Chapter 2 of the Academy's Delinquent

Time flew by like an arrow, and thirteen years had passed. Like any other child, Baek Iljin grew up quickly.

“Young master is now an adult this year.”

“To think that the young master has grown so much already...”

Baek Iljin, who had forgotten all his memories before obtaining the Dragon Heart, no longer committed meaningless killings.

Of course, it would have been better if there were only advantages, but the problem was that there were side effects as well.

The first was the pain that came every day at sunset. Fortunately, he could endure it through meditation, so it wasn't too bad.

The second problem was more serious.

Perhaps as a counterbalance to forcibly suppressing his murderous intent, Baek Iljin found it difficult to feel emotions. As a result, he showed no interest in anything except eating and sleeping.

Bae Myeonghak, who had been watching Baek Iljin from a distance, shook his head with a bitter expression.

‘It feels like I've done a terrible thing to this young child who hasn't even experienced the world, and it weighs heavily on my heart.’

Fortunately, his emotions hadn't completely disappeared.

Though they were so subtle as to be almost indistinguishable, Baek Iljin occasionally showed signs of awakening to his emotions.

‘I wish he could grow up like any other ordinary child...’

When he saw the 18-year-old, who had just become an adult, sitting alone in his room, staring blankly, his heart ached.

‘Still, I'm grateful that he grew up healthy. To think that the little boy has already become an adult...’

Bae Myeonghak recalled the day he first met Baek Iljin.

* * *

That day, a particular star shone brightly.

Actually, the word "shone" was insufficient to describe its brilliance.

Among the countless small stars in the night sky, one stood out with an overwhelming presence.

The light flowing from that luminous star became even more radiant, eventually swallowing the moon.

Bae Myeonghak, watching the scene, murmured softly.

“A star that obscures the moon, the Heavenly Killer Star... Is a bloodbath about to occur?”

Though he had already left the secular world, he couldn't just stand by and watch a bloodbath. He moved in the direction the light was pointing.

The place he arrived at was a cave deep in the mountains.

“Of course, I knew you would come here. Hehe, would you like some tea?”

There, Pietro, Bae Myeonghak's fiercest rival and long-time friend, was preparing to welcome him.

Pietro, who appeared to be in his early twenties, had features so perfect that he seemed almost inhuman.

“No. Let's get straight to the point. Hand over the child behind you. He possesses the Heavenly Killer Star.”

“I can't do that. This child is the last trace of my daughter.”

“I'm sorry to hear about your daughter. However...”

Despite their informal conversation, which seemed out of place given their appearances, there was no awkwardness between them.

“I know that your kind doesn't accept humans conceived during play as kin.”

Was it an affirmative response?

Pietro, the old man's long-time friend, nodded a few times and continued, gazing into the distance.

“...It was my daughter's last request.”

Bae Myeonghak briefly recalled Pietro's daughter.

Though he hadn't seen her often, her polite and friendly demeanor left a deep impression on him, unlike other dragons.

“Pietro, did you make a blood oath?”

“...”

“Then, are you saying that countless people can die because of that blood oath?”

Pietro's silence was an affirmative response.

“I've tried countless times to understand you...”

Breaking the ensuing silence, Bae Myeonghak raised his hands. A powerful aura, capable of destroying the world, now enveloped his hands.

“This time, I can't understand.”

“I'm sorry, Myeonghak.”

At the same time, a bright light flashed in front of Pietro, and dozens of intricately rune-inscribed magic circles appeared simultaneously.

Just as a clash seemed imminent, some of Pietro's magic circles flickered and disappeared.

‘The magic circles are fading?’

Bae Myeonghak, who had been calmly observing Pietro's magic circles, withdrew his aura and lowered his hands.

“You're not in good shape, are you?”

“...”

Instead of answering, Pietro, who had extinguished all the magic circles, smiled bitterly.

* * *

“Bae...”

Interrupted by his name being called repeatedly, Bae Myeonghak snapped out of his thoughts and turned his head in the direction of the voice.

“Grandfather!”

Baek Iljin was looking at Bae Myeonghak with his usual expressionless face.

‘Hehe, this kid really looks like his grandfather.’

Bae Myeonghak wasn't exaggerating.

Baek Iljin had deep, dark eyes like ink, jet-black hair, and broad shoulders.

Though not a delicate beauty, he had a handsome, masculine appearance.

‘He's starting to look more and more like Cheon Subak.’

When Baek Iljin, who had been staring at Bae Myeonghak without responding, finally came to fetch him, he seemed frustrated.

“Grandfather-”

“Did you call me?”

“What are you thinking so deeply? Max has finished preparing the meal.”

“Oh... It's already mealtime, huh?”

“Yes, please come and eat quickly.”

Max, a stone golem and one of the lair's familiars, had prepared a sumptuous meal.

Grilled troll tendons, braised ogre intestines, wyvern thighs, and stir-fried orc meat.

Bae Myeonghak, sitting at the end of the table, couldn't help but smile as he watched Baek Iljin eat happily.

‘It's good to see him with such an expression, even if only when he's eating.’

Bae Myeonghak stroked Baek Iljin's hair.

Though his hair became messy, Baek Iljin didn't seem to care and continued eating.

“Is it good?”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

Bae Myeonghak, who hadn't even picked up his spoon, watched Baek Iljin eat without end.

“Grandfather, why are you thinking so deeply today? You're not even eating.”

“Hehe, this old man feels full just watching our Iljin eat.”

Ding dong dong-

During their conversation, the alarm magic installed in the lair sounded loudly. Bae Myeonghak asked the familiars guarding the lair's entrance.

“What's going on?”

“I'll check.”

Canis and Vex, the werewolves guarding the lair's entrance, went outside and returned a moment later.

“Master, it's the elf village chief from the 'Green Leaf' village in the forest below the mountain. Should we drive him away?”

“No, there's no need for that. I'll go out and see.”

When he went out, he saw the platinum-haired elf village chief kneeling and bowing deeply, holding a green wooden staff.

Next to the prostrate village chief was a cart filled with green, shiny fruits and sparkling gems.

“Great being, a monster has appeared in the sky above our 'Green Leaf' village, causing chaos. May I ask for your help, despite the inconvenience?”

“That's not a difficult matter, but... I'm not a dragon. There's no need for you to be in such a position.”

Suddenly, the village chief recalled a saying passed down orally from wise ancestors.

‘Dragons do not reveal their true identity during play. They are deeply engrossed in the roles they create.’

There was another reason to doubt.

‘Living in such a remote place and claiming not to be a dragon...?’

In the deepest part of the Kaphtis Mountains, where even elves rarely venture, it was hard to believe that a being living in such a high, rugged area was not a dragon. Therefore, the village chief maintained his humble posture.

“Yes, then, when...”

Wanting to get a definite answer as soon as possible, given the unpredictable nature of the absolute being, the village chief hesitated when he saw Bae Myeonghak with his eyes closed.

Suddenly, Bae Myeonghak opened his eyes, raised his index finger, and drew a line from left to right in the air.

“It's done.”

“Pardon? No, thank you.”

What exactly was done? He didn't even feel the flow of magic.

But, fearing retaliation if he asked again, the village chief left the cart behind and turned back, feeling like he had to eat bitter gourd.

Watching the village chief trudge down the mountain, Baek Iljin turned to Bae Myeonghak and asked.

“Why did you let the three of them live?”

“How did you feel about that?”

“I'm not sure. Just...”

Bae Myeonghak, who had asked the question, was inwardly amazed.

‘How can a child who hasn't learned martial arts already...’

Of course, he had taught Baek Iljin a light meditation technique to control his inner energy and prevent it from being overwhelmed, but he had never taught him martial arts.

“I didn't feel like killing the young, undeveloped ones, even if they are mere creatures.”

“Is that what you mean by emotion?”

“Yes.”

“Then, which emotion is the most important?”

After thinking about the unexpected question, Bae Myeonghak realized that none of them were unimportant.

“Emotions are divided into seven, known as the Seven Emotions. I mentioned this before, didn't I?”

“Yes.”

“Joy is the first, anger is the initial, sorrow is the best, pleasure is the supreme, love is the greatest, and desire is the foremost.”

Baek Iljin, listening to his grandfather, thought for a moment and said.

“They're all the same.”

“Exactly, all emotions are equally important.”

“Then, what about hatred?”

Bae Myeonghak, smiling, stroked his curious and adorable grandson's head.

“I haven't yet figured out how to define hatred, so if you figure it out first, let me know.”

“I will.”

At that moment, Canis and Vex approached Bae Myeonghak. It seemed they had something to discuss in private.

“Iljin, go to your room for a moment.”

“Yes.”

After watching Baek Iljin enter his room, Bae Myeonghak turned to Canis and Vex.

“What is it?”

“We've thought about a way to develop the young master's emotions.”

“...Go on.”

* * *

In the deepest and most rugged part of the Kaphtis Mountains.

A refreshing breeze carried the scent of grass, tickling the nose.

However, Havas, the village chief of Green Leaf, trembled like a leaf, unable to notice such things.

‘Why did he call me...?’

Having lived over 150 years out of the 200-year lifespan given to elves, Havas thought he had transcended most things, but facing a dragon was still a terrifying experience.

‘What courage did I have to come here a week ago...’

Looking around, he saw two werewolves, twice the size of ordinary ones and more ferocious, serving refreshments.

‘Sigh...’

Havas, whose thoughts were known or not, saw Bae Myeonghak, who was calmly looking in the direction of Baek Iljin's room, turn his head and ask.

“So, an academy...?”

“Yes, great being. I've heard that humans enter an academy at a certain age to broaden their horizons and build relationships.”

“I see.”

He knew.

If his grandson continued to live in such a narrow world, his heart would not grow any further.

In fact, the speed at which Baek Iljin's emotions were developing had noticeably slowed over the past few years.

‘Of course, it's much better than when he was a child...’

“How does one enter this academy?”

“First, one needs a recommendation...”

“Hmm... a recommendation.”

Seeing Bae Myeonghak frown, Havas, feeling anxious, quickly added.

“I'll contact Duke Huangbo, with whom we often trade. He should have an academy recommendation.”

“Then, I'll leave it to you.”

He also thought it would be better for his grandson to leave his narrow embrace and learn the joys and sorrows of the vast world for his future.

‘An academy... It might not be bad.’