“Team leader! Are we going now?”

“I want to go fusion quickly!”

The impatient voices of Peace and Saint were heard from under the roof.

Suji laughed brightly.

The higher the tier, the harder it was to change the main weapon or main armor.

When the level was really low, it was easy to change, and it was possible to increase one’s stats with it, but by the time of Team Daphne, the weapon one already had was the best weapon for oneself.

As a result, everyone seemed quite excited about the opportunity to upgrade their weapons after a long time.

She could fully understand that feeling.

Suji also wanted to fuse the as soon as possible. Her heart was pounding after a long time.

When fusing three pieces of equipment, prefixes would be added and stats would completely change.

“Go ahead and start. Ilaine and I will follow soon. Or would you like to go ahead too, Ilaine?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Ilaine shook her head.

“No. Since we’re going to the same destination anyway, and we’ll be riding flying pets, it doesn’t matter if we leave late.”

“You sure?”

“Yes.”

“Then Peace and Saint go ahead first. I’ll contact my aunt and then go.”

Having already shared the rough plan with the team members, everyone seemed to have an idea of what kind of contact would be made.

Saint and Peace nodded briskly and set off first, alternating between leading and following, in such a hurry.

Suji watched their retreating figures with a fond smile and whispered.

“Ilaine.”

“Yes.”

“It might not work out, but still, I hope we can protect it. Humanity.”

“…Is that so.”

Suji smiled at the somewhat worried response and turned to look beside her.

Unlike her, who was sitting up, Ilaine was still lying on the sloped roof, basking in the sunlight.

Despite not being much older, he really acted like a father. Beyond a father, a grandfather?

There were many times when even old-fashioned concerns could be felt.

Suji raised her hand to shield his eyes from the light and said,

“What do you mean ‘Is that so’. We’re the team representatives now, even if it’s a forcibly given role.”

Ilaine’s quiet gaze shifted to her.

She thought the concern felt in his voice was an illusion, but it really seemed to be mixed with some worry somewhere.

“…It’s better not to think that way.”

“Why?”

“Too much responsibility tires people out.”

“Don’t worry. If it doesn’t work out, I’m going on strike.”

“Pardon?”

“I said I’ll go on strike if it doesn’t work. I’ll try my best, but if it still doesn’t work out, there’s nothing we can do, right? It’s not like I’m the hero of Earth or anything.”

As if listening to everything Suji said, logs popped up busily.

She let out a laugh.

She knew it wasn’t the situation at all. But it was fun to be able to rile up the guests sitting in the audience seats, holding the reins that could manipulate humanity at will.

‘Should I leave it unmuted for a while?’

While Suji was looking at her status window with an amused face, Ilaine, who had been staring at her intently, muttered in a very small voice.

“…You’ve changed a lot.”

Changed? Who?

“Me?”

Suji asked back while shifting her gaze back to Ilaine.

For a moment.

Was it because of the intense light pouring down? Or because of the hand shadow she had created over his face?

For a very brief moment, part of Ilaine’s face seemed to blur.

As if melting away in the sunlight like snow.

That appearance, which might have been an optical illusion created by the strong light, disappeared in an instant.

When she blinked, Ilaine was getting up with an expressionless face.

‘…If it’s an illusion twice, isn’t it not an illusion?’

Suji reached out and touched his cheek.

The soft and firm cheek only felt moderately warm, with no other abnormalities.

“What’s the matter?”

“I know it sounds strange, but you’re not feeling unwell, are you?”

There was nothing else to ask.

Ilaine lightly tapped his chest with his fist.

“I’m completely recovered.”

That wasn’t what she meant.

Suji hesitated and touched his cheek a little more, then withdrew her hand, feeling uncomfortable with his gaze so close.

‘It must be because of the light. I looked at the dark chat window and then turned my gaze, so it must be an optical illusion.’

There was no other way to explain it.

“Then let’s get ready. I’ll contact my aunt now, and we’ll go right away.”

Unable to shake off the uneasiness remaining in her heart, she moved away from him a little and took out her terminal to contact Yeonju as planned.

Yeonju must have been waiting for the call, as she responded almost as soon as the ringtone started.

− Oh, Suji. Are you feeling better now?

Only upon hearing the worried voice did Suji recall when she had last hung up.

The last time she contacted her, she was still in shock due to the information about the Second Wave.

“Yes. I’m fine now.”

She answered calmly, trying her best to reassure her, but Yeonju’s worried voice continued.

− Suji. You should still get checked by the medical team. Of course, I know you take care of yourself the best, but this is just my old lady’s concern. I don’t know exactly why you were feeling bad, but…

Suji gave a bitter smile.

Although quite some time had passed for her, from Yeonju’s perspective, it hadn’t been that long since she had locked herself in her room and refused to come out. It was understandable that she was still worried.

“I’ll get the medical check. And I’ll accept the awards from the politician gentlemen too.”

When Suji answered decisively, Yeonju, who seemed about to pour out her next scolding, paused and asked back.

− Huh?

“I’m saying I’ll accept everything. I think I need to sort out my public image anyway. And the bad mood, it’s over.”

− Really? Your team members were very worried. Did something happen?

Yeonju asked cautiously.

Suji looked at her right ring finger where she had removed the ring, and then once again at the log where the ‘Great Beings’ with nothing to do were still increasing.

Something did happen.

It’s true that the situation hasn’t been properly resolved yet.

But now, even if she becomes a puppet in a puppet show, she’s decided to try her best for now.

That brief rest had given her that peace of mind.

To be honest, she didn’t want to burden Yeonju with big worries like the survival of humanity, but in the end, no matter how much she thought about it, the conclusion was ‘let’s disclose everything I saw to everyone’.

She understood that there was significance in the fact that despite having occurred several times in the past, 23, 22, and 20 years ago, the Conquerors hadn’t leaked any information.

But humanity wouldn’t be that fragile.

She wanted to believe that.

For now, that decision had been made in her heart.

She was planning to talk to Aunt Yeonju and Uncle Seunghwan first.

“Something did happen, but I’ll explain soon. It’s something I need to say in person.”

− I heard there wasn’t any big accident in the Tower. I heard you met Ageha. Is it because of that?

“It’s not that. Oh, could you check all the reactions from Ageha and ? Since they both aimed for , I think they might take some action now that they’ve failed.”

− Alright. Then when shall we meet? Should I come with the medical check team now?

“Isn’t it too rugged here for the medical check team to come?”

− That’s true, but.

“I’ll come. I have some business near there anyway. How about in 5 hours?”

The blacksmith where she could fuse her main weapon was not far from the Crisis Management Department where Seunghwan was. After roughly calculating the time it would take, she asked, and Yeonju agreed.

Suji was about to end the call when she remembered something else she wanted to say and spoke again.

“There are some things I’d like you to prepare in the meantime.”

− What is it?

“I need some video equipment.”

− Huh? Video equipment?

“Yes. It doesn’t have to be high-end equipment, but it needs to be sturdy since I’ll be taking it into the Tower. I think two or three military-grade filming robots and handheld cameras or body cams should be enough. Oh, and someone who can edit videos too.”

It was quite a substantial order.

No matter how military-grade the filming robots were, modern shield technology was practically useless against a monster’s fist.

And there was no way any hunter would leisurely want to attach cameras themselves in a place where they would have to risk their lives.

That’s why filming inside the Tower had hardly ever been done.

“What are you going to do with the footage? No, never mind. …Okay. I’ll prepare it. Anything else you need?”

Yeonju was silent for a moment, seemingly conflicted, but as always, she quickly recognized her role.

Suji fell into thought for a moment, then smiled and said,

“And could you write a post on the bulletin board?”