Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Adults Only Remember First Place
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A philosopher from the past once said,
that people should do the jobs assigned to their positions.
In other words, protecting the little girl sniffling and staring at us right now is the police's job.
So what should a student like me—the future of this country and the rising star of the hero world—do?
"It's time to go home and get some sleep."
"What are you talking about? You're just going to leave her crying?"
Yes.
No, I mean, I'm exhausted. Call the police. You think I paid my taxes all this time for nothing before coming here?
It's all for times like this. Perfectly legal. Conversation over. Good night. See you tomorrow.
"Oppa, are you leaving?"
"She called me, didn't she?"
Oppa already? Whatever. Out of basic human decency, I'll at least call the police for her.
As I pulled out my phone to dial 112, the kid looked up with teary eyes.
"I miss Mommy. I miss Daddy too... Hic..."
"See that?"
Shut up for a sec. I shoved down the blonde snickering and throwing in comments beside me and approached the kid.
"The police uncle will be here soon, okay? He'll find your mom and dad. Just wait here—"
"No."
"What?"
"I saw you fighting earlier. I wanna go with you. Find my mom and dad."
What kind of tantrum is this? And she saw me fighting?
"Ah, she must've watched the ranking match. Sounds like she prefers Seong-hoon over some stranger cop. Must be nice being so popular."
Ah, that feels good. I was feeling a bit down since no one said anything, but I guess I was pretty cool.
As I nodded smugly, the kid toddled over. Looking up at me with watery eyes—
"Yeah! You were total trash!! First time seeing someone act like that to someone weaker— it was so weird!!"
"Pfft!!!!"
Great.
You stay here forever, you damn brat.
I figured it'd end up like this anyway. I'm dying of exhaustion—what the hell is this?
The day's way too long.
Ranking dead last with challenges pouring in, using up all my hoarded runes, chasing a runaway laborer, nearly getting killed by a classmate's parents.
And now I have to find some nameless brat's parents?
"Just kill me instead. I'm done. Finding them is the cops' job. I'll just drop her off."
"Yeah, yeah, just to the station, you said. Stop whining."
"Hehe. You say that, but you do everything anyway~ Oppa, you're actually a good guy, huh? I thought pretty unnie would be nice too!!"
"Of course! I'm a good person. But the one next to me? Not so much."
I ignored the blonde adding something like "super bad person~."
She's been talking nonsense forever—engaging just tires me out.
"Hmph~"
Her teary face from earlier was gone; now the kid was swinging her arms with a big grin. That arm, of course, linked to Raphael.
She whined for me to hold her hand too, but I flat-out refused— it'd look too weird.
The street's empty now, but to hand her off, we need the bustling district. If we run into anyone I know?
I'd kill myself. I'd go buy a noose right now.
"Won't your hand get sore holding it?"
"That's not the issue."
The kid stopped whining at my firm refusal. Then she looked up with those teary eyes again—if it'd work twice, I'd have jumped in from the start.
"Kiddo."
"Silvia."
Silvia? Guess that's her name. Makes sense with ranking matches drawing crowds from everywhere—foreigner's not weird. But you're just a kid. Kiddo.
A damn kid who stole my break time.
"Kiddo."
"Silvia."
"Kiddo."
"Silvia."
"Kiddo." "Silvia." "Kiddo." "Silvia."
An endless standoff. Raphael frowned, Lachesis swatted my cheek to stop, but after the endless standoff...
"Why!!"
I won. You might call me a bully for beating a kid, but winners don't exist in the world of competition. Only victors are remembered.
Adults only remember first place. Remember that. You climbed another step toward adulthood today.
"The world doesn't bend to your whims. Lesson learned for today."
"I don't know about that."
"Now you do."
She puffed her cheeks with a "pbbbt!!"—what now? Only parents give in to cute acts.
That's two steps up. Congrats, Silvia.
As I walked on, inwardly applauding, Silvia followed, pouting unhappily.
Raphael tossed out something to soothe her.
"She's super cute, though, right? Kinda different from other kids her age? She might grow up pretty—not as much as me, but still?"
"Isn't a proper compliment supposed to downplay yourself and hype the other?"
"What can I do? I'm flawlessly pretty. Blame God."
Never mind. Ignoring the chattering Raphael, we reached a brightly lit bustling street. Across the way, a sign read [Lost Child Center].
"This is as far as I go. I'm beat."
"Hurry up then."
"You know you're the reason I'm beat?"
"And you know you're the source of that reason?"
"Trace it back far enough, and it's God's fault, right? The God who created humanity?!"
"That's a logical fallacy."
She doesn't back down once. Better than anyone who can't win a word against a kid. Is this a challenge?
As we bantered, a snicker rose from below.
"Oppas are funny."
"Funny? We were about to throw punches."
"The second you swung, Seong-hoon would get it twice as bad?"
This... wanna test it? As Raphael and I locked eyes again, Silvia clutched her belly, rolling on the ground laughing.
That funny, huh?
"Kinda kills the vibe when you're laughing at a serious fight."
"Right?"
Kyahahaha!! Her laughter sapped our will to fight. Once we stopped, escorting her to the center didn't take long.
Seeing her wave brightly with a "thank you!" warmed things up a bit—made Raphael's words sink in.
"Unnie!!"
"Huh? What?"
"Here, for you. Thanks!"
Silvia handed Raphael something—a cross pendant, the necklace kind you wear.
"A black cross...! How cool!!"
Raphael's eyes sparkled with delight. Silvia beamed too. In the heartwarming mood, I smiled.
"What about me?"
Silence.
Silvia and Raphael's gazes pierced me as I waited. But they just looked baffled.
"You wouldn't even hold her hand, and now this?"
"Not giving to oppa..."
"...."
This stings a bit. I came along too—
"Should've just gone home."
What glory was I chasing with this hassle?
"You say that out loud?"
Yeah.
"What's your parents' names?"
"Hehe."
"Kiddo?"
Silvia ignored the question, gazing into space with a lingering, dreamy expression.
The classic spaced-out look. But her mind was full of earlier events.
Fun. Lee Seong-hoon was even more fun than expected. Way more.
Every word hilarious, every action a laugh riot.
"I like him."
"Kiddo?"
"Shut up. For real. I'm savoring the afterglow. Be quiet."
"...What?"
She glared at the baffled lost child center worker. Silvia's eyes gleamed.
Brightly, deeper than blood.
"Ah."
With that, the worker froze. Silvia swung her legs nonchalantly, replaying the scene.
Lee Seong-hoon bickering verbally with Raphael.
That smug face refusing to lose even to a kid once.
Puffing up like he'd won.
Sulking over no gift for him.
Grinning brightly on the way back.
Further back.
Blasting runes gleefully.
Endlessly asking if they were scared, reveling in it.
Recalling every Lee Seong-hoon in her head.
Silvia jumped. Mist enveloped her.
Much later, a beauty in her late twenties emerged.
Click.
She landed sharply, ignoring the stares.
"Freeze."
One word. Every living thing around halted.
"I told you not to stand out. Contact only after the job's done."
"Shut up. Do you know love?"
Love? The man from the shadows tilted his head at the non sequitur.
"Finish the job fast. I can't wait."
"Meaning?"
"Tomorrow. Start tomorrow. Or I'm out."
"Crazy bitch."
"Just now?"
Grinning, Silvia strode elegantly. The man followed, baffled.
"What'd that guy say?"
"Love at first sight. You'll never get it, eunuch."
The man scowled but said nothing. It was true.
"What about these people? Release the 'Charm'?"
"Crazy? Leave 'em. They're the spark."
Click. Click.
Silvia walked quietly, elegantly outward. Not looking ahead. Her focus fixed on one thing.
"What face will that Lee Seong-hoon kid make as my familiar?"
"Beg for death."
Nah. Silvia's eyes shone brighter than the moon.
The next day.
After getting home, Raphael helped cleanse my items with holy water, teasing "You need me after all~," letting me crash hard. Morning now.
I'm in an empty lot nearby.
And in that lot:
Me, in a backward red cap.
Raphael and Lachesis in backward black caps.
And kneeling before us: Isia.
"Hell training for trainee Isia starts now. Questions?"
Nod nod.
Ignoring her vigorous headshake, I clapped. Sophia approached with a wry smile.
"Now, witness the demo from master instructor Sophia!!"
"Sorry, but what's this got to do with Lucy—"
"Go!!!!!"
Eek—!!! Ignoring Isia's startled yelp, I watched arms crossed.
"No questions."
"You just said—"
"Go!!!!!"
"...Got it."
Nodding at her reluctant acceptance, I continued.
"What you'll see now is 'Parallel Chant' and 'Chant Cancel.' Watch closely and follow!!"
"Impossible to follow at once—"
"Go!!!!!!!!!!!"
Got it—!! I grinned satisfied at her scream.