The Villain’s POV in the Academy

Chapter 50

Right after Maria left to bring those spoiled chaebol brats, I got back in touch with Ciel.

[Hello?]

“Let’s pick up where we left off earlier.”

[You just hung up on me without warning a moment ago…]

Ciel grumbled.

But I knew that was the extent of her protest, so I didn’t bother pointing it out. While keeping the call connected, I pulled up a new program window in my view.

[CL-00245 Activity Log]

Video Records: 262

Conversation Logs: 1,259

It was a program I’d kept running ever since freeing Ciel. Simply planting a bomb in her body wasn’t enough to call it a secure leash.

I skimmed through the logs daily, using them to check whether she was up to anything stupid while I wasn’t around.

This time, I planned to use it to verify if what she was telling me was true.

“So, what exactly is this ‘special junk chip’? And what exactly does it have to do with the Ashita-kyo?”

[I don’t know all the details. I’ve only just managed to open a trade route, so they don’t give me much information. What I have is more along the lines of ‘I heard it from someone~’…]

“Doesn’t matter. Explain.”

[Alright.]

Ciel began to explain.

[According to rumors, those junk chips with the distinctive white pattern are made and distributed by the Ashita-kyo.]

“When and from whom did you hear this?”

[From a middleman.]

It was true.

A quick check confirmed the details matched exactly with Ciel’s activity logs.

“So, what makes them special?”

[Because they’re hard to get. People say they let you experience ‘supreme memories’ you can’t get from other junk chips…]

“Sounds like there’s more to it.”

[Yes.]

Ciel lowered her voice.

[There are a lot of strange rumors about them. That they have no side effects at all, that using them improves combat ability, makes your skin better, lets you sleep deeply, or even boosts your intelligence.]

“…”

What the hell is that supposed to be?

Like a germanium bracelet or hexagonal water?

It reeked of a scam.

When I let my doubt show, Ciel hurried to add, flustered.

[It’s—It’s not a lie! Really! That’s what the rumors say!]

“Sure. I believe you.”

[You don’t sound like you believe me at all…]

“I believe you.”

Whether I believed it personally didn’t matter—the logs showed she wasn’t lying.

It meant those were genuine rumors circulating among the cyber-drug users of the underworld.

[Anyway, that special junk chip is so rare that people fight over it. Everyone’s obsessed with getting their hands on one, so nobody cares that it’s supposedly made by a religious group.]

“I see.”

[Well, that’s all I can give you for now. I’ll contact you when I find out more.]

“Alright. Good work.”

[Of course. And they say the higher-ups look for those junk chips even more—if it’s you, Aaron, you might be able to dig up more.]

“Got it.”

We ended the call there.

I scanned Ciel’s activity log a little longer, checking for anything suspicious, then closed the program.

Quite a bit of time had passed, and it was about time for Maria to return with the delinquents in tow. But for some reason, there was still no sign of her.

“She’s late.”

Then it struck me.

Among the rumored effects of the special junk chip from the Ashita-kyo was ‘enhanced combat ability.’

‘You use a junk chip and get stronger?’

It still sounded suspicious, so I wasn’t tempted to try it myself.

But.

‘With the current information, there’s a high chance another transmigrator is in the Ashita-kyo.’

If that ridiculous rumor was true?

If, by any chance, they had a ‘transmigrator perk’ different from mine or Ciel’s, and were using it?

‘I can’t just leave this to Maria.’

Something about it didn’t sit right.

All in all, it seemed better for me to step in personally, so I headed straight for the villa where they were supposed to be.

And there—

I came face-to-face with an unidentified group.

“…Who the hell are you?”

My voice rang low through the living room.

The menace in my deep tone seemed to dry the air instantly. An unplaceable tension swallowed the space whole.

But the soldiers couldn’t recklessly point their guns at me—they seemed well aware of the rank and power I held.

One soldier, who looked like the leader, barely managed to speak after shaking off the pressure.

[We are the New Life security team. We received an abnormal bio-signal from a VIP, and—]

“Maria.”

I cut the soldier off and called out to Maria.

“Yes, young master.”

“I have a question.”

“Yes.”

“Does ‘New Life’ use androids as VIP bodyguards?”

“…!”

Maria’s eyes widened.

Androids?

What on earth was he talking about?

Corporate VIP security teams used high-level adaptees, not androids. Naturally, New Life was no different.

That moment of doubt didn’t last long.

Everything clicked instantly.

Yes—Aaron could see it. With the military scanner function in his eyes, he could see what others couldn’t.

“…No. They don’t.”

“I see.”

Aaron nodded.

“They’re suspicious, just as I thought.”

[Damn it!]

The situation turned in an instant.

Black gloves slid over Aaron’s hands.

The soldiers’ muzzles all swung toward him at once—precisely, as if programmed, without the slightest error in movement.

But Aaron was faster.

Just before the soldiers pulled their triggers, thin flashes of light shot out in all directions.

At the same time, the rifles in their hands were cleaved neatly in two. A fraction too late, the triggers clicked, causing the rifles to explode internally.

Pupupupupu-BOOM!

Blue flames erupted from the plasma rifles, swelling in size instantly.

But the armor of the Lv.3 powered suits hardly took a scratch. Using the fire as cover, the soldiers continued their operation.

[Extract the VIP!]

[It’s Aaron Stingray! If he catches you, you’re in deep trouble! Fall back!]

Quickly communicating over an internal comm line, the unidentified soldiers abandoned the firefight and turned away.

Blue flames burst from the backs of their Lv.3 military powered armor.

Borrowing the power of their high-tech suits, the soldiers shot into the air at once, heading toward the airborne transport waiting above.

But then—

KWA-AAAAANG!

Just before they could board, the transport’s armor suddenly exploded into pieces. Losing balance, the craft spun out of control before plummeting to the ground.

[Damn it, what was that?!]

[That’s not Aaron Stingray… it’s someone else!]

With their escape cut off, the soldiers landed back on the ground. As the flames died down, a massive gun barrel emerged through the drifting smoke.

It was Maria.

A huge-caliber grenade launcher rose from her shoulder. Then, her body began transforming rapidly.

“Module Online, [Fast Reload].”

“Module Online, [Auto Lockdown].”

“Module Online, [Killing Floor].”

“Module Online, [Peacemaker].”

“Module Online…”

Over a dozen combat modules deployed at once. Her shoulders, arms, thighs, and calves opened to reveal an arsenal of firearms.

Click-clack-clack!

In an instant, she had enough firepower to overwhelm a police SWAT team with ease. Without a moment’s pause, every muzzle opened fire.

TATATATATATATATA—!

But the soldiers reacted quickly.

Using their powered armor’s mobility, they scattered to cover. Most of them narrowly dodged the bullets and managed to hide.

A few took direct hits, but the Lv.3 military powered armor was tough—the shots only left scratches on the outer plating, without inflicting serious damage.

Then, Aaron began to move.

“Hiding… just like cockroaches.”

Standing amid the wavering flames, he lightly flicked his fingers.

In that moment—

The world was cut in half.

KWA-GAGAGAGAGAGAGA—!

After the briefest flash—

Everything in sight was severed.

It was only after seeing the results that one could realize what had happened.

Pillars, furniture, glass, steel, concrete—

When they came to, all of it had been cleanly sliced in two. The soldiers hiding behind cover were no exception.

[Uaaaaghhh!]

Even the thick armor of the powered suits was like paper before Aaron. Those cleaved across the chest or waist dropped helplessly to the floor.

And what flowed from the cuts was not red blood, but blue fluid—and intricate mechanical parts.

Proof they were androids.

[Damn it! Backup! We need backup!]

Being androids, they felt neither pain nor death from such wounds. Rather than beg for mercy, they desperately tried to keep resisting.

Of course—

It was meaningless resistance.

“Who’s your leader?”

Clack, clack.

In the middle of the battlefield, now fallen silent, Aaron strolled forward leisurely, his shoes clicking against the floor.

He looked like a model on a fashion show runway.

“Wh-What is this…?”

The boys, who had been watching the battle from up close, couldn’t hide their shock.

Barely thirty seconds.

Or maybe even less.

That was all it had taken for an entire squad of android soldiers in military powered armor to be mercilessly cut down by just two people—not even from the Stingray Security Division, but from the Foundation.

‘This is the Crown Prince…?’

Only then did the boys realize.

Why their parents had always warned them—never, ever provoke Aaron Stingray.

‘Is he even human…?’

Of course, they knew what high-level Adaptees were. Every corporation had private armies, and they had even witnessed their training.

But Aaron Stingray was on another level entirely.

The boys weren’t sure they could beat him even if they brought out their strongest forces.

While the boys were still frozen at Aaron and Maria’s display, the bodyguards waiting nearby finally rushed into the living room.

“M-Master! Are you alright?”

“…!”

Useless idiots!

How much are you being paid, and this is the best you can do? What’s the point of showing up after it’s all over?!

…Though he wanted to lash out, the fight had ended so quickly that there was little point in blaming them.

Besides, he had been the one to order them not to enter without permission, no matter what happened inside.

More importantly—

There was something he needed to ask.

The eldest, Ethan, leaned close and whispered so the two from the Stingray side wouldn’t hear.

“Director Clark.”

“Yes, young master.”

“Aaron Stingray is here—you knew that?”

“…What?”

Only then did the attendants realize the villa’s living room had turned into a wreck. And that Maria and Aaron Stingray were both there.

Director Clark, realizing he had seriously messed up, dropped to his knees, his face pale.

“M-My apologies!”

“So, you didn’t know?”

“I… I have no excuse!”

It seemed Aaron hadn’t entered through the front gate. But honestly, who was at fault didn’t matter right now.

“If we went to war with the Stingrays, what would happen? Could we win against that man with the forces we have?”

“…What?”

A question that came out of nowhere.

But Director Clark quickly understood why his young master was asking—anyone would, after seeing the devastation in the living room.

He answered without hesitation.

“…It’s impossible.”

“No matter what we try?”

“Absolutely impossible. There is no force capable of handling the Stingrays alone. Even Militech, which is considered second in strength, would only barely manage to hold out.”

“B-But isn’t that just a nanomachine-focused corporation? If we joined with other companies and cut off their funding—”

Director Clark firmly cut him off.

“Young master, you must not underestimate the Imperial Family.”

It wasn’t just about capital.

The Stingrays possessed real, tangible military power.

No matter how much money you had, without weapons and an army to protect you, you’d be blown to pieces by the next shell that came your way.

“Most of all, Aaron Stingray is a monster.”

His exact combat strength and modular specs were classified Stingray secrets, but there likely wasn’t an Adaptee alive who could face him one-on-one.

In fact, there might not even be anyone who could survive against him.

“I-Is that true…?”

“Yes. So, above all, it’s best not to provoke the Stingrays—especially the Crown Prince.”

If you want to live long.

The attendant’s sincerity in that explanation left the boys silently trembling in fear.