Chapter 358: Ascension to Immortality (14)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 358: Ascension to Immortality (14)
Lilac couldn’t hide how flustered he was.
Just moments ago, they had been locked in a bloody struggle. Then, the Great Kings’ attitudes suddenly shifted, and now they were treating us like esteemed guests.
Not only had they escorted us to the reception room of the 4th Hell with the utmost courtesy, but after asking us to wait a moment, they were now serving us tea and refreshments. It was impossible not to be bewildered.
It was even stranger considering we hadn’t been winning; if anything, we were slowly being pushed back.
“Here is tea brewed from the tea leaves of Hell.”
“Ah, the aroma is quite lovely.”
Baek Seol-sunbae took a sip and turned to look at us with a beaming smile.
“Hmm, I checked with an artifact, and it seems the snacks aren’t toxic. I ate a little bit just in case, and there’s no reaction.”
I wondered just how thick her nerves had to be to enjoy snacks so peacefully, but as expected of a senior, she seemed to have her own way of doing things.
Even though she had openly admitted to suspecting the food, the person who brought the refreshments only gave an awkward smile, showing no sign of offense.
“Ugh, are you okay, Sunbae? I’ve heard so many stories about how you can’t go back if you eat food from Hell.”
“Ah, well. There are many tales like that, aren’t there? So, how is it in reality? Do I have to live here now?”
“…We have selected only items that are safe for those from the Human World to consume. We wouldn’t make such a mistake with our honored guests.”
“Oh, so while these are fine, there really are things you shouldn’t eat, just like in the legends?”
“Yes, well. They do exist.”
“I see. In that case—”
The way she slowly activated a brainwashing artifact to dig for information while pretending to engage in idle chatter was almost chilling. Unfortunately, the attempt didn’t yield much.
“I’ll take that as a light joke. Such low-quality magic treasures don’t work on me, so please be careful.”
“Aha, I see. I thought it wasn’t taking hold for some reason.”
Perhaps the problem was using a weak artifact to avoid detection; the brainwashing had failed completely.
“…No, so. Sorry to ask in such a tense atmosphere, but who exactly are we waiting for?”
“Yes, we don’t have much time. I don’t know who this person is that wants to meet us, but if they can’t arrive soon, we’d like to find our companion and be on our way.”
“We are doing our best to locate your companion, so please rest assured. We have given strict orders that no harm should come to him.”
They said that, but it clearly meant they had no intention of letting us leave on our own.
Sensing this, Professor Park A-ram and Professor Cathy’s expressions darkened.
The person we were waiting for was someone in a position to force those who had been fighting us to the death to treat us as guests—or, if they so chose, to make them fight us again.
We couldn’t afford to relax.
However, there was one puzzling detail: the words they had uttered just before the fight ended.
…What on earth did they mean by ‘daughter-in-law’? Perhaps some powerful person had arbitrarily decided that one of the professors or my friends was their daughter-in-law.
If that was the case, I had to stop it at all costs for So-hyun’s sake. If they were targeting the female members, should Han-hee and I try to buy some time?
While I was lost in thought, I sensed someone outside the door.
…It seemed the person who had kept us waiting had finally arrived. Now, how should I handle this?
[Wow, they’re right behind this door. I’m finally meeting them! I’m so excited.]
Hmm? The atmosphere was… unexpected? No, wait, this could be a trick to lower our guard…
[Ah~ what should I do? I had so many things I wanted to say, but now that I’m right here, I can’t decide. I really had so much to tell them.]
…Could this be an act?
[Phew, okay, I’m going in. Am I really going in? I’m going in!]
…Wait? I feel like I’ve seen this somewhere before. Not long ago—specifically, when So-hyun was drunk—he definitely had a similar vibe.
Just as that thought crossed my mind, the door clicked open, and a woman with a far more beautiful and delicate aura than expected entered the reception room.
She wore a gentle smile, but her strangely faint impression, ash-colored hair, and eyes created a mysterious atmosphere.
Was this really the same person who had been making such a fuss outside the door?
She scanned us briefly and then slowly bowed her head.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you all. Some of you I’ve seen before, and some are new faces, but since we haven’t had a deep connection yet, I should start by introducing myself.”
As she finished her greeting with an elegant gesture, blue flames in the shape of clocks flickered in her grey eyes.
“I am called the Witch of the Time Flower. You can think of me as the administrator who manages the greatest miracle permitted to mere humans.”
…I knew she wouldn’t be ordinary, but her introduction carried an incredible weight.
I almost let my guard down, but I had to maintain maximum vigilance…
“Well, that’s the official version. I didn’t come before you today as the Witch of the Time Flower.”
Her beaming smile looked exactly like someone we all knew very well.
The professors, who had been as wary as I was, and those who had been subtly resting their hands on their weapons, could only stare at her in a daze.
“Hello! I’m So-hyun’s mom! Wow! I’ve been looking down from above, wanting to meet you all so badly!”
Thinking rationally, I shouldn’t just believe her because her smile looked similar, but strangely, the thought that she might be lying didn’t even occur to me.
No, it wasn’t just a resemblance; she was the spitting image of him.
“Everyone…”
I was about to ask what they thought, but the question proved unnecessary.
“Oh my, hello. Mother, I am Cathy. I am So-hyun’s advisor at the Academy.”
Professor Cathy sat in the most refined posture possible, wiping sweat from her nervous face.
“Haha… I mean, hoho. Yes, Mother. It is a pleasure to meet you. I didn’t realize we would meet so suddenly, so I haven’t prepared a proper gift. Whatever shall I do?”
Professor Park A-ram took off her hat, gathered her hair neatly, and wore a gentle expression I had never seen before.
“Greetings, Mother. I am Lee Ha-ru. Though I am lacking, I am a junior who hones my swordsmanship alongside your son, relying on one another.”
Ha-ru-sunbae, who usually dressed quite sloppily, had tidied her clothes perfectly, tied her hair in a style similar to So-hyun’s, and was sitting perfectly upright.
“I took the liberty of testing them before you arrived, Mother, and these snacks have the most sophisticated flavor.”
Baek Seol-sunbae was already preparing tea and snacks to offer her.
“Ah! I, I’m So-hyun’s classmate… no, not just a friend! I, I mean!”
Even Ga-eul, who had been staring blankly at their movements, suddenly snapped to attention, bowed her head, and began to panic.
…I’m realizing this anew, So-hyun, but you’re really popular.
Wow, if I were the only guy here, I would have been seriously lightheaded. At least Han-hee is here…
Just as I turned my head, feeling relieved, I saw my friend bowing with a strangely feminine posture and expression.
“Hello, Mother. I am Kang Ha-ni, So-hyun’s cohab—I mean, roommate.”
…Did the pronunciation sound a bit weird when you said your name? No, right? You guys aren’t actually like that, are you?
As I felt a sudden fear that my friends had finally crossed that line, the Witch of the Time Flower—So-hyun’s mother—burst into laughter, seemingly finding the situation delightful.
“Haha, everyone, don’t be so nervous. My position is a bit unique, so I have a general idea of what your relationships are like.”
At those words, several people flinched. Curiously, Han-hee was among those who trembled.
…What do I do? I shouldn’t feel this way, but I feel like our emotional distance is growing.
“Anyway, first of all, I wanted to say thank you for supporting my son so well.”
“No! Support? If anything, So-hyun has been such a huge help to me—to us!”
“Of course. Kang So-hyun… I mean, your son is an indispensable treasure to our Academy.”
Professor Cathy and Professor Park A-ram began to glare at each other, subtly checking their competition.
“I-I’ve been saved by So-hyun more than once or twice! If anything, I’m the one who wants to thank you!”
“Yes, he’s a good friend who always looks out for us. Well, not just a friend, of course. Yes.”
Ga-eul and Han-hee too… fine, let’s stop thinking about it. Yeah. Those kinds of romances exist.
A hero shouldn’t discriminate against people for things like that.
“Hmm, I’m glad to see everyone seems to like my son so much. Actually, I didn’t just come to say thank you; there was something I really wanted to ask you all.”
“Something you want to ask…?”
“Yes, Mother. I will answer as detailed as possible.”
I was worried about what the question might be, but those who had already lost their minds didn’t seem to share my concern.
“Who do you think will be the first to marry my son? The one who will become the first daughter-in-law of our house.”
The scene froze at the sharp, dagger-like question.
“Actually, I might sound like a doting parent, but since my boy has been so pretty and handsome since he was little, I knew there would be a lot of girl trouble. I even tried to prepare him for it in my own way.”
She was chatting away happily, but the room had already transformed into a battlefield where invisible blades of mutual wariness were clashing.
“Anyway, it’s become a dream that’s hard to achieve now, but there’s something I really wanted to say to my first daughter-in-law.”
Because they were all glaring at each other, no one could step forward, but everyone in this room—except for me and Yu-na—seemed to be significantly provoked by those words.
“In my heart, I want to have a ‘Heart-pounding! My Son’s First Daughter-in-Law Selection Tournament!’ or something, but I can’t really decide it like that. In the end, my son will be the one to choose.”
…Wait?
“Hmm, so I’d like my son to decide on the first daughter-in-law by the next time we meet if possible. To do that, everyone will have to make a good impression on him.”
Is this woman seriously trying to set her son’s romantic life on fire right now?
“I’m a mother who hasn’t done much for him, but you understand my desire to welcome a first daughter-in-law who cherishes my son, right?”
Exchanging glances, they soon broke into chilling smiles.
They were smiles so bright one might mistake them for warm, but so cold that anyone who approached would freeze and shatter.
“I’m so glad. It seems everyone likes my son a lot?”
…Well, regardless of that, seeing her burst into laughter made one thing certain.
This person was definitely So-hyun’s mother.
* * *
“…Ugh!”
“Why are you suddenly shivering? Are you cold from the blood loss?”
“No, it’s not quite that… I just felt a sudden chill.”
“Haha, if you want, I’ll build a fire for you, so don’t be shy. Though, of course, if we light a fire now, the yokai will see the light and swarm us in no time!”
Laughing heartily as if something were very funny, he handed me some simple rations.
“…Is this free?”
“Oh, yes. You have a good capacity for learning. In honor of that learning ability, I’ll give you this jerky for free.”
…It didn’t taste great, but it was better to eat something, so I gnawed on the water-soaked jerky.
“Anyway, where were we?”
“Up to the part where I’m about to reach enlightenment and become a god.”
“Haha, that is quite funny. Some people are desperate to reach enlightenment… to achieve Ascension to Immortality, yet here you are struggling not to do it. It’s an interesting story. I’m glad I saved you.”
“…But do you actually believe that?”
“Were you lying?”
“It’s not that, but honestly, it’s not a very believable story, is it?”
“Well, partly because I can see the general state of your body, and partly because this story just isn’t that important to me.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s just a conversation I’m having because I’m bored and wanted to talk to someone for the first time in a while. What does it matter if you lied? As long as it’s entertaining, that’s enough. And if you did lie, I’m sure you had your reasons.”
He wasn’t wrong.
At first, I just thought he was an eccentric middle-aged man, but now I was starting to think he was a rather mysterious person.
“Well, regardless. If what you say is true, I think I might be able to help you.”
“Help me?”
“You need to go up, but it’ll be difficult in that physical condition. There’s a shortcut that only herb gatherers use.”
A mischievous grin spread across his face.
“Interested?”
…Honestly, I thought it could be a trap.
“Yes, I’m a bit interested.”
But since I didn’t have any other viable options, I figured I might as well hear him out.