I Became an Illegal Cheat User

91 – Help Call (1)

…What’s going on? Why is this happening all of a sudden?

I looked at Arthur, who was holding me in a tight embrace, with a bewildered expression.

‘Is this really the Arthur I knew?’

It made sense, though; the Arthur I knew wouldn’t have jumped out of an unlanded transport aircraft unless it was an emergency.

If it were the usual her, she might have looked at me with those warm, longing eyes, but she wouldn’t have embraced me like this, as if we were reuniting after a long-distance relationship.

And the usual appearance was a somewhat masculine and androgynous look, leaning more towards male…

It was overwhelming.

The soft sensation I felt in my chest was one thing.

The subtle yet rich scent of dahlia wafting through the air was another.

Now, she looked nothing like a man, but rather a perfect woman.

‘…It’s definitely Arthur, though.’

More than anyone, she radiated a clear and refreshing energy.

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[Ability: Talent]

Reads the thoughts of others.

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It’s a description of the talent visible in the insight.

Sniff, sniff.

And judging by the perverse act of him hugging me and sniffing my nape, it was definitely Arthur.

[If you’re so curious, why not just ask directly?]

‘…I guess I should.’

At Terra’s straightforward answer, I immediately took action.

First, I released the imitation of Astra I had been holding, as Arthur might get hurt.

Of course, it was a pity I couldn’t throw the Crab Bulge.

Since the imitation is random, the chance of turning back into a Crab Bulge is extremely low.

But that disappointment was fleeting.

‘Well, someday I’ll have the chance to throw it.’

What I originally wanted to confirm wasn’t the effect of the Crab Bulge, but the imitation effect of Astra. So there was no need to let additional thoughts trouble my mind.

Thinking optimistically, I put Astra into my inventory.

And only after confirming that [Astra (Bound)][1] had appeared in my inventory did I speak.

“Arthur, could you stop burying your nose in my neck?”

“……Ah.”

I dropped Arthur from my arms.

“…Ahem, ahem! Lee Yujin, I’m sorry. I’ve shown a bit of a disgraceful side.”

So he does know.

I looked at Arthur, whose face had turned red, with a cold gaze.

In response to my stare, Arthur shyly turned her head away, fidgeting with her fingers as if embarrassed. However, contrary to her averted gaze, her body slowly inched closer to me, like a magnet.

And with her actions sticking to me just like before, I couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.

“…Hey, Arthur. It seems like your skinship has… no, it’s really increased, hasn’t it?”

Just holding hands… well, I did grip a bit tightly, but still, was that really the same Arthur who would get excited over just that?

“Hmm? What do you mean?”

Arthur, whose skin tone had returned to a pale white, tilted her head as if she didn’t understand what I was saying.

Seeing her behavior, I let out a short sigh and pushed her body away from mine.

Then, crossing my arms to prevent her from getting too close again, I asked her.

“Arthur, is there some change in your feelings? Letting your disguise down and now this skinship too?”

It has changed too much, hasn’t it?

At my question, Arthur let out a sound, “Hmm,” while adjusting the sword at his waist.

Then, he grasped the hilt of Excalibur and met my gaze with bright blue eyes that sparkled like a lake warmed by the sun.

I instinctively averted my eyes, recalling the heightened resilience and mental fortitude I had gained.

‘At my level now, he probably can’t read all my thoughts.’

And beyond that, I felt it wouldn’t matter if he could read my thoughts now.

The reason I had been cautious around Arthur was because of Excalibur’s whereabouts, a secret known only to the Knights of the Round Table.

I had tried to hide the fact that I, an outsider, knew about it. So now, with our rapport being much better than before, I figured it would be fine if he read my thoughts.

As I contemplated this and looked into Arthur’s eyes, he nodded, “Hmm.”

“Indeed, you knew I had Excalibur.”

“Yeah, I’ve known for a while.”

To be precise, I had known since the very first moment I saw him.

“Hmm… so that’s why you were avoiding my gaze.”

Arthur approached me, as if finally understanding my behavior all this time, nodding his head.

Then, holding my hand with the one that grasped Excalibur, he said, “Well, what does it matter now?”

Arthur smiled brightly.

“Yoo-jin, did you ask me if I had any change of heart?”

I nodded. Then Arthur slowly caressed my hand and said, “Yes, I did. Recently, in fact.”

His calloused yet gentle fingers slipped between mine, intertwining as he took a step closer to me.

“I thought while facing the countless fallen, made of black waves.”

Yoo-jin, I wish you had been here.

“I thought while cutting down the fallen.”

Yoo-jin, I wish you had fought alongside me.

“I thought of my long-time friend.”

Yoo-jin, I wish you had been by my side.

“And beneath the great golden apple tree, I realized.”

Ah, I need you.

Arthur took another step closer to me.

And in that moment, as a gentle hand caressed my cheek.

Ding.

[Arthur’s talent, “Heir of the Knight King (S),” says it needs you.]

Ding.

[Arthur’s talent, “Master of the Divine Sword (S),” says you are important.]

Ding.

[Arthur’s talent, “Heir of the Fairy King (S),” insists it cannot do without you.]

Ding.

[Arthur’s talent, “Fairy Eye (S),” expresses a desire to keep watching you.]

Ding.

[Arthur’s talent….]

Ding.

[Arthur….]

Ding.

[…….]

Ding.

Ding.

Ding….

Countless talents of Arthur began to make their embarrassing confessions.

As I stared blankly at Arthur.

[Blocking.]

[Eliminating the yellow fox’s talent message.]

[…Correcting a typo. Not eliminating, but blocking!]

[ █▬▬ ◟(`ﮧ´ ◟ )]

[Talent Message]

Somehow, a message from Terra, sounding quite angry, appeared, and the flood of Arthur’s talent messages shattered with a crashing effect, disappearing.

Snapped back to reality by Terra’s fury, I offered a sheepish smile to Arthur, who was looking at me expectantly, as if waiting for a response.

And just as I was about to refuse, saying it wasn’t the right time.

“Shh.”

“……!”

Arthur, who had been caressing my cheek, pressed his finger firmly against my lips.

Then, looking at me with an understanding gaze, he spoke.

“You don’t have to say anything right now. I can wait anytime. So, when the day comes that you can accept it.”

With the same finger that pressed my lips, Arthur gently touched his own.

And then, slowly withdrawing his finger, he smiled softly.

“Just give me a sign like this.”

Then I would be immensely happy.

“Of course, you can do more than that. No, I would love it if you did.”

Arthur made a joke that seemed to carry sincerity as he uncrossed his fingers.

Then, he distanced himself, stepping back one step, then two, breaking the closeness we had shared.

Just then, as if waiting for this moment, a transport plane landed with a thud on the ground. And as the engines of the transport plane shut off, two people walked out through the opened cargo door.

“Indeed, I knew you would be safe, Lee Yu-jin.”

“Noah.”

One of the two was Noah.

And the person walking alongside him was—

“Oh, so you are Brother Lee Yu-jin.”

A woman with white hair like Noah’s, closed eyes, and dressed in a white priest’s robe.

“It’s truly a pleasure to meet you, Brother. I am Remilia, a servant of the goddess Theia.”

It was Cardinal Remilia.

&

The reason Arthur, Noah, and Remilia had come here was due to Kali’s orders.

The command was to guard this place with me until a group to protect it arrived, as the First Subjugation Unit had been disbanded due to a lack of personnel.

‘I can guard it alone.’

Not just guard it; I could fend off another invasion from the continent of death without much trouble.

And now, with the S-rank weapon, Astra, in my possession, defeating Grid wouldn’t be difficult either.

But Kali had no way of knowing that.

After seeing the three of them enjoying a warm rice bowl for an early lunch on the mat spread out, I thought while eating the short rib rice bowl in my hand.

‘I wonder which guild will come.’

Though it was referred to as a group, the number of groups that could protect this place was limited.

It made sense, as the military base, filled with corrupted worshippers who had rejected support from the subjugation unit, would not come here.

The association must be harboring a deep distrust of the major institutions due to the current situation, so the only group to entrust this matter to is the guild.

‘They must have requested help from a large guild, right?’

Given the escalating danger here, enough to decimate the 1st, 5th, and 13th extermination squads, they would have sought assistance from a large guild.

No, they had no choice. If they didn’t want to face the wrath of our academy’s principal or the chairman.

‘Kali’s summons will likely come after the large guilds have established their forward bases, right?’

I still can’t forget.

‘Damn those corrupted cultists… Once this situation is over, I’ll sweep them all away.’

Kali, who usually maintained her composure, her face twisted with rage.

So soon, all the leaders and vice-leaders of the extermination squads, along with the heads of the guilds coming here, will gather at the 9th extermination squad.

And true to Kali’s nature, she will speak without a filter.

Let’s raid all the major institutions.

Let’s root out all the corrupted cultists.

But while the military might comply, most of the major institutions will refuse due to a lack of justification.

At that moment, I will step forward. And I will recreate the events that transpired in the game.

‘No justification? Then we just need enough power to make justification unnecessary.’

I’ve even thought of a codename.

I call it, ‘Help Call.’

So what is the operation?

‘The principal said to contact him if we needed strength.’

I will borrow the power of Principal Yu Baek, the great mage.

And through Yu Baek, I will borrow the power of Baek Yu-hwa.

It’s literally an operation to borrow the strength of two transcendent beings.

‘Ah, thinking about it this way, the original codename might be better.’

Help Call, the previous codename.

It was none other than ‘Buster Call.’