Chapter 105.2

(Continued)

However, due to the state of emergency, some Hanyang students were left behind to monitor the situation, with all the necessary documentation to justify their presence.

They were the guardians of the state of emergency.

The Ahsung High Disciplinary Committee had no choice but to be suppressed.

—

Drip, drip.

Water was leaking from the ceiling.

Inside the Gray Star building, where Anomia had once kidnapped Park Minhyuk.

Ahn Woo-jin sat with his back against the wall in a room where the sunset light poured in through broken windows.

Since his battle with the Glutton, he hadn’t had a moment to recover and had been captured immediately afterward. He was still in his dusty and torn school uniform.

The city was swarming with an overwhelming number of security drones and androids.

All were martial law robots, and their target was Woo-jin.

Furthermore, Hanyang Federal Academy and Spartoi had joined forces to form the Martial Law Guard, which was also hunting Woo-jin.

Woo-jin surveyed his surroundings.

The place was in shambles, essentially a derelict building.

Ever since Woo-jin had wrecked it and the investigation team had scoured it, it hadn’t been maintained at all.

“Things in this world tend to go their own way.”

A silver-haired girl in an Ahsung High uniform, Geumyang, sat down beside Woo-jin.

“How does it feel to be on the run, being treated like a villain when you used to chase them down at every turn?”

“It’s not great. And I’m frustrated since I’ve been framed.”

“So, you’re planning to hide until your mana recovers?”

Woo-jin nodded.

“I have to. One of the Spartoi is at the 7th Tier, and the others could swarm in. There are too many variables to consider. Moving recklessly in this state would be too risky.”

Woo-jin gazed at the dim sunlight streaming through the broken window.

“The city is crawling with Spartoi. Running into just one means being prepared to fight the entire Martial Law Guard. No matter how much I run, there’s a limit. If I keep wasting my mana, I’ll remain in a depleted state for a long time.”

“You plan to stay here until then?”

“This place won’t hold for long, either. The state of emergency has just been declared, so I’m buying time now. But once the Spartoi and the martial law robots spread throughout the city, it’ll be hard to hide anywhere.”

It was essentially a game of hide-and-seek in Neo Seoul.

Until his mana recovered, he couldn’t afford any reckless actions.

“Just so you know, you have the ability to move through space.”

“They have mana-tracking devices. If they detect my mana and measure it, they can pinpoint my location anywhere in the city. And when that happens, even spatial leaps won’t keep me safe for long. Anyway, I need to rest properly and replenish my mana before everything spirals further out of control.”

“Hmph… That means contacting the Disciplinary Committee would be a bad move. No doubt they’re keeping a close eye on them.”

“Yeah, probably.”

The two fell silent, letting the quiet fill the room.

“At least you’re here with me,” Woo-jin said softly.

Geumyang glanced slyly at Woo-jin, then smiled smugly.

“Hmph. My servant is in danger, so of course I’d be here.”

“Don’t get cocky.”

“But seriously, kid, how are you going to prove your innocence? The one in Central Tower seems dead set on taking you down. There’s no way you can sway public opinion. The whole city’s basically your enemy now. Did you foresee this happening?”

“I knew they’d use the most powerful military force available. I even expected the emergency declaration. But I didn’t think they’d actually go this far just to catch me. I never imagined that reaching the 7th Tier would make me feel like this.”

Woo-jin looked down at his own hand.

“…Kid.”

“Yeah?”

“What are you going to do once your mana’s restored?”

“I’m going to destroy everything.”

“What do you mean?”

“Everything that keeps me from being free.”

“Then what exactly is the freedom you seek?”

Woo-jin answered calmly.

“A life where I’m not allowed to be happy.”

He recalled Goliath’s words.

Rights are the fruits of struggle.

He had to fight.

To gain freedom in this wretched academy city, he had to fight.

“Right… As long as your goal is clear.”

Geumyang leaned against the wall, just like Woo-jin.

The two remained silent for a while, simply passing the time. Eventually, Woo-jin held his breath.

He sensed mana approaching.

Geumyang noticed too and exchanged a glance with Woo-jin. She put a finger to her lips, and Woo-jin nodded.

He quietly stood and hid behind a pillar while Geumyang created a crack in the air and returned to her labyrinth.

Click, click.

The sound of footsteps grew nearer. Confident steps with no intent to hide.

Mana was approaching.

The fact that the mana flow was left unchecked was practically an invitation for Woo-jin to drop his guard, so he watched the situation closely while staying hidden.

Given the circumstances, Woo-jin’s instincts remained on high alert.

Finally, someone appeared.

Woo-jin’s eyes widened.

“Senior Woo-jin, are you here~?”

Woo-jin narrowed his eyes and emerged from behind the pillar.

“Oh, found you! Wow~. So this is where you’ve been, Senior!”

A girl with long hair and narrow eyes.

“Ta-da! Your beloved junior, Lee Se-Ah, has just arrived!”

Lee Se-Ah raised her hands beside her head and beamed mischievously.

“You… Why are you here? More importantly, how did you find me?”

“Huh? Didn’t I tell you before? My specialty is finding people. Anyway! I heard you’re in trouble, so I came. You’re in a bind, aren’t you?”

“But…”

“I told you before, didn’t I? I’m going to have you, Senior.”

The sunset streaming through the broken window cut between Woo-jin and Se-Ah.

Se-Ah tilted her head to the side.

“So I’m here to help you. You’d better accept my help before I change my mind.”

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