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Is the Crown Prince doing well with the advice I gave him?

I want to focus my magic power on my ears and listen to the conversation inside, but as a bodyguard, I shouldn’t do such things.

“Worried…”

“Huh? What are you worried about, Team Leader?”

“Well, I gave the Crown Prince some dating advice…”

“Crazy…”

“What?”

“The Team Leader who got rejected over a hundred times gave dating advice?”

This guy hits where it hurts.

But still, I’ve gained experience from over a hundred attempts, so I’m practically an expert.

“Just wait, kid. You’ll see the Crown Prince succeed in love with my advice.”

“…Is the other person Jeong Gyeoul? This seems like it’s going to get serious.”

“Serious? It’s your belly that’s getting serious. How about we spar after the shift?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Why are you apologizing?”

“Are you starting again?”

“Are you daring to question me, the instructor?”

“Stop it, it’s been two years since you were fired.”

“…I told you, I wasn’t fired.”

While having a deep conversation with my team member.

“Matthew!”

What’s this? I didn’t include calling a bodyguard in the methods I taught the Crown Prince to woo a girl.

Ah.

He must be trying to assert dominance by showing off the bodyguard’s strength.

Teaching one thing and doing two, huh?

Then I should help.

Normally, I would have just run over, but this time, I infused my legs with magic power and stomped the ground.

“…Why is he like that, seriously?”

I lightly ignored the voice of the team member watching this.

‘I’ll just comfort him later…’

When I entered the White Drawing Room, I saw the Crown Prince facing off against Jeong Gyeoul.

Good thing I ran here quickly, emitting magic power.

He must have called me during the intense power struggle.

But…

The Crown Prince said something strange.

“The teacher must not trust Matthew’s skills.”

“…Huh?”

Teacher?

It’s hard enough to call her “noona,” but “teacher”?

This romance is already showing signs of failure.

And the following words were even worse.

“If someone stronger than Matthew tries to kidnap me, I won’t be able to resist and will be captured. That’s why I called Matthew.”

What does this mean?

Does he not trust the royal protection?

Even if he’s the Demon King’s younger sibling, this is clearly crossing the line.

“…Even if you are the Demon King’s sibling, it’s not right to disregard the royal protection.”

A kid like this is nitpicking about protection?

Maybe the Demon King gave some advice for the power struggle, just like I advised the Crown Prince.

Even the Crown Prince would have a hard time overpowering Jeong Gyeoul, who received advice from the Demon King, and must have called for my help after losing the power struggle.

In times like these, I need to stand stronger.

I lightly observed Jeong Gyeoul, sending out my magic power…

I knew she was the youngest Awakened One, but…

How is her magic power so dense?

This could end in a complete loss in the power struggle.

The fact that an adult had to step into a kids’ matter is the clearest sign of losing…

Jeong Gyeoul, who was looking at me with cold eyes, opened her mouth.

“Um, that’s not it… William miscommunicated…”

“William? He’s the Crown Prince. Address him properly.”

It would take at least 3 minutes to completely subdue this kid without harming the Crown Prince.

Her magic power is lacking, but her control seems on par with an A-Class, if not B-Class.

‘Is this even possible?’

Even my team member from the hallway might lose to Jeong Gyeoul.

I realized that by showing up, I might have given Jeong Gyeoul more power.

“No… the Crown Prince… miscommunicated…”

“Are you saying the Crown Prince, the legitimate heir to the British throne, lied?”

“That’s not it…”

“Then, are you saying the remark disregarding royal protection is true?”

“…”

I tried to seize the initiative by speaking firmly, but Jeong Gyeoul’s hardening gaze made me flinch.

‘What kind of 9-year-old has eyes like that…’

A kid who makes a royal A-Class bodyguard cower.

If I don’t back down now, something bad might happen.

As someone responsible for the Crown Prince’s safety, it’s not right for a fight to break out because of me.

Seizing the initiative is only possible when it’s feasible. Now, it seems too much.

“I apologize for being too sensitive in front of an invited guest.”

“No, I also made a mistake without knowing. I’m sorry.”

If it were the Demon King in front of me…

Half the palace might have been blown away today.

And if this kid had decided to…

Half of this reception room might have been gone.

Of course, I would have protected the Crown Prince.

The Demon King’s family is dangerous.

At least Jeong Gyeoul is within the bounds of normalcy, for which I’m grateful.

“Matthew, you can go now… Teacher, are you okay?”

The Crown Prince, who was watching the power struggle between me and Jeong Gyeoul, finally gave the order to leave.

I was thinking about how to tactfully suggest giving up on this romance, but it seems unnecessary.

Seeing him call her “teacher” and act so humble, the romance is doomed.

***

Matthew, the bodyguard…

He’s better than I thought.

Despite giving strange advice that could turn the Crown Prince into a personality disaster, his loyalty to the royal family is solid.

Even though things got heated, he apologized to a kid like me?

He’s nothing like the Clock Tower’s villain trio who would steal a kid’s lunchbox.

“That guy seems good, I’d like to keep him around.”

“Right?”

William’s expression brightened.

He seems like a good person normally. The Crown Prince’s expression brightens with just one compliment.

“Anyway, today is like an orientation, so let’s end here. We’ll start the real class tomorrow.”

“Orientation?”

“It’s like a class that’s not really a class.”

“…?”

I didn’t get to eat the royal family’s fancy desserts.

A bit disappointing, but there are desserts at the mansion too.

“Matthew!”

“Yes.”

This time, he came running almost immediately.

Still with magic power in his legs.

If those legs hit me… every bone in my torso would be shattered.

…Good thing I didn’t mess around.

“The teacher is leaving, I’d like Matthew to escort her.”

“…Me? There are already assigned bodyguards.”

“But I want Matthew to go.”

“…Understood.”

Is this the sincere concern of a disciple for their teacher?

Or is it a setup to mess with me?

Why put the A-Class Awakened One I just argued with next to me, you brat.

“Teacher, see you tomorrow!”

Seeing William bow, it doesn’t seem like he’s messing with me.

But it’s still annoying.

The intensity of tomorrow’s training has been decided.

“…Alright, see you tomorrow.”

I answered politely, watching Matthew’s expression, and left the palace.

“I can go alone…”

“Just following orders. I’ll escort you.”

“…Okay.”

Matthew joined the bodyguard team that picked me up from the Clock Tower.

Specifically, in the passenger seat of my car.

…An uncomfortable and stuffy seating arrangement.

Even breathing feels awkward.

This is why you shouldn’t live a life of sin.

On the way to the mansion, I couldn’t say a word and just looked out the window…

Something was flying towards us from the sky.

‘What’s that?’

It’s getting closer.

….

A missile?

At that moment, Matthew in the passenger seat unbuckled his seatbelt, pushed the seat back, and shielded me.

Kwaaang—

***

-Target approaching. Black Jaguar, license plate 4885.

-Got it.

A man on the ground picked up a Javelin and locked onto the car carrying Jeong Gyeoul and Matthew.

“Why can’t we just go straight for the Demon King? Why go through this hostage drama?”

“According to Jack’s report, the Demon King has power beyond S-Class.”

“You believe the words of a fool who got himself locked up in a Korean prison?”

“Weaklings are usually good at assessing their opponents.”

“…You leave me speechless.”

-You can fire now.

-Got it.

Whoosh—

The Javelin, trailing flames, flew straight towards the car carrying Jeong Gyeoul and Matthew.

Kwaaang—

The lead car flipped from the impact, and the SUVs following behind also overturned.

“Looks like Vienna sausages. How about sausage stir-fry for a snack after this?”

“Shut up and focus on the mission.”

“…Is it because half your body is machine? No sense of romance.”

“You find romance here, I’ll go ahead.”

“Come with me, oppa!”

As the man and woman jumped off the roof, dozens of villains behind them followed.

“But… is this really okay? If we’re taking hostages, shouldn’t we avoid firing Javelins?”

“Jeong Gyeoul is an Awakened One, and the guy next to her is an A-Class bodyguard. They can handle this. Just make sure Crime Pub supports us well. Keep the Clock Tower and the royal family tied up.”

“…Understood.”

Unlike the villains struggling to keep up at high speed.

The woman, still relaxed, answered questions with a smile.

Crime Pub’s hired S-Class villain from China, Xiao Zhan.

And his younger sister, A-Class villain, Xiao Lin.

The killer siblings from the Triad were after Jeong Gyeoul.

 

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