Chapter 23
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Han Sia (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Who is Han Sia?
Regrettably, I don't know much about her.
The only thing I know for sure is that she's ridiculously strong.
...
"Hi?"
"..."
My mind went blank in an instant.
Farsight pierces straight through to the essence.
Which means she must have immediately spotted Tyrfing inside me.
Han Sia tilted her head as she stared at me.
And at the same time, I got the distinct feeling that her covered left eye was fixed on me.
"Heading into a gate or something?"
Han Sia said, eyeing my gear.
To be honest, it wasn't much in the way of armament.
Just a sword at my waist and some essentials tucked into my Subspace Ring.
"...I'm heading to the Field."
Fields spawn monsters.
At Orbis Academy, plenty of students head out to the Fields—to gain real combat experience or earn some pocket money, that sort of thing.
You couldn't get into anywhere truly dangerous anyway.
"Hmm... I see?"
Han Sia made a thoughtful face for a moment, then flashed a grin and plopped down next to me.
Eh? Does she not know?
"Clear your schedule for today."
"Ah, I can't really d..."
"No."
Han Sia cut me off and shook her head.
"Wrong. Hang out with me for the day. Then I'll keep your secret."
"..."
She knew all along, of course.
I swore the left eye hidden behind her hair was glowing.
...
Han Sia and I were strolling through the garden district of Orbis Academy.
She was nearby anyway, and when she insisted, I had no choice but to tag along.
"Isn't this garden beautiful?"
"It is."
"Right?"
Han Sia slowly approached a nearby flower bed.
Red, purple, pink, and white flowers clustered together in cozy bunches.
She crouched down to admire them.
I felt awkward just standing there, so I knelt beside her to look too.
The flowers had dense clusters of stamens that almost looked like eyes peering out from the petals.
A bit eerie up close, but pretty enough if you didn't overthink it.
'Flower name...'
Anemone.
The label below explained they were the national flowers of Israel and Armenia.
"You must really like plants."
I said to Han Sia, who'd been staring at the flowers for a good while.
"Something like that."
Han Sia stood, dusted off her hands, and started walking again.
"I've got a question."
"What?"
"What do you feel when you look at people?"
What do I feel when looking at people?
Some kind of philosophical question.
"Well, I guess I feel like I have to protect them. Since I'm a Hero candidate and all."
I didn't know what to say, so I went with the textbook answer.
"I see."
Han Sia looked at me.
"As you probably know, my eyes are a little special."
She said, brushing back the hair covering her left side.
With her full face revealed, she was undeniably stunning.
"You lied back then, didn't you?"
"Pardon?"
"You said you saw the same thing I do."
For a split second, I worried the pissed-off Han Sia might go on a demon-hunting spree, but she didn't seem angry.
"It's fine. Doesn't matter. You're special."
She stopped and stared right at me.
"Even looking left, I can see you clearly."
A faint smile crept onto her previously expressionless face.
"I'm happy. I like interacting with people."
"I see."
"No idea how long it's been."
'What.'
I was shocked by her words.
Did Han Sia live a friendless life?
Maybe she brought sweet potato chips to an elementary school snack party or something.
...
Next, we headed to a café.
Han Sia ordered an iced Americano. I went full manly with a deluxe chocolate Java chip frappé, extra vanilla syrup.
"Where to next?"
"Dunno. Anywhere's fine, I guess."
Han Sia said flatly.
The vibe was already awkward, but now it was even more so.
"Is that good?"
I asked, watching her sip her iced coffee.
She drank with zero expression, but hey, nothing to complain about.
"Yeah."
She'd had some expression earlier, but suddenly she went stone-faced.
Why?
...
"Not what I expected."
Han Sia said bluntly as we left the café.
"Kinda meh, yeah."
Orbis had about six cafés, and we'd picked the least popular one.
You might wonder why, but it was just the closest.
Never going back.
"So, where now?"
"Thinking."
Han Sia crossed her arms.
After a brief pause, she uncrossed them.
"Let's hit the movie theater."
"Sounds good."
No theater on campus, so we went to the nearest one off-site.
Timing was off, so we had to wait in the lobby.
Han Sia headed to the kiosk.
Looks like she was buying popcorn.
'...'
Guess I should too.
I approached the kiosk and froze in shock.
'Holy shit!'
Han Sia was buying pumpkin-flavored popcorn.
First time in my life seeing something like that.
I didn't even know it existed.
"What? Want some?"
"No thanks."
My eyes are a little special.
They've been that way since I was little.
My family is a Hero family.
My grandfather, a Special Grade Hero, made a huge impact during the Red Gate incident.
And his disciples all became outstanding Heroes too.
At some point, people started calling us one of Korea's Four Great Hero Families.
Grandma passed away long ago,
Before I was even born, Grandpa said.
He always looked so lonely when reminiscing about her.
"..."
At some point, I realized Grandpa treated me differently from the rest of the family.
Because I'm different?
Time passed, and then Dad died in some awful incident.
Mom and my siblings wept for ages, but strangely, no tears came from me.
I was devastated, though.
Am I the weird one? I glanced at Grandpa, but he had the same stoic face.
But I could tell.
Those were eyes filled with grief.
What are people, anyway?
Me and Grandpa?
Or my family and everyone else?
...
When I entered Orbis Academy, I made all sorts of friends.
But it still felt empty somehow.
So weird.
Recently, I found out my siblings don't like me.
I was hated.
Sad.
Time flew by, and graduation from Orbis loomed.
Is this what becoming a Hero is like?
And then...
"Sia, you see that first-year video?"
"Huh?"
And when I watched it, I was stunned.
"Wha...? Wha...!"
"Whoa! Sia, what's wrong all of a sudden?!"
...
I saw it.
A 'person' just like me and Grandpa.
I'd always wondered.
Maybe it wasn't us who were weird.
Why, though?
I have no idea.
Dad died, and Grandpa vanished somewhere.
I wish I were normal like everyone else.
But knowing I'm broken instead of just different tormented me more.
That's why spotting a 'person' here at Orbis made me so thrilled.
Even if there was this weird flame-like thing flickering too...
"Fun?"
"Not bad."
"Same."
The movie ended, and afternoon had slipped away.
Originally, I'd planned to hunt for an artifact to remove Tyrfing.
Even without Han Sia, I might run into someone else who could sense it.
Demons have a reputation worse than trash—utterly vile.
Most anti-personnel techniques using mana were developed because of them, after all.
But she's offering to keep it secret.
I wondered if maybe she couldn't see Tyrfing, but no, that didn't seem right.
She never said it outright, but I definitely felt her gaze pierce right to Tyrfing inside me.
Why's this damn sword staying quiet, though?
"Where should we eat?"
"Dunno."
...
We grabbed food and killed time with random stuff until the sun dipped low.
"So, where were you headed anyway?"
"The Field."
"..."
Han Sia's eyes gleamed faintly.
She tilted her head at me.
Her lips curved up just a touch.
"..."
"A Gate..."
"Yeah?"
Han Sia replied, sounding genuinely puzzled.
For reference, Gates appear completely at random.
"Oh, I've got a knack for that stuff."
I bullshitted an excuse, and her tilted head straightened.
"Want my help?"
"Huh?"
I stared at her, wondering if I'd misheard. She repeated it.
"For real?"
"Yeah."
Hell yeah! Jackpot!
"Meet tomorrow then?"
"Sure."
I scrapped my plans on the spot.
Mob-clearing backup had just volunteered.
But... what if she wants an artifact as payment...
"See you tomorrow."
I turned to leave.
-Hold up.
"?"
-Obey my command right now.
This bastard, what's his problem?
Does he plan to have her kill me now that she's seen through Farsight?
Typical demon scum.
-Hurry!
Tyrfing sounded insanely urgent, so I turned back.
Han Sia stood there, watching me impassively.
Her blank stare sent chills down my spine.
"?"
-Approach that wench. Now.
What's with this guy?
Step, step.
"What? Forget something?"
Han Sia tilted her head slightly.
-Say exactly what I tell you.
What the hell?
-"Would you like to stay together a little longer?"