Chapter 272: Episode 272

I faced Na Daeyong. Seeing him after five years, his entire aura had changed. He was older than me, but he used to follow me around like a puppy, calling me “Master.” He was like an energy drink, lifting everyone’s spirits with his almost burdensome, blind loyalty and unique, over-the-top enthusiasm. He couldn’t be much older than his early thirties now, but whether it was because life had hit him hard or because I wasn’t used to his beard, he looked much older to me.

’Alright, how should I play this?’

Revealing my identity might be enough to stop him. But his psychological state seemed desperate enough that he’d attack his former comrade, Eunsol. The risk was too great for the potential reward. At the very least, I needed to confirm whether he was a demonkin or not, and find out why he tried to kidnap a Child of Mana and attack an ally.

“How about you back off?” I said, having sorted my thoughts. “I don’t know why you’re attacking students, but if word gets out that the Tower Master is running around like this, it’s going to cause an uproar.”

“You’re the one who should be leaving,” Na Daeyong retorted. “I don’t know who you are or how you just blocked my magic, but this is an internal matter of the Magic Tower. An outsider has no right to interfere.”

“You think so?” I grinned slyly. “If it’s a family squabble, I think that’s all the more reason for me to get involved.”

Na Daeyong fell silent for a moment, then sighed. “It seems words won’t convince you to move.”

Sparks flew from his body once more. In response, lightning flashed within the dark clouds above.

’Not bad.’ Na Daeyong was stronger than any mage I had met so far. Without Ea’s support and with Devastar still under wraps, I couldn’t guarantee an easy victory against him right now.

“This is your last warning. Get out of the way,” Na Daeyong said.

I smiled and beckoned with my finger. “Make me.”

RUMBLE!

An extremely pure stream of mana erupted from my body. This time, it was Na Daeyong who flinched.

’Is there a mage this skilled that I don’t know about?’

Na Daeyong prepared a 5th Circle spell. He was ready to go all out, even if it meant scorching the entire area. The situation was a powder keg. Na Daeyong moved the thunderclouds, preparing for a preemptive strike. But then, he sensed something flying beneath them.

Helicopters appeared in the sky. Using Deva’s Eye, I identified the insignia on their sides.

’The Hunter Association.’

Na Daeyong’s expression hardened as he listened to a report through his earpiece. In the distance, the wail of sirens grew louder as police cars swarmed the area.

“…I have no choice.” Na Daeyong retracted his mana, and the dark clouds began to dissipate. He looked at the girl. “You can come home whenever you want. I’ll be waiting.”

“Get lost! I’m never going back!” she yelled, flipping him off with both hands.

Na Daeyong gave a bitter smile, then conjured a mist around himself and vanished.

’Well, that’s a relief, I guess.’

I reined in my mana. I was more than willing to fight if he had attacked, but it seemed Na Daeyong didn’t want a conflict with the Association right before the disaster. I turned to look at the girl.

“Who are you?” she asked.

“I was about to ask you the same thing,” I replied.

We were complete strangers to each other. To me, she looked like a teenager at most. Who was she to be able to fight Na Daeyong on equal footing, to the point of causing all this destruction? And why did she save Ha Yerin? Why did Na Daeyong call it a “family squabble”?

“I asked first, so you answer!” the girl growled. “Why do you… that person…!” She trailed off, swallowing hard as if her words were caught in her throat. “Ah! This is so annoying!” She stomped on a piece of robot debris in frustration.

As I watched her silently, I noticed something familiar among the scattered fragments.

’Wait, is that…?’

It was a circular device, its interior exposed. The surface was different, but it was unmistakably a Golem Ball. Seeing it, my mind formed a hypothesis.

A shiver ran from head to toe.

“You’re not… S-Sol, are you?”

“How do you know my name?”

I couldn’t help but be stunned. Eunsol! It was really her! The small, cute, adorable girl had grown this much in just five years? Sure, I knew kids grew up fast these days, and it wasn’t uncommon for a sixth-grade girl to catch up to her mother’s height, but this was a complete transformation.

“Who are you?”

Her voice barely registered. Slender legs, a budding chest, and though she still had a youthful air, her flawless skin and sculpted features… Looking closely, her face was definitely Eunsol’s. And most telling of all were the faint scars scattered across her body, remnants of the abuse she suffered as a child.

“Why are you rolling your eyes and checking me out?! You know how much of a pervert you look like?”

Her expression shifted from suspicion to bewilderment. She strode toward me. As she got closer, I became even more certain. Her face still held strong traces of the Eunsol I knew. I never imagined she could grow up so well. The child who had been abandoned and abused in the slums was now shining so brightly. But I was frozen in time. The same as I was back then.

Realizing this, I felt a sudden urge to flee.

“Getting tangled up with the police will be a headache,” I said, avoiding her gaze. “A situation like this is bad for both of us…”

“Stop.” She held up a single finger. An arm from a broken golem on the ground shot out and grabbed my leg. “I have a benefactor. He’s not in this world anymore, but he gave the world to me.”

As she walked toward me, life filled her eyes and voice.

“He pulled me, an orphan, out of hell and raised me. He taught me magic, sent me to school, and helped me do what I love.”

I couldn’t move. It wasn’t because I was caught by the broken golem’s arm. I couldn’t escape her gaze.

“So why does an annoying old man like you… remind me of him?”

She reached for my face.

Her hand passed through the Water Veil covering my face and caressed my skin. Her touch, tracing my nose and lips, was filled with a torrent of emotions. Then, as if removing a mask, she slowly lowered her arm.

Drip, drip, drip.

Water poured from my face. The girl’s eyes widened to their absolute limit as she came face-to-face with the truth. Yes. This face, dripping with water, was the one she had dreamed of for five long years.

I, too, was at a loss for what expression to make, what words to say. It was Eunsol, after five years. I gently took her pathetically trembling hand in mine. With my other hand, I turned off the modulator on my earpiece and said, “I’m back, Sol.”

“…Ah.”

Tears rapidly filled her wide eyes.

“Ah… Ahh… Waaah! Hic… Hng! Waaaaah!” she shrieked, leaping into my arms.

“Oppaaa!”

I barely kept my balance, sitting down on the golem’s arm.

“Waaah! Aaaaaah! Oppa! Is it you? Is it really you?” Her face, drenched in tears, started pinching and pulling at my own. But no matter what she did, my face didn’t change.

“Thank you for being alive!” she cried out in joy. “And thank you for not changing!”

This time, my own eyes wavered. Her words, “thank you for not changing,” struck me deep in my heart. For a long while, we just held each other.

“Mister!”

Ha Yerin was running toward us. She stopped in surprise at the sight of us embracing, but quickly reported the urgent situation. “The police are everywhere! They’re all heading this way!”

“Got it.” It would be trouble if my identity was revealed. I met Eunsol’s eyes and spoke gently. “Sol. Let’s get out of here first and then talk. Okay?”

“Waaaaaah!”

She was not in her right mind. Her face a mess of tears and snot, she shook her head and hugged me even tighter. She was still a clingy kid. I lifted her into my arms and stood up. She was heavier than the doll-like girl she used to be, but I was just overwhelmed with emotion at how much she had grown.

“There are a lot of police over by the bridge! This way!”

* * *

Night had fallen. In a quiet park with sparse lighting, Eunsol and I were still holding each other. She seemed to have calmed down now. However…

“Hehehe.”

It seemed she had no intention of ever letting go. She sat on my lap, acting cute like a cat, or rubbing her cheek against my chest.

…This was awkward. Five years ago, I could dote on her without anyone batting an eye because she was so small and petite, but not anymore.

“Sol. You should probably get off now…”

She shook her head fiercely and, just like she used to, planted a kiss on my cheek. I couldn’t help but feel my face flush. She might still claim to be a child, but her body wasn’t. Having recovered from the malnutrition of her slum days and now in the midst of puberty, she was as tall as Jin Bora, and her developed, toned figure was that of a young lady. This kind of public display of affection was dangerous in many ways. And for good reason.

Ha Yerin, who had returned from the vending machine with drinks, was glaring at me with contempt.

“I knew it, Mister. You’re a predator who preys on minors…”

“Okay, stop right there! I don’t know what weird fantasy you’re cooking up, but this is a huge misunderstanding.”

She crossed her arms. “Oh, really? What am I misunderstanding? All I see is a creepy old man holding a schoolgirl.”

“…This is just a pure, emotional reunion.”

“A reunion with your girlfriend?”

“I said no!”

Ha Yerin gave me a suspicious look and set down the canned drinks she’d bought.

“Hey, what’s your problem? I like it, so what’s it to you?” Eunsol said, snatching a can of Pine Bud Drink. She was back to being that same sullen, adolescent girl.

“I-it’s not a problem. I’m just worried…”

“If you don’t like it, then get lost. He is mine.”

I wish she’d refrain from such dangerous statements. This misunderstanding was just breeding more misunderstandings.

“Then tell me straight. What is your relationship?”

“Can’t you tell by looking? Obviously, we’re in lo—! Mmph!”

“You could say we’re like brother and sister who are closer than family,” I said, clamping my hand over Eunsol’s mouth.

Ha Yerin didn’t drop her suspicious gaze, but Eunsol, ignoring her completely, popped the tab on the Pine Bud Drink.

’Oh! I’m so moved. So Eunsol has finally matured and entered the world of true taste…!’

“Oppa! You like this, right? I opened it for you!”

I was wrong.

* * *

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep