< Chapter 99: Return (1) >
Unknown was reviewing the report handed over by Maestro.
“Quite interesting experimental results.”
Unknown’s expression was unusually bright, unlike his usual self.
This was because the report on the control and enhancement of the Four Divine Beasts and monsters that Hermit had infiltrated and rescued was quite useful.
“Hermit’s actions were very significant.”
Maestro also smiled.
Unknown’s joy was Maestro’s joy. It was natural to be pleased.
“Was this report something that Allen obtained voluntarily?”
“Yes. He’s certainly a useful guy.”
Maestro’s mouth twisted into a smile.
‘What is he thinking?’
His eyes sparkled with ecstasy.
Unknown was well aware that Hermit hated him.
That’s why, unlike other executives, there were many restrictions on his actions. Hermit, blinded by hatred, could do anything.
And yet Hermit had voluntarily obtained information that would be helpful to him. What could this mean?
‘He’s not going to become my true follower now, is he?’
The relationship between Hermit and Unknown has no room for improvement.
It was as good as settled from the moment Unknown dealt with Kim Sang-jae, a superhuman who was Allen Velvet’s benefactor and like family.
Hermit has no reason to do anything positive for Unknown.
That means there’s a high possibility that he has another motive.
‘Hmm.’
But it wasn’t entirely clear.
There’s no loss to Unknown from this matter.
He had obtained over 10 years of research records on the Four Divine Beasts. The world plunged into chaos with the reappearance of the Australian Four Divine Beasts, making preparations for national terrorism much easier.
It was nothing but a gain for Unknown.
He mulled over it dozens, hundreds of times, but the conclusion was the same.
‘…Am I overthinking?’
That’s when Unknown was folding his doubts.
“Boss. Are you worried about something?”
Maestro asked cautiously.
“It’s nothing.”
“But….”
“I said it’s nothing.”
“Yes. I’m sorry.”
Unknown hadn’t told Maestro that Hermit was hostile to him.
He judged that Maestro, whose actions are joy itself to Unknown, wouldn’t leave Hermit’s hatred alone if he knew about it.
‘I can’t let that happen. Hermit’s infiltration ability is essential to the organization.’
Unknown smiled to himself.
“So, what’s Hermit up to now?”
“He’s moved on to the next mission. He’s in Japan right now.”
“Japan, then it must be because of the King of Water’s fingernail.”
“Yes. It’s probably a long-term mission.”
“Hmm.”
Maestro stroked his chin.
The King of Water’s fingernail was quite an important mission.
“Do you have something for Hermit?”
If Hermit were nearby, Unknown would have called him and made him spill his thoughts through the ‘Oath of Absolute Obedience’. But there’s no need to call Hermit back from an important mission.
“It’s fine. It’s not that important.”
Besides, the last time he failed to complete a search for the traitor.
Interrogating Hermit again would be like scratching an itch.
So, Unknown put away his momentary suspicion about Hermit.
“Then let’s move on to the next item, David.”
Above all, there’s something more important now. Handling that matter is the priority.
“Right. You’ve identified the mastermind behind Jayce’s death?”
Jayce Scarlet.
Code Name Vagabond.
“Yes.”
Maestro operated his terminal, bringing up a hologram in the center of the room.
“The mastermind is the guild leader of the Bihon Guild, Yu Hwa.”
Yu Hwa’s profile and face were displayed in the hologram.
* * *
I returned to Korea on Maiden’s private plane.
Other first-year cadets have also completed their return on a private plane owned by the Australian government and a private plane sent by the Korean government.
Public attention was focused on us, so we judged that it was unreasonable to return using the airport.
In that way, we were able to secretly enter Korea.
“Meow.”
“Shh. Hold on. It’ll be a big problem if you’re caught.”
Thanks to this, we were able to bring White Tiger to Korea without being caught by anyone.
Without Ms. Maiden’s help, it would have been impossible.
Long live connections.
“Hey. Just stay still for a moment.”
Soothing the squirming White Tiger inside the bag, we hid our presence and boarded the limousine parked near the runway.
“Meeeow!”
As soon as the zipper of the bag was opened, White Tiger jumped out with an irritated face.
It seemed to be claiming, ‘How dare you imprison me in a bag?’
Very fierce.
“Growl.”
But that fierce energy disappeared like melting snow as Goldie pressed White Tiger’s head with its front paw.
If a little while ago was like a cold blast of winter wind, what is this? A warm breeze on a sunny spring day?
White Tiger attached itself to Goldie with the happiest expression, flaunting its affection.
“…Is this a tiger or a fox?”
A cold urban tiger? Cold to others, but warm to my tiger, I guess.
Something like that.
“….”
Then I suddenly felt an intense gaze and looked up.
Yu Hwa was watching the three of us with an envious expression.
“…Why?”
“Because they’re too cute no matter how much I look.”
Her eyes were filled with unmistakable favor.
“Goldie was already enough of a destructive force. Now with White Tiger, too….”
Her gaze was a little scary.
“No, it was quite scary.”
“Besides, they’re not just any cats… Ahem. They’re guardian animals. Their lifespan won’t be comparable to ordinary cats.”
Yu Hwa smiled bitterly.
Yu Hwa understands the pain of parting with a pet better than anyone. That’s the main reason she doesn’t keep a cat.
“I’m really so envious.”
Watching Yu Hwa, Maiden clicked her tongue.
“She’s sick again. Kid, understand this. If she gets a cat, she won’t be able to function.”
“…Yes. I’m aware.”
I’m painfully aware.
“Goldie, look here. Right.”
Yu Hwa seemed not to hear our conversation and was madly taking pictures of White Tiger and Goldie with her smartphone.
“By the way, kid. You were lucky.”
“What?”
Maiden switched the limousine to autonomous driving and looked at me.
“It’s fortunate that the fact you dealt with Vermilion Bird didn’t come to light.”
“Ah. That?”
I nonchalantly replied while watching the teasing Goldie, White Tiger, and Yu Hwa.
“It’s not so much that I was lucky, but that things went according to plan. I knew in advance that one of the Black Tortoise’s characteristics was jamming radio and communication.”
“You cunning guy.”
That’s why I used Lucifer’s spear without hesitation. My battle scene wouldn’t be recorded.
“Ah. Right. That guy.”
Maiden, who had been laughing, suddenly turned serious.
“What’s Allen doing now?”
“…Ah. Um.”
The next biggest variable in this plan after the rampage of the Four Gods was the meeting between Hermit and Maiden.
I said there was no need to worry about the Black Tortoise, but I didn’t expect them to go to the Black Tortoise first.
I was sloppy.
Anyway, the meeting was an unavoidable fact. I need to appropriately disguise my relationship with Hermit.
I described it as being fellow colleagues chasing the Savior of Truth.
Of course, I left out the fact that Hermit was an executive of the Saviors of Truth.
Fortunately, Maiden believed what I said.
Considering the relationship between Kim Sang-jae and Hermit, it was reasonable for Hermit to harbor hatred towards the Saviors of Truth, so he didn’t even question it.
“He’s on another mission right now.”
“Really?”
Maiden clicked her tongue, her face full of dissatisfaction.
“That wretched guy. He could have at least said goodbye.”
Her expression was slightly apologetic as she said this.
“…And if he was chasing those Saviors of Truth bastards, he could have told me.”
Maiden had thought that a man named Allen Velvet, after Kim Sang-jae’s death, completely forgot the favor and sought freedom, running away.
She called him an ungrateful wretch who didn’t even consider her husband’s kindness.
“Tsk. But that guy has always had some decency.”
But through this incident, Maiden realized that Hermit did not forget Kim Sang-jae but was acting for revenge.
That’s why she feels sorry.
“Anyway, tell him to contact me the next time he comes to Korea.”
“Yes. He’s a busy friend, so I don’t know when that will be, but I will.”
Maiden and Hermit.
Thinking about the twisted relationship between the two, I felt a pang of bitterness.
Both were harboring hatred towards the Saviors of Truth, after all.
The limousine drove on for a while, and we arrived in front of the house.
“Anyway, kiddo. Leave the rest to Hwa and me, and rest well at home. Got it?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
And so, my first school trip came to an end.
* * *
“Ancestor!”
The next morning.
Jia came looking for me early in the morning.
“You look better.”
The last time I saw her was in the hospital room.
“Me? Yes. I’ve been discharged for a while now. They say there are no after-effects. No, that’s not the problem…”
Suddenly, Jia knelt down.
“Ji, Jia?”
“I’m sorry! I couldn’t even rush to your crisis in one step!”
Complete prostration.
I’d only seen such a description in novels; this was the first time I witnessed it.
“Hey, don’t do this. Get up.”
“No! A useless woman like me doesn’t even have the right to stand on two feet in front of you, Ancestor!”
I couldn’t see her face because her head was deeply bowed, but I could tell she was upset.
“It’s all because my father didn’t let me out of the house… No. It’s all excuses. I’m sorry.”
She was making a fuss all by herself.
“Ancestor… You’re disappointed, aren’t you?”
Jia glanced up at me with tear-filled eyes. It felt like looking at a sad puppy scolded by its owner.
“Get up.”
I wondered why she hadn’t contacted me after the incident, but it turns out she was thinking this way.
“But…”
I smiled wryly and said,
“Buts and if onlys. I’m not disappointed, so get up. If you don’t get up, I’ll take the same position as you.”
“Yes! I’ll get up!”
With a whoosh!
Jia’s action was lightning-fast.
“And I’m not disappointed.”
“…Really?”
“Of course. I know you took care of various things in Korea. Why would I be disappointed?”
And Jia’s handling of things while staying in Korea was also lightning-fast.
“Thanks to you, Maiden said the aftermath was much easier.”
Not all support must be physical. Jia did her best in her place.
“Thank you.”
I smiled genuinely and expressed my gratitude. I’m always thankful to Jia.
“…Ancestor.”
Jia looked at me with an incredibly moved expression.
It was a somewhat burdensome gaze.
* * *
That day at lunch.
After Jia left for another errand,
I sat with Goldie and White Tiger in the room, sorting things out about the recent incident.
“First of all, what we gained from this incident is…”
I began writing in a notebook.
[Acquisition of the Demon Race Trait ‘Detection of Malice’]
A trait obtained from Lucifer’s spear.
Detection of Malice.
A danger detection trait that allows you to feel the murderous intent around you in stages as a type of energy.
It’s one of the best passive abilities to respond to sudden ambushes. Now, sudden death can be prevented in advance.
[Goldie’s Growth]
Goldie’s growth has been successfully completed.
I’ll have to check the detailed power later, but probably around the upper level of A-rank.
[White Tiger]
Acquired White Tiger as a new guardian beast.
There’s a risk that it might transform into a ferocious White Tiger according to growth, but that probably won’t happen.
The ‘Guardian Contract’ is a dragon race’s trait.
White Tiger going out of my control and running wild will never happen.
“What to do with you?”
“Meow.”
Anyway, what should I do about the element White Tiger absorbed from the Four Divine Beasts?
Two eyes of different colors.
Clearly, those are the eyes of the Azure Dragon.
Fortunately, there seems to be no other change. We’ll have to wait and see.
[Cheonbyeon]
This might be the biggest gain.
The masterpiece of Master Jung Il-yong.
Though it was only for 10 minutes, it was enough time to know how powerful a weapon it was.
Not only does it have basic functionalities, but it also has the special ability ‘Boost,’ which accelerates physical abilities for 2 seconds.
The versatile combat style of the Cheonbyeon may be unbeatable in one-on-one battles, even if it’s uncertain against large monsters.
“…And.”
[Complete Integration of Guardian Contract (Dragon Race)]
Complete integration of the dragon race trait.
Initially, I thought it was simply a magical power increase.
Because I actually felt the increase in magical power.
But the complete integration of the dragon race trait was not just one-dimensional like that.
“The Material of Magic.”
The increase in magical power was just a secondary effect.
The intensity, efficiency, conductivity, and recovery speed of magical power all increased uniformly.
It’s a world apart from the complete integration of the Mongma race, which only increased the amount and output of magical power.
But that’s not all.
The most overpowered effect was separate.
I turned my palm upwards.
And focused my magic.
“Hoo.”
All the ways I’ve used magical power so far were mere arrays called ‘Force.’
The runes’ flames and the elemental flames were just a random radiation of magical power.
It was a stretch to call it magic.
I couldn’t even use basic magic like a Fireball.
Because there was no way to use it.
But now it’s different.
“Hoo.”
I recalled Hermit’s magical operation I saw recently.
Ching-!
The next moment, a small hexagonal ‘barrier’ was formed above my palm.
It was a bit crude compared to Hermit’s, but it was clearly forming the shape of a barrier.
“…Wow.”
The ability of the Dragon Race’s complete integration.
“It’s magic…”
It was the unlocking of the talent as a mage.
< Chapter 99: Return (1) > End.
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