Chapter 271: Winter (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 271: Winter (1)
In Karon's memory, Kang Geomma was a boy who was far from diligent. Not that he was lazy, either—he simply had a habit of doing just enough to get by.
Yet lately, whatever had gotten into him, Kang Geomma—now the Heavenly Sword, whom Karon served—worked day and night without rest.
They say the position makes the man.
Shail also tried not to show it, but she seemed secretly surprised by his unfamiliar work ethic, stealing glances at him as if looking at something fascinating.
Shail frequently cracked jokes to him. Karon knew she was trying to get the Heavenly Sword to break his focus, even if just for a moment. Thus, Karon didn't say much or join in. He only pulled her aside to scold her when her jokes crossed the line—specifically the kind Lady Abel would dislike. In response, Shail would just grin broadly and turn away.
Karon and Shail. The hierarchy between them as butler and maid was faint. Shail always addressed Karon with respect, yet she was firm in her opinions. If Karon deemed her thoughts reasonable, he accepted them; if not, he gave her a sharp earful.
They were akin to a father and daughter. Karon had watched her grow every step of the way. Watching her mature had played a significant role in helping the man once called Rakshasa reclaim his humanity.
So when Shail started cracking lewd jokes first thing in the morning...
Even knowing her intentions, Karon, now middle-aged, felt thoroughly embarrassed. Sometimes, he couldn't even tell if those suggestive remarks were jokes or serious.
He didn't dare ask. If they were serious... a bloody storm would sweep through Castle Sigurd.
A rivalry between Lady Abel and Shail.
If Shail was serious, Karon was willing to root for her with all his heart. Shail was far too capable and exceptionally beautiful to spend her entire life as a maid.
Unlike Karon, who served as a butler as a form of atonement, Shail was under no obligation to carry such a burden. Though she insisted on repaying Lord Orion's kindness.
Growing up so wonderfully is more than enough, Shail.
The Lord Orion that Karon knew would surely have said that. Thus, Shail was fully deserving of freedom, and she was at an age where she should live her own life. After all, she was in her mid-twenties—an age to express affection toward someone and enjoy a sweet romance.
The only worrying thing was that her object of affection was Lord Geomma.
Wasn't there no such vibe between them before?
Just then, Shail's offhand description of her ideal type flashed through Karon's mind.
—I like someone who can immerse themselves in their work and has a sense of responsibility. Like Lord Orion. He lost his life fulfilling his duty as a hero, too. Yet even in his final moments, he was magnificent. He departed with a look on his face, relieved that he was the one carrying that task instead of anyone else.
“……”
Recalling those words, Karon quietly averted his gaze. In Kang Geomma, who was working tirelessly having surrendered his winter break, Karon saw Orion's face overlap. And Shail was standing right beside him, watching him closely.
Sensing the eyes fixed on the side of his face, Kang Geomma turned his head diagonally. Their eyes met.
“Would you like another cup?”
Shail was the first to speak, tilting the teapot slightly.
“Ah, yes.”
Kang Geomma drained the near-empty tea and placed the cup back in its spot. Steam rose softly as the cooled cup was warmed once more.
A touch of moisture and a fragrant herbal aroma entered the dry office. Gentle sunlight shone past the frost-covered window, seeping over their backs. It was a tranquil, midwinter noon—a peaceful scene resembling pale drops of watercolor spread across a stark white canvas.
Kang Geomma took a sip of the tea and marveled.
“It's delicious. What is the name of this tea?”
Shail gave a gentle smile.
“It's a black tea made from Harrod leaves, enjoyed by both the Sword Emperor and Lord Orion. It's usually supplied exclusively to the British Royal Family, but Harrod makes a special exception for the Nibelung Family.”
“Is it alright for you to bring such precious tea here?”
“This was deducted from my monthly salary. I also obtained the Sword Emperor's permission, so please enjoy it without worry.”
“…Hearing that it came out of your salary actually makes me worry more.”
“My goodness.”
Shail covered her lips with her free hand, speaking in an exaggerated, theatrical tone.
“For the Heavenly Sword to worry about my bank account... I am simply moved to tears. How can you be so tenderhearted?”
“I just said it because it looked really expensive. There's no deep meaning.”
“No deep meaning? How could you play with a woman's heart like this? Sob, sob.”
The corners of Shail's eyes were as bone-dry as freshly laundered clothes. Kang Geomma called her out on it.
“If you're going to pretend to cry, at least dab some spit around your eyes. Making fake weeping sounds with a blank face is just creepy.”
“Calling a woman creepy... As expected, the Heavenly Sword pulls no punches with his words.”
“During the month we've spent together, your words and actions have been far more reckless, Ms. Shail.”
“If we pull rank aside, I'm older than you.”
“And with rank insignia on, I outrank you.”
Shail pouted her lips.
“You've changed, Heavenly Sword. Back during summer break, you used to blush whenever you looked at my face. Now you've grown far too tainted by the world.”
“I never blushed. And even if I did, it was probably because of your speeding while driving.”
Shail squared her shoulders with supreme confidence.
“I have an accident-free record.”
“Just in case, the speed limit in Korea is 120 kilometers per hour. Please keep that in mind whenever you drive.”
“120 kilometers per hour... That's practically a turtle. Even in the fable of the Tortoise and the Hare, I rooted for the fast hare. Ah, though a man who's a 'rabbit' is a bit—”
“Stop.”
Kang Geomma's hand dropped toward his desk drawer.
“……”
“……”
Silence settled over the office after the storm passed.
Shail let out an annoyed hmph. Knowing that even this was an act, Kang Geomma promptly ignored it. Over the past month spent together, he had learned to read her well.
She was mischievous. In fact, rather than fading over time, her jokes only grew increasingly unhinged the longer they stayed together.
Take this moment, for instance: an adult teasing a minor about being a "rabbit." Lucky for her, Kang Geomma was actually an adult internally, but her banter walked a razor-thin line between legal and illegal.
—Heavenly Sword, sitting for so long isn't good for your waist. A man's lower back is his life, you know.
—You need to get some fresh air. Why don't we step outside together and pretend it's a date?
—My night is more beautiful than your day.
—You need to eat well to stay strong. Here's an eel bento, great for stamina. Say ah~
It was pretty much like this.
Shail tied every single conversation back to that kind of dirty joke. His only escape was either ignoring her or pulling rank to shut her down, much as he hated doing so.
And here I thought Ms. Shail was at least relatively normal.
Her refined behavior back at Castle Sigurd must have been an act in front of Abel and the Sword Emperor. Her true personality was speaking shameless, dirty jokes without hesitation.
Shail was a pervert. A living embodiment of lust.
I should have realized what she was like back when she was snorting hot air while speeding down that slope...
Kang Geomma let out a low groan. Who knew finding a normal person could be this difficult? Truly, as the Great Sage said, whenever five people gather, at least one is bound to be a weirdo.
Yet in his circle, whenever five gathered, all five had loose screws. People he assumed were sane turned out to be completely unhinged at some point. Kang Geomma lamented his social circle.
However, he was forgetting a crucial fact: birds of a feather flock together. Like attracts like. Since he, the focal point, was insane, his influence spread to everyone around him, driving them all crazy in turn.
“We received word from the Templar Knights.”
Karon, who had been quietly holding his tongue, spoke up. He swallowed a deep sigh.
“They report that they have begun purifying the Gehenna Gate.”
Delivering news was Karon's responsibility. Kang Geomma's overwhelming workload left him no leisure to receive every report directly.
“The Grand Master of the Knights asked me to inform you that the formation of the joint force comprising the Association and the Knights, as you ordered, is progressing smoothly. He asked that you not worry.”
Kang Geomma nodded.
“Achieving that much in just a month is impressive. Please send word to the Grand Master to drop by whenever he's free today. Come to think of it, I haven't even had a proper conversation with him.”
“Understood. Furthermore, we received word from Lancelot Company as well.”
Lancelot Company—the hero agency All Mute belonged to.
“Not just Lancelot, but hero agencies from all over are flooding us with requests to join you, Heavenly Sword. Naturally, the same goes for other nations.”
Kang Geomma's eyes widened. He was dumbfounded by this unexpected surge of support.
Humanity was no longer safe. The era of peace was over. It wouldn't be surprising if demons invaded at any given moment. Kang Geomma did not deny that the Great War, foretold to occur two years from now, was drawing dangerously near.
Thus, he had called for heroes in the name of the Seven Stars. To stand against the demons, to reawaken the vigilance that had grown slack during years of comfort.
It was a task he had to accomplish during this winter break. Naturally, he had expected it to be far from easy.
“Aren't hero agencies organizations that don't budge unless there's money involved? So why...”
It wasn't just about money. In a world rampant with class systems, there were also concerns that a Seven Stars hero of commoner origin wouldn't carry enough sway.
Yet those fears proved needless.
“‘If humanity falls, money is nothing more than scrap paper. While our core belief remains profit, upholding that belief requires lending our strength to the Heavenly Sword. — The Agencies.’”
Karon's stiff tone softened noticeably.
“They claim this is their official stance. But their true intentions lie elsewhere. It means they wish to align themselves with all that you have accomplished so far, Heavenly Sword, and the great cause you will champion in the future.”
As Kang Geomma parted his lips to speak, Shail chimed in first.
“The world is changing.”
A faint smile rested on her lips.
“Now, people no longer cling to social status; they freely share their thoughts on how they might help you, Heavenly Sword. Because everyone has come to realize that every move you make is for the sake of humanity.”
Setting the teapot down, Shail stepped alongside Karon. The two exchanged a brief glance before bowing deeply at the waist.
Karon spoke.
“We must return to Switzerland starting tomorrow.”
It was no surprise. That was the condition Kang Geomma had set.
“Over the past month, we have witnessed firsthand how you have worked day and night without rest, Heavenly Sword.”
Shail picked up where he left off.
“Though your daily routine is classified and cannot be disclosed to others, we will remember it forever. It was an honor to serve you, even for a short time.”
At that moment.
Scenes flashed past like a kaleidoscope of memories.
—Sitting for so long isn't good for your back.
When he was slumping awkwardly in his chair.
—You need to get some fresh air.
When he had been cooped up in his office for three straight days.
—My night is more beautiful than your day.
When his days and nights were flipped.
—You need to eat well to stay strong.
When he had forgotten to eat his meals.
Kang Geomma stood up and stepped between the two. Then, stretching out both arms, he pulled them into a warm embrace.
“…No, it is I...”
Kang Geomma squeezed out his voice through a throat tight with emotion.
“Thank you.”
Two pairs of hands gently patted his back. The warmth of three people echoed back and forth in the midwinter cold.