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Choi Jeong-min’s statement that he resembles Jeong Ha-yul.

But… the police made a convinced expression upon hearing that.

“The Great Thief is confirmed… Thank you. Students, you’ve been a great help.”

“…Has the suspect been identified?”

“Where did you learn such difficult words? From dramas… Kids these days are so quick.”

The suspect was identified, but they couldn’t elaborate and returned to the scene.

From what I saw, Jeong Ha-yul didn’t resemble him at all…

‘Did I focus too much on the face…’

It seems Choi Jeong-min didn’t hold a grudge and give false testimony.

Not long after, Kang-woo arrived with the car.

Until then, I hadn’t met Hayan.

As I was about to leave the entrance, Choi Jeong-min was staring blankly at me.

“Don’t go anywhere else, wait for mom and dad and go home.”

“Huh? Okay!”

Surely, he wouldn’t sneak off somewhere else…

Just in case, I told the aunties not to let that kid go and got into Kang-woo’s car.

“What’s with the police car? Did something happen?”

“There was a thief at Hayan’s house.”

“Wow… Was there someone at home? Bold. Is anyone hurt?”

“No, everyone’s fine.”

“That’s a relief, let’s go home quickly.”

On the way home, I remembered what the police had said earlier.

“Manager, do you know about the Great Thief?”

“Great Thief? Among thieves, the outstanding ones are usually called Great Thieves.”

“No, someone recently called the Great Thief.”

“Ah… Jo Se-hee?”

“Jo Se-hee?”

“Yeah, there’s a person called Jo Se-hyung, known as the Great Thief in the 1980s, and she’s his daughter.”

“Is she a villain?”

Seeing how quickly it came up, she must be famous.

“Ha-yul said her combat ability is poor… but she’s an A-Class villain. She ran away when she encountered Ha-yul last time. If she really hides, even Ha-yul might not find her.”

“Wow… she’s amazing.”

There’s someone who can escape from Jeong Ha-yul?

Of course, the Fox Mask and his gang ran away, but that was because Kang-woo, Eun-chae, and I were there.

To escape after a one-on-one with the Demon King…

If she had combat ability, she might have been one of the S-Class.

Such a person… robbed Hayan’s house?

What on earth is she after?

“Do you know what kind of family Hayan is from?”

“Not sure, but a mansion in Hannam-dong suggests a chaebol family… Do you know her parents’ names?”

“No, only that her sister is Lee Ha-yoon…”

“Ah. Lee Ha-yoon? She might be the eldest daughter of Taebaek Group, Lee Ha-yoon.”

“Taebaek Group?”

“Yeah, not the existing chaebols but a new chaebol that emerged after the Great Upheaval. Among them, Taebaek Group is the only one competing with the existing chaebols. They created the Taebaek Guild, and Lee Ha-yoon is the guild leader.”

Oseong, Daehyun, LK, GL. Even with those established chaebols, they broke through and secured a position?

“…That’s an impressive family.”

“It is impressive. But you know Ha-yul is even more impressive, right? Even chaebols don’t mess with Jeong Ha-yul.”

“….”

Probably said to reassure me, fearing I might feel intimidated by Hayan’s background.

As if I didn’t know our Demon King is the strongest.

Whether it’s the existing chaebols or the new ones.

If Jeong Ha-yul gets angry, who can stop her?

If things go south, she could destroy everything and flee to America, and America would protect her.

If, by any chance, America doesn’t protect Jeong Ha-yul…

That day, the world’s strongest villain might be born.

***

Taebaek Guild leader’s office under Taebaek Group.

“…My room was robbed this time?”

“Yes, they only took precious metals, nothing else… It seems they’re targeting that.”

“Strengthen security and put out some requests. We can’t leave it like this.”

“If it gets out that we’ve requested help elsewhere, it will damage our image.”

“Then what do you suggest? You guys can’t stop or catch them. The Awakening Ring is absolutely off-limits.”

“Understood…”

The Awakening Ring.

A divine artifact that guarantees S-Class Awakening after wearing it for a year.

The reason Taebaek, the only one among the four major guilds without an S-Class hero, can stand shoulder to shoulder with them.

The Awakening Ring must be worn at the start of the second growth spurt and must never be removed.

Considering the potential to become an S-Class hero, it’s a trivial condition.

Lee Ha-yoon planned to have her younger sister, Lee Hayan, wear the ring when the time came.

But if it’s stolen…

Being expelled from the four major guilds is inevitable.

“Who on earth commissioned the Great Thief? There are still people after that…”

“Currently, LK is the most likely.”

“LK… Are they pulling tricks just because we gave them a bit of a hard time at the last guild leader meeting? I won’t let them have their way.”

Recalling the chaos they went through to be called one of the four major guilds, Lee Ha-yoon shuddered.

“By the way… isn’t the Demon King’s younger sibling in the same school as Hayan?”

“Yes. They’re in the same class.”

“Then request Jeong Ha-yul. Let’s use this chance to maintain a good relationship with the Demon King.”

“Understood.”

“No, I’ll go myself. Get the car ready.”

“Yes.”

***

Returning home with Kang-woo…

“Anyone who draws magic power, be prepared to lose an arm. No fighting in this house.”

Jeong Ha-yul issued a warning in the middle.

Beautiful women sat on either side.

One was an unfamiliar woman.

The other was the Great Thief Jo Se-hee, seen earlier at Hayan’s house.

Looking closely, her figure, hair length, and color were exactly like Jeong Ha-yul’s.

The slight suspicion I had towards Choi Jeong-min was resolved.

“…What’s this scene?”

“I don’t know either… Something must have happened while I was out.”

“Brother’s back? Did Gyeoul have fun?”

“Yes. But who are these people?”

“Ah, that’s…”

One is Hayan’s sister, Lee Ha-yoon.

As the leader of Taebaek Guild, she came to request the Demon King Jeong Ha-yul to catch the Great Thief.

The other is the Great Thief Jo Se-hee.

She came to ask the Demon King Jeong Ha-yul not to interfere as she plans to rob Taebaek Guild’s warehouse.

….

What kind of mess is this?

Unable to do anything, Kang-woo and I stood there when Jo Se-hee approached.

Not to be outdone, Lee Ha-yoon followed.

“The kid I saw earlier?”

“Hello…”

“So you’re Jeong Ha-yul’s sibling? Once is coincidence, twice is fate. You and I must be fated. I’m Jo Se-hee, your sister.”

“You’re in the same class as Hayan, right? Nice to meet you, I’m Hayan’s sister, Lee Ha-yoon.”

Both extended their hands simultaneously.

Which hand I shake here seems to be a crucial point.

Hesitating as I looked between Jo Se-hee and Lee Ha-yoon, Jeong Ha-yul stepped in front of me.

“Don’t mess with my sibling and talk to me instead.”

….

Stealing my chance to hold a beauty’s hand.

I wanted to grab both hands at the same time, but…

Lee Ha-yoon nodded and returned to her seat.

Jo Se-hee licked her lips, winked at me, and went back to her seat.

What’s with that endless flirting?

‘I almost fell for it.’

If it weren’t for Jeong Gyeoul’s body, I might have been charmed immediately.

She’s like a nine-tailed fox.

Returning to her seat, Jeong Ha-yul rubbed her temples as if she had a headache.

“So, what do you want?”

“…Of course, I believe you’ll take my request. Jo Se-hee is a villain, after all.”

“Even if I’m a villain… Have I ever harmed ordinary citizens or the Demon King? At most, I’ve only robbed rich folks like Lee Ha-yoon.”

“Still, it’s illegal and a crime. That’s why you’re called a villain, right?”

“Oh? Would anyone think Taebaek is clean? I have your books; should I leak them to the press?”

“When did you…”

Sparks seemed to fly between their eyes.

“I warned you, drawing magic power will cost you an arm.”

“Sorry…”

“…I’ll be careful.”

No wonder it felt so real.

It must have been a reaction to the magic power.

“Honestly, I don’t really think of Jo Se-hee as a villain. I’ve never thought corporations are clean either.”

“…”

“See! Sexy people have good personalities too. So, you won’t interfere, right?”

Lee Ha-yoon’s expression hardened, while Jo Se-hee smiled.

“But it’s hard to refuse a request from a classmate’s sister…”

Jeong Ha-yul’s words brought mixed emotions.

“Hero! I knew I could count on you!”

“What… am I screwed now?”

Watching their expressions change in real-time feels like watching a play.

Kang-woo and Eun-chae were munching on popcorn they got from somewhere, watching.

Of course, I joined them.

“Who will Jeong Ha-yul side with?”

“Ah, brother. Even so, Jo Se-hee is a villain, so naturally, she’ll side with Taebaek Guild, right?”

“I think she’ll side with the Great Thief sister. She doesn’t seem like a villain… and she’s acquainted with Ha-yul.”

Then. Jeong Ha-yul, as if having made up her mind, spoke.

“Then let’s do this. The Great Thief brings the ring to the client, steals it again, and returns it to Taebaek Guild.”

“…?”

“What kind of… nonsense is that?”

Exactly.

What are you doing, saying something like Choi Jeong-min.

“The Great Thief gets paid twice, which is good. Taebaek gets the ring back, which is good. In the end, only the one who initially commissioned the Great Thief loses… but that’s not my concern. How about it?”

The nonsense somehow sounds persuasive.

Have I been around Jeong Ha-yul too long…

I think I’m starting to be influenced by her.

 

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