The vice president guided me to the reception room inside the central administration building.
The reception room had a plain structure.
It had the basic decorum, but the wallpaper and furniture were arranged in a way that overall gave a cozy feeling.
“This is tea brewed from monarch leaves.”
[Thank you]
As I entered the reception room and was observing the surroundings, the vice president led me to the sofa. She even personally served tea from a tea set prepared on one side.
Feeling the plush sofa beneath me, I picked up the teacup placed on the table.
The warm sensation radiated from the cup in my hand.
Watching the steam rise from the tea, a very faint sense of hope began to blossom.
Of course, I knew it wouldn’t happen, but hope is an unavoidable wish.
I raised the teacup carefully to my lips, doing my best to avoid spilling it.
Before sipping, I cautiously inhaled the aroma.
…
After gauging the temperature for a moment, I tilted the cup. The warm liquid filled my mouth.
…Honestly, I wasn’t expecting anything. With a curse intact, there was no way I’d feel anything.
So, I sipped the tea a few times, taking it in as if it were just warm water.
The vice president also took a few sips of her own tea.
After a brief moment of silence while I drank, she finally spoke up.
“I’m responsible for the management and distribution of important rewards, such as artifacts, for stability reasons. That’s why I’ve brought you, Lee Ha-yul.”
It was a brief explanation about the current situation.
I was curious why the vice president herself was involved, but she seemed to have noticed my confusion.
Although receiving an artifact is mandatory to do in person, applications can be submitted online.
I had submitted an application a few days ago and was here to receive it.
“The name of the artifact you applied for is Wings of the Sky, or Heavenly Garment. The rank is medium-high. Does this match the information you were aware of?”
– Nod
“Then do you agree to the distribution of the artifact?”
[Yes, I agree]
The vice president nodded and snapped her fingers. Her mana rippled in response.
– Whooooooosh!
‘?’
The spatial perception wobbled. The perception, altered to fit the size of the reception room, responded violently, as if rebelling against something. A tremendous vibration reverberated through the space.
I was startled, straightening my back.
“Um.”
The vice president nodded, as if she had expected this response from me.
“Could you grant permission for entry?”
‘Entry? Permission?’
That was a puzzling statement. Was I supposed to grant permission for something here?
In that moment, my thoughts focused on the wildly fluctuating spatial perception.
The mana swirling within the vice president and her unique spatial abilities.
The spatial perception felt an unusually strong resistance from one side…
‘Hmm…’
I regarded spatial perception as a range for information collection. Narrowing it means less information comes through, while widening it exponentially increases the amount of information collected.
Let’s think of it differently.
Instead of merely a range for collecting information, consider it a sort of territory…
Feeling a bit perplexed, I subtly adjusted my spatial perception.
It wasn’t about widening the size, or changing the type of information being collected, or selecting what information to gather.
It felt like my senses were being nudged, and I opened the resistance left and right.
– Snap!
Simultaneously, the vice president, who had been observing me, snapped her fingers again. The altered perception revealed an odd sensation.
The space tore apart artificially. Beyond the torn space, I could see another realm. A space unknown, clearly outside the current boundaries.
– Zing!
Electricity crackled in my head. The dizzying sensation etched itself deep within my mind.
‘Spatial movement.’
The vice president’s ability. It was clearly felt through the spatial perception.
Something emerged from the torn space.
Beyond it appeared a thin, translucent blue cloth, floating lightly as if it would drift away with just a breath.
The Wings of the Sky. Or was it called Heavenly Garment?
‘Oh.’
Seeing the blue cloth that settled gracefully on the vice president’s arms, my excitement surged. If I didn’t control myself, my butt would bounce with joy.
After briefly estimating the state of the artifact, the vice president nodded.
She then extended her arms.
I likewise reached out to accept the floating cloth.
‘Ooooh.’
So soft.
Even though I had clothes between my skin and the cloth, it still felt incredibly smooth. Is this the feeling one gets from touching meticulously woven silk by a master craftsman?
A feeling of awe washed over me.
This was my first time receiving an artifact.
I had obtained a hidden piece, the Egg of Origin, but it hasn’t been opened yet, and it still felt more like a gacha ticket.
But the Wings of the Sky felt genuinely earned.
Gently caressing the soft cloth, I carefully infused my mana into it.
– Vroom!
The Wings of the Sky trembled. The translucent cloth momentarily turned blue before returning to its original translucent state in a repeating cycle.
It felt like it was enjoying the mana as if a happy puppy was being fed good food.
I gradually felt my mana mingling with it.
Not long after, I felt a strange sensation. It was hard to express, but it felt like oneness.
‘Got it.’
I manipulated the mana contained within the Wings of the Sky.
Simultaneously, the wings wriggled, flowing up my arm like water.
Eventually, the Wings of the Sky arrived near my shoulder, beautifully spreading out behind me.
It looked almost like a cloak. It moved according to my thoughts and altered shape as I wished.
It was a shape-shifting and remote control feature.
‘Ooooh.’
What a mysterious sensation. It felt as if an awkward extra arm had been added.
“The artifact distribution is now complete. May this artifact assist you in carving the path of a hero.”
[Thank you]
As I playfully flapped the ends of the Wings of the Sky, the vice president congratulated me and concluded the distribution process.
I felt a little more at ease.
In addition to shapeshifting and remote control, it also had basic protective functions, which would provide me some peace of mind.
Also, since it was powered by my highly pure mana, it was necessary to check for synergy effects.
All that was left was to experiment with it on the way.
There was no more business to attend to. I lowered my head in thanks for the effort, and the vice president extended her hand.
Curious, I looked closely to see a magic tool similar to the bracelet I received during dungeon practice.
“This is a magic tool with an identification concealment function.”
What’s this about? I wondered as she continued her explanation.
“Lee Ha-yul’s fame draws more attention than you think. I recommend you carry it to avoid any unpleasant incidents.”
‘Ah-ha.’
I had intended to grab one before going out, but the vice president had kindly given it to me first.
Once again, I bowed in gratitude and exited the reception room.
*
A calm silence settled over the reception room.
The same kind of silence as always. It was a familiar atmosphere for her.
Venus, the vice president of Shio-ram, sipped the remaining tea.
Thanks to magic, the warm tea warmed her mouth as a subtle fragrance spread. It was the unique aroma that enhances focus.
As she did so, she recalled Lee Ha-yul, who had bowed his head and just left.
After receiving the artifact, the excitement that lit up his face was like watching a child delighted with a new toy.
Then he hurriedly took off, likely heading straight to the gate terminal.
‘Hmm…’
Venus was somewhat opposed to Lee Ha-yul’s external activities.
Currently, Lee Ha-yul was still fragile. Before considering his potential, his current state was still weak.
There was no doubt about his potential.
He was a being sought after by the five tower lords with utmost care. Given time, he would undoubtedly reach new heights, perhaps even further.
But right now, he wasn’t at that level. He needed time.
He required a location to be safe from threats, where he could cultivate himself while stabilizing his soul and mind.
That place was Shio-ram.
This place was specially designed to serve just one individual from its formation purpose.
In Venus’s view, allowing Lee Ha-yul to go outside was not a wise choice.
Moreover, not assigning any protection was even stranger.
“……”
One important thing was not her own thoughts.
Venus set down her teacup and snapped her finger.
– Snap!
The sunlight shining in the reception room vanished. The windows that allowed sunlight were nowhere to be found. The table was the same.
In fact, the surroundings had completely transformed. The only thing that remained unchanged was Venus herself.
Spatial movement. A power she extended from her unique abilities.
Without panicking, Venus stood up. The plush sofa of the reception room was replaced by a creaking wooden chair that rocked back and forth.
Venus glanced around.
There was a darkness that allowed no sunlight to enter.
The silence was thick. A different kind of silence from the one felt in the reception room.
The silence in the reception room could be categorized as day-to-day comfort. A common type of experience, making one feel a sense of peace.
This place felt different.
It did not fit into the category of everyday life. It was an unsettling silence that would elicit a feeling of wrongness.
Venus began to take steps.
As she walked, the space trembled.
The entire area was filled with darkness, making it impossible to determine whether there was a floor or ceiling, but she instinctively knew where to head.
Her steps did not last long.
Abruptly stopping, Venus closed her eyes momentarily before opening them. Her half-closed amethyst eyes focused on a direction.
Then, her eyes glimmered. Countless constellations arose and faded over the dark purple backdrop.
Venus read the constellations. In this place where the night sky could not be seen, she deciphered fragments of the future through the stars.
There was a small star. But more importantly, there was a star shining brighter than all.
Towards that star, a sinister force was approaching.
In comparison to the genuine threat looming ahead, it was trivial; yet, it was a dangerous level to the current star.
Could Lee Ha-yul defeat that ominous force? The potential of the future and the current level were vastly different; should she really leave this be?
Was it right to allow the boy, who would grow confined to the cradle, to dive into adversity?
“Lee Ha-yul has received the artifact and headed outside. Will you not stop him?”
There was no response.
“If you won’t stop him, would it be possible to at least assign minimal protection? It would help prevent the worst-case scenario.”
Again, no answer. Venus did not find it strange. Rather, she continued with an attitude that it was expected.
Venus was the representative of the principal who never appeared in public.
The vice president was the spokesperson for the principal’s intentions, not her own.
What mattered was not the vice president’s intentions but the principal’s intentions.
However, due to the curse, the principal could not transmit his intentions.
Thus, Venus, based on the information provided to her, always acted by inferring the principal’s will.
No response came back.
Venus sank into contemplation.
While she personally was not pleased with Lee Ha-yul going out, she permitted it. And she did not assign any protection.
This was because she had previously received vague intentions from the principal.
Now… with the stars read and the ominous force felt, she was lost in thought.
What she needed was to predict the principal’s intentions. However, after seeing the ominous force, she could not make a proper judgment.
At that moment…
『No, interference』
“……!”
A faint voice vibrated through the space.
Had there been even a hint of noise, no one would have noticed this feeble utterance.
『Observation, gazing』
Yet, at the same time, it was a voice of overwhelming authority that could not be ignored. Even if this place was filled with noise, everyone would hear this voice.
Weak yet powerful. The contradiction lingered as Venus’s usually droopy eyes widened.
The principal had temporarily broken the silence. Not as a vague expression of intent, but through clear articulation.
This was a proclamation that endured the backlash of the curse.
“…Yes, understood.”
As Venus composed herself, she bowed her head towards the source of the voice.
It was a declaration that the principal had expressed despite the suffering of backlash.
Setting her own judgment aside and obeying the principal’s words would be the correct choice.
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