Chapter 27: An Orphan Loved by Heaven (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 27: An Orphan Loved by Heaven (1)
It was time to sort things out.
First of all.
The culprit who brought the black-haired girl to Joaquin Academy was supposedly Speed Weapon. Word was he had brought her into the academy knowing full well it could spark a storm in my household.
What on earth came over him?
Why had Weapon—the quintessential yes-man thanks to his years at the Association—acted so proactively?
After taking a massive dump on the situation, he excused himself saying he needed to take a call and escaped the Principal's office.
Cowardly bastard.
He runs away after nearly shattering a family?
“……”
Ah, damn it.
Realizing that I wasn't entirely clean-handed myself, even my internal monologue lost its right to preach. When Medea asked if I had time to talk, I should have pretended to be asleep...
...Though it was too late to regret it, considering I had let Medea in so submissively yesterday. That was basically a free pass.
Did I take a sashimi blade to the head?
“Haaah.”
Let's set aside the fact that I'm a good-for-nothing for the time being.
I'm reflecting on my actions.
I'm at least reflecting...
Human emotions are volatile things, changing by the moment anyway.
The roots of human action and emotion are inherently fickle. There's a reason for the saying that the person who knows you least is yourself.
Weapon—conservative as he is—presenting Chae Lina before my two wives...
...And my failure to refuse Medea—if you approach it with pure logic, I have no defense whatsoever.
I believe there is nothing more foolish than trying to judge or quantify a person's heart. Just as it's hard to measure the vast universe, how could anyone peer into the depths of a person, who is a microcosm in their own right? People act refined and indifferent, but reason rarely holds the reins.
I mean, just look at me.
In any case.
I realized that even for Weapon, the situation was unexpected.
However, there was yet another wild curveball.
No matter how unpredictable a daily horoscope is supposed to be...
I never imagined that Leon would actively push for Chae Lina's transfer. Me, Weapon, Leon. That made three anomalies already. It made me wonder if the men in this room had all collectively eaten something bad.
As if stopping there would be a shame, the anomalies didn't end. Needless to say, it was Chae Lina.
“Oppa.”
“……”
“I didn't expect to see you here. It's been so long since my uncle and aunt passed away. You even changed your name, so I didn't recognize you at first.”
A maternal cousin with a twist?
I was so baffled I lost my voice.
“Let's never part again.”
It couldn't be helped, because I am...
Episode: An Orphan Loved by Heaven
Even though it was my first time meeting Chae Lina, I had plenty of questions.
How could I not be curious when another person with black hair and black eyes had appeared? As everyone knows, those two traits were exclusive to Otherworlders like me.
The prime living proof were myself and Yoo Se-in. I was a possessor, and Yoo Se-in was a reincarnator. Although he wasn't with us right now, the Boss, who shared our traits, was an infinite regressor.
In short, every single one of us was a troublemaker.
This world, which might have flowed smoothly without us, was drawn into a history as jagged as a seismograph graph because of these three people.
Because of that, I raised my guard to maximum alert.
A girl featuring distinct Otherworlder traits appearing out of nowhere was beyond suspicious. If Chae Lina turned out to be one of these "anomalies," just as Yoo Se-in and I were, we would have plenty to discuss in private.
However, my one-on-one meeting with Chae Lina had to be postponed. Because a prince on a white horse cut in.
“Sorry to interrupt your family reunion after all this time. But the 1st-year mock selection match is starting soon, and Lina is participating.”
“……”
Before answering, I scanned the faces of everyone present one by one.
Everyone was the exact opposite of me. I was the only one on guard. My former classmates, including the strict Ryozo, were giving Chae Lina friendly glances.
Ryozo and Abel seemed to have melted simply because Chae Lina was my cousin, while Weapon and Leon were actively doting on her. With my brow slightly furrowed, I felt like I was being painted as the final boss. I quickly smoothed out the crease between my eyes.
“If it's for the selection matches, she should definitely go. The Exchange Meeting is right around the corner, isn't it? I heard the first-years are still struggling with selections.”
I said, shrugging my shoulders.
Anyone who knew my temper would find it strange that I hadn't drawn my sashimi blade right off the bat. But after nearly ten years as a possessor, I was a seasoned veteran.
“I don't know the full story of how my cousin ended up at Joaquin Academy, but I'd be very happy if she could contribute.”
Violence is just the easiest path, not a silver bullet for everything. Sometimes, you just need to stand back and observe.
With so many eyes watching right now, pretending to be relaxed was the best move.
If I bring down the mood here, it'll only invite more suspicion.
Even though things had relaxed a bit thanks to Chae Lina's arrival, I still needed to offer some sort of excuse to Ryozo and Abel. Since Chae Lina had already provided a pretext, I just had to latch onto it.
“So Weapon found you while wandering through the Demon Realm?”
“…Yes.”
I observed Chae Lina's reaction as she replied. Her black eyes remained impassive. Her true thoughts were hard to read, but—
“See? I told you so many times. Hawaii is dangerous, so move to Korea. There's no place like this for safety.”
“……”
Chae Lina fell silent. My friendly demeanor seemed to leave her at a loss for words.
Step.
I took a bold step closer to Chae Lina. Looking at her up close, I realized all over again what an extraordinary beauty she was.
Her pitch-black hair and pale face evoked nostalgia for my old home, reminiscent of an idol at the peak of popularity back on Earth. Her black eyes possessed a magnetic draw, captivating enough to suck a person right in.
Why are her eyelashes so long?
Her slender limbs and soft contours stirred a protective instinct, while her beautifully balanced facial features reflected a strong inner mind. She was a living being packed with every quality a man could possibly adore. She's going to make a lot of male cadets cry.
Though they'll probably just stomp their feet in frustration, unable to approach her since she's my cousin.
“I feel bad saying this to my husband, but Geomma, you must take after your father's side. If you took after your mother's side, you would have been a walking sculpture.”
Ryozo's comment pierced my chest like a dagger.
“I'm joking. To my eyes, you're the handsomest.”
“That's right,” Abel chimed in.
“…Thanks, guys.”
Though standing next to Leon makes it a bit unconvincing.
Still, receiving compliments from two beauties famous for being among the most gorgeous adult Heroes certainly gives me quite a boost. Amidst the suddenly warm atmosphere, Chae Lina stared intently at me. Her gaze felt sharp enough to pierce right through my skin.
Is she gauging my reaction?
Fine.
It's better this way. Chae Lina, I will gladly play along with your little drama on our first meeting.
Swoosh—
I placed my hand on Chae Lina's head. Patting her, I smiled.
“Since you'll be busy for a few days with the representative selection matches, I'll contact you later. Until then, make sure to listen to Leon.”
Forced divine power trapped inside a human shell, huh? Leaking just a trace of my energy sense, I caught Chae Lina's subtle movement. A very faint tremor—one I wouldn't have noticed had I not been paying attention.
Her front teeth lightly bit down on her lower lip.
Guess she didn't expect me to so readily validate her fake identity. Whatever her hidden motive was. Whatever trick she used to butter up my old classmates in a single day. Chae Lina would soon come to learn.
“I'm proud that you made it into the academy too.”
That taking one step back...
“Lina.”
...can be far scarier than taking a hundred steps forward.
* * *
During the reconstruction, space was intentionally left around the academy's main building.
A garden paved with flagstones serving as memorial stones honoring the fallen of the 2nd Human-Demon War. If memorial monuments stood tall and upright, cadets would have to tilt their heads back to look up at them.
Forced respect and indoctrination—that was what Joaquin Academy, striving for innovation, guarded against the most. Thus, the memorial stones were laid beneath their feet. As a result, honoring the Fallen Heroes felt far less burdensome.
Cadets could also offer a light nod to the Holy Heroes as they walked. It was a meaningful arrangement in many ways.
“It was the current Principal's idea.”
Leon offered the remark to Chae Lina, who was gazing down blankly at one of the flagstones. Having parted ways with Kang Geomma, they were walking casually toward Training Ground II.
“Ryozo... I mean, the Principal. That's a great idea.”
“She was exceptionally brilliant even back in our cadet days. She was always hiding somewhere sleeping or munching on red bean jelly, yet she never once missed taking top marks in written exams.”
Leon swept his gaze across the area.
“It's not just Ryozo. Abel healthily reformed noble society, and Rachel is changing America—which almost became obsessed with mammonism—from the inside. As for Weapon... I'm not entirely sure, but I'm sure he's doing his best in his own position.”
His mouth felt bitter. His former classmates were contributing to humanity by utilizing their talents to the fullest. In contrast, he had spent ten years wandering Gehenna.
He didn't consider it wasted time. Exploring the Demon Realm was a self-imposed mission. As a form of atonement, he had appointed himself an observer, fully prepared to live out his entire life in the Demon Realm.
Yet returning to the Human Realm made him feel as though he alone were running in place. No matter how much he reminded himself, anxiety lingered. The past, when everyone's expectations were centered on him, couldn't be so easily brushed off.
And the person who put an exclamation mark on that...
Leon shifted his eyes to glance at the girl's profile. Perhaps because she was Kang Geomma's cousin, her initial impression had been far from ordinary.
And that suspicion turned to certainty after his separate interview with her yesterday—all thanks to the swordsmanship she demonstrated with temporary armaments.
It carried the same shock as Geomma and Nox's subspace sparring match.
She was a genius. Adding any more flowery adjectives would only dull the truth.
Indeed, blood ran thicker than water.
I really want to train her.
The suppressed longing finally reared its head. He wished to help humanity by nurturing a Hero who would usher in a new era.
Whoooosh...
A chilly spring breeze ruffled their hair. Chae Lina's eyes followed the path of the wind. There stood the main building of Joaquin Academy, quiet and solitary.
“So the Principal and the Sword Princess are my cousin's wives.”
“That's right. I heard at the wedding that both of them had an unrequited crush on Geomma since their cadet days.”
“I see.”
Her dark gaze remained fixed on a single spot on the main building—the window of the Principal's office, where they had been standing just moments ago. Sunlight scattered off the glass, creating layers of spectrum that hid the interior from view.
“I've never ■■.”
“…?”
“■■, I want to ■■.”
Leaving behind a confused Leon, Chae Lina walked ahead. Her face was cold and expressionless, but her stomping feet made her hair flutter with every step.
* * *
“You let her leave alive?”
Yoo Se-in chewed on a leg of dried squid as she spoke, slouched sideways on the living room sofa in an egregiously sloppy posture.
I had consulted her as a fellow Otherworlder, only for her response to be an incitement to murder. Even if a fallen Saintess was a common media trope, wasn't this a bit much?
“Ryozo and Abel were there. If it were just her and me, I would have intimidated her a bit, but there were too many witnesses.”
“Oh, please. Since when did you care what others think? Besides, freeloaders from another world like us shouldn't be hesitating and looking over our shoulders.”
“I think I know why Victor developed hair loss. The Saintess he has to serve for his entire life is as rotten as you.”
“Mind your own business.”
As the conversation went on, it felt like I was making excuses to Yoo Se-in for why I hadn't disposed of Chae Lina. The roles of destructor and healer had completely swapped.
The urge to speak with my sashimi blade popped inside me like popcorn. I had quite a hard time holding it down. Now that my prior knowledge—a privilege of being a possessor—had become essentially useless, there were times I had to rely on Yoo Se-in's knowledge.
Days just like today.
Yoo Se-in pulls her weight—no, reveals her true worth.
“Well, enough chit-chat.”
After sucking the seasoning off her fingers, she finally sat up.
“If she has black hair and black eyes, there's a high chance she's an Otherworlder.”
Crossing her legs on the sofa, she solemnly folded her arms. Only then did she get down to the main topic.
“…That would've been true until recently, but these days, we can form another hypothesis.”
“Why specifically lately...? Ah.”
Yoo Se-in nodded.
“The Counterforce directly intervened. As a harbinger of that, more kids like Chae Lina or whatever could show up. It's not like you can grab them one by one and ask, 'What's your true identity?'”
“That's true.”
No matter how much the world idolized me as the Heavenly Sword, doing that would make me look like a total psycho. The higher my reputation climbed, the more I had to lose. If I fell into the abyss, Ryozo and Abel's reputations would be tarnished as well.
“The old 'Death Sashimi' can't be coming out anymore. If you act like that, it'll hit my image too. After all, she's set up as your cousin.”
“…Is being my cousin really that cheap a trope? Why are Chae Lina, you, and all these people influenced by the Counterforce so damn eager to be my cousin?”
“It's the classic trope for a losing heroine. That's what I was aiming for, too. Black hair and black eyes are a total cheat code.”
I blinked.
That was an unexpected answer. To hear the words "losing heroine" come out of Yoo Se-in's mouth, of all people.
“You're surprisingly well-versed in that kind of stuff.”
“Not as much as you. The fact that you played Miracle Blessing M proves you're no ordinary person.”
“That was just an auto-battle game, so—”
“As if that was the only auto-battle game out there.”
Damn it, that hit right where it hurts.
“……”
“Don't be embarrassed, kid. Otaku knowledge is a fundamental requirement for regression, possession, and reincarnation. Both you and I got dragged all the way here by that Counterforce thing because we dug into our inner worlds instead of looking outward.”
“Then...”
I paused briefly before finishing my sentence.
“Which one of 'regression, possession, or reincarnation' is Chae Lina?”
“Why limit your thinking to just those? Look beyond them. The apocalypse is right around the corner, and the Counterforce directly intervened.”
Yoo Se-in got off the sofa. She then draped the milky-white coat hanging on the rack over her shoulders. Why was she suddenly getting ready to head out?
“Figuring that out is my job. Just wait until the Exchange Meeting. I'll find out what Chae Lina's true identity is.”
Yoo Se-in gave me a thumbs-up before walking out the door.
“…Where are you going...?”
“To pray.”
“All of a sudden?”
She replied as she vanished behind the slowly closing door.
“My divine mojo is running low. I need to recharge my holy power. Let's just leave Chae Lina alone for now. Don't give her any attention at all. Trying to know everything will get you hurt, kid.”
“And what am I supposed to do?”
“The Exchange Meeting is in two weeks. You need to prepare for that. While you were away for just a single day, the world went crazy over it. Watch the news on TV or something.”
With those final words, the door clicked shut.
And silence descended.
Just like that, I was left all alone in the living room.
Suddenly, through the large glass window, an apartment complex located in Gangwon-do came into full view. It was peaceful.
Street trees, planted per mandatory building regulations, drank in the abundant sunlight as they returned to their vibrant green. Down the path between those trees, Yoo Se-in ambled away loosely.
Watching her, a hollow laugh escaped my lips.
“What a mess.”
It was summer.
Strictly speaking, it was still a long way off, but whatever.
Sighing, I looked for the remote control.
“Huh?”
As soon as I turned on the TV, I realized why Yoo Se-in had told me to watch the news.
[We have just received an additional breaking news update (...)]
Following my trademark hollow smile, vulgar words naturally slipped out of my mouth.
“…Dammit.”
I guess I had my own mess, and the world had its own turned upside down.