The hologram of Lee Ha-yul was desperate.
What could be so urgent that he was clinging to the footsteps of the Alpha entity throughout the battle, trying to buy time?
Eventually, the scene shifted to a corridor, and the sense of desperation felt all too real in the ongoing fierce battle.
“…So? What’s the reason for showing this?”
It was a scene that was hard for Atra to watch.
After shaking off her troubled thoughts, she turned her head.
“Yes, you’re a protector, but you don’t actually scrutinize the observation records, do you?”
“Haha, it’s scary when Atra-nim comes to our office.”
It’s like saying they should better not mess things up or she’ll barge in.
“That’s not it. Why call me to observe this? Is there really a need for my company?”
Atra was somewhat akin to Lee Ha-yul’s guardian.
Of course, it’s normal to ‘observe’ the scene of the dungeon’s rampage with a magic tool containing powers of observation.
It’s also understandable to collect records of Lee Ha-yul, who had drastically reduced the damage from this rampage.
In that process, seeking consent from Lee Ha-yul was a matter of common sense.
Considering that the party in question is currently unconscious, it makes sense to ask Atra, the guardian, for permission.
However, it felt strange that they were specifically requesting Atra to ‘accompany’ them, given how the association had been handling matters.
They could have simply asked for permission to view the observation records or informed her after the observation; it should have been one of those two.
Atra nodded her head. It was as if she was saying, “If you have something to say, spit it out quickly.”
Her personality was still the same. Maxwell smiled wryly, absentmindedly adjusting his tie before manipulating the magic tool.
Time sped up in the video.
After the horrific struggle phase passed, at some point, the video resumed play.
– Whoosh!
Atra gasped at the sight of the flames filling the screen.
The terrifying intensity felt even beyond the video. The certainty that if you got too close, you wouldn’t be seeing anything good radiated from the flames.
Gop-hwa.
“Of course, he must have used it.”
It was a life-or-death situation. In the face of such madness, it was prudent to use all means to survive.
But just because he survived doesn’t mean the aftermath will be easy.
The fact that Lee Ha-yul used Gop-hwa was already a topic that the first-year professor in charge had been keeping mum about after witnessing the incident.
Considering how challenging it was to deal with, it made sense.
He used Gop-hwa. So, what now? Are we going to start probing if he’s an illegitimate child of the Gop-hwa Clan? Or try to check his family ties…
Either way, this wasn’t a matter for them to meddle in.
If Hong Yeon-hwa, the heir of the Gop-hwa Clan, was seen fighting directly, it might not paint a good picture, they thought.
Yet, it wasn’t a matter worth broadcasting to the association or other institutions.
Seeing Atra’s crumpled expression, Maxwell shook his head.
“This isn’t all.”
“What?”
Maxwell operated the magic tool again. The paused video continued. Atra gazed at the screen with confusion.
How long had she been glued to the screen, feeling a mix of complexity and anguish?
– Crackle!
As the freezing started from Lee Ha-yul’s left arm and enveloped the monster’s face, Atra’s expression froze along with it.
“…What is that?”
During her time on the frontlines of magical warfare, she had met many members of the three great clans.
They were all strong individuals who had honed their unique abilities in one of the world’s most perilous zones. Atra herself had experienced Gop-hwa, Chaenghae, and Taesan.
The chilling aura seeping through the screen…
‘Chaenghae?’
Her thoughts halted. Her mind couldn’t keep up with the information in the video. It felt like her brain was refusing to accept it.
Lee Ha-yul manifested the Gop-hwa. She already knew that. She had seen it used in the tower. She suspected a connection with the Gop-hwa Clan.
But now Lee Ha-yul was manifesting Chaenghae…
Why, damn it.
Seeing Atra’s expression, Maxwell nodded as if he understood.
“This isn’t all.”
“…What else is there?”
Maxwell silently pointed at the screen.
What else could there be?
Atra struggled to sort her thoughts as she turned her trembling eyes back to the video.
Then.
– Boom!
The thunderous sound shook the corridor. Atra’s mouth dropped open in confusion at the golden light filling the screen.
That familiar feeling…
‘No.’
This was beyond familiar. This was not just ‘familiar.’
Intimate? Not really.
It was something she felt even in this moment, an aura Atra had always carried with her.
The unique ability that was the crystallization of Atra’s magic and skills which bore the light attribute.
“White Night…”
“Gop-hwa and Chaenghae. And the White Night of Clyde… The notion that all of them were used by one person is… Haha, that’s a statement that would get you labeled as a madman.”
Maxwell nodded in affirmation to Atra’s mumblings.
“I had to review these records for disaster management, so I had already viewed them previously. Ah, but please don’t misunderstand. I wasn’t looking at Lee Ha-yul’s observation records but rather happened upon it while reviewing the rampage incident records.”
Maxwell added hastily, fearing he’d end up being grabbed by the collar. He didn’t want to part with the expensive tie he bought…
“I thought it was necessary to inform Clyde about this matter, so I made this request for your accompaniment.”
Atra absorbed Maxwell’s explanation. It didn’t properly sink in. Her thoughts had already come to a standstill.
The mind already shattered by Lee Ha-yul’s tumultuous situation couldn’t fathom that absurd scene now embedded in her head.
‘……’
How could she even interpret that?
More importantly, how could they resolve this situation?
The association had already learned about that scene through observations.
Multiple unique ability users. Rare but not unheard of. After all, Atra herself possessed two unique abilities.
But there had never been a case of anyone holding both Gop-hwa and Chaenghae like Lee Ha-yul. And Atra’s White Night too… No, how in the world did he wield it?
It felt like her head was about to explode just thinking of the storm that would ensue the moment that information leaked.
“You needn’t worry.”
“I needn’t worry?”
“I’m not beating around the bush. It’s exactly what I mean. Clyde won’t have to worry. The main point starts now.”
Just then, as if he understood her thoughts, Maxwell suddenly spoke up.
“The record of that scene has been classified as a top-secret by the higher-ups before the disaster management department could view it. The only one who has viewed it is me. In my case, I only possess temporary authority to show you, the guardian.”
The ‘higher-ups.’
At that, Atra’s expression shifted.
“Higher-ups means the committee members, right?”
“No, it’s even higher than that.”
It referred to those above the committee members responsible for decision-making in the association. There were only two positions above them.
The association leaders.
The heads of the World Superhuman Association who founded it, managed it, and are now in recluse, namely the heads of the Tower of Space and the Tower of Harmony.
Atra’s expression crumpled.
The meaning of that statement was simple.
For reasons unknown, both heads of the association—the heads of the Tower of Space and the Tower of Harmony—had wrapped themselves around Lee Ha-yul.
“……”
The head of the Tower of Growth, who personally went to fetch Lee Ha-yul from the orphanage, granting him an exceptional admission status.
When Lee Ha-yul got embroiled in the incident, the head of the Tower of Space and Harmony took the matter into their own hands and classified the related information as confidential.
Three of the five tower heads were protecting Lee Ha-yul? Why?
“That’s all I have to convey.”
With a resonating hum… the hologram in the center of the room faded away. Maxwell, who retrieved the holographic device, shook his head with a fatigued expression.
“If it’s not too much trouble, may I be excused now? I have a backlog of work waiting for me, and it looks like I won’t be able to leave for a while…”
Seeing Maxwell, who looked equally worn out, Atra nodded with a complicated expression.
A few days later.
Atra’s complexion had turned even more ghastly than before.
Just a day prior, Lee Ha-yul had regained consciousness. His physical body was at least intact for the time being.
They had collected the severed… torn-off arm, but it had turned into unrecognizable flesh that couldn’t be reconstructed into body parts for a long time.
And there were many other injuries.
His entire body was fractured, circuits damaged… muscles torn apart, and intestines completely pulverized.
With injuries that could have killed him a hundred times over, perhaps by sheer luck, his body was recovering, and Lee Ha-yul was gaining consciousness.
And then he immediately fell into convulsions.
After briefly struggling through the pain that seemed to take his breath away, Lee Ha-yul lost consciousness again.
Atra’s mind became even more ravaged…
Lee Ha-yul was currently a target of intense care, restricted from visitors for his stability.
Except for Atra, who had been waiting outside the healing room, the only other person to visit him was Liana.
– Rustle.
“……!”
Strange sounds echoed from inside the healing room.
Atra shot up and pressed the call bell nearby. The healer would come running soon.
There was no reason to wait around now. Cautiously, she opened the door to the healing room.
His eyes were still closed, but his body twitched, suggesting he was regaining consciousness.
– Swallow.
Atra observed Lee Ha-yul with evident tension.
He had already had one episode of convulsions.
If he had another seizure… Atra’s heart might just shatter into pieces once again.
Lee Ha-yul seemed to be trying to raise his upper body, moving his arm.
It didn’t go as he intended. His arm, wrapped in a thick cast, refused to move as it wished.
Atra approached cautiously, making a sound.
“…Can you hear me?”
She whispered softly, unsure. Lee Ha-yul turned his head.
They had a silent standoff. Atra’s heart raced. She wished he would say something… damn.
What silly thoughts. While Atra mentally berated herself, a single tear streaked down Lee Ha-yul’s face.
Thud! A stone fell into Atra’s heart. Her vision blurred. She urgently opened her mouth but lowered her voice to avoid startling him.
“Why, why! No, why are you doing this…?”
Even as Atra waved her hands in confusion, tears began to flow abundantly from Lee Ha-yul’s eyes as if his tear ducts malfunctioned.
– Hic!
Moreover, the murmur that was lost in words could be heard. A wave of pain and sorrow in those emotions gnawed at Atra’s insides.
Lee Ha-yul struggled to raise his upper body.
His body still moved only with great difficulty, but he was recovering at least.
Certainly, he should have been hospitalized, but at this moment, he didn’t seem to be in a state to crumble or break apart.
In a rush, Atra held him up. If he were to fall here, it wouldn’t be something to laugh about.
In that very moment.
Lee Ha-yul suddenly lunged into Atra’s embrace.
Tightly… the sensation from the hug made Atra’s body freeze. Then she looked down in shock at her waist, feeling a sensation pressing against her.
It was one arm missing. A cast-encased arm struggled to circle Atra’s waist as if it longed for her embrace.
It couldn’t manage it well. That arm, bound by the cast, was unable to move freely.
Lee Ha-yul’s muffled voice echoed again. Atra, overwhelmed with sadness, urgently embraced Lee Ha-yul.
‘…What is this?’
Even amidst the chaos, Atra awkwardly patted Lee Ha-yul’s back as he squirmed into her embrace.
*
[Player Adjustment System: Measurement]
…
▶Mental State
“Exhausted”: worn out and weakened
“Pain”: discomfort and injury, both physical and mental
“Feeling of Loss”: the emotional state or feeling after losing something
[“Curse of Beautiful Misfortune” has activated]
[Life energy consumed restores the body]
[“Curse of Beautiful Misfortune” consumes life energy]
[“Curse of Beautiful Misfortune”: Death is merely liberation]
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