Chapter 263: The Call (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 263: The Call (1)
I’ve lived through my fair share of ups and downs, but I’ve rarely been this flustered.
How on earth was I supposed to get out of this situation unscathed?
I hadn’t felt this hopeless even when I was surrounded by an army of demons or when I was captured by S-rank Heroes with one of my arms severed.
I racked my frozen brain as hard as I could, but no answer came.
Regrettably, no matter what I tried, I could only conclude that there was nothing left to do but surrender myself to the cruel punishment that was about to descend.
That was right.
It was the start of a public roasting session that everyone but me was enjoying.
“So? How do you feel right now? Hmm? I’d really love to hear it. Oh, how did it go again? ‘This is Reporter Cheon Yu-hak from Leilan Broadcasting Station. How are you feeling at this moment?’ Is that about right?”
“Now, now, everyone, don’t be like that. So-hyun could have just been a little tipsy. It’s not like he acted all cute, or slept during class, or walked around with a beaming smile while accepting snacks from the other kids, or kissed the professor during morning assembly.”
Cheon Yu-hak was getting his ‘gentleman’s revenge,’ and Lilac was being incredibly sarcastic—likely his own payback for the whole ‘eighth-grade syndrome’ incident.
“…Ah, this isn’t fair. Is it over already? We’re in different classes, so we didn’t get to play much.”
“So-hyun~ Say ‘ahhh,’ say ‘ahhh’~ You did it so well earlier… pfft…snicker…”
Ga-eul was acting like a total brat, and Ha-ni seemed to be having the time of her life teasing me.
“…Ahem, do you remember that I promised to braid your hair after class?”
“I’ve already prepared all the tools.”
And for some reason, even Lee Yu-na and Ju Ri-ra were showing an interest in my hair.
It was a total madhouse.
“Master.”
Ah, usually it would end around here, but I guess today was different.
My mouth felt dry at the sight of Rose’s smiling face.
…Was I insane? How could I have thought to lift her skirt and take that like that? I considered trying to bluff my way out by saying I didn’t remember, but I had a feeling that would only make things more dangerous.
Damn it, I guess this is all my own karma.
“Yes, it’s me. About the Hero Drink business. Yes, yes. It looks like it’s worth investing in.”
…Excuse me? Noona, who are you talking to on the phone? Is it Father? It’s not Father, is it? This is really crossing a line, don’t you think?
“Yes, if funds are tight, I’ll just empty out everything I’ve saved so far. If that’s still not enough, I’ll sell off the ranch and the villa I received as gifts. Oh, you’ll invest regardless?”
Just how serious are you being?
Honestly, since I could guess whose behavior I was mimicking when I was drunk, it wasn’t like I couldn’t understand her reaction. But jumping into the Hero Drink business just to see her younger brother drunk was a bit much, wasn’t it?
Do you have any idea how dangerous that stuff is?
Just as I was seriously considering making a run for it…
Fortunately, it seemed Heaven hadn’t abandoned me yet, as a lifeline was thrown my way.
“Oh, So-hyun, you’re back to your senses? It’s a bit of a shame, but I’m glad. I was worried about what we’d do if you didn’t wake up today.”
“I agree. I wanted to tease him a bit more, but well, let’s just say this worked out for the best.”
It seemed the academy’s duo of blonde professors had business with me.
Whatever it was, it had to be better than being roasted here.
“What is it? Is it because of the trouble I caused while I was drunk?”
I wasn’t joking; I actually hoped that was the case. If it were, no one could complain if I stayed holed up in the dormitory as a sign of self-reflection.
“Oh, it’s nothing like that. Well, it’s not that big of a deal. No, wait. Maybe it is a big deal.”
“Mmm, don’t worry too much, So-hyun. It’s not like you caused a scene with the reporters while you were drunk, or like the Association is picking a fight or anything.”
Regrettably, it didn’t seem like the reporters or the Association had filed any complaints.
Then why on earth did the two of them come looking for me?
Their hesitant attitude, claiming it wasn’t a big deal while acting like it was, made me feel uneasy for no reason.
“Ah, well. Let’s just tell him, Cathy. It’s not like it’s dangerous.”
“But So-hyun can handle Demonic Energy. Just in case…”
“Hey, I’ve been called there before and I didn’t die. I’m technically a witch, too, you know?”
…No, seriously, what is it? You’re scaring me. Why are you talking about dying if it’s ‘not a big deal’?
“So-hyun. The thing is, an official request just came into the academy.”
“Yes.”
“The temple that serves the God of Contracts and Trade wants to see you.”
“…Huh?”
“Well, they say they want to ‘see’ you, but honestly, it’s a summons, right? They even sent an official document to the academy. If you don’t go, they’ll probably come looking for you.”
What on earth was that supposed to mean…?
What is it…? Is it because the Yuseong Group contributed to the fight against the demons? No, but if that were the case, they would have called my father too.
Or was it because of how I glowed after receiving the Holy Water last time?
No, that happened at the church belonging to the God of Love and Healing.
“Oh, I’ll tell you in advance, you don’t have to go if you don’t want to. Even if they come here, the academy can refuse on your behalf.”
“That’s right, So-hyun. If you don’t want to go, it’s fine.”
“If we refuse, Leilan’s sighs might increase a bit, but our cadet’s mental health is more important than that!”
“Exactly, the Chairperson will understand.”
Wait, that’s strange. For some reason, I felt like I could hear the sighs of the Chairperson, who wasn’t even here.
I don’t think so. If she were here, she’d probably be looking at me with an incredibly exhausted face.
She definitely didn’t seem like this kind of character when I first met her. Why is she becoming more and more pitiful?
How mysterious.
-The Will of the Saint shrugs its shoulders, claiming it is all thanks to its own virtue.
…Huh?
Just as I was about to escape into reality in a daze, my oldest artifact suddenly started saying something strange.
-Your achievements have reached the ears of the Great One!
Oh, really? Could you explain that a bit more clearly and specifically?
-There is no need to worry! Considering your performance in this incident, you must have surely left a good impression.
Aha, so. This is it, then?
Basically, you’re saying it’s your fault?
-You may feel proud of me!
Seeing the Will of the Saint—the ring—proudly asserting itself for some reason, I found myself missing Sun Wukong even more.
Seriously, please come back soon.
* * *
Had I mentioned before that there are many different kinds of gods in this world?
Well, let’s take a look at the most common ones with the most followers.
First, the most common and widely followed is the God of Love and Healing.
Next is the God of Law and Punishment, followed by the God of Pleasure and Play.
And following them in fourth place is the God of Contracts and Trade.
As a side note, of course, those aren’t their true names; they are just the two most representative fields they oversee.
Why am I talking like I heard this from someone?
Because I really only have knowledge that I heard from others.
Gods weren’t something properly written in the Setting Book, so while I knew exactly which denominations were corrupt and which incidents they would cause, I had no way of knowing about gods who barely even appeared.
Everything I knew was just what I’d heard from Lee Yu-na or the professors.
If you were to ask if I had no connection at all to divine beings before my regression, well, that wasn’t exactly true either.
…But honestly, I wasn’t on very friendly terms with them, so I’d never really had a conversation.
— It seems even the gods find the songs of the fallen loathsome to hear.
Ah, wait. No. Don’t think about it. Stop…!
The nonsense I’d spouted while I was briefly insane in the past was threatening to return as spears and swords to torment me.
“Don’t worry too much. So-hyun, your Noona is going with you.”
“Wow, are you really going to call yourself ‘Noona’ so openly even when I’m right here? Kang So-hyun has really, truly bewitched our Cathy.”
Seeing Professor Cathy at the wheel and the Little Witch professor in the passenger seat acting like that, it seemed my nervousness was showing.
“So, Kang So-hyun. This is something I’ve been thinking about lately.”
Wait, did she catch that too? I only thought it in my head.
“…Why do you look so surprised? I feel like you always move while assuming the absolute worst-case scenario. Honestly, it’s not a bad way of thinking for a hero, but this time, you didn’t really do anything wrong, did you? No, wait. ‘Wrong’? You did a damn good job.”
Ah, so she didn’t catch me thinking of her as the Little Witch professor.
“She’s right. What Professor A-ram is saying…”
“A-ram Unnie.”
“…What A-ram Unnie is saying is right, So-hyun. You’re the one who came up with the plan for this invasion, you’re the one who prepared all that Holy Water, and you’re the one who brought in the hunters.”
“Exactly. You might have caused a bit of a scene today, but it’s no exaggeration to say your stock was the highest among the cadets until yesterday. Even Cadet Baek Seol wasn’t at this level during her first year.”
“They’re probably trying to recruit you, right? They might be curious about how you found out about the demon invasion, or they might want to talk about the supply of Holy Water.”
Oh, hmm. Is that so?
“Haha, Holy Water supply, that makes sense. Those who worship the God of Contracts are all like businessmen, and they’re incredibly strict about contracts. They might want to establish an exclusive relationship with Kang So-hyun—no, with the Yuseong Group.”
Now that I heard it, it did seem plausible…?
Come to think of it, just because a message came from the temple didn’t necessarily mean the god had personally summoned me.
Maybe the Will of the Saint was just getting ahead of itself, and when I got there, they’d just say something like, ‘Thank you for your active role in this demon incident.’
Couldn’t we just have a conversation like that and be done with it?
-The Will of the Saint admonishes you to stop escaping reality.
…And whose fault do you think this is?
“What we were worried about was, well, you know. We were afraid they might hold your use of Demonic Energy against you, but don’t worry too much. If they try to pick a fight, I’ll tell them we’ll consider it a challenge against the academy.”
“That’s only the worst-case scenario, so yeah. It’ll be fine, So-hyun.”
The car, driven with the comfort of their words, soon arrived at its destination.
And what greeted us after passing through the portal was…
“You have arrived.”
Numerous priests were kneeling, waiting for us.
Wait? This is a bit different from what I expected.
“We have been waiting for you, Distinguished Guest.”
…Distinguished Guest? Me? I’m not that kind of person.
“Please, come inside. The Saintess is waiting for you.”
At the priest’s calm, matter-of-fact words, I, Cathy Noona, and even Professor Park A-ram froze in place.
“Who did you say is waiting for me?”
“I said the Saintess of this order is waiting for you.”
I’m asking why someone like that is waiting for me.
* * *
After signing a simple contract promising not to threaten the Saintess, I was able to enter the church.
The order’s design was quite grand and solemn, yet it didn’t feel excessive.
It wasn’t my first time here, but since I’d never seen it while in a normal state, it felt a bit new.
The last time I came here, all the decent priests were dead, and the ones left were either addicts hooked on Soma and other drugs or trash who exploited their positions as priests.
Back then, I was too busy splitting the heads of those trying to flee to have any leisure to look at the scenery, but even so, it was certain that it hadn’t been a proper place like it was now.
It was after all those decorations had been ripped out and sold.
As I reached the end of the hallway, a strange scene overlapped in my mind.
Saintess.
A general term for women most suited to hear the voice of a god and receive them. Since the selection is based purely on the god’s criteria, they don’t exist in every order.
For example, the position of Saintess in the current order of the God of Love and Healing is vacant.
Receiving the god’s love, offering love to the god.
That was the general image, but perhaps that was why she was so coveted.
The Saintess I first encountered in my 1st Timeline was not in a very good state.
— Are you a new guest? Or are you the savior who has come to rescue me? No, no. You aren’t. How laughable. You are the executioner who has come to end me!
— Ah, you are a noble one. You are indeed a noble one. I do not wish for salvation. If there is anything I desire, it is only the hammer to fall upon the fallen and the blade’s edge to end my corrupted self. How could you not be a noble one!
She was insane.
She probably couldn’t have endured without going mad.
In a way, she was someone I felt a bit of kinship with.
Though I killed her immediately after we met.
[Please, come in.]
As I hesitated before the door for a moment, I heard a voice.
…Right, let’s just go in.
Let’s go in and see for myself.