Chapter 16. Parents' Day (2)
The quest had popped up right when Sea agreed to visit the memorial plaza. By 6 p.m. today, me, Sea, and three of Europe's 36 Heroes needed to be there together.
It wasn't a tough quest to clear, and the reward was partial info on Arnaud Duré's betrayal motives and the circumstances back then. Judging by the clear conditions, it probably wouldn't be super detailed—just some rough keywords to point me in the right direction. Even that was a solid reward given the difficulty, so I'd suggested it while pondering how to call in the three heroes...
But the reaction wasn't great.
"......"
"What's up?"
I asked Sea, lacing my voice with curiosity. Her expression was as blank as before, but I could somehow sense the dissatisfaction radiating off her.
After a moment of silence, she murmured softly.
"It's Parents' Day, and it's been ages since we've gone together. We can just go as a pair... you and me, bro."
"Ah......"
I mentally kicked myself for getting so fixated on clearing the quest. Of all places, the memorial plaza. It had been years since I'd gone with Sea. I'd sworn to do my absolute best whenever circumstances and my abilities allowed, yet here I was forgetting something crucial.
Even if the hologram was trying to steer my thoughts and actions for its own ends, I had to stick to basic principles at minimum. If Sea hadn't called me out, I might not have realized until too late—and that would've been a painful blunder on my part.
Keeping a mental vow is that much harder. Breaking it? Way too easy by comparison. You have to uphold it every single time, but one shift in thinking makes slipping effortless—and then you start chasing even easier shortcuts, never satisfied.
"......You were thinking small there, bro."
She probably had no idea how grateful I was. But I was profoundly thankful to my seven-years-younger sister, so I grinned and laid out my revised plan.
"Yeah. How about just the two of us go first, then later treat them to dinner? Charlotte's been teaching you, and the other two have helped me out a ton with work."
Sea gave a small nod. Then, with a subtly curious glint in her eye, she asked,
"What're we having for dinner?"
"What do you wanna eat?"
"......I asked you first."
"Course cuisine?"
I figured that'd work fine, especially with three Westerners in the mix. But Sea flatly rejected it in her usual deadpan tone.
"I always eat Western food with Teacher Charlotte. Sick of it."
"Chinese or sushi then?"
"We're in Korea."
"Right, Korean food it is......"
If she wants it, that's what she'll get. But... couldn't she have just said "Korean food" straight up from the start? I was debating whether to ask when Sea grabbed her bowl and headed to the kitchen. I set my chopsticks down, wanting a break.
She'd only eaten a few strands of noodles, so she wouldn't know. The broth wasn't Han River levels of bland, but it was salty—like a drought-stricken riverbed. The noodles were overcooked too, more like wheat noodles than ramen, and the bean sprouts... had they even been rinsed properly?
Just then, Sea came back without her bowl and asked in an interrogating tone,
"Why aren't you eating?"
"Nah, I am."
"......"
She flopped sideways onto the sofa. The prickling gaze from behind was intense. Was she seriously watching to see if I'd finish or leave any?
"Not going to your room?"
"I'll digest a bit, brush my teeth, then crash."
"......You should chew your food more."
My stomach was full enough already. But it was too salty to just power through. Once I'd scraped the pot clean, Sea finally headed to the bathroom. Watching her go, I was convinced: she was definitely checking if I'd leave any behind.
Makes sense. Good cook or not, anyone would wanna see if the meal they made got eaten properly. I chugged two glasses of water in a row and silently cheered for my sister's cooking skills to improve. She'd finish every bite regardless of taste... but damn, it was rough.
By the time we both woke up, it was past 1 p.m. I'd told Charlotte Tate and the other 36 Heroes to meet at the memorial plaza around 5 p.m. Sea, who looked even more put-together than on our school trip, came with me to Namsan Memorial Plaza.
We arrived close to 4 p.m. Getting out of the car, we strolled slowly toward the plaza as I asked her,
"You come here often?"
"Just... sometimes. Not really."
She hesitated but answered honestly. The guilt and regret were plain as day, and I figured that was enough.
"I don't come super often either... but I try for once a month. Let's make it a thing from now on. Swing by here, grab dinner after, head home. Sound good?"
"......Okay."
We reached a spot with a clear view of our parents' statues. Right on cue, the 4 p.m. bell tolled.
Ding, dooong.
Standing before the statues, Sea and I bowed our heads. I imagined our silent words weren't all that different.
I came with bro.
I came with Sea.
Hope you're happy about it.
Once the moment of silence ended, Sea muttered like she was talking to herself.
"Should've brought carnations or something......"
"No place to put 'em here, though?"
"Still......"
"This work instead?"
As I replied, I flicked my hand. Two finely crafted mana orbs floated up lightly, drifting toward our parents' statues and blooming into pretty white flowers.
White carnations. The flower that tells the departed, "I still love you."
The mana shimmered around Mom and Dad's statues... then faded, scattering into nothing.
"......"
Sea clamped her mouth shut and looked up at me, seeming deeply troubled. Almost annoyed, even. Then she hesitated before saying,
"......I can't make 'em that pretty."
"Hmm, that's a problem then. It'll be tough if you can't."
"I haven't learned it, so maybe I can't."
"Ah, but it's in the final exam scope. Tough to score high without this level—starting now—"
"Don't talk school stuff here."
Her voice turned snippy, and since I'd only been teasing anyway, I chuckled.
"Alright. We'll study it step by step later. For today, big bro'll help a bit. Gimme your right hand."
"......?"
She held it out skeptically. I gently wrapped my fingers around her wrist—still slender despite putting on some weight lately—and instructed,
"Ignore attributes and lineages. Focus on gathering just the raw mana as precisely as you can."
"......Like this?"
A glow enveloped Sea's hand—pure mana, blank as a canvas. I slipped my mana into its core.
"Ah......"
I'd tried to make it as smooth as possible, but her control wasn't there yet, so she let out a small sound.
It wasn't a skill activation. This was something I'd recently devised by combining implementable elements from the skills, traits, and ideas I'd casually used till now.
A high-difficulty technique that directly interfered with another's mana to adjust its attributes and lineage—one that'd rank beyond A-grade if quantified.
Shoooo......
Mana flowed from Sea's hand. Blended with mine, it took on a pretty white hue, rising in a flower-like shape... then fizzled out with a rough pop.
Still imperfect at this stage—room for refinement. Sea stepped back a couple paces, eyeing me warily.
"What was that?"
"Hmm...... Interference-type magic?"
"You're researching mana attributes, right? This seems totally different."
"Not planning to announce this one. Not 'cause I don't wanna share—nobody else could use it but me. Haven't told a soul, so keep it quiet for now, even you."
My sensory stat had hit 8.9, right at the human limit. Only with my experiences, skills, and traits from the hologram could I even attempt it.
Couldn't teach it. Couldn't learn it. Mass adoption? Forget it.
One exception: Seo Yeon-hee, maybe.
Sea blinked, lips pursed for a bit, then grumbled poutily,
"That's weird. Don't do it."
"Huh? No bad effects on your body."
I wouldn't have if there was even a hint of risk. But her tone grew snippier.
"Felt weird when your mana came in, weird when it mixed and went out. All of it weird. Like, super......"
"......?"
She trailed off mid-rant, brow furrowing like she was hunting for the right words... then mumbled with faintly flushed cheeks.
"Like taking cold medicine when you've got a cold."
"Uh...... what's that feel like?"
Super specific, yet totally abstract to me. She clammed up beyond that, but it was clear the technique needed polishing.
She shot me a glare and declared,
"You practice alone, and when it's perfect, try it on me first."
"That okay?"
Helping her would be great for me, but her reaction suggested maybe not. Not for public fanfare anyway—better to show Seo Yeon-hee first.
But Sea was uncharacteristically firm.
"Not 'okay'—promise you'll do it. No choice."
"Uh...... yeah, got it."
Time passed peacefully until 5 p.m. Among the visitors to the memorial plaza, some recognized me and Sea. A few rarer souls offered kind words. I appreciated them; Sea stayed quiet but seemed lost in thoughts, her face a touch different from usual.
Then 5 p.m. hit. Dooong, ding.
The big bell rang five times. Almost simultaneously, my phone buzzed.
Vrrr, vrrr.
A message from Charlotte Tate: She'd just arrived, would pay respects to our parents and join us there before heading to dinner. Exactly as expected.
If they'd wanted us to come to them, it'd be plan B—but no need. A few minutes later, three figures appeared in the distance.
A tall, striking woman. Beside her, a man with sharp features. Trailing two steps behind, a burly guy.
Charlotte Tate. Arnaud Duré. Andrey Ilyin.
Arnaud Duré waved enthusiastically at us. Then he glanced at the statue behind us, his face tinged with apparent sorrow.
I found it repulsive, yet wondered if he had reason to grieve, if it was genuine...
And the hologram appeared.
You have successfully completed the third sub-quest of Volume 2 of Kill the Evil!
Clear Condition: By 6 p.m. on May 8th, be at the memorial plaza for Guardian Lee Si-hyeok and Archmage Jeong Se-bin with National Academy 1 High School 2nd-year Lee Sea, Sword Queen Charlotte Tate, Dreamer Arnaud Duré, and Blue Eyes Andrey Ilyin—a party of four.
Clear Reward: Partial information on Dreamer Arnaud Duré's betrayal motives and circumstances.
Issuing Clear Reward:
Mana, Salvation, Goodwill, Wish