However, Han Ji-bin was flat-out rejected.
It was the same when Yeon Ha-yeon took the phone to talk.
It seemed like she called someone high up in the Dungeon Management Bureau directly, but despite her circling around the topic, she still ended up hearing a “no.”
‘Is it because the gate just opened? It’s quite something to summon such high-ranking awakened individuals for a gate investigation, a unique one at that.’
I didn’t remember seeing anything like this before I was transmigrated.
Even if it was for an investigation, it usually involved only a few officials from the Dungeon Management Bureau and a couple of awakened individuals.
To summon all the awakened within the top 10 ranks like this…
It was unclear if there was something they absolutely needed to see, or if they just gathered all high-ranking awakened individuals because it was a unique and potentially dangerous gate.
“I naturally thought they’d say yes…”
Han Ji-bin pouted with a dejected face and slumped onto the classroom floor.
He had planned to play right after the exams, so he seemed deeply disheartened to have to go to work immediately.
“I don’t have to go, so be careful. You can play after you get back, right?”
“Then I’ll be back as fast as I can!”
“Dana! Even if you’re bored without me, just bear with it a little.”
As I patted Han Ji-bin’s shoulder for promising to come back quickly, Yeon Ha-yeon took my hand and spoke with a regretful voice.
“Anyone would think you’re crossing an ocean.”
“Oh come on, Busan is far too. I’m disappointed too, you know?”
“Just come back quickly then.”
Ban Eun-hyeol, watching the two with a displeased expression, chided them.
Eun Bada, quickly noticing Yeon Ha-yeon’s expression turning fierce, intervened in a hurry, and Ji Gang-han also chimed in casually.
Upon receiving the message that they had to leave immediately, Yeon Ha-yeon and the Four Heavenly Kings quickly headed for the Dungeon Management Bureau.
Leaving the school gates alone after a long time felt a bit empty.
***
I quickened my pace as I watched students leaving school in groups of two or three, when someone suddenly appeared beside me and greeted me.
“Noona! Did you do well on your exam?”
“Oh? Hyeong-gwang. Didn’t you go to the Dungeon Management Bureau with Ha-yeon?”
“Ah, the boss just left me behind. I guess she prefers moving with her friends more than her little brother!”
Unlike his dialogue, which indicated considerable disappointment, his tone was merely cheerful. He didn’t seem to care much that Yeon Ha-yeon had left him behind.
During exam season, it had been hard to see Yeon Hyeong-gwang, except for occasional encounters in the school hallways.
Even after a long time, his face was still handsome.
“Don’t you need to go quickly?”
Being glad to see him was one thing, but since there was work, I worried if he should leave quickly.
Yeon Ha-yeon and the Four Heavenly Kings had already left the school a while ago, so it was understandable to worry that he hadn’t even left the school gates yet.
But Yeon Hyeong-gwang said with a perfectly nonchalant expression, clasping his hands behind his head, “It’s fine. Boss and the Four Heavenly Kings are just impatient, so they left early. Others will probably arrive around the same time as me.”
“Oh, really?”
In that case, I was relieved.
I had thought Yeon Hyeong-gwang’s usual relaxed nature might make him late for everything, but thinking about it, he always seemed to keep his appointments well.
Just then, a chat window appeared before my eyes.
[Waanso (7): The school dean confiscated my bike key, so I’ll be late á…²_á…² So annoying Σ (CEO) Eutteum (8): Take a taxi Waanso (7): A taxi isn’t cool Focus (1): If you’re late, you might never be able to act cool for the rest of your life -_-+]
“Oh, Heuk-yeom-ryong will be later than me, it seems? He must be planning to get his confiscated bike key back before leaving.”
“Oh, really?”
I had just finished reading the same content, but I answered as if I knew nothing.
As soon as I saw the chat window, I almost shook my head unconsciously, but thanks to that, I was able to remain still.
“I wanted to play with Noona after the exams. Let’s play together when I get back.”
“Sounds good. You be careful too and…”
“Hyeong-gwang-ah!”
I was about to say, “Be careful, and let’s meet when you come back to Seoul,” when a sharp voice calling Yeon Hyeong-gwang interrupted me.
‘Is she a classmate?’
She was waving very familiarly and running towards us, so I naturally thought she was a friend.
But looking at Yeon Hyeong-gwang’s expression, it didn’t seem that way.
“Ah… Noona, run!”
“Huh? Wait a minute!”
Seeing Yeon Hyeong-gwang’s reaction, she seemed to be one of his followers, not a friend.
But to just grab my hand and run like this?
It was an action ripe for misunderstanding, but Yeon Hyeong-gwang didn’t seem to think that far.
As Yeon Hyeong-gwang and I ran hand in hand, all the attention of the students leaving school was fixed on us.
“What just went by?”
“Yeon Hyeong-gwang from first year and… someone else next to him.”
Thanks to not having as strong a presence as the Yeon siblings or the Four Heavenly Kings, no one seemed to have properly seen who I was.
Even though I always hung out with friends who had such a strong presence, not many students knew who I was.
It was because they were always so preoccupied with looking at the Four Heavenly Kings or Yeon Ha-yeon that they didn’t have the presence of mind to notice me.
I was merely recognized as ‘the small kid who hangs out with the Four Heavenly Kings and Yeon Ha-yeon.’
‘Still, I thought since I’m rumored to be an A-rank awakened, more people would know me.’
It was strange because I had never been treated as having such little presence in my life.
It seemed everyone had heard my name and rumors, but didn’t know my face.
For me, that was a real blessing.
“Yeon Hyeong-gwang! Wait! Who’s that bitch next to you?!”
Because even though we were running at a very fast speed, Yeon Hyeong-gwang’s follower was chasing us without giving up.
I was reminded of the time when I was subjected to fierce stares and attacks from followers just because I was friends with the Four Heavenly Kings.
Usually, it was best to avoid girls who acted that way, as they were often a bit unhinged.
“Shall we take that bus? It’s going to the Dungeon Management Bureau anyway.”
Yeon Hyeong-gwang, who had been running for a while, calmly said this, pointing to a bus that was just pulling into the bus stop.
To be so relaxed while escaping like this…
Watching his green hair flutter in the wind, it looked just like a scene from a youth drama.
“Driver, two students.”
Yeon Hyeong-gwang got onto the bus that had stopped and tapped his card.
The female student was already quite far away and out of sight.
I caught my breath and found a seat, sitting next to Yeon Hyeong-gwang.
“You’re going through a lot too, huh?”
“Haha, isn’t it kind of fun?”
“What…?”
The Four Heavenly Kings openly disliked such fiercely pursuing followers, so he was certainly a unique one.
If he enjoyed this kind of attention, it seemed rather fortunate from Yeon Hyeong-gwang’s perspective.
[Next stop is Dungeon Management Bureau, Dungeon Management Bureau.]
As we chatted, we arrived at the Dungeon Management Bureau before I knew it.
Although I had boarded the bus on a whim, I had to take a bus in the opposite direction to go home, so I got off with Yeon Hyeong-gwang.
“Oh? Dana!”
As soon as I got off, I heard Yeon Ha-yeon calling my name.
Turning my head towards the sound, I saw awakened individuals gathered together in front of the Dungeon Management Bureau.
Everyone was there except Do Yi-hyun, Baek Ji-woo, and Eun Ha-su.
They were friends I had just been with, but I greeted them warmly, and was also greeting Cha Hyeon-seo and James, when Yi-hwan, standing there in a black suit with a neutral expression, holding a file, spoke.
“I won’t be going with you. Someone needs to protect Seoul… and I have some work to take care of.”
It meant that all awakened individuals within the top 10 ranks were going down to Busan, but he alone would be excluded.
Since he said it was due to work, and his expression was neutral but somehow conveyed a dark atmosphere, no one particularly added anything.
I had no reason to be there, so I immediately boarded the bus going home.
***
The next morning dawned, with all awakened individuals within the top 10 ranks, except Yi-hwan and me, having gone down to Busan.
The exams were over, and it was the weekend.
I planned to do nothing for a long time, just laze around at home, and then go out to close a gate at night.
[I’m bored! I want to go out!]
[My Lord, can I breathe a small breath out the window?]
“No.”
I was lying on the bed with Bisharp and Red when I heard something that could cause big trouble.
I sternly shut Bisharp’s mouth with my firm answer.
I propped myself up and spoke to Bisharp and Red in a soothing tone, looking between them.
“Just be patient a little longer. We’ll go close a gate tonight.”
Perhaps because we hadn’t gone to close gates during the exam period, the kids seemed bored.
Red, twisting his body and expressing his boredom to the fullest, suddenly flew up and said,
[The sun is still bright, isn’t it? I’m bored!]
[You can’t even wait for that? You’re truly a Red Dragon with no patience at all.]
Where had the Blue Dragon, who was just asking if he could breathe fire out the window, gone?
Bishap, glaring fiercely with round eyes and scolding Red, wriggled and burrowed under the blanket.
[My Lord, please wake me up at night.]
[Going to sleep again? Wake up! You lazy Blue Dragon!]
Just when I thought it might calm down, Red’s sharp cry made my head spin.
They had already had a big fight early in the morning, and it seemed like round two was about to begin.
“Stop, stop it now. Time will pass quickly, so just wait a little.”
I held my throbbing forehead and pulled Bisharp and Red far apart.
Just when I thought it would be quiet, I heard a shout from outside.
“Huh? Huh?! What is that?!”
“Oh my! All the high-ranking awakened are in Busan right now!”
“Dana! Dana!”
At the sound of my name, Bisharp and Red quickly disappeared.
Soon after, a couple of knocks were heard, and then the door to my room burst open, revealing my mother’s pale face.
“D-Dana, an S-rank gate has appeared in Seoul right now! Come out and watch the news!”
“What?!”
At the sudden news, I quickly ran to the living room.