Chapter 43
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: That's Not How You Do It
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Just taking the chicken and sending her away felt a bit rude, so for now, we let Brüel into the house. She wasn't the type to deliver chicken in the first place.
And so, we were now sitting in a circle in the middle of the living room.
It was definitely a pretty big house, but somehow it felt cramped right now.
The living room had been all set up and ready for movie night, but instead of comfort, an awkward silence hung in the air.
"Um, you're that person from before, right? Su-hyeon's bodyguard...?"
"Yes. Escort, secretary, and aide. Brüel Eleniel."
"Ah... Wow, your name is really unique. Are you from overseas?"
"If we're talking nationality, she's closest to American."
"Closest...? Oh, are you Korean-American?"
Ga-eun took the lead, playing to her strengths and breaking the ice.
Her job was chattering away in empty spaces all day, so a helmeted woman with a stiff way of speaking should be no problem...
'She's a bit unusual, but she seems reasonable enough.'
Their first meeting—where she'd sent a person flying through a wall.
That impression had been so intense, and seeing her now with water dripping from under the helmet like some freakish sight, Su-hyeon had honestly worried she might be some kind of weirdo.
But still...
'This is uncomfortable.'
Reading the room was entirely Su-hyeon's job.
Brüel was an elf.
No matter how much she tried to hide it, that stunning beauty and those distinctive ears would spread like wildfire the moment anyone noticed.
Of course, it wasn't that she didn't trust Ga-eun, but people make mistakes without realizing it, right?
And if that happened, Ga-eun might end up silenced by elves who had no qualms about laying hands on others (at least, that's how Su-hyeon saw it).
"Ahaha, your way of speaking is so unique. Your pronunciation is perfect, though—have you not been in Korea long?"
"That's correct. I've known Korean itself since thirty years ago, so I can confidently say my pronunciation matches the locals'. However, since I've never spent much time active in Korea, my phrasing might come off as awkward."
"No, it's not awkward so much as a bit military-like... Ah, wait—thirty years!?"
Ga-eun was genuinely shocked.
She took pretty good care of herself on top of mana enhancements, so she'd always thought her figure was great.
But this woman named Brüel? Her body was violence incarnate.
Similar height, but zero flab around the waist, making her limbs look sleek and elongated by comparison.
The tight clothes revealed firm, sculpted muscles.
And breasts clearly larger than her own.
Even Ga-eun had to admit Brüel was her superior in every way.
But...
'So how old is she, exactly?'
Even if she'd learned Korean in the womb, that made her at least thirty.
Ga-eun was dying to know this woman's age, but decided against asking—it might be rude.
The more different the culture, the more careful you had to be with words and actions.
A casual remark could come off the wrong way.
That was why she'd said the name felt "unfamiliar" instead of "strange" or "exotic."
"Oh, but aren't you uncomfortable? Keeping the helmet on like that."
"It's custom-fitted, so it's not particularly uncomfortable."
"Ah, still, if there's no special reason, you could take it off."
"In that case, if you'll excuse me."
"Huh?"
Brüel accepted Ga-eun's casual suggestion without batting an eye.
Su-hyeon was the one who ended up surprised.
"W-Wait a second...!"
Grab.
Just as she raised both hands to remove the helmet, Su-hyeon desperately grabbed them.
"Why?"
Ga-eun was the one voicing the question.
"Ah, no... Haha."
Su-hyeon gave Ga-eun an awkward smile before whispering to Brüel.
"Is it really okay to just reveal yourself like this? I thought you wore it to stay hidden."
Brüel replied calmly.
"If she's a friend of yours, Su-hyeon, then not hiding my identity is the proper course. Unless she has no interest, refusing her kind invitation out of consideration would be rude."
"E-Even so, is that really fine...? What about the other elves' opinions...?"
"Yes, no issue. We confirmed she's someone with no problems being around you in every regard."
That was a far cry from when she'd tried to lay hands on her at first mention.
It almost felt like she was treating Su-hyeon as her superior.
"And, ugh."
"...??"
A sound like pent-up emotions leaking out.
A bit resentful and aggrieved...?
"What are you two doing...?"
As the conversation dragged on, Ga-eun naturally voiced her confusion.
"Ah, it's nothing!"
"Yes, nothing at all."
Su-hyeon held Brüel's helmet facing her and asked one last time.
"You're absolutely sure nothing bad will happen to Ga-eun?"
"Yes, we would never lay a hand on one of Su-hyeon's friends. If you're still worried, why not ask her directly to keep quiet about us? That might put your mind at ease."
"...Couldn't you just not take it off?"
"That wouldn't be a problem for me."
The gaze hidden by the helmet seemed to shift toward Ga-eun.
'But if she doesn't, it'll just look suspicious...'
Chasing her out would leave her crying alone outside, which felt wrong.
Sigh...
"Ga-eun...!"
"Yeah?"
Su-hyeon, having made up her mind, looked Ga-eun in the eye.
"The truth is, Brüel has a secret. If other people found out, it could cause us trouble."
"Wh-What? Uh... If it's hard to reveal, you don't have to."
"Taking off the helmet would make it impossible to hide. Just... please don't tell anyone else. Ever."
Gulp.
'What could it be? She's going this far to hide it, so now I'm curious.'
Ga-eun looked at Su-hyeon.
She was speaking with great resolve, flailing her short limbs, but her childlike appearance made it hard to take seriously.
Like a kid who'd messed up trying to block mom and dad from entering the room.
Even Brüel, sitting calmly behind her, looked unbothered.
'Something wrong with her face? Her speech and posture scream ex-military, so maybe scars?'
"F-Fine, whatever. I'm not that nosy. Anyway, Ms. Brüel? If it's uncomfortable, you really don't have to take it off."
"No, I'd actually prefer to remove it."
"Well, then, whatever makes you comfortable."
It was settled.
"Phew, alright then... off it goes...!"
Su-hyeon took a deep breath, moved behind Brüel, and lifted the helmet.
The helmet came off smoothly, and platinum blonde hair cascaded down.
Revealed was a delicate, snow-white jawline.
"Nngh-"
Swish.
The height was a bit short in the end, so Brüel had to remove it herself.
"Whoa..."
Marble-like skin and rosebud lips captured the eyes.
A perfectly straight nose, long elegant eyebrows.
If not for the flowing platinum hair, she could've been mistaken for a statue.
Ga-eun had met some beautiful NewTubers and creators, but Brüel's looks were unmatched.
"......Huh?"
Ga-eun let out an involuntary gasp of admiration—and then froze in shock once more.
"Ears?"
Long lashes lifted slightly, reflecting Ga-eun's stunned face in those mystical silver-gray eyes.
"Brüel is an elf."
"Ga-eun, I look forward to working with you again."
"Pardon? Ah, likewise... Wh-What!?"
Rumble—boom!
Tutututu.
Explosives detonated, stone shards flew.
Amid the echoing blasts, soldiers pushed deep into enemy lines. As the battle intensified, their faces visible through the visors showed grim determination.
Their eyes were steady, their expressions filled with resolute conviction. The battlefield, framed by roaring flames, was brutal and grand.
The leader, a captain, had cold, piercing eyes that seemed to see through everything.
He raised his hand in signal, and his men moved as one. An explosion collapsed part of a building, dust and debris scattering everywhere.
The captain removed his helmet and shouted to his subordinates.
"This is the last one! Move! Move!"
Cropped blond hair, a face scarred and scraped in places.
The man's desperate cry cut clearly through the din of battle.
With blood-pumping background music, the movie reached its climax.
In the center of the sofa sat a little kid utterly absorbed in the film.
Su-hyeon stared at the screen without even blinking, completely engrossed.
And to Su-hyeon's right, an elf who kept nitpicking.
Brüel munched on popcorn with a rustle and said,
"Best case, that's D-rank Awakener movement. All flash, no substance. In reality, you'd be killed instantly moving like that."
"Ah, haha... It's a movie. The actors are probably mostly D-rank Awakeners, right?"
"Trained high-rank Awakeners wouldn't buckle under that gunfire recoil. That kind of signaling wouldn't work either. It's all bombast and noise, zero historical accuracy. The other soldiers are failures too."
Brüel tilted her chin up slightly as she critiqued.
Her profile looked like a strict teacher eyeing disappointing students.
"Brüel."
"Yes, Su-hyeon."
Su-hyeon called to her.
Brüel looked down with an expectant expression.
How about it? Aren't I amazing? her face seemed to say.
But Su-hyeon didn't take her eyes off the screen.
"You're being loud. Watch quietly."
"......My apologies."
Her ears drooped limply.
Brüel wasn't the only one who couldn't focus.
Ga-eun kept getting distracted by the long, white ear to her right.
An elf...?
Hiding out in America...? And military, special forces even?
No detailed intro had been given, but from Brüel's eager chatter trying to impress Su-hyeon, Ga-eun could piece it together.
Su-hyeon had seemed to know already...
Family-sent bodyguard, right?
Ga-eun's gaze shifted from the pristine white ear to the pale green scalp just below, where an unidentified leaf peeked out from between strands of hair.
'Could this be connected to Su-hyeon's secret too?'
If the clinic's Awakener scanner wasn't broken...
Then how was she registered as E-rank now?
Ga-eun's mind grew complicated, but seeing Su-hyeon's rapt profile ahead eased her a bit.
"Scoot back a little. You're gonna fall."
"Yeah, thanks."
"Wha—ngh...!"
Pulling the increasingly tilting Su-hyeon back a bit brought a weird noise from the right.
?
Ga-eun glanced at Brüel, but she stared at the screen with poised, upright posture as if nothing happened.
'Did I mishear...?'
"...You've taught me something."
...?
"Did you say something just now?"
"Nothing at all."
Must be her imagination.
Ga-eun popped a piece of chicken in her mouth and turned back to the screen.
It was an enjoyable movie, but Brüel's commentary had ruined her immersion.
She kept spotting flaws and errors without meaning to.
And this was a film praised for its flashy action and solid accuracy.
'At least it's one I've seen before.'
Ga-eun let out a deep sigh.