Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Boyhood ~Preparations Complete~ (Prologue End)
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A month had already passed since returning from the capital.
Lately, Seon-hwa had been acting strange.
"Ah, Seon-hwa. Good morning."
"…!"
Even during morning greetings.
"Thanks for the towel."
"…!!"
Even when she handed me a towel after training.
"Good night. See you tomorrow."
"…!!!"
Even up until we parted late at night.
At first, I thought it was just my imagination, but by now, it was impossible to ignore.
'Seon-hwa, you've been avoiding me lately, haven't you?'
Whenever we ran into each other, she desperately hid her face.
This had to mean she didn't even want to look at my face.
'Did I do something wrong?'
After Seon-hwa was kidnapped.
The clan, including myself, had been paying her a lot of attention.
We'd told her to take it easy to recover from the shock (though she refused).
We'd even offered to let her quit being my attendant and assign her to something else (which she firmly rejected).
The clan head—my father—even visited her family personally to check on them, so it was clear the clan had gone out of its way to care for her.
And yet, she was avoiding me!
Could it really be trauma from that incident?!
Seeing me must trigger those memories automatically!
Come to think of it, in the original story, there wasn't a character like Seon-hwa by 'Yeon Je-seong's' side.
Even if it was just from the PV footage, her absence as a close aide stood out to me.
It would be fine if she simply didn't enroll with 'Yeon Je-seong,' but what if she got kidnapped there too?
I knew the emperor's personality, so I got his help, but I had no idea if the original 'Yeon Je-seong' had rescued her safely.
Thanks to the Yeon Clan's power, she was probably saved before anything worse happened, but the shock might have been enough for her to quit being 'Yeon Je-seong's' attendant.
'Trauma can't be helped.'
Mental issues aren't something you fix with a few words.
Especially for a young girl like Seon-hwa who went through something so traumatic—it might be deeply etched into her mind.
That's why she needed delicate care from me and the clan.
'But to not even look at my face properly...'
Maybe her strong sense of responsibility was making her hide her pain.
'Should I drop her like in the original story after all?'
For her happiness, I was willing to follow the original plot.
I'd grown fond of her over the years, but I couldn't let selfish desires make her suffer.
'She rejected it immediately last time, but maybe this time it'll be different.'
I'd been a bit flustered back then.
She'd shaken her head vehemently, shooting me a rare reproachful glare.
She probably couldn't accept abandoning her duties midway.
Seon-hwa had been trusted by the clan elders, so she wanted to live up to their expectations.
Of course, if the attendant role was hurting her, I'd make her quit by force...
'I don't know.'
I couldn't just ignore her wishes.
The clan physicians said she was remarkably healthy for someone who'd been through so much.
So maybe it wasn't trauma at all.
And if that was the case...
'It all circles back to me being the problem.'
As the person she spent the most time with, I might have unknowingly upset her.
If so, I'd have to apologize.
.
.
.
.
"I should just ask her directly."
I dispelled the gravitational field weighing me down and stood from my seat.
I couldn't let things worsen from dragging my feet.
I roughly wiped the sweat streaming down my face with my hand and stepped out the door, tense.
"Hoo."
A cool breeze hit my heated body, bringing a pleasant smile to my lips.
Letting out a small sigh, I turned my gaze to Seon-hwa nearby.
As always, she had her face covered with a towel and handed me one as if she'd been waiting.
"Ah, thanks."
"…!"
Our fingertips brushed as I took the towel, and Seon-hwa flinched in surprise.
'Is it really trauma?'
Hiding my complicated feelings at her reaction, I suddenly noticed a wound on her hand.
"Seon-hwa, hold on."
"…?"
I reached out and grabbed her hand.
"…!"
"Your hand's hurt. Be careful."
Saying so, I pulled a bandage from my pocket and wrapped it around her hand.
'A blister? Has she been training or something?'
Did I stare too intently?
She'd been frozen with her hand in mine, but as I bandaged it, she started fidgeting adorably.
"…!…!?…!?!"
"There, all done."
"...Thank you."
After silently flailing and wriggling her hand, a shy voice came from behind her towel-covered face.
"How did you hurt your hand again?"
"...It's nothing."
"……."
Those were wounds that could scar—what did she mean, nothing?
I gripped her hand tighter and spoke with all sincerity.
"You're hiding something from me."
"…!"
She jumped at my sudden words.
Her reaction only confirmed it for me.
But to avoid jumping to conclusions, I spoke slowly, watching her responses.
"Lately, your chest feels tight, right?"
"…!"
"You have trouble sleeping at night."
"…!!"
"Those scenes from back then keep haunting you."
"…!!!"
I gently pulled away the towel covering her face.
Her flushed expression came into view.
"You try to deny it, but they keep coming back."
"……!"
"You desperately look away, but they fill your mind."
"……!!"
"You try everything to forget, but you can't."
"……!!!"
"Yeah."
Her reactions made it clear.
I looked at her teary-eyed face and stated firmly.
"It's trauma."
"As expected, I... huh?"
She'd been on the verge of tears, but suddenly stopped.
"The kidnapping must have been terrifying. The shock must have been huge."
"……."
"I get it. Seeing me brings back those memories, makes it painful. Your heart races with fear—it's natural."
"……."
"I'm sorry. I had no idea the trauma was bad enough to keep you up at night..."
"……."
Suddenly, her gaze turned icy, but I ignored it and continued.
"Seon-hwa. You should really quit being my attendant and rest for a while..."
"Young Master."
It was cold.
Her voice was so chilling it made me shiver involuntarily.
"Uh, y-yeah?"
At the same time, a piercing glare turned my way.
"I'll keep being your attendant."
"But..."
"Young Master."
That's my place.
I shut my mouth wordlessly at the fury in her eyes.
"No one else can be your attendant. That spot is mine alone, made for me."
"Seon-hwa..."
To think she'd feel that strongly about me...!
"Who else could handle you? If that clueless training maniac acts recklessly, it'd be a problem."
Don't just drop facts like that so suddenly...
"Better for me to watch you closer than let you trouble innocents."
"...But lately, you can't even look at me without hiding your face. Isn't the trauma severe?"
"No. This is just...!"
She snapped back indignantly but blushed and clamped her mouth shut the moment our eyes met.
Then she hid her face with the towel again.
A small voice soon followed.
"...Anyway, it's not trauma, so don't worry."
"Really?"
"Yes, really."
"Then did I do something wrong maybe?"
"That... might be true."
I knew it!
I had no idea what, but it was definitely my fault.
Old memories surfaced.
'Little bro, if you mess up with a girl, apologize first.'
'Apologize? Out of nowhere?'
'Yeah, don't overthink it—apologize right away.'
'...Suddenly?'
'Act exaggerated. Assume you're always wrong and stay humble.'
'Hmm...'
'Key is eye contact, up close. Most girls will forgive anything if you do that.'
'Is this right...'
'Forget it if you want. But... always apologize sincerely.'
I recalled the conversation with my brother.
He'd come back changed, and it was rare advice from him.
I'd tuned out his tales of conquering saints, mages, archers, and even the demon lord.
But I'm glad I listened.
It came in handy now.
I immediately followed his advice, pulling away her towel.
"Uh, eh...?"
I grabbed both her hands and leaned in close. Her eyes trembled nonstop.
"I'm sorry!"
"Eek!?"
"I must have done something again!"
"No, wait..."
"But believe me! My feelings for you never change!"
"Eek!"
I held tighter as she tried to pull away.
"Hyah?!"
"I want to always be with you!"
"S-Stop..."
"I can't imagine life without you anymore!"
"N-Now's enough...!"
"So accept my heart (apology)!"
"Hyau..."
"...Seon-hwa? Seon-hwa!"
"Hauu......"
Finally, she went limp from my earnest apology. I hurriedly scooped her up and headed to the mansion.
It was an ordinary winter day for a 12-year-old.
───
Time flew after the events at 12.
Having absorbed all the instructors' teachings, at 13 I left the empire, experiencing the arts of the Empire's 10 Emperors.
By chance, I met a master and elevated my realm further.
Meanwhile, while 12-year-old me was rescuing Seon-hwa in the capital.
At the continent's edge, the demon race launched a massive assault.
The Crim Kingdom fell to the sudden attack. Liam Kingdom lost half its territory to demons and was reborn as East Liam Kingdom.
Rosaria Holy Empire, bordering them, suffered the humiliation of losing its holy land.
Naturally, a grand subjugation army formed against the demon hordes sweeping the continent.
Amid the chaotic war, countless heroes gave their all to vanquish the demons, but they couldn't surpass the Four Heavenly Kings leading them, tasting bitter defeat.
Three years after the subjugation began.
Exhausted from prolonged war, the allied forces accepted the demons' proposal for a ceasefire.
A fragile peace that could shatter anytime, but peace nonetheless.
Within it, a boy heads to Academy City.
"Remember this. Medius Neutral Nation is the country Academy City belongs to. Without Academy City, it would have vanished long ago. Understand what that means?"
"Yes. Academy City's power is that immense."
"Correct. Enough to deter intervention from us and other great powers. So learn all you can there."
Politics, history, martial arts, knowledge.
Anything goes.
Academy City gathers the continent's greatest talents.
"Understood. I'll aim for the top there if possible."
"...Student Council President, eh? That works."
But not with mediocre skill.
Especially without mana.
The 15-year-old boy leaves the clan, ignoring his father's words.
Toward Academy City.
.
.
.
.
And time passes.
"Slane Academy Middle School Vice-Valedictorian! Yeon Je-seong, step forward!"
"Yes!"
"Congratulations on graduating!"
One year passes.
"Slane Academy High School Vice-Valedictorian! Yeon Je-seong, step forward!"
"Yes."
"Congratulations on graduating!"
Two years pass.
"Academy City 2nd Place! Yeon Je-seong, step forward!"
"Wait, hold on."
"This generation is golden. To think such a talented hero would emerge!"
Three years pass, academy graduation.
"What? Student Council President?"
"Yes."
"Martial Emperor. Haven't you already graduated?"
"I have."
"Yet you want to do it again?"
"Student Council is merit-based. Graduates can hold it if they're skilled enough."
"Wait. New parties usually go out to build fame."
"……."
"...Don't tell me you have no intention of building fame? No, even so, a graduate holding it long-term won't look good. Actually, maybe it's fine. You strangely have great popularity."
"……."
"……."
"Frey."
"Enough. I get it. You must have a plan. Fine, leave Academy City's pinnacle to you. But the continent's pinnacle is mine, Frey's!"
"Yeah, leave the front lines to you, Frey."
Thus, he ascends to Student Council President.
"……."
Another year.
"……."
Two years.
"……?"
Three years.
"……??"
Four years pass.
His overwhelming vote share secures a fifth term.
"...Why hasn't the protagonist shown up?"
Now 23 years old.
He spent the day waiting for the protagonist who never came.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Young Master."
"Seon-hwa."
"Tomorrow's the transfer ceremony."
"Ah, the high school transfers from outside Academy City."
Ahead of transfer season, Yeon Je-seong quietly closed his eyes.
'Took the presidency at 17... it's been 7 years now.'
It's time for the real one to show!
Yeon Je-seong offered a prayer in his room before the holy water.