Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Trinity
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Trinity art gallery, located in Seongsu-dong, was surprisingly quiet despite its lofty reputation.
That was because it operated on a strict reservation system, catering mostly to the wealthy elite.
But in mid-May, as the sun grew increasingly harsh and people started dressing lighter, on a bright Saturday...
The entrance to Trinity suddenly buzzed with an unexpected crowd of visitors.
"You need a reservation to enter."
"What do you mean? I'm an influencer! Do you know how many followers I have?"
"...I'm sorry, but it's still not possible."
"Wow, this place is such a joke."
The conversations repeated in much the same vein, just with different people.
"Even if we wanted to book, it's filled up a year in advance. They only let in five people a day, so this is what happens."
"Customer, Trinity is a gallery meant for a select few members..."
"Ah, forget all that. Get your boss out here."
The young visitors' protests showed no sign of stopping.
Until a luxury sedan pulled up, and someone leaned out from the half-open window.
"What's going on?"
Jung Ae-ri frowned briefly at the unfamiliar scene, then flashed a bright smile as she stepped out of the car.
Lush emerald hair.
Striking features to match, dressed in designer clothes.
Her extraordinary presence made even the protesters take a step back.
"D-Director."
The staffer rushed over like he'd been saved, explaining the situation.
According to the staffer, it all started three days ago.
With a piece uploaded to Trinity's official account.
Portrait of a Girl.
It was just an introduction post.
But people who recognized its aesthetic and value began liking it, and it quickly went viral, drawing crowds who saw it.
"I see."
Jung Ae-ri's face lit up with genuine interest as she grasped the situation.
"Should we handle them firmly?"
"Wait."
She cut off the staffer's question and pulled out her phone.
"Chief Seo? It's the director."
She called the operations department, discussed things, and hung up looking satisfied.
She approached the gathered crowd and raised her voice.
"Trinity exists for one true guest rather than ten mere visitors."
The crowd murmured at her words.
Her frank philosophy and aloof attitude were more than enough to breed resentment.
"However..."
Jung Ae-ri wasn't finished.
"I agree that art which shuts itself off from the public will fade away."
She paused for effect, then revealed her true intent.
"We've got a great opportunity, so starting today, we'll open for free for a week—no reservations needed. Please overlook the earlier refusal and enjoy yourselves."
She bowed her head politely, and the dissatisfied reactions flipped to positive in an instant.
"Uh, are we really allowed in?"
"Do I look like I'm joking? Guide them properly."
Jung Ae-ri issued the order with notable sternness before getting back in the car.
For such a big decision, her demeanor was nonchalant, but as the heavily tinted window rolled up, she began making calls.
"Marketing department. Post the event feed on SNS right now. Trinity free entry for a week to celebrate the Portrait of a Girl exhibition."
"Chief Kim, apologize to our existing members one by one. Call them personally and send some fine wine as a gift."
Specific plans flowed effortlessly from Jung Ae-ri's lips.
Free opening of Trinity tied to the Portrait of a Girl exhibition...
The timing was earlier than expected, which might have flustered some.
But truthfully, it was something she'd planned for to some extent.
Park Ha-yul—no, D.H.—had the looks, the talent.
Both the artwork and artist were perfect. She'd had this in mind since renting the piece.
She was confident of 100% success, given its star power.
A shame it wasn't an exclusive contract, but that only fueled her enthusiasm.
She had to plant the impression of a close tie with Trinity before other galleries swooped in.
"Things are working out better than expected."
Jung Ae-ri leaned back in her seat, deeply satisfied.
Come to think of it, she owed him a great debt.
Hadn't Roberto's issue been resolved thanks to him?
"I'll repay him properly..."
Jung Ae-ri was determined to make D.H. Trinity's star attraction.
Sure, he might be hopeless at romance, but for someone who loved art, it would be a huge plus.
* * *
[Remaining Time: 39 days 9 hours 11 minutes]
Time flew by, and Monday rolled around before he knew it.
A whole week had zipped past since his duel with Roberto.
Grateful for these ordinary days he'd missed, he'd been living diligently.
Up at 5 a.m. every day, straight to the physical training ground, pumping iron, then a protein-heavy breakfast before classes.
Strictly speaking, he just pretended to listen in class while repeating Thousand Silent Threads training.
He'd devised a pretty novel method and was making great use of it.
Hanging weights from the threads to practice writing characters...
Sounds simple, but it was brutally hard at first—he broke quite a few.
Anyway, after classes ended, the monotonous training resumed.
Full five hours filling Three Mysteries Orb to the brim for cultivation, then two hours immersed in the 2-star spell he'd received.
He started with Fire Control Technique, his strongest suit, but given the huge gaps between ranks in spells—meaning top-tier performance—it'd take a solid month of intense practice to get on track.
By the end of that nonstop grind, it was around 10 p.m.
End there...?
Not quite.
There was the new addition to his schedule: practical combat training.
Started with three opponents, now up to four, steadily increasing the numbers.
Starting late, he was living more like an otherworlder than the otherworlders.
"How did it come to this?"
Recalling three months ago, when he was fumbling around, brought a poignant sense of change.
Back then, scared stiff, he'd swung even a seventh-branch technique beyond his level.
It meant he'd grown tremendously, but he was still thirsty for more.
To survive and rescue Yoo So-young, he couldn't slack; plus, that potential jackpot lottery(?).
He couldn't forget to feed blood to the flower bud either.
Who knows.
Maybe a genie-level fairy would pop out, super powerful, and grant a wish.
He'd grown quite attached anyway.
No big changes in appearance, but it twitched cutely every time it absorbed blood.
[‘Greed’ dry-heaves, ugh.]
Of course, Greed was as jealous as ever...
[‘Greed’ insists it is a lofty being that feels no such lowly emotions.]
Yeah, right.
As if he wouldn't notice it twitching every time he stroked the bud?
[…….]
Bickering from morning on made the trip to the personal training ground anything but boring.
"Hey, you see the news?"
"Yeah. Nearly choked on breakfast."
"What happened this time?"
But this...
The calm of the past few days had vanished like it never was—total chaos.
"What? So when's she coming?"
"Probably already landed? Visiting Taehak on Thursday."
He caught on quick.
Most of the crazed ones were guys.
"Hahaha, spring has finally come to my dull, straight-arrow life."
"Tch tch, swearing up a storm since morning."
Lee Dae-ho chugging kimchi soup fantasies, Cheon Seo-yun eyeing him pitifully.
"Why's she coming here?"
"Some exchange agreement. Arin, you going to watch?"
"Nope. Busy."
The girls, led by Lee Min-ha, couldn't care less—for reference, Ju Arin, just discharged two days ago, had zero interest in non-academic events anyway—which made it clear...
"Vatican delegation visiting Taehak."
The official purpose was a student exchange agreement, but the public didn't care about that.
They were thrilled over the Sixth Saintess of the Holy See included in the delegation: Reina.
Third heroine of [Epic of Balance], famed as a beauty for the ages.
Cheol-su approached, face slightly flushed.
"You going too, Ha-yul? They say she's way prettier in person than photos."
"Well, yeah. I put my heart into drawing her."
"Huh?"
"Kidding. Not going. Go by yourself if you want."
With a new heroine's debut looming, his response was curt as he moved to the back.
This was just an event-like cameo to acquaint her with the protagonists.
Her full debut came in the second semester, transferring as part of the exchange.
"Too bad. Rare chance to see a living angel."
Cheol-su muttered regretfully, but he scoffed.
Only her face resembled an angel. Her personality was the opposite.
A living embodiment that pure good borders on darkness?
Naive yet sharp, compassionate yet cruel...
A complex character, tough to deal with.
That's why he preferred keeping his distance...
"Attention, everyone. Good work on the two-week formative assessments."
Anyway, the instructor entered, quieting the rowdy room.
"Results and updated rankings just sent to your phones. Check now."
Phones buzzed the moment he finished.
The training ground, barely settled, buzzed again with anticipation and anxiety.
Bzzz.
He was reaching for his pocketed phone when his vision shimmered first, spitting out a satisfying message.
[Inter-Quest: Achieve within top 650 in overall rankings]
[Reward: +10 days to remaining time]
[Reward: Acquire 20 SP]
[Remaining Time: 49 days 8 hours 28 minutes]
[Remaining SP: 111]
Oh ho.
No need to check further, he figured.
"...What? Is this for real?"
"Insane. This has to be cheating, right?"
But gazes started piling up on him.
He'd expected good results, but the fuss was suspicious, so he hurriedly checked his phone.
And froze.
"1st place?"
* * *
That night, in Seoul's bustling Gangnam.
Two figures in hooded robes walked a neon-lit street.
"So this is Korea's nightlife..."
One gawked around like he'd dropped into a new world; the other clung to his sleeve, unable to hide his anxiety.
"Shouldn't we head back? If the Cardinal finds out, we'll be in deep trouble."
"No chance of getting caught. We'll just look around quietly."
"How can I trust that? You always say that and cause incidents."
"Me? When?"
"When? Just the other day. You turned Paris upside down chasing pickpockets, and that was with the Saintess."
And now here.
In South Korea, there was only one being called a saintess.
The one bearing the mission of 'sanctification'—slaying evil and guiding the righteous.
The Saintess of Sanctification, Reina von Bien Hildebrandt.
Reina said to her attendant with utmost seriousness.
"I promise. In Korea, at least..."
"Let go, you bastard."
But then a shout from nearby.
"Bastard? You lost your mind?"
"I-I paid back the money. Why chase me here?"
"Paid? That was just interest. Principal's still due."
Right on cue, a burly tattooed thug was dragging a scrawny guy by the hair.
Of all the timing...
"S-Saintess."
The attendant called out, sensing doom.
Too late.
Reina marched up to the thug and poked his back.
"What the—? Back off!"
He scowled and raised his hand threateningly, but Reina intoned serenely.
"Satan has possessed you. I shall purify."