chapter 21
21 – Operation Initiation ~ Captured ~
“Please use that as a justification for a guild war.”
“…They said to ask for your safety as a condition of victory.”
Nodded politely.
If it wasn’t for Hansarang, it was the right timing to light the smoking pipe on the desk.
Instead, Seol-won let out a sigh and spoke as if admonishing a child.
“These demons. Don’t you know how dangerous they are? It’s not easy to go in and get information yourself.”
“… It’s a valid statement, but there’s no other sharp tip. Please accept it.”
Han Sarang lowered his head, probably thinking that he was the cause of the incident.
I patted her on the shoulder to tell her not to think about anything.
Seol-won stopped looking at her and turned her head to look at the setting sky.
Today’s sky was more cloudy than usual.
“Ouch.”
“… You say yes.”
“Do you know why I treated you so harshly?”
I hesitated for a moment at her sudden rush, but she came up with the answer she had been thinking about.
“Isn’t it to remind you not to be conceited and that there are things outside the world?”
“Crunch… I’m not saying it’s wrong. But the reason I was strict with you… Yes, it was because of love.”
“…You mean love?”
I doubted my ears for a moment.
It was a completely unsuitable word to come out of his mouth.
But that made me even more curious about what would follow.
I stopped asking further questions and quietly listened to his story.
“Aya, you seemed colder than anyone else on the outside, but in fact you were a child who longed for love more than anyone else. I thought that way more when I saw your relationship with the research team leader.”
The wrinkles under his eyes were locked in the sound. It seemed like an attempt to hide his feelings of pity.
“I thought that if you indulged in those feelings and felt satisfied and relieved, you would neglect your development as a hunter. There was a guy just like you among your former students.”
The few hunters in their twilight years that I met were generally shy about revealing their emotions.
Isn’t it the same reason for the seolwon?
He looked at me again and strained his words.
“But it was an obvious misjudgment. You rather felt a sense of responsibility for love and tried to become stronger. Now that you know that, how can you stop it?”
“That means…!”
“Okay, I’ll give you whatever power you want. Now go.”
He waved his hand while maintaining an expressionless expression that said nothing was wrong.
I also bowed and expressed my gratitude with Hansarang, pressing the corner of my mouth that went up.
As he turned his feet and came out of his guild leader’s room, he heard Seol-won’s lamentation.
That sound was muttering softly, but I couldn’t hear it.
“I’m getting old too. It’s time for me to retire. That’s it.”
Han Sarang imitated his tone and conveyed it.
Is lamenting the situation a common denominator among inspirations…
In the hallway we passed, the chill permeated again and froze the green flowers.
However, the road from now on was embroidered with more splendidly decorated flowers.
As if we are blessed to have such a future path.
Seol-won was more shy and emotional than I thought.
Eventually, when she returned to the lounge on the first floor, Frey’s sister, unable to overcome her fatigue, was gone.
I mean a deep sleep that would not be comfortable while leaning against the sofa.
I carefully picked her up and laid her on her proper bed.
I need to get some rest now.
As I was about to turn around and head home, someone suddenly grabbed my hand. With an intensity that is neither strong nor weak.
As she turned her head to look at her sister, she saw the dim pupils in her half-closed eyes.
“Sleeping here alone… I think you’ll be lonely, but my brother…”
It was clearly meant to sleep next to him.
Scratching her head, I unknowingly asked about Han Sarang’s intentions.
“Well… Do whatever you like. I’ll be by your side no matter where you sleep.”‘
With my arms crossed, she smiled generously and leaned her head against my chest.
My sister Frey, on the other hand, looked at us disapprovingly.
“… Younger brother, do I have to take care of a young child to sleep with you? Is this the sadness of the concubine?”
“A while ago, they said that a second time would be fine. Accept it humbly.”
“Hyung, I gave it to you because I raised it with difficulty. I gave it to you.”
He let out a sigh of exhaustion and told both of them to stop.
After taking off her coat and shoes, I tried to lay her down on the bed next to her.
But Frey’s sister took her hand and led her to a seat next to her own.
“Dongsaeng, after a long time, my older sister will make a pillow for her arm. Let’s sleep together, huh?”
Of course I could shake it off if I tried my best, but I couldn’t do that against my sister.
I couldn’t help but lay down next to her, and Han Sarang also dug into the bed together.
They were still crossing their arms, so they noticed my movements.
“… I said I’d be by your side wherever you slept.”
Yeah, well, I don’t know.
I’m too tired to even turn my head.
That’s how I cut Frey’s sister’s arm and closed her eyes while holding her in the arms of her one love.
Feeling the warmth that can replace the fading sunlight.
*
Blind girl, one love observation diary.
The X day of X month, 2020.
Today, she broke and ate her plates and cups while trying to help her wash the dishes. Thanks to her, she also had to buy a dinnerware set.
Today, she was running around and fell and cut her knee. She put the last of her bandage on her.
Today, she smiles all day as to what makes her happy. Anyway…
– Wahchangchang!
She put down the pen she was scribbling on at the sudden sound of the accident and quickly stood up.
“Mi… I’m sorry!”
She is holding a vase and a vacuum cleaner that have been shattered on the floor and she is at a loss for what to do.
That’s right.
– Weiying!
What else is this time?
I ran to the kitchen where I heard the sound of an emergency siren.
Dense smoke was rising from the frying pan, which had been scorched black.
“Chung… I forgot to clean. Sorry!”
– Cudang Tang Tang!
What else?
When I went upstairs, I found items that should have been neatly stacked in the storage room, opening the door and flooding the hallway.
As I shot her piercing eyes at her, I heard her reply with her shy smile.
“I heard there are new ingredients… I’m sorry!”
Ha…
Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t order any of these things.
It was getting dark when she finished the accident.
As I leaned back on the sofa to take a break, he naturally dug into the seat next to me. Handing over a glass filled with an unknown liquid, whether it be water or tea.
“hehehe, will you read me a book today?”
“…Okay.”
She
Hardened her expression, but for her lack of knowledge, she just smiled brightly as always.
*
She finished writing and put down her pen.
Three days have passed since the day the agreement was signed with the demons.
As soon as it became known that my ability had returned, many people began to cling to it again as before.
Then, their relationship with Han Sarang was also re-examined, and they became no different from an academy official couple.
I also started writing a diary anew.
At first, it was to record how ridiculous she was when she opened her eyes, but she found it interesting, so I continued to write it.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned about Hansarang so far, it’s that it’s really troublesome.
Always helping me and helping out by saying it was easy, but it always gave birth to more work.
Every time I try to dissuade you by saying that I’m helping you, but you say you want to be of some help to me… What should I do?
Everything was forgiven with a simple smile that followed.
That’s how I was going out to the meeting place with the devils while looking at the same smile now.
The house of Hansarang’s aunt.
I asked her as she hummed, still using me as her walking stick.
“Aren’t you worried?”
“What are you worried about?”
“That’s right… I’m going to be captured by our demons.”
Han Sarang said with an unwavering expression.
“That’s right, you’re by my side. Won’t you protect me when I’m in danger?”
“Of course I’ll keep it.”
“I see. Need another answer?”
When she didn’t answer, she hummed again and walked away.
Of course, I, the cane, also had to walk at her tempo, so I hurried her steps.
*
– Shiiik.
I first stepped her cautiously into the door that Han Sarang unlocked her.
Only a faint demon could be felt inside, and there was no human presence.
I wondered for a moment what to do with her aunt’s family, but she doesn’t seem to mind Han Sarang, so she decided to do the same for me.
I went into her room, where there was nothing but an old bed and desk, and waited for the Mine.
She hadn’t been aware of it before, but her body odor was strong on the worn-out blankets and pillows.
“How many years have you lived here?
“Because it started when I was in the 6th grade of elementary school… In terms of years, it’s been 6 years.”
… Have you been tormented by demons for six years?
It’s not just a simple expression, but if you hold the hands of demons and become a demon, you’re a real devil.
He gently stroked his head to mean that he had suffered a lot.
Then, as if things in the past were nothing now, he laughed so hard that his mind was relieved.
– Huoh…
At that time, an ominous sound effect permeated my eardrums.
Soon, the jet-black demonic encroached on the entire floor from under the bed. However, even the breath was not constricted.
If I were to quote them, it would be something like BGM.
“Are you ready? Then let’s move on.”