Ch 32-38 - Online Story Read Mode

Chapter 32 – The Heroine and the Villainess (1) About ten minutes before the morning assembly.

– Yoo Seolhyun, granddaughter of Yoo Gamyeong, successfully rescues heroes?

– Full conquest of Youngdeung Mountain Dungeon! What's next for Gaon Nuri Clan?

– "Missing heroes safely rescued!" The brutal laboratory of a half-human, half-monster!

– "Was the help of an academy student really necessary?" The incompetence and reality of Gaon Nuri.

A ﬂood of internet articles related to the recent Youngdeung Mountain Dungeon has been pouring in.

Internet articles, social media, community sites, blogs, and so on.

There was a surprisingly large amount of attention focused on Yoo Seolhyun.

The main reason so many people were interested, despite just one dungeon conquest, was because Yoo Seolhyun was the granddaughter of the legend of South Korea, Yoo Gamyeong.

Additionally, the fact that she was just a student enrolled at the academy, coupled with her beautiful appearance as a blonde beauty, made it easy for her to become a hot topic.

There were many positive articles, but equally, there were many negative ones.

It's understandable since even veteran heroes had once failed in conquering the dungeon, and Yoo Seolhyun's participation as merely an academy student was hard to digest.

Logically, involving an academy student in rescuing missing heroes in such a critical situation was bound to stir controversy.

Of course, Yoo Seolhyun's superpower was very handy in dungeon conquests.

Excluding the fact that she was an academy student, Yoo Seolhyun could be considered a decent selection.

However, for a large clan like Gaon Nuri, there couldn't have been a lack of individuals capable of substituting for an academy student.

Therefore, people were busy speculating why Yoo Seolhyun was involved, expressing their thoughts in the comments – whether it was due to the hastily formed team not having many heroes available for dispatch, for Yoo Seolhyun's career building owing to her Gaon Nuri bloodline, or because of some internal strife.

'But there's not much about me.'

Almost all eyes were focused on Yoo Seolhyun, right?

I, too, was an academy student like Yoo Seolhyun, had recently received a commendation, and was one of the individuals who had defeated the Black Hand long-armed monkey.

Yet, compared to Yoo Seolhyun, stories related to me were barely a drop in the ocean.

"Seolhyun, Seolhyun! You played an active role in the conquest of Youngdeung Mountain Dungeon, didn't you?!"

"Wow, wasn't it just a while ago you took down a monster that appeared at the academy?"

"You really are on a different level from other kids!" Over there,

Yoo Seolhyun's group of kids was, as always, all praises.

Chattering incessantly like sharp-tongued birds, they showered her with praises and admiration.

Naturally, their tongues seemed smoother than usual, and I smirked inwardly at their behavior.

Well, lately, Yoo Seolhyun's stock had been rising on a steady incline with the academy monster subjugation, commendation, and Youngdeung Mountain conquest, etc.

Now was the time to keep appealing to gain some crumbs of beneﬁt.

'It's good… At least we managed the dungeon conquest safely.'

What would have happened to Yoo Seolhyun if it had failed?

Knowing the content of the game, I was the one who knew the answer better than anyone.

'It's not completely over, but for a while, it should be alright, I guess.'

This incident had somewhat established a positive relationship with Yoo Seolhyun.

Considering what lies ahead, Yoo Seolhyun was indeed very useful, so it was fortunate that I could safely conclude this Youngdeung Mountain conquest.

"But, he went too, right?"

"Ah, Lee Jinhyuk? Why did he go?"

"He's number one in head tactics evaluation. Is that why?"

"Even so, he's just a student level. How could he possibly ﬁt in where the veterans are?"

Of course, it's not always good news.

As interest in Yoo Seolhyun grew, so too did the number of kids holding various negative emotions towards me.

"Ah, but he did the performance evaluation together, right?" "I heard they met alone at a cafe recently."

"Could there really be something between them?" "Wow? Seriously?"

"No way, screw off. Yoo Seolhyun with Lee Jinhyuk?"

"If it's true… was Yoo Seolhyun building up Lee Jinhyuk's career?"

Whispers whispered.

Some kids glance at me sneakily, voicing their opinions. 'It seems unavoidable to become a topic of gossip.'

Come to think of it, I've met with Yoo Seolhyun quite frequently.

Given the usual Yoo Seolhyun wouldn't associate with someone she shouldn't have, it was natural for the kids to be curious.

At the time of performance evaluation, we were on the same team, so that was understandable, but then there were meetings at cafes alone and the decision to bring me along for the dungeon rescue… various things had piled up leading to the current situation.

They pondered if there might be something between Yoo Seolhyun and me.

'Kids seem sensitive to issues like this…' "Hey, Lee Jinhyuk? Read your article well." Then suddenly, a hand landed on my shoulder.

I ﬂinched at the gentle touch, curious to see who it was I quickly turned my head, only to ﬁnd my childhood friend with a pouty face. Oh, it was Jin Soyeon.

"Sick, my foot."

Jin Soyeon, her hair ﬂowing gently, sat on my desk, looking displeased.

"You were sick just so you could go to the dungeon with Yoo Seolhyun, without me knowing?"

Emphasizing the words 'Yoo Seolhyun' and 'without me knowing', Jin Soyeon seemed to imply something, prompting me into silence before I ﬁnally spoke.

"…Didn't I explain everything over the phone after the dungeon conquest?"

"It's not convincing, that's why."

After shaking her head in disbelief, Jin Soyeon let out a deep sigh.

"Why did she inform only you and take you to such a place as a dungeon? And why did you follow her?"

She began to express her dissatisfaction with an even more displeased face.

"Even active heroes failed in their conquest, resulting in some missing, right? What were you thinking going to such a dangerous place?"

"Hm."

"Yoo Seolhyun comes from the Gaon Nuri Clan and has abilities useful for dungeon exploration, so that's understandable. But what about you? You don't have any superpowers or anything."

"Um."

"Why would you follow her to rescue people? How could you know what would happen inside the dungeon? Did you not even think you could die from being weak?"

Ratatatat.

Jin Soyeon's characteristic nagging ﬁred off like a machine gun.

It's been a while since I listened to her mix of concern and nagging, making it a nostalgic experience.

The scene was akin to a mother scolding a child who had run off to play by the water alone.

"But Soyeon." "What, why."

"You used to do dangerous stuff too, right?" "Huh?"

"You know, when we were kids, some kid got bullied and had money taken by delinquents, and you went straight there and forced them to give it back? There was also the time you jumped into a ﬂooded river during a rainstorm to save a drowning puppy, and the time you threw yourself in front of a truck to save a kid about to get hit."

It sounded like a tale from a boy's adventure manga – the wide-reaching righteousness of a protagonist from the past.

"Every time I told you it was dangerous, what were you doing, but you retorted asking how you could just leave someone in need."

"That and this are different, aren't they?"

Jin Soyeon faltered slightly, looking a bit taken aback. "In a broad sense, isn't it similar?"

I shrugged nonchalantly.

"People were missing in the dungeon, Yoo Seolhyun asked for help, and after reviewing the data, it seemed I could be somewhat useful, so I decided to participate."

Looking at her with a 'How could I not help if I'm needed?' gaze, Jin Soyeon pouted her lips and turned her head away sharply before muttering.

"…Being weak and thinking you could help anyone." Hey, you keep saying I'm weak?

…Though it's true.

"Originally, it was a matter agreed upon by veteran heroes, right? And it wasn't too dangerous."

The fact that they reluctantly accepted me because of Yoo Seolhyun's request.

And it was very, very dangerous.

However, that's not mentioned in the article. There's no use letting people know we nearly died.

"In conclusion, through this dungeon conquest, I've built my career too, so it wasn't all bad. Saved people and built my career. When else would I get to conquer a dungeon like this, right?"

"Sometimes I think you're even more reckless than me. Well, that's why you back then…"

"Hm?"

Jin Soyeon lowered her head slightly, her words trailing off, making it hard to hear the last part.

Wondering what she said, I stared at her for a moment, but then Jin Soyeon suddenly raised her head.

She pointed at me decisively and continued.

"Anyway! What's the point?"

"What do you mean?"

"Why did Yoo Seolhyun take you to the dungeon?"

"I guess she valued my tactical ability from the performance evaluation. Isn't that kind of thing more important in dungeon conquest than just brute strength?"

"Ha."

Jin Soyeon scoffed disbelievingly.

It was the kind of reaction you'd expect when hearing something ludicrous.

Then she glared at me accusingly.

"Do you think that makes sense? The tactical assessment? First in theory? Hey, dummy. There were several veteran heroes there; why would they use a hero aspirant like you as an advisor?"

Well, uh, yeah.

Honestly, she had a point.

There's absolutely no reason to use an amateur like me.

…Unless Yoo Seolhyun considered me a precognition superpower user.

"Even if you showed good tactical prowess in the recent performance evaluation, it doesn't make sense to involve an amateur like you in a personnel rescue mission. What's Yoo Seolhyun thinking?"

"Who knows? I just went along because Yoo Seolhyun said she needed help and after reviewing the data, it seemed I could be somewhat helpful."

Since it seemed likely she'd probe further if I tried to elaborate, I casually sidestepped the issue with a laugh.

"Ha."

Jin Soyeon twisted the ends of her hair then let out a deep sigh.

"Hey, Lee Jinhyuk." "Why lower your voice?"

"It's noisy. I didn't want to bring this up. Yoo Seolhyun, that girl."

Jin Soyeon stealthily glanced around at the other students before whispering softly as if she didn't want others to overhear.

Apparently, it was something the others couldn't know about.

"That girl had a not-so-great reputation during middle school."

"Reputation?"

"Yeah. Apparently, she ﬂirted with some girl's boyfriend who she didn't get along with."

That plot existed.

But rather than ﬂirting, it was more about a few glances and smiles thrown his way, leading him to mistakenly think, "Oh, does Yoo Seolhyun like me?"

Originally, Yoo Seolhyun acted in such a manner because a few girls who were jealous of Yoo Seolhyun spread malicious rumors about her, partly to get back at them.

And while the ﬂirting was indeed deliberate, to say she was actually pursuing someone might be stretching it.

Technically, by design, Yoo Seolhyun was supposed to be single.

Hmm. The ﬂirting of a beautiful single…

Truly a subplot worthy of subculture.

"Anyway, why are you suddenly spreading gossip? Oh, did you do it last time too?"

"Recently, Yoo Seolhyun has been getting close to you. I thought maybe it's because of me."

"So, you mean, she's pretending to be friendly to me just to irritate you?"

"…Putting it bluntly like that makes it sound weird, but something like that. Anyway, that's it."

"But you and I are just friends. Why me?"

"Because you're an ex-boyfriend. It's probably because of that."

Jin Soyeon's words made me swallow my saliva.

Surely, Jin Soyeon seemed to think poorly of Yoo Seolhyun.

Considering the future, it seemed necessary for their relationship to improve a bit.

"Could it be part of the reason Yoo Seolhyun took you along?"

"That's a bit…"

"…Well, yeah. A dungeon conquest isn't something to joke about."

Jin Soyeon also slowly nodded to herself, realizing she might have overreacted.

I watched her, then decided to say one more thing, given how negatively she was viewing Yoo Seolhyun.

"Anyway, try not to think too badly of Yoo Seolhyun." "Huh?"

I managed to get a promise from Yoo Seolhyun not to bother you anymore.

"Having talked to her, she's not that bad a person…" "Oh, that's strange?"

Cutting off,

Jin Soyeon interrupted me and looked blankly at me. Her golden eyes serenely captured my face in her gaze.

"Is my childhood friend of 10 years suddenly taking Yoo Seolhyun's side?"

"What, isn't this childish, taking sides?"

"Ha. You're supposed to be a man. Got a little attention from a pretty girl and you're completely swayed?"

"I'm not."

Ah, maybe I shouldn't have scratched that itch.

Perhaps my lack of eloquence slightly irritated her, given how it might seem like I was siding with someone else from Jin Soyeon's perspective.

"Ha, alright, ﬁne, forget it." "You're not mad, are you?" "…I'm not mad, okay?"

Getting up from the desk, Jin Soyeon headed out of the classroom.

"Where are you going?"

"To the bathroom, why?"

"The homeroom teacher will be arriving soon?" "Hmph, I'll be back quickly."

With that, she bolted off without looking back.

"…How do I improve the relationship between these two, seriously?"

I could only scratch my neck as I watched where Jin Soyeon had exited, contemplating how to possibly bridge the gap between the protagonist and the villainess.

Chapter 33 – The Heroine and the Villainess (2)

The clear sound of water trickling from the tap resonated gently throughout the spacious and pristine white bathroom. Only two people were present.

For a moment, Jin Soyeon and Yoo Seolhyun faced each other.

Soon after, Yoo Seolhyun smiled softly.

There was an unfathomable unease about her smile. Jin Soyeon slightly furrowed her brows.

Yoo Seolhyun then began to move slowly.

The sound of her steps echoed.

Before long, Yoo Seolhyun, with measured steps, stood in front of the sink next to Jin Soyeon, whose proﬁle now became clear.

Without saying much, Yoo Seolhyun pulled out her lipstick.

She casually touched up her lips while looking in the mirror, seemingly ignoring Jin Soyeon on purpose.

"Yoo Seolhyun."

Stopping the tap, Jin Soyeon raised her voice. "Why are you here at this time?"

"Hmm? Oh, just…"

Yoo Seolhyun continued with an air of nonchalance. "I came to apply some lipstick. And…"

Removing the lipstick from her cherry-like lips, Yoo Seolhyun turned her head slowly towards Jin Soyeon and smiled, looking directly at her.

"…I have something I want to ask you. Opportunities like this, to have a one-on-one conversation, aren't frequent, you know?"

"…"

Jin Soyeon mulled over her lips a couple of times. She, too, had something she wanted to ask.

So, Jin Soyeon parted her lips slowly.

"Good timing. I was curious about something too."

"Oh? Then, you can go ﬁrst."

While closing the lipstick cap, Yoo Seolhyun spoke generously.

Then, Jin Soyeon took the opportunity to speak. "You know…"

"Mhm."

"Why did you take Jinhyuk to the dungeon? It was dangerous."

"Mhm?"

Yoo Seolhyun blinked several times. Dangerous, huh…

She pondered Jin Soyeon's words for a moment.

Considering Lee Jinhyuk's hidden abilities, it didn't seem particularly dangerous.

"I thought he could be helpful, why?"

"Helpful? Lee Jinhyuk doesn't even have a superpower, and his combat evaluation is a mess. At best, he's a bit smart, but how could that be of any help in a dungeon?"

"…"

Yoo Seolhyun fell silent for a moment. What is it?

Is Jin Soyeon testing the waters?

Or if not that…

"Really? I found him quite useful, personally. Lee Jinhyuk was a big help to me."

"There are plenty of veteran heroes there. Having Jinhyuk around would only add to the burden, wouldn't it?"

Faces mixed with half worry and half complaint, Jin Soyeon spoke bluntly while Yoo Seolhyun quietly observed her.

Then, as if contemplating something, Yoo Seolhyun tapped her lips lightly with her index ﬁnger.

That glance seemed solely like dissatisfaction for bringing a weak childhood friend into danger.

Suddenly, Yoo Seolhyun seemed to realize something and spoke up.

"Do you know nothing?"

"What sudden nonsense are you talking about?" "About Lee Jinhyuk."

"What about him?"

Yoo Seolhyun narrowed her eyes ever so slightly.

She hadn't expected that Jin Soyeon would be completely unaware of what he'd been hiding.

After all, the two had been childhood friends for over ten years, even recent lovers.

Having spent such a long time together, Yoo Seolhyun thought Jin Soyeon would have some idea about his secrets.

'Did he hide everything from even Jin Soyeon?'

She was hoping to subtly inquire about the things Lee Jinhyuk was hiding, but the outcome was somewhat disappointing.

Such a long-time friend as Jin Soyeon knew nothing.

For Lee Jinhyuk, who had lost his family, Jin Soyeon was one of his oldest connections.

And yet, she hadn't been made aware, even of his precognitive abilities.

"Hmm, you don't know. Then, never mind."

"What have you been saying? What do I not know?" Is there something I'm unaware of?

Jin Soyeon suddenly felt an indescribable irritation creeping up from within.

It almost seemed like they were sharing a secret she wasn't privy to, and she did not like that sentiment at all.

It felt almost as if they were ﬂaunting their closeness in her face, suggesting, 'I know something you don't.'

"I'd like to tell you, but I promised someone I wouldn't." Of course, even the closest of friends have their secrets.

And those applied even to childhood friends as long- standing as they were.

However, the fact that Yoo Seolhyun could discuss something with Jin Soyeon being none the wiser was enough to stir feelings of discontent.

If Lee Jinhyuk had some ability or something useful for the dungeon conquest, why hadn't he said a word to Jin Soyeon?

Knowing she would worry, yet all he had managed was a half-hearted lie about being sick before entering the dungeon.

Even after they emerged from the dungeon, Jin Soyeon, out of worry, bombarded him with questions, but he dodged them all, never giving a straight answer.

– "People were missing in the dungeon, and Yoo Seolhyun asked for help. After reviewing the data, it seemed I could be somewhat helpful, so I decided to join."

– "Maybe she appreciated my tactical ability from the performance evaluation. In dungeon conquest, that's more important than just strength."

All were evasive answers.

She wanted to probe deeper, but sensing Lee Jinhyuk's reluctance, she didn't push any further…

"Why don't you ask Lee Jinhyuk yourself if you're that curious?"

"…"

"Now, it's getting late. Shall we go? I can always talk to you next time."

"…"

Afterwards, Yoo Seolhyun slightly nodded her head and decided to end the conversation.

Since Jin Soyeon was unaware of what she was curious about, further dialogue was nearly a waste of time.

Yoo Seolhyun slowly moved to leave the bathroom. At that moment,

"You. You don't like me, do you?"

Jin Soyeon's voice, low with resignation, halted Yoo Seolhyun in her tracks.

"…"

Pausing, Yoo Seolhyun turned her head back.

Their eyes met, with negative emotions swirling within. It seemed Jin Soyeon wasn't fond of Yoo Seolhyun.

And Yoo Seolhyun? 'Dislike, huh.'

To be frank, she didn't dislike her to such an extent.

It was just her pride hurt since Lee Siwoon had paid attention only to Jin Soyeon, but not anymore.

Even if she had to choose between liking and disliking, it would lean more toward dislike.

Yoo Seolhyun then smiled. "A bit out of the blue."

She tried to lighten the mood once again.

"Maybe it's because my friends spread some bad stories about you? If so, I'm sorry. I should have kept them in check better."

It wasn't that she didn't try to control them; she simply didn't. Moreover, she had even egged them on in secret.

But having promised Lee Jinhyuk she wouldn't bother Jin Soyeon anymore, and since pestering Jin Soyeon would only displease him, she decided to change her attitude.

Lee Jinhyuk, with his precognition ability, would undoubtedly be of great assistance in the future. Why bother his longtime friend Jin Soyeon when it wouldn't bring any good?

Yet,

"You've heard about some old rumors concerning you." "Uh?"

"About meddling with the boyfriends of girls you didn't get along with in middle school? Resulting in a few breakups."

"Ah, well…"

Yoo Seolhyun shook her head slightly.

She could have denied it, but she simply accepted it. There was no need to lie, nor did she want to.

"Those girls spread malicious rumors about me ﬁrst."

Naturally, if they picked a quarrel, she would respond.

"So, I just ﬂirted by being friendly and batting my eyelashes at their boyfriends a few times. But then, imagine the boyfriend dumping his girlfriend to confess to me? That was something I too found absurd."

Her response was merely a reaction, but to Jin Soyeon, it sounded like a mere excuse.

Regardless of the circumstances, she had intentionally damaged other people's relationships.

If that was all…

"Did you approach Jinhyuk for a similar motive? Because our encounter on the ﬁrst day didn't sit well with you?"

"Who knows?"

"Yoo Seolhyun." "Hmm?"

"If you dislike me, just bother me. Don't drag others into this."

Jin Soyeon glared at Yoo Seolhyun with eyes as sharp as a bird of prey's, almost hinting at a faint hostility.

Jin Soyeon, who was usually friendly and got along with everyone, hardly ever showed such a serious demeanor unless it involved Lee Jinhyuk.

Like a mother bird safeguarding her chick from threats. Watching her, Yoo Seolhyun felt slightly impressed internally.

Even after breaking up as lovers, they seemed to really care for each other, considering the lengths they went to.

Lee Jinhyuk, too, had set the ridiculous condition of 'not bothering Soyeon' in exchange for his help in the dungeon conquest.

Had she pressed for more advantage in the distribution of dungeon items, she could have gained much more.

That must mean they think of each other a lot.

Such protective behavior towards each other was a sight Yoo Seolhyun hadn't seen except in one situation, making her feel a bit peculiar.

'…'

Suddenly, her deceased mother came to mind.

Her mother, who was almost the only one to have loved her dearly. Although the household largely detested Yoo Seolhyun, her mother embraced her till the end.

But after her mother's passing, Yoo Seolhyun… '…Why am I suddenly thinking about Mother?'

Yoo Seolhyun shook her head to break free from her thoughts.

What made her recall her mother upon witnessing the protective nature of the two?

Somehow, Yoo Seolhyun felt her mood deteriorate rapidly. So, she decided to speak up.

To wash away this inexplicable discomfort.

"It seems there's a misunderstanding, Soyeon." "What is?"

"I didn't approach Jinhyuk with any bad intentions…"

Having promised as much, she wouldn't go as far as to harass him, but surely a little teasing was permissible.

After all, lying wasn't her intention.

"…I'm personally quite interested in Jinhyuk." Interest.

Right. Interest.

She was particularly keen on Jinhyuk's abilities and the secrets he was hiding.

Curious about his ulterior motives. And his own goals.

But Jin Soyeon, how will you interpret my words? Might you misunderstand? Maybe.

"Interest? From you?" "Yes."

Not being a lie, Yoo Seolhyun nodded earnestly with a smile, causing Jin Soyeon to widen her eyes in sheer bewilderment.

Yoo Seolhyun interested in Lee Jinhyuk?

Although she had considered it a possibility, hearing it directly left her unable to settle her baﬄed heart easily.

What could a wealthy young lady like Yoo Seolhyun lack that she would be interested in Lee Jinhyuk?

They had lived in completely different worlds after all.

"Why, why would you be interested in Jinhyuk?" "Hmm? What's so wrong about Jinhyuk?"

Yoo Seolhyun shrugged and joked.

"Lee Jinhyuk isn't that bad. He's a Union Academy student, smart, and well his face, a bit lacking, though."

"But, there's something called standards. Why would someone from Gaon Nuri Clan like you…"

Capability, family background, looks, wealth, the environment they were raised in – the differences were far too vast to believe.

It seemed like Yoo Seolhyun was just teasing, but her interest seemed genuine to some extent.

"But Soyeon, why are you so concerned? Aren't you two broken up?"

"Because we're friends. Associating with you won't do Jinhyuk any good. You have a bad history with men."

"Oh, is that so?"

Yoo Seolhyun chuckled.

Ah, I shouldn't enjoy this too much. Jin Soyeon's reactions are quite amusing.

Aren't you being a bit too obvious, Jin Soyeon? You might revert to your old self at this rate.

But let's not go there. I've made a promise, so let's keep things as gentle as possible.

"Bad history with men, huh… Maybe that's not me, but you?"

"What?"

Jin Soyeon furrowed her brows at Yoo Seolhyun's retort. What am I? Her baseless statement rang hollow.

"You have an active personality, mix well with men and women, and have always been quite popular with the opposite sex since you were young, haven't you?"

"So,what." "Well, just…"

Smiling slightly, she continued.

"Thinking about a boyfriend worrying about his pretty girlfriend mingling and going out with male friends. Must have been tough for him."

"What are you trying to say?"

"Just. Had I been in Jinhyuk's position, I might have felt uncomfortable?"

"What do you know."

Jin Soyeon was visibly displeased with Yoo Seolhyun speaking so carelessly about Lee Jinhyuk and her.

After all, theirs hadn't been a relationship ﬁlled with affectionate exchanges.

Because it was a fake relationship. "He asked for the breakup ﬁrst, right?"

Yoo Seolhyun's sudden, unexpected question caused Jin Soyeon's shoulders to ﬂinch.

"How do you know that?"

"Oh, really? I thought as much." "You…"

"Soyeon, Jin Soyeon."

Yoo Seolhyun took a step closer. Instinctively, Jin Soyeon stepped back.

"I heard you two broke up amicably because after being together so long, you didn't feel like romantic partners."

Yoo Seolhyun merely smiled. "Is that true?"

As always. "Really?"

"Then, what, do you think there was another reason?" "Chuckling. No, no. I shouldn't have said that, sorry." Turning full circle, Yoo Seolhyun headed towards the door.

"I thought maybe you grew tired of mingling with other guys, and asked to break up. With your looks, it's hard to not feel like a romantic partner after knowing each other for so long, right?"

"…That's not possible."

"Sure. You both ended things on good terms, well, didn't you, Soyeon?"

"…"

"Let's head back to the classroom, really. We'll be late now."

Unable to detain the departing Yoo Seolhyun, Jin Soyeon could only stare at her retreating ﬁgure.

***

"What's wrong, why are you so late? Lucky for you, the homeroom teacher hasn't arrived yet. Must have some business to attend to."

"…" "Soyeon?" "…"

Returning from the bathroom, Jin Soyeon took her seat quietly next to me, her lips pressed tightly shut.

"What's with you? Still upset?" "I told you I'm not upset."

Brushing off my statement, Jin Soyeon heaved a sigh. "Jinhyuk."

"Yeah?"

"What was your reason for breaking up with me?"

"That? Didn't I tell you before? I wanted a proper relationship."

"Is that so…?"

Jin Soyeon made a complex expression. "Why bring that up all of a sudden?" "Just remembered, so I asked." Muttering quietly, she added,

"Just remembered and asked, don't mind it." From that point on.

Jin Soyeon maintained her silence until the homeroom teacher arrived, deep in thought.

Chapter 34 – Preparing for Farming (1)

On the rooftop of the Second Monster Tactical Training Ground.

"What was the deal with you and Soyeon earlier?"

It was lunchtime, and I had things to discuss with Yoo Seolhyun, so I called her up to the rooftop of the Tactical Training Ground.

Although it was an off-limits area, the password for the rooftop door had been revealed several times in the game, making it a suitable place for a secret conversation.

Originally, it would have been the heroine, not me, who would be using this place to whisper with the other male leads, but what does it matter.

"You came into assembly with Soyeon."

I casually brought it up while looking over the vast Union Academy grounds.

"She seemed a bit quieter afterward."

Glancing to the side, Yoo Seolhyun was silently leaning on the railing, looking up at the sky.

The clear, cloudless sky and the refreshing breeze caressed her hair gently.

The sunlight reﬂected off her hair, making the ﬁne golden strands glint continuously.

Yoo Seolhyun casually ﬂipped her waterfall-like hair back and looked at me slyly.

Her eyes, oozing with an inexplicable decadence, met mine.

Simply leaning against the railing, she reminded me of a model from a famous photoshoot.

I could understand why guys with girlfriends would fall for Yoo Seolhyun's feigned seductions.

That look, with a subtle smile?

Well, any guy would naturally fall for it.

Of course, having grown up seeing Jin Soyeon, one of the world's most beautiful women, I could only see Yoo Seolhyun as just pretty.

After all, I knew all too well about Yoo Seolhyun's uniquely sly (?) character.

"Just had a conversation."

"A conversation? Somehow that sounds more serious than you make it. Am I mistaken?"

Yoo Seolhyun chuckled upon hearing my words.

"Hehe. Why? Afraid I did something strange to Soyeon?"

Yoo Seolhyun laughed mischievously, covering her mouth with her hand.

Indeed, a villainess must act like one. I just shrugged it off with a chuckle.

"That's unlikely. Surely you wouldn't break a promise you've made, would you?"

"You talk as if you know something about me. Is it thanks to your future-sight ability?"

No, I just memorized your character settings inside out.

"So, what's the reason for bringing me here? You got something to say?"

"Ah, it's nothing serious. Just got a favor to ask." "A favor?"

"Yeah."

Yoo Seolhyun blinked and then tilted her head slightly, clearly curious about what I might ask.

"What favor?"

"Can you check this out for me ﬁrst?" I rummaged through my pockets.

Where did I put it… Ah, here it is.

I pulled out a slip of paper and handed it to her.

Yoo Seolhyun slowly read what was written on it.

"Purchasing the Raven Bow made by the master bowsmith Lee Hwan-yeong?"

A recurve bow, part of the Crow series crafted by the national intangible cultural asset bowsmith Lee Hwan- yeong.

Commonly known as the Raven Bow, it was designed for giant monsters and far surpassed the draw weight of regular recurve bows.

In the game, it was a high-attack power bow with a stylish black edge.

"Plus, giant monster-speciﬁc arrowheads; Smoke, Acid, Sticky arrows… There's a lot here? Scrolls and other odd items too."

Glossing over the list, Yoon Seolhyun then shifted her gaze to my face.

"So, you want me to make these purchases for you?" "Yeah."

I nodded, aﬃrming her guess.

There were items that were diﬃcult to procure in the open market, so I really wanted Yoo Seolhyun's help. She could certainly obtain them.

"Well, I don't mind helping, given what's been done…" She glanced at me with a hint of curiosity.

"…What do you need them for?"

"For hunting giant monsters, obviously." "Hmm? Really?"

Yoo Seolhyun gazed at me for a moment, then let out a short laugh.

"Fine. I won't pry further."

"I appreciate it."

I was relieved she didn't demand an explanation. Well, I wouldn't mind explaining anyway.

"But Yoo Seolhyun, you're not going to be able to use your hero team for dungeon raids or anything for a while, right?"

"Yeah, that's likely. The heroes rescued from Youngdeung Mountain need more treatment."

Yoo Seolhyun nodded gently, continuing her explanation.

"Besides, we've already suffered damage from one failed raid, so I need to be cautious for a while."

"Hmm. That's a shame. I know a few dungeons with a decent level of challenge."

I had planned on giving her the locations and strategies for a few dungeons in exchange for a share of the spoils.

"Then I guess I'll have to go there alone?"

"Huh? What did you say?"

"Never mind, just talking to myself." I waved my hand dismissively.

"By the way, Lee Jinhyuk." "Yeah?"

"Do you have the money?" "Hmm?"

"You can tell at a glance, this list isn't cheap. Especially these scrolls you want to buy, they're going to be expensive."

"I'm well aware."

The magic scrolls I'd used for the Youngdeung Mountain raid were items I got for free from Yoo Seolhyun.

They were too pricey for the average person to purchase.

"Maybe I could use half of my initial fee arranged for participating in the Youngdeung Mountain Dungeon raid to cover these…"

"I have plenty of money."

I interrupted Yoo Seolhyun with a neutral tone and pulled out my sleeping phone from my pocket to show her the stock transaction records.

"Huh?"

Yoo Seolhyun stared at the phone screen intently. "Uh, huh?"

Her eyes widened in evident shock.

"Black Door Clan, LB Medical, HanYoung Pharmaceuticals, Live Gate Group, VE Electronics… The stocks here could be worth roughly 30 billion combined. And a few of them are expected to increase four to six times in the future."

Basing it on my memories from the past life, I had quickly made a timeline on my phone before I could forget.

Thanks to that, I roughly knew which stocks would skyrocket or plummet.

"I've been dabbling in stocks for a few months with my parents' inheritance."

To others, it might have seemed risky to bet almost sacred inheritance on stocks, but I knew the future.

I was conﬁdent, having cross-veriﬁed my future knowledge with other bits of information several times.

I knew which companies would list and delist according to the progression of the main story, so not investing in stocks would be a loss.

Right?

"Ah, but I got a bit too excited, and the Financial Supervisory Service called. They said my income rate was absurd."

Damn, I'm rich! The excitement was understandable, having never seen such amounts in my previous life.

"Ended up being investigated for that, but luckily, it all ended well. I was even thinking of trying futures trading."

Yoo Seolhyun listened to me dumbfounded before making a sickened face.

"…You can do that with future-sight ability?" "A bit?"

"Usually, future-sight comes with many restrictions, and the visions are limited, often not allowing you to see what you want."

Indeed, people with future-sight often face many limitations.

They might forget visions as if they were dreams, only see futures where they are harmed, or only have fragmented pictures.

But I'm not a precognitive. "Just got lucky."

I joked, and Yoo Seolhyun shook her head in disbelief.

"That's totally unfair… Do you know how much money I lost as a child…?"

Suddenly, Yoo Seolhyun murmured dejectedly, her head hanging low.

"I almost lost all my capital… and lost a bet with my grandfather…"

She looked quite downcast.

I wondered why she was acting like this.

Oh, right. Yoo Seolhyun had a huge loss in stocks when she was young, didn't she? I think there was a setting that made her cautious about stocks ever since.

"Lunchtime's almost over. We should probably head down." "Haah…"

"Ah, and get those items as soon as you can. I'll text you my address."

"Okay…"

"You look disheartened. Want me to tell you about some good companies that are about to go public?"

"…No, thanks."

She seemed a bit tempted, though.

Anyway, Yoo Seolhyun and I soon descended from the rooftop.

I just hope the items I ordered arrive soon. To take down that monster and retrieve the items, I absolutely need the equipment I ordered.

'I'd prefer to ask Yoo Seolhyun's hero team to recover them, but since they can't move for a while, I'll have to step in.'

Midterms are just around the corner.

I need to recover the items before then, so I decided to act myself.

Although it wasn't a signiﬁcant item in the game, in reality, it was very useful, and I wanted to recover it as soon as possible.

Besides, this time, it's not about raiding a dungeon but just taking down a single monster, so it shouldn't be too diﬃcult.

…Surely, it won't be, right?

Chapter 35 – Preparing for Farming (2)

After lunchtime ended, I was on my way to the group combat training room for the next class.

"…"

Our footsteps echoed quietly.

Jin Soyeon was walking silently beside me, unusually subdued today.

Normally, she'd be chatting away.

I glanced at her proﬁle; she was nibbling at her cute lips, sneaking peeks at me as if she had something to say.

When our eyes met, she shrugged her shoulders awkwardly and quickly looked away, feigning indifference.

I smirked inwardly. What's with her?

It's oddly endearing, really.

"You've been acting strange since earlier, what's up?" "Huh? What do you mean?"

Jin Soyeon awkwardly twirled a strand of hair, trying to play it cool, but I continued.

"Is there something you want to say?" "Ah… Was it that obvious?"

"Obviously. You keep glancing over here." "I guess so."

Jin Soyeon scratched her cheek with an embarrassed look. "Hey, Jinhyuk."

She hesitated for a moment, then carefully parted her lips as if to say something important.

"Perhaps…"

Jin Soyeon quickly glanced around at the other kids.

The others were laughing and chatting in groups, heading toward the training room.

Lee Siwoon and Yoo Seolhyun were, as usual, surrounded by several students, bombarded with questions, so they didn't seem to have time to notice us.

As we were walking a bit apart from everyone else, it seemed like speaking in a low voice would keep our conversation private.

Jin Soyeon seemed to realize this too, as she turned back to me and began to speak.

"…Yoo Seolhyun, you see…"

"Yeah?"

Yoo Seolhyun?

Why is she bringing up Yoo Seolhyun's name? Was there some incident between them?

Curiosity and concern ﬁlled me as I continued to watch Jin Soyeon closely.

Jin Soyeon glanced back at Yoo Seolhyun, who was encircled by other students.

"…What if she's interested in you?"

"?"

Her question was unexpected and strangely phrased. Blinking in confusion, I looked blankly at Jin Soyeon.

Jin Soyeon coughed awkwardly a few times and then added,

"I mean, it seemed like you were interested in Yoo Seolhyun too… If she's interested in you, then…"

"Soyeon."

"Huh? Yeah?"

"Did Yoo Seolhyun say something to you?"

"Ah, well, um…"

Jin Soyeon's lips faltered with a confused gaze before she fell silent.

From her reaction, it seemed like she had heard something odd from Yoo Seolhyun during assembly earlier.

So Yoo Seolhyun said it was just a little chat, huh? Typical of her to throw in some mischievous comments.

"Yoo Seolhyun said she's interested in me?" "…A little?"

I laughed it off.

"Come on, you believe that? Yoo Seolhyun wouldn't be interested in me."

"Still, you two have been hanging out a lot lately." "Huh? Jealous?"

"Don't say weird stuff, really."

Jin Soyeon frowned deeply and grumbled, while I smirked internally.

Jealousy, jealousy… Well, it's plausible.

'If I were in Jin Soyeon's shoes, wouldn't I feel a bit neglected and jealous?'

After all, her close friend who always hung out with her began to avoid her under the pretext of being busy yet found time to sneak around with someone else.

Besides, Jin Soyeon and Yoo Seolhyun didn't get along.

If her friend suddenly became close with someone she disliked, it would feel pretty unsettling.

So, it made sense for Jin Soyeon to be a bit uncomfortable with me having a good relationship with Yoo Seolhyun.

'…Of course, there might be another reason.'

According to the character setup, Jin Soyeon 'unknowingly' liked me.

The ambiguous term 'unknowingly' made it tricky to deﬁne how much and in what way Jin Soyeon thought of me.

"What exactly did Yoo Seolhyun say to you?" "Just that… well…"

Jin Soyeon hesitated and then continued, looking at me once more.

"…She said she's kind of interested in you." "Really? Well, she might be."

I responded nonchalantly.

"She seemed interested in my strategic and tactical abilities since the performance evaluations. And she was somewhat helpful during the dungeon raids too."

"Ah, the dungeon raids…"

Jin Soyeon looked down as if deep in thought.

"Yoo Seolhyun did say she received a lot of help from you… It's strange to hear that even among professional heroes, you've been such a help."

"I'm pretty strong when it comes to theory and tactics, aren't I?"

"Theory and tactics…"

Jin Soyeon mulled over my words with an expression of mild disappointment, then suddenly lifted her head and looked at me directly.

"…Is there, maybe, another reason?" "Another reason? Who knows?"

I answered casually, and Jin Soyeon hesitated before forcing a wry smile.

"Well, if there isn't, then there isn't." "Anyway, Soyeon…"

Thud.

We heard a sound like someone falling. "Huh?"

"What's that?"

We turned our heads in surprise and saw a girl sprawled on the ground a short distance away.

Her papers and textbooks were scattered everywhere.

'…Wait, isn't that…'

I hesitated, recognizing the familiar ﬁgure. Pink hair ﬂowing down to her collarbone.

Eyes reminiscent of a clear blue sea.

Long, thin eyelashes stretched out elegantly.

A reﬁned face with a distinctive, listless expression. And that oversized heart (?) pouch.

'…It's Roxanne.' Roxanne Han.

A half-blood with the surname Han.

An orphan who, despite losing her parents, was adopted by the priest Han Seongwon and is currently active as a nun in the Church of Noon.

A character of some importance in "Romance Hero Academy" and a typical saint-like ﬁgure you'd ﬁnd in fantasy subculture genres.

'Never thought I'd see her here.'

She was an NPC who had been popular with many male players during the game.

Known for her pure heart, stunning beauty, and being one of the saint candidates, with one of the top beauties in the story.

Her stats were also considerable; if she had been a playable character, she would have been a must-pick for any team.

A character that men would naturally be drawn to, but… '…I shouldn't get involved with her.'

I was quite hesitant to get involved with Roxanne. Being involved with her could be very dangerous. "Hey, are you okay?"

"Why didn't you watch where you were walking?" "Oh my, all the handouts have scattered. What now?" The laughter of nearby girls reached my ears.

About half a dozen were snickering at her.

They seemed to be students from Roxanne's class. "…"

Roxanne lifted her head to look at the girls.

She viewed them with a disinterested expression for a moment, then quietly started to gather her handouts without showing any signs of complaint or dissatisfaction.

It was clear one of the girls had tripped her, but Roxanne didn't seem to care.

"Ah, we'd help but we're short on time, so we'll go ahead, okay?"

"Hurry up, will you?"

The girls were about to leave when it happened. "Hey, wait."

Our protagonist, Jin Soyeon, frowned, unable to just stand by and watch.

Typical of the meddlesome hero often seen in comics, she seemed unable to just ignore what was happening.

Well, it's just like Soyeon.

But we couldn't afford to stir up unnecessary trouble with those girls.

"You guys, stop bothering her…"

I promptly put my hand on Jin Soyeon's shoulder.

She ﬂinched and turned toward me with a 'Why stop me?' look in her eyes.

"Soyeon." "…"

I shook my head slowly from side to side and gestured towards Roxanne, who was still picking up her handouts.

Jin Soyeon sighed deeply after observing the scene. "Okay, got it."

She seemed to realize that arguing with those girls would only make things worse for Roxanne.

I spoke to the girls, who were looking at us with evident distaste.

"Sorry, it's nothing. You can go." "Tsk."

The girls clicked their tongues, seemingly irritated, but they understood that it wasn't worth ﬁghting in the middle of the corridor and left obediently.

I watched them leave and then turned back.

By now, Jin Soyeon was helping Roxanne pick up the scattered pamphlets.

I also moved to help gather the textbooks and handouts. "…"

Roxanne watched us with an untroubled face and then moved her lips.

"…Thank you for the help." "No worries. It's nothing."

Roxanne nodded slightly with gratitude, her voice clear and reﬁned, but with a hint of sharpness.

Jin Soyeon brushed it off with a smile as if it were no big deal.

I just quietly observed them.

"…But really, there's no point in helping me."

"Huh?"

While receiving the handouts from us, Roxanne offered a cautionary word, but Jin Soyeon just tilted her head, not quite understanding.

"Is it because of those girls?" "…"

Jin Soyeon slightly furrowed her brow and gestured towards the hallway where the other girls had left.

But Roxanne said nothing more, only bowing her head again and saying goodbye.

"No need to worry about me. I'll be off now." "Huh? Oh, sure."

Jin Soyeon seemed at a loss for words against Roxanne's clear refusal and simply nodded.

Roxanne then glanced at me, bowed her head too, and began packing her things into a box before walking away.

Her pale pink hair swayed as she disappeared in the distance, and Jin Soyeon silently watched, then let out a deep sigh.

"Ah, seriously."

She seemed frustrated, ﬁddling with her hair. "Hero candidates, really? Such stupid bullying." "…"

If it were just bullying, that would be one thing, but what Roxanne was facing was different from mere ostracism or exclusion.

"I wish I could help, but…"

"Soyeon, we'll be late for class. Let's go." "Huh? Oh, right."

Roxanne belongs to Class 1-3, which also includes Seong Yura, a saint candidate and villain.

By now, Class 1-3 was ﬁrmly under Yura's control, and it seemed no student would dare to cross her.

After all, Yura was no ordinary character.

Using her status as a young saint candidate, she engaged in all sorts of corruption and malpractice, expanding her inﬂuence.

She led one faction within the Church of Noon and wielded signiﬁcant power.

By now, she was involved in bribery and lobbying with various corporations, wealthy individuals, and political ﬁgures.

Yura, a villain who could be called a major evil.

Yura had always been jealous, envious, and resentful of Roxanne, a fellow saint candidate.

Roxanne, who had maintained her purity and honed her talents despite a miserable background similar to Yura's.

Roxanne's undying kindness and refusal to hate her circumstances or others were ideals unreachable and unattainable for Yura.

A warped attachment and desire born from lost ideals and envy had forged the current Yura.

Thus, Yura sought not just to torment Roxanne but to crush and humiliate her spirit, ultimately dragging her down to evil.

The decisive trigger for Yura entering Union Academy was none other than Roxanne herself.

'According to the setting, even if selected as a saint candidate, one must not publicly announce it or misuse the position.'

Yet, Yura and several other candidates took advantage of their power and position for personal gain, expanding their inﬂuence.

Only Roxanne truly adhered to the old doctrines.

That's why Roxanne, one of the saint candidates, was subjected to such torment.

Roxanne kept her candidacy secret, sought no help from outside, formed no factions, and steadfastly refused support from within and outside the church that came with strings attached.

Consequently, she was isolated.

Because in clear waters, ﬁsh seldom live.

"Come to think of it, Roxanne will soon undertake the 'Path of Austerity'."

Saint candidates by tradition must bear karma, endure long hardships, and persevere.

Throughout history, they had to endure tough, harsh trials, praying at speciﬁc sites, a practice commonly known as the Path of Austerity.

Of course, I have no idea where Roxanne goes to pray. I never cared during the game.

'Anyway, getting involved with Roxanne now would likely incur Yura's wrath, so it's best to be careful.'

Yura was a typical villain, a psychopath.

If one crossed her, with the numerous villains under her, one could easily be bidding the world goodbye.

She even employed assassins.

She's a villain meant to be dealt with in the later parts of the story.

Messing with her now would be like throwing eggs at a rock. 'If left alone, Roxanne will eventually be corrupted.'

The saint's fall from grace, a main story episode in the latter half.

Subjected to Yura's incessant bullying, losing everyone around her, Roxanne falls into despair and becomes corrupted.

As a villain, the fallen Roxanne becomes a powerful foe for the protagonists.

That's right.

In the game, Yura's role was to bring about Roxanne's fall to villainy.

Yura was merely a mid-boss, a tool to corrupt Roxanne. 'But even knowing that, there's nothing I can do right now.'

As I said before, getting involved with Yura is too dangerous now.

Better not to meddle and attract her attention.

Once I gather various items and recruit the male leads as allies, I'll be able to confront her.

For now, I have to pretend not to see. '…Still, it's troubling.'

It's a pity to see a character like Roxanne inevitably descend into villainy.

I know her future but can't help her, feeling a twinge of sympathy and pity, but I'm too busy taking care of myself.

More importantly, I have Jin Soyeon to look after.

Let's not endanger ourselves or Jin Soyeon over Roxanne. I can ignore her.

'Still, sorry, Roxanne.'

I silently offered an apology in my heart and walked on with Jin Soyeon.

There was no intention of risking danger for Roxanne's sake.

'Ah, but I do hope the items Yoo Seolhyun is acquiring for me arrive soon. Then I can head down to Yuksung Mountain in Chungnam to farm those items.'

If the items arrive quickly, maybe I can go farming this weekend?

***

Inside a grand mansion, Seong Yura wore an inscrutable smile.

"Roxanne is heading to Yuksung Mountain to follow the Path of Austerity?"

"Yes." Interesting.

She's going back after what happened last time?

Great, then what sort of accident shall I arrange for her this time?

Or rather than an accident, should I attack her more directly this time?

Chapter 36 – Whether It's Good Luck or Bad Luck (1)

Under the deep moonlight of the night. Seong Yura quietly looked up at the night sky.

The soft moonlight and the candlelight on her desk faintly lit the dimness of her oﬃce.

Seong Yura poured a ruby-red wine into an empty glass caressed by the moonlight and savored a sip.

After enjoying the astringent and bitter taste of the wine for a moment, she leisurely mused.

"…The Path of Austerity at Yuksung Mountain. Hm. Interesting."

Seong Yura smiled faintly.

"Should I call this persistence, or is it foolishness?"

Despite the continuous provocation against Roxanne, she endures silently, as if it's a trial she must overcome.

Even when those around her turn their backs, betray her, and spit on her, she prays to God, high and lonely, in her digniﬁed manner. It's pitifully noble, almost laughable.

To stick to the ancient doctrines, to suffer through hardships and climb mountains to offer prayers to the heavens, is there no better word to describe it than folly?

Roxanne, do you believe in the existence of God?

Do you think that after overcoming numerous temptations, despair, and adversities and offering prayers to God, salvation will eventually come?

It's truly absurd, laughable.

If there really were a God, how could the world be so muddled?

With countless villains thriving and monstrous creatures gnawing on human bones and ﬂesh, the sight of you praying to God seems tragically naive and ludicrously noble, bringing a smile to my face.

If God truly existed, shouldn't Seong Yura, who revels in the power vested in the name of God, be the ﬁrst to be judged? Why then is the heaven so indifferent?

Having committed countless atrocities, trampling and mocking the prophets' doctrines.

Aiming to trample on the most noble and pure beings favored by God.

Seong Yura, who ought to be judged, is instead exalted by numerous believers as a saint candidate.

Seong Yura could only laugh. So,

"Matteo."

She turned her gaze towards the darkness, calling out a man's name.

"You should go."

In the shadow barely touched by moonlight, a man stood erect.

"…"

Matteo Evans. A villain who was once a professional assassin.

Famed for silently eliminating his targets with his preferred pair of short swords and disappearing without a trace, he was feared and referred to as the New Moon by some.

Heroes with extraordinary abilities, skilled soldiers, among others, have lost their lives to his blade.

A remarkable assassin, once he targeted his prey, he spared no means to kill.

However, a few years ago,

He was brutally defeated by a vigilante and nearly lost his life.

Severely injured and wandering the streets, he was fortuitously taken in by Seong Yura, where he somewhat recovered and has been loyally serving under her ever since.

"I'll attach a few capable men with you." Roxanne, you foolish woman.

Even aware someone is targeting you, you choose to undergo the Path of Austerity in adherence to the doctrine?

Your upright steps, faithfulness, and the surrounding people are being dragged into the sticky mud.

"Let's not hide it anymore and go overtly. Really overtly." "Yes."

"Target Roxanne's escort troops, not her." "Should I kill them?"

"Hmm. What do you think?"

Seong Yura tilted her head from side to side.

"Simply inﬂicting wounds was enough until now… Just tormenting has become a bit dull… To evoke a dramatic reaction from Roxanne…"

She then smirked.

"Perhaps it's better to kill someone right before Roxanne's eyes?"

Roxanne, I like you too much, and yet, I hate you.

I hate that I can never be like you, and yet, I adore having you before my eyes.

That's why I want to ruin you with my own hands.

Slowly, very slowly.

I'm curious to see how much you'll struggle as I push your head down into the mud where I stand.

In a forest lush with rich greenery. "Ha, ha, hoo…"

I was gasping intermittently, trekking through this dense undergrowth, climbing the mountain over and over again.

The tall trees, reminiscent of a tropical rainforest, were densely packed, and the lush leaves blocked the sunlight, creating a somewhat dark atmosphere.

Even though it was broad daylight, it was dark enough to be a bit eerie.

"Ha, what kind of forest is this… it's really wide, seriously…"

The place I'm currently in is Yuksung Mountain, located in Chungnam.

A mountain that didn't exist in the Korea of my previous life, peculiarly lush with forests to the extent that one could easily get lost.

Had I not been equipped with a map, GPS, and a satellite phone, I wouldn't have dared to ascend this mountain.

The deep woods, untouched by human footsteps, were as dangerous as the maw of a beast.

"Let's see… how far have I come?"

I slowly recollected my past life's memory while scanning the map.

The place I'm seeking is a modest cave somewhere on Yuksung Mountain.

Inside that cave lies, presumably, an 'Interdimensional Ring.'

In the game, it was used merely for inventory expansion, but the game and reality differ.

Theoretically, since it opens up to another space for storing items, it could be utilized in various ways.

Hence, I'm enduring this hardship, climbing the mountain… '…But this forest, it's said to be inhabited by monsters.' Yes, this is a monster-inhabited forest.

Monsters that emerged from rifts and either weren't hunted down or escaped unnoticed into these forests, away from people's eyes, are quite common.

With Korea's forest cover ranking fourth in the world and 70% of its area being mountainous, it's not uncommon for monsters to go undetected.

In other words, there are quite a few monsters quietly lurking here, like endangered wildlife.

And in the cave, I seek resides a monster known as the Large-Horned Black Boar.

It wasn't an incredibly powerful monster, and with caution, I could hunt it alone.

There were a few other monsters, but none were particularly threatening.

My solo journey here is evidence enough that it's not overly dangerous.

Of course, I'm not being careless.

Who would be careless in a mountain habited by monsters, even if they are few?

'I came well-prepared, just so you know.'

I've brought a myriad of items I asked Yoo Seolhyun to purchase.

A giant monster bow, special arrows, magic scrolls, healing potions, a sword obtained from Youngdeung Mountain, various tools for hunting the Large-Horned Black Boar, and essentials for mountain climbing, among others.

Carrying a large bag was physically draining, but it's better to have and not need than to need and not have.

'Once I farm the Interdimensional Ring, I won't need to carry all this stuff anymore.'

Indeed, inventory is essential when carrying around a bunch of tools.

'Anyway, how far have I come, ha, my memory's a bit fuzzy… Do I still have further to go?'

It goes without saying, I don't remember the exact location. Naturally, who would remember the exact location?

Even if I had a good memory and was a huge fan of the game, I wouldn't remember the location of a mere side quest cave.

I only vaguely remember its approximate location.

'Well, that should be enough.'

Because there is one peculiar feature about this Large- Horned Black Boar.

What is it, you ask?

It's highly sensitive to the scent of a woman's blood. A small amount of a woman's blood can attract it from kilometers away.

Therefore, I decided to use this characteristic to my advantage.

'I'm lucky Yoo Seolhyun didn't question much when acquiring the blood pack for women.'

For the record, selling blood is illegal in Korea.

'Anyway, using this blood pack, I'll lure it into a trap, defeat it, and then trace its tracks back to the cave.'

If the bait works as planned, it shouldn't be too diﬃcult. 'Today's fortune seems pretty good, at least.'

I checked my horoscope semi-jokingly before climbing the mountain.

According to the fortune, today's endeavors would unravel smoothly, suggesting immediate action on planned tasks would be beneﬁcial.

I don't usually believe in fortunes, but somehow, today felt like things would go well.

You know those days, don't you?

Once every few years, when your luck is inexplicably good. I thought today might be one of those days.

Somehow, I had a good feeling.

With the fortune favoring me and feeling quite positive all day, I hoped things would go well as I moved forward.

How much further had I walked, using the legendary sword obtained from Youngdeung Mountain as a machete through the underbrush, when suddenly…

I heard murmuring voices not far away.

'Why would there be people in this dangerous forest?' I thought, stepping forward cautiously.

As I carefully moved, I spotted a clearing through the bushes.

And in that clearing… 'What's going on there?'

It was obvious at a glance – suspicious-looking individuals were brandishing swords, threatening a pair of men and women.

What was happening exactly…?

The atmosphere suggested it wouldn't end pleasantly.

Their appearance screamed 'I'm dangerously suspicious~' as if to say.

To put it bluntly, they looked like villains, villains. 'What should I do?'

Frankly, it wasn't my business.

If they were villains, it could be genuinely dangerous, so avoiding them seemed wise.

But, considering I was one of the hero candidates, leaving those people could lead to them facing real harm.

With various equipment for monster hunting on me, a surprise attack could potentially lead to victory…

"Who's there!"

'What, how?'

It was an unintended moment.

A man wielding dual swords shot a sharp glare in my direction.

'What, how did he notice?' Did he sense my presence?

I thought I hid it well, but sensing it means… they might be

stronger than I anticipated. Have I really gotten myself into trouble?

'Today's fortune… damn, really.'

It was supposed to be good luck!

Good my ass, it seems I've really screwed up.

Chapter 37 – Whether It's Good Luck or Bad Luck (2)

An empty clearing on Yuksung Mountain in Chungnam. "Ha, ha, Roxanne, this way."

Roxanne was walking the Path of Austerity with her guard, Kim Deoko, when they were attacked by unknown assailants.

The attackers had most of their faces covered with black masks.

It was a mixed group of two men and one woman.

They approached stealthily like predators targeting their prey, suggesting they were no mere amateurs.

They appeared to be villains who were no strangers to bloodshed.

Especially the man in the lead.

His skillful twin swords had grazed Kim Deoko's left shoulder in the blink of an eye.

The man, seemingly used to harming others, nonchalantly ﬂicked the blood off his sword with an indifferent look in his eyes.

'Damn. My wound… My left arm isn't moving well…' Kim Deoko was a former hero.

His skill level was quite decent, given that the Church had assigned him as Roxanne's guard.

But he couldn't withstand the relentless assaults of these villains.

Having experience ﬁghting some villains in the past, he could somewhat hold his ground, but the man with the twin swords was different.

He was the biggest problem.

However, it wasn't that he was the strongest among the villains here.

In fact, in terms of sheer power and destructiveness, the woman with the staff and the man with the longsword behind him were more formidable.

But the man's strength didn't just come from raw power.

He mixed feints and real attacks, swung his swords offbeat, and skillfully pressured from outside his opponent's view.

It wasn't the ﬂashy, obvious strength of supernatural abilities, but the subtle and sharp strength unique to swordsmanship, which didn't catch the eye easily.

A villain like a well-honed dagger was more troublesome than those who recklessly wielded powerful abilities.

"Who sent you?" It was then.

"Is it Seong Yura?" "…"

Roxanne, stepping forward to shield the injured Kim Deoko, quietly spoke.

She had disguised herself to appear as someone else just in case, but it seemed useless.

After all, they were ambushed like this. "Is it me you're after?"

She was somewhat aware that Seong Yura had a bad reputation and was tormenting her, but never anticipated it to this extent.

No matter how much Seong Yura despised Roxanne, weren't they both believers of the same God and candidates for sainthood?

Who would have thought she'd resort to assassination?

This was clearly crossing the line. As a human and a cleric, it was utterly unacceptable.

"If I'm the target, leave this person out of it." But who could dare to judge Seong Yura?

Reporting her, who wielded immense inﬂuence and power in the Church, would only make others apprehensive and cautious.

Those who had supported Roxanne had long crumbled under Seong Yura's machinations.

She might have to be grateful just for having Kim Deoko as a guard.

The current situation of the Church wasn't good.

In a Church rampant with corruption and dishonesty, all Roxanne could do was pray to God and endure.

"This person has nothing to do with it." "…"

Matteo Evans, the man with the twin swords, stared silently at Roxanne.

Nothing to do with it, huh…

Unfortunately, he had to disagree with the young nun's words.

Because Matteo's target was Kim Deoko, not Roxanne. "…"

In an instant, Matteo quietly raised his swords.

He started to channel magic into the blades.

A bluish sword energy ﬂickered.

There was no need to waste any more time. He had grasped Kim Deoko's level of skill.

If he cooperated with his teammates, they could kill him quickly.

'…?'

But at that moment, 'Presence?'

He sensed a faint presence from the bushes. It wasn't an animal; it was a person.

Were there more unknown guards? "Who's there!"

No answer.

The bushes remained eerily still.

Matteo glanced at one of his teammates, Park Sooyoung. She decided to use a pre-memorized spell.

"Wait, what are you trying to…" "Fire Ball!"

Roxanne raised her voice in a hurry, alarmed by their sudden action, but it was too late.

As soon as Park Sooyoung chanted the quick incantation, the spell activated.

A large, spherical ﬁreball surged towards the bushes at high speed.

As the blazing ﬁre and heat reached the proximity of the bushes, the outer part began to burn slowly.

Just as the ﬂames were spreading inside the bushes,

With a swoosh, a blade cut through the air, and the ﬁerce ﬂames scattered, evaporating like weak steam.

"What? What the…"

A short gasp escaped Park Sooyoung's lips. What just happened? The ﬁreball disappeared?

The villains observed the unfamiliar man who appeared from the slightly burnt bushes with knitted brows.

A slight tension lingered among them.

The unfamiliar man wore a hat pulled low and some sort of protective clothing while carrying a large climbing backpack and a black bow.

He appeared to be a young man in his late teens to early twenties.

He held an ordinary-looking sword and stared coldly at them.

'Who is he?'

Maybe he was one of the guards Roxanne brought? But she also seemed bewildered.

It didn't seem like he was related to Roxanne.

In that case,

'Is he a hunter?'

Judging by his mountain gear and unique recurve bow, he could be a hunter of wild animals or monsters hiding in the forest.

'Did he block the Fire Ball?'

It wasn't clear since the bushes had obscured the view, but whether or not he blocked it, they had to eliminate any witnesses.

Matteo looked at Park Sooyoung again, signaling her to attack.

Park Sooyoung swiftly used a quick attack spell. "Lightning!"

Zzzzt!

Yellowish lightning shot out from her staff like a spear, darting toward the man.

The threatening sparks crackled menacingly as the lightning engulfed the man.

Even if he blocked it with his sword, the current would spread through his body, paralyzing him momentarily.

Then, they could kill him easily. "…"

"Huh?"

But the man nonchalantly swung his sword, blocking the lightning.

No, he didn't just block it. When the lightning touched his sword, it lost its form and vanished. What on earth was happening?

"Is he an ability user?" Matteo murmured quietly.

The man didn't seem skilled enough to cut through magic.

His movements and weight shifts were clumsy, quite different from typical swordsmen.

Moreover, he seemed slightly out of breath, as if already exhausted.

Having done this for many years, Matteo trusted his discerning eye.

…Unless the man was deliberately pretending to be clumsy. "You two, keep an eye on her. I'll handle that man."

Matteo instructed his two subordinates and moved towards the unfamiliar man.

But suddenly, the man swung his sword unexpectedly. Swoosh!

As he swung his sword vertically, a considerable amount of concentrated magic surged like an arrow towards Park Sooyoung.

Park Sooyoung was startled.

What, what is that, Sword Qi Wounder?

How can someone that young… "Air Shield!"

Park Sooyoung hurriedly cast a defensive spell to protect herself, but with a crash, the opaque shield shattered to pieces.

"?!"

The power was tremendous.

She never thought it would break through the Air Shield.

The sword energy then sliced through Park Sooyoung's right leg.

"Aaaah, ugh!"

It cut deep, and blood started pouring from her thigh. Was it a bone injury? Damn.

Feeling dizzy from the signiﬁcant blood loss, Park Sooyoung urgently tried to stop the bleeding.

"Whoo, whoo…"

She took out a healing potion and poured it over the wound, but it was cheap and the recovery was slow.

She limped, keeping an eye on the man and Kim Deoko. The pain in her leg was unbearable. Endure it, I must endure it.

"Hey, are you okay?"

"No, I'm not okay, so don't talk to me."

Lee Han, one of the teammates, asked worriedly.

Cheap healing potions didn't heal wounds well. They might be enough for emergency treatment, but that was all.

For more proper treatment, they needed to go to a place with medical facilities.

"Leader…" "…"

At Lee Han's call, Matteo paused for a moment.

He wanted to retreat, but Seong Yura was not a merciful person.

Even if he made excuses about unexpected events ruining the mission, she would punish him harshly without exception.

Knowing her cruel nature, Matteo hesitated.

He might receive relatively mild punishment as a valuable subordinate, but that wasn't the case for the other two.

Though somewhat useful, they were mere replaceable pieces to Seong Yura.

If this were a normal mission, they might get away with it, but since it was related to Roxanne, they couldn't avoid severe punishment.

Seong Yura had an unusual obsession with Roxanne.

She reacted more sensitively and sharply to matters related to Roxanne, so it was clear how she'd react if they returned like this.

"…Hoo."

Exhaling slowly, Matteo made his decision.

He would handle the most dangerous man while the rest would kill the target, Kim Deoko, quickly.

'I might have to push myself.'

The unexpected appearance of the stranger.

Whether aided by supernatural abilities or artifacts, the man cut through magic and used powerful Sword Qi Wounder, making it dangerous to underestimate him.

But Matteo didn't think he'd lose.

Having worked as a butcher for over ten years, he had taken countless lives.

Including powerful ability users and heroes.

Heroes or superhumans could wield various mystic abilities, but they couldn't withstand a mere blade.

Often, people get mistaken. No matter how much they breathe ﬁre, summon gusts, or create water pillars, the one using the ability is still human.

Humans, unlike monsters, die when stabbed with a blade.

Heroes, villains, no matter how strong, can die when struck on vital points with a mere blade.

Even those who bring down giant monsters immune to conventional weapons often mistakenly believe they are invincible.

Forgetting that supernatural abilities are just tools.

No matter how powerful their abilities, they are still weak creatures that die when a blade pierces their neck.

'Whether he's pretending to be clumsy or not, his movements aren't impressive. In that case…'

Matteo had some conﬁdence.

Before his humiliating defeat to the vigilante, he had rarely lost, no matter how strong the opponent… Wait?

Suddenly. 'Wait?'

A past memory ﬂashed through Matteo's mind.

'That sword… I've seen it somewhere before…'

He hadn't paid much attention to the seemingly ordinary sword, but the jade gem embedded in the guard triggered a memory.

A ﬂashback of a dreadful past he wished to forget surfaced.

– So, here are the scum who live off taking lives.

In the past, a young man had pushed down his mask and hood.

– Oh, trying to run away?

In a building ﬁlled with bloody stench and sticky bloodstains.

– You scum really have no loyalty, huh?

As he brutally slaughtered Matteo's old comrades.

– Go ahead, run like bugs. Your comrades might end up crippled or dead, but…

A cruel memory of a young man who had once mocked the battered Matteo resurfaced.

Chapter 38 – Whether It's Good Luck or Bad Luck (3)

—

An empty clearing in the forest with an eerie atmosphere. 'What should I do now?'

Lee Jinhyuk gulped nervously.

He couldn't easily calm his anxious mind.

He glanced at the villains stealthily, thinking to himself. Three men and women who looked like villains.

They were staring directly at him.

Their gazes were anything but ordinary.

'I've shown them the Sword Qi Wounder, and one of their members is severely injured… Surely, they won't keep attacking, right?'

A hint of tension lingered on Lee Jinhyuk's face.

He had deliberately blocked their magic with his sword and used the Sword Qi Wounder to appear threatening.

It was a kind of bluff.

He didn't know what their intentions were, but ﬁghting an unknown formidable opponent would do them no good.

So, instead of dodging the sudden magic clumsily and running away while shooting arrows, he chose to destroy it boldly with his sword.

To give the impression that he might possess some unusual abilities.

He also inﬂicted a severe wound on the female mage by releasing a substantial amount of mana as sword energy.

The artifact enhanced by 1.5 times when using the absorbed mana allowed him to break through her defensive magic.

Thus, to these villains, Lee Jinhyuk's impression was, 'An unidentiﬁed swordsman who can cut through powerful magic in one strike and use Sword Qi Wounder.'

They couldn't be sure of his exact skill level, but judging from what he displayed in this brief moment, he wouldn't seem like an easy opponent.

Of course, they might have a reason why they had to kill that pair right now, but they didn't necessarily have to kill them at this moment.

With one of their comrades severely injured, it would be better to retreat and regroup.

"…"

However, it seemed the man with the twin swords was determined to ﬁght.

With his grip tight on the sword's hilt and mana rising slowly, it wouldn't be surprising if he charged at any moment.

'Damn, did it not work?'

Lee Jinhyuk cursed inwardly and slipped his left hand inside his jacket, clutching a few powerful magic-infused parchments.

One of the items he brought to deal with the monsters inhabiting this forest was a magic scroll.

An expensive item that only a large clan could afford.

Lee Jinhyuk also had various useful items like special arrows for large monsters, smoke bombs, clay grenades, electric wires, and stun guns neatly packed in his bag.

With these, he could handle most villains. 'If they were the usual villains, that is.'

Lee Jinhyuk let out a nervous, bitter smile inwardly.

The reason he hadn't used the magic scroll from the start was that the man with the twin swords didn't seem like an ordinary villain.

It was that man who ﬁrst noticed the hidden Lee Jinhyuk.

If Lee Jinhyuk had taken out the items from his bag and jacket to ﬁght, it could have turned into a dangerous situation.

It didn't seem like the man would give him such an opportunity.

After all, he showed that he could cut through defensive magic with a single strike using Sword Qi Wounder, yet he seemed full of the intention to ﬁght instead of retreating.

Perhaps, he thought he could handle it.

Maybe the man was an opponent beyond Lee Jinhyuk's current capabilities. What should he do? A drop of cold sweat trickled down Lee Jinhyuk's temple.

"…Hoo."

'Are they coming? Damn, I don't know anymore.' Lee Jinhyuk steadied his resolve inwardly.

He had tried to make them retreat with his bluff, but now there was no choice.

He would have to face them using his items.

Lee Jinhyuk was about to take out the magic scroll from his jacket when it happened.

"…You, could it be?" "…?"

Suddenly, the man's eyes shook violently.

Though his expression was hidden by a mask, his eyes clearly reﬂected his shock.

They were ﬁlled with vigilance, anxiety, and tension.

Why on earth? "…Damn."

Matteo quietly let out a curse.

The thought that the young man might be the Vigilante made his entire body tense up. His mouth went dry, and he swallowed involuntarily. His spine felt chilly.

The memory of that day was messing with Matteo's mind.

Because the man known as the Vigilante was a fragment of a terrible nightmare he wished to forget.

A nightmare he never wanted to face again.

The memory of his long-time comrades being brutally slaughtered by one man had become a trauma for Matteo.

Hadn't he run away pathetically back then?

Even with his comrades' voices echoing in his ears. Just to save himself.

Like a piece of trash.

'Could that man really be him?' Matteo bit his lower lip hard.

The seemingly ordinary sword that man held.

But he clearly remembered the green jewel embedded in the guard.

Whenever the green jewel emitted a faint light, his comrades would scream in agony.

So, was that man really the Vigilante?

'Was the clumsy sword stance a taunt? Or was he deliberately creating openings to lure us in?'

Cutting through magic, using Sword Qi Wounder, breaking defensive magic.

Compared to what he had shown so far, his movements were unusually clumsy, but recalling the Vigilante's mocking behavior, it made sense.

If it was the Vigilante who toyed with villains as if they were insects, pretending to be clumsy to mock them was plausible.

"Leader? What's wrong?" "…"

Lee Han called out quietly, noticing Matteo's unusual hesitation.

Matteo, always calm, was unusually tense. Lee Han felt a creeping sense of unease.

Could that man be skilled enough to make the leader nervous?

Matteo was a specialist in combat against humans.

He might be less effective than Lee Han and Park Sooyoung in ﬁghting large monsters, but in human combat, they couldn't even compare.

Seeing Matteo so tense, that young man might be no ordinary person.

Though his face was mostly hidden by a sunblock hat and a cool multi-scarf pulled up to his nose, had the leader ﬁgured out who he was?

"…Would you retreat?" "Ah."

"…Would you leave quietly if I let you go?" "Leader?"

Lee Han couldn't help but be surprised.

Despite Park Sooyoung's injury, he never expected Matteo to retreat quietly.

Moreover, saying, 'Would you leave quietly if I let you go?' implied that if the other party didn't agree, retreating might not be an option.

'Wait, the scarf… Hoo. Almost fell.'

Lee Jinhyuk quickly adjusted the multi-scarf that had started slipping down his face.

A summer hiking cool scarf. It was nice to wear because it kept his neck cool when soaked in water. He was glad he had it on.

Worried about future retaliation if his face was fully exposed, Lee Jinhyuk pulled the scarf tightly up.

Of course, that possibility was extremely low, but you never know.

Korea was a small place, after all.

'Anyway, it's a relief if that man retreats quietly.'

Whether his bluff worked or for another reason, if they retreated quietly, it would be a welcome outcome.

There was no beneﬁt for Lee Jinhyuk in clashing with them.

While they seemed like villains, Lee Jinhyuk had no reason to risk his life ﬁghting them.

It wasn't a blood feud or anything.

"If you don't leave quietly, we'll have no choice but to take your lives."

'No, we'll leave quietly. Please, just go…'

Unaware of Lee Jinhyuk's thoughts, Matteo dispersed his killing intent and looked at Roxanne and Kim Deoko.

With a resolved expression, he seemed determined to take their lives.

The overt killing intent made Roxanne's skin crawl. Goosebumps rose on her skin, and she swallowed nervously.

She realized that the man hadn't shown his true abilities when ﬁghting Kim Deoko.

The suffocating killing intent was something Roxanne had rarely experienced in her life.

Yet, was someone of that caliber willing to retreat?

Who was that young man to make him retreat…

"…What will you do?"

Matteo glared at Lee Jinhyuk with wide eyes.

He didn't intend to risk his life to kill Roxanne and Kim Deoko. It was a bluff.

It was a tactic that might work on heroes, and the Vigilante, in a way, was a hero.

Though he treated villains like insects, he hunted them more heroically than actual heroes.

Whether this threat would work or not, Matteo couldn't know.

Maybe the Vigilante simply hated villains and punished them.

So, Matteo watched Lee Jinhyuk nervously, and after a brief silence, Lee Jinhyuk nodded, as if to say "get lost."

Matteo felt an immense sense of relief. Though he wasn't entirely relaxed, he couldn't help but feel relieved. Damn it.

"Alright, then…"

Matteo glanced at his teammates.

Lee Han and Park Sooyoung seemed slightly perplexed but nodded silently, trusting Matteo's judgment.

They cautiously stepped back, watching Lee Jinhyuk, Roxanne, and Kim Deoko.

They kept their weapons at the ready, prepared to retaliate if attacked.

Slowly, very slowly, they retreated until they faded into the distance.

'Haa…'

As they disappeared from sight, Lee Jinhyuk ﬁnally let out a small sigh of relief.

He thought he was truly screwed, but it seemed to have worked out.

How could he walk around alone with villains like that lurking?

All he wanted was to farm the Interdimensional Ring, but what a disaster.

'By the way, that monster didn't show up. I thought it might.'

Maybe because the cave of the Large-Horned Black Boar was too far?

The Large-Horned Black Boar never appeared.

In fact, Lee Jinhyuk had aimed the Sword Qi Wounder at the female mage as a ploy to induce bleeding and attract the Large-Horned Black Boar.

The monster was highly sensitive to the scent of a woman's blood, and he thought it might come and cause chaos.

If the monster attacked the female mage, he could escape or join the attack.

But since they retreated, it was fortunate the monster didn't show up.

"Um…"

Then a woman cautiously spoke up. "Thank you…"

Though it was the ﬁrst time he saw her, her voice seemed somewhat familiar.

Lee Jinhyuk didn't recognize Roxanne through her disguise.

He just thought her voice sounded familiar and tilted his head for a moment before shaking off the thought.

There were countless similar voices. Now wasn't the time to dwell on such things.

Lee Jinhyuk took out a healing potion from his bag and handed it to her.

It was meant for the man with the shoulder injury.

Healing potions were quite expensive, but given the money he had made and would make from the stock market, it wasn't a burden.

"Thank you, but I can't just accept without…" "Monsters might come due to the blood scent." With that, Lee Jinhyuk walked away.

There was no point in further entanglement with them.

The villains might return, or monsters might come, attracted by the blood scent.

Having no more reason to help, Lee Jinhyuk hurried on his way.

The best kindness he could offer now was giving the healing potion.

Of course, that would be enough in this situation. "…"

Roxanne watched Lee Jinhyuk's retreating ﬁgure before quickly opening the healing potion and pouring it on Kim Deoko's wound.

As soon as Kim Deoko's wound was somewhat treated, they began to move again.

Roxanne thought about the man whose face and voice seemed familiar despite the hat and scarf.

He seemed around her age or a year or two older. To be so skilled at such a young age…

Like Seong Yura and that man, this world had many capable individuals unknown to Roxanne.

But something felt off.

Had she seen him somewhere before?

Unable to clearly see his face, she couldn't be sure, but she had a nagging feeling.

Was it just her imagination? Or had they really met before?

For now, Roxanne couldn't know.

Chapter 6 - Ch 32-38