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Park Seol-hwa, who had been granted a short outing by Kim Soo-jeong, immediately called Jeong Ha-yul.

“Is Gyeoul by any chance with you?”

“No, she went shopping in Apgujeong with a friend named Serena. Why?”

“Nothing. Thanks.”

The word “why” carried multiple questions.

Why didn’t you call Jeong Gyeoul directly and instead called me? And why are you looking for Gyeoul at this time?

She couldn’t honestly say that she wanted to surprise Gyeoul and see her shocked face, so she brushed it off and ended the call.

After roughly figuring out the location, she immediately went on SNS and searched for #JeongGyeoul.

Recently revealed as an S-Class Awakened One and a star hero appearing on PD Choi’s variety show.

Wherever she was spotted, her location would immediately pop up on SNS, and as Park Seol-hwa expected, she was able to find out which floor she was on.

The real-time location would keep changing, but that was information she could refresh and get again in real-time.

But…

“…Is she really going to the department store without any bodyguards?”

It was clear that she didn’t know her own status.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have confidently walked around Apgujeong’s department store, which isn’t just any neighborhood restaurant.

Jeong Ha-yul and Park Seol-hwa, as well as other heroes, could freely roam anywhere, so why was this happening only to Jeong Gyeoul?

The biggest reason was probably that they still didn’t understand Gyeoul’s personality.

And the misconception that, being young, she wouldn’t be able to respond as strongly as other heroes.

Heroes themselves are a form of public authority, so obstructing their duties counts as obstruction of justice.

You might argue that they’re not performing official duties, but…

Even if it’s just patrols to strengthen urban security, it becomes the heroes’ official duty, so if something happens, they can detain first and explain the reasons later.

Jeong Ha-yul and Park Seol-hwa had used this point early on to put overzealous fans in detention.

They were famous for their strong-handed approach, which is why they could move around freely now.

Various political and media circles had tried to reduce the heroes’ authority on this point.

-Then I won’t be a hero. Whether monsters or villains appear, deal with it yourselves.

Jeong Ha-yul slammed the table.

-Potions, we’ll stop supplying them domestically.

Park Seol-hwa slammed the table too, and the situation reversed in an instant.

Actually, when they stopped working for about two weeks, the country suffered significant losses.

It was similar to the situation when Jeong Gyeoul was announced as the youngest Awakened One.

After that, many heroes took similar positions.

Unless a hero thought of themselves as a celebrity, fans wouldn’t swarm them.

But it had only been a few days since the S-Class was officially announced.

Jeong Gyeoul, with no groundwork laid, was just like any popular celebrity.

“Secretary Kim!”

“What’s the matter now?”

“Assemble the celebrity guard team.”

“Suddenly?”

With a look of disbelief, she already called the guard team resting at Daehyun Guild using her phone.

The guard team was composed entirely of D-Class heroes.

A team usually assigned to top-tier celebrities.

In this situation, it was the best possible personnel choice.

“Gyeoul is at Apgujeong Department Store. I saw some photos, and it’s almost like an idol concert.”

“Didn’t Jeong Ha-yul teach her the basics?”

“Maybe she was careless, thinking it wouldn’t happen to her own sister. I should have stepped in and told her. Anyway, I’m heading out now.”

Soon after, Park Seol-hwa arrived at the department store with the guard team.

She easily resolved what could have been a major disaster and took Jeong Gyeoul’s hand to leave.

“Why is unnie here?”

“I came to see our Gyeoul.”

“…Last time I went to the guild, you said you were busy and kicked me out.”

When Jeong Gyeoul, who had returned from an uninhabited island and become a complete mess, visited, Park Seol-hwa, buried in paperwork, had superhumanly restrained herself and kicked Gyeoul out.

Gyeoul still hadn’t forgotten that day.

“I-I’m sorry about that day, Gyeoul… If I didn’t finish the paperwork, Soo-jeong said she’d quit.”

Of course, Park Seol-hwa was just being threatened by Secretary Kim.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to play with Gyeoul or found it bothersome.

“You’re a busy guild leader. I should understand that much.”

“Thank you!”

Whether she was being sarcastic or sincere was unclear, but she quickly accepted it.

“But aren’t you busy today? I saw an article about starting potion exports to Africa. Why do you keep expanding while making them alone? You’ll wear yourself out.”

“Wow, is Gyeoul worried about me now? I’m touched.”

Park Seol-hwa’s potions were 100% handmade.

Unless the contents could be mass-produced in a factory.

She had to personally craft them at an alchemy workbench.

Even if someone with the same magic category used the same recipe and the same amount of magic power to make the same potion…

The effect was surprisingly zero.

If Park Seol-hwa didn’t make it herself, it was no different from boiled herb water.

She alone supplied potions exported worldwide.

‘Wait… Other magic categories couldn’t do it, but what about Gyeoul?’

Jeong Gyeoul was an Awakened One with multiple categories, previously thought impossible.

It became possible due to the Satan Church’s experiments, but regardless, she’s the world’s only hero.

Maybe she could use alchemy too.

And what if the Satan Church had even used her blood for experiments?

“Kyaaah!”

“What’s wrong all of a sudden?”

“Gyeoul, what if you could create something only one person in the world can make?”

“You’re asking me to make potions now? I don’t know if I can, but even if I could, I’d absolutely refuse. Anyway, introductions are late. This is Serena Olson. Serena, this is Park Seol-hwa…”

“I know! You’re the alchemist! Hello!”

“…Hi, hello…”

Though she looked like a wilted flower after Gyeoul’s sharp rejection, Park Seol-hwa was still an S-Class hero.

And the world’s only alchemist.

Even Serena, who lived in the US, would find it strange not to know her.

Facing a junior in the industry, who might even become a rival over Gyeoul, she couldn’t show any weakness.

Park Seol-hwa straightened her back and extended her hand for a handshake.

“Wow! Can I really shake this hand? Dare I? Me?”

“…Is she always like this?”

“…Probably?”

The 17-year-old’s antics made Park Seol-hwa almost withdraw her hand, but Serena grabbed it immediately.

“…”

“…?”

Serena, who had reacted like she was holding her favorite idol’s hand, suddenly froze.

“Serena?”

“…”

She didn’t let go of the hand, but there was no particular reaction.

About 30 seconds passed.

“Uhhh…”

“…?”

“…?”

Park Seol-hwa, Jeong Gyeoul, and Serena just looked at each other in confusion.

“I… I think I just used my ability.”

“…Did you see unnie’s future?”

“Umm. Gyeoul was there, and Ha-yul unnie too, and some other girl.”

Knowing that the 17-year-old quirky girl had the ability of prophecy, the playfulness disappeared from Park Seol-hwa and Jeong Gyeoul’s faces.

A girl who would appear in a situation involving Jeong Gyeoul, Jeong Ha-yul, and Park Seol-hwa.

‘It’s Hayan.’

“What was it about? How detailed was it? The date?”

“W-wait… My head is too messy right now…”

“Gyeoul, let’s calm down and wait until she sorts it out.”

“Ah… okay.”

***

The group moved to a pre-reserved cafe and continued the conversation.

“Serena, friend? If you’re feeling better, can you tell us?”

“Yes!”

Under Park Seol-hwa’s gentle lead, Serena began to speak.

“As I said earlier, Gyeoul, Ha-yul unnie, some girl, and Park Seol-hwa hero appeared. Everyone was injured somewhere…”

Bam—

“Who was injured how badly? Why? I was there too, and I got hurt?”

I slammed the table and stood up, making Serena flinch.

Her deer-like eyes shook, and she seemed very startled by the unfamiliar sight.

“Gyeoul, I understand how you feel, but let’s hear her out first, okay?”

“Ah, sorry…”

“It… I don’t know if it was a villain or a monster. Its body was red… It had big horns, a very muscular body… Its tail was thrashing wildly. It was opening its mouth, but strangely, no sound came out… Sorry.”

As soon as Serena spoke, only one thing came to mind.

‘…That’s Satan.’

Why would Satan, the highest entity of the demon realm, confront us?

Even though I was there, we got hurt?

Could it be that after conquering the demon realm, he’s invading the middle realm?

“Do you know roughly when this will happen?”

“Maybe… within half a year. It’s just a feeling, I don’t know the details.”

Summarizing the future Serena saw, it seems Satan will invade the middle realm within half a year.

Or maybe we’ll go to the demon realm.

It still feels a bit scattered, so we’ll need to ask again after she calms down.

“…Sigh, dating Gyeoul is out of the question now. Let’s head to the Association first.”

“I’ll contact Hayan and Ha-yul unnie.”

 

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