An Angel Lives in the Academy
Chapter 56: The Angel Who Creates a Club (9)

Episode 56

Suddenly, an oppressive aura filled the cathedral, causing the two chattering girls look ahead.

A woman was sitting there.

And that woman's name was…

"...Professor Hexi."

"What? A snake? Don't try to act serious all of a sudden... Huh, Professor Hexi."

Wipe- Wipe-

Professor Hexi, who had been wiping her hands, looked at the two students who had insulted her.

"You girls, your words are quite harsh."

She just watched them with cold eyes.

'That child with horns must be Yumari, and that pink cat beast folk is Hongwol.'

Yumari, the despicable illegitimate daughter of the Seocheon Yu, the last descendant of dragons in the human world. Angel-nim would definitely consider her a hero candidate, with such potential.

Grit-

A true hero, unlike a fake like her.

Hongwol, the next chieftain of the Mooncat Tribe, her potential was said to have already surpassed Jeokwol, the current chieftain. Like Yumari, she was a child with enough potential for Angel-nim to choose as a hero candidate.

Grind-

Hexi, who hadn't been angered by the insults she heard earlier, gritted her teeth and frowned.

'Don't tell me these are the hero candidates chosen by Angel-nim? Then I...'

If those two were the hero candidates chosen by Angel-nim, then what was she? An artificially created fake. An inferior, abandoned being.

Angel-nim would shower them with unlimited Angelic Power... but she, a fake and unchosen by Angel-nim, could be abandoned at any moment.

Inferiority and anxiety.

These two emotions, like daggers, pierced deeply into Hexi's heart.

In this atmosphere, Hexi was the first to speak.

"What kind of manners are those?"

"I apologize for my slip of the tongue, professor."

"Me too."

Yumari nodded with a blank expression, and Hongwol, still stuck in the window frame, replied sarcastically. Both were mocking Hexi in their own way.

"So, you're going to act like this?"

But Hexi was a professor.

If she utilized the academy's rules, there were countless ways to punish these two impertinent girls.

But Hexi couldn't punish them.

Why?

Because Leffrey apologized for them.

"Professor, I apologize. My friends are a bit rough around the edges..."

An angelic boy, with a truly apologetic expression, apologized in their place.

Seeing that expression, Hexi bit her lip.

'I shouldn't fall for that expression... This time, I have to be firm!'

Twinkle twinkle-

Leffrey's eyes sparkled like polished emeralds.

'...'

Hexi, staring into those eyes, once again forgot what to say.

'Ugh, I fell for it again...!'

Hexi, barely managing to regain her composure, quickly averted her gaze from Leffrey.

"Well... ah, be careful next time."

"Yes."

"Heh, okay."

The two of them, seeing Hexi let them off the hook, Yumari gave a meaningful smile, and Hongwol wagged her tail, chuckling as if amused.

"Ah, right. Leffrey."

"Yes?"

"You stormed the student council headquarters, didn't you?"

Hongwol shouted.

And her voice was quite serious.

It was a bit funny seeing her try to act serious while still stuck in the window frame, but Leffrey couldn't just laugh at her.

"I didn't storm it. I went to submit documents, and somehow it..."

"So, Professor Hexi, no, I mean Professor Hexi-nim, was about to destroy the entire student council, but you, like an idiot, stopped her, didn't you?!"

"Yes. But why?"

Hongwol suddenly started fidgeting as if frustrated.

"No, why? I should be the one asking why! The student council has always been messing with you, they're practically your enemies. Why didn't you wipe them out at that moment?"

Wipe them out? That's a bit harsh, isn't it?

Leffrey shook his head and continued,

"But fighting is bad, right? And if Professor Hexi destroyed the student council, what would happen to her reputation?"

"Leffrey."

Yumari, who had been silent, chimed in.

"Professor Hexi attacking the student council headquarters was a strategic move. The student council was currently under the delusion that they had control over Professor Hexi's weakness, so naturally, they were being careless about her. It was a perfect opportunity to strike and completely wipe them out."

Yumari quickly continued,

"Besides, even if they destroyed the core of the student council at that moment, Professor Hexi's reputation wouldn't have been significantly damaged. First, Professor Hexi didn't have much of a reputation to begin with. And second, the student council went too far to get control over Professor Hexi's weakness. If that fact were to be revealed, the student council would probably be the ones who receive more criticism."

And then she concluded,

"Leffrey, why did you do that?"

"...What those children are saying is correct."

Finally, Hexi joined in to attack Leffrey.

No, to persuade him.

"Leffrey, if I had completely destroyed the student council at that time, we wouldn't have to waste time creating a strange club. And you wouldn't have to participate in the upcoming club fair."

Hexi lowered her head as if frustrated.

"Leffrey, that was a mistake on your part."

"Right, it was a huge mistake. If it were me, I would really have..."

"That's right."

Suddenly, the atmosphere changed 180 degrees. Weren't they growling at each other just a moment ago?

'Now they're all united in criticizing me?'

Leffrey, under the warm glares of the three girls, started to make excuses,

"Then what should I have done?"

"You shouldn't have stopped her. Do you think they'll be grateful that you saved them? No, they might even come back to take revenge for being humiliated."

"That's right. Leffrey, you're too naive about the world."

The three of them were saying similar things. Leffrey, you don't know how cruel this world is. This world is survival of the fittest, if you live like a naive pushover, you'll eventually get hurt. Revenge is a warrior's virtue, to ruthlessly retaliate against their enemies. In short, this is called tit-for-tat.

And so on.

'No, guys. I get what you mean.'

But Leffrey was an angel.

If an angel didn't do angelic things, then who would in this world?

'In a situation like this… it seems impossible to reason with them.'

Leffrey felt that he couldn't get through to them.

'This won't do. I have no choice but to activate my forbidden technique.'

Leffrey used one of his Angelic Abilities. The name of that ability was Blessing of the Power Angel who Graced the King. It was an ability that originally created holy oil in his hand, but…

...with a special item, he could create it elsewhere.

For example, his tear ducts.

Drip-

Something that resembled tears welled up in Leffrey's eyes.

'Angel's secret technique, Chapter 3. Leffrey, The Tearful Angel!'

And that something that resembled tears flowed down Leffrey's cheeks.

The boy pretended to mutter in a choked voice,

"I-I just..."

Leffrey's acting skills improved day by day.

If acting were a skill, he would have already surpassed Lv.5.

"I didn't want to see anyone get hurt..."

Sniffle sniffle- Leffrey wiped the holy oil… no, his tears, with his sleeve. Hexi and the three girls were at a loss for words.

Yumari muttered, "L-Leffrey", frozen in place, and the other two girls just watched Leffrey without saying a word.

Hongwol, unable to hide her guilt, muttered, "Don't cry..." and Hexi just hesitated, looking shocked.

"You... made Leffrey cry?"

Soya, trembling with anger, started taking out a strange magic book from her pocket.

Well, that aside…

'Hexi's reaction is weak.'

Actually, Hexi had the strongest reaction. She was so overwhelmed that she couldn't even move, but Leffrey didn't notice.

Leffrey used his angel's secret technique one more time, just for Hexi.

"And I hated seeing Professor Hexi being insulted, I just did it for Professor Hexi..."

Sniffle sniffle-

Then he glanced at Hexi.

Now, Hexi was also overwhelmed with guilt.

She was even on the verge of tears herself.

And a message popped up.

[Persuading heroes is an angelic act!]

[You have gained Angelic Power.]

'Wait, I'm getting Angelic Power for this?'

Truly, the Angelic Power system was a mystery.

Anyway…

Leffrey was able to persuade the three women with a single angel's secret technique.

'...This seems to work well. I have to use it more often. In front of the other professors too. Especially in front of Professor Park Jin-ho.'

What a great plan.

This was Leffrey, an angel who has remained miraculously uncorrupted, was now scheming to exploit even the professors.

* * *

Hongwol had somehow managed to escape the window frame and was licking her hand as she watched Leffrey.

"I told you I'm creating a club, right?"

"Yeah, what was it called? Volunteer Club? That's a bit stu..."

"Yes! It's a good name, right?"

Leffrey smiled brightly.

Hongwol, seeing that, cleared her throat and...

"I-I guess?"

She replied.

"A volunteer club. It wouldn't be a bad club at another academy."

"Why? A volunteer club is good even at our academy. There are so many students in our academy who need help."

So many students who need help.

But did Leffrey really create this club out of pure intentions?

Actually, Leffrey was developing a formula these days.

That formula was...

Central Superhuman Academy Student = Future Hero

Helping a future hero = Angelic Power

A club that helps Central Superhuman Academy students = Infinite Angelic Power to enjoy

It was an alchemical formula for creating Angelic Power.

This is the correct answer. Alchemy Angel...!'

Leffrey applauded himself.

"A club that helps unfortunate students? Unfortunate students? Leffrey, there's no student more unfortunate than an unrecognized black mage in this world. Let's just create a black magic club, like I said!"

Soya, looking frustrated, tugged on Leffrey's sleeve.

"Students who need help. Why should we help them? They're going to fail next semester's exams anyway."

And Hexi was casually saying something a professor shouldn't say.

"...Sigh."

Leffrey, seeing this, heaved a deep sigh.

'Actually, the reason I'm creating this club… isn't just for Angelic Power.'

The real reason Leffrey wanted to create this club… was for these four hero candidates over here with questionable personalities.

'I hope they'll show at least a little bit of heroic behavior while doing volunteer work with me.'

Could he really protect humanity from the demon king with these four?

Leffrey couldn't easily answer that question.

"You'll still be with me, right?"

But Leffrey couldn't give up.

Surely, these four would also one day become true heroes and defeat the demon king.

In Leffrey's place.

To do that, personality reform was essential.

"Of course, but what are we going to do about the club fair next week?"

The club fair, a festival where the Central Academy's clubs showcased their achievements. The results they showed here determined the club's future survival.

But Leffrey had no plans for the club fair.

"Guys, what should we do?"

Yumari immediately spoke up,

"Leffrey, I have a plan."

Her eyes gleamed sharply.