Chapter 204

I ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍left Park Chaeshin's lab.

When ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍I got close to the wall, the outpost's appearance had advanced quite a bit.

It ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was sturdy enough to perfectly defend against almost any monster now.

“To ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍think they are building several of those and connecting them to Gangneung?”

It ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍is impressive in many ways.

Thanks ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍to contacting Hyeonseong in advance, I was able to cross the wall smoothly.

Furthermore, they even prepared a high-end luxury car outside the wall, and the person waiting for me in the car was none other than Choi Suhyuk.

“What happened?”

“Ah, I ended up receiving support from Hyeonseong after that incident.”

A year ago, during the Great Rift incident, he protected his family in the 4th Scholastic District.

I heard he played a big role there in his own way, and it seems that caught Hyeonseong's attention.

He took a familiar-looking watch out from his pocket.

The Hero Prep smartwatch that I was seeing for the first time in a year.

The fact that he, who had quit with one semester left, had the smartwatch meant…….

“It's all thanks to you. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been able to return to Hero Prep, and I wouldn't have been able to protect my family.”

“That's good. Even if it's only one semester, we'll be able to study together.”

“Well, but I wonder if you will be able to have normal studies.”

“I already requested cooperation from the Bureau. To manage the entry and exit of the 4th Scholastic District strictly.”

“That wouldn't be the only problem.”

“Then?”

“The cadets. Right now, every cadet is desperate to try something with you.”

“Ah…….”

I expected it to be like that, but would they really approach me directly.

No, there was no way the words of Choi Suhyuk, an expert in this field, were wrong.

“Then what should I do?”

“First, what is the reason for returning to school? I only have one semester left, but you have to attend for two and a half more years. It wouldn't be like you can get a job better than a Special Affairs Division investigator by graduating from the academy. Well, if you're going into politics, there's no title like Hero Prep.”

“That is……”

The main reason is that the incidents of the original work are entangled with Hero Prep, but I can't say that.

“It's because I vaguely thought of it as a place to return to. It's not good to keep living in hiding.”

“So it's a frontal breakthrough. Not bad. In that sense, why don't you break through the cadets' interest frontally too?”

“Pardon?”

Choi Suhyuk showed a sinister smile.

“As for the male cadets, you can just appropriately agree with them and keep your distance, but the problem is the female cadets, isn't it?”

Nod.

“Make a proper decision this time. And announce it to the world.”

“What?”

“Whether it's the direct descendant Do Minyeong, who receives the protection of the awakened society, or Cha Yeri of Hyeonseong, who dominates the global superpowered industry.”

“So what are you……”

“Oops? Are you pretending not to know even with me? Let's be honest. Who is your type? Do you think I don't know that you're weighing between the two?”

“…….”

“Even a rumor that you started dating is fine. What kind of awakened being would dare to covet the property of the direct descendant and Hyeonseong?”

I'm weighing between the two?

I understood what he was saying.

But I have never thought about choosing one of the two.

I just stayed close to the main characters for a smooth relationship…….

“……”

Only?

Are both really nothing to me?

It felt like something was pressing down inside me.

Do I...... have no feelings for the two at all…….

Choi Suhyuk patted my shoulder as if he understood everything.

“Let's start for now. I've already received permission to enter the 1st Underground District.”

***

With Choi Suhyuk's guidance, I successfully entered the 1st Underground District.

The 1st District was a special area located in the basement of District 2.

It was the place where the entrance to the Labyrinth, where Lee Eunho grew stronger through many activities in the original work, was located.

To put it metaphorically, should I call it the dungeon entrance village.

No one could enter the 1st District without the Bureau's permission.

In the first place, the Labyrinth was an unknown dungeon that had not been properly conquered for the past 81 years either.

Since it was the place where not only the outstanding experts of the time but even the Sword Saint Kim Yuseong met his end, its difficulty can never be exaggerated.

“The visitation is allowed for only 10 minutes. Please follow the rules I told you before.”

A huge building connected to the Labyrinth entrance.

I decided to meet Lee Eunho here.

Because he was receiving the harsh punishment of not being able to see sunlight and searching the Labyrinth forever.

“Then…… I will return in 10 minutes.”

The one who guided me to the visitation room was a guard from Muspel.

Because Muspel, where only the worst superpowered criminals are imprisoned, was also in the 1st Underground District.

Its exact location was not known to the outside, though.

A moment later, another guard appeared from the opposite side.

Lee Eunho, wearing a pitch-black ranger outfit, was with him.

“If you do even a little bit of nonsense, the bomb on your ankle will explode.”

“I know.”

When the guard left the visitation room, Lee Eunho showed a faint smile.

“Seokhyeon, how have you been?”

“…….”

A bomb on the ankle…….

When I cast my gaze downward, he shrank as if he were troubled.

That byproduct of magic engineering worn on both of his ankles.

It was a quite troublesome object that exploded condensed mana if it was given a specific signal.

As a side note, it was a Hyeonseong product.

Of course, considering Lee Eunho's ability, it wouldn't have any effect…….

“You?”

“As you see. Ah, I'm not saying it's bad. I've found that searching the Labyrinth suits my aptitude surprisingly well.”

I guess so…….

Since it was Lee Eunho who conquered the Labyrinth in the original work.

“But it's unexpected. I...... didn't think you would come to see me.”

“Why?”

“You know better than anyone what kind of thing I did.”

“…….”

“I'm satisfied just by serving in the Labyrinth like this. Originally, I am a sinner for whom even death would be excessive…….”

The shadow cast over Lee Eunho's face, which was always bright.

I stared at him for a long time without saying anything.

A mix of emotions.

To think my protagonist ended up being bound as a ranger of the Labyrinth.

But this was the best.

If it weren't for Kim Shinwoo and Baek Dojun, he would have already left this world.

I made a face as if I were positive.

“How much of the outside news are you receiving?”

“The basic things? Surprisingly, I can see the newspaper every day.”

“Newspaper?”

“Yes, although it's provided with a half-year gap.”

That means there's almost none.

“Gangneung, it was decided to restore it.”

“Really?”

Lee Eunho's face brightened.

But only for a moment, he shook his head and dropped his gaze.

It was a self-reproach that his excessive obsession with Gangneung had led to a wrong result.

“It's a relief. That the suspicions people had about you and your family have been cleared.”

“…….”

I shrugged my shoulders.

“Let's go to Gangneung together sometime.”

“Huh?”

“You aren't planning to stay here forever, are you?”

“But it's a life sentence…….”

The punishment of searching the Labyrinth until the end of life.

Even the Bureau Chief could not reverse this.

Along with Demonic Beings, the Labyrinth was a very sensitive matter.

However, I do not doubt even for a bit.

That before long, Lee Eunho will be able to come outside.

Because the Labyrinth of the original work is used as Lee Eunho's growth platform.

In other words, he ended up entering a high-level dungeon earlier than in the original work.

Therefore, he will gain a strength stronger than anyone else within a few years.

Of course, he'll be a step below me.

“Have you forgotten that there is no impossibility in this field?”

“No impossibility……”

The original work is 999 chapters.

The villains that will pop out from there are still piled up like a mountain.

If Lee Eunho, who built his strength in the Labyrinth, becomes completely on my side, there would be nothing more ideal than that.

“So I'll be waiting. As long as I'm breathing, at least.”

“As long as I'm breathing……”

Lee Eunho kept murmuring.

He soon nodded his head significantly.

“Yes, sure.”

Then, a beep was heard from somewhere in the visitation room.

A signal that 1 minute of the visitation remained.

I was about to leave the place reflexively, then I remembered the object I had brought.

“Ah, here.”

I handed Lee Eunho a pitch-black piece of clothing.

Then, he recognized it at a glance.

“This is……”

“Yeah, the Cloak of the Alluring Hermit.”

“Why this……”

Why else?

Being a high-level dungeon that serves as a growth platform meant that danger lurked that much.

“I felt you would need it more than me for some reason.”

***

The 4th Scholastic District opened.

I headed for Hero Prep to avoid being noticed by the media.

The atmosphere I'm feeling after a long time, truly.

I entered the school grounds without being caught by reporters, but I could not avoid the cadets.

“It's Ji Seokhyeon!”

“Should I ask him to take a photo?”

“It's my first time seeing Seokhyeon senior in person! Did he grow his hair long on purpose? He looks mysterious somehow!”

A situation where I'm noticed wherever I go.

I expected this kind of reaction, but when I came to my senses, dozens of cadets began to follow me.

Would they stop following me if I just took a photo for each person?

No, if I did that, the crowd would increase beyond control.

There are not only cadets in Hero Prep.

I should find a quiet place first.

With that thought, I increased my pace, then I arrived at the place I visited the most instinctively.

The Outdoor Training Ground 3 where I had much training with An Hwigom.

It seemed like there were almost no cadets since it was the first day of school, and I happened to run into Gong Minwu, who was coming out of the outdoor training ground.

“…….”

“…….”

Indeed, a reticent fellow.

By the way, he's training from the first day.

Tough, tough.

Gong Minwu said nothing after a light nod.

Instead, when he saw the cadets following me, he suddenly blocked the entrance to the training ground.

A situation where he openly blocked the road while letting only me inside on purpose.

Sure enough, the cadets grumbled, but Gong Minwu shouted without even blinking an eye.

“A fellow weaker than me cannot use the facility. If you have a complaint, come up to the Training Ground.”

“T-that is……”

“Too much!”

How many awakened beings as strong as Gong Minwu were there at this point in the original work?

That was a warning that he would control the training ground.

In this case, it was for me, though.

“Tsk, what a cool fellow.”

I used Stealth as I went that way.

I then leaped to find the quietest place in Hero Prep.

The place I eventually arrived at was the annex site, the center of club activities.

As expected, it was quiet here.

“There's no way they'd do club activities from the first day.”

Should I stay on the rooftop for some fresh air until the lecture starts then?

I headed for the building peacefully.

But I didn't go far and stopped.

Because I felt two very frightening presences.

The presences approached at an incredible speed, then appeared before me in an instant.

“I knew it. I knew you'd come here. Ji Seokhyeon, you!”

“Did I not clearly say? That I will chase you to the end of hell.”

“To think you didn't contact us or come to see us first even though you've returned!”

“It means you're doing very well now, doesn't it? Will you even delete our contact information later?”

“Enough, why don't you try explaining yourself?”

The owners of the frightening presences were none other than Do Minyeong and Cha Yeri.

“Ah……. That is……”

“We should consider that the brilliant Special Affairs Division investigator cannot even explain himself as admitting his fault, shouldn't we, Cadet Cha Yeri?”

“Of course. I should give him proper discipline as his senior, shouldn't I?”

Do Minyeong had become the Student Council President, just as I had heard.

A part where I can see once again how intensely she clung to her studies.

“In that sense, Cadet Ji Seokhyeon, you should join the Student Council and serve the cadets. After all, you're the only person who can be the 1st-year top student, aren't you?”

“Wait! Cadet Do Minyeong, what on earth are you saying? Student Council? Cadet Ji Seokhyeon is going to join the Union Club that I am in.”

Ah, Cha Yeri had become the student representative of the Union Club Committee that I had planned.

A role in charge of various large and small club activities like the Autumn Arts War held for the first time last year.

Now that the status of Hero Prep has fallen, the honor could be said to be higher than that of the Student Council President.

“I am sorry, but I cannot send Seokhyeon to such a rootless organization.”

“Rootless? Have you forgotten how successful the Autumn Arts War was last year?”

“It was successful. It had to be successful since the Bureau provided a huge amount of support to comfort the citizens who were saddened by that incident!”

“Hmph! Didn't you become the Student Council President without even an election?”

“I did have an election!”

“It was a popularity contest! What the cadets chose was the direct descendant, not Do Minyeong!”

“It's no use being so stubborn! I already received a ring from Seokhyeon anyway!”

“……W-what?”

Cha Yeri was flustered.

Do Minyeong showed her ring finger wearing the Platium ring.

“This is the ring Seokhyeon gave me! This should be explanation enough, right?”

“Urgh……!”

Cha Yeri glared at me fiercely.

“Is that true? Did you really do that!”

There's no way I…….

No, it's true I gave it to her, but I've never put it on her ring finger.

“Why don't you go ahead and tell the truth? Because I feel like I'm about to explode with anger right now.”

I opened my mouth to deny it.

But at that moment, I made eye contact with Do Minyeong.

To be precise, an expression as if she was about to pout at any moment.

It is true I gave her the ring as Do Minyeong said, but I didn't give it to her in that sense.

She also said that loudly aiming for this, but…….

No, but that expression is a foul!

This time I made eye contact with Cha Yeri.

Sharp eyes from which a nasty tantrum was already felt.

Perhaps if she sets her mind to it, frost will fall even in June.

“So I am……”

“You are?”

“You?”

What should I do?

Suddenly, the words of Choi Suhyuk come to me.

The words to stop weighing between the two and decide.

It was a very irresponsible and senseless advice.

It's not that I don't have feelings for these two, but choosing someone right now was too cruel.

Of course, it's cruel to me.

“It's true I gave her the ring, but……”

“You……”

“True?”

It's stifling.

It's clearly a cool autumn breeze, but I'm even breaking into a cold sweat.

“There's a bit of a misunderstanding there……”

The moment I was about to continue while finally gathering courage.

“Hey! Ji Seokhyeon!”

An unexpected voice reached the annex site.

The owner of this arrogant way of speaking was surely Gwon Chihun.

As expected, he ran hurriedly to where we were.

“I've been looking for you for a long time! If you've returned to school, shouldn't you greet your senior, who is a 2nd-year top student in the Investigation Division, first!”

Look at that.

A hollow laugh almost came out, but it was quite a welcoming way of speaking after hearing it for the first time in a while.

Well, moving on from that.

I looked at the cadet who had followed Gwon Chihun.

She was hiding halfway behind him and hiding her flushed face.

She was a 1st-year whose name tag on the cadet uniform said Gwon Yuju.

Unless there was another variable, it would be Gwon Yuju, Gwon Chihun's younger sister.

She entered school a year later than Lee Eunho in the original work as well.

A character who is passive and shy, but has better skills and a more righteous personality than her brother.

“Introduce yourself, it's my younger sister Yuju. This is…… ahem! Ji Seokhyeon, who followed me a lot last year.”

“Ah, hello, senior……. I've heard a lot about you from my brother.”

“Ah, ……yes.”

Brother…….

Come to think of it, the Gwon Clan, the deep-rooted family of Dispel, was a family that followed its own etiquette.

Although Gwon Chihun is unusual, it's a house with a thorough sense of mission that they contribute to the nation's affairs.

Whatever it was, it was just the right time.

Because I felt like I was about to suffocate due to Do Minyeong and Cha Yeri.

“But what brings you here?”

When I asked, Gwon Chihun suddenly cleared his throat and avoided my gaze.

“Ahem, well, you're a decent fellow. Here, go ahead and give it to him.”

The fellow signaled his sister.

Then Gwon Yuju politely held out a gift with both hands.

“S-senior! I admire, long for, and support you for always working for justice! Please accept my heart! ……Wait! I-it's a heart of admiration! No, it's true I like you……! No, it's not like that! Please think of it as a small heart! Because my brother said you would like carbonated coffee!”

“…….”

“…….”

Silence flowed.

Gwon Chihun was satisfied, nodding his head alone.

Gwon Yuju's cheeks were flushed, to the point they were about to explode.

And Do Minyeong and Cha Yeri, who had expressions that could not be expressed in human language…….

In that sharp pressure, Gwon Chihun's foolishness continued.

“That's a limited edition carbonated coffee! I procured it with difficulty. Ahem!”

“Ah.”

This is bullshit.

RelatedRelatedRelated