Chapter 62
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: The World Assembly Has Romance (6)
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Birds chirp. The sounds of those birds, scattered by winter's arrival, gather now that day has broken, whispering in my ear.
A morning greeted not at home, but in an unfamiliar place. The bed in the lodging where I'd scrapped plans to head home and ended up staying is plush beyond belief.
The lodging's interior holds nothing particularly exotic just because it's overseas—it's all vaguely familiar.
Sounds from people I never heard in the high-rise drift over from the hallway, and as I feel the coolness of air conditioning unlike natural wind, I open my eyes.
Buried in the softness, I try to blankly stare at the ceiling, but a gaze from beside me won't let me be.
Something as plush as a down comforter wraps around my arm, and laughter keeps trickling out.
"Seren... I could've sworn we put you in the next room. Why are you over here like this?"
I say that and turn to look. There's just that innocent face smiling brightly, arms wrapped fully around my own. She lets out another laugh and speaks.
"Just curiosity~ Arsius, you never really slept well before. Someone just approaching would have you grabbing for your sword first, but here you are sleeping so peacefully. It's nice to watch."
Seren lifts one hand to fiddle with my cheek, and I just let it happen.
"Oh man, you two set up a honeymoon suite or what? I'm loving this, absolutely loving it."
Sihyun has slipped into the room at some point, shooting piercing glares. That rustling I heard earlier must've been her.
"Oh my, what brings sister-in-law here so early in the morning~? Ah, since you're here anyway, how about a cup of tea together?"
"Ugh, I've never seen anyone more sly than my brother. Eww, so different from that pretty face..."
Sihyun looks at Seren with utter disgust.
"Ahaha~ Thanks for the compliment. I learned it all from Arsius, you know."
Seren beams and waves her hand lightly.
"Don't act all prim and proper from the start... I held back on attacking just in case, but sigh."
"Oh, but I am prim and proper?"
"Prim and proper my ass...? Hold up, brother's girlfriend? What exactly do you do anyway?"
Seren smiles faintly and brings her rosary to her chest.
"Hello. Allow me to introduce myself properly now. Pretoria's Saintess, Seren Grace. Nice to meet you."
She unwinds her arms from me and approaches Sihyun with a greeting. Gone is the playful expression from moments ago; she bows her head in the holy, sacred demeanor she showed in Pretoria.
"Saintess...? You mean like a religious nut...? The head of those people who believe in God or whatever?"
That damn brat, look at her mouth.
"Mm~ Yes, that's right. A religious nut. But it's not just belief—our world really has gods. And holy power too."
Seren clasps her rosary, and light flows from it.
Touch of God
The light envelops Sihyun before seeping in.
"Huh? What did you just...?"
Sihyun looks around her body, touches her face, then stares at Seren in wonder.
"This is what holy power can do. Feel any fatigue lifted?"
"Whoa... that's cheat-level good."
"Pfft! Yes, exactly cheat-level. Mm, that's the kind of power she wields."
"Ooh... seems way more useful than brother or even Yeonhui. Should I ditch him...?"
I blurt out in panic at her muttering with shining eyes.
"H-Hey, Sihyun, I'm your real brother? No need to ditch me that bad..."
"Exactly~ We're together anyway. Just accept me as an extra."
Sihyun eyes us both with renewed revulsion.
"Fine, you two are a match made in hell... Whatever, the assembly schedule starts soon, so get ready and come out."
With that, Sihyun heads for the door.
"Wait, hold on. A saintess or whatever should have some holy purity rules, right? Shouldn't stick to a guy like that. Hey, get off my brother, outsider."
"What's wrong with that~? She crossed worlds to see everything worth seeing. Just give us space, and I'll make you a cute niece quick."
"You're no saintess."
"Pretoria's Saintess, Seren Grace. Nice to meet you~"
"...You're insane."
"Hehe~ Servants of God can't help going a bit mad. Looking forward to it, sister-in-law."
"Don't care, I'm out. Keep running into you and I'll lose my mind."
Sihyun shakes her head and leaves. Seren looks at me triumphantly.
"I win~ Ow! Why hit me, Arsius!"
I flick her forehead with a solid thwack.
"My little sister's still my little sister. She's younger too—why tease your sister-in-law instead of behaving?"
"What's good about just behaving~? Always being nice makes you a pushover, right? Oh yeah, I wanted to see what Dooly is too. Let's watch that first when we get home."
She just grins and hugs me tighter. I shake my head. The mature saintess vanishes; before me, she's just a spoiled Seren.
"Whatever. Seren, go to your room quick and prep for the assembly."
"Okay~ See you soon."
Seren waves and leaves the room. Exhausted, I just sigh.
The sun begins its primping first, followed by everything below in turn.
The sun simply burns itself to illuminate below, while trees receive that light and fill their leaves with sparkle, repeating the process.
Birds preen and fluff their feathers under the sunlight to flaunt their beauty. Of course, the people strolling those streets do the same.
Clothes tailored to each person's style, heavy makeup, beautifully shaped weapons in hand—they all flaunt their status.
And we're walking among them, taking in the sights.
"Arsius, Earth is so peaceful. Ah, or is this just the safest spot? Like, demons outside the outskirts...?"
"Nah, Earth's mostly like this overall. No real monsters roaming, no demons, no gods. Well~ Gates do open."
"Hee~ Sounds enviable. Mm, so how long are you two planning to tag along?"
Seren, occupying my left, glances at Sihyun on my right and Yuna trailing behind, clutching my clothes.
"Funny. I'm the little sister? What's wrong with going with my brother?"
"Sister-in-law's fine~ But that nameless lady?"
"Siu isn't yours... Can't even get the name right."
Yuna glares sleepily at Seren. Not fully awake yet, she blinks and gradually clings to my back.
"Siu... piggyback me."
Smack-
Before I can speak, the hand reaching for my neck is swatted away. Seren uses the tip of her rosary to bat Yuna's hand and chimes in.
"My, a grown woman can't just demand piggybacks anywhere. Especially when he has an owner."
"...You wanna fight?"
Yuna glares wide-eyed unlike her usual self and raises her bow, but Seren just laughs it off.
"Heavens no~ Just a reminder."
Invisible sparks fly between them nonstop. Leave them be, and it'll turn into a real fight.
"Both of you, stop... I'll collapse from stress like this, so shut up till the arena."
And so I head to the arena, hands clamped over both their mouths.
The interrupted symposium wrapped up that morning, and the assembly's third day in the afternoon was essentially theater.
Duels between invited hunters—a spectacle for TV viewers, nothing more.
"Ooh, for a peaceful world, everyone's got serious skills. High enough status even in Pretoria?"
Seren watches the duels with sparkling eyes, amazed.
Indeed, the matches were top-tier. Representatives from nations worldwide showed movements unlike those I'd raided gates with casually.
Theater for viewers, sure—but no half-assed shows here. Flashy, clean maneuvers chain together.
Sword qi flies from one; another's barrier blocks it. Magic hurtles from afar, upending the stage, but the opponent dodges all and closes in.
Watching the sequence, Seren, Sihyun, Yuna, and I each take in the show with our own interest.
How many duels passed like that?
The announcer speaks.
- Ah~ That duel was gorgeous and brilliant! As expected from each nation's top hunters—skills that never fail to impress!
He hypes the crowd with flattery for the hunters. The two who just finished bow awkwardly and exit the stage.
- Now for our next duelists... Ah, the scheduled hunters had to step away briefly! So, on short notice, any hunters up for a match?!
- We'll even award a special prize to our impromptu duelists!
The announcer smoothly covers what could've been a broadcast mishap.
"Announcer's good at his job, huh...? Yuna, why're you standing...?"
Unease hits first. I reach to stop her, but...
"I'll do it. Opponent's this lady."
Yuna's already grabbed her bow and calls out to the announcer.
The announcer—and surrounding hunters—are already clapping and cheering.
"You... follow me."
"Oh my... Wanted to rest easy today, but oh well. Arsius, back soon~"
Yuna glares and heads to the stage first.
"Seren... go easy, easy. Got it...?"
"Of course~ I don't kill anyway."
Just teach her a lesson.
Seren smiles brightly and follows Yuna.
I watch them go, clutching my head and sighing.
Ah, gonna lose my mind for real.
"Bro, you're in for it from now on. Total dog-and-cat vibes."
Sihyun pats my back, seeing my future hardships clearly.
I just regret not going straight home ages ago.