19. Commute (1)
I have some knowledge about those with exceptional magical abilities.
Among all humans, those with the most exceptional magical abilities, hence becoming wizards.
In fact, Yumina was marked as having the talent of a wizard.
Even if one doesn’t know, it means that the level of greatness is considerable.
The abilities of wizards are far greater than what an ordinary person would think.
They manipulate natural elements like fire, ice, and lightning, distort the axis and common sense of the world, and even structurally reverse parts of space.
If their abilities allow, some even flip the earth and sky, creating their own internal universe.
What may be an impossible task for criminals at times could be easily solved by them.
Even now, in some regions, high-risk dungeons that have been deemed unconquerable have been blocked from internal and external access in this manner.
The vast temporal maze stretching for kilometers was constructed by wizards in that way.
“Ucha.”
Behind the elves carrying mushroom bricks, little wolves could be seen following along.
“Kang-kang!”
The little ones followed wherever the elves went.
And when the elves turned their heads and their gazes met, the tails of the wolves wagged vigorously, a clear expression of joy.
It seemed like the little ones were demanding attention from others all day.
Asserting their presence in their own way.
Even when Han’s hand appeared, it was the same.
The little ones would rush over as if waiting and lick his hand.
They couldn’t be anything but adorable little ones.
‘Maybe I should give it a try too?’
Carefully detaching the little ones, Han subtly flexed his muscles and summoned his large hand.
His hand began to carry the bricks.
‘Oops.’
However, not long after, the brick held in Han’s hand fell to the ground with a thud.
He tried repeatedly, but each time ended in failure.
It was due to his lack of concentration.
Han felt disappointed.
‘It seems like it’s not going to work out.’
He could probably do it if he tried.
It seemed like it might work out.
But the cost-benefit ratio wasn’t right.
‘To keep carrying the bricks, you need to concentrate intensely. That’s why my head is starting to hurt and feel heavy.’
Therefore, Han gave up on trying.
The young wolves didn’t behave like this towards me before.
Could this also be a matter of fairness?
I have no clue about the criterion for their bias.
But Irina seemed content with just that.
She smiled at the God’s hand.
“It’s okay, Lord. We are grateful even just for your thoughts.”
Meanwhile, the fortress walls were gradually taking shape.
Of course, completing everything in an instant was impossible.
Time was limited for them as well.
Zion, as if boasting of his diligence, tirelessly hurled hefty mushroom bricks without a break.
Before they knew it, the battlements had grown so high that calling them fortress walls didn’t seem exaggerated.
Irina, who was carrying them together, even expressed concerns.
“Zion, don’t push yourself too hard. Take a break.”
“It’s okay. This much is not a big deal.”
That’s right.
Even as a guardian watching over them, Zion’s relentless efforts did concern Irina.
Pushing oneself too hard often led to physical consequences.
Having enthusiasm is good, but it should always be balanced.
***
“Let’s call it a day. Kids, it’s getting late, isn’t it?”
Since the two young elves arrived, work had accelerated.
Just the day before, they could barely manage to build a couple of floors, but today, they had gone further, completing the overall shape of the watchtower.
The sun was slowly setting.
They needed to prepare for bed.
But before that, they had something to do first.
Irina and the children.
They clasped their hands together and prayed towards a statue resembling the God.
“Thank you, Lord. Thanks to you, we could get through today safely.”
As the elves prayed, a faint golden light enveloped their bodies.
It was a strange sight.
What could this possibly mean?
Surely there was a reason behind it.
But this time, the system didn’t provide an easy answer. Perhaps this, too, was a matter of fairness.
‘Surely one day, all these curiosities will be resolved.’
Irina stayed on the first floor, while the children stayed on the second.
Of course, Irina personally managed the young wolves staying on the first floor.
It was definitely better for her, a grown-up, to take care of them than the children.
“Wow… so comfy.”
The elves lying on the beds all opened their mouths in unison.
Irina, the two siblings, all shared the same expression.
The sensation of the soft straw piled on the mushroom bed felt almost unbelievable to the elves, who pressed down on it several times as if to confirm its existence.
This feeling is quite marvelous.
Yuna, the younger sister who had buried herself in the straw for quite some time, rubbing her face against its softness, whispered to her brother Zion in a soft voice.
“It’s so soft and warm, brother! This kind of bedding is a first for me.”
“Indeed.”
Listening quietly to the children’s conversation, Han soon smiled.
Thankfully, the straw bed seemed to suit them well.
He left a greeting for them that they wouldn’t hear.
‘Have a good night.’
***
It was the next day.
Han prepared to head back to work.
“Oh dear.”
Hurriedly slinging his bag over his shoulder, he stopped in front of the front door.
“Before I go, I should at least check if everyone is alright.”
If he hadn’t checked last time, it could have been a disaster.
Not knowing if the same applied this time, Han briskly opened the refrigerator to check on the elves’ situation.
The elves were busy moving around since early morning.
They were in the midst of finishing up a wall they were building.
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Thankfully, everyone seemed to be fine.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Han closed the door.
“Well then, I’ll be off.”
The morning commute was pleasant.
It was warm and cool at the same time. A beautiful day.
Looking up at the clear sky, he muttered to himself.
“Wow. It really feels like going to work after a long break. Feels like a student going out during vacation.”
At that moment, a child walking in front of Han caught his eye.
The child had a smile on his face, probably because he had bought a Pokemon bread sticker and seemed to be fond of something.
But he seemed overly excited.
The child suddenly ran ahead and tripped on the curb, falling down.
“Ahh!”
It seemed quite painful as the child immediately started crying.
“Oh no.”
Han quickly ran over to check on the child.
It looked like the knee was scraped, with droplets of blood oozing from the wound.
“Are you okay?”
“Brother, my knee hurts! Wahh!”
It was a bit awkward.
As a man, Han didn’t have tissues or handkerchiefs with him. Yet, amidst the busy morning rush, there was no one else to help.
Each person, busy with their own affairs, simply passed by without a second glance.
I wish I could heal this wound.
The sight of a child crying with visible tears made me feel miserable.
But that was the moment.
Snap.
It happened right after Han’s touch.
…A faint light flowed from his hand, and in an instant, the child’s wound healed.
“What is this?”
Not knowing English, Han blinked his eyes.
In that moment, he showed a hint of confusion in his eyes.
Something struck him.
It was a familiar yet overwhelmingly strange sight.
Similar to the recovery abilities mentioned on welfare commercials on TV, a healing power seemed to unfold from his hands.
Could it be a Heal? The recovery ability of priests?
“Wow!”
But it seemed the child was even more surprised.
The little one, who had been crying until then, suddenly stopped, wide-eyed in disbelief.
“Mister, are you a Hunter?”
“Huh? Uh, yeah.”
Feeling flustered, Han just nodded absentmindedly.
The child then looked up at him with shining eyes.
There was anticipation in those young eyes.
“Amazing! It doesn’t hurt at all!”
Han chuckled and patted the child’s head.
“Be careful next time. Don’t fall again.”
“Yes! Thank you!”
Bowing at a right angle to show gratitude, Han couldn’t help but smile.
The little one, who had quickly jumped up from the ground, dashed off to the other side.
Just before disappearing, waving his hands and jumping around, the child made Han smile and wave back.
…Regardless of whose child he was, it seemed like someone had raised him really well.
“Oh, right. I’m late for work.”
Checking the time, he realized more than 5 minutes had passed.
“Oops, I’m going to be late.”
Startled, Han stood up from his seat.
As he hurriedly walked, people passing by suddenly stopped and looked at him.
“Wow… Is that person a Hunter?”
“What’s his name? Judging by him being a rare priest class, he must be famous, right?”
The murmur of the people reached his ears without fail.
With a golden shimmer, having just healed on the street, it was natural for attention to be drawn.
“Ah, ha ha….”
With an awkward smile, Han glanced around, then dashed away from the spot as if fleeing.
Anticipation rose in Han’s eyes as he headed towards the company.
‘I’ve awakened my abilities. Truly…!’
It wasn’t a delusion. Strength had come to him.
Now, he could truly become a Hunter as well.
Though he seemed to belong to the recovery class rather than the attack class, the hope of becoming a Hunter had ignited within him.
Perhaps, this path was a better choice than the attack class.
The healers who used skills to recover were all exceptional individuals managed directly by the nation due to their outstanding abilities.
Their abilities were rare, and their healing powers were certain.
Yet, for some reason, Han possessed that exact ability. This wasn’t just winning the lottery.
Crack.
Hurrying towards work, Han clenched his fist tightly.
“Now, I am a Hunter too…”
***
[…Hm.]
At that moment,
Above the cityscape,
There was a woman lying in the air.
Her blue hair, shining as if emitting light, fluttered in the wind as if unaffected by gravity.
After yawning as if bored for a while, her gaze soon shifted to a certain spot on the ground.
What met her gaze was none other than Han, walking briskly through the city streets.
Her eyes narrowed.
In the woman’s eyes, there was a faint golden light shimmering in Han’s hair.
A subtle glow that others could never see, only visible to her.
“At last, is it…?”
Tap.
Lightly tapping the air as if knocking with her index finger,
Her figure disappeared without a trace.
Another one like Han?