What Must Be Done
"—Hyaah!"
Clang! A thunderous sound split through the air, and from the doorway, the gathered crowd let out a collective sigh of relief.
"The child is healthy. The mother, however, was already depleted of all her vitality."
The midwife was none other than Samshinhalmi herself. Nobody could retort to her words—no one could. Only she, the midwife, gazed upon the dying mother with quiet sorrow.
"What a pity. Merely bearing the blood of the Sacred Water Deity in a mortal body was already an extraordinary feat."
The head of the Blue Dragon Hall spoke softly and departed.
"The innate spiritual energy was irreparably damaged. There's nothing more we can do. We should go as well."
The head of the Vermillion Bird Hall turned on her heel and left.
One by one, they departed—until only a single heavenly fox remained, her golden fur rippling in the dim light.
"Why don't you leave as well?"
"There are words I need to share with the mother."
"I see... It's better to have someone watching than to die alone in silence, isn't it."
She accepted the bundle cradling the infant and stepped inside the house.
"...Huuu... Huuu..."
"What are you whimpering about?"
"Ugh... Sister...?"
"I told you not to call me that."
"But... calling you this way... it feels right..."
It had been that way from the very beginning. This child only knew how to follow the pitiful heavenly fox she loved.
"That's precisely what I don't like about you."
Ten months was far too short a time to recover from the death of someone you loved—but more than enough to bury the blind rage aimed at the woman before her.
"I had originally intended to kill you, as promised."
"Huuu... Huhuhu..."
"But I suppose it doesn't matter. You were fated to die anyway. You'd likely not survive today—the innate spiritual energy was drained so thoroughly."
"Is that so... How unfortunate."
What was there to be unfortunate about? The child who had grown in her womb, nourished by the woman's life force, slept soundly in Yeoryeong's arms. Whether from some extraordinary vitality or not, the newborn's wrinkled skin had already become smooth and taut.
"You resemble them more than me. Raising you will be worthwhile."
"...Tch. No matter how pretty a child is, that's asking too much. How beautiful she was..."
"Hm. I'd agree with that."
For the first time in a long while, their opinions aligned.
"Sister."
"Hmph. I said not to call me that."
"I have a request."
"How shameless. Do you think I'm some mere servant?"
"Hehe..."
Her empty laughter was pitiful to watch.
"I want this child... to not be dragged around by the Four Sacred Halls."
"That's beyond our control. As someone who carries the Hwan surname, that is something you must face."
"I know that. But... could you isolate him from them until he comes of age? That's all I'm asking."
"Until he comes of age."
Roughly twenty years. A time that was short to her, and yet also long.
"Is there a reason I must do this?"
"This isn't my request to make."
"..."
"It's the last wish of that person..."
It was a dirty trick. Yeoryeong herself had never witnessed his final moments. Whatever he had wanted in his last breath, she could only receive his dying words through the woman before her eyes.
"...I'll believe you."
"Hehe... Thank you."
She didn't like it. The sight of her laughing so carelessly, knowing she was about to die, was truly infuriating.
"Everything's prepared. The government will establish an educational institution—the Academy. Since you're a hunter known by name, they'll install you as its principal."
"So that's why you kept going back to the human world all this time."
"The government exploits me left and right. Don't I at least have the right to ask for a room or two?"
And so it was. The Primordial Gate had been sealed, but countless smaller gates still burst open every day. Yeoryeong herself had operated under the guise of a hunter, and each of the Four Sacred Halls had mobilized their combat forces to suppress the gates.
Yet what she saw every day was nothing but the nation's propaganda—pamphlets glorifying the girl before her eyes.
The impact of single-handedly blocking the Primordial Gate was apparently too overwhelming.
"You've only just become an adult yourself, haven't you? Clever one. Making deals with the state like that?"
"How was that? I did well, didn't I?"
"Ha..."
What could she say. In any case, since she'd been operating mainly in the human world recently, her arrangements would be helpful as long as they didn't get in the way.
"Until he comes of age."
"Yes. Then it's settled."
The woman before her seemed to be shedding her burdens with every word she spoke. Her strength was draining from her body, and the color was fading from her face.
"The child's name is... let me decide it, Sister."
"Are you telling me to?"
"Yes. This child is mine too now... so I can entrust him to you."
Her breathing grew labored. For a moment, her lips parted—was it a faint, ghostly smile?
"I'm sorry... And thank you..."
Even as she slowly died, the woman before her did not lose her smile.
"The child's name is. How about Hwan Hyun?"
"..."
"...Are you planning to die like this? What about the promise I made to kill you?"
"..."
No answer came.
This was the last memory in Yeoryeong's heart—the memory of losing someone precious.
**********
"In short, that's the story. A tale of a fox still clinging to a bond, and a woman who died in solitude."
"..."
Words too heavy to hear casually.
"What, because you're standing in the place where your mother died, your emotions are wavering?"
She'd never seen her mother's face even once, but she couldn't hear something like that and feel nothing.
"Auntie."
"What is it."
"Thank you for raising me."
"How embarrassing. You didn't have to say that."
"But still..."
"Enough."
It was an unbearably awkward moment.
"In any case, you've now inherited your father's fate. To carry on his legacy, to completely seal that rift and protect the Divine Sandalwood Tree—that is the mission given to you."
"Huh? But I'm... weak."
'Status Window.'
Name: Hwan Hyun
Age: 20
Stats
Stamina: 5
Strength: 3
Agility: 8
Intelligence: 10
Resistance: 10
Spiritual Power: 15
Skills
Sense (?)
Summon (F)
??? (?)
A paltry set of stats surfaced in her mind. To think she was supposed to protect the world with these numbers—it was absurd.
"Just get stronger. The children around you will help, and I, as the Academy principal, will foster your growth."
"Um... yeah..."
"Let's head back for now. I have something to give you."
Following her aunt's departure, Cheonghwa and I also set off.
**********
"Take it. This is your father's legacy."
What her aunt had extended was a sword. Not a simple piece of metal—it carried a weight that was hard to put into words, as if it had endured countless years, and that sensation transferred directly to her fingertips.
He hesitated for a moment.
"Even if I take this... honestly, I've never properly held a sword in my life. I don't even know how to swing one."
Her aunt nodded slowly and continued.
"It's fine. What I've heard is that when the rightful user grips it, the swordsmanship suited to its wielder comes naturally. Moreover, that martial art contains the principle of ascension, and its mastery varies depending on the user."
Cheonghwa added quietly from beside her.
"Master, it would be best to try. If you are qualified, the sword will respond accordingly."
A little timid, but she accepted it. Despite its considerable length, it didn't feel uncomfortable in her grip.
Rarity: F-rank
Inheritance condition fulfilled.
Skill Hwanguk Sword Method (F) has been unlocked.
"Whoa...!"
An unexpected exclamation burst out.
He hadn't even turned a sword in his life—he couldn't even properly peel a fruit—and yet—
Somehow, he knew exactly how to swing it. How to rotate it. The sensation of cutting through the air felt instinctive.
A chill ran down his spine it was so natural.
"I see, there's quite the potential there."
Her aunt nodded with satisfied eyes.
"Thank you! Seriously, this— it actually sticks to my hand. This isn't a joke!"
"It was always a treasure meant to be in your hand. Handle it with care."
Truly an unexpected gain. It was only an F-rank skill, but there was more than enough potential for growth.
'So this is my fate.'
The reality crept in, slowly, ever so slowly.
Her aunt let out a brief sigh.
"It's getting late. You, Cheonghwa, and the remaining three children. I've prepared a dormitory for all five of you."
"Right, how did my enrollment go through?"
"Didn't Cheonghwa clear the gate well? A summoner's power is the summon's power, so passing was only natural."
"You're too kind."
Cheonghwa bowed her head modestly beside her.
"Oh. So we all share the same room?"
"What's wrong with that? You said you'd take in the summoners—do you expect me to give each of them a separate empty room? There are plenty of rooms for five, so don't worry."
"Can't I use the Reverse Summon skill?"
"Master... are you displeased with me?"
Cheonghwa spoke as if deeply wounded.
"No, that's not what I—"
"There's no Reverse Summon skill, so what are you even asking?"
Oh. It requires a separate skill.
And so, she would live in the same room as Cheonghwa, Yu Yeon, and two other women whose faces she hadn't yet seen.
"Master, you worked hard today. Rest well, and I'll see you tomorrow."
As Cheonghwa bowed and turned to leave for her own room, she couldn't just let her go.
"Cheonghwa."
"Yes, Master?"
"Didn't you call me nervous outside earlier?"
"...Yes. What about it..."
"Y-You?!"
The moment he gave the order, Cheonghwa began undressing.
What must be done, must be done.
You dared provoke your master—pay for it with your body!