Chapter 213 – Omen of Crisis (2)

Just as I was thinking about brushing it off with an excuse, an unexpected savior appeared. Choi Seol-ah, her eyes blazing, approached with firm steps.

“Hey! Horn… I told you not to wander around alone!”

Choi Seol-ah scolded Horn lightly, then spoke up in my place to explain.

“She’s a distant relative of mine, recently transferred to the academy. That thing about calling Student Kang Geom-Ma ‘Lord’ is just a personal habit. She probably ran over because she was looking for someone to ask for directions or something.”

It wasn’t a very logical excuse, nor remotely convincing. It was basically the first thing she could come up with. Yet surprisingly, it worked.

“Ah, I see.”

Speedweapon nodded. Beside him, Chloe also nodded. Both had a “makes sense” look on their faces.

‘They seriously bought that……???’

That Chloe believed it, fine — but for Speedweapon, who’s usually so sharp, to accept it so easily left me speechless.

On Earth, if someone casually called you “Lord,” it would raise all kinds of weird flags. People would probably say, “What’s up with your weird kink?” But of course, this isn’t Earth. In this world, titles like Seven-Star Hero, Seven Braves, and Hero-Founder are normal. So using words like “Lord” isn’t all that strange.

Even so, if I had tried to explain it myself, it would have just sounded fishier. Having someone else say it for me made all the difference in credibility.

‘Thank goodness Choi Seol-ah rushed over at just the right time.’

If not, the more I spoke, the worse it would have gotten.

‘Though honestly, this happened because she lost track of Horn in the first place.’

Still, I’ll let that go this time. Thanks to her, the situation smoothed over. It’d be rude to scold her now. Besides, judging by the sweat on her forehead, she clearly knew she messed up.

I subtly turned my head. Ryozo was staring intently at Horn, her gaze half-hidden beneath her brows. After a few minutes of silent scrutiny, she finally looked away.

I let out a breath of relief inwardly.

‘Whew…’

Thus, what could have become a major problem ended up as just a minor episode. I had planned to announce that Horn would be joining the special class too, but decided to hold off. I needed to discuss it with Choi Seol-ah first.

Also, it was obvious Horn needed some serious education on human common sense. It wasn’t enough that she could speak well. She might easily blurt out a “Look at this!” and fire off magic spells.

Just imagining it gave me chills. In that case, no excuse would save us. It would be instantly obvious she was a dragon — and Choi Seol-ah, as her guardian, would get arrested by the Hero Association too.

‘Honestly, it would be safer not to include Horn in the special class, but…’

Horn plays an essential role in my plan. It’s worth taking the risk for her. It’s a gamble, walking a razor’s edge — but even so, Horn is indispensable for the special class.

It was at that moment that Choi Seol-ah, hiding Horn behind her back, called out to me.

“Lord— I mean, Student Kang Geom-Ma. Could I have a word with you? It’s about the special class. I’d like to discuss a few details. Would you come with me?”

Student Kang Geom-Ma. Choi Seol-ah said it awkwardly. You could tell she was already used to calling me “Lord.”

A few days ago, I had specifically asked her to address me as “student” to avoid misunderstandings like this.

And yet…

‘I never thought it would happen so soon.’

Oh well. Better to see it as an early warning. Ending that thought, I responded to Choi Seol-ah’s request.

“Yes, Instructor Kim.”

Come to think of it, I’m still not used to calling her that. Her name is Choi Seol-ah, but I keep calling her Instructor Kim. One of these days, I really should tell her to change it.

***

I walked silently behind Choi Seol-ah for about ten minutes.

She carefully checked the surroundings and let out a sigh of relief. With a look like she had just lost ten years of her life, she clenched her fist and lightly tapped Horn on the head.

“Hey, pointy ears! Didn’t I tell you not to wander around alone yet? Do you have any idea what trouble you could’ve caused?”

“Wh-what did I do wrong?!”

“Oh, so you don’t even know what you did wrong and you’re talking back too? There’s no saving you. Tonight you’re having pork for dinner.”

“Th-that’s a breach of contract!”

“Breach of contract, my foot! Didn’t you eat chicken instead of hanwoo for lunch today? Our contract clearly states once a day…”

Thus began a shouting match that quickly escalated into a full-on tantrum. I just stood by and watched.

‘Every time I see them, it’s always a fight over hanwoo beef…’

What symbolizes peace for others was the trigger for war between them — a battle between one who wanted to devour all the hanwoo and one desperately trying to stop it. Their struggle knew no time or place.

Normally, I would’ve stepped in to preserve the peace, but today I decided to stay silent. No real reason.

‘Let’s see how far they take it.’

…Several minutes of back-and-forth later, Choi Seol-ah punished Horn by making her kneel under a tree with her arms raised. Horn, having lost the argument, glared at Choi Seol-ah while murmuring bitterly.

“I’ll never forget this humiliation…”

But Choi Seol-ah only smiled victoriously. Suddenly, as if she remembered something, she turned to me.

“Oh, almost forgot because of this pointy-eared troublemaker. My Lord, I have a report for you.”

“A report?”

“Yes. It’s something that’s only circulating within the ‘Joaquin Academy Emergency Response Team,’ but I thought you should know.”

The Joaquin Academy Emergency Response Team — a kind of secret unit made up exclusively of elite instructors. Choi Seol-ah was a member of that group.

By the way, when I once asked her how she got in, she shamelessly answered in her usual way.

‘I was still part of the Villain Alliance back then, so I kind of snuck in as a double agent. It was on the recommendation of the late Professor Damian, remember?’

That’s Choi Seol-ah for you. She talks about her illegal past like she’s recounting a casual street crossing. Even after leaving her villainous days behind, her nature hasn’t changed.

Anyway.

“So why do you look so pale?”

I asked, and Choi Seol-ah quickly answered.

“There are reports of frequent demon sightings near the Gehenna Gate.”

I frowned.

“Demons, not beasts? What are they doing hanging around the Gate?”

“We don’t know yet. Among the team, there’s a rumor that something’s wrong with the Gate. Oh, and also — the Swordmaster hasn’t been seen much lately. Word is he’s been patrolling that area nonstop.”

“…Hmm.”

I fell silent, thinking. It was true that ever since the succession ceremony, there had been little news about the Swordmaster. And now it turns out he’s been near the Gehenna Gate all this time.

I let out a bitter smile.

‘He retired as a Seven-Star Hero, but he’s still on the frontlines more than anyone else.’

Meanwhile, I’ve been grumbling about juggling school life with Seven-Star duties. I felt a bit ashamed. But it also strengthened my resolve.

I needed to accelerate my mission to find the “fifth fragment,” one of my short-term goals. It was time to move.

“Choi Seol-ah, handle the paperwork for forming the special class on my behalf. Horn and I will be absent today and tomorrow.”

“You’re leaving right now? But as you know, you can’t just warp straight to the Gehenna Gate. You have to drop down several dozen kilometers away and then take a bus to the border zone. The overland trip is exhausting…”

“That’s why I’m taking Horn.”

“Huh…?”

I turned to look at Horn, still kneeling as punishment. Looks like this trip’s going to involve flying.

“…You know you could just take a private jet, right?”

“No need.”

“…Understood.”

***

Near the Gehenna Gate.

The restricted zone was tightly cordoned off with [ACCESS RESTRICTED] signs, blocking civilian approach ahead of time.

Hero Association employees were stopping each vehicle with glowing batons, inspecting them one by one. Heroes were also stationed throughout, armed and standing watch.

It was a place where every step felt like walking on thin ice. Director Sung stepped down from a vehicle, scanning the tense faces around him.

“Oh, Director Sung, you’ve arrived.”

The Swordmaster greeted him with a crinkled smile.

“How have you been, Swordmaster?”

“I’ve been well. Oh, and about Heavenly Sword… I heard you were the one who gave that name, right?”

“Yes. The Vice President gave me the honor of naming Lord Kang Geom-Ma.”

“Wow, even that muscle-headed Richard of Mura finally made a decent decision. You know what they say… even a broken clock is right twice a day.”

“…Hahaha…”

Director Sung let out an awkward laugh. He couldn’t exactly agree nor deny such a direct insult to his superior. So he quickly changed the subject.

“Swordmaster, I heard demons have been appearing lately.”

“That’s right. Three days ago, three dark elves attacked one of our heroes. I personally eliminated them, but since then, we’ve tightened security around here.”

Director Sung felt a chill run down his spine.

“Dark elves usually operate in groups. If only three came…”

“Then they’re probably a recon unit. A precursor to a full-scale attack.”

“Then it would be wiser to retreat for now and return with a formally assigned unit. If they come en masse, it’ll be extremely dangerous.”

Dark elves were an exception among demons — unlike others, they worked in organized groups. That made them much more dangerous, more human-like in structure.

Imagine it one demon is already a monster. What if multiple come together — and well-organized at that?

‘Even with the Swordmaster here, this is a real threat.’

They would need at least three Seven-Star-level forces. But the Swordmaster was firm.

“No. We can’t leave. The Gehenna Gate’s rift is slowly widening. It’s just a few centimeters now, but if this keeps up, it could blow open before the year’s end.”

“……”

“Also, if we gather all the heroes capable of operating here, it would leave other regions vulnerable. You know this. Only Senior-class heroes or the very best can even survive this environment.”

The Gate of Gehenna emitted such dense mana that only those specifically trained could approach. That’s why, even with the crisis, only about thirty people were deployed. Even then, they were the very best the Association had.

And what about asking for reinforcements from other countries? Sure, they would send help — but it would make the situation public. Stealth would vanish.

‘This is insane.’

Director Sung let out a sigh. The urgency of the situation clashed with the scarcity of resources.

And just then, his instincts flared. He raised his gaze, scanning the area.

The Swordmaster sensed it too. He immediately drew his sword.

Among the trees, gray from the Gate’s energy, red glints began to flicker. First one, then two, then three… and soon, too many to count.

Someone shouted, teetering on the edge of panic.

“Dark elves!”