Chapter 378
Chapter 378
-----------------------------------------------------------------
>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 378
>Chapter Title: A New Home in the Veil
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
Bitan's reaction was strange.
‘This power… what is it?’
And the power that surged up in rebellion against the darkness of Bitan that had entered my body was even stranger.
Whooooosh…
A thrilling energy spread throughout my body.
Bitan grimaced and hurriedly withdrew his arm, shouting.
【Stop!】
“…….”
【It's confirmed. You can go now.】
“What happens to me from now on?”
It was an important question for me.
Would I stay here, or wander the world again?
【This place….】
Bitan dispelled my worries in an instant.
【Will be your home from now on.】
“…….”
【And all the darkness of the Veil will be your brothers. They're dim-witted with no real merits besides that, but they'll surely be a great help someday… Huh?】
He placed a hand on my shoulder and patted me gently.
【Don't cry, boy! D-Did you hate it?】
“It's not that….”
I'd never had anything resembling a home. The time with Santos was the happiest, but amid long suffering, it was just a fleeting moment.
And no matter how you sliced it, I'd been chased away by him.
【If you don't like it, you don't have to accept it.】
“…I like it.”
【Really?】
“Because it's good.”
This place was now my new home.
A new nest where I could be with Yurim.
No more birdcages with iron bars.
Clang-!
The door flew open, and Yurim appeared.
“Really? Seol can really stay here?”
【…You heard everything!】
Even as Bitan tried to put on a stern face, Yurim ignored it, arms wide open, and leaped in.
She hugged both me and Bitan at once.
‘Warm….’
It wasn't a bad feeling to have someone who grieved more for me and rejoiced more than I did.
“Welcome to the Veil!”
It was winter, shortly after my seventeenth birthday. I became a new member of the Veil.
* * *
Time flew by like an arrow.
The next winter had already arrived.
“It's been a year since you came here.”
“I'm grateful.”
Even amid grueling training, there were occasional breaks like this.
I was chatting with Toki and Bitan.
Here, I served two masters.
I learned martial arts from Toki, and everything related to the power of darkness from Bitan.
I'd heard that Bitan, called Master here, was actually a spirit beast with immense power. He had committed many wrongs in the past, but it was hard to believe looking at him now.
His power, however, was the real deal.
I had changed completely.
There was still a long way to go, but compared to my persecuted past, it was an enormous transformation.
【I see great potential in you. But it's not good.】
“Pardon? What….”
No potential?
Or…?
【I've told you so many times: good training and proper rest—especially rest—cannot be skipped!】
“I-I'm sorry.”
【Hmm… I don't get it. I just don't know the reason.】
Bitan wore a serious expression right in front of me.
【The reason you want to grow stronger. What could it be?】
Toki chimed in from the side.
“I feel the same. The reason the boy wants to grow strong isn't revenge, nor a desire for combat.”
【He has a fierce longing to grow stronger, but it's not because of the hell he experienced as a child… Is something inside you forcing you forward?】
I couldn't utter a single word.
They weren't wrong, for the most part.
I had to grow stronger.
If asked why, I could list dozens, no, hundreds of reasons.
But if questioned whether those were my true feelings… I'd hesitate to answer.
‘I don't know.’
If asked if I wanted revenge on the faces that turned my life into hell, yes. But it couldn't be my life's goal.
Zing…
‘Ugh….’
Again.
[Intermediate Insight activates.]
[Nothing was discerned.]
[Intermediate Insight fails.]
Another headache severe enough to halt my thoughts.
【You okay?】
I gave Bitan an awkward smile.
【Well, that doesn't mean it's necessarily bad!】
“I agree. Don't overthink it.”
【But someday, you need to clarify it. Otherwise, you'll hit a wall soon.】
“…I'll keep that in mind.”
Bitan gripped my shoulder firmly and said.
【Bitan, who has watched you for a year, tells you: you have talents others lack.】
His cute fingers folded one by one.
【Courage to face fear, magical talent, and the ability to read the board.】
“You can have confidence. You're a talented child. No need to push yourself so hard.”
“…Yes.”
It felt like they were all ganging up to hype me up. It was getting embarrassing to stay.
“Then I'll….”
【Go ahead.】
I had to spar with Yurim, so I left first.
Then, I overheard their conversation and stopped in place.
【Among them, the most incomprehensible is that judgment. No, luck?】
“Exactly. The hell the boy endured would kill a hundred out of a hundred. Yet he flowed here to the Veil as if he knew the path from the start. All his decisions to save Yurim ultimately paved the way to the Veil. …Not his intention, but the result was the same.”
I saved Yurim because I thought I should.
Yes, that's why.
【The kid who decided to escape the harbor was barely nine years old then. Makes sense? Bitan can't understand. He was just a snot-nosed brat.】
“It's certainly odd.”
Odd?
Me?
I rested my chin and pondered.
【Maybe Seol pierces the essence of fate? He knows what he must do. The most important thing.】
“…That's excessive speculation.”
【Right? And what about the hidden power in his body… Maybe even more than that child taken by the faces… No, not that.】
“No matter how many talents, it can't compare to profound talent. Only Yurim's rivals that child's.”
【In the fight against the faces, our hope lies only in the next generation—those two!】
“What does the Master of the Veil think….”
【Huh? I don't know about him. Probably busy with this and that. Why? Worried?】
“It's been ages since he showed himself….”
【Only he can stop Angry Face, so he'll appear in time. Leave Angry Face to him; we must raise those kids. To clean up the disasters we left. Location?】
“…Still investigating.”
That child?
Who was this child they feared so much?
* * *
Time is fair, but to me, who endured hard times, happy moments like these seemed to pass even faster.
Today, I turned twenty.
“Happy birthday, Seol!”
Yurim hugged me tightly.
“Yeah. C-Can you let go? Can't… breathe….”
“Oh! Sorry!”
I could only sense time's passage through the changing seasons. Since coming here, I'd never once gone outside.
I'd never complained about it.
They would have shown me the outside world anytime I wanted.
I was the one who refused.
The world was hell, and to face it, I had to become much stronger—I always pushed myself.
And now, it had borne significant fruit.
[Enlightenment! Awakening a new ability.]
[Awakening Black Flower.]
[Enlightenment! Awakening a new ability.]
[Awakening Shadow Evasion.]
[Enlightenment! Awakening a new ability.]
[Awakening Creature Creation.]
……
Like retracing a path I'd walked before, my power advanced by leaps and bounds.
Even as a spirit beast, Bitan said my talent for darkness surpassed his.
It was a profoundly strange feeling.
To have someone acknowledge me.
Made my chest tighten for no reason.
But that didn't mean I was satisfied.
Beyond what Bitan and Toki taught, I began crafting my own weapons.
For a full year, skipping rest occasionally, I made progress.
The more I trained, the less frequent the headaches.
I concluded they were a defense mechanism to avoid harsh reality.
It was easier to think so simply.
“Seol, happy birthday! Everyone's gathered, come quick. And you two, stop clinging!”
“W-Who was clinging!”
“Separate! Separate!”
Yurim flustered and stammering, Kirri teasing her. Just as I'd become a full adult in age and appearance, she too had become a striking young woman.
Of course, their true identities were new fighters trained in the Veil.
Anyway, today everyone was gathered because of the birthday.
“Ta-da!”
“…….”
A modest setup in the largest cavern of the hideout.
Kirri, always stuck there, Zilliac, and even Toki and Bitan.
“Surprised? Huh? Surprised?”
Ah, and Yurim.
The rest were field agents I'd never met. Including the Master of the Veil, there were four more.
Anyway, everyone in the hideout was here.
“Happy birthday!”
“Happy birthday, kid.”
“Boy! You've become a fine adult!”
【Congratulations! Congratulations!】
“I'm the most congratulatory!”
Oh no.
I hadn't expected this at all.
That they'd plan something like this.
【Ahem…】
Bitan sidled up and hung something on my robe's chest.
A red ruby.
Crow's Eye.
Symbol of the Veil.
【From now on, you'll operate as Veil.】
“…….”
【D-Don't cry!】
“I'm not.”
【Your eyes are misty?】
“Yawning….”
I'd cried plenty on sad days; on happy ones, I should smile.
Yurim smiled with me.
【Then… your first mission is…】
* * *
A mountain lodge.
No, an inn shaped like one.
Essential for crossing the mountains, it saw heavy traffic.
Sometimes more than city inns.
Now, beside me, a beautiful lady linked arms as we entered the inn.
‘Do we have to go this far?’
Yurim whispered quietly in response.
“Of course! Best way for a young man and woman to avoid suspicion?”
“True, but….”
“We're here as Veil agents. Not Yurim and Kang Seol.”
“…Right.”
“Heehee.”
“…Why laugh.”
“Just.”
We sat at the inn and ordered food.
“Why order so much?”
“Might have to sit a while.”
“…True.”
“And I'm hungry.”
“That was the real goal, huh?”
“Shh… Don't turn, just answer.”
“Okay.”
“He's here. Don't look back or he'll suspect.”
“Description?”
“Matches. Won't mistake him.”
“Good.”
“Heading to a room.”
“Then cancel food. Follow now.”
“Eek….”
Yurim pouted and called the server.
The server said cooking had started, and Yurim's face brightened visibly.
“Yurim, knock. You know.”
“Okay.”
After a moment.
Yurim came upstairs to the rooms, mouth full of something.
Sniiiif…
Knock knock…
“Anyone there?”
“…….”
Rustling panic from inside.
“W-What's this! I didn't call for service!”
“I'm not a server.”
“Then scram.”
“…Trouble. You really won't open?”
“I said scra—.”
While Yurim bantered through the door, a crow slipped in through the slightly open window.
The crow waddled to a chair and perched.
“Eek! W-What, why a crow….”
Then.
Whirrrrl…
The crow grew huge.
No, transformed into a person.
The man froze in shock.
“…….”
Anyone would if a crow entered through the window, not the door, and became a man on the chair.
The crow was me.
“Should I brush off my shoes?”
“…….”
Scraaape…
I pulled the chair closer to the man.
“Veil. Answer my questions from now.”
“What….”
Our purpose here.
First mission.
“You met Lian Kurus?”
- Field agent Lian is missing.
The man panicked visibly at the question.
“That’s….”
Bang bang bang!
Loud noise at the door.
‘What?’
Realizing something forgotten, I opened the door.
Click…
“…Next time, open the door before questions.”
Yurim stood there, annoyed.
Behind her, several others.
“Acquaintances?”
“Who? Oh, them?”
“Yeah.”
Yurim and I exchanged glances.
“…No way.”
Instantly, weapons drawn, clamor filled the inn.
KABOOOOM-!