Villain Takes Over The Academy

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]

Chapter 52

There was only one thing I needed to do after returning to my office.

Checking the blood samples.

“This was easier than I expected.”

As soon as I shut the door, I headed straight for the refrigerated storage, opening it with a satisfied smirk. The blood inside was fundamentally different from the standard laboratory samples or transfusion blood you’d find in a hospital.

This was the blood of Masterclass students—blood infused with their very life force.

“I was worried some of them might get suspicious and refuse the draw…”

Whether they were naïve or just plain foolish, not a single student had rejected the procedure.

Though… Seo Su-kyung’s reaction at the end bothered me slightly. She might have noticed something.

“…Not that she could possibly know. It’s not like she understands the modified application of a Bloodsucking spell.”@@novelbin@@

The original Bloodsucking spell completely siphons the target’s life force, leaving them dead on the spot.

However, what I had used on the students was a Micro Bloodsucking—a downgraded version of the spell.

“Of course, since it only extracts a portion of their life force, I don’t get the essence…”

To obtain a person’s essence, you’d have to drain them completely.

But in a place like this academy, such methods were neither feasible nor necessary. Even absorbing a small fraction of their life force was enough to level up my Blood Demon trait.

Gulp, gulp, gulp…

Beep—

[You feel life energy surging through your entire body.]

[Blood Demon trait experience slightly increased.]

[You feel life energy surging through your entire body.]

[Blood Demon trait experience significantly increased.]

[You feel life energy surging through your entire body.]

[Blood Demon trait experience increased...]

As soon as I downed a few samples, a surge of strength coursed through me, accompanied by the system messages.

“Hah… better than expected.”

I hadn’t set my hopes high, considering these were all low-ranking students from the Deconstructionist Department…

But as the saying goes, old ways are the best ways. If even the blood of weaker students contained such dense life energy…

“If the lower ranks are this good, I can only imagine the top-tier ones.”

I carefully retrieved a sample from the very back of the refrigerator.

Seo Su-kyung’s blood—Sword Saint Seo Su-kyung.

At a glance, it didn’t look any different from the others…

But I knew better.

“This one… is definitely different.”

Even just holding it, I could feel it.

A pulse of overwhelming life force within.

A raw, living energy.

Gulp…

I couldn’t hold back any longer. I hastily tore open the seal.

The moment I uncorked the vial and let the blood slide down my throat—

[A highly exceptional blood awakens your senses.]

[You feel life energy overflowing through your entire body.]

[Blood Demon trait experience drastically increased.]

[Blood Demon trait has leveled up to Lv. 3!]

So this was the power of a top-ranked student’s blood…

A level-up in one instant—without lifting a single finger.

“I should’ve done these personal evaluations ages ago.”

Regret crept in. If only I had used this method back in Cycle 138… hell, I could’ve even gotten my hands on Arche’s blood last time.

“…No use dwelling on it now.”

Once you start dwelling on past cycles, there’s no end to it. To survive this cursed, infinite restart, I need to focus on what’s ahead, not what’s behind.

Beep—

Just as I tried to steady my mind, an alarm chimed, followed by a series of messages.

[Your stored essences are being enhanced!]

[You currently possess 1 essence.]

[Do Jin-hak’s Essence: 32%.]

“…32%?”

Even when I had raised my Blood Demon level to Lv. 4 in the previous cycle, Do Jin-hak’s essence had only strengthened by 20%.

But now, at just Lv. 3, it had already reached 32%?

“…Does this mean I understand him far better than before?”

There are two conditions for enhancing an essence absorbed by a Blood Demon:

Raising the Blood Demon trait level.

Deepening one’s understanding of the essence’s original owner.

I knew this, which is why the message didn’t entirely feel like good news. Because it also meant that I was becoming more and more like Do Jin-hak.

“…Doesn’t matter. At this point.”

It wouldn’t matter if I became Do Jin-hak. Hell, it wouldn’t matter if I turned into anything else.

As long as I could escape this godforsaken world.

* * *

“Hey, look over there… It’s Professor D.”

“Wait, that guy?”

Inside the campus tram.

The students, who had been chatting and laughing just moments ago, immediately quieted down as soon as they saw me. Even while seated, I could feel the cautious, lingering glances from all around.

‘Looks like I’ve made quite an impression.’

After solving the Phantom Heist quest as soon as I arrived, Do Jin-hak had become the most talked-about figure on campus.

But suspicion still lingered in their eyes. The reputation Do Jin-hak had built up wasn’t something that could be erased just by catching a single thief.

If I wanted to elevate the Deconstructionist Department into a major academic force, I had to change those stares.

Make them look at me with desperate admiration—

Make them crave entry into the Deconstructionist Department.

[Next stop: Hwadam Library.]

As the announcement played, I rose from my seat, preparing to disembark.

The tram doors slid open, and the students spilled out in a rush.

Despite Hwadam Library’s prestigious reputation, it wasn’t exactly a popular hangout for students. But today, the path leading to it was packed.

‘Ah, right. It’s exam season.’

It made sense. The Masterclass Academy was infamous for holding exams at the very start of the semester. Many students complained—What’s the point of a test when we’ve barely learned anything?—but the academy didn’t care.

Adapting to unreasonable circumstances was part of the curriculum here.

‘Still, there are more students who understand this insane academy than I thought. If this many are cramming…’

I frowned at the crowd. Just days ago, an incident had taken place in this very library. Yet, nobody seemed to care.

It didn’t matter how many people had died. Grades came first.

‘…Well, I’m no different, am I?’

I was here for books, too. I had other plans for this afternoon, but seeing how much Do Jin-hak’s essence had strengthened, I changed my schedule.

If his essence had surpassed 30%, it meant my knowledge of the Deconstructionist Department had significantly deepened as well.

‘Just a bit more theory, and I’ll reach 2-Star Deconstructionist Magic.’

Hwadam Library housed a vast collection of magical tomes from around the world—including an entire section dedicated to Deconstructionist Magic.

Among them, there had to be books written by Do Jin-hak himself. If I focused, I might even master a 2-Star spell by the end of today…

“Everyone, slow down! Form a single line! Entry is one at a time!”

Just as I was brimming with anticipation, a familiar loud voice rang out in the distance.

Lifting my head, I spotted the Gangnam Twin Peaks, the academy’s security officers, stationed at the entrance of the library, controlling access.

‘What the hell are they doing here?’

At this hour, those slackers should be loafing around in the security office...

As I tried to assess the situation, my eyes landed on a notice board set up along the path to the library. A warning was written on the sign:

Notice: Cooperation for Library Theft Prevention (Mandatory Reading!)

Due to a recent unfortunate theft incident at the library, a valuable piece of our academy’s heritage was nearly lost.

As a countermeasure, the academy has implemented a new policy: from now on, all students entering Hwadam Library must sign a special pledge.

Vice Principal Oh Ji-sung

Beside the notice, there was a stack of documents that appeared to be the pledges in question.

I picked one up and scanned its contents.

Pledge Agreement:

-I hereby acknowledge that if I cast spells without permission or remove books from Hwadam Library without authorization, I will be subject to appropriate punishment. Furthermore, I waive all rights to hold the academy accountable for any harm or loss of life that may result from such actions.

A short but brutally clear contract.

Only a few lines long, yet packed with Vice Principal Oh Ji-sung’s unwavering resolve—he wasn’t going to let a single book be stolen ever again.

‘Looks like the Phantom Thief incident really got to him.’

The students, however, were far less impressed with the vice principal’s ironclad determination.

“Are you kidding me? What, is he planning to kill anyone who steals a book?”

“No way… he’s just trying to scare us, right?”

“You’re underestimating him. It’s Vice Principal Oh we’re talking about—he’s absolutely capable of doing it.”

“Still, can an academy really put out a notice like this? This is a library, for god’s sake…”

For a moment, the students questioned whether something like this could even be legal in a country governed by law.

But in the end, they had no choice. One by one, they reluctantly began signing the pledges.

This was Masterclass Academy—

Here, the academy was the law.

The academy was the religion.

“Alright! Hand over your signed pledges for verification—HEY! Who just cut in line?! You wanna get your back beaten raw?!”

At the library entrance, Gangnam Twin Peaks meticulously controlled the crowd, their eyes blazing with intensity.

Security Officer Kim, in particular, twitched his nose like a bloodhound, sniffing out any suspicious scents.

‘…Wait. Did I put on Do Jin-hak’s cologne this morning?’

I struggled to recall my morning routine. It was something I did out of habit, but had I done it today? I wasn’t sure.

Before I knew it, the line had shortened.

It was my turn.

“Keep it moving! No delays in the back—OH! Well, well, what brings the Professor of the Deconstructionist Department here?”

Kim, who had been waving his club around to hurry the students, spotted me and flinched.

Even as he spoke, he subtly sniffed the air, trying to catch a whiff of my scent.

I did my best to remain composed.

“There’s a book I wanted to read. Must be tough managing all this security—I appreciate the effort.”

“Oh, this? It’s all thanks to you, Professor. I mean, when a professor catches a damn thief instead of us security guys, you bet we got chewed out. They said we’re just a bunch of freeloaders! Ah, not that I’m blaming you, of course. Haha!”

Kim chuckled awkwardly, but his eyes flickered toward me with an unreadable expression.

Was it just my imagination, or was that a "I'll remember this" kind of look?

Regardless, Kim the Bloodhound was one of the last people I wanted to chat with.

“Well then, I’ll leave you to it.”

I turned to enter, but—

“Hold it.”

Kim lifted his baton, blocking my path.

He squinted, nose twitching.

I could feel my heartbeat quicken.

“…You need to sign this first.”

Kim casually handed me a pledge form and a pen, tapping the signature line with his finger.

Internally sighing in relief, I took the pen and signed.

“Even professors have to sign this?”

“Doesn’t matter if you’re a professor or even the principal—no exceptions. Academy policy.”

“I bet the vice principal just waltzes through without a second glance.”

“Maybe. Sometimes, he acts more like the principal than the actual principal. Just the other day, I caught him in the principal’s reception room playing the King’s Game with a bunch of female staff.”

Kim chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief at how the vice principal still hadn’t been fired. But then, realizing that students were nearby, he quickly straightened his expression.

“Ahem…! Anyway, if you’ve got complaints, take it up with the vice principal. Not that he’s got time to listen to anyone’s whining these days.”

“Something else happened? I thought the Phantom Thief incident was wrapped up.”

“The theft case is over, yeah—thanks to our brilliant Professor Do.”

Kim put extra emphasis on the word brilliant as he spoke.

“But now, it’s not just things disappearing. Students are going missing.”

“Students? You’re saying there have been disappearances?”

Kim had been speaking absentmindedly, but my question made him freeze. He quickly glanced around, checking the students nearby.

“N-no, nothing like that… It’s nothing professors need to worry about. Anyway, you signed the pledge, right? Then go on in.”

As if trying to brush off the topic, Kim gave me a light push toward the entrance and turned to deal with the next student in line.

‘So another incident is brewing…’

Well, this was Masterclass Academy—a place where constant incidents and disasters served as fuel for player quests.

‘Still, chasing after every little side quest would never end.’

The conversation with Gangnam Twin Peaks had practically screamed quest trigger, but I had more pressing matters inside the library.

Whatever was going on, it had nothing to do with me.

No matter how many students disappeared from this academy.

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]