Rescue
Conwy Castle, Wales.
This is Charles. Eugene Jinhyeok has safely entered Windsor Castle.
"Did he really jump from an altitude of seven thousand meters?"
Yes. Before we could even stop him.
A dizzy feeling washed over her, and Sophia pressed her fingers to her forehead.
When she first heard Jinhyeok's plan, she could hardly believe her ears.
Jump from where?
No matter how she looked at it, it was recklessly suicidal—too flimsy to even be called a plan.
With no better option, they had scrambled to prepare a helicopter, but she never imagined he would actually go through with it.
He's like someone from another world.
She checked the Tower site on her phone.
Just a couple of hours earlier, the library on the 57th floor of the Tower of Despair had been updated.
In the brief window while Sophia was preparing the helicopter, he had calmly climbed the Tower and departed.
A world-famous runner.
Sophia knew well enough that he was extraordinary.
But meeting him in person made the word extraordinary feel woefully inadequate.
"You've worked hard. Charles, your wounds haven't even healed yet."
I'm fine. There's only some pain—nothing that interferes with movement.
That, too, was thanks to Jinhyeok.
The ointment that had even made Charles foam at the mouth.
The pain was unbearable, but its effectiveness was utterly absurd.
"What kind of man is he, really?"
I don't know. This is my first time encountering someone like him as well.
Sophia fell briefly into thought, then shook her head.
She could ponder that later.
Right now, she needed to focus on the operation.
"What's the situation at Windsor Castle?"
Fortunately, it's still quiet.
"And our side?"
Including Olivia and myself, thirty people are on standby. We'll move in as soon as we receive the signal.
Sophia nodded.
Jinhyeok had said he would be fine, but she couldn't simply sit and do nothing.
Even if the operation failed and they couldn't retrieve the Queen, they at least had to bring Jinhyeok back alive.
He was a benefactor who had not only saved her life but also volunteered for the most dangerous role without asking for anything in return.
She couldn't allow such a person to die in a distant foreign land.
"Princess."
Philip, standing nearby, spoke carefully.
"Wouldn't it be better to move in now? At present, Windsor Castle is effectively Widrick's stronghold. They've even gathered troops for an attack on Conwy. Breaking through that security alone and rescuing Her Majesty is impossible."
He wasn't speaking out of concern for Jinhyeok alone.
Widrick firmly believed himself to be the hunter.
He would never imagine that his prey—Sophia—would dare to strike back.
This might be the first and last chance.
Leaving everything entirely in the hands of an outsider and simply waiting was deeply unsettling.
"Even if sacrifices are required, we should commit everything we have. Once today passes, Widrick will never let his guard down again."
Widrick was mad, but he wasn't stupid.
The moment he glimpsed even the slightest hint of Sophia's claws, his vigilance would spike dramatically.
And that would mean defeat—and death—for them.
Without the slightest hesitation, Sophia shook her head.
"I understand how you feel, Philip. But let's wait just a little longer. He said he could do it, so just a little more."
Numbers didn't always translate into advantage.
They might end up hindering Jinhyeok rather than helping him, just when he was doing well.
"But—"
Philip, it's all right. Trust him and wait.
Philip's eyes widened at the voice that came through.
Charles was a seasoned veteran with countless experiences behind him.
Yet he was not a man who spoke up lightly.
He usually remained in the shadows, quietly supporting his master—yet here he was, making a firm assertion.
With a low sigh, Philip leaned back into his chair.
If even Charles said so, then all they could do was trust and wait.
May that Eastern outsider succeed in this impossible operation.
Pressed tightly against the wall, Jinhyeok held his breath.
"In a few days, Conwy Castle will be gone."
"What a shame. It was such a beautiful place."
"Don't spout nonsense. You'll be the first one smashing it to pieces."
"There's money involved. When money's on the line, who cares about beauty or regret?"
Snickering, the two men passed by.
Judging by their identical combat uniforms, they seemed to be mercenaries Widrick had summoned today.
Jinhyeok tilted his head toward Kancho.
"Stealth movement!"
Sliding along the wall with a shashashak, Kancho—the commander of the Yodel Rangers—moved forward.
Does that even count as stealth when he says it out loud? Jinhyeok wondered, but decided to let it go.
Their adorable Yodel was currently enjoying infiltration more than anyone.
After crossing the dark corridor for quite some time—
"E-emergency. This is an emergenc-yyyy…!"
Kancho whispered urgently, prompting Jinhyeok to lower his body.
They hadn't been discovered, so what was it?
"My mana is emptyyy."
"Oh. Yeah, that is an emergency."
Kancho had infiltrated earlier and roamed throughout the castle.
He'd even collected all the installed devices, so it was no surprise his mana was depleted.
"Go inside and rest. We're almost there anyway."
"Roger! If the Supreme Commander is in danger, I'll come right out!"
Kancho stuck out his thumb.
"Loyalty!"
After saluting, Kancho deactivated his manifestation.
Cute and gallant—no matter how many times you saw him.
Checking the map Sophia had given him, Jinhyeok climbed the stairs.
A massive door came into view straight ahead.
If there were no unexpected variables, the Queen would be inside.
Don't let your guard down.
He stopped right in front of the door and carefully checked for any presence.
Fortunately, he sensed nothing inside.
He opened the door and stepped in.
The room was filled with a heavy silence.
The only sound was the steady rhythm of a machine.
He canceled his stealth and approached the bed.
An elderly woman lay there, eyes closed, wearing an oxygen mask.
Jinhyeok compared her sleeping face with the photos he had looked up earlier.
Bingo.
She looked far more haggard than in the pictures, but there was no doubt.
Queen Alicia Jerry Windsor.
The 42nd monarch of Britain.
He stepped back a little and stroked his chin.
The old woman before him was the Queen of England.
Was it really acceptable to just bundle her up and carry her out?
He walked out to the terrace and checked the height and escape route one more time.
Jump from the terrace, then sprint as fast as possible and get over the castle wall.
The wall was absurdly high, but it didn't matter.
He could just hook the Everlasting Iron Rope at the top.
It was almost embarrassing to call it a plan—it was that simple.
But he could guarantee one thing: simple and easy was best.
Step. Step. Step.
Just as he was about to carefully bundle Alicia, footsteps approached.
Jinhyeok went into stealth and pressed himself flat against the wall.
He fervently repeated the name in his mind.
Widrick Palam Windsor. Widrick Palam Windsor.
It was a rescue mission, but capturing the enemy commander as well would be perfect.
Creeeeak.
The old wood groaned as the door opened.
A middle-aged man in a pristine white gown entered.
Unfortunately, it wasn't Widrick.
"Damn it. I keep asking for a second shift."
Rubbing his sleepy eyes, he pulled out a small vial and syringe from his gown.
The man's name was Leo.
Originally the attending physician of Windsor Castle, he was now assisting Widrick.
After transferring the medication, Leo brought the syringe toward Alicia.
Crack!
In that instant, a heavy pain struck the back of his neck.
It hurt so badly that no scream even escaped.
Leo shuddered and turned around.
"Huh?"
Jinhyeok frowned in confusion.
That had been a perfect knife-hand strike—why wasn't he unconscious?
"Y-you… who are—"
A precisely delivered right hook snapped Leo's jaw sideways.
Thud!
Only then did Leo collapse.
Jinhyeok wiped his sweat, letting out a relieved breath.
Theory and practice really were different.
He'd need to train his knife-hand strikes more.
For now, he roughly rolled up the unconscious doctor.
Since this man had been in charge of Alicia, he might be useful.
Careful. Careful.
He bundled Alicia together with her oxygen equipment as gently as possible.
"Seira."
Pointing at the blanket-wrapped Alicia, he said,
"Please take care of Her Majesty. Make sure there's minimal shock."
"Understood. And that man?"
"I'll take him. You can drag him however you want."
After roughly tying him up, Jinhyeok opened the terrace door.
"Hm."
Just as he was about to leave, he glanced back.
Before long, Widrick would realize the Queen was gone.
And considering he was already insane, there was no telling what he might do once he completely lost it.
If their forces weren't mixed together, Jinhyeok would've beaten up everyone in sight.
A shame, really.
Better delay them as much as possible.
He pulled out a large capsule from his inventory.
"What's that?"
Seira grimaced.
It was the hallucination fog he had encountered during his first visit to the Starry Workshop.
So potent that even Seira and Dark—despite their high resistance—had nearly been overwhelmed.
"It won't kill them, but waking up will be a nightmare."
He crushed the capsule in the corridor.
Pink mist spread rapidly.
Hoping they'd have pleasant dreams, he leapt out onto the terrace.
Seira dashed ahead, climbed to the top of the castle wall in one burst, and caught the Everlasting Iron Rope Jinhyeok threw.
"Whoa."
Pulled by the recoil, Jinhyeok reached the top in an instant.
He looked back at Windsor Castle.
The pink fog had already spread throughout the inner fortress.
Whether from hallucinations or something else, various screams echoed from all directions.
Well then, good luck.
With a light farewell, he jumped off the castle wall.
The Queen-bundling—no, the rescue mission—was complete.
Outside, Sophia and Philip looked up at the sky.
Thudududududu.
A helicopter descended slowly, scattering fierce winds.
Everyone in the waiting hall came running out to watch it land.
They had already received word that the operation was a success.
But the report was so utterly impossible—so far beyond common sense—that they couldn't believe it.
So they had rushed out barefoot, desperate to see it with their own eyes.
The helicopter touched down completely.
As the rotors slowed, Charles and Olivia emerged beneath them.
In their hands was a portable stretcher.
Sophia hurried forward when she saw who lay upon it.
"Grandmother…!"
When others were present, she upheld royal decorum—but not now.
Though her breathing was stable, Alicia did not respond to Sophia's voice.
"I heard she collapsed, but…"
Those who had gathered fell silent.
A coma of unknown cause.
They had succeeded in the rescue, but whether she would ever awaken remained uncertain.
"What did you do to Her Majesty?"
At that moment, Jinhyeok appeared, lifting someone by the scruff of the neck.
"Why don't we ask him?"
Leo stared blankly at the lined-up figures as he dangled helplessly.
His face was filled with confusion.
Where am I? Who am I?
The gazes of everyone present—including Philip—shifted toward Leo.
Or more precisely, toward Jinhyeok standing behind him.
An Eastern eccentric who casually turned the impossible into reality.
With the arrival of this tidal-wave-level variable that no one had anticipated, the board began to flip.
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T/N:
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