TN: Sorry for the late upload.
“Ji-Hyuk, what’s wrong?”
“Wait, wait, wait.”
I glanced at Soo-Young and immediately checked the status window.
The power I had absorbed after killing Margo.
If my eyes weren’t mistaken, a notification popped up saying that the power had been strengthened a moment ago.
[Skill]
The Other Side (???, ???) (Enhanced)
The power of the Seven Evils, Margo, has blossomed in a different direction.
If an unworthy person were to embrace this power, they would be caught in an endless curse that would eventually lead to their destruction.
For some reason, you can hear a voice you don’t recognize inside you.
How could Margo, the original wielder of this power, have been so oblivious to the roar of this crowd?
– You can copy the memories and lives of your otherworldly selves, some of whom you have succeeded in killing.
– There are a total of five versions you can copy.
– Do not forget what they were: another ending, another future, another life.
– This ability costs no mana to use.
– Your karma level increases (negated by your talent).
– You hear the voices of other beings within you. (You are firmly in control and have already succeeded in subduing them to perfection.)
(Enhanced)
– You have gained a deeper understanding and realization of your abilities and are naturally enhanced.
– You can copy the memories and lives of two versions at a time.
– There is a penalty for realizations gained from others, not from your own power. If you imprint two people’s proficiencies at once, you understand one fully and the other with just enough proficiency to use.
“This is….”
It was an unexpected yet tremendous harvest.
I still had the power enhancement rights I’d gotten as a reward for Ye-Seul’s awakening.
I was still trying to decide whether I should strengthen Margo’s or Svengali’s power or another one I gained in the future.
But strengthening their powers, especially in such a crucial situation before the battle with Minerva, seemed like a good idea…………….
“Ji-Hyuk… is something bad happening to you?”
Soo-Young’s fingers trembled as she reached them out toward me.
From her point of view, she was right to be worried because I suddenly stopped walking with a blank expression.
And from my point of view, she’s never looked more adorable than she does now because she’s always been so pretty and trustworthy.
“Gah!”
Her newfound scream jolted me out of my reverie.
Before I knew it, I had her in my arms.
Or, more accurately, I was hugging her close.
“I… Ji-hHuk, I’m so embarrassed right now….”
She lowered her head to avoid my eyes.
“Uh, I’m sorry.”
When I let go, she stood wordlessly and began to arrange her hair unnecessarily.
Visibly surprised, her chest heaved.
“I’m sorry, I was just so happy for a moment.”
“Uh, well. I don’t how that helped, but…”
I nodded vigorously at her words.
“It helped plenty. Is there anything you want me to do for you, Soo-Young? I’ll do anything you want.”
“Huh? Really?”
She looked surprised for a moment, and then her eyes lit up.
But then she shook her head and muttered in a small voice.
“Oh, no… If I say it now, I’ll die of embarrassment.”
“Huh?”
“…I’ll ask you later.”
As she said that, she turned her head to avoid my gaze.
She grumbled with a face almost as red as her hair and kicked at the gravel with her toes.
“Aww, if I’d known it was going to be like this, I should’ve held back a little longer instead of doing it then….”
I instinctively recognized that the time she was referring to was a few days ago, in the waiting room.
At that time, Ye-Seul had sent Hyun-Woo and Yu-Na away with a smile and ordered Soo-Young to follow her to “talk.”
I followed them in case something happened, but the barrier called the women’s restroom effectively stopped me.
I ended up waiting outside, enduring some strange looks from other people, and it wasn’t long before I saw the two of them walk out unscathed.
No matter how many times I asked them what happened, they both assured me nothing happened.
But…
“Come to think of it, Soo-Young.”
“Huh?”
“What did you and Ye-Seul talk about back then?”
I had a hunch that she would answer me now for some reason.
“Um… in layman’s terms, just breaking our treaty?”
“Treaty?”
She nodded.
“Yes. Plus, I’ve been at a slight, slight disadvantage…and in hindsight, I’m afraid I don’t have as many allies as she does.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Umm…just know it existed. I can’t tell you anymore.”
Soo-Young raised her hands and crossed them to form an X, then shook her head solemnly.
Svengali muttered as if he’d had an epiphany.
[So, this is how the fate of small nations caught between great powers is determined. Everything has been decided without their knowledge.]
“Let’s walk faster. Everyone must be hungry.”
Soo-Young hadn’t even finished speaking before she ran away with light steps.
It almost looked like she was running away from a bad situation.
As soon as we arrived at the facility, we saw Yu-Na sitting in the middle of the garden, surrounded by children.
“Sis, over here!”
“Silly over here!”
She stood with her eyes tightly closed and her arms spread wide.
Around her, the children circled her, giggling and clapping in amusement.
Some were running toward her, touching her, and running away.
“Gotcha!”
Yu-Na waved her arms in a slow, obvious movement.
Her outstretched arm narrowly missed the child’s body.
The child let out a loud scream that sounded like he was about to die, but his face was full of laughter.
We turned and walked past, careful not to disturb them as they burst into laughter.
“…They haven’t even said hello to me yet.”
Soo-Young muttered.
Hoping to console her, I whispered quietly.
“Me neither. The last time I said hello, they just turned around and ran away.”
Then Svengali snorted, clicked her tongue, and muttered.
[Who wouldn’t run away when a guy who looks like a mantis walks up to you, smiling and laughing…]
Was he enjoying himself?
I took the groceries from Soo-Young.
“Alright, I’m going to go and prepare the meal now. Go get some rest while I cook.”
“Do you need me to help you?”
“I’ll be fine alone.”
Thinking about how she had offered to help me the other day made my heart tremble.
At my quick refusal, she nodded fatly in understanding.
“Okay. Then I’m going to go find Hyun-Woo.”
Parting ways with her, I headed straight for the kitchen.
There was enough food for at least 50 people, even if most were children.
Typically, they had strict meal plans to ration the food, but I gained permission to cook whatever I wanted.
I had done all the prep work by myself with the help of Henir’s Shadow and was about to start cooking when someone walked into the kitchen.
It was Yu-Na.
“Ji-Hyuk, do you need me to help you?”
“I’ve already done everything.”
“…Huh?”
She looked around in a daze.
When she realized that I had already finished cleaning, she nodded.
“Y-you have fast hands.”
“I’ve been caring for my sister for a long time, so I’m used to it.”
“Sister? Ji-Hyuk, did you have a sister too?”
“Yes…”
At her question, I turned my head and stared at the boiling soup.
“…It’s ready. It finished much earlier than I thought. Tell the nuns I’ve already prepared everything, so they just need to reheat it.”
“Uh, hey… ah, wait!”
“……!!!”
With a snap, Laune popped up on top of Yu-Na’s head.
Since he had given her the root a few days ago, Laune had been climbing on top of her head to move around or nap when he got bored.
“Master, be careful; it’s dangerous.”
“…!!!”
Yu-Na muttered, holding her hands above her head in case Laune fell off.
Eating the roots and drinking the water, Yu-Na had recovered remarkably well over the past few days.
So much so that she had taken to calling him Master, and the problem was, he seemed to like it.
Svengali whispered to me as I served the food.
[Are you actually jealous of a plant now?]
“…Yu-Na, if you’re here to help, why don’t you help instead of playing?”
“Uh, yeah.”
At my words, Yuna nodded and began to prepare the table.
Laune, who was wearing the same expression as always, was staring at me as if he had something stolen from him.
“Oh, by the way…”
Yu-Na glanced around and came closer to me.
Then, with a serious expression, she spoke to me grimly.
“…I can handle Ye-Seul and Soo-Young. I’ll help you as much as I can.”
“What?”
“I’m your entourage, your handpicked bodyguard.”
Yu-Na nodded, then pounded her fist against her chest.
“I know they’ve been sending subtle messages, so I’ll just make sure nothing bad happens.”
“…….”
I’d never heard anyone sound so incredibly unconvincing.
Svengali muttered in sympathy.
[I think she will get in trouble trying to stop them…….]
“Oh, it’s getting cold. I’ll carry it first!”
I followed Yu-Na out the door carrying a large pot of soup.
Everyone gathered around the table after Soo-Young and Yu-Na told them about the food.
“Oh, this is really spicy soup.”
“Mmm….”
Hyun-Woo muttered happily, and Ivan looked down at it with quite a bit of trepidation.
Ye-Seul placed a spoon and chopsticks on my bowl and smiled.
“Soo-Young, how’s the taste….”
I couldn’t help but stop what I was saying.
“…….”
Soo-Young carefully placed the bowl of spicy soup by the window.
She looked so reverent that we stopped what we were doing momentarily.
It was like…
[She’s paying her respects.]
I found myself nodding in agreement with Svengali’s observation.
I wonder why.
* * *
“But this is really interesting.”
“…!”
Ye-Seul sat down next to Yu-Na and touched Laune’s cheek.
Sitting on her head, Laune flicked his roots back and forth in annoyance.
“I wonder if the World Tree Clan has something like this….”
Ivan was also muttering with a serious expression.
Meanwhile, Laune has had enough and kicked Yu-Na’s head.
“Ouch, that hurt…!”
Then he grabbed her hair and started moving it around.
Every time he moved, she flailed her arms and was helpless. It was as if he was controlling her.
Soo-Young and Hyun-Woo weren’t there because it was their turn to wash the dishes together.
[Would you like to go to a secluded place for a while?]
Svengali whispered.
[It might be annoying listening to me and them simultaneously. Wouldn’t it be embarrassing to be seen talking to yourself in front of others?]
I nodded in understanding.
I walked outside to a moderately secluded spot and then asked.
“Is this enough?”
[Yeah.]
“Okay, more than that, what’s going on all of a sudden?”
Come to think of it, this was the first time he’d ever asked me to do this.
Does that mean there’s a lot to talk about?
[Ugh….]
Svengali let out an uncharacteristically troubled groan.
I didn’t bother to brush him off.
As I waited for him to open his mouth, I listened to the insects chirping.
[That woman, the one with the red hair.]
“You mean Soo-Young?”
[Yes, the woman.]
“What’s up with her?”
[I’ll explain it immediately; just don’t overreact.]
I wonder what the hell she’s trying to say.
I nodded.
Then Svengali said in a quiet whisper.
[…Is she really just a human being?]
