Dreadflame Family (1)
Dreadflame Family (1)
The closing ceremony, which had been a shock to me, ended, and cadets poured out in a flood.
The crowd soon streamed in the same direction, their steps noticeably light.
It was heading toward the Gate Terminal. The gate was the only way to leave Siyoram.
Most would return to their hometowns to rest their minds and bodies, exhausted from grueling studies. A few would use the Blessing that remained active outside Siyoram for personal training.
The Blessing of Growth persisted outside Siyoram. Otherwise, off-campus training and similar programs would have been impossible.
I swept my Observation over the long line of people.
I did not join that procession.
After the closing ceremony ended, I went to see my master to say goodbye. One way or another, I wouldn't be seeing her during the break.
"—Don't skip meals just because it's a bother. Always make sure you eat. And take some sleeping pills with you, just in case. Also..."
And the moment we met, I was petted thoroughly and received a stream of worried advice.
When I squirmed a little, the hand that had been stroking my hair slid down and patted my back. My mind naturally grew drowsy.
I had told her I'd be going outside during the break, right after we came out of the Tower of Growth. Back then, my master had simply nodded and said she understood, but...
"......."
Now, my master swallowed another sigh that was about to escape.
She was keeping it together, but the fact that I was leaving Siyoram seemed to make her anxious.
I understood how she felt.
After all, I had gone out just once before and ended up sprawled in that state. As someone raising a disciple, she couldn't help but worry.
I was actually planning to go somewhere slightly dangerous...
But if I confessed that, she might drag me back to the dorms with dead eyes, just like before.
[Yes]
[I will keep your words in mind]
[You don't need to worry]
I liked being stroked with such concern, but I couldn't stand here forever.
Whatever my real thoughts, I used my necklace to output words that would put my master at ease.
My master looked at the necklace with eyes brimming with reluctance, swallowed yet another sigh, and took a step back.
"...Alright. I shouldn't keep you any longer. But at least remember this. If something dangerous happens... you absolutely must put yourself first."
"Geez. What could possibly happen inside my family's estate?"
That was when.
Hong Yeon-hwa, who had been standing behind us with her arms crossed, muttered in dissatisfaction.
When I'd said I was going to visit my master for a brief goodbye, Hong Yeon-hwa had insisted on coming along, saying we'd see each other soon anyway.
"Accidents can happen anywhere, at any time. You never know."
My master glanced at Hong Yeon-hwa and shook her head.
"It's when you let your guard down completely that you invite disaster."
"If the world has reached the point where the Calamity Flame main house is trembling in fear of disaster, hasn't the world already ended...?"
'She has a point.'
During this brief back-and-forth, I wore an odd expression at Hong Yeon-hwa's words.
If the main house of the Three Great Families were to be ransacked, the state of the world could already be called the absolute worst. No question.
[Then]
[I'll be going now]
"Come back safely."
My master, who had been having a small verbal scuffle with Hong Yeon-hwa, paused, then stroked my hair with a complicated expression.
"I'll take good care of this one, so don't worry."
That was when.
Hong Yeon-hwa, who had been wearing an odd expression, stepped closer and placed her hand on my shoulder.
My master's face crumpled.
.
.
.
Some time had passed since the closing ceremony, but the Gate Terminal was still bustling with people.
The Gate Terminal was a facility serving the role of an airport from my previous world. Instead of runways, there were gate drivers and space; even a duty-free shop was set up.
But Siyoram's Gate Terminal was small compared to others.
The reason, apparently, was that since few people could come here in the first place, there was no need to build a massive facility.
And of course, using the gate required proper identification.
That was why I'd asked Maxwell, whom I'd met a few days ago, about Seo-yul's ID.
Without an identity, Seo-yul had been physically unable to leave Siyoram from the start.
But giving her an ordinary ID would have caused a whole host of problems.
For one, who to list as a guardian was an issue. Even if we managed it, since her race was different, future problems were obvious.
Fortunately, Maxwell said he would handle that part.
Thanks to that, Seo-yul now had an identity for the time being, and with Maxwell's arrangements, using the gate would apparently present no problems at all.
'...She'll be fine, right?'
So there shouldn't be any issues with her going through the gate with Ellia. Ellia's parents also said they would take wholehearted care of their benefactor's family, so there'd be no problems during the break.
...Of course, even considering all that, my heart remained heavy. Even by my own reckoning, I was a real piece of work.
I couldn't hide Seo-yul's existence forever. At minimum, I'd have to tell those around me... Hong Yeon-hwa, my master, and the rest.
The past few days had been too hectic to tell them. I planned to tell them after I'd finished everything I had to do during the break and returned.
"Young master, allow me to take your luggage. I'll process the procedures."
[Thank you]
[Lady Eriel]
"Eriel, mine too... No, hey! You should take mine too!"
Lady Eriel accompanied us to the Calamity Flame family. It was natural, since she served as Hong Yeon-hwa's aide.
- Whooooooom...
After a short wait, the procedures were completed, and our turn came. Our luggage had already been transferred to the destination, so we only needed to step through ourselves.
"Let's go, Ha-yul."
[Okay]
I stepped toward the gate.
We drew close to the blue, swirling gate. Spatial Resonance beat against my Qi Sense. When I examined it with Observation Authority, now-familiar information entered my head.
A technique using the Authority of Space, it artificially ruptures two spaces and stitches them together.
I observed it for a moment, then was guided by Hong Yeon-hwa and threw myself into the gate.
My body plunged into the vortex, and a moment later, my feet touched the ground.
The observed information updated.
A Gate Terminal of enormous scale. Gates opening and closing ceaselessly, and countless presences swarming like ants.
Beyond the facility sprawled vehicles of every design and color, and a rampart of skyscrapers.
Destination... we had arrived at Seoul Gate Terminal.
"Ugh, my head..."
Hong Yeon-hwa grimaced at the gate's signature dizziness and rubbed her philtrum.
Once we reached our destination, Lady Eriel guided us to a pre-arranged vehicle.
By my standards, the vehicle was a limousine with a near-future design.
The driver got out and gave a deep bow.
"It is an honor to escort the young lady and the young master. I will ensure a safe and comfortable journey to your destination."
"Yeah, appreciate it."
[Young...]
[Master... Please take good care of me]
Even though the greeting was courteous... and overwhelming, Hong Yeon-hwa accepted it as if she was used to it and climbed into the limousine. I followed behind her, feeling a bit awkward.
The limousine's interior matched the style I'd often seen in fiction: bright red leather sofas arranged in a curve around a table.
Below the table was a compartment and a refrigerator. The compartment held snacks... and the refrigerator was packed full of various drinks and alcohol.
What I could see with Observation wasn't limited to appearance and internal condition.
Overall, the limousine used an alloy of durable ore and Mana Crystals, and with high-level defensive magic layered throughout, you could practically call it a tank.
"Ha-yul, you can sit here."
As I was trying to figure out where to sit, Hong Yeon-hwa patted the seat next to her.
"If anything's uncomfortable, tell me right away. Snacks are right here, so help yourself."
[Thank you]
When I quickly sat down, she immediately rummaged through the compartment and popped out various snacks for me.
"Huh?"
That was when.
Hong Yeon-hwa, who had been handing me snacks, suddenly turned her head and looked at Lady Eriel, who was sitting across from us.
Lady Eriel was... wearing an expression that seemed both shocked and deeply moved.
"...What's with that face?"
"Because I am moved."
"Moved? Elaborate."
"I, Eriel, have served the young lady for many years, but I never dreamed my eyes would behold the sight of the young lady showing someone such sincere consideration."
"Are you saying I have a shit... nasty personality that can't consider others?"
"It is not an insult, but an emotional statement. At any rate, I would now like to guide the young master through the schedule."
Hong Yeon-hwa, who had been about to fire off something, clicked her tongue and leaned back against the sofa. Eriel shifted her gaze to me.
"The schedule is identical to what was provided in advance. The Calamity Flame family will treat the young master as an honored guest, and after the young master has had time to rest both mind and body, you may undergo the verification whenever you wish."
[Thank you for the consideration]
"Please direct such thanks to the young lady and the lady of the house. To continue, the banquet in a few days is also as previously mentioned."
'Banquet.'
At that word, I made an odd expression.
From what I heard, apparently the day of my visit overlapped slightly with the Calamity Flame family's Regular Gathering.
First, I was someone visiting the Calamity Flame family in an important capacity.
The family had apparently said that failing to invite an important guest to a banquet on a major occasion would be no different from treating them coldly.
So Hong Yeon-hwa, looking tense, had asked me if I'd be willing to attend the banquet, even briefly.
From her expression, I could tell that if I refused, their position would become awkward, so I had accepted for the time being.
I remembered how Hong Yeon-hwa's face had brightened instantly at that.
'And...'
I recalled the purpose of my visit to the Calamity Flame family.
The Calamity Flame that had manifested inside the Tower of Growth. At the time, it had been a mystery, so I had agreed to the verification, but now I knew the reason.
The reason I could manifest the Calamity Flame was, in the end, thanks to Homogenization. Perhaps because I had recalled a powerful fire back then, Homogenization had unconsciously imitated and manifested the Calamity Flame.
So, I had already discovered the reason for the Calamity Flame's manifestation even before undergoing the verification.
If you think about it that way, there was no reason to visit the Calamity Flame family.
But there was another reason.
'The burn on my right arm.'
I twitched my fingers. It was currently wrapped in an arm sleeve, but underneath was a hand covered in ugly burn scars.
According to Hong Yeon-hwa, this was a scar from the Calamity Flame.
In other words, if her words were true, I'd been struck by the Calamity Flame before.
A strange thing.
I got this burn in my original world, and I got this scar. My original world was an ordinary place where things like supernatural abilities weren't known.
'...But here...'
The records of Lee Ha-yul in this world. The earliest record is of a child near death being discovered near an orphanage.
According to those records, from that point onward, this world's "Lee Ha-yul" already had the same burn scar as mine on his right hand, was blind, and could not speak.
'Ugh...'
The information was too confusing.
That was why I needed to visit the Calamity Flame family and gather some information.
It didn't matter if I didn't learn much. There were plenty of things I could gain just by visiting the Calamity Flame family.
"We have arrived."
"We came back fast this time."
At Eriel's words, Hong Yeon-hwa turned her head to look out the window.
Before we knew it, the limousine was driving along a high wall that stretched into the distance.
Strictly speaking, it wasn't something you could simply call a wall. It was more like a stone barrier wall.
When I deepened my Observation to examine it, I could feel a formless, colorless barrier surging up from the stone wall.
The stone barrier wall was one of the mediums maintaining and amplifying the barrier.
That was the external barrier protecting the Calamity Flame Family's main house—a high-grade protective barrier that deserved the term "inexhaustible" several times over.
Only after driving along the stone barrier wall for quite a while did the main gate enter my Observation range.
'...?'
And I also observed a crowd waiting inside the main gate.
The limousine, which had entered through the main gate, came to a stop.
Click— the locked door opened by itself.
"Let's get out."
Hong Yeon-hwa got out first. I followed behind her.
The moment I stepped onto the well-maintained, vibrant grass— ♫──! A lively instrumental sound battered my eardrums.
A red carpet stretched all the way to the grand mansion beyond, with people lined up on both sides of it.
At least ten people wore red uniforms and held brass wind instruments to their lips, and behind them were many more carrying various other instruments.
The music they produced in unison resonated all around.
A brief performance, bursting out of nowhere.
Soon, the music stopped, and the person at the very front took one step forward.
The person suddenly bent at the waist into a ninety-degree bow and shouted at the top of their lungs.
"We sincerely welcome the return of the heir who shall bear the Calamity Flame, and the visit of Young Master Lee Ha-yul, who accompanies her—!!!"
"""Welcome—!!"""
Even considering they were superhumans, a tremendous force of voice spread in all directions.
[What]
"......"
My expression naturally went blank.
Hong Yeon-hwa came over, looking sheepish, and patted my shoulder.
"Ahem. I told them they could skip all this, but..."
"Pardon? The one who said to prepare properly because the young master was accompanying you was the young la—"
"Quiet."
...Anyway, I moved forward through an overwhelming flood of grand welcomes.
* * *
[Authority 「Space」 is growing]
...
[Player Correction System: Pioneering Progress]
[Quest 「Visit the Calamity Flame Family」 Achieved]
...
...
[Player Correction System: Affection]
Lee Ha-yul→Atra Clyde
●●●●●●●●○○(84▷85/100)
｢Master｣ ｢Expectation｣ ｢Sense of Stability｣ ｢Desire for Affection｣ ｢Respect｣
...
[Conditions to lift ｢Curse of Silence｣ have not been met]
[Conditions to lift ｢Curse of Solitude｣ have not been met]