Chapter 110
Chapter 110
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: Owl Hunt (1)
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“Ugh.”
A low groan escaped Ha-eun's lips.
“Damn it… What the hell is the problem?”
Standing in the kitchen, she sighed at the mountain of stir-fried spicy pork before her.
Frustrated, she scratched her head vigorously.
For the past few days, she had tried to replicate the flavor of the stir-fried pork Isabella had made, but despite following the exact same recipe, the taste was completely different.
“Did that bitch put drugs in it or something?”
Ha-eun glared resentfully at the pile of stir-fried pork in the pot.
Just as she was letting out another deep sigh.
“Making it again?”
“Ugh.”
She flinched.
Her shoulders trembling, she turned to see Oh-jin, who had just returned from training.
“Oh, you're back a little early today.”
“Yeah. I have to go to the Association later, so I finished early.”
“Still, you were gone for like, seven hours, right?”
“Nine, to be exact. I woke up around three and went.”
Lately, Oh-jin had practically been living in the personal training facility he'd set up in the apartment Isabella had gifted him.
Ha-eun often used the facility with him, but she didn't train day and night from the crack of dawn until late evening like Oh-jin did.
No, she couldn't train that long even if she wanted to.
Her mana would run out long before then.
*‘That's only possible because he's Oh-jin.’*
Though she had no idea how it was possible.
In terms of pure mana capacity, the 6-Star Oh-jin had far more than the 8-Star Ha-eun.
“…Even so, aren't you pushing yourself too hard?”
“I'm taking breaks.”
Oh-jin chuckled and shook his head.
[Who said anything about taking breaks?]
Vega, perched on Oh-jin's shoulder, narrowed her eyes.
[You trained for nine straight hours today and rested for less than thirty minutes!!]
“Hey, that's just because I have to go to the Association today.”
[Hah... I am truly worried you will collapse again at this rate.]
“This is a time when I need to get stronger, fast.”
[That is…]
Recalling Oh-jin's words about a great war on the horizon, Vega's expression hardened.
[Hmph. Still, do not overdo it. Building your strength is important, but your body is more so.]
“Okay.”
Oh-jin nodded and shifted his gaze to the stir-fried pork Ha-eun had made.
“Wow, how many servings is this?”
He let out a dry laugh and reached for a piece.
“Ah, don't!”
Ha-eun quickly stopped him.
“Why?”
“I-I... I accidentally burned it a little, so you can't eat it.”
“It doesn't look that burnt.”
In fact, the slightly charred parts made it look more appetizing.
“Anyway! Don't eat it!”
Ha-eun shouted, shielding the pile of pork with her body.
“Pfft. Is it because it doesn't taste like Isabella's?”
“Th-That's not it!”
“Jeez, you can be so stubborn about the weirdest things, sis.”
Her strange sense of rivalry with Isabella was actually quite cute.
“Here, let me try some.”
“Ah!”
He scooped a ladleful of the pork from the pot into a bowl.
He picked up a piece of meat and put it in his mouth.
“Hmm.”
He chewed thoughtfully.
“You really can't cook, sis.”
The meat was overcooked and tough, and the seasoning was off—it was far too salty.
Still, her days of practice had paid off; it was no longer an ordeal to chew, but even being generous, you couldn't call it tasty.
“Th-That's what I said! I made a mistake!”
Ha-eun shouted, her face turning red.
“Pfft.”
Oh-jin heartily shoveled the stir-fried pork into his mouth.
“…You said it was bad.”
“Yeah. It's bad.”
“Sheesh. Then why do you keep eating it?”
“Because you made it for me.”
“……”
Ha-eun pouted.
“…You threw it away before.”
“Well, that time you just turned it into a lump of charcoal.”
That couldn't even be called food.
“This is at least edible.”
Even if it tastes bad.
“Hmph. If it's bad, then don't eat it. Go have that Isabella bitch make you some…”
“You don't need delicious food to live.”
A person can survive on just calorie bars and water.
Having survived on that for the past few years, he knew it better than anyone.
“But I absolutely need you to live.”
He didn't need delicious food.
A luxurious apartment, expensive designer goods—they meant nothing.
He could get by without any of that.
But.
He couldn't live without her.
Life would be meaningless.
“Wh-What did you just say?”
“I said you don't need to be good at things like cooking.”
Just like it's always been.
All you have to do is stay by my side.
“Ah…”
Ha-eun's eyes widened.
“Ah, ooh. Aaaah!”
She let out a series of incomprehensible shrieks and stomped her feet.
She squirmed as if she had to pee, then broke into a wide grin, her body trembling.
“Heh, hehe. R-Really, you little punk. You like your big sis th-that much?”
Ha-eun said, pinching and stretching Oh-jin's cheek with a silly grin.
[Hmph.]
Vega crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes in displeasure, but she didn't interrupt to pour cold water on the moment.
“Anyway, you're really a terrible cook, sis. You'd think you'd improve after making this much.”
“Shut up and eat, you punk.”
“Okay.”
Chuckling, he polished off the rest of the stir-fried pork.
“Well, I've got business at the Association, so I'm heading out.”
“Going to get your reward?”
“That, and other things.”
He needed the Association's help for the full-scale owl hunt.
“Wanna come with, sis?”
“Hmm…”
After a moment's thought, Ha-eun shook her head.
“Nah. I'm planning to train hard today, too.”
It seemed watching Oh-jin train to the point of grinding his body down had motivated her.
“And… I think I'm close to getting it.”
She grinned, stroking the area around her left eye, which was covered by an eyepatch.
“Getting what?”
“Hehe. It's a secret. I'll show you once I can use it properly.”
“Hmm.”
It seemed she, too, had made some progress recently.
*‘Well, she might not look it, but her talent is on another level.’*
Though she couldn't compare to him, the wielder of the Black Heaven.
Ha-eun's growth rate was still explosive enough to be called broken by the standards of a typical Awakened.
“Ugh. If only I could train as long as you, I'd be able to master it much faster.”
“Well, your mana capacity is on the low side.”
“That's because yours is ridiculously huge!”
Ha-eun retorted, looking offended.
But even without comparing her to him, it was true that her mana capacity was small.
*‘It's her only weakness, if you can call it that.’*
If she just had more mana, she could probably become several times stronger.
*‘Ugh... It's not like I can give her my mana.’*
For now, there was nothing he could do but watch.
“Well, I'm off to the Association.”
“Leaving already?”
“I still have some time, but I was thinking of going early to get in a light training session.”
The Association had its own training facilities.
They were a bit inconvenient since they were always crowded, though.
“What, you just trained for nine hours! What more are you trying to do?!”
Ha-eun grabbed Oh-jin's arm.
“That's enough. Just rest here for a bit before you go.”
“But.”
[I am of the same opinion. You pushed yourself so hard today that your mana circuits are frayed.]
Vega zipped over and helped Ha-eun pull on his arm.
“Pfft. Alright, alright. I'll rest for a bit then.”
Oh-jin shrugged as if to say he couldn't win.
“Okay, wake me up in thirty minutes.”
As he said that and started to head to his room.
“…Wait a minute.”
Ha-eun caught his shoulder.
“Yeah?”
“I-If you're going to nap, do it here.”
She pointed to the living room sofa.
“…Do I have to?”
“Ahem! I-I'll give you a lap pillow, so hurry up.”
Ah.
So that's what she meant.
She's always trying to take care of me.
“What, you got a problem with that?”
“Nope.”
How could I?
[I have a problem with it.]
“Huh?”
[Why should you get to monopolize my child? I, too, shall care for Oh-jin!]
Oh.
Where did this come from?
“Hah. What are you going to do in that body?”
[Hmph. I can manifest in my original form for about thirty minutes. How do you plan on giving him a lap pillow with only one leg?]
“Wh-What did you say?”
Damn, the goddess's comeback was savage.
“…Hey, you two. If you're going to fight, I'm just going to sleep in my bed.”
[Ah.]
“W-Wait!!”
Ha-eun shouted, holding out her palm.
Vega and Ha-eun's gazes met mid-air.
[Ahem. It cannot be helped.]
Having reached a dramatic compromise, Ha-eun and Vega sat side-by-side on the sofa.
“Come here and lie down.”
Pat, pat.
She said, patting her left thigh, which was pressed against Vega's.
“…But this position is a little…”
Ha-eun and Vega were sitting next to each other on the sofa.
If he were to rest his head on her lap, his entire back would be lying on Vega's thighs.
An incredibly awkward position.
“No backtalk, just hurry up!”
[Hurry and lie down.]
Ultimately, pushed by the two women, Oh-jin lay down on the sofa.
An unbelievably soft sensation spread across his head, shoulders, and entire back.
“Now, go to sleep.”
[Fufu. Entrust your body to me and rest your eyes.]
“……”
No.
*‘How am I supposed to sleep in this situation?’*
* * *
-Click.
“You've arrived.”
After getting plenty of healing (?).
When he arrived at the Association president's office, Han Tae-ho, Han Jun-man, and Lee Woo-hyeok were gathered there.
The same members who had gathered to catch Cheon Woo-seong.
“Shall we get straight to the point?”
The reason for today's meeting was to share information on the current situation with the Black Star Guild and related movements.
Of course.
*‘My own purpose is a bit different, though.’*
He had no intention of stopping at merely grasping the situation.
*‘To climb quickly, you need stepping stones to crush.’*
He had come to the Association to secure those stepping stones.
“Hmm. Before we get to the main topic.”
Rattle.
Han Tae-ho took out a luxurious silver case from his drawer.
“Take this.”
“This is…”
“Haha. Didn't I say I'd give you a reward?”
“Ah.”
Oh-jin's eyes sparkled.
He'd thought it would take more time to prepare the Stigmata Relic, if nothing else.
Was it already ready?
“It's a Stigmata Relic personally crafted by Sir Kim Si-hoo. As for its performance... fufu, you'll see when you use it yourself.”
Han Tae-ho said with a confident smile, holding out the silver case.
-Click.
The case opened.