Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Dead End In Ark
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AOD's hideout.
A stronghold created by cleaning and renovating the third-floor staff room of the now-abandoned Maria Girls' Academy.
I sat across from Han Cheong-ah in the hideout, sketching away.
Drawing Han Cheong-ah wasn't difficult at all.
Though we didn't have a canvas like in Cuvette's art room, I'd stocked up on paints, pens, and all sorts of art supplies.
I smoothed out a sheet of paper on the desk and dipped my brush into watercolor mixed with water.
Starting to lay down the base colors on the sketch of Han Cheong-ah.
The once-white paper gradually took on a soft pink hue.
Just like cherry blossoms settling on pristine snow as the cold winter gave way to warm spring.
Lost in the coloring, Han Cheong-ah called out to me.
"Do-hyun."
"Yeah."
"Everyone else is out there getting ready to fight, and here we are, leisurely painting. Is this really okay?"
"It's fine."
I carefully set down my brush.
"The Irregulars will come here anyway."
I gazed out the window at the sky beyond.
It was starting to spread with red, like watercolors bleeding into a bucket.
Clear proof that the ritual was underway.
The ritual to create an artificial rift took about twelve hours.
It couldn't be stopped midway; if it was, everything—the caster's life included—would vanish.
For those twelve hours, the Irregulars and criminals would draw the Federal Guidance Bureau's eyes with terrorism and all sorts of crimes across the city, buying time for the Society to complete the ritual.
It was the plan the Society had devised in the original story's second chapter to stably trigger the rift.
The original protagonist, Kim Si-hu, ultimately failed to stop them.
But with me here, things wouldn't play out like the original.
Cheryl was secretly monitoring the juvenile hall—where riots would soon erupt—with the guidance officers and team members.
Lee Gyeo-ul and Yubyeol-ha had left the hideout to handle the Society's monstrosities.
I was waiting here for Kang Chang-su, Ichika, and the Irregulars who would soon appear in the Fifth District, where Maria Girls' Academy stood.
And the reason Han Cheong-ah was glued to my side...
"Han Cheong-ah is the target the Society is after...?"
That late night when AOD first gathered, after introductions and Cheryl and Yubyeol-ha expressed their willingness to cooperate...
Lee Gyeo-ul had briefly shared info on Han Cheong-ah.
She didn't go into specifics—like how Han Cheong-ah came from inside a rift or was a queen—but no one there dared question the hero who saved Seoul.
Yubyeol-ha let out a low hum, staring intently at Han Cheong-ah.
"Rubbing up against girls isn't my thing. I know I'm pretty, but a confession would put me in a tough spot."
Han Cheong-ah gestured about confessions and trouble, and Yubyeol-ha eyed her coolly.
"What a tragic fate. What is this indescribable feeling?"
"Sorry. I gave her a strict family upbringing, but I couldn't rein in our Cheong-ah's irrepressible quirks..."
Lee Gyeo-ul apologized to Yubyeol-ha on Han Cheong-ah's behalf.
"Then Miss Cheong-ah should stay as far from the Society as possible."
I nodded to Cheryl, who was resting her chin on her hand, deep in thought.
"That's why—if it's okay with you, Hunter... I mean, Noona—I can look after Cheong-ah."
Lee Gyeo-ul had told me "hunter" sounded too old; call her "noona."
I hurriedly corrected myself and shared my thoughts. Lee Gyeo-ul tilted her head.
"You, Do-hyun?"
"Yeah. I'd like Yubyeol-ha and Noona to block the Society side. I'll take Cheong-ah with me. That way, you can move freely, right?"
Lee Gyeo-ul pondered it. After all, she hadn't come to protect Academy City—she was Han Cheong-ah's watcher and guardian.
A moment later, priorities seemingly set, she slowly nodded.
"But if she gets even a scratch... you know what happens, right?"
"I won't let that happen."
And so, unlike the other AOD members, Han Cheong-ah and I ended up alone in the hideout.
I set down the brush, and Han Cheong-ah tilted her head.
"Wrapping up the painting for today?"
"Just base colors today."
"Got it."
I placed the base-coated painting by the window.
I could've kept painting while waiting for the Irregulars, but there were other experiments I wanted to try.
I pulled out my phone and double-checked the Trait · Noble Blood.
🩸 TRAIT: NOBLE BLOOD 🩸 Level 2 - Noble Blood Ruler of the merciless dark night. The coldest creature in a world that lives by reason. A monstrosity born of understanding and rationality. Sustains on blood. Possesses a beautiful and bewitching form. Thought and body speed synchronize. Strength becomes transcendent. Can manipulate contacted blood. Can survive even under the sun. Evolution Conditions: Evolution Points 300, Receive ■■ from Han Cheong-ah With the Wallachian crimson stone obtained from Mimir, the second condition was met. But the first one, partially censored in the text, remained unfulfilled.
Like with the Trait · Heat Generation, parts hidden by ■ symbols.
I recalled when Heat Generation's conditions were met.
It was definitely after I made the offer to Aria in the alley and she left—then the system messaged me.
That ■■ was probably "persuasion" or "salvation" or something.
Based on that, the first condition for Noble Blood might be...
Hmm.
Hmmm.
No matter how I racked my brain, I couldn't figure it out. Was this even something I could deduce?
"Cheong-ah, got anything you wanna give me by any chance?"
"Out of the blue?"
"Yeah, figured not..."
How was I, no developer, supposed to know what the system arbitrarily decided? Like with Aria, it'd probably reveal itself during evolution.
Still, the trait's immense power felt too good to ignore, so I pondered more.
It was a rare moment alone with Han Cheong-ah—perfect timing for experiments.
Deep in thought—whoosh! A sudden warmth enveloped my body.
Stunned by the tight, warm embrace wrapping around me, I blinked in bewilderment.
Squeeze.
Han Cheong-ah hugged me close, leaning her chest against mine and looking up.
Unlike her usual static posing, this dynamic energy threw me off.
I was speechless.
"Here. This is what I can give you, Do-hyun. I thought about it, and a hug was the only thing I could do right now."
"Hey..."
"Oh? Does it make your heart flutter?"
As I opened my mouth to retort—
...Boom.
A faint noise echoed from far away. And at the same moment...
Weeeoooowooo!!
🚨 EMERGENCY ALERT 🚨 "It's 4:32 PM. Alert issued across all districts of Academy City. Citizens, prepare to evacuate to nearby shelters. Prioritize children and the elderly." "This is a real situation. 4:32 PM, alert issued across all areas of Academy City..." The blaring sirens came with urgent disaster texts and evacuation broadcasts.
"It's starting."
Han Cheong-ah slipped away from me smoothly.
I snapped to and looked out the window.
Too early for sunset, yet the sky was entirely crimson. And it wasn't just a normal sunset—the red deepened unnaturally.
"Not just Rayleigh scattering, right?"
"Yeah. The ritual's begun. The Irregulars will show up soon. Get ready."
I looked at Han Cheong-ah.
Hiding her here in the hideout was an option, but... the world was full of "what ifs."
Better to keep her by my side for peace of mind.
With Noble Blood's powers, Heat Manipulation, and Hypnotic Eyes, protecting her while fighting was totally doable.
Han Cheong-ah and I left the hideout and headed to the rooftop of the abandoned school to survey the Fifth District.
"What the hell is going on...?"
"It's not a drill—it's real..."
"The city's been getting so dangerous lately. What if something huge happens...?"
"Idiot, it already has! We gotta talk to the embassy about relocating..."
People on the streets, clueless about the chaos, formed crowds and headed to shelters one by one.
"Civilians over there."
"Leader said we can do whatever~ What should we start with?"
"Kill all the men first, deal with the women later."
From the opposite side, black-hooded figures—high on drugs—approached with creepy giggles.
Like in the original, Irregulars wore black hoods to distinguish allies.
It wasn't just one side.
Centered on the Fifth District, groups of about six Irregulars closed in from all directions.
"That's a lot of them..."
Han Cheong-ah swallowed hard.
Probably not just the Fifth District.
The original mentioned hundreds of Irregulars... Add the escaped criminal Psykers from juvie, and it'd easily top a thousand.
Plus, monstrosities mixed in among them.
Lee Gyeo-ul and I had taken measures for the manpower shortage, but ending this without casualties seemed impossible.
Still, our goal was clear.
"Let's just do what we have to."
I scooped Han Cheong-ah up in my arms.
She wrapped her arms around my neck and nodded.
And so, Han Cheong-ah and I stepped toward the battlefield where fierce combat awaited.