Chapter 30
I’ll translate the chapter into clean HTML, keeping the special in-universe passage styled as required and preserving the tone and character voices.CHAPTER_TITLE: Chapter 30
To be blunt, it really was extortion.
I’d been dragged to a café out of the blue, after all, and forced to buy cake.
“That’ll be 42,000 won.”
“...Here.”
“Thank you. How many candles would you like?”
“I don’t think we need any.”
And not even a small one.
42,000 won...
...I’ve never paid that much just for bread in my life.
It was the first time I’d ever shelled out this kind of money for something meant to be eaten as bread. I’d never even bought myself a cake for my own birthday.
“Sorry... I didn’t bring my card.”
“...Then you should’ve brought it and bought it yourself. Why use my card—”
“...Thank you. I was too lazy... to go back and forth.”
“...”
“Thanks.”
Irene picked up the cake and moved off. She’d flown just a moment ago, and now she was walking. As I stood there watching her in silence—
“...Flying would’ve ruined the cake.”
“...Do you perhaps also know mind reading?”
“No. People usually ask, so... I answered in advance.”
“...”
She really was one peculiar character, no matter how I looked at her.
“I’ll bring it soon... ”
“...Yes.”
“It’s a café with good reviews. I hope the cake tastes good.”
Her expression was almost eager. We hadn’t known each other long, but she always looked expressionless—except when cake was involved. Then she got this oddly delighted look.
“You really like cake.”
At my words, Irene gave a faint laugh.
“...Do I seem childish?”
“Huh? No. I just thought you had particular tastes.”
“I like it.”
Irene’s tone was somehow clear and distinct when she said it.
“I even wondered once whether there was a spell that could turn the whole world into cake...”
“...”
That sounded pretty dangerous.
Could Irene actually do it if she wanted to?
The Great Archmage.
The thought flashed through my mind that maybe the world’s strongest superhuman really could make it happen.
“You’re not serious, right...?”
“Everyone makes that face when they hear it...”
“Well, I mean, I think they kind of have to.”
“I’m joking...”
“...?”
She’d been joking? It didn’t sound like a joke at all.
“Then I’ll see you in a week...”
“...Yes. Understood.”
Just like that, Irene headed upstairs, and I went straight down.
I was upset at having my cake shaken down from me out of nowhere. She really would pay me back, right?
Ah. Come to think of it.
What about the rent?
The monthly rent and deposit for the place I’d been living in were the real problem. I’d need to pull out of that place suddenly. Was that even possible?
...And money’s a problem too.
I didn’t have much cash on hand. I’d heard that knights got paid a little, but...
“...Huh.”
Could I get an advance?
That was the first ridiculous thought that crossed my mind.
＊ ＊ ＊
Morning came.
I sat up when I saw sunlight spilling in.
“...Oh.”
The bed was too good. It must really be a nice place.
It felt the same with the hospital bed before, too.
Yeah, beds really were something you should pay for properly. I got up, feeling the soft give beneath me.
The aftereffects were still lingering, and my body creaked annoyingly, but even so—
“Should I run?”
First I needed to get outside.
It was 6 a.m. The sun was only just beginning to prepare itself to rise.
I moved my body through the morning air.
“Huff... huff...”
It was a routine I’d repeated for years. I hadn’t been able to run lately because I’d been hospitalized, but now I felt pretty fine.
This neighborhood’s nice.
I ran at a slightly fast pace... no, a very fast pace. Maybe because I’d become a superhuman, even that kind of speed didn’t feel especially hard.
...What pace is this, anyway?
My pace was absurdly fast. I used to run in the low five-minute range, but now that sort of thing had become meaningless.
It felt refreshing. Running like this, at this speed, felt good.
Lost in that thought, I kept my feet moving, and then—
“Jinwoo?”
“...”
At the sound of the voice, my steps stopped. Frozen might be the better word for it.
“That is Jinwoo, right?”
A voice that somehow sounded cheerful. I looked ahead and saw the person approaching me.
“Yu Jin.”
“What are you doing here?”
It was a handsome face, bright with easy laughter. Yu Jin, Korea’s SS-class superhuman.
“Why are you here...? Ah, right.”
As if he’d just remembered something, Yu Jin gave a light clap of his hands.
“You became a knight, so you came here. Nice to see you.”
He held out his hand. I took it cautiously.
“I heard you got your grade measured. They said you’re A-class.”
“...Ah, yeah.”
“That’s great. Congratulations. Oh, was the terror attack okay?”
“That’s fine too. It got resolved. Irene was there.”
“Ah. Irene...”
Yu Jin’s expression changed for a split second. But only for an instant. He quickly returned to normal and smiled thinly.
“That’s a relief. I’m glad nothing happened. I was worried.”
“...Thanks.”
“I didn’t expect to run into a friend here. This is really a nice surprise. Let’s run together sometime. I always come out at this hour.”
“Yeah. Sure. Got it.”
“I’ll go on ahead. See you later!”
Yu Jin pushed off with a smile. Watching his back, I bit my dry lip faintly.
I’d better not run at this time anymore.
I made that decision then and there.
＊ ＊ ＊
When I got back, I remembered something I’d completely forgotten.
“Man, my phone’s about to explode.”
Seventy missed calls.
The message inbox was already on the verge of bursting. Every single call had been from that bastard Gyeongbeom.
Riiing.
The other side answered before even a second had passed.
“You bastard!”
“...Ow.”
I nearly lost an ear.
“Why the hell are you screaming?”
“You insane bastard. Why the hell weren’t you answering your phone?”
“I was sleeping. I was asleep, so I couldn’t answer.”
“Like hell you were. You expect me to believe you were sleeping at that hour? You think I wouldn’t know you just weren’t picking up?”
“No, I mean, a guy can miss a call sometimes. Isn’t that when you should figure I’m busy and stop calling? What’s with seventy calls? That’s creepy.”
“It’s because you’re pissing people off by not answering! And what the hell was that voice?”
“The voice?”
Was he talking about yesterday?
“That was Irene.”
“What...?”
“I didn’t have my card, so I asked her to buy me something and we went together.”
“And she just comes and goes from your place?”
“...That’s what I’m saying.”
That was my line. Why was she coming and going from my house like it was nothing?
And showing up without even a hint of presence made it even scarier.
Anyway, I gave the increasingly irritable Jin Gyeongbeom a quick explanation of the situation.
“...So you have to live in that house?”
“Yeah. So I’m going to look into movers. I’ve got stuff to bring over.”
“With that woman?”
“What woman?”
“Hale Irene.”
“Ah.”
Live together? What was he even talking about?
“The floors are different. How would I be living together with her?”
“Same building, though.”
“Fair enough, I guess? They do say it’s good to be close.”
“...That’s annoying, isn’t it?”
“What?”
“Nothing. Hey. I’ll get the moving company set up for you.”
“What do you mean, set it up? I’ll just go handle it myself.”
“You said it was dangerous. And do you really think you can keep going back and forth to your place? What, are you planning to ask Irene for help?”
“...Ah.”
That was true, too.
“But then I’d just contact the movers—”
“I’ll do that, so don’t worry about it. You never find anything properly anyway, and all you end up doing is getting ripped off.”
“...”
I had nothing to say to that.
“I’ll take care of it and send you the bill, so just send me the money. I’ll pay it properly and send you whatever’s left. Got it?”
“...Yeah. Yeah. Thanks.”
“I’m hanging up.”
“Yeah. Oh, and—”
Click.
“...”
He hung up before I could finish. I’d been thinking of telling him I ran into Yu Jin, too.
“Why would I even say that.”
I scratched the back of my head awkwardly. It didn’t seem necessary.
“Alright. Then...”
It was about time, and I didn’t have much to do for the next week anyway.
“...Maybe I should use this.”
⚡ Strength:[x]
💨 Agility:[x]
[■ Musin Image (II) (EX)]
[■ Would you like to use it? Y/N]
It was something I’d obtained by clearing the quest in the Colosseum last time.
Besides, I had nothing to do for the next week anyway.
I guess I have to do it.
It was a quest given by Musin. If I wanted to get stronger, it was something I needed to do.
I’m telling you in advance. If you don’t think you’ll be able to protect yourself, then hide it properly and live like that.
Ikeon’s words kept echoing in my ears.
If I didn’t have the strength to protect something, then I should hide it.
He’s right.
He was right.
If you don’t have the strength to protect it, then you shouldn’t have it out in the open.
Whether it was a person or anything else.
“...Let’s go.”
I clicked the Y button.
And once again, my vision went dark.
＊ ＊ ＊
Inside a room with no light coming in.
In the space lit only by a small lamp, someone whispered.
“...Irene...?”
Crack.
It was a man’s voice. A young man’s voice brushed through the room, yet the strange thing was that the figure sitting on the bed was a woman.
No one else was visible. Then the woman removed the ring from her finger.
Swoosh—!
A faint surge of energy passed through the room.
“...This is really pissing me off.”
The male voice from a moment ago returned to the woman’s slender one. Her sharp eyes turned toward somewhere in the dark.
“What? He comes and goes from your house? Cake? That’s ridiculous.”
And he’d even moved himself without knowing it?
“...So he moved out on the same day.”
If it had been even a day later, she would have noticed. The fact that she hadn’t meant they’d whisked him away before she could catch on.
“Hah.”
Kidnapping him? How dare they?
“I was already furious from hearing he’d been targeted.”
She’d been on her way back from Japan after taking care of business there. She’d been unable to do anything because of the timing, and then this happened in the meantime.
And while she was busy, this had gone down?
“...So he went into the lodging where the knights stay?”
On paper, it was protection.
Who would object to the world’s strongest superhuman acting as a bodyguard? In terms of safety, it was the best possible arrangement. The problem was—
“It’s irritating.”
Of all people, it was Irene. Knowing what she did about Hale Irene made her angry.
The reason was simple.
“She’s pretty.”
Irene was beautiful. More than beautiful—almost unfairly so.
That stone-faced bastard wouldn’t move for something like that... but the world was full of maybes.
“...Haa.”
She brushed back her hair.
Crackle.
Her lightning qi surged in response to her emotions. With a frosty look, the woman made a call somewhere.
“...So he went somewhere I can’t go.”
If she couldn’t go there as a knight, then—
-Yes?
“Dad.”
-Oh, right. What’s wrong, my daugh—
“I’m quitting my company job and becoming a knight.”
-...Huh?
“I’m going to join the newly formed knight order, so keep that in mind.”
-Wait, daughter? What are you sayin—
“I’m hanging up. Yes, I love you too.”
-Wai—!
Click.
She ended the call. There was no need to hear whatever came next.
“Sorry, Jinwoo.”
The woman—Jin Yeonhui—opened her cold eyes and said,
“I don’t let go of what’s mine.”
Jin Yeonhui was that kind of person, and among all things, Lee Jinwoo was—
“The one thing I have no intention of ever losing.”
the most special existence in her life.