“It might sting a little. Is that okay?”

Speaking gently through a translator, Lea asked in Korean. Guru nodded vigorously, full of resolve.

“Good. Then just bear with it for a moment.”

Lea carefully wiped the blood from Guru’s knee and slowly poured potion over the wound.

The cut healed cleanly right away, though a sharp pain briefly flared.

Guru winced but endured it.

“Oh—you handled that so well!”

Guru’s face bloomed with pride, and she burst into a giggle.

Lea cupped Guru’s cheeks in both hands and kissed her on the cheek.

“So cute.”

Receiving a kiss from a pretty unni left Guru melting, her face burning red.

Her embarrassment was obvious, and soon the surrounding German teammates began murmuring one by one: “Cute.” “Too cute.” Their eyes all fell on Guru.

Overwhelmed by the sudden flood of attention, Guru smiled stiffly.

She realized—she was in the middle of the enemy team, being showered with affection.

'I-Is dis okay?!'

Then, a girl reached out a hand to touch Guru’s cheek.

But Mephisto flapped his wings sharply, batting her hand away with a fierce warning.

The girl laughed out loud at the sight.

Playfully, she stroked Mephisto’s tiny face with her thumb and forefinger.

[“Is this a chick?”]

[“But it’s white. Chicks are supposed to be yellow.”]

[“Looks kind of like a penguin.”]

[“Not a penguin—just chubby.”]

The German players exchanged comments as they poked at Mephisto’s plump body and wings with ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) curious hands.

“Piiit-piieeeet!”

Mephisto screeched indignantly, making a fuss. At that, Veilach and Lukshifer peeked their heads out of Guru’s bag to watch.

[“What the—why does this kid have so many animal friends?”]

[“Is she a Disney princess or something?”]

At someone’s quip, everyone burst out laughing.

But Guru, who couldn’t understand a word, blinked nervously. Seeing this, Lea stroked her head kindly.

“They’re not saying anything bad. It’s just because they think you’re cute.”

Guru rolled her eyes, then dropped her gaze.

Nod, nod.

If unni said so, then it must be true.

Just then, Lea hesitated as if on the verge of saying something—then finally asked:

“Has anyone ever done something bad to you?”

“Bad fing?”

“Yes. Could it be... was it Hyeonak?”

At the sudden suggestion that Hyeonak had mistreated her, Guru flinched and shook her head quickly.

“Nope. Nebuh.”

“It’s okay to tell me the truth. I’m the same as you, after all.”

Guru blinked in confusion. The same? What does she mean?

Then—

“Eyes?”

“Yes. We have the same eyes. You see it, don’t you?”

“Neeng...”

“So you can tell me anything.”

“Um?”

Tell her... what?

Still utterly lost, Guru just blinked blankly.

At that moment, a German student who had been on the phone caught Lea’s eye and pointed down.

[“Lea, they want us in the training room.”]

[“Already?”]

[“Just to loosen up a bit.”]

[“Okay. I was stiff anyway.”]

Lea clenched her fist and stood.

Guru, seated on the sofa, also rose.

Was it time for her to leave now that her wound was healed?

As the team got ready to go, Guru pouted, eyes darting around.

She’d come here to find weaknesses, but gained nothing.

All she’d gotten was a bizarre misunderstanding about Hyeonak mistreating her—and a mountain of “cute” comments.

Spotting her awkwardness, Lea made a suggestion.

“Want to watch us train?”

Training?!

There was no reason to refuse. Guru nodded eagerly.

***

In the special training hall for Awakened beneath the dorms—

After stretching, Lea jogged lightly. A teammate approached.

[“Is it really okay to show our training to that kid? She’s Hyeonak.”]

[“You knew?”]

[“Everyone knows at least that much, idiot.”]

[“Doesn’t matter. We’re confident, aren’t we?”]

[“Lea, why are you suddenly so serious?”]

Lea glanced at Guru.

The others followed her gaze to the little girl sitting on the bench.

[“I’m just a bit worked up.”]

[“What?”]

She pointed from her eyes to Guru.

Her teammates, knowing her history, frowned.

[“Don’t tell me... she was artificially Awakened too?”]

[“Must be. Which means...”]

[Activating skill: ‘Blessing of Victory (SS).’]

Suddenly, six massive wings unfurled, wrapping around the German team.

The air grew heavy as tremendous power radiated outward.

It looked as though a colossal shield was protecting the entire team.

[“Let’s show them we’re strong enough to protect even a child.”]

With a whistle, explosions thundered through the hall.

Boom, boom, boom!

The German players smashed through training equipment in an instant, proving their strength.

“Hyuup!”

Guru gasped.

Even though she’d seen Hyeonak’s training every day, the Germans’ display was overwhelming.

Each of them seemed almost like an S-Rank.

But she’d heard all except their S-Rank supporter were only A-Rank?

Just then, Veilach, sitting beside her in human form, spoke.

“S-Rank supporter class. Seems specialized in reinforcement.”

Guru’s eyes lit up.

“Suppowter? Isn’t dat jus’ huntews who heal sick peopwe?”

“That too. But healers, buffers, debuffers, CC users—all of them fall into the supporter category. Humans made those divisions arbitrarily.”

“Fuum...”

Veilach, seeing her baffled face, added:

“That one specializes in reinforcement buffs.”

“Ahaang.”

So that was it. Buffs!

Another way to grow stronger.

For Guru, who had only seen healer-type supporters until now, this was like a new world opening.

Now she understood why so many articles pointed out Hyeonak’s weakness in the supporter lineup.

Germany had someone who could raise their power this high.

'It’s like eatin’ a Fiwiow Piety snack—got way stwongew.'

But unlike the snacks, there probably wasn’t a debuff.

'Amazing...'

Seeing firsthand the impact a supporter could have, Guru’s jaw dropped.

'There awe this many stwong peopwe in the wowwd...'

She hugged her chick drone tightly.

Her mind drifted back to Jurim and Kazuki’s interview—their confident demeanor, the looks of respect they received.

She thought of Gidan and Serhi, who cleared dungeons with ease.

The S-Ranks she’d taken for granted now felt like beings from another world.

Her eyes returned to the German team.

They moved as one.

The whole experience thrilled her, like a current surging through her body.

Her perspective was broadening—and her heart pounded faster.

'Gwuu wanna get stwong too.'

Hot blood coursed through her veins, heat searing to her fingertips, hardening her resolve.

***

“Auntie!”

Guru spotted her sitter and waved.

The sitter beamed at her, then bowed deeply to Lea.

“I heard you helped Guru when she was hurt. Thank you.”

“It was nothing.”

“Guru, say thank you properly.”

“Yesh! Fank you fow hewpin’ Gwuu!”

Lea chuckled, then declared firmly:

“Tell Hyeonak this: we’re going to win.”

Guru gaped in surprise. Did she know Guru was Hyeonak?

Quickly, she clenched her fists.

“Gwuu not gonna wose eithew!”

Lea grinned.

“When the match is over, promise me you’ll tell me the truth.”

'The truth?'

Guru tilted her head in confusion, but Lea only smiled faintly and stroked her head.

“Let’s talk again after the exchange.”

Nod, nod.

Whatever it was, it seemed better to talk properly later.

After their farewells, Guru toddled toward the parking lot holding her sitter’s hand, mulling over the day.

'They wew so stwong.'

With buffs, their firepower looked like it could even rival Hyeonak’s S-Rankers, Gidan and Serhi.

But could Hyeonak, dragging around baggage like her, really win?

'Gwuu need to upgwade dwone mowe.'

Her brows furrowed with determination.