How to Take Revenge as an Academy Scoundrel

Chapter 60. Evidence

– Click!

Kim Do-jin began recording the video, his expression heavy with the weight of his task.

If it were up to him, he would have wanted the ‘Karasuma Clan’ to face their reckoning immediately, but the time was not right.

The ‘Karasuma Clan’ was a force considered one of the top ten guilds in the world, effectively ruling over Japan itself.

To provoke them recklessly could lead to a world of trouble.

For now, it was best to secure evidence that could corner them before retreating.

“I shouldn’t draw my blade until I have the strength to strike properly.”

At last, having finished filming, Kim Do-jin stepped out of the secret space.

Of course, the door was left wide open, and he had backed up any data that could serve as evidence.

Before it was too late, he retraced his steps, slipping away from Fukuda Kazuo’s residence with a calm demeanor.

* * *

The next morning.

“Ugh….”

Kim Do-jin stirred awake, slowly shaking off the remnants of sleep.

“…Is it already 8 o’clock?”

It had been over ten hours since he had dealt with Fukuda Kazuo.

As he turned on his smartphone to sift through the news, he found that the death of Justice Minister Fukuda Kazuo was indeed making headlines.

Of course, the fact that Fukuda Kazuo was a psychopathic serial killer was conveniently omitted.

‘These b*stards….’

It was no surprise, as he had expected nothing less.

Kim Do-jin could only let out a bitter smile at the ugliness of the ‘Karasuma Clan’ before finally rising from his seat.

Then, suddenly, he clenched and unclenched his fist, checking the magical energy coursing through his body.

‘Is it fortunate that I’ve entered S-rank faster than I thought?’

The mana from the elixir he had consumed earlier had finally been fully absorbed, surpassing the S-rank threshold perfectly.

Kim Do-jin wore a satisfied grin as he decided to test the ‘Illusion’ psychic ability he had devoured from Fukuda Kazuo yesterday.

– Whooom…!

After concentrating his mana for a while, he activated the psychic ability.

– Pah!

Indeed, a figure emerged before him.

A tall adult male, standing at 185 cm, with a robust physique, jet-black hair, and striking ruby-red eyes that left a lasting impression.

Though it was an illusion formed purely from mana, to the eye, it appeared as a real, living person.

But whose likeness had Kim Do-jin drawn upon to create this figure?

At a glance, it resembled Kim Do-jin, yet upon closer inspection, the features were distinctly different; the appearance was taken directly from Kim Do-jin himself.

Not the possessed Kim Do-jin, but the true self bound in this otherworld.

‘It feels like looking in a mirror after a long time…’

Kim Do-jin let out a bitter smile as he gazed at his illusion for a moment, then began to manipulate its movements.

“Hmm…”

With each vigorous motion, the illusion appeared slightly awkward, still lacking the finesse of Fukuda Kazuo’s control over the ‘Illusion’ ability.

However, considering he had only recently acquired the ‘Illusion’ power, this level of control was nothing short of remarkable.

Indeed, the talent of a ‘Devourer’ psychic was on an entirely different plane.

Feeling satisfied, Kim Do-jin decided it was time to conclude his test of the ‘Illusion’ ability.

‘I should head out for a bite to eat soon.’

After washing his face and changing his clothes, Kim Do-jin trudged out of his room in search of breakfast.

Some time later.

Upon finally arriving at the buffet on the first floor of the hotel, he was met with the raucous sight of students.

Yet what stirred them into an even greater uproar than usual was, of course, the recent death of Japan’s Minister of Justice, Fukuda Kazuo.

“What could have happened all of a sudden? Was it a revenge killing?”

“Who knows? They say he was competent and honest, quite popular among the Japanese people, so a revenge killing seems a bit…”

Among the students, various speculations about Fukuda Kazuo’s death were exchanged, but not a single one spoke the truth.

In fact, the only one who knew the truth and was responsible for Fukuda Kazuo’s death, Kim Do-jin, walked nonchalantly to the buffet, filling his plate with food.

He then plopped down beside Lee Jin-ryul and Dokgo Soo, who had arrived earlier and were already eating.

“Hey! You made it!”

Kim Do-jin lifted his spoon, a sudden urge to straighten the awkwardly bent ring and pinky fingers of Dokgo-su flickering in his mind.

“Did you see the news?”

“Apparently, the Japanese Minister of Justice was assassinated by an unidentified killer.”

As expected, Lee Jin-ryul and Dokgo-su began discussing the death of Fukuda Kazuo with intrigued expressions.

But Kim Do-jin, disinterested, merely mumbled vague affirmations, focusing instead on his meal.

Yet, in the midst of this…

“…….”

Out of nowhere, the figures of Misaki Ai and Karasuma Seishiro caught Kim Do-jin’s eye.

Once again, they stood in a corner of the hotel lobby, engaged in some hushed conversation.

Thinking it was just another trivial matter, he tried to divert his attention back to his food.

However, something suddenly seized his gaze.

‘What is that!?’

As he lifted his head again, the sight became clear.

An abnormal flow of mana flickered at the nape of Karasuma Seishiro’s neck.

Previously, he had lacked the magical power to perceive it with his ‘Insight’ ability, but now, thanks to the herb, he had ascended to an S-rank level and could finally see it.

‘…Mana imprint?’

Narrowing his eyes, Kim Do-jin observed intently, soon grasping the nature of what he was witnessing.

And if it was indeed the kind he suspected… it was nothing short of extraordinary.

‘What could this be… What is happening now?’

With a sharpened gaze, Kim Do-jin watched Misaki Ai and Karasuma Seishiro converse, and perhaps sensing his scrutiny…

“……!?”

Misaki Ai, who had briefly turned her head, froze in surprise the moment her eyes met Kim Do-jin’s.

Of course, only Misaki Ai herself could truly know that their eyes had locked.

‘Why, why is he staring like that!?’

Flustered by Kim Do-jin’s inexplicable behavior, Misaki Ai quickly turned her head away again, wrapping up her conversation with Karasuma Seishiro shortly after.

“Well then…”

With an awkward nod, Misaki Ai finally stepped into the buffet area.

“…….”

Kim Do-jin continued to gaze at her with piercing eyes, and suddenly, he shot up from his seat.

“Huh?”

In that moment, Lee Jin-ryul and Dokgo-su, seated at the same table, turned to stare in astonishment.

“What are you doing? Haven’t you finished your meal yet?”

Lee Jin-ryul and Dokgo-su thought Kim Do-jin was merely contemplating the end of his meal, but that was not the case.

Kim Do-jin, still holding a plate with half of the food untouched, rose from his seat and walked over to Misaki Ai, plopping down right in front of her.

“Eh!?”

Misaki Ai, bewildered by Kim Do-jin’s incomprehensible actions, stammered a question.

“W-What’s going on?”

In response, Kim Do-jin met her gaze with an unusually serious look.

“I have a few questions to ask.”

What kind of questions could warrant such an approach?

“…….”

Misaki Ai sensed that the nature of Kim Do-jin’s inquiries was anything but ordinary, and he began to eat casually while engaging her in conversation.

“What is your relationship with Karasuma Seishiro?”

At that, Misaki Ai flinched slightly before answering.

“Pardon? Ah, well…”

“…….”

“I, um, we have an arranged marriage… it’s been promised…”

As she spoke, Misaki Ai seemed to shrink into herself, the weight of her words heavy upon her.

It felt as though she did not desire this union with Karasuma Seishiro.

Kim Do-jin, as if he had anticipated such a reaction, his eyes gleaming, pressed further.

“When did this happen? As far as I knew, the Karasuma family was merely in a position of guardianship and support, wasn’t it?”

“Ah, yes… it’s true that Lord Karasuma Tenshin took good care of me.”

“Then was the arranged marriage his doing as well?”

“No, that was proposed by Karasuma Seishiro, the young lord, about half a year ago…”

“Suddenly?”

“Yes…”

Half a year ago, Karasuma Seishiro had suddenly sought to marry Misaki Ai.

And the magical sigil etched upon his neck.

Kim Do-jin felt a surge of certainty in his suspicions and spoke.

“It seems we need to change our venue for this conversation.”

* * *

In a corner of the rooftop garden of the Karasuma Hotel, for the fourth time now.

Kim Do-jin, having arrived first, was passing the time with a cigarette, waiting for Misaki Ai.

As moments slipped by.

Just as expected, when he had nearly finished his smoke, Misaki Ai arrived.

“Do-jin-kun?”

Kim Do-jin quickly extinguished his cigarette, raising a hand to signal his location, and Misaki Ai, finally spotting him, approached with a tense expression.

“Sit.”

He gestured for Misaki Ai to take a seat on the bench beside him, then settled down next to her.

Without delay, he dove straight into the matter at hand.

“There was a magical imprint etched into Karasuma Seishiro’s nape.”

Misaki Ai’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected revelation.

Of course, Kim Do-jin could not see those eyes.

“What? W-What does that mean…?”

“It’s my psychic ability. It wasn’t visible the last time I saw him, but today it was clear.”

Misaki Ai, her mouth agape beneath the white blindfold, stared blankly for a moment before speaking.

“If it’s a magical imprint…”

“Yes. It’s a means to dominate the magic of the one it’s marked upon… From the wave pattern, it seems that a mind control type of psychic ability is at work on Karasuma Seishiro.”

In simpler terms, it meant someone was manipulating Karasuma Seishiro’s mind.

“What!?”

Stunned, Misaki Ai froze, her mouth still open, and Kim Do-jin observed her pale expression before asking again.

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“Have you ever felt like he became a bit different at some point?”

Misaki Ai, looking confused, clutched her head and replied.

“I don’t know him that well, but… I did feel something was off. It started about six months ago…”

“Right. It looked like the magical imprint was about six months old. Someone must have taken control of Karasuma Seishiro’s body around that time.”

If that were true, it was a matter far more serious than anything else.

Misaki Ai, now with a face drained of color, asked, “Who on earth would do such a thing?”

Kim Do-jin shook his head in response.

“I don’t know either. But I do know what the clue is.”

“Clue?”

“Someone capable enough to inscribe magical power onto Karasuma Seishiro. And the moment they seize Karasuma Seishiro’s body, they wish to marry you. If there exists a person who meets these two conditions… perhaps you know better than I do?”

In an instant, Misaki Ai seemed to grasp the identity of someone, her face twisting into a mask of terror as she muttered.

“That… that can’t be. He surely…”

Kim Dojin observed Misaki Ai’s face intently as she struggled to collect her thoughts, before finally speaking.

“Tell me, the circumstances I am unaware of. Though you may wish to forget, speak of what transpired five years ago.”

—