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On the rooftop where Kim Bong-du had left, only the Apostle with both legs severed remained.

“Sigh… Could’ve at least cut off the arms too.”

The woman, more filled with pleasure and excitement than the pain of losing her limbs, lamented that Kim Bong-du hadn’t cut off more.

Breathing heavily, lying on the ground, the Apostle was surprisingly regenerating her legs.

As far as known, no hero, except for the immortal Jang Gil-yong, could regenerate severed limbs.

Unless using a potion, it was impossible with one’s own abilities.

Yet, the woman was regenerating her legs, pouring life force stored in her staff into them.

Though slower than recovery via potion, the fact that her severed legs were regrowing was astonishing.

“I should just do a rough job and get out of here quickly.”

While the pleasure from pain was good, it was something one could only feel if alive.

If the shelter’s business wrapped up quickly and Kim Bong-du returned, it was clear she’d either rot in prison or die.

Just as she was about to leave, having roughly shaped her legs and nervous system, moving her body with magic power.

A woman of rare beauty, with black hair fluttering, landed on the rooftop.

“Wow~ Your life force is sexy. I’m jealous.”

“…Who are you?”

“Ah, I’m Jo Se-hee.”

“…The Great Thief?”

“Eh, I dropped the villain name ages ago. I’m the Association’s dog now…”

Introducing herself as the Association’s dog, the former Great Thief, Jo Se-hee, walked towards the Apostle.

The Apostle frowned at the approaching Jo Se-hee.

Her expression was one of pure malice, unseen even when Kim Bong-du severed her legs.

“Stay back!”

“Why? You seemed to have fun with Kim Bong-du, but not with me?”

“Get lost! I said get lost!”

The Apostle had never thought she’d be caught until fighting Kim Bong-du.

Thanks to the followers prepared inside the Academy, there was a way to make Kim Bong-du leave.

Moreover, if the opponent was male, she could accept the pain as pleasure.

With the ability to regenerate injuries, there was nothing to worry about…

“Crawling with your arms can’t be faster than walking with legs, that’s common sense.”

“Get lost, you crazy bitch!”

Continuously cursing at Jo Se-hee, she desperately tried to drag herself away with her arms.

‘Please! Please!’

In her haste, without stopping the regeneration and pulling up magic power, her life force and magic power got tangled inside her.

The life force being absorbed from the staff and the pulled-up magic power.

The two energies stuck together, unable to move properly.

Normally, it would take 10 seconds to untangle, but it wasn’t going as smoothly as thought.

‘I can’t be caught here! I still have much to do as an Apostle!’

Please, someone save me.

Even Satan, even the Cult Leader.

Even the other Apostles who usually ignore me, if only they’d save me.

I’d even lick their feet clean every day.

But contrary to the Apostle’s wishes, no one came to save her.

Jo Se-hee approached the Apostle with light steps.

“Then, pretty pervert sister, you’ll have to come with me to the Association.”

“…Just wait until my legs recover.”

The Apostle stopped crawling on the rooftop, looking at Jo Se-hee with a resigned voice.

This time, Jo Se-hee frowned.

“Are you nuts… You’re A-Class, if you regenerate your legs and fight, I might lose, and you expect me to wait?”

“I’ll just get caught! If I don’t treat this now, there’ll be aftereffects!”

“Whatever~”

“…What?”

“Are you a boomer?”

“What’s that…?”

After Jeong Gyeoul’s group returned from England to Korea.

Jo Se-hee, tasked by the Association to protect Jeong Gyeoul, stuck close to her.

While also keeping an eye on Jeong Ha-yul and Jeong Gyeoul from other guilds.

Figuring out the weaknesses of Hero Daily reporter Kim Bit-na, warning whenever lines were crossed.

Always hovering around Jeong Gyeoul while doing various tasks.

Jeong Gyeoul didn’t know.

Only remembering her as the stupid but kind sister who came home after Association work and got drunk every day.

Even Jeong Gyeoul didn’t know Jo Se-hee was escorting her.

Though Jeong Ha-yul’s gaze sometimes lingered on Jo Se-hee…

Having been close to Jeong Gyeoul since elementary school, Jo Se-hee occasionally let out some childishness.

At first, she often felt embarrassed, but lately, it became fun, often mixing it into conversations.

Though talking to people was only when threatening Kim Bit-na.

Taking away paparazzi’s camera memory.

Disrupting other guild’s staff.

Making excuses to Jeong Ha-yul.

Just as the Apostle, slightly dumbfounded, blankly stared at Jo Se-hee.

Whoosh—

With the wind, Jo Se-hee’s new form disappeared.

“…What the!”

Frantically looking around the rooftop, but her figure was nowhere to be seen.

“…Did she leave?”

Just as the Apostle began to harbor vain hopes.

Thud—

Jo Se-hee’s kick struck the Apostle’s nape.

“…”

Without a groan, scream, or any sound, the Apostle lost consciousness and collapsed.

“What, didn’t faint when Kim Bong-du hit, but one hit from me and it’s lights out. Want to try a promotion exam?”

Shrugging her shoulders, she hoisted the unconscious Apostle.

Glancing towards the shelter, she turned her head.

Having heard the Apostle talking to Kim Bong-du, she was slightly worried about Jeong Gyeoul, but an S-Class hero was heading there.

Knowing what he couldn’t do, Jo Se-hee also couldn’t, so she shook off her reluctance and headed to the Association.

“See you later, Gyeoul.”

She followed Jeong Gyeoul wherever in the country, but after Jeong Gyeoul became a middle schooler and entered the Academy, it became impossible.

Association President Jeong Ho-min even tried to get official permission for Jo Se-hee’s access.

But couldn’t write Jo Se-hee’s name, practically the Association’s ghost agent, and using someone else’s identity risked exposure.

Thus, infiltration into the Academy wasn’t permitted.

Only waiting for weekends or outings and overnight stays.

Though sad to leave without seeing Jeong Gyeoul’s cute and lovely face.

First, dealing with the Apostle sleeping on her shoulder was a priority.

Jo Se-hee, with magic power around her legs, leaped off the rooftop towards the Association.

***

The culprit identified by Instructor Kim Gang-seok’s psychometry was the dorm supervisor.

‘…That can’t be.’

The supervisor was in the girls’ dormitory when dark magic overturned the Academy.

Since then, she’s been taking care of and leading the students.

Getting injured while protecting the students at the forefront.

After entering the shelter, she’s been with the instructors, though what they talked about is unknown.

The supervisor seen so far didn’t seem like the culprit.

Though she could be the real culprit.

“…Gyeoul, the supervisor is the culprit.”

“Doesn’t seem like it to me…”

“I also don’t think so. The supervisor may be strict, but doesn’t seem like a bad person…”

“My thoughts differ! Seeing how she gave demerits to students who did nothing wrong, the supervisor is a bad person!”

What’s that.

That’s just your grudge.

Lee Chae-rin’s words can be ignored.

Seems I’m not the only one thinking that, as three heads turned simultaneously.

Lee Chae-rin sulked about being ignored.

Focusing on the scene unfolding ahead.

The instructors were pointing their weapons at the supervisor.

“I have nothing to do with this!”

“When we psychometried the magic stone, we saw you. Explain that part.”

“…I’ve never touched the magic stone. There’s nothing to explain.”

The supervisor’s response, looking very wronged, wasn’t good.

Seems I’ll have to step up to defend the supervisor.

Students might not know, but instructors don’t dislike or ostracize me.

Though many are retired heroes, most are active, and who’d want to power game with Jeong Ha-yul.

And, Jeong Ha-yul doesn’t discriminate.

Men, women, old, young.

Retired seniors or active heroes, it didn’t matter to Jeong Ha-yul.

Of course, I wouldn’t pressure instructors with Jeong Ha-yul’s name, but at least they’d listen to me.

Definitely not because of the promised outing and overnight stay permissions.

Really.

“Ugh!”

“Gyeoul! Don’t move!”

“Right, lie down a bit more, try to stop the bleeding until the situation calms down…”

“Idiot, the wound will burst!”

Who’s calling who an idiot.

Blocking the wound with magic power, how’s it going to burst, you idiot.

I sensed Choi Jeong-min’s scent from Lee Chae-rin.

Despite dissuasion, I got up.

“Sigh… Stubborn.”

“…Then at least let me help you.”

“No. I can go alone.”

“…”

A bit unseemly for a defense counsel to appear supported by a high school girl.

As I approached, the supervisor and instructors, who had been struggling, turned their gaze to me.

The students’ gazes were also full.

“Ah, Gyeoul, are you okay? Just wait a bit, the instructor heading to the infirmary will bring a potion…”

“No, I came to talk about this incident.”

The instructor, who had been looking at me with concern, turned serious.

“Do you know something?”

“No, not particularly…”

“Appreciate the thought, but it’s better to return to your seat. This incident will be handled by the teachers…”

“Is this handling? Grabbing the wronged supervisor, holding knives, acting like thugs.”

“…What?”

Oops.

Did I slip up because of the pain?

Damn puberty!

Couldn’t seal the rampaging Black Flame Dragon.

I saw the instructor I was talking to frown.

“Ah… Um… That’s not…”

“Right, it might seem that way to you. But we used Instructor Kim Gang-seok’s ability, obtained a reliable testimony…”

“No, that’s the funny part. How can you trust Instructor Kim Gang-seok?”

“…What?”

This time, Instructor Kim Gang-seok looked at me incredulously.

What. Why.

Is it okay to suspect the supervisor but not you?

From my perspective, you’re the culprit, you jerk.

Trying to puff up my chest and pull up my trapezius to not back down from the large Instructor Kim Gang-seok approaching me…

But the wound hurt too much, naturally shrinking my shoulders.

“Shrinking like that right in front, yet nothing you can’t say.”

What’s this crazy guy saying.

It’s because it hurts, because it hurts.

I can handle you, man.

Barely calming the Black Flame Dragon raging inside me again, I continued.

“Psychometry isn’t something we see, only Instructor Kim Gang-seok sees and then tells us… If he sees scene A and says it’s B, we can’t know. I can’t understand why no one has any doubts.”

Come on, Gang-seok, refute that, even if you have to beg.

 

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