Episode 210

-What were you doing there?

-I was being patriotic.

-Um…pass!

Such an event occurred.

Yumir’s sudden action was perplexing, but, albeit awkward to express gratitude for, it cleared the suspicion from Baridegi.

“It’s a bit ridiculous.”

I never imagined Baridegi would leave, thinking I was genuinely being patriotic.

Of course, Yumir, who had just brought out my baseball bat, and Baridegi, who had just jumped up to check inside, were something else.

“Heroines here really have weird concepts of modesty.”

While that might be normal in this world, I couldn’t help but find the women’s concepts of modesty here strange and frightening.

This world was too lenient on patriotism.

I didn’t know if it’s because the writer set up a world where anything goes if it’s for patriotism, or if the people of this world believed that patriotism by ability users was a shortcut to world peace.

Or maybe it’s because this society made everyone think ‘patriotism is acceptable’ regardless of time and place.

I was not sure why this world was so obsessed with acts of patriotism, but it’s extremely perplexing when escaping a situation through patriotism actually worked.

“Ha.”

“Why are you sighing so deeply?”

“Because of you, I’ve become a weird person.”

“Everyone does it, it’s not that strange.”

“Everyone does?”

“Yes. It’s not strange to be patriotic in various places on Sejong Island. We did it too.”

“No, you and I set up a magical barrier.”

“That’s something about the Goblin and Platinum Sun, not if Do Ji-hwan and Yumir had done it, the soldiers would have just thought ‘it’s a good time’ and let it go?”

“Huh.”

After returning home, I could only lament over the absurd situation.

“Doul. Did I do something wrong?”

“No? It was an excellent quick-witted response. Patriotism is not a crime! Bang bang bang. Didn’t evacuate during a dangerous situation? Turns out you were being patriotic. Everyone will say it can’t be helped.”

“See. Even Doul agrees with it now.”

“Because I acknowledge it, that brat becomes arrogant.”

Yumir did something outrageous, and I confronted her about it.

However, Yumir acted as if she had done nothing wrong, and even Doul ended up saying it didn’t matter as long as it was funny.

“Next time, I should just physically run away. Or I should learn spatial movement.”

“Can’t you do it yet?”

“No.”

My brain wasn’t that great, so I hadn’t been able to fully utilize spatial movement yet.

“You can use time acceleration but can’t do spatial movement. Is this what they call divine fairness?”

“Maybe it’s because the baseball bat is too heavy for teleportation.”

“Hey. You want to keep talking like that?”

“Ahh! The Goblin is hitting people!”

“…….”

I silently lamented over Yumir turning everything into a joke with her words.

Was the main character not supposed to be like this, or was this actually her character?

If she had been hiding her gender as a man, then perhaps such stress had accumulated secretly and exploded like a meteor.

“Ha. It’s going to be awkward if I face Baridegi and Do Ji-hwan later.”

“How about wearing glasses as a disguise?”

“I guess I should. Though it won’t make much difference.”

I made direct eye contact with Baridegi.

Even Baridegi’s glance downward was confirmed.

“Later, when Baridegi sees Do Ji-hwan’s true self and realizes Do Ji-hwan is the Goblin?”

“Doul. Why would you say that?”

“Just talking about possibilities, possibilities. Someone, pretending not to be Mr. White, enjoyed the view while soaking together in a hot spring.”

“…That’s true, but it’s different from this situation. Sigh, let’s not talk about it anymore.”

It seemed better to hide my appearance as usual next time.

“Yumir. Next time, let’s either sync up in advance or not create a situation that needs to be escaped from with quick-witted responses.”

“Should we rent a motel instead of using a restroom?”

“That might be better.”

It’s much better to use a temporarily private space than a place frequented by many.

“If there is a next time.”

“Next time, I’ll create an even more solid alibi that won’t get us caught by others. Hehe.”

“…Yeah, okay.”

Well, thanks to Yumir, we got caught by Baridegi, but also thanks to Yumir, we didn’t get caught by Baridegi.

Patriotism wasn’t strange anywhere, anytime, and Sejong Island was a bastion of patriotism.

Ulleungdo?

That’s a place for reaping the rewards of patriotism.

If love was a game, it’s a destination for endgame content, and Sejong Island was no less patriotic than Ulleungdo.

In fact, it’s more so.

This place was for undergoing the process and steps to become a certain pair before heading to Ulleungdo.

Especially for capable ability users who had definitely become ‘adults’, the queue of people wanting to express their patriotism with that person grew.

For instance,

Yoon Iseon, who was quite popular as a student council president, has now earned the title of A-grade ‘Strongest’, so the desire for patriotism towards Yoon Iseon will burn even hotter than before.

“Mr. Do, you seem really worried about student Yoon Iseon, why is that?”

“Worried? Are you concerned about Iseon getting hurt?”

“No, no. Worried about her getting hurt because of the Goblin’s intrusion.”

Perhaps because Doul merged with me, she immediately noticed that I was concerned about Yoon Iseon.

“Worried about causing her unnecessary harm.”

“Harm? Exactly how did you harm her?”

“By recklessly intervening in a fight that she could have won, causing a mess.”

“…I don’t think that’s something you need to worry about, and Iseon probably isn’t either.”

“People’s hearts are unpredictable.”

Even if losing a 1:1 duel to Yoon Iseon was acceptable, being unable to fight due to Hayabusa’s intervention, caused Ray Hwang to trigger a rampage. It showed that each ability user had their unpredictable sore spot.

“Yumir, contact Iseon. Ask if she’s free this dawn.”

“Why ask if she’s free?”

“Obviously, for mental care.”

“You’re going to provide mental care to Iseon?”

“Yes.”

As I mentioned ‘mental care’, Yumir’s eyes narrowed.

“Do you like Iseon?”

“Rather than liking her, I thought it would be nice to recruit her into the association.”

“You’re not planning on swinging your baseball bat around again, are you?”

“What do you see me as? Do I look like trash that gets infatuated with any pretty woman?”

“…Not to that extent.”

Yumir smiled ambiguously and shook her head sideways.

“Then?”

“A man who makes women naturally want to commit adultery, something even more villainous?”

“Completely turning people into seducers.”

“It’s not incorrect, is it? Aha.”

“Doul, you too?”

With Doul joining in on Yumir’s side, there was no one on my side in this place.

“Fine. Contact Iseon. Let’s meet at midnight today.”

“Will it be okay with all the attention on the A-grade champion?”

“Just leave the Taekuk Watch behind, and you bring her.”

“Ah, I thought you were going to pick up Iseon on a bike from behind like you did with me.”

“If I have your help, there’s no need to go that far.”

I didn’t know then.

“Okay. I’ll contact her. But what are you planning to do by calling Iseon? Kidnap her straight to Ulleungdo?”

“…Really. Is that the first thing that comes to your mind when you judge me?”

“Um, not the first, maybe the second?”

“Let’s just assume that’s the case.”

It’s better just to give up.

“Ah… admitting it coolly won’t provoke any interesting reactions. So, what are you really going to do by calling Iseon?”

“You’ll find out when I call Yoon Iseon and talk to her directly, just listen then.”

Probably.

It will be an interesting story.

“Mental care for Yoon Iseon, for the peace of the world.”

[The Ruined Finals, The Tarnished Victory.]

[Winner Yoon Iseon? Chairman Wang “The match isn’t decided yet.”]

“…….”

It had only been 8 hours since the finals ended inconclusively.

Yoon Iseon, observing the gradually increasing articles, pondered whether she really needed to pay attention to such trash. Nevertheless, she composed herself once more to gauge people’s reactions to her victory.

In essence, it resembled an ‘old men’s club’.

People didn’t fully recognize Yoon Iseon as the true winner.

“I was taken advantage of.”

The situation was absurdly concocted, yet it remained unchanged.

Yoon Iseon couldn’t settle her score with Ray Hwang.

Even though she won against someone who had been defeated by Ray Hwang, she couldn’t decisively defeat Ray Hwang himself, leaving the situation unaltered.

Without an extraordinary event in the future, she would continue to be labeled a fake winner.

“…….”

Perhaps that was the reason.

Yoon Iseon was curious about ‘his’ reasons for summoning her.

Even if his intention was to rescue her, he undeniably stole the spotlight during the finals. She didn’t particularly want to blame him, acknowledging that human psychology is indeed complex.

Flash!

A golden circle expanded in Yoon Iseon’s room.

“Have you been waiting?”

“Yes. I’m ready to go now.”

“Then, step inside. Oh, the Taeguk Watch?”

“All electronic devices are gone. I’m just in my training suit now.”

As Yumir extended her hand, Yoon Iseon took it.

Shortly after stepping into the circle, Yoon Iseon found herself in an unfamiliar space.

It was a gym, reminiscent of the one where Duoexini was confronted, albeit older and smaller.

“This is….”

[It’s one of the gyms in Chuncheon, Gangwon-do. It’s currently unused. Specifically, it’s owned by the association.]

“……!”

In front of me.

[Congratulations on your victory.]

The Goblin in a suit stood there, leaning on a baseball bat.

[And I apologize. For overshadowing your victory.]

“No, it’s okay. The Goblin isn’t the one who should be apologizing. The real fault lies with Ray Hwang for taking drugs, and Hayabusa for recklessly intervening, thinking I would be struck by Ray Hwang.”

[Yes. The fault lies with them, but… the actual victim here is you, being labeled a fake winner.]

“…….”

If.

If someone else had said it, she might have felt a bit angry.

[So, to apologize and to assist you…]

“Assist me? How? The association…?”

[No. The association can’t just freely help a student of the academy. It’s me who will assist you.]

“……Yes?”

[I will tutor your ability.]

The Goblin lifted the baseball bat upwards.

[I will elevate you to S-grade. And once you’re S-grade and go to Japan, you will defeat Hayabusa. You will.]

“Me… S-grade…?”

[Yes.]

“Is that, possible?”

[Yes.]

The Goblin swiftly approached Yoon Iseon.

[Do you desire power? If so, respond.]

And then he crouched down, extending his pinky finger.

[I will become your trainer.]