Chapter 85: Festival – Encounter (3)

The crowd filled the area completely.

Joaquin Academy was larger than most small cities, but today, there wasn’t a single empty space to be found.

The lines of people and the parade procession stretched as far as the eye could see.

‘Wow, that’s a lot of people…’

In just three days, countless events had been packed into the schedule.

A festival that clearly required a massive investment of capital and effort. Among all the activities, the highlight was, of course, the parade.

However, like any parade, Joaquin Academy’s presentation wasn’t anything particularly groundbreaking.

It was similar to what you might see at a theme park.

Sure, the size and quality were unmatched, but to me, it all felt more or less the same.

I’d never been much of a fan of these kinds of events, and honestly, I’d lost my sense of childhood wonder a long time ago.

‘Though I never liked them, not even as a kid.’

I stood watching the procession from a safe distance, far from the crowd.

Speedweapon and the other club members had insisted I join them, but I had no intention of sweating under the scorching sun voluntarily.

Besides, my height and good eyesight allowed me to enjoy the parade without needing to be in the front row.

In the end, while I stayed rooted like a statue, the other members dove into the crowd. Especially Speedweapon, who ran off like an excited monkey.

‘At least it’s flashy.’

The women dancing samba, adorned with golden ornaments hanging from their costumes, put on an impressive show. The enormous floats carrying them were said to be decorated with real gold and silver.

I’d heard that selling just one of those could fund someone’s entire retirement.

As I watched with a distracted expression, I heard footsteps approaching.

Step, step.

I turned my head to see Ryozo walking over with an exhausted expression and a slight pallor on her face.

“Ugh, I hate crowded places.”

Suddenly, Ryozo stopped next to me and began chewing on a sweet bean jelly. I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye.

‘Why did she send messages using my number to gather all the club members?’

She was supposed to be resting in the dormitory. She tired easily and didn’t sleep much. Over the past few days of the festival, she’d constantly been arguing with journalists, which must have exhausted her mentally…

‘I really don’t understand what she’s thinking.’

I’d been spending time with the club members for two months, except for Senior Ha-na. I’d gotten to know Chloe, who seemed like an obsessive little bird, and Speedweapon, who, despite his rebellious appearance, was a kind of comic relief. These were two people who had absolutely no importance in the game, but now they were deeply connected to me.

However, Ryozo, one of the main heroines of the game, was still a mystery to me. Should I say it seemed like she was intentionally hiding her true feelings?

Even her frequent quarrels with Speedweapon felt more like an act to fit into the group…

Other than her title as the Daughter of a Seven-Star Hero, I knew very little about Ryozo. Depending on the situation, her personality also seemed to shift accordingly.

‘I don’t understand her intentions this time.’

Why would she gather everyone using my number? It was suspicious… but well, she must have her reasons.

Despite her questionable methods, I trusted her judgment. In important situations, she had always proven to be a rational and reliable person.

I stared at the side of Ryozo’s face. Before I knew it, she had finished her sweet jelly and was drinking bottled water.

‘Now that I think about it, this is the first time we’re alone together.’

At that moment, Ryozo seemed to notice my gaze. Her fingers started fidgeting nervously as she avoided eye contact and murmured.

“…Why are you looking at me like that?”

She puffed out her cheeks and looked away. Even her face was tinged with a faint blush. It was obvious that she wasn’t pleased with what she had done.

‘I’ve never seen her like this before.’

This was by far the most age-appropriate attitude I’d seen from her until now. I let out a soft laugh and shook my head. Ryozo seemed even more uncomfortable with my reaction and quickly averted her gaze.

“You’re incredibly dense.”

Ryozo muttered softly amidst the bustling background noise. Normally, I wouldn’t have heard it, but my sharpened senses caught her words.

‘Dense?’

Ryozo wasn’t someone who said things without meaning. Her words always carried some hidden significance. Even her trick of using my number to gather everyone must have had a purpose.

I frowned and asked,

“Why? What’s going on?”

Ryozo flinched visibly. She hadn’t expected me to hear her.

“…You heard that?”

She looked at me with surprised eyes. Without wasting time, I placed my hands on her shoulders and asked firmly,

“What’s going on? Did you notice something strange?”

“W-what? W-wait!”

Ryozo stammered, seeming flustered. Her pupils spun like a whirlwind. Her reaction was completely unnatural.

I tightened my grip on her shoulders slightly, trying to get an answer, and she whispered something in an almost inaudible voice.

“It hurts…”

“Huh? I didn’t hear that.”

Suddenly, Ryozo shoved me hard, causing me to lose my balance slightly.

“Hey! If you grab me that hard, of course it’s going to hurt! How can you be so dense and still have such sharp hearing at the same time?”

I stared at her, confused. My concern seemed completely unnecessary because her eyes were filled with frustration.

“And to think I was worried…”

“…..”

Ryozo blinked a couple of times before her face flushed deeply. She lowered her head, avoiding my gaze.

‘What’s going on here?’

I clicked my tongue in frustration. Ryozo, her lips trembling slightly, whispered.

“…Are you mad?”

Her cautious voice was a stark contrast to the firm, confident tone I was used to hearing from her. This felt incredibly strange.

‘Was I too serious?’

I scratched my cheek and shook my head. Finally, the worried look on Ryozo’s face began to ease.

As I watched her, a question popped into my mind. Since we were rarely alone, this seemed like a good chance to satisfy my curiosity.

“By the way, Ryozo.”

“Hmm?”

“This might sound a bit sudden.”

At my firm tone, her pupils trembled slightly.

She swallowed hard and waited for me to continue. I cleared my throat before speaking.

“Are you and Speedweapon dating?”

“…What?”

Ryozo immediately tried to kick me straight in the shin.

I tilted my torso slightly to dodge. It was a move I had entirely anticipated.

Her foot cut through the empty air. The momentum from the failed kick caused her to lose her balance and fall hard onto the ground. She landed on her backside with enough force to clutch her hip in pain.

‘Yep, that confirms it.’

They say a strong denial is a strong affirmation. After all, when a boy and a girl argue this much, it’s usually just an awkward way of expressing affection.

Of course, I’ve never been in a relationship, either in this life or my previous one, but… I understand the basics to some extent.

‘Damn, this feels a bit awkward.’

While I was lost in thought, Ryozo glared at me furiously before speaking in a trembling voice.

“Y-you, you, you! How can you say something like that out loud!? How could you possibly think I’d be dating that stupid monkey!?”

Her voice wavered with a mix of emotions. I shrugged once and turned my back to her.

“Hey, Kang Geom-Ma! Where do you think you’re going!?”

Her angry shout pierced my back, but I deliberately ignored it. As the club president, it was my duty to accept and tolerate relationships within the group.

“Heyyy—!”

***

At the same time, on the outskirts of Joaquin Academy.

Two figures, a man and a woman, walked along a quiet street. All Mute, wearing a tightly fitted baseball cap and casual clothing, was accompanied by her manager, Cain. The sound of their footsteps was the only thing breaking the silence of the dusty road.

“Ellie, how long are you planning to stay here…?”

Sweat trickled down Cain’s forehead and ran along the bridge of his nose. Although the heat was stifling, what truly made him uneasy was his growing impatience. He pointed to his watch.

“Sorry, Cain. But before I leave, there’s something I really need to confirm.”

“Huff.”

Cain shook his head, resigned, as he reflected on the person who had so thoroughly captured All Mute’s interest.

‘That first-year cadet.’

Black hair, a sharp jawline, and a presence that, at first glance, was undeniably extraordinary.

Of course, his appearance was the least relevant part compared to the performance he’d displayed in front of the public a few days ago.

Cain let out a bitter smile. Even Mao Lang, who was comparable to All Mute in skill, had been defeated by a mere cadet. And not after a long battle—it had happened in a single strike.

From the perspective of the United States, this was advantageous due to their rivalry with Mao Lang. However, it also meant that a sudden and potentially more threatening figure had appeared.

‘Kang Geom-Ma.’

The hottest topic among hero agencies and guilds over the past two days.

In the current era, agencies and guilds valued a hero’s charisma and popularity more than their raw power.

The reason was simple. Money.

Modern heroes were, in part, celebrities. And no country understood or exploited this aspect better than the United States.

The term “hero,” the culture of flashy costumes and unique names, everything was designed to maximize visual and emotional impact.

‘The Saint of Sashimi, huh?’

A nickname that began as a simple joke in an article but, somehow, perfectly encapsulated an identity. A cooking knife that resembled a chopstick, rare black hair, and an extraordinary innate talent.

A combination of uniqueness and exceptional skill.

At that moment, an idea crossed Cain’s mind.

‘…It can’t be.’

“Ellie, are you trying to recruit that cadet named Kang Geom-Ma?”

“N-no! It’s nothing like that. There’s just something I want to confirm.”

All Mute lowered her head slightly as she replied. Cain remained silent, his lips pressed tightly together.

‘Well, it’s not exactly ethical, but we can’t let someone like him slip away.’

Cain nodded to himself. Although the boy would need American citizenship, with the influence of their agency, the paperwork would be a matter of time.

‘Keep your allies close, but your enemies even closer.’

A faint smile spread across Cain’s face.

‘Still, there’s not much time before the flight.’

Coordinating and managing schedules was his responsibility as a manager. No matter how promising the young man might be, his first priority was adhering to All Mute’s schedule.

Finally, the two arrived at the stall where Kang Geom-Ma had been selling kimchi stew. All Mute pulled her cap lower over her face.

“Oh, what’s this? There’s no one here.”

Noticing this, Cain also peeked into the stall. Only the lingering aroma of kimchi stew remained, with no sign of people.

“They’ve probably gone to watch the parade.”

“……”

Confirming that no one was there, All Mute removed her cap with a frown. Her reddish hair swayed lightly over her shoulders.

“Oh, right. The time.”

Cain checked his watch again and spoke urgently.

“Ellie, let’s leave this for another time. We’ll barely make it to the flight as it is.”

Contrary to Cain’s urgency, All Mute responded calmly.

“But the academy has a subspace portal. Can’t we use it to go directly to our next destination?”

“Hey! Do you know how much a private flight costs? You want to leave a jet abandoned in Korea? That plane was paid for with taxpayer money!”

As Cain scolded her, All Mute touched her temple and reflected on his words.

“…If it’s taxpayer money, then there’s no choice.”

“Exactly. Good thinking. Next time, we’ll approach this more calmly, okay?”

All Mute placed her cap back on and began walking.

“Let’s go, Cain.”

Cain sighed in relief, muttering to himself.

‘A private agency jet isn’t paid for with taxes, you fool!’

It was a lie made possible because of her dedication to work and her innocent personality.

Still, the result was effective, and Cain felt the weight of his small lie lift slightly with each step he took.