Chapter 68 – Beeeg News

While the first year cadets at Cube were in an uproar from Hajin and Yeonha VERY publicly making themselves a couple...

Droon happily hummed to himself as he walked out from the shadows behind the testing hall, hugging a cute white bunny in his arms. As he did, he pulled out a phone and made a call. "It's me, Boss! Mimyo ate the bad guys! A lot of them tried to attack Miss Rachel and that cute Eva, but I got to them first!"

Boss's voice echoed from the phone. "Good. Secure the area. Cheok Jungyeong confirmed that he tore off Lancaster's legs, but it seems that knight managed to escape."

"Really?" Droon's eyes widened. "He managed to escape from that scary guy?"

"According to Cheok Jungyeong, Lancaster is Berith's servant. He has the ability of 'lies' or something similar that let him survive."

"Ah." Droon nodded. "That makes sense." He paused and said, "...But if he's alive, doesn't that mean the knight will try to go after that cute Eva at some point?"

"Yes. So continue surveillance. Jain suggests befriending Evandel if necessary to ensure her safety."

Droon hopped on a nearby bench and swung his legs back and forth. "I don't think we have to worry about Eva. She's pretty strong, you know?"

"That's exactly why I worry. If she's as strong as you say she is, things will get troublesome. And Black clearly has a hair-trigger temper when it comes to his family. I would rather not see what he is like when he decides to be serious if there is a coordinated effort against him." Boss paused and said, "...Also, Evandel has the Immortal's protection and favor. It would not end well."

Droon paused. "...Oh. Yes. That's, uh... Not good."

"You understand then."

"Crystal clear!" Droon nodded. "I'll go introduce myself after the exam's finished then!"

"...Wait. What do you mean-"

Droon hung up and then hummed to himself, lost in thought. "I wonder if I can have Eva make me a giant dragon too? It'd be fun... and Mimyo could use a friend."

===

The monster combat exams finished without any further incidents.

...But the moment they finished, Cube went on complete lockdown.

The reason for that was that traces of djinn activity and dark magic power were found amidst a few of the later slain monsters in the combat exams. Not only that, some of the magicians who had come to help in the exam panicked and ran, revealing that they were djinns after the officials probed them.

That, paired with the headless and heartless corpse of a Serpent Dragon washed up on the Western Sea of Cube's campus meant that the administration had no choice but to shut everything down to investigate due to international backlash.

While the results of the duels would be kept, the second day of monster combat exams as well as the planned group rescue mission was cancelled.

...Which of course meant that the Cube rankings were forced to be recalculated early because of that.

And so...

===

April 2nd, Wednesday. 6:00 PM, an hour after the monster combat exam had finished, and thirty minutes after the announcements went out about the rest of the combat exams being cancelled.

Lee's dorm room.

Nayun walked inside first after Lee unlocked the door and flopped onto the couch. Letting out a content sigh, she said, "Man. Having your dorm be on the first floor is so convenient... Maybe I should've just tanked my scores on purpose too."

Lee looked amused as he walked, holding Evandel's small hand and leading her inside. "I forgot about that. But you and Rachel have to ride the elevator all the way to the top, huh?"

Rachel walked in behind Lee and nodded, her brows furrowed in distaste. "It's annoying."

Evandel copied her mother, furrowing her brows too. "Annoying. Building biiiiig."

Lee chuckled as he watched Rachel scoop Evandel into her arms. "You really like carrying Eva, huh?"

Rachel nodded, a pleased smile on her face. "It's fun. And Eva is only small for a while, you know?"

Evandel nodded just like Rachel and said, "Yeah! I'm going to be biggest girl soon!"

Lee smiled as he walked over to the kitchen. "Well, don't grow too big too soon, Eva. Daddy still wants you to be a cute princess for a while longer."

"Kay~"

Nayun sat up from her spot on the couch and said, "Wow. Eva's such a daddy's girl, isn't she?"

Rachel pouted and said, "No, she's a Mommy's girl. Right, Eva?"

"Yeah! Mommy girl!" Evandel nodded. "But Daddy, big love!"

Rachel gave Evandel a blank stare.

Evandel noticed and copied Rachel's expression, giving her a blank stare too.

Rachel laughed when she saw it and pinched Evandel's cheek. "You're getting too much like your Daddy."

"Moooomy! No piiiinch!"

Nayun pulled out her phone and started scrolling through it. Then she checked her smartwatch and said, "Cube's forums are blowing up... but surprisingly, no public news on Yeonha's bold kiss."

Rachel shifted Eva in her arms to be more comfy for the toddler. Then she said, "That doesn't surprise me. Yeonha likely put media blackout in place after I threatened her."

Evandel nodded sagely and said, "Mommy, warn Rich Auntie. Rich Auntie buy newsy networks."

"It's News Networks, Eva. And yes." Rachel nodded. "A cheap tactic... but I suppose effective." She sighed. "I can run things on BBC, but the Essence of Strait has very effective media outlets."

Lee started bringing some steaks to room temperature and then pulled out some vegetables to stirfry. As he did, he said, "I wonder if Yeonha realizes that having a media blackout when she ran off with Hajin to some unknown location after the kiss is only going to make the rumors worse?"

Nayun snorted. "Knowing Yeonha? Doubt it. This is the girl who pretends to like ritzy food when her favorites are junk foods."

Evandel nodded and said, "Rich Auntie like junkies. Not yummy nom noms. Candies and chippies."

Rachel's eyes narrowed. "Is that what 'Rich Auntie' has been feeding you, Eva?"

"Mmhm! Icky!" Evandel shivered and then pointed at Nayun. "Auntie Nayn give yummy nom noms! Like ginsing!"

"It's ginseng, Eva. And if the millions of won I fed you didn't taste yummy I'd be offended." Nayun chuckled.

Lee started buttering up a pan and said, "What can I say? My daughter has expensive taste. She's just like her father."

Rachel frowned. "What do you mean just like her father-" She paused, processing Lee's words. Then her face turned a bright red.

Evandel noticed and giggled. "Mommy!" She poked Rachel's cheek and said, "Red!"

Nayun laughed. "Wooow. You trying to compete with Hajin and Yeonha or something, Lee?"

Lee seasoned the steaks and said, "Nah. Neither me nor Rachel are exhibitionists like Yeonha or Hajin. Those guys are kinky for real."

Rachel giggled. "Lee!"

"What?" Lee shrugged, holding a pair of tongs. "Am I wrong?"

Nayun chuckled. "I wish I could say you were... but nope. Considering Hajin's duels and how Yeonha reacted when Rachel... you know."

Lee paused. "I don't know. What happened, actually? I missed the duel."

Rachel blushed and said, "...Watch it later. When Eva's asleep."

Lee gave Rachel a blank stare.

Rachel turned a darker shade of red and said, "...I-I was having a moment..."

Nayun rolled her eyes and said, "What your lovely wifey is embarrassed to say is that she has a sadistic streak miles wide."

"I-I do not!"

Evandel tilted her head. "Auntie Nayn. What sah-dis-tik?"

Nayun froze.

Rachel froze too.

But Lee said, "That's something that bad girls do, Eva."

Evandel gasped. "Nyooo! I goodest girl! No do bad things!" She covered her ears as if that would stop her from being infected with the 'bad' word.

Nayun stared at Lee and said, "...You are way too good at dealing with kids."

Lee set a steak onto the pan and said, "I've studied. Like I said before, always wanted a baby girl. I've read tons of parenting manuals. Not sure if I remember any of it, but I guess some things stuck."

Rachel stared at Lee, looking touched. And thoughtful.

Nayun noticed and said, "Oh my god, is the princess having babyfever too?"

"I do not- too?" Rachel blinked. "What do you mean 'too?'"

"Huh?" Nayun blinked as well and said, "Haven't you seen how Yeonha looks at Eva and then at Hajin? She's CLEARLY a goner. I bet that it's wraps the moment they share a drink together."

Lee paused.

Rachel paused too.

Nayun also paused. "WAIT-!"

Evandel tilted her head. "Wait why, Auntie Nayn?"

Nayun laughed and said, "Well, I don't know for sure yet, Eva. So Auntie won't say anything. But when Auntie's sure, I'll let you know."

Evandel furrowed her brow. But then she nodded and said, "Kay! I wait!"

Lee chuckled and said, "Well. I guess Hajin's luck is backfiring?" He started pan-searing a steak and said, "Or maybe it's that Yeonha's a glass cannon when it comes to love? All fire and no defense?"

Nayun chuckled. "Well, Yeonha WAS always pretty rigid. Maybe if she-"

Rachel glared at Nayun.

Nayun held up her hands. "Fine, fine. I'll keep it PG..."

At that time, a knock echoed at the door.

"Huh?" Nayun glanced at Lee. "You expecting visitors, Lee?"

"No- Wait." Lee paused to think about it and realized that with the current events, Boss might have sent someone to help. So he said, "Actually, yes. Could you see who it is, Nayun?"

"Wow, sending me in as a meatshield, huh?" Nayun hopped off the sofa. "You're lucky that I'm not scared of close combat anymore, otherwise it'd be over."

Lee rolled his eyes. "Please. You're stronger than me when you use magic power."

Nayun pointed at Lee. "That's a lie and you know it."

"It's only half a lie~"

Nayun shook her head and opened the door. Then she paused when she saw the white-haired boy with golden eyes standing there. "...Oh my god. Did Jonghak have a kid too?"

Droon laughed and said, "Nope! But that'd be funny!" He leaned over and waved at Lee. "Hi, Uncle Lee! Boss sent me over to play! Is that okay?"

"Oh, sure." Lee nodded and said, "Nayun, Rachel. This is... Uh, I don't think Boss gave me your name. But this is a friend of a person I work for. He might show up every now and then."

Nayun gave Lee a blank stare.

Rachel did too.

And Evandel copied her mother and auntie, also giving Lee a blank stare.

Lee shrugged. "What? I do freelance work on the side."

Nayun slowly blinked. Then she facepalmed. "...Still?"

Rachel looked touched. "...You don't have to worry that much about money, Lee..."

Evandel giggled and said, "Daddy, work hard!"

"Always, Eva." Lee went back to cooking the steaks and said, "Make yourself at home..."

"Droon!"

"Make yourself at home, Droon."

Droon hopped inside the dorm room and immediately made himself at home by sitting on the couch. "Wow! It must be really convenient to have your room on the first floor, Uncle Lee!"

"Oh, you have no idea." Lee chuckled. "Those guys can brag about having high up dorms all they want. I'm the one who doesn't have to waste ten plus minutes going up and down when I need to grab something outside the dorms."

Evandel shifted in Rachel's arms, staring at Droon.

Droon stared back, looking slightly nervous.

And then Evandel gasped and pointed at him. "Shadow friend!"

Rachel paused and looked at Droon. "...Shadow friend?"

Evandel nodded and looked smug. "Droon is shadow friend! He goes FWOOP and then BAM, shadow! And his bunny goes nom nom to bad guys!"

Rachel gave Droon a fierce side-eye.

Droon sweated and said, "...Uncle Lee said it was okay?"

Rachel shifted her gaze to Lee.

Lee nodded and said, "He's secret backup for our princess."

"Oh." Rachel blinked and smiled at Droon. "Why didn't you say so?"

Droon paused and gave Rachel a blank stare.

Rachel tilted her head. "What?"

Nayun glanced between Rachel, Droon, and Evandel. Then she chuckled and said, "Rachel really does have a short-circuit when it comes to Eva, huh? If it keeps Eva safe, boom, no more thinking."

Rachel nodded. "Such is the mindset of a Queen. Immediate decisions are necessary with the crown..."

"Suuure." Nayun looked amused... and clearly not believing Rachel.

But Lee shrugged and said, "You like steak, Droon?"

"I love steak!"

"Great-"

At that time, a buzz echoed from Lee's smartwatch.

Evandel pointed at it and said, "Daddy! Bzt!"

"Yes, Eva. One second..." Lee tapped it to check what the notice was. And then he tilted his head and said, "Huh. Guess class is out for a couple weeks. And we get compensation money for our troubles too."

Evandel's eyes sparkled. "Daddy, Mommy, Auntie... no school?!"

Rachel frowned and checked her smartwatch too. Then she paused and said, "...They really did cancel classes. It must be serious."

"Wait, really?" Nayun checked her smartwatch too and said, "Wow. But... Hm." She looked up at Lee and said, "We were going to chill and wait for our rankings to update... but if it's like this, we probably won't get those until we get back, right?"

Lee placed the cooked steak on a cutting board, slicing it to pieces before starting another one. Then he said, "Probably. Can we stay on campus?"

Nayun checked her smartwatch and said, "...Hm. Nothing says we can't. And we're technically leasing these dorms anyway. But you really gonna stick around?"

Rachel glanced at Lee, looking hesitant. "Lee... Do you want to-"

"Oh!" Droon interrupted and said, "Uncle Lee! If you're free, Boss said she wants you to pick a house for work!"

Rachel paused. "...She?"

Nayun latched onto that word too and said, "Wait. Your Boss is a girl?"

Lee's eyes lit up. "Wait. I get real estate as a work perk?"

"Yep!" Droon nodded. "I have a house too! Well, I rarely stay in it since I have to move a lot. But Boss said you can pick one! She'll even hook it up to a private portal!"

"Bet." Lee looked at Rachel and said, "Alright, my lovely girlfriend. How quickly can you get me citizenship in the Great Kingdom of Britain."

Rachel paused. Then her eyes sparkled with excitement. "...You're moving? With me?"

"Obviously. Wasn't that always the plan-?"

Before Lee could finish talking, Rachel set Evandel down and then pulled Lee into a tight hug. "...I love you so much."

Lee paused. Then he gently wrapped his arms around her and said, "Well, I figured that out a long time ago. But in case you didn't know." He gently kissed her forehead. "Love you too, Rachel."

Evandel giggled and scampered over, wrapping her arms as much as she could around her parents' waists. "I BIIIIIIG love Mommy and Daddy too!"

Lee laughed and scooped Evandel up. "Oh, we know. But... hm." He glanced at Rachel. "You realize me showing up with Eva in England with you is going to be a problem."

Rachel crossed her arms and said, "It will not. If anyone makes it a problem-"

Droon raised his hand.

Lee noticed and said, "What is it, Droon?"

"Um. If you're worried about whether Eva is legitimate or not... wouldn't it be solved if she has the Sword of the Rightful King?"

Nayun looked up from scrolling through the forums on her phone. Then she said, "Sword of the Rightful King? You mean Excalibur?" She chuckled. "Well, if Eva had Excalibur, then obviously-" She paused. Then her eyes widened.

Lee glanced at Nayun. "Uh. Nayun. What's with that reaction?"

"...Rachel." Nayun slowly looked at Rachel and said, "Hypothetically. Just... hypothetically. If you saw Excalibur, would you know what it looks like?"

Rachel furrowed her brow and said, "Of course. Everyone in the Kingdom of Britain knows what Excalibur looks like. Why?"

Lee suddenly had a vague sense of foreboding. "Wait..."

Nayun looked at Evandel and said, "Eva. Sweetie. Do you remember the sword you showed Auntie? At Auntie's place when we were in the bath?"

Evandel furrowed her brow, thinking. Then her eyes lit up. "Oooh! I 'member!" She let go of Lee and Rachel then tottled over to the sink. With a quick hop, she landed on top and plunged her hand into the bowls that Lee used to season the steaks, now filled with water.

Lee's eyes widened with alarm and he said, "Eva, that's dirty-" He suddenly cut off.

Rachel gasped.

And then Evandel pulled out a miniature sword, glittering gold and pure white over her head. "Ta-dah! Ca'bur!"

Droon nodded. "Yep. Definitely Excalibur."

Evandel paused, furrowing her brows in thought. Then her eyes lit up and she squished Aether a bit. Then she held up a familiar cup that she used to mime drinking water. But now it shimmered to reveal a glittering golden cup. "Gwail!"

Lee ran his hand through his hair and let out a disbelieving laugh. "My daughter... casually has the holy grail and Excalibur?!"

Evandel furrowed her brows some more, clearly thinking. Then her blue eyes lit up before she raised the cup. And the moment she did, her brown hair turned a beautiful golden hue, the same color as Rachel's, except richer. Like it was bathed in sunlight. "Like Mommy! Magic! Daddy, cool?"

Lee slowly gave a thumbs up. "Coolest. Now..." Lee turned off the stove. Then he sat down and said, "Daddy needs a moment..."

Evandel giggled.

Rachel crumpled to her knees, staring at the sword in Evandel's hands... as well as the sheath that had popped up on her waist with a beautiful blue and gold velvet pattern.

And Nayun slowly said, "...I think I get what Grandfather meant about Evandel painting over the world with her wishes now..."