An Angel Lives in the Academy
Chapter 38: The Angel Who Makes It Rain (8)

Episode 38

A chance to teach her sister a lesson.

And a chance to become a hero.

What on earth did that mean?

'I see.'

Yumari understood what the boy was saying.

'He's telling me to gain fame by resolving this situation... since people all over the world are watching this mess right now.'

This Blessing of the Spirits was unfolding according to the scheme of Yu Si-hyun, her half-sister and the student council president, and the goal of that scheme was to ruin her image in front of the world and eliminate her from the successor race.

But what if the whole world saw her resolving this crisis?

Popularity was extremely important for heroes. Heroes were like celebrities, their authority increased with their fame.

It was undeniably a tempting proposition.

However.

"I refuse."

"Oka... wait, what?!"

Leffrey was flustered. Why not?

The boy's plan was this: Leffrey would use Klein-style magic to tell Yumari about the weaknesses and characteristics of the monsters she was facing, and Yumari would use that information to easily defeat the monsters' illusions.

Leffrey gaining Angelic Power while Yumari defeated the monsters? People called this unfair system...

'Auto-hunting, I can't resist Angelic Power auto-hunting!'

Leffrey, unable to resist, hurriedly continued,

"I know the weaknesses of those monsters. And their habits too... with your abilities, you can take them down faster than the professors. I'll keep telling you their weaknesses through telepathy."

Yumari's expression brightened a little. Leffrey thought she was convinced by the change in her expression. However, that was just the boy's misunderstanding.

"I see. So you did have something up your sleeve... but I still refuse."

"Why?"

"There's no benefit for you."

What did she mean there was no benefit?

Angelic Power auto-hunting was the best benefit!

Leffrey bit his lip.

Graaah- The roars of monsters could be heard. The professors were quickly taking down the monsters' illusions, but Leffriel's memories were even faster.

"Is that important right now?"

"It is. The things that happened during the entrance exam, the fact that you teamed up with me today, the fact that you took the Reflection Flower for me..."

Yumari continued speaking with a blank expression.

But Leffrey could tell.

That her expressionless face was just an act.

Yumari's true expression right now was...

"And your past being broadcasted to the world... it was all a sacrifice."

Yumari caressed Leffrey's face.

Leffrey's heart skipped a beat.

Yumari was indeed a beautiful girl.

"You hate me. Why on earth would you sacrifice so much for me?"

That's right. Why had Leffrey made so many sacrifices for Yumari? He cursed her as a traitor in his heart every day... yet he was sacrificing more than anyone else for her.

'It's because of Angelic Power!'

Was it really? Leffrey, the liar, had to ask himself once more. Had he truly helped Yumari only for Angelic Power?

'Because of Angelic Power...'

The boy recalled the studio apartment he had lived in his past life. There was always a large poster of Yumari hanging on the wall. It was one of the boy's most prized possessions.

That night, when she betrayed humanity,

the poster was torn down and thrown in the trash.

'Actually... actually, I knew. What I should have been really angry about was...'

The true target of the boy's anger was...

The society that turned a blind eye to the suffering of Yumari's mother, the adults who ignored Yumari's bullying within the family.

And the boy was already an adult, a part of society at that time.

Therefore, the boy had no right to be angry. No, he shouldn't even be angry; he should be apologizing to this young half-dragon girl. He was sorry for not protecting her when she was young, sorry for not understanding her sadness and pain.

So Leffrey muttered,

"I don't hate you anymore."

"What?"

"Touch it. You can tell with your dragon's power, right?"

The boy placed the girl's hand on his chest. Yumari's cheeks flushed slightly.

"Right?"

"...Yes."

"And I do gain something. You're the honorable descendant of a dragon. And you're from the incredibly rich Seocheon Yu family, you're really not going to repay the favor? I’ve put it all on my tab!"

"...I have to."

Leffrey nodded.

"Jack is already diligently repaying his debt to me. I’m counting on you too."

"Yes..."

And he smiled.

"And when this is all over, let's be friends."

"Friends?"

"Yeah, not the kind of fake friends you make, but real friends who care about each other."

Why did he emphasize the word "friends"?

It was naturally…

[Becoming a friend to a wounded girl is an angelic act!]

[You have gained Angelic Power.]

It was for Angelic Power farming.

As seen with Soya, becoming friends with a girl was an angelic act.

'I can't miss Angelic Power farming.'

It was a truly fitting image for Leffrey, the angel of profit.

Of course, to Yumari, the boy who said such things to her only looked like an angel...

"Then go, Yumari. I'll be waiting."

"...I'll be back."

With those words, Yumari took to the sky. The blue horn on the girl's head showed that she was originally a being of the sky. Soaring higher and higher...

She looked like an ascending dragon.

And so, the angel Leffrey's auto-hunting began... no, hero Yumari's first step began

*

*

*

*

Professor Klein, who had been firing magic spells from the air, couldn't help but smile at a certain sight.

"Oh ho."

The boy he had chosen as his successor was sending a message to a girl flying through the air.

"What on earth is he doing?"

Professor Klein looked at the girl.

The girl was strong. Not at the professor level, but definitely above the assistant teacher level. However, she was still young, so there was a big difference in experience and stats compared to the professors.

Yet, the girl was taking down the illusions faster than the professors. How was this possible?

'I'm curious.'

Professor Klein, as a mage, had a bad habit of being unable to resist curiosity. So naturally...

'I have no choice but to eavesdrop for a bit.'

He intercepted Leffrey's message spell.

"That monster's blood is acidic! Attack from a distance, but be careful not to be exposed in its line of sight!"

Professor Klein was impressed. It took him several minutes to figure out the monster's habits... but to make this judgment at a glance?

Of course, Leffrey was able to say this because he had memories of the past, but... Professor Klein had no way of knowing that.

"Its weak point is the Adam's apple. Approach it and strike when it takes a big swing!"

And even accurate judgment.

It was truly an observation skill he couldn't help but admire.

'Wait, with this kind of observation skill... wouldn't it be better for him to directly confront the monsters himself? Why is he giving all this honor and glory to Yumari?'

Professor Klein thought for a moment.

Why was the boy yielding the monsters he could defeat himself to Yumari? What was Yumari's current situation? And how did the Reflection Flower go out of control? Why was that boy from the magical studies holding the Reflection Flower...

After thinking for a moment, Klein muttered,

"...Student council president, you've crossed the line."

Professor Klein's expression turned serious. But seeing Leffrey's actions, he smiled again.

'To live as a hero, fame is essential... and he's giving up all that fame to Yumari. To protect Yumari, he's giving up all his accomplishments...'

What a heroic sight. Professor Klein felt his heart warm up for the first time in a while.

'The outstanding sense to figure out the complex political situation of the Seocheon Yu all by himself, with no backing, and the true sacrifice of giving up all that glory for his companion...!'

Naturally, he couldn't keep this heartwarming fact to himself. Even the patient Klein couldn't resist bragging about his student.

Imbued with the caster's realization and emotion...

"Message magic, activate."

And so, Professor Klein's misunderstanding spread throughout the entire faculty.

What Leffrey had done for auto-hunting, had now been transformed into a huge misunderstanding by the terrifying professors.

Park Jin-ho sent a message to Klein.

Lusa did the same.

[Good. Very good. As expected of the next leader of the Cheongu Guild.]

[What are you talking about? He's the one who will inherit my magical arts!]

[Hey... don't try to poach the disciple I've already claimed!]

And a timid voice interjected,

[L-Leffrey has divine power, so I think it's only right for me, a saint, to protect him.]

But that voice was immediately ignored.

Park Jin-ho's voice came again.

[So what's the man from the illusion, and his family, doing right now?]

[As expected. They've started a smear campaign. As soon as they realized Leffrey was an orphan with no backing, they're spreading all sorts of rumors and slander. And...]

Professor Klein continued, keeping an eye on Park Jin-ho,

[They even hired superhumans specialized in assassination.]

[...Ha. Really?]

As Park Jin-ho asked in disbelief, Professor Klein, instead of answering, showed him a video.

A man was shouting at superhumans.

"How much? How much will it take to kill that bastard?"

"Sir, I'm sorry, but... we don't take requests for Central Academy students."

"I said that bastard has no backing! He's a dirt spoon! Not all Central Academy students are successful kids in the superhuman industry!" (TL Note: Dirt spoon. A Korean term referring to someone who comes from a poor or disadvantaged background, the opposite of a golden spoon.)

"The problem is more the professors..."

The man muttered as if possessed,

"If you don't take this request, you'll become enemies of our family. Honestly, do you have anyone as rich as me among your clients? Compare me to that dirt spoon kid. Who do you want to make your enemy?"

"...I understand."

And the video ended.

At that moment, all the students gathered by the lake looked up at the sky. They couldn't help it. Because... a tremendous amount of anger was condensing in the sky.

Park Jin-ho muttered, filled with rage,

"So, they want a spoon fight, huh?"

Then, as Leffrey's "spoon," he couldn't stay out of this fight. (TL Note: Park Jin-ho is saying that he’s Leffrey’s “Sponsor” aka Spoon. Get it? He’s Leffrey’s backing)

The professors all smiled simultaneously.

[Lusa.]

[Keuk(Cough), just say the word.]

[Ask the World Tree to erase the memories of Leffrey's tragic past from the general public.]

[Got it. Since my will is the World Tree's emotions... it's probably trembling in anger right now too. I'll have to edit Leffrey's story and leave only the good parts.]

Lusa smiled as she tore apart a flying monster.

And then...

[Klein.]

[Yes, Vice Principal.]

[Use your wealth to confiscate that family's assets. Make them fall into utter ruin.]

[It's already in progress. I'll give you the results within a week.]

And the timid voice interjected again,

[I-Is there anything I can do? I also have the right to care for Leffrey.]

[You have no rights.]

[...What?]

Ignoring Rebecca's shock, Park Jin-ho declared,

[The rights to that child belong solely to me.]

[You’re talking rubbish.]

[Yeah, fuck off.]

Of course, the other professors didn't agree.