Chapter 33

Benedict Stingray.

My younger brother, the head researcher of the Stingray Technology Division’s Module Department, and at the same time acting chairman of the Stingray Foundation’s board.

‘With this appearance, there’s little risk of being caught even if I wander inside the Academy.’

Unlike me, who had opened an entirely new office in the Academy and settled down, Benedict usually stayed between the Technology Division’s research building and the Stingray Foundation’s office.

Since our routes rarely overlapped, there was no chance of running into him while borrowing his identity. Even if someone approached me, I could simply push them away with a high-handed attitude, and if I wanted to start a conversation, they would have no choice but to comply.

‘It’s the perfect face for information gathering.’

The only potential problem was that by now, Benedict, who was probably working with the Sector A module researchers, might hear strange rumors.

If he heard that “another version of himself” was wandering around the Academy doing suspicious things, he’d surely send his subordinates to investigate.

But even if that happened, it wouldn’t be much of an issue.

‘As long as they don’t find out it’s me.’

By the time the rumor reached his ears, I would have already completed my work. If not, I could just transform into a different face.

And even if, by some chance, I was exposed as “Aaron Stingray,” breaking through the situation wouldn’t be difficult.

If I confronted him strongly, accusing him of possibly trying to kill me, he’d be the one to panic.

Not only did he fear me, but he likely had truly considered such thoughts before. Judging by his reaction then, I could even probe his true intentions.

‘Well, I’ll manage somehow.’

The biggest reason I borrowed Benedict’s identity was that it was the best way to dig into whatever scheme he was running inside the Academy.

My guess was—

The moment I disappeared, Benedict began plotting to seize control of the Academy again.

‘If it were him, he’d first go after…’

Iri and Miyu.

He’d surely try something with those two.

Benedict must have already learned about the abilities of the special scholarship students I brought in. Especially Miyu’s genius—he’d seen it firsthand, so as head researcher, he couldn’t help but covet her.

At first, he’d probably try direct persuasion. But I had already warned Miyu in advance, and with her personality, she’d refuse 99% of the time.

Then Benedict would immediately switch to his next method—be it threats or otherwise, he’d use every tool available to him as acting chairman.

One of those tools was—

‘Leon Albert.’

A second-year in the Tactical Combat Department.

While I was fighting illness, Benedict had recruited him as a scholarship student. He was also the de facto leader of the pro-Benedict faction among the students.

‘In the original work, he often appeared as a minor villain.’

Charming speech and good looks.

The background of being a Stingray employee’s son.

And with his ability to freely move between threats and persuasion, he rallied the Stingray scholarship students into a formidable force.

Under the name “Study Group,” his faction even included not just Stingray students, but those sponsored by Militech, Roman Corporation, Purity Service, and more.

Because of that, he often clashed with the original protagonist’s party, constantly picking fights only to be beaten down—a true supporting villain role.

‘I’ll have to confirm the details myself, but it’s highly likely Benedict will use him to intimidate my girls.’

Even if Iri and Miyu were well-protected under my name, now that I was officially “missing,” that protection wouldn’t be fully effective.

At first, Iri would put up fierce resistance in her own way, but in the end, she’d break. After all, she’d be facing not just one but many different opponents.

“Tsk…”

Just imagining that scene made me click my tongue in irritation without realizing it.

Of course, the simplest way to prevent such a situation was for me to stop hiding and reappear in public.

I could return to my position, bare my fangs at Benedict once, and formally announce a ban on student factional disputes, wiping out this nonsense completely.

Especially Leon—he could be expelled from the Academy immediately and banned from even approaching Sector D, condemned to live a ruined life.

‘But I won’t do that.’

As unfortunate as it was.

I planned to exercise superhuman patience and simply watch the atrocities they committed.

‘It can’t be helped.’

Adversity was necessary for growth.

If I kept shielding Iri, she would never escape her current clumsy self.

‘Iri is used to being alone.’

She was highly independent—

No, to be precise, ‘self-righteous.’

Having no one she trusted or relied on, she was always on edge. Like a wild animal, she bared her fangs at everyone who approached, inevitably causing trouble.

‘Iri needs to be tamed.’

It was the same in the original work.

She only changed after being cornered and realizing the importance of having someone else to rely on.

However—

This plan had one problem.

‘…It already feels like my heart’s being torn apart.’

Even knowing it was something that happened in the original story and a process she had to go through, the thought of my kid suffering was unbearable.

Right now, I was enduring the urge to crush them all in advance. I didn’t know when or how I might lose control.

‘In any case, I have to prepare for the worst.’

My plan was this—

First, I would borrow Benedict’s face to monitor the Academy’s internal situation and the progress of the scenario, while preparing at least a minimum safety net to ensure Iri and Miyu didn’t completely collapse in a crisis.

Iri would grow increasingly isolated among the students, going through harsher experiences. And the giant attack would serve as the climax of this episode.

‘…I still don’t like it.’

In the end, it was gaslighting.

Even if I didn’t directly order it, I was still an accomplice for not stopping something I could have prevented.

And since the plan was to use this to make Iri and Miyu more dependent on me, there was nothing pleasant about it.

No matter how I dressed it up with words like affection or personal growth, I couldn’t hide the ugly truth.

I knew that all too well.

But if I didn’t do this, when Iri eventually faced the ‘truth’ in the future, she’d surely break completely.

‘So it’s a necessary evil.’

If only the protagonist were still alive.

If that foolish transmigrator hadn’t gotten himself killed while showing off, and had done his job properly, I wouldn’t have needed such a bitter plan.

“Hoo…”

I shifted the guilt onto the dead.

Feeling slightly lighter, I checked the time.

‘It should be about time.’

Before wrapping up this Act 1, Episode 1, there was one person I needed to deal with for sure.

I’d confirmed she often wandered near the general student dormitory, so if I waited around here a little, I’d be able to run into her.

Current time: 10:23 a.m.

By now, the Academy’s maid androids would be finishing their cleaning duties in the general dorms and moving elsewhere.

“…”

I leaned against the wall, killing time.

Several maid androids rolled past, dragging cleaning carts, but none of them were the one I was looking for.

Then, after a few minutes—

She finally appeared.

A conspicuous blonde ponytail entered my sight. She was pushing a cleaning cart, leaving the dormitory. In her emerald eyes lingered a strange weariness.

Uncharacteristic for an android.

‘Found you.’

CL-00245. Codename: Ciel.

One of the sub-heroines of the original novel, and a character who was now almost certainly a transmigrator.

I immediately began tailing her.

Keeping a safe distance so as not to be spotted, I followed slowly. She walked a long way down the empty corridor, glanced around, then subtly changed direction.

‘She’s deviating from her route.’

Her destination: the Science and Technology Wing.

A place with absolutely no reason for a general dormitory maid robot to be heading toward.

After walking quite a distance down the long corridor connecting the Student Administration Wing to the Science and Technology Wing, she stopped in front of a small steel door.

She was probably planning to go inside.

‘Now’s my chance.’

When she had the door half-open—

I sprang forward.

Even though my appearance was Benedict’s, my specs hadn’t dropped. Closing a few dozen meters in an instant and grabbing the back of her neck was easy.

“Uagh?!”

She tried to scream.

But my hand was faster.

I clamped my hand tightly over her mouth, flung the door fully open, and shoved her inside.

Thud!

From the sudden impact, she tumbled forward hard. Keeping hold of her nape, I pinned her down with my legs so she couldn’t struggle.

“Wh-Who are you…!”

“Found you, transmigrator.”

“…”

I saw her gasp, her breath catching.

The emerald-colored camera lenses of her eyes widened as they met mine.

I’d caught her off-guard.

Or so I thought—

But then something happened that even I didn’t expect.

[Achievement Unlocked]

Met the Emancipator ‘CL-00245.’

Achievement Points: +500

I couldn’t help but be taken aback.

I was certain she was a transmigrator—

…So why had I just unlocked an achievement?

“Kyaaaaaah!”

“Iriiii! P-Please calm down!”

“Huh…?”

Iri regained consciousness with a scream.

The first thing she saw upon opening her eyes was Miyu’s pale face. Her long hair, damp with sweat, clung to her forehead. Beside her face, Miyu’s mechanical tail was shining a light.

“Wh-Where is this?”

“My room… Ah, it’s okay, you can relax…”

Only then did Iri notice the scattered mechanical devices lying around. At the edge of her vision, a monitor was running some program at high speed.

Her memory was fuzzy.

Wasn’t she just eating breakfast?

Why had she woken up in a place like this?

“W-What… happened…?”

Her voice wouldn’t come out properly.

It felt like something invisible was blocking her lungs. She still had a bit of dizziness too.

“J-Just calm down for now and drink some water…”

Miyu handed her a cup with her small hands. Iri took it, gulped it down, and handed it back.

Only then did she feel her senses returning. Steadying her breath, she asked again.

“What happened?”

“I-I think you were hacked…”

“Hacked?”

At Miyu’s words, Iri frowned.

“Hacked… as in… a Techno-Wizard?”

“Yes, probably…”

Miyu nodded.

“It must have been a skilled wizard… They really messed with your nervous system… It was a very dangerous situation…”

“How dangerous are we talking about?”

“Um… Well…”

Miyu averted her gaze.

Just from her expression, it was clear that “dangerous” meant life-threatening.

Thinking that, Iri let out a hollow laugh.

“Hah, a wizard, huh…”

She didn’t know what to say.

She’d heard about the dangers of wizards before. But they were rare enough that she’d never imagined experiencing their abilities like this.

The formal term was Techno-Wizard.

Specialized hackers who used various modules, cyberware, and cybernetic devices to display highly advanced hacking capabilities. People usually just called them “wizards” or “magicians.”

Wasn’t there a saying that sufficiently advanced technology was indistinguishable from magic?

As if to prove that, wizards lived up to their name, using their exceptional hacking skills to perform all sorts of feats that seemed like magic.

Accessing networks to steal critical information from electronic devices or causing them to malfunction was just the basics.

Those with exceptional skill could, on the spot, exploit security vulnerabilities in an opponent’s cyberware, modules, or nanomachines, instantly disabling even high-level augmented or adaptee targets.

Just like what had happened to Iri.

“It must have been a very skilled wizard… I’m looking over your system logs right now… There’s barely any trace left…”

“I never thought something like this would happen to me.”

Iri muttered weakly.

A long time ago, in Sector B, a grand-mage-class wizard had once carried out a massive cyber-terror attack against civilians.

With just one gesture from him, dozens of civilians’ heads exploded on the spot, and hundreds more were left with irreversible aftereffects.

It had taken the full mobilization of the police, sealing off the surrounding districts and engaging in a standoff for over a day, before they finally managed to kill him.

Until then, there had been a tendency in society to underestimate wizards. But after that incident, corporations, the government, and even the public began to acknowledge the danger they posed.

For those living in New Valhalla City, the name Techno-Wizard was a terrifying one.

“…I was naïve. I never imagined there’d be a wizard among the Academy students.”

Since the core ability of a wizard was hacking, they tended to be rather powerless against supernatural beings known as [Arcane].

That’s why I’d never considered the possibility that a wizard, specialized only for human-to-human combat, would be mixed into an Academy that taught how to deal with [Arcane].

But thinking about it, it was only natural.

Everyone who knew the truth was aware the Academy had become little more than a private soldier training ground for corporations. So it wouldn’t be strange if a few wizards were secretly being raised to fight humans instead of monsters.

“This has never happened before…”

Even though she’d spent her whole life roaming the dangerous backstreets of the Fallen Sector and Sector E—places most avoided for being too risky—nothing like this had ever occurred.

Honestly, it was a shock.

Wizard or not, since she had never experienced one before, she’d believed she could handle them with sheer skill.

As Iri muttered to herself in self-derision, Miyu carefully asked,

“Uh, Iri… When was the last time you updated your nanomachine security program…?”

“…Huh? What’s that?”

“…!?”

Miyu looked as if she were horrified by Iri’s abysmally low security awareness. Her voice shook as she pressed further.

“Th-Then… you don’t have an anti-wizard module or dedicated cyberware… or maybe a forced network shutdown feature…?”

“Uh, no…”

“You mean… you don’t even know where your own security vulnerabilities are…?”

“…Yeah.”

A short nod from Iri.

The look in Miyu’s eyes changed to that of someone staring at a caveman. In a somewhat dry tone, she asked again,

“S-Surely you’re not… downloading apps from shady sites or anything like that, right…?”

“Shady sites?”

“Y-You know… like adult video sites or…”

“Hey! I don’t go to stuff like that!”

What did she take her for?!

Iri shouted, her face turning bright red.

Miyu flinched and hunched her shoulders.

“S-Sorry sorry sorry!”

“N-No, I’m the one who should be sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Come to think of it, this probably happened because she hadn’t paid attention to security. And now Miyu had been dragged into it and harmed as well.

She was the one who owed an apology.

Iri scratched her cheek and mumbled, “Sorry,” while lowering her head slightly. Miyu, watching her, cautiously began speaking again.

“For high-level adaptees and augmenteds, a ‘hacking defense system’ is essential… You need to get regular updates from your assigned modular… install the latest anti-wizard modules and cyberware…”

“I-I see…”

It had never crossed her mind before.

Since she didn’t have the money, she’d never even considered getting those kinds of implants.

“For people who can’t afford it, some completely disable their network functions, or even become purists…”

Once the topic turned technical, Miyu’s explanation began to run long.

“First, your ‘Adam’ should be updated to the latest version from the official site… I have an additional antivirus program I developed, so we’ll install that… I can make an anti-wizard module before noon, but without materials, it’ll probably be limited to around Lv.2, and also…”

“Uh… huh?”

A flood of incomprehensible terms passed by.

Iri just sat there dazed, listening vaguely to Miyu’s muttering.

Then suddenly, Miyu grabbed her own head and shook it.

“N-No! This isn’t the time for this!”

“Wh-What is it? Calm down!”

“This isn’t what’s important right now!”

Miyu suddenly grabbed Iri’s hand.

Her tear-filled eyes met Iri’s.

“Iri… Please don’t be shocked, but listen to me.”

“Shouldn’t you be calming down first?”

“I-I’m not joking right now!”

Miyu shouted.

Realizing this was serious, Iri finally closed her mouth.

Miyu held her hand for a long time, sniffling, then finally seemed to make up her mind.

“Iri, at this rate…!”

She spoke the truth.

“You’re going to lose your life soon…!”

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