I Became the Academy’s Kibitz Villain

After informing Yumir of the plan to become Gwang Ik Gong’s punch:

-Then, I’ll start the production right away.

-We just need to keep the wheels turning.

-I’ll do my best to make it look like a proper train.

-Good. Platinum Sun, with Taejo, head to the gold mine. In the meantime, I’ll make other preparations.

Yumir returned to Shinuiju’s gold mine with Taejo and began the production of the golden train.

Since there was enough time before leaving with the agents who came with Taejo, I took the opportunity to find another room to remove another source of anxiety.

Creaaak.

As soon as I opened the door and entered, the room was filled with the rich aroma of Pu’er tea.

“A grade-S should have dignity.”

Cheonma Lee Yerin.

She was not restrained in any way and was calmly sitting in a chair, sipping tea.

“Without any restraints, there’s nothing more shameful than getting caught again after causing a commotion, right?”

[You seem to know well.]

Unlike the fierce resistance of Rasputin, Cheonma calmly acknowledged her defeat.

“So, Mr. Hesed.”

[It’s Goblin now.]

“Mr. Goblin, who deceives the world as Hesed. What are you going to do with me now?”

[What do you think I’ll do?]

“…….”

When I answered her question with another question, Cheonma calmly adjusted her posture.

“…Hmph. Kill me.”

[I didn’t expect to hear that line here.]

“What?”

[No, it’s nothing.]

It was a bit ridiculous to hear Cheonma uttering a line that a knight captured by a group of orcs in a fantasy would say.

[Why are you asking me to kill you?]

“After subduing me like this, you’ll erase my memory and turn me into a factory for mass-producing ability users, right?”

That’s odd.

There were fewer subversive books in this world to maintain the mental stability of many, yet Cheonma seemed strangely knowledgeable about such matters.

[A factory for mass-producing ability users?]

“Yes. Just like what happened in Thailand, you’ll imprison me somewhere, cut off my limbs, and turn me into someone who produces an ability user every ten months. You’ll erase my memory, put something over my head, and make sure I live in eternal happiness without ever waking up to reality!”

[Why would we do such a devilish thing? The Society doesn’t engage in such actions.]

“…….”

She didn’t seem to believe me at all.

She wasn’t brainwashed, but given that she took her family and defected to China because she thought Korea was a mess, one could say she had a flexible mindset. Yet, it’s suspicious how her mind was filled with only demonic thoughts.

“Then, are you planning to sell me to the Korean government? Who’s the buyer? Tusin? Cheok Jun-kyeong? Or maybe Taejo? Or all three?”

[Do you have a lust demon in your head?]

“It’s not a lust demon, it’s just reality.”

Cheonma, with a face full of resignation but also brimming with internal resentment, gritted her teeth at me.

“If a woman is an ability user, isn’t Korea the place where they’ll try to get her pregnant no matter what?”

[If you only look at the bad sides, that’s all you’ll see. Isn’t it the same with China, the country you defected to?]

“…….”

Cheonma bit her lower lip.

For the first time, she seemed genuinely upset by my remark and lowered her head.

[There’s a saying. There’s no paradise where you flee. You left for China for your family, but you probably saw similar things there as well.]

“…….”

[Are you giving me information with the things you just said?]

“……!”

Cheonma raised her head.

Her brown eyes began to tremble seriously, and her pupils started to fill with shock.

“W-what are you talking about?”

[That’s how I see it. Humans can commit actions more heinous than demons. There were real demons in Thailand, but humans can act like those demons.]

“…….”

[Demons are everywhere. What happened in Korea could happen in China too. Well, anywhere humans live is the same, right?]

I was convinced.

This woman was shaking right now.

[You’ve got the money, so you have to live up to it, but every time you enjoy that money, it weighs on you.]

“What weighs?”

[The last remaining conscience.]

“…….”

It’s not just about her defeat; the root of her defeat lied in the anxiety of not knowing where she was headed.

[If you start to think that the enormous amount of money you’ve received is sucking someone’s blood, it becomes hard to use that money easily. But when you see your family enjoying happiness, living blissfully ignorant because of that money, you’re likely to turn a blind eye.]

“…….”

[You seem to have a lot of worries. Your eyes were clear when fighting, but now that you’re not, they’ve become clouded.]

“Shut up. Don’t meddle in someone else’s life if you’re not going to solve their problems.”

[If I had a solution to clear your 500 trillion won debt and shed your traitor image, would you join the Society?]

Flinch.

Cheonma’s finger twitched for a moment.

[I know you well, Lee Yerin. After your family was nearly killed by the Korean government, you fled to China with them, only to realize that China is no different from Korea.]

“…The Society’s intelligence is impressive. So, knowing that, are you just sitting back and doing nothing?”

[We’re not doing nothing. The Society always does its best, but priorities exist.]

“…In the past, I would’ve argued immediately. How can there be priorities when people are dying right now?”

Cheonma was , surprisingly, hot-tempered.

But she was also a cold, calculating woman.

“It’s because of that ‘Pandemonium’ demon or whatever, right?”

[Yes.]

Apparently, having witnessed what happened in Thailand, Cheonma seemed to have her own understanding of the Society’s actions.

[With a chronic shortage of manpower, we prioritize eliminating demons over humans.]

Why couldn’t we intervene in East Asia’s affairs immediately?

Considering the events with Duoexini in Thailand, the conclusion that it was more ‘reasonable’ to subdue demons before humans made sense.

[The Society’s top priority for elimination is demons. Next are humans who act like demons. But the Society is always plagued by a chronic manpower shortage.]

“That’s because you guys are converting people into heroes.”

[If you know that much, this conversation will be easier.]

I placed two pills in front of Cheonma, one on the left and one on the right.

“Red pill, blue pill?”

[I’m giving you a choice.]

“What is this, Goblintrix? You’re telling me to choose?”

[…You know about that? That’s quite a classic.]

“It’s famous.”

Cheonma reached out her hand toward the red and blue pills.

“So, Mr. Dofius. Why are you treating me like this?”

Cheonma started staring intently at me.

“You guys could erase my personality, change my nationality, and turn me into a loyal servant for Korea. But instead, you seem to want me, as I am, to willingly change my mind.”

[Because if you move on your own, it’s easier to bring everything down naturally.]

“…I don’t know what your target is, but.”

Cheonma grabbed the blue pill in her hand.

“At least, rather than becoming a brainwashed soldier controlled by someone without a self, I’ll live, even if it’s disgraceful.”

She crushed the blue pill with her grip and put the red pill in her mouth.

“…Candy?”

[It’s strawberry-flavored. By the way, the other one is blueberry-flavored.]

“Wasn’t this supposed to awaken my consciousness, open my mind to a new world, or something like that?”

[Too bad. This world isn’t a cyber realm; it’s reality.]

Even though this world was created based on a nationalist light novel, it was still very much reality.

[Since you took the red pill, I’ll tell you. The path that you’re most concerned with, the path that will allow you to cover all your actions as ‘patriotism.’]

“…….”

[Ultimately, the Society intends to overturn this country as well. Just like America, it will be transformed into a place ruled under the Society’s control and order. There are some obstacles, and it will take time, but eventually, we will lead the world to peace.]

Even if that method was extreme, twisted, or involved deceiving the masses.

[The world doesn’t know why you abandoned Korea and defected.]

“Are you going to reveal that? …No. If that happens, my parents will collapse again.”

Cheonma’s face turned pale.

“If they found out their only daughter did something like that….”

[Don’t worry. That will never be revealed. You just need to perform as a ‘hero’ like everyone else.]

“…What exactly are you planning?”

[To put it simply, you’ll be an internal whistleblower.]

I lightly tapped the spot where the red pill had been placed.

[You’ll actually be a dark hero who volunteered to cover yourself in filth for justice.]

“…Explain in detail.”

[You’ll become a hero in China and expose China’s flaws one by one. When the Society eventually overturns China, Cheonma will boldly stand at the forefront. As a ‘hero.’]

“…….”

[Even if you have to bear filth for a few years, there is a path to reclaim your honor and become a hero once again. That’s if you join hands with the Society.]

I extended my fist toward Cheonma.

[You, join me in this mission.]

Ah.

Was I setting myself up to die and letting Cheonma blend into it?

“So, what is this mission exactly?”

[…Ahem. Well.]

The operation name.

An unimaginable identity.

[…A collaborator with pro-Japanese forces who turns out to be a secret independence fighter.]

Betrayal was washed away by patriotism.