Chapter 213: Omen of Crisis (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 213: Omen of Crisis (2)
Just as I was trying to awkwardly gloss over the situation, an unexpected savior appeared. Choi Seol-ah, her eyes fixed with fierce determination, came stomping over.
“Ah! You point-ear… Hon! Didn’t I tell you not to wander around on your own?!”
Choi Seol-ah lightly scolded Hon, then offered an explanation on my behalf.
“She’s a distant relative of mine who just transferred to the academy. Calling Cadet Geomma ‘my lord’ is just a bad habit of hers. As for running over like that, she was probably just looking for someone to ask for directions!”
It was an explanation far removed from any sort of logic. To put it bluntly, she was just spouting whatever popped into her head. Yet, surprisingly enough, it worked.
“Ah, I see.”
Weapon nodded. Beside him, Chloe nodded along as well. Both wore expressions that said, 'That makes sense.'
‘They’re actually buying this…?’
Chloe aside, Weapon was usually quite sharp. To see him accept it so meekly was thoroughly astonishing to me.
On Earth, there was no occasion to ever use a term like "my lord." Even if someone did, people around them would look at them like, 'Are you into that kind of stuff?'
However, this was not Earth. Titles like the Seven Star Heroes, the Seven Champions, and the Hero of the Origin were tossed around freely here. In a world like this, hearing someone utter a word like "my lord" didn't feel quite as jarring as it would on Earth.
Even so, had I been the one trying to explain it, things still would have gotten awkward.
Whether the excuse came from a third party or not made a surprising difference in persuasiveness.
‘Thank goodness Choi Seol-ah rushed over when she did.’
Otherwise, the more I tried to talk my way out of it, the more tangled the situation would have become.
‘Though it was this bastard Choi Seol-ah's fault for losing track of Hon in the first place.’
Still, I decided to let it slide this time. Pulling her aside to scold her when she had just defused the situation felt too shameless. Seeing the beads of sweat breaking out on her temples, it seemed she was well aware of her blunder anyway.
I quietly turned my head. Ryozo was staring intently at Hon, her eyes half-hidden beneath her brows. After a few minutes of this, she finally pulled her gaze away from Hon.
I breathed a long sigh of relief in my heart.
‘Phew.’
And so, what could have escalated into a major disaster ended up as nothing more than a minor incident. I had originally intended to use this chance to reveal that Hon was joining our special class, but I changed my mind and decided to postpone it. It felt like something I needed to discuss with Choi Seol-ah first.
On top of that, Hon clearly needed additional education on human common sense. Simply speaking human language fluently wasn't enough. At this rate, she might suddenly shout, "Hey, look at this~!" and cast a spell out of nowhere.
Just imagining it made a cold chill run down my spine. If that happened, no excuse would save us. Hon's identity as a dragon would be exposed instantly, and Choi Seol-ah, her guardian, would be dragged off by the Hero Association.
‘The safest option would be not to put Hon in the special class at all…’
However, Hon's role in the plan I was designing was truly essential. Important enough to willingly bear this level of risk. Though it was a gamble akin to walking on a knife's edge, even considering all that, Hon was a necessary presence for the special class.
Just then, Choi Seol-ah spoke, hiding her "distant relative" Hon behind her back.
“Um, My Lo… Heav… No, Cadet Kang Geomma. Do you happen to have a moment? Er… I have something to discuss regarding the special class curriculum. Please follow me for a second.”
Cadet Kang Geomma. Saying it herself made Choi Seol-ah wear an awkward expression. It seemed the word 'my lord' had stuck firmly to her tongue without her realizing.
A few days ago, I had instructed her to call me "cadet." I had said so specifically to prevent disasters like this in the first place.
And yet…
‘Who knew something like this would happen so soon.’
Still, let's look on the bright side. This experience served as a good wake-up call.
Ending my thoughts, I responded to Choi Seol-ah's request.
“Yes, Instructor Kim.”
Come to think of it, I still couldn't get used to calling her that either. Her real name was Choi Seol-ah, so how long was I supposed to keep calling her Instructor Kim? I ought to tell her to legally change her name later or something.
* * *
After walking in silence behind Choi Seol-ah for about ten minutes…
Choi Seol-ah glanced around cautiously before letting out a breath and wiping her chest in relief. Wearing an expression like she had just shaved ten years off her life, she balled her hand into a fist and lightly flicked the top of Hon's head.
“Hey, you pointy-eared brat! Didn’t I tell you not to go wandering around outside yet?! Do you have any idea how close you came to ruining everything just now?!”
“…Wh-what did I even do wrong?!”
“Oh, look at you talking back without even realizing your mistake! That’s it. Dinner tonight is pork.”
“A-Agh, this is a clear breach of contract!”
“Breach of contract my foot! What did you eat for lunch today then, chicken instead of 1++ Korean beef? Our contract clearly says once a day……”
The bickering that started like that soon escalated into a heated argument. I merely watched them blankly.
‘Why do these two fight over Korean beef every single time I see them?’
Korean beef, usually a symbol of peace, was a fuse for battle between these two. The one trying to obtain the Korean beef versus the one trying to stop her. Their fierce debate knew neither time nor place.
Normally, I would have stepped in to break up their mood-spoiling fight, but today I stayed quiet. There was no grand reason.
‘Let's just see how far this goes.’
…After several more minutes of back-and-forth, Choi Seol-ah made Hon kneel under a street tree for punishment. Hon was kneeling with both arms raised high in the air. The victor of this verbal duel was Choi Seol-ah.
“This humiliation… I won’t let this go……”
Hon muttered under her breath, glaring daggers at Choi Seol-ah. Regardless, a triumphant smile crossed Choi Seol-ah's lips. Then, as if remembering something, she turned to me.
“Ah, right. I almost forgot because of this pointy-ears. My lord, I have a report to make.”
“A report?”
“Yes. Frankly, this is information circulating strictly within the 'Joaquin Academy Emergency Task Force,' but I thought you ought to know.”
The Joaquin Academy Emergency Task Force. A so-called secret operations headquarters that only elite instructors could join. Choi Seol-ah was a member of it.
By the way, when I had asked her before how she managed to join the task force, she gave an answer that was truly quintessential Choi Seol-ah.
‘Back then I was with the Villain Syndicate, so I joined like a double agent! Thanks to the recommendation of Professor Damian, who went "ack!" and died by your hands, my lord!’
That was just how Choi Seol-ah spoke. She had a talent for talking about illegal acts as if she were casually jaywalking. That shamelessness remained uncured even after shedding her villain skin. It was simply her nature.
In any case.
“What is it that has you looking so grim?”
I asked. Choi Seol-ah's expression instantly sobered as she continued.
“They say Majin sightings near the Gehenna Gate have become increasingly frequent.”
I frowned.
“Not magical beasts, but Majin? Why are those bastards loitering near the gate?”
“That hasn't been confirmed yet. But rumors within our team suggest there might be an issue with the gate. You know how the Sword Emperor hasn't been seen lately? Word is he's constantly away because he's out patrolling the gate.”
“……Hmm.”
I fell into deep thought. It was true that the Sword Emperor's whereabouts had been mysterious ever since the succession ceremony. To think he was out patrolling the vicinity of the Gehenna Gate all this time. I let out a bitter laugh.
‘He may have retired as a Seven Star Hero, but he's working on the front lines harder than anyone else.’
Meanwhile, I had been busy whining on the inside about juggling academy life and my duties as a Seven Star. A wave of embarrassment washed over me. At the same time, I firmed up my resolve. I needed to move up the schedule for my postponed short-term goal—finding the 'Fifth Fragment'—to today.
I opened my mouth.
“Choi Seol-ah, take care of the procedures for creating the special class for me. Hon and I will need to be away for today and tomorrow.”
“Are you going right away? But as you know, my lord, you can't reach the Gehenna Gate via Subspace Warp. You have to drop off dozens of kilometers away from Gehenna and take a bus to the border, so traveling by land will be extremely exhausting.”
“That's why I'm taking Hon with me.”
“Huh……?”
I looked back at Hon, who was quietly standing in punishment. It seemed we'd have to fly for this trip.
“…You could just take a private jet, so why……?”
“Don't worry about it.”
“Yes……”
* * *
Near the Gehenna Gate.
[ KEEP OUT ] strict control lines wrapped heavily around the area, blocking outside access beforehand.
Association staff used glowsticks to stop passing vehicles and check each one individually. Heroes also pitched in to aid the staff's efforts. Fully armed, they were searching the perimeter.
It was truly a scene as tense as walking on thin ice. Taking in the stiff, tense faces, Director Seong stepped out of the vehicle.
“Oh, you've arrived, Director Seong.”
The Sword Emperor greeted him, pulling up the corners of his aged mouth.
“It's been a while, Sword Emperor.”
“I've been well. Ah, and that epithet 'Heavenly Sword.' I thought it was quite a wonderful name, and I hear you were the one who coined it?”
“Yes. Vice Association President gave me a good opportunity, so I was able to humbly bestow the epithet upon Geomma-nim.”
“Myura, that muscle-brained fool must have made a sound judgment for once in a blue moon. Well, even a broken clock is right twice a day.”
“…Hahaha.”
Director Seong merely offered an awkward laugh. With the Sword Emperor openly talking trash about his boss right in front of him, he could neither agree nor disagree. Instead, Director Seong shifted the topic.
“By the way, Sword Emperor, I heard that Majin have been appearing over the past few days?”
“Indeed. Three 'Dark Elves' attacked our heroes three days ago. I stepped in and subjugated them myself, but because of that, we've raised the security level on-site by a notch.”
Director Seong felt goosebumps rise as he spoke.
“Dark Elves are creatures that hunt in packs, aren't they? For only three of them to move means……”
“That they might be a scouting party—a precursor to a full-scale offensive.”
“In that case, rather than staying here, wouldn't it be better to evacuate for now and return after formally assembling a full squad? It will be dangerous if the Dark Elves swarm in a group.”
Dark Elves were a rare breed among Demons in that they lived in packs. Normally, Majin had solitary habits. In that regard, Dark Elves exhibited an ecosystem completely distinct from other demons—one remarkably similar to humans.
Just think about it. What would happen if Majin—each individual a monster in its own right—launched a coordinated ambush in a pack? Especially if they had even put together a scouting party to meticulously prepare for the attack?
‘Even with the Sword Emperor on-site, this place is far too dangerous.’
At least three Seven Star-level forces were needed. However, the Sword Emperor offered a firm refusal.
“No. We cannot do that. The gap in the gate is slowly widening. Right now, it's only a few centimeters, but at this rate, disaster will strike before the year is out.”
“……”
“Besides, if we gather heroes capable of enduring such harsh conditions, it will create an imbalance in public security elsewhere. You know it as well as I do. Those who can come here are rare even among heroes. At bare minimum, Senior Class—and even then, only the top-tier among them.”
The concentration of Magic Power near the Gehenna Gate was extremely high. Therefore, only those who had undergone specialized training were handpicked and dispatched here. That was why, despite the gravity of the situation, the stationed personnel numbered only around thirty. Even then, these thirty were the result of the Hero Association scraping together their most capable talent.
What if they officially requested aid from other nations? A massive force would be deployed, but news of the anomaly at the gate would inevitably leak out. If that happened, the whole point of investigating in secret would be rendered meaningless.
‘This is driving me crazy.’
Director Seong unintentionally let out a frustrated sigh. The situation was dire, yet their circumstances were abysmal.
Just as he was feeling completely helpless, Director Seong's instincts flared. He snapped his head up and scanned the area.
The Sword Emperor was no different in sensing the anomaly. He drew his sword instantly.
The grayish-white forest had lost its color under the influence of the gate. And through that ashen darkness, red dots began to appear—one pair, two pairs, three pairs… Soon, there were so many that counting them became pointless.
Someone shrieked at the top of their lungs:
“It's the Dark Elvesaaaaah!”