I Want to See the Leader Too, Nya!
I returned home with Seo-rin.
When I explained that those guys were members of the infamous Germon syndicate, Seo-rin nodded as if she had heard of it before.
“Aah, I’ve seen the name on the news lately.”
“They seem pretty big.”
“I guess so. I don’t know the details though.”
Seo-rin didn’t seem to know much herself.
“Personal Awakened affiliated with the Awakened Management Bureau or guilds are supposed to hunt monsters that appear through gates. Crimes by Awakened are handled by the police.”
“So that’s why there are Awakened on the police side.”
Seo-rin subtly furrowed her brows and pulled out her phone.
She seemed to be searching for the name Germon.
“Ever since Awakened appeared, those kinds of guys have always been around, but lately they’ve gotten especially bad. Kidnapping right in the middle of the day in the city.”
True enough, it happened in the other world too.
Guys with just enough power who didn’t hesitate to commit the most heinous acts to look out for their own interests.
Of course, those kinds of guys would get their skulls bashed in whenever I crossed paths with them.
‘Here, image management is important, so I can’t cause too much of a scene.
Just knocking out those three earlier was enough.
If I handled them too brutally, rumors might start up.’
Seo-rin’s phone screen was still playing the police interview as she showed me my name from the search results.
The article featured my name, Kang Si-ho, Terda Guild, and the Germon organization.
‘No video from this one.’
I had attacked alone in a hurry,
and by the time suppression was complete, the police had already arrived, so there was no video.
Instead, there was a video of a reporter interviewing a police officer who had arrived at the scene.
“Could you tell us the situation at the scene at the time?”
“Yes, we were dispatched right after receiving a kidnapping report and were searching the surrounding area when we received an additional report that the suspects had been suppressed nearby.”
“And you went running over there… to where that person was?”
“Correct. It was Terda Guild’s guild master, Mr. Kang Si-ho. When we arrived, he had already suppressed the three criminals.”
“I see. The public has been skeptical about his ability because he’s supposedly an F-class Awakened, but it turns out he’s something else.”
“It seems so. The three criminals he suppressed were two C-class and one B-class. No ordinary F-class Awakened could take them down alone.”
The current world really does differ from the other world in this regard.
While both face monster invasions, the current world spreads rumors at an incredible speed thanks to overwhelming communication technology.
Moreover, people’s reactions are instant.
Already the article had hundreds of comments.
— Hey, wasn’t there that video of you beating an A-class in a spar yesterday?
— Today they’re saying you beat two C-class and one B-class lol
— Haha, it’s true you’re faking your rank. How can that be F lolol
— Yeah, suspicious.
— Spy from another country? I heard he’s been missing for years.
— No way. Seo-rin’s in the same guild as you, right?
— The guild master seduced Seo-rin?
— Seo-rin’s not the type.
— Terda Guild was just founded, but the initial firepower is insane.
— I already bought the dip lol
Countless stories were pouring out in the comments.
Some were entirely on my side, while others were skeptical of my true identity.
‘This is a bit different too.’
In the other world, because I already carried the weight of being the Chosen Hero, full support was the norm.
So even if I beat up the Demon King army or similar forces in a bizarre way, no one would care.
But here, I’m only just starting to make a name for myself.
I need to tread carefully.
The police interview playing on Seo-rin’s phone ended with praise for me.
“Mr. Si-ho… is a model citizen. ‘No compensation needed. I just did what was right.’ He disappeared with those words… Truly a proper Awakened for this era.”
Did I really say something like that?
I think I did say something similar.
The police were interpreting my words however they liked and the interview ended.
“Oppa, the guild exploded in popularity the moment it was founded. You might even surpass me in fame.”
“This is just the beginning.”
For now, we’re at the stage where the public is amazed and focused on me.
I haven’t built enough familiarity or affection yet.
Such emotions take time.
“If I perform well in the Songdo operation too, I might gain some recognition.”
After thinking over everything, Seo-rin let out a meaningful smile and clicked her tongue.
“Not just recognition, but a fan base might form this time.”
“A fan base…? Even a guild has one?”
“Of course. In this world, guilds are far more than just soldiers protecting people.”
It seems like a complex concept now, one that mixes popularity with battling monsters.
The concept of guild in the current world.
“Showing off just through performance isn’t enough… and we need a pretty story.”
Seo-rin rubbed her chin, looking thoughtful.
Simply showing overwhelming skill isn’t enough.
We need a situation that deeply moves people’s hearts.
That’s what Seo-rin was saying.
‘A pretty story…’
Between battling monsters, when do I have time to think of one?
As I pondered, I let Seo-rin’s words wash over me.
In the middle of a starry night,
the headquarters office of the Knight Commandant was glowing brighter than the moon outside the window.
“Huaaah… finally it’s over.”
Elysia had stayed in the office the entire day without leaving, handling backlogged and scheduled tasks.
“Thank you for your hard work, Commander. You can finally take a breather.”
“Maril worked hard too.”
“So… you’ll be away for a while again?”
“I think so.”
Elysia gave a meaningful look.
Maril studied her expression.
He thought she was heading out to deal with the ‘not-so-insignificant opponent’ we had talked about earlier.
He immediately answered with his usual respectful tone.
“I will handle all the Knight’s business from my position as much as possible. Please focus only on the opponents you must defeat…”
“…Thank you.”
Elysia felt a bit puzzled by Maril’s overly solemn words, but since they were meant to encourage her, she answered with gratitude.
“Did you pack the hero’s weapon?”
“Yes, as long as I have this, everything should be fine… fufu.”
Elysia had packed the gift to help her master as much as possible,
but from Maril’s perspective it looked a little different.
‘Why does she need the hero’s weapon? How formidable an enemy could she be!’
Maril fell into a useless delusion and became serious on his own.
Suddenly the lights in the office dimmed.
“…”
“What…?”
The office was instantly plunged into darkness.
In the quiet, still void,
Elysia saw a pair of red eyes.
“Don’t mess around and come out already.”
Elysia spoke with heavy weight in her voice, addressing someone.
Maril, who had no idea what was happening, felt chills run down his spine.
He too saw those red eyes Elysia had seen.
‘What? Even for a human, that much aura… almost like a squad leader!’
As he thought that, he reached for the sword handle at his waist.
A mischievous voice suddenly rang in his ear.
“Hehe~ loosen up your face. I just came to play, so don’t greet me with such a scary look.”
“If you come normally you’d be greeted, right?”
The silhouette reflected in the window lit by moonlight was slightly alien compared to a human shadow.
Wearing a tiger-patterned outfit and cat ears, with a pair of red eyes glowing against the white moon, she was a figure Maril knew well.
“Hah…! You’re… Grante!”
As soon as he recognized her, Maril dropped to one knee.
“We… hero, I am Maril, vice commander of the Royal Knight Corps.”
The tiger beastman with the most ferocious personality among the hero’s companions.
A powerhouse with strength comparable to Elysia’s, without question.
Obtained the title of humanity’s hero for her contributions to defeating the Demon King alongside the hero, but because she had caused significant harm to humanity before joining the hero’s companions, her infamy lingered.
That’s why Maril was gripped by instant fear.
Of course Elysia was there, but if the beastman wanted, he might lose his head right there.
“Heh, don’t be scared. I promised the hero I wouldn’t kill humans for no reason anymore.”
Grante smiled with playful amusement, but Maril felt an odd tension in her voice.
It sounded like the roar of a beast wrapped in human language.
Maril nodded to himself, thinking the saying “his tailbone tingled” fit perfectly.
Just as he thought that, Elysia stepped forward.
“What brings you out at this hour?”
“What brings me? I came to loosen up my body for a while.”
Grante was born a battle maniac.
She joined the hero’s party because she was captivated by his strength.
But now that the Demon King was gone and the hero had returned, the only one who could satisfy her battle craving was Elysia.
“…Is it a spar again? I’m a bit busy right now.”
“I originally came to spar, but my mind changed.”
Grante wore a fierce smile, barely suppressing her excitement, and continued.
“Elysia… you’ve met the leader, haven’t you?”
“What sudden nonsense are you talking about?”
Grante closed her eyes, sniffed the air with her nose, then opened them slightly and looked at Elysia.
“It’s strange… there’s a scent. Not the leader’s scent, but a scent that reminds me of the leader.”
Because Grante was born a beastman,
her sense of smell far surpassed any human’s.
Grante descended from the window and approached Elysia.
“Sniff— I smell that scent on Elysia. You’ve met the leader, haven’t you?”
Elysia had spent days with her master, so the scent remained on her body, and Grante had caught it.
“Quickly! Tell me straight!”
“Haa…”
No matter how she tried to hide it,
Elysia had no choice but to spill everything to Grante.
All the events that had happened to her during that time.