Chapter 149
Chapter 149
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 149
Chapter Title: The Unknown World
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Tak—!! Tak—!!!!
A sharp, irritable echo spread through the room. Following the source of the sound revealed a little girl—no, a mage.
A woman with orange hair wearing a black mage's hat. Her brow furrowed deeply as she stomped her feet.
Her hands mercilessly pounded the desk.
"My money."
Tak—!!!!
The crisp sound turned terrifying in an instant. A crack formed on the desk.
"My Maldives trip voucher."
In truth, this was a showy reward. She'd covered the accommodations out of pocket, planning to award MVP to a pre-selected recipient.
It should have gone to Rozarinne—
"What devil out of nowhere?"
A devil had appeared and ruined everything. To make matters worse, the barrier shattered, turning it into total chaos.
'I even called in the church on a whim.'
The result? No demon infiltrators. So what had been sneaking in all this time?
"Ah. So annoying."
Still, Rozarinne was the chairwoman. A grand mage.
She had to handle the cleanup, and reinforce security so nothing happened in the second semester.
That's why she'd made this decision. Even the notoriously stingy Rozarinne.
Sacrificing a whole Maldives trip voucher to do it!
"Just seeing his face pisses me off now."
Should she grab him soon? But she had too much to do.
During break, she needed to hunt down some demon infiltrators and beat them, and devise even better security.
Lots of fallout to clean up too.
With so much on her plate, if something blew up at Justitia all of a sudden?
Rozarinne was confident she'd pull out every last hair on her head.
That's why she gave him the Maldives voucher. Meaning: if you're gonna cause trouble, do it there.
No matter how much of a powerhouse Rozarinne was, a student who might actually hit back wasn't someone to mess with physically—
"We'll talk after everything's sorted."
You're first on my interview list. Enjoy your Maldives. With that thought, Rozarinne vigorously moved her pen.
"Fucking sweet."
"It's fucking sweet!!!"
Of course, the recipients had no clue.
Vacation ceremony.
The world's most beautiful three letters. A full month off from school—the world's most beautiful period.
A forbidden time granted only to teenagers.
"Doesn't the weather feel clearer today?!"
"Yeah. For real."
In today's especially clear—no, brutally hot weather, Raphael spun around happily as she walked.
She'd glance at me and smile every now and then. I couldn't figure out why she was in such a great mood.
Honestly, yeah. I'm excited too. It's my first trip, after all.
At the beach, first thing: build a sandcastle with Levatein. Then kick off the shoes and walk on water—
As I planned, Raphael turned around, walked backward with hands behind her, and hopped excitedly even when I warned her it was dangerous.
"Is it because the barrier's gone? I missed out on half my life!!"
"Yeah."
The barrier was gone. The stifling feeling vanished, and now we could go anywhere we wanted starting today.
Meaning I could play outside with Levatein. Perfect. Justitia.
Plus, Maldives really had nothing. No hidden dungeons, demon lairs, or vampire strongholds.
Zero. Why? The author had never been abroad—how could they write with Maldives as the stage?
Exactly. So we're going to relax. For real healing.
Play around, rest at Shin Ga-yeon's place, then come back. That's the whole story.
"Feels like the first real break in forever."
"Right? Almost the first?"
"Every day was a break for you."
"I trained just as hard. Your stamina's just a bit... Never mind~"
This girl finally learned to hold her tongue. Normally she'd keep teasing with that smug grin.
She's grown!!
And she wasn't entirely wrong. Raphael's words weren't always off-base?
Holidays were the only real breaks. Weekdays meant training no matter what.
True rest since coming here was pretty much first-time level.
What that means is.
"Come at me. Ocean."
I'm gonna enjoy the hell out of the sea.
No incidents would happen, and since we're escaping, no one would follow.
My only enemy is the ocean.
"Ooh. The man fighting the sea. So cool."
I know. Ignoring the lately smiley Raphael, to do that, preparations were needed.
Of course, all done. I'm thorough. Situations keep wrecking my plans, but my prep was perfect.
Always. Every time. Forever.
First: secure the maids and Yang Min-ji's safety.
Yang Min-ji goes home for break, so she's fine.
Returning amid monsters, no worries there, but Isia and Sophia are different.
Sophia's alone, and Isia's homecoming isn't certain.
So I gave them post-its. The kind that summon my crow.
—Tear this if in danger. A crow pops out.
—Run as far as you can, or stall for time.
—I'll come.
That's what I told them. These girls I've pulled from the original plot—for my sake. If they get ambushed by "Half-Demons" while I slack off, or nabbed by vampires?
No answer for that. So I'm setting the best safety net I can.
Next: Serena. Hoping she's reformed by the time she returns, I texted Kim Tae-hyun.
One word. Followed by coordinates.
A spot Serena frequented for extortion.
"Shouldn't she be thanking me?"
Fixing one person—wouldn't they serve me as a lifelong benefactor?
You bet.
"You're thinking something weird again."
"Anyone overhears, they'll misunderstand."
I pressed down her golden hair and gave a thumbs-up. Maids: OK. Serena: OK. Yang Min-ji: OK.
"Preparations complete."
Just pack at home and go.
"To Maldives!!"
Tomorrow, though.
"This is my first time."
"Mine too. I'm nervous."
"What do we do? Take off shoes to board?"
"Yell 'boarding' when getting on. Makes it go higher."
Gasp!! Raphael covered her mouth at the nonsense, Levatein mimicking her beside—I couldn't help but laugh.
Next morning. We're gathered at the entrance. Lily's been in [Inventory] for a while.
Bags too, all in [Inventory]. Going empty-handed feels like backpacking—kinda fresh.
"Take off shoes to enter, yell 'boarding' to go up..."
"Really?!"
Raphael made a sad face at Levatein's words. Saying stuff like 'Seong-hoon, you do it!!'—is there a bigger idiot than this?
Right? Our idiot blondes are too pure for their own good.
Worried they might follow strangers in Maldives.
I picked up the beaming Levatein, excited for the trip.
"Levatein."
"Once there, stick with Dad or Mom always?"
"What if a stranger approaches?"
That's too harsh.
"Just threaten them."
I stroked Levatein's beaming response. Raphael stared at me silently.
She cleared her throat, eyeing me expectantly.
"What."
What's her deal.
"Huh? What do you mean? You have to say it to me too."
"Say what?"
"Stop pretending. Tell me not to follow strangers too!!"
Hmm. What could that mean? I pondered, but no answer.
"Why worry about someone who can flatten any stranger and walk out?"
Hearing Lachesis, I thought it over. Soon got the point.
"Got it!!"
"It's that!!"
Levatein looked up curiously at my words.
"You want me to worry about strangers for you!!"
"Die!!!!"
The angel punch packed heat.
Do you know the word "bucket list"?
It means a list of things you want to do at least once before you die.
Why bring it up now?
"..."
"..."
Because our Maldives trip ended in about 5 seconds. One of my dreams. Taking a plane overseas.
So excited, and what is this? Blinked and we're from Justitia to Maldives?
Doesn't even feel real that we're in Maldives.
Just a regular warp gate greeted us.
"Seong-hoon."
"Yeah."
"Where's the 'boarding'?"
I don't know either. Say it and can we fly? I'd say it a million times.
"Where do I take off my shoes?"
"Beats me."
My hyped sunglasses felt pathetic. Neck pillow for the flight: useless. Eye mask: trash it.
"What about my in-flight meal?"
"I'll buy something tasty."
"That's a given."
Is it? Bracelet-form Levatein shifted to human and snuggled into my arms.
Looked around, tilted head.
"Maldives."
It's true. Step out and blue ocean awaits.
Will it?
"Seong-hoon."
"What now."
"Surely stepping out won't lead to ruins or anything, right?"
No way. I fixed my slightly slipped sunglasses.
Raphael put on hers. Gave kid-sized ones to Levatein.
Looks ridiculous to others, but we're serious.
Don't mock my floral shirt.
"Let's go."
To the unknown world.
Warp gate's a warp gate, Maldives is Maldives.
Overseas is overseas, right?
Raphael and I each took one of Levatein's hands as she stepped down, and ventured into the unknown world!