Chapter 44
Chapter 44
Translator: Penny
Episode 44: Yoo Eunha [5]
How long had she been unconscious? Yu Eun-ha managed to sit up on a bed made of luxurious materials.
Puzzled by the sudden change in location, she wondered if she had failed the test. Her body began to tremble, and she tried to calm herself.
But as she slapped her body in an attempt to regain control, a voice suddenly spoke:
"Enough. Don't splatter blood in my office."
As if someone had cast a spell to restrict her movements, Yu Eun-ha felt her limbs bound, unable to move at all.
"...Where am I?"
"My office. It's also serving as my bedroom for now."
With a strained turn of her head, Yu Eun-ha saw Eve Meitner staring down at her, dressed in the nearly nude attire and witch's hat she remembered from before the Regression.
"I was definitely taking the test... Ugh!?"
"Your residual injuries are still severe. Stay still. You barely passed—if you push yourself like that, I'll revoke your acceptance."
".........!"
Acceptance.
After what felt like an eternity of being beaten down by these people, they had finally acknowledged her.
"Don't get the wrong idea. Han-ra and the others reported that no one could buy Se-a more time to escape than you. I'm just confirming their assessment."
"That's enough for me."
Though the words were quite insulting, Yu Eun-ha didn't care in the slightest.
Now, at last, I can see my sister. That was the only thought consuming my mind.
"So, I can see my sister now?"
"No. I still don't think you're ready to meet Se-a."
But Eve Meitner's actions—moving to block my exit from the Guild Master's Office and prevent me from seeing Yun Se-a—prompted Yu Eun-ha to ask:
"Didn't I pass?"
"You barely met the children's standards. You still fall short of mine."
Yu Eun-ha's spirits plummeted instantly, and Eve chuckled at the sight.
"Still, you should rest for a day. Se-a has recovered safely, and she mentioned wanting some time alone yesterday."
"My sister has recovered?"
"Yes. If some meddling someone hadn't dumped all those drugs into her system, she would have returned to the Academy long ago."
"........."
"If you knew, you wouldn't be thinking of sneaking off to see Se-a, would you? Not that you even know the location of the safe house."
In truth, Yu Eun-ha already knew where Yun Se-a was.
Among Eve Meitner's safe houses scattered across the country, only one was currently being used by Yun Se-a. Given her personality, it was highly likely she would continue using that safe house in the future, making it the only plausible location.
The safe house was located not far from Raon Academy.
The entire mountain had been purchased and fortified with layers of Security Magic, creating a mansion boasting extreme security. Even most A-Rank Hunters, if they were determined to break in, wouldn't be able to breach the entrance.
Yu Eun-ha thought the building, once intended as Eve's residence, was more than adequate for Yun Se-a's needs.
"So, join our training session for a day. If you prove useful by my standards, I'll reveal the location of the safe house."
"Can we start right away...?"
"No, in six hours. I can't push our Guild members, who just returned from clearing an A-Rank Gate, just for you, can I?"
"...Yes."
Immediately afterward, Yu Eun-ha attempted to sneak into Yun Se-a's safe house without Eve's knowledge but was caught by the security magic and instantly incinerated. Song Da-in, sighing, later retrieved her.
Six hours later, when Yu Eun-ha awoke, the sight that greeted her was truly shocking.
Even if a group of A-Rank Hunters were gathered, dealing with A-Rank Monsters should still be a significant challenge.
"Alright, let's summon three more."
"Yes!"
No matter how skilled they were, the sheer number of monsters was overwhelming.
In an instant, Song Da-in charged forward, swinging her hammer, while Yu Han-ra followed close behind, wreaking havoc in the enemy ranks. Meanwhile, the mages and archers in the rear systematically eliminated the monsters, employing textbook tactics.
In essence, Yu Eun-ha was experiencing a live demonstration of an A-Rank Demonic Beast subjugation.
She was forced to participate in large-scale monster subjugation training alongside the Golden Guild members, even being tasked with protecting the mages from the Song Da-in & Yu Han-ra duo in simulated two-on-many combat scenarios.
This mock training was likely designed to protect Yun Se-a, who held the Mage position.
Fortunately, the mage behind Yu Eun-ha turned out to be none other than Eve Meitner.
Why Eve was helping Yu Eun-ha remained a mystery.
"Se-a's magical attacks are remarkably powerful. Although her Mana reserves are displayed as lower than mine... her peak burst damage is probably higher. And there's also that Constellation Magic—that unique spell takes quite a while to cast."
Realizing the training was meant to demonstrate Yun Se-a's firepower and prepare them for protecting her in the future, Yu Eun-ha threw herself into the exercise with life-or-death determination.
Perhaps as a result of her brutal past training, Yu Eun-ha's body felt lighter than ever before.
Crack!
"Chairwoman!"
"Haa... I hate to admit it, but you've passed."
Fizz!
After grabbing Song Da-in and self-destructing with Eve's lightning, Yu Eun-ha had boldly secured her passage against Yu Han-ra as well, using the same method.
"So, you've passed..."
Tap-tap-tap!
Before the words were even finished, Yu Eun-ha had already sprinted toward Yun Se-a's safe house. Eve Meitner sighed heavily.
"Haa... Fine, go quickly if you're going. You're exhausting me."
"Um... Guild Master?"
"...?"
"She's not even taking the Recovery Potion?"
Yu Eun-ha's body, still wracked with pain from the electric shock, lay motionless on the floor, the Recovery Potion offered to her untouched beside her.
"...Who gets contacted when the emergency button is pressed?"
"At this hour, it's me... Ah."
Yu Han-ra, realizing the gravity of the situation, immediately rushed to force-feed the potion to Yu Eun-ha.
"Guild Master, Teleportation..."
"Uh... about that."
Eve desperately wanted to teleport to Yu Eun-ha's side, but...
Recent incidents—sneaking into Yun Se-a's bedroom while she slept to pinch her cheeks and other such antics—had earned her an Order of Banishment, rendering Teleportation impossible.
"Please, Sein, stop her...!"
Thus, most of the Golden Guild hoped Lee Sein would reach Yun Se-a's safe house sooner rather than later.
"Guild Master, the traffic is terrible!"
"Ditch the car nearby and run! We'll send someone to retrieve it later!"
Unfortunately, by the time Lee Sein arrived, Yu Eun-ha, covered in injuries, had already reached the main gate.
"Chairwoman Eve Meitner, I think we need to keep the teleportation restriction active."
"Ugh! Please, anything but that...!"
Click
"Guild Master?"
"We're doomed!"
Eve and Song Da-in were furious at the prospect of having to watch Yu Eun-ha and Yun Se-a live together for the foreseeable future, while Yu Han-ra, who had been kicked out right before their eyes, was just an added bonus.
"............"
I silently gazed at Eun-ha's face, peacefully asleep on the bed.
Stretch...!
When I gently tugged her cheek, it stretched like a mochi, looking incredibly cute.
No wonder Eve did this to me.
"Why did you go through so much trouble for someone like me? The only thing I did to earn your favor was take that spear for you back then."
Yu Eun-ha, a major character and the main heroine of the story, had suffered far too many hardships she shouldn't have had to endure, all because of me.
Even though she betrayed me and nearly killed me... after three regressions and three horrific bad endings at the hands of the past Yun Se-a, how could I possibly hate this poor child?
Yu Eun-ha and Yun Se-a always had a love-hate relationship, even in the original story.
A relationship built on mutual understanding, yet fundamentally incapable of true understanding.
"To be honest, after being tortured and nearly drowned, I... hated you. I'm strangely calm now, though."
I'll never forget what you said to me back then.
In the original story, she was a psychopath who killed people simply because they were villains who tormented the protagonist.
"But... I don't hate you as much as I should. Maybe it's a sense of kinship—both Miss Eun-ha and I are striving to achieve our goals."
In the original story, Yu Eun-ha was the protagonist's steadfast ally and heroine. It would be problematic if she died here.
Hah, even in this situation, all I can think about is going home.
This feels so strange. I'm still a minor, so I can't even drink... Just pure frustration.
"......As I thought, I don't belong here. No, it's more like I'm an impurity, something that shouldn't exist in this place."
In this world, I am a foreign element, a walking variable personified.
There are good people like Kang A-yul and Lee Seo-yun, but there are also too many uncontrollable variables like Yu Eun-ha, posing constant threats.
In the end, I can't let these pure and innocent people join the story I'm trying to change. I can only worry and fear that they'll be swept up in the variables closing in on me.
Someone might call me a coward for this, but...
There are too many variables now.
Every action I take could lead to someone's death, or save a villain from certain doom.
The original story has already been altered so much that my knowledge might no longer be valid.
"So... to ensure you all can safely conclude this story, we—including Jian and myself—must become stronger. By any means necessary."
This dark content clashed with the relatively bright genre of academy stories. The protagonist group, including Lee Yu-hyeon, were still students, and the narrative should have focused on them honing their skills, growing as individuals, and ultimately achieving their dreams.
Wouldn't that be a happy ending?
"If I complete this mission... I probably won't need to stay here any longer."
Therefore, I intend to forgive Yu Eun-ha.
"So, even though you'll never hear this... let's use each other to the fullest for our respective goals. You aim for world peace, while I strive to return to my original world."
Because I must go home.