[“Hello?”]

“Eleanor, it’s me. I’m out of the safehouse now.”

[“Really? It’s safe for you to come out already?”]

“Yeah. The mayor decided it was fine.”

[“Good. Finally I can contact you whenever I want. Last week you said you’d check if you could reach me, and then I never heard a thing.”]

Her voice carried a trace of sulkiness.

“I asked the Peacekeeping Force Division. They said unless it was absolutely necessary, outside contact was too risky.”

[“They probably just didn’t want the hassle.”]

I gave a small chuckle.

“Can I come to the workshop tomorrow? I need to pick up some materials.”

[“Sure. Drop by after five.”]

“Alright. See you tomorrow.”

The call ended.

Just one more person to contact.

After making so many calls, fatigue caught up with me, so I sent the last one as a text.

[This is Nam Yein. I’ve returned to Seoul. Until the Academy normalizes, I’ll be staying at a hotel in Yongsan.]

A reply came shortly after.

[Understood. Bring your friends to guild headquarters when you have time. Plenty of people want to join you in the dungeon.]

I sent back an acknowledgment and slipped my phone into my pocket.

“Now… time for a little rest.”

I was just about to throw myself onto the soft-looking bed when—

BANG BANG BANG!!

The loud, grating knock was followed by Meiling’s voice.

“Hey! Nam Yein! Come out! Let’s hit the pool! This hotel’s got an indoor pool!”

“…Does she really want to swim at the end of October?”

Muttering to myself, I walked toward the door.

In the end, the four of us spent the afternoon at the indoor pool before heading out for dinner.

“Haah…”

As we stepped out of the restaurant waiting for a taxi, Lumina let out a sudden sigh.

“Lumina, what’s wrong?”

“Ah, no, it’s just…” She gave an awkward smile.

“After eating such an incredible meal at such a fine place, I feel like I’ve done something wrong.”

“What are you talking about? If it was good, then that’s all that matters,” Meiling said, clearly baffled.

“Really? I actually felt something similar to Lumina,” Seo Yui added.

“You mean that thought of, ‘Are we even supposed to be eating this?’”

“Yes! That’s it!” Lumina nodded quickly.

“Please. It’s not like we stole it. We paid fair and square. Why shouldn’t we eat it?” Meiling pouted.

For the record, I was the one who paid.

“Still, it was good, right?” I asked with a smile.

“Yes.” Seo Yui nodded, returning the smile.

“Thanks, Yein. Because of you, I’ve been able to experience so many new things.”

“Me too, Yein. I really enjoyed it.”

“Yeah, it was definitely a good place. I’ll remember it.”

“Then let’s come again when we have something to celebrate.”

Hmm…

Hearing Seo Yui’s words left me with a strange feeling.

Until we cleared every scenario, I doubted there’d be any real reason for us to celebrate.

The fortress gate I’d seen earlier—the entrance to the new dungeon—was proof that the second phase had begun earlier than planned.

From here on, we had to prepare with everything we had to face Latessai.

Maybe once everything ended, there would be something to celebrate. But by then, I probably wouldn’t be here anymore.

“Hey, Nam Yein. What are you spacing out for?”

Meiling’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

A taxi had pulled up.

“Sorry. Let’s go.”

I slid into the passenger seat.

Well, I’ll probably find the occasional breather along the way. When that happens, I can come up with an excuse to enjoy myself.

With that thought, I turned to watch the streetlights stream past the window.

The next day.

After having breakfast at the hotel buffet, I headed out to inspect the building Riu had mentioned.

The others came along.

“Th-this is really the building we get to use?” Lumina stammered.

I thought it would just be some ordinary place, but I was wrong.

Tilting my head back, I looked up at the towering structure.

We went up to the second floor, to the “old office space” Riyu had told me about.

After entering the passcode he’d given me, the door opened, and Lumina let out a gasp.

“…It’s huge.”

Meiling glanced around the empty space.

“Yeah. Must be at least three hundred square meters.”

Adding up all the candidates for this year, we barely numbered twenty.

But this place was big enough for double that, easily.

“Well, nothing bad about getting this much space for free.”

What we really needed was just a meeting room, a lounge, and a storage area.

After all, most Demon’s Class activities would happen inside dungeons.

Everything else we could add as needed.

As I was looking around, imagining what to put where, my phone rang.

It was an unknown number.

When I answered, a man’s voice came through.

[“This is Nam Yein, correct?”]

“Who’s speaking?”

[“Jake from the Peacekeeping Force Division. The mayor instructed me to deliver something. Are you at the hotel now?”]

“No, I stepped out for a bit. But I’m in Yongsan—I can be back quickly.”

[“Good. Let’s meet in the lobby.”]

The call ended. I turned to the others.

“Looks like we need to head back. Something came up.”

“What is it?” Meiling asked.

“They’re delivering the materials All Around sent.”

“What? So you’re just going to spend all day working at the hotel?”

“Maybe. Though I’ll still have to go out again later to meet Eleanor.”

For a moment, I felt the shift in their gazes.

“Why?” Meiling’s eyes narrowed.

“It’s been a while since Platinum Wing received equipment. I’m picking up the materials.”

“Where are you meeting her?”

Why do they want to know that?

Though puzzled, I told them it was Eleanor’s workshop.

The three exchanged looks, then nodded.

“We’ll come too,” Meiling declared.

“Why? That’s a hassle. Just rest at the hotel.”

“To greet Eleanor as well,” Seo Yui said.

“Or are we getting in your way?”

I shook my head.

“No. In that case, let’s all go together.”

After all, Eleanor had been worrying about us. Showing up in person to reassure her wouldn’t be a bad idea.

“Phew.”

Lumina let out a short sigh.

I hadn’t realized she wanted to see Eleanor that badly.

Had they grown closer somehow?

Then again, they had gone on the Valhal raid together and attended Platinum Wing’s opening ceremony.

Yeah… that made sense.

After that, we returned to the hotel and waited in the lobby for the Peacekeeping Force Division member.

Before long, he arrived and handed me the goods.

Just as expected—an inventory chest and some documents.

“Make sure to deliver these to the mysterious Craftsman.”

“Yes, understood.”

I watched him stride away briskly. Behind me came a stifled laugh.

“Funny. The mysterious Craftsman was standing right in front of him.”

“Me-Meiling! Shh!”

Lumina flusteredly pressed a finger to her lips.

I checked the documents.

It was a request for thirty pieces of equipment, complete with detailed specifications and the list of required materials.

A quick glance showed the supply of materials was more than generous—enough to complete everything and still have leftovers.

With this much, I can finish in under an hour.

Smiling, I slipped the documents into my pocket.

“Since we’re not going to Eleanor’s workshop until after five, let’s just rest in our rooms for now.”

“What about lunch?” Meiling asked.

“I saw a diner on the way here. How about we try that?”

“What? A diner?”

“Why? Don’t like it?”

“N-no, I do! Honestly, I’ve had way too much meat and buffet food since yesterday… I’m craving something simple.”

“Same here,” Seo Yui agreed.

“……”

With Lumina and Seo Yui both on board, Meiling shut her mouth.

“Alright, let’s meet at twelve and head over.”

Back in my room, I sat on the bed and laid out the documents and inventory chest in front of me.

“Time to get started.”

I began with the lower-level materials—though even those were rare grade, level 50 and above.

Hammering away with my glowing smith’s hammer, I worked the materials into weapons and armor.

Spears, axes, daggers, bows.

Steel breastplates, leather greaves, helmets, bracers.

With each completed item, my Craftsman experience soared.

An hour later, my ability level had reached ten—two full levels gained in just one session.

With that, I could now craft up to level 60 gear.

I’d also unlocked a new passive: bonus stats automatically applied to every item I made.

“Perfect.”

A satisfied smile spread across my face.

This was only the beginning of All Around’s orders. By the time I finished them all, my ability level would climb even higher.

And the stronger my Craftsman skill grew, the stronger my teammates became.

If we were going to face Latessai, I had to raise it as much as possible before then.

At half past five, I headed to Eleanor’s workshop with the others.

“All of you came…?” Eleanor said as soon as we walked in.

“Yeah. They wanted to say hi.”

“Say hi?” She gave me a puzzled look.

…That reaction felt strange.

“What, are you not happy to see us?” Meiling folded her arms.

It sounded less like a greeting and more like she was picking a fight.

“……”

Eleanor pressed her lips together, her expression slowly cooling.

“How’s Iris doing?” Seo Yui asked gently.

At that, Eleanor’s face softened.

“Ah… well, saying she’s fine would be a lie.”

Huh?

I raised a brow at Eleanor’s wry smile.

“Did something happen to Iris?” Seo Yui asked, her eyes widening slightly.

“Not exactly. But ever since we got back from HAUT, she’s been unusually quiet. Not like herself.”

What?

Could it be because she lost first place? That didn’t make sense.

It had already been three weeks since HAUT. The Iris I knew wasn’t the type to fall apart over that.

“Oh, right. Yein, I heard you’re plotting something.”

“…Plotting?”

“My father told me. You’re starting a group with the HAUT participants.”

“Ah, you mean Demon’s Class.”

“‘Demon’s Class’? Isn’t that name a little tacky?”

“Not my idea. Chairman Riyu came up with it,” I said quickly.

“Riyu? As in Chairman Riyu Homar?”

“Yeah. What can I do about it?”

“I see.” Eleanor nodded.

“So why are you starting this group?”

“There are a lot of reasons.”

“And it’s only for HAUT participants?”

“If someone’s skilled, I’m open to others too.”

“…I see.”

“Are you interested?”

“…No.” She shook her head.

“Between running the shop and the workshop, I don’t think I could handle a group on top of that.”

“I get it. Still, if you change your mind, bring Iris along sometime.”

“…Alright. I’ll think about it.” She smiled.

“Hey, Yein. Weren’t we here to pick up materials? When are you taking them?” Meiling cut in impatiently.

“Right. Is it in storage?”

“Yeah. Follow me.”

Eleanor handed me the inventory chest full of materials.

“I’ll drop these off at Platinum Wing this weekend.”

“Got it. Oh—wait a second.”

Just as we were about to leave, she stopped me and pulled something from her pocket.

A necklace radiating a faint orange aura.

“You made this?” I asked, recognizing the mana signature.

She nodded.

“A gift. To celebrate your freedom. I only managed to make one, though.”

I checked its stats: a rare-level necklace, boosting HP and defense.

“Your skill’s improved.”

“Right?” Eleanor said, hands on her hips, beaming.

“Thanks. I’ll make good use of it.”

“Anytime. See you later.”

“Yeah. Take care.”

I left the workshop with the others.

Walking along, I studied the necklace.

A level 30 rare item. Useless to me now that I could craft level 60 gear.

But receiving something she made with me in mind didn’t feel bad at all.

“Heh.”

I slipped it into my inventory.

“Not wearing it?” Meiling asked.

“I’ll keep it as a memento. It’s a rare gift, after all.”

At that, the three of them exchanged odd looks.

Lately, I just can’t seem to read what’s going through their heads.

This world really wasn’t identical to the game.

The next late afternoon, I stood outside Yongsan Station, waiting.

Right on time—

“Nam Yein.”

I looked up to see a familiar face.

“Hello, Senior Toby. Have the others been well?” I greeted with a smile.

Beside him stood Jo Inhu and Hashima Muimi, both in their school uniforms.

And just beyond them, arms crossed, was Iris.

(End of Chapter)