Chapter 16. Parents' Day (3)
Mana, seeking survival, goodwill, wish. These were fragments of keywords concerning Arnaud Duré's motives and circumstances for betrayal. Words that didn't fit with "betrayal" at all, but I had evidence to fill in the gaps.
The cause of death for World Guardian's protagonist Lee Si-hyeok and heroine Jeong Se-bin: homicide in the broad sense. + Information I gained by pulling Seo Yeon-hee to my side at my parents' funeral. "Broad sense" means a wide scope.
In the hologram, they were all labeled traitors, but each had their own goals and varying degrees of involvement in the Great Rift incident. All those pieces came together to ultimately cause my parents' deaths. Perhaps there was even someone who targeted Guardian Lee Si-hyeok and Archmage Jeong Se-bin directly.
On the other hand, there were guys like Yeom Ui-jun, who pursued their own selfish desires, contributed to the Great Rift's outbreak, scrambled to cover it up amid the chaos—worsening the situation—and then lived on in silence with nothing but hypocritical guilt.
Arnaud Duré seemed closer to the latter. The first keyword from the hologram: "mana." He didn't want mana to disappear from this planet. The following keywords: seeking survival, goodwill, wish.
So why didn't he want mana to vanish? It couldn't be fear of losing power. Seeking survival. Arnaud Duré had tried to save someone. Whether one person or an unspecified many, I couldn't tell. Goodwill. At least in his own mind, it was a noble intention. Unlike the others, I could assume he hadn't set out to kill my parents.
Finally, wish. This one was uncertain. It was hard to judge from the single keyword whether it was a deeply personal goal or something grander...
Even after organizing my thoughts this far, my resolve didn't waver. He didn't want mana to disappear because he wanted to save someone. With good intentions. Because he desired something. So what? I didn't see that as an excuse. Not even close. Because I knew one irrefutable fact.
Simple logic. Whether intended or not, if you'd done wrong, you had to repent. Arnaud Duré hadn't. He'd intervened, causing the Great Rift. His past comrades had died trying to stop it. The least he could do was reveal the truth. That was the right thing.
Instead, he'd lived the past ten years pretending ignorance. So my resolve remained unchanged. No reason for it to shift. I would fight him. Bring him down and make him pay. Uncover what he'd been thinking back then, what he knew—everything. For now, that was enough to focus on.
"...Not gonna eat?"
Lee Sea, sitting beside me and munching on perfectly grilled ribs, glanced over. Her eyes were on my plate.
Korean restaurant course: three ribs per person. She'd just finished her last one, eyeing my two remaining pieces.
"Want 'em?"
"Not that. Why aren't you eating? They'll get cold and taste bad."
"So you'll eat 'em, right?"
"...Just one."
I picked up both and set them on her plate. She shot me a sideways glare, then put one back on mine.
"Yeah, more's coming. You'd get full."
"...That's why I took it. Eat already."
She popped the piece into her mouth, chewing as she urged me on. I cleared my plate too.
Across the round table sat three of the 36 heroes, watching us.
"Sea doesn't talk about her brother much during training. But seeing you two together, you really are siblings."
"A fine sight."
Charlotte Tate smiled as she spoke; Andrey Ilyin added his gruff agreement. But Arnaud Duré...
"..."
Might've been my imagination, but he seemed uneasy. He smoothed his troubled expression, then joined in with forced cheer.
"Best food I've had since coming here. Wish I knew more places like this."
"I know a few good ones. I'll tell you. But since you're in Korea..."
I paused, eyeing Arnaud Duré and the other two heroes before continuing.
"Does that include everything from the old days?"
This wasn't their first time in Korea. They'd visited multiple times before my parents' funeral—even earlier in World Guardian's timeline. Among non-European countries, probably only the US saw them more.
Mentioning the past made his face stiffen. Guilt? Anxiety? Fluster? Which was it—or a mix? If mixed, which dominated? I couldn't pinpoint it yet. Charlotte Tate answered for him.
"Yeah, feels that way to me. Si-hyeok and Se-bin... would've been nice if they were here too."
"You might not know, but today is Parents' Day in Korea—a day to thank your parents."
"That's why you went to the memorial plaza?"
"Yeah, first time in ages with Sea. If they were alive and your friends came to Korea for a meal together... they'd have loved it."
Obviously, "friends" didn't include traitors.
"Yeah... they would have."
Charlotte's face grew wistful. Andrey showed no change, but he was deep in thought. Arnaud seemed the most shaken.
"..."
He looked like he wanted to say something but just gripped his glass instead.
The mood lightened as more food arrived. By dusk, we finished and exchanged goodbyes.
"Arnaud."
"Yeah?"
He tilted his head. I told him,
"Can I drop by next week?"
"You're welcome anytime. What's up?"
"Need your advice on some research. Oh, was gonna tell Charlotte once it's more solid. And—"
"Don't mind me. I wouldn't get it anyway."
Andrey quipped—rare for him. After farewells, I drove Sea home.
In the passenger seat, she stared out the window. Seemed calm, but probably just stuffed. I'd given her extras whenever she eyed new dishes. One portion would've filled her petite frame, but she hadn't refused—must've been tasty.
Not like she'd force it down out of obligation. My sister wasn't like that.
Then she groaned uncomfortably.
"Haa... "
"Stomach hurt?"
"...Feels like it's gonna burst."
Wait, had she only eaten to humor me? Tormented her by force-feeding? As I pondered, she asked suddenly,
"You in a bad mood?"
"Huh?"
Unexpected. Gripping the wheel, eyes forward, she pressed,
"You seem off. ...Or not?"
"Nah. I'm stuffed too—stomach's uneasy. That it?"
"You barely ate."
I was good at masking expressions, but maybe not foolproof for her. I forced brightness.
"Back to training tomorrow? Wanna catch a movie?"
"At home."
"Genre?"
She named three without hesitation. Pick one. Fantasy romance on love-hate. Mystery thriller hunting a hidden killer. Last year's hit family drama.
She knew what I'd choose. Her glance said the third ranked lowest, but that's what I wanted with her.
"Convenience store popcorn?"
"Too full. Get some if you want."
Two hours later.
Crumple, crumple.
The empty popcorn bag rustled hollowly. Sea pulled her hand out sheepishly. I teased,
"Where'd the popcorn run off to?"
"...Can't hear the lines."
She huffed primly, gulping cola.
Meanwhile, the heroes neared their lodging in near silence. Decades of camaraderie made quiet comfortable, but tonight felt off.
Usually the chattiest—more than the other two combined—Arnaud Duré looked gravely serious. Even close ally Charlotte hesitated to speak.
Surprisingly, Andrey broke the ice.
"Something wrong?"
"Hm?"
Arnaud replied lightly. The heavy aura Charlotte sensed had vanished; Andrey spoke considerately.
"If you're troubled, talking helps. No point suffering alone."
"Thanks for the advice, Andy. Just... seeing those kids stirred things up."
"I've told you: don't call me like some American or Brit."
"Cut me some slack? Right, Lottie?"
"What?"
She stepped closer at his call. His intense gaze met hers, then,
"How about you? Not familiar, but way tastier than your country's food, yeah?"
"Eating's all the same. Not my thing."
Sensory pleasures didn't thrill her. She knew far superior achievements and rushes. Barring mana-related, what moved her was emotion over sensation.
Like Arnaud Duré before her now. Once-precious comrades Lee Si-hyeok and Jeong Se-bin. Promising trainees Lee Sea and Jin Yu-ri, whose diligence earned her quiet pride.
Feelings for people. She said plainly,
"Been good since coming here. Past can't be helped... but everyone's pushing forward now, right?"
Arnaud chuckled.
"Yeah, that's enough. Living reminds me sometimes."
"Picking a fight?"
She teased back. Atmosphere normalized.
He asked softly,
"Good thing you're alive, huh?"
"..."
Andrey wouldn't know. Over ten years ago, she'd had a pivotal talk with Arnaud. It marked a turning point; her growth accelerated after.
Friend, comrade, benefactor—more. And...
Thanks to him, I reached this level.
As an immune body holder, he was key to her trigger's core. Regardless of his view.
May 10th, Monday evening. Lee Dojin out grocery shopping at the mart. Yoo Hae-bin, same. They bumped into each other; he offered her a ride. Now side-by-side in his car.
Swallowing nervously without him noticing, she handed over the clothes in her hand with a bright smile.
"Here. Looks brand new, right?"
"Yeah. Thanks."
The jacket from the school trip... exactly the same product. He assumed it was the original.
Won't get caught, right?
Yoo Hae-bin avoided unnecessary work, delayed the essential—but that didn't mean carelessness. Better to finish cleanly than deal with fallout later.
No exception here.
Yeah, no way.
Could've returned it at school, but she'd suggested faking coincidence. Needed secret talk—and more importantly...
Giving it at school might seem weird.
Considering her weekend antics, handing it right away risked suspicion. Dry-clean only wouldn't fool.
But now? She'd carried it from home to mart—slight wear made it plausible as post-laundry.
Looks a bit shady even to me...
Still, hated returning borrowed clothes. Hated washing away the traces on the new one. This was the way.
Next scene confirmed success.
He doesn't know.
Lee Dojin took it unquestioningly, setting it between seats. Victory.
But then.
He raised a brow casually.
"Just checking—is this the one you wore?"
"P-pardon?"
Heart pounding, she played cool.
"Smells nice. Super fresh—what'd you use in the wash? I wanna get some."
Worse: he picked it up and sniffed.
She tensed, face unchanging. He marveled,
"Damn, smells amazing. You put effort into returning a borrowed jacket, huh."
"Ah..."
Gratitude meant no ill intent. But sniffing her "most embarrassing upper-body spot" by her standards? She muttered inwardly,
Fucking pervert... why sniff there...
Only in her head, unheard.
He asked curiously,
"Seriously wanna buy this. What'd you use?"
Testing her? Probably not. Tormenting unintentionally was talent enough. Half-defiant, she replied,
"That... dragon air freshener thing. Got it."
Quick cover: washed carefully, sprayed plenty—blended well.
"Didn't need to go that far. Thanks anyway."
He even sounded apologetic. She echoed inwardly,
Dumbass...