Chapter 267

Spring Again (4)

"Congratulations and cheers for Bridget Poulsen joining Masked Bacchus! Yeah!"

Eight glasses clinked in the air. All of the members of Masked Bacchus, including the reserve member, Oh Hye-na, were gathered together.

"Oh, thank you, everyone! Please look forward to the cute and sexy Bridget in the future!"

Bridget laughed as she emptied her glass of beer.

"You said it yourself?"

Kang Shin-hyuk mumbled and tilted his cup as if he found this whole thing ridiculous. None of them were wearing masks as not only Oh Hye-na, but also Bridget had signed soul contracts during their enrollment process.

"In the first place, you have to call yourself pretty to become prettier? By the way, our Death Puppeteer is also very handsome..."

"Go away."

"Uh, huh?"

Claire, who had been sitting beside him, pushed Bridget's head away.

"Ah."

"Cheh."

"Ah."

"Oh my."

Shin Eunah, who was also next to him, pushed Bridget back, and then Lee Na-hee and Eleanor pushed it, creating an inextricable gap between Bridget and Kang Shin-hyuk. Bridget looked like she felt the whole thing was quaint as the four protected Kang Shin-hyuk.

"Wow, it feels like sumo."

"Since this is Korea, change it to ssireum. Localization is essential even though they may not look similar."

"It's like when people from Osaka become Busan people."

"You respond calmly, but I think you'll suffer a lot from the Death Puppeteer."

The presence of the sparkling rings on Kang Shin-hyuk and Claire's hands was truly dazzling. But what was even more daunting was Shin Eunah, still unable to accept reality, and his two seniors from school were looking for an opportunity to narrow the distance with him. Well, in the modeling industry or Hollywood where Bridget worked, things like affairs were commonplace!

"Wow, you're so popular. I'll come to you soon..."

"Put that away if you don't want to die."

"Bridget-noona, let's leave that cold guy and play together."

Behind Kang Shin-hyuk, Baek In-ha spoke with a light tone as always. However, Bridget replied with a grim expression.

"Yeah, In-ha is also handsome, but not my type, so..."

"Ah."

"What's wrong with In-ha oppa?" Oh Hye-na cried out, but that only made Baek more miserable. However, Kang Shin-hyuk, who knew that Baek had the student council harem, was no longer fooled by him.

"To think Mr. Puppeteer was really a minor."

"Now, call me by name."

"It's really awesome; what did I do as a student...?"

"You must've been playing."

Claire said so with a snort. Claire, who was confined in her youth to a superhuman facility because she awakened a very rare trait, had a longing for youth and a very slight sense of inferiority towards those who enjoyed the youth she didn't have. Before meeting Kang Shin-hyuk, she wondered if that was why she used to say her ideal type was older.

"Ding! I was modeling!"

"Oh, sorry. It's my fault."

"It's not really wrong because I played a lot while modeling, kuhuhu."

"Let's hit her."

"Then, when you awakened..."

"Oh, that..."

There were quite a few people gathered, but the atmosphere wasn't bad overall. Bridget and Baek were good at raising the mood, and Shin Eunah, Oh Hye-na, and Eleanor were satisfied with just listening. In fact, as the protagonist of the day was Bridget, most of the topics revolved around her.

"What? You're in a Korean drama?"

"I came to Korea, so I had to try it. Whoo, it was hard to take care of it. I'm also making a movie."

"Your spirit is overflowing."

"Even if Eunah quits the association, I will work to support her!"

"I don't need it because I already have a lot of money. Go away."

"Ah."

Kang Shin-hyuk didn't have an interest in Bridget, but he had to admit that she was energetically active in various fields and exuded positive energy. Claire looked at him pointedly, however, so he decided to quit looking at Bridget with admiration.

"What is the content of this athletic meet?"

As he turned the topic gently, Baek replied with a clenched fist.

"Abolition of evil habits is the first decision. We will completely abolish the old game and renew it."

"You come out strong."

"Hey, honestly, are you talking about running or horseback riding? If you're a superhuman, you should play a hot game with more visual explosives."

"Weren't you most excited about the race last year?"

"It was the same with Shinyuk."

"Don't say that; I'm shy."

Kang Shin-hyuk cut in at Baek's speech, then Oh Hye-na suddenly spoke up.

"I want to go to the two crowns battle."

"No."

"Yes."

When Kang Shin-hyuk and Baek opposed each other, Oh Hye-na cried out.

"Why are you saying, no?!"

"Then you can't go to the rookie game."

Kang Shin-hyuk solemnly declared so, then added with a slightly vague tone...

"There was a boy last year who gave up on the rookie battle to go to the two crowns battle, but he couldn't do anything and became a shame..."

"Hey, Shinyuk. Is that really my story? Are you talking about me?"

"So put it aside. Get the solid grades you can now."

"Oh... Yes."

That was also one of the powers you could acquire at school. In particular, Kang Shin-hyuk's position had changed significantly upon acquiring the title of Rookie King. At his words, Oh Hye-na bowed her head. The strange relationship between them formed at the start of the semester had settled to some extent.

"What about you, Shinyuk? Are you going for the Knight Crown and the Two Crowns?"

"No, I agreed to share with Eli. I'm only doing the Two Crowns."

"I'm the Crown of Knights."

Eleanor naturally responded to him. In fact, it was rare to occupy both titles. It was better to focus on only one. It seemed that there was an excuse for Douglas Payne's loss to Baek since he had gone for both last year.

"Are you saying that it's natural to win if you go all out? You said you would share the titles?"

"Of course. You can also take a top-rank."

Eleanor carefully held up a victory sign next to Kang Shin-hyuk, who responded boldly. Lee Na-hee grappled with her attitude as if the two were forming a consensus. Baek was unable to avoid getting heated up by Eleanor, and he declared Kang Shin-hyuk as his target.

"Pack your bags in the royal class and get ready to leave."

"No, I get a room because I'm the vice-captain of the Wyvern Knights."

"Oh, oppa. Just don't lose..."

"Hey! Can't you believe in me?!"

Even Oh Hye-na, who was always his ally, looked away. As Kang Shin-hyuk struggled with the sight, Lee Na-hee spoke up with dissatisfaction.

"Aren't you just thinking of fighting? We have a contest."

"Huh?"

Kang Shin-hyuk's eyes went wide.

"We won last year."

"That was the rookie contest. Now neither of us are rookies."

"That's right."

Kang Shin-hyuk's metallurgy had already reached SS-rank thanks to his synchronization rate increasing. Lee Na-hee, too, had evolved into using a new enchantment system called Rune, and her ability improved drastically.

"Now we have to compete in the world competition. It'll be valuable for our name to be known."

"A world competition."

He was curious if they could still attend such a competition, but he was confident in their skills.

"Yeah, even in other schools, children who show their skills can compete with adults. Of course, it's rare to win prizes."

"Are there no restrictions at all?"

"If you challenge yourself with that skill, you'll be buried. Even so, my grandfather said a big one would be held this year."

She cutely laughed for no reason, then blushed and tried to hit him. It was then...

-Shin-hyuk.

A very strange message appeared in his eyes. When Kang Shin-hyuk stopped laughing, Claire asked what was going on, then immediately looked as serious as him.

-This is a dangerous situation. I am asking for rescue.

"Shin-hyuk, this..."

"Did you get it, Claire?"

"What is it?"

Shin Eunah, feeling alienated, intervened with a pout. However, Kang Shin-hyuk had no time to answer. Someone who could send a rescue request message to both of them...

"Vita?"

Vita, the android created by Claire with the help of Kang Shin-hyuk, sent them both a rescue request message. She was in Cy Xenon, the world they visited some time before. It didn't matter how she sent it; it was important to note that she suddenly turned to them for help after months of no contact.

"We should go right now."

"What about school?"

"It's Thursday today. If I'm absent on Friday, then you can cover for me."

"Hey, what are you talking about? Absent? What?"

Kang Shin-hyuk stood up with an ambiguous smile at those who couldn't keep up.

"Sorry, I think we need to go somewhere."

"Are you a couple now?"

"..."

Baek said this so mischievously, but Shin Eunah's expression looked frozen. Then, Claire spoke up seriously.

"I want Eunah to go, too."

"Huh?! Me too?"

The ice thawed.

"Are you sure?!"

"Yes."

"I don't hate it, but suddenly, no, I don't really like it... I'm not prepared."

Shin Eunah's face reddened as she mumbled. Then, Bridget stood up, unwilling to miss this opportunity.

"Then, me too! Let's do it together, finally, the three that I dreamed of, or the four... Oops!"

"No."

"Junior..."

"No!"

Kang Shin-hyuk told Eleanor and Lee Na-hee to stay behind, then joined hands with Shin Eunah and Claire to enter his My Room. Shin Eunah had been there before, but she wandered around and examined the new features he had achieved from finishing his last dimensional quest.

"Wow, here..."

"Don't."

When only members of the Hero Universe remained, he was able to explain the situation. Once he explained it, Shin Eunah had an odd expression on her face.

"You two went without telling me."

"Yes, we dated secretly."

"Claire!"

Shin Eunah raised her eyebrows at Claire's honest confession, which frightened Kang Shin-hyuk. However, Claire didn't look away from Eunah, and in the end, the latter sighed and nodded.

"I hate you... I'll help you, though."

"Thank you, Eunah."

-Once the departure has been decided, it is best to set the starting point first.

The so-far quiet administrator suddenly began to explain. Kang Shin-hyuk tilted his head.

"The starting point?"

-That's right. Currently, the world you want to go to is Cy Xenon, which is in a precarious state of not knowing when it will be disconnected from the Hero Universe. Therefore, it is necessary to set the spatial movement coordinates so you can escape even if it completely collapses. This is possible because you have the ability to move through space.

Shin Eunah intervened, and he wondered why the administrator would explain it, but it seemed that he did so that they could return safely. Kang Shin-hyuk made eye contact with Eunah and set the coordinates according to the admin's instructions. In his My Room, a piece containing a significant amount of energy from Kang Shin-hyuk and Shin Eunah was installed, and then the three moved to the dimension together.

It ended up being an apocalypse.