[I ALWAYS say that these kids are scary, but I’m not really that scared of them.]

Zirkus, as Park Suho, wasn’t really a good person.

Since he grew up as an orphan, he was often bullied because of his poor background. Hence, to protect himself, he learned how to fight. Up until his first year in high school, he was actually known as a delinquent in their neighborhood. He was even hailed as the ‘top dog’ of his school, aka the best fighter.

He only turned over a new leaf when he met a foul-mouthed yet warm police officer that helped him change for the better.

[But that person disappeared and abandoned me, too…]

“Tsk.”

Zirkus clicked his tongue, annoyed that he remembered something unpleasant.

“Did you just click your tongue at us?”

It was Nixie Winslet.

[Right, I’m in the middle of a confrontation…]

“Yes, I clicked my tongue, but that’s not the point,” Zirkus said, his voice still indifferent. “I’m asking you why you’re treating me like this when it was Enzo who decided to cancel his trip with you.”

Initially, he planned to salvage Zirkus Huxford’s reputation because he thought the original owner of his new body was a complete bastard. After all, he woke up bullying Enzo Fenton. But that didn’t seem to be the case.

If the original Zirkus Huxford was truly a bully, then his schoolmates wouldn’t have the courage to call him ‘ugly’ right in front of his face.

[Unfortunately, I can’t see from Zirkus Huxford’s memories the reason why he suddenly targeted Enzo. Plus, his “friends” that I met that night haven’t returned to the academy yet for some mysterious reasons.]

Hence, based on the things that he noticed so far, it was safe to assume that the original Zirkus Huxford was just a big pushover and not a bully.

[Someone else probably urged him to bully Enzo.]

“Enzo is our childhood friend, and we know him since we were kids,” Rivo Creswell said firmly. “We are his family. There’s no way he’ll prioritize YOU– the person who bullied him– over us. You must have blackmailed him.”

Zirkus couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief. “For someone who claims to have known Enzo since they were kids, you sure do NOT know him that well.”

Rivo Creswell and Nixie Winslet looked shocked by what he said.

Yep, this was still him salvaging Zirkus Huxford’s reputation.

[After I turned over a new leaf as Park Suho, I learned how to socialize and bow my head when I needed to in order to survive the real world as an adult. But that doesn’t mean I will let these kids walk all over me when I’m innocent.]

Like he always said, he knew when to bow his head– and this was certainly NOT the time to do so.

To save the world, Zirkus needed these kids to follow him. And in order to do that, he had to teach them how to respect him first. He wouldn’t be able to do that to if he would just let them look down on him just because they were physically stronger.

[I will not bow down this time even if I end up getting beaten up to a pulp.]

“How can you say that, Huxford?” Nixie Winslet asked, obviously upset. “You don’t know anything about us.”

[Except I do.]

Zirkus wasn’t able to finish the entire story because he was already transported into this world just before the final volume of The Legendary Fisher was released.

But he had read enough to know about the trio’s friendship.

[The three didn’t really have a genuine friendship since Rivo Creswell and Nixie Winslet did not know Enzo was the traitor until he stabbed them in the back.]

“Huxford, you don’t have the right to comment about our friendship,” Rivo Creswell said sternly. This time, the hero looked really pissed. “I don’t know what you want from Enzo, but leave him alone. Don’t turn him into a rude person who’d ditch his friends for a stranger.”

Zirkus was about to open his mouth to speak, but someone else beat him to it.

“Is it different from canceling our date for your childhood friends?”

Oho?

It was Yelena Dover.

Rivo Creswell and Nixie Winslet looked shocked when they turned around and found the Mermaid Princess.

“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but you three were pretty loud,” Yelena Dover said while smiling apologetically. Then she turned to Rivo Creswell who suddenly turned pale. “Rivo, we were supposed to celebrate our first year anniversary on that weekend. But you canceled our trip because Nixie asked you and Enzo to visit her hometown with her.”

Zirkus let out a loud gasp. He was surprised, of course. But he exaggerated his reaction to piss the hero. “You did that, Rivo Creswell?”

Rivo Creswell’s face turned red, as if he was embarrassed.

“I’m so sorry, Yelena,” Nixie Winslet said as if she was guilty. “I didn’t know you and Rivo already made plans when I invited him.”

Yelena Dover turned to Nixie Winslet with a picture-perfect smile. “It’s not your fault, Nixie. It was Rivo who made a promise with me, and it was also him who chose to break.”

“Yelena, please don’t be too hard on Rivo,” Nixie Winslet said, frowning. “It’s my fault. I should have been more considerate before inviting Rivo and Enzo…”

“I understand, Nixie,” Yelena Dover said, still flashing her angelic smile. “Maybe you just haven’t gotten used to Rivo having a girlfriend yet because he still puts you on top of his priority.”

Zirkus gasped again, but this time, he was genuinely shocked by Yelena Dover’s sassiness.

[I thought she was a boring character!]

Yelena Dover had little scenes in the original novel. Her accomplishments were just mentioned every time Rivo Creswell would reminisce about their past relationship.

The Mermaid Princess only had a major role in the arc where she died.

“I know my place,” Yelena Dover said, now completely dominating the conversation. “Just because I’m Rivo’s girlfriend doesn’t mean I should become my priority. But I know I sounded like a bitter jerk just now, so I apologize for my hypocrisy, Nixie.”

Zirkus clapped soundlessly.

He just clapped without really having his palms touched because he thought he should just enjoy the show quietly.

[This is better than any Korean drama I've seen before!]

“N-No. Don’t apologize,” Nixie Winslet said while shaking her head. “It’s alright, Yelena. I’ll be more careful next time.”

“Thank you, Nixie,” Yelena Dover said, then she turned to Rivo Creswell. “My dear, you canceled our date because of Nixie’s invitation. But did you see me go off on Nixie? No, because I respected your decision. You chose who you wanted to spend that weekend with, and Enzo did the same. Please respect your friend’s decision, especially if he already apologized for canceling on you.”

“It’s not the main issue, Yelena,” Rivo Creswell, who finally found his voice, said. “I just can’t believe that Enzo would ditch us for Huxford.”

“Why not?”

“Because Huxford bullies Enzo.”

Yelena Dover blinked as if she was confused, then she laughed softly while shaking her head. “Dear, do you really think Enzo is the type who would let people bully him?”

Zirkus beamed while looking at Yelena Dover with more respect now.

[She gets it. Should I call her ‘noonim’ from now on?]

“You’re just upset because Enzo didn’t prioritize your friendship for the first time, dear,” Yelena Dover said in a sweet and comforting voice. Then the Mermaid Princess put a hand on the hero’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it soon, like I did.”

Zirkus’ jaw dropped.

[I would like to sue the readers who said Yelena Dover is a boring character because she was “too nice.”]

“Now, let’s all get along well. Hmm?” Yelena Dover said, smiling sweetly at everyone before she turned to Zirkus. “See you later, Huxford.”

Zirkus smiled and nodded. “Yep, see you later.”

After nodding at him, Yelena Dover left gracefully.

“Yelena,” Rivo Creswell said, running after Yelena Dover. “Please wait for me.”

Zirkus tilted his head, confused.

[Was it really Rivo Creswell who dumped Yelena Dover?]

His thoughts were interrupted when he heard a loud sigh.

It was Nixie Winslet.

[Right, she’s still here.]

“Huxford, Enzo doesn’t really like Klaus,” Nixie said before she turned her back on him. “Make sure the two wouldn’t be alone together.”

Hmm?

Now that made Zirkus wonder.

[What’s the deal between Enzo and Klaus Irvin?]

***

“GIVE me the manuscript– I need it to keep me occupied during the trip.”

Zirkus, who opened the door when a visitor came by so early in the morning, blinked his eyes. It was annoying to be woken up that early, but it was more annoying to see Enzo’s blinding handsome face when he probably looked like an ugly fish at the moment. “Enzo, do you know what time is it?”

“Three in the morning.”

“Tsk,” he clicked his tongue as a complaint. “I’m not really asking you what time is it. I want to know why you’re here at this ungodly hour.”

“Ah, did I forget to tell you?” Enzo asked, tilting his head. “The ship that will bring us to Klaus Irvin’s island would leave in an hour.”

Zirkus’ eyes opened wide, and now he was wide awake. “Why are you only telling me now, you inconsiderate jerk?! I haven’t packed my things yet!”

“Did you just curse at me while yelling?”

“I did,” he said, clicking his tongue again. “And what would you do about it? If you kill me, you’ll never get to taste instant ramen again. Plus, you’ll never know how Garuto and the Hidden Soul Village ends.”

“Now you know how to blackmail properly.”

“This kind of threat only works on you,” he complained again. “Give me forty minutes to get ready.”

“I’ll only wait for twenty minutes,” Enzo said, frowning. “I’ll leave you if you’re not yet ready by then.”

Aigoo.

“Thirty minutes– and it’s final.”

The villain just rolled his eyes. “Don’t forget to pack your weapons, too.”

“Weapons? Don’t you mean SHOVELS? Why would I need weapons when we’re just going to hunt treasures?”

“Klaus Irvin’s Treasure Hunting Game takes place on an island infested by Sea Monsters,” Enzo explained with furrowed brows. “Don’t you know that?”

Zirkus’ jaw dropped in shock. “Say what now?”

If Zirkus only knew that the Treasure Hunting Game would lead him to THAT thing, he wouldn’t have boarded the ship…

***

[NOW I know how Klaus Irvin died in the original novel.]

It was a life-and-death situation, and Zirkus had to use his brain to use the kids in order for all of them to survive.

“Enzo,” Zirkus said, pointing at the monster in front of them. “Attack.”

Enzo glared at him. “Am I your pet?”

[It’s not the right time to complain, you pokemo– I mean, punk.]

Just how did they get in this shitty mess again?