Chapter 319 - [21st Round] Transformation

Since Ice King Sleas created a huge air conditioner on the Southern Continent during the 4th curriculum, its lands dried up, turning it into an endless desert.

In the 5th curriculum, however, Sleas had lost his refuge, causing the Southern Continent’s weather to change so much it became a habitable place for elves once more.

Humans and giants also lived here with them.

“There are a lot of giants here, Drug Hero.”

“Yeah. They seem to have taken over the entire Southern Continent.”

The giants were this land’s true rulers.

They owned 80% of it, including the small desert in the center. The remaining 20% belonged to humans and elves.

And it wasn’t about conquest by war.

This was because they removed the mountain ranges here to begin their reclamation process. The project began about 2,000 years ago and continued to this day. The use of the giant’s excrement as cement played a big role in it since many canals and buildings were erected using that construction material.

I was the one who taught them that.

“We’ll go there.”

I was heading in the direction indicated by the President of the Universe. I missed a few Chaos Artifact locations that Shadow A spoke about, but I wasn’t particularly worried about it since a teacher was nearby.

In the end, I would still find them all anyway. What I should focus on is getting my priorities straight.

Wasn’t that the right way to do business?

I worked by the sweat of my brow to get a batch of new students from Fugitive Senior as soon as possible.

? Suspicion: I’m feeling malicious intent from you…

‘It’s all about mood, senior! If anything, you’d better watch how Red is doing on her side of things. She’s more worthy of your doubt than I am, considering I’m doing really great here.’

? Happiness: She won’t have a problem either. She’s so strong that even I can hardly control her. She volunteered to join us because she thinks Boris is cute. He started being rebellious at a young age. Eventually, he quarreled with me and fled, causing his death. That’s why she’s perfect for this mission. She’ll kill two birds with one stone.

So Fugitive Senior had his own set of family problems.

My son and I had some disagreements, but we generally had a friendly relationship. I did great disciplining him, after all.

‘Have you seen Haris?’

Since his spine resembled mine, he was popular with women, and he also had the qualities to become a true Righteous Hero.

? Confusion: Those are all delusions.

Since I was almost at my destination, I pretended I didn’t hear Fugitive Senior, whose pride was even more fragile than that of my jealous wife!

“Everything looks so grandiose here.”

Everything about the capital of the Empire of Giants, which occupied 80% of the Southern Continent, was huge.

From normal-sized beings’ point of view, all these institutions and dwellings designed by and for giants seemed like mountains.

At the very center of it was a structure that rivaled Snow Mountain M in height, a skyscraper built in the shape of a pyramid.

Bang! Bang!

Even though giants were moving along its floors, it showed no hints of collapse.

Their race’s natural weight made it difficult to build buildings more than two stories high, but the one at the center, as if mocking logic itself, didn’t even appear to have a dent.

“Could those wings be…”

“Oh! My God!”

“The man of legends is back!”

“Oh! Prophet!”

The giants, whose eyes resembled huge telescope lenses, began to cause a commotion the moment they saw me in the sky.

My popularity hadn’t subsided here even after 2,000 years.

Most humans had already forgotten me, but these colossal creatures were different.

? Race: Giant

? Level: 596

? Job: Fisherman (Fishing → Endurance ↑)

? Skills: Fishing A, Hunting B, Construction B, Swimming C, Eternal Youth C…

? Status: Surprise, Confusion, Delight

Humans and giants should be equally strong, but giants had significantly higher levels since they hunted high-level sea monsters.

Of course, they suffered casualties during their hunts, but those who survived became some of the most powerful creatures on land.

Then what about the Giant King?

“I can’t see him.”

Giant King Phoenix, who absorbed Phoenix, the First Elf, and gained immortality, continued to grow forever.

Purely theoretically, someday, he might become larger than this planet itself.

I wondered what became of him, considering he continued to grow for 2,000 years.

I couldn’t find him, though. Was it even possible to hide such a huge body?

Strange.

“Are you sure he’s not dead yet, Drug Hero?”

“Yes.”

We didn’t meet in person, but to ensure the 5th curriculum would keep running smoothly, I sent a formal request for cooperation to the Giant Empire.

And on behalf of Phoenix, a positive response came.

We had now gone back a year before those events happened, so he was definitely alive.

But if so, where was he?

Unwanted guests had even invaded his home.

“Invaders! Invaders… Huh?!”

“Defend the palace!”

“The enemy is too strong!”

“Stop them! Quickly!”

Since their imperial palace was made of durable materials capable of withstanding their race’s weight, it remained unshaken even during such a commotion.

But they couldn’t stop the intruders even though the ones defending it were real warriors, not fishermen.

? Race: Tall Giant

? Level: 999+

? Job: Warrior (War → Physical Strength ↑)

? Skills: Super Strength Z, Size Z, Two-handed Sword Mastery MAX, Fortitude MAX, Enemy Detection SSS…

? Status: Steadfast, Wounded, Bleeding

They had the advantage in numbers, but they were still losing.

That was how strong their opponents were.

If they didn’t restrain themselves to avoid destroying the building, the entire giant race would’ve already been destroyed along with the palace.

Because…

? Race: Ancient Human

? Level: 999+

? Job: Teacher (Teaching → Skills ↑)

? Skills: Physical Strength ZZZ, Five Senses ZZZ, Endurance ZZ, Vitality ZZ, Male Strength ZZ…

? Status: Caution, Protection

The opponent’s skills were top-notch.

Most of the faculty members had Teacher as their profession, making it impossible to determine the subject he taught through his stats alone.

But judging by his skills, I wondered if it would be okay to assume that he was Physical Education Teacher?

The beefy man cleared the way, followed by a slender woman with huge, frightened, deer-like eyes.

I took a look at her as well.

? Race: Ancient Human

? Level: 784

? Job: Teacher (Teaching → Skills ↑)

? Skills: Cooking G, Laundry ZZ, Cleaning Z, Child Care Z, Order Z…

? Status: Anxiety

Her Cooking skill that reached the realm of Gods was impressive, but it was useless in combat.

Did she teach the heroes to cook?

The woman didn’t look like she needed to be feared.

I continued to watch them.

“Hmm. The Giant King doesn’t seem to have any intentions of showing up.”

If I followed this corridor, I could get into the treasury of the Giant Empire.

There had to be a Chaos Artifact there.

It didn’t need it now, though. My target was the teachers who came for it.

It was just a tool, a means to an end, anyway.

I decided to start with the teacher who cooked well.

[Darkness]

A spatial hole appeared under her feet like a shadow.

If she fell into it, she’d find herself in the Demon Vault.

“Be careful!”

“What? Aaaaahhhh—!”

“Home Economics Teacher!”

Tsk!

The man was busy fighting the giant warriors but still managed to grab the woman’s hand, who almost fell into the hole, and lift her up.

My surprise attack failed.

He had absurd reaction speed.

Clicking my tongue, I quickly approached them, compressing the space between us. I had to deal with him while he was still distracted by the female.

However…

“Oh! What?”

He managed to react to my movement, which was tantamount to teleportation.

My wings and his fist collided.

“Student Kang Han Soo?”

“Not a student, but a hero.”

“You mean the Demon Lord.”

“That’s my second profession, yes.”

Fshuk! Fshuk! Fshuk!

Since he had to fight and protect the female simultaneously, my spikes-covered wings easily wounded his body.

To my surprise, no matter how much my attacks tried to tear through his skin, all they did was leave him with scratches.

I could put more force into my blows, but then the whole palace would cease to exist.

“The ceiling is falling!”

“Oh no! Everything’s falling apart!”

“Retreat! Retreat!”

Due to the shock waves generated by our collision, part of the imperial palace had already been destroyed.

It’s not good this way.

Ssosia could restore everything later, but it was still undesirable to fight here.

I decided to stop for a while and step back.

The teacher decided not to close the distance between us, too. Instead, he held his ground and waited.

“What do you teach?” I asked while we were both free.

“Biology.”

“Biology?! And that woman, if I heard correctly, is teaching home economics?”

“Yes.”

“Biology and home economics. What a strange combination. Your body’s also strange.”

The wounds he sustained from my wings of the righteous hero quickly healed.

“I have mastered biology. Hence, my body is constantly evolving. My leukocytes have neutralized your anti-clotting poison by developing immunity against them.”

“Ah…”

I met a like-minded person!

“Student Kang Han Soo, you deserve credit for being able to get stronger without relying on skills. I even want to tell other students who rely only on skills and the Holy Sword about you.”

“Oh? Thank you for the compliment.”

“But no matter how excellent a student you are, I cannot forgive you for rebelling against your teachers. You’re also too arrogant despite your modest results, and you’ve begun to oppress the weak.”

“Modest results?”

“Exactly. Your meager knowledge was only enough to make small changes in your body. I shall show you that there is another heaven above the heavens.

“You have a way with words.”

He probably could handle other subjects with his fluent communication skill.

“Don’t even think about trying to assault Home Economics Teacher. Follow me to the roof, where we can fight in full force. If you’re confident in your abilities, that is.”

“… You seriously speak well.”

It was such a childish provocation, but I decided to play along.

Meager knowledge?

How could he speak like that about Master Mollan’s teachings! One word from Master Mollan, and he would be finished.

I accepted his challenge.

“Follow me, student Kang Han Soo.”

“The way you talk makes me think you were quite the bully during your high school years, Biology Teacher.”

“Yes, I used to get into a lot of fights.”

“I see.”

And he dared say I oppressed the weak.

We stood opposite each other on the roof of the imperial palace.

This roof would be fine even if an asteroid were to fall on it, so I thought our battle wouldn’t be able to do anything to it.

“I’ll show you why I teach biology!”

“You talk too much…”

“Haaaaaaaa!”

With his legs spread wide and knees slightly bent, Biology Teacher screamed with all his might, and changes immediately began to occur in his body.

His green hair turned white and shot up like thorns.

“… infuriating.” The sneaky teacher knew all about every guy’s dream.

I didn’t wait for him to finish his transformation, though.

I grabbed his white-dyed hair with both hands and launched my knee against his jaw with all my might.

“You’re too late.”

“… That’s one quick transformation.”

In the cartoons I watched as a child, assuming that form took about 20 minutes!

Biology Teacher spat out blood after his jaw got hit by my knee. “You’re deeply mistaken if you think you learned something useful from that ordinary slime.”

“He’s no ordinary slime.”

“You should learn from me, the greatest teacher of biology, instead of an ordinary slime.”

He caught my wrist with his left hand, and with his right, he swung at me, targeting my face.

With my wrist bound, it became difficult to avoid it.

But I wasn’t planning on dodging anyway.

Before the teacher’s fist came close to my face, I headbutted him, causing our foreheads to collide.

“Kh?!”

Trying to recover from the blow, he stepped back.

With my hand now freed, I immediately tried to finish him off with a second blow, but he recovered and dodged in the blink of an eye.

Clutching his forehead, he shouted, “This can’t be! Your skull is stronger than mine?! Impossible! Who do you think you are?!”

What a stupid question!

My neck became a little numb due to the impact of our collision, so I slightly stretched my 6th and 7th cervical vertebrae with my left hand.

“This is the power of Master Mollan’s teachings.”

Mollan Revelation: Chapter 1, Verse 3.

With their eyes, they looked, but blindly so. With their ears, they listened, but deafly so.