Kai blinked. "Holy moly… you're using Eternal Art, huh? Impressive."
Zephyr grinned. "I told you I'd make a comeback someday."
Kai leaned forward. "You don't visit me for nothing. What do you want?"
Zephyr nodded. "You know the academy in Middle Avangard City?"
"Yeah, I know it."
"And the prestigious school nearby?"
"Yeah," Kai said. "I once attacked it when I lost my ball during a game. Tried to get in, but the guards stopped me. Luckily, my grandma works there, so I climbed over the wall."
Zephyr chuckled. "Let's join the new S-Class."
"You're joking," Kai said.
"Why would I? I even got a girlfriend now."
Kai raised a brow. "A girlfriend? Is she hot or something?"
Zephyr smirked. "Of course, you maggot. And guess what—she's the princess of the Werde Kingdom."
"No way."
Zephyr showed him a photo. "Let's talk more at a café or game bar."
"Let's go," Kai said.
They stepped out, realizing they were wearing the same outfit: hoodie and harem pants—only the colors were different.
They caught up on everything. Kai was especially excited about meeting Ebisu (Delta).
Later, Zephyr called Ebisu.
"Perfect timing," Ebisu said. "Come to Sakura Land and into the mountain."
Kai, meanwhile, called someone. "I'm entering an academy. I need a replacement. Got it?"
Then he turned to Zephyr and said, "Let's go, bro."
They headed out. But just as they passed Zephyr's old house, he paused.
"I forgot something," he said, turning back.
Kai smiled. "Go say hi. Your father's been worried about you. Tell him to cheer you on."
Zephyr said, "It's been a while since I've been home… should I go in and say hi for real?"
Then Kai said, "You better not screw this up. Go in and say hi."
I opened the door, and our butler approached, asking, "May I help you with something?"
I replied, "Do you remember me?"
Then the head maid came out — she was the one who used to take care of me and defend me from my stepmother.
She practically raised me.
I said, "It's been a while, everyone."
She cried out, "Zephyr? Boy, Zephyr!" She was so happy she started crying.
The butler said, "I must inform your father. Duke Valen Nightshade, your son has returned."
My father came rushing out. "Son! You're alive!"
He said as he hugged me, tears falling from his eyes.
Then my stepmother came in and said coldly, "Keep it quiet, butler. What is going on?"
She looked absolutely disgusted to see me. "Oh… my god. You…?"
Her face twisted as if she was going to kill me just for being alive.
But the moment she saw my father, her expression changed.
"You're alive! I'm so glad! Are you hurt? Is something wrong?"
She walked up and pretended to check on me, even touched my muscles and said, "Oh wow…"
I smirked and muttered, "Give me a break. Am I gonna develop a mother complex now?"
Then Father said, "You've grown taller. Come on in and rest."
But I replied, "Actually, I have to go."
"To where?" he asked. I didn't want to tell him, so I said, "I'm about to collect my academy documents."
He said, "I'll come with you."
I tried to escape, but he caught on, and when they noticed Kai with me, they basically forced me to stay since I brought a guest.
We ended up having a meal together. My father was so proud.
I gave him a surprise — I told him I had a girlfriend.
He lit up with joy and said, "Won't you bring her here?"
I replied, "Wait about two weeks, and I'll come back with her. I know you'll love her."
As we left, my stepmother was bleeding from her hand, kicking anything in her way.
Kai and I walked to school. Some students were already out.
Student 1: "Is that Zephyr?"
Student 2: "Nah, he's dead."
Student 3: "Look, everyone! His father, the Duke, is here!"
Student 4: "Those two are huge — they must be guards."
Student 5: "Wait… that's Kai, the gang leader! That means… is that him? Zephyr?!"
Everyone was shocked.
The principal, trying to save face, pretended to be concerned.
Probably paid off by my stepmother back when I was bullied.
I said to my father, "Fire him. He's useless."
Father said, "As you wish," and contacted higher authorities.
The principal was fired on the spot.
Then the secretary said, "Contact your homeroom teacher."
I said, "Wait, I'll go see him myself."
She replied, "Okay."
I had a lot of déjà vu that day. It felt like I was searching for my old self — the one who used to run, cry, bleed, and get yelled at, while teachers stood by, paid off by my stepmother.
What a disgusting memory.
I opened the classroom door. The teacher saw me and asked, "Is that… Zephyr?"
Everyone was excited — even the girl I used to like and my stepbrother were there.
As I stepped inside, a lot of girls screamed.
Yeah, I had a glow-up. But even with that, part of me still thought I wasn't good enough.
I noticed my old crush giving me low-key eye contact.
I just embraced the change — from weak to strong.
The teacher panicked and asked, "Did you come here alone?"
I said, "We need to talk."
He replied nervously, "Well… after I finish class." He tried to stand confidently, even knowing I was different now.
He was a former hunter himself, now teaching future hunters.
But let's be honest — he couldn't match my aura.
I said, "I'm not asking, Teach. I'm ordering you."
My aura surged. The room shook. Everyone inside began trembling.
The pressure pushed them to the ground.
Even the teacher stood frozen and said, "Okay… if it's that important."
In his mind, he thought, Who is
this guy? He's completely different now… What the hell is this aura?
After that, I walked out of the classroom.
Everyone was whispering about me, saying they wanted to see me up close.
I took the teacher to the principal's office — and he got expelled from the school.
I returned to collect the student file and class info from the classroom locker — the one the teachers use to manage student data.
When I entered, everyone was shocked. So many girls asked for my number.
The bullies who used to mess with me tried to hide their faces, some even approached me low-key and apologized.
I met them all briefly, then grabbed my documents and walked out.
Suddenly, my old crush followed me.
She said, "Can I have a moment of your time?" and led me to the rooftop.
Once we got there, we stood silently for a moment.
Then she said, "From the moment you left… I kind of felt this feeling — this strange feeling in my chest."
I replied calmly, "Exactly what kind of feeling? If it's hurting you, I can help."
She shook her head, blushing. "No, it's not that… It's just that… I love you, Zephr.
Please… go out with me. I'll make your dreams come true."
I gave a small laugh and said, "You played your role pretty well.
You knew my stepbrother's mom's plan all along.
You used him — forced him to bully me, stayed by his side as his girlfriend just to get paid.
That was your plan, wasn't it?"
She looked broken and said, "No… I have my reasons.
I'm telling you the truth — I fell in love with you."
I looked her in the eye and said coldly, "Get out of my face. I already have a girlfriend."
I pulled out my phone and showed her a photo of me with Layla.
Her jaw dropped. "No way… You got the princess of Werde — Layla Fayes?"
She turned and ran, humiliated.
Meanwhile, my stepbrother and some others had been secretly recording the whole thing.
Everyone who saw the video was shocked.
Then my stepbrother came up to me and said, "How are you alive? I thought you were dead."
I replied, "What the heck are you talking about?"
He looked nervous. "You used to be so useless. But now…
Your aura alone scares me.
It threatens me.
What the hell happened to you?"
I said, "What happened? I traveled to another kingdom, started living on my own, and
built a fortune."
Then he said, "So… you're coming back to take Father's inheritance?"
I looked him straight in the eye. "I know your mother forced you to do things like that.
But even so, you should move forward — without me. I'm planning to be the protector of a princess…
Or maybe even a king.
So do your best.
Replace Father.
Do it right."