Chapter 119
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 119: How to Face the Past (5)
The surroundings stirred.
Na Yuhan’s eyes widened at Nika’s words, and he looked at me. How does she know that?
I was momentarily flustered but quickly regained my composure.
Did a rumor leak out during the process of verifying the elixir's authenticity?
As famous as the name elixir is, there are plenty of idiots who claim any random concoction they've made is an elixir.
So, bringing a researcher to verify its authenticity wouldn't have been seen as strange.
The problem must have been after it was revealed to be 'real'.
There’s no way Yggdrasil would have failed to keep it quiet.
If that's the case—
“What are you talking about?”
“Hmph, are you trying to deny it?”
“...It’s a bit startling to have you suddenly say this when we've just met.”
“Fine. In that case, let’s move to a separate location to talk.”
…That researcher must have been a subordinate of the Balder Family.
I stared blankly at Nika, who was hiding her face with a fan, putting on an act.
Well, fine.
It’s a little different from what I expected, but in any case, it seems Nika has taken a considerable interest in me.
I have to use this chance to get close to her. I quickly, but cautiously, opened my mouth.
“Um… The medal award ceremony is about to start, so I don't think that will be possible. Could we talk after the ceremony?”
“Hmm— And what reason do I have to wait?”
“Wait, Nika. What is all this about? An elixir?”
Nika, who had been looking down on me arrogantly, turned her gaze to Na Yuhan as he cut in between us.
Hearing his confused voice, Nika smirked.
“‘My’ fiancé doesn’t seem to know his colleague’s abilities very well.”
“……”
“It looks like you two have a lot to talk about.”
“...This conversation seems like it will be long. Let’s discuss it properly after the ceremony.”
Na Yuhan spoke firmly to Nika, then turned back to me.
“Can you tell me, too? Nahyun. Whatever it is, it’s all right.”
“...Yes.”
A clear and firm resolve was visible in his eyes.
I could only offer a vague affirmation in front of him.
I couldn't tell a perfect lie and say, 'I'll tell you everything,' nor could I spit out the truth that 'I can only tell you parts of it.'
But that alone seemed to reassure Na Yuhan, and he smiled gently at me.
Seeing that, for some reason, a corner of my heart stung with pain.
It's so strange. I've been deceiving you since the very first time we met.
I habitually tried to read Na Yuhan’s mind with the Meta System, then flinched and stopped.
Perhaps it was because of the thorn I’d become aware of in my heart.
“Well then, let’s go. We should find a seat somewhere before the ceremony starts.”
“Okay!”
“Hm? Where are you going, my fiancé?”
Just as Na Yuhan naturally took my hand to lead me, Nika stopped him.
She snatched Na Yuhan’s hand away from mine and smiled slowly.
It was a smile clearly filled with amusement.
“For my fiancé to sit separately from me? What nonsense is this? Isn’t that right, Mihail?”
“That is correct. When performing public activities, I ask that you conduct yourself properly as the head of the family’s fiancé, Lord Yuhan.”
The Fox smiled brightly, interrupting the friendly little world of our own.
Look at these two. I swallowed the sigh that threatened to escape and put on a bright smile.
“Then Nika and Mihail, you two should sit with us. That’s okay, right, Yuhan?”
“...Fine.”
Na Yuhan looked far from pleased, but he hid his reluctant expression and agreed.
Nika linked her arm with his and began to walk confidently.
As I followed behind them, the Fox quietly took a spot beside me.
“Sorry.”
“Hm?”
An apology for what, I couldn't be sure, came from his mouth.
I smiled brightly and asked again, wary that the two in front might hear, but the Fox didn’t answer. As if what I’d heard was just an auditory hallucination.
We sat down like that at the table assigned to us.
The Fox had, in the meantime, spoken with people who appeared to be employees and brought over a chair for Nika to sit in.
“I will sit next to you!”
“Get off…”
Nika naturally sat right next to Na Yuhan and pestered him, sticking close. The two of them bickered.
The rest of our group, especially Choi Sujeong who had looked to be in a very foul mood, seemed to want to ask about the current situation.
But the medal award ceremony had already begun, so they had to turn their eyes to the front.
Still, the Fox had told them before that Na Yuhan was the fiancé of the Balder Family head, so I could only hope they weren’t too surprised.
Despite all the fuss, the ceremony itself was nothing special.
While an orchestra played, the imposing-looking people from before came up one by one to give congratulatory speeches.
“The outstanding achievements of the Republic of Korea’s Hunters have served as an example for Hunters all over the world. In recognition of the contributions of these proud Korean Hunters—”
As I let the obvious speeches flow in one ear and out the other, the program quickly moved on to the awarding of the medals.
Every single person who went on stage to receive a medal was, in a word, a distinguished Hunter. Their achievements were incredible.
It struck me anew that if I hadn't actively participated in <Academy’s F-Class Commander> and ridden on 'Na Yuhan’s' story, this was a place I would never have dared to even look up to.
'It's because she's in Class A, so they included that kid who's similar to me and even the one who lacks ability, and let them get a medal, right? Otherwise, there's no way a Government-Sponsored Awakened like her would get a medal!'
…Maybe, just maybe, those words are right.
I ignored the bitter taste rising in my throat and clapped with a smile.
While I was lost in thought, it was suddenly our turn to receive our medals.
“These students have prevented countless future damages by defeating the Floor Boss—”
A long, drawn-out eulogy followed.
It felt like ill-fitting clothes, so I just stood there with a blank smile on my face.
After the long and colorfully embellished description of our achievements ended, the first name called was mine.
“Kang Nahyun.”
I walked onto the platform as calmly as possible. A Hunter, whose face I recognized from seeing it often on the news, pinned the medal to my chest himself.
When I looked forward, the gazes of countless people were fixed on me.
It was awkward.
I momentarily thought about reading the emotions in their eyes but stopped.
Amusement, vigilance, curiosity… a diverse array of emotions filled the hall.
Are my hands and feet moving properly?
Receiving so many gazes made me nervous, and I felt I must have acted incredibly stiffly, but seeing the reactions of my friends, it seemed I didn't look too strange, which was a relief.
I quickly returned to my seat. As I watched the kids go up one by one, bathed in the spotlight and receiving their medals, I smiled, complimented them, and clapped with genuine sincerity.
“Awesome! It looks great on you!”
“You think so…? It looks good on you too, Nahyun!”
It really does.
You all deserve to wear those.
The medal pinned to my chest felt strangely heavy.
Am I, of all people, feeling a pang of conscience now?
The award ceremony was long, but the closing was even longer.
The orchestra played again, more speeches followed, people murmured….
“If they’re kids skilled enough to catch a Floor Boss, they’ll surely be active in the field.”
“Do you think so? Hoho. I still believe those children need to be polished more. They are, after all, only first-years.”
…I heard such comments, but I let them pass.
Because once the medal award ceremony was over, I would have to face Nika Balder. I needed to calculate just how much information to reveal to her, who already knew I possessed a special power.
……And also how to 'appropriately' explain my abilities to Na Yuhan.
Finally, the ceremony concluded.
Against the backdrop of splendid music, Nika Balder’s predator-like gaze slowly turned toward me.
“Well, then. The excuse has vanished, so let’s have a slow chat. You, my fiancé's friends, listen to the detailed story from Mihail. Mihail!”
“Yes. Everyone, this way.”
“Be sure to come back before it's time to return to the academy~”
“Don’t worry. I shall be considerate.”
Nika, looking amused, flicked her platinum-blonde tail and pulled on my arm.
I had no particular will to resist and let her lead me, glancing briefly toward the Fox who was now talking with the rest of the group.
The group, as if they had been waiting, was showering the Fox with questions.
Choi Sujeong, in particular, whose complexion had been poor ever since Nika sat at our table, was being restrained as she tried to push past the Fox and come this way.
Choi Sujeong is entangled with the Balders through a bad relationship, so this situation must be anything but welcome for her.
“There are too many eyes. How annoying. Let's exit the hall.”
“I have a sound-blocking item. Want to borrow it?”
“As expected of my fiancé. Your thorough preparation is satisfactory. However, this is a place with countless individuals capable of piercing through an item’s effect.”
Nika confidently grabbed both our arms and led us into the limousine she had arrived in.
“First, we can worry less in here, so sit.”
“Ah, yes.”
“This is fine.”
Na Yuhan, after a quick scan of the limousine's interior, strode in and sat on a chair inside.
I awkwardly followed him, intending to sit next to him, but then sat down leaving a little distance.
…It feels like I’m about to be interrogated, so sitting right next to him is a bit much.
He flinched for a moment when I sat far away, but he didn’t say anything.
Nika giggled, "Hoho," and lightly plopped down between Na Yuhan and me. She handed Na Yuhan a cola and asked.
“So. My fiancé. Have you become able to control those eyes well now?”
“...I can now stably see through status abnormalities and illusions. Other things too, here and there.”
“I see. That special power is of the same kind as the one possessed by Lord Cheonho, so you must treasure it.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Na Yuhan replied, sounding fed up as he accepted the cola.
Nika, who smiled cheerfully even at Na Yuhan’s unenthusiastic attitude, turned her gaze to me this time.
I met her amethyst eyes and swallowed dryly.
“Now, you. You have something to say, do you not?”
“Are you talking about the elixir?”
“Yes. No matter how much I investigated, I couldn't trace a path by which you could have obtained an elixir. That means there is an uncertain element that even the power of the Balder Family cannot track… Unfortunately, I am not the type to leave such a potentially dangerous element right next to my treasure.”
“...You’re curious about how I obtained the elixir.”
I can feel Na Yuhan’s eyes on me.
Right. Na Yuhan might be thinking about the strange phenomenon during the Battle Tournament.
We had consciously, perhaps even unconsciously, avoided prying into it—but the time to talk has finally come.
If that's the case, I have no choice but to control what I reveal and what I hide, and take the lead.
I reviewed the plan I had set up once more and opened my mouth.
“I want to ask first if you are someone I can trust.”
After throwing the question at Nika, I looked at Na Yuhan. His ruby-red eyes met mine directly.
“You can trust her. She’s the person I revealed I’m a Possessed Person to.”
“...If Yuhan says so, I’ll trust you, too.”
Nika, who had been quietly listening to our conversation, let out a light snort.
“You two must trust each other quite a bit.”
“Of course. Nahyun is my precious… friend.”
“Is that so? We’ll go with that. So, how did you get the elixir?”
“That… I got it through a strange power that appeared to me one day.”
“Hm? A strange power? How exactly does it work?”
“I don't know that very well either. But… the day I entered the academy and met Yuhan, this strange power of mine awakened. So I was thinking that maybe Yuhan and I are connected somehow—”
I hesitated, glancing at Na Yuhan before ducking my head again. As if I were embarrassed.
Well, I have to keep up the 'girl with a one-sided crush' act.
“No, it’s nothing. Please forget it.”
“...On the day you met my fiancé, you say? Could it be that the special power, the same as Lord Cheonho's, had some kind of interaction…?”
But Nika’s interest already seemed to have completely shifted to the topic of my power’s identity.
Damn it. My head is down, so I can’t see what expression Na Yuhan is making.
He is muttering the word ‘connection...’
“Nahyun’s ability, thinking about it rationally, is probably the ‘Reincarnator's Bonus.’ Separate from that, are we really connected…?”
“...Reincarnator? What is that?”
Good. I was waiting for that question. I smiled inwardly and lifted my head, continuing the act.
Na Yuhan, unable to avoid Nika's question, let out a deep sigh and answered.
“A soul from another world crossed over into this one and was born again.”
“So that means… a Soul from Another World!”
And as soon as Na Yuhan finished speaking, Nika’s eyes lit up, and she suddenly grabbed both my hands.
Nika’s eyes, staring at me so intensely it looked like beams of light might shoot out, seemed a little crazed.
“You were the same kind of person as Lord Cheonho!”
She blurted out a stream of words, extremely excited.
“Yes. That ability is surely a Singularity, just like Lord Cheonho…! A special power! On top of that, seeing as you created an elixir, it’s a power of ‘Creation’ similar to Lord Cheonho…! How exactly does it work? Tell me everything you know, as much as possible!”
“Wha? What?!”
Nika pressed her body closer and closer to me, gripping my hands tightly.
It hurt.
“No, this isn’t the time for this! If you are a Soul from Another World, you should be able to help my research! If you help me, I shall give you a reward! Yes! How about becoming engaged to me!? You can wield the power of the Balder Family to your heart’s content—”
“Is it okay to have two fiancés?!”
“It is fine!”
“It’s not okay!!!”