Maria exclaimed in astonishment, "Impossible!!!"
Aibar, remaining calm, said, "Maria. This was supposed to stay between us…"
Now even his school knew the truth about Aibar.
Aibar calmly said, "Maria. Fine. It's alright."
Azamat looked at Aibar, who was sitting opposite him, confused.
"Sir, what's going on?"
Aibar calmly said, "Maria, it seems everyone has already heard about it. Aren't you going to turn off your phone?"
Maria, who had been holding her phone with the screen facing down on the table, turned it face up again and pressed the button to end the call.
Azamat asked, "Ma'am, who were you calling?"
Maria calmly replied, "I'm sorry for secretly revealing the truth like this. But I don't think I regret doing it."
Aibar calmly said, "As if being considered a hero by everyone wasn't enough, now I'm going to become something else too?"
Maria said, "Aibar, that's not a bad thing. On the contrary… everyone needed to know. It proves that you're not called a hero for no reason. And you… you're a hero to me now, too."
Aibar calmly replied, "A hero? A superhero? No. I don't deserve that."
Maria asked, "Why? You're the greatest hero of all. You were a hero from the very beginning, even before you got superpowers…"
Aibar calmly said, "A hero from the very beginning, huh… A hero who kills people."
Maria's eyes widened.
Azamat said, "Sir, you…"
Aibar calmly replied, "Don't pay attention to it. I'm going to pay the bill."
Aibar calmly stood up and walked toward the cashier.
Aibar paid the bill and returned.
Aibar calmly said, "Let's go. I think I'm a little tired for today."
Maria (thinking): "He's too cautious. He became suspicious just because I took my phone out of my bag and placed it on the table without fiddling with it. He didn't just dismiss it as some trivial thing."
Azamat asked, "Ma'am, is something wrong? You seem lost in thought."
Maria came back to her senses and gave a slight smile.
"Ah… Please don't mind me."
They gathered their things and started heading home.
They were in a taxi.
Eventually, they arrived in their village. They got out of the car and carried the few construction materials they had bought, packed in boxes, into Aibar's house.
After they had finished bringing everything inside, they sat down to rest.
Meanwhile, at TUTYLU, the truth about Aibar became known.
Symbat and the villagers agreed in their messaging app group not to spread the truth about Aibar.
It was all thanks to Symbat.
She had skillfully persuaded them to fulfill their hero's only wish.
The villagers readily agreed of their own free will, because if that was what their hero finally wanted, then to them, it was practically a law.
Almaty City.
The TUTYLU headquarters, nestled among the mountains.
The office door opened.
A woman dressed in a ninja-style outfit entered. This time, she was not wearing a mask.
(She was a beautiful young woman with blue hair tied up and gray eyes.)
Ayaka calmly said, "Yes? What is it you wanted to ask, Miyuki…"
(Miyuki Kanzaki, 21 years old, was considered TUTYLU's third strongest member and one of its most prestigious figures. She was also Ayaka's only closest friend.)
Miyuki calmly said,
"Ma'am…"
Ayaka interrupted her, making a displeased face.
"How many times have I told you!? There's no need to be so formal."
Miyuki cleared her throat.
"I'm sorry. Ayaka."
Miyuki began to complain.
"Because of you, we have to go before that stern old man again. You and that damn… what was his name? Ah, right. That loser named Aibar. Where on earth did you meet him? And why did you order me to save him? Meirambek almost crushed him!"
Miyuki frowned in disgust.
"Pff… I never thought I'd find myself saying that bastard Meirambek's name."
Ayaka gave a slight smile.
"Calm down. And thank you."
She looked Miyuki straight in the eyes.
"You stayed by my side. And no matter how many unreasonable orders I gave you, even ones that seemed utterly ridiculous, you never abandoned me."
Miyuki slowly approached and took a seat at the large conference table. Looking at Ayaka, she calmly asked,
"Ayaka, but tell me the truth. How did that Aibar guy get you under his spell? What kind of hypnosis did he use? Who is he, anyway, that you would actually order me to kill one of our own teammates for his sake?"
Ayaka calmly replied,
"He's a hero. A true hero. He's such an incredible hero that even I respect him, despite being on the opposing side."
Miyuki tapped her finger against the table.
"Pff… He's just some kind of show-off. A hero!? There aren't even any good people left in this day and age. If I teach him a lesson and smack him over the head, he'll abandon that so-called heroic persona of his, fall at my feet, bow his head, and say something like, 'The world is yours.'"
Ayaka gave a slight smile.
"Then let's make a bet. Let him gain a little experience first. Even if he doesn't become the strongest…"
Ayaka pointed her finger at Miyuki, smiling slightly.
"He won't bow down to you…"
She lowered her finger.
"Nor to any other TUTYLU member. He'll keep fighting until the very end, even if it means sacrificing himself. Anyway, you'll see in the future."
At that very moment…
Inside the Secret Boss's room.
In a dark room, a man sat on his bed, his head hanging down.
He raised his head.
(A man with black hair, brown eyes, and a slight mustache and beard.)
This was Aibar's father, Rasul.
A smile appeared on Rasul's face.
"Aibar…"
The next day.
Aibar and Lucas were sitting on a bench in the small school park.
Aibar calmly asked, "Lucas, there's something I want to ask. Even though we spent some time in space during our battle with Meirambek, why did it feel like time passed exactly as it does on Earth?"
Lucas replied calmly, "I don't fully understand how it works myself. But yeah... back when we were in TUTYLU, we used to train in space. These Forms allow time in space to affect you just as it does on Earth. In other words, the laws of time in space mean nothing to those who use these Forms."
Lucas smiled slightly. "By the way, Aibar. Can you completely control your body? Even stop bleeding while fighting... That's incredible!!!"
Aibar replied calmly, "Yeah, I guess it's because of a lot of training and talent."
Lucas smiled slightly. "Amazing. And you're learning the Forms so quickly. Just think about it. Starting from Green Form, it takes at least a year to learn how to activate such powerful Forms. For others, it can take decades. Learning them as quickly as you do... that's something only a handful of people can do. Even those who learn them in a year are rare..."
Aibar calmly said, "Lucas. I think we should get back to our work."
Lucas smiled slightly. "Yeah, let's do that..."
And so, two weeks passed.
The school had almost been fully restored, and students began returning.
The next day.
A wooden sword struck another wooden sword with tremendous force.
Loud clashes echoed throughout the underground training hall.
Aibar and Azamat stood silently facing each other.
The next moment—
Clang!
Their wooden swords collided with tremendous force.
Aibar swung his massive wooden sword, but Azamat blocked it effortlessly and launched a counterattack without hesitation.
Aibar instantly took a step back, twisted his body, and struck again.
Azamat once more defended flawlessly.
Neither of them could gain the upper hand.
Their swords seemed to dance through the air. One fought with human skill, while the other fought with cold precision.
At the same time, they both retreated, creating distance between them.
Silence returned to the training hall.
Neither took their eyes off the other.
Azamat rested his wooden sword against his shoulder and casually asked:
"Sir... What did Lucas tell you? Would you mind sharing?"
Aibar stood with his massive wooden sword planted vertically against the floor.
He calmly replied:
"According to him... time in space affects those Forms in the same way as time on Earth."
Azamat's brow furrowed slightly. He placed one hand beneath his chin and fell into deep thought.
"So... time in space passes just as it does on Earth..." he murmured slowly.
Aibar silently nodded.
"Exactly... The power granted by the serum doesn't follow logic at all."
A moment of silence followed.
Suddenly—
Azamat sprang into action, raising his wooden sword high as he charged toward Aibar.
"Enough. Break time is over. We're continuing the training!"
Aibar swiftly raised his massive wooden sword and swung it from the right.
The blow struck Azamat around the waist, sending him flying toward the left side of the room.
He crashed against the wall and fell.
Azamat got back up, dropped his wooden sword, and said:
"It's not just the Forms... You don't even obey the laws of physics, sir. Not even the letter 'P' in physics..."
Aibar stood with his massive wooden sword planted against the floor again.
"Yeah, you have a point. I was able to activate Blue Flame Form right away. According to Lucas, you're supposed to fully master the first Fire Form, then fully master Green Flame Form before you can proceed... But I was still able to activate a Form that's difficult to use..."
Azamat said, "Sir, Lucas, So Hyun, and even Maria are all very rare and special people. But..."
Azamat paused slightly.
Aibar calmly looked at him.
Azamat continued, "Sir, I see those three as having 50% hard work and 100% talent. But you... 100% hard work and 900% talent."
Aibar replied, "You're exaggerating..."
"That's just my opinion..."
Azamat's expression darkened.
"Aibar, don't forget that a single strike from you could destroy an entire city. Tell me... Is there anyone like that in the world right now?"
Aibar let out a small sigh.
"Ugh..."
Azamat smiled slightly.
"Sir, speaking of which, thank you very much for this armor. Thanks to it, I've started to feel human again. In other words, I can express emotions."
Aibar began gathering the wooden swords and neatly arranging them in a box.
Azamat muttered, "Ignoring me, huh..."
Aibar climbed the stairs and left the training hall.
Azamat also came out and caught up with him.
Aibar stopped, turned his head, and looked back over his shoulder.
"Master... You don't need to worship me or see me as someone invincible. On the contrary... I have a request for you..."
Azamat replied, "Yes, sir... I'm listening."
Aibar whispered in a calm, very quiet voice.
A small smile appeared on Azamat's face.
"I understand... If an emergency arises..."
Aibar continued walking, climbed the stairs, and headed toward his room.
Azamat remained where he was, standing silently.
He watched Aibar's retreating figure for a long time.
"Sir..."
His voice was quiet.
"If only you knew how happy I am to have met someone like you..."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"You achieved everything you have through your own efforts. And yet... you still share what you have with others."
He paused for a moment.
"You've remained humble..."
Azamat's gaze softened.
"You've been through hell itself since you were a little boy. And yet..."
He fell silent.
"I still find myself wondering..."
"Where do you find the strength to remain yourself through it all?.."
Another moment of silence followed.
Azamat lowered his head slightly.
"I... am proud of you, sir."
The next morning, Aibar was dressed in his usual favorite style. A black turtleneck, black dress pants, and black shoes. He had his long black coat draped over his shoulders instead of wearing it, and a bag in his hand.
Aibar sat down at the table, peeled and ate two boiled eggs, drank a glass of milk from the table, then got up and left for school.
When Aibar arrived at school, instead of heading to his first class, everyone gathered in the assembly hall.
Aibar stepped onto the stage.
He brought the microphone close to his lips and glanced around the hall.
"Everyone, please settle down."
The hall gradually grew quiet.
Aibar handed the microphone to Nurdaulet Samatuly, who had come up beside him.
Nurdaulet took it and looked over the students and teachers.
A warm smile spread across his face.
"Dear students and teachers..."
He paused for a moment.
"Today, I would like to announce that I am voluntarily stepping down from my position as school president."
Whispers began to spread throughout the hall.
Nurdaulet continued.
"I am deeply grateful for every day I've spent with all of you. However, I will be graduating this year. Exams are waiting for me, and I need to focus all my attention on them."
He took a deep breath.
"Therefore... I want to entrust my position to someone I can trust, ahead of time."
Nurdaulet extended his hand toward Aibar.
"My successor... will be Aibar Rasululy."
The hall fell silent for a moment.
Nurdaulet smiled at Aibar.
"Aibar... has been the most incredible assistant I've ever had."
He suddenly burst into laughter.
"To be honest... sometimes it felt like he was the president, not me."
Light laughter spread through the hall.
Nurdaulet shrugged.
"Honestly... there were even times when I felt like I was his assistant."
Nurdaulet was about to remove the star badge from his chest and pin it onto Aibar, but Aibar gently stopped his hand.
Nurdaulet looked at Aibar.
"Aibar... Is something wrong?"
Aibar waved his hand, calling Maria over.
Maria got up and began walking toward the stage. She closed her eyes and thought to herself:
"Aibar, what are you planning...?"
Maria opened her eyes and reached them.
Aibar released Nurdaulet's hand, took a step closer to Maria, and removed the Guardian of Order badge from her chest, pinning it onto himself.
Everyone fell silent.
Aibar took the microphone from Nurdaulet's hand and looked at the teachers and students.
"I think, more than anything else, being a Guardian of Order suits me best."