episode_0072

“Do not accept requests.”

The Doberman with pointy ears left the shelter, leaving behind a stern attitude towards the elders.

The big guys on both sides followed their leader with their mouths tightly shut.

After a while.

The organization members waiting outside also walked in unison in the direction their leader was heading.

It was no longer a strange sight in the eyes of the elven elders.

Because the world of criminals is more strict than anywhere else.

“Elder.”

“Say it.”

“When I think about the future, I think this is a really important time. Of course, the things that happened before are not less important either···.”

“I know the elders’ anxiety and what they want to say. I also know that there are many holes in our actions as we rushed out of Tigrova.”

“···.”

The elder adjusted his staff with his wrinkled hands.

Before answering the elder with his twisted lips, he looked away from the closed room of Zion.

“Since this is on, it’ll be a lot more useful than the last one.”

The elder fiddled with the black coin he had been given.

A round lump of iron smaller than the palm of your hand.

This one coin becomes a leash and a bundle of greed that can manipulate these crazy criminals as they wish.

‘Is this the one thing that means I don’t have to go back to my home country? That’s why I went to attack a gun shop and commit robbery and murder.’

The elder had a quick grasp of their movements as he had coins.

That ignorant act itself must have been their own preparation and ritual.

“Let’s go to the conference room and finish talking.”

“Yes.”

Now that the people who received the commission have left with their boasts, there is no reason to watch outside.

The elder extended his magnificent staff and made a clap! clap! sound as he walked. The elders who followed him also walked.

“What about the princess?”

“The rebellion is getting stronger. Lately, he hasn’t eaten or drank water. It seems like he doesn’t want to talk until I give him an answer.”

“Tsk tsk··· Even if you have magic power, hunger and thirst won’t be relieved.”

“What should I do?”

“There’s no need to do anything. Just leave it as it is. There will come a chance to break the stubbornness anyway.”

Who would dare say he’s not of Testarossa blood? He’d probably only raise the white flag right before he died.

I’ve tried so hard to tame it since it was little, but it still won’t completely give me the reins.

‘Weapons should be thoughtless···.’

The elder knows from experience.

That weapons with egos are just really annoying.

··

··

“···.”

Zion lay still on the bed. The cold air penetrated and stabbed his back.

No matter how hard the elders try to lock the door, they can break it down with force, but that is only as good as it can be.

Because that’s a sign and symbol of disconnection.

So Zion just lies still and looks at the dark ceiling.

‘It’s not bad luck to be caught going out, but it’s good luck to come back alive from the Monolith.’

Rohan and Clara. The day I returned from the strange space with those two.

The problem was after leaving Academy City.

When I returned to retrieve the sniper rifle and tracker I had hidden, two elders were waiting for me.

Even looking back, it was a moment that gave me goosebumps all over my body.

In the old days, Zion would have admitted her mistake there, but that day, she did not back down from the elders who criticized her.

I had my first rough argument with the elders.

He became angry and sought answers to questions the elders avoided.

Thanks to that, it turned out like this.

Still, Zion has no intention of backing down. Her heart pounds at the first rebellion, but she perseveres.

Either get a definitive answer to your question, or create a space to properly resolve your doubts.

I will maintain this attitude until I get an answer I like.

The elders need him for some unknown reason. As his vision opened up, he realized that he would eventually win if he went all the way.

‘I’m hungry. I’m thirsty. I have a headache.’

If I had been pushed into this situation in the past, I would have definitely been mentally devastated by now.

But surprisingly, it’s not depressing, so it’s bearable.

‘The combat rations Rohan gave me… I want to eat that.’

A few days of wandering through unknown spaces with two people.

That was the pillar that supported Zion as it is today.

Of course, my heart sank when I saw Rohan get hurt, and my hair turned white when my arm was blown off while trying to protect myself.

I enjoyed the moments we shared in the suffering under the hellish heat.

Of course, I’m talking about the times when we ate together and chatted, not to mention the times when we fought. Even just thinking about small talk made the depression go away.

I toss and turn in bed, recalling that time.

‘Come to think of it… Rohan said he was planning to work with Clara.’

It’s still in the planning stage, and it’s one of those stories that I heard in passing.

Thanks to that, Zion remembered the promise he had made with Rohan in the dormitory.

If you dig up the hidden things and find your freedom cleanly, I promise to lend a hand at least once in catching criminals or monsters.

─ We don’t do anything stupid like massacring innocent civilians. We just help catch monsters and criminals.

‘If you still need me···.’

When everything is over and you are free, as Rohan said, is it okay if you change your promise a little and say that you want to be a part of the plan too?

“Hehehe.”

Just thinking about it made me forget the cold, and a hearty laugh flowed out.

I thought that if the three of us stuck together, every day would be fun.

It was a new wind born in the elf girl’s heart.

*****

Rohan and Clara are in a tunnel swallowing up a two-lane road.

Standing on it.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that this is the furthest Rohan has come since falling into the Academy City Elysium.

‘Wow, you ran like crazy. Clara doesn’t even seem to be out of breath…’

Was it a problem that he had increased his speed to go faster? Rohan’s mouth was parched.

If I didn’t do my strength training every morning, I would be a total wreck.

‘I didn’t see any cars passing by on the way here. Those guys are probably still there.’

Looking around, I realized that I had some free time because I moved quickly.

Rohan took a deep breath and looked ahead as he spoke.

“The night wind isn’t as cold as it used to be. It feels like April.”

“Yeah! It definitely feels warmer.”

“Is this the temperature that Clara likes the most?”

“Ugh··· The afternoon is just right, but the night is a little cold.”

The surrounding area is open, so the wind was quite strong.

Rohan untied the harness attached to his scabbard and took off his jacket, leaving only his shirt. He then reattached the harness diagonally over it.

‘It was already hot because I ran.’

The outer garment was pulled up over Clara’s exposed legs.

The girl who received the clothes from Rohan sat on the tunnel and nodded her head from side to side, feeling good about the warmth.

Then he puts it on over his head.

“If I wear my clothes, won’t it interfere with your ability to draw your weapon?”

“Okay! I’ll be careful not to tear it!”

“Don’t worry about that. Clothes can get torn. There are extra ones in the dorm.”

Return from the dungeon and get a new set of school uniforms.

Thanks to the support of the Academy, I have two more to spare.

“But here···it’s really quiet, just like you said.”

“Right?”

Clara looked around as if she was curious.

The only buildings around are an eerie, closed rest area and a gas station with no fuel left.

Even if you wait, not a single car passes by.

It felt as if some unknown force was at work, forcing me to do a quest.

It’s the opposite. This is normal here.

“How did you know about this road, oppa?”

“This road is famous for being quiet.”

“What does it mean to be famous for being quiet···?”

“To put it simply, it is a road that car clubs and motorcycle clubs visit for the purpose of competition.”

“Ah···! I understand!”

Rohan sat next to Clara and continued his explanation.

The main reason it began to be used for that purpose is that even if you run all the way to the end, there is no destination.

The end of this road is a small ruin where Zion resides. It is connected to a place where dimensional cracks occurred one after another in the past.

Even if it is revived, it is difficult to use the land due to its location.

Thanks to this, the normalization work that requires expensive manpower is always at the bottom of the priority list, making it a perfect place for shady people to hide.

“Sister Zion is in such a place···.”

“Since Zion told me to tell Clara everything back then. I’ll explain other things as we go.”

“Yeah!”

According to my memory, today the car and motorcycle clubs will also be quiet due to the message from the police.

Unlike in their previous lives, it is rare for someone to head to a remote place to pursue a hobby despite being warned that it is dangerous.

In this world, if you make a single mistake, your life will be lost, so most people just avoid it.

While continuing the conversation with Clara on top of a quiet tunnel.

A car could be seen coming around the curve in the distance, its headlights flashing.

Rohan jumped up from his seat.

Booo …

There are eight vehicles in total. They come, filling up both lanes.

Criminals are closing in fast, as if speeding is the default or even a mandatory option.

That’s why Rohan was satisfied.

In a situation like that, there is no choice but to stop after discovering yourself and Clara.

Because the moment you notice and stop in front, the car behind you will rear-end you.

‘It’s okay if it works out that way.’

The two cars in the lead are pedaling excitedly as if they are racing.

These guys are just putting on airs and imitating, and they don’t even have basic common sense about security.

‘A black -colored high -end sedan in the third line.’

I can see it. I can see the car that the Doberman is riding in.

Boohoo─! Woohoo───!

The car in front slows down instead of stopping suddenly, perhaps because it saw Rohan standing in the tunnel.

Rohan, seeing the best omen, shrugged his shoulders.

“Whew! Let’s go.”

“Brother. Be careful···.”

Clara’s worried face.

Rohan gently stroked the girl’s head.

“I’ll go first.”

As soon as he finished speaking ──Sreung! He pulled out the sword on his back.

Rohan jumped down onto the oncoming vehicle.