CHAPTER 345: 344

Just like before, they decided to take a plane for their return.

Glancing over, Lina noticed Jin Yuha talking on the phone, his face weary.

"Yeah, Shin Se-hee. It’s all over now. Hmm? Do you still have spare members in Shin’s personal guard? Oh, you do? Great. Then could you assign one of them to keep an eye on each of those people for now? Thanks. Huh? Injured? Hahaha... Does it sound like that from my voice? No, no, I’m just tired. I’m not hurt, so don’t worry too much. Yeah, I’m heading back now. I’ll see you soon, so hang tight."

It seemed Jin Yuha had reached out to Shin Se-hee from Utopia to assign surveillance to the disgraceful former disciples—no, they could no longer be called disciples.

Lina knew Shin Se-hee well. Although she was Utopia’s sole non-combatant, her extraordinary abilities made her a vital operator who provided support on both visible and hidden fronts. If she were to oversee the surveillance, those people would lose all semblance of freedom.

’This decision was made with me in mind,’ Lina thought.

Despite his genuine anger earlier that day, Jin Yuha had sentenced them not to a swift punishment but to a slow penance: restoring what they had ruined and atoning for their sins in her name.

Though their lives would now be stifling, it was merciful compared to the gravity of their actions.

Lina understood this leniency was for her sake.

She felt ashamed. If there was a hole nearby, she’d gladly crawl into it.

She had introduced those people so proudly to Jin Yuha, claiming they were outstanding individuals. Instead, all she revealed was her poor judgment and inability to discern character.

Memories of her past boasting resurfaced, making her cringe. Surely, whatever respect Jin Yuha might have held for her must now be completely gone.

Just then, Jin Yuha turned to her, breaking her train of thought.

-Lina.

"Ugh!" she inwardly groaned.

’Why... Why did he suddenly hug me?!’

Though she understood it was to calm her down before she lost control and hurt those people severely, she still found herself squirming in embarrassment.

-Calm down. I’ll handle this. Trust me, okay?

’Ugh, and where did the usual polite speech go? Straight to informal talk, huh?’

Jin Yuha had genuinely gotten angry for her sake today, in a way she had never seen before. Unlike his usual calculated demeanor when dealing with demons or monsters, this was raw and unrestrained.

- Lina isn’t someone who should be wounded by the likes of you filthy wretches

The sharp and biting words, precisely because they were unfiltered, resonated deeply.

For the first time, Lina found herself worrying about something else: what if Jin Yuha no longer viewed her the same way as before? What if she had disappointed him?

Lina hesitated before cautiously asking, "...Are you disappointed in me?"

Jin Yuha glanced over at her.

"Disappointed?"

"Yes! I mean, the people I so confidently brought to you turned out to be... to be... like that!

Surely, you must be disappointed in me."

Jin Yuha scratched his head and answered in a relaxed tone, "Huh. What a thing to ask."

"Well, I do think you’re impressive, Lina, but... I wouldn’t say I revere you or anything."

’What?!’

Lina’s expression froze in shock.

But you used to say you respected me! She remembered him saying so in front of Seol-hee! Had those feelings evaporated because of today’s fiasco?

Her pupils seemed to quake with anxiety.

Jin Yuha shrugged and added casually, "You’re just a person like me, after all."

"What...?"

"Stuff like this happens all the time, doesn’t it? Getting stabbed in the back by people you trust, being betrayed, getting hurt—it’s all just part of life."

"..."

"So no, I’m not disappointed. You’re human too, Lina. It’s natural to make mistakes sometimes."

"..."

"Of course," he added with a wry smile, "since you’re so talented, the scraps that fall from your table are huge. That’s why those people managed to rise far above their station, which is why the fallout got so big."

Jin Yuha scratched his cheek. "But in the end, it’s just a normal thing."

Lina’s hands clenched tightly in her lap. This was the first time someone had so plainly acknowledged that she, too, could be vulnerable—just another human being.

For as long as she could remember, people had either idolized her as an untouchable figure or demonized her as a monster. Even those close to her, like Seol-hee or the Sword Emperor, saw her as untouchable, never daring to "worry" about her.

She had grown used to those views. That’s why Jin Yuha’s lack of reverence had initially seemed like a dismissal. But it wasn’t that.

Jin Yuha was treating her as an equal. Just another person.

Lina struggled to process the strange, warm sensation growing in her chest. It was a foreign feeling, one she hadn’t experienced in ages. But, being so out of practice with expressing herself, she could only respond with:

"...You arrogant fool. You’re the only one in the world who dares treat me like this."

Jin Yuha raised his hands in mock exasperation.

"Come on! I just wrecked my body cleaning up after your mess, and this is the thanks I get?"

"Mess? Such vulgar language you use."

Oddly enough, Lina found herself chuckling.

"Haha, what is it with you kids and your obsession with saying ’mess’ all the time?" Jin Yuha grumbled under his breath.

"I can hear you, you insolent brat."

[The Ugly Truth of the World Peace Association: There Was No Peace There]

[Supremacist Awakener Group Arrested! Even Demons Among Them!?]

[Top Political and Financial Figures Rapidly Aged Overnight—What on Earth Happened?]

A storm of chaos erupted following an unofficial meeting.

The news exploded across the globe, and online platforms reacted as though a bomb had been dropped. The individuals whose corruption was exposed all held high international positions, amplifying the shockwaves.

But did this revelation provoke widespread public outrage?

Surprisingly, it didn’t.

It all began with a single post from an online community user with an unusual nickname.

"Shall we take a moment to worship Lina?"

Author: GrandmaLover

My grandma is a veteran from the Gate Crisis days.

After the Gate Crisis ended, the government made all sorts of promises to reward those who had served. But they kept delaying it, citing financial difficulties or other excuses.

Then, suddenly, everything they owed was paid all at once, with interest.

An older woman—some Finance Minister? I don’t know her exact position, but she seemed high-ranking—came to our house.

At first, I thought she was there to take the money back, saying it was a mistake. But then, she knelt in front of my grandma and began trembling. She confessed all her wrongdoings and begged for forgiveness, promising it would never happen again.

Wow.

I swear, the chills I got in that moment.

My grandma had suffered from injuries she couldn’t afford to treat, to the point she’d groan in pain whenever it rained. But this time, a dispatched healer treated her for free.

And my younger sibling, who recently got into Velvet Academy, couldn’t even afford proper meals. Now, they’re receiving a scholarship for families of veterans.

It’s astonishing how quickly everything changed.

I feel so proud and emotional, as though my grandma is finally being recognized as the hero she is.

But it’s also a little scary—how sudden it all was.

So I did some digging to find out what happened.

Turns out, the Mage Emperor pulled the strings.

After observing for so long, they decided enough was enough. They gathered all the corrupt officials and told them to fix their messes immediately—or else.

Hearing this, my family finally felt relief for the first time in ages.

sigh...

I’ve sworn eternal loyalty to the Mage Emperor.

No objections allowed.

-I bow in worship. GOAT...

-My grandma got the call yesterday, and she cried, saying she always believed the Mage Emperor would never forget about them.

-This is real. All the things that were dragging on forever are suddenly being resolved. It’s insane how rotten things had become, but it’s kind of fun to watch the news now.

-Righteous retribution! Pure dopamine rush!!!

-Only Lina can restore order.

-Wow, that meme’s ancient. Isn’t it too outdated? Oh, by the way, are you a veteran?

-They’ve already fixed everything.

-Yes, they have...

-The fact is, grandma is getting healthier.

-Okay, take care.

-Hey, author, about your nickname...

-What about it?

-It’s just, uh... It’s accurate but still...

-I like grandmas.

-No, I mean, it’s just...

-The mental whiplash between wholesome and questionable is killing me. LOL

This post sparked a flood of similar stories.

Typically, when this level of hidden corruption is exposed, it triggers chaos, with people rising up in anger.

However, the current upheaval was seen as part of the Mage Emperor’s process of dredging up the rot and replacing it. People not only accepted this but also cheered for it.

There was no need for public outrage, as everyone trusted that the corrupt would be held accountable.

This belief in a society where justice is rewarded, and injustice is punished had taken root.

The trust and gravitas associated with the Mage Emperor’s name made such a monumental task possible.

The Mage Emperor’s reputation, which had waned briefly due to the Utopia Team, soared back to the top that day.

﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌

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