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The next day arrived.

After returning from the Realm of Immortals for a day, though it was time to rest, Jeong Gyeoul finished her morning workout and had a meal with her family.

After a brief tea time and some relaxation, as soon as 8 o’clock struck, she started preparing to go out.

“Where are you going?”

“Why don’t you rest a bit? You said it was tough in the Realm of Immortals.”

“Because it was tough, I need to go out.”

“…?”

What kind of nonsense is this again…?

It wasn’t the first or second time Jeong Gyeoul said something strange.

But the idea of leaving the house because she was tired was hard to comprehend.

Unless she was a power extrovert who recharged energy through external activities.

But Jeong Gyeoul, the ultimate homebody?

Everyone sipping coffee looked at her as if to say, “What kind of nonsense is this?”

‘This is why I can’t talk to people who haven’t been unfairly treated.’

Shaking her head at her family’s reaction, Jeong Gyeoul opened her mouth.

“Everyone needs to know that I had a hard time.”

“…Really?”

“Based on experience, when I have a hard time and everyone acknowledges it, they give me some rest time, even if the incident happens later.”

“…?”

For Jeong Gyeoul, the center of incidents and the embodiment of unfair treatment, this was a necessary ritual.

Her family didn’t understand her words.

They just thought she was having another delusion and moved on.

Jeong Gyeoul left the house to spread the Chronicles of Jeong Gyeoul – Realm of Immortals Edition everywhere.

[Let me come with you.]

“…Ugh, it’s right to go together, but why does it feel so unpleasant?”

[I’ll be as quiet as possible, I swear!]

A chill ran up her spine.

Soon, goosebumps spread all over her body.

Even though it was already cold winter, it felt even colder.

Traveling with Son Goku would probably be better in the summer.

‘Come to think of it, Christmas is coming soon.’

While Jeong Gyeoul was traveling between the Demon Realm and the Realm of Immortals, her physical body had already turned 16.

But in the Middle Realm, Jeong Gyeoul was still 15.

In fact, with the age adjustment, she had technically reverted to 14.

The strange feeling of getting younger as time passed.

Benjamin Winter’s time was going backward.

She left the house with Son Goku.

“Did, did you see that just now? It looked like a cat was floating around.”

“I heard drugs are circulating in Korea these days, were you on something?”

It was a mistake to lift him with telekinesis because he kept whining about walking being too bothersome.

If Son Goku, who was being watched, was caught as the talking cat…

If humans made a fuss, it would be a big problem when he regained the power of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven.

Jeong Gyeoul thought it was the fastest route to the Middle Realm’s destruction.

Of course, she didn’t think about what she was doing to Son Goku.

It was bothersome and awkward.

But she had no choice but to hold Son Goku in her arms.

[Hmph, being held by a brat who smells of milk. My dignity is ruined.]

“…Sexual harassment, I’ll kill you? You said you’d be quiet.”

Crack—

A sound of something breaking was heard.

Jeong Gyeoul flicked Son Goku’s nose.

It didn’t seem to have much impact.

[You should tone down that temper, junior.]

“Who’s saying that to whom… unbelievable.”

Whether it really didn’t hurt or if it hurt but he was pretending it didn’t to protect his pride was a secret only Son Goku knew.

“Oh my, the cat is so nice and pretty.”

“…No, this cat is really mean and ugly.”

“…?”

A clicking sound was heard from the aunt who left with a disgusted expression.

“Tsk, kids these days…”

Jeong Gyeoul, looking at her back with a sense of injustice, placed her thumb on her middle fingernail again.

Crack—

“It’s your fault I got scolded.”

[…You’re worse than me.]

Jeong Gyeoul, bickering with Son Goku, first went to Park Seol-hwa.

“Sister! I’m here!”

“Sorry, Gyeoul, I’m a bit busy today… Why does this always happen when you come?”

“…It can’t be helped, it’s work.”

1 strike.

Next, she went to Jo Se-hee.

She wasn’t at home or the Association, wandering around somewhere.

2 strikes.

Next, she went to Lee Ha-yoon.

She screamed about the Academy going crazy and throwing group assignment bombs everywhere, then ran off to her group members.

3 strikes.

Lee Chae-rin was also in that group.

Automatically, 4 strikes.

Since she was at the Academy, she went to President Kim Yu-shin for the 5th strike.

“…”

[…Are you okay?]

Even Son Goku offered words of comfort.

While helping Sanzang on the journey to the West, he faced all sorts of monsters, got cursed at, and was called trash of the Monster Realm.

But he was still friends with the Demon King, the Horse King, the Satan King, the Hundred Ghost King, and the Wuyong King.

If he went to any of those five, he wouldn’t be treated so poorly.

Jeong Gyeoul, who had just achieved 5 strikes, looked pitiful even to Son Goku.

“There’s still one more.”

After greeting the Owls and leaving the Academy, Jeong Gyeoul headed to the Association.

“Hello.”

“…Ah, yes. Hero Jeong Gyeoul. Hello.”

As usual today, she skipped the normal process of tagging her access card.

Holding Son Goku in her arms, Jeong Gyeoul lightly jumped over the entrance.

The guards watching, the Association employees coming in late due to the flexible work system, and the other heroes in the lobby.

No one seemed to think of stopping her.

They didn’t even look at her strangely.

As if it was something that happened every day. It felt natural.

In the midst of this, only one person.

A new employee hired through special recruitment watched the scene with wide eyes.

“…Shouldn’t we stop that?”

“What? Ah… Gyeoul? Just leave her, that sister is always like that.”

“…Gyeoul, are you talking about Hero Jeong Gyeoul?”

“Yes, and here’s a tip for Association life. If the Jeong sisters are around, stop whatever you’re doing and hole up in the office.”

…?

The newbie looked at his senior as if to say, “What kind of nonsense is this?”

The senior, with a meaningful smile, gestured toward the Association’s main gate as if to say, “Look.”

“…Winter has come.”

“Ah, damn, I was going to get some breakfast. It’s been quiet lately, why today of all days?”

Employees heading to the convenience store turned right back.

“Winter’s here? I want some coffee… Damn, should I just go get it?”

“Want to get cursed at while drinking coffee? Just bear with it, it’s a good chance to cut down on caffeine.”

“Your hands are shaking, you idiot.”

“…I, I’ll just cut down on nicotine this time…”

Employees trying to leave through the main gate were all turning back.

Even those who had already left were rushing back after receiving calls from inside.

“Why are they all like that?”

“You’ve heard of emergencies in the Association, right? List them.”

“Appearance of a disaster-level monster, a major natural disaster covering the Korean peninsula, A-Class villain terrorism, stuff like that?”

“Yeah, that’s right. There are a few more, but one of them is the Jeong sisters.”

“…What?”

The newbie looked like he didn’t understand.

“They’re heroes. How can they be treated the same as disaster-level monsters, villains, and natural disasters?”

“They’re disasters to us. You’ll see later, good experience from day one.”

At that moment, in the Association Head’s Office.

Jeong Ho-min was facing Jeong Gyeoul with a dazed look.

“…The Queen Mother of the West. So most of the myths we know could be true.”

“Wow… Monster Realm? The name alone sounds dangerous.”

“This cat is really the Great Sage Equal to Heaven? Not just a talking cat?”

Reactions on a different level from her family.

Jeong Gyeoul was satisfied after the long journey to the Association.

“…You can only eat three servings? That’s really surprising! Ah, no, not that other things aren’t fake surprises… listen to me.”

After two long hours, the Chronicles of Jeong Gyeoul were completed.

Her lips curled up, and her eyes formed happy lines.

She had a satisfied expression.

Jeong Ho-min’s dark circles seemed a bit darker.

His laugh lines seemed a bit deeper.

“Are you having a hard time lately? You don’t look well.”

“…Says the one who knows it well.”

“Huh?”

“Ah, no, thank you for caring.”

“Of course, I’ve always been the only one looking after the Association Head.”

Jeong Ho-min looked at Jeong Gyeoul, who was spouting nonsense without batting an eye, with a tired expression.

‘…This should be enough, right?’

“I think I need to get back to work, Gyeoul.”

“Ah, I took up too much of your time, today was fun. I’ll come again next time.”

After saying goodbye, Jeong Gyeoul left the Association Head’s Office with Son Goku in her arms.

As soon as the door closed, Jeong Ho-min slumped in his chair and let out a sigh.

“Please don’t come… Every time, hours of this…”

Bang—

“…What kind of work is this! How can you handle work like this! And you’re the department head!”

Jeong Ho-min, hearing the doorknob turn, quickly took out his phone from his pocket and put it to his ear.

Incredible reaction speed, incredible improvisation.

It seemed like this was the level needed to be the Association Head.

“Everyone’s just trying to make a living, so take it easy. People don’t have a ‘just right.'”

“…What’s going on?”

“I was going to ask if you wanted to take care of this troublemaker cat… If I leave it with my uncle, the Earth might be doomed. I’ll just take care of it myself.”

 

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