Chapter 58
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Quick Return
-----------------------------------------------------------------
It was a good morning.
I'd slept deeply for the first time in ages.
When I woke up, most of my fatigue had melted away.
'Here, drink it all up.'
After Luna and Elise's visit yesterday, Jahwa-yeon had dropped by and given me a sip of some juice.
It seemed to have done the trick.
"Ah..."
I dragged my stiff body out of bed.
Out of habit, I spoke into the empty air.
"Good morning."
[zzZ….]
"Still sleeping?"
[Zz…… ?! (º ﾛ º๑) ]
"Finally up?"
A fluffy emoticon.
It looked like it had just woken up.
I smiled, pulled milk from the fridge, and poured cereal into a bowl.
"Late night?"
[A bit... late!]
"Must've watched a fun movie or something."
I sat down and crunched on the cereal.
[……… No!]
[ Σ(°°)]
"Sure."
Cold milk slid down my throat.
The kidnapping felt like it had happened just yesterday.
You might think that after such a massive incident, I should take it easy today...
Unfortunately, I had an important appointment already scheduled in advance.
The house call to Haetae Guild was completely scrapped by this mess.
They were apologizing profusely to me and drawing swords to overhaul their security systems.
Team Leader Wi Jae-wan was another victim of the fiasco.
The guild would be in total chaos for a while.
Thus, the Haetae Guild house call was officially canceled.
Of course, the Association had earnestly urged me to rest.
Postpone everything and return only when I was fully recovered, at a time of my choosing.
But even if I rested when needed, I couldn't just leave someone hanging right now.
'Seol Yu-wol.'
A fresh Otherworlder who had only just cracked her shell and stepped into the world.
She still needed care.
If I suddenly vanished, she might start wandering lost.
I couldn't let that happen.
It was professional responsibility, too.
Besides, taking even a single day off because of that incident...
It felt like needless defeat.
I wanted to act unfazed.
Just completely normal.
Maybe it was personal stubbornness.
Didn't matter.
I soaked the cereal bowl in the sink and stood.
Time to head out.
The mornings in the Azure Heaven Alliance began before dawn, in the deepest darkness.
Yi Seo-ryeong rose earlier than anyone.
She silently made her way to the kitchen.
As she reached out, the closed door swung open, letting the chill pre-dawn air brush against her silk pajamas.
The reason for rising so early was simple.
To pack a lunch.
What kind of lunch?
Today was the day of lessons with the Physician and her daughter Yu-wol.
She'd assumed it would be canceled, but it wasn't.
Of course, there was a high chance the Physician would cancel on short notice.
After such a horrific ordeal, no ordinary man would rush back to work the very next day.
But it didn't matter.
"♪~ ♩~"
She hummed softly as she rinsed the rice in clear water.
Yi Seo-ryeong selected only the finest ingredients and prepared the food with utmost care.
Chicken stir-fried with precious medicinal herbs to restore the Physician's energy.
Sweet, soft egg rolls that Yu-wol adored.
And a colorful array of neatly seasoned vegetable side dishes to whet their appetites.
Sweat beaded on Yi Seo-ryeong's forehead.
But a smile never left her face.
If he didn't come today...
All this food would be thrown out or eaten by the Alliance warriors.
But as mentioned, it didn't matter.
Wasting food or it going to the wrong hands was merely a loss of resources.
A regrettable outcome, nothing more.
But if she had anticipated his fatigue and slacked on preparations...
Then at the meeting between her daughter, the man who was her teacher and future head of the household... the mother failing to provide even a single warm meal would be utterly disgraceful and shameful.
Compared to that, the former was far better.
Dawn had broken, sunlight flooding the kitchen.
Yi Seo-ryeong tasted small portions from each plate, adjusting the seasoning.
She closed her eyes.
The deep flavors filled her mouth.
"... Mmm."
Perfect.
A satisfied smile curved her lips.
She brought out the ornate, beautifully crafted lunchbox she'd prepared in advance.
Starting with the freshly steamed hot rice from the pot, she packed everything neatly, one by one.
Her hands carried a touch of excitement.
Like a girl preparing for an outing.
Meanwhile.
Early morning in Seol Yu-wol's lodging.
She sat on the sofa, knees hugged to her chest, head bowed.
She hadn't woken yet.
In the empty room, only the ticking of the clock echoed.
'The Physician has been kidnapped by assailants.'
Seol Yu-wol repeated the sentence from the TV yesterday.
She couldn't believe it at first.
It felt like the sky was collapsing.
Why?
Why him, of all people?
She nearly lost her mind right there, jumping around frantically.
She immediately hit the emergency button to call a staff member.
'I'll go save the Physician myself.'
But the staff was just as flustered.
It was the first time the Otherworlder Seol Yu-wol had shown such agitation.
So she desperately tried to calm her down.
Please, just wait here.
Trust the Association's capable hunters and stay put.
That was truly what the Physician would want.
Those words halted Seol Yu-wol's movements.
She couldn't respond.
It sounded exactly like something he'd say.
She returned to the sofa and spent the night glued to the news, curled up.
All while consumed by the helplessness of having nothing she could do.
How much time had passed?
- …… Therefore, Counselor Yoo Seon-woo has been safely rescued and is currently resting at the hospital...
In the late hours of dawn, the moment she heard the anchor's words, the tension drained from Seol Yu-wol, and she fainted.
And now, she had awoken.
Morning sunlight gently tickled her eyelids.
Seol Yu-wol slowly opened her eyes.
But she soon realized there was no point.
Normally, today would have been the day to rise early, pick the prettiest outfit he'd bought her, and clumsily attempt the floral makeup her mother had taught her.
But the Physician had gone through hell yesterday.
There was no way he'd come to see her today.
So Seol Yu-wol closed her eyes again.
Anyway.
It was meaningless without him.
- Chiik.
The door to the Association's isolation facility control room slid open.
All the staff, bustling since early morning, turned their gazes toward it.
"No way... Counselor! What are you doing here? You need to rest!"
The team leader ran over with a shocked expression.
I straightened my doctor's gown and replied calmly.
"I'm good. It's manageable."
I gave a slight smile.
The team leader cautiously gripped my shoulder.
"Counselor, you can't do this. After what happened yesterday..."
"The Association insists on at least two weeks of paid leave... Please, go home and rest."
I nodded at their genuine concern.
"Got it."
Then I turned to the staffer handling Seol Yu-wol.
"Any issues with the Otherworlder Seol Yu-wol?"
I had no intention of resting.
I was just saying I'd do what needed doing.
"Ah... Seol Yu-wol..."
The staffer hesitated, her expression troubled.
"From yesterday evening, she's shown anxiety symptoms... and some aggressive behavior."
"She strongly insisted on going to rescue you herself."
I nodded.
"She heard the news, then."
"Yes... There was a TV..."
It was fine.
That was to be expected.
She was a client who had only just let go of her mother's hand to grasp mine.
When her pillar of support vanished so suddenly, the helplessness and fear were all too imaginable.
No time to waste.
"I'll head over now."
I brushed past the worried team leader and staffer, heading straight to her room without hesitation.
I stood before the familiar door.
With a trembling heart, I knocked.
- Knock knock.
"Yu-wol. You awake? I'm here."
I pressed my ear to the door.
No sound from inside.
Right then.
- ... Tududududu...
"!"
Urgent footsteps at full sprint.
She's coming!
- Bang!
The door flew open.
I stepped back and looked at Seol Yu-wol.
She was still in her pajamas.
Messy hair, reddened eyes.
And those blue eyes staring in disbelief.
She couldn't speak.
She just kept staring, as if verifying I was real.
"I'm here."
I smiled slowly, reassuring her once more.
I'm here now, so you can relax.
That very moment.
Seol Yu-wol's eyes welled up before me.
Her hands gripped the doorknob, trembling violently.
And soon.
"... Pueung."
"?"
"Puuueeeeeeng..."
Seol Yu-wol stood there, bursting into the most heartbreaking sobs in the world.
The cries didn't stop, pouring out endlessly.
"Ah..."
I...
...froze in place.
I couldn't help but be utterly flustered.