The Rune Clan (2)
"...."
I walked toward the Sunlight Orphanage, keeping an eye on my rear. Rebecca, who was actually right behind me, didn't seem to pay me much mind. She was confident she could catch me if I tried to bolt.
No openings.
Rebecca strolled leisurely, scanning her surroundings, but she had no gaps whatsoever. The mana filling the space around me would turn into a noose the instant I made a break for it.
"Haa."
"Why the sigh, Lee Ho-yeon?"
"...It's nothing."
Her sudden friendliness felt awkward as hell. This was driving me nuts.
Truth be told, Rebecca was stunning. She popped up pretty often in the original story as a villain, and villains' top lieutenants were always hot—that was just the rule. Like Im Sol, she had that obsessive researcher vibe, but while Im Sol was the wholesome type, Rebecca screamed decadent sorceress. Ruby-melted red hair, emerald eyes sparkling like gems. Witchy was the word, if I had to pick one.
"How much farther?"
"Not far."
She was the kind of beauty you'd drop to your knees for if she offered. A type I'd never encountered before. She really was gorgeous.
But...
Too many women already.
My harem of heroines was bloated enough; I couldn't go reeling in a villain lieutenant who wasn't even one.
"...."
Of course. A villain of Rebecca's caliber wouldn't have low influence. She was positioned as a full-on enemy in the original, so it never crossed my mind she could become a heroine.
Tch. Regretting it now.
Should I have just claimed I was from the Rune Clan?
No, that might backfire. Even if short-term conqure was easy, everything would crumble if the truth came out later. Better to reveal it upfront and Conquer from there.
Of course, whether I'd even go for it was still up in the air.
"You could just make babies with me."
"...You said two boys, right?"
"Yeah, one is you, and the other is even younger."
"How young?"
"Around elementary school age by now, I'd guess?"
Elementary school. I had no clue about guys my age, but the kids at the orphanage were around that range. My hunch was looking more solid.
"Is that the Sunlight Orphanage up ahead?"
"Yes, right there."
We arrived at the Sunlight Orphanage shortly after.
"Hmm...."
Rebecca followed me inside, her Rune Barrier cloaking us from the ordinary folks. It was the same Rune Barrier as mine, yet hers felt far more solid and stable.
The mana structure feels totally different.
No other way to explain it. Even if I replicated her exact magic circle, the output would differ.
Rune Clan Synergy
That was the vibe.
In the courtyard, we spotted a portly middle-aged man watering the flowers—the director of the Sunlight Orphanage. I approached him; it had been a while.
"Hello, Director."
"Oh? Hey, Cadet Ho-yeon! Figured you'd be too famous to drop by now."
"Nah, it's not like I'm image-managing or anything. Fame doesn't change who I am. I got discharged yesterday and wanted to see your face."
Last time I'd come was about a month ago, back when I was courting Baek Ayoung... No real reason to visit now. Still, I should bring her sometime.
"Ah, right. I saw the news but spaced. Heh."
The director chuckled. I pressed on.
"No worries. Mind if I see the kids? What're they up to?"
"It's free time after lunch. They're doing whatever. Word you're here, and they'll swarm ya."
"Mm, looking for a specific kid today. Isn't there a redheaded boy here?"
Rebecca, who'd been idly listening beside me, perked up at "redheaded boy."
"Red hair...? Oh, Su-hyun?"
"Yeah, that mischievous little guy."
"Probably over there. Wanna go see?"
"Please. Got some private words for him."
Soon, I was alone with Cheon Su-hyun. My fame and volunteer history helped; the director had no issue.
"Hyung! Long time. What's up?"
"Got a few questions. Just answer, cool?"
"Sure thing!"
The redheaded kid, Cheon Su-hyun, grinned innocently. Eight years old, prime cute age.
- Kid?
I nodded to Rebecca, who gazed intently at him from behind.
Swoosh—
Her mana rippled faintly past me, scanning Su-hyun from head to toe.
- ...Can I talk to him?
"Yeah, should be fine. Su-hyun, don't freak. Brought a big sis who wanted to meet you. Okay?"
"Yep!"
Creak—
The door opened, and Rebecca slipped in naturally. Rune Barrier illusion—how'd she pull that off?
"Hi. You must be Cheon Su-hyun."
"Hello, noona."
Su-hyun bowed politely. Rebecca's face twisted awkwardly.
"...Mind if I see your hand?"
"Sure."
Grabbing his wrist, she sent in mana. After a moment:
"...It's a match."
"Really?!"
"Yeah. Definitely Rune Clan. Comparing, I can tell. His mana circuits are different from yours."
"Ooh... Believing me now?"
"...Yeah. I do."
Rebecca looked disappointed, but clearing the misunderstanding was a relief. Better nipped early. No forced impregnation kidnapping for me.
"Kiddo... Remember anything before the orphanage?"
She probed for other survivors.
"Hmm... Not really. Childhood's fuzzy."
"...Haa."
Missing out on a survivor she thought she'd found? Rebecca sighed deeply, crestfallen.
"Thanks, Su-hyun. Go play with your friends. Oh, snacks from hyung—share 'em."
"Thanks, hyung! See ya!"
I handed him the snacks and shooed him out.
Clatter-clatter—
As Su-hyun scampered off, I turned to Rebecca.
"Let's ask the director. He might know something."
"...Okay."
*
"Ahh... Su-hyun, huh."
In the office, I asked about when they first took him in.
"Wondering if a redheaded guy brought him. Around my age."
Rune Clan or not, a kid that young wouldn't trek here alone. Some older dude must've helped.
"Dunno how you knew, but... yeah. Redheaded boy. If he's alive, about your age now, Cadet Ho-yeon."
"...Pardon?"
I couldn't believe the director. That meant the survivor Rebecca sought was dead.
"Tch... Few years back. Blizzard raging, knock at the door. Redheaded teen clutching a kid, begging shelter for one night."
"...."
The director closed his eyes, reminiscing.
"Boy was in bad shape. Burning fever. Tried sending him to hospital, but he refused—said he couldn't go. We called the ambulance on the sly anyway."
"Right."
"Severe malnutrition, body wrecked. Frostbite everywhere from barefoot trekking, stamina shot. Too late to treat."
"Ah, so..."
"Yeah. Died hours after arrival. Lucky the kid he carried, Su-hyun, was fine. We've raised him since."
"...."
What to even call this? I glanced at Rebecca—face like she'd lost her kingdom.
Made sense. Desperate to revive the clan, and the last survivor was a toddler? Devastating. With her fanatic clan obsession... yeah, total desolation.
Creak—
"Huh? Door opened on its own? Wind?"
Rebecca flung it open and trudged out. Rune Barrier still up, so the director blinked at the sudden gust.
"...Thanks for the talk. Gotta head out."
"Sure thing, Cadet. Thanks for visiting."
I followed her outside. Rebecca stood blankly in the empty backyard, staring at the sky. Approaching, I saw tears like chicken tears streaming down her cheeks to the ground.
"Rebecca...?"
First time calling her name. She finally turned.
Drip. Drip.
Tears poured like a faucet. If she'd bawled outright, I could've comforted her, but this was utter surrender.
Haa. Crying women stumped me every time.
Time to console.
"Don't cry. He's young, eight... He'll grow up soon enough."
"...Pointless."
"Huh?"
"No proper lineage training... Critical early years missed. Half a Rune Clansman at best."
"Ah...."
"And by the time he grows, it'll be too late for me. Age, you know."
"...How old are you?"
Looked Im Sol's age. Magic age-faking? Witch cliché.
If she turned out an 80-year-old granny...
"...Next-next year, twenties end."
"What? You're young."
"...Gotta breed young as possible!"
Sniffling pitifully, she looked truly heartbreaking.
"There'll be a way. I'll help— we'll figure it slow."
Rebecca wiped her tears, staring desperately.
"Sniff. ...Just do it with me."
"Whoa, hold up. How'd we get there?"
"Only male who can use Rune Barrier in the world—you."
"True, but..."
"Plus you're hot. My type. Even if the survivor was an ugly pig, I'd have squeezed 50 out. With you? Till I drop."
"...."
She clutched my collar with lustful eyes. Honestly? Fine by me. Bang a beauty, heroine auto-unlocks. No-brainer, right?
Wrong. Issues galore.
First, Rune Clan revival. My talents were god-given perks. Would they pass to kids? Maybe. Maybe not.
"...Help me."
"...Rebecca."
"All prepped. Money? Take it. I'll raise the kids... Zero hassle for you. Just... seed me. Please...."
Her posture crumbled mid-plea. Ended on her knees, shaking my clothes.
180 from her initial aggression. Back then, she thought I was clan—expected compliance.
Her clan revival obsession. The guy hauling toddler Su-hyun here, protecting him despite youth. Clan raised with indoctrination: prevent extinction, preserve bloodline.
So she assumed I'd shoulder it as a "clansman."
But now? Not clan, no duty—but can't force it either. I could die.
She could coerce, but I wasn't helpless. Resolve to resist, and I'd make an opening.
Of course, I'd never die... but she doesn't know that.
In a way, I was her uncontrollable last hope.
"Anything... please...."
I grabbed her shoulders, stopping her head-butt to the ground.
"...Stand up. I don't want that kind of thing."
Her decadent allure crumbled? No. She shone confident.
"Then you'll impregnate me? Make babies?"
Hopeful eyes locked on mine.
"...I can try. But conditions. Follow my lead exactly."
"Plenty of practice. I can handle anything."
Misread my intent, steeling for sex—but irrelevant.
Real issue blocking instant acceptance. Had to fix that first.