Chapter 75: Alliances Forged in Shadow

*Jade’s Private Training Facility*

After giving all of them their advice, Jade descended from above using the transparent glass staircase formed from her power.

She walked down slowly, elegantly—like a queen stepping onto her throne.

“Good work, everyone,” she said as she continued descending.

“You all did your best.”

The four of them turned their heads toward her.

When Jade finally reached the floor, she stopped and crossed her arms, her gaze shifting immediately toward me. There was clear irritation in her eyes.

“You pushed them too hard.”

“Huh?” I frowned. “I held back a lot, you know?”

“Even so,” she replied sharply, “you exhausted them completely. Look at them. They’re only Rank A heroes.”

“U-ugh… well… even so, they still managed to corner me a few times.”

“Blah, blah, blah.”

She brushed off my words with obvious annoyance.

Then Jade turned toward the four exhausted heroes.

“Do you have a name for this group yet?”

I brought a hand to my chin, thinking.

“Hm… how about Betrayer?”

Jade’s eyes widened as she stared at me.

“Your sense of naming is terrible,” she said bluntly.

“Give them a proper name—like how you name your villain organizations.”

My villain organizations?

When I thought about it… my own group didn’t even have a proper name yet.

“Ah… well… I don’t really—”

Jade let out a long sigh, clearly disappointed.

“You’re unbelievably annoying. It’s strange that someone like you is currently the most feared villain in the world.”

She was mocking me.

Damn it.

“Ugh… then how about Detroit?”

“Detroit…” Jade repeated slowly.

“Hm. That’s not bad.”

She turned to the four of them.

“Very well. From this moment on, the four of you are designated as the founding members of Group Detroit.”

Oh?

She actually accepted it—even though I had just blurted it out randomly.

The four of them looked delighted. It seemed they liked the name.

Seeing that, an idea crossed my mind.

I turned to Jade again.

“Group Detroit will join the Darkest Alliance.”

“The Darkest Alliance?” Jade echoed, glancing at me.

“Hm… not bad. Very well.”

After that, I checked my watch.

17:00.

Oh, crap.

The others were definitely going to scold me for coming home so late.

I looked back at Jade.

“Jade, I should head back now.”

“Hm. Very well,” she replied.

“Gather more members for Detroit.”

I turned to the four of them.

“Detroit.”

“Yes!!” they shouted in unison.

“Remember this,” I said calmly.

“You are the core leaders of Group Detroit. Many new members will join in the future. I expect you to guide them properly.”

I paused, my gaze sharp.

“And don’t forget what I taught you. Understood?”

“Yes, boss!!”

Their voices echoed with conviction.

Just as I expected. At first they had been awkward and nervous, but now they were already adapting.

Satisfied, I activated my ability.

Blue light enveloped my body—

And I vanished.

*Yoo Jinhoo’s House*

So-ah stood in the living room with her arms crossed, pacing back and forth.

Her expression was clearly irritated.

“Why is oppa still not home…?” she muttered.

At that moment, Elvera walked over.

“So-ah? What’s wrong? You look upset.”

“Hm? Oh… unnie…” So-ah sighed.

“I’m just annoyed because oppa still hasn’t come back. It’s almost dinner time.”

“Oh, don’t worry about that,” Elvera said gently.

“Didn’t he say he’d return? Just relax… besides—”

She glanced toward Lee Donghyun.

He was sitting at his desk, fully absorbed in his computer.

Beside him, Lee Mira was pestering him endlessly.

“Cook! Cook! Make food already!”

“Our chef seems to be slacking off too~” Elvera added with a small smile.

At that moment, Kim Gae-in walked in, a towel draped over her shoulders. Her hair was still wet, and she was wearing only a tank top.

“Phew! That felt refreshing.”

She walked behind the sofa, where Zofia was sitting, completely focused on an action movie playing on the TV.

“What are you watching?” Kim Gae-in asked.

“Hm? Oh, this is Avanggirls. It’s pretty fun!”

Kim Gae-in turned her attention to the screen.

“Oh! This does look interesting!”

The two of them watched intently.

Suddenly, the front door opened.

So-ah immediately turned her head, thinking Yoo Jinhoo had returned.

But when the door opened fully—

It was Min-seo.

“I’m home! Who wants ice cream!”

Lee Mira’s eyes lit up.

“Me! Me!!”

She shouted and ran toward Min-seo.

Min-seo laughed softly and handed her an ice cream.

Lee Mira looked ecstatic.

Min-seo then walked over to So-ah, eating her own ice cream.

“What’s wrong? Why do you look so annoyed?”

“Hah… oppa still hasn’t come back.”

“Relax,” Min-seo replied casually.

“He’ll be fine. Didn’t he tell us yesterday? That we could rest for now.”

“Yeah… you’re right…” So-ah admitted.

“But you know him too. He always ends up doing something dangerous alone.”

Elvera spoke up calmly.

“He’ll be back soon.”

Just then—

Blue light appeared in the living room.

Elvera smiled.

“He’s here.”

From the blue light, Indigo appeared.

He removed his mask and let out a tired sigh.

“Phew… that was exhausting.”

“Oppa!!”

So-ah shouted as she ran toward him.

Yoo Jinhoo smiled warmly when he saw her running toward him. His chest felt strangely full.

But—

As soon as she reached him—

Her expression changed completely.

Her face hardened with anger.

Blue flames erupted around her.

And without hesitation, she lunged forward and slammed his face into the floor.

“U-ugh… why… did you do that…?” he groaned.

“This is your punishment for coming home late!”

Min-seo walked over, laughing softly.

“Hahaha, oppa looks really funny like this.”

She smiled sweetly.

Ugh… damn it.

Next time, I’m never coming home late again.

Later That Night

After dinner, I stood alone on the terrace, looking out over the vast forest.

Some areas were still damaged—remnants of my battle with Zofia.

I pulled out a cigarette from my pocket.

Using a small blue flame from So-ah, I lit it.

I took a slow drag.

Smoke escaped my lips as I leaned against the railing.

It had been several months since I arrived in this world.

And the story—

It had drifted far away from the original plot.

I didn’t know what I’d do if another anomaly appeared.

Maybe in a few days.

Maybe months.

Maybe even a year later.

Something extraordinary would happen again.

And then there was the Obsidian Pact.

Helena.

How was I supposed to defeat her?

Even now, Lightnova wasn’t strong enough to face her.

Her power felt like a massive serpent coiled around the planet—ready to crush everything at any moment.

A ticking time bomb.

I had to be more cautious about what lay ahead.

The future was dark.

But—

I would survive it.

No matter the cost.

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