I Possessed a Broken Academy Instructor

Chapter 47

“Who is that?”

The one taken aback by Jin Crow’s unexpected answer was, rather, Baek Hwi-young.

For a moment, he fumbled for words, his lips twitching as he gazed at Jin Crow, who calmly sipped his black coffee.

“I am the father of Miel Anber. He passed away a few years ago.”

“Hmm.”

It was not a sigh born of a lack of words.

Rather, it was the name he had just uttered that stirred a memory, swallowing his bewilderment whole.

‘Anber. How curious.’

The late nights must have taken their toll on his mind.

No matter how tired he was, how could he not recognize that castle immediately?

‘Of all people, it’s the father of Miel Anber.’

Of course, it was the same for Jin Crow, whether in the original work he had read or now; the dead remained dead.

It did not mean he was particularly insensitive.

Moreover, he hadn’t even known the name was ‘Rodrin.’

No matter how devoted a reader one might be, it was impossible to remember the names of every fleeting character, was it not?

“Ah, so you were pretending not to know.”

But Baek Hwi-young’s thoughts seemed to diverge slightly from that notion.

His words, as if he had realized Jin Crow’s true intent through the ensuing silence, drew a chuckle from him, yet this time he had no retort.

In the end, he took another drag from his cigarette and countered Baek Hwi-young’s inquiry.

“What is it you want to say?”

It was, after all, the greatest question of all.

What could he possibly want to convey by suddenly appearing and presenting the name Rodrin Anber?

Sizzle—.

His old Zippo lighter flicked open, the flame dancing as it kissed the tip of his cigarette.

A fleeting silence brushed between the two men.

In Baek Hwi-young’s ashen pupils, Jin Crow was reflected, and through the vanishing smoke, Jin Crow gazed at Baek Hwi-young’s face.

How long did that silence stretch?

“Save the Human.”

At last, it was Baek Hwi-young who broke the stillness.

“It is the charity organization founded by Miel’s father, President Rodrin.”

“I know it was established over twenty years ago, after the Third Galactic War began. So what of it?”

“I was an orphan left there. But unlike the other children, it was Lordrin himself who took me in.”

This time, I could not respond immediately to the surprise.

Baek Hwi-young’s past, a typical orphan’s tale of no great significance, had only been revealed in the original work in one instance.

– When seeking sympathy from the heroine.

Naturally, Jin Crow absentmindedly brushed a chill from the back of his neck, folding away the thought of disbelief and casting it aside, gesturing for her to continue.

Fortunately, unlike in the original, Baek Hwi-young did not seem to be trying to elicit Jin Crow’s maternal… no, paternal instincts with a ploy for sympathy, as she continued with an expression still devoid of emotion.

“I will ask first. Do you truly have no personal connection with Lordrin?”

At this point, Jin Crow, not being a fool, could not help but realize that her words were a kind of ‘verification’ or ‘query’ thrown by Baek Hwi-young.

Safe the Human.

A charity organization created with rare ‘true goodwill’ in the Human Synthesis Nation, which would later be inherited by Miel Anver, who grew up to face the Fourth Galactic War.

Their purpose, as simple as their name suggests.

The word ‘human’ they champion does not refer to humanity in a narrow sense, but rather to people in a broader context.

What is a person?

One who thinks and uses language.

One who creates tools and forms societies.

Thus, their goodwill is not limited to humans alone, but is imbued with the mission to aid all living, breathing ‘people.’

This made it all the more puzzling.

‘Am I somehow connected to him?’

Even sifting through fragmented memories, it seemed impossible that there could be any intersection between a philanthropist who dedicated his life to charity and a murderous boy soldier who had rolled in the battlefield for twenty years.

Yet, to assert that so definitively was to overlook the half-crazed look in Baek Hwi-young’s eyes.

“……”

Her words were merely questions, yet it was clear she asked with conviction.

‘I had anticipated such a question would come, but it’s sooner than I expected.’

Jin Crow had not been blind to the possibility of this situation.

Was it not to be expected?

Too many futures had already shifted.

He did not know how many times Baek Hwi-young had regressed, but it was not strange for her to come to him and suspect, “Could it be…?”

“Why do you ask that? I should have been the one to inquire first.”

Thus, the best response Jin Crow could muster was a clumsy neither denial nor affirmation, but rather a question in return.

Let us ponder this for a moment.

To speak coldly, Baek Hwi-young was nothing more than the protagonist of the original tale.

…And one who had failed time and again.

Yet Jin Crow had memorized, if not perfectly, at least to some degree, the process of his failures.

Perhaps in a future where it would be harder to hide.

For now, they were merely instructor and cadet. A relationship as dry as this was preferable.

‘After all, it is he who will ultimately kill me.’

This was why those ash-gray eyes, somehow tainted, felt all the more chilling.

…Isn’t it terribly unfair?

Some must endure possession to annihilate creatures, all while saving a disciple who might one day take their life, while others can simply test the waters, and if it doesn’t work out, slip a noose around their neck and start anew.

“I have heard that the reason I was able to be taken in directly by Lord Roderin, unlike other orphans, was due to a request from a soldier who owed him a debt.”

Such thoughts solidified further with Baek Hwi-young’s next words.

“And that man’s name was surely ‘Jin.’”

It was a matter he could not recall.

If only he had received a complete transmission of Jin Crow’s memories and past, it would be different.

What he possessed instead was a body so worn that he worried it might perish at any moment, and a mental illness that tested his humanity at the most inopportune times.

As if to prove this, Jin Crow was slowly growing serious at the cadet’s seemingly probing demeanor.

‘The question is whether this is true.’

Little had been revealed about Baek Hwi-young’s past.

Only that he was an orphan and had relied on Safe the Human.

In other words, the tale of Jin and whatever else he spoke of had never been mentioned in the original narrative.

‘Is this a fabricated story to test me, or a secret of birth uncovered after several regressions?’

How could Roderin Ambert be dead, yet this be possible?

It was simple. Miel’s mother was still alive.

She was likely the one currently managing Safe the Human.

“Why is it that you cannot answer, Instructor?”

Jin Crow gazed at Baek Hwi-young, who seemed to have come with the intent of extracting a response.

…An instinct he could not fully trust, yet he felt that what he spoke was true.

And that made it all the more problematic.

No matter how he phrased it, wouldn’t he only provide Baek Hwi-young with grounds for suspicion?

Let’s say he agreed.

Suddenly, who could have guessed that one might pierce the window with a jab, thinking, “To be deceived by such lies, you truly are a lowly creature who lies the moment you open your mouth. Ha!”

“…….”

In the end, Jin Crow took another sip of the lukewarm black coffee, seeking to moisten his parched throat.

Then he bit down on the burnt end of a half-smoked cigarette.

What words should he utter?

What could he say to escape this unpleasant and uncomfortable situation?

Even in deep thought, no answer emerged.

“…….”

“…….”

How long did that heavy silence linger?

“That’s….”

Just as Jin Crow was about to break the silence with a response.

“Gyaaah!”

A familiar scream echoed from not far off, near the instructor’s office, brushing against their ears, and soon the two men locked eyes, simultaneously uttering the same name.

“Miell?”

“Miell Anber.”

It was quite a curious coincidence.

Jin Crow glanced out the window for a moment, then rose from his seat, draping the coat he had thrown over the sofa around himself, and looked at the bewildered Baek Hwi-young, who was tinged with confusion.

“Are you going to keep standing there?”

Naturally, that was not an option.

*

Baek Hwi-young had suddenly left to go to the instructor’s office just as the sun was setting, casting a dim light.

Now that the midterms were over, the four of them had been sitting in the cafeteria, chatting, and after Baek Hwi-young departed, the sun soon disappeared completely, prompting each to make their way back to the dormitory.

“Miell, aren’t you going in?”

“Hmm? Ah… um, I’m just going to walk for a bit before heading in.”

Naturally, the four female cadets walked together, as their paths aligned, but Miell Anber stopped right in front of the road leading to the instructor’s office.

“Why? Just come with us… Ugh!”

“Go on.”

“Go, Miell.”

Duk Go-ran questioned the necessity of it, scratching her black hair, but Kanae and Pamiu, who had already sensed the strange tension flowing between Miell and Baek Hwi-young, quickly covered Duk Go-ran’s mouth and sent Miell on her way.

“Ahahaha…”

Somehow, it feels like I’ve made friends with a rowdy bunch.

Miel thought this as she felt an inexplicable sense of comfort, slowly making her way toward the instructor’s office.

‘Hwi-young. I’ve noticed he seems troubled lately. Could it be because of Instructor Jin Crow?’

Even Miel, who considered herself not particularly perceptive, could sense that Baek Hwi-young’s state was far from good these days.

Of course, the recent acquaintances from Class 2 seemed oblivious, as he had only ever kept Miel and himself close.

“Sigh, if he would just say something, I wouldn’t have to worry.”

They had grown up together since childhood, but Baek Hwi-young was always the quiet one, hiding his true feelings.

‘…But that’s what makes him appealing.’

She made no effort to affirm or deny her feelings, slowly continuing her steps toward the instructor’s office.

Though it wasn’t late, perhaps it was because the midterms had just ended.

In the distance, the instructor’s office glimmered, while the artificial forest path was quite deserted.

But then.

“Oh, what brings you here?”

“Th-thump!”

From right behind Miel, someone wrapped an arm around her shoulder and spoke in a friendly tone, causing her to stifle a gasp and turn her head.

“…Wh-who are you?”

“What? I’ve done you quite a favor, haven’t I? Ah, sorry. Did I misinterpret our closeness?”

The mischievous smile paired with a rather handsome face was amusing, but Miel, feeling the unwelcome sensation on her shoulder, bit her lip and replied.

“…I don’t know who you are, but pl-please remove your hand.”

“What? Anyone would think I made a strange mistake.”

“I-I’ll scream.”

“Seems like I’m becoming the real villain here. Don’t do that…”

Naturally, Shangs Mavre was not intimidated by Miel’s clumsy protest.

‘Support? So what?’

Though now referred to as the Mavre family, if one traced back to his grandfather’s generation, they were undeniably nobles of the Empire.

It was a surrender born of necessity, yet he firmly believed he was different from the other cadets.

‘It’s only natural for nobles.’

The expression of a frightened commoner was a source of amusement for him.

When these fearful faces turned to ecstasy, he felt as if he were an artist splattering paint on a blank canvas.

Why had he come to possess such a twisted nature?

Well, he was the prince destined to inherit the throne of the Marvru system, after all.

How much he had suffered, stifling his own peculiar hobbies.

He tightened his grip with brutish hands.

A triple gear, a student of the martial arts, could never hope to defeat him.

He forced the stiffened Miel to move slowly toward the forest.

No, he tried to move.

“Do I really have to stay still like this?”

“Of course not.”

“What are you doing?”

In a place where few dared to tread, a series of voices overlapped, and beyond the gaze of Shangs Marvru, he turned his head.

“Go ask, Ran.”

“Grrr!”

If only the punch of Dokoran, baring its sharp fangs, hadn’t struck true.

“Now, quiet—!”

KWA-aaaNG!

“Strike!”

In a single blow, a body flew, shattering several trees as it tumbled, and Miel, with a creaking neck, slowly turned to see the elongated figure of Shangs Marvru, closing his eyes.

“KYaaaH!”

That was a scream that escaped, half-automatically.