Interrogation (1)
Interrogation (1)
Since the founding of Siyoram,
the Floating Island had always silently watched over the academy from the sky.
"Because the Floating Island is a fortress built to protect Lee Ha-yul."
"A fortress?"
"Siyoram is a place for Lee Ha-yul's growth and safety. We poured immense effort into its security, but never claimed absolute certainty."
And so they devised a supplementary measure — the Floating Island.
If someone invaded Siyoram,
the Floating Island would link with the academy, raining down magical bombardment and madly churning out golems to serve as troops.
- Gu-gung!
The raised floor coalesced on the spot into a golem.
A mass-produced golem of Ariel's design.
Dozens of golems, generated in an instant, wreathed themselves in wind and descended beneath the Floating Island.
Their landing point was right in front of a cluster of monsters.
The golems, enhanced by embedded magic, began slaughtering the monsters.
- Thud! Thud-thud! Thu-thud!
The cycle repeated itself.
Whenever hostile monsters or undead were detected, it poured out golems. Whenever people appeared who needed help, it poured out golems. When things grew urgent, it solved the problem by shoving magic straight at it.
Having adjusted the Floating Island's heading, Ariel continued.
"Additionally, in this particular instance, it is also serving as a mobile fortress to lend strength to Lee Ha-yul later on."
Above the skies of the Taesan territory,
the Floating Island was steadily pouring out golems, lending a hand in quelling the territory's chaos.
Having listened to Ariel's explanation while the scenery slid past, Professor Atra muttered, somewhat nonplussed.
"...What a tremendous facility."
"Can the word 'tremendous' really cover it? Seems like if you planted just one of these, it would hold half the Africa Front on its own in peacetime."
Liana shrugged.
It was a fortress of staggering military power.
Lee Ha-yul had told her about it when he'd visited the Floating Island during last year's vacation, but seeing it in person drew genuine admiration.
She'd also heard that Siyoram itself had been established for Lee Ha-yul?
On top of that, Ha-yul's detection ability was actually the Authority of Observation, granted by the Tower Master of Observation.
The spatial magic he wielded so adeptly was the Authority of Space, granted by the Tower Master of Space.
And there was also that Status Window, the Authority of Harmonization that caught and held on to Lee Ha-yul's life every time it hung by a thread.
Putting aside her prickly feelings, it was certainly clear just how much care those so-called Tower Masters had poured into Lee Ha-yul's growth and safety.
"I never imagined something like this was possible with magic. The little one's magic must have grown so much because he learned properly from a mage of this caliber."
"You flatter me. It was possible not because of my teaching, but because of Lee Ha-yul's own innate qualities and effort to learn and comprehend."
"So basically, your teaching didn't amount to much because our kid was always out dashing around here and there?"
Ariel, who had been hiding her inner delight, flinched at Liana's murmur.
"...It was an error born of our own inexperience."
"Honestly, the little one did cause a lot of incidents."
Shrugging, Liana kneaded Lee Ha-yul's cheeks. Held in Ellia's arms and passively submitting his cheeks, Lee Ha-yul pouted his lips.
"It's not fair... I always just got caught up in those incidents..."
"Then why did you go to the China region last year?"
"...Hing."
Shot down in an instant, Lee Ha-yul made a sulky face.
Chuckling softly, Ellia stroked Ha-yul's stomach and changed the subject.
"Ha-yul, when are your body and soul going to combine?"
- Hmm...
Tilting his head, Lee Ha-yul (Soul) climbed out of Ellia's embrace.
Then, Lee Ha-yul (Body), who had been held in Lee Ha-sol's arms, also squirmed his way down to the floor.
The two approached each other with quick little steps, Lee Ha-yul (Soul) and Lee Ha-yul (Body), and stood face to face. Daera blinked.
"The body side moves without being told, too? My junior disciple's body moving on its own... hey?"
- Yes, when we're close, they move the same way
[Yes, when we're close, they move the same way]
"What kind of principle makes that happen..."
There wasn't really any particular principle to it.
Ultimately, it was still Lee Ha-yul's body.
It was difficult if the distance was too great or the space was isolated, but apart from that, it moved according to Lee Ha-yul's will.
"Waaah...!"
It was an utterly adorable sight.
The fact that he was doing it in his de-aged form made it charming and cute. With shining eyes, the onlookers snapped photos like they were firing a machine gun.
Among them, photos chosen for their ideal composition would be covertly shared among the women.
- Hmm... I don't think it'll happen right away
[Hmm... I don't think it'll happen right away]
"Oh, the sounds overlap."
Resting his chin on Lee Ha-yul's shoulder and concentrating, Lee Ha-yul shook his head side to side.
Both Lee Ha-yuls did it simultaneously. Their squishy cheeks rubbed together.
'Even if it were possible, I wouldn't go in straight away.'
He intended to take this opportunity to recall the memories left in the physical body. Specifically, the past memories he had spent with Lee Ha-sol.
'It would probably be possible even in a unified state... but for now, it's better to let the two innate talents settle without repelling each other and stabilize.'
Things would have been much easier if it weren't for the Tower Master of the Dead.
Just as Lee Ha-yul was internally grinding his teeth over the earth dragon that had been annihilated,
the spirits and Kariade, who had flown in from afar, landed on the Floating Island.
The spirits landed first at the very edge of the island, laughing brightly and expressing their delight at seeing him.
Kariade, meanwhile, landed closer.
"My king, as time has passed I have come to attend you... what...?"
Kariade, who had been in the middle of bowing politely, froze. Her intelligent black eyes blinked vacantly.
- Why are you... ah
[Why are you... ah]
Lee Ha-yul let out a small exclamation at the sight of his hugged body moving identically.
Kariade had been busy managing the Fairy District. This was the first time she was seeing the soul and body together.
- Um... this here is my human body. It looks pretty much identical, right?
Was this the right introduction? The question flickered through his mind for a moment, but there was no better phrasing to introduce it with.
With an apologetic air, Kariade spoke.
"...My king."
- Yeah, the introduction is confusing for me too, but this is the truth...
"You do not feel like a human..."
- Huh?
[Huh?]
Blinking, Lee Ha-yul checked his appearance.
Lee Ha-yul the soul. Five-colored wings, which had bloomed from his back at some point, twitched gently.
Lee Ha-yul the body. The winged garment — pure white wings — that had extended from his back at some point twitched gently.
- ...Well, on the outside, it would look that way. But the innate talent they give off is different, right?
"Yes, a difference is certainly felt. However, neither feels human..."
- That's...
It must be because the physical body's spirit affinity was practically indistinguishable from a fairy's, and because of the innate talent embedded in the winged garment.
...Taking that into account, the physical body side wasn't really any different from a fairy either.
Lee Ha-yul, who had been about to try to explain, shut his mouth firmly.
- flutter
Beside Kariade, a fairy alighted, her five-colored wings giving a flutter.
Her toes touched the floor as softly as a falling feather.
The wings, which had fluttered once, folded themselves neatly. The fairy who had swept her pure white hair back, Lee Seo-yul, grinned.
"I'm back, Dad."
- Welcome back. You're not hurt anywhere?
"How could I hide it from you, Dad? You know everything if you just Observe."
Covering her mouth with her hand, Lee Seo-yul giggled.
A grown child.
Although the time she had actually been looked after wasn't long, the women who had taken care of the young Lee Seo-yul felt a deep sense of pride.
'...But still...'
The expressions of the women turned complicated.
She had grown up, far too well.
Appearance-wise, there was no question whose influence she had received.
And it was equally clear whose influence she had not received, given her height that was tall even by the standards of female superhumans, and her long limbs.
She had filled out overall and looked healthy. Far from being gaunt, her body's curves were soft and voluptuous.
"Dad, it's about time. How about we head out slowly?"
- Sure, that sounds good... ahaha, okay, just a moment... smooch...
"Heehee."
Lee Seo-yul had, at some point, scooped both Lee Ha-yuls into her arms and was showering them with intensely affectionate gestures, kissing their cheeks and foreheads.
The expressions of those watching grew deeply complex.
* * *
Escorted by Seo-yul and the spirits, I flew through the sky.
'I don't really think the distance calls for an escort, but...'
Due to the vigorous insistence of Kariade and Seo-yul, I was receiving a formal escort.
"You're a king now too, aren't you, Dad? If you go wandering around alone even in a situation like this, the other fairies and spirits around are going to wonder what they're even here for."
- You're right, but no one around here knows I have that status yet, do they?
"Well, seeing as the opportunity's come up, we can just think of it as building escort experience. And as a bonus, spending some time with you, Dad."
- Ah-ha... I guess you can think of it that way.
That was roughly the reason I accepted the escort. Not that it mattered much, since the destination was right in front of us; we arrived after flying for about five minutes along the mountain ridge.
'This is my first time coming here in person.'
The main house of the Taesan family.
Various buildings, constructed against the backdrop of the mountain range, came into range of Observation.
Buildings constructed from assorted timber and stone, applying the family's unique techniques.
A bustle swirled within and around those buildings. The buildings and their surroundings were packed with people rushing frantically to and fro.
'Considering how chaotic the territory is right now, that's only natural.'
I landed in front of a conspicuously large and grand building.
Two fairies and well over a dozen upper spirits.
The company was so resplendent that even the people who had been moving as if every second was urgent stopped dead in their tracks.
Before the commotion could even start, the group of Taesan family servants who had been waiting in the building flocked toward us and paid their respects with utmost deference.
"It is an honor to meet the esteemed guest. May we proceed to escort the guest inside as scheduled?"
- Please do.
I bobbed my head in a nod, then turned to Seo-yul.
Having glanced over the servants, Seo-yul nodded back and took a step back.
"I'll wait here with the spirits."
- It might take a while... If it goes too long, I'll contact you, so you can go in ahead of me.
"What kind of escort would leave their liege behind and go back first?"
- Still, waiting around for no reason is a bit...
After leaving another word for Seo-yul, I followed the servants' guidance into the mansion.
Once inside the mansion, the servants split up. The three who remained led the way, guiding me to the upper floor of the building.
Arriving in front of a door, one servant knocked carefully.
"Acting Clan Head. The esteemed guest has arrived."
- Come in.
A familiar voice came from beyond the door.
The servant respectfully opened the door, stepped aside, and bowed their head deeply.
As I entered, the servants didn't follow, instead carefully closing the door behind me.
Directly opposite the door, a lush mountain range was reflected like a picture beyond a wide-open wall-window.
A long desk sat in front of the window, and on top of it rested a white mountain of its own.
A gigantic pile of paper. The aura of authority wafting from the documents, like a miniature Mount Taesan, was enough to make a person instinctively cower.
"...You've come, Junior?"
- Yes, I just arrived now... Lee Ji-yeon?
Lee Ji-yeon poked her face up from above the paper Mount Taesan.
- Lee Ji-yeon... why does your complexion look like that?
"Ah, haha... well, there's just been a lot of work, you know..."
My mouth fell open slightly at Lee Ji-yeon's darkly shadowed complexion.
Smiling awkwardly, Lee Ji-yeon scanned the mountain ranges of paperwork sprawled around her.
Even the surrounding area was packed with holograms densely filled with long lines of text.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say she'd been buried alive in a mountain of work.
It wasn't strange.
The disaster that had struck the Taesan family was no ordinary event, after all.
All across the territory, monsters and undead were swarming like cockroaches, and the dungeons affected by it were causing incidents as well.
Naturally, they had to rescue the territory's residents and civilians.
And the Taesan family had many managed zones within the territory that it oversaw.
Setting aside the losses, neglecting them could cause danger in several places.
With so many corners to worry about, the workload could only increase.
On top of that...
- ...Are you all right?
"Of course."
As I approached, my brows drooping with worry, Lee Ji-yeon smiled bitterly, lifted me right up, and sat me on her lap.
"I'm perfectly fine. I wasn't even hurt out there, so what's to worry?"
- Right now, your face looks like a panda.
"Tch. Calling a person a panda? You shouldn't say things like that."
- ...You always call me a puppy and things like—
"Pff."
Shrugging, Lee Ji-yeon pressed my head down into her chest, burying me there, and rubbed her nose against my hair.
"Honestly, I really am fine. My heart's feeling a little complicated, but... well, I'll have to hear the situation out first."
The touch that had started at my head swept smoothly down my back, stroking.
I went languid in the snug embrace for a moment.
Poking my head out slightly from her voluptuous chest, I expressed my worry.
The reason Lee Ji-yeon had so much work, and the reason her heart was troubled, were similar.
The person who was originally supposed to be handling the work Lee Ji-yeon was now in charge of.
The current head of the Taesan family, Lee Ji-ah, was currently confined in the basement of the main house.
"Well then, since my junior is here, let's go take a look."
Adjusting her hold on me, Lee Ji-yeon lifted herself from the plush chair.
Leaning my body against Lee Ji-yeon's chest, I blinked suddenly.
...It wasn't what I should be feeling at the moment, but perhaps from sitting so long, the imprint of her backside had been left remarkably clearly on the chair.