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Before getting off the train, I called my master.

My master never imagined that even the apostles of the Satan Church would appear for something he thought was trivial.

He apologized for it.

– So, you’re coming to Seoul now?

– Yes, I’m on the train.

– If not the train, then the bus?

– Please don’t do this. Seriously…

My master cracked a dad joke annoying enough to make me cringe and continued as if nothing happened.

– Anyway, since tomorrow is Friday, make your return next Monday. You must have had a tough time, so take an extra day off.

– Is that okay?

– I’m sorry I can’t do more. If it was a fight with an apostle, it must have been intense, a life-or-death battle. You did well.

– Thank you. I’ll see you on Monday.

I thought I had to return to the academy right away, but instead, I got an extra day off, making it a three-day break.

‘This is the life.’

When I arrived at Seoul Station, I thought about having a meal with Hayan, but she turned me down.

Hayan has recently started getting involved in guild matters and doesn’t have as much free time as before.

Moreover, she said she had something serious to discuss with her sister and suggested we meet on the day of my return.

“Can’t be helped. I guess I’ll hang out with Ha-yul unnie after a long time.”

“Alright, rest well and see you on Monday, Gyeoul.”

“Okay, Hayan, you rest well too.”

After seeing Hayan off, I caught a taxi and returned to Infinite Cheongdam.

*Beep*

I swiped the security card on the door and opened it immediately.

‘I didn’t even call ahead. Wonder what they’re up to.’

I imagined all three of them lounging on the sofa, watching TV.

Smiling at the thought, I took off my shoes and went inside.

But…

What greeted me was the three of them in the middle of a pillow fight.

“How old are you guys to still be having pillow fights?”

“Gye, Gyeoul?”

They were surprised to see me suddenly appear, even though it wasn’t the weekend.

*Thud*

In the midst of it all, Jeong Ha-yul threw another pillow at Kang-woo, then ran over and hugged me.

“Why are you here on a weekday? Did you miss me and throw a tantrum?”

“Something came up…”

“Gyeoul looks tired, so back off!”

“What are you talking about? Hugging me recharges my energy.”

I was almost tormented by Ha-yul for a while, but thanks to Kang-woo and Eun-chae, I managed to escape.

“First… coffee? Green tea? Black tea?”

“I’ll take an iced Americano.”

“Got it, wait a bit.”

Kang-woo, the barista of Demon King House, went to make coffee.

Eun-chae and Ha-yul sat at the table and bombarded me with questions.

“What happened? You didn’t get kicked out, did you?”

“Not this again? I’m actually loved by the instructors at school.”

“…That can’t be.”

“Don’t think my school life is the same as yours. I’m a model student.”

“Unnie didn’t cause any major problems during her school days either.”

“Yeah, I don’t believe it.”

Jeong Ha-yul made a face as if she was wronged.

But I had already heard about Ha-yul’s school life from Kang-woo and Eun-chae.

Instructors like Yoo Soo-gap and Hong Eun-jeong.

They were already instructors when Ha-yul was at the academy, so I heard a lot of stories.

As if they were selling something.

“Leave her alone. So, what really happened?”

“It’s nothing. Well, not nothing. It’s a long story…”

“We still have plenty of time before bed.”

“Let’s talk over coffee when it’s ready.”

The skilled coffee maker Kang-woo quickly brewed four cups.

And so, the Chronicles of Jeong Gyeoul Part 2 began.

“So, we went all the way to Gyeongju… It was fun until we found the dealer and got the info, but when we reached the mountain, it wasn’t a fight with the Villain Alliance.”

“Huh? Then who did you fight? I thought it was a meeting between the undercover Hwarang and a Villain Alliance executive.”

The family was already engrossed in my chronicle, not even thinking about drinking their coffee.

But I sipped my coffee slowly, as if I was about to reveal something in 60 seconds.

“Mmm, Kang-woo oppa’s coffee is the best.”

“That’s not me, it’s the machine. Hurry up and continue the story.”

“…It was an apostle who appeared at Magic Stone Mountain.”

“What?”

*Bang—*

Jeong Ha-yul, who has the most bad memories with apostles, had the strongest reaction.

“Are you going to break it by hitting it like that? Why not pour some magic power into it while you’re at it?”

“…Sorry, got carried away.”

“Even so, that apostle brat was no match for me now.”

“…?”

“Before the apostles could react, I took out the Villain Alliance executive. To keep them from joining the fight, we left the male apostle with the Hwarang and took the female apostle with Hayan and me…”

I sprinkled a bit of MSG on the Magic Stone Mountain battle.

The female apostle had spear skills unmatched by anyone, as if Zhao Zilong had reincarnated in this world.

In the end, after a fierce battle that changed the terrain of Magic Stone Mountain, I managed to land a hit on her thigh.

While the brief battle was going on, the Hwarang had already fallen, and when I mentioned the male apostle joining, Ha-yul was furious.

“What? They called you in without explaining the plan, and then they were the first to fall?”

“Exactly, it was ridiculous. I looked around, and they were all down.”

Still, I defended the Hwarang at this point.

I had to set the stage that the opponent was incredibly strong to boost my own standing.

The male apostle had a natural talent for martial arts, on par with Kim Du-han or Shira Oni, and the two of them were like soulmates, perfectly in sync…

“Wait… how do you know the skills of Kim Du-han and Shira Oni?”

“…That’s not the point here.”

Kang-woo almost ruined my epic tale.

My story isn’t some novel… who cares about plausibility in real life?

Plausibility and historical accuracy are for novels, not real life.

Anyway, just as we were about to subdue all the apostles…

Jang Gil-yong jumped out and attacked me.

*Whoosh—*

A dense magic power began to emanate from Jeong Ha-yul, enough to fill the entire Infinite Cheongdam building.

“Hey! We got complaints last time! Stop it!”

“Yeah, Ha-yul! If you’re angry, go to the LK Guild and vent, why cause a scene here!”

Other heroes also live in Infinite Cheongdam, and every time Ha-yul’s magic power is felt, they get PTSD-level fear.

‘It’s not just the magic power… they must have all been beaten by Ha-yul at least once.’

Anyway.

Ha-yul calmed down her magic power at their urging and sat back down with a twisted expression.

When Jang Gil-yong charged at me during that defenseless moment, I blocked him with a sword draw technique I had never learned before and immediately cut off his arm. Kang-woo cheered at that.

“Whoa! Our Gyeoul is getting more amazing!”

“That can’t be the end… Jang Gil-yong doesn’t care about that. He’s a crazy guy who fights even when his limbs are broken.”

“That’s right. Right after I cut off his right arm, he hit me with his left…”

I somehow managed to block the attacks of that crazy guy who was fighting to the death—I omitted the part where Lee Ha-yoon helped me—and Jang Gil-yong, impressed, said it was a pity to crush a sprout so soon and disappeared into thin air, concluding the Chronicles of Jeong Gyeoul Part 2.

“He suddenly attacked you and then disappeared like that?”

“That’s weird… even if it’s a story with Gyeoul’s delusions added, it’s strange.”

“What do you mean delusions? I just recounted what happened at Magic Stone Mountain.”

“…Zhao Zilong’s reincarnation? A martial artist stronger than Shira Oni? Even Ha-yul might not be able to beat that.”

“….”

These bad guys, they listened so intently but didn’t seem to believe me in the end.

Then they should have said they didn’t believe me from the start.

I worked hard like a bard to make the story flavorful and engaging…

“The ending is a bit unsatisfying, but I can just go and ask about it.”

“…Unnie is going herself?”

It was just supposed to be a phone call to scold them, but it seems like things are getting bigger.

An angry Demon King visiting the LK Guild?

And the opponent is Jang Gil-yong, who seems to have a screw loose?

I could roughly guess what would happen at the LK Guild headquarters.

“…Let’s go together. It’s too worrying to send you alone.”

“Wow, you’re worried about me? Alright! Let’s go together.”

“…Yeah, I’m worried about you.”

I was actually worried about the other people working at the guild building.

But I didn’t say it out loud.

I barely managed to stop Ha-yul from going right away and postponed it to around lunchtime tomorrow.

After that, we kept chattering non-stop, and I started feeling hungry.

“Let’s eat, let’s eat.”

“Alright, I’ll order. Go wash up and come out.”

“Okay!”

As expected from the family who knows me best, they ordered over 10 servings of food without me saying anything.

Chinese, Japanese, Western, and even Korean street food.

We sat at the table, which was filled like a buffet, and started eating when…

“By the way… isn’t it almost midterm exam season?”

Eun-chae brought it up.

“That’s right. Gyeoul, have you been studying a lot?”

Kang-woo chimed in.

“Academy midterms… you take the regular education course exam in the morning, and then there are theory exams for each subject, right?”

Ha-yul delivered the final blow.

I got hit with a combo that ruined my appetite.

“Life isn’t about grades!”

“But loans are based on grades.”

“…Happiness isn’t about grades!”

“If you’re not happy, maybe you’re short on money… which connects back to loans.”

“….”

These evil beings, so entrenched in society.

Suddenly, I wanted to visit the LK Guild.

‘I think this stress will only be relieved by seeing Jang Gil-yong get beaten up by the Demon King…’

 

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