Crossing and Accelerating (3)

After the gate erosion was lifted, Kang Shin-hyuk began to fall towards the ruins of the HQ building of the French Superhuman Association. He immediately brought out the blue cow from his inventory, planning on riding it in search of Claire, but fortunately, Claire came to find him.

“…Eun-hyuk!”

“Noona!” Kang Shin-hyuk drooped with relief upon confirming Claire was safe. She hugged him tightly, her pleasant and alluring scent wafting over him.

“I’m glad you’re safe…!” Kang Shin-hyuk hugged her tightly as he felt her body tremble.

“As always, it was thanks to your potion. You’re the perfect match for me.”

“Even if you’re trying to score with those words, you’re already at a perfect score.” He burst out into laughter at her words, but a terrifying presence arrived to push Claire away. Of course, it was Shin Eunah.

“Foul!”

“Eunah, you did it last time, so this is a draw.”

“Well, that… I was so happy, I accidentally…”

“Isn’t it the same? I’m also relieved and happy.” Shin Eunah and Claire’s childish argument was a truly surreal scene, given the current situation. Those who were liberated from the gate saw them and realized that the report of the love triangle was true.

“Honey, I’m safe too. A hug…”

“I wish you died.” Juno valentine tried to step in but was soundly defeated. If he didn’t know of Kang Shin-hyuk’s skills, there might’ve been room for him to push in, but he had also been overwhelmed by the sight of him inside the gate.

“The scandal of the century. A new ranker rising with the red-haired Alchemist, plus…the first place ranking…” All the high-rankers nodded and looked at Shin Eunah. They all had witnessed her abilities as she faced off against the monsters inside of the gate. They couldn’t dare measure up to her. Then there was Shin Eun-hyuk, who had suddenly shown up even though he wasn’t invited to the conference. And above all of that, ironically, the leader of Vanguard, the guild that put Korea at the center of superhuman society, had betrayed mankind.

“It’ll be difficult…”

“It’s okay. If we endure a bit of pain, Korea’s position may be solidified going forward.” If the power of the superhuman association was strong, then the whole country became strong. Both Shin Eunah and Shin Eun-hyuk belonged to the association, so even though Vanguard’s strength might have weakened, Korea would remain strong with the association supporting it.

“Ah…” It was then that Baek In-ha broke into it as Kang Shin-hyuk was struggling with the attention suddenly on him.

“Baek In-ha, are you awake?”

“Hey, I also endured a lot. You were fighting?”

“Yes, I broke the SSS-gate.”

“Damn…” Claire, Baek, and the other superhumans in a good enough condition had been trying to protect people as much as possible the moment the building collapses. He was still working to rescue those buried under the rubble.

“It’s tricky. These damn structures have anti-magic, so it’s hard to move them with magic.”

“What the hell is anti-magic for?”

“You’re telling me…” It was no normal task to remove the debris of a structure built to boast the world’s best durability.

“Everyone cooperate! The people under this rubble are more important than the whole of Paris!”

“You say really cruel things so casually.” However, since those words weren’t untrue, all the superhumans mobilized to work hard at clearing the debris. Even in the midst of that, they were still dealing with the monsters flocking around.

“Is there any metal in it?”

“It’s at least fifty percent metal.”

“That’s great. Onyx, come out.” Kang Shin-hyuk quietly brought out Onyx while watching the people around him. He had been living in the garbage warehouse these days, but at his call, Onyx stuck his head out from the sub-space and let out a small cry.

“Today, it’s your job to eat the metal in this rubble.”

-Myu…

Onyx complained about being called only for these types of things. However, even as strong as he had grown from eating the alloy garbage, he would’ve needed to retire after three minutes of participating in the battle today.

“I have a sword for you today.”

-Myu?!

He was so eager to eat; it felt rather refreshing. Kang Shin-hyuk let the guy loose into the building rubble. Onyx immediately activated his stealth and went to work.

“How the hell…? Even I momentarily lost track of it…?” Claire, watching the scene up until then, opened her eyes in amazement.

“If the metal disappears, the work will be easier.”

“It’s better than nothing.” Baek, unaware of Onyx’s abilities, responded with an ambiguous expression.

“What about Na-hee and Eleanor?”

“When I woke up, they weren’t around.”

“What?” What had happened with Jormungand? Didn’t he rescue them? Did they evacuate to another place? Checking his phone, he found a message from Karen saying they would head toward Lee Na-hee’s store.

“No, why… hm…” He didn’t think it was a rational judgment, but he knew that people wouldn’t always act rationally. He summoned the blue cow and sat down on it.

“I’ll be back. Baek, please protect Onyx.”

“Uh, sure…”

“I’ll go too.” Claire sat behind him.

“I’m a magic-type anyway, so I won’t be helpful here.”

“Then, I too…”

“Eunah, you’re strong. Who’re you trying to trick?”

“Oh…” Eunah, well aware of the importance of the rescue operation, was unable to push her case. Claire grinned as she placed her arms around Kang Shin-hyuk.

“Oh, the Empress has lost.”

“I guess the Alchemist took it.”

“I thought the Alchemist was more attractive myself… hiii!” Shin Eunah’s gaze silenced the superhumans paying attention to them as Kang Shin-hyuk and Claire rode off.

“Are you really unhurt?” The bike ran through Paris’s night sky. When it was just the two of them, Claire carefully touched Kang Shin-hyuk’s chest, where the uniform was shredded. Every time her fingertips ran across his skin, an odd and strangely itchy sensation hit him. Kang Shin-hyuk pretended it wasn’t affecting him as he spread out his webs to catch nearby monsters.

“I was hurt, but your potion healed me completely. No scars at all.”

“It must’ve been painful…”

“It hurt, but…” Kang Shin-hyuk couldn’t help but enjoy the strange heat emanating out from wherever she touched him.

“This is the reward.”

“You…”

“Now, now…huh?” Thanks to the blue cow’s ego, they were able to avoid colliding with any monsters. His gaze was focused forward as Claire continued to speak.

“I was happy too when you came to my side. Or was it because of Eunah?”

“No way. I was worried about my noona. All that other stuff… I was just worried about you…”

“Huh…is that how it is?” Claire sounded satisfied as she leaned against him.

“That’s right.” Kang Shin-hyuk was smiling back at her.

“I couldn’t help it because I was worried about you…” Claire hugged him from behind, finished what she had started before being disturbed by Shin Eunah. The two stayed still for a while.

“You know.”

“Yeah?”

“Let’s stop talking about her.” Kang Shin-hyuk barely suppressed his desire to ask what she meant.

Only

“Okay.”

“Huh.” The urge to embrace her became more intense, but soon after, they reached Champs-Elysees.

“What?!” The scene there demolished their good mood.

“Na-hee…and the Magic Crown?!”

“Shin-hyuk?! Even Claire….!” In the ruins of the destroyed store, there was Na-hee and Karen, surrounded by four massive barriers, and Eleanor, who was confronting Nathan Bodin with the lance Kang Shin-hyuk had made.

“What the hell is this?”

“Hey, junior!” Lee Na-hee waved excitedly from within the barriers.

“I evolved my trait! We’ll be even when it comes to splitting the profits now!”