Chapter 72
Chapter 72
Well, I don't really know." Han U-sol replied. "………." Han stared intently at Han U-sol while using his ability. A faint sense of bewilderment, confusion, and anxiety emanating from him. Eyes cast downward at a 45-degree angle, avoiding his gaze. A tense body braced for combat at any moment. Lies. Han's ability wasn't some convenient lie detector. But Han had plenty of experience. Combining that experience with his ability made it easy to tell if the naive boy in front of him was speaking truth or lies. "Lies. You know about Black U-sol." "………." Han U-sol's breathing faltered at the firm tone. Han placed his hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist and pressed him again. "I'll ask once more. Do you know anything about Black U-sol?" "...
Among the people I know, there's no one named Black U-sol." A clear voice. He didn't avoid his eyes this time. The wariness and bewilderment grew stronger, but it was the truth. "...
I see." Han took a step forward, gripping the sword hilt tightly. Han U-sol summoned weapons behind his back, preparing for battle. "Are you Black U-sol?" Han eyed the assortment of weapons floating behind Han U-sol. His grip tightened on the sword hilt, his center of gravity lowering. As Han assumed a stance ready to charge at any second, Han U-sol broke into a cold sweat and answered. "......
My name is not Black U-sol." Han's eyes narrowed. He activated his ability to the max and observed him closely. "………." Impossible to discern truth from lie. His posture, expression, gaze—all visual cues claimed his words were true. But the intuitive information from his ability insisted they were lies. The faint anxiety from him amplified into a swirling vortex. Truth or lie? Han's brows furrowed sharply as he pondered for a moment. "...
I see." Han relaxed his stance, reining in his sharp aura. Then he turned and walked past Han U-sol. As he continued walking with his back turned, he said, "So, you know nothing about Black U-sol, and you're not Black U-sol yourself." "......
Yes."
Han U-sol answered Han's final question. Was it because the earlier menacing atmosphere had dissipated? Or because he no longer faced those eerie red eyes? Or perhaps because the tension he'd been holding finally released as Han seemed to leave? Han U-sol made a fatal mistake.
"………."
Han's footsteps halted as he walked with his back turned. He turned his head, piercing Han U-sol with his red eyes. He felt it clearly. The thick emotion wafting from him. He didn't know why this man was searching for him, but relief that he hadn't been caught—complacency.
"Lies."
At the very last moment, Han was certain. This man was Black U-sol. Click. The time from gripping the hilt to drawing the sword was a mere instant. Shing-! Han swung his sword.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Kiiing-! A crisp metallic clang echoed like striking metal on metal. Chae-aeng-! A shattering sound like breaking glass filled the empty hallway of the abandoned building.
"Kuhk!"
Han U-sol, who had hastily deployed a barrier to block Han's surprise sword swing, quickly put distance between them.
"A barrier... So I was right. You are Black U-sol."
"Well, I just told you my name isn't Black U-sol."
"You're still denying it even after showing a barrier identical to the city's? You are Black U-sol."
"I said no!" Kwaaa-! The varied weapons behind Han U-sol spat fire.
"I should have realized when you summoned all those weapons on the spot. But the Authority of Guardianship is so versatile, I was late to catch on. I've gotten rusty."
Han charged down the narrow hallway toward the incoming barrage without hesitation. Space to dodge was limited, but he casually swung his sword to deflect the projectiles, leaning his body to evade. Kwajik, pajijik-! The bullets that lost their target embedded in the wall, unleashing their divine power and scorching the innocent concrete.
"And divine power in the bullets, no less. Still denying it?"
"Kuk...! What's your reason for trying to kill me!?"
"You know why. From our position of trying to destroy the city's barrier, you're a nuisance if you might repair it someday." Chae-aeng-! Han's sword swung again, shattering Han U-sol's barrier.
"Anyway, you admit it now. That you're Black U-sol."
"How many times do I have to say it! My name is Han U-sol, not Black U-sol!"
"Still with the obvious lies? The weapons you summon, the divine power in your attacks. Above all, that barrier. Everything screams you're Black U-sol. No matter how you struggle, that fact won't change!"
"You bastard!!"
Han U-sol spat curses unlike his usual self and fired bullets. Normally, when Anis teasingly called him Black U-sol because she was cute, he'd laugh it off. But hearing it from another guy with balls was unbearable. Han effortlessly dodged all the bullets and closed in rapidly. Han U-sol deployed a barrier to block the incoming sword. Chaeng-! The hastily erected barrier shattered as expected. Han U-sol widened the distance again and fired more bullets. The bullet aimed at his head was smacked aside by the flat of the sword. The one targeting his abdomen lost its mark as he vanished, slamming into the concrete wall. Chae-aeng-! Another barrier shattered. Han U-sol backpedaled to create more space. Thud. But the cold touch of the concrete wall against his back.
"Dark, narrow, straight-line confined space. Terrible for a close-range fighter like me against a ranged one like you."
Before him stood a long-haired man staring with sharp red eyes.
"But even in a place like this, there's a way to turn the tables. A simple, straightforward method."
"Push through the ranged attacks relentlessly, and eventually, the ranged fighter runs out of room to flee."
The man approached slowly. Han U-sol felt cold sweat trickling down.
"No more places to run now."
With that, Han sheathed his sword and took his stance.
"It's over." Iaido――Kane. And then. Sword Draw――Red Line. The sword was drawn at invisible speed, sending a sharp, agile red sword aura flying.
"...... Kuh!"
Han U-sol squeezed out every ounce of strength to form a barrier. The desperately concentrated barrier was undoubtedly tougher than before. Kiiiiing――! The barrier clashed with the sword aura, Chae-aeng――! And shattered helplessly. The sword aura hadn't vanished yet.
"………!!"
As the blood-red sword aura—like his eyes—closed in on Han U-sol, Kwang――! "Uk...!?"
Someone blocked in front of Han U-sol, stopping the sword aura, then charged Han and slammed him into the concrete wall.
"Han U-sol, you alright?"
Fergus Dee. The Acamedy Academy principal and rank 8 Hero.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ My ears were ringing. As if I'd sunk into the deep ocean. ――...
Anis. Sounds around me buzzed muffled. Rising noises scattered without reaching my eardrums. Dizzy. I couldn't forget Han U-sol and Reisi's gazes fixed on me. ――Anis. Someone shook me awake. Grasping my deeply submerged self, forcibly pulling me up. I pretended not to hear, ignoring it desperately several times. "Anis!" "......!" I opened my eyes. Coming to my senses, I looked up at the one shaking me. "......
Na-rin." Yoon Na-rin looked down at me with worried eyes. "......
You okay?" Okay with what? Did I look not okay? Was I not okay? "......
I don't know." I didn't know. Anything. But one thing was certain: I was shaking. One light touch, and I'd tumble off the cliff. "………." Yoon Na-rin furrowed her brow, looking at me with my head bowed, trembling finely. "Reisi, what's wrong with Anis? And the blood on her clothes?" "Ah, that..." Reisi began summarizing the situation so far for Yoon Na-rin. "So, Anis seems a bit shocked from guilt." "......
Really?" Yoon Na-rin turned to stare at the scattered corpses around. My heart started pounding at the same time. ...
No, Reisi. I didn't collapse from guilt. "......
Anis did this?" At those words, my breath caught. Please. You told me back then. You're always on my side. You said that and caught me as I fell. So, please. Don't let go, Na-rin. "...
Anis." "………." My arms propping me up trembled. I lacked the courage to lift my head and meet Yoon Na-rin's face. The moment our eyes met, I'd crumble and fall again. No answer despite calling, Yoon Na-rin sighed and knelt before me. "Anis." I'm cornered. To the edge of the precipice. "Ugh... Hic." Tears welled up. Sobs leaked through my clenched lips. If I looked up to meet her eyes, I'd surely fall again. No, maybe I was already falling. Toward an unseen bottom with no end in sight. "Anis." She called my name again. Called it while taking my hand. Startled by the sudden warmth through my hand, I unwittingly looked up and met her eyes. Those eyes of Yoon Na-rin, met so abruptly, "It's okay." Were different from Han U-sol's or Reisi's. "I told you. I'm always on your side." "………." ――Click. The sound of someone catching my fall. She caught me again. She was always the one grasping my hand as I plummeted toward the bottom. Vision blurred as tears covered my eyes. I felt teardrops forming at the corners, trickling down my cheeks. No time to wipe them. Gulping sobs from my choked throat, I forced out a pathetic voice. "...
Thanks, Na-rin." "No problem." Yoon Na-rin grinned and stood. Led by her hand, I rose too. "Heard fighting inside the building. Principal went in right when the noise started, so probably fine, but let's check anyway." Following her words, we entered the abandoned building. Even heading there, my gaze stayed fixed on Yoon Na-rin's back. "It's dark." Hwaruk-! Flames ignited in her hand. The small blaze floated up, illuminating every dark corner of the hallway. "Better now." I stared blankly at the flame. Captivated. By the flame driving out darkness, bringing warm comfort. By that single brilliant light. Like a moth to flame. "Let's go." Yoon Na-rin led the way. I followed her entranced back, alternating glances between her and the flame. And thought. She was. My salvation. My respite. My light.