Positive Development

The weapon emitted a faint glow.

The newly added features from the weapon's growth stood out clearly.

It's not just visible to the eye.

I can feel the improved durability of the weapons themselves through my hands.

'The storage function... does that mean...?'

Sword for 5 points, pistol for 3. Maybe it varies by size.

If I have enough points, it's definitely more efficient than Noah storing her weapon as a ring.

Savoring the satisfying results,

Sion hopped over the building into the room once she confirmed the battle was over.

Clara appeared quietly right after.

"Rohan! Are you hurt anywhere?!"

"Oppa...!"

Sion and Clara wiped the blood splatters from my face.

After about a minute of letting them clean my face without resistance, the group and the security officers burst in.

I stowed my weapons and clearly showed I wouldn't resist.

After that, we all moved to the Samhwa Nation Security Bureau together.

Now, I'm sitting in a large interrogation room with the group, waiting.

'Never thought I'd end up here on a trip.'

I remember the security officers' wary eyes and voices, full of suspicion. It was natural since the situation wasn't fully clear yet.

If Ichinose and Noah hadn't been there, they definitely would've told me to drop my weapons and surrender first.

"Rohan. Chest out. You did a good thing, so they're probably preparing some kind of reward."

"Y-Yeah...! Oppa deserves a reward...!"

Feeling the sincerity in Sion and Clara's words, I chuckled.

It loosens my mind in a pleasant way.

As I moistened my mouth with the provided bottled water,

Ichinose checked a message on her phone and quietly informed us.

"Rohan. If a security officer comes and asks anything, don't answer."

"Huh? We have to explain the situation. We're in the clear."

Honestly, coming here quietly without handcuffs and keeping us all together feels like special treatment already.

Plus, Noah even got food because she said she was hungry.

"It's separate from being in the clear. Dad says it's better if he hears the situation first and relays it to the Security Bureau himself. I've already passed on the rough details."

"Ah... got it."

At the mention of Ichinose Jun in her sentence, I swallowed hard.

I'd anticipated it when I sent the video, but the tension doesn't fade easily.

'It's natural to contact them, but...'

It's dizzying to think we'd delivered such news to the parents of a friend I meant to greet politely on the way back.

In some ways it's good, but it might not leave a great impression.

"And I explained it to Instructor Juyeon on the way here too."

"It would've gotten back to the instructors no matter how quietly we handled it, right...? I was hoping she wouldn't know so she wouldn't worry."

Ichinose nods in affirmation.

"I get how you feel. But with an Orion Academy student involved in something that happened in Samhwa Nation, it's bound to reach the instructors' ears."

"..."

I resigned myself.

I'd blabbered about taking a break as advised—what a sight this must be.

'When can we get out? I ruined the trip for everyone.'

Separate from the good deed, conflicting emotions swirl.

My eyes shifted from the ceiling stain to Noah.

Even in this situation, her devouring food looks cute and satisfying, but mixed with the drab background and the beauty, it created a huge sense of dissonance.

"...Tasty?"

"Yeah! But why do they always eat food like this ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in dramas when they're being questioned at the Security Bureau?"

"Tell me about it."

Just exchanging a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠word with Noah brings out a involuntary chuckle.

Her line about how Security Bureau means pork cutlet rice bowl or seolleongtang got a security officer to personally buy and bring it—just moments ago.

Even though I'm in a confident position, it's not as easy for me to take this situation as lightly as Noah.

Slurrrp—!

The moment Noah lifted the seolleongtang bowl and downed it in one go,

The alert window popped up right in front of my face as the interrogation room door clunked! open.

The person who appeared was Ichinose Jun.

Ichinose, who had been sitting next to me, jumped up and headed to the entrance.

"Dad...! Sorry to drag you here when you're so busy..."

"It's fine. I was on my way home anyway."

Security officers with flashy rank insignia followed behind Ichinose Jun.

The ones standing at the back fidgeting and sweating bullets—the hierarchy was crystal clear.

I stood and bowed my head to the approaching Ichinose Jun.

"Sorry to greet you in a place like this..."

"No need to apologize. I've heard the whole story. Seen the video too."

"Uncle! When do we get to go?"

"Hm."

At Noah's words, Ichinose Jun turned to the security officers.

"You've gathered the necessary info from the scene, so it's proven there's no issue, right? I'll take my daughter and her friends."

"Yes, sir!"

One middle-aged security officer answered as representative.

His gut was sucked in tight—proper discipline.

"If there's anything else to investigate or ask, contact my secretary's office."

"Understood!"

The law in this world is like that. If someone meets the criteria for a death sentence, you can kill them.

It's not backed by self-defense judgments; the kill-on-sight orders encompass all heinous criminals broadly.

And.

The close ties between state agencies, corporations, and individuals were blatantly visible, which was a big disconnect for me.

At first, it was hard to comprehend with my eyes, but in this world, it's nothing special.

They're openly intertwined.

The massive corporations or families rooted in powerhouses like Samhwa Nation pour astronomical sums into the state.

Barrier repair costs to block monsters, security maintenance, defense budgets—they foot those bills, so it's no lie that most Samhwa Nation security officers get paid by Cheonoecheon.

Plus, I'd heard that figures like Ichinose Jun occasionally receive direct combat support.

Ichinose Jun's status in Samhwa Nation pierces the heavens.

...

...

Thanks to Ichinose Jun, we left the Security Bureau anticlimactically easy.

Unlike Academy City's bureau, there wasn't even an interrogation procedure.

The family driver and car were waiting in the parking lot.

As Ichinose Jun headed to the car, he glanced at me.

"Cadet Rohan. Let's talk for a moment."

"Yes, sir."

Here it comes.

I told the group I'd be right back and followed him.

Seeing Ichinose Jun stop in a corner of the parking lot, I apologized first.

Regardless of right or wrong, his daughter must've worried him.

"Sorry for dragging Yui into it."

"Like I said earlier, no need to apologize. You did the right thing by reason—no one would do good if they got condemned for it."

"...Thank you."

Ichinose Jun's gaze scanned my condition.

I could feel he'd continued harsh training; my skills had risen steeply in a short time.

"Your wounds suggest it wasn't a tough fight."

"I've kept your advice in mind. And if I explain the situation in detail..."

"No need to explain now."

Ichinose Jun cut me ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠off and handed me a car key.

"Handled the rental car. Got another vehicle ready, so don't worry and keep enjoying your trip."

"..."

"Yui was really looking forward to this trip."

His face held a lonely yet pleased smile as he said it, so I didn't refuse.

"Thank you. I'll come greet you properly after the trip."

"Good. That's enough."

Ichinose Jun walked toward his daughter with hands behind his back.

I stood still, fiddling with the luxury car key.

'Should I wait a bit.'

Better not interrupt their father-daughter time right away.

I shuffled to the vending machine nearby.

And habitually pulled out my phone.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Gasp!"

I flinched hard just glancing at it thoughtlessly.

My surprise made the phone bounce on my hand like a hot coal.

My heart did a somersault.

The problem was I'd silenced sounds and vibrations when entering Cheongnim.