Reader of the Novel’s Extra

As expected, Yeonha immediately rushed down from the stands and to grab Hajin, barking orders at staff members and making frantic calls.

Everyone nearby saw it. The paparazzi and reporters did too.

But it seemed like Cube's student body had a tacit understanding to keep the Hajin and Yeonha drama going as numerous cadets immediately intercepted the paparazzi and reporters to cut off any pictures and recording.

On the surface, it seemed like it was self-preservation. After all, Yeonha was definitely going to be the heir to the number one Guild in the world.

But in reality...

"You damned journalists! I won't have you ruin my drama!"

"Do you have any idea how rare it is to see a drama play out in real life? Do you?"

"I have a hundred thousand won in the pool on various tropes happening! I won't let you interfere and lose my money!"

...They, uh. Had vested interests.

Lee chuckled as he watched the mayhem unfold.

And then he heard the soft pitterpatter of small shoes echo from behind him.

He turned around just in time for Evandel to jump into his arms.

"Daddy!"

Lee laughed and spun her around before holding her close. "That's right! It's Daddy~. Were you a good girl for Mommy and Aunties?"

"I was the goodest girl!" Evandel nodded. "But Daddy, cool!" She molded Aether into a plushy sword and said, "You made sword go BOING and DING and WHOOSH!"

Lee smiled and said, "Mmhm~ Daddy definitely did that."

Evandel looked at Lee with sparkling eyes and said, "Daddy, coolest!"

Nayun walked over and said, "Hajin's going to be disappointed to hear he lost his cool title."

Evandel squirmed around to look at Nayun and said, "Daddy beat Uncle Haji! Uncle Haji coolest, but Uncle Haji lose to Daddy! So Daddy coolest!"

It was the simple and pure logic of a child... and infallible logic at that.

Rachel smiled and then walked over to hug Lee. "Good job, Lee."

Lee chuckled and said, "It's not like anything was going to happen. I wanted to inspire Hajin a bit... but it looked like I p- made him angry instead."

After Rachel finished her hug, Nayun draped an arm around Lee's shoulder and lightly tapped his arm. "Obviously. Are you sure your Gift isn't [Ragebaiting] instead?"

Lee paused.

'...Technically, [Maverick] is just ragebaiting the world, isn't it?'

Nayun noticed and said, "Wait. Don't tell me it really is?"

Lee laughed. "Of course not. But if it was, that would explain why the world's always out to get me."

Yeonha walked over from the distance and said, "I think that would be more for your audacious attitude and general demeanor, Lee." She frowned and said, "Did you really have to give Hajin a concussion?"

"It'll be fine. He has plot armor."

Yeonha huffed and stomped her foot. "This world is not some sort of NovelPhoenix! Hajin could have died!"

Nayun rolled her eyes and said, "Relax, Yeonha. Lee isn't a brute. I'm sure he controlled his strength."

Lee nodded. "Yep. And he doesn't have a concussion. I just overloaded his parasympathetic nervous system a bit to short circuit him and knock him out."

"THAT'S WORSE!"

Lee raised an eyebrow. "Is it? Because now you have an excuse to forcefeed your hubby all sorts of elixirs and things to make him healthy."

Yeonha froze. Then she placed a hand on her chin, lost in thought. "...You do have a point. I hate it. But you have a point."

Evandel let out a sage nod and said, "Daddy, Smartest."

Rachel huffed and said, "Not true. Mommy's smarter."

Evandel tilted her head and looked between her parents. Then she looked to Lee and said, "Daddy. Mommy smarter?"

Lee nodded. "Yep. But Daddy knows more."

Evandel looked confused. Then she said, "Smart... different from know?"

"Mmhm." Lee tapped Evandel's head and said, "Smart means you have a better brain. You learn things faster. Knowing means you have more things in your head. You collected more information. I know more than your Mommy, but your Mommy's smarter."

Evandel's sparkled in understanding. Then she nodded and said, "Then I'll be smart AND know! Then I'll be smartestest!"

Lee laughed and nuzzled his cheek against Evandel's. "That's the spirit~"

"Daddy no squiiiish~!" Evandel squirmed and then reached for Rachel again.

Rachel chuckled and took Evandel from Lee. But as she did, she gave Lee a soft smile. "...You're too humble, Lee."

Nayun laughed. "Lee? Humble? Please." She pointed at Lee with a thumb and said, "He wouldn't know humble even if it slapped him in the face."

Yeonha nodded. "Completely agree."

Evandel copied Yeonha and nodded too. "Daddy, no humble."

Rachel gave Yeonha a side-eye.

Yeonha averted her gaze, idly fiddling with her fingernails.

"Alright, alright." Lee clapped his hands and said, "Let's get out of here before a riot breaks out. We're pretty much done with duels for the day anyway, and the nomination period's already over, so we're free."

Evandel's eyes sparkled when she heard her father's words. "Free? Then we play?!"

Lee gave a thumbs up to Evandel. "That's right, Eva. Now it's play time. Let's go check out the rest of the festival."

"Yay!"

===

Back in the Chameleon Troupe's hideout, roughly around noon.

Boss sat at her desk in her makeshift room and waited for her subordinate to give a report on the situation in Cube.

While she had wanted to stick around herself to observe Lee in person, there were numerous things to prepare before bringing Lee in as the Seat of Black.

Specifically, a nursery, proper real estate, official documentation... and flushing out that stray knight who was still obsessed with the Princess of England.

That last part was what was taking a while.

Although Jain noted that Lee had inflicted a wound on the knight in the past from his anti-magic abilities... whatever they were.

It seemed that Alexander Lancaster had become more careful since then and dug into a deep hole to tide things over.

Jain was probing around and even hiring a few Djinn to put out a bounty, but it was taking time.

As for Boss...

...Since she was the official leader of Jeronimo Mercenary, the Chameleon Troupe's legal entity, she had to do the official paperwork for preparing Lee to join as a trainee member.

Although it wasn't possible right now, after the semester ended, Cube opened up the Guild Experience Program, which let cadets observe heroes working in guilds.

That would be when Lee Shin could properly meet the other members and settle into his role.

But until then...

"...I hate paperwork." Boss murmured as she sat at her desk, waiting for her meeting with her subordinate to start.

And then the door opened and a cute young boy with white hair and golden eyes ran in.

"Boss, Boss!" Droon, the Seat of Violet, dashed in, his eyes sparkling. "The new guy, that Lee Shin! He's amazing!"

Boss looked smug and said, "I know he is."

"No, no. You don't understand... here!" Droon focused and then spread out his hand.

His Gift allowed him to recreate anything he had personally experienced... and since he had been hiding in the shadows to keep an eye on important cadets at the Cube combat exams, it allowed him to replay those scenes in real time like a hologram.

And as for what he replayed...

Boss watched with a blank expression as she watched Lee defeat Kim Suho by using a flashy swordsmanship that had no substance and force behind it... except that it somehow did.

And then she watched as a few pointed words from Lee suddenly made Kim Suho reach an epiphany to the extent that a casual slash ripped apart the sky.

And after that, she watched Lee play around with that gunman cadet Kim Hajin by making his sword bounce around at impossible speeds and angles to corner and overwhelm Kim Hajin before suddenly moving just as fast as Cheok Jungyeong could.

Droon laughed and said, "He really is like Cheok Jungyeong! Li Shuwen must have reincarnated to try and master the sword instead! He's so cool! And fast! And amazing!"

"...Yes."

Boss had to admit that was true.

She had dismissed Lee's casual claims about being good with the sword due to spending time in his youth playing with lightsabers and having play duels...

But that level of skill didn't just come from 'play.'

Boss tapped her fingers on her desk and murmured, "Where do the truths end?"

It was undoubtedly true that Lee had the skills of Li Shuwen. And Boss could tell that he was speaking the truth when he said his real name was Li Shu Wen.

But the numerous pieces didn't fit together in terms of timeframe...

Unless.

Boss's eyes widened as a simple answer came to mind. "...Regression."

Droon tilted his head. "...Regression, Boss?"

Boss quickly placed her hand on her chin and wracked her mind to piece together what she knew about Lee Shin.

'...Yes. It makes sense if it's regression.'

An impossible Gift and physique. A sudden disparity in ranking and expertise. Deliberately hiding his true abilities. The casual ease in which he immediately approached the Princess of England as if he had spent a lifetime with her. Even that child...

Boss let out a smug smile, satisfied at figuring out Lee's true secret.

'...This will help greatly.'

It appeared that in the previous loop, Lee had never met them- No, he had clearly met Cheok Jungyeong. Perhaps on the other side as an opponent.

That was why Lee was so certain of Cheok Jungyeong's skill and also why he immediately accepted their offer. Perhaps in the past life, they missed him and he struggled due to lacking powerful allies.

But now...

"A mutually beneficial relationship. Good." Boss nodded and looked at Droon. "Continue to observe, Droon. We will do what we can to keep Lee on our side."

"Um... sure? But before then... I think his daughter noticed me. Is that fine?"

Boss blinked. "What?"

Droon hummed and said, "Well... I think her Gift is a little similar to mine? You know how I can summon Mimyo and other things, right? Because I tame them?"

"...Yes." Boss slowly nodded. "That is your qualification as Violet, after all."

"Well... That Evandel girl makes the things that I tame. And other things too."

Boss blinked, processing Droon's words. But then she caught on to his last words and said, "...What other things?"

"Mythical artifacts? I'm pretty sure she materialized the Holy Grail at one point and drank from it. And Excalibur too."

"...What?"