Chapter 266: Soybean Powder

Saki Hina quickly arranged a visit to Joaquin Academy upon hearing that Ryozo had been hospitalized.

In truth, she’d already been informed it was only a minor injury. Besides, the two of them didn’t share such a close relationship to warrant a hospital visit.

Even so, Saki Hina bought a plane ticket to Korea in the middle of the night. Since it was a secret trip behind her father Saki Kojima’s back, she couldn’t use the private jet.

“Hmm.”

On the plane, Hina was reading each article pouring in like rain with intense focus. She didn’t even blink, entirely immersed.

The cabin was so cold, it seemed droplets of dew would form on her lashes.

[Terrorism at Joaquin Academy… Who’s Behind It?]

[Terrorists Storm Ballroom… Public Outrage Grows]

[Joaquin Academy: Students Live in Fear Amid Continued Attacks]

[Attack at Joaquin Academy Leaves at Least 20 Injured…….]

Most were reports about the “Joaquin attack” from the previous day. But one line especially caught her attention.

[At least 20 injured in the attack… but thanks to Heavenly Sword’s actions, the death toll was ‘zero’.]

A proud smile appeared on Saki Hina’s lips. She turned off her phone and looked out the oval window. The plane was starting to descend, piercing through the clouds.

“We’ll meet again, Heavenly Sword.”

As the plane lost altitude, her smile deepened. She didn’t deny the pounding in her chest.

Thump.

As she thought about the face she would soon see again, Hina pulled the window cover down to close it.

***

Right after I killed that ghost-pale guy, I dashed out of the temple. The Poison Twins had already joined in and resolved the situation.

With the addition of the original members —Karon, Shail, Abel, and Ryozo— the enemies were no match. In the blink of an eye, the rebellion was crushed, and the twins swiftly handled the cleanup.

Fortunately, the attack focused solely on the ballroom, which had been successfully defended by the original members. As a result, the damage didn’t spread beyond the premises.

There were some injuries, but it wasn’t chaos. Most were minor. Most importantly, not a single life was lost. Even though dozens of enemies attacked us, there were nearly no casualties.

It was an even greater accomplishment than quelling the attack quickly. That’s why Media grabbed my pants and cried like a child—though they were tears of joy, not sorrow, so it mattered.

After bawling her eyes out, Media went straight to tracking down those responsible. Meain joined in, visibly furious. Winter break was starting in two days anyway, so the timing was convenient.

They didn’t tell us where they were going, but I wasn’t worried. Who could possibly stop the Poison Twins now? Anyone who crosses them will get pulverized.

Their eyes were terrifying. Even I’m a little scared of them now.

At that moment, a sharp voice pulled me from my thoughts.

“Mom! I told you not to touch that! It really hurts!”

“Stay still, now—goodness, what strong little arms you’ve got!”

Ryozo protested as her mother, Cynthia, bandaged her arm.

I was watching their adorable exchange from a distance, leaning against the room’s wall. I let out a soft sigh.

‘I didn’t think her mother would show up this fast.’

She arrived even before the Academy made any official announcement. I don’t know who told her, but I have my suspicions.

‘Saki Hina.’

Hina was the one who gave Ryozo Cynthia’s whereabouts. So it’s not unreasonable to think the reverse happened.

Call it an information advantage. Even if there were local media or rumors, one look from me would shut them down.

‘Ryozo deserves these privileges.’

She was one of the two students who stood out the most during this incident. The other was Abel. Both were involved from start to finish. This didn’t even count as favoritism.

By the way, Abel came out completely unscathed. Ryozo was the only one hospitalized, and it wasn’t even serious—just a minor bone fracture.

Anyway.

‘I’ll have to talk to the Association about rewarding them somehow.’

I know they’ll both reject any prize, but I’ll force at least something symbolic on them.

It doesn’t have to be material, but they mustn’t go unrecognized. It’s not because I’m a Korean gamer. That’s just how things should be.

“Phew. Finally.”

Cynthia wiped her forehead with the back of her hand. On the bed lay what looked like a mummy. Only the face was visible—it was Ryozo, bandaged from head to toe.

“What is this?!”

“You know your mother was a famous doctor in her day, right? That’s why the doctors and nurses left your care to me.”

Care? The moment they saw her, the medical staff bowed like they were greeting a goddess.

They called her “The Divine Healer.” Clearly, Cynthia was no ordinary housewife. Even if she was the fifth or sixth wife, she was still part of the Saki family.

I’ve been in this caste-like society for two years now, and I’m starting to get how it works. Even so, I didn’t expect Cynthia to be this extraordinary.

And even more surprising—

“Wow, you look like a pharaoh all wrapped up! Why not quit the academy and work in Egypt?”

“Moooom!”

Was how much she enjoyed teasing her daughter. A childish mother and a daughter who acts like an adult. A volatile combination.

‘What a way to live your youth.’

Ryozo, for her part, seemed to have forgotten I was even there and was throwing a tantrum like a child. It was a bit disconcerting. She had always been so mature, and now she was acting her actual age.

‘But I guess that’s okay. That’s how it should be.’

I shook my head with a soft smile.

“Oh wow, I forgot you were here. It’s just too fun teasing her.”

Cynthia noticed me and quickly packed up the first aid kit.

“I’ll leave you two to talk in peace.”

Before leaving, she gave me a smile. Then she gently patted my shoulder.

“My daughter always owes you. I know it’s asking a lot, but please—keep looking after her.”

Cynthia looked at me intently.

“Jang… Seo… Bang.” [1]

Her eyes curved sweetly.

***

The word “son-in-law” hit me in the gut like a brick. I was half dazed by it, but snapped out of it when a voice called from behind me.

“Hey.”

I stopped and turned around. The mummy—Ryozo—was staring at me with a blank expression.

“This…”

She was going to say, “Loosen it a bit,” but swallowed the words. On second thought, there was nothing underneath the bandages. Loosening them could result in a rather awkward situation.

Not that she’d dislike it. She might even enjoy it—but it was still too soon. She could wait until he came of age. Ryozo was already thinking long-term with Kang Geom-Ma.

“Sit here.”

She pouted and pointed to the folding chair beside her. With his neck and jaw firmly immobilized, that was the most he could move.

I scratched my eyebrow with my thumb and sat down. I only meant to check on her condition and leave. After all, I knew how important rest was after years of hospital stays.

But even more important was the patient’s will. At least inside this room, Ryozo had the final say. If she said sit, I sat.

“……”

The atmosphere turned uncomfortably quiet.

Something felt off in the air. The scent of disinfectant strangely felt warm today, and the beeping monitor sounded like a heartbeat.

Ryozo, her eyers darting about, sighed. More than the bandages, it was the tension that weighed on her. She had to break it somehow.

“What happened in the chapel that day?”

She asked, and I hesitated for a moment.

It wasn’t easy to explain what happened without creating misunderstandings.

How do you explain that the Hero had been secretly talking to a demon? Even I didn’t fully grasp what had occurred. Explaining it poorly could create confusion. The facts still weren’t clear.

The room where Sein was being held was now guarded by the foreign Church, and Leon was outright refusing any interviews. It would take time to uncover the full truth.

‘Depending on what I say here, Ryozo’s image of Leon might change.’

There were already suspicions about whether the Hero truly deserved the title, and Ryozo didn’t have a favorable opinion of him to begin with. I felt uneasy thinking it might look like I was trying to turn her against him.

‘But hiding it would feel worse.’

She had a right to know why he fought for his life. I couldn’t lie. It was a matter of conscience. I could avoid the moment, sure—but it would betray the trust we’d built.

I made my decision. Ryozo deserved to know, so I didn’t hesitate long.

I told her everything exactly as I saw it, without embellishment or omission.

“…I see.”

Ryozo furrowed her brow. His analytical mind went to work dissecting the facts.

‘The international situation is already unstable. If this leaks, it’ll spark a major crisis.’

Despite her personal issues with him, Ryozo understood the importance of the Hero’s existence.

Leon had a near-miraculous ability to draw people in. Thanks to him, internal conflicts at the academy were quickly resolved.

‘It must be part of his blessing as a Hero.’

If he joined the heroic world after graduation, humanity would have a clear unifying figure. That was something even I, the youngest ever to reach the rank of the Seven Stars, couldn’t offer.

Just the fact that he’d spoken with a demon was enough to tarnish his reputation. People would begin to doubt him, and if humanity lost its figurehead, unity would become difficult.

With just that brief account, Ryozo understood the gravity of the situation completely. And she also realized that, at least for now, it had to remain secret.

But seeing how serious she looked, I scratched my cheek, uncomfortable.

‘This is just making the mood more awkward…’

So I changed the subject.

“Hey, do you remember when you and Abel asked me which of you I liked?”

I felt her ears perk up beneath the bandages. Her body was stiff as a cactus, but her ears were fully alert.

“I’ve been thinking about it alone since then.”

I lowered my voice a little.

“But… do I really have to choose between the two of you? Among friends…”

At that moment, the door burst open. Cynthia marched in with long strides toward us.

And she wasn’t alone. Following timidly behind her was a familiar face—Saki Hina.

The situation happened so suddenly that I froze. Was she listening to us? And what was Saki Hina doing here?

“Kang Seo-Bang.” [2]

It was the second time, but she already said it like it was natural. Swallowing hard, I tensed for no reason.

“I don’t care how many wives you take…”

Cynthia grabbed my hand tightly.

“But my daughter—my daughter has to be the first wife! Got that, Kang Seo-Bang? That’s all I ask.”

“…?”

My pupils dilated. My mind went into chaos.

“I don’t mind being the second… or whatever number.”

Hina spoke shyly, covering her flushed cheeks with her sleeve.

“…This is a mess.”

Ryozo muttered.

A cold and accurate judgment of her own family.

T/N:

(1): “Jang… Seo… Bang” (강서방) is a colloquial and familiar way of saying “son-in-law” or “my daughter’s husband” in Korean.

(2): 강 (Kang) is Geom-Ma’s surname, and 서방 (seobang) is a traditional expression used by in-laws to refer to a son-in-law.

So when someone says “Kang Seo-Bang,” it means, “Son-in-law Kang” or “My dear son-in-law Kang.”