Chapter 75.

A huge forest was built on the outskirts of Clancy Islet . This forest served to protect the island from crashes without exterior damage to the island, so all the trees in the forest had strong and large trunks .

I picked a random tree to lean against .

“Auu… . ”

My heart, which stopped momentarily, trembled greatly and began to beat again .

Holding my thumping chest, I recalled what just happened… then stopped . I went back to focusing on the present . For the sake of my sanity, it was better to forget about what happened .

I looked around the dark forest . The overturned sedan that the Djinn rode was stuck in a ditch, and my bike was lying a little distance away .

The bike was fine . It had a 40% consolidation on top of being reinforced with Aether, so there was no way it could have been destroyed .

I slowly walked up and raised the bike . For some reason, I wanted to take it back with me . Was there a way I could?

While I was having a slightly illegal thought, I suddenly felt someone’s gaze .

“… . ”

Rachel was staring at me while sitting like a mermaid . Because Cheok Jungyeong gave me such a big shock, I had forgotten about Rachel’s existence for a moment .

“…Are you okay?”

She didn’t seem hurt at first glance, but I still asked . Rachel nodded silently . With a dazed face and her mouth half-open, I could see the front of her teeth .

I couldn’t help but laugh .

“Why did you follow me?”

“… . ”

Then, Rachel closed her mouth and stared at me for a while . I didn’t avoid her eyes .

An exceptionally bright moonlight blanketed the dark forest of the floating island . Rachel shined silver from this light .

She looked into my eyes for a long time, then pulled something out of her pocket .

It was a bullet . To be exact, it was a bullet without the casing .

What was that? I tilted my head .

“Hajin-ssi . ”

Suddenly, she called my name . I thought for a moment that my ears were acting up . However, I wasn’t mistaken . Rachel had certainly called my name .

“…Ah, yes . ”

I replied hurriedly .

“This belongs to Hajin-ssi, right?”

“… . ”

I stared at the bullet . I didn’t have the ability to distinguish bullets just from their shapes, but it did look like a bullet for the Desert Eagle .

“Yes, I think so . ”

I reached out to grab the bullet, but Rachel put the bullet back into her pocket, pretending not to have noticed .

“Um, where did you get…”

“I found it during the final exam . ”

“…Huh?”

I finally understood the situation .

She must have found it when I helped her by sniping Lancaster Djinns .

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

Rachel scratched her cheek as she pulled out the sword hanging on her waist .

I knew what that weapon was . It wasn’t just a training rapier given by Cube .

Galatyn .

It was a legendary sword said to be used by one of the twelve Knights of the Round Table .

But no matter how good the weapon was, Rachel didn’t stand a chance against an overwhelming opponent like Cheok Jungyeong .

“…Aha . ”

“By the way, Hajin-ssi…”

Suddenly, Rachel’s voice became firm . She stared at me fixedly and asked .

“Back then, why did you help me?”

I didn’t know what to say, so I just stared at her .

Rachel wasn’t finished yet .

“During the midterm exam and then the final exam . Thinking about it now, Hajin-ssi was there, uup!”

A chilly wind blew, and Rachel’s long hair curled into her mouth . I barely held myself back from laughing .

Rachel tied her hair back, then cleared her throat .

“Kuhum . I can see how what happened during the midterm exam was a coincidence, but for the final exam… no matter how much I think about it, the only explanation I can come up with is that you were watching me . ”

I scratched the back of my neck .

Rachel was a pivotal character who was exposed to extreme danger . If she got hurt or was killed, the story progression would be distorted greatly . That was why I was watching her . Since only I could prevent it .

However, that wasn’t something I could explain to her .

As such, my answer was simple . It was simple enough to be acceptable and convincing .

“I’m your fan . ”

“…?”

Rachel widened her eyes and 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 .

…But it was perhaps too absurd of an excuse as Rachel shut her mouth tightly .

Whiish— The wind blew, shaking the leaves of the trees around us .

The awkward silence continued for about five minutes, then…

Rachel asked with a quivering voice .

“Does that mean… you like me?”

“…Yes?”

**

Cheok Jungyeong returned with the crystal to the hotel suite, where everyone else was waiting .

“Uhahaha, that’s right, I’m back . ”

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

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

He pushed his hair back as though he was embarrassed, then put down the suitcase .

Jain snatched up the suitcase .

“This better be the real thing . ”

She swallowed her saliva and opened the suitcase slightly . A brilliant white light shone through the opening gap, letting her know that it was the genuine crystal .

“…It is . ”

A smile emerged on Jain’s face . Satisfied, she closed the suitcase .

“Well done . ”

“Haha, it was a piece of cake . ”

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

Boss’ eyes suddenly flickered coldly .

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

Cheok Jungyeong smiled deeply .

At first, he wanted to blow up his head .

If his eyes trembled even a little bit, or if he tried to dodge or show any sign of fear, Cheok Jungyeong probably wouldn’t have stopped his fist .

However, the man continued to stare at his fist . Without being flustered, he observed Cheok Jungyeong’s movements, showing the fearlessness of a warrior .

Cheok Jungyeong liked his manliness .

“Are you sure he wasn’t frozen from being scared? Did you check his pants?”

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

“…Tsk . ”

Jain furrowed her brows . Cheok Jungyeong shook his large head sideways as he murmured, ‘just kidding, just kidding . ’

“I would know if that was the case . I purposely charged in a little slowly . Also, he was facing me directly, but he didn’t bat an eye . ”

To demonstrate, Cheok Jungyeong pushed his fist at Jain . Jain was startled even by this tiny movement .

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

Cheok Jungyeong spoke as he pounded his chest proudly .

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

“Be quiet . ”

Droon interrupted Cheok Jungyeong’s passionate speech, making him frown .

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

However, he couldn’t do anything about Droon .

Although he loved fighting and killing, there was one absolute rule he never broke .

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

To never touch young children .

That was his rule .

**

The turmoil in Clancy Hall was quickly suppressed .

Although Evil Society’s executives weren’t captured, there weren’t too many casualties thanks to the total mobilization of England’s Heroes .

“Ehew . ”

Broken down buildings and battered roads .

While Heroes and paramedics were busy going back and forth, Yoo Yeonha was sitting on the ground, staring at her hair that had been blackened .

She sighed . How much time and effort would it take to restore this hair at the beauty salon?

‘…Dammit . ’

Yoo Yeonha kept sighing, and soon, Chae Nayun walked up to her .

“Hey, did you see that?”

Chae Nayun asked without any explanation . Yoo Yeonha became annoyed for a moment but pushed her complaint back into her throat .

“See what?”

Yoo Yeonha had seen many things . First was Kim Junwoo’s overwhelming might . He tore countless Djinns apart with his bare hands, making him truly worthy of being a hunter of the Vast Expanse .

Next was Kim Suho .

His talent also stuck out like a sore thumb . There was nothing that the metal attribute covering his sword couldn’t cut . His final sword dance, which cut down raining fireballs, was one that still stayed in her mind .

“Kim Hajin . He went off on a bike . ”

“…Ah . ”

Yoo Yeonha had also seen that eye-catching scene . Just like Chae Nayun said, Kim Hajin went off somewhere on a motorbike . He was so fast that Yoo Yeonha had to do a doubletake on whether 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 didn’t make any special accomplishments in today’s incident . However, Yoo Yeonha had a suspicion . Kim Hajin’s driving skill . He seemed too experienced for a mere cadet .

At that moment, Kim Suho hastily walked up to them .

“…What’s wrong?”

“The princess is apparently gone . Have you guys seen Rachel?”

“Huh?”

Chae Nayun and Yoo Yeonha looked around the area . Although the incident had been settled, Heroes were beginning to get busy once again . The word ‘Princess’ didn’t disappear from their urgent conversations .

Yoo Yeonha suddenly felt a chill down her back .

She muttered in complete shock .

“…Their goal was the princess?”

“What? Really?”

“Yeah, it makes sense . Rachel is England’s most precious treasure . If they kidnapped her… . ”

It was then .

A black bike was coming their way, making broken clunking noises . Everyone other than Yoo Yeonha, who was focused on making deductions, turned to the direction of the bike .

On the bike’s saddle was Rachel, who was wearing a helmet and trembling 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 have 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 suddenly felt drained . This time, Chae Nayun murmured seriously .

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

“…!”

Yoo Yeonha’s face became serious once again . Her head spinning fiercely, she continued her detective work .

While everyone was distracted by the attack in Clancy Hall, Kim Hajin had run off on a bike . However, it was now Rachel who was riding on that 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 in an awkward atmosphere .

—Does that mean… you like me?

I denied her, but it didn’t look like Rachel believed me . She said that she understood, but I felt like she interpreted things the wrong way .

In any case, I returned to my hotel room alone .

Of course, if I returned with Rachel, I would have been able to obtain a lot of SP as ‘the cadet who saved the princess’ .

However, receiving more attention than necessary was poisonous .

Currently, Clancy Islet was filled with Evil Society’s Djinns . They had failed in their mission, and no one knew where their fury would go .

The Chameleon Troupe was fine since they were a group with the might and wealth to withstand Evil Society, but if Evil Society chose to vent their anger on me… my future would be bleak .

“…Anyways, this place is amazing . ”

My hotel suite was beyond anything I imagined . Not to mention, it was all free . After winning 2 billion won at the casino, the casino manager told me to rest and upgraded my room for free .

I sat down on the comfy couch and made a video call with my smartwatch .

The call went through, and the face of a cute child popped up on the screen .

—Hajin!

“Hey, have you been doing well?”

Evandel was a quick learner . She quickly learned to use basic electronic devices, and because I told her not to call me Daddy, she even started calling me by my name .

—Un, look at this!

Evandel showed me a cat she made .

A cat ghost .

It was small and cute .

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

—Heehee, right, right?

I learned from the internet that praises were important for raising a child .

—By the way, Hajin, when are you coming back?

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

To be honest, I wanted to go back right away . But because the entire island was undergoing a vetting process, I couldn’t leave even if I wanted to .

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

—Fried chicken!

“Alright, got it . ”

Wiing—

I received a message on my smartwatch .

The sender was Chae Nayun .

[Hey, are you busy? Everyone is going to go get food . ]

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