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The hidden secret of the Korean Hero Association.

Underground Prison, 5th floor.

Now that it’s pretty much common knowledge, it’s hard to call it a secret anymore.

But still, it’s a place where you could play blind man’s bluff.

Lee Cheol-jin, Fox Mask, and the 12 Apostles are imprisoned here, along with the Satan Church Cult Leader.

“Cu-Cult Leader, did you enjoy your meal today?”

The 12 Apostles, with a flushed face, spoke to the Cult Leader.

To the 12 Apostles, who were at the lowest rank, the Cult Leader was like a god, and that hadn’t changed even now that they were imprisoned.

Even though they realized they had been sacrificed and their hatred for the Satan Church grew, facing the Cult Leader directly turned that hatred into excitement.

It’s almost like Stockholm Syndrome should be renamed 12 Apostles Syndrome.

“Being locked up here ruins my appetite, but the quality of the meals is decent. You should eat well too.”

And seeing the 12 Apostles treating him so reverently, the Cult Leader couldn’t help but change.

The Cult Leader, who used to treat the 12 Apostles as disposable pawns, now even looked out for them.

“These bastards are really going crazy, huh? Right, Fox?”

“You know, if you keep running your mouth like that, you might just disappear without a trace.”

Lee Cheol-jin had somehow dropped his North Korean accent and was now speaking standard Korean like a native, casually chatting with Fox Mask as if they were old friends.

Of course, Fox Mask didn’t seem to think the same way.

“What are you talking about? Are you picking a fight right now?”

“Do you think just because the Cult Leader’s magic power is suppressed, it’s completely gone?”

“…What do you mean?”

The magic-suppressing restraints made by Park Seol-hwa are impressive, capable of suppressing even S-Class magic power.

But the Cult Leader is an Awakened One who has surpassed S-Class.

The restraints aren’t completely ineffective, but they haven’t suppressed all of his magic power either.

“From what I can see, that Cult Leader guy could use his magic if he wanted to, but he’s just holding back.”

“Ha, these are S-Class magic-suppressing restraints. The Association probably thinks we’re completely powerless because of them, but you’re saying he can still use magic?”

“Believe it or not, it’s your choice. If you pick a fight and die, that’s on you.”

While Lee Cheol-jin had been working out and improving his physique in prison, Fox Mask had been rotting away, but his senses had sharpened to the point where he could vaguely feel that the Cult Leader was hiding his power.

Fox Mask didn’t consider himself close to Lee Cheol-jin, but he didn’t want to see him die either.

So he tossed out some advice, albeit dismissively.

It was a case of camaraderie forming between prison mates, though they wouldn’t admit it themselves.

“Hey, Apostle girl. Your great Cult Leader seems to be able to use magic. Why don’t you try convincing him to escape?”

“…Blasphemy! How dare a red bastard from North Korea speak so casually of the Cult Leader!”

“…The words coming out of your mouth are way too revolutionary, huh?”

Even if they couldn’t use magic, pure physical combat was still possible.

As Lee Cheol-jin amped up his energy, the 12 Apostles also stood their ground, not wanting to lose.

The Association employees in charge of the underground prison don’t stop the villains from fighting.

Thanks to human rights organizations and villain rights groups, they have to provide better meals for the villains than even soldiers, which they don’t like.

If villains kill each other in fights, the human rights commission might make a fuss, but losing a body part or two is something the Association can handle.

Even though they’re watching the 5th floor main hall on CCTV, they don’t sound the alarm or intervene directly for that reason.

‘We only need to step in when they’re about to die.’

It’s also amusing to watch these former world-class powerhouses, now without magic, brawling like street thugs.

“Huh? They’re about to fight? Do we have any popcorn left?”

“Probably about five bags?”

“That’s it? Whatever! I’m in the mood! I’ll buy a whole box next time I’m in the control room!”

“Next time? It’s your turn to buy, you jerk.”

“Any booze?”

“…No matter how much they loosen up, alcohol is a no-go. We’d get caught on the way out, man.”

These employees face villains every day, monitoring and restraining them, dealing with the stress of it all.

The Association tacitly allows this much.

While the employees were watching Lee Cheol-jin and the 12 Apostles face off, eating popcorn.

Knock knock knock—

A knocking sound came from the Situation Control Room door.

“…Who is it? Is there someone on extra duty?”

“No, the duty roster is empty. Maybe it’s an audit?”

“No word from the audit team. Probably not an audit.”

The employees exchanged glances, trying to guess who it could be.

Knock knock knock—

The knocking came again.

“Just open the door.”

“Hey! Wait! Put the popcorn away!”

“Oh right! Quick, hide it!”

Even though it’s tacitly allowed, there’s a big difference between doing it openly and doing it secretly.

Just in case, they quickly hid the popcorn and opened the door.

“Gasp! Association President?”

“What were you doing that made you open the door so late… I smell popcorn.”

“Sorry, sir!”

The Association President, shaking his head, headed to the main system control panel.

An employee with popcorn crumbs on his face stammered, waiting for orders.

“Wh-What can we do for you?”

“Open the 5th floor.”

“Huh? They were about to fight, we were just about to open the popcorn… I mean, we didn’t open it. Really. Anyway, it seemed dangerous…”

“I recommend you wipe the crumbs off your face before making excuses. Just open it.”

“…Yes, opening it now.”

The employee quickly brushed off his face and followed the President’s orders.

The 5th floor of the underground prison slowly opened, and Park Seol-hwa, Jeong Gyeoul, and Jeong Ha-yul entered simultaneously.

What followed was a blend of Park Seol-hwa’s violent demeanor and Jeong Gyeoul’s perfect negotiation skills, persuading the Cult Leader.

***

The Cult Leader agreed to the negotiation and decided to send us to the Demon Realm.

When we cross over to the Demon Realm, the Cult Leader will return to prison, but that’s not my concern.

All this talk about villain rights and human decency—I don’t see villains as people. I’m a villain-hater.

If anyone wants to throw stones at me, they should try living with a villain for more than a month.

I guarantee you’ll be a corpse before the week is out.

It’ll take two days to create the passage to the Demon Realm.

Thanks to previous experience, making it again shouldn’t be a big deal.

Though, for something like this, taking two days makes me question his abilities. But considering it took Satan and Asmodeus a few days to do it, it’s understandable.

When I asked if we needed something like a Dimensional Stone…

“Dimensional Stone? I don’t know what that is.”

“…You call yourself the Satan Church Cult Leader and don’t know that? The Demon Realm lords all use it.”

“…”

Unintentionally, I managed to hurt the Cult Leader’s pride.

The preparations were similar to Park Seol-hwa brewing potions.

Some unknown herbs, monster blood, and byproducts.

And a vast amount of magic power.

No need to worry about magic power.

The Association will handle the rest of the materials, so we don’t have to prepare anything.

But since we don’t know when we’ll return from the Demon Realm, we should let our acquaintances in Korea know.

If we just disappear without a word, my name might end up on the missing persons list.

Not that I have many people who’d care…

With Park Seol-hwa and Lee Ha-yoon coming along, there aren’t many who’d worry.

I’ll just let the Monster Restaurant team, Jo Se-hee, the Queen, and Heinz know.

‘Looking at it now, my social circle is pretty pathetic.’

In a way, it’s a select few.

In another way, it’s just a small group.

As I sighed, looking at my phone contacts that didn’t even reach 50.

Lin Hazel called.

“…Lin?”

“I heard you’re up to something fun in Korea?”

Damn.

It’s only been a few hours since the meeting ended and we met the Cult Leader, and it’s already reached England?

There’s a legend about a letter that spread from England to the whole world in no time, but this is way too fast.

“How did you know?”

“That’s a secret. Even if you’re Gyeoul, I can’t tell you.”

“If you have the intel to leak classified Association info so quickly, couldn’t you have known when the Satan Church attacked the Academy and come earlier?”

I started pressing Lin Hazel with reasonable suspicion.

Even though I’m friendly with England, have a family-like relationship with the Queen, taught her son, and am the elite genius that makes the US, Japan, and China envious—this is a national security issue.

It’s not something to just laugh off.

“…You make it sound like we leaked it, but this info was deliberately spread by the Association.”

“…Really?”

Was Jeong Ho-min trying to increase the Expedition Team’s numbers?

Anyway, as the Expedition Team leader, I didn’t know about this.

Leaking Expedition Team info without the leader’s permission.

I should pull out the few remaining hairs on my head.

“Anyway, we decided we can’t just sit back.”

“Even if it’s you, sister… bringing an A-Class along after kicking the Association President is a bit…”

“Not me, our grandfather.”

“Huh?”

Lin Hazel’s grandfather…

The headquarters of magic, the holy land of mages.

Where all magic converges.

The tower master of Big Ben, the symbol of London, and the head of the prestigious Hazel family, said to have Merlin’s blood.

The Grand Mage Heinz Hazel.

Of course, he’s an incredible figure, practically a living legend…

“Where are you going! Abandon the clock tower? Is the Hazel family individualistic?”

I don’t want to go to the Demon Realm and play servant.

 

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