Chapter 99

〈Chapter 98〉 Section 4. The Dignity of S-Class (5)

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The sky was clear.

Taejo lay sprawled in the middle of the road, looking up at the sky.

"Damn."

He had lost cleanly.

If anyone had seen this battle, they might have said, "What kind of S-Class battle ends in one hit?" But in reality, battles between top experts often end in a single move, especially when there is a significant difference in skill.

"Damn!"

Taejo punched the ground.

Others might say he was acting disgracefully after losing, but Taejo couldn't swallow his frustration.

"I didn't see it...!"

Even if the Goblin's movements were unpredictable, other S-Class heroes should be able to read them, as the Goblin had said.

But he couldn't react.

He managed to protect his body just before the punch hit, but the suit attached to his body exploded and scattered in all directions when the connection points burned up.

"Ha...."

Taejo gathered the remnants of the suit using his ability.

The suit, which had been scorched by the magical explosion, was severely damaged, and the front part was too damaged to wear again.

"Complete defeat."

He had come to chase Yuliana, but after losing to the Goblin, that goal no longer mattered.

"S-Class detector.... Ha."

The Goblin's words kept echoing in his mind.

In Korea, they say the S-Class review should include a match against Taejo.

If you beat Armored Taejo, you're S-Class.

Yeah, you're stronger than A-Class but weaker than S-Class, so you're A.5, right? Haha.

S-Class detector.

He had tried to shake off such evaluations, but they persisted.

"Ugh!!"

There was no way to find a clue.

If there was a clue, it would be the words the Goblin left behind.

"If you only rely on the suit, you'll end up stuck there."

"Ha...!"

Taejo covered his face with his hands.

This heavy steel armor was his protection, his weapon, and simultaneously a 'symbol.'

Telling him to discard it was like asking him to be reborn as a completely new being.

"Even he wears a fancy suit...!"

Taejo got up.

"Fine, if you're so great, answer me this!"

Lying there and whining was only a temporary indulgence.

"Damn, you hit me with one shot and now you're chasing me again, which is really disgraceful...!"

Vroom.

"I have to get my genes back first before I start whining...!"

Something began to approach from the south along the road.

"Come here—!"

The suit surrounding Taejo flew backward and attached to a massive lump, and Taejo leaped and landed on top of it, like the head of the lump.

Boom!

Standing on the heap of scrap metal, Taejo grabbed the handles on either side and focused all his attention.

"Armored Taejo! Contact with Yuliana! After the battle with the Goblin... Goblin escaped! Currently pursuing the Goblin!"

With the villain reports ringing and my appearance broadcast on the千里眼 (Chunryian, a term for surveillance or public announcement system), heroes would be moving quickly.

And I had already gathered this information through the 宫崎 (Gonggi, a term for a network or information channel).

[If you enter the airport, no one will take care of you. You'll have to get into the private jet on your own.]

"What do you mean?!"

[If I try to protect you while fighting an S-Class, I might put myself in danger.]

Especially against a princess.

If I try to protect Yuliana and get her on the plane, the magic power I've just recovered will be depleted again.

"Ha, but you move by contract...!"

[I don't particularly like the person I'm protecting.]

"Ugh...! You were so nice to me in the car!"

[Nice? Just because I showed respect, it doesn't mean I was being nice. And hasn't the situation changed? If you hadn't recorded the video, or even if you had just stopped and saved it out of surprise, this wouldn't have happened.]

Actually, it's a bit different.

From the moment Yuliana caused trouble, the government likely intended to seal off the airport. If mobilizing the活滨党 (Hwabindang, a term for a group or organization) failed, they would have tried to arrest Yuliana at the airport.

The appearance of the Goblin has made the airport escape more difficult, but if we trace the cause, it all lies with Yuliana.

[Let me ask you. What do you plan to do with Taejo's genes?]

"......."

[Answer me.]

I pressed the brake.

"What are you doing?!"

Yuliana was startled and urged me on, but I remained still, holding the brake.

[I won't leave until you answer.]

"Ugh...! I was planning to have a child! Is that okay?!"

[What about Taejo's opinion?]

"That's something we can ask after the child is born! Because... the child can be... anytime—"

[There's no point in hearing more.]

I released the brake and started the bike again.

[Even if I protect you by contract, sometimes I wonder if it's the right thing to do. I follow you for a large sum of money, but is it really right to protect you?]

"What, what are you saying?! Do you think I'm wrong? Ha...! It's funny! What's wrong with more ability users?"]

[It's wrong. An ability user who isn't loved at birth is likely to become a demon.]

How many ability user children have become demons so far?

How many people have been killed by ability users who turned into demons?

[Do you think you can give as much love to a child born without a father?]

"......."

[Are you planning to have a child, or an ability user?]

Even if the statistics aren't directly available, somewhere, children who aren't loved might be turning into demons and harming people.

[You seem to have no idea how important a parent's love is in a child's growth.]

"Th-That's something I can hire people to do with money...!"

[Of course. You know nothing. Anyway... we've arrived.]

Screech.

I drove the bike directly onto the runway, crossing the forest.

[Get off.]

The bike's fuel was almost depleted, and I jumped off, throwing Yuliana to the ground.

"Ah!"

It was a bit rough, but as an ability user, Yuliana landed on her feet, hugging her suitcase.

"Isn't this too much?! Suddenly...!"

[My job is to guide you to the airport. You're here now. If you have legs, get to the private jet on your own. Or do you want me to throw you into the plane?]

"Y-You! We'll see about this later! I won't let you off easily!"

A plane waiting on the runway came into view.

I pointed to the plane with my chin, and Yuliana, glaring at me, ran off with her suitcase.

Vroom.

The private jet approached Yuliana as soon as it saw her.

Clunk!

The door of the private jet opened, and a blonde foreigner in a suit stepped out. Yuliana, standing close by, hugged her suitcase and leaped powerfully.

[You jump well. You could have made it from Samcheok to here without any problem.]

"Hey!!"

Yuliana, who had entered the plane, flipped her middle finger at me.

"Go to hell! I was the fool for trying to be nice to you!"

[Oh. I wasn't thinking of giving you a cake. But more importantly...]

Very disappointing.

[Don't be too relieved just because you're on the plane.]

One ambiguous characteristic of ability users.

[Well, I did put you on the plane. If the plane can't take off, that's not my problem.]

The government isn't stupid; they won't just let someone steal S-Class genes.

Crack!

A white net spread over the plane.

[...That's.]

As soon as the plane touched the white net, frost formed on its surface, and it was immobilized.

I clenched my fists, recognizing the familiar magical aura.

[Long time no see, Princess. Are you eating well?]

"......."

On top of the plane.

A white-haired woman in a suit, who had been on the plane from the start, waved at me with a blank expression.

"Date."

[Huh?]

"Let's have a quick, final date, shall we?"

Click.

As Snow White snapped her fingers, a white ice net began to shimmer around me.

"Today, I plan to completely end this tiresome relationship with you."

[.......]

Hmm.

Snow White's gaze, directed at me, was quite unfamiliar.

Right now.

She seems incredibly angry...?

"Prepare yourself, Goblin. Today... I won't let you go."

Sssss—!!

The white ice net enveloped me.

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