If You Stab with a Pen, They Die. (2)
A short while later.
"Then, see you next time."
Watching her walk far away, waving her hand with an especially refreshed expression, as if she had just cast off some heavy burden completely, Kim Dojun thought to himself.
'... Something's gotten strange, hasn't it?'
At least, according to the personality of Han Soyeon that Kim Dojun had known until now—even though she did beat up the students who bullied her, that was just in the moment; he had thought she would have to continue persuading them steadily afterward.
Wasn't that why he had been planning to slowly influence Han Soyeon, like clothes soaking in a light drizzle?
'I didn't even push her that hard.'
However, Han Soyeon, rather than being influenced gradually, seemed to have changed in an instant—as if a bolt of lightning had struck her on a stormy night—leaving Kim Dojun a little bewildered.
'Well, it should be fine.'
On the contrary, he thought this might not be so bad after all.
Even if things had missed the mark a little, at any rate Han Soyeon clearly seemed to have no intention of forgiving those who had bullied her.
'She doesn't look like she plans to kill them right now, though.'
Still, judging by how much she had changed, it didn't seem like it would take long before the lives of those kids came to an end.
'Besides, of course I'll be there to help her out.'
Kim Dojun couldn't help but smile in satisfaction.
Because he thought, in his own way, that he had managed to save Han Soyeon.
'I've lessened the bullying she'll get over the next year, and even given her a refreshing chance at revenge, so saying I saved her isn't strange at all.'
When he considered how the gang of thugs had bullied Han Soyeon for years, it was obvious she'd had a lot bottled up. With the thought, 'With this much, even Han Soyeon should be satisfied when she awakens,' Kim Dojun wrapped up his musings.
Returning to the dormitory, he checked the Sorcery Institute's message board once again.
"I found it."
This time, he finally found the post he'd been looking for.
-----
Title: Ah f***, the world really sucks.
Author: Seeker.
Anyone want to join me in terrorizing the Sorcery Institute?
----
8 comments.
ㅇㅇㅇ: Do it alone.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ : Seriously lol, don't you know you'll get caught for posting crap like this? Even if you think you're anonymous, if they want to track you, they can. lol.
ㄴ Kigaru: Can't we get rid of guys like this? There are so many of these idiots on the board these days, I want to smack them every time I see one.
Maximizer: Stop this BS, do you think our Sorcery Institute's security sorcery is a joke?
ㄴ Maximizer: There are dozens of security sorceries protecting the Institute, and if you act weird near the main building, the defense sorcery will activate immediately! Unless you want to be expelled or go to jail, just delete this post~
ㄴ ㅇㅇ: For real, just wash your feet and go to sleep, anonymous. Don't act out and get expelled for nothing.
Dogchumonster: If what this guy says sounds like nonsense, shall we give him a 'dogchume' upvote?
ㄴ ㅇㅇㅇ : gogo~~~~~~
ㄴ Dogshitlife: Me too ~~~~~
-----
At first glance, it seemed to be just another pointless post with no distinguishing features.
But Kim Dojun knew exactly what it was, and he smiled.
"All right, let's get ready."
His eyes sparkled.
####
The next day.
Right as the fifth period began, after lunch break ended.
It was now the fourth week, and even among the students of the Sorcery Institute, at least one or two were starting to doze off at this time. Kim Dojun was waiting, feeling a little bored, for the unfolding of events.
'If only I'd known the exact time.'
Kim Dojun glanced out the window.
The scenery outside looked as peaceful and ordinary as always.
He could see several buildings belonging to the Sorcery Institute, and in the distant practice room, students were all busy with their own things.
There wasn't the slightest sign of anything unusual.
'But something's supposed to happen today...'
So thought Kim Dojun, recalling the passage from the Sorcery Killing Technique.
'During class, a student expresses puzzlement while looking at a black dot... That was it.'
If only he'd been told the time, waiting would have been easier, but the only clue for the start of the event was that single line, making it impossible to pinpoint a time.
"Hmmm...."
So, Kim Dojun simply gazed at the scenery and waited.
And then, as the fifth period ended and the sixth period was about to begin—
"Huh?"
A student's voice, tinged with curiosity.
At the same time—
BOOOOOM!!!
Seeing the garden in front of the main school building explode, Kim Dojun realized that finally, the 'Rampaging Spirits Incident', the second big event at the Sorcery Institute, was beginning.
####
Kim Younghan, who had been conducting class as usual in first-year Class C, unconsciously jumped up and rushed to the window, startled by the sudden, tremendous boom.
"!"
He soon saw that the garden in front of the main building had completely vanished, leaving him so stunned that he could only stare vacantly. Yet even that expression did not last long.
From the center of the ruined garden, a black barrier began to spread, engulfing the entire main building of the Sorcery Institute.
"Huh?"
"W-what is this?"
"The surroundings are going black!"
"H-huh?"
Students began talking in confusion, but Kim Younghan was shocked.
Since he had some knowledge of sorcery formations, he recognized what this dark barrier was.
'This is... a high-ranking barrier formation!?'
He couldn't identify the exact type, but Kim Younghan instantly sensed that it was a high-level barrier.
Not only had it instantly cut off and isolated the area like this, but even the Sorcery Institute's security sorceries hadn't reacted at all.
At the same moment, he understood what was happening.
'A terror attack...!?'
Realizing this, his mind filled with confusion and questions.
The first question: Who would terrorize the Sorcery Institute, and why?
The next question: How was the attack itself possible?
'There must be dozens of sorceries and sorcery formations protecting the Institute...!'
As one of the world's two major sorcerer training institutions, the Sorcery Institute's defenses were exceptionally thorough.
Yet the instigator of this attack had managed to penetrate all those layers of sorcery and launch this terror assault...!
That's why Kim Younghan looked so bewildered.
"Uh... huh?"
"What's that!?"
"Evil spirits!"
"There's so many!?"
Startled by the panicked voices of the students, he looked down—
"Holy...!?"
Forgetting for a moment that he was an instructor, he couldn't help but curse.
From the shattered garden, where the black barrier had started, a countless horde of evil spirits—so many that he couldn't even begin to count—were surging toward the main building.
[Screeeee!]
[Gyaaah!]
Grotesque in appearance, uttering horrific cries, the evil spirits rapidly spread out to cover the area.
[Attention! From now, all instructors are to immediately lead students to the first floor auditorium! Repeating: all instructors, escort the students to the auditorium NOW!]
"!"
With the announcement blaring over the school intercom, Kim Younghan snapped back to his senses.
"Everyone, follow me immediately!"
He shouted.
With that, all the students frantically rushed out of the classroom after Kim Younghan.
However—
"Already!?"
As he led the students out, Kim Younghan realized he was a step too late.
[Screeeeee!]
By the time Kim Younghan had responded to the intercom, the evil spirits were already flooding the corridors.
'What do I do?'
Kim Younghan racked his brain.
If he was alone, he could have fought his way through these evil spirits to the auditorium.
The summoned evil spirits here, to be honest, weren't particularly strong.
The problem was the students under his care.
'I could fight my way through, but there's no way I could protect this many students safely...!'
If only Kim Younghan had the materials needed for his unique sorcery, it would be another story, but he was only carrying a textbook.
'What should I do in this situation...!'
He grit his teeth and stared at the slowly closing ranks of evil spirits.
"...."
Shin Se-yeon, too, frowned as she watched the evil spirits crowding the corridor before her.
'There's enough to fill the whole hallway.'
Evil spirits were even smashing through the windows now, not just cramming the hallway. Shin Se-yeon quickly assessed the situation.
'If we stay here, we'll all die...!'
Although the evil spirits weren't strong, they certainly weren't harmless.
'If we hold our ground here, we could probably last...!'
The students here, after all, were not just random nobodies—they were among the best in the world.
That meant that, even if not advanced sorcery, they should at least be able to use basic spells and hold out for a while.
Yes, for now, at least.
But the problem was, even if they held their ground, the chance of anyone coming to help was extremely low.
Given the situation, it was plain to see that other floors were probably facing similar circumstances.
'... If only the second- and third-year students of the Sorcery Institute were in this same building...!'
She frowned, eyeing the evil spirits as they drew closer.
At that moment—
"Hmm..."
Hearing a familiar voice, Shin Se-yeon turned her head. She saw Kim Dojun standing there, an unperturbed look on his face.
And in one hand, he held a pen.
"...?"
He wasn't just standing there holding a pen; he was gripping it like a dagger, miming repeated stabbing motions.
"??"
While Shin Se-yeon was looking at Kim Dojun with a puzzled expression—
Shwik— shwik shwik!
Kim Dojun, having swung his elegant pen like a dagger, nodded once as if he'd figured something out.
"Let's begin."
With those words, he started down the corridor, directly toward the oncoming evil spirits.
Passing the other students—and even Kim Younghan.
"Kim Dojun!? What are you doing!?"
Kim Younghan was horrified.
"Stop!"
He tried to grab Kim Dojun as he stepped forward.
But before he could reach out and grab him—
Tsk—!
—Kim Dojun's figure disappeared.
In the very next instant—
[Screee—!]
The evil spirits, a moment ago crawling furiously toward the students, began to freeze up, as if suffering from lag.
Then, circular holes appeared in the bodies of the evil spirits that had been swarming the corridor.
Pababababababam—!!
They exploded all at once, as flamboyantly as firecrackers.
Kim Younghan, Shin Se-yeon, and the students all gaped in shock.
Kim Dojun reappeared, gazing at the pen he had gripped like a dagger with satisfaction.
"Not bad,"
he murmured.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
Huh, that's how you use a pen, huh?
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】