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chapter 214 – Building a Castle(2)

As for the meeting place, it turned out to be Claire’s bar in the Choin Shopping Center.

“Isn’t this completely your home turf? How cowardly.”

“Then, are you saying I should head for the Vanguard HQ?” It wasn’t time for the bar to open yet, and a closed sign hung from the door, so Kang Shin-hyuk took off his mask. However, Claire was wearing a mask she didn’t usually have on for some reason as she silently wiped the glasses with a dry cloth. He tilted his head at Claire’s appearance. Her bartender uniform was really attractive, but…

“Why is your noona doingthat?”

“Don’t you see? She’s pretending to be a secretive yet trustworthy bartender NPC. When the main character meets someone at a bar, there’s usually such a character.” In response to Kang Shin-hyuk’s comment, Claire nodded silently. Baek In-ha quickly realized he had no choice but to go along with it.

“What aconcept.”

“You’re very similar, BaekIn-ha.”

“Uh, am I? Am I not getting along well with mynoona?”

“No, aren’t you a little too easygoing?” Claire immediately responded, and Baek suffered a fatalwound.

“I’m always kind to Shinyuk…”

“Honestly, you were badnow.”

“Ah, couples. Are you not on my side?” Baek muttered that he wished Oh Hye-na came soon. At that, the door rattled open, and the bell rang as it swung open. A girl in a long black coat with a greatsword on her backappeared.

“You’re here.” The girl, who looked like a lone soldier sneaking into enemy territory, softened a little when she noticed Baek. However, her face stiffened once more when she noticed Kang Shin-hyuk right after.

“Come and sit down.”

“I don’t want to sit there… and In-ha, come over here.” It seemed like she wanted to split the sides. Baek looked over at Shin-hyuk, then nodded and took a step towards Oh Hye-na. As he approached, however, she hid behind his back. At the same time, a question mark appeared on the faces of Kang Shin-hyuk and Claire.

“Hye-na, what are youdoing?”

“I don’t know when to reveal myself. Leave it to me.” Oh Hye-na thanking Baek and drew the greatsword she was carrying, pointing it at KangShin-hyuk.

“I’m sorry, but Hye-na, that’s my friend. I believe in him as much as I do you.”

“Then, even if you gethurt…”

“Baek In-ha, you really are useless. Weren’t you trying to act as a mediator?”

“She’s not listening to me now!”

“I don’t care about In-ha. Talk to me.” As Kang Shin-hyuk opened his mouth, Oh Hye-na frowned even more and stepped forward as if to cover him. Shin-hyuk felt like he had really become some villain… he was worried about Claire, but she seemed so excited by the harsh atmosphere that he decided to ignore her.

“Didn’t you say you want to meet me? I don’t know why you took out your blade first.”

“You… I can’t relax.” He was impressed by the response she spat out. That was right; this girl was about to graduate from middle school. It only made sense she would have the sensibilities of a middle-schooler, just like Claire and Karen.

“You are Shin Eun-hyuk, right? Don’t even think about making excuses.”

“Okay, fine. Shall I show you?” Rather than deny it, Kang Shin-hyuk even performed the trick of putting on the Death Puppeteer equipment stored away. To those who weren’t members of the Hero Universe, it only looked like an amazing skill. As soon as Shin Eun-hyuk, the Death Puppeteer, appeared, Oh Hye-na bit her lip and steppedback.

“You are only one year older than me…” There seemed to be many things she wanted to say, but she held back all her questions and aimed her sword at Kang Shin-hyuk.

“You should fightme.”

“It’s nice that it’s so simple… but you can’t beat me.” Oh Hye-na should know after experiencing his skills indirectly at the last gate. But it was a welcome outcome, as she had decided to meet with him instead of rushing straight to the newspaper to report him. That said it all.

“I don’t care aboutthat.”

“Surely, it’d be important for you to understand.”

“Huh… haaaa!” She hardened her resolve and rushed right at him. She skillfully moved without touching any of the tables or chairs in the store.

“But, your senses are stilllacking.”

“Huh?!” The moment she tried to swing her greatsword at him as he sat still in his chair, her foot stumbled over something. However, there were no objects in her path. Something had caught onto her body and stopped her. Of course, it was the net that Kang Shin-hyuk had projected with just the move of a finger.

“This, what…?”

“You can’t tear it down. Now, watch the sword.” Kang Shin-hyuk caught her greatsword as it fell out of her hands and offered it back to her. Oh Hye-na felt humiliated, and she was forced to accept it.

“It was just a simple mistake.” Oh Hye-na insisted as her face was dyed red.

“Okay. Then shall we try again?”

“…” Kang Shin-hyuk was excited to see how she would react. He had been prepared for her to ask why he had killed her father, but it didn’t feel bad that she decided to draw her sword first. He had roughly grasped she had her doubts about the series of events that led up to Oh Joo-young’s death. But instead of questioning it, she raised her sword. It was the feeling that if you knew your opponent’s blade, you knew their heart.

“Again… I won’t make the same mistake.”

“Can you really beatme?”

“…” She frowned and returned to where she had been. Then, she ran in again, this time, cold air flowing around her body. Was she trying to freeze the threads with it? Or perhaps she was trying to detect them with the coldair.

‘Well, in fact, there is no way the thread will be cut off or revealed by this.’ Oh Hye-na’s attribute power was at a level that he couldn’t believe she was graduating from junior high. His spiritual power was at the level of SS+ through the effect of the soul connector, however, so that level of cold could be dealt with easily. But…

‘Well, this is a technique I’ve used once.’ He decided to look into it. If she knew the truth, she would be angry with him, but he wouldn’t tell her. When the thread was exposed to the cold and showed up faintly at his intention, Oh Hye-na moved quickly out of the way. Her speed was at a level that barely surpassed Karen, and the way she swung her greatsword at Kang Shin-hyuk wasexcellent.

‘Her trait must involve swords, as well.’ Kang Shin-hyuk moved his spiritual power, stopping the greatsword halfway to hishead.

“Ugh…?! Ooh!” She tried to shake the greatsword that had suddenly stopped, but it wouldn’t budge.

“This, how… huh? Anotherthread?!”

“No.” As Kang Shin-hyuk snapped his fingers, the greatsword moved in the air. At the sight, not only Oh Hye-na but Baek watched with their mouths wide open. Kang Shin-hyuk made it swim in the air like a fish then slowly dropped it in front of OhHye-na.

“Would you like to do it again?”

“…” Oh Hye-na was silent as she grabbed the sword. As Kang Shin-hyuk released his control of it, she hugged it and stepped back.

“Now, huh…” Then she sat down and began tocry.

“Ah, she’scrying.”

“Baek In-ha, comfort her. No, I can’t expect anything from you. Claire?”

“Huh. It doesn’t go well with being a bartender, but should I make some tea?”

“Good idea.”

“Flattery? Are you trying to get some tea as well?”

“No, act a little more awkward in this case.” Baek In-ha watched the couple act stupid and reached out to Oh Hye-na to help her up, but she slapped his handaway.

“I hate In-ha oppa!”

“Why me?!”

“Huh…” Baek picked up Oh Hye-na, who was now crying wordlessly. She didn’t resist anymore and was hugging her greatsword. Baek dragged her over to a seat and sat her down. She had fully given up, yet she didn’t forget to put Baek between her and Kang Shin-hyuk. Shin-hyuk wanted to laugh as he watched her, but he had to respect her desperatewill.

“Come on, drink. It’s a bartender’s special herbal tea. Wouldn’t it help you calmdown?”

“Huh… I’m already calm…” Oh Hye-na still accepted the teacup. After a sip, her tension was relieved just alittle.

“Did you kill him like that?”

“Do you really want toknow?”

“…Yes.”

“Okay…”

“…” They sat in silence for a few minutes before Kang Shin-hyuk spoke first, unable to bear the silence.

“Is there anything else you want to ask?”

“There is.” Oh Hye-na put down her teacup and looked down at her sword with tearyeyes.

“Did you use a sword when you fought with my dad?”

“Yes.”

“?!”

“Ah… then, should we fight with swords this time?”

“…Sure.”

Oh, it had started again.