30 Years After Reincarnating, It Turns Out This World Was A Rofan?! novel Chapter 88

"...I’ve really done it this time."

As he stepped out of the building, reality struck him like a wave. Just a minute ago, his blood had been boiling, and he’d smashed everything in his path without a second thought. But now, as he surveyed the destruction, he realized he might have gone a bit overboard. He’d torn apart a building easily over a hundred pyeong in size, and though no one had died, there would certainly be enough people laid up in bed for the foreseeable future to fill a few truckloads.

If this got out...

‘This won’t just end with a pay cut or a reprimand...’

He’d already asked the maid to request help from his sister, but even she might struggle to clean up this mess. Then again, with her power, she could probably make this problem disappear with little effort.

‘But I’m definitely on a tighter leash now.’

He’d already been tied down, and now he might as well have a noose around his neck.

‘...This is madness.’

Ihan sighed, grimacing at his predicament.

But then—

"Master...."

"Why are you here? I told you to stay somewhere safe."

"B-But..."

For some reason, he didn’t feel any regret.

What was the word for this?

‘Favoritism, perhaps?’

He knew he shouldn’t favor one student over others, but Ihan also knew that he couldn’t control such feelings.

She was a remarkable kid, full of potential and the willingness to learn everything he could teach her...

‘No, that’s not quite right.’

Let him clarify.

She was simply a "good kid." Was it wrong to want her to receive as much kindness as she gave?

So—

"Let’s go grab some food. I’m starving."

Despite the headache of cleaning up, Ihan felt a deep sense of satisfaction.

"..."

Revi watched in stunned silence as her master walked out.

The building belonging to the Guild Consortium, the twentieth-largest structure in the eastern district, was on the verge of collapse. And the person responsible for this destruction was her own teacher.

Overwhelming.

That was the word that came to mind as she watched him, realizing he could easily defeat opponents she could barely even hope to face. Revi swallowed nervously.

"Master...."

"So, it’s official now? You’re calling me ‘Master’ instead of ‘Instructor’ since you dropped out?"

"Oh, no, that’s not what I...!"

"It was a joke, a joke."

"...Ah."

"...My bad. I won’t joke around anymore, so don’t make that face."

"Yes?"

"..."

"...Huh?"

A tear slid down her cheek.

Only then did she realize she’d been crying.

But why?

"S-Sorry... I’m... sorry...."

She didn’t even know why she was crying, and yet she kept wiping away the tears and apologizing. Ihan, however, didn’t look troubled or angry.

"Sometimes, when someone feels relief or lets their guard down, it just happens. I’ve dealt with all the scary ones, so you don’t need to worry anymore. ...So could you stop crying? I’m not great at comforting people...."

His gentle words and concerned gaze only deepened her feelings.

Just a moment ago, he’d been the same person who’d demolished the Guild building, yet here he was, fumbling over how to comfort her.

And so Revi, looking up at the man who genuinely cared for her, suddenly threw herself into his arms.

"Uuhh... Hic."

"..."

She clung to him and cried softly.

"If you’re going to cry, do it out loud. Why cry so quietly?"

His muttered words made her sobs grow louder.

Now, I finally understand.

Why she’d suddenly started crying.

It wasn’t fear from watching him tear apart the Guild.

It was ‘relief’—and ‘joy’ that brought on these tears.

The joy of knowing that someone would fight for her, that someone stood unconditionally on her side—

Revi couldn’t hold back her tears any longer.

She stayed in his embrace, her shoulders shaking for quite some time.

For a long, long time...

Meanwhile, the would-be actors who’d arrived too late to the scene looked at each other.

"It seems like we weren’t needed here after all?"

"Indeed."

"Hmm, Kunta wanted to fight too."

"Timing is everything in life."

"I’d have liked to show off a bit too."

"...Haha."

"..."

They all wore slightly embarrassed expressions, like actors who’d missed their cue. They knew they should’ve rushed in instead of hesitating.

Still, relief showed in their smiles.

They were simply glad that their comrade was safe.

Originally, all eighty students had been poised to mobilize, but the seven representatives had volunteered to handle it. As it turned out, even that had been unnecessary.

"So, Jack. Did you find anything?"

"While Instructor was... dismantling things, I confirmed that Tristan’s involved. Things are about to get more complicated."

"...Tristan."

Certain things could only be confirmed on-site.

Grit!

The Saint of the Battlefield had always cried like this when sorrow struck her.