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<1000 – Hi Hydra (5)>

Foundation Investigation Bureau Velocasio.

His infamy had reached the ears of Oknodie, but honestly, it just felt like a walk in the park.

“What can he do anyway? He’s not even a senior who went out on his own.”

Once, there was Jonnas’ third lady Cruel, who used Velocasio, along with Previous Hero Alpha and Darknodi.

But Darknodi had set off alone to the Northern Demon Realm, and Cruel was occasionally spotted by maids somewhere in the Academy.

Only Alpha remained by Velocasio’s side.

Now that Previous Hero Ni’alatotep was silent and secluded, Alpha was also inactive.

“The situation is different now. They say there’s currently a ‘Butler of the Foundation’ behind Velocasio.”

“Whoa. The leader of the Organization?”

The one who commanded countless mysteries.

His strength was comparable to that of the Representative of the Man God who wielded many ancient divine powers.

Though overshadowed by the Chairman of the Foundation, as the sole survivor among the Three Great Evils, his strength was dizzyingly supreme.

Giant Monster Buzhaar.

Dragon Slayer Siegfried.

Mad Noble Michael.

A Competent Person who could stand toe-to-toe with numerous prestigious professors, and perhaps even take the upper hand.

“What does he do?”

“He unites anti-Foundation factions across the world with the basic mission of identifying and exterminating Spirit Contract holders, and another thing. He’s hunting down and eliminating Foundation scholarship students.”

“We knew about that already. Anything else?”

“They detected an unprecedented ‘Spirit Contract Energy’ in the Eastern Empire and are pushing for the establishment of the Eastern Expeditionary Force.”

“Whoa!”

The Eastern Empire.

The unrivaled hegemonic country.

And the hometown of Sing.

The true Heavenly Sovereign Cheonja Cheongeomje found as a Shinigami.

A country ruled by the false Heavenly Sovereign Wei Cheonja.

Oknodie had begun to notice it too.

That something monumental was brewing in that place, the Eastern Empire.

“Aren’t we heading there first?”

Irene, who had been subtly dropping hints about joining the Northern Expeditionary Force three times a day, openly expressed her discontent.

“The main enemy of humanity is the Demon King’s Army. They’re beyond the North in the Demon Realm. The chance for the subjects of every nation to unite and join the expedition will be next year only.”

“Then let’s go before next year!”

“Well, that’s fine. I heard the local specialty is delicious ginger candy. If we collect food, will you buy me some?”

“Sure!”

Sing, taken aback by the unexpected news, tightly gripped his sword sheath.

Enemies who killed all his family and even left his younger sister to die.

The Eastern Houses composed of powerful families from the Eastern Empire.

Finally, an opportunity to draw his sword against them was approaching.

“Are we going?”

“If you miss out on regional events, things will just get bigger! If we wait until the expedition gathers, we’ll be in trouble!”

“You’re not planning to go without me, right?”

“Of course not. I haven’t forgotten my promise with Sing.”

“…Thanks.”

Ziang gently patted Sing’s hand.

“Stay strong, sister. Say hi to Sing for me.”

“Sing will be grateful for you looking out for me.”

As the atmosphere of Oknodie’s departure flowed naturally, Son Ohchun suddenly blew a whistle.

“Stop! Where do you think you’re running off to alone? What are you going to do if you get held back?”

“Eh. But there’s Cooking Oknodie.”

“Huh?”

“Cooking Oknodie!”

“Did you call for something?”

“Inside, we received help from Sing and Ziang, acknowledged by my main body and getting to enjoy clone life, I should repay the kindness I owe!”

Cooking Oknodie adorably nodded her little hands as she spoke.

“Of course! It’s only right for a person to repay kindness!”

“Just don’t sulk like Darknodi and enjoy your Academy life, okay?”

“I’ll enjoy it!”

“You memorized the past exam papers and event records too, right?”

“I did!”

“That’s what I hear!”

Darknodi left reluctantly due to a false relationship that wasn’t her own.

Unlike her, Cooking Oknodie revealed her identity as a clone to Titosso and Ziang and formed a bond.

The relationship with them was hers alone, one that could not be tarnished even by her main body, Oknodie.

She was respected as an independent entity with a self.

Because of this, even if she was set up for a long time as Oknodie’s counterpart, there was no worry of her mental state crumbling or breaking.

“I’m weak and have a lot to learn, but you’ll take care of me without finding me annoying, right?”

Moreover, when her main body spoke and held her hand, Son Ohchun could no longer resist.

“You little rat.”

“Ugh!”

Son Ohchun turned away after ruffling a scuffle against him.

“Do what you want.”

“Hehe. Thank you!”

“If you’re late, Cooking Oknodie might get stronger than you!”

Cooking Oknodie, who inherited techniques, knowledge, advice, and even connections from Oknodie.

While she automatically enrolled in the Academy’s 3rd-year 2nd semester courses instead of Oknodie, she would put an end to the Eastern Regional Event.

This was Oknodie’s plan.

“Lady Sia, please take care of her well.”

“Oknodie is like a younger sister to me. As long as I’m alive, I’ll never let her die or get hurt.”

“Safe travels.”

“Di. I can’t wait for the latest fashion items from the East, right?”

“Hehe. I’ll get stronger while Oknodie is away!”

The students of the 3rd year saw off Oknodie as friends chuckled at Titosso’s bravado.

During the farewells, Sadi Chocolate floated up, caught in Oknodie’s telekinesis magic, and was kidnapped onto a small lifeboat.

“Why me?”

“Sadi is a bit too much for Cooking Oknodie to handle. Evil kids should stick with evil kids!”

“No, you’re not bad at all.”

“Thanks for the compliment!”

“That’s a lie. You’re really bad.”

“Thanks for the compliment!”

The dark princess Oknodie took in every word as compliments!

Sadi Chocolate shot a piercing retort with her venomous words.

“You eat too much. Like a pig.”

“Whoa. How could you say something so harsh!”

“Right? It’s just wrong to call a girl a pig.”

Under Sia’s scolding, Sadi chuckled.

“A girl, huh? Now that it’s just the three of us, I don’t have to pretend to be feminine, do I?”

“…I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Sing desperately distracted!

Sadi chuckled, as if to let it slide.

“So how are we going to get to the Eastern Empire? There’s no portal connected there. The lifeboat doesn’t operate either. Are you planning to cross on just a lifeboat?”

“There is a faster way, though. How many steps do you want to move quickly?”

“How many steps are there?”

“Five steps?”

“Then three steps.”

“Great. Now both of you strap this around your waist!”

Oknodie equipped Sing and Sadi with lifelines like you’d see on a rock climber.

But then, the ropes suddenly slid upward, tying someone’s waist who wasn’t visible.

“Ah. Don’t mind this old guy.”

“Apparently not!”

“…You aren’t going to mind this?”

Oknodie’s generosity allowed the shameless escort of the Jibsa Jang Okashii-ne!

Sadi quietly tolerated it, thanks to the experience of picking up a key in Oknodie’s mind world.

And thus, a Dimensional Gate opened.

A green realm filled with amazing magical light and mana wind swirled around.

Over there, a large fluorescent jellyfish surrounded by mountain ranges waved its immense legs, shaking the ground, causing Sadi and Sing to involuntarily rise into the air.

The gigantic fluorescent jellyfish sucked the man remnants piled up on the surface into the air.

“Yah!”

Oknodie aimed a firework toward the jellyfish’s head.

The two people firmly planted on the ground turned pale and looked back.

“No way?”

“Please tell me that’s a joke.”

“It’s not a joke!”

At the moment the firework launched, a horrified Sing swung his sword to knock it away, but was pulled by Oknodie’s lifeline, thus missing his aim.

Sadi Chocolate cast a barrier with her telekinesis magic in the air, but even that was penetrated as the firework struck true to the jellyfish’s body.

Grrrrrrr

The irate jellyfish slammed its raised legs down.

The aftermath sent everyone sprawling at a breakneck speed.

Sadi recalled.

The landscape of hell she saw in Oknodie’s mind world.

Sing recalled.

The terror of the sword wielded by Sword Saint Reinhardt.

A blow from an eighth-tier dimensional entity carries that much power.

But fortunately, a silver lining awaited them.

On the trajectory they were pushed along, there was a Dimensional Gate leading to the Middle Realm.

Swoosh!

The lifeboat originally returned to the ocean, slicing through the waves as if it were bugged.

The insane speed was such that just being pressed down by the walls of air felt unbearable, with shield magic shattering in succession!

Everyone clenched the handles of the lifeboat tightly, crouched, and closed their eyes in prayer, only opening them after what felt like an eternity.

Kreeeek kreeeek

The sounds of migratory birds that had changed seasons could be heard at the coastline.

Against the backdrop of clear seawater, Oknodie proclaimed.

“Only forty more times and we’ll arrive!”

“Why not just go by lifeboat…”

“Agreed…”

“Oh dear. Seems we missed out. If we frequently experience the dimensional currents of the Diminishing Jellyfish that devours dimensional buoyancy, we’d easily meet the dimensional drifters gathering at each dimension to ride the dimensional currents.”

“Yeah!”

Oknodie and Okashii-ne were the only ones who regretted the 3-step moving dimensional current booster as their sailing across the coast began with the lads using the 1-step lifeboat.

*

“Sing, when you come back, I’m going to grab you by the collar and drag you to the Eastern Empire. By then, I need to build enough skills to stand before you without embarrassment.”

At the same time.

From the Eastern Empire, Class 981 student Hyukmurin.

“Professor! Please teach me swordsmanship!”

“Oh? A sword? Me?”

“I was referred to Sir Michael when seeking the quickest growth in swordsmanship, and I got an introduction letter!”

That fearless brat’s face, once more.

The letter introduced him.

Michael sliced open the envelope with his finger and unfurled the introduction.

-This friend has high potential!!! Oknodie guarantees!!!

“…It’d be good for keeping boredom at bay.”

Unbeknownst to Hyukmurin, the Eastern event he had always dreamed of was on the verge of being conquered in real time, and he was being offered up as a sacrifice to alleviate Michael’s boredom.

 

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