Third Liberation (1)

Shinyoung’s students, who had experienced the historical events in Paris, were able to safely return to Korea without any injuries. It felt a bit odd given the past few days’ circumstances, but Kang Shin-hyuk went to school like everything was normal the next day.

“Did you fight an SS-class monster? Really?”

“Hey, how about seeing the Alchemist? Was she prettier than on TV?”

“Kang Shin-hyuk, were you good friends with Lee Na-hee?” Students in the same class buried them with questions about what happened in Paris, harassing them as soon as they arrived. Especially Kang Shin-hyuk…

“I saw a picture of Algiers and Na-hee crossed their arms with him.”

“What is that? Is it a joke? Say it’s a joke.”

“I heard Baek In-ha was fighting in the city too.”

“What’s your relationship with the Alchemist?”

“Forget Baek In-ha…” No, these guys were paying more attention to the thought of a love triangle than Jormungand’s raid on Paris! Kang Shin-hyuk let out a sigh.

“I have someone I like who’s not at this school, so please don’t spread pointless rumors.”

“Oh, he just cut them off. But what do you think?”

“I just said not to spread them!” Despite the events taking place in Paris, the students didn’t seem too shaken. Perhaps it was because a countercurrent had just taken place in Seoul just a short while ago.

“It’s the morning check-up time, everyone quiet down.” Siara Bertrand entered the classroom and knocked on her desk. Her magic caused the sound to reverberate throughout, silencing the students. But she only looked quietly down upon the adolescent students who were hungry for some gossip.

“Ah, please tell us about Paris!”

“Is it true Kang Shin-hyuk and Lee Na-hee are dating?”

“Did an SSS-class gate really appear?”

“Shin Eunah’s number one in the world now?”

“You don’t even know that? Did you hear about Joo-young Oh’s death?” Siara Bertrand knocked on the table once more to silence the students. This time the vibration was a bit stronger as she let out a sigh.

“Everything that has been reported is true. Try to figure out the rest for yourself. Oh, and… I don’t know if Kang Shin-hyuk and Lee Na-hee went on a date, but I can confirm that Lee Na-hee kissed Kang Shin-hyuk.”

“…” The classroom was deathly silent. Kang Shin-hyuk couldn’t believe it himself. His teacher was blatantly betraying him! No, when he thought about it, her goal from the start was to push them together. But to use such childish means! It didn’t take long for the students to realize the words were true and exploded.

“She was my first love!”

“Get him.”

“Kill him!” It was the first time Kang Shin-hyuk realized how popular Lee Na-hee actually was in Shinyoung. She was the beautiful girl who won the popularity vote last year, so it was natural if you thought about it calmly.

“Come on, fight me in practice. In practice.”

“Today’s practice is group tactics.”

“Ganging up on him is legal? Great, let’s do it.”

“That should be included in tactics!”

***

Previously, there had been a time where Kang Shin-hyuk felt it was challenging to follow along with Shinyoung’s classes. He had been unable to keep up with the other students because of his inability to handle mana, and he had immersed himself in perfecting his writing to fill in for the lacking in his practical lessons. Then school classes had been just a stepping stone for him to acquire his superhuman’s license.

-Member, it seems you’re feeling a little better.

But now he felt a little different about it. Probably from the time the athletic meet was concluded, Shinyoung had become a reasonably pleasant place for him. Janus’s disappearance and the truth Halo had illuminated him weighed heavily on his heart, but they became a little lighter at school with his classmates.

“Yes, really. I didn’t think I could ever be friends with them.”

-You don’t need to understand each other to be called friends deeply.

“That’s right. Thank you, administrator.

-You understand this administrator well. Receiving a thank you from a member like this, I have no choice but to give you a bonus. 30,000HP bonus!

“I can’t help but think that the bonuses seem too big these days…”

-40,000HP bonus!”

“Don’t just give me a bonus for no reason.” Kang Shin-hyuk’s eyes narrowed. He wondered about the administrator’s ability to contact people and his own ability to extend out his spiritual power. Could the two be combined somehow?

“Well, now?” Before long, the school had ended for the day. During the group tactics class that afternoon, he had been able to rejuvenate himself by knocking down his angry classmates who struggled to kill him. There were so many rumors going around school about him that it was hard to know where to begin, but Kang Shin-hyuk walked unaware of it all.

-Are you heading to the club room?

“Yeah.” The conversation with Halo had been profound and enlightening, but there was only one conclusion. If he wanted to train his actual ability, he needed to forge. It wasn’t that Kang Shin-hyuk didn’t like it; there were just a few opportunities to do so, given all that had happened recently. But now that things had calmed slightly, and he had gathered a minimal amount of strength to protect himself and challenge dimensional quests, it would be fine to focus on metallurgy for a while. He had no reason to not do so.

-Tsukuyo’s whisper: Anvil, have you made a new weapon yet? Are you sick?

Yes, rather than because of Halo, Tsukuyo’s insisting had begun a few days ago.

-I’m going to make one today.

-Tsukuyo’s whisper: Oh my, it’s like our hearts were connected!

It might’ve been useful to communicate with her sooner, but he had hesitated.

-Tsukuyo?

-Tsukuyo’s whisper: If you call me like that, I can’t help but be thrilled… Anvil, why are you calling?

Kang Shin-hyuk couldn’t respond for a while. In fact, he had some doubts about Tsukuyo. She was as powerful as Halo and Janus, yet some ominous energy lingered about her. It was fascinating to behold but made him alert. The Anvil from his previous life had considered Tsukuyo to be an unusual sort and was wary of her. There were many times when he realized that not all members of the Hero Universe were good.

‘But is she linked to Jormungand?’ So far, she just seemed like a pervert who liked the weapons Anvil made that emanated ominous energy. It was a rude judgment, but not inaccurate.

-That… did, you know that Janus is missing?

-Tsukuyo’s whisper: Anvil called me by my name, but then the topic turned to that boring person. I’m disappointed.

-Sorry, but… I wanted to ask if you knew anything about it.

-Tsukuyo’s whisper: It can’t be helped. Anvil has been paying attention to Janus since the old times. He competes with me the most for Anvil’s items… Now that means I can monopolize them!

No way…he knew what awaited him the second he put more items on the trading board.

-Tsukuyo’s whisper: Actually, I wasn’t paying much attention to him. From the start, we made a promise not to interfere with each other…also, he was always a person who moved on his own.

-Tsukuyo’s whisper: But a request from Anvil is a different matter. I will find Janus, even if it frays my precious hair.

-Uh… really?

Kang Shin-hyuk was surprised by the meaning of her words. It seemed that Tsukuyo really had no clue where he was, which meant that either she had no close relationship with Jormungand, or Jormungand had nothing to do with it. Secondly, he was taken aback that she would cooperate in finding Janus for him.

-Tsukuyo’s whisper: My love for Anvil is true, but you still don’t know my feelings.

-Uh, no… I know, I know enough, but I still thought it was a separate matter.

-Tsukuyo’s whisper: It can’t be, right? How can I stay still when you are in distress?

-Tsukuyo’s whisper: I will use all I can to find him, so please wait with confidence. There is no way that Janus will die if he is only stuck in a dimension beyond the reach of the Hero Universe.

-Tsukuyo’s whisper: …Oh, are you receiving my messages, Anvil?

-Yeah.

There was no answer for a while, but then Tsukuyo sent a message dripping with ecstasy.

-Tsukuyo’s whisper: Oh, I never would have been able to send such a message before!

-Tsukuyo’s whisper: Joy, joy… the day we can be together is soon…

The messages that began pouring in were suddenly blocked.

-By this point, your business must be concluded.

Only

“…”

-This is a waste of time for that fox. However, you can rest assured she is searching for Janus. So you don’t need to worry anymore.

“Is that so…? A dimension beyond the reach of the Hero Universe, and her abilities…” In other words, Tsukuyo’s ability reached into Jormungand’s realm. Kang Shin-hyuk still could not understand everything about Tsukuyo.

-It’s okay, member. For now, all you have to do is focus on what Halo said to do.

-Soon, you will be able to solve all of these problems with your own hands.

“I hope so.” Kang Shin-hyuk let out a short sigh and headed to the club room.

Soon, autumn would arrive.