Chapter 421: First Love (3)
5tDe“Anyway.”28jL9
SMT5cThe boss opened his mouth, not clear whether he was looking at the sky or glancing over his shoulder.YwG4
AH1K“…How long are we going to keep pretending we don’t know?”s9M
oBm0hUIn truth, a presence had been obvious for some time from within the thicket. The ones here were me and the founding hero. That wasn’t something easy to hide.qsgP
zWna2FV‘If it were an Auditore da Sicilia, maybe…’BYOW8
4ZCPfBut this all-too-familiar(?) visitor didn’t have the mastery of the Auditore family in concealing her tracks.Oewh
YMOQt33‘…Ryozo…’QLk7YV4
8j6CAkOThat was the name of the cat burglar. She was eavesdropping.jHLAfYa
Pd8y3I simply looked up at the night sky. The boss also vaguely averted his gaze and let out a line into the air.DktTaU
fEgLvW“Has that girl always had that hobby?”1ssR24
YL1“What are you insinuating about my wife? Let me remind you that, even if it doesn’t look like it, she’s the director of the academy you founded.”JcCd
5xpHHUk“I think I end up sounding stranger with what you just said.”WcDp5
tGb“……”0xp
dHEaHe hit the mark.5kqxqcJ
1vn7Y7The boss suddenly gave a hollow laugh.Nv2DUpm
KSX“Ha… though a person’s life may change, isn’t the difference too much compared to before?”TNmTeD
BlrkP“Yes, in my past life I crawled too much.”MLC
8h9Kim XX had hit rock bottom as a human being. In the end, he was called the best swordsman in the country, but to me that glory was empty.DFFXkF
HL8bo7What Kim XX truly longed for was not such a title.QmQp09B
fUqG“It also feels strange to me sometimes.”p1DrmXE
7alsPA love without conditions. What he yearned for was familial affection.bX2
5egcMZX“…In my past life there was no one who gave me a feeling like that.”3eaQ
kL7kZAI“……”ZjjUDn
I2MCmXnI smiled at him as if resigned, and looked at the boss.Qkjwy1G
zTX“Boss?”Q7VaV
CWLUBThen I was surprised.4umSUj
AozViv“You.”gbd
qgylPHe had an expression so complex it was hard to describe, as if his facial muscles had broken.puDk
iUALM“Don’t tell me… you don’t remember?”tJDX2k
AYo“…Excuse me? What do you mean?”U8ge
URn8T2What on earth is he talking about?KaV01
K1eyFRtAt my natural reaction, his black pupils dilated.DQAt
0cYhw“Could it be that you…”HTy
xUgBut then he immediately shook his head.rae9
iWMj“No. No, nothing.”E72JkPI
Soc52“Boss?”QuN82
STierMh“I’m tired. I’ll go in first to rest. You stay a while with your friend and come in later.”KjHE
GR8ZHe turned his back on me coldly.20ZEO
dH9qMKgAnd at that moment, I saw it.eete2
0U87iWRIn that man’s once calm gaze appeared an overwhelming murderous instinct.KQ758
4GoI could swear I had never seen such an expression.DJ2
rXXCS‘…What was that?’HoRcm
Ta6***ogBSgn
Ee1LXfMeanwhile, on the festival grounds.Qbmoqua
YSOInside the main building, a bit removed from the bustle.heD34
0zetLWhile a crowd enjoyed themselves outside, someone observed in silence, her cheek resting on her hand.jD7ckxs
6Iq4afPChaerina.XdIOS
tI1NHer irises were black, denoting an absence of emotion that matched her current expression.91ObPM5
fsPThe glow of lanterns reflected in the windows. Joaquin’s nocturnal lights flowing over the glass.KxG
IxCcg2SChaerina’s eyes swallowed all that light like a black hole, returning nothing.RwecF6
I6NFkjAn absolute absence of emotion.4eYc
02O5nrLAs if she were someone who had never felt anything in her life.TnW3
gHuGGClack.tT16
lWpTMg1The sliding door opened. A presence entered.f25xk
w5auChaerina didn’t react.3SpcH
8Oke“Even if it’s a commemorative festival, are you planning to spend the time bored to death?”E17WD
sYs8In the dark classroom, long white hair swayed at hip length, imposing its presence alone.QYO
Y4fsChaerina immediately knew whose voice it was with just one glance.NAWHc
baonxM“……”JAF
hMib“Well, for you, who live in a constant hell, every day is a funeral festival, isn’t it?”N7IsNKi
10hWvOsIt was the saint Yu Sein.Gm2
8tumIShe stopped in front of her, one hand on her waist.9UhJd
Wxaqsyg“Don’t look so cold. I only came to thank you.”ZweBUW
8CORgrb“I don’t need your thanks.”zbTPK
dUdvy7“How cold.”qhDOS
cn3lfdYu Sein dropped into the chair across from her, rested her chin on the backrest, and looked at her.J1R
pzt3EwChaerina frowned and stood up right away.UQWuu
HKu4“Hey.”dgF19dP
trnq0IYu Sein’s hand held her.nHgzjo
biiigb“What do you think you’re doing?”n9q7CkN
w6JChaerina looked at her harshly.fQNY
4y8Their black gazes clashed in the dimness of the classroom.3nXj
HY2pYu Sein pressed on.gKCK
h97X“I’m not asking you to pick sides or anything childish. I just don’t understand your behavior, Chaerina.”G4u
v7K“What do you mean?”3sSA
0NADwxd“If you’re the person I think, you should share Kali Yuga’s goal. And yet, the one who stopped him last time was you.”UKlk18
ghzKali Yuga.KOl
StgTfS4His plan was to take root in humanity’s psyche with Blessing of the Apocalypse M 2nd and subjugate it.Zxk
ifY2chThat grand plan was thwarted by Chaerina.hEAOE
Tt8JBHer power was Hell. An authority capable of superimposing another world over the existing one. A superior version of Kali Yuga’s illusions, with the difference that he had more real combat strength.Jni59
oRJChaerina could not face Kang Geom-Ma directly. She wasn’t up to par with a rival who had even managed to temporarily match the Heavenly Sword.GGGezqL
KWIMZChaerina coldly brushed away Yu Sein’s hand.HcfB
Gh8“It was a coincidence.”U6jci
LpU“There are no coincidences.”KBI0
lGK8YYu Sein smiled wearily.OZRe
7IlMZ“Under the supervision of the Power of Suppression there are no absolute coincidences. And you know what they say—when coincidences repeat, they become destiny.”IZdwq9j
QWqS“Classes are taken during the day, that’s enough.”NjhAk
6X3MOAK“I’m not trying to lecture you. I told you I came to thank you.”aidQk
VqePxjYu Sein sighed and ruffled her hair.rdDQa
PGS“…I know it doesn’t fit the role assigned to me, but in the end, I’m a saint. I thought if you ever need help, maybe I could do something.”D2w
2zuyX9m“You?”fAyr9u
OnrHmg“Yes, me. Among those of us in the same situation.”XZ0zme
t88“Same situation?”GEB
R8CChaerina repeated the phrase twice, as if testing Yu Sein’s patience.dQOw
crTxShe clenched her teeth in silence and nodded.VVcx
yNZ8WC“…You and I arrived here through the Power of Suppression. So I think we should help each other when it’s difficult. Since Kali Yuga, I’m sure you’re not our enemy.”wfoSr
zrGZ“You.”Ha4qP
mVTVXgChaerina’s eyes gleamed. At the same time, the pressure in the air grew heavier.sd6gd
uBysYu Sein felt as if a giant hand were crushing her.QfESKI
aHeF1“Don’t overdo it with illusions.”W3d6K2e
rVz5YCHer black hair floated, and at the tips appeared a reddish glow. Even in the darkness, her presence was dominant. It was the power of Hell.dsFV
Y144“One, you are my enemy.”gHL
LrYaJChaerina took a step forward.MeuvO
Jb54UF“Two, I came here by my own will, not by the Power of Suppression.”wHFhM
FcnShe countered point by point.V1O5h
FI1jbs“And above all, your arrogance in thinking we are in the same situation.”nsFnq
v9vThe tip of her fingers touched Yu Sein’s forehead.XMKM0
4XCXK“You will feel it yourself.”aEhXyq
SzDy“……!”JZwhYGK
YYmFZYu Sein’s mind sank.tPHR
21GhB7■■, I promise you. Someday ■■ for real.CLNJt
QOt9l■■, trust and wait for me. Even if it hurts, I will endure it. If you wait a little longer, ■■ we can.8sEpeO
O7Vaa■■, it hurts so much… ■■■. I don’t think my body can ■■.UGm0U
mPM■■, I lack so much ■. I can’t hold on ■■■.jUUPE
b79tIV■■, if I go on like this ■ ■■ will ■■.RBL4TK
2DXMd6Don’t leave me alone.X52EKKl
JxUNvYou promised to return…vW0
24C……Rs8
Uzs………1aN3Yn
EtyEd4……….qzY9oe
ahGp8A broken voice came from Yu Sein’s throat.HUT
wPpzq7“If it’s going to be like this… better ■■ at once.”iOf6Bo
CvnuvRHaaah!XaiPWi
NFCVVdYu Sein exhaled the air she had been holding back.LDIv
e5b2“Haa, haa…”qgGKqys
3Yzq4rLWith both hands she grabbed her neck. Cold sweat dripped down the lines of her palms.3ZwQK
dByThe sacred power managed to bring back her superficial consciousness.L0BpB
tFAiw1‘If not for that…’GXnOYY
bVR8Just imagining it was terrible.e2t
IxIV5Yu Sein touched her face again and again as if scratching it, using her nails to cling to reality.pcO7BT
mzG5EEAIn just seconds she had experienced mental death and then returned.Wuw
aiaKqXI don’t want to go back there.zDnlfI
3nuqI don’t want to go through that again.q2X02u
8FfIZThe heap of negative emotions made her lungs burn. She couldn’t understand exactly what had caused it, since the scenes and phrases appeared fragmented, like shattered pieces.2vH
NbZR8kXThe only sure thing was that this could not be a “demonic mind” endured by such a fragile girl.0mc
Yo8GZThe worst kind of pain is commonly called a burning scorch. Not in vain the “hwa (火, fire)” in juhwaipma meant precisely fire.UsgQuv
7xqFAxTAnd yet, Chaerina lived with a pain that was like twice that, permanently.q79cpFH
q9QaJust by breathing it felt as if a sharp knife cut her skin. Though her insides were dry and withered, Yu Sein’s eyes grew moist.whDAnRy
R2I“…Huh?”6x7WHZs
8nWHer eyelids burned.bxIO
JT0cNWhen she brought her fingers to the corner of her eyes, she found a liquid.FRiIZ
dTTITears.TX1Oc
G4I05Ga“W-what…?”9tR3
kEOUYu Sein had lost her emotions upon reincarnation. That was the trait distinguishing her from someone like Kang Geom-Ma, the possessed, or Balor Joaquin, the one who returned endlessly.XrTDL7R
8bF5mUYu Sein was an instrument to maintain the order of the world under the Miracle Blessing M.4CQ0HBC
4fO6Emotions were an obstacle to that mission.VTWdR
UdrAnd yet.q1M
S8o8WC“Why? Why won’t they stop?”VTTNJ9r
ov4XShe rubbed her eyes with her fists, so hard they burned. But the shining liquid kept falling, dripping down to her elbows.nCCZ21
B3J7“…What kind of life…?”AEE
V0mdvHYu Sein raised her gaze.9KN
qAlIn her blurred vision the only thing reflected was the classroom. Chaerina had already disappeared without leaving a trace.z8KyHC
g9R29TUA sepulchral silence.L5eaFDk
TcwWzj8Yu Sein went over the nature of that emotion dominating her.iswK0e
WNNUAnd soon understood.vbi32
Ojc8That bitter feeling was.AvxE
SM2CYzFLove.Avdev
Md3An infinite love for someone.l4SFJBH
NERrA love that transcended eras, spaces, and even universes.70NSM
jQAT– First love.Lpcn
ZwA5***FKf
IY5mG7zThree days had passed since the commemorative festival ended.6CDOI5
NtFuO“Haa…”jY9
YASAbel had more and more worries.QZB5Xr1
kLWn‘…I’m unsettled.’AZv
LLZHer married life had been fairly stable.FkZ
DgdZiKang Geom-Ma, of course, and even Ryozo, delicate as her position was, had always made things easier for her.xDB8sgg
VD0J89‘Though sometimes I feel less capable because of how talented Ryozo is.’CHxdBA
1ri1fv3At the start of the marriage, Abel often suffered from inferiority complexes. Kang Geom-Ma and Ryozo were known since their student days as a celebrated couple, and she seemed to have slipped between the two of them.ebRjMK
rSzXuqmIn the background was the warm affection of Kang Geom-Ma, but the public didn’t know that.r5EFjG
R9WiThose were difficult years.uttP
Kfc6NhHowever, Kang Geom-Ma never stopped supporting her. Thanks to that, Abel climbed out of the swamp and found her own role.RB0BxS
QKADominating society.EKJy
YOsOIn just three years, she placed herself at the center of the nobility and took advantage of that radiance.Td5
Yx7A29sShe reduced the number of arrows aimed at Kang Geom-Ma and allowed Ryozo to concentrate on directing the Joaquin Academy.sZKv2
U03G5She was satisfied.5QMAKE
UKY1Kang Geom-Ma treated Ryozo and Abel without emotional distinction. Even if on “odd days” Abel felt jealous without reason, just seeing his face the next day melted everything away like snow.VpG
GdVesxpIt was a life of peace, without major upheavals for ten years.HdsFj
q1wUntil Rachel introduced the dissonance.ZQUjdUB
L7iIJzm“Lady Abel!”q8ddj
LA12z“…Rachel.”0T793
GI7H3F“Today my father didn’t say anything when I greeted him, don’t you think? Isn’t that practically an approval?!”CdEu
1IRQ0KTo say something like that with such confidence in front of the current wife?d4wRm
dUKkigShe wanted to scold her, but Rachel’s innocent joy disarmed any attempt.B727Ss
ZJibn‘Am I not the normal one here? She’s the weird one!’qhl
8gC6NLG‘Although…’BODMQfT
GAaQNFAbel glanced at her sideways as they walked down the hallway.yXeYrI8
Ymo‘I can’t get that look Rachel had that day out of my head.’IKW
j5sbShe had known her a long time, even from before Joaquin Academy.vJa
6qHgYBut Rachel didn’t start really bothering until they entered the sacred class.ArtxIl
HEMABS‘And even so, I still don’t understand her well.’fIRMU
1otRachel was transparent.XFUir2Z
wLED4Unable to lie.a83TiB
HwEyaxgHer subconscious and conscious were hardly distinguishable.o0nRZW
HRSL‘On the other hand, when she doesn’t want to say something, she never says it.’eqv
95nw5There had only been two moments when Rachel truly showed what she thought.18xw
j7Zb3The first was that day she told Abel: “I can’t yield Kang Geom-Ma.”SmNbIPK
K2KThe second was relatively recently, when she cared for the fainted Kang Geom-Ma, with his head resting on her lap.rO9nvFM
xBTXPBGThat left Abel with her heart squeezed tight.PNt
Cg96G‘…What are you really thinking?’MRo
YFUXRachel cheerfully walked beside her. The two were headed to the director’s office. Kang Geom-Ma had summoned them urgently.na8Ik
IK5r‘When all this is over, I’ll have to talk to her privately.’ZCd
OtPzoAbel convinced herself internally and nodded.WAd
eAmUZKnock knock.Gebgs
j5NDAfter a couple of knocks, they entered the director’s office.cTUR
BPa911m“Eh?”yWpryL
2QOThere was an unexpected visitor.MBmt3j9
FlGHFw“Long time.”9A0
5NLqghTIt was Knox Auditore.4mEX
UgSE‘He looks awful…’L4SXmh
W8J8sThe worry was clearly reflected in his expression. Even his voice was dim.TTmsVcq
EKZAbel and Rachel took seats on the free sofas.VzV
balddpw“Uh-huh.”01KXRz6
Sze1ACy“It’s not cramped, right?”c1pDIq
Fn5wyKL“Nyahaha.”mGCrps
oEL1Despite the comical scene, Knox was gloomy.h0fG
vrRTcFeeling the heavy atmosphere, Abel and Rachel put on serious faces.7mRDMA2
qr5DKang Geom-Ma pointed at him with his chin.MLDPr
P2P6I“Now, say it.”JZV30G
MoO3“…Uh.”NlqUFf
QJQ1gaWKnox opened his mouth with difficulty.7OSX3L
sAnUR“I beg you, even if it’s shameful.”FJ7N
TDWYo“What is it?”90A
lpNd“Money…”BC2hmJ
dvucA“Money?”EfQVmBN
dtaFiSKnox looked as if he were at death’s door.nEE1El
s4KW“…Could you lend me money?”MOuW
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