[Ye Jin-Jin: Are you really just friends?]

"Yeah, we just get along really well."

[Ye Jin-Jin: Someone you get along really well with...]

"We're just friends. I'm a skeleton, so there's no way a normal woman would like me. We're not in a relationship, okay?"

[Ye Jin-Jin: Uhh...]

Ye Jin-Jin interrogated Lee Shin-Woo through private chat, and even after he'd explained to her a few times that he didn't have any feelings for Kratia, Ye Jin-Jin grumbled in distaste.

[Ye Jin-Jin: I'll be able to form a party with you once I reach level 7 as well, Mr. Shin-Woo.]

"No, I'm not going to form a party with you. I'm not even in one with Kratia right now."

[Ye Jin-Jin: That's good news... No, in any case, those at similar levels can better relate to each other. I'm still level 5... So I probably won't be able to participate in taking down one of the twelve generals. I'm ashamed of myself.]

"Just keep at it at your own pace. You may die if you rush."

[Ye Jin-Jin: Mr. Shin-Woo, will you treat me nicely if I die and turn into a zombie or a skeleton?]

"Nope. I'm sick of being a skeleton myself, so make sure you don't die."

[Ye Jin-Jin: ...Huu, ok.]

She seemed to be in a healthier mental state now, as she energetically declared that she wouldn't die, and that she would level up quickly. With that, she ended their chat.

"Why are there so many heroes like this?"

Lee Shin-Woo muttered with an expression more ghastly than his undead self once the conversation was over. He didn’t really mean much by it, yet Jin responded with a deep comment of his own, mixed in with parts Lee Shin-Woo couldn’t understand at all.

"Love makes people act like they're young again. Even though they know it's unreasonable, they badger you, and even though they know it's foolish, they do it anyway... In the end, they make a mistake, cry their heart out, and regret it."

"Her object of affection is a skeleton. Isn't there something wrong with her?"

"Love messes with your head. You didn't know?"

"Hoo, as I thought, you're the only partner for me, someone who doesn't care about stuff like love... Hey, what's wrong!? Hey!"

"I want to train Steel Heart."

"You don't have to attack me to train it!"

Jin realized that he couldn't harass Lee Shin-Woo by just shaking his body anymore, so instead, he controlled the armor atop his body and formed thorns to stab Lee Shin-Woo with.

The old him wouldn't have even imagined that he would grow this much. Lee Shin-Woo wouldn't be happy getting pierced by the horns!

While Jin ran at top speed, Lee Shin-Woo had to dodge the steel thorns that Jin randomly conjured. Somewhere along the way, Lee Shin-Woo came to a realization and suddenly became calm.

"Huh? I think this could actually be good training... Jin, try doing it a bit faster."

"You're the one whose head is messed up!"

Right now, they were traveling to a level 3 danger zone that they had never set foot in before. They could've gone straight there if they had taken the Golem train, but they were going the long way around in order to avoid Ethan Cruz.

Since Jin's speed almost matched the speed of the train, though, their travel time had only increased from one day to two.

"A hero in a level 3 danger zone..."

"Ethan Cruz might be looking for the other undead heroes before his 'hunt'. We need to make the first move."

Lee Shin-Woo had already taken care of the heroes in the level 1 and 2 danger zones in the past. Of course, there had only been three of them, including the one who'd given him Bursting Thunder.

Anyway, the level 3 and 4 danger zones were the only ones left. Lee Shin-Woo had been postponing the quest because the undead heroes' powers were unknown to him, but he decided that he needed their strength in order to fight Ethan Cruz.

"Fortunately, Ethan Cruz doesn't have an ability that locates the undead heroes for him. At all."

He was certain of it. If Ethan Cruz knew where the undead heroes in the level 3 danger zone were, he would've gotten to them earlier.

Moreover, it had taken months for Ethan to figure out where Shino Rendu died and go over there. He really sucked at gathering information. Lee Shin-Woo had an unfair advantage over the man, as he knew where all the undead heroes were...

"That's probably why he's trying to gather us all in one place. He wants us where he can see and procure us. He's even using one of the twelve generals as bait..."

Lee Shin-Woo wasn’t Ethan’s only target. He was also gunning for Lloyd, Prince, and Kratia... He acted only after they had reached level 7.

He was exploiting the heroes’ unreserved faith in him to stab them in the back, ready to face four level 7 heroes at the same time. Lee Shin-Woo couldn't even imagine what the man had been doing to prepare himself.

"He might be expanding his forces as well. There's a high chance that he's going to move boldly, so I have to make the first move."

"You know who’s bold? You."

While they were on the move, Lee Shin-Woo messaged Kratia and roughly explained what Ethan was planning. He didn't need to say much, as Kratia had already seen Ethan lead the undead heroes.

[Kratia Melloi: We have to prepare.]

"You just need to protect yourself against his darkness element. I'll take him down myself."

[Kratia Melloi: Okay. I'll leave that to you. You can also use the darkness element and even have the absorption ability, so you are the best candidate to fight him… I'll need to think about a way to intercept the undead heroes while protecting myself.]

"Alright. Let's try our best."

[Kratia Melloi: Yeah. See you then.]

Kratia’s answer reassured him, but Lee Shin-Woo felt extremely conflicted after their conversation. In the end, he decided to chat with Prince as well. Unlike Kratia, she greeted him with great vigor like her usual self.

[Prince Altania: What is it all of a sudden? You're not mad that I told everyone in the chatroom your level, are you? That wasn't in the contract! Me revealing your level is actually helpful to you, as it'll help you fit in later!]

Lee Shin-Woo hadn't even said anything yet, but she was already defending herself. “I’ll file my complaint later,” he replied simply, making her tremble. Lee Shin-Woo then continued sternly, "Senior, you know how dangerous darkness mana is, right?"

[Prince Altania: I had no idea you could use that formidable magic...!]

"Senior Ethan Cruz can also use darkness mana."

[Prince Altania: I know. His buff magic is no joke. It makes you feel like your level has increased by one.]

As expected, he could concentrate his darkness element into a buff. Of course, he wouldn’t be able to do anything else in the meantime, but the exchange would be well worth it.

Still, Ethan wasn't the type of person who buffed people out of the kindness of his heart. There must be something else hidden within that buff.

"The true ability of the darkness element isn't buffing."

[Prince Altania: Obviously. Senior Ethan is better at debuffing. You'll see for yourself later, but it feels really reassuring to have him by your side. I mean it.]

He had somewhat expected this, but...Prince had complete faith in Ethan. Like she was under the effect of a charm! Maybe she was already influenced by the darkness element. However, Lee Shin-Woo had his own trick up his sleeve.

"I see. By the way, you remember your debt, right?"

[Prince Altania: Eek!?]

Lee Shin-Woo gave up on immediately disclosing the truth about Ethan. Prince fully trusted that lunatic, so if he were to tell her the truth, she would immediately private chat with Ethan to make sure he was telling the truth.

"It's nothing special. I was just wondering if you could fight with us if one of the twelve generals shows up."

Because of that, he chose to take an indirect approach.

[Prince Altania: What? But I have to protect Lloyd...]

"Lloyd has Erian with him. When I heard we were going to face one of the twelve generals, I started shaking. I'd feel a lot better with you and your fire magic on my side, Senior..."

[Prince Altania: H-Hmm. It's commendable that you're aware of my abilities, but even so, I need to protect Lloyd...]

"Senior, I need you!"

[Prince Altania: Keuk... Well, if you really need me that badly, I guess it can't be helped.]

He laid it on thick, and in the end, Prince caved. Honestly, it was way too easy to sway her.

[Prince Altania: A debt is a debt. Your big sis will be by your side for the duration of the day. That enough for you?]

"Thank you very much."

[Prince Altania: Hoo, it really is great to be the senior.]

Good. When the time came, Lee Shin-Woo would leave this dumbass next to Kratia, and she would survive.

Lee Shin-Woo was concerned about Lloyd and his other seniors, but to be frank, he didn't really have the power to save them as well. If Lee Shin-Woo took down Ethan at the right time, they would survive. If not, they would die.

"I'll contact you later."

[Prince Altania: I told you before someone else has already taken my fancy. You can't fall in love with me, alright?]

Lee Shin-Woo immediately ended the chat with Prince; she said something stupid again and hadn't even figured out he was trying to help her. He was already anticipating spanking her a few times.

"Shin-Woo, you really care about people."

"Nope. It would just make me feel bad to see people I know die."

"No matter what you think, that's... Shin-Woo."

Jin was about to offer a rebuttal, but suddenly called out to Lee Shin-Woo calmly. With Jin’s superior agility, it could only mean one thing!

Lee Shin-Woo gripped the Breath of the Lightning God in one hand as he looked up. He deepened his connection with Jin and focused his senses, which allowed him to see what Jin was seeing. There was an undead standing atop a hill ahead, and it was watching them...!

"It looks like a mage."

"Seems that way. Shin-Woo, it looks like he's about to attack us with magic."

"Shall we start with a light tap?"

A rotten hero is still a hero. The undead had sensed Lee Shin-Woo's party from afar and raised its arm to conjure a giant ball of flame in the air. It looked like Prince's fire magic; while it was weaker, it had formed instantaneously, which reminded him of a monster somewhere.

"It's an ability from the goddess, but we're no pushovers!"

Lee Shin-Woo forcefully threw his Breath of the Lightning God into the air. Heeding his command, the sword erupted in a huge explosion, filling the entire area with lightning temporarily!

The six Breath of the Lightning Gods floating behind him came forward, as if waiting for that very moment. They sucked in the overflowing lightning energy and accelerated. Immediately after, he shot the swords straight at the mage!

I figured this out during my fight in the training facility. It's better to detonate one weapon and change the environment than to detonate them all at once. My weapons will become so much stronger this way!

That was right. Lee Shin-Woo had mastered the brutish but effective trick he'd learned from his battles in the training facility: to blow up his elemental weapon to change the environment!

[Kuhahk...!]

Without fail, the six Breath of the Lightning Gods grew much faster than before and shot straight at the mage.

The first sword clashed with the mage’s flame head-on and exploded, filling the entire area with lightning. The second sword flew with even greater force. The mage didn't even have the time to react before his head was completely destroyed!

[You have acquired 2 Secret Shop permits and 17,554,190 Perium.]

[You have given peace to a comrade who walked a path he could not return from. You have partially cleared the quest objectives and have acquired 1 Secret Shop permit. The maximum level of Invisible Heart has increased by 1.]

"...Ah."

With the mage’s death, the remaining four swords lost their target and simply froze in the air. They seemed to be looking around, which was a reflection of how Lee Shin-Woo was feeling.

"Shin-Woo...?"

Jin looked at Lee Shin-Woo strangely. He had thought Lee Shin-Woo would try bringing the mage to their side before killing it. Doing his best to act nonchalant, Lee Shin-Woo replied, "I killed him because I thought we'd have to toughen you up a bit first!"

The truth was he hadn't expected the mage to die from a single attack!