Chapter 240
Woof woof woof.
The barking of dogs was so loud it felt like my eardrums were going to burst.
Responding to Han Siha’s call, the pack of black wild dogs charged in.
The swarm, resembling a pitch-black wave, rushed toward Abaddon.
Woof woof.
“What the hell are these damn mutts…!”
Abaddon disappeared from sight in an instant.
With Abaddon’s power, he could easily repel mere wild dogs, but just like when hundreds of bees attack, he was pinned down and unable to move a step.
Adela, her eyes wide open, looked at Han Siha, who was sprawled on the ground.
“You… How did you do that?”
Boom—
Boom—
The underground chamber shook violently once more, and following the wild dogs, the kobolds were charging in.
Adela had a lot of questions but knew now wasn’t the time.
“Let’s get out of here.”
This was their chance.
Snapping back to her senses, Adela grabbed Han Siha’s hand.
“The exit is that way. Can you move?”
“Ugh… Ugh….”
Han Siha staggered and nodded. He claimed he could walk on his own, but to Adela, it didn’t seem that way.
“No, you can’t.”
“Aaaaah! Get away! Get away, you damn beasts!”
Woof woof—
As Abaddon flailed amidst the flood of wild dogs, Adela untied the rope binding Han Siha’s wrists.
Then, she secured Han Siha’s body to Basilus.
Normally, Han Siha would have angrily stood up, insisting he could walk on his own. But today, he leaned against Basilus, panting heavily.
Basilus wasn’t in great shape either, but this was the best way to ensure they got out safely.
Adela stroked Basilus’ head and asked softly.
“Basilus, are you okay?”
“Groooowl!”
“Then, I’m counting on you.”
Basilus roared with strength and got up.
Clang—
Basilus broke through the already shattered barrier and charged forward.
* * *
Rattle rattle—
To be honest, Basilus’ ride wasn’t exactly smooth.
Clatter—
Han Siha, barely secured by the rope, was practically dragged along the ground.
Is this really a safe way to transport someone?
“Ugh….”
Bump bump.
Han Siha groaned, feeling like he was on a runaway carriage.
Thud—
This time it was his head.
“Agh….”
“Grr! (Sorry!)”
“Ugh… damn….”
Han Siha weakly looked up at Basilus, and Adela, following closely behind, panicked and lifted him back up.
The underground chamber was still teeming with hundreds of wild dogs, and Abaddon had yet to catch up.
They had managed to buy at least a little time.
Adela hurried up the underground stairs, her eyes scanning the surroundings.
She was wary of other dark mages who might be lurking and ready to attack.
“This way. We came up here earlier….”
But then.
Something felt off.
There was a different kind of magic energy in the area compared to before.
What is this?
Adela silenced her footsteps, raised her staff, and searched for the source of the magic.
That’s when it happened.
“It’s a magic circle….”
Han Siha, still tied to Basilus, mumbled weakly.
Adela’s eyes widened as she finally noticed.
Incomplete magic circles were drawn on the walls of the staircase.
Adela swallowed nervously and spoke in a small voice.
“They drew them….”
She reached out and touched one of the magic circles, and sparks flew with a crackle.
Though incomplete in parts, the intent was clear.
It was a magic circle of destruction.
It seemed they had been waiting here to break the barrier.
“They must be nearby.”
“…Seems we missed each other.”
No one had left yet.
Knowing they had reliable reinforcements, Han Siha’s expression brightened significantly.
This meant their plans would have to change.
Han Siha’s eyes flashed with determination.
“We have to take back the Cube.”
“What?”
“Hand me that.”
Han Siha gestured toward Adela’s smart device, and she handed it to him without thinking.
Click. The call connected, and Yoon Haul’s voice came through.
“Hello.”
A moment of silence followed Han Siha’s brief greeting, and then, a voice, choked with tears, urgently called out.
-Han Siha! Are you okay? Are you alive?
The voices of others could be heard as well.
-You’re not dead, right?
-Are you… a ghost?
-Hey, Han Siha. Where are you right now?
“Were you hoping I was dead?”
Ugh, it’s so chaotic.
Han Siha clutched his throbbing head and spoke with difficulty.
Judging by the murmurs, they weren’t too far away.
First, he needed to get outside, recover a bit with a potion or something, and finish their original plan before Abaddon made his move.
‘We need to destroy the heart of the machine to end this.’
Han Siha knew the method to reach the ending and where the heart of the machine was located.
This “Miserable Academy Life” had only a grim ending scheduled.
Neither Lee Han’s abilities nor his current self could defeat Abaddon.
With the two Cubes in his possession, the only way was to destroy the machine before Abaddon collected all the Cubes.
Especially now, with Abaddon temporarily immobilized.
“We need to regroup. I’m on the fifth basement level. I’ll head back down to where I was.”
“What?”
-What?
Yoon Haul and Adela echoed in surprise.
“You… You almost died just now. Are you aware of that?”
“I’m still hanging by a thread, honestly.”
“You know that, and yet you’re going back into that hellhole?”
Adela frowned, questioning him, but Han Siha nodded slowly.
As long as the machine wasn’t destroyed, Abaddon would come after him again and again to snatch the Cube.
No matter what, he could never defeat that bastard.
“We have to destroy it. This is our only chance.”
Using the Void Cube, they would open a path straight to the underground chamber and enter immediately.
Bringing too many people would only create unnecessary hostages and be a disadvantage.
“The three of you, hold off Abaddon. Basilus will help you.”
Adela, Solia, and Lee Han.
Of course, Han Siha didn’t expect that the three of them could actually kill Abaddon.
Han Siha shook his head and added.
“All you need to do is buy time. And, Yoon Haul.”
-…Yeah.
“You have to come with me.”
Yoon Haul was the only one who could manipulate magic circuits and neutralize the Cube.
They needed someone who could handle the machine.
-….
There was a brief silence over the receiver.
Adela was the first to speak.
She nodded slowly, as if resigned.
“Alright, let’s go.”
Just as Han Siha said, this wasn’t something they could avoid forever.
But,
“Sit down for a moment first. Where do you think you’re going in that condition?”
Adela clicked her tongue, looking back at Han Siha.
Judging by the state you’re in, you’re practically a living zombie.
The entrance was right in front of them.
Adela pulled a potion from her subspace bag and poured it over Han Siha’s wounds.
“It’s not really working.”
“It’s better than nothing.”
Glug, glug—
Adela emptied several expensive potions that would cost a fortune and stared at Han Siha.
His complexion had improved somewhat from before.
But it was still not enough.
“Should we call Solia instead?”
“There’s no time….”
The moment Han Siha grimaced and waved off her suggestion.
Adela covered his mouth.
“Why….”
Shh—
Adela put a finger to her lips and slowly stood up.
Han Siha didn’t seem to notice, but Adela, sensitive to sound, did.
She had heard something.
She felt the faint tremors in the ground.
Step, step—
As the footsteps grew closer, Adela swallowed nervously and raised her staff.
Just as she was about to launch an attack at whoever appeared,
“Huh…?”
She was met with an unexpected face.
“Professor… Why are you here…?”
Adela muttered, her face drained of color.
It was Han Si-hyuk.
* * *
From head to toe, his appearance was immaculate.
His sharp gaze, without a hint of hesitation, was exactly how they remembered Han Si-hyuk.
Yet, there was a strange, sinister glint in his eyes that made the two of them hesitate.
Han Si-hyuk rolled up his sleeves, a twisted smile playing on his lips.
Then came the chilling voice.
“You’re damn good at scurrying away like a rat.”
Was that really Han Si-hyuk’s voice?
It sounded so different, so out of place.
Han Siha swallowed instead of responding.
Something was wrong.
Step by step, Han Si-hyuk advanced toward them and continued.
“You were like this before too. No matter what sins you committed, no matter what trouble you caused. You always managed to weasel out of responsibility under the name of Castica.”
“….”
“I, the detestable bastard, had to bear the brunt of your little games. You remember, don’t you? What you did to me.”
“Pr-Professor, what’s going on with you?”
This was the same Han Si-hyuk who had shown him the map of NGC.
Why was he suddenly behaving like this?
Adela stammered in confusion, but Han Siha stepped in front of her.
“He’s not the same person….”
It was obvious at a glance.
Han Siha swallowed and murmured under his breath.
“His eyes are completely gone.”
Han Si-hyuk’s hollow gaze landed on them. The once vibrant spark in his eyes was gone.
Whatever had happened, it was clear that he was now under Abaddon’s control.
Otherwise, there was no way a once stable man would turn out like this.
Han Si-hyuk glared at Han Siha with a cold, piercing stare.
Even during the worst of times when they were enemies, Han Si-hyuk had never looked at him this way.
His voice was filled with nothing but resentment and hatred.
“There’s something prophets always say.”
Step, step.
Han Si-hyuk approached, gripping his staff, and Han Siha took a step back.
“That I would kill you, didn’t they?”
“Get a hold of yourself. You’ve completely lost it.”
“I wonder.”
Han Si-hyuk sneered and muttered.
“I’ve been waiting for this day for over ten years….”
Han Si-hyuk pulled out his staff and pointed it at Han Siha.
Boom—
With a loud explosion, a cloud of dust rose.
Adela hurriedly shoved Han Siha out of the way, causing him to fall flat on the ground.
He rubbed his throbbing elbow as he struggled to get up.
It was already too late to get his head straight.
Han Siha cursed under his breath.
“Damn it.”
He had poured in every potion he had, but he hadn’t fully recovered yet.
He couldn’t even keep his balance and was barely managing to stand.
And now.
He was supposed to fight Han Si-hyuk like this?
He had struggled against him even when he was in perfect condition.
It was obvious he’d lose in his current state.
“….”
Han Siha gritted his teeth and glared at Han Si-hyuk.
A memory from their reunion two years ago suddenly surfaced.
He was the man who had vanished after their last meeting.
‘I tend to attack with my left hand. If you end up fighting me, target my left arm.’
‘I’m strong in long battles. The longer it goes, the worse it’ll be for you. If you’re going to push me, go all out at the start.’
Because he was a prophet, he had calculated everything about today.
So… was that why he told me?
Even if you’re a professor, I didn’t need that kind of lesson.
“Hah….”
Han Siha breathed heavily, his lips trembling slightly.
This was a situation where either side could attack at any moment.
Basilus, caught in the confusion, darted nervous glances between the two of them.
He looked like he was hesitating, unsure whether to attack or hold back.
“Basilus.”
Han Siha commanded Basilus in a trembling voice.
“Bite him.”