But we were only halfway there. With half the journey still ahead, there was no room for complacency. I spoke in a quiet voice.
“I hesitate to go into detail, but… angels are merely aware of it. The angel assigned to me was strongly opposed to me using and accepting this power.”
“Then how on earth did you…?”
Jung Ha-yeon started to speak but then closed her mouth. She seemed genuinely curious about how I acquired a power even angels opposed. However, since the truth had already been verified through the
Jung Ha-yeon’s lips were dry. She moistened them with her tongue before speaking again.
“Can you tell me why the angels were against it? There must be a reason if they opposed a power you obtained rightfully. Angels are supposed to guide users on the right path within the Hall Plain.”
She was direct. This was where it all began.
“It’s… nothing significant.”
As I spoke, the crystal orb I held began to glow for the first time. The group looked at me with puzzled expressions. I avoided Jung Ha-yeon’s gaze, staring at the ground instead, but this was all part of the plan.
I could have said, “Honestly, this isn’t something I want to discuss here,” or “I don’t want to answer,” but even then, the
As expected, Jung Ha-yeon’s eyes narrowed. I watched her with bated breath, like a fisherman about to reel in a catch.
“The
”…There are circumstances.”
“You allowed me to ask this question. Please, don’t disappoint me any further. Or else…”
”…”
Silence. Jung Ha-yeon bit her lip, seeing my expression.
“I can’t forget the kindness you showed us on the first day. How could I forget the person who saved my life? The way you treated the others and led the caravan was the epitome of an ideal leader. You mentioned receiving an offer from the Golden Lion Clan, right? I did too, and I left. But seeing you and the others, it felt like a family, something you don’t find in the Hall Plain.”
Her address shifted from “User Kim Soo-hyun” to “Soo-hyun.” I waited quietly for her to continue.
“I was envious and excited by what I saw. But… was that excitement just mine? Was it a foolish hope of mine alone?”
Jung Ha-yeon was almost pleading now. But I decided to hold back a little longer.
“This power is…”
I opened my mouth slightly, then closed it again, gathering my thoughts. The power of the Flame is undeniably dangerous. That was an undeniable fact. I was torn. I might manage for now, but if situations like this kept piling up, who knew what might happen?
I knew it was wise to invest all my remaining points into physical strength. But the allure of the 101 stat was too great. In ten years, only two users in the Hall Plain had reached 101 in any stat, and both had left their mark.
If I invested 8 points, I could raise both agility and magic to 101. But the higher the stats, the greater the backlash on my body. Logic told me to boost my strength, but my emotions leaned towards agility and magic. Feeling suffocated, I let out a deep sigh.
I shook my head vigorously. What was I even thinking?
When I looked up, I saw Jung Ha-yeon’s face, filled with disappointment. She seemed to have misunderstood my troubled expression and sigh.
“It seems it was just my hope… Fine. I’ll let go of the
At her declaration, I quickly spoke up.
“This power is so immense that it’s beyond human capacity.”
Jung Ha-yeon stopped speaking as I interrupted. As I finally revealed the truth, a tense silence enveloped us. She tilted her head, processing my words.
“That doesn’t make sense. A power humans can’t handle… Ah…?”
“But it’s true that it’s dormant within me.”
Her gaze naturally shifted to the crystal orb. I saw shock wash over her face.
“No way…!”
”…Yes. This power is not meant for humans.”
Her eyes widened, her mouth slowly opening. She raised her hand to cover her mouth, unable to hide her astonishment. Her quick mind seemed to grasp the implications of my words.
I spoke reluctantly, as if forced to reveal the truth.
“Yes. The power within me is a double-edged sword. When activated, it grants immense strength. But it also brings great danger. As you saw when you found me, each time I draw upon it, the backlash is severe. The shock left me unconscious.”
The group stared at me, stunned. But it wasn’t over yet. I needed to guide the conversation further.
“The angel opposed it because they believed this power would eventually harm me. But I… I had no choice but to accept it. There were reasons.”
The reason being the Archduke of Hell. To counter the hellfire he wielded, the Flame was the only match.
Jung Ha-yeon stared at me blankly, then glanced at the
I subtly observed Jung Ha-yeon and the others. The bait was firmly taken. Now, it was just a matter of timing.
I heard murmurs from the others but ignored them. I focused solely on Jung Ha-yeon’s face. She avoided my gaze, her composure shaken for the first time since the expedition. My words had clearly struck a chord.
At that moment, I felt a tug on my sleeve and turned my head.
“Brother…”
Sol had crawled over, her lips trembling. Behind her, the others, including Vivian, looked uncertain. Shin Sang-yong stood with his mouth agape. Seeing their faces, a mischievous thought crossed my mind.
When I nodded with a sad smile, as if to say everything was fine, I saw tears welling up in Sol’s eyes. Startled, I quickly dropped the act. She was too scared to speak.
“Ha…”
A sigh from the front drew my attention back to Jung Ha-yeon, who was now holding her face in her hands. She must be confused. She might want to say, “I can’t believe it,” but the
“Yes… but… how… Ah… If it’s true, no, it is true…”
She muttered incoherently, her mind seemingly in turmoil. She mentioned leaving the Golden Lion Clan… What had happened to her? Watching her struggle, a small curiosity arose within me.
But that curiosity could wait. This was a crucial moment.
Realizing her own disarray, Jung Ha-yeon lowered her hands and rested her chin on them. Her eyes were closed, her lips pressed tightly together. She seemed deep in thought, trying to reconcile my words with her own thoughts.
Time passed. No one in the group dared to interrupt. It was no disadvantage to me. Eventually, she opened her eyes and let her hands fall to the ground.
Her face was now marked with fatigue. She met my gaze and spoke in a weary voice, lacking the previous firmness.
“If it’s not too much, may I ask one more thing?”
“From the moment you brought out the
I replied with a displeased tone, and Jung Ha-yeon’s face hardened. But everything I said was true. She now held some of my personal information. If she couldn’t offer something in return, I had a minimal justification to eliminate her.
”…Yes. Everything you’ve said has been true. I’m sorry for doubting you without knowing your true intentions… I’m really sorry.”
“Words once spoken cannot be taken back.”
“Yes, it’s like water that’s already been spilled. I still have so many questions, but I suppose I don’t have the right to know the answers. Still, there’s one thing I’m curious about. It’s a question that could be seen as both public and private. I know it’s shameless and bold of me, but please, just this once, allow me to ask. If you answer, I’ll shatter the crystal of truth myself.”
A question that’s both public and private? That likely rules out anything about Ji-yeon. I nodded slightly, maintaining a neutral expression.
“Go ahead. I’ll listen.”
“Why do you always sacrifice yourself like that, Su-hyun?”
The moment I gave my permission, Ha-yeon spoke up immediately.
”…Why do you feel the need to sacrifice yourself?”
”……!”
In that instant, Ha-yeon’s face seemed to blur and overlap with Han-byeol’s. Memories of our conversations in the cabin flooded back.
<Stop it. Why do you do this, brother?>
<And why do you go to such lengths to hide it?>
<So, can you be trusted?>
Han-byeol had left me with those words. And if my guess was right, I was about to hear a similar question now.
Ha-yeon continued, as if she hadn’t finished speaking.
“They say the more you use that power, the more it destroys your body. Shouldn’t you avoid overusing it? You handled the demon alone just now, but couldn’t you have fought alongside us? Did you really have to use that power at the risk of your own life?”
“That’s…”
“I understand it’s a selfless act, coming from a good place. But this is Hall Plain. You know what this place is like. You’re someone who can take care of yourself, so what are you hoping to achieve by acting this way with us, with the kids? What intention, what purpose drives you to choose sacrifice? Please, answer me….”
Her desperate tone made me sigh softly. Yet, inside, I felt a quiet smile forming. At last, someone had asked the question I most wanted to hear.
Everyone was looking at me with eyes full of something burning. Savoring their gazes, I slowly began to speak.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Ro Yujin.
Today, I feel quite calm and peaceful. Maybe it’s because the weather has cooled down. :)
With this, the conversation will be wrapped up in the next chapter.
As for the more intense parts… they’re on hold until after we leave the ruined lab.
We’ll return to Mule, get things in order, and then proceed. So please be patient. :)
I’ve written a lot today, so it’s time for lunch. I’m starving. Haha.
I hope you all have a wonderful day.
『 Reader Comments 』
Miwolya: Congratulations on the first comment. I hope you enjoyed episode 107.
MT Bear: Haha, it’s okay. I have many readers who support me, even if they don’t comment. :)
ㅡMinTㅡ: Your comment was spot on. Haha.
AmericanMakbak: Haha, the introduction is driving me crazy. I’ve deleted over eight drafts already. ㅜ.ㅠ
Menaldo: Yes, I’ll update after we return to Mule. There’s a change coming, so it’s better to post after the growth is complete. Haha.
Ramude: Thanks for pointing out the typo. It’s been fixed.
CrossDie: The “Make Ha-yeon a Villain” project! Just kidding. We’ll have to rely on Yujin’s easygoing nature. :)
gfdrkgdfgkml: Seriously, how dare Ha-yeon question the protagonist like that! Ahem.
CheongeopHyeolSinCheonMuJon: Seraph? Poor thing. I created the character, but still, poor thing.
Toranoanal: Haha. Haha. Ha…OTL. Look forward to what happens after we return to Mule…. ㅜ.ㅠ
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