Chapter 72
Terminally Ill, but It's Okay — Episode 72
The Yosal Corps Special Mission Taskforce was a special unit with no unit number attached to its name.
Therefore, they were busy.
No—they carried the general belief that they would be busy.
So what could I do?
[What is a boring sword?]
I couldn't reply right away without looking too eager, and I was hungry, so I had no choice but to eat something first.
Didn't they say even the Diamond Mountains are best viewed after a meal?
I whipped up a pack of ramyeon in one go and set the whole pot on the table.
First, I scooped up some broth and slurped.
"Ahh."
After letting out a short exclamation, I grabbed a steaming clump of noodles and shoved a big bite into my mouth.
Slurp.
After barely chewing before swallowing, I bit into a piece of pickled radish, and its crisp texture and sharp sweetness supplied the missing two percent.
"This is what makes life worth living."
After inhaling a few more bites like that, I smiled with satisfaction, then checked the time.
About fifteen minutes had passed, so I figured the push-and-pull had gone on long enough.
I recalled the Yosal Corps Special Mission Taskforce's characteristic stiff manner of speech and arrogant disposition.
Since I also remembered Han Soo-hyeok's observation, the words came out smoothly.
[A boring sword is one wielded by a boring person. Looks like you finally did some self-reflection.]
Bzzz.
The reply arrived quickly.
[You must be busy, but you read it. Thank you very much. It seems you know what my problem is.......]
It was a long, elaborate message, but the intent was clear.
He wanted advice on what exactly a boring sword was and how he could break free of it and advance another step.
"Well, you must be more frustrated than I am."
I smiled wryly and typed out a message.
[Being boring is the same as being trapped in a mold.]
[It's a chronic problem found in model students who pursue the proper path.]
[Because you try to find answers in the sword, this doesn't work for this reason, that doesn't work for that reason. You end up losing vitality.]
I had just scribbled down a line I vaguely remembered from a martial arts novel.
Honestly, it was nothing more than pretending to sound profound while butting in.
Besides, "boring sword" or whatever was not actually the important thing right now.
Bzzz.
[I see. As expected of you. I understood it at once!]
But well. The reaction was good.
Baek Sa-young responded with a fairly excited attitude, then cautiously asked.
[What should I do now?]
"What should you do......."
Since this was actually an important moment, I set down my chopsticks for a moment.
First of all, my goal was simple.
To move up the original story's development a little so that Baek Sa-young could grow in a short period of time.
I planned to urge him to visit the magic space that he would only discover around the end of summer vacation, next weekend instead.
In that place lay an Armament that would make Baek Sa-young into Baek Sa-young.
An Armament that would guide the protagonist toward his fate was sleeping there.
I thought for a moment, then wrote out a message.
[The sword is an expression of the unconscious. If you step outside a fixed radius and accumulate diverse experiences, it will be of considerable help in breaking out of the mold.]
[Diverse experiences?]
[As it happens, a magic space exploration mission came in. It wouldn't be bad for you to go and gain some experience.]
[Me?]
[Why? Not confident?]
[That's not it, but.......]
Baek Sa-young seemed quite hesitant, but soon accepted.
[Thank you. Since you've trusted me with this, I'll do my best to complete it!]
[I'll look forward to it.]
After a brief reply, I paused, then continued as if issuing instructions.
[Just in case, it would be good to find a teammate and move together. It would be even better if it's someone with the exact opposite disposition from yours. There will be new things to learn. Is there anyone suitable?]
After casually floating the topic, I expected Park Ha-yul to be mentioned.
By "someone suitable," I ultimately meant myself.
Since I had resolved to start building a proper relationship, I planned to accompany him on this magic space trip as Park Ha-yul.
[......It would be impossible to go with you, wouldn't it?]
But this guy still hadn't come to his senses.......
[Do I look like I have free time?]
[I apologize.]
[Choose from among Taehak students. It would be even better if they're in the same track.]
[Then.......]
Then what?
This time, I expected that a clue pointing to 'Park Ha-yul' would finally come out.
The place had a gloomy, unsavory image.
A person who is kind to everyone and a person who is curt to everyone.
No matter who looked at it, it could only be Park Ha-yul.......
[There's a blunt friend named Cheon Seo-yoon.]
...Ah, right, there's also Cheon Seo-yoon.
It was a valid answer, but not the answer I wanted.
[If possible, choose someone of the same gender.]
[What? How did you know Cheon Seo-yoon is a woman.......]
[Does that matter?]
[No. Then.......]
Baek Sa-young seemed to deliberate again and stayed silent for a while, then finally produced the answer I wanted.
[Now that I think about it, there's one more person. A friend in the Sorcery Track who uses a sharp sword.......]
[Is he trustworthy?]
[I think so, but....... Still, I'll confirm and then move.]
* * *
Vatican City, the smallest country in the world.
Reina, who had woken from a long sleep, smoothed down her tousled hair and sat up.
"S-Saintess! Are you all right?"
The priestess who had been nursing her started in surprise and hurried over.
She touched Reina here and there to check if she was truly all right, then handed her water, and Reina took the glass without hesitation.
After gulping down a few mouthfuls, she could finally speak.
"How long did I sleep?"
"A full day. You collapsed as soon as you arrived, and you've only just woken up."
"I see."
Reina nodded silently and thought.
That right after losing her Divine Power, she had even used her trait, putting strain on her body.
"Shall I call a doctor?"
"No. It's not something a doctor can help with."
Reina shook her head firmly, then closed her eyes and observed the inside of her body.
First of all, the Divine Power used through her trait was something that refilled like mana, so it had already recovered, but.......
The energy of Sanctification that had been taken from her.
This innate energy, which could be called her foundation, had taken quite a heavy blow.
A full tenth of it had disappeared.
It was at a level that would require a full six months of prayer to restore.
But she didn't feel wronged.
It was something she had brought upon herself, and in the first place, absorbing Divine Power at all was an extraordinary development, something close to a miracle.
So in the end.......
This too must be God's will.
Meeting the seed of the saint—and seeing the energy of Sanctification dwell within him.
"I'll bring out some simple soup first."
As Reina silently made the sign of the cross, the priestess, who had dashed out, came back in carrying a tray.
She dragged Reina, who refused adamantly, to the table and sat her down, then even put a spoon in her hand.
Reina had no choice but to take a bite.......
"Hm?"
"It's good, right?"
She put off even answering and worked her spoon.
It was sweet and savory, like eating bread melted into it.
The priestess, who had been watching her with satisfaction, soon opened her mouth with a worried expression.
"They say you overused your trait again this time?"
"......."
"The Cardinal was very angry because of it. He made a huge fuss, saying you should report to him the moment you woke up......."
"Did he?"
Reina asked calmly and didn't stop her spoon.
At the time, it had been unavoidable.
Rather than surrendering to Satan, it had been right to lend her strength even if it consumed her lifespan.
But the priestess grew excited herself and continued.
"I'm telling you, this isn't something to brush off lightly. This time, he really seems like he'll impose disciplinary action. There's even a rumor going around that you'll be sent to Taehak."
"......What did you just say?"
This time, as if she couldn't let it pass, Reina stopped her spoon.
The priestess let out a shallow sigh and opened her mouth.
"I think it means he'll exclude you from 'Dawn Society' activities for the time being. Probably......."
"No, Taehak. If I do go, when would I go?"
"Huh?"
But somehow, the question was a little strange.
"Well, there are enrollment procedures and all, so probably around the second semester."
"Second semester? Does Korea have a day of the week like that?"
"No, that's not what I......."
Realizing that Reina had never attended school, the priestess slowly continued her explanation.
"So there are two months left."
Reina, who had been listening attentively, wrinkled the bridge of her nose and muttered quietly.
Then she sprang up and started putting on her clothes.
The priestess thought Reina was thoroughly angry.
"Saintess, please calm down. It's not a decided matter, so first let's come up with a plan......."
"If I'm going to be disciplined anyway, I'll take it quickly."
"......Excuse me?"
But Reina looked at the priestess with a rather lighthearted expression.
Things had unfolded a little strangely, but either way, it matched the direction she wanted.
Actually, she had been curious.
She wanted to know how the seed of the saint, now carrying the energy of Sanctification, would change.
There was also the fantasy she had left unfinished just moments ago.
The still-unclear identity of Satan was also one of the things on her mind.
So what could she do?
Since an opportunity had conveniently arisen, she had no choice but to go to Taehak.
* * *
It was around the afternoon of the next day when contact came from Baek Sa-young.
-Ha-yul, is your body doing okay?
"My body? Of course it's fine. You saw me briefly yesterday before I was discharged."
-Ah, right, I did.
But this guy really couldn't hide his feelings.
He was radiating awkward energy like someone with an agenda.
That was part of Baek Sa-young's untainted charm, but since I was the type who couldn't rest until getting to the point, I casually floated the topic.
"Why, do you have something to say?"
-Yeah.... But I don't think it's something to say over the phone. I was hoping we could meet briefly in about an hour.......
"Sure, let's meet and talk then."
-But your body is really okay, right?
"Why do you keep asking?"
-Got it. See you in a bit.
Baek Sa-young hung up with a more excited voice than at the start.
Since things were progressing according to plan, I smiled with satisfaction too.
"At this rate, Baek Sa-young's side is about settled."
I tapped on the desk and thought about what to do next.
The next target was the endlessly troublesome Cheon Seo-yoon, but I had not settled on a definite alternative yet.
"Hmm......."
Therefore, I turned on my laptop to handle the things that were possible first.
I connected to the internet and searched for 'Simmian,' the largest exchange in South Korea, operated by the Jeong family.
I was thinking of seriously starting to make money from now on.......
The method was simple.
Buy a reasonably valuable antique, Enhance it with SP, and sell it again.
I had been thinking about it for a while, but I had been distracted by training and put it off. Now I was going to start.
There was a decent amount of money piled up in my account, so it was time to put it to work, and money was always better the more you had.
After all, wasn't the reason someone like Chilma recruited Han Soo-hyeok ultimately the power of money?
Fortunately, I had received word that I could rest fully until Tuesday, so the burden was lighter.
They weren't Armament-grade, but I picked out items that had a fair amount of age and either outstanding appearance or practical value.
I bought three items to try making something as a test.
[You have purchased the Nameless Poet's Fountain Pen.]
[You have purchased the Yangban Lady's Necklace.]
[You have purchased the Geumgang Twin-Headed Serpent's Leather Coat.]
[A total of 15,500,000 won has been paid.]
The last coat was expensive, so I overspent, but I decided to think of it as a kind of investment.
After finishing my shopping like that and eating dinner, it wasn't long before a message arrived.
[Ha-yul. Can you come to the general training ground now?]
But why the general training ground?