Chapter 248: Bloody War (2)
j9XIt had been a while since I last visited Choi Seol-ah’s house.kMdYekb
xsdkLI took the opportunity to catch her while she was preparing dinner and have a chat with Horn as well.lon
vVB6LU“How’s life at the academy? Is it going well?”h4i
EFN“Yes!”L6plVI
ttZyfZTHorn nodded vigorously while chewing on a mouthful of Korean beef.cyS
NU5k2EHer lips were glistening with grease. When I handed her a napkin, she quickly wiped her mouth and started talking.3jTJh
shDvmD“Everyone was much nicer than I expected! They were a bit distant at first, but over time they really started looking out for me. Especially Speedweapon… Weapon?”JQJdy
Z49tGoI corrected her friend’s name.0UtMe
Ee585Y9“Speedweapon.”Tpk
C4e“Ah, right. Well, that Speedweapon-nim helped me a lot in adjusting.”Hjss
pSJ“He’s a good kid. Worth getting along with.”lP0D6
igkir“He talks way too much and explains things I didn’t even ask about, but besides that, he’s a great person.”cV1YO
pyDWow, her Korean had improved again. She even had punch to her words now. At this rate, she’d soon master the final level of Korean K-style satire.J5S
BbLRp2At that moment, Choi Seol-ah, who was diligently grilling the meat, chimed in.eoZ4YB0
fPv“I told you not to eat with your hands. Use a fork and knife. Do you not listen when people talk? Do you eat like that at the academy too?”L9cg
kDev0FWearing an apron, Choi Seol-ah began scolding. Horn picked her ear with her pinky finger, looking annoyed.Gmn
ZzLznX1“I use utensils in the academy cafeteria.”teyu
K8k“Then why are you eating with your hands at home, Miss Yonggari?”pFnM6WD
8tGBFK“Because this is my house. And because you’re here. I don’t see a reason to maintain decorum. Also, according to the contract, I’m Party A and you’re Party B. Don’t forget that.”zjnGz
OmzvIt wasn’t a serious argument. Horn clearly had the upper hand, and Choi Seol-ah could barely put up a defense. It was obvious who the winner was.3iHO
9kSf“You…!”QQyb8
Vkfv8tChoi Seol-ah ended up holding her head like she wanted to tear her hair out. Maybe she was frustrated at losing an argument to someone who’d only been studying Korean for six months. Or maybe she was just fuming at being the legally inferior Party B. Either way, not my problem.4eb6b
DMw3idI calmly chewed another piece of hanwoo. The meat was delicious and tender. I tried it with a bit of pink Himalayan salt. The light touch of salt melted like soft snow on my tongue, and the elegant aroma of the meat filled my mouth.inAUovu
XZnOHfI glanced at Choi Seol-ah. Maybe all the meat she’s cooked had paid off—she was good at grilling now.DxMq
rwXCpRMeanwhile, Seol-ah pounded the floor with her fist from her knees. The vibration traveled all the way to the soles of my feet.9nZ
5T9“I never should’ve taken in a black-haired beast!”loBAZ
fqIBlack-haired beast? Was that aimed at me?jQzjTV
M7lVI furrowed my brows, but it was Horn who spoke up for me.CgX
llP7“What if the neighbors complain? Noise between floors is a serious issue!”DB9IHj
b0h3h7h“And you don’t think about the noise you cause me, huh? Sir! I can’t live with this long-eared one anymore. Can’t we send her to the Demon Territory? Please?”ZAlrq
bu57VAs Seol-ah exploded, the phone on the table buzzed. It was Vixbig.EZMAhgr
IUnqDVm[Sir Geom-Ma.]FmpRaXE
J4ybMVixbig spoke from the lit screen, her tone grave.E2gw
QsuV1Q[There’s a message from the Sword Master in Hawaii. If you’d like, I can read it aloud.]Bb05k
riFSilence filled the room. Seol-ah stopped talking. Horn set down the piece of meat in her hand.VlLFa0
biQThey both knew what “Hawaii” and “Sword Master” meant. I had already given them a rough explanation. Seol-ah was a villain, and Horn a demon—better for them to be informed.S30WiX
lc2737dThat’s why they surely understood instantly.asmT
oYTJcTWI was the one who broke the silence.OCH
skw“No. Tell me outside. And contact the Director and Meain. Let them know I’m heading straight to Hawaii.”gdcq
plOI stood and grabbed my coat from the back of the chair. Just then, Horn grabbed my wrist.87EzO
9PhIad“I’m coming with you, sir.”prm
p5flcHorn said. And Seol-ah added,R0Oxs
Y9Vbmk“I’ll go too, my lord.”ZA971y
lffI was speechless. Both of them were willing to go with me to the battlefield. Even the ever-cautious Choi Seol-ah. A lump caught in my throat.bA8uTn
nvv5“I appreciate the sentiment.”BxB
2eQxxI shook my head and gently released Horn’s hand.LlYgYj0
ER86TI“But this time, I have to go alone.”sMi29
dSQQ2JI looked her straight in the eye.iHHiG
Vf5“Horn, if you show up there, it could cause a major issue. Dragons are a demon race of neutral alignment. If you appear in the middle of a conflict between humanity and a Corps Commander, how do you think that’ll be interpreted?”vRYJVyl
DjWqnHorn replied quietly.hs06F
c59“They’ll say a dragon is siding with humanity…”JaAu
j8sl“Last time we only managed to keep things under wraps because we captured all the dark elves and the news didn’t leak. But that was pure luck.”0hqkE
5drDOThen I turned to Choi Seol-ah.xQznY
Tkv“Also, it’s already been decided with the Association that the Academy staff will remain here. That’s why neither the Director nor Meain will be involved this time.”aRmlIJD
GW7gho“Why?”GL9y1
2rTL“Because if everyone goes to Hawaii, the Academy’s safety is compromised. What if demons attack while we’re gone?”okbDnd
sYYWe had already learned that. The hard way.XqmXBW
a4qIo“A repeat of the Joaquin disaster…”nDU5
Wac“Exactly. That’s why a reserve force must always remain at the Academy. If anything happens, you two must act. I won’t interfere with that.”d71c
hjJi“Understood.”MMY
Rd1WX9Choi Seol-ah and Horn responded almost in unison. Just moments ago they’d been arguing, yet now they were perfectly in sync. Maybe that’s why they got along.TvBiD
atR3dl“Sir.”5mqNmMk
wfsiJust as I was about to leave, Choi Seol-ah, still wearing her apron, called out.FEe7yV5
qSR“I’ll have the best hanwoo ready.”Z21QSe9
UA2I gave her a sidelong smile and waved a hand.ozY
UXw“I’m tired of beef. Make it fish.”i5MB
SQFQOI left and headed to the subspace warp. First stop Incheon Airport. From there, I’d take a private flight with a layover to reach Hawaii.iLiD2IV
iJiA rather inconvenient process. But there was no alternative. The Hawaii portal was inside the Demon Territory’s influence, so space warping didn’t work there.omWwx
gIFVR“If I hurry, how long will it take?”NnlPAK
YeRMJGE[Approximately 10 hours,]e2r
kEGbVixbig replied to my mumble.HzbtOEL
7sSr[If I push full capacity, I can reduce it to about 7 hours.]9esM
AvtO2I3“And if you push harder?”HyM
2HL[6 hours and 30 minutes.]Pd7l
8LT388Q“Perfect. Do it in 5.”1qeQjCC
zRX[…]aR0yO
QbiaBShIgnoring Vixbig’s silent sigh, I set off. Time was running out.8Czq
iuyTx***hOvE0aD
YYS5The area near the portal was a hive of activity. Workers were installing barricades and barbed wire; among them, Association staff moved hurriedly from place to place; heroes checked their weapons and gear.BKpip4
nsdEveryone was fulfilling their duties in silence, with heavy or exhausted expressions.ci3LWa
se2xwQNAt the center of the area stood a massive temporary tent. Only a select few were allowed inside— the Sword Master, high-ranking Association officials, and generals of the Japanese army tasked with leading and coordinating the site.FO10zcD
s8dQBY“@#*%^$&!”hkdo2
KucfThey had been in a strategic meeting for hours, and more than once, angry shouts and exclamations leaked from within.OWZFZbq
PBJw9DWorkers would glance sideways at the entrance curtain as they passed, but continued their tasks as if it didn’t concern them. In contrast, Association employees and Japanese heroes stared anxiously at the tent, holding their breath.qnvEY9
lg9tPEveryone wanted the same thing—for their commanders to raise their voices with authority. Because that would mean a better chance at survival.yvc73
WE2cLuCUnder the mission to eliminate the Fourth Corps Commander, forces had gathered. But in the face of death, people become selfish. And reflecting that collective feeling, the leaders raised their voices inside the tent.O1nRT0
tFm“Is this a joke!? You’re telling me now that the Japanese army wants to stay in the rear!? Isn’t it a bit shameless to try to preserve your forces at this stage!?”lVJDHVx
dluVxDirector Sung growled, clenching his teeth as he faced the woman in front of him. Her name was Remi, a three-star general and the highest authority in the Japanese army.npCTlU
KBro0KK“Japan is here merely as support.”ZFCQ7
MOcFSRemi answered with her arms crossed. Director Sung’s prosthetic arm slammed against the table. Pens and pencils jumped like popcorn.QSJVmN
wC1mh“Listen. Do you think we’re doing this for convenience? The Corps Commander could attack us as soon as tomorrow! And you came all the way here just to say that? You should be ashamed!”tZd
oUV“Director Sung.”wSd8Z
5LZTrD5Remi furrowed her brows slightly and uncrossed her arms.dgkn
WmXb8“We may be in different groups, but I outrank you. I suggest you watch your tone.”qkbgTF9
9qXV6“Then act like it. That ‘hands-off’ attitude is cowardly.”kvS
IvAV60“Cowardly?”Afx
JcKSRemi tilted her head. An assistant whispered the translation in her ear, and only then did she react.63T
ciW“Are you insulting me!? I’ll consider this a serious affront to Japan.”N5ymox5
9NVq“Yeah, yeah, take it however you want. If you pull back now, Japan will be criticized worldwide. So I’ll consider myself the first to say it. What an honor.”6ID3
25c7BAs the argument escalated, both gestures and words grew more intense. Just when the tension was about to boil over, the Sword Master intervened.6MywuNb
CQ3zn“I’ve kept quiet because I’m retired from the Seven Stars… but I can’t watch this any longer.”OSeG
VvJDRemi took a step back. The veteran’s presence overwhelmed her.Ri61
9NI“If you want to fight, do it with swords, not your tongues. Anyone can shout.”GjZJv
rM0cG0The Sword Master rested his hand on his sword’s hilt.crbb
FswSPb“Maybe it’d be simpler to cut the problem down right here.”6YS5
DC6Confusion spread across Remi’s face, quickly turning to shame. She opened her mouth bitterly.SaKHXNz
1NY8“I hate to admit it, but I don’t have full authority over decisions here…”0ocz1
0NrRShe, too, was a Warrior-ranked hero and a soldier. Acting in such an undignified manner wasn’t her choice. Staying in the rear was shameful. But a soldier follows orders. She had been told not to move forward, and she had to obey. That was the military hierarchy.oa2TeP
dDZ2N“Remi, I understand your position.”t8f2
3gmCTbkThe Sword Master spoke calmly.XbZ
07V“But you know this isn’t the time to act on principle. It’s a matter of conscience now.”iMQ
taCzNJB“…”kAUDrw
5XmLRemi couldn’t respond. It hurt not being able to say with confidence, “You’re right.”ci85
z7P4gTo resolve this situation, it would take the intervention of one of the Seven Stars. And none were present. The Master himself had said he was retired. His words carried little official weight.gH7Wp
QFqbOnly then did Director Sung realize the situation and stopped pressing. He even felt some sympathy for her.3VE2zv7
679ixI‘She was so aggressive… and it was all because of an internal conflict.’iby
2S3MzFlap.NA2WI
BXWEhYhSuddenly, a heavy presence stirred at the entrance. Everyone turned, startled, just as a voice broke the tension.ifNiKX
CRo7vX4“Come on, open this tent up a bit. It’s hard to breathe in here.”2cFCGs7
ty08Sq1Changseong entered, pushing aside the tent’s flap. Everyone stared, stunned. Even Director Sung hadn’t known he would be attending in person.GTz
0Ci“I overheard something before coming in. Looks like the commanders can’t agree. And what do you do in times like this? You bring in someone who can boss everyone around.”gaT3JA
BpLovHe smiled as he stepped aside, letting someone else in.TFpdqO
Yf7t“I was in France when I got the call. Swung by to pick him up. Talk about perfect timing. Couldn’t be better.”SNHX
avqi1A firm, dark presence entered the tent. Tension and conflict vanished in an instant.bR6p7
zVgPd“With so many chairs, why is everyone still standing?”LjUMucE
cUnKang Geom-Ma scratched his head as he spoke. Everyone, as if their legs had given out, collapsed into their seats.DsfblX
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