Chapter 161
Chapter 161
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: Star
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There was a girl.
A small, young girl.
Still so very young, she was just a child gazing up at the world with nothing but vague longing.
She didn't even properly know what color that dream was, or what exactly she yearned for.
It was simply a small, pure world where she believed the world must be beautiful because the stars were beautiful.
"Oppa! Let's go! Walkies! Night walkies!"
But what did longings or dreams matter? To the girl, having her big brother right there in front of her play with her—that moment was her entire universe. It was that small and simple a world.
Her big brother was always busy. The weight of being a hero left no room for time with his little sister. So tonight, when he came home early for once, was the perfect chance.
Late evening, after throwing a tantrum past her parents' protests to finally win some walk time with her brother. This moment was her whole world, a star she could hold in her hands.
"Hurry!"
A cute gesture full of childish charm fitting her age. The girl urged him on, reaching out her hand.
"...Alright."
Her brother, Yoon Kang-woo, took her hand. An innocent smile bloomed radiantly on the girl's face.
"Piggyback! Piggyback!"
"Ugh, you little rascal. Hold on."
Not satisfied with just holding hands, she quickly begged for more.
At the six-year-old girl's wriggling as she clung to his neck, Yoon Kang-woo's face briefly twisted in embarrassment, but he soon gave in with a sigh and hoisted her onto his shoulders.
"Ugh, don't grab my hair."
"Whee."
She paid no mind to her brother's grumbling, laced with discomfort. The girl yanked at his hair with her tiny, fern-like hands. Fun.
The girl squirmed on his shoulders. She tugged his ears, pinched his cheeks, playing pranks.
"Ugh, hey!"
No matter that she was just a little girl—even chaos like this from atop his head had to hurt. As Yoon Kang-woo flinched without thinking, the girl's body tilted backward sharply for a moment.
But the girl was also a sprout who would one day become a hero. She clutched her brother's hair like a lifeline and somehow regained her balance.
Thanks to that, Yoon Kang-woo had to endure the agony of his scalp nearly tearing off.
"Eek!"
"Kyahaha!"
The little devil's laughter rang out gleefully. As the girl, half-reclined, wreaked more havoc, her gaze soon reached the night sky.
"Wow."
Stars adorned the heavens. Countless stars, more than she could count with all ten fingers spread wide.
"Oppa. You know what? Mom said—the stars—they're—"
"What about the stars."
At the curt reply from below, the girl adjusted her position and poked Yoon Kang-woo's crown. She wanted to share this amazing secret her mom had told her with her brother.
"There's a ton of 'em! Suuuper tons!"
"I can see that."
"And... um... they're suuuper big!"
"Yeah. I know."
"Grr!"
"Ow. Hair. Hair."
Annoyed by his utterly uninterested responses, the girl thumped the top of his head, then looked up at the sky again.
Stars were there.
Twinkly, pretty stars.
The girl clenched and unclenched her hand toward the empty air. She felt no texture at all, but this small, young girl believed she had grasped a star.
Even if all that remained in her palm were a few strands of Yoon Kang-woo's hair—this time held a value brighter than any star for her.
A time free from boring study nagging or parents' reminders to brush her teeth.
A time untouched by teachers' scoldings not to act so wild, or adults' gazes comparing her to her brother.
A time for just her and Oppa. A moment like a star that she'd won through her tantrums.
"Heehee."
"Why're you laughing."
"Just 'cause! I like the stars!"
"........."
Yoon Kang-woo said nothing, just looked at the sky. The girl stopped whining too, humming a tune as she savored the moment.
The silence stretched, but it wasn't uncomfortable. Her brother had always been the quiet type anyway.
Yoon Kang-woo. Her big brother, and everyone's favorite hero.
A person like a star.
A star that twinkled brightly, illuminating the night sky.
A star that drove away the darkness and protected people.
The girl yearned for the stars.
"Na-rin. You wanna be a hero too?"
"Yeah!"
"Why?"
"Hmm... 'Cause Oppa's one!"
An innocent answer. The way she tilted her head, as if she didn't quite know herself, was utterly adorable.
"Haha... Yeah?"
Yoon Kang-woo laughed. As he ruffled her hair affectionately, she burst into giggles. Gazing fondly at her, he spoke softly.
"Na-rin."
"Hm?"
"Hold a star in your heart. Keep your own star in a corner of your heart."
Don't try to become a star—hold one inside.
You don't have to shine bright. It's fine if it's dim.
You don't have to drive away the darkness.
Even if one day far in the future your heart changes and you don't walk the hero's path, it doesn't matter.
As long as you hold that faint but vivid star in a corner of your heart.
That alone would make it beautiful enough.
"Pfft. What're you even saying."
"Ow. Wait. Hair!"
At those words, the girl yanked his hair again. It was too grown-up for a six-year-old.
The siblings bickered as usual, then eventually headed home hand in hand at her whining.
That was all.
A short walk under the pouring starlight, riding on her brother's shoulders.
A distant memory now, too faint to even properly recall.
For some reason, Yoon Na-rin would often trace back to that day out of habit.
She still didn't know what her brother had meant by those words back then.
Even if she tried to figure it out, she never would now.
Forever.
There was no one left to ask.
He was gone from this world.
Burned to ashes, leaving nothing behind.
Why.
Why.
What did Oppa even do.
What wrong did he commit.
Whose fault is it?
...Who dares.
Who the hell.
"It's you."
Thwack! Yoon Na-rin kicked the revolver on the floor, sending it flying far away. Betty's eyes, chasing after the weapon, shook in panic.
"I wondered who kept firing that gun nonstop—lo and behold, it's you again. How many'd you kill?"
"Ugh... Hack, you...!"
Not loosening her grip on the throat at all, Yoon Na-rin quickly assessed the situation.
The resistance was weaker than expected. She was in a seriously depleted state.
There had to be a good reason she wasn't teleporting away the instant she was spotted.
For instance, her magic power was so drained she couldn't even use her ability once.
This slippery one had been slinking around, spying on them all this time.
An ability that convenient and versatile would consume a hefty amount of magic power, so running dry wasn't surprising.
If not that, then the ability itself had some restriction.
For example.
Like being hard to use if she couldn't focus properly.
If that guess was right, starting by burning her had been spot on. Burning pain was the most excruciating agony there was. With burns like that, she wouldn't escape easily even if an opening appeared.
Even that annoying ability had its weakness, it seemed. Yoon Na-rin sneered.
"When you're in contact with someone else, anyone touching you teleports along if you use your ability. Right? Go ahead, try it. I'll burn you to death right then."
Unconsciously, her grip tightened on the throat. Her eyes glaring at Betty flashed with killing intent.
"Guh, ugh...!"
The struggling from below grew more frantic. The more she did, the more weight Yoon Na-rin put into it, pressing down harder.
"You better answer straight. Unless you want your neck snapped."
"Th-this...!"
Crazy bitch. How was she supposed to answer with her throat choked like this?
Tap tap. Betty patted Yoon Na-rin's arm and glared up at her. Only then did Yoon Na-rin slightly loosen her grip.
"Cough, cough! You...!"
The moment she tried to rise, seizing the slackened pressure.
Slap!
"......??"
Her vision spun sideways. Betty soon realized she'd been slapped.
First with the palm, then the fist. Yoon Na-rin swung her arm with raw emotion. The rooftop floor instantly turned into a one-sided beating ground.
Slap! Slap! Thud!
Her head whipped left and right. Pinned beneath, Betty took the full brunt of Yoon Na-rin's violence.
All the resistance she could manage was raising her arms to blunt the impacts. Tossed around rolling, the burns on her back throbbed hotly.
"Can't reach Central, huh? That's your doing too? Where's Anis? Right now—tell me! Everything!"
"I... don't... know!"
It was an unfair question for Betty. She truly knew nothing.
Even if she did, she had zero intention of spilling to Yoon Na-rin meekly.
Reading that defiance, Yoon Na-rin's eyes grew even fiercer.
It was already famous among heroes, but Yoon Na-rin had no patience.
Forget leisurely interrogating—her shallow patience, thinner than cheap water, had bottomed out the moment she laid eyes on Betty.
"Ans...wer... me!"
Thud, thud. The swings of her fist grew larger. Betty clenched her teeth in turn.
It stung enough getting ambushed and burned, but now slapped and pummeled like a dog.
Rage boiled to the top of her head for Betty too.
"I... said... I don't... know! You psycho bitch!"
"What!? You still...!"
Seizing the wider swing, Betty surged her upper body up fast.
Crack—! With that sound, her bold headbutt smashed straight into Yoon Na-rin's face.
"Ugh—!?"
Yoon Na-rin staggered back a step. Betty rolled away nimbly and rose, but Yoon Na-rin recovered without panic, closing in tight.
Her intent not to give even a sliver of room for ability use was clear.
Not that she could use it now anyway, magic power depleted. No need to tip her hand on the weakness.
Whoosh!
Yoon Na-rin's fist targeted Betty's jaw precisely.
She barely ducked under, evading. The sharp air whoosh grazed over her head.
Feeling the chill, Betty broke out in cold sweat. Maybe her head had nearly exploded just now.
Betty knew basic body strengthening, but it was amateur stuff. Good for showboating against normals, but against a pro wielding magic power properly? She'd be pulverized, bones and all.
Even as a magic type, a full-force punch from a honed hero wouldn't leave her unscathed if it landed proper.
Yoon Na-rin—she'd heard about her from Anis. Second only to Han U-sol in magic power reserves and control, they'd said.
Come to think of it, Yoon Na-rin's name came up a lot from Anis's mouth.
From her talents to favorite drinks and pet peeves.
The trivial stuff too, like how her hot temper could be startling, but her straightforwardness had its charms.
And rightly so—Yoon Na-rin had been Anis's pillar before she met Betty.
Even after three years, the memories hadn't faded; Anis still mentioned her now and then.
"........."
Grind. She chewed her lip raw. It still rubbed her the wrong way.
But there was nothing she could do right now.
She wanted to grab her by the hair and hang on, but regrettably, the gap between them wasn't something that grit alone could bridge.
She'd lucked out dodging once, but twice? No chance.
Thud!
"Ugh!?"
A kick to the gut. Betty tumbled to the floor with a shrill groan.
Yoon Na-rin flipped the fallen Betty like luggage, straddled her, and seized both arms.
An ominous heat, and in Yoon Na-rin's eyes, vivid crimson flickered.
"W-wait!"
Whoosh—!
Flames erupted.