Chapter 124: End of Semester (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 124: End of Semester (5)
Once the break began, I made my way to the Vanquisher base for the first time in a while.
I planned to stay for a few days.
I had a lot of running back and forth to do with the Association regarding Bulgaram.
Since the Gaon dormitory portals didn't stay open around the clock during the break like they did during the semester, this was the more logical choice.
Creeak.
I opened the door to my room.
The familiar door swung open slowly.
Old memories seeped through the gap.
This was the room I’d used since I was a child. The place where Sion and I used to spread out our blankets, rolling around and playing.
The room where we studied so hard together.
The room where Sion and I had grown up.
“I’ll have to do some cleaning…”
I hadn’t stopped by at all since the semester started, so there was bound to be a thick layer of dust.
I rolled up my sleeves and braced myself.
But…
“……?”
The room was uncannily tidy.
Not a speck of dust on the desk.
The bedsheet was pulled taut with sharp corners. Two pillows rested at the head of the bed.
It was as if someone had been living here until just yesterday.
“What are you doing in my room?”
A familiar voice.
I knew who it was without even turning my head.
“Your room?”
I answered with a smile.
Sion slowly came to my side. The sound of her soft breathing, the familiar scent of her shampoo.
He wasn't large, but the moment he entered, the temperature of the room seemed to shift.
I smirked and asked, “Did you do all this?”
“Of course. Who else would?”
He had a point.
No one else in Vanquisher cared about cleanliness as much as Sion.
I set down my luggage and looked around the room again.
“Two pillows?”
“Yeah. It’s nice, isn’t it? Reminds me of the old days.”
Sion tapped her fingers against the headboard.
I paused at his words, then chuckled.
“I guess so… But why is it your room?” I asked again.
This was my room.
Sion shrugged.
“Oh. I decided to stay here for the break.”
It seemed Sion planned on spending the vacation here.
This was a bit of a problem…
Nothing to be done about it. I’d just have to use another room.
“Then I’ll use a different room.”
Sion glanced at me for a moment, then shook her head.
“There aren’t any.”
“Huh?”
“I said there aren’t any. The older members all came back yesterday after their last mission, so there are no spare rooms left.”
Sion tapped the edge of the bed, looking at me.
For a moment, I was at a loss for words.
“Really?”
“Really.”
Sion smiled faintly.
“Should we sleep together like we used to?”
“That was ages ago…”
It had been ten years already.
Even back then, we only shared a room, not a bed.
The idea was ridiculous now.
I shook my head and muttered, “I’ll just sleep on the floor.”
Sion nodded quietly.
“That works too.”
It was only for a little while, anyway.
It wouldn’t be a big deal.
*
After dropping my things at the base, I headed straight for the Association.
The Association building stood as tall as ever.
The Old Man and the others didn’t come with me.
They all looked exhausted, and this wasn’t something I needed to bring anyone along for.
Saturday morning.
The atmosphere was much calmer than on a weekday.
I took the elevator to the top floor.
Ding.
As the elevator arrived, an Association employee was waiting for me at the end of the hall.
“You’re Hero Jung Hae-in?”
“Yes.”
I went through a simple identity check and received a visitor’s pass.
“The Association President is waiting for you.”
Following the employee’s lead, I walked to the reception room at the end of the corridor.
As I reached the familiar room, the Association President, who had been waiting inside, rose from his seat.
“It’s been a while, Hae-in.”
“Yes, hello.”
We exchanged simple greetings.
I’d gotten acquainted with him at the last party.
It had only been possible thanks to Kang A-rin’s help.
We were originally supposed to meet during the semester, but I had rescheduled it.
I’d asked to postpone it until after the break started.
“I called you today because there are a few things we need to confirm before you enter Bulgaram’s Workshop.”
I nodded silently.
“This is just a formality, so please don’t take it the wrong way. We intend to proceed in a way that accommodates you completely… so if you have any issues, please don’t hesitate to let me know.”
“Not at all.”
The Association President quietly spread a few documents out in front of me.
The contents of the file were simple.
The moment someone entered Bulgaram’s Workshop, a notification would be sent to every Hero’s system.
[Where flames swallow blood and molten iron pounds the heart. Bulgaram’s Workshop will finally test its new master.]
And the Association would publicly announce who that person was.
That was what the documents were about.
“Regardless of the outcome, the Association plans to officially back you from now on. Not just as a promising rookie, but as a talent the Association will stake its name on. So please, don’t feel too pressured. I hope you can approach this comfortably.”
It was an offer I had no reason to refuse.
The Association’s backing meant they would accommodate me in all matters.
“Thank you.”
I replied quietly.
The Association President’s gaze shifted to the next document.
This one concerned the previous attempts to clear the workshop.
“These are the records of the Heroes who have challenged the workshop until now.”
He showed me the crisp, unfolded papers.
I slowly examined the records.
My impression… was that they were disastrous.
There had only been one success so far.
And even that one could hardly be called a success.
It felt more like Bulgaram had reluctantly granted permission.
– Hot. There was no other way to describe it. (1953.4.19)
– I endured the heat… but lost my way and failed even to reach it. (1978.11.19)
– I succeeded in reaching it… but I was not qualified. (2009.9.25)
The last entry was from twenty years ago, left by the Former Hero.
Since then, no one had ever set foot in the workshop.
And no one had succeeded, either.
The Association President slowly closed the file and added a brief comment.
“There’s no need to be afraid. Whatever the result, this challenge will make you stronger. Every Hero listed here grew stronger from the experience.”
I nodded silently.
I was scheduled to enter the workshop next Friday.
Thinking of failure?
Not in the slightest.
I had to prepare everything I possibly could in the time I had left.
‘I succeeded in reaching it… but I was not qualified.’
I read the last words left by the Former Hero.
‘Qualification.’
I had it.
*
One thing was mentioned repeatedly in the workshop records the Association had shown me.
‘Hot.’
First and foremost, the inside of the workshop was hot.
Hellfire, lava—the records said it was filled with a scorching heat that couldn't be described by any of those things.
It was likely more than just a high temperature… but I still needed to be fully prepared for the heat.
[RIN]: Make sure you wear that suit!
Thankfully, Kang A-rin had taken care of the matter I’d asked her about and sent me a message.
The auction was starting tonight.
The suit she specified was the one I’d had tailored for the party.
I got dressed.
“…What are you staring at?”
“…”
When I finished getting ready and turned around, Sion, who was sharing the room with me, was sitting backwards on a chair, watching me in silence.
A habit of his that hadn't changed since we were kids.
“I’m heading out.”
After a brief farewell, I headed for the base’s entrance.
The moment I opened the door, a luxury car already parked outside came into view.
A gleaming black sedan.
As I approached the rear door, it opened automatically.
“You’re here?”
Kang A-rin was already inside.
She greeted me with her familiar smile.
The car departed immediately.
The auction house was located in the heart of Seoul, but it was no ordinary place.
The basement of a seemingly normal office building.
This was where the Hero Auction’s venue, the Archive, was held.
A secret auction house operating on a strict members-only basis.
From the outside, it was structured so that no one could even tell who was coming or going.
Down a dark, windowless corridor, Kang A-rin and I boarded a private elevator.
The elevator had several floors.
From B1 to B4.
Each floor was colored bronze, silver, gold, and black, respectively.
Kang A-rin took out a black card and tapped it on the terminal.
Beep.
The elevator descended directly to the fourth basement level, the black section.
When the doors opened, a hallway bathed in subdued lighting and filled with antique decor filled my vision.
There was no sound at all.
An employee in a crisp suit stood before us.
He wore a mask modeled after an animal’s face.
“Welcome to the Archive. Black ticket confirmed.”
The employee greeted us in a distinctively low voice.
“We will escort you to your prepared room immediately.”
As he led us down the hall, the employee offered us a silver tray.
Two masks rested upon it.
One was a white fox mask, the other a black wolf mask.
“You must wear a mask at all times within the auction house to protect your identity. Your room for today is Number 2, Alexander. We hope you have a pleasant experience.”
I picked up the black wolf mask, and Kang A-rin, without a moment’s hesitation, took the fox mask.
“Cute.”
Kang A-rin muttered, turning the mask over in her hands.
The employee leading us bowed his head once more.
“We wish you an enjoyable auction.”
We entered the room and sat down.
The room was subtly dim.
The entire wall was made of glass, but it was an opaque black, making it difficult to see outside.
An unfamiliar sense of confinement and a strange energy filled the room.
I still wasn't used to places like this.
I hesitated, holding the mask in my hand.
“Do I really have to wear this?”
One corner of Kang A-rin’s mouth lifted.
Holding the fox mask, she walked toward the glass wall.
“You’ll have to.”
The moment Kang A-rin raised her mask, the black glass that had enveloped the entire room began to turn transparent.
Shwooooooosh.
A massive circular structure unfolded before my eyes.
In the center stood a magnificent dais made of marble.
Surrounding it, countless windows were stacked in layers.
At the very bottom, on the same level as us, rooms were arranged in a circle. Above them were gold-lit rooms, a level higher were silver ones, and at the very top were rooms glowing with a deep brown light.
Through the lights, I could see people, all wearing masks, watching from beyond the windows.
And every single one of them was wearing a mask.
Slowly, I put the mask on my face.
Dozens of gazes flickered from beyond the glass, a crossroads of desire and ambition.
Every one of them, hiding their greed behind a mask.
“What do you think?”
Kang A-rin asked me with a smile.
“They all look pretty greedy, don’t they?”
They certainly did.
Still. I had no intention of losing.