章節 31: Chapter 31
"Eh…? Yes?"
At first, Lee Joo-ah listened back to see if she heard what she heard, but then she started to look surprised with a bewildered expression.
"T-the apprentice? Me?"
"Yes, I don't know what you're so surprised about. You signed a contract with Shinsu, so I think you're well qualified."
"But am I?"
"… You don't have to ask me twice, you heard me right.?"
Lee Joo-ah, who looked dazed and lost in thought at the reality of not even believing those words.
"Well, um…"
"Speak comfortably."
"Can I talk it over with someone?"
"Uh? Counseling? Who are you going to consult?"
"Actually, I have a friend who recommended me to be a summoner."
"Oh~"
I can't believe there's a student who saw through this girl's talent.
An unusual glint seeped into both of Riera's eyes, and her interest was piqued.
"Who is that?"
"Ah, that's Ha—jun–."
Instantly, she began to feel hesitant, as if she had made a mistake in talking about him.
No, I clearly misspoke.
She had clearly seen with her eyes what Ha Jun had done to Riera in this afternoon's class.
"Well… that…"
Lee Joo-ah looked up stealthily and began to see Riera's reaction.
And Riera was greatly perplexed, as expected.
Wide open eyes and gaping mouth.
Riera's expression was a mixture of astonishment and complexity.
"Kim – Ha Jun? Could it be him?"
"Yes, yes."
"Ha… ha, I see."
I was stunned… or rather… momentarily out of my mind.
I asked Choi Jun Won about the boy, but to be honest, I couldn't help but be surprised.
What on earth is he…?
The boy who was recognized by Choi Joon Won and saw through the talent of Lee Joo Ah.
By now, I began to suspect whether the kid was really a 17-year-old boy.
"Yes, I know anyway. Take your time to think and tell me."
"Ah, yes."
Lee Joo-ah immediately bowed and left the reception room.
Left alone like that, Riera thought about Ha Jun.
"I see…"
Riera admitted.
The fact that she was drawn to this boy Kim – Ha Jun.
No matter how outstandingly talented there was, she only thought it would be interesting, but she wasn't interested in anything else.
The only thing that caught my attention was the fact that I was drawn to visit here because I was interested in Lee Joo-ah, who showed similar talents to me when I was younger.
However, Choi Joon Won acknowledged, the one who recognized Lee Joo Ah's talent at a glance.
"It might take me even longer to leave, I guess."
A smile began to form in Riera's mouth.
* * *
The following day, Saturday.
Ha Jun and Lee Joo Ah were having dinner at a barbecue restaurant near the outside of the academy.
First of all, this barbecue restaurant itself was recommended by Ha-Joon.
In fact, I had never been here before, but I visited this place because it was the closest of all the restaurants selling Korean beef near the academy.
It was the first Korean beef I had eaten in almost three years.
"So, what's the matter?"
"…"
As soon as Ha Jun grilled the meat, he immediately put it in his mouth, gulped it down, and ate it.
Naturally, she offered to buy him a meal, so I had to grill the meat, didn't I?
In fact, Lee Joo-ah wasn't interested in the meat.
With a depressed face, she only thought incomprehensible thoughts while lowering her head as if she had fallen into deep thought.
Seeing Lee Joo-ah like this, Ha-joon tried his best to grill the meat and eat it.
Wouldn't it be a proper conversation only if we fill our stomachs?
Me.
"Take it easy and talk."
"Um, you know, there's that thing."
"Yes."
"I had a conversation with Riera yesterday."
"Did she say anything about taking you as an apprentice?"
"What, how did you know?"
"…I knew it."
Frankly, I had some idea, since I was told that her reason for visiting here was for Lee Joo-ah.
Because otherwise there would have been no reason for her to visit here.
(This is nobody's fault but mine, I suppose.)
I don't know much, but this was too much of my fault to be angry with the system.
Because if the other penalties were honestly closer to deterring the system, this one was purely my fault.
Well, but that's not the point.
"But shouldn't you have to talk to the family about these things first?"
"Yes. But I wanted to ask your opinion."
What is it? That look of asking for help?
I honestly wondered what the problem was.
Once Riera appeared, a penalty was imposed, but the result was not so bad.
Rather, because it helps her a lot in her development.
"You should become her apprentice."
"Apprenticed? Yes, can I do so?"
Ha Jun sighed and drank a glass of cider at the sight of Lee Joo-ah.
Judging by her reaction, this girl had no idea how great she had done.
Ha Jun explained the reason.
"Have you heard the rumour that the average life expectancy of new contractors is shorter?"
"Yeah, I heard that was the price of signing a contract with Shinsu."
"That's all bullshit, just because the contractor couldn't withstand the power of divine beast. They just didn't train."
"Huh? That's the first I've heard of that."
"Originally, these divine beast guys have a bit of a tendency to stand on top of their masters. In fact, without a contractor, they can't even get the power they need."
In response to He Jun's words, yes. She nods.
She listens to Ha Jun's words in full concentration.
"Don't think of the Shinsu as being the same as the other summons. In a way, they and Shinsu are those who were born with the same logic, but they are completely different, so don't expect unconditional obedience just because you have signed a contract. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I understand. Then, what should I do?"
Ha Jun thought for a while about how Riera would handle the collection.
What did she say in the game at the time?
Anna was the protagonist who asked the question at that time.
She asked Riera for advice on the question of summoning Hwansu, and when she even mentioned Shinsu by chance, I thought of what Riera had said.
– Shinsu? Well, you never sign up for them, but they're a bit special. But… -…
The words that followed were a little confusing even to Ha Jun, who played the game…
Well, it's what the specialist said, so it must be something for sure.
Ha Jun explained the method to Lee Joo Ah.
"First, you learn the method slowly from that one… you need to be confident."
"What? Confidence?"
"Yes, the one who made a contract with Shinsu isn't so confident. Sooner or later, you'll be eaten."
Eaten?
Lee Joo-ah's eyes changed to fear at the slightly unrealistic statement.
How could you eat a contractor?
Ha Jun continued talking, putting a piece of meat in his mouth.
"And most importantly, don't think of them as partners."
"What do you mean?"
"Don't think of them as helpers, colleagues or friends."
Lee Joo-ah gave an ambiguous look at these words.
Ha Jun continued.
"Fenrir, maybe it's because he's a dog of a kind, but Shinsu is famous for being a guy whose personality is like a dog. How can you handle a guy like that?"
"Um… empathy?"
"Tsk-tsk-tsk."
At those words, Ha Jun clicked his tongue like an old man.
To be honest, I was a little worried.
I wondered if he was suggesting that such an innocent child should be summoned for no reason.
"We have to clearly establish a clear relationship."
"clear relationship?"
"Huh… how do you know that?"
At that moment, it was Ha-Joon and Lee-Joo-ah who looked at the voice of a girl.
The moment they saw the owner of the voice, Lee Joo Ah, was startled, and Ha Jun looked at her with a twitch between his eyebrows.
"Can I sit in with you? I'll buy you dinner."
"Ah, yes, of course. Please sit here."
"Phew, I'd appreciate it."
"…"
Lee Joo-ah gladly gave up her seat, but Ha-joon was a little taken aback.
Why is she here?
Could it be that she followed us all this time?
When he looked at Riera with such a vague look on his face, Riera opened her mouth with a gentle smile.
"This boy is right. Don't think of Shinsu as a friend. If you underestimate them, they will literally eat you up. Frankly speaking, I think the name (Devil) would suit them better than the name Shinsu."
Devil.
Right. At the time, this was what Riera said in the game, referring to the divine beast as such.
The intimidation that comes through the form is radiant and gives off a sacred atmosphere. But the attitude towards the contractor who signed the contract was as demonic as the devil himself.
What these creatures want is only magic power.
Since they descend into reality and lend their power based on the summoner's magical power, all they wanted was magical power.
Literally, they consider the summoners they contracted with as tools.
You have to tighten the ropes from the very beginning.
"Not all, but most of the divine souls held this view. That humans are weak beings and should be honoured that they lend their strength to us. And the Divine Beast Fenrir you contracted is the most powerful and meanest one I've ever seen."
Fenrir was the very being that even she could not contract, or perhaps gave up on.
A being who was the most powerful, but had no contractor because of his tyrannical nature.
Therefore, Shinsu, who was only known as a legend, suddenly made a contract with a girl.
Glancing – Riera's gaze turned to Ha Jun.
"It's amazing that you saw through this girl's talent, but you were too bad at it."
"Huh?"
"What would you have done without me…"
"…I think maybe followed the set rules."
"Did you do it by default? You did?"
"Yes."
Riera looks at He Jun with suspicious eyes.
He faced such Riera with an indifferent expression.
In the meantime, it was Riera who suddenly approached Ha Jun.
She approached Ha Jun and started touching him, rubbing his whole body.
Ha Jun's eyebrows gradually narrowed at such behavior of hers.
"Miss Riera, that's sexual harassment, isn't it?"
Riera rubbed his body in spite of Ha Jun's words.
Riera immediately nodded, looked at Ha Jun, and said.
"I knew . I didn't see it wrong"
"What is?"
"You're not an Awakened, are you? No, even if you were awakened, your physical abilities are the weakest among your classmates. But…"
Riera's eyes narrowed thinly.
Riera glances at Ha Jun and opens her mouth.
"How do you do it?"
Ha Jun munched on the meat without reply.
He took a piece or two of meat from the griddle and ate it, and spoke while drinking a glass of cider.
"I guess I have a certain amount of wisdom."
"Oh, so you'll show me? I'm curious to see your methods."
At these words, Ha Jun began to get the impression that she was blatantly being troublesome. Sighing quickly, Ha Jun put all the meat being grilled on the griddle in his mouth and then opened his mouth.
"Since Miss Riera is here, I don't think there is any need for me to use my method."
"Hmm…"
At these words, Riera continued to stare at Ha Jun with an indifferent face.
Of course, Ha Jun didn't care about such a gaze and just continued eating the meat.
"Well then, you should follow me too. In a way, you told this girl about her talent, so shouldn't you be responsible for it?"
"Can I just follow along and watch?"
"Yes, that's enough."
Somewhat ominously, Ha Jun nodded quickly.
"Understood. Then let's eat all the rice and go."
"Yes, eat a lot here."
"Boss, please give me three more servings of 'Sirloin Filet' here."
"…"
* * *
Meanwhile.
Office of the President of the Heroes Association.
"Yes, yes, okay. Minji, stay next to you.?"
– Yes, father. Still, don't push yourself too hard.
"Okay. Don't worry about me, take care and play. As I said surely I'll be back tomorrow, so I'll see you then. I'm busy and I have to cut this short."
-Yes. Good work, father.
Beep.
Association President's office.
There was a middle-aged man sitting at his desk, answering the phone and smiling kindly.
He was the very head of the Korean Association, Kim Jong Yong.
He smiled at the caller and sighed as he hung up the phone immediately.
"Oh, I wish I could follow you, but I have a lot of work to do."
"Sounds like something good happened to you."
Choi Mari, the association's secretary, asked.
The head of the association only sighed as he shook his head at her words.
"Something good has happened, but it's gone. There have been a lot of incidents and accidents recently."
For the first time in a long time, he wanted to go outdoors with his son and granddaughter, but the schedule was canceled due to various incidents and accidents.
One of the most significant incidents was the Nefertem Hotel incident.
A big villain with national scale power – Carton.
As long as that guy was in Korea, it was difficult to hope for peace, at least.
"Carton's location is also impossible to trace, and what else? Did I mention it's near Dongdaemun Station? I heard that the magic concentration there is unusual…"
"To be precise, the magic power is gathering in one place."
"Did you say that it was indeed at 8pm last night? Where are the personnel?"
"We have already placed them on the scene."
"Is there any possibility that someone could have used magic and caused a terrorist attack?"
When we examined the scene, we did not find that many people.
There were no major anomalies.
Only the magic power concentration at the site was abnormally higher than in other areas.
Of course, the phenomenon of such was a common occurrence.
However, the association president was somewhat uncomfortably not feeling good about it.
Was it because his own son and granddaughter were out at a nearby site?
"Hmm…"
He stood up, turned around, and stood in front of a large window through which the city could be seen .
He opened his mouth, quietly, looking at the busy people walking with worried expressions on their faces.
"Something doesn't look right…."
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