Chapter 280 |
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[Translator – Night]
[Proofreader – Gun]
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Blink –
It was a split second of eyelids closing and opening in a flash.
Blink –
‘Did I doze off for a moment?’
It wasn’t far from the truth.
In fact, she had been feeling the effects of alcohol from earlier until it reached the tip of her head.
She shook her head once and then looked straight ahead.
‘…’
Emotions quickly found their place.
Sadness.
The mood sank.
Self-loathing turned into a desire for self-destruction, prompting her to raise her glass endlessly.
Yussi picked up the glass again with a terrible feeling.
…No, she tried to raise it again.
‘!’
Looking at her reflection in the glass, Yussi froze.
‘…What is this?’
Am I dreaming?
In the glass, she saw the face of a man she had never seen before.
Utterly ordinary, with no distinctive features.
If he passed by on the street, he would be forgettable in ten seconds.
The man in the glass, too, looked at her with a shocked expression.
‘Who is this?’
But that wasn’t the only strange thing.
What is this enormous, unidentifiable force accumulating in the body?
And what are these artifacts in her embrace?
Yussi instinctively groped her body.
Swoosh –
She felt the texture of a golden key and a pair of goggles.
Familiar artifacts.
‘These artifacts must belong to the Hero… Why are they with me?’
Yussi couldn’t shake off the shock.
[Hehehe, can’t seem to pull yourself together,] a strange voice echoed in her mind.
Step by step, footsteps approached her ear.
Someone was coming closer.
Yussi reflexively turned her head and…
‘What is this!?’
She was so shocked that she almost fell off her chair.
Her face felt momentarily pale.
She looked at the person who had approached with eyes twice the size.
‘It’s me?!’
Dark blue hair down to her waist.
Fair skin.
A gloomy expression.
A towering height over 170.
It was a familiar sight she faced every morning in the bathroom mirror.
As she looked with a shocked face, ‘she’ also looked at her with a puzzled expression.
Once again, an unidentifiable voice echoed in her mind.
[Sloooowly pull yourself together.]
‘I, I…’
[Impressive, isn’t it? The perfect polymorph.]
Tsk tsk tsk –
As if scattered puzzle pieces were coming together.
Her fragmented self and identity reattached.
Thoughts and memories shifted.
As the surface-level ‘Yussi’ receded, the confusion subsided, and peace finally returned.
‘I am… I’m not Yussi.’
The Hero let out a small sigh.
Numerous comments appeared in front of her again.
▼
User’s unique ability: ‘Evolution Polymorph’ has gained a new ability.
▲
▼
Understanding of Yussi Glendor deepens.
Understanding: 50/100 -> 72/100
▲
▼
Advanced alchemical formulas possessed by the replication target are added to the database.
▲
▼
Exploring the possibility of developing a new phase…
▲
The Hero gripped the table’s edge so hard that his knuckles turned white.
‘I was completely replaced for a moment. Is this even possible?’
After replicating Yussi’s memories and emotions and then suddenly experiencing what happened, it was a shock.
[You’re trying to ‘understand’ deeply, aren’t you? These things tend to happen when you do. I wasn’t swayed as easily as you, but you know.]
‘…’
[Can you start to understand what kind of torment I felt? How it feels to become someone you hate?]
But there was no time to ask about the details.
Yussi had approached too closely.
Why is this girl who was just drinking suddenly approaching me?
Judging by how much alcohol was left in the glass, she wasn’t leaving the bar just yet.
‘…Could she have noticed?’
No, probably not.
The Hero hardened his expression and fixed his gaze straight ahead.
Whatever it is, avoiding it for now is the best option.
If he meets her in this emotionally confused state, he might reveal something strange.
Step by step,
‘Hoo.’
Once Yussi’s gaze turned away, the Hero breathed a sigh of relief without anyone noticing.
‘Thank goodness.’
She passed by him and walked out of the bar.
Creak –
Then, leaning against the wall, she lit a pipe.
Yussi’s figure emitting smoke amidst the pouring rain.
The Hero finally relaxed his tension.
[Why the disappointed expression? Did you secretly hope to be recognized? That’s impossible. Humans are easily deceived by what they see. You hoped for nothing.]
The Hero was about to deny it outright but stopped.
‘…I don’t know.’
[Ho, surprisingly honest.]
‘You would know best what I feel like. Lying would only be embarrassing.’
Crunch –
The Hero’s hand clenched the glass.
He then emptied the contents in one gulp.
The burning sensation of strong alcohol. But the remnants of emotions he had just felt didn’t easily disappear.
Self-loathing, emptiness, betrayal, sadness… and affection. What he hated most was himself for making Yussi feel such terrible emotions.
Strong disgust followed.
??? laughed incessantly.
It was a laugh of satisfaction.
[Hahaha…]
Perhaps it was the satisfaction of finally encountering a ‘similar being.’
The Hero clenched his fist.
It was true that he had felt a similar misery.
But…
[You must hate it. You sacrificed so much for everyone, yet people hate you. The more you meet your old comrades, the more you’ll come to hate humans.]
After a moment of contemplation, the Hero replied,
‘I don’t think so.’
“What?”
The outcome would be different.
The Hero recalled one by one the emotions that had just overwhelmed him.
As mentioned earlier, it was bitter and painful.
Feeling such emotions toward her precious comrade Yussi was unbearable.
But within that whirlwind of violent emotions, he found traces of the relationship they had built before.
‘…Yearning.’
The Hero looked at the glass with teary eyes.
This was something he had never expected.
He thought hatred, resentment, and betrayal would suffice.
Or she would have preferred to forget everything and replace it with indifference.
But yearning.
As he realized this, a faint warmth seemed to flow through his body.
It might be shameless to feel happy about it.
But how much of a comfort that light touch of solace was, he couldn’t express in words.
‘You are the courage that supports me even in such situations.’
The Hero glanced at the elongated silhouette outside the door and then walked towards the counter.
The innkeeper, who was yawning with his mouth wide open, suddenly widened his eyes when he saw the gold coin he pulled out.
“Ahem, there’s change left…”
“Include that seat in the bill. You can keep the rest.”
The innkeeper smiled broadly and nodded.
If it were Yussi, there would have been more than one man showing such kindness.
This much should be fine.
??? growled fiercely.
[Huh, I wonder if you can be so relaxed at the end of the journey.]
The Hero shrugged and left the bar.
…There were still many people he had yet to meet.
.
.
.
‘What on earth?’
Yussi was lost in thought as she exhaled smoke.
It was because of the man sitting across from her who had been there a moment ago.
Ordinary attire, ordinary face, ordinary feeling.
He should not have caught her attention at all based on his appearance alone, but…
‘It was a face I’ve never seen before.’
Outsiders were rare in this remote village.
And in just a few days, she had already memorized the faces of the residents who frequented the bar.
‘A traveler at a time like this.’
Moreover, that man always ordered the same drink whenever Yussi ordered one.
She had thought it was a deliberate attention-seeking act and ignored it, but he stayed in the bar until this late hour.
——————
[Translator – Night]
[Proofreader – Gun]
Join our Discord for release updates!
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Even if he was a regular, he should have been drunk and passed out by now, so it was strange.
Yussi narrowed her eyes.
‘And more than anything, that look in his eyes…’
Since men in the bar often stared at her, it wasn’t anything new.
Just a moment ago, she thought he was one of those men.
But the brief, coincidental glimpse of his eyes.
Warm and gentle, like someone she had known for a long time, they irresistibly drew Yussi in.
It felt so familiar that she couldn’t resist.
‘Surely not, right?’
Even without realizing it, a faint hope moved her.
She wanted to ask why he was staring at her like that.
But just as she was slowly approaching the man, in that very moment, the warm look in the man’s eyes suddenly turned cold.
She was engulfed in confusion and shock.
Yussi’s mood plummeted.
‘I’m not some kind of monster.’
Feeling embarrassed, she just walked out with her cigarette.
Yussi glanced back for a moment.
The unfamiliar man was no longer in his seat.
…Feeling a bit annoyed, Yussi stood in front of the counter, wanting to leave.
“Bill.”
“Hehe, the gentleman over there took care of it.”
Yussi’s eyebrows slightly furrowed.
“He paid for my drinks?”
She had been drinking expensive liquor without restraint.
It wouldn’t be easy for a stranger to handle such expenses.
‘…Now he’ll use that as an excuse to talk to me.’
Before something troublesome happened, she decided to quickly return to the mansion.
As she made up her mind, Yussi hurried towards the back door.
She abruptly stopped in her tracks.
“……”
Yussi quickly walked back to the counter.
“Um, what happened?”
“…That man just now. Where did he go?”
As it was the first time Yussi showed interest in someone else, the innkeeper seemed quite surprised.
“After paying the bill, he left right away…”
“Gone? Without leaving any contact information?”
“…Yes.”
Yussi felt an inexplicable strong intuition.
It was as if something deep inside her was rising and enveloping her consciousness.
A feeling that couldn’t be understood rationally, but couldn’t be ignored either.
Clang!
She pushed open the back door and headed out onto the street.
Since it was late, the alley was quiet.
Silent snowflakes were falling.
Yussi walked a few steps forward in a daze but suddenly stopped.
Her cold rationality halted her footsteps.
‘…This is not the time.’
The man who hadn’t shown his face in three years had appeared.
‘Surely, he’ll go to others as well.’
If that’s the case, she’ll wait first.
She believed she could recognize him now.
‘This time…’
Yussi’s eyes, which had been lifeless, were now burning brightly.
She didn’t know what she wanted to do when she met him.
But first, she had to meet him to find out.
‘I won’t miss it this time!’
Yussi sprinted towards the mansion.
…It was an unexpected variable, even for the Hero.
* * *
“There is one condition.”
When explaining the details about sealing protection to Arpheus, his reaction was notable.
Arpheus promised to devote himself to the protection of the seal with all the forces he had gathered, as long as one condition was met.
Upon hearing this, Luke looked at him intently.
“If you say ‘condition’…”
He was ready to accept almost anything.
Although Arpheus hadn’t reached the peak, he possessed an immeasurable amount of mana.
‘In other words, he can show unmatched strength to lower beings.’
In a quantity battle, he might even have an advantage over them.
He was lacking nothing as a pillar of seal protection.
…Because of this, Luke listened with a positive attitude.
At least until he mentioned an unexpected condition.
“Leciel Hiyashin. Please introduce me to Gumsung. If she is affiliated with the same seal, it will be even more perfect.”
Luke couldn’t hide his momentary confusion.
“May I ask for the reason?”
Arpheus’ gaze softened.
“As you just saw, my power is incomplete. It’s unbalanced.”
“…”
“My mana is close to infinite, but my skills are mediocre.”
The four knights of the Lotus Knights all looked at him with interest.
“…You’re honest.”
“If you don’t quickly admit your shortcomings, it’s difficult to survive in this era, isn’t it?”
Some might see him as bold.
But to Luke, it felt more like preemptively blocking criticism by revealing weaknesses first.
It was an attitude that someone who had lived a life with many enemies around might have.
Arpheus continued speaking.
“That’s why I want to request a swordsmanship exchange with her.”
In other words, he wanted to receive teachings.
In fact, this was quite a bold statement… Because Leciel was perceived as a ‘fake’ disciple by the public.
Of course, she had entered the Dawn Knights instead of the Lotus Knights, and her origin as a Hiyashin made her less subject to sharp scrutiny, but still.
From Arpheus’ perspective as the newly appointed Hero, it was normal to be cautious.
But Arpheus was stubborn.
Luke responded awkwardly.
“She is a genius beyond comparison. I’m not sure if a swordsmanship exchange would be suitable for her. Perhaps it would be better to introduce our commander or another swordsmanship genius.”
This was also true.
It was clear that being a genius didn’t necessarily translate to being a good teacher.
Leciel’s talent was so outstanding that ordinary people couldn’t keep up with her teachings.
But Arpheus was persistent.
“I aim for the highest. Therefore, I want to learn from the best. That’s what I mean by asking for swordsmanship from her, who is praised as the best swordsmaster beyond the prestige of the Sword Saint and the achievements of the knights.”
“…”
“I am aware that you are the only friend of Leciel Hiyashin. Please.”
Luke’s forehead creased deeply.
If Arpheus had made this request a few days ago, unfortunately, he would have had to decline.
It had been a long time since even they had lost contact with Leciel.
But just yesterday.
He managed to get in touch with her.
That’s why she couldn’t come today.
Because of this, Luke could leave a positive answer to Arpheus.
“…I will contact you shortly after reviewing it.”
Arpheus smiled brightly and nodded.
“Thank you.”
…Leaving an impression of being an unknowable figure, the Lotus Knights left the reception room.
.
.
.
At the same time.
Ban was wiping the sweat from his hands while waiting for someone.
“It’s been a while.”
…He hadn’t forgotten to practice natural greetings and laughter from time to time.
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[Translator – Night]
[Proofreader – Gun]
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