A huge forest surrounded the outskirts of Clancy Islet to protect it from crashes. I leaned against a random tree.

Sigh.

My heart began to beat again. I felt my chest and recalled what just happened, but quickly refocused on the present. I should forget for the sake of my sanity. I looked around the dark forest with the overturned sedan in a ditch and my bike lying in the distance. The bike seemed fine because of the 40% consolidation combined with aether. I slowly walked up and raised the bike. If I could, I wanted to take it back with me. Suddenly, I felt someone’s gaze.

“…”

Rachel stared at me while sitting down. I forgot about her because of the shock from Cheok Jungyeong.

“Are you okay?”

I asked even though she didn’t seem hurt. Rachel nodded in a daze with her mouth half-open. I could see the front of her teeth and couldn’t help but laugh.

“Why did you follow me?”

“…”

Rachel closed her mouth and simply stared. I didn’t avoid her eyes as bright moonlight lit up the dark forest and Rachel seemed to glow. She looked at me for a long time before pulling something out of her pocket. I tilted my head at the bullet without a casing. What was that?

“Hajin.”

She suddenly called my name. I thought I misheard, but she definitely said my name just now.

“Ah, yes?” I hurriedly replied.

“This belongs to you, right?”

“…”

I stared at the bullet. I couldn’t distinguish it from just its shape, but it looked like a bullet for the Desert Eagle.

“Yes, I think so.”

I reached out to grab the bullet, but Rachel placed it back into her pocket.

“Um, where did you get…”

“I found it during the final exam.”

“Huh?”

I finally understood. She must’ve found it when I helped her by sniping the Lancaster djinns.

“I thought something similar might happen, so I followed you.”

Rachel scratched her cheek as she pulled out a sword from her waist. It wasn’t Cube’s training rapier, but the legendary sword Galatyn that belonged to one of the twelve knights of the Round Table. However, Rachel still wouldn’t have stood a chance against Cheok Jungyeong.

“Ah.”

“By the way, Hajin…” Rachel sounded serious.

“Back then, why did you help me?”

I didn’t know how to respond, so I simply stared back. Rachel hadn’t finished.

“During the midterm and then the final exam. You were always there, uup!”

A cold wind blew as her hair curled into her mouth. I barely held back my laughter as she tied her hair and cleared her throat.

“Cough. The first time could’ve been a coincidence, but the final exam… no matter how much I thought, I concluded that you must’ve been watching me.”

I scratched the back of my neck. Rachel was an important character who always faced dangerous situations. The story would greatly change if she got injured or killed, so I kept an eye on her. However, I couldn’t explain that so I made up a simple excuse that could convince her.

“I’m your fan.”

“…?”

Rachel’s eyes widened as she tilted her head.

“I’m your fan. I’m even a member of your fan café.”

Rachel’s fan café did exist. England’s fan café had about 500,000 members, and even the Korean one had about 10,000. I checked it before when I didn’t have anything better to do.

Rachel turned silent at the absurd excuse. Whiish— The wind blew and shook the leaves around us. The awkward silence continued for about five minutes until Rachel asked with a quivering voice.

“Does that mean… you like me?”

“… What?”

***

Cheok Jungyeong returned with the crystal to the hotel suite where everyone else waited.

“Hahaha, that’s right, I’m back.”

Cheok Jungyeong burst into laughter as four members of the Chameleon Troupe stared at him.

“Haha, it’s almost like I’m the main character.”

He pushed his hair back as though embarrassed and set down the suitcase. Jain snatched it up.

“This better be the real thing.”

She swallowed her saliva and slightly opened it. A brilliant white light shone through.

“… It is.”

Jain smiled and closed the suitcase in satisfaction.

“Well done.”

“Haha, it was a piece of cake.”

“Wait, why are you so happy? Don’t tell me you killed him?”

Boss’ eyes coldly flickered.

“No, I didn’t. Ah, I was planning to at first.”

Cheok Jungyeong smiled. At first, he wanted to blow up Kim Hajin’s head. Cheok Jungyeong probably wouldn’t have stopped if Kim Hajin tried to dodge or showed any signs of fear. However, Kim Hajin simply stared at his fist without being flustered. He observed Cheok Jungyeong’s movements and showed a warrior’s fearlessness. Cheok Jungyeong liked his manliness.

“Are you sure he didn’t freeze from fear? Did you check his pants?”

“Jain, you might regret it one day if you underestimate him.”

“Tsk.”

Jain frowned as Cheok Jungyeong murmured, “Just kidding, just kidding. I purposely charged in a little slower, but he faced me directly and didn’t bat an eye.”

To demonstrate, Cheok Jungyeong pushed his fist towards Jain. His tiny movement startled her.

“See, strong people and people who will become strong have a different mindset.”

Cheok Jungyeong spoke as he proudly beat his chest.

“Courage, boldness, and fearlessness… all of these are impossible without a strong heart. Closing your eyes when your sword clashes is the same thing as having your neck cut—”

“Be quiet.” Droon interrupted Cheok Jungyeong’s passionate speech.

“Tsk. Brat, don’t cut in when an adult is talking.”

However, he couldn’t do anything to Droon. Although he loved fighting and killing, he never broke one absolute rule.

“Try that in three years and see what happens.”

He would never touch or hurt children.

***

Although they failed to capture Evil Society’s executives, England’s heroes quickly suppressed the chaos in Clancy Hall without too many casualties.

“Sigh.”

Heroes and paramedics busily ran back and forth from broken-down buildings and battered roads. Yoo Yeonha sat on the ground and stared at her dirty hair. She sighed and wondered how much it would take to restore her hair at the beauty salon? Dammit. Yoo Yeonha continued sighing as Chae Nayun walked up to her.

“Hey, did you see that?”

Chae Nayun asked without any explanation. Yoo Yeonha became slightly annoyed, but swallowed her complaints.

“See what?”

Yoo Yeonha had seen many things. First was Kim Junwoo’s overwhelming might as he tore apart countless djinns with his bare hands. As expected of a hunter from the Vast Expanse. Next was Kim Suho whose talent also stuck out like a sore thumb. The metal attribute covering his sword could cut through anything. His final sword dance as he slashed through fireballs remained in her mind.

“Kim Hajin. He went off on a bike.”

“Ah.”

Yoo Yeonha also saw that eye-catching scene. She had to do a doubletake if bikes could go that fast.

“Yeah, I saw him, but where did he go?”

“I don’t know, but where do you think he got that bike? I want to buy one too.”

Chae Nayun’s eyes flickered as she smacked her lips. Kim Hajin hadn’t accomplished anything special in today’s incident. However, Yoo Yeonha grew suspicious about his driving skills. He seemed too experienced for a mere cadet. Kim Suho hastily walked up to them.

“What’s wrong?”

“The princess is missing. Have either of you seen Rachel?”

“Huh?”

Chae Nayun and Yoo Yeonha looked around the area. The incident had been settled, but the heroes began to stir once again. The word Princess continued to emerge with urgency. Yoo Yeonha felt a chill down her back as she shockingly muttered.

“Their goal was the princess?”

“What? Really?”

“It makes sense since Rachel is England’s most precious treasure. If they kidnapped her…”

A black bike came towards them as it made clunking noises. Yoo Yeonha focused on her deductions as everyone turned towards the bike. Rachel wore a helmet and trembled as she drove the bike.

“If they kidnapped her to take her hostage, England wouldn’t hesitate to hand over the rights to Clancy Islet. Their goal must’ve been the entire country, not just Roton Corporation. Those evil bastards…”

“Hey, stop murmuring to yourself and look over there.”

Chae Nayun nudged Yoo Yeonha’s shoulders.

“What, I’m busy right… now… Eh?”

Yoo Yeonha felt drained as Chae Nayun murmured seriously.

“That’s the bike Kim Hajin ran off on.”

“…!”

Yoo Yeonha’s face turned serious once again. Her head spun as she continued her detective work. Kim Hajin ran off on a bike while the attack in Clancy Hall distracted everyone. However, Rachel returned on the same bike. Did that mean Kim Hajin defeated all those djinns by himself and rescued Rachel? Impossible, not even Kim Hajin could be so fearless.

***

Rachel and I split up after the awkward incident.

— Does that mean… you like me?

I denied it, but she didn’t seem to believe me. She said she understood, but I felt she misinterpreted.

I returned to my hotel room alone. If I returned with Rachel, I would’ve obtained a lot of SP. However, receiving too much attention could be poisonous. Currently, Evil Society’s djinns filled Clancy Islet. They failed their mission, so no one knew where they would direct their fury. The Chameleon Troupe could withstand them, but my future would turn bleak if they chose to vent on me.

“Anyways, this place is amazing.”

The free hotel suite was beyond my imagination. The casino manager told me to rest and upgraded my room for free after I won 2 billion won. I sat down on the comfy couch and made a video call on my smartwatch. A cute child popped up on the screen.

— Hajin!

“Hey, have you been doing well?”

Evandel was a quick learner. She already learned how to use basic electronic devices, and even called me by my name because I told her not to call me Daddy.

— Un, look at this!

Evandel showed me a cat ghost she made. It looked small and cute.

“Wow, good job. It’s so cute I want to pet it.”

— Heehee, right, right?

The internet said it was important to praise a child.

— By the way, when are you coming back?

“Tomorrow morning. I’ll be there as soon as I can. Wait just a bit more.”

I wanted to return right away, but the entire island was undergoing a vetting process.

“I’ll bring back something delicious. What do you want to eat?”

— Fried chicken!

“Alright, got it.”

Wiing—

I received a message from Chae Nayun.

[Hey, are you busy? Everyone is going out to eat.]