177 – Positive Development

[Quest Complete]

[Rewards Acquired]

[Exclusive Weapon Enhanced]

As he beheaded Hwacheon-gang, ending the Hwa brothers’ reign, notifications poured down.

His weapon glowed faintly.

[Radiance]

◇ Heavenly Judgment Sword of the Sun: Mana Consumption Reduced

◇ Heavenly Judgment Sword of the Sun: Power Increased

◇ Can be Repaired by Spending Points Upon Damage

◇ Grows Upon Reaching Exp Cap

+◇ Can be Stored in Shop Skills for 5 Points

[Imprint]

◇ Weakness Imbue: Mana Consumption Reduced

◇ Internally Lodged Rounds Enter Fire Mark State, Mana Capacity and Resistance Increased

◇ Can be Repaired by Spending Points Upon Damage

◇ Grows Upon Reaching Exp Cap

+◇ Can be Stored in Shop Skills for 3 Points

The additions to the weapon after its enhancement were plain to see.

More than just visible changes.

A tangible sense of increased durability flowed through him, from the weapon itself, into his hand.

‘Storage… is this it?’

The sword cost 5 points, the gun 3. Was the point cost dependent on size?

If resources were abundant, this was undoubtedly a more efficient system than Noah’s ring-based weapon storage.

While he savored the pleasing results…

Sion, having confirmed the end of the battle, scaled the building and entered the room.

Clara appeared quietly just after.

“Rohan! Are you hurt anywhere?!”

“Oppa…”

Sion and Clara dabbed at the blood spatter on his face.

He didn’t resist the touch of their hands as they cleaned him, and a minute or so passed. Then, the rest of their party and the peacekeepers burst in.

Rohan made it abundantly clear that he was surrendering his weapons and would not resist.

Afterward, they were all escorted to the Samhwa Nation Public Safety Bureau.

Rohan sat in a spacious interrogation room with the others, waiting.

‘I hadn’t planned on visiting here as a tourist.’

He recalled the guarded glares and voices of the peacekeepers. Understandable, since the situation was far from clear.

If it weren’t for Ichinose and Noah, they would have undoubtedly ordered him to drop his weapons and surrender on the spot.

“Rohan, hold your head high. You did a good deed; they’re probably preparing a reward for you.”

“T-That’s right…! Oppa deserves an award…!”

Rohan felt the sincerity in Sion and Clara’s words and chuckled softly.

Thanks to them, his mind eased in a pleasant way.

He was moistening his lips with the provided bottled water when…

Ichinose quietly announced after checking a message that had appeared on his phone.

“Rohan. If a peacekeeper comes and asks you anything, don’t answer.”

“Huh? I need to explain the situation, though. We’ve done nothing wrong.”

Frankly, he considered being brought here quietly without handcuffs and keeping everyone together a form of special treatment.

Besides, Noah even got food because she was hungry.

“It’s separate from whether you’re in the right. My father wants to hear the situation first and relay it to the Bureau himself. I’ve already given him a rough overview.”

“Ah… I understand.”

The mention of Ichinose Jun made Rohan swallow hard.

He’d anticipated this since sending the video, but the tension was difficult to shake.

‘Contacting them is only natural, but…’

The fact that he’d given this news to the parents of a friend he’d planned to greet on the way back was unnerving.

In some ways, it was good, but in others, it didn’t feel like he was leaving a good impression.

“And I explained everything to Instructor Juyeon on the way here.”

“So it was inevitable that Instructor would hear about it, even if we kept quiet…? I was hoping she wouldn’t find out, since she’d be worried.”

Ichinose nodded in affirmation.

“I understand how you feel. But this is an incident involving an Orion Academy cadet in Samhwa Nation. It’s a given that it would reach the Instructor’s ears.”

“…”

Rohan resigned himself.

He’d been so chatty about taking a break and coming back refreshed, but look at the mess he was in.

‘When can I leave? I ruined the trip because of me.’

A different emotion swirled inside him, separate from the fact that he’d done something good.

Rohan’s eyes, which had been fixed on a stain on the ceiling, shifted to Noah.

The way she was inhaling the food, even in this situation, was endearing to watch, but the contrast between the drab setting and the beautiful girl was incredibly jarring.

“…Is it good?”

“Yeah! But, in the dramas, why do they always eat this kind of food when being interrogated at the Peacekeeping Bureau?”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

Just exchanging a few words with Noah makes me chuckle involuntarily.

That the Peacekeeping Official himself went out and bought us pork cutlet rice bowls and *seolleongtang* because Noah said, “Doesn’t everyone eat pork cutlet rice and *seolleongtang* when they’re at the Bureau?”… that just happened.

Even though Rohan has every right to be confident, he couldn’t take things as lightly as Noah did.

*Slurp*—!

The moment Noah lifted the *seolleongtang* bowl and finished it in one go.

[Positive Development Triggered]

‘Now?’

A notification window popped up in front of Rohan, and the investigation room door *clunked* open!

It was Ichinose Jun.

Ichinose, who had been sitting next to Rohan, shot up and headed for the entrance.

“Father…! I’m sorry to bother you when you must be busy…”

“It’s alright. I was on my way home anyway.”

Peacekeeping Officials with flashy insignia followed Ichinose Jun.

The way they fidgeted behind him, sweating profusely… it was crystal clear how the hierarchy worked.

Rohan stood up and bowed his head to Ichinose Jun as he approached.

“I apologize for greeting you in such a place…”

“No need to apologize. I’ve heard everything. I’ve seen the video too.”

“Mister! When are we leaving?”

“Hmm.”

At Noah’s words, Ichinose Jun turned to look at the Peacekeeping Officials.

“You said you secured the necessary information while assessing the scene, so the absence of any problems must be proven, correct? I’ll be taking my daughter and her friend.”

“Yes, sir!”

One of the middle-aged officials, acting as the representative, responded.

His stomach was pulled in tight; discipline was clearly ingrained.

“If you need to investigate or ask them anything else, contact my secretary.”

“Understood!”

That was how the law worked in this world. Anyone meeting the criteria to be killed… could be killed.

It wasn’t supported by judgments of self-defense; the very act of issuing a kill order was broad enough to encompass all heinous criminals.

And…

The blatant connection between state institutions and private companies or individuals was another part Rohan found jarring.

When he first saw such an undisguised relationship, it was hard for Rohan to comprehend, but in this world, it was nothing special.

They were openly intertwined.

The larger the corporations or families established in the Samhwa Nation and other powerful countries, the more astronomical the amount of money they provided to the state.

Repair costs for the barrier protecting against monsters, peacekeeping expenses, defense spending… all of that was covered by them. So it wouldn’t be a lie to say that the majority of Samhwa Nation’s Peacekeeping Officials received their salaries from a company called Heaven Beyond Heaven.

On top of that, he’d heard that figures like Ichinose Jun sometimes provided military assistance.

Ichinose Jun’s status in the Samhwa Nation soared beyond the heavens.

…

··

Thanks to Ichinose Jun, I exited the Bureau of Public Safety with an almost anticlimactic ease.

Unlike the Academy City’s Bureau, there wasn’t even an investigation procedure.

Ichinose family’s driver and vehicle were waiting in the parking lot.

Ichinose Jun started towards the car, then paused, his gaze finding Rohan.

“Student Rohan. A word, if you would.”

“Understood.”

The feeling of something anticipated finally arriving.

I told the others I’d be right back and followed after Ichinose Jun.

When Ichinose Jun stopped walking in a corner of the parking lot, Rohan immediately offered an apology.

Regardless of right and wrong, he must have been worried about his daughter.

“I’m sorry for getting Yui involved.”

“As I said before, there’s no need to apologize. If acting according to reason and what is right earns one censure, then no one in this world would ever do what is just.”

“…Thank you.”

Ichinose Jun’s eyes seemed to assess Rohan’s physical condition.

He also felt the steep rise in skill, likely the result of relentless training.

“Judging by the injuries, it doesn’t seem you were in dire straits.”

“I remembered your words of advice. And to explain the situation in detail…”

“No. There’s no need to explain now.”

Cutting off Rohan’s words, Ichinose Jun took out a car key and handed it over.

“The rental car has been taken care of. I’ve prepared a vehicle, so don’t worry about it and continue to enjoy yourselves.”

“…”

“Yui has been looking forward to this trip.”

Ichinose Jun wore a smile that was both melancholic and delighted as he said that, so Rohan didn’t refuse.

“Thank you. I’ll be sure to greet you again after the trip is over.”

“Yes. That’s all I ask.”

Ichinose Jun, with his hands clasped behind his back, turned towards the direction his daughter was waiting.

Rohan stood still, idly turning the luxurious car key in his hand.

‘Perhaps I should wait a bit.’

Rather than joining them right now, it would probably be better not to intrude on Ichinose Jun and Nosenose’s time together.

Rohan trudged towards the vending machine he saw right beside him.

He pulled out his phone out of habit.

“Gah!”

Rohan looked at his phone without thinking and was immediately startled.

His surprise was so great, it was as if the phone was a scalding hot object, jumping wildly in Rohan’s hand.

His heart did a somersault.

The problem was that he had turned off sounds and vibration when entering the Blue Forest.

[Instructor Joo Yeon: Heard the news]

[Instructor Joo Yeon: Call me]

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[37 Missed Calls]