Chapter 65
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: About the Truth
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"Yeah, she's got the caliber to turn me down."
Na-rin muttered as she rubbed her grabbed wrist.
Her appearance in front of Ga-eun was no coincidence.
After all, this building belonged to Mystic.
She'd rushed over upon hearing that a talent she'd been keeping an eye on had visited.
Na-rin let out a dry chuckle.
"Thought she was a pretty gem. Turns out she's a will-o'-the-wisp..."
The atmosphere had been great while talking to Ga-eun. How had things gone south?
The stumbling kid, and the woman who snatched her hand at lightning speed.
Ga-eun, flustered yet making excuses to her in that moment.
Brüel, was it?
She couldn't fathom why the woman had blocked her contact, even while revealing her power.
'Does she know my ability? But even if she does, is there reason enough to block me?'
Why?
'Maybe the kid has something worth hiding?'
Na-rin's mind grew tangled in complications.
Ye-rin had said Jae-hyeok had been attacked once. Did that mean these two were Mystic's enemies...?
No, she'd said it was personal grudge against Jae-hyeok.
Was it possible Ye-rin had been mistaken?
No, the hunter who built Camellia as it stood now wouldn't make that kind of mistake. It was far more realistic that she had grown weaker.
Was that woman really A-rank? No way she was some S-rank Na-rin didn't know about?
...Not S-rank. Arrogant S-ranks wouldn't use honorifics with a kid.
No way the kid was granddaughter to those damn old fogeys?
That would explain the protection from a foreign A-rank who looked so young.
...No, don't jump to conclusions! Na-rin. What would that make you, different from Lee Jae-hyeok?
Na-rin brought her pipe to her lips.
Sip... Hoo—
Her mind cleared, the impatience fading.
Let's stick to solid assumptions.
First: She just blocked blindly since it looked like ability use.
Convenient interpretation, but not impossible.
A stranger approaching with power in hand—any guard would block first.
This explains unknown foreign group too.
Lee Jae-hyeok harmed them, so they retaliated by attacking him.
Second: She knows Na-rin can read memories to some extent.
Unsettling assumption, but still plausible.
Whoever she is, she doesn't fully grasp the ability.
Conditions for reading memories are extremely strict.
But this leaves the problem of something they must hide.
Harmful to Mystic, or unrelated secret? Unknown.
Third: She fully knows the ability.
No, setting aside memories—even assuming she knows it's hormone-related.
That implies reason to hide something about the kid.
'...What if she's not human?'
Worried I'd notice differences in hormone systems...?
Na-rin, entertaining such wild thoughts, soon snorted a laugh and took another drag.
"Jeez, what kind of imagination is this?"
Maybe from that alien movie last night. Her mind kept veering weird.
For reference, it was a thriller about aliens disguised as humans murdering crew one by one in a spaceship.
'Realistically, first one's most likely.'
Too many tiring things lately; her mind had gotten hasty.
"Tch, that bastard knew about this."
An irritating S-rank chuckle echoed in Na-rin's ear.
She knew the gap with S-ranks was huge, but info disparity this bad...?
Mystic was a guild known worldwide, after all.
Crunch.
Time to dig out what that smile was hiding.
Desk replacement was due anyway.
"Huuuh... I'm alive."
Su-hyeon, head barely peeking from the hot bath.
No more wilted-cabbage slump.
Just arrived at the bath, they'd quickly stripped her to rinse the salt.
"Kyaaah!"
Ga-eun screamed involuntarily upon removing Su-hyeon's towel.
The cute leaf that should sprout atop her head was all shriveled.
So pitiful, her heart nearly dropped.
Thankfully, dunking Su-hyeon revived it nicely.
Lounging relaxed; even viewers would feel drowsy.
"Here's your ion drink."
An ion drink with straw extended from behind Su-hyeon.
Slurp slurp—
Lips pursed, sucking greedily from Brüel's offering.
Ill-mannered sight, but no one dared stop her.
"Phew. You okay?"
Su-hyeon burped lightly after filling up.
"Spa... Saunas are dangerous..."
"Phew, yeah. Let's wander baths then head out."
This place was bath-main, not sauna-main.
Saunas decent size, but baths varied and massive.
Practically a waterpark.
So big, parading naked felt embarrassing.
'Back then, I'd have lost my mind.'
Not burly, but with adult male mind.
The violent curves behind her should ping, yet...
Post-life-crisis? No big reaction.
'Body change too?'
Ga-eun's bath reaction might've been weirder.
Thought men naturally excite at beauty, but just conditioned.
Plus Brüel pinching nose whenever—more sighs than thrills.
Anyway, women's bodies sparked no odd thoughts now.
Splash—
Su-hyeon rose vigorously from tub-seat knees.
Energy restored quick.
"Might as well try every bath now!"
"Yeah yeah. Plenty of time."
"Watch for slips, please."
With Brüel's aid stepping out, Su-hyeon scanned around.
...Skipping scorchers.
Hot water might boil-dryad her for real.
Thus, trio reached unique-scent bath.
Ga-eun smelled plain water, though.
"I like this hinoki bath. The subtle cypress scent calms the mind."
Pfft—
Wind-leak sound from somewhere.
Culprit: Su-hyeon, laughing.
"Pffheehee, bath named hinoki?"
Exotic sound hilarious to her.
Hinoki-hinoki-heehee, repeating like rascal.
Ga-eun, charmed, got prankish.
"Want a legend about hinoki bath?"
"Hee, yeah? Legend?"
Su-hyeon focused; Ga-eun cleared throat, spun yarn.
"Edo era, poor woodcutter named Hino lived."
"Eh, hinoki's a name?"
"Yup. Loved village beauty Mizuki since kid, but class gap—no confession."
Unrequited love by status.
Broadcaster flair hooked Su-hyeon instant.
"Plague hit village one day; Mizuki fell ill. Hino trekked deep mountains for legendary herb."
Gulp.
"Days wandering, found herb—and nearby, odd-scented hot spring."
Su-hyeon's hands clasped neat front.
"Bathed to rest; fatigue vanished, wounds healed fast. Sensed spring special."
"That spring's this hinoki bath."
Brüel now tuned in too.
"Yes, so Hino rushed back, told villagers. Cured Mizuki, whole village healed."
"Lucky."
"Indeed."
They nodded mutually.
"But sadly, Hino—exhausted from nonstop trek—died soon after."
"Ah."
"Such..."
Reactions mixed joy-sorrow.
Ga-eun bit lip to stifle laugh at pure duo.
"Mizuki learned of sacrifice. She'd secretly loved Hino too. Grief-stricken, died soon."
"Ah..."
"......"
"Villagers learned tragic love late. Named spring 'Hinoki Bath' after them. Visitors honor sad romance."
Su-hyeon's face darkened instant.
"I... didn't know..."
Rarely, Brüel scolded Su-hyeon.
"Lady Su-hyeon, words reflect character. Better cautious."
"Yeah..."
Self-loathing for mocking name.
Felt like movie members mocking sled name.
Leaf drooped, signaling guilt.
Ga-eun couldn't hold laughter, spilled truth.
"Pfft... Lie."
"Huh?"
"A lie?"
Su-hyeon and Brüel blinked identically.
"Death's lie?"
"Ah, so love endured."
"Great!"
Still pure.
"Hng... Made-up story."
"...What? Hinoki bath exists."
"Mocked name, so pranked. No Hino. Heh, sorry."
"......"
"......"
Splash splash—
Su-hyeon, pouty-furious, punched Ga-eun's shoulder.
"Ow, sorry! Heh. Reactions too cute!"
"Ga-eun."
"Yes?"
"Trust vital. Lies bad."
"Ah... Yes... Sorry."
Ga-eun apologized repeatedly to sulky Su-hyeon and stern-lecturing Brüel.