It’s an Academic Fact That Rankers Are Model Students – Chapter 177

Chapter 177: It’s Frustrating to Hide the Obvious Villain (1)

“Come on. You make it sound like I’m ripping you off. This is how everyone gets their share.”

“……Hmph. You’re already pretty shady.”

AngerManagementVodka, with his elbows resting on his knees, tossed a bottle of vodka towards Kyung-joon.

It was an unexpected move, but…

Thud.

Kyung-joon caught the thrown bottle with surprising ease.

‘His agility is incredibly high. I thought he was a wizard, but maybe not?’

From their very first encounter, and based on his observations since, AngerManagementVodka had assumed Kyung-joon was a wizard.

After all, the killing intent he felt from Kyung-joon’s Hide Casting was similar to that of a wizard, and the researcher persona he displayed also resembled a typical NPC wizard.

However, the speed at which he caught the thrown vodka was definitely that of a thief with over 500 agility.

The more he learned about Kyung-joon in this roundabout way, the more impressed he became.

Gulp, gulp, gulp.

Kyung-joon, just like AngerManagementVodka had done, downed the entire bottle of vodka in one go.

[Rare Skill 『High-speed Detoxification (Lv.2)』 ]

[The toxicity of the alcohol has been detoxified.]

Kyung-joon’s face remained unchanged despite consuming the entire bottle of strong alcohol, which had an alcohol content of over 40%.

To the slightly surprised AngerManagementVodka, Kyung-joon said,

“Well…… It doesn’t have to be right now. If you change your mind later. Personally, I find your workforce quite appealing.”

From a capitalist perspective, the subordinates provided by AngerManagementVodka were truly ideal workers.

First of all, they were highly cost-effective.

They were Russian players.

Compared to Korea, the minimum wage there was only 1/10th.

And because they were players, not NPCs, they were perfect for various dangerous tasks.

After all, this world was a game to players, and even if they died, they would come back to life.

Moreover, they were easy to manage as long as AngerManagementVodka was kept satisfied, making them ideal workers in every aspect.

Since research, development, and the management of Beginner’s Village were being handled smoothly by the residents……

There was no need to provide top-notch training to every single worker.

The most important thing in business was ‘efficiency’.

Of course, it sounded harsh to put it that way.

“Besides, isn’t there a saying in your country?”

He brought up Russian culture, something he had recently studied because of AngerManagementVodka.

“Befriend a bear. I’m thinking it’s better to be friendly than to fight.”

At Kyung-joon’s unexpected mention of a Russian proverb, AngerManagementVodka, a Russian himself, let out a scoff.

He then raised his hand to grab another bottle of vodka, saying,

“Seems like you forgot the rest of the proverb.”

The full proverb went like this:

『Befriend a bear, but always keep an axe at hand.』

Be friendly with a bear, but always be prepared to strike it down with an axe.

It was a rather chilling proverb, to say the least.

“Really? Was there more to it?”

However, Kyung-joon feigned ignorance, simply tilting his head.

At his sly demeanor, AngerManagementVodka shook his head and took another swig of vodka.

Exhale!

“You’d fit right in with our Ruski Komrade.”

“Me?”

“Yeah. It’s full of guys like you.”

“Are you trying to lure me in?”

“No.”

AngerManagementVodka waved his hands in denial towards Kyung-joon.

“Quite the opposite. I wish they’d all just disappear.”

With that, AngerManagementVodka brought the bottle of vodka to his lips once more.

Gulp, gulp, gulp.

He tried to imagine it, just for fun.

The current power struggle among the executives within Ruski Komrade was already tiring enough, but what if Kyung-joon were to join the mix?

……He didn’t even want to imagine it.

But if he had to……

‘It would probably be one of two things. Devour or be devoured.’

Either Ruski Komrade would consume Kyung-joon, or Kyung-joon would consume them.

AngerManagementVodka was certain it would be one of the two.

Having lived in a space of devouring and being devoured for over a decade, everyone he’d met like Kyung-joon had ended up that way.

As AngerManagementVodka was lost in thought, sipping his vodka, Kyung-joon suddenly asked,

“By the way, instead of all that, how about you teach me some Russian, you know, like in the spirit of friendship?”

“Our language?”

“I’m thinking of traveling the world someday. Wouldn’t it be good to know?”

Kyung-joon had always admired polyglots he saw on TV.

Actually, he didn’t even have to look as far as TV. He was secretly envious of his classmate, Polyglot Park Young-hee.

She was fluent not only in English but also in various other languages.

He particularly remembered the 1st-year social studies presentation on their field trip to Cheonggyecheon, where Park Young-hee impressed everyone by interviewing a passing foreigner in their native language for her PPT presentation.

Language learning may seem simple, but it was a cool and useful skill.

“No.”

Unfortunately, AngerManagementVodka refused.

“Then you’ll have to turn off the translation function and learn it yourself.”

“Hmph. Suit yourself.”

“Huh? Bashe syet… What? Come again? I didn’t catch that.”

“……”

But Kyung-joon wasn’t one to give up on learning just because someone refused to teach him.

“Huff…! Huff…!”

“Malodoy cha! Malodoy cha!”

“Next test drug, B149! Test subject!”

“Yes! Test subject a12b4788 for test drug B149……”

In front of the sight of AngerManagementVodka’s subordinates diligently working……

“Mr. Vodka. Why did you choose that ID? You’re surprisingly good at anger management. Ah, is it AngerManagementVodka because you drink vodka to manage your anger?”

“……Blyat.”

“Hmm? Blyat? What does that mean?”

<•̀.̫•́✧>

<It means ‘f*ck’.>

[You gained 1 Intelligence point for acquiring new knowledge.]

“Oh, it means ”f*ck’.”

“……?”

And so, the two diligently continued their Russian language (?) study session.

🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷

Francois, Deutsch, Vitalia, Espana, Holland, and so on. The 『Holy Cross Faction』 encompassed dozens of kingdoms.

Located at the easternmost edge of the faction, the Aegis Protectorate was also a part of it.

Like the wide belly of a whale, the Aegis Protectorate formed a straight line, blocking one side of the Whale Forest.

Deep beneath the northern edge of the Protectorate lay a highly secretive space.

A top-secret area known only to a select few within the Holy Cross.

In that very place, where both length and depth were impossible to gauge, a man was delivering a report.

<Aegis Protectorate Broker>

▼Broki (NPC)

“……Due to these circumstances, procuring crystal cores from the tail end of the Whale Forest will be difficult from now on.”

The crystal cores Broki was referring to were, of course, arliv crystal cores.

More specifically, the crystal cores that AngerManagementVodka had been supplying.

“We will have to find a suitable alternative for the Black Magic Stone, Bishop.”

“By the revered Elia! Your humble servants face tribulation in the face of your trials!”

A man responded to Broki’s report with an act of seeking divine guidance.

He was clad in pure white priestly robes.

Clink.

Whenever he moved in his seat, the gold, silver, and platinum ornaments that adorned nearly half of his robes collided, creating a metallic sound.

At first glance, it seemed incredibly extravagant.

However, the fact that most of the ornaments bore antique cross motifs gave off a sense of sacredness that transcended mere luxury.

“Alas! The path to ascension is thorny! This is the companionship with you, who climbed the hill of Corta alone! Heretics! Traitors! Heathens!”

Bang!

The man slammed his fist against the armrest of his chair.

Clatter!

The numerous gold, silver, and platinum trinkets dangling from his robes collided, trembling with his rage.

<Holy Cross Bishop – 153rd Diocese>

▼Girolamo Sivanamolla (NPC)

Girolamo Sivanamolla.

A bishop of the Holy Cross and the administrator of the 153rd Diocese, which governed the northern region of the Aegis Protectorate.

At the same time, he was also one of the masterminds behind the 『Black Magic Stone production』 taking place underground.

“It is as the prophecy foretold! Oh, cruel prophecy! Why do you only bestow upon us, who await you, who long for your return, such urgent truths! How can we embrace them! How can we inform them! It is lamentable! That only the advent of evil is the return of the divine……! Why do they not realize……!!”

Simply put …

The fact that the Black Leopard had consumed the Black Magic Stone and awakened.

The fact that the arlivs were on the verge of being corrupted by the Black Magic Stone.

And all the mutant monster incidents that had occurred so far.

All of it stemmed from their machinations.

And for it all to be for naught because of Kyung-joon…… how utterly frustrating it must be.

It was so frustrating that……

“All! Heretics! Heretics! Heretics! Heretics! Heretics…!!”

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Crash!

……He pounded on the chair until his flesh tore and his bones were visible.

“It’s all because of those heathens! Cursed with immortality! Sent to us as a trial!!”

Crack!

Finally, unable to withstand Girolamo’s violent outburst, the armrest of the chair broke, and his arm…… suffered a similar fate.

His mind was lost, consumed by madness.

‘……Crazy b@stard.’

Witnessing this scene, Broki cursed inwardly.

However, he continued to kneel with his head bowed, adhering to proper etiquette.

Neither the surrounding priests nor Broki showed any concern for Girolamo’s mangled arm, covered in blood and flesh.

Because there was no need for concern.

“Oh! Our God! Elia!”

Girolamo, his face devoid of pain, raised his gruesome arm high, an unbearable sight to behold.

“Your humble servant suffers for you! Bestow upon me your power……!”

As if responding to his plea……

A golden light erupted, momentarily engulfing the room in white.

And soon, when Girolamo slowly opened his eyes……

“Ah…… How beautiful……”

His hand was perfectly healed.

And not just his hand.

The broken chair.

The blood-soaked flesh and the pool of blood on the floor.

Everything had returned to its original state as if nothing had happened.

“Indeed. Brother Broki.”

A gentle voice.

Girolamo looked at Broki.

“Though it’s only been six months, we’ve gathered a considerable amount of the source of evil. You must have created many cores of evil as well. How many were successful? Seventy percent? Eighty? It must be at least that much, right?”

Bishop Girolamo asked Broker Broki with a hint of anticipation.

However, contrary to his expectations, Broki shook his head and replied,

“……Only about half were successfully converted. The other half were destroyed during the process. Many were damaged during acquisition.”

The arliv crystal cores they had collected over the past six months by exploiting AngerManagementVodka and his group.

Unfortunately, many of the crystal cores they had procured were damaged or of poor quality.

Just as players were still far inferior to NPCs, AngerManagementVodka and his group were not strong enough to easily overwhelm a cluster of arlivs.

“Hmph. As expected of those faithless heathens. Those driven by money, I never trusted them from the start.”

“Still, those otherworlders… those heretics are quite convenient to use, aren’t they? They’re those without pride or faith, willing to do anything for a price. Even if problems arise later, they’re just otherworlders. No one would believe their words. Perfect for cutting ties.”

“Ha…… To think our Holy Cross would stoop to using those heathens…… It’s truly, truly deplorable.”

Bishop Girolamo clicked his tongue and pulled out a golden stick.

[Holy Cross made by Philip the Dwarf]

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