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Crossing and Accelerating (5)

Jormungand’s raid on Paris had killed Samuel Joiner, the representative of the UN Gate Countermeasures Organization, and countless French citizens. The fact that two of the top-rankers, including the world’s number one Ju-young Oh, had betrayed humanity and joined Jormungand shocked the world. Due to their radical actions, mankind’s awareness of Jormungand had increased. Now the battle was for the civilization humanity had barely been protecting. Each country stayed up all night to prepare for the future in hopes of preventing another tragedy like Paris. The people who participated in the conference, including Kang Shin-hyuk, remained in Paris for a few more days because it was announced that the Superhuman Association would hold the conference once more. The students cheered that they could skip more classes.

As a bonus, their free stay at a five-star hotel was extended.

“So…” The night after damage control was over and they returned to the hotel, Kang Shin-hyuk secretly escaped from his room and found his way to Shin Eunah’s room, who was staying on the top floor of the hotel. Claire was also there. She hadn’t been staying there from the beginning, but rather she realized that Shin Eunah was calling Shin-hyuk over and made her way there.

“Are they going to register me as the Death Puppeteer?”

“We had a fierce battle over Black Tarantula until the end, but trademarks…” Shin Eunah, who was drinking a can of coffee, smiled at Kang Shin-hyuk’s voice as she read the summary of the association’s countermeasures meeting she had gone to. She was remembered when they had first nicknamed her the Thunder Empress.

“You’re fifth in the rankings, congratulations. I called you here because I wanted to tell you in person. In fact, the association wanted to contact you directly, but I stopped them. After dealing with Nathan Bodin, Kang Shin-hyuk returned with Eleanor, Lee Na-hee, and Karen to help rescue the victims of the incident. By then, they had all taken off their masks and returned to working as students of Shinyoung. No matter if they covered their faces, it would be easy to figure out who they are if they had all shown up wearing the same disguises. As a bonus, they could increase the evaluation of Shinyoung in helping with the rescue efforts. Shin Eun-hyuk had vanished from the scene and couldn’t be found as no one could read his magical power.

“Fifth place. You’re a top-ranker, a top-ranker.”

“I’m not happy about it… it was all thanks to that transcendence potion, anyway…” Kang Shin-hyuk honestly thought his results were fraudulent. Of course, he had grown strong enough to be confident as a high-ranking superhuman.

“It’s already been revealed that it was the result of doping with a potion.”

“Of course, but no potion could bring about such dramatic changes, even if it was one I made.” Claire spoke up. She had been lying on the bed in her friend’s room, rolling around and watching a video on her phone. Kang Shin-hyuk was trying his best to ignore what she was watching.

“But it was because of my spiritual power.”

“You were compatible with my potion, so it resulted in a synergy effect, but people don’t know that. That’s why they assumed that your original skills are also worthy of the top-ranks. If it weren’t for the potion, you wouldn’t be ranked five, right? That’s what you think?”

“Right…”

“I should’ve seen it myself. I’m glad there are still videos.” Kang Shin-hyuk couldn’t endure it anymore as Claire played the video once more with a happy smile.

“Is that from inside the SSS-class gate? How’d you film it?!”

“I hacked your phone and played with the recording function just slightly.”

“You’re not an alchemist. You’re a super hacker…”

“I’ll apologize, so don’t call me a super hacker.” Shin Eunah gazed at them as the two conversed as such. Claire looked over at her quizzically.

“Eunah?”

“No, just… the sense of distance…”

“Is it close? Is it really close?” In response to Claire’s light jab, Shin Eunah ground her teeth and pulled Kang Shin-hyuk. He was dragged away by her without any resistance.

“If you do something to my junior, I won’t leave it be.”

“I think you’re trying to do something…ah.” Claire had a slightly spiteful smile.

“Last night, I heard that a kid named Lee Na-hee kissed Shin-hyuk. For an enchantment.”

“…Okay, I’ll be back in a moment.”

“Wait a minute!” Kang Shin-hyuk desperately held onto Shin Eunah, whose body was filled with power as she tried to leave.

“I will never forget the name Lee Na-hee.”

“Ah…”

“My junior’s precious first kiss…” When Kang Shin-hyuk flinched at that part, Shin Eunah caught it immediately.”

“Not the first time…?”

“It’s not attractive to dig up someone’s past, Eunah.” At Claire’s words, Kang Shin-hyuk flinched again instead of Shin Eunah. He had also been worried about Claire’s ex-boyfriend, but now he felt like he had been blocked from that question. Of course, he knew it was rude to ask, but he couldn’t help but be concerned. He felt there was just too big of a gap in experience between them.

‘Most of my memories from Anvil are just about forging…’ Perhaps it was prioritizing Anvil’s memories that would help him improve his own ability. Of course, some memories of his previous life’s wife and family were also mixed in, but they were usually too sad to recall. Kang Shin-hyuk didn’t want to think of them, so he put a stopper on those ones.

‘I’m worrying about nothing.’ He calmed down quickly, not noticing Claire sigh and flicking Eunah’s forehead.

“Really, once you focus on something, you can’t control yourself… if you burden Shin-hyuk, I’ll punish you.”

“Ugh… alright, but Claire started it first.”

“Yes, yes, I was wrong.” Claire stood up from the bed and opened her inventory, producing various cups and cocktails.

“Let’s send off Shin-hyuk and have a drink. If Shin-hyuk stays around for too long, the teachers will notice.”

“Student of Shinyoung, alone in a room with the Alchemist and the Thunder Empress…”

“It’s okay if it’s revealed.”

“Ah, no, that would be bad. Goodbye then. Both of you sleep well.” Kang Shin-hyuk sighed and waved at the two as he left. Or rather, he tried to, but the door wouldn’t budge.

“What?”

“Hm?” Shin Eunah approached and grabbed the handle, but it wouldn’t open for her either. She tilted her head and prepared to use her abilities, but Claire quickly stopped her.

“If you do that, someone will really come. Let me try.”

“Really…” Shin Eunah grumbled and stepped back. Claire touched the front door, and it opened smoothly.

“Uh…?”

“Huh.” Claire opened the door with a big smile, letting him out. There was no fear of being caught, as the top floor was a single suite.

“Well then, see you next time.”

“Yeah. Oh, you got something there.”

“Huh?” When Kang Shin-hyuk looked back at Claire, she kissed him as if she had been waiting to strike. It was for only a moment, but it felt like an eternity.

“Uh, ah…”

“I’m new to this too. Anyway, sleep well!” The door closed, leaving Kang Shin-hyuk stuck in place. It sounded like she had whispered something to him when she was pulling away, but he couldn’t hear it properly due to his own excitement. It didn’t really matter, he figured. The important thing was that Claire kissed him.

‘Yes, I don’t have to worry about things like the past.’ The important thing was the present. Claire liked him, now where would they go from here? That was what mattered.

-Member.

“Hey, administrator?” As if he had been waiting for that timing, the administrator’s message appeared in front of him. Kang Shin-hyuk could only respond hazily.

-I apologize for being late to speak.

“What?”

-I returned after collecting dimensional information. It was about the disclosure of your information.

“Ah…yes, you haven’t been talking since the fight.”

-I’m truly sorry; that was an area outside of the reach of this power.

Kang Shin-hyuk felt something off.

“Administrator, you’ve been talking a bit weird today. Discussing things like power and information…”

-This is a monumental day…

The next message appeared in the blink of an eye.

-You met an executive of Jormungand at the SSS-level gate and defeated them. Moreover, as a VIP, the rate of your synchronization is increasing, so information regulations have been lifted to an extent. In fact, the rate has exceeded 40%.

“Really?” He checked the rate at that, confirming it was really up to 44.5%. It had been a nearly ten percent increase. Kang Shin-hyuk soon realized the cause. It was probably from controlling Joo-young Oh’s sword with his spiritual power, as well as gaining the soul poison skill and increasing the rank of his powers…

-The third liberation at 50% draws near. I’ve just pushed certain information to come a bit faster.

“Yes, then what…”

Only

-So, first of all, a 50,000HP bonus!

“Wasn’t this urgent?” Was he going to skip over it? Plus, this was the biggest bonus yet!

-I will tell you later. It is related to the dimensional quest you will be given in the future.

“Yes, so…”

-To start with the conclusion, Janus went missing. The Hero Universe cannot reach him. The most likely outcome is that the information leak came from him.

Kang Shin-hyuk was surprisingly calm at the news that upturned his world. He tried to contact Janus, but no answer came.

He felt like crying.