Chapter 88

88. The First Boss, Leang (6)

"Still, for you to come all the way here personally, what's the matter?"

"…Do you really need to ask why a teacher would come to observe a student's training?"

Yeah, that's strange. Very strange.

You're the killing machine, Charon, before anything else.

There's no way you'd come here without a purpose.

‘It can’t be to verify information about the Maestro of the Battlefield, right?’

In the past, Carros, the capital of the Rohan Kingdom, was close to the western end of the continent.

I only gave the information two days ago.

Even with Charon's abilities, it would be impossible to verify it in just two days.

‘If he had verified the information, he would have contacted me in the dorm at night, not here where there are so many eyes watching.’

This means that his visit now is for a personal reason.

And that is…

‘It’s highly likely it’s about Luna.’

If not, it could be that he came to see my handsome face?

The latter could be possible, but the former is slightly, very slightly, more likely.

"Hehe, did you come to give Luna some advice?"

"There's no way I would. Arrogant brat."

Well, Charon, who dislikes Luna getting stronger.

The stronger she gets, the more her desire for revenge will grow.

So, this visit isn't for guidance.

If he came to interfere, that would be another story, but it doesn't seem like that's his intention.

Besides, there are more efficient ways to interfere.

‘No matter how I think about it, there’s no reason for him to come here…’

I briefly reviewed what happened with Charon two days ago.

I almost died because of the misunderstanding that I had a certain relationship with Luna.

I shared information about the Four Kings and the Maestro of the Battlefield, Volcan.

In return, I received two artifacts.

And… and…

"…"

Wait, could it be?

"Did you come because you wanted to see Luna puff up her cheeks?"

Charon flinched. That means I hit the mark.

Puffed cheeks.

‘The information I gave was to tease Charon, who can’t get close to Luna.’

I didn’t think he would come here just to see that.

It’s really surprising.

"I, I have no interest in seeing such a thing!"

Yeah, yeah, sure.

If you want to see puffed cheeks, just say so.

Charon is really shy, isn’t he?

There’s no choice but to meet his expectations.

I filled both cheeks with air and puffed them up.

Then,

Thud!

Charon's left hand grabbed my face. It was a rough, merciless grip.

"I clearly said I would kill you if you did that again."

Aaaaaah! Stop! Stop!

It’s going to crush! My handsome face is going to be crushed!

I pounded on Charon's arm, but it was useless.

The more I resisted, the tighter his grip became.

Boom!!

At that moment, the training ground shook.

Surprised, Charon loosened his grip slightly, and through the gap between his fingers, I could see Luna with a bewildered expression and Regis, whose hair stood on end in shock.

"Ha, ha, I did it! We finally made progress!"

Progress?

Only after using the information window did I understand what had happened.

From E to D, Luna's skill level had increased by one grade.

The shaking of the training ground was likely the result of Luna's 'One Step'.

"Zero! Did you see that? Did you see what I just did?"

Luna ran over, shouting.

She was so happy that she was jumping up and down.

"…"

Only then did Charon let me go.

Hmm, my face feels a bit distorted. Must be my imagination, right?

"Hehe! How was it? My skills."

I couldn't see anything because of Charon, but I can't tell her that.

If I did, Luna's 'One Step' would be directed at me.

"Hehe, it was excellent."

"Ahem! This is easy for me. Right? But why does your face look like that?"

"Huh?"

"Your face looks distorted. You already looked bad, but now you look like a pancake?"

Luna, what are you saying? Calling someone's face a pancake?

And I’m not ugly!

"Ugh, you must have rolled around somewhere. You’re making my life hard."

Luna raised both hands and started touching my face.

Squish, squish.

"…"

Hmm, this is an awkward situation.

It’s not because Luna’s face is close.

Currently, Luna is facing away from Charon, and I am facing him.

This means I am directly meeting Charon's gaze.

From the brief eye contact, I realized one thing.

The killing machine can kill with his eyes.

"Hehe, I don’t mind living with a pancake face, Luna."

"No way. How can you survive in this harsh world? Your face is already bad enough. Oh! Stay still!"

I don’t know what to do now. I’ll just close my eyes.

Luna continued to fiddle with my face for another five minutes before letting go.

…This also means Charon was treated like a backdrop for five minutes.

"All done! Now you look more like a human. How’s my skill?"

Hmm, I don’t know, but Luna’s perceptiveness is definitely deadly.

I knew she was clueless, but I didn’t expect it to be this hopeless.

"Huh? What is it, Teacher Charon? How long have you been there?"

Pfft!

Charon swayed slightly.

He was hit. By the arrow of 'indifference'.

‘He looks really shocked.’

This is the first time I’ve seen Charon like this.

"I’ve been here all along…"

"Really? I didn’t notice at all. Make some noise when you move. You scared me."

"…I’ll do that from now on."

Luna is the one who did wrong, but she’s the one getting scolded.

It’s a funny situation, but I should stop the joke here.

Charon might take it out on me later.

‘Since he came all the way here… I might as well give him what he wants.’

I decided to be nice this one time. I’m a good person.

‘And I can add a small favor to the list.’

I said to Luna,

"Hehe, you were definitely impressive. It was a great skill."

"Right? I was surprised myself."

"Well, it’s just a promotion from a worm to a slightly better worm."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"It means you still have a long way to go. It’s not time to celebrate yet."

Pfff.

Luna puffed up her cheeks.

A clear sign of dissatisfaction.

"…Just watch me! I’ll catch up to you by the end of today!"

Luna stomped to the center.

She must have seen a demon’s face or something.

Regis shuddered and retreated into the box.

The plan to show Charon Luna’s puffed cheeks was a success.

Though I’ll have to pay the price for making Luna angry later.

"Hehe, did you see that? Isn’t she adorable?"

There was no response. Instead, I could see something.

Charon’s lips, slightly curled upwards.

He’s trying to hide it, but I can see through it.

A smile filled with warmth.

‘Wait a minute.’

He’s happy seeing Luna?

Then, could it be…!

‘Charon is Luna’s dad!?’

A proud Korean K-drama that stretches across the world.

The story writer of this game might have been influenced by its typical melodramatic plot.

‘If that’s the case, it explains Charon’s obsession with Luna.’

I decided to test the theory.

"Hehe, as I said, Luna’s expressions have become more varied."

"Is that so."

"Are you satisfied with your daughter’s growth, sir?"

Charon glared at me. His eyes were cursing me.

Hmm, not it? My guess was wrong?

"Tsk, you’re living up to your face."

"Hehe, thank you for the compliment."

"It means you have dirty thoughts like your dirty face."

Charon’s face was full of contempt.

No, don’t do things that can be misunderstood, then!

‘Well, genetically, it doesn’t make sense anyway.’

Luna is cute.

If Charon’s genes were involved, such cuteness would be impossible.

Though, her temper seems similar to Charon’s.

‘Then what’s the reason?’

A real lolicon!?

"…That’s absolutely not true. Do you think I’m a madman like you?"

Charon’s contempt grew even stronger.

Well, whatever. If not, then not.

But how did he know what I was thinking? Does he have mind-reading powers?

"Tsk, your thoughts are obvious. Stop thinking nonsense and focus on protecting her."

"Hehe, I’ll try my best."

"Then I’ll be going now."

Charon turned his body.

Seeing Luna’s puffed cheeks. His purpose achieved, he’s leaving.

"Already? Since you’re here, why don’t you guide Luna a bit?"

"I have no obligation to. I just stopped by on my way."

Just getting what he wants and leaving?

A typical rat-like action of the empire.

If he’s going to act like this, I have no choice.

I’ll have to act in a similarly despicable way.

"Hehe, if you leave now, you won’t see Luna’s puffed cheeks again."

Charon, who was about to open the training ground door, flinched.

"…What do you mean by that?"

"I’m going to make her stop. You know, Luna listens to me well."

"…"

Charon’s frown deepened. A frown so obvious that even a normal person could notice.

It meant his mind was wavering.

"I’ll have to teach her the 'One Step' too. A 'One Step' so big and beautiful that everyone will notice. Hehe, wouldn’t that be enough without me protecting her?"

Charon’s eyes turned fierce.

It’s a bit scary, but it’s fine.

We have a business relationship, and I know this is within the acceptable range.

And I believe Charon feels the same.

"…Say what you want. But not guidance for Luna."

Saying he’ll give the price without any fuss.

It seems Luna’s puffed cheeks were satisfying.

Hmm, let’s see. What do I need most now? Money, artifacts, and…

‘Information about Leang.’

With only two days left until the end of the first chapter.

I need the conditions and information to make Leang repent.

‘But where can I get such information…? Oh!’

I looked up at Charon.

Charon, who was looking at me as if I were a bug, came into view.

‘…What? Am I a fool?’

I’ve been doing foolish things.

A golden goblin carrying a lot of information is right in front of me.

I’m a veteran of this game.

In some aspects, I have more information than Charon.

I was so focused on giving information that I didn’t think about getting it.

‘I was too fixated on money and artifacts.’

I have an advantage in information about the enemy and the future, but Charon has an overwhelming advantage in information about this world.

Information about Leang, Charon would know everything, even the number of spoons in his house.

‘What a fool I’ve been.’

It’s fortunate that I realized it now.

The problem is the price I have to give, but if I pay with Luna’s smile or emotional expressions, I won’t be at a loss.

‘But if I ask directly, he’ll be suspicious…’

If I say Leang is suspicious and ask for information?

Charon will tear me apart immediately.

Then, Rodelin and the others, and me.

We’ll all float in the air.

The main characters will lose the opportunity to grow.

As for me, who has to tackle the hidden boss as a quest, I won’t be able to receive the next quest.

A life waiting for death is not something I want.

‘I need to get information about Leang without arousing Charon’s suspicion.’

My mind started to work quickly.