Sacrifice (4)
She was probably wearing a pretty stupid expression right now. That was what Jin Yu-ri thought. And even realizing it, she couldn't easily close her gaping mouth.
What... did he just say?
Lee Dojin's proposal, voiced amid his conversation with Charlotte Tate, had been so shocking.
Even Charlotte Tate, the recipient of the offer, responded with a calm tone that betrayed underlying bewilderment.
"As long as I teach this girl, you'll share your research results with me. That's what I heard—is that right?"
"Yes, that's exactly it."
"......"
A few seconds of silence. Finally, Charlotte Tate murmured offhandedly,
"Well, it's a bit unexpected. To be more honest... it's pretty surprising."
Jin Yu-ri wholeheartedly agreed a hundred—no, a thousand—times over.
Lee Dojin had been appointed as a research professor at Jeil High School less than a month ago. In that short time, he'd achieved results that would go down in the history of magic studies.
Students who only saw him twice a week in class might not fully grasp it, but Jin Yu-ri was different. She'd heard plenty from her father, Jin Cheol-min.
She knew exactly how the magic academia currently evaluated him and how much attention he was drawing.
The last gift left to the world by Guardian Lee Si-hyeok and Archmage Jeong Se-bin. Just from the talent revealed in a single paper, he was hailed as a genius unlikely to be matched for the next twenty years.
To him, the position of research professor at Jeil High was probably nothing more than a brief stopover to kick off his career. At most two or three years. Or shorter—maybe right after this semester ended. He'd leave for a place that could handle his talents.
I definitely heard that's how it'd be...
Yet here was that same Lee Dojin, offering his future achievements to Charlotte Tate. In exchange for her teaching Jin Yu-ri. When he stood to gain nothing from it.
All for her—a student he saw just twice a week.
"Professor! Wait a second!"
Jin Yu-ri hurriedly called out to him. This went far beyond a professor supporting a student or helping out his sister's school friend. No word like "gratitude" could capture it.
The word that fit, in her mind...
Sacrifice.
He was staking his future to help someone he'd known for less than two months.
She didn't want him paying such an absurd price for her sake. She tried to stop him, but...
"Take it when it's offered."
Lee Dojin remained utterly calm. He smiled softly at her, then elaborated to Charlotte Tate.
"It's hard to say for sure right now, but I can promise at least two papers a year on par with—or better than—this defensive construct. We can set detailed conditions if you'd like. Until Yu-ri graduates, if you visit Korea for at least ten days a month to teach her... you'll be the first to receive and use my research results."
"On par with the defensive construct... or better? Two a year?"
"Yes. Until graduation—that's two years, so four guaranteed. I've got more than that in the works already."
His casual banter belied the shocking content, but Jin Yu-ri had no room to dwell on it. There were limits to sacrifice.
She felt no surprise or awe—just sheer bewilderment.
How am I supposed to repay this?
He'd put himself up as collateral. So, should she offer herself in return? Would that even it out?
But how? She had no idea what she could do to help him.
If she just stayed by his side and watched... would she eventually understand?
Figure out what he wanted—and if it was something she could give. And if giving it was what she truly desired.
She hoped so.
While she lost herself in thought, Lee Dojin and Charlotte Tate wrapped up their discussion.
"Alright, I don't know about the other two, but I'll stay until the end of May. After that, at least ten days a month in Korea teaching Yu-ri, and you show me your ongoing research each time. During school breaks, I might call you to England occasionally."
"How about it? Sound good?"
Lee Dojin checked with Jin Yu-ri. Beyond good or bad, she could barely tell if this was a dream or reality. She finally managed,
"Y-yes... Sounds good. Thank you, Professor. Lady Charlotte."
"Call me Teacher from now on. I've never had an apprentice before... but it just feels right, doesn't it?"
"Y-yes... Teacher."
Calling the Sword Queen Charlotte Tate "Teacher"—something unimaginable even yesterday.
The practical magic engineering exam. No, even before that—meeting Lee Dojin this semester. Jin Yu-ri believed it was a major turning point in her life.
She felt different before and after meeting him. And she had a hunch she'd change even more going forward. A conviction nestled in her heart.
Thump, thump.
Her heart raced again. Heat flushed through her, bringing an itchy sensation. Something inside tightened, some unidentified urge hard to suppress.
And that's when a chill ran down her spine.
"......"
Lee Sea's gaze, silently observing. Her eyes held little emotion as always, and now too... but for some reason, Jin Yu-ri couldn't meet them. She turned away.
Only then did the gaze shift. Seizing the moment, Jin Yu-ri glanced at Lee Sea.
She was looking up at Lee Dojin. Not particularly upset that only Jin Yu-ri had become Charlotte Tate's apprentice. If one word summed up that look...
What's so great about her that you're giving her everything?
Jin Yu-ri couldn't deny it. And instinctively, she knew she couldn't afford to give Lee Sea more ammunition here.
Lee Sea felt pricklier than during their years as rivals. She shouldn't snap at her on impulse anymore.
Somehow, picking a fight might come back tenfold later.
So Jin Yu-ri felt grateful to Lee Dojin and thrilled to be Charlotte Tate's apprentice—but kept glancing nervously at Lee Sea.
"One more thing before we wrap up."
Charlotte Tate's sudden remark puzzled the three others, but she continued nonchalantly.
"Should I teach Sea too? She's not an immune body holder, so no help there, but I can teach her how to fight."
Lee Dojin, her guardian figure, simply glanced at Lee Sea, leaving it to her.
Jin Yu-ri watched Lee Sea closely. Her face was nearly expressionless, but a flicker of surprise showed upon inspection.
"Is that okay?"
"Of course. It's not just blind favoritism. Triggers are crucial for training immune body holders, and Dojin mentioned you two are rivals? Teaching you together should create good synergy."
"......Thank you."
The decision was made. Charlotte Tate would stay in Korea until the end of May, teaching Jin Yu-ri and Sea. After that, she'd visit for at least ten days a month to teach Yu-ri, and Sea could join too.
Leaving the lab, we informed those waiting in the break room.
"Oh, splendid! Sea, Yu-ri—you've got easy-to-pronounce names, so I'll just use them, but I'll think up some good nicknames. Feel free to ask me about magic casually too."
Arnaud Duré welcomed them enthusiastically.
Professor Seo Sang-wook and Andrey Ilyin offered pleased congratulations, while Jin Cheol-min, overcome with emotion, repeatedly thanked me and Charlotte Tate.
"Teacher, I don't know how to repay you... Please let me treat you to a meal sometime. Just tell me a good day, and I'll prepare."
"No need."
I leaned down awkwardly as Jin Cheol-min clung to my hand. It wasn't his fault. Just my own issues making thanks hard to bear.
As everything wrapped up and we prepared to leave the institute, Charlotte Tate suddenly asked,
"By the way, Dojin."
"Yes."
"This is just personal curiosity... but why go this far to help? It's not exactly beneficial for you, is it?"
Whatever research I shared, I planned to disseminate it widely eventually. Part of laying traps for future needs.
But to outsiders ignorant of that truth, it must seem odd. Promising first dibs to one person meant giving up a major bargaining chip as a researcher.
So naturally, they'd wonder. Not family, lover, or friend. Just a girl he'd taught for two months. Why such favoritism?
I answered honestly.
"I believe talented, promising, hardworking people should reach the places they deserve."
Jin Yu-ri had talent. She might be the protagonist of Kill the Evil. She worked her hardest.
So I'd keep pulling her up with all I had.
If I had to fight the protagonist—if I had to defeat her—I wanted it to be Jin Yu-ri in the ring against me.
Not a deathmatch deciding victory by elimination. That was the extent of my efforts, and it was no excuse.
I'd chosen Jin Yu-ri. As the one to sacrifice in Sea's place.
That was all.
Then a hologram appeared.
> Delivering the second sub-quest of Kill the Evil Volume 2.
> Clear Condition: During the National Academy 1 high school sophomore class trip (May 5-7), save --- from crisis.
> Special Note: Target selected as 'Final Boss' Lee Dojin (from first sub-quest reward of Kill the Evil Volume 2).
> Clear Reward: To be determined based on quest details.
Watching Arnaud Duré and Professor Seo Sang-wook applaud my words heartily, I thought,
This means... I have to go on the school trip, one way or another.
"I'll contact you tomorrow, so head home safely."
Arnaud Duré waved cheerfully as three cars drove off.
Jin Yu-ri and Jin Cheol-min, Seo Sang-wook, Lee Dojin and Lee Sea. The hotel where the 36 Heroes were staying wasn't far from the institute—we planned to walk.
Andrey Ilyin stepped away for a smoke, leaving Arnaud Duré and Charlotte Tate on the warm spring path.
And then.
In a tone utterly unlike his earlier cheer, Arnaud Duré growled a warning.
"Lottie, you'd better not pull any tricks."
"What?"
She responded coolly. Arnaud Duré glared piercingly at Charlotte Tate.
"You don't need to do that sort of thing. If I'm overthinking, I'll apologize... but don't."
"No idea what you mean."
Arnaud Duré thought the woman before him was infuriatingly brazen. But gathering his patience, he warned once more.
"You're already strong enough. Stronger than anyone in this world. So... don't create a 'sacrifice'."
"Oh, that? "
With it out in the open, she couldn't play dumb anymore.
She'd known from the start what worried him.
Immune body holders' growth almost always required a trigger. The burden was too heavy; without a powerful motive to endure it, progress stalled.
Of course, Charlotte Tate's own drive was personal strength itself. It had never wavered, nor would it.
But...
Stronger conviction than now would be even better.
There was a way to reinforce it. Through pivotal events hardening the mindset.
She'd grown through such events many times—sometimes orchestrating them herself. And Arnaud Duré knew that better than anyone.
"Don't worry. No big plans."
Charlotte Tate gave a half-truth. No big plans was true—for now.
Not yet.
Jin Yu-ri, the immune body holder. Her talent was considerable, from what she'd seen. Superior even to Charlotte's own as a child.
But what about the future?
Multiple triggers aren't ideal.
Jin Yu-ri's activations had two triggers: Lee Dojin and Lee Sea. Two scattered focus. Growth would naturally slow.
So the girl couldn't yet fuel Charlotte's drive. Her fragile mind with dual triggers.
A thought arose then.
This too was a sacrifice.
If I sacrifice one... would synergy make it better than a single trigger?
The idea surfaced naturally, without qualms.
Charlotte Tate silently apologized to Lee Si-hyeok and Jeong Se-bin in her heart. She wasn't particularly sorry, but it felt like the least she should do.