Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: Gia Anise
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There were words my mother once said to me when I was young.
"U-sol, if people find out that anyone can use the weapons you create, there are sure to be those who'll try to take advantage of you."
"Right now, all you can make are tiny daggers—it's still so weak—but your ability will grow much stronger one day."
When I asked if I should hide it, my mother replied:
"It would be best to keep it hidden."
"But if you want to reveal it someday, then do so."
"If it makes you happy."
"I just want you to live happily, that's all."
My mother murmured softly, gazing off into the distance.
Those were her final words, spoken from her sickbed before she passed away.
I lost my father before I was even born and my mother at age ten, leaving me an orphan.
My father had been a hero. Mother often shared stories about him with me.
He wasn't a powerful or famous one, but she said he was a steadfast man who never spared himself for humanity's sake.
And yet, when she was pregnant with me, he wept uncontrollably all day long—a man with such a pure and tender heart.
Mother always looked happy when she spoke of him. Even a decade after his death, she still loved him deeply.
She frequently told me his hero tales too. The magic beasts in those stories weren't particularly vicious or notorious, but Father had saved countless lives. Naturally, I came to admire him—and heroes in general—and dreamed of becoming one myself.
"You know, I really want to protect those people."
Those were the words of a girl, one arm mangled, her body drenched in blood.
She looked like she might collapse at any moment, teetering on the brink. Yet her voice, declaring her desire to protect others, rang out firm and clear, unwavering.
Her battered form, barely standing, couldn't be called impressive by any stretch. But to him, it felt profoundly noble... breathtakingly beautiful.
Anis Harper. The girl who had stood alone against the magic beasts to protect civilians who hadn't evacuated in time.
A sensitive, pure soul who fretted over mere rumors and kept her distance because of them.
Anis Harper.
A name that resonated with strength, nobility, fragility, and purity.
He'd felt that way before, but after the incident, he wanted to know even more about her.
To learn everything about Anis... and share everything about himself in return.
Knock, knock.
A voice from inside the hospital room invited him in.
He opened the door to see a black-haired girl propped up in bed.
"Visiting?"
"Yeah. How are you feeling?"
"Fine. Thanks."
Anis's tone was a bit flat, but she didn't seem upset.
"You're not hospitalized?"
"Hm? Oh, my injuries weren't that bad. No mana depletion either."
"...Really?"
Anis grumbled, sounding a touch displeased.
"This is why ranged fighters suck. They just throw their bodies away like trash. Look at the melee types—glorious scars etched into their skin. So romantic, right?"
"Hahaha."
Anis was back to her usual teasing, waxing poetic about romance. He couldn't help but chuckle at how cute she was, and she shot him a playful glare.
"...You come visit without a gift?"
"Uh... sorry."
It was a blunder. The moment he heard she'd woken up, he'd rushed over in a panic without grabbing anything.
"Just kidding. It's fine."
Anis smirked. He found himself staring blankly again, utterly captivated.
'A gift...'
There was one he could give her right now.
Something he could give her. No—he wanted to.
"Anis."
"Yeah?"
"That wish coupon from before. I'm using it now."
"Uh—huh?"
She panicked at the sudden mention of the wish coupon.
"Everything from here on out... it's our secret. Just between us."
"Wh...? Okay."
"Truth is, the thing about only I can use the weapons I make... that was a lie."
He focused his mana into his palm. A soft light emanated from it.
The shape took form: a straight sword, extended keenly forward.
Same design as his own golden straight sword—the one among his creations that Anis liked most.
Once the blade's form was complete, he added color: a pale blue, matching her eyes.
Then, he engraved a small phrase onto the blade.
Finally, he poured in all his remaining mana. The glow intensified.
And with that, the sword was complete.
A pale blue straight sword, extending flawlessly forward without a single curve. It resembled Anis—resilient and noble, yet fragile and pure all at once.
"Your get-well gift. Will you accept it?"
The boy turned the hilt toward the girl and offered her the sword.
The girl, who had watched wide-eyed as the sword took shape, soon broke into a radiant smile.
"...Yeah. Thank you."
That smile was so beautiful.
His heart raced.
The boy thought to himself:
Maybe... this was the love Mother had spoken of.
"Heh, hehe..."
A silly laugh slipped out. He was in a great mood right now.
No—such a lukewarm description couldn't capture it.
To put it more intensely, more elegantly: he was fucking ecstatic.
"Kiyoooooot!!"
He buried his face in the pillow and screamed.
"Finally...! Fuck, finally!!"
He let out a triumphant roar, flailing his arms wildly.
He'd finally succeeded in getting a weapon from Han U-sol.
Someone might say, "What's the big deal over one weapon?" But if this stunning design didn't make a weapon collector's heart flutter, they'd be disqualified.
Besides, Han U-sol revealing his secret and crafting it for her meant he fully trusted and acknowledged her!
Trust. That word sent her heart soaring even higher. Being recognized by someone always felt amazing.
Han U-sol was a golden goose. This was just the first weapon—there'd be more to pry from him later. Her grin stretched ear to ear and wouldn't come down.
"From now on, your name is Lapis Lazuli!"
She stroked the blue sword Han U-sol had given her, bestowing the name. The engraving on the blade seemed to sparkle happily in response.
Gia Anise. Wonder what it means. Anise is obviously her name, but...
'He really loves pretending to be all cultured.'
If he was gonna engrave something, why not go for something badass? Like slamming "Demon Slayer" in bold Hanja letters.
'Speaking of which, that engraving's gone now.'
Thinking of engravings brought back the one that had tormented her constantly.
The last one she'd seen was on that goblin's chest plate—no more since then.
Even in this hyped-up state, ripe for a buzzkill pop-up, nothing appeared.
'Finally backed off, you demonic thing.'
It was about time. The battle with the magic beasts had unfolded like a shonen manga.
If that persistent pest had any conscience, it should've retreated in line with the cliches.
'Even that stubborn demon bowed to me!'
Her excitement peaked. She bounced around on the bed.
"I'm invincible! A god!"
Just as she was making a fool of herself alone, the hospital room door flew open.
It was Yoon Na-rin and Reisi Hearts.
"......"
"......"
"......"
She froze, standing on the bed.
"A-Anis? You seem... fine."
"...Yeah."
"We knocked outside, but no response..."
"...Yeah."
I want to die.
"Seriously, we were worried sick!"
"Yeah, seeing you carried in covered in blood? Total shock."
"...Yeah."
The two entered the room, sat down, and started chatting like nothing had happened. Their subtle consideration made her face burn even redder.
"...But you saved those people."
"...Yeah."
They looked somewhat dissatisfied, but neither said, "Why'd you pull such a reckless stunt?"
Being a hero meant throwing caution to the wind to protect others. If their positions were reversed, they'd have done the same.
"To those folks, you're probably the number one hero now."
Reisi said with a small smile.
'Hero...'
She'd really saved people.
Her heart tickled with warmth.
"If Oppa had arrived any later, it would've been really dangerous, Anis."
"...Huh? Oppa?"
"Yeah? You didn't know? Yoon Kang-woo's my big bro."
...For real?
They kinda resembled each other, sure. But still.
He looked almost in his forties—oppa?
"That old geezer?"
Ah. Her inner thoughts slipped out.
"Ahahaha!"
Reisi burst into laughter at her bluntness.
"......"
Yoon Na-rin's expression turned subtly awkward, unsure whether to laugh along or get mad.
Yoon Na-rin and Reisi Hearts left.
The academy was closed for three days—a consideration for students thrust into real combat.
Magic beasts appearing inside the city's barrier was a rare event after so long, so the academy was swamped with aftermath duties.
Han U-sol had handed over the sword and bolted without mentioning any of this.
She hadn't tested the sword yet, but it had to outperform her low-level gear. Mid-tier performance at least—not quite high-end, but close.
The protagonist, Han U-sol, would only get stronger. His ability would evolve too. Someday, he might craft weapons surpassing the high-level ones she'd once had.
'Can't wait.'
Lying in bed, she fiddled with her phone. Surfing the web led to dinner, and suddenly it was night.
Ding—
She tapped her phone to read the novel.
In the story, magic beasts were summoned to the picnic site too. Their numbers and power seemed to be ramping up.
The differences from reality? Han U-sol hadn't ventured deeper into the park.
He'd stayed near the entrance until the heroes arrived.
And fifteen civilians who hadn't evacuated in time had died.
People trapped in the containers.
'...I saved them.'
A strange feeling washed over her.
"......"
Her father's voice intruded through the heavy silence.
No, Father. You're wrong.
I did.
Even scum like me—the kind you despised.
I saved people.
No. That's wrong too.
Because I was born. Because I came to this world.
Fifteen people get to keep living.
"......"
No more voices came from the quiet void.
She had always been like an impurity floating on water.
Unable to dissolve, just swept along by the current, tossed about uselessly.
She'd never integrated in her old world. But not here.
Drifting aimlessly until now—but she could blend in. Dissolve.
She glanced down at the text on her phone.
It felt utterly devoid of sincerity.
Just a copy-paste report of events. Dull, pointless.
A few minor differences from reality, but that was it.
It had never truly helped her much.
She'd clung to it only because this was the novel's world.
Anxiety making her desperate for any anchor.
But not anymore.
Now she had people she could rely on. A solid goal.
No more flailing unsteadily.
Time to stop.
No more clinging to this meaningless crap.
She wasn't an outsider anymore. She belonged to this world.
Like a true local, she'd see the world with her own eyes—not through crude text.
Her finger moved. She left a comment.