

***

Inside a room with a luxurious atmosphere,

A black-haired woman dressed in a suit was sitting on a chair.

And standing before that woman, who was also dressed in a suit, was a brown-haired woman respectfully delivering a report.

"Reporting. Currently, the growth of the contracted mercenaries is stable, and accordingly, our company's combat power is steadily increasing.

And regarding the dungeon you instructed about, the Black Crow unit has just begun their investigation."

"I see."

As the black-haired woman responded, the brown-haired woman nodded and continued speaking.

"Next, regarding Baek Sejin, though this is information you have already received,

After Shadow Snake reported discovering Baek Sejin in her assigned class, it has been confirmed that he has just graduated from the Academy. That concludes the current report."

The brown-haired woman in a suit was reporting to the black-haired woman seated on the chair.

"...Understood. You may leave."

"Yes."

At the black-haired woman's reply, the brown-haired woman bowed politely and then left the room.

A few minutes after the brown-haired woman exited, the black-haired woman, who had been deep in thought, rose from her chair and looked out the window.

"Why are you not returning...."