I stepped out of the car, lifted the telescope, and looked. Under the darkened sky, waves of red light rolled. Buildings and smoke blocked my view of the airport’s interior. I couldn’t make out exactly what was happening—but they’d clearly targeted Aswan International Airport.
‘They must be trying to hinder the Korean Hunters.’
Even S-ranks can’t board a flight if the airport’s destroyed. You still need an airport to depart.
‘Samir didn’t seem to intend to block our visit; could it be his cousins—no blood relation?’
Even if they’d noticed Seong Hyunjae’s disappearance, they wouldn’t imdiately destroy the airport—too distant. Or perhaps...
‘The Sesung Guild Leader’s fiancée’s side?’
Whoever it was, I was curious. But better than fretting here...
“Gyeol.”
“No—no way.”
Gyeol crossed his arms firmly.
“If I go, you’ll co too.”
“It’s dangerous. And Egypt is full of cats—you’ll be safest alone. I’ll just check and co straight back.”
“Then you should transform into a cat too! You can do it!”
Gyeol shook his head and said,
“I’m a fairy dragon. I can change into other forms! And I’m linked to you—if you change, I can too.”
“Gyeol.”
I lowered my gaze to et him. His golden eyes looked at with hope.
“All right, of course.”
I bent my knees to his level.
“You can do anything. Even if not right this mont, soday you’ll be able to beco whatever you wish.”
Of course he can grow. It’s no departure from his species to learn a new transformation skill. Anything else, too.
Gyeol’s glum face brightened into a smile.
“Yes—I can do it. So, Dad, help .”
Taking him along—even catified—was a bit much. Though as a fairy dragon he has damage immunity... nevertheless, I couldn’t ignore his resolve.
“What should I do?”
“Use the Teacher skill while transforming. Convey the sensation to as best you can. And believe I can do it.”
“You always believe in .”
I activated Delouse skill. My height instantly shrank. Then, before long—
“Dad!”
A small pink-furred cat wagged its tail at . Gyeol! But why could he speak in cat form? Well, he could when a fairy dragon.
[Well done, Gyeol!]
“See, Dad? But I look a bit different.”
Unlike as Delouse, he looked long-haired. Excited, he bounded and then unfurled wings, fluttering happily. «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» Even as a cat, he was still a fairy.
“Now can I co with you?”
[...Yes.]
“Hmm?”
[Yes. But you must change your fur color. And Gyeol, cats don’t wag their tails like dogs. They’re slower. When happy, they hold their tail up and rub their body.]
Though I was a perfect Delouse cat, Gyeol—only appearance changed—still showed a bit of Peace’s mannerisms. He circled, then lightened his fur. A faint pink glead, but he beca a white cat.
This should keep him safe, but I worried. Perhaps I shouldn’t go.
“Let’s go, Dad! ow!”
With tail held high, Gyeol strode confidently toward the airport.
[Should we just stay? Seems okay here.]
“No, Dad. We have to check!”
[Never alone!]
I hurried to follow the strutting kitten. Both of us have damage immunity, and I can draw a drawer if needed—so it would be fine.
[Stick close to , Dad. Got it?]
“ow!”
[And cats seldom ow like people...]
Gyeol, it sounds too human. The airport lay so distance away, but we ran eagerly—faster than a person. Gyeol ran admirably too.
[Be careful.]
As we entered the airport, I repeated it. Gyeol flicked his tail, trying to reassure . Seeing him, I felt guilty: despite being a monster born of magic stone, a fairy dragon is still a child, wanting ti with his parent. Given my situation and surroundings, I couldn’t care for him normally—but when everything’s over...
Rumble!
Part of the ceiling collapsed. We carefully avoided the cracks and made our way toward the runway.
[If sothing falls, we may not be hurt—but escaping will be tough, so dodge well.]
“ow!”
[That was good!]
Flas flickered everywhere. Black smoke choked the air, but I headed toward voices. I hid in the gaps of a collapsed concrete wall and peered out.
Thunk!
A Hunter flew backward, kicked by soone.
[Hide behind .]
No point in watching. The attacker who struck the airport guard was...
‘...That is...’
A familiar face. My ears flattened reflexively.
‘Chohwa Un.’
It was him. Cloaked like a robe, but standing on both legs firmly. Had Hwangrim fixed him? But why was he here, destroying an airport?
‘He pretended to help Hwangrim, but was really a spy?’
I couldn’t trust him. Chohwa Un approached the fallen Hunter and plunged his sword into him. Two more Hunters ca up, perhaps allies. They spoke—but too far to hear.
‘One’s a C-rank.’
True enough. I used Teacher skill on the C-rank. He staggered but low rank ant only mild dizziness. The C-rank frowned, surveying.
“Why’s it feel weird?”
“Nothing—just odd.”
He only sensed shared sensations, so he’d only feel discomfort. Through his eyes, Chohwa Un was closer—still cold-faced, but looked a little thinner. And...
‘...Chatterbox?!’
I felt Chatterbox’s power from him. But that one died? Yet Chohwa Un’s right leg and left arm—cut off by Yuhyun—still faintly radiated Chatterbox’s mana. Chatterbox had allied with the Prophets. So did Chohwa Un join them, in exchange for limb regeneration?
‘The Prophets must be gunning for ...’
I thought catching Chatterbox fixed everything, but remnants remained. My head ached with foreboding. Could Chatterbox himself...
‘Maybe he gathered the S-ranks he planned to control and shared power with them.’
He’d have given items in his party to level them—then sequestered his S-ranks. Although ddling like that is forbidden, Chatterbox intended to forsake his Transcendent self anyway. He could handle penalties for secretly empowering so S-ranks.
‘He’d beco the Harmless King, leading S-ranks at his command—living the high life.’
Until he died.
“Prince Song’s plane arrives in five hours.”
A B-rank Hunter inford Chohwa Un.
“Cairo’s procedures are more complex, requiring ground or helicopter transport—over a day’s journey.”
“I’d just jump off.”
Chohwa Un looked up at the sky, coldly.
“...Excuse ?”
“If Han Yuhyun’s there, he’ll co straight to Aswan.”
Of course Yuhyun would. He could just leap down. With Peace and Willow Leaf, and Yerim too. But Chief Song would likely go to Cairo first for procedures.
‘Yuhyun and Yerim might abandon Peace and divert the plane to Cairo.’
Yuhyun’s strong—but I still worried. He wielded Transcendent power now. He crushed Yuhyun lightly last ti; this ti might be tricky. I should’ve killed him then. Or even now...
“Huh?”
A strange voice ca from above.
“Cat.”
Debris cleared as large hands reached out and grabbed Gyeol. What the—!
—“Hiss!”
—“ow!”
[Gyeol, it’s okay! They haven’t noticed us yet!]
Struggling together, they held us without flinching, then bounded toward Chohwa Un. In one leap they closed the gap, and the captor said cheerfully,
“Hello again, recyclable!”
...Wait no. That’s harsh. Though he is a dog—still, calling a person recyclable? Chohwa Un’s face twisted.
“ I told you I’m fine on my own.”
“You can’t recycle anymore anyway. I heard the Haeyeon Guild Leader fled to Arica. You chased like a mad dog, yet hours have passed in silence.”
He’s insulting soone else’s brother! I ripped a hole in his robe. His skin revealed... he’s an S-rank too. Indeed, I sensed Chatterbox’s mana from him as well. He’d really gathered those contract-bound S-ranks. At Dog #2’s words, Dog #1 twisted his lips.
“ So Han Yujin was here after all.”
He’s right in front of you. Sha I can’t show him my middle finger with cat paws.
“ Should’ve found him before Yuhyun.”
Sure—go for it.
“I’ll cut off Han Yujin’s limbs and throw them to him.”
Gyeol froze. This guy stops at nothing—even with a child present!
“ My cousins should beware too. With the Sesung Guild Leader, they surely know about Han Yujin. They’ll be after him as well.”
He ans Samir and Isabella. So this guy is a prince too? Royals everywhere. How many in one day?
“ Ordinary S-ranks.”
“ Samir’s adoptive father is a top contender for succession. His sister is his loyal supporter. Do you think they’d adopt average S-ranks? They held an unofficial ranking tournant.”
A familiar Prince among many—my ears perked.
“He entered a dungeon with healers and royal observers for one-on-one duels. Tournant style: Isabella placed first, Samir fourth. Samir withdrew midway, so effectively second. He could have been first.”
I hadn’t known that. Those two were more formidable than I thought...
“ Even a royal playground’s hierarchy holds. With high rewards, every Islamic S-rank joined—from Saudi Arabia to here. The top two stuck together, so going alone is dangerous.”
He warned that Samir was among the Middle East’s top S-ranks. I reconsidered Samir—surprising. Gyeol must have worried; he tapped with his paw.
[It’s fine. Better this way. If we’d stayed quiet, Samir and Isabella wouldn’t have acted yet.]
But now they’d likely clash too. The enemy of my enemy... an ally in battle would be welco.
“So for now, let’s fall back. Hesitating here risks clashing with my cousins and the Korean Hunters simultaneously.”
“...I intended to find Han Yujin first anyway.”
Chohwa Un frowned but turned away. Still holding us, the Prince followed. Should we let them carry us along? They think we’re ordinary cats—easy escape would be possible. If I were alone, no question—but I worried about Gyeol.
Rumble!
Burning buildings collapsed. Damaged planes lay scattered. Roads were impassable, so we fled on foot.
“ I never thought the terrorist would be hyung.”
Samir stood beside several vehicles. Behind him, the helicopter had landed. Captured Hunters, disard, knelt; Isabella sat on a car bumper, leaning casually.
“You don’t think we ca to catch the terrorist?”
“Oh—so that was it. You were escorting him in custody, I see.”
Samir, his face still unconvinced, spoke. They must have realized our disappearance and pursued by helicopter. They likely tracked our car; suspicious when the chef vanished while his contract remained intact.
Isabella rose from the bumper, brandishing her axe.
“Put the cat down.”
She murmured softly:
“I thought it was male.”
No—it’s male! A tomcat can carry kittens, so what!
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