I Became the Academy’s Kibitz Villain

Yaions was tasked with dealing with the men still fixated on Seon Ga-eul, those who couldn’t forget her.

This time, he truly understood his feelings, and since he learned the truth about Seon Ga-eul, he wouldn’t act out because of her anymore.

[Then, disappear.]

Paaaah—

As soon as I signaled, a golden magic circle unfolded behind Yaions, and a gust of wind blew him beyond the magic circle.

“Whew.”

I took off my mask and reverted from my transformation.

Even though I wasn’t naked since I was still dressed in my clothes—unlike the scholar Goblin with his fluttering hanbok—I converted my magic power and adjusted my breathing, now in my usual suit attire.

“Good job. Thanks again for becoming the one who ‘killed’ Seon Ga-eul out of the blue.”

I high-fived Hyeon Se-rin, who was approaching.

The gust of wind that lifted Yaions into the air wasn’t from my power, but from Hyeon Se-rin’s, and Yaions never realized she was here.

Even if he had, it wouldn’t have mattered.

The issue wasn’t who killed Seon Ga-eul, but why Seon Ga-eul had to die.

“Teacher. As you instructed, I threw him back to the place from before. Are you sure that’s fine? Do we really not need to check?”

“Of course. There’s no enemy easier to subdue than one who doesn’t use their sword.”

Yaions’s will had already been broken.

He would leave Jeju Island with Mushi Rangers or order his subordinates to surrender and peacefully allow the association to detain him.

“It’s not shameful to be captured by Korea’s two S-ranks. They’ll act according to international law.”

“…International law.”

Yumir furrowed her brow as she mulled over the words ‘international law.’

“Teacher. According to international law, if a superpowered individual illegally invaded another country, the capturing nation can detain them for a week, right?”

“Yes. From the moment of capture.”

One of the international laws.

If a hero from one nation invaded the territory of another or committed a crime, the capturing country could detain the individual for only a week—168 hours—before releasing them back to their homeland. RÀ𝐍ốᛒЕs̩

It was ridiculous. It defied common sense, and you’d want to scream that it didn’t make any sense, but this was one of the core laws of this world.

‘A law designed to irritate the protagonist.’

Even if a superpowered individual from Country A rampaged in Country B, because they belonged to Country A, Country B could only detain them for a week of investigation.

Did it seem nonsensical?

It was.

In this world, everything illogical or twisted existed to present challenges to the protagonist, a device of the author.

‘It’s going to cause a big headache later on.’

Even based on the original plot and the current state of this world, it was just as much of a headache.

Just look at the people flocking to Jeju Island, eager to gnaw on Seon Ga-eul’s bones—they could create all the havoc they wanted in Korea and be released in a week.

The risk was worth it, considering the immense return.

“Well… since we’ve taken care of the biggest nuisance, shall we finish up the rest?”

This show was over.

With Yaions dealt with, once Seon Ga-eul’s complete death was announced, all issues regarding the hypnosis ability would be resolved.

“Teacher, how do you plan to handle it? Are you going to announce it to the media that the Goblin killed Seon Ga-eul?”

“There’s no need for that. We don’t have to step forward. As long as one person regains their senses, everything will be resolved.”

To announce that the evil spirit was exorcised, all you needed was for the one tormented by the spirit to wake up.

“All we need to do is wake the princess of the tangerine fields from her slumber.”

At that moment, near Seongsan Ilchulbong.

“Kyaaaah!!”

The Mushi Rangers collapsed one by one in agony, and finally, the last of them knelt.

“Space-flow Sword Technique—”

“Shut up.”

Crack!

A bolt of lightning from the sky struck the man wielding the long sword, forcing him to one knee.

“Kugh, as expected of the Thunder Emperor…! But defeating us won’t be the end! Our leader, ‘Yaions,’ will soon defeat the Goblin and return!”

“We’ll see.”

Crackle!

The Thunder Emperor directed another bolt of lightning at the ranting Mushi Rangers. They convulsed as if having a seizure, then collapsed limply on the ground.

“Everyone, restrain them. I’ll personally take them to Jeju City.”

“No, unnie. You rest. I’ll take them to Busan. You need to rest. You’ve used a lot of magic.”

Beads of sweat formed on the Thunder Emperor’s forehead, and Baridegi wiped the sweat away with her sleeve, speaking with concern.

“I’ll go. You fought against one S-rank and three A-ranks at the same time.”

“You helped me fight too.”

“Didn’t you tell me to stay in the rear and not intervene? It was 1 vs. 4. Got it?”

“I can’t ask a healer to step forward and fight. One injured person is enough. Besides… I didn’t even get hurt.”

Crackle.

The Thunder Emperor pointed at her wrist, where a flicker of lightning shone, smiling.

“Look, the spot where I was cut. No wound at all, right?”

“…It’s more than that. The cut part seems to have disappeared entirely.”

“Haha, what are you saying? That’s not it. Don’t worry—”

Crackle.

Magic power flickered.

It wasn’t from the Thunder Emperor’s lightning; a golden magic circle spread in the air, and sparks of magic shimmered.

“Platinum Sun?! No way—”

Thud!

A blood-covered man collapsed headfirst onto the ground from within the dimensional gate.

He fell unconscious, and it wasn’t necessary to say that this person was the S-rank traitor and the very Yaions they had been searching for.

“Combat re—”

“We’re going back.”

The Mushi Rangers, who had slowly started to rise, gaped in shock at their leader, Yaions’s words.

“N-no! Captain, what are you saying?! Going back?!”

“…What we were looking for isn’t here. All that’s left is something that’s been turned into a rag after passing through many hands.”

“W-what did you say…?”

“Seon Ga-eul’s remains have already been removed.”

“!!”

Everyone realized the situation.

“Could it be the Goblin…?!”

“…….”

“Did the Goblin kill her?! Damn it, that bastard Goblin…!”n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

“Stop! There’s no point in fighting any longer… tch.”

Ssssss.

A breeze began to blow.

Toward Seongsan Ilchulbong, a wind carrying the scent of tangerines started to blow inland, at a time when the sea breeze should have been stirring.

“This scent… no way!”

“Unni!! We’ve got a message from the association!”

Baridegi opened a hologram through her Taeguk Watch.

On the screen was a somewhat pale-looking woman, her eyes wide open, with her hair and eyes now tinged with the color of tangerines, clenching her fist forward.

[“The curse has been lifted. Now, Jeju Island is once again under my control.”]

“Ji Cheon-hyang…!”

Swooooosh.

Toward the sea, although it was close to dawn, the dark sky was now covered with ominous clouds.

Something wriggled and started to fill the sky, approaching the battlefield, and the Mushi Rangers, seeing ‘it’ in the sky, lost their will to fight.

“W-what, wh-what the hell…!”

“N-no, this can’t be…! I mean, we knew, but isn’t this a bit too much?!”

From the sky.

Massive clumps of tangerines, like jumbo jets, were flying through the air.

Instead of jet fuel, they were oozing juice, and the clustered tangerines seemed ready to fire something toward the ground.

“Aaaah! I-I don’t want to die like this! Thunder Emperor, just strike me down with your lightning!”

“I-I’d rather die than be taken down by that—”

Puhwaaaaaa!!

The tangerines exploded in mid-air, and a rain of juice began to fall from the sky.

[“Rain of Mandarin.”]

Had it not been tangerines, had it been fire or ice, it would’ve been a breathtaking spectacle to behold.

But.

It was tangerines.

The juice of organic Jeju tangerines, grown on this land, began to burst and rain down on the villains.

And the moment the villains were hit by the tangerine rain, they all closed their eyes and bowed their heads.

Though they were just tangerines, tangerines imbued with magic power became ‘magic bullets’ in the shape of tangerines.

“…It’s just tangerine-shaped grenades falling.”

Krrraaaang!!

“…Or maybe it’s an airplane.”

Thunder Emperor, holding Baridegi, swiftly moved back as the jumbo jet of tangerines calmly descended upon the Mushi Rangers.

“It’s going off all over. Hallabong claymores, all across Jeju Island.”

I felt a chill down my spine at the magical reactions I sensed from all over Jeju Island.

“If you’re a superpowered individual, you’d want to go down fighting gloriously, even if you lose. But what if tangerines come into play?”

“Tan….”

“Gerines…!”

Vrrr.

As the tangerine helicopter floated across the sky, I couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief.

“Well, it seems that regional specialty ability users are indeed quite impressive.”

Ability, terrain, and the people’s trust in heroes.

The result of that perfect combination was Ji Cheon-hyang, who had awoken from her deep slumber, using her powers to fill Jeju Island with the scent of tangerines, burying all those who had come to gnaw on Seon Ga-eul’s bones.

“Yumir, listen carefully. In this world, any ability, no matter how absurd, can be realized as long as there’s enough imagination and magic power.”

“Haa. Yes, that’s really true. Ha, haha. How is controlling all the tangerines on the island more unreal than teleportation…?”

Yumir posed a fundamental question about the workings of this world, but since this was a world where superpowers were created by materials from outer space, there was no helping it.

Later on, someone else would appear, not with tangerines, but with something else as their specialty.

“Wiki… It’s a relief. Thanks to the breadcrumbs I scattered in advance, everyone is recognizing Ji Cheon-hyang’s awakening as ‘the curse of Seon Ga-eul being lifted.’”

Ji Cheon-hyang had resurrected.

The curse was lifted.

The power of the evil spirit had weakened.

The evil spirit… was dead.

“Teacher. But how is that possible? Look, over there, those tangerines are clumped together and running across the ground like horses.”

“Just don’t think of them as tangerines, think of them as metal or ice. It’s easier that way.”

“But they’re tangerines.”

“So what if they’re tangerines?”

I peeled a Hallabong and offered Yumir a piece.

“Whether it’s tangerines or whatever, as long as we defeat villains and protect the citizens, it’s all good, isn’t it?”

“To hear such a reasonable statement from an S-rank villain.”

“That’s because it’s true.”

Yumir took a big bite of the Hallabong, chewing thoughtfully.

“Should I try something like that? Not with tangerines, but with something else. Maybe watermelons or melons.”

“Nothing’s stopping you.”

If she dropped watermelons instead of meteors, I was all for it.

“But it won’t work just like that. You need that.”

“That? What’s that?”

“Of course.”

I pointed my thumb toward my chest.

“It’s love.”