"Annihilated?" A man sitting in an upright position like a machine asked with a frown.

In response, his subordinate lowered his body and replied, "Yes, Leader. Ten Gluttony Squadron members from the operation and Philip from our Squadron died."

Philip was the real name of the fiend who had taken over Jang Seon-Ho’s body with Perfect Person (A).

"Hmmm, I warned him over and over again not to let his guard down."

The man being addressed as “Leader” was named Pride, the Pride Squadron’s leader. He was not angry, because he hadn't had any expectations in the first place. After all, without expectations, there wouldn’t be disappointments.

"And the perpetrators?"

"According to information from Cheontonggak, it is highly likely that it’s the work of the Archmage and Specter who came up to the 2nd floor at the same time.”

"…Hmm."

This was a bit of a surprise. Philip was a pretty skilled fiend and was even level 115.

‘Well, in this day and age, level itself doesn't really mean much...’

It had been 26 years since the 2nd floor opened. In the meantime, most Players and fiends had already reached level 120, so it truly didn’t mean much. Being able to bully someone with your level only worked in games nowadays. In reality, no matter how high your level was, you would still die if your head exploded and your heart was pierced.

"That's a big problem," Pride mumbled.

Other fiends envied Pride for being a Leader, but he knew the truth…

'If I can't prove my worth, it wouldn’t be strange for me to be killed at any time.’

This was the Fiend Association. It was a bloody place where your head could fly if one mistake bothered your boss even after performing well a hundred times before that one mistake. It was a place where even a direct subordinate that looked like a docile cub could bite your throat at any time. After thinking for a while, Pride spoke, "Contact Gu Shi-On."

"...Do you mean the Despair Squadron?"

"Yeah."

"What shall I say?”

A cooperative operation between the Pride and Despair Squadron would begin in Port Lane, a month and a half later.

'If even that fails… My life will really be in danger then.’

The association executive he served was a man without blood or tears.

"Tell him that I'll take part in the operation myself."

Pride knew that the operation had to succeed if he wanted to preserve his life.

***

"Wait, do you have time?" Arthur came timidly to Gilberto's room.

So far, Arthur had no idea how to act in front of his father. After all, he hadn't seen his father since he was very young.

"Yeah."

The same was true for Gilberto. From his point of view, his son, who only knew how to baby talk just a few days ago, had completely grown up. Overcoming this disparity between them was a unique and difficult challenge, even for him, who had been through all sorts of hardships.

"There's a good place to talk…"

Arthur led Gilberto out of the hideout. The Wailing Mountains were named as such because the rocks that looked like they had been artificially carved seemed like they were wailing. There were countless rows of rocks rising sharply toward the sky throughout the mountain range.

"The stars are bright," Gilberto made small talk.

The two men sitting on a rock outside the hideout looked up at the sky. The night sky was so clear that one could see the stars. Arthur took a can of beer from his Inventory and politely held it out to his father.

"…Would you like a drink?”

"…Sounds good."

Chiiik.

Opening the beer, Gilberto lightly moistened his throat. Watching his father, Arthur's mouth grew into a calm smile. "You know, I think of that once in a while—what would I want to do with my father if he was alive."

“…”

Chiiik.

Arthur opened his beer and gulped it down.

"Keuuh, I wanted to try drinking with you, Father. There were a lot of things I wanted to ask you... I wanted to hear about your old stories since I don't know much about my childhood."

“…”

Gilberto nodded. He also wanted to tell Arthur stories as he grew up.

"Take it."

Gilberto took a note from his Inventory and handed it over to Arthur.

"Is this…?"

"That’s my diary."

“…!”

It was unclear whether Gilberto was getting slightly drunk or was feeling embarrassed, but he looked up at the sky with a slightly flushed face.

"Arthur, I've used that since before you were born."

"…Is it okay for you to give me something so precious?"

"Why do you think I wrote a diary? I wrote it to show my children when they grew up."

Arthur received the diary politely as if he was receiving a top-notch skill book. When he carefully opened the diary, it was written in soft handwriting that was easy for anyone to read.

“…”

Reading the diary, Arthur sometimes smirked and sometimes looked sad. But his face turned red when he read the story about his father changing his diaper more than five times a day.

"Did I really do this?”

"Yeah. Arthur, you were such a natural troublemaker."

"Ugh…"

It was quite a shocking and embarrassing story, but he didn't hate it. It would have been embarrassing if others knew of this, but he wasn’t embarrassed in front of his father.

‘Is this... what it feels like to be a child?’

This feeling was a first for him. Rather than feeling uncomfortable when the embarrassing actions he had done were revealed, his heart felt warm instead.

'That's a relief...'

Looking at his son, Gilberto grinned. It was a relief. To be honest, he was worried that it would be awkward because there wasn’t much of an age difference between the two of them considering how time had basically stopped for him while he was frozen.

"Come to think of it, your career as a Player must be longer than mine."

"But Father, you may be much stronger.”

"...Can I ask how you lived your life so far?”

"Of course. Um... First, when you and the other 5 Heroes couldn't come back...”

The story between the two continued until the night fell. The two, who stayed up all night, didn’t feel tired at all. It was rather fun for them. It was to the point where Gilberto became worried if it was okay for a father and son to communicate this well.

"Oh, so I asked Uncle yesterday to teach me how to be strong.”

“…?”

Gilberto stared at Arthur with his eyes wide open.

"Just now, what did you say?"

"I asked Uncle to teach me."

"No, just why?!" Gilberto suddenly yelled. “I-I'm sorry. I raised my voice without realizing it…”

"No... I don't care about that… Why?"

Gilberto stared at his son’s innocent face with a complicated look.

‘Jun-Ho is not only an outstanding person, but he is very efficient in teaching as well.’

He was very efficient. The problem was that it was too efficient.

Burrr.

Gilberto shivered when he remembered the memories he had of that time. Unaware of Gilberto’s thoughts, Arthur casually said, "I'm rather worried. Uncle is so honest and considerate, what if he holds back while teaching me?”

"Arthur, let me tell you just one thing…" Gilberto placed his hand on Arthur's shoulder. “Consideration and kindness aren’t always good. Sometimes… they’re worse than any evil out there."

Especially when Seo Jun-Ho was the one teaching you… When Gilberto saw Arthur tilting his head in confusion, Gilberto couldn't help but say one more thing. "If you ask me to stop him now... I'll help you. I'll go find him right now and make it as if you never asked him.”

"No, I will do it." Arthur clenched his fists and said, "I felt it for sure this time. Not only me, but the other Watchguards have to become stronger—weakness is a sin.”

"Wait, the other Watchguards? Then, all of them?"

"Yes, we will all be taught by Uncle. It's meaningless if I'm the only one who becomes stronger."

“!@#$%^&”

Gilberto buried his face into his hands and exclaimed a strange sound. He thought he should stop Arthur, but considering the future of both his son and the Watchguards, it wasn’t an easy decision to make.

‘Jun-Ho's class may be harsh, but... I'm sure it'll help.’

Despite roaming at the bottom for so long, he had eventually became stronger through Seo Jun-Ho’s kind lecture and had later become one of the 5 Heroes. As such, Gilberto trusted Seo Jun-Ho that much.

"Arthur, I hope you get through it. At the end of the pain, there will be results."

"Of course. Despite how I seem, my body has passed through seven trials in the Cave of Trials, so I'm confident."

"...Umm, okay."

Do your best—that was all Gilberto could say. He himself had gone through eight trials in the Cave of Trials.

***

"Then, I'll be back~"

The next day, Skaya waved the others goodbye along with Gilberto. Gilberto was still recovering and he also had to receive nerve treatment at a hospital on the 1st floor so he wouldn’t be going with the others.

'And there'll be a news article...’

The Return of the Third Hero—Specter and the Watchguards who were waiting for the delightful news article on the 1st floor waved their hands.

"Goodbye!”

“See you later!"

"We’ll become strong!"

"…Yes, I’m sure you will become strong."

With a gloomy look, Gilberto hugged Arthur with mixed emotions and then left for Gilleon.

‘That son-loving fool really takes care of his child until the end...’

Gilberto came to Seo Jun-Ho’s room last night and nagged him a lot. They talked a lot, but to sum it up, Gilberto basically said, “Don't bully my son.”

"If someone else heard what he said, they would think I’d bully them while teaching…”

Pouting, Specter turned around. Skaya and Gilberto were gone and they wouldn’t return for 15 days.

"Did you all hear from Arthur?”

"Yes!"

"We’re looking forward to it…"

"It's such an honor."

They all had sparkling eyes. They couldn’t believe they would train under the legendary hero they admired! They even found it hard to sleep last night when Arthur broke the news.

"Well then, everyone, take this."

Specter handed out a sheet of paper to the 33 Watchguards.

"Specter-nim, what's this?"

"Height... Weight... Skills…”

"You can fill in your profile according to the questions written there," said Specter in a clear voice.

He had always been a man of efficiency.

'I'll use my valuable time efficiently...’

Of course, it would also become a very efficient training for the other side as well. He wouldn’t waste even a minute or a second.

"Wait. There's something weird at the end.”

"This trainee’s participation in this training is voluntary and Specter-nim is not responsible for any subsequent injuries or trauma...?”

Everyone wore bitter looks. Some who were quick-witted rolled their eyes and made faces as if something was wrong.

‘Tsk, this is why smart kids...’

But Specter had something to believe in...

"Arthur?"

"Yes!"

It was because he had their leader in his hands.

"Everyone must have felt it from this incident, but we have to move forward. There's no room for complacency. Even if I get seriously injured in this training, as long as I become even stronger…"

Sssk!

Arthur coolly drew his signature on the paper.

"It’s just injuries. It doesn't matter if I get a hundred or a thousand wounds because I want to protect you guys, my comrades.”

Seeing Arthur’s determined and honest eyes, the Watchguards teared up.

"Leeader..."

"…Yes, Arthur is right! Considering our situation, does the difficulty of the training even matter?”

"Getting stronger is definitely the most important!"

"I had always been ashamed of not being helpful to the Watchguards who I think of as my family. I’ll do it!"

Sssk.

Signatures being signed could be heard everywhere. Specter slowly nodded as he collected the papers.

"All right, I've got the consent of all thirty-three of you...”

There was no turning back anymore. No one could give up his class in the middle of it all. Specter scrutinized the Watchguards’ profiles one by one.

'This guy is a supporter. He’ll just need to improve his stamina...’

‘Oh, he has two combat skills? Let's train him hard.’

‘In Arthur's case, he uses a knife. I can show him various methods with the knife and how to counter it.’ 

Thirty-three training methods suitable for each individual were created in an instant.

"Thank you for readily revealing your skills. We'll do personalized training for each person later, but first, we’ll start with physical training."

"Yes! Specter-nim!"

"If you want to give up during training, or if you're having a hard time, just tell me.”

"We’re confident in physical training!"

"We have no special training methods, so we have been spending all day and night doing physical training.”

Confidence lurked in the Watchguards' eyes. They were young people with healthy bodies that wouldn’t get tired even after running for hours! They really were confident in their physical strength.

"Well, that's a relief..."

Specter raised his wrist to check his Vita. The current time was 9 AM.

"In that case, for the first day, let's simply run until 10."

It could be considered light exercise—all they had to do was run with all their strength for 13 hours.