The temple was bustling with people. Whether they were there for summons or exploration reports, the line stretching all the way to the entrance seemed excessive.
Well, considering Monica had taken in a large number of refugees after the recent invasion, it was only natural that the temple, the only one around, would be crowded.
“Did you hear the news this morning? They say all contact with Halo was lost at dawn.”
“Yeah, I heard. It’s driving me crazy… But the thing is, we have no idea what’s going on over there.”
“Didn’t you say you had a close friend there? Have you tried reaching out?”
“I did. As soon as I heard, I tried to contact them, but I couldn’t get through. Just a lot of static… Sigh…”
The buzz in the air was all about Halo. The fact that the warp gate and communications were down suggested many possibilities. It could be a massive disruption, or worse, everyone there might be dead. In the worst-case scenario, the warp gate itself might have been taken over.
Of course, I already knew the answer, but I couldn’t reveal it. I listened to the murmurs of the users as I quietly waited for my turn.
After about an hour, the line began to move, and soon it was my turn. I stated my name and purpose at the entrance and made my way through the busy priests. There was no guide, but I had been here several times before. I quickly found the room and stepped into the glowing blue portal.
“User Kim Su-hyun. It’s been a while.”
As soon as I entered the summoning chamber, a familiar voice greeted me warmly. I glanced up to see the seraph sitting on the altar, her white wings gently fluttering. Meeting her serene gaze, I sat down a short distance away.
“You weren’t summoned today. What brings you here?”
“Take a guess.”
“Pardon?”
I pulled out a cigarette. For some reason, I always craved one when facing the seraph. Lighting it, I took a deep drag.
“Inhale… Exhale… You’re good at this. You always guess why I’m here.”
The seraph tilted her head slightly, then pondered for a moment before blinking and speaking.
“Is it about the Guardian of the Northern Continent?”
So she knew. I nodded, relieved I wouldn’t have to start from scratch. It would make things easier. I decided to get straight to the point, knowing the seraph would prefer it that way.
“Something ridiculous happened recently. You know Lee Hyo-eul, right?”
“Yes, I’m aware.”
“Lee Hyo-eul approached An Sol using the Guardian of the Northern Continent as bait.”
”…”
The seraph said nothing, and I didn’t continue immediately. If the angels considered An Sol as the successor to the Northern Continent, I was prepared to protect her, even if it meant severing ties.
I had my reasons for such drastic thoughts. An Sol was already a remarkable user, and she had the potential to become a Brilliance Priest, a secret class known as the pinnacle of priests.
I once thought the Guardian of the Northern Continent and the Brilliance Priest were connected, but my perspective had changed. In my first life, An Sol eventually joined the Odin Clan, which originated in the Southern Continent.
Even though Odin was a clan of users from all four continents, its main base was in the South. She might have left midway, but it seemed unlikely.
In any case, I couldn’t let someone with such potential slip away. It wasn’t just about potential. Even if she didn’t become a Brilliance Priest, An Sol was already contributing in her own way, despite calling herself a burden.
So, I spoke firmly, ready to say what I’d been holding back.
“Let me be clear. I have no intention of making An Sol the Guardian of the Northern Continent.”
“What…?”
“I don’t know what you and Lee Hyo-eul discussed, but as the user who has raised An Sol, I have no intention of handing her over. Tell the angels to give up.”
The seraph looked puzzled, tilting her head further. She closed her eyes as if organizing her thoughts, then opened them again.
“Understood.”
’…’
Her response was surprisingly simple, given how much I’d steeled myself for this conversation. Just as I was about to decide whether to feel relieved or suspicious, the seraph’s calm voice filled the chamber.
“User Kim Su-hyun, I believe there’s a misunderstanding. If you wish, I can offer you a chance to clear it up.”
”…Go ahead.”
Feeling a bit awkward, I took another drag from my cigarette. The seraph continued.
“There was indeed an attempt to appoint User An Sol as the new Guardian of the Northern Continent. However, it was only in the initial stages. The selection of a Guardian is a rigorous process that takes a long time. Even if we had chosen her as a successor, the process of becoming a Guardian involves no coercion whatsoever.”
“So, how should I interpret Lee Hyo-eul’s actions?”
“That is… Oh? Gabriel?”
The voice wasn’t directed at me. It seemed she was conversing with another angel. They often communicated silently, so I was mildly curious about their discussion.
The conversation didn’t take long. The seraph said, “Yes,” “Understood,” “I’m sorry, but I refuse,” and then sighed softly before speaking again.
“Apologies for the sudden communication…”
“It’s fine. But what was it about?”
“Oh, nothing important. Anyway, to answer your question, User Lee Hyo-eul has been serving as a Guardian for seven years now.”
It felt like she was trying to change the subject quickly, but since she got to the point, I didn’t mind. I listened quietly.
“However, three years ago, she expressed a desire to step down, and this intensified two years ago after joining the Haemil Clan. I believe User Lee Hyo-eul was exhausted. That’s why she acted so hastily.”
”…”
“Of course, User Lee Hyo-eul isn’t without fault. But the process of transferring the role of Guardian isn’t something that can be decided between two people. Didn’t she mention this to you?”
‘So that’s what she was trying to say back then.’
I recalled the time Lee Hyo-eul tried to speak to me in the office. I had deliberately cut her off.
Nodding once, I reached for another cigarette, only to find it had burned out. I discarded it and spoke quietly.
“Alright, I understand. So, you’re saying An Sol won’t be touched?”
“Gabriel has permitted some information to be disclosed regarding this incident. Within those limits, the answer is yes. User An Sol’s talent as a Guardian is exceptional, even among the best in history. Many angels were in favor of her as a successor, about half of them.”
Top-class talent as a Guardian? Across all history? I was genuinely surprised.
“But on the flip side, about half opposed her as a successor. And I am among those who opposed.”
“Really? Can you tell me why?”
“Personally, I acknowledge her talent as a Guardian. But User An Sol’s personality is ill-suited for the role. If she were to become a Guardian in her current state…”
The seraph hesitated, then murmured softly.
“The Northern Continent might fall into chaos. There’s a real possibility.”
Her serious tone suggested she was earnest, but I had to stifle a laugh. It seemed the matter with An Sol was settled. Having achieved my goal, I stood up, ready to leave, when the seraph spoke again.
“Are you leaving already?”
“Yeah. I’ve got my answer.”
I gave a casual reply and turned to leave. Just then, a thought flashed through my mind.
I brushed off my pants and spoke in a passing tone.
“But if her talent is that great, can’t she just change her personality?”
“No. That’s not an option. It’s something that can’t be overcome… Ah.”
At that moment, the seraph stopped abruptly, realizing her slip. She placed a delicate finger on her lips and stared at me intently.
The sky was gradually darkening, and the pitch-black night was slowly creeping in. As I watched the shadows settle over the garden, I took a deep drag of my cigarette and looked up at the sky. In the center of the dark night sky, a pale, frozen moon hung. I didn’t even think to exhale the smoke. I just stared blankly at the moon, replaying the conversation I had with Seraph a few days ago.
“I’m sorry. I don’t have the authority to discuss that matter.”
“The angel in charge of User An Sol is vehemently opposed. Even though User Kim Soo-hyun has expressed willingness to help as a mercenary, for some reason, they’re being stubborn.”
“A treatment method, you say…”
“We’re merely assistants. We can’t intervene in such matters.”
“If it’s an obstacle set by the system, there is a way to treat it. But it’s something that existed before entering the Hall Plain. You might not know, but tampering with the human mind is a highly complex form of magic. As of now, it’s just…”
“I’m sorry we couldn’t be of more help. But I hope you understand our situation.”
I had hoped to find a way to treat An Sol’s mental issues, but as expected, Seraph wasn’t easily swayed.
At least I managed to protect An Sol for now. But this wasn’t the end. If things continued as they were, she might fade into obscurity rather than becoming a priestess of light. This was a crucial issue, far beyond mere adaptation to the Hall Plain. I didn’t know what had happened in the first round to change An Sol’s mindset, but what mattered now was that it was time for a change.
“Hyung! Hyung!”
It was then, as I was pondering ways to heal An Sol’s mind, that I heard a frantic voice calling me. Turning towards the sound, I saw An Hyun with a flushed face.
“Hyung, what are you doing here alone? The party preparations are all done! Everyone’s waiting for you! Yeonju noona is asking for you to come quickly.”
“Why are you so excited?”
“It’s been ages since we had a party! A party, a party! And with equipment settlements too? Woohoo! Let’s go, hyung!”
“You little rascal. Alright, let’s go. And it’s not a party, it’s a team-building meeting.”
An Hyun, grinning as if it didn’t matter, pulled me along. He even hummed a little tune, clearly in high spirits. I chuckled and said, “Are you that happy?”
“Having it in the garden feels different. And you said we could drink today…”
“So it’s the alcohol you’re after.”
“Come on, hyung. It’s been ages. And I’m just happy to have a drink with you again. You’ll have a drink with me, right?”
“Hmm… Now that you mention it, I remember the four of us drinking at the academic information center. Alright, having a drink after so long doesn’t sound bad.”
I deliberately left out “just the two of us.” As I agreed, An Hyun seemed even more excited, humming and quickening his pace. I matched his steps, following him while organizing my thoughts.
An Sol’s issue wasn’t something that could be resolved in haste. Especially since it involved the mind. I planned to take my time finding a solution. First, I needed to understand why An Sol ended up like this. And for that, I had to find a way to make her open up.
Of course, I didn’t plan to ask her directly. I’d failed at that several times already.
So, my first target to uncover An Sol’s situation was An Hyun. Being siblings, he likely knew more about what had happened, and I figured he was more likely to talk than she was.
“We’re here!”
Suddenly, An Hyun’s voice rang out as he waved his hand vigorously. I watched him quietly from behind.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
I managed to update at midnight today. Haha. I’m feeling quite pleased. Ah, it seems likely that I’ll be visiting the ancestral graves. I’ll discuss it properly on Friday, but my father hinted at it today. And since my brother is busy preparing for graduation, he’s declared he won’t be attending. Anyway, I’ll confirm tomorrow and let you know in the next note.
It’s Friday! A fiery Friday! Tomorrow is the latest I return from school, but I’ll try my best to keep up. Have a great day, everyone! (Good luck to all the working folks and students!)
PS. The readers’ attacks were fierce yesterday. But I held my ground. No matter how much you tease me about being a ‘RoYumi,’ I won’t waver. Haha!
『 Reader Comments 』
TearsRiver: Congrats on being first. Yay! :D Enjoy this chapter too!
NineSense: I’m just grateful. I’ve been reading on the subway to school, and there are so many interesting stories. :D
NovaB: Haha. Thank you. I’ll work harder on the protagonist’s character. And if you felt Kim Soo-hyun was stingy with expressions of love, you noticed correctly. :)
MyungBakJjang’sYangYangHapIl: Oh no, it’s a misunderstanding. Kim Yoo-hyun and Kim Soo-hyun have perfectly normal views on relationships. It’s just that Kim Yoo-hyun is a doting brother. For example, he thought highly of Jung Ha-yeon.
UsainBolt: Trying to lower An Sol’s popularity a bit. Making her a nuisance would be too much, so I just gave her a bit of a hard time. Just kidding. Haha. Think of it as a rite of passage for An Sol to become awesome later. :)
MerlyWee: Haha. Kim Soo-hyun was a loser and a nuisance in the first round. But! He has a perfectly normal view on romance! I once jokingly threatened to write BL when I was in a ‘RoYumi’ meltdown, but my mental state is strong now. Hehe.
Juary: The main content starts in the next chapter. I hope it resonates well with the readers. :D
Park Si-on: Thanks for the coupon! But I get anxious if I don’t write for a day. I can’t help it during exams, but I’m afraid taking breaks for any excuse might become a habit.
RisingPhoenix: Ah, I’m itching to say more. I’ve already finished planning for those characters. Their sacrifice will be for Kim Soo-hyun… Ah, I’ll stop here. I can’t wait to write that part. Haha.
PureBlood: Haha. I’ve realized recently that I might not be cut out to be a ‘bad guy.’ I guess I’ll live as a herbivore man forever… ㅜ.ㅠ
Thank you for always reading. I hope you enjoy the story with a relaxed mind.