Ch.178Chapter 7. Crisis into Opportunity (2)

Baek Seol-hee was unconscious, so I carefully connected earphones to the tablet to ensure she wouldn’t wake up.

[Platinum Sun…! The woman who purifies demons, flies through space, and subdued the S-class demon Haftod in one go! She’s more than a match for me!]

Armored Taejo was delighted by Platinum Sun’s appearance.

He probably thought the Goblin wouldn’t show up, but seemed thrilled that such a big fish had taken his bait unexpectedly.

‘He just wants to show off his improved skills.’

Armored Taejo is the epitome of an immature kid.

If we assume he’s in his early twenties, it’s like someone who just reached Challenger rank in top lane and then challenges professional gamers to 1:1 top lane matches.

Whatever his public image might be, that’s likely how Armored Taejo feels inside.

Then what about Ymir’s motivation for taking the bait?

There are three reasons.

One is to teach Armored Taejo a lesson for making noise at dawn.

Another is her annoyance that Armored Taejo was trying to provoke the Goblin when it was finally her turn to serve the country.

And lastly, stress relief.

It’s not stress from being unable to serve her country or anything like that.

The stress I’m referring to comes from people’s gossip about ‘Platinum Sun’s combat ability.’

Specifically:

“So she’s an S-class power measuring stick.”

Ymir wants to prove by defeating Armored Taejo that she didn’t just take down Haftod through a surprise attack.

-Platinum Sun? I acknowledge she’s a demon-fighting specialist. But calling her top-tier just because she can exploit weaknesses… lol

It’s not just about having an advantage against demons.

-I admit her spatial movement ability is an EX-class cheat skill. But what good is just moving through space? Can she fight properly head-on? Has she ever shown her skills against villains? Oh, she can only fight demons? lol

It’s not just about having special supportive abilities.

-Isn’t she just a pervert who wears weird costumes freely?

It’s not about being a concept character with a unique appearance.

She wants to prove that she’s a proper EX-class ability user, a true powerhouse who can shock the Korean peninsula and shake the world.

‘That’s how people are. They pick their battles carefully.’

Yes.

They pick their battles carefully.

No matter how chaotic the world is now and despite various incidents, even though Platinum Sun is just beginning to make a name for herself.

-No matter how strong the Goblin might be… mmph. It’s nothing. I wasn’t thinking anything, Villain Executioner!

If she demonstrates “overwhelming power” and results like the Goblin, those who fear retaliation will naturally cower.

‘A good choice.’

After defeating the S-class power measuring stick, she proves definitively that she’s S-class.

With that purpose in mind, Ymir confidently stepped forward before everyone.

[The time for patriotism should be solemn.]

…Right?

She’s certainly not acting this way because her patriotic time with me was interrupted.

Or maybe she is.

* * *

Ka-wang!

The scattered metal dragons around were instantly sliced by the golden blade.

Platinum Sun wasn’t just disconnecting the clumps of scrap metal; she was showing off her power by cutting through them like tofu.

“Ugh, argh…!!”

[Creating a field instead of a suit was a good idea. But for that, you should have at least made an island of scrap metal.]

Platinum Sun pointed the tip of her blade at Armored Taejo.

[Do you surrender?]

“We-we’ve only been fighting for 3 minutes…!”

[You lasted about as long as it takes to cook instant noodles. Good job.]

Platinum Sun tapped Armored Taejo’s shoulder with the flat of her golden blade, and Taejo gritted his teeth and trembled.

“Me…!”

[I’m not looking down on you. You can grow more and become stronger. But.]

Platinum Sun withdrew her sword and turned around.

[I’m just stronger right now.]

“…Let me ask you. What’s the secret to your strength?”

[Listen well to advice from those around you. You don’t live in this world alone.]

“Those around me….”

Taejo hung his head and clenched his fist.

The traces of his ambitious Iron Dragon Rising to Heaven technique were torn to shreds, and though he had no clue how to become stronger, he seemed to have found some hint.

“A personal question. What’s your goal?”

[How rude.]

Flick!

As Platinum Sun snapped her fingers in the air, something like a golden sphere of magical power formed and struck Taejo’s forehead.

“Aaagh…! That hurts…!”

[In the land of Eastern courtesy, how dare you speak informally to your elder?]

“H-how am I supposed to know! Whether you’re older or younger than me!”

[You should figure it out, read the room and be sensible. These kids who aren’t even adults yet…]

“I may not be an adult, but even without being one, I can—ARGH!”

As Platinum Sun extended her leg toward the air like cracking a joint, a golden trajectory whipped around and swept Taejo’s legs.

“Uwaaah…! Do you think you can just beat up an S-class hero and get away with it…?!”

[Yeah. Looking at your condition, I don’t think people would complain if I beat you up a bit more.]

As Platinum Sun extended her hand to the side, a red rope appeared flashing in her hand.

Whirrrr!

“Mmph!!”

The rope wrapped around Taejo from below his eyes to his ankles without missing an inch.

Unable to even free his hands from between the ropes, Taejo fell to the side without resistance, and Platinum Sun grabbed the rope binding him and dragged him across the weed-covered field.

[This spot is perfect for you.]

The flagpole standing tall toward the sky.

Though no flags other than the Taegeukgi were fluttering, Platinum Sun threw Taejo against the pole next to the Korean flag waving in the wind.

“Mmmmph!!”

Whirrrr.

Another rope wrapped around the first one.

Suddenly Taejo was tied to the flagpole, and Platinum Sun dusted her hands with a satisfied expression.

[Well, goodbye. Next time, think about the timing when you try to provoke someone.]

Pabapat.

Platinum Sun drew a circle in the air and departed.

Only Armored Taejo remained at the abandoned school, hanging from the flagpole with his head down.

And so.

Taejo was utterly defeated.

Having only proven that Platinum Sun was stronger than the S-class detector.

* * *

“I’m back. How’s Seol-hee unni?”

“She’s sleeping. More deeply now.”

“Still? Wow, how badly did you torment her?”

“I didn’t torment her. If I hadn’t woken you up when you fainted, you would have been unconscious even worse than this, you know?”

“That much is….”

As soon as Ymir undid her transformation, she started rummaging through my closet.

“Couldn’t you at least put on a robe or something?”

“Why are you suddenly being like this? Ah, here it is.”

Ymir pulled out a box from inside my closet.

Unlike the other boxes, this one had a somewhat feminine design, and its contents were likewise women’s items.

“Today… light blue!”

“You don’t need to report that.”

“You can see it directly anyway, right?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“I know. Hehehe.”

Ymir started putting on her underwear that she took from the box.

She had brought several sets of spare underwear from her dormitory to my room, and I had no choice but to make space for her in my closet.

Why?

Obviously, because when she undoes her transformation, her clothes disappear.

Neither I nor Ymir have solved this problem yet, and we’re both trying to somehow achieve the ‘external barrier-type costume transformation’ that Baek Seol-hee uses.

Though it’s still not possible to do it in 0.1 seconds like a normal transformation.

“Sigh. That kid, bothering people from dawn.”

“The sun is slowly rising while you were out.”

“…Ah.”

Ymir made a sad face.

“Why now of all times.”

“Why?”

“I wanted to quickly handle it and come back… Haa. Never mind.”

She tried to speak naturally but stopped herself.

Baek Seol-hee is still unconscious, but it’s better to be careful with our conversation.

“This is really annoying. Maybe I should have just let the Goblin handle it?”

“Even if you hadn’t gone out, the Goblin wouldn’t have gone either.”

“Then what was the Goblin doing during that time?”

“Probably wondering why that kid was causing such a commotion at dawn.”

That’s exactly what I was doing.

“His desire to prove his skills isn’t just because of the Dueoksini incident. There must be other reasons.”

“Do you know what they are?”

“I’ve finished investigating. Now that I’ve cleaned up Seol-hee too, shall we go to her house and talk?”

I took off my Taegeuk Watch and picked up Baek Seol-hee wrapped in her blanket.

“Please.”

“Ugh. I feel like I’m becoming a spatial transportation shuttle.”

“Or you could teach her instead.”

“You seem to be calling her more affectionately now.”

“We agreed to speak informally in private.”

“Can I speak informally to you too?”

“Don’t even think about it.”

In the land of Eastern courtesy.

Whoosh.

I entered Baek Seol-hee’s room carrying her.

“It’s surprisingly… really clean?”

“I know. I was extremely surprised too.”

Ymir shrugged her shoulders lightly.

I could glimpse fragments of truth in her expression, but I didn’t bother pointing it out.

“Ymir.”

“Yes?”

“After Seol-hee wakes up and the three of us have eaten, I need to go somewhere with you.”

“…Oh, if it’s that kind of thing. But don’t you need to go to work?”

“There’s something more important than work.”

I wrote on Ymir’s back with my finger.

-Syndicate intern.

“…Oh my.”

“In three days, the Zenros are scheduled to enter Sejong Island.”

Finally.

“The escort includes two S-class personnel.”

“…Ah.”

Ymir snapped her fingers.

“Did Armored Taejo get cut?”

“Yes. He volunteered but was passed over.”

Despite being S-class.

“The job is too important to entrust to Taejo.”

Moreover.

“Even A-class heroes are participating in the escort mission.”