“Hello.”
– How did you know?
As soon as I answered the phone, I heard a young woman’s voice.
“My eyes can see the flow and aura of mana, and I recognized yours. Not many have it quite like you.”
Hearing that, Hyun-Hwa muttered in a voice that sounded somewhat convinced.
– …Is that so? That’s an excellent talent to have.
After a moment, Hyun-Hwa let out a small sigh.
– …Just out of curiosity, does Hyun-Woo know?
“I didn’t say anything.”
– Sure. From my time with him, he didn’t seem like the kind of young man who would talk about something like this. But…
She let out another deep sigh.
– God, how did this happen… Soo-Young and Hyun-Woo have raised me to be so upstanding that I have no shame in putting myself out there. I’ve made a huge mistake because I’m foolish.
“It’s not your fault…”
– If it’s not my fault, is it Hyun-Woo’s?
Hyun-Hwa said that in a sullen voice.
– That aside, I knew he was blunt, but I didn’t realize he was that honest. I should’ve taught him better…
“…….”
Hearing her lamenting voice, I remained silent for a moment.
It was better not to try to comfort her.
– I’ll have to ask Soo-Young for a favor later… Or can you help me instead?
“…What for?”
– Neither he nor Soo-Young had ever had a lover because I was taking all their time.
Nam Hyun-hwa said that.
– Soo-Young is too reckless sometimes, and Hyun-Woo is too upright, so…
Hyun-Hwa said quietly.
– No, I’ll ask Soo-Young separately later. I hope you don’t misunderstand what I’m saying, but I think it’ll be worse if I ask you…
What the hell does that mean?
I heard Svangali snort and stifle a laugh.
“What are you talking about?”
– The truth is, I’ve been worried about those two kids since they left my care. Would they be able to make good friends and live safely? It’s been really weighing on my mind…
– But seeing them with you made me realize I didn’t have to worry about that. I could put aside my silly worries that they might get separated.
– …Though I am a little worried for you.
“…….”
I listened to her for a moment.
Then Svengali whispered.
[I bet you’re happy that a young woman’s voice is worried for you.]
Shut up.
-…I’ll stop being sentimental for now.
I heard her take a deep breath.
– Okay… Let’s just cut to the chase. Why did you leave a message requesting my help?
“First, let me apologize for my rudeness, Hyun-Hwa-ssi. And please don’t take this the wrong way, but….”
I began to regale her with the details of the story involving Minerva.
At the end of my long-winded tale, she gasped quietly.
– …So, you want me to help attack Minerva, one of the Seven Evils?
“Exactly.”
– …I’ll do what I can, but I’m afraid I can’t give you any assurances.
She replied quietly but with a sincere apology.
– My colleagues and I are on the trail of our friend’s killer. I can’t leave them behind at the moment.
Suddenly, I made a connection.
“Then…are you tracking Milited’s Children?”
– How did you…?
I deduced it through elimination.
I found out through Lydia the Red Case had no involvement.
The Thorns Cross Society has no reason to do so, and they’ve already been wiped out.
The Big Watch doesn’t have members with mental abilities. Even if they did, they had much cleaner and more efficient methods.
That left Milited’s Children.
“You see, I’m on their trail as well.”
I told her about the recent infighting among their members.
Belluna, having lost interest, had tried to secede but ended with the murder of two other members in the process.
Their faction had been cut in half, with only three members left.
And that they are a lich, a vampire, and a dragon.
– …I see.
Part of me wondered if she didn’t believe me, but she seemed to trust me.
– We already found traces that could link to the existence of a dragon and a lich… if that’s the case…
She let out a small cough.
– You’ve told me something big; if true, it will make our job considerably easier. I’ll make sure to pay for it later.
“Just so you know, Minerva will be unsealed soon…”
– A favor done, a favor repaid.
– I will be sure to be there in time for the attack on Minerva you speak of. If possible, I’ll convince my friends to participate as well.
Hyun-Hwa alone would be a great help, but her allies as well?
“Thank you so much.”
– What, I don’t need to be thanked. It’s the right thing to do. Just…
She paused for a moment, then replied
– Nothing. Just take care of the two kids. They’re my students and family.
“I have to thank you for raising them because they’ve been good friends to me beyond measure.”
– …….
Nam Hyeon-hwa was silent.
It was apparent that she was thinking about something.
– It would be ridiculous for me to say anything.
After a long pause, she spoke up.
– Let’s talk about this later, in person. Okay… I’ll say one last thing.
“I’ll listen.”
– You deserve Hyun-Woo and Soo-Young’s trust, affection, friendship… or whatever else you have between you.
I couldn’t believe what I heard.
Hyun-Hwa added quietly.
– Until next time, take care of yourself. Where is it…
With that, she hung up the phone.
Even after the call was disconnected, I couldn’t figure out what her last words meant.
[…You are a little slow, so let me give you my interpretation.]
Svengali muttered.
When I nodded, he spoke up.
[From time to time, you’ve been known to show you…possesiveness]
“…What?”
[I noticed that in your relationships, you had this weird sort of coddling thing going on, where you’d bend over backward even though the other person was in the wrong, or you’d say, “Of course, I’m the one who should bear all the burden, I’m the one who should be in charge, I’m the one who should sacrifice more.”]
[I’m guessing that reflects your upbringing, but…]
[Perhaps she saw through that side of you. Having lived so many years, she must have developed that insight.]
“…….”
He must’ve gained the ability to attack my heart now.
[…Putting that aside, she is a swordswoman of such power that she has inflicted a great wound on my body, and I have seen few others as powerful as her. She and her allies will be a great help to you.]
“…I suppose so.”
[…It’s good to get lost in your thoughts, but don’t you need to prepare more?]
He advised me sincerely.
[…You wouldn’t want to disappoint her, right?]
“Yeah, you’re right… More than that, what’s been going on with you? You’re being unusually nice.”
Svengali sighed.
[You won’t admit it, but I’ve been handing out advice that’s been worth its weight in gold for quite some time now….]
“This is why. I compliment you once, and you spout out nonsense.”
With that, I calmly began to organize the situation.
The Ten Strongest had already assembled.
Nam Hyun-Hwa and her colleagues would also come.
And…
I glanced at the seal Belluna had given earlier.
A stamp containing her magic power that had yet to fade even after several days.
“Surely she said that if I collected ten of them, she would grant me a wish?”
I immediately called Ivan.
* * *
“You want to meet my mother?”
Ivan gave me a disgusted look.
Without a word, I rolled up my sleeve and showed him the stamp on me, and his expression changed oddly.
“…Ji-Hyuk, you got one?”
“And you, Ivan?”
He blushed in embarrassment at my words.
He then rolled his sleeves farther than I did, showing me the front of his forearms.
There were a total of eight stamps on his arm.
“She said ten for one wish. Have you ever made a wish?”
He blushed and nodded at my question.
“When I was very young, I asked to be taken to the zoo once.”
“If you don’t mind, could I borrow your stamps?”
“I don’t… but how will you get the last one?”
“That’s why I want to talk with Belluna-ssi.”
He nodded at my words.
“I’m sure she’s around the area; She’ll be here soon enough if we call her now.”
“Thanks. I owe you one.”
“About that… Ji-hyuk, I’d like to ask you a favor first.”
I looked at him, quite surprised at how timid he became.
“What is it?”
“Could you arrange a meeting with Evangeline Lohengrin for me?”
I was speechless.
Ivan opened his mouth hastily as if realizing the implications of his words.
“No, no, I didn’t mean that. It’s just that I want to reinforce the palace. There are limits to what I can do on my own… and I thought that with the help of the Great Witch, it would improve our situation.”
“No, I didn’t misunderstand anything… but why did you think I could build a bridge with her?”
Ivan smirked at that.
“Even if I used to be an asshole, if I’d been slow, I’d be dead.”
I nodded silently.
“…I’ll try.”
Ivan nodded and picked up his phone.
Then he looked at me, walked over to a corner, and started talking to someone.
For some reason, I remembered calling Lee Ye-eun on the phone and occasionally calling her my sister.
After a while, Ivan ended the call and approached me, his face slightly flushed.
“She’ll be here in a minute. So what will you do to get my mother’s stamp?”
“Something simple.”
With that, I waved the plastic bag I’d brought with me.
Ivan looked at it and gave me a puzzled look.
“…But I’m sorry in advance.”
“What for?”
“I’ll show you later.”
It was then.
A strange wind blew.
When we turned our heads, Belluna stood before us.
She looked at us nonchalantly as if she had been with us all along.
“Hello, Belluna-ssi.”
“Yes, hello, Yoo Ji-hyuk.”
I bowed to her.
She curtsied in return.
Ivan looked troubled for a moment, then followed suit and bowed.
“…Hello, Mother.”
“Oh, my son.”
Belluna murmured with a smirk.
“Why don’t you call me mom like earlier?”
“…….”
Ivan didn’t answer, but his face was flushed red.
Belluna snorted in amusement at the sight, then chuckled.
“So, what exactly did you want to talk to me about? I hear you have something very, very important to tell me.”
Without another word, I walked over to a nearby table.
I began to pull out the items in the plastic bag, one after the other.
“It’s no big deal. I just wanted to return the favor.”
Coke, potato chips, dried squid, cubed cheese, ice cream, sandwiches…
All the snacks and beverages I could find slowly piled up on the table.
“Did you know that my country used to have a lot of folklore, with tributes and sacrifices to the gods of wind, rain, and clouds?
Belluna didn’t answer.
She just stared blankly at the things on the table.
Ivan was looking at me with a look of disbelief on his face.
“I’ll show you how it works, Belluna-ssi.”
“I will pay tribute to you.”
“To you, the High Wind Elemental.”
Suddenly, Belluna’s eyes literally sparkled with light.
