Chapter 425: The Seven Heavenly Virtues (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 425: The Seven Heavenly Virtues (2)
Saintess Sophia carefully examined Son Seo-yeon, who was lying on a cot set up in the temporary infirmary.
‘The internal injuries are severe.’
Her whole body was burning with a fever.
Heat rashes, nourished by the excessive fever, covered her entire body.
These were typical symptoms for those who had overexerted their power.
The body, unable to withstand power that surpassed its limits, was overheating and breaking down.
Her gaze turned to Han Ju-hee, who stood opposite her with an anxious expression.
“We need cold energy.”
Before beginning the actual treatment, they had to drive out the heat filling her body.
Simple ice wouldn't be enough.
To cool a body simmering like a furnace, they needed cold energy created through mana.
“…I understand.”
Han Ju-hee nodded and carefully drew a magic circle.
A vast amount of mana swirled around the magic circle drawn in mid-air.
But the result was pitifully small compared to the mana she poured into it.
It couldn't be helped.
Water-attribute magic was the one weakness the otherwise versatile woman couldn't overcome.
“Hngh…!”
She compensated for this weakness by pouring in a massive amount of mana.
Beads of sweat formed on her forehead. A sufficient amount of cold energy gathered in her grasp.
“This way.”
Following Sophia's instructions, she moved the cold energy, cooling the fever that tormented her daughter's body.
Ssshhh
With every large bead of sweat that rolled down Han Ju-hee's smooth cheek, the heat rashes on Son Seo-yeon's body withered and disappeared, one by one.
Pshhhhh…!
A thick steam billowed out as the heat and cold met.
Confirming that her body temperature had dropped to a normal range, Sophia stopped Han Ju-hee.
“That's enough now.”
“Ugh, haah… haah…! Can you treat her now?”
Sophia looked with a sympathetic gaze at Han Ju-hee, who was panting and asking pleadingly.
It was hard to promise anything.
They had succeeded in cooling the fever quickly, but there was no way of knowing how damaged her body was until the treatment truly began.
Hasty hope only breeds greater despair.
Normally, in a situation like this, she would have had to calmly explain the current state of affairs.
But she forced the corners of her mouth up and answered in a strong voice.
“Yes. Leave the rest to me and get some rest.”
She was a saintess. It was her mission and her duty to ensure that hope remained purely as hope.
After reassuring Han Ju-hee, however slightly, she immediately reached out and observed Son Seo-yeon's condition.
The internal state, which had been obscured by the rising heat, finally became visible.
“Mmmh…”
A groan escaped her lips.
The mana circuits, unable to withstand the overwhelming power, were severely damaged.
If they had been even a little later in dispelling the heat, the circuits would have suffered permanent damage.
So it was a tremendous relief.
She couldn't have done anything if the damage had become permanent, but before that point was a different story.
The praise that she could save anyone as long as they were still breathing was no empty boast.
“Haaah…!”
As she began to channel her divine power in earnest, a brilliant radiance poured out from around her body.
A golden light that inspired reverence just by looking at it.
Bathed in that light, Son Seo-yeon's face, which had been contorted in pain, gradually began to calm.
* * *
A dark night. Inside a dark tent, with not a single light on.
While I was sitting on a cot, lost in thought, a piece of news arrived.
“Hunter Son Seo-yeon's treatment was a success. The Saintess asked me to tell you not to worry, that she will wake up after a good night's sleep.”
It was a considerate gesture from the Saintess.
She remembered that Seo-yeon was my team member and sent her personal lady-in-waiting, even this late at night.
She knew I was worried and wanted to tell me not to worry anymore.
“Yes, I understand.”
With a stoic expression and tone, I thanked the messenger.
I already knew Seo-yeon would be fine.
That's how much I trusted them. The Saintess's power. And Seo-yeon.
Ever since she was young, I had gotten her everything that was said to be good for the body.
As if that wasn't enough, I even forced her to undergo a metamorphosis using a secret art I had spent long years creating.
I know better than anyone how outstanding Seo-yeon's physical abilities are, having grown up in that state.
I also know that an injury a normal person would consider severe would only be a minor one for her.
“Thank god…”
At the news that she was okay, the solid wall of faith I had built up came crumbling down, and the anxiety, worry, and fear hidden behind it rushed out, drenched my heart, and then vanished.
“It's really such a relief…!”
Even as I believed and believed, I had no idea how much I was trembling.
It was even more so because I had experienced firsthand the fate of someone who overexerted their power.
I was terrified that Seo-yeon would end up like me.
While all those worries were dispelled and I felt an immense sense of relief…
Grind!
…the anger that had been suppressed beneath the emotion of worry began to spread like wildfire.
“…Lu Bu.”
I hadn't overlooked his existence. In fact, I had paid extra attention to it.
That's why I was certain. The moment our surprise attack succeeded perfectly, he wouldn't appear on the battlefield.
They were, at the end of the day, in a transactional relationship. I knew their bond wasn't deep enough for him to show up and save them on a battlefield where defeat was imminent.
That prediction was not wrong.
In reality, didn't he come close but turn back without ever appearing on the battlefield?
However, there was one thing I did overlook.
“…To think he would attack in such a way.”
It was a spear thrown from over 300 meters away.
A spear that flew such a great distance broke through the barrier surrounding the upper levels and aimed for my heart.
How is that even possible?
“That monstrous bastard.”
This one move made me realize it clearly.
I had been underestimating the limits of the man named Lu Bu.
To be sure, the Lu Bu in my calculations was also a monster among monsters.
It's just that he was an even greater monster than that.
At the same time, I realized my own limits as a person.
“…I have to expand it.”
I'm mediocre. All I ever had was grit and diligence.
S-rank Hunter Son Si-woo has just one more thing on top of that. And that is experience.
Being able to stay calm in a life-or-death crisis, predicting an opponent's movements—it all stems from that experience.
I formulate plans to face the enemy before me based on the behavioral patterns of similar foes I've fought in the past.
And with a high probability, they are correct.
It is undoubtedly an excellent weapon, but its weakness is also clear.
It's powerless against actions that fall outside the scope of my imagination or experience.
Of course, my twenty-plus years of experience don't just vanish into thin air, so I can overcome most crises without much difficulty. But Lu Bu is an opponent who far surpasses the level of ‘most.’
He is a monster who stands outside the bounds of my thoughts.
To face such a monster, I have to break it.
I have to tear down this way of thinking, which is still stuck in the framework of a hardworking but mediocre person.
Otherwise, what happened this time will repeat itself over and over, and I, or someone else in my place, will frequently get hurt.
“…Revenge comes after that.”
I feel like hunting him down right now and carving up that arrogant face of his with a knife.
But I have to endure.
Until the limits of my mediocre mind are unshackled to match the freedom of this body.
And until my power can truly work against him.
“Hoo.”
I let out a calm breath, got up, and left the tent.
Just then, I saw Ju-yeon's face ahead; it seemed she was on her way to see me.
“Where are you going? If you're going to see Seo-yeon…”
“I'm not.”
I cut off Ju-yeon, who was speaking with a worried expression.
I know, too. If I go to Seo-yeon now, I won't even get to see her face and will just end up in a huge fight with Han Ju-hee.
It's better for me to avoid the situation than to make a scene in front of a kid who's sleeping because she's in pain.
“If you're not going to see Seo-yeon… then where are you going this late at night?”
I answered her questioning tone.
“I'm going to go do some doodling to relieve some stress.”
At that, the confusion on Ju-yeon's face deepened.
“Doodling…? In the middle of the night? Where?”
Well. Where could it be.
“Hehe… I'll be back.”
“Ah…!”
As if sensing something strange in my laughter instead of an answer, Ju-yeon reached out for me, but I dodged her and shot up into the sky.
I'll be right back!
* * *
After some time had passed, Han Ju-hee’s now-calm gaze turned to her daughter.
Seeing her sleeping soundly with a peaceful face after Sophia's treatment, she soothed her startled heart.
‘Thank goodness.’
The shocking scene wouldn't leave her mind.
The image of her daughter grabbing a large shield from a colleague next to her and charging forward.
The moment she blocked an attack that made even her own hair stand on end, only to collapse helplessly.
And at the same time, the face of Kim Do-jin as he held her daughter in his arms.
“Kim Do-jin…”
That reckless fool finally went and caused a disaster.
If he hadn't acted so rashly, not knowing his place, he never would have become Lu Bu's target, and my daughter wouldn't have had to face a crisis by blocking it for him.
He must have known that, too.
That must be why he didn't even dodge the slap I threw in a moment of uncontrollable anger.
Through this, she knew for certain.
‘I can't let him stay by Seo-yeon's side any longer.’
She had to put as much distance between the two of them as possible.
For now, she planned to go and talk to him as soon as day broke.
He, too, must have realized something from this incident.
But if he still refused to stay away from her daughter… then she was prepared to do anything.
Absolutely anything.
Not the lukewarm methods she had used until now, but every coercive measure she could muster.
Even if it meant he might die in the process.
Just as her eyes filled with a murderous glint…
Son Seo-yeon's hand came to rest on top of Han Ju-hee's.
Startled, she lowered her head.
Son Seo-yeon, who had been sleeping as if dead just a moment ago, struggled to open her eyes and part her lips.
“Don't… do it.”
She was flustered.
“D-don't do it? What do you mean…”
“Don't… hurt Do-jin…”
“Seo-yeon, you…?”
What had awakened her was none other than the name that had just left Han Ju-hee's lips.
Kim Do-jin.
Those two words had roused her from a deep sleep.
As Han Ju-hee, realizing this, stood there in shock, her mouth agape…
“Do-jin… is precious to me…”
Those following words finally snapped the thread of reason she had been desperately holding onto.