◈ Episode 095

It was a reunion after a long time.

"...You really are safe."

"Should I have come two days earlier? It was a mess back then."

"Why do you say that? How much I…!"

Ainoa glared at him, feeling a little sad. Kim Yi-hyun rubbed his neck awkwardly. The tense atmosphere was awkward, so he tried to make a joke, but the reaction was stronger than he expected.

"I'm sorry. Everyone around here was making a fuss."

"Why are you apologizing so much?"

"Isn't that so? I'm not the type to be proud of myself."

"Is that so?"

He looks at me with a puzzled look on his face, rubbing his chin.

Even though I waited without saying anything, after more than 10 seconds, I started to feel burdened by the gaze.

"It's going to be really piercing."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I thought your attitude had softened."

"I don't know."

The owner of the voice that interrupted was Adrian. He looked back and forth between the two of them greeting each other with a face that had bitten a bug.

"It still seems cocky to me."

"Adrian, you still don't… do that."

"What does it mean?"

"It doesn't mean anything. You just look really tired."

"I won't necessarily deny it."

Adrian pressed hard on his eyelids. There were freckles around his eyes. The person who usually valued neat attire and the dignity befitting royalty had become half a wreck.

"Haven't too many things come to us in a short period of time? Even a disaster, I'm running around chasing after the aftermath. I'm also doing the things that Ainoa used to do."

"Do you now understand my suffering?"

"Do you understand my suffering?"

"So, aren't you just helping me? I think anything more than that is part-time work."

"under...."

He couldn't help but sigh at his brother's cold attitude. Adrian himself hoped that Ainoa wouldn't step forward too much. For the sake of a smooth succession to the throne.

The two were somehow cooperating. It was just as Kim Yi-hyeon had expected.

But on the other hand, it was hard to shake off the thought that they were both extremely shameless.

'Ainoa is definitely strong-hearted.'

To her, Adrian was someone who watched her life in danger. There was no way he would have any ties to her blood relatives. It was a sin that was difficult to forgive.

Of course, Adrian did nothing himself. It would be a stretch to call it a crime, since there is no record of it. He was only used halfway, but he actually helped.

Even so, the emotional wounds that have been inflicted once will not be healed. I don't know for a lifetime, but for quite some time. Judging from their condition, it seemed that they were fully aware of it.

It wasn't a matter for others to interfere with.

"Okay. Let's get to the point."

"Yes, I see."

As I was trying to change the subject, Ainoa suddenly poked her head in.

"Wait a minute. What do you mean, the main topic? Didn't I call you here?"

"That's right. Half of it."

"half?"

She looked at Adrian with a bewildered expression.

"When you said you were coming all the way to my brother's house, I thought you were going to dodge things…!"

"That's exactly what you'd think."

"Hyeon, you too, you too. Even though I said I would visit you in the hospital, you rejected me!"

"You should have come now. It'll be easier if you look around."

The two men exchanged glances and shrugged.

Ainoa was speechless at the attitudes of those who asked what the problem was.

It was a fundamental difference between men and women.

"Anyway, don't bother me and just wait. I'll be out of the way soon."

Adrian, who said that, took a half step forward. He stood face to face with Kim Ihyeon. After a moment of needlessly adjusting his clothes, he hardened his expression as if he had made up his mind.

Then the prince bowed his head.

"I am truly grateful for your assistance. Not only the royal family, but the entire Bastitera was saved by you and Dustborn, or rather, the Cellbrox Lab. It would not be an exaggeration to say that you have saved us."

At that moment, a piece of knowledge came to Kim Yi-Hyeon's mind.

There is no etiquette for bowing deeply to the upper class of Bastitera. That is Minoan etiquette. There are only cases where the lower class bows to the nobles.

Now the prince paid homage to Minos, whom he had so shunned, in the manner of Minos. Although there was no real benefit, the sincerity was fully conveyed.

No, it wasn't completely useless.

"We intend to break away from stale customs. Interaction with the outside world will also be part of that. As a nation existing on the continent of Bastite, we intend to treat the continental people as we would treat ourselves. Also, if you don't mind... "

He pauses for a moment and then continues speaking.

"I hope that Cellbrox Lab will become a messenger of peace. I know that exchanges between countries on the continent have become less frequent, but in times like these, mutual cooperation will become more important."

Adrian confronted the Legion. He witnessed the dangers and mutants they created. He captured and interrogated the soldiers who escaped the disaster and survived.

I now know the madness and the danger.

"I know it's shameless, but can I ask you a favor?"

"...."

The mad dog has become a human.

Kim Yi-hyeon barely swallowed the words that were almost coming out of his throat. It was that unexpected. Just by looking at Ainoa's blank face, he could tell that it wasn't something he said reluctantly.

To be honest, it was what I had hoped for. Kushan wouldn't have refused. Rather, I had been thinking with Kushan about how to persuade Adrian, and then he brought it up.

But it was difficult to just accept it.

"Well, I appreciate your words, but it's difficult to give you a definitive answer."

"Ah… I see. There will be a separate person in charge."

A reaction that is blatantly regretful. He quickly regains his composure, but it seems difficult to let go of his obsession. Adrian, of course, will also have a hard time finding a connection with the outside world on his own.

Understanding the circumstances, Kim Yi-hyeon smiled kindly.

"But don't worry too much. If I convey it well, I'm sure you'll get a positive response. His Majesty has made a big decision, so how can I delay?"

"Oh, really? Why is my debt just increasing?"

"Debt? I have also become quite attached to Bastitera. I personally look forward to the changes Your Majesty will bring about."

There is also a way to connect with Kushan and then sneak away. However, Kim Yi-hyeon insisted on emphasizing his role, saying, "I will explain it well." It is not just to take credit for his own achievements.

'I need to make sure that people remember that this was a difficult situation that came about because I told them to.'

The key is initiative.

With just a few words, Kim Hyun and CellbroLogics Lab firmly established themselves as 'helpers'. Usually, this kind of behavior is annoying, but it was clearly a cost-effective effort.

As expected.

"...I guess I've misunderstood you a little bit so far."

Adrian looked quite touched. It was impossible to assume that his personality was that simple. If this were an official event, he would have taken Kim Yi-hyun's words as a given.

It was a sincerity that arose because it was a private place.

"I will not forget your kindness. I do not know how long you will stay, but I promise to provide you with the utmost comfort while you remain in Basteterra."

"I won't give you any specifications."

A group that was considered half-rogue was now treated as a state guest. It was a great rise in status. Can't we take a moment to reflect on our pride?

Adrian, who had finished his business, left the salon first. He was walking quickly, as if it was true that he was busy, but when I last saw his face, his complexion had brightened noticeably.

Ainoa muttered as she looked at the closed door.

"What did I eat wrong…."

It seemed like a difficult situation for her to adapt to.

* * *

I didn't talk about anything particularly important with Ainoa. We just asked each other about our current affairs. I even enjoyed chatting with Carmen, who was still in charge of her escort.

I asked Carmen about her future plans.

I plan on staying here for a while. I haven't decided on an exact period, though. Lady Ainoa will need an escort, and I need to show my face to the family at least once...

I would like to closely observe how Bastetira is changing.

The doctor was firm.

It wasn't something to be sorry about. Carmen was still a Redwood employee. When she was selected in the game, she wasn't officially hired, but rather came to the lab as a dispatch.

'It doesn't go back the same way though.'

In any case, he is a character who has not completely transferred to the lab in terms of the setting. Even if you try to persuade him by force, it will only cause resentment. There is no hope of bringing him to Dustborn.

'Are you done with everything you have to do?'

All you have to do is convey Adrian's intentions to the lab. Given the importance of the matter, there is a high probability that Kushan will come to see you in person. His speaking skills will not be inferior to those of the nobles.

It may not be the last.

There may be another incident in Basteterra in the future. Or Ainoa or someone else may come to meet you. There is also a promise with Asterike.

There will come a day when I will visit again, but at least the 'episode' that was being performed has been resolved.

"It's almost time to go back."

Kim Yi-hyeon leisurely strolled through the streets of Magnu. The sun was setting. The sky was gradually turning blue, but the streets were still very crowded.

Reconstruction work is in full swing. The central station, Magnu, has been temporarily restored, but it cannot be left as is forever. A large number of workers have been mobilized to the site.

"Hey, the cement is flying fast!"

"I told you, I'm going now!"

There was also a boy who looked to be in his mid to late teens. Despite his small stature, he was running around carrying several cement bags. As expected, Bastet Line's strength was not something to be underestimated.

Kim Yi-Hyeon often received stares as he passed by. Not because people recognized his brilliant achievements, but because he had no horns.

Here, Minos was still Minos.

'It will change someday.'

10 years, 20 years? It is unknown how much time it will take.

'I wonder what I'll be like by then.'

I wonder if he died suddenly. If he is still alive, where is he? Did he return to his daily life in modern times?

Will I ever have someone next to me whose face I don't even know, start a family, and live with papers and a typewriter instead of a gun or a knife?

'Something about it is a bit hard to imagine.'

On the contrary, my current life felt closer. Walking on the railroad tracks that had long since deviated from the tracks. The end might be a cliff, and one day a train might come rushing and hit me.

Still, I'm not as crazy anxious as I used to be.

[Loading Completed!]

Just then, the long-awaited message appeared.

[Damage rate of main episode 5 'Bo-eun']

[Damage rate of main episode 6 'Farewell']

[Damage rate of main episode 7 'Collision']

.

.

.

The messages continued endlessly.

It was a long time coming. It was a notification that almost every episode up to the final chapter was corrupted. The aftermath was ridiculously huge.

'What a pity, it would have been quite watchable if there were side stories.'

They say that humans are creatures of adaptation. After experiencing it so many times, I now even feel like it's a boring thought.

[The presence of agent 'Kim Lee-hyun' becomes clear.]

[Agent 'Kim Lee-Hyeon's' rank increases.]

[The skill 'Special Weapon Production' is strengthened.]

[The upper limit of ability values ​​is expanded.]

I don't know, it feels like I'm getting a reward.

[Agent Record Update]

[Agent Name: Kim Lee-Hyeon]

[Rating: ★★★★]

4 stars.

Today, I have finally reached a level where I am not ashamed to call myself an agent.