I Possessed a Broken Academy Instructor

Chapter 29

After Obia’s briefing concluded, time slipped away swiftly.

Jin Crow spent his days confined within the quarters, avoiding the outside as much as possible.

‘Boring.’

The orders from the faction relayed through Major Legchap were secondary; the harsh reality of being unable to act held him captive.

Inside the dimly lit quarters, with the blinds drawn, he was lost in thought.

‘Captain Satra is suspicious.’

Yet, there was no justification to arrest her.

He had already conducted a simple cross-verification through the few connections he had with Lieutenant Lee Hana and Lieutenant Antonio.

According to Obia’s investigation, it had been proven that Captain Satra played a pivotal role within the defense forces, regardless of rank.

‘But what if I arrest her without cause?’

Setting aside whether the Major would even allow it, a misstep could shatter not only the defense forces but also the trust of the residents of the Atla Colony.

And that was not all.

If she were innocent, it could breed resentment that hadn’t existed before.

“……”

The flickering lights of the residential sector beyond the blinds dazzled his eyes, yet paradoxically, they provided the perfect stimulus to clear the tangled thoughts ensnaring his mind.

Swoosh-.

He rose from his seat and stepped toward the window, where the blinds were drawn.

With a gentle motion, he lifted the blinds further.

“……It’s quite a sight.”

The view of the colony was, how should one say, unlike any structure he had ever seen.

There was a certain awe in the artificial edifices erected in the vastness of space.

Yet, even as he gazed, his mind was more occupied with questions and concerns about the current situation than with the wonder the colony inspired.

‘Tonight is the last night of the week.’

The week granted by Major Legchaf to each instructor.

While the entrance examiners usually clash fiercely, this time, an unusual concession was made by a large faction, and I heard that the distribution ended without significant conflict.

Thus, a week has passed.

If the Red Hand intends to commit some act, tonight is likely the night.

“The Red Hand”

An organization formed by the survivors of planet Lo, who lost their world due to the indifference of the United Human Synthesis, but now they are labeled as terrorists, a clear aggressor.

In the story, the protagonist, Baek Hwi-young, had little contact with them, yet he once told a special officer of the Red Hand he encountered:

‘You are monsters driven mad by vengeance.’

……so he said.

Naturally, Jin Crow was one among many who would wholeheartedly agree with that statement.

There was no need to look far.

Just a week ago, as they headed toward the Atla Colony, Liberto, whom he had personally executed, had displayed a fanatical belief that their vengeance was justified.

‘It’s no wonder they’re called a terrorist group.’

As he pondered this, reaching for a glass of water, it happened.

Knock, knock—.

The sound of a knock, incongruous with the night, turned his head. Half instinctively, he checked the time.

‘1 AM.’

He did not open the door immediately.

Instead, he grasped the longsword nearby and searched for the hip flask, ready to drink at any moment, then focused on the CCTV screen linked to his watch.

‘This man…’

The silhouette was not entirely unfamiliar.

Thus, when he remotely unlocked the door, it slowly opened to reveal a man with glasses, a cold demeanor, and a precise salute.

“Loyalty.”

Though the high-ranking officer’s quarters housed few residents, perhaps considering the hour, the salute was short and succinct.

In that moment, Jin Crow was soon able to recall the man’s identity.

“What brings the adjutant here at this hour?”

The man standing at the door was none other than the adjutant of Major Legchaf, who had identified himself as part of the Rosen faction.

Though he had only seen him in passing a week prior, the unembellished appearance of a soldier was not unpleasant enough to forget.

‘For heaven’s sake. Let’s tone it down a bit.’

Of course, inwardly he felt a flicker of irritation at the mere thought that a mere aide, a common officer at that, had come to find him at one in the morning.

“…I apologize for the early hour, but the Major General wishes to see you.”

“The Major General?”

“Yes.”

Perhaps it was the fleeting grimace that crossed his face that made the aide speak with a more rigid expression, and Jin Crow, after a moment’s contemplation in response to the aide’s words, thought to himself.

‘If it’s something to do with Rosen…’

It was entirely plausible.

Or perhaps it was merely an attempt to foster camaraderie with a fellow faction member who was departing tomorrow.

If he belonged to Rosen, which selected its members based on ability, then he was likely not as incompetent as he appeared.

‘Unless it’s something else…’

In that instant, he unconsciously lifted his chin, shaking off the doubt with a scoff, and replied to the aide, who was waiting for his answer.

“Bring me my outerwear.”

“Yes. I will wait.”

The aide nodded at his words, stepping back a pace from the entrance, while Jin Crow moved to don the black leather coat that hung on a wall in his quarters.

Thud—.

In the pocket, he felt the familiar weight of the hip flask he had briefly considered drinking from, along with the touch of two syringes that could serve as a lifeline.

…I hope I won’t need them.

“Let’s go.”

“I will escort you.”

As he stepped outside, the aide politely guided him to the vehicle prepared below the quarters, taking his place in the driver’s seat.

“We shall depart.”

Jin Crow nodded, and the aide, seemingly not expecting a reply, silently drove the military vehicle down the road.

The moment the vehicle entered the residential sector of the colony, Jin Crow, gazing out the window with indifference, lit a cigarette.

Flick, hiss—.

As the brief flare of the lighter ignited the tip of the cigarette, the aide quietly cracked the window open.

How much time had passed, he wondered.

As the vehicle passed through the back alleys of the residential sector and began to head toward the outskirts of the colony, Jin Crow pulled the half-burnt cigarette from his lips and spoke.

“Where are we going?”

“There is a bar the Major General enjoys frequenting.”

The lieutenant’s response held no inflection.

Yes, as if…

As if he had ‘prepared’ some words in advance.

Swoosh-.

The moment Jin Crow realized he was heading toward the outskirts, where the houses grew sparse, and to a site where construction had halted, he calmly slipped his hand into his coat.

“…!”

At that instant, he caught sight of the lieutenant flinching, but as soon as he confirmed that what emerged from the coat was not a weapon but a hip flask, he relaxed his shoulders slightly.

Gulp-.

As he opened the hip flask and took a swig, a sharp sensation coursed through him, and without thinking, he felt the gears turning within.

Yet, in that moment, Jin Crow couldn’t help but furrow his brow, sensing something amiss.

‘…The number of gears has increased?’

It was then.

Vroom-!

A military vehicle suddenly surged forward, entering the abandoned tunnel before he could react, crashing into several construction materials before coming to a halt. In that moment, the lieutenant drew a gleaming silver pistol from his coat and aimed it at him.

Bang!

Without hesitation, he pulled the trigger.

With a short, intense noise, the trajectory of the bullet grazed Jin Crow’s cheek, and the lieutenant immediately opened the door and threw himself outside.

“It was you.”

Following that, Jin Crow too, without a moment’s pause, kicked the car door open and spat out the remnants of a cigarette, now just a filter.

“You leaked the instructors’ hyperspace route.”

“Yes, that is correct.”

The lieutenant slowly lowered the gun to the ground as he spoke to him.

Of course, unlike the calm and collected demeanor he had shown until now, his expression was utterly rigid.

It was only natural.

The lieutenant was an ordinary officer clad in navy blue military garb.

In other words, he was a civilian.

The pressure of facing a special operations officer was far greater than one might expect.

Unless he were clad in reinforced exoskeleton armor.

The lieutenant had been tasked with luring him in, perhaps to avoid suspicion, so he wore only the uniform he typically donned.

But the moment Jin Crow slowly drew forth his pitch-black longsword…

“Personal regrets, I have none.”

Beneath the dimly flickering lights of the tunnel, shadows swiftly encircled him.

And only then did Jin Crow find himself unable to suppress a bitter laugh, realizing the source of the confidence that allowed his aide to stand bare before him.

“What the hell is this?”

Seven special operations officers surrounded him.

All of them, officers of the defense forces.

*

“Haha.”

There exists a common misconception that all generals of the federal army inevitably become special operations officers.

Of course, it wasn’t entirely untrue.

Yet, more generals than one might expect hailed from the ranks of regular officers.

“Yes, is there any doubt? This matter has resolved well, so do not worry too much.”

The reason was simple.

The sheer number of regular officers was overwhelming.

In times of war with the Empire, it might be different, but in peacetime, politics held far greater weight than brute force.

“Hahaha! Yes. Then I shall owe you again next time.”

After a satisfied chuckle, Major General Legchaff severed the stellar communication linked to the watch and returned with a weary expression, as if to say when he had last smiled.

Flesh trembled along the lines of his wrinkles.

A throbbing headache plagued him.

Yet, despite this, it was certain that matters had unfolded favorably, so he did as he always did: he clipped the end of a thick cigar, lit it, and placed it between his lips.

“Phew…”

The heavy smoke pressed against his lungs.

But the headache was not solely the burden of the special operations academy.

“…Now it’s come to this. Even the monsters are running rampant.”

He grasped the documents to review the final report from the 107th Brigade, which was engaged on the front lines of the planet Lemal.

‘Annihilation, they say.’

The 107th Brigade was among the more formidable units under his command.

Thus, when they were dispatched to support the planet Lemal, they had been sent in as the vanguard, engaged in combat.

However, just moments ago, news of their sudden annihilation had arrived, accompanied by the final report. Just as he was about to confirm this grim news, a message came through from a politician backing a minor faction.

‘The loss of the 107th Brigade is painful, but unavoidable. After all, the Atla Colony cannot be saved.’

The judgment of Major General Legchaf appeared, at first glance, to be reckless, yet he held no doubt that it was the best course of action.

After all, the decision had already been made by the Ministry of Defense, so there was nothing more to hesitate over.

However, the annihilation of a brigade could not be easily brushed aside.

To smooth things over, a considerable sum of money would need to be dispensed.

With a heavy heart, he read the final report that had come in.

“…Oh, madness.”

But the moment he laid eyes on it, any semblance of composure that had lingered on his face vanished, and the cigar he had been holding slipped from his fingers to the floor.

– Current planetary threat level assessed as black. In retreat.

– Creatures’ trajectory is heading towards the colony. Prepare accordingly.

– Battleship Light has run aground. Urgent assistance required.

– Cruiser Atom has run aground. Urgent assistance required.

– Urgent assistance required.

– Flagship Skeletto has run aground.

“This, this is…”

The request for support had been abruptly cut off, yet from that alone, he could grasp the dire situation unfolding.

In that moment, the general raised his hand to report to command, his mind racing, but just then—

– Wh-what is happening?! aaah!

– Stop! Gah!

The desperate cries echoing from outside his office made him freeze, his gaze fixed on the door.

Kwah-BOOM!

Boom!

With the thunderous noise, familiar voices filled the air with screams that spun around his head.

“What, what in the world…?”

He found himself paralyzed by chaos unlike anything he had experienced even during the Third Galactic War.

And this would become the greatest mistake of Major General Legchaf’s life.

Boom!

At last, the door to his office was torn open, and at the forefront stood the special operations officer, Satra, her distinctive violet eyes gleaming as she aimed her pistol at him and spoke.

“Major General Legchaf. In the name of Lemal, I condemn you.”

“W-wait a moment—!”

Taaang!

At the end of the scattered gunfire, his vision turned to darkness.