WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Surviving the Assassin Academy as a Professor

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Chapter 8: World Forgery (1)

Outside the window, the night sky stretched endlessly.

A faint "ring" bisected the sky, one that could only be seen at night. This world’s Earth had rings, much like Saturn from my original world.

Beyond that ring, sparse stars dotted the sky.

There were only thirty-three stars in this world, and humans worshipped them. That was why the growth currency was called "Star Shard."

Time to start training.

Today had been the longest day of my life.

I had somehow survived multiple adversities by sheer luck, but relying on luck alone would be foolish. I couldn’t expect such fortune to bless me again.

From now on, I had to grow stronger.

My current strength is…

——
▶ Dante Hiakapo
- [Stats]: 1
- [Mana]: 100
- [Abilities]: ×
——

Utterly pathetic.

< Star Shards in Possession: 1,000 >

This was today’s harvest.

I had been rewarded with a single Star Shard, but received a 1,000× multiplier as a special bonus. It was the equivalent of several months, perhaps even years' worth of growth currency.

How should I use this?

I had been pondering this question since this morning.

Growth currency could be invested into stats or the 12 ability types.

There were a total of 12 core abilities:

If I invested all 1,000 Star Shards into a single branch, I could immediately learn an Ultimate Skill (Lv.9) in that ability.

For example, if I poured everything into Stealth, I would gain the ability to wield it like 「Shadowless Constellation○」, the greatest stealth assassin in this world.

But… this isn’t such a simple choice.

Would enhancing my abilities really be enough to avoid assassination attempts from the cadets?

Stealth wasn’t the answer. Hiding wouldn’t keep me alive, especially as a professor who had to be in the spotlight constantly.

Movement Techniques wouldn’t work either. Being good at escaping wasn’t much better than choosing stealth.

Logically speaking, Combat seemed like my best option.

But if I invest in Combat, I won’t be able to teach classes properly.

What use was brute strength when my enemies could vanish and move like the wind?

Besides, my stats and proficiency would still be lacking even if I learned a Level 9 Combat ability. Ultimately, I would still be weaker than the Black Dragon cadets…

Moreover, fighting them wasn’t an option. That would only diminish my authority.

To fight meant acknowledging that I was an opponent they needed to overcome.

And humans were relentless creatures who never gave up.

We were monsters—a species that could barely hold our breaths for three minutes underwater, yet built ships and still conquered the seas.

The other professors weren’t assassinated in one-on-one battles, either.

I couldn’t afford to be seen as competition. Even with high combat prowess, it wouldn’t ultimately benefit my survival.

If I want to survive, I have to appear overwhelmingly superior.

Like Zhuge Liang’s Empty Fort Strategy, where he played the guqin atop the open city gates, tricking his enemies into thinking there was an ambush and forcing them to retreat. 

Like Eulduji, the Goguryeo counsellor who sent the Han army a dish of carp wrapped in aquatic plants, deceiving them into thinking they had ample supplies, forcing them to withdraw. 

Like Kim Jong-un, threatening to turn Seoul into a “Sea of Fire.”

…Well, maybe that last one wasn’t the best example. 

What I needed were deception tactics.

That was the key to clearing this Hell Mode. 

And so, based on that judgment, I made my choice.

I choose Forbidden Skills, which consist of abilities that are banned across the entire continent.

If I were caught using it, I would be hunted to death by the whole world.

But if my incompetence were exposed, I would be killed anyway.

The ability I sought to learn was one of the most dangerous Forbidden Skills in existence.

< You have selected the Forbidden Illusion Authority [Lv.9]: 『World Forgery』. >

It was an ability created during the First Great Assassination War by Abraxas, the first leader of the Black Path and the most powerful assassin in history.

『World Forgery』—an ability that could create dreams and illusions. Like reflections in the water that shift into mirages the next moment.

Yet, it could encompass and alter the entire world.

It wasn’t just a trick of the eye. These illusions had physical form. They could be touched. They carried scents. They even held mana. 

It was the pinnacle of Illusion Arts, capable of producing top-tier illusionary forms.

But there was a drawback. 

The illusions had low durability and almost no attack power. 

That was the fundamental limit of Illusion Arts.

I can focus on getting stronger later.

At the end of the day, Hiaka Academy was ultimately a game about growing stronger and hunting down demons hiding among humans. Assassinating professors was merely the final phase of the game when cadets were close to graduation. 

But the main storylines were still a ways off.

This ability would buy me time to gather more growth currency.

< Would you like to spend 750 Star Shards to unlock 『World Forgery』? >

I confirmed my decision. 

< Upgrade Complete. >

< You have acquired the Forbidden Illusion Authority [Lv.9]: 『World Forgery』. >

A surge of power pulsed through my veins, spreading from my heart and coursing through my body. 

Immediately, my Overall Combat Power skyrocketed.

< Overall Combat Power: 1 → 68,023 (▲68,022) >

…But this is only the beginning.

Illusion Arts was like design or 3D modeling—an ability that required immense effort. 

『World Forgery: Form Forgery [Sword]』

A crude, misshapen sword materialized.

The quality of the illusion depended on my understanding of reality. I had to grasp every detail— the grip, length, shape, texture, and even the reflection. And since this was a game world, I also needed to understand mana, killing intent, and pressure, among others, to create forgeries.

It would take years—perhaps decades—to master.

This was a Level 9 ability, after all.

But I wasn’t bound by such limitations. 

< Would you like to spend 200 Star Shards to raise the proficiency to 84.55%? >

< Upgrade complete. >

< Overall Combat Power: 68,023 → 108,158 (▲40,135) >

I closed my eyes tightly before opening them again.

A sword hovered in the air before me. This time, it looked much more realistic.

< 『World Forgery』 Proficiency: 84.55% >

Knowledge and insight about Illusion Arts seeped into my mind in real time. I reached out and grasped the floating sword.

It had weight, and the texture felt real. 

When I gently pressed the blade against my skin, it seemed as if it could actually cut me. 

To test its limits, I flipped the sword and stabbed my thigh with all my strength.

Shatter—!

The blade tip broke into fragments.

So this is the limit.

No matter how advanced an illusion was, an illusion was still an illusion.

No matter what I create, its durability would be low, and its attack power would be zero.

Of course, I could still blind someone by bursting light in their eyes, but that was the extent of its physical interaction.

Its duration wasn’t very long either, though I could extend it by pouring in more mana.

Let’s test this a little more.

< [MP] : 95 / 100 (▼5) >

Creating a single sword had already consumed 1/20th.

At this rate, I’d run out after making just 20 swords.

Having no other option, I invested all 50 of my remaining Star Shards into mana.

< [Max MP] : 100 → 1,100 (▲1,000) >

< Overall Combat Power: 108,158 → 113,158 (▲5,000) >

Each Star Shard raised my mana by 20, granting me a total increase of 1,000 points.

With that out of the way, I continued experimenting as more ideas popped into my head. 

『World Forgery: Form Forgery [Sword of Light]』

『World Forgery: Form Forgery [Sword of Lightning]』

I was able to create weapons imbued with attributes.

『World Forgery: Form Forgery [Fire]』

『World Forgery: Form Forgery [Water]』

Even materials and phenomena with complex movements could be replicated.

In the case of water, my clothes actually got wet. As for fire, I could feel the heat as I got close, but touching it didn’t actually burn me.

『World Forgery: Form Forgery [Explosion]』

Boom!

There was a loud sound and a concussive impact—but no actual damage.

That was the fundamental limitation. 

I need to remember this. 『World Forgery』 is merely an ability that imitates.

It was like counterfeit money, convincing at a glance but obviously fake upon closer inspection. 

『World Forgery: Form Forgery [Bell]』

Ding!

I could even replicate sounds.

『World Forgery: Form Forgery [Giant Bell]』

Gooong—!

Even louder sounds were possible. Loud enough to make my ears ring…

“Professor?"

Scratch that—loud enough for Adele to hear and come looking for me.

I told her it was nothing and sent her back.

『World Forgery: Form Forgery [Fireball]』

『World Forgery: Form Forgery [Summon Wall]』

『World Forgery: Form Forgery [Flying Mind Sword]』

Even magic and abilities could be simulated.

『World Forgery: Form Forgery [10,000 Hika Bill]』

Of course, I could also create counterfeit money.

In real-world terms, this would be worth about a million won or $1,000.

But I could tell it was an imperfect forgery.

It might fool people, but detection devices or advanced equipment would see through it.

『World Forgery: Form Forgery [Strawberry Cake]』

『World Forgery: Form Forgery [Fried Chicken]』

I could even replicate food and people. The food had flavor and aroma, but oddly, it didn’t give a real sense of satiety.

The moment it disappeared, an odd emptiness settled in my stomach.

『World Forgery: Form Forgery [Dante]』

I could even create a clone of myself. It could move if I gave it commands.

『World Forgery: Variable Action Input [Dance]』

The forged version of myself started doing a cat dance.

Hmm…

『World Forgery: Variable Action Input [Levitate]』

My forged self floated into the air.

So it could even do things my real body couldn’t.

The durability, however, remained an issue.

A handshake was fine, but when I applied pressure to break a finger—

Crack!

The forged arm shattered.

『World Forgery: Form Forgery [Demon King]』

I remembered that the game had been expanded into a heroic fantasy through the DLC, so I figured I’d try to create the presumed final boss, the Demon King.

『World Forgery: Failed』

But it didn’t work.

Was it because I had never seen him before?

No, I don’t think that was the reason. I tested something else to confirm my theory.

『World Forgery: Variable Action Input [Smile]』

Unfortunately, the forged Dante didn’t smile.

So, I looked in the mirror and forced myself to smile, then tried again.

This time, the forged Dante grinned like a villain plotting something sinister.

My suspicions were confirmed.

Forging wasn’t based on experience, but on imagination. If I couldn’t imagine something, I couldn’t forge it.

I couldn’t imagine myself smiling, so the forgery couldn’t smile either…

Even when I managed to force a smile, it wasn’t exactly a pleasant sight.

It was more like the evil grin of a devilish schemer.

Alright.

I had gained a pretty solid understanding up to this point.

Now for the final category…

If I poured in a bit more mana, I could even forge space itself.

『World Forgery: Spatial Forgery [Flower Field]』

Out of nowhere, flowers began blooming, despite the lack of water or soil.

Before long, my entire room was covered in vibrant blossoms.

I opened my hand and saw a single dandelion resting on my palm.

If I push it further, I should be able to do something like this too…

『World Forgery: Spatial Forgery [Near-Death Experience]』

In an instant, darkness swallowed the world around me. Time and space were distorted.

Here, it was also possible to create virtual sensations.

If I imagine my wrist being cut off…

A severed hand dropped to the floor, still clutching a flower, now turned black.

Plop—

Of course, it was an illusion. My real hand was still intact, but it wouldn’t be so easy for someone else to figure it out.

I can’t feel my hand’s sense of touch… It’s like it was truly severed.

For another thirty minutes, I continued experimenting with illusions.

Then, suddenly, I felt warmth trickling from my nose. 

I brought a finger to my nostrils. Blood.

Startled, I immediately stopped using 『World Forgery』.

The flower field and severed hand vanished, leaving only my ordinary room. 

I feel dizzy…

< [MP]: 14 / 1,100 >

< You are afflicted by the [Overloaded] status condition. >

I had pushed myself too far, draining too much mana in too short a time. 

That was enough training for today. 

After washing up with warm water, I collapsed onto my bed.

My consciousness faded as though my brain were melting apart.

But just before I completely lost consciousness, a thought crossed my mind.

What if I wake up and find myself back home?

Wouldn’t that be hilarious?

After everything that had happened today, what if it was just all a dream?

That…

"Please wake up, Professor! It’s morning!" the voice urged, rousing me from sleep.

Would’ve been nice.

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