– The work is done. Please handle the cleanup.

– Yes, thank you for your hard work, Hero.

Speaking into the Association’s communicator, the MZ operator responded.

Since GPS reception is working, I don’t need to specify the location.

After staring at Fox Mask’s corpse for a while.

‘What kind of nonsense is this?’

It’s not a beloved family member, lover, or friend.

There’s no reason to look at Fox Mask’s corpse with such eyes.

Maybe it’s because of the rain.

It was an extremely sentimental day.

Going home, playing some classical music.

After a warm shower, sipping hot cocoa while watching the rain outside would be perfect…

– Hero Jeong Gyeoul. A magic power presumed to be from the 12 Apostles has been detected nearby.

Yeah, they wouldn’t just let me rest in peace.

I thought taking charge of Seoul was a stroke of genius, but it seems it was the worst move.

As expected, with the most heroes concentrated here, there was no need to go out to catch minor villains.

Why are all the big names gathering in Seoul?

If they just got out, shouldn’t they be thinking of escaping Korea?

If it were me, I’d definitely flee to another country.

No need for stowaways, S-Class can cross the sea bare-handed without a problem.

With such favorable conditions for escape, it’s hard for me to understand why they don’t leave Korea, especially Seoul.

– Where is it…?

– Near the Academy.

These lunatics, really.

All of them causing trouble near where they were caught.

This was an empty open ground, but the Academy has students.

Our Owls and chicks could get hurt.

This time, without hesitation, I quickly flew up.

“…I’m hungry.”

Whether I eat a lot or a little, the fuel efficiency is trash.

I’ll just catch the 12 Apostles and get some food at the Academy cafeteria.

The cafeteria lady will be surprised.

The day has come when I say, “Just half the usual portion, please.”

I’d believe the sun rose from the west.

***

Jeong Gyeoul quickly flew to the Academy.

Thinking of Fox Mask’s time, she headed to the rooftop of the lecture hall where the 12 Apostles were caught, but no one was there.

She emitted magic power for detection, but nothing was detected.

Not even the students seemed to be at the Academy.

It was completely empty.

“What the hell…”

She immediately turned on the communicator.

If they escaped, they should at least say so.

I came all the way here, starving.

If there’s no one, the cafeteria must be closed.

A hungry Jeong Gyeoul was a more ferocious hero than the Demon King in his prime.

– What are you doing? There’s no one here!

– Huh? The 12 Apostles are still detected at the Academy.

The MZ operator replied in a flustered voice.

The magic power on the control room screen was presumed to be from the 12 Apostles, and she was still at the Academy.

– …? My magic detection shows no one. And the Academy was evacuated…

– Evacuation? The Academy students are still inside…

‘…?’

They didn’t understand what each other was saying.

Then, Jeong Ho-min’s voice came through the communicator.

– Hero Jeong Gyeoul, you don’t know about the jamming device at the Academy, do you?

– Ah… I’m sorry, Hero Jeong Gyeoul. The Academy currently has a jamming device installed that interferes with magic detection.

A jamming device.

Another strange thing Jeong Gyeoul heard for the first time.

She hadn’t even heard about the detector being upgraded.

What’s a jamming device?

– What is that, interfering with my magic? At this rate, you might as well make an auto-targeting villain shooter.

If it works on a Transcendent-level hero’s magic, it’s practically a Transcendent-level artifact.

Meanwhile, it’s absurd that the Association’s detector managed to detect through it.

The battle of contradiction, spear and shield, ended in the spear’s victory in an instant.

“I didn’t think so. Surprisingly useful.”

Jeong Gyeoul praised the Association.

Jeong Ho-min and the operator, hearing this, wondered if it was a compliment or an insult.

Originally thought to be useless, but surprisingly useful.

Was it a compliment or an insult?

Only Jeong Gyeoul would know.

– So where are they?

– …We’re not sure about that.

“What, it’s useless after all.”

Even knowing the communicator was on, she kept talking as if to herself.

Whether heard or not, it didn’t matter.

– …Stop grumbling and do a patrol round.

Jeong Ho-min, unable to listen anymore, replied with a slightly annoyed tone.

– Huh? Are you mad at me now? What about the Academy? Seoul? Abandoning the capital of Korea? Is the Association head only thinking of his own feelings, selfish?

– I’m sorry, please just do one patrol round.

– Huh? Sounds like sarcasm. Even in this situation, you’re protecting your pride?

There’s no way to win against Jeong Gyeoul with words.

Then, just don’t win.

Jeong Ho-min was ranked high in handling Jeong Gyeoul.

– Anyway, I already know you’re patrolling.

– …How did you know?

She was just teasing Jeong Ho-min because patrolling alone was boring.

But she was already caught.

Even if it’s Jeong Gyeoul.

She wouldn’t be the kind of brat to sit around arguing when the lives of Seoul citizens and Academy students are at stake.

Probably…

***

She thoroughly searched every corner of the Academy, diligently patrolling.

The students were nowhere to be seen, making it very boring.

She was soothing her boredom by talking to Jeong Ho-min when…

– Uncle, are you asleep? Why no answer?

She thought she was still talking to Jeong Ho-min, but at some point, no response came from his side.

When did it start?

The conversation wasn’t a conversation anymore.

It was just a monologue.

A conversation (對話) uses the word for speaking (話) to the other (對), but with Jeong Ho-min gone, it was just me speaking (話).

I’m angry.

If you’ve ever experienced talking to a phone for a long time only to find out your friend was asleep, you’d know how I feel.

– The Association head is busy, so contact us after catching the 12 Apostles. He said not to kill but to subdue them.

The MZ operator replied with a laugh, finding the situation amusing.

– …Ridiculous, then you, operator, will talk with me…

– Huh? What did you say? You need me? Yes! I’m coming now!

The MZ operator, true to her generation, fled.

The Association, supposed to care for heroes, abandoning a hero.

Isn’t this a breach of contract?

After this is over, I should take the contract and protest.

Even after almost finishing the patrol, the 12 Apostles were nowhere to be seen.

– …Are the 12 Apostles really here?

– Yes, they haven’t left the Academy yet.

Fortunately, they hadn’t completely cut off communication, as a reply came.

If they’re not visible after all this searching, where and how should I start looking?

I can’t mobilize the students.

I can’t bring the teachers.

I heard all students and teachers are in the shelter, and if the teachers leave the shelter, who knows what could happen.

I know moving alone is the safest, but it’s still frustrating.

I headed back to the starting point, the rooftop of the lecture hall.

This time, let’s go the opposite way.

If I don’t see them, I’ll keep looking until I do.

The 12 Apostles, making me stubborn… there they are?

A perverted woman in leather enjoying pain.

And very, very jealous.

I remember her being quite strong despite being A-Class.

Back then, I was also A-Class, but I couldn’t even put up a proper fight before my ribs were crushed.

Thinking about it, ribs again, I’m so sick of it.

Even while fighting Hwarang, she attacked me.

As soon as our eyes met in the sky, she started running.

“…Damn.”

Not a villain who fights back, but one who runs away. If I destroy Academy buildings chasing her, who knows what Master will say.

I had no choice but to run after her.

Did she play on jungle gyms as a kid?

She nimbly jumps around the Academy buildings.

Going inside buildings, jumping out windows, using trees, using the clock tower.

If there were an obstacle course competition, she’d definitely win.

It was a bit tough to keep up running.

An A-Class villain who runs better than a Transcendent-level hero?

This calls for beating Jeong Ho-min to increase mission compensation.

Despite being A-Class, the difficulty was higher than S-Class Fox Mask.

I’m definitely not pretending to be weak to get more money.

It just looks like I’m doing as I please because there are no students at the Academy.

It just looks like I’m slacking off because Kim Yu-shin is also away in Gyeongju.

I was diligently following, making every effort to catch the 12 Apostles…

“Fuck! Stop playing around and just kill me!”

How did she know?

My acting was perfect.