Chapter 102
Terminally Ill, but It's Okay — Episode 102
Giuseppe Axel.
He was an elite who had been appointed a Guard Knight Third at only twenty-eight.
He had graduated at the top of his class from Italy's finest Awakener academy, the Royal Military Academy, and was an exceptional case who had been promoted a mere three years after being appointed a Fourth.
As befitting a rising star of the nation, his record was dazzling beyond measure.
The sweeping of certain factions belonging to the mafia organization 'Ndrangheta.
The dissolution and arrest of the Demonkin organization Camorra.
.
.
Even the title of youngest holy knight formally appointed by the Pope.
There were many more besides, but they were too numerous to list, so pass.
"Basta!!"
When he shouted with mana in his voice, the chaotic brawl quickly settled down.
The three forces that had been tangled together exchanging blows withdrew to their own places.
The Guard Knights sheathed their swords and stood at attention behind Axel—
"This way."
The Taehak students naturally gathered around Baek Sa-young.
The mafia, the cause of this clash, had already been completely rounded up and were sprawled on the ground.
As the scene entered a lull, Axel addressed the person who looked strongest among them.
He looked far younger than Axel himself, but his presence was strong enough that the outcome of a match could not be guaranteed. Axel asked Baek Sa-young in passably skilled Korean.
"Isn't Taehak a Korean military academy? So why are you here?"
"Ah, that's a relief. We can communicate. We simply......."
Baek Sa-young, having calmed his agitation, continued his explanation in a composed tone.
They had been invited here for the festival, and when trouble broke out, they had merely helped.
Of course, he admitted that, given the situation, it had been difficult to distinguish friend from foe, and that because they had rushed out in a hurry, they had not been equipped with anything that could prove they were Taehak students.
However, he made clear that the fault lay with the other side.
Honestly, everyone on this side was fine. But the other side had gotten hit quite a lot.......
It was because the power balance didn't match.
A problem caused by the wide gap between Korea, the strongest nation, and other countries.
Especially in the case of Lee Dae-ho, who was scratching the bridge of his nose as if watching a fire from across a river, or Cheon Seo-yoon, who had a club slung over her shoulder.
Even though they were five or six years younger than the Guard Knights, they had displayed overwhelming skill.
This result soon caught Axel's eye as well.
He had drilled his men every single day until their mouths tasted sweet.
Yet seeing his subordinates beaten by opponents who weren't even properly armed, a sigh escaped him on its own.
So this is Taehak, is it?
In truth, he had heard of its reputation constantly since his cadet days.
The world's greatest educational institution.
The cradle of demon slaying.
He had heard it said so often it was like eating meals: he might be top of his class here, but if he went to Taehak, even the top twenty would be a stretch.
The gap must have been enormous if even the pride and glory of the Vatican, the Saintess of Sanctification, had gone to Taehak.
As a holy knight of the Vatican himself, he naturally knew the Saintess.
He had even spoken with her while assigned to guard duty.
He had also asked her to enter the Royal Military Academy for the honor of their homeland.
But Taehak, of all places.
Axel clenched his fist for a moment as competitive spirit surged up, then released it.
In any case, wrapping up the matter came first.
"Understood. As soon as the identity verification process is complete......."
THUD—
At that moment, screams and the sound of a collision came from not far away.
"What was that?"
"Looks like someone fell?"
Guard Knights, Taehak students, and mafia alike all whipped their heads around, but when nothing happened, they returned to their positions.
Axel cleared his throat with a cough and continued.
"......Please wait until your identities are confirmed."
Meanwhile.
A festival organizer who had received Kim Hak-hyeon's call came running over in a fluster.
The middle-aged man in pajamas, his face pale, held out an invitation stamped with the seal of the mayor of Verona.
The verification of facts ended anticlimactically.
Axel bowed his head deeply without making a fuss.
"My greetings are late. I am Axel, commander of Guard Knight Mobile Unit 49. It was our negligence, so I will offer a formal apology."
Even if it had been to prevent terrorism, swinging swords at officially invited guests was a mistake with no room for excuse.
The Guard Knights following him bowed their heads as well.
Mi dispiace, sorry.
Italian and clumsy Korean flowed out at the same time.
"We've received the apology. Should we wrap this up here?"
"Yeah, none of our members are hurt, so let's end it on good terms."
When Kim Hak-hyeon winked one eye, Baek Sa-young conveyed their intent.
"We will accept your apology. It's late, so today......."
"But Taehak really is Taehak, I see. Seeing as only our side took damage......."
However, Axel's business was not yet finished.
"Ah, we were also too flustered to......."
"I know. Don't misunderstand—I'm not trying to pick a fight. More importantly, how long will you be staying in Verona?"
"Our schedule goes until Sunday."
"Then may I ask one favor?"
"...A favor?"
When Baek Sa-young asked back quizzically, Axel made his proposal directly.
Taehak was the military academy envied by Awakeners all over the world.
Meeting like this was fate, and who knew when they would meet again.
With a spirit of mutual growth.......
"How about crossing swords once more with proper Guard Knights?"
* * *
The next morning in Verona.
I was walking with Cheon Seo-yoon along the Adige River, which originates in the Alps and winds through the city.
"Of all people, why did I have to draw you?"
"You don't like it?"
"No, well. It's not that......."
The reason for this sudden companionship was the lot-drawing event Kim Hak-hyeon had confidently prepared.
It was an event where, whether the drawn person was the opposite sex or the same sex, you had to spend the morning schedule together with them.
I arrived a little late to the meeting time, and Cheon Seo-yoon had already drawn my name, so there was no other choice.
But it wasn't bad.
Cheon Seo-yoon was one of the people I had wanted, along with Baek Sa-young and Reina.
Being together with her was comfortable, and above all, I liked that I didn't have to agonize over what to say.
"Hey, but are you really okay with the spar?"
She tossed out a topic on her own like that, so all I had to do was answer.
"Yeah. Someone had to step up, right?"
I answered fairly coolly, then recalled last night's events.
With what confidence I'd had, I had jumped from the thirtieth floor trusting only a single line, then collided with the stone floor.
It must have been when I was writhing in pain as if my whole body had been shattered.
[Main Quest #8]
[Objective: Participate in the spar as Taehak's representative, and win]
[Reward: 15 days added to Remaining Time, 30 SP provided]
When the quest appeared as the air distorted, I hurriedly got up and headed to the scene.
Fortunately, I wasn't too late.
Axel and the Guard Knights had already arrested the mafia and left, and only the Taehak students remained, arguing back and forth over Axel's proposal.
The conditions Axel had set were as follows.
1. Select four people per side and conduct one-on-one spars.
2. Use wooden swords instead of real swords.
3. End immediately upon voluntary forfeit or serious injury.
.
.
Several other conditions were attached as well, which made it even more of a problem.
"May I take one spot?"
"Me too!"
"I can't just sit still either."
.......
Because the only people who had expressed willingness to participate were Baek Sa-young, Cheon Seo-yoon, and Lee Dae-ho.
Well, it was only natural.
For an ordinary person, there was no reason to come all the way on a trip and volunteer for a spar with no benefit.
"Doesn't this mean it's a bust?"
"What are you talking about? Why avoid a fight that came to us first?"
"It's not a fight, it's a spar, Seo-yoon."
"Same thing."
In the original work, things dragged on like this too, until one of the third-year seniors reluctantly raised a hand.
But that senior got lucky this time.
"If there's no one, I'll go."
I raised my hand, pretending to be generous.
Then, as I recall, Baek Sa-young said this.
"Ha-yul. You don't have to force yourself. If it really doesn't work out, I'll give up."
So I answered like this.
"No. I'll just do it."
"Why?"
......Why?
I mean, I wondered if volunteering needed a reason.
But the others also had curious expressions, so I blurted out whatever came to mind.
"The names of Taehak and youth are on the line, so someone has to step up."
"Ah......."
Then a sudden silence fell.
"Who's that guy?"
"You know. From Geunwon Sulga, Sorcery Track. The rumors about him weren't great, but he turned out to be a decent guy."
Unexpectedly decent reactions followed.
[Kim Hak-hyeon's affinity has increased.]
[Baek Sa-young's affinity has increased.]
[You have acquired 2 SP.]
This actually works?
It was a code I found hard to understand, but on the off chance, I added one more line.
"In life, there are times when you have to do things even if you don't want to. For me, that's now. Don't ask any more and put my name on the list."
And I made a cool exit.
Because I thought it would be better to hold back my words if I wanted to leave an impression.......
After that, I think I earned about fifteen more points.
Anyway, the incident was wrapped up with that.
Around 11 p.m., a text from Cheol-soo arrived.
[Ha-yul. I've narrowed down places similar to the painting. West side and east side. If we split it into two places and go today and tomorrow, that should work. There's a limit to checking by GPS, so we'll have to go in person.......]
I contacted Reina and departed for Nice.
I spent around four hours sweeping through the eastern area, but came up empty.
Unfortunately, I couldn't find a mansion matching the painting.
But I wasn't worried.
If it wasn't in the east, then the west. I would be able to find it by this evening.
It wasn't that I was being optimistic; it was that I trusted Cheol-soo that much.
"Hey, what are you thinking about so hard?"
At that moment, Cheon Seo-yoon suddenly thrust her face toward me, and I set aside my thoughts.
Cheon Seo-yoon spun back around and continued.
"But you seemed a little different yesterday."
"How so?"
"......No, you said in life there are times when you have to do things even if you don't want to. That line was a little......."
"Ah, that."
Ah, so we were still on that topic.
I didn't bother denying it.
More than that.
The smell of food wafting from somewhere stimulated my stomach.
Since I had skipped breakfast, I asked Cheon Seo-yoon.
"Want to eat something?"
"Ah, you didn't eat breakfast, right? Hold on. I actually looked up some good restaurants."
Cheon Seo-yoon pulled a crumpled, folded printout from her pocket.
Verona Restaurant Recommendations Best 5. Real local spots recommended by a local guide.
"Oh."
Since it was recommended by a local, it looked plausible.
"I'll read them out, so tell me if any catch your eye. I'm fine with anywhere."
Cheon Seo-yoon unfolded the printout and read down the list.
"Wood-fired pizza place 'Nastro,' pizza place where even locals wait in line 'Bottega,' and if you want the most Italian pizza, 'Capa Cafe.'"
"Hey, hold on."
Something seemed off, so I cut Cheon Seo-yoon off.
"Why is the whole menu pizza?"
"Huh? Italy means pizza, doesn't it? This is the pizza restaurant version."
......Well then. The answer was obvious.
"Let's go to the closest one."
"Okay."
Cheon Seo-yoon grinned and walked ahead, but a directionally challenged person was still directionally challenged.
In the end, I found the restaurant.
It was a small restaurant with a terrace near the portal station.
We sat by the window and ordered this and that with awkward gestures.
Before long, two pizzas came out steaming.
I had thought pizza was all about the cheese anyway, so they were all the same.......
"Mm."
When I took a bite, it was definitely different.
"Good, right?"
"Yeah."
It was definitely salty.
Cheon Seo-yoon chewed her pizza and asked me.
"But did you get a suit? Tonight's the event. They said you can't get in without one."
"Ah, right."
Cheon Seo-yoon let out a faint sigh and continued hesitantly.
"If you haven't bought one yet, we could look around together....... I don't know much about men's clothes, but I'll help."
"You?"
"......Yeah. Wouldn't it be fine to buy something like that style?"
Cheon Seo-yoon pointed at a handsome middle-aged man passing by outside the window.
It was a stylish suit in a deep navy tone, and I thought that might work too.
......!
At some point, my gaze shifted to a person passing by behind him like a fleeting glimpse.
A leather jacket and jeans. Long hair like a lion's mane.
A bold stride as if the world were beneath his feet.
"......Han Soo-hyeok?"