I'll Return Exactly What I Received.

" I've come to retrieve the item I lent."" The item I lent?"For a Spirit Contractor, do weapons even serve a purpose?Answering that question: once one surpasses a certain level, weapons lose all meaning.Since becoming ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠one with a spirit already crosses into the realm of weapons, what use is there?The body itself ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠can become a weapon, and besides, the act of grasping a weapon was problematic from the start.A spirit is an 'ethereal entity' by nature, so having an ethereal entity wield an actual 'physical' weapon was fundamentally contradictory."

It's in the basement. The things I stored there.""...Ah. You mean 'that thing'?"However, exceptions occasionally arise.For example, the hem of a skirt or a goblin's helmet.Cases where something that should not exist in reality gains substance through the power of mana.This means they simultaneously possess attributes of both 'ethereal' and 'physical.'Therefore," From the moment the seal is broken, oxidation begins. Be careful."" ....Huuu."A Spirit Contractor who has merged with a spirit also possesses weapons.Right in front of me.A cylindrical seal with a gem in the center, sealed as an artifact."

Spirit Dragon Bones," I had said.The Spirit Dragon.A dragon whose bones had no physical form yet, by the very existence of their power, had materialized.With something like this, even a spirit could wield it as a weapon.The problem was that using it would immediately oxidize in the air, and there was no need for extra foolishness about that.'...Even if I know this, I can't simply let it be.'It felt right.Soon.Peace followed the victory announcement of the Hero Party.Someone had called it the dawn of an era of peace, yet my heart was screaming otherwise."

Huuu...uuu...."The eve of the storm.The disaster approaching right before my eyes, I alone felt it with my skin.'So.'Until then.I would do everything I could.***************" A little late."When I rushed to the office upon hearing the weapon was recovered, time had slipped by.I hurriedly parked at the lot and sprinted to the NATURE-exclusive training room.[──,─....───][───......!!]" ....Huh?"But right at the door.Before opening, I heard rough voices from beyond the threshold.I chose to wait instead of opening immediately.[──!]" ....Huh."After a long time, the wind maiden who appeared for work.Shinpung let her body flow with the wind and naturally conveyed the children's voices from beyond the door to my ears.[Unnie Ay-eong. Let's be honest. We already knew everything, didn't we? You knew and prepared in advance, right?][............][Yeah. I get it. I get it, but there's something called justice, right?][...I'm sorry. I was wrong.][Haah. No. If we keep doing this, someone really has to die for it to end.][..............]" .....Huuuum."A tense atmosphere.From the voices beyond the door, I roughly guessed what they were saying.'For some reason, they suddenly called me.'After Ay-eong set a schedule, soon a call came ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠from Hye-won.Even the slightly open crack of the office door, despite Ay-eong's past questions to me, closing it often.If evidence piled up to this point, it was hard to say I didn't know.'But. Suddenly now?'It hadn't happened until now?It was hard to understand in many ways.Still, since the girls handled their conversation among themselves naturally, perhaps it was okay to ignore it.Besides, mixing words would only complicate the situation, and this part belonged to Hye-won and NATURE..."...NATURE?"Wait. No way...?I turned my steps completely.Toward the office, not the training room."

You're late again, Sunwoo oppa. You wanted that 'punishment'?"" Wait. That's good, but let me ask one thing."" ?? Yes. Please ask."Sudden change.It wasn't only to Ay-eong."

You... had something with the NATURE kids?"" N-no...?"" ..........."Hye-won changed too.A girl who always kept the line suddenly crossed it.Crossing the line. Pouring out true feelings. They could take one step toward each other.On the surface, it looked good.Thinking about it now, it felt a little embarrassing, but I considered it an ideal relationship.However, there was still something that bothered me."

People aren't that easily changed...."" ....Yes."We had been stagnant for nearly ten years.For us to suddenly cross the line?Rather, it seemed more believable that a politician who had eaten ten years of rice suddenly reformed and threw out campaign promises.So in this case..."...Can I ask what happened?"" Yes... I thought I had to tell you eventually."Hye-won told me everything that had happened between us."

I thought you were mentally ill..."" What...?"About me."

I used you, too, didn't I...."" Using was the least of it."" No. I did use you."About Hye-won."

Everyone. Everyone was exploiting you."" I didn't think that way."" ....I thought that too."About the NTR Party."

But they said not everyone. So I thought about it again."" ........."And that all the NATURE kids had seen, felt, and noticed and awakened me."...Incredible."" A-are you angry?"" Not angry."Now I understood.Yeah. Of course Hye-won wouldn't change.I was human, and Ay-eong wouldn't suddenly change.We had been together for a full ten years.A full ten years without change.If I had to find why we could suddenly change, it was right to look outside, not inside."

You gave a lot."It was absurd.It might feel strange, but I also felt happy.Somehow ticklish. A pleasant heartbeat calmly spread from my heart." .....I received a lot."So.Naturally, it was only right to return the favor.Besides, once they told me up to this point, I had no choice but to have some strange greed."

NATURE kids. Are they reliable?""...Yes. Very."" Good. That's a relief."The ones who made Hye-won able to take a step forward.The ones who pushed our backs to develop one more step.For that reason, I could believe them. At least, a trustworthy bond in a different meaning from the NTR Party days.Therefore."

Don't slack on mana! Stay sharp! Commands are simple, clear, and fast! You guys don't have time for hard things yet!""""U...a...a...a...a!!!"""While I could teach, I would teach as much as possible......."""U...uuu...!!"""" What is this? Did it stretch just from this?"The NATURE kids, almost fainting, stretched out.Leaning her back on Seiren's and looking down, Seiren whispered sadly.[These good kids are so weak! They're so cute! So lovable!]" Seiren. That's twice killing them."[It hurts? Seiren used mana adjustment!]" Now it's three times."[Uuu?]"""..........."""The expressions dying in real time.I slyly flicked my waist and stood, approaching NATURE."

What? Want to try again? Ah, fine. Just kill. They'll find enlightenment after death."" No. I don't have the taste to torment the stretched ones?"" ......?"" I do have the taste for rolling scammers."" Damn."To the small, dry laugh of Yeon-hwa, I bent my knees and met her eyes." ....What are you staring at?"" Yeon-hwa. You have greed. Ambition. So swallow it with your strength."" Ehh?"" Don't kneel. Don't surrender. Even if it breaks, fight back. Only kids like you grow strong."" .....Ooh."I tapped Yeon-hwa's forehead lightly.Next was Su-jin."

You were better than before. Still, if you feel like being beaten, it's a flaw that you tremble."" T-that...skirt..."" Still, that's your strength, so just hug it. You should live honestly, entrusting to your instincts. Don't try to win for nothing, just do what you feel like."" ......Rhito-nim?"" So what are you saying, you idiot.I tapped Su-jin's forehead.And last, Harin-ah."

You're the same now as you were then?""...Are you only scolding me?"" A Spirit Contractor who's not a Spirit Contractor, what kind of kind words would come out?"" Uuu...I was working hard too..."" Half of it's useless effort."" Uuu...."" Still."I lightly tapped Harin's forehead with my knuckle."

You have a good head. Even though you're not a Spirit Contractor, there's probably something you can do better because of that."" ......Instructor?"" Right now, among the growth and variable creation power here, you're the best."" ............"After giving advice to Harin too."

Today's training ends here."I stood from my seat and stepped back.I packed my things and went out, entering the office."

Ah...."On my way to the office, I ran into Ay-eong." ..........."Ay-eong sent me off without a word.Was it done? I wasn't sure, but since I couldn't do anything now, whatever."

I'm done with work?"" Huh? Already?"" I'm tired in many ways. Besides, there's no work."" That may be so..."When I entered the office and told Hye-won I was leaving, she hesitated for a moment, then gathered herself and took a step toward me."

Is there any time...when you're free?""...Ah. About that."Perhaps she wanted to finish what she couldn't last time.I glanced at the calendar briefly to estimate time.'Based on my gut feeling.'I picked up the calendar with my fingers and said."

Wednesday of this week. Take all the kids to Incheon Grand Park."" ....Yes?"" I was thinking of going just the two of us, but I think I should tell the kids ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠too."" Ah......"Since there was something to catch, Hye-won readily agreed."

Then shall we meet on Wednesday...?"" Yeah. Wednesday."Wednesday.On that day."

Earlier. The thing I pushed away saying I was sorry. I'll tell you everything when we go."" !,...Really?"" Yeah."I silently grabbed the case holding the weapon.So. On Wednesday.[Oppa...are you somewhere now?]"...I'll be there soon."I arrived at the beachfront in Busan.---