Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: He's in the Same Club as Me
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Shin Noda knocking out Zhang Yi-chen—the moment it happened, all the members of his club jumped to their feet, striking fighting poses.
“This is it!”
“Nyaaang—meow!”
“I knew you could do it!”
Isia felt proud knowing she was acquainted with such an amazing guy.
In the group chat for the friendly members of the 'Knight Order' cafe, whenever guys came up in conversation, everyone was too busy talking about celebrities since they didn't even have boyfriends, let alone guy friends. But Isia was different.
Shin Noda had idol-level looks and unmatched power among his peers.
She could call herself a close friend of his.
'I'm not just some fan like you all. I'm someone who exchanges personal messages with a guy like that.'
She even felt a subtle sense of superiority.
That said, her suspicion that Shin Noda might be the 'Dark Knight' grew even stronger.
“Hahaha! We're so lucky Noda joined our club!”
Lee Sang-hyeon had benefited greatly from Shin Noda too.
Lee Sang-hyeon had originally been the so-called 'outsider' in his class that no one paid any attention to.
But these days, just being 'acquainted' with Shin Noda gave him plenty to talk about, drawing lots of interest.
On top of that, clearing the dungeon had boosted his own reputation, and he'd even secured specs he could flaunt to management agencies.
He felt like he could kowtow in gratitude.
“Didn't you oppose it at first, Sunbae……?”
“I remember you blocking his entry and making him take all those tests…….”
“Nyaang. Hyaak.”
The club members couldn't help but throw in snarky comments upon hearing Lee Sang-hyeon—who had desperately tried to block Shin Noda's entry at first—say that.
“Ahem, situations change.”
Meanwhile, off in a spot a bit removed from them, Weapon Master Lee Chan-hyuk watched the match.
He closed his eyes, replaying the fight he'd just seen in his mind.
'Zhang Yi-chen's overhead strike from the sky wasn't a normal move. It had to be a skill. So how did Shin Noda block it?'
By Lee Chan-hyuk's common sense, that matchup was a guaranteed loss for Shin Noda.
'No way he's hiding another skill.'
No matter how he thought about it, he concluded that Shin Noda was hiding something.
'Well, it's only been a short time since we met, so he wouldn't have built up enough trust to show me his hidden ace yet.'
Among Awakeners, there were occasionally those who hid trump card skills or concealed their ability levels.
However, such people were rare.
In emergencies, they could face suspicion, and management agencies evaluated salaries based on profiled abilities.
Lee Chan-hyuk wanted to teach him more.
'Shin Noda will hit S-rank soon.'
If he started receiving his guidance now, Shin Noda could become a true martial god stronger than any typical S-rank.
And he himself would be that martial god's master.
His chest swelled with anticipation already.
'I can't just sit around waiting.'
Lee Chan-hyuk pulled out his smartphone and sent Shin Noda a message congratulating him on the win and asking when he'd be free for the next lesson.
***
As I left the arena with Park Ha-yeon, Yang Min-seo and the rest of the team were waiting for me.
Oh Ha-na jolted in surprise when our eyes met, then quickly looked away.
“To celebrate finishing the practicals, how about our team goes out for a group dinner?”
Yang Min-seo suggested an after-party, saying she'd reserved a fancy restaurant.
“Hmm. I…….”
Sadly, I'd already made plans with Park Ha-yeon to have a family(?) outing for dinner with Laura and the kids.
Bailing last minute might disappoint her too much, so I hesitated.
“Oh, Ha-yeon should come too. She's not on our team, but we're close, right?”
“Uh? Oh, yeah.”
Somehow, Yang Min-seo picked up on my concern for Park Ha-yeon's feelings and cut in, acting friendly toward her.
Park Ha-yeon was the type who couldn't refuse someone approaching with a smile like that, and just like that, we ended up joining the after-party.
The after-party was nothing special.
The fancy restaurant made the food enjoyable, and Oh Ha-na couldn't even meet my eyes.
Seeing that haughty girl fidgeting nervously around me was secretly cute.
Evening passed in a flash.
“Then let's call it a night. Glad we all got to vent and clear the air.”
It was a time that felt long if long, short if short.
Thanks to Yang Min-seo setting it up, we shared lots of stories, strengthening our bonds.
I'd even managed to break the ice a bit with Oh Ha-na, who had been subtly avoiding me.
“Bye-bye.”
“See you tomorrow.”
We wrapped up the gathering, and Park Ha-yeon and I headed home together.
***
The moment Park Ha-yeon and I got home and opened the front door, we were stunned by the sight before us.
“We greet the Master!”
“We greet the Master!”
Alpha and Omega, the twin siblings, knelt on one knee and bowed their heads to me.
They were even dressed custom-fitted in butler and maid outfits.
There wasn't a trace of playfulness.
I hurriedly helped them up in my fluster.
“Why are you doing this all of a sudden? You two.”
When I asked, Laura emerged from the room with a 'kuhuhu' chuckle.
“How about it! I trained them well.”
“This is…… training?”
“I tried doing it like with the guardians who protect the lair, but is it lacking?”
Laura's nonchalant words made my head throb on one side.
This wasn't at all what I'd imagined.
Come to think of it, strangely, the kid in the butler outfit had a slight swell at the chest.
Meanwhile, the one in the maid outfit was fidgeting restlessly with bent knees.
Unwelcome imaginings started creeping in.
“No way, you're Omega?”
I asked the one in the butler outfit, and Omega nodded calmly.
“And you're Alpha?”
The one in the maid outfit blushed and nodded too.
“What the hell did you do?”
How intense was the training that the kids ended up like this while I was gone?
I couldn't fathom why they were calling me Master, or why Alpha was in girl's clothes and Omega in boy's.
Was this that political correctness thing?
“Don't call me Master.”
I pleaded with the kids for now.
Anyone seeing this would report me in a heartbeat.
“Sniff. Please don't abandon us.”
“Please. Okay?”
The twins made a huge fuss, acting like I'd said something shocking.
My head was spinning.
A glance showed Park Ha-yeon staring at me like I was trash.
“No, who's abandoning you?”
“But Lady Laura said if we didn't obey Master, she'd throw us away.”
Lady Laura must be Laura.
Since she introduced herself as Dragon Lord.
I glared at Laura with furrowed brows.
“Hmm. Not quite right?”
Laura awkwardly averted her eyes from me.
I clutched my head.
“Of course not! I said to train them like normal kids. And why is Alpha wearing something like a maid outfit!”
“Twins are more fun that way.”
“Ah…….”
A sigh escaped my lips.
This dragon seemed to view the twins as amusing toys.
“Don't be too harsh. Laura's just a kid too.”
Park Ha-yeon held me back.
Not knowing the situation, she must have thought I was unfairly yelling at a child for leaving other children with her.
“Anyway, Master is absolutely not allowed! Call me Brother or Oppa instead!”
“Yes, Noda Oppa.”
“Yes, Noda Hyung.”
Somehow the titles and the genders of the ones saying them felt reversed, but I decided to ignore it.
“Phew. Okay for now.”
To rest my weary mind, I flopped onto the sofa and turned on the TV.
An emergency breaking news alert was on.
[K Pharma Villain's Return?!]
A menacing title sat at the top of the screen.
Archival footage showed soldiers and police massed in front of the National Assembly building.
“This afternoon, assailants invaded the National Assembly and seized a meeting room in session. They've taken the assembly members hostage and are barricaded inside. Let's go to Ymir Reporter on site. Ymir?”
The news anchor delivered the breaking news with a stiff, composed face.
“Yes, heroes, soldiers, and police are all out here at the scene. The hostage-takers are all necromancy-type Awakeners wearing Korol masks and committing this crime. They're demanding the shutdown of the 'Potential Danger Awakener Alert e' service for now. Police suspect they may be followers of the 'K Pharma Villain' and are investigating closely…….”
The reporter calmly relayed her gathered info from the chaotic scene.
Behind her, several heroes in costumes gripping weapons were visible.
I leaned back on the sofa, deep in thought.
A large-scale crime by necromancy-type Awakeners.
This wasn't in the original story.
'What is this? Something this big would've been mentioned in the game. Butterfly effect?'
Deviations from the original were piling up more and more.
'The only major change is the Dark Knight's existence. Anyway, I can't fully trust the original knowledge anymore.'
Still, it was prime experience points for me.
I headed to my room to pack my gear and suggested to Laura that we go together.
I had no clue what kind of villains were occupying the Assembly, so I planned to borrow her magic support.
“Ehh? Too annoying. Go by yourself…….”
Laura was rolling around on the bed.
She was glued to her smartphone.
I slipped my hand under her armpit and hoisted her up.
“Let's go.”
“Ugh. No choice then.”
Laura threw on some clothes haphazardly and followed me.
“Ha-yeon, Laura and I are heading out.”
“Where to? Never mind, you won't tell me anyway. Got it. Be safe.”
Park Ha-yeon saw us off with a pouty face.
“Take care, Oppa!”
The twins came running over, shouting.
'Now they're both just calling me Oppa.'
Maybe because they were made with aesthetics in mind, they were cute anyway.