Exchanging Greetings
In the darkness, Cheon Geomhwa sat alone, her face filled with worries.
Tiss.
White Ghost's disciple.
The words of the little girl who resembled Roseria kept lingering in Cheon Geomhwa's mind.
Even though only one day remained until the entrance ceremony, and all plans and personnel had been finalized, Cheon Geomhwa couldn't be sure if this was the right thing to do.
It was okay to commit injustices. It was okay to get blood on your hands.
But she absolutely could not let anything happen to Roseria that couldn't be cured.
Cheon Geomhwa was suffering in the midst of an unresolved puzzle.
"Here you are."
Steel flowers bloomed from all around at the sound of the voice. Dozens of blades stopped just before they could pierce the intruder.
"Berze."
"Oh my, you noticed I was here. How did you know? Is it the intuition of a high-rank hunter?"
"How many people can use such tricks?"
"Tricks? It's my technique, after all."
The appearance and figure were completely different.
But the one controlling it was clearly Beelzebuth herself.
Cheon Geomhwa naturally recalled the image of Beelzebuth, who had tanned skin, in her business suit position as a vice president of a company, dressed casually.
"You protected Roseria?"
"Yes. No need for thanks."
Beelzebuth had protected Roseria while avoiding the eyes of the Watcher sent by the Management Bureau.
If it hadn't been for Beelzebuth, Roseria would have become a hostage of the Management Bureau, and Cheon Geomhwa would have had to surrender without doing anything.
She owed her a debt. That was clear fact.
But somehow, an inexplicable unease followed her like a shadow.
Why?
The reason that came to mind was simple.
'To make her attack the Academy entrance ceremony according to the contract.'
Hearing Tiss's words that Roseria was suffering because she was poisoned by Abaddon's poison, recalling the past under the assumption that the one who poisoned her was Beelzebuth, it matched quite a bit.
"Berze, you shouldn't be deceiving me."
"Huhu, still doubting me? I'm hurt between us."
"Empty words."
Beelzebuth's sweet voice was just creepy to Cheon Geomhwa, like a snake crawling up her body.
"So you bet your own heart as the contract condition."
With the condition that there be no lies in the contract, Beelzebuth bet her own life.
It was the biggest reason Cheon Geomhwa ultimately accepted the contract with Beelzebuth.
"If you bring me the Ember, I'll definitely perfectly recover Roseria's body."
Even Beelzebuth's light smile felt like an insult to Cheon Geomhwa.
"You don't plan to stop now, do you? Then how about focusing on finishing the work?"
"I have one more thing I want."
"Speak."
"I want to know if there's any other treasure besides the Ember."
"Are you trying to make a big score? Good. I'll send the list to your terminal."
"Thank you."
Even if the last winner of this deceptive contract isn't us, it's fine.
For the sake of saving Roseria, she had prepared to throw away this one life.
...
...
...
Hoo.
After catching her breath and opening her eyes, she saw Lionel sitting in seiza in front of her, the same way.
"Excellent."
Grumble.
The scary face that still looked like it was hunting prey, but now she could vaguely understand that it was expressing joy.
"The acquisition speed is faster than expected. The basics have been solidly mastered."
"What do you mean?"
"You can graduate now. If there's anything lacking, feel free to ask at the Academy later."
She had successfully acquired the principles of Hoyeonjigi from Lionel.
"Then, I'll see you at the entrance ceremony tomorrow."
"Alright."
It had been a short time, but she bowed her head with gratitude, thinking of Lionel as her teacher who had taught her the technique.
As she passed the training ground, Katie, who had been sitting on a tree, called out to her.
"Tiss jjangdongmu! It's all over now?"
"Yes, I learned everything."
"Great!"
The interesting point was that even though Lionel hadn't specially told Katie about Hoyeonjigi, Katie had been able to follow it to some extent.
I don't know why Big Nya hid it from Katie.
She probably thought I looked pitiful or that I wouldn't be able to learn it.
Is that so? It seemed like she had a lot of thoughts in her eyes.
When teaching her Hoyeonjigi, Lionel had recited the verses loudly so she could hear from the side.
Perhaps he wanted the seemingly foolish Katie to choose carefully.
Did she notice that it was a monster? But if an A+ rank hunter knew, she wouldn't have stayed silent, so it couldn't be that.
Finally free.
Hoyeonjigi too, but hugging was harder because the offensive was stronger.
Me too... My fur has become like this.
The 'Hug Me' offensive of the 6000 Legion was powerful.
Because of the sticky affection of the Katies, Shan's snow-white fluffy fur had become tangled like a rural yellow dog.
Nevertheless, there was a sense of accomplishment on Tiss and Shan's faces.
Because hugging all 6000 clones one by one wasn't a simple greeting, but something she had to do to save Katie in the upcoming attack.
Sniff.
Eh? Dorothy.
Really?
The scent of Dorothy was coming from outside Lionel's residence.
Creak.
Opening the door and going out, Dorothy greeted them happily.
"Angel-nim, it's over?"
"Dorothy~"
Even after seeing her after two days, why was she so happy.
She stepped up to Dorothy and lifted her up in a flash, spinning around once.
"It's cold. You shouldn't have waited inside."
March's spring, but the wind was still chilly.
"I'm fine. I wanted to come out to greet the angel-nim who worked hard until the entrance ceremony."
"Aigo, good girl."
When she held up her hand, Dorothy naturally lowered her head to receive the head pat.
"Hehe."
She placed the white coat made of Shan's fur she had been wearing over her uniform on Dorothy's shoulders.
"This child is Dorothy?"
"Eh, what voice is this?"
"We greeted each other via terminal? This side is Dorothy, and this side is Katie."
Katie, who had been behind her, quickly approached Dorothy.
Blinking.
Katie was blinking her eyes, staring at herself with a blank look, and Dorothy smiled first and greeted her.
"Hello, Katie."
"Hello! Dorothy comrade! Nice to meet you! I'm Katie!"
"Nice to meet you too."
Dorothy hesitated a bit and extended her hand, and Katie grabbed it.
Wah!
"Kya!"
Katie hugged Dorothy right away.
"Katie?"
Sniff!
Still hugging Dorothy, Katie was sniffing the air with her nose, and Dorothy's face slightly reddened.
"Mmm! Good scent from Dorothy comrade! Sunlight scent, grass scent, and sweet potato and chestnut scent too?"
"Um, Katie... it's a bit... embarrassing."
"Tiss jjangdongmu, come here too! Dorothy smells delicious!"
"I'm fine."
"Tiss jjangdongmu is surprisingly shy!"
"Katie is too pushy."
"Katie not Katie unnie!"
"Katie... unnie?"
Sorry, it got a bit long.
I'll explain it when I meet Siu and Sia later, and for now, let's move on.
"Dorothy, you haven't eaten dinner yet?"
"Yes. I haven't eaten because I wanted to eat with the angel-nim."
"Then let's go to the hotel first, pick up the luggage, unpack at the dormitory, and eat nearby. Siu and Sia are supposed to meet us around there too."
"Okay!"
It was fortunate that we could finish everything before the entrance ceremony.
While I was saying goodbyes to the 6000 Legion and learning Hoyeonjigi from Lionel, Siu and Sia had gone ahead to check out the dorms they would live in.
At first, they seemed to want a two-person room with just me, but eventually they decided on a three-person room because they were worried about Dorothy.
Then, what about Katie's place?
After parting with us tonight, Katie was planning to return to her own land after the planned attack ends tomorrow.
I had discussed this with Katie in advance.
"Um, okay! It's a pity to part with Tiss jjangdongmu, but since I have to take care of my land, going home is right!"
Katie had easily accepted the return.
Although she looked small and cute, Katie was a legitimate Abaddon's spawn ruling her own territory.
Once the contract for the entrance ceremony attack was lifted, Katie had no reason to stay in the dangerous Area 3 unlike me.
It was fine so far? Lionel didn't notice either.
It's completely different whether you know and look for it or not. Not now, tomorrow is more worrying.
As a force that has sustained humanity since the gate collapse to this day, there are means to stop numerous monsters.
Rather, it was a state of tension every day because she didn't know when she would be discovered.
She just hoped that there would be no problems until Katie returned.
In that sense, today, the day before the entrance ceremony, was the last night spent with Katie, and the last opportunity to introduce Katie to Siu and Sia.
As Emily said, since they would meet someday, she thought of making this a meeting point.
It should be fine...?
Shh, don't say unnecessary things. It's just saying hello.
She just hoped the meeting would go well without any issues.
...
...
...
On the way from the hotel to the dormitory using public transportation, picking up luggage.
Amazing... People are passing by, but the heart is trembling less than usual.
This is the power of Hoyeonjigi.
High-end skills are indeed different. Amazing.
Huhu, how is it? You learned well?
It was good luck, but still, the effort was worth it.
Not being easily shaken in any situation has many advantages.
Moreover, unlike the essence related to physical effects where the effect appears intuitively, the essence involved in mental growth is difficult to obtain.
In that regard, Hoyeonjigi was the perfect skill for her, who was focusing on survival-oriented growth.
"Tiss unnie~ Here!"
Exiting the terminal platform, Siu and Sia were waiting for them at the entrance.
After sending a message that they were going to the dormitory, Siu came to the terminal with the car received from the Secret Society to pick them up.
"Tiss unnie... this child is?"
"Nice to meet you! Comrades, I'm Katie!"
"Cute."
"Why are there so many cute kids around unnie?"
People around were glancing at this side as they passed.
I, humans are looking at me too much. Too many gazes.
It's natural since there are three beautiful girls standing.
Aha!
Shan, don't do that. You have to smile nicely.
The sight of Tiss, Dorothy, and Katie standing side by side would attract attention no matter who looked.
"Hello?"
Sia approached Katie first and greeted her.
Sniff.
Katie sniffed Sia's scent and slightly frowned.
"Blonde comrades, it smells."
"What? Did I hear wrong?"
"No! I heard clearly! It smells like blonde comrades!"
"You... your voice sounds familiar?"
-Ppajik!
A vein bulged on Sia's forehead as she smiled gently.