How to Take Revenge as an Academy Scoundrel

Chapter 21. Free-for-all

As soon as I returned to the dorm room, I first washed Winter.

“Woof…”

Winter seemed to be in a downcast mood, perhaps because attacking Woo Tae-sung wasn’t a pleasant memory.

Yet, discovering and thwarting Woo Tae-sung’s crime in time was certainly something to be praised.

“Well done. You saved those kids.”

Kim Do-jin offered treats, showering Winter with compliments, and the simple creature’s spirits lifted almost instantly.

“Woof!”

After washing Winter, Kim Do-jin began his own bath.

– Splash!

As he sank into the tub, the hot water felt as if it were melting away the fatigue from his entire body.

“Ah…”

Kim Do-jin savored that refreshing sensation, then raised his hands before his eyes.

Two strands of mana energy had flowed from Woo Tae-sung’s body when he died.

Those were indeed the two superpowers Woo Tae-sung possessed, and this vessel, Kim Do-jin, had absorbed them all with the power of ‘Devour.’

“Now I have three superpowers.”

His true self had devoured over fifty superpowers, but comparing them was not good for his mental health.

Typically, possessing one superpower was the norm, and having two was considered special, marking one as a multi-superpowered individual.

“Well, in a way, it’s like having one superpower…”

Anyway, it was time to test that new ability.

“Let’s see what it can do.”

The first power he decided to test was the ‘Light Generation’ ability that Woo Tae-sung had hidden away.

Coincidentally, it was the same power as Im So-hee’s, though the details and methods of controlling the light were not identical.

‘It would be troublesome if I shone like Im So-hee when embarrassed.’

He spread his palm and focused on creating a sphere of light above it.

– Humm…

Soon enough, it materialized.

“Hmm…”

That wasn’t all.

According to Kim Do-jin’s will, the sphere of light began to rise slowly from his palm, and as he increased the mana output, it grew so bright that it became difficult to keep his eyes open.

“Looks like I won’t have to worry about power outages anymore.”

Of course, it was a jest.

This orb of light, as weightless as it was, could not be wielded to strike an enemy, but it could certainly serve to disrupt their vision, much like a flashbang.

‘A bit underhanded, but it could be used to blindside them before delivering a blow.’

That alone made it a fine secret weapon, and depending on how it combined with other powers, the possibilities were endless.

‘If my magical power and control grow stronger, I might even conjure a laser beam on the level of a fervent ray…’

In fact, there already existed an awakened one who wielded the ‘light’ ability like an optical weapon.

Joshua Payden, the leader of the ‘Icarus Guild,’ which vied for supremacy among the ‘Top 10 Guilds’ of the world.

He was one of the current ‘3 Stars’ and a being of unparalleled strength, a monster capable of slicing through ordinary beasts with a laser in the blink of an eye.

Whether this vessel could evolve to such heights remained a question, but there was no doubt that the ‘light generation’ ability was a potent and promising one.

‘At the very least, it’s a waste for someone like Woo Tae-seong to possess such a power.’

Kim Do-jin shook his head and tested yet another new ability.

‘Should I call this a mana veil for camouflage?’

This ability, which Woo Tae-seong openly possessed, allowed the user to spread a thin veil of mana in the air.

However, this mana veil could change color to match its surroundings, and it also had the added effect of muffling sound.

While it could be quite useful for concealment, it was not an ability that would be of much use in immediate combat.

Compared to the light generation ability, it was certainly lacking, yet one could never tell when it might prove useful.

‘Better than having nothing at all.’

With that thought, Kim Do-jin meticulously tested his second ability before stepping out of the bathroom.

“Ha…”

From family gatherings to Woo Tae-seong’s crimes…

It had truly been a chaotic day, but fortunately, it hadn’t escalated into a major incident.

The crime scene had fortuitously been located midway along Winter’s walking path.

Had Winter gone elsewhere or not ventured out at all, a terrible accident would have surely occurred.

Kim Do-jin resolved to be more cautious and to strengthen himself as he began to wrap up the day.

* * *

The next morning.

“Ah? So-hee’s here!”

As Lim So-hee entered the classroom, the first-year girls of Class 1 swarmed around her.

“Are you okay?”

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News of her near brush with a horrific accident had already spread throughout the school.

The girl students, caught between worry and curiosity, continued to approach Lim So-hee, their voices a blend of concern and intrigue.

“Ah, it’s, it’s fine. Thankfully, nothing like that happened to me…”

In truth, prying into the affairs of a crime victim could be seen as a lack of consideration.

Yet, Lim So-hee did not hold it against them; she answered each question, one by one.

However, there was something even she could not endure.

“I knew that b*stard Woo Tae-seong was like that from the start.”

“Me too. Just look at him, right? His eyes are all slitted like a snake.”

“They say he suddenly lunged out and bit someone to death; truly, he got what he deserved. He got what he deserved!”

A group of girls, a little distance away, chattered among themselves.

Then, out of the blue, the conversation shifted to Kim Do-jin, and Lim So-hee flinched, straining to listen.

“Oh! But Kim Do-jin was also at the scene, right?”

“Yeah. I heard that too. What on earth was he doing there?”

“Right? Isn’t it strange? Everyone knows Woo Tae-seong is Kim Do-jin’s lackey. But he just happened to plan and execute the crime alone, only to die in a freak accident? And Kim Do-jin just happened to witness it? …Do you believe that?”

“No. That’s why rumors are spreading, saying that Kim Do-jin actually orchestrated the whole thing, and the Myungseong Group is trying to cover it up by pinning it all on Woo Tae-seong.”

A conspiracy theory sprang forth unexpectedly.

Given Kim Do-jin’s behavior up until now, it wasn’t entirely out of the realm of possibility.

But Lim So-hee knew better than anyone that it wasn’t true.

And so, she exclaimed.

“No!”

Before she realized it, she had shot up, defending Kim Do-jin.

“Do-jin isn’t that kind of person, so don’t speak ill of him.”

In that moment, after Lim So-hee’s outburst.

“….”

Surprisingly, the vast classroom of the first-year, first class fell into an eerie silence, as if it had emptied entirely.

“…Ah!”

Only then did Lim So-hee realize what she had done, her face flushing a deep crimson.

“Ugh….”

To make matters worse, overwhelmed by the attention now directed at her, she couldn’t bear it any longer.

In a flash, she bolted out of the classroom, fleeing as if chased.

“Wh-what is this…?”

“Did something just envelop Kim Do-jin?”

As Lim So-hee vanished, the classroom erupted into a cacophony once more.

Yet, amidst the clamor, there were students who silently gazed toward the back door through which Lim So-hee had exited, their expressions tinged with confusion.

Misaki Ai, Carla Arlen, and Yoon Yuna were among them.

* * *

‘Huh?’

Kim Do-jin tilted his head in bewilderment.

He had come to school and taken his seat as usual, but something felt distinctly off about the atmosphere in the classroom.

‘What is going on…?’

There were always a few students who would steal glances now and then, but today, for some reason, it felt more intense.

‘What’s happening, what is it…?’

If there was anything that could explain this shift, only one thought came to mind.

The attempted rape and death of Woo Tae-sung that had transpired the night before.

He had anticipated that the school would be in an uproar because of it.

However, he hadn’t expected to be the center of such attention.

‘Why are they all so concerned about me? Is it because I’m the sole witness and the one who reported it?’

Even that felt somewhat dubious.

And why had Lim So-hee been radiating an odd glow since earlier?

“……”

Kim Do-jin continued to tilt his head, trying to grasp the situation, but it eluded him.

There was nothing he could particularly guess, and soon their homeroom instructor entered through the door.

“Quiet down.”

Astrid Lindell, the homeroom instructor for Class 1-1, commanded silence with her small but resonant voice before beginning the morning announcements.

“Last night, an unfortunate incident occurred on campus.”

Instructor Astrid briefly recounted the events surrounding the Woo Tae-sung case, sharing pertinent warnings related to it.

After disseminating other news, she finally concluded the announcements.

“Now, prepare for class.”

Soon, Instructor Astrid exited the classroom, and the students made their way to the locker room to get ready for the morning lessons.

Today’s morning classes were crucial, carrying significant weight in terms of credits, and could not be taken lightly.

The so-called ‘Free-for-all.’

In this trial ground, where neither friend nor foe was defined, the goal was to survive as long as possible.

* * *

“Any questions?”

The lengthy explanation of the rules by the instructor came to an end.

As scheduled, this trial was a ‘Free-for-all.’

Students busied themselves, pondering how best to act within the established rules, but the instructor wasted no time in distributing the trial equipment.

In this test, each participant would carry a small flag on their back, and the moment that flag was pulled by another participant, they would be eliminated.

Thus, the first to be eliminated would take the last place, while the sole survivor would claim victory—this was the basic rule.

As the name ‘Free-for-all’ suggested, it was an individual competition, yet forming teams was not prohibited.

In fact, since points were awarded based on the order of elimination, failing to form a team would put one at a disadvantage.

The problem lay in the fact that any team formed was destined to break apart eventually.

Anyway, after some time had passed.

– Squeak!

At last, the trial began.