Chapter 163
Chapter 163
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 163
Chapter Title: Rumors of Woojin's Return
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Chapter 163.
“Sis, did you hear?”
“What big news are you making such a fuss about now?”
Kye Soo-ji let out a sigh as she watched Lee Ji-ah creep closer and whisper like she was sharing some earth-shattering secret.
“It’s about Uncle.”
Curiosity flickered across Kye Soo-ji’s previously uninterested face.
“Uncle? You mean Woojin?”
“Yeah, yeah. Uncle Woojin.”
It was a bit funny how Lee Ji-ah stubbornly called Seo Woo-jin “Uncle” despite being only a few years younger than him.
She just had such a baby face, but it wasn’t like Seo Woo-jin looked old.
“Any news?”
There had been a sudden attack on the academy, and Seo Woo-jin had helped fend it off.
Of course, the decisive roles were played by the academy’s chancellor, Yorn, and the Sword Sage Martes who appeared behind him...
Still, Seo Woo-jin had earned his share of credit.
She’d heard he’d been summoned to the imperial palace for a reward, but then he’d vanished right after.
The academy only said he’d taken extended leave, refusing to reveal where he’d gone or why.
So she’d been worried, but now the academy’s official gossip queen, Lee Ji-ah, seemed to have picked up some intel somewhere.
“He went to the empire’s south.”
“The south?”
Kye Soo-ji tilted her head.
What business could he possibly have down there?
“Seems like he got some kind of mission.”
A mission?
Kye Soo-ji let out a hollow laugh.
“No way—that guy’s the only one getting missions?”
She knew Seo Woo-jin was exceptional.
He’d even beaten Baek Si-woo, the SSS-rank strongest among the heroes.
But she couldn’t understand why he was pulling so far ahead while they were still grinding away at the academy.
“No idea.”
Lee Ji-ah shrugged.
Even her info network couldn’t dig that deep.
“Oh, but that’s not the important part.”
She glanced around and lowered her voice even more.
“Seong Yu-ra and Kim Tae-jin came back recently, right?”
Just like Seo Woo-jin, they’d taken sudden leave, gone off somewhere, and returned.
She hadn’t paid much attention since they weren’t close, but apparently it connected to Seo Woo-jin.
“I overheard them talking—they said Uncle killed a vampire named Reina.”
“Reina... the one who invaded back then?”
Kye Soo-ji’s eyes widened, and Lee Ji-ah nodded with a satisfied smile at her reaction.
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“Is that even possible?”
The Reina she’d seen that day was a monster incarnate.
No hero at their current level could handle her.
Not even Seo Woo-jin, exceptional as he was.
Back then, he hadn’t been able to do a thing against her.
‘That’s why Baek Si-woo got kidnapped too.’
Kye Soo-ji couldn’t believe Lee Ji-ah’s story.
“Seong Yu-ra said it herself, so it’s gotta be true. She wouldn’t lie about something like that.”
Everyone knew she hated Seo Woo-jin.
No reason for her to hype him up with a lie.
“True... but still...”
Kye Soo-ji wore a skeptical expression.
“And one more thing!”
Lee Ji-ah looked thrilled.
Probably because it was a break from the academy’s stifling routine.
‘By tomorrow, everyone’ll know.’
Kye Soo-ji smirked.
She was acting like a secret agent with top-secret info now, but soon she’d be blabbing it all over.
“What?”
“Uncle’s coming back.”
“...What?”
Where did she even get these scoops?
Kye Soo-ji had asked something similar before, and Lee Ji-ah had just giggled mysteriously like some shadowy mastermind.
“From Seong Yu-ra too?”
“Nope. Different person.”
“Who?”
“Drunak or something? Some nice-looking guy I’d never seen before. Bumped into him on the street, and he told me.”
Who the hell was that?
“...Doesn’t that sound kinda unreliable? Source is sketchy.”
“But he seemed really high up? So it’s gotta be legit.”
Lee Ji-ah seemed utterly convinced.
‘Drunak...’
For some reason, Kye Soo-ji felt like she’d heard the name before.
‘Not from the academy.’
She had most of the knights’ names memorized.
She was constantly challenging them to spars, so she knew most by face.
But no Drunak among them.
‘Must be some famous noble then.’
She was furrowing her brow, the name on the tip of her tongue, when—
“What’re you two doing here?”
Someone approached and asked.
A muscle-bound beast from head to toe.
Goo Dong-hwan.
“Dong-hwan oppa.”
Kye Soo-ji smiled and greeted him.
They’d grown closer than anyone else in the group through daily spars.
“Something fun going on?”
Lee Ji-ah was in full secret agent mode.
Of course it was fun!
Goo Dong-hwan eyed her expectantly.
“So here’s how it happened.”
Just as the excited girl opened her mouth—
“Oppa, ever heard the name Drunak?”
Kye Soo-ji cut in first, silencing Lee Ji-ah.
‘Can’t hear that story twice.’
She felt a twinge of guilt at the little one’s pouty face, but it beat a repeat.
“Drunak? Hmm, rings a bell.”
Goo Dong-hwan seemed familiar with it too, just like Kye Soo-ji.
“Not a knight, though. Some big shot in the empire... Ah!”
He snapped his fingers as it clicked.
“Who is it? Remember?”
“Super famous guy. He’s the prime minister.”
“...What?”
Kye Soo-ji blinked, not quite grasping it, and asked again.
“Who?”
“The prime minister. This empire’s prime minister.”
It finally hit her.
“...Where the hell do you even wander around?”
Bump into the empire’s number two on the street?
And he spills about Seo Woo-jin?
It was as unbelievable as the Reina story.
“He’s a big deal?”
“You not knowing him is the real shocker.”
Even the ultimate social butterfly didn’t know the prime minister?
“So why would a guy like that...?”
Goo Dong-hwan asked curiously, and Lee Ji-ah seized the chance, unleashing a torrent of words.
Secret agent vibes long gone, caution thrown to the wind.
“Whoa, really? No way!”
As Goo Dong-hwan nodded along, Lee Ji-ah got even more excited, spinning her tale.
Kye Soo-ji watched with a wry smile, her thoughts drifting to Seo Woo-jin.
A hero too strong to believe he was only D-rank.
If he really killed Reina...
‘How long could I last against him?’
Their previous spar had shown a clear gap.
If he hadn’t held back, she wouldn’t have even landed a proper hit before losing.
And now he seemed even stronger.
‘...Kinda jealous.’
She wondered what kind of training could make someone that powerful.
Jealousy toward Seo Woo-jin welled up alongside her competitive spirit.
‘If he’s really coming back soon like Ji-ah says, I’ll challenge him to a match.’
Her A-rank “Brawler” fists itched.
She wanted a real fight right now.
“Dong-hwan oppa!”
Unable to hold back, she called out to Goo Dong-hwan.
“Yeah? What’s up?”
His massive frame wore an innocently boyish blink, and Kye Soo-ji grinned.
“Transform. Let’s go a round.”
Goo Dong-hwan’s face lit up.
“Full power?”
“Of course.”
Kye Soo-ji beckoned him on, and at the same moment, Goo Dong-hwan was engulfed in dazzling rainbow light.
“Transform!”
When the light faded, a “magical girl” appeared in a short yellow dress with a giant ribbon, wielding a massive hammer.
“...Ugh.”
Lee Ji-ah covered her face like she’d seen something awful and quickly fled the training grounds.
“Girls First Kiss Maximum Full Swing!”
Kwaaaaaaang—!
The terrifying shout echoing behind spurred her steps.
* * *
“You sure you’re okay?”
How many times had he asked now?
Seo Woo-jin fidgeted anxiously as he eyed Ban Slane’s pale complexion.
“Ask once more, and we’ll do personal spars for a week.”
Seo Woo-jin shut his mouth at that.
It wasn’t fear of getting hit.
He’d reached the same realm as Ban Slane, so he wouldn’t go down easy.
But it didn’t mean he wasn’t wary.
His northern training had left deep trauma.
“Finally quiet, eh.”
Ban Slane chuckled softly at Seo Woo-jin.
“Worry about yourself first, perhaps?”
Concern lingered in Ban Slane’s eyes too.
“...I told you I’m fine.”
Seo Woo-jin had made excuses about barely escaping a fight with Ruonbali.
He’d nearly died from the ‘Celestial Wing’ backlash but lucked out—leveled up from killing a demonic beast right before collapsing, saving his life.
Fortunately, no one probed too deeply.
Not Eileen or Ban Slane, nor the White Silver Knights or Crusiel.
Most who owed him their lives were just relieved he was okay.
No. 6 had seemed a bit suspicious but didn’t push amid the others’ gazes.
“You nearly died too.”
Ban Slane glanced out the window as he spoke.
The scenery whipped by.
“I know. Got lucky.”
“Can’t rely on luck forever.”
“Things like that should happen less now, right?”
He’d ascended to the Transcendent realm.
Ban Slane had noticed first, of course.
“Worth celebrating. But don’t get cocky.”
Even now, offering guidance.
“I’ll keep it in mind. So rest already.”
They’d been on the train for hours.
The imperial capital was close.
Yet Ban Slane hadn’t reclined once.
Despite his severe injuries.
Seo Woo-jin’s worry wasn’t unfounded.
“What rest now? Chatting with you and watching the view is better.”
Seo Woo-jin sighed inwardly at Ban Slane’s hearty laugh.
‘He’s got a lot on his mind.’
Too much had happened.
Reina and Ruonbali.
Two of the 13 Apostles dead.
Great on paper, but the ‘black presence’ killing Ruonbali was the issue.
Unknown identity, unknown motives.
But that demonic energy he exuded—it couldn’t be good for this world.
‘And I failed the real mission—Baek Si-woo got away.’
He’d come all the way north to support, and the mission flopped.
Plus meeting Brutal, the old friend, in the Forest of Death...
Seo Woo-jin had his own burdens, but Ban Slane’s head must be exploding.
“One thing I’m curious about.”
Ban Slane, idly watching the passing scenery, spoke casually.
“What’s with that aura of yours?”