Why is that?
Today, just like usual, the Hero, Abel Legion, headed to the Special Class and── felt something strange.
In the same classroom as always, someone was missing in the Special Class.
The one who was absent was Raphael. I heard that Raphael, having completed the ‘Proof’ at the Church last week, had become the Saint of Saints and was caught up in a power struggle within the Church.
So, it was certainly regrettable that he wasn’t at the Academy… but that was about it.
Even though my usual partner was gone, Namgoong Min was still around.
After our two-day trip, Namgoong Min and I had started to hang out often during classes and after school, and we had become so close that I didn’t even miss the absence of the Saint.
Additionally, although I had been busy managing the power of the ‘Holy Sword’ since I obtained it during that trip, I could still clearly feel the oddness in the classroom.
‘What the heck is going on…’
In the Special Class, everyone except the Saint was present. Abel, Namgoong Min, the Crown Prince, the Crown Princess, the Warlock, the Psychic, and even the Rich Tycoon.
There were only eight of us, no, now just seven, but we had formed a bit of a group.
Usually, Raphael would be hanging out with me, and the Crown Prince would stick with the Crown Princess, while the Warlock kept to himself, and the Rich Tycoon and Psychic would sit next to Namgoong Min.
Of course, since Namgoong Min had good relationships with everyone, we would often gather around him, but typically, this was how it was… or rather, how it used to be.
Right, that’s how it was.
But what about now?
“………Hmm…”
It’s one thing for Raphael to be gone and sitting alone, but normally, the Rich Tycoon and the Psychic should be seated next to Namgoong Min, yet they were sitting far away.
To my surprise, they were shivering all over, and it was worth noting that these two, who usually got along like oil and water, were sitting side by side.
Next to them, the Crown Princess was in a similar pose, while the Crown Prince, usually solo, and the Warlock behind them appeared to be sighing heavily.
So, what was left…
“………Namgoong Min…”
“Ah, Hero! Would you like to sit with us?”
“I’m fine with it, but… the Rich Tycoon and the Psychic…”
“Well, they should manage just fine, right? They’re the kind of people who can control others’ bank accounts with just a finger.”
Flinch!
With his usual smile, Namgoong Min spoke, and strangely enough, the Rich Tycoon and the Psychic jolted… even the Crown Princess?
They were sitting so prim and proper, their hands resting on their thighs, and they were trembling like crazy.
‘What’s with that?’
Though I had become somewhat numb to other people’s emotions since the Gate incident in my childhood, I could still see that the Rich Tycoon, the Psychic, and the Crown Princess were feeling something.
Those three were filled with guilt… guilt? Really?
The Rich Tycoon? The Psychic? The Crown Princess?
‘Am I going mad?’
As far as I knew, those three women, who would carelessly toss guilt aside, were feeling guilty right now.
Momentarily questioning my sanity, I continued to observe them, but nothing changed.
If anything, with me staring like this, considering their personalities, they should have shot me a glare long ago, yet instead, they were sweating profusely, keeping their mouths and eyes tightly shut.
Was that all? Even the Crown Prince and Warlock sitting behind them were sending apologetic glares at Namgoong Min.
Of course, I was curious about why they were acting like this.
“Well then… I guess I’ll sit down…”
“Please do.”
That’s one thing, and this is another.
Aside from my curiosity, I didn’t want to get too entangled with the Rich Tycoon, the Psychic, and the Crown Princess.
Since I had seen their annoying personalities since childhood. The Crown Princess was at least kind, but it was glaringly obvious she was full of pretense.
Well, they weren’t useless, so I guess they’d manage fine.
More than anything, there was something more important than their guilt that I wanted to discuss.
“…By the way… about the Holy Sword…”
“Oh, what about it?”
“…It’s originally… way better… but…”
The Holy Sword I had received during the two-day trip.
I had heard that while I was passed out after being defeated by the Legendary Hero named Namgoong Jisoo in the ruined city hall, Namgoong Min took it.
In fact, Namgoong Min was also qualified as a <Hero> from the moment he ‘pulled it out’.
“So indeed… you…”
“No, you’re the only Hero now. I’m sorry, but I won’t reconsider my thoughts on that.”
“…Why…”
“As I said back then, right now, you are the spiritual pillar for the Americans scattered across the world. Because you are a <Hero>, the American government is able to maintain its position. Remember that.”
“………….”
“You’re also the Hero of the Americans.”
…It was such a straight-up truth that I had no retort, and since it was indeed a political issue, I had even less to say.
As for me, I felt that Namgoong Min was far more like a hero and would handle everything well, but as Namgoong Min said, Abel Legion wasn’t just a simple hero.
He represented the country of America and simultaneously stood as a spiritual pillar that the Americans identified with.
If he relinquished his title as a Hero and passed it on to someone from the Daehan Empire, what would happen to his homeland?
The country that my grandfather desperately tried to protect, America.
‘…I’m just so sorry.’
To my grandfather, who had a weak-hearted grandson, and to Namgoong Min, who tried to push this burden onto me.
And…
“It’s fine to ponder, but classes are about to start.”
“…Right…”
“Did you do your homework?”
“…Ah…”
“Of course, that was our promise, right? I promised to get you to the top of the grades… here, this is the homework draft.”
But right now, I wasn’t just an American Hero.
For the time being, I was also a student at the Romance Academy, where grades were important.
As Abel began to gradually consider his mission, he accepted the homework that Namgoong Min handed him.
‘Alright, for now, grades matter.’
The first year was about to end soon, and the final grades would be announced.
And at that time, with the challenge ticket I could get for being in the top tier…
‘Soon, the time will come.’
…I would have to challenge Charles Teddy Bear.
So, Abel cleared his mind of distractions and focused on the professor entering the classroom.
“Alright, today we will learn about algebra…”
The professor who stepped into the classroom did have a minor moment of surprise when he glanced over at the Rich Tycoon and the Psychic.
But today, Abel smiled as he attended the class.
‘Ah…’
I don’t understand anything at all.
Seriously.
*
“Let’s talk for a moment.”
“…Please don’t squeeze me…”
“Stop that and just listen!”
“You’re… not my type…”
“Damn it, I like the Fortuneteller too! Just let’s have a quick chat while he’s in the bathroom!”
After the theory class, the Rich Tycoon approached Abel, who was pretending to diligently review algebra or whatever by just flipping through the textbook.
Just as she said, Namgoong Min had stepped out to the bathroom for a moment. There was only about five minutes of leeway.
What could possibly be discussed in that short time?
“…The Psychic and the Crown Princess too…?”
“Exactly! The Crown Prince over there and Lucas feel the same! There’s no time!”
“Then… why am I…?”
“Right now, you! You’re the only one who can talk to Namgoong Min!”
The only one? What kind of nonsense is that?
The Rich Tycoon, who usually stuck to Namgoong Min like a flame, was saying such things, and Abel genuinely couldn’t understand her words.
Seeing his confusion displayed on his face, the Rich Tycoon took a deep breath and lowered her voice.
“Uh, we had… a bit of a fight with that Fortuneteller.”
“…Be precise. You were just rambling for no reason.”
“Hey, you evil woman! You said it was a good idea but now you’re cutting ties?!”
“At least I don’t have a shallow mouth like you, who is just like a paranoid patient.”
“You b*tch…!”
“Enough, for now, it’s more important to talk to the Hero… Hero, just as the Rich Tycoon mentioned, you’re the only one who can talk with Min right now.”
“…Please explain…”
“To put it simply… um, we got caught trying to hide the fact that we lost all of Min’s fortune… in stocks.”
“………….”
…What did this Violent Crown Princess just say?
What, lost all his fortune? Tried to hide it by pretending?
‘From what I heard, it seems like the Rich Tycoon is the main cause…’
Abel didn’t care about who caused what.
But he couldn’t help but feel his head throb at the idea that they had tried to hide losing Namgoong Min’s entire fortune in stocks.
“…What’s the reason…?”
It seemed that the Rich Tycoon, the Psychic, and the Crown Princess were in this mess together.
Considering that fact, Abel was the only one completely focused on the Holy Sword.
‘Apparently, they seem to be up to something behind the scenes…’
They had manipulated the bracket during the last交流会, so it was clear that they had a tendency to act on their own for Namgoong Min.
This incident was likely an extension of that. So, he had to hear the reason.
“Because he seems like he’ll be returning to the original world soon.”
“…So that’s why… you wanted to tie him down with the debts he holds…?”
“…Yes.”
“What is this?”
It was such a shocking revelation that it felt like I could hardly stand again.
Sure, it wasn’t entirely out of the question, but…
I couldn’t believe that these three women, who were obsessively infatuated with Namgoong Min, thought of that.
“Do you… not know Namgoong Min?”
“We know him better than anyone!”
“…Then… you should have… waited… and trusted him… Namgoong Min would have… definitely… consulted with us…”
“That, that’s…”
“…You are just… possessive idiots…”
The accusation of possessiveness left the three women looking down in submission.
Label it possessiveness or obsession, it didn’t matter. They just wanted to eliminate even the slightest possibility that Namgoong Min would leave.
They did this to help him, under the guise of doing it for Namgoong Min, and ended up getting caught, and in the worst way possible.
‘During the journey, Namgoong Min shared stories of his childhood with me.’
He had relied on stocks to overcome his parents’ business failures, only to end up dependent on some cultist Fortuneteller.
Because of that, it was only natural that Namgoong Min would have an intense dislike for stocks, being a <Fortuneteller> yet holding a deep hatred towards them.
Still, he would have trusted these women, believing they were friends and close companions.
Having backstabbed him like this, it was only reasonable for things to turn out this way.
“…The Crown Prince and… Lucas too?”
“…Same goes for them. I have no excuses.”
“Same here.”
Though they had half-heartedly formed an alliance due to their younger sisters’ threats, they never imagined it’d escalate this far.
While they weren’t as heavily involved as the three women leading the plan, Kim Sung-il and Lucas couldn’t hold their heads high in front of Namgoong Min either.
‘Who would have thought something like this would happen while I was busy with the Holy Sword…’
Now I understood their guilt and why the Rich Tycoon was approaching so desperately.
Naturally, since the classes would end and they would head back to their base, Namgoong Min would be moving around with me, and there wouldn’t be any chance to talk to him in the meantime.
Though they could also approach him separately when we returned to the base… it seemed these women wanted to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.
“…Hmm…”
“To put it simply, you just need to check in on that Fortuneteller for us. And if you could help facilitate a reconciliation…!”
“…No thanks…”
“What!? What did you just say?”
“…You all should just… resolve this personally… and not rely on someone else…”
“…You!”
“Right now… the way you see me… is utterly hypocritical, Rich Tycoon.”
I got it now. I understood clearly what had happened. I knew their plan and the reason the Crown Prince and Warlock were involved.
But I also understood the betrayal that Namgoong Min must have felt.
Hence, even though the Rich Tycoon, the Psychic, and the Crown Princess glared at me, I merely scoffed.
In fact, I actively displayed my emotions more than I usually did.
“You should… try to be like what you so adore about, Namgoong Min…”
“What?”
“…When you were loathing and pushing him away, he still approached you with a smile.”
──I wondered if you could do that too?
It was just mocking all those who had fallen into doubt.
Oh well abel isn’t someone mc can consult on this. So who the hell will he even ask?
So all that’s left is lily whiterose, sasaki ito ,d elinquent couple and charles?
Ig he should know Eileen was involved