Ch.6363. Kang Yerin’s New Reality

KWAAANG!

The Dark Kingdom’s battleship exploded behind them.

Kang Yerin and Jung Ui-seok leaned against each other’s injured bodies as they activated the autopilot on their mecha to return to Earth.

“Your head injury looks serious. I’ve stopped the bleeding, but will you be okay?”

Jung Ui-seok asked while administering first aid to Kang Yerin’s wounds. Yerin felt her entire body melting at the sound of his gentle voice.

“I’m… fine. What about you?”

“I can manage. But what happened? Why were those three trying to kill me?”

“I’m sorry. I should have told you earlier. The Association President made a plan. Using the Pestam you possess to frame you as an SSS-class villain…”

“That damn woman. So that was her plan all along.”

“I… I went along with it too. I’m sorry. But I thought we were just going to arrest you…”

“Se-hwa noticed when Saber was drawn?”

Yerin hesitated for a moment before nodding. She couldn’t tell him everything anyway.

The fact that she came from the future was something she would take to her grave. That was a given.

So she had no choice but to tell a few lies.

“Those bastards. After all I’ve done for them. They just listened to the Association President and betrayed me completely?”

“That’s… I think everyone was tired… Each had their own reasons…”

“Reasons? What reasons?”

“…Yukyong had the Switch.”

“That psychopath, I’m not surprised.”

“Se-hwa was in it for the money, though she convinced herself it was more important than it was. If we’d talked a bit more, she would have understood…”

“I already taught him enough. It’s Se-hwa’s fault if he didn’t understand until now. What about Minseo?”

“Minseo… she has something important, but I’ll tell you about that later.”

Yerin decided to postpone telling him about Han Somi’s death. It was obvious that if Jung Ui-seok heard about it now, he would become agitated and go berserk.

“Sigh. Alright. Let’s think about what to do next. First, let’s go back and confront the Association President.”

“What if we can’t reach an agreement?”

“Then we’ll have to expel her.”

Jung Ui-seok said firmly.

“Is that possible? Right now, the Association President holds all the power.”

“True. If we go back now, it’s obvious we’ll be detained rather than treated. Let’s attack directly. Anyway, now the Dragon King Sentai is just the two of us, and we’ll have to give up the S-Sentai title. With that condition, we can request cooperation from Washington and easily take down the Association President.”

Jung Ui-seok instantly came up with an efficient plan. Watching him, Yerin fell for his extraordinary abilities all over again.

Come to think of it, this was how he had created Vengeance as Gerogius, and how he had led the Dragon King Sentai as Red Dragon.

“Yerin, thank you.”

Jung Ui-seok thanked Kang Yerin. His face held a sincere smile.

“At least you believed in me.”

Hearing those words, Yerin’s eyes welled up with tears. It felt like all her time until now was being rewarded.

She couldn’t hold back and began to sniffle.

“Sorry. I made you cry.”

“No, no. I’m just… happy…”

Her heart felt warmer than ever before, making her flowing tears feel incredibly precious.

“Yes. I believe you. Of course I do. I may not fully understand how much you care about world peace, how hard you’re fighting… I’ve had doubts sometimes, but now I believe in you with all my heart. And from now on, I won’t waver. I promise.”

Yerin looked straight at Jung Ui-seok as she conveyed her determination.

Did her resolve reach him?

Jung Ui-seok returned a warm smile to Yerin.

“Thank you. Really, thank you. It’s been a long time since I heard words like that. A really long time…”

Jung Ui-seok’s eyes grew melancholic.

Yerin realized.

He too was suffering.

He wasn’t superhuman.

He was a man who had lost loved ones and felt lonely and sad.

Was this a bit unfair of her?

No, she still wanted to be greedy.

Yerin slowly parted her trembling lips.

“Um, Ui-seok…”

“Yes?”

“Could you… hug me? If possible, with all your strength…”

Hearing those words, Jung Ui-seok immediately opened his arms and embraced Yerin.

Yerin buried her face in his broad chest, which smelled of blood and sweat.

The warmth she felt throughout her body made her so happy, and her heart wouldn’t stop pounding, making her feel like she wasn’t even in this world anymore.

***

Using their mecha, Kang Yerin and Jung Ui-seok descended directly from above the Association to the President’s office and confronted her.

“I never used Pestam as a drug, and it’s a weapon against the next evil organization that will come. I can prove it. You ordered the Dragon King Sentai to kill me? Washington would love to hear about this.”

Jung Ui-seok immediately threatened the Association President. She trembled and gritted her teeth.

“Why are you still alive, you monster! Where are the others!”

“Ji Se-hwa, Shin Yukyong, Choi Minseo? They exploded with the Dark Kingdom, go look for them if you want.”

“What? Mi-Minseo too? Ha. I shouldn’t have listened to that stupid girl…!”

“I’ll give you options. Either work under me obediently with absolute loyalty from now on, or have everything exposed and crawl out of the Association.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I built this Association! Do you think anyone would give the President’s position to someone like you?!”

The Association President shouted as she drew her gun. She pulled the trigger, but the bullet that left the barrel stopped in mid-air.

“Wh-what? Why is this happening?”

“You’re really impressive. When did you train so hard? Yerin.”

“It’s all thanks to your good teaching, Ui-seok.”

Yerin smiled lightly as she picked up the bullet with her fingers and dropped it to the floor.

Jung Ui-seok grabbed the Association President’s head.

“You’re the most thick-headed person I’ve ever seen.”

***

Afterward, Jung Ui-seok reorganized the Hero Association. Kang Yerin assisted him.

“You take the President’s position, Yerin.”

“Me? Wouldn’t you be better?”

“I’m a fighter, not someone who handles people. And you have talent for it.”

“Me… If you say so, I’ll believe you. Then I’ll start with the response to the next evil organization you mentioned. Galaxy Empire Raniakain, right?”

Yerin was careful not to let Jung Ui-seok know that she had information from the future.

“Yes. They’re incomparably stronger than the Dark Kingdom. I might have to die once.”

“You’ll die?”

“No, don’t worry about it. The biggest problem is that we don’t have Sentai members. I think we need at least six people, but right now it’s just the two of us.”

Yerin pondered.

This reality where she got to be with Jung Ui-seok was incredibly happy. She wanted to confess her feelings to him and become special to him right away.

But it had only been two days since the incident at the Dark Kingdom.

There was plenty of time. Yerin told herself not to be impatient.

Above all, even if their relationship progressed, if they couldn’t defeat the Galaxy Empire, they would only face death together soon.

‘There must have been a reason why Gerogius kept Dark Matter and E.lena as his closest allies.’

Yerin judged.

It must mean those two were the most excellent as villains.

Most importantly, they were loyal to Jung Ui-seok.

The only issue was that they were both women.

Their loyalty might extend beyond duty to romantic feelings.

Bringing in potential romantic rivals versus increasing the chances of defeating the Galaxy Empire.

After weighing these options, Kang Yerin reached a conclusion.

“Ui-seok. If we need talent, how about looking among the villains?”

“What? Among villains?”

“If we could recruit them as heroes, wouldn’t it be killing two birds with one stone? We get excellent members and eliminate threats.”

“Hmm… Do you have someone in mind?”

“Yes. One is E.lena, the Lord of the Holy Tree.”

“That’s a bit too ambitious, though she’d be an amazing ally. I actually have some leverage we could use.”

“Another one I’ve only heard rumors about is a girl in the back alleys who uses dark matter that generates gravity or magnetic fields.”

“…Dark Matter? Certainly. Considering power inflation, recruiting her now would make her an incredible asset. The problem is that she’s a villain. Hmm.”

After contemplating for a while, Jung Ui-seok placed his hand firmly on Yerin’s shoulder.

“Still, thanks to you, my perspective has broadened! As expected, Yerin, your insight is amazing. I’ll consider it!”

Hearing Jung Ui-seok’s praise, Yerin felt like she could fly.

Unconsciously, she began fidgeting with her fingertips.

“…If you’re grateful…”

“Hmm?”

“Give me a… reward later.”

Yerin said, too embarrassed to make eye contact. Hearing this, Jung Ui-seok laughed heartily.

“Alright, alright. I definitely will.”

Jung Ui-seok patted Yerin’s back and left.

Yerin felt the lingering sensation and smiled softly.

She pinches her cheek. It still hurts.

She takes a deep breath and lightly uses her ability. The yellow dragon responds to her perfectly.

“…I really, really came back.”

It’s not a dream.

It’s not an illusion.

Reality.

Everything is genuinely real.

Her efforts were finally rewarded, and with her own abilities, she had erased that failed future.

The current Jung Ui-seok believes in her. He’s her comrade.

If she works harder, they can surely become something precious and special.

Even intimate.

“…Now I can tell him.”

Yerin placed her hand gently on her pounding heart, imagining only happiness.

“…I love you, Ui-seok.”

She resolved to tell him those words soon.

—Of course, Yerin didn’t know.

That she had already entered a path of certain destruction.