Chapter 36
Terminally Ill, but It's Okay — Episode 36
The field study club's stated purpose was, literally, field study.
It held the grand ambition of seeing and experiencing the world's cultural heritage firsthand and cultivating a magnanimous spirit.
That wasn't my opinion. It was the introduction posted on the front page of the club's homepage.
But among the people gathered here, only a very small number actually had that intention.
Everyone cared more about the perks than the stated purpose, and club president Kim Hak-hyeon was no exception.
"As a formality, the Gyeongbokgung tour is mandatory. We'll breeze through it, then you'll have free time. Ahem. I'm keeping things simple today, but starting with our next field study, I plan to prepare a few little events, so look forward to them. Heh heh."
True to the resident matchmaker role every academy story seemed to have, he was obsessed with those little events and forcing romance.
He was always trying to manufacture encounters between men and women.
The club wasn't named "Youth" for nothing.
Anyway, after brief introductions, the field study club passed through the portal and headed for Gyeongbokgung.
Just as Kim Hak-hyeon had said, we tore through the tour in record time and entered free time.
"Alright, let's go!"
The Class A members followed Cheon Seo-yoon's lead toward the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts.
"Wow, there are so many people."
"It's auction day, so even more people probably came."
Just as Baek Sa-young and Lee Dae-ho had said, crowds packed the place, and it was already chaotic at the entrance.
It was enough to make me understand why the Demonkin had chosen this place for a terrorist attack.
We first headed to the exhibition hall to view the Sain Sword.
As we walked along the viewing path, we came upon it before long.
In the center of the exhibition hall, a high dais.
A single sword planted atop it as if reigning over the hall caught my eye.
A special-grade Armament that the Republic of Korea took pride in.
Inhae, Indal, Innal, Insi.
It was called the Sain Sword because it had been forged at a moment when four instances of in (寅), the Tiger character of the twelve zodiac signs, coincided.
The Sain Sword.
There had been quite a few since ancient times, but only about ten had survived intact and become Armaments. One of those was on display here.
"Wow, so that's the Sain Sword."
"Isn't there some hands-on thing where you can touch it?"
"Are you crazy?"
"Let's get closer first."
The group quickly grew excited and rushed over in a swarm.
I didn't bother joining them. I watched from a step back.
It was enough to see it from here.
My eyesight was good, and I was already feeling more than enough as it was, so I didn't see any need to get closer.
"So that's a real special-grade Armament."
Honestly, it was unexpected.
Because I'd come without any real expectations.
Even with restrictions, I could manifest hero-grade Armaments, which were a higher grade than this, and my attention had been entirely focused on the bombing incident.
But was it because Appraisal had raised my overall understanding of Armaments?
Seeing a special-grade Armament in person stirred something deep in me.
Its majestic presence and flawless construction, without so much as a hair's breadth of error, made its very existence feel like a natural phenomenon.
"What have I been swinging around all this time......."
Even if they were knockoffs, I'd taken a certain pride in the Armaments I'd manifested so far, but.......
It felt like being hit over the head with a huge hammer.
It was just as I was thinking that once this incident was over, I'd need to seriously consider Armament manifestation—
Click, clack.
A security officer in a black suit approached, her pointed heels clicking against the floor.
Huh?
I soon knew who it was.
I knew her face, and that vivid crimson hair was impossible to miss unless it was natural.
"Cheon Seo-yoon! And these must be Taehak students?"
When the red-haired woman greeted them, Cheon Seo-yoon's eyes widened and she jumped with a shout.
"Y-Yi-hyeon!"
"Have you been well?"
"Wow— amazing, what brings you here?"
It was her.
So Yi-hyeon, Vice-Commander of Yosal Corps Squad 8.
The person who had pretended to shake my hand and engraved her business card onto my palm.......
But why was So Yi-hyeon in charge of guarding the Sain Sword?
Squad 8's operational area was the southern part of Gangwon Province.
Shouldn't she have been wearing the Yosal Corps cloak and rolling around with Monsters instead of standing here in a suit?
The question was soon answered.
"Long story. I had some reflecting to do, so I'm serving it out on special assignment."
"Ah, special dispatch."
"I'm in overall charge of security. As you can see, there's not much to do, but......."
So Yi-hyeon looked bored. I, meanwhile, was mildly surprised.
The original hadn't covered this in detail, so it was something I hadn't known.
Anyway, true to the setting that they were close, So Yi-hyeon and Cheon Seo-yoon greeted each other warmly and caught up.
Then, before long, So Yi-hyeon's eyes began to sparkle.
"Are these people your friends? Their faces look familiar from the screening, but would you introduce them?"
"Ah, okay."
At So Yi-hyeon's request, Cheon Seo-yoon introduced them one by one.
"First, this is Arin, who I've mentioned a few times. Joo A-rin."
"It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Ah, nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about you. You're even prettier in person. Do you have a boyfriend?"
"...Pardon?"
"Ah, don't ask weird stuff."
When Joo A-rin's eyes went round, Cheon Seo-yoon stepped in and shoved Baek Sa-young forward instead.
"This is Baek Sa-young. You know him, right? He was on the news not long ago~"
"I know him. Of course I do."
They were all famous young talents with bright futures, and So Yi-hyeon couldn't stop smiling.
Her smile grew even wider when Baek Sa-young was introduced.
"He's even more handsome in person. Since fate brought us together like this, let's keep in touch."
"Pardon?"
Well, he had been the Yosal Corps' number one recruitment target, so I understood.
"And this is......."
After Lee Dae-ho, her introductions reached me.
We'd only met in passing, but we weren't strangers, so I wondered whether I should acknowledge that I knew her.
"I know him—Student Park Ha-yul. We've already met once. You remember me, right?"
"Yes, we meet again."
Since she brought it up first, I naturally nodded.
"You must have been pretty busy. You haven't contacted me once."
"Well, there wasn't anything particularly difficult......."
No, wait.
Was today different?
A terrorist attack was due here soon.
If the person in charge of security was someone I knew, it would be no small help.
I decided it was a useful coincidence and changed tack slightly.
"......but who knows. I might have a reason to contact you soon."
"Hmm, is that so? Anyway, it was nice meeting you."
So Yi-hyeon glanced at her watch, then looked reluctant to leave as she addressed the group.
"The auction is about to start, so I'll probably be getting busy. Before that, shall we at least shake hands?"
Shake hands?
I wondered if it was what I thought it was, and when our eyes met, So Yi-hyeon gave a small nod.
Wow, recruiting even at a time like this.
She really was an impressive person in many ways.
* * *
After parting from So Yi-hyeon, we headed to the auction hall.
"I said I'm going alone, so why do you keep following me?"
"No particular reason. Just wanted to look around. Auctions are fun."
"I'm absolutely not following you because I'm curious what you'll buy."
Cheon Seo-yoon kept refusing, but once Baek Sa-young and Lee Dae-ho insisted on tagging along, she had no choice but to give in.
The area around the auction hall was just as crowded.
The crowd was smaller than in the exhibition hall, but plenty of people were still there, and we had to wait in line.
As our turn approached, a staff member helped with the entry procedure.
"Let me check your ID, then I'll help you purchase your ticket."
There were two types of tickets: spectator tickets and participant tickets that came with bidding rights.
Cheon Seo-yoon bought a participant ticket; the rest bought spectator tickets.
I had already purchased my own participant ticket separately.
Mine was a tucked-away corner seat that would not draw attention no matter where Cheon Seo-yoon sat.
Since valuable items were changing hands, the ID verification process was quite complicated.
"Ah, you're a Taehak student? Just a moment."
But at times like this, a state-recognized status was helpful.
"Everything checks out. Have a good time."
Thanks to that, I was able to enter faster than the others.
Since I had something to arrange before the auction began, that was welcome.
The auction used the largest exhibition hall on the first floor, so it was spacious and suitably luxurious.
The three sides other than the stage were lined with exhibits.
"Look at that. Isn't that an expensive statue?"
A famous statue stood in the center of the auction hall, prestigious enough to make Lee Dae-ho fuss over it and lend the room a sense of weight.
A work depicting a nude man wearing only a helmet, holding a sword in one hand and a woman's head raised high to the sky in the other.
"Right. It looks familiar to me too."
"Ah, that. What was it called again? I think I saw the real thing once when I was in Italy."
Baek Sa-young and Cheon Seo-yoon racked their brains together but made no progress, so Joo A-rin, who had been watching, quietly murmured.
"Perseus With The Head Of Medusa."
"Per what? What's with the English?"
"It's Perseus holding Medusa's head. It looks genuine. It's part of the Vatican collection."
"Ah, Vatican....... Where's that? Not Italy?"
"......."
"Ugh, whatever. Let's just find our seats."
"The spectator seats are completely separated from the participant seats. Good luck, Cheon Seo-yoon."
The group left Joo A-rin, who wore a sour expression, behind and moved to their assigned seats.
I, on the other hand, approached the statue.
I had some business over here.
As soon as I got close, I activated Manifestation.
I quickly engraved the sorcery formula I had specially prepared for today.
"Where would be a good place to carve it?"
I looked for a spot that would stay hidden but serve as an anchor once the formula activated.
That was when I heard a familiar voice.
"The heart of this work is Medusa's head in Perseus's hand—more specifically, the expression on her face."
Joo A-rin, who had approached before I knew it, spoke to me with her gaze fixed on the statue.
"Her sorrowful yet serene smile captures the end of an unhappy life."
"...Is that so?"
I was busy, so I answered half-heartedly.
She seemed a little more animated than usual today, and she was talking more too.
What was it?
Then I remembered one of her established character traits.
Art lover.
She was dying to talk about it, and I was the only one around willing to listen.
"Critics say that Perseus is merely an altar to make Medusa's head stand out. I agree as well."
Joo A-rin immediately continued.
It was at that moment that I found a hint.
"True. If it bursts at the highest point, it'll be easy to see."
"Pardon?"
"Nothing. Just talking to myself. Don't mind me."
Satisfied, I waved my hand.
The small sorcery formula hovering in the air drifted to the crown of Medusa's head, seeped inside, and vanished.
It was simple, but it would serve as the signal flare that drew out the Demonkin.
The auction will begin shortly. Guests, please take your assigned seats.
Just as I finished my preparations, the announcement rang through the hall.
"Looks like it's starting now. My reserved seat is on the opposite side. Let's meet after the auction."
"Alright."
I parted from Joo A-rin and walked to my assigned seat.
As soon as I sat down, I slowly looked around.
First, five security personnel were stationed in the auction hall, and the Demonkin.......
Honestly, I couldn't tell.
Which of them were Demonkin.
There seemed to be about ten of them.......
Until certain conditions were met or they emitted Demonic Energy, they were no different from ordinary people, so it wasn't easy to distinguish them by appearance alone.
But that only applied to the Demonkin mixed in among the civilians.
I knew the identities of the two who had directly appeared in the original work.
A moment later, the room went completely dark. A single light illuminating the stage turned on, and a man in a neat suit appeared.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome. I'll be your host for this special auction commemorating the Sain Sword exhibition......."
After the brief greeting ended and loud applause broke out, the man bowed deeply.
I just smirked.
More like he was in charge of the terrorist attack.
One of the two whose identities I knew had just appeared.