Chapter 50
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: The Truth (1)
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Meow.
In the crushing silence, only the sound of Geumho's purring could be heard.
All I could do was stare at the two smiling women and stroke Geumho.
What is this? This is terrifying.
Is it really appropriate for the master of a guild to be coming and going from a cadet's room as she pleases?
The cold war had finally ended.
Can't a guild master meet a friend in a personal capacity?
A friend? Can you really call it a friendship when there's an eight-year age difference?
Is age that important? What matters is that we get along well.
I think she just bit her lip. Is she at that age where she's sensitive about it?
Seoyul. I think you're having some strange thoughts right now.
No. Of course not.
I desperately averted my gaze.
Mrow?
When my hand stopped, Geumho cried out as if questioning me.
Ah.
I quickly went back to stroking Geumho's fur.
And what about you, Jia? As the eldest daughter of the Shinhwa Group, is it okay for you to be visiting another man's room like this?
Of course. In fact, my father strongly encouraged it. He told me to bring you in after graduation.
She must mean bring me in as a new recruit for the Shinhwa Group.
Not as a son-in-law.
Anyway, why are these two on such bad terms? No, I mean, I knew they didn't get along, but I don't think it was this bad.
Is it because of me?
I didn't know the exact reason.
But if something different from the original story had happened, there was a high chance it was because of me.
I was going to leave it alone, thinking it wasn't my place to interfere, but I can't.
If I let this continue, the rift between them is 100% guaranteed to deepen.
Yuhwa.
I inserted myself between the two, who were still trading barbs with smiles on their faces.
What brings you here today? It's unlike you to come without notice.
If I changed the subject, the argument should stop.
Ah.
Yuhwa gave a wry smile, looking as if she'd just realized something. She glanced at Jia before speaking.
Well, it's about that item you asked me to get last time. I got my hands on it. I was in the area, so I thought I'd drop by and see Geumho too.
An item?
Did I ask for something?
Back then. The thing we talked about at Okhwadang. The ring with the [Magic Sensitivity Trait Holder] restriction. [Mana's Grace].
Ah! Right, right. We did talk about that.
At Okhwadang, while we were talking about the Tiger's Gauntlet and the Ancient Artifact
the conversation got so sidetracked that we ended up talking about that.
You said it back then. That you had Magic Sensitivity.
Yes. I did.
I definitely said that.
I said it hoping she might get it for me.
But I never thought she'd actually get it.
Here. I picked it up on my way.
Yuhwa held out a small box to me. It was a transport case designed for accessories.
Uh. Thank you, but wasn't this expensive?
Trait-restricted items are rare.
The reason I'd lied about having Magic Sensitivity was because this was the only one available for sale online.
I'm pretty sure the listing said "price negotiable."
It really wasn't much. So just take it. I have no intention of letting this clear your debt to me.
I think this would be more than enough to clear it.
I'm really grateful.
I was in a situation where I needed a trait-restricted item more than anything.
And of all things, it was for Magic Sensitivity, a mana-related trait I needed right away.
Anyway, go on and try it on.
Okay.
I pressed the button on the box.
A mechanical unsealing process that would put Transformers to shame followed, revealing a ring adorned with a blue gem inside the box.
Whoa. It looks even prettier in person.
I took the ring and put it on the index finger of my bare left hand.
It suits you quite well.
Just as Yuhwa complimented me, the ring on my left hand began to emit a blue mana glow.
*Tzzzt-*
[Error! Faal deteted!]
The next moment.
*Fzzt-zzzzzzt-!*
Kyaa!
Meeow!
Sparks began to fly wildly from my left index finger.
A-a rejection reaction? Seoyul!
It all happened in an instant.
Seon Seoyul! Take it off, quick!
Jia, who had been watching quietly, shouted urgently.
Kuh!
I also moved quickly to take off the ring.
*Zzzzt-*
[Faal eror deteced. Searching for a soltion.]
It was then that the broken system message began to grow clearer, little by little.
[System self-corection deemed impssible.]
Seoyul!
Keuk!
It was the moment I finally pulled the ring completely off.
[Executing Vaccine Program DST-V4.]
What?
Along with the first complete system message I had ever seen.
*Fwaaang-!*
A violent torrent of mana exploded past us.
*Wee-woo-wee-woo-wee-woo-*
What's this?
Alarms blared from all directions.
High-density mana reaction detected! A state of emergency is hereby declared!
It was sudden.
Disaster-class catastrophe detected!
Above Seoul! A mana fissure has been detected! All civilians, please evacuate to underground shelters immediately!
Disaster-class?
What's happening all of a sudden!
We quickly headed out of the dormitory.
Outside was already in utter chaos.
Move quickly! But do not panic!
There's still some time before the fissure opens! No need to rush too much!
Cadets rushed toward the first floor to evacuate, guided by their instructors.
A disaster-class catastrophe, of all times.
Yuhwa gritted her teeth, staring at her phone.
Jia was the same.
They must have been checking messages from the Bihon Guild and the Shinhwa Group, respectively.
Seoyul. Are you okay?
Yuhwa slipped her phone back into her pocket and approached me with a worried expression.
Ah, yes. I'm fine.
Seoyul. Are you really okay?
Jia and Geumho rushed over to me. I held Geumho in my arms and stroked him as I spoke.
I-I'm really fine.
Mrow
My body was truly fine.
I was used to sparks like this by now.
But my mind wasn't.
I couldn't get my head straight from the shock.
Vaccine Program.
Right before I took the ring off, I definitely saw that message.
Vaccine Program DST-V4.
Hah.
I closed my eyes.
In my mind, everything that had been a mystery until now connected and flowed by like a panorama.
System Error.
Black is danger.
Vaccine Program.
Everything was connected.
Shit. So that's what it was?
My Hyeong's message had been telling me this all along.
Strictly speaking, my ability is a bug derived from a system error.
That if I went beyond black and learned a new species trait, I'd be detected by the system.
And that upon detection, the Vaccine Program would activate.
Wearing multiple trait-restricted items at once must have been one of the triggers for system detection.
Something like trait-restricted items can't be worn simultaneously.
How the hell was I supposed to know that?
*Grit.*
I gritted my teeth.
I stood before the dormitory window and looked up at the sky.
An enormous fissure was visible.
I'm sorry. I think I have to go.
Yuhwa quickly opened a window in the hallway and placed her foot on the sill.
You two should hurry and evacuate to a shelter.
With those last words, Yuhwa vanished. Her speed was truly befitting of a superhuman who had reached the cusp of S-rank.
But I didn't have the luxury of marveling at such things right now.
If my guess was correct, that fissure opened because of me.
And the way to stop that fissure is
It's over.
nonexistent.
Seonjonim?
I bit my lip hard.
So hard that blood trickled from the corner of my mouth.
Vaccine Program DST-V4 is a concept that only appears in the final episode.
To stop it, all sorts of heroes, including the Dragon Lord, had to give it their all.
It's not something that can be stopped with the forces currently present in Seoul.
No, it's not a concept that current humanity can stop.
Dammit.
Is this how it ends?
Just as I squeezed my eyes shut and hung my head.
*Vzzz-*
The phone in my pocket vibrated.
Is it a disaster alert message?
What on earth could it say?
I checked the message with a sense of emptiness.
Huh?
In that moment, my pupils dilated as wide as they possibly could.
[I knew you'd screw up like this.]
Sender.
Kim Shin.
[This time, I'll do you a favor and help out. There won't be a second time, so be careful from now on.]
I had the illusion of hearing my brother's smug voice right in my ear.
[You only get one chance. There's only one anti-vaccine.]
The next moment, a pure white mana light condensed in front of me.
A white light?
Jia murmured.
[Time it for the exact moment the fissure opens. Got it?]
It soon began to take the form of a bow and arrow.
[I'm counting on you, little brother.]
With that, the message vanished completely, as if it had never been there. Just like that email.
Haha.
A laugh escaped me for no reason.
After getting me into this mess, he says what?
I'm counting on you, little brother?
Bullshit.
But as I said it, my lips were smiling.
And what's more?
He knew I'd make a mistake like this?
If he'd just told me not to wear multiple trait-restricted items at the same time in the first place, none of this would have happened. How was I supposed to predict this?
You just wait until I get back.
I gripped the white arrow before me tightly.
S-Seonjonim? Why are you going back to your room!
I'm just going to change my clothes.
Huh?
A smile played on my lips.
Now, where did I put that mask?
* * *
The atmosphere at the Korea Disaster Response Headquarters was grim.
The mana readings are still rising!
710,000 770,000 A-at this rate, it's only a matter of time before it exceeds one million!
The Chairman slumped into his chair.
It's over.
A mana reading of one million.
The highest mana reading ever recorded from a fissure was a mere 500,000.
And that fissure had swallowed an entire country, which is still called the Land of Death.
One million. The number is so absurd I can't even laugh.
Despair coiled in the air.
What about support from other countries?
Th-they said they'd send support, but we're completely out of time.
Of course.
Judging by the fissure's growth rate, it would open within a minute at the latest.
M-mana reading has surpassed one million.
I'd like to tell everyone to run. But there isn't even time for that.
The Chairman covered his face with his hands and gave a scornful laugh.
M-mana expansion beginning! The fissure is about to open!
Have the heavens truly abandoned us?
Just as everyone had given up all hope.
Chairman! Another unidentified mana signature has been detected near the fissure! There's no matching data, so we can't calculate its value!
What? Control team! Divert the nearest drone to those coordinates!
Yes, sir!
The next moment, the drones monitoring the fissure changed course.
And focused on the location where the mana source was detected.
Is that?
An angel?
It was an angel.
The crude theatrical mask it wore was quite a mismatch for its large, beautiful wings.
Am I dreaming right now?
The unidentified angel raised the bow it was holding as if aiming at the fissure and drew the string.
A pure white arrow, as if condensed from light itself, blinked into existence.
The mana signature is still unidentified!
And the next moment.
*Fshaaaaaa-!*
Ugh!
My eyes!
All the monitors showing the angel were flooded with white light.
When all the light subsided.
And vision returned.
It's gone?
The angel had completely vanished.
Ch-Chairman!
Someone suddenly shouted.
Th-the fissure is disappearing!
What!?
The Chairman shot up from his seat.
This is the field! HQ! Respond! We need an explanation of the current situation!
I repeat! The fissure is shrinking! We require a situation report!
A miracle had occurred.
* * *
Seon jonim?
When I returned to the room, Jia was staring at me with trembling eyes.
I took off the theatrical mask I'd prepared just in case and folded my wings.
Ah. Well, this is How should I put this.
In order to accurately hit the fissure at the right moment, I had to be in the sky.
That's why I don't regret using the Heavenly Wings.
Th-those angel wings are
My only worry is what kind of excuse I could give Jia.
I sighed, scratching the back of my head.
Haaah
I guess there's no other way.
Since it's come to this, I have no choice but to tell her the whole truth.
Jia. The truth is, I'm
A half-elf
Jia said, her eyes sparkling.
I knew it! You really are a half-elf, Seonjonim!
Huh?
A half what?