“Yes, I got a call.”
– How did you notice?
As soon as I politely answered the phone, I heard the voice of a young woman.
“My eyes can see the flow and energy of magic. So I could notice. It is very rare to see the flow and energy of a senior citizen.”
Nam Hyeon-hwa muttered in a voice that seemed to have understood to a certain extent.
– Jeongan… No, is it wise? It’s a rare talent, but I didn’t know he had it.
After a while, Nam Hyeon-hwa let out a small sigh.
— … Just in case, does Hyeonu know about this?
“I do not know. I didn’t say anything.”
– Sure. I saw him briefly back then, but he didn’t seem like a young man to talk about. However… .
She took another deep breath.
– Seriously, how did this happen… Neither Sooyoung nor Hyeonu had any corners and they grew up to the point where there was no shame in putting them anywhere, but I made a big mistake because I was stupid.
“It’s not the old man’s fault. This is just… .”
– It’s my fault. Then maybe it’s Hyeonu’s fault?
Nam Hyun-hwa said so in a gloomy voice.
― It’s Sooyoung. Even so, Hyunwoo. That kid is so blunt that I was worried, but I’m sure it will be like this. Maybe this would be good… .
“… … .”
I kept quiet at the sound of her lamenting voice.
Because it would have been better not to offer clumsy consolation.
– I’ll have to ask Sooyoung later… Can you help me then?
“Please? No, what more help… .”
― Neither that child nor Sooyoung had ever had a lover until the day I took care of them.
Hyun-Hwa Nam said so.
― Sooyoung was sometimes too aggressive, and Hyeonu was too honest. therefore… Well.
Nam Hyun-hwa, who had been thinking for a while, said quietly.
― No, I’ll ask Sooyoung a separate request later. I hope you don’t misunderstand what I said, but somehow, I feel like if I ask you, something bigger will happen… .
What does that mean?
As I was thinking about it, I heard Sbangali sniffling and holding back her laughter.
— … Yeah, I’m very happy though.
“What are you talking about?”
― Actually, I was very worried about letting those two children away from my arms. Will I be able to make good friends, will I be able to endure it, will I be able to do it really well… .
―But seeing you with me made me realize that I don’t have to worry about that. I was able to put aside the old man’s useless worries that the two might get apart.
— … The other side is a little worried, but that’s it.
“… … .”
I was silently listening to her.
Then Sbangali whispered quietly.
[It’s no joke to say something like that in a young woman’s voice.]
Shut up.
I thought quietly.
Then, Nam Hyeon-hwa paused as if holding her breath for a moment and muttered.
– okay… So let’s stop and get to the point now. Why the hell did you leave a message asking me to contact you? What else do you mean there is something you want to ask me earnestly?
“First of all, I apologize for my rudeness, old man. And please don’t misunderstand me and listen. in fact… .”
I started telling her the details of Minerva’s story.
When my story, which had continued for a long time, ended, she let out a quiet sigh.
― So, to sum up what you said briefly, the subjugation of the Seven Evils of Minerva is going to happen soon, and I would like you to lend me your hand. Is this?
“Exactly.”
– I will do my best… Sorry, I can’t give you a definitive answer.
She replied quietly, but as if she was really sorry.
― My comrades, including myself, are now pursuing the murderer of our friend. In such a situation, it is impossible for me to move on my own.
“Perhaps… .”
I asked her the name that came to mind.
“Isn’t the name of the group the criminal belongs to the children of Milited?”
– How do you… ?
It was a simple elimination method.
Red Case found out it wasn’t through Lydia.
The Thorns Cross Society has no reason to do so and has already been destroyed.
The Big Watch doesn’t have any abilities related to mental abilities, and if they were to kill them, they’d have taken a different approach.
Then all that was left was Milited’s children.
“Actually, I’m after them. and… .”
I told her about the recent infighting among Milited’s children.
Belluna, who had lost interest, tried to leave, and killed the other two members in the process.
Thanks to that, their power was cut in half, and there were only three remaining members of the organization.
And that the members of the organization are lichs, vampires, and dragons.
— … is it.
Along the way, I was worried that she might not believe me, but fortunately she seemed to trust me.
― It was a fact I knew well that the members of the organization were dragons. Seeing you say it, it must be true.
In addition, Nam Hyeon-hwa hinted at me that the person they were pursuing was Richie.
After thinking for a moment, she said to me.
– I heard an important story. If that’s true, it’ll make things pretty easy to deal with. I must pay this price separately later.
“I, then, anything related to Minerva… .”
―If you have been favored, you should repay it.
she muttered so
― When you talk about Minerva’s subjugation, make sure to join the battle without delay. I’ll try to convince my colleagues to join me if possible.
It was a poignant story.
Nam Hyeon-hwa alone would be of great help, but her colleagues… .
I told her right away with sincerity.
“Thank you so much.”
― Well, of course, it’s something you should do, so it’s not something you should be grateful for. just… .
After a moment’s hesitation, she answered.
– Nothing. Just take care of your two children. He’s a disciple I got at the end of the day, and he’s my precious family. Please support them both.
“Rather, that’s what I want to ask. They are good friends to me.”
— … … .
Nam Hyun-hwa was silent.
She seemed to be contemplating something.
―It would be ridiculous to say something.
These were the words she spoke after thinking for a while.
― It would be better to meet and talk in person later. okay… Then I’ll just say this one last time and hang up.
“I will listen.”
― You are the trust, affection, and friendship of Hyeonu and Sooyoung… After all, he deserves these things.
I closed my mouth.
Nam Hyun-hwa added quietly.
― Stay healthy until the next time we see you. then… .
With that said, the phone hung up.
Even though the phone was disconnected, I had no idea what she meant by her last words to me.
“What do you mean?”
[…] You may feel a little offended, but shall I come up with my own interpretation?]
Sbangali muttered so.
I nodded and he opened his mouth quietly.
[If you look closely, you’ve seen that sometimes you’ve been starving for love.]
“… What?”
[That kind of thing stands out especially in human relationships. Even if the other person made a mistake, I would rather bend in or go in. Of course, I have to shoulder everything, I have to take responsibility for everything, I have to sacrifice more… He also had a strange masochistic appearance trying to hold him in this way.]
Perhaps it was a reflection of your growing up, I’m guessing… .
Sbangali added a word.
[Perhaps she saw through that side of you. Because he had lived for a long time, he would have naturally developed such insight. That’s why he probably said that.]
“… … .”
I could not show any reaction to Sbangali’s words.
It felt like being stabbed in a vital point.
After he finished speaking, he said in a voice that seemed to be looking at me no matter who looked at me.
[Isn’t that more fortunate than that? She’s a swordsman with so much power that she inflicted a huge wound on my body. I’ve never seen a few as strong as her in my life. If it were her and her companions, it would definitely be a great help.]
“… yes.”
[…] It’s good to get lost in thoughts, but don’t you need more preparation?]
He gave me sincere advice.
[I think we need to work harder to protect the two as we have been asked.]
“Yeah, you’re right… What else happened to you? You’ve only been saying the right things lately.”
Sbengali let out a sigh as she spoke with a labored smile.
[You won’t admit it, but I’ve been giving you advice like gold and jade for quite some time now… .]
“It’s a little bit floating, so you’re talking nonsense right away.”
After returning the answer to the guy’s words, I calmly began to organize the situation.
The ten rivers had already gathered.
Nam Hyeon-hwa and her colleagues will certainly be of great help.
and… .
I glanced at the stamp Belluna had made before.
The seal that contained her magical power did not disappear even after a few days.
“Did you say that if you collect ten, you will grant your wish?”
Could it be possible for two people to add up to ten?
With that in mind, I immediately called Ivan.
* * *
“Do you want me to meet your mother?”
At my words, Ivan made a bitter expression on his face.
Then, without saying a word, I rolled up my clothes and showed her the so-called eo-heung stamp. Then his expression changed strangely.
“… Did Jihyuk get you too?”
“Ivan are you?”
He blushed in embarrassment at my words.
Then he rolled up his sleeves deeper than me, revealing the front of his forearm.
A total of eight stamps were stamped on his arm.
“I said one wish out of ten. Have you ever made a wish?”
At my words, he blushed and nodded.
“I asked you to take me to the zoo once when I was very young.”
“If it’s okay with you, can I borrow your seal?”
“It doesn’t matter, but… What number are you going to fill the other one with?”
“So, we should meet and talk with Belluna-san now.”
He nodded at my words.
“You are probably around here. If you call me now, I’ll probably come back soon.”
“Then let me ask you.”
“that… Ji-hyuk. Then, before that, I have a request for you.”
I looked at him as if I was quite surprised by his difficult expression.
“What? Tell me. Of course, I must also do your favor.”
“Then can you let that Evangeline Lohengrin and her legs go?”
He seemed to have put on a surprised expression without knowing it.
Ivan Hunt hastily opened his mouth as if making an excuse as he realized what his words could mean for a moment.
“no no. I don’t mean that. I wanted to strengthen the magic bow, so yes, I was still a bit into mannerism. There are limits to what I can do alone… It was because I thought that with the help of her, who is called the Great Witch, I could definitely improve the situation.”
“No, I didn’t even misunderstand… Rather, why did you think I could bridge her?”
At that, Ivan smiled slightly.
“In the old days, I used to eat with my eyes. If it had been dull, I would have died sooner.”
I quietly nodded at his words that he was noticing to a certain extent.
“… I will try.”
“Okay, so you promised?”
Saying so, Ivan called somewhere.
Then, looking at me, he walked to a slightly cornered place and started talking.
For some reason, I remembered calling Lee Ye-eun and sometimes uttering strange words called “sister”.
After a while, Ivan, whose face was slightly red as if the call was over, came up to me.
“Come soon. But by what means are you going to get your mother’s seal?”
“Simple but certain.”
Saying that, I gently waved the plastic bag I was carrying.
Ivan looked at it and made an expression on his face that he was doing something.
“… But Ivan, you’re going to hate it.”
“What is it?”
“I’ll show you later.”
That was then.
A strange wind blew.
When we turned our heads, Belluna was already there.
She was looking at us with a calm expression, as if she had been with us from the beginning.
“Hello, Belluna.”
“Yes, how are you? Yoo Ji-hyuk.”
I bowed my head to her.
Then Belluna also slightly bent her knees in response to me.
Ivan made a worried expression for a moment, then silently followed me and bowed his head.
“… Hello, Mother.”
“Oh, my son.”
Belluna smiled and muttered.
“Aren’t you going to call me Mom like before?”
“… … .”
Ivan didn’t answer, but his face was flushed red.
Belluna chuckled and burst into laughter as if she was happy to see it.
“Okay, so why did you call me? I heard that there is a very, very important story.”
I walked over to the nearby table without saying a word to her question.
Then, he took out what was in the plastic bag one after another and began to lay it out.
“It’s not a big deal, and I’ve been helped in many ways before, so I want to give it back.”
Coke, potato chips, dried squid, cube cheese, ice cream, sandwich… .
It was quite a sight to see the side dishes lined up with all kinds of snacks.
“Originally, in Korea, offerings and sacrifices are made to the gods of wind, rain, and clouds… I heard that it was a country where such folk beliefs developed, did you know?”
Belluna didn’t answer.
He just stared blankly at the things on the table.
Ivan was looking at me with a grin on his face.
“Simply put, this is it, Belluna-san.”
I will give you a tribute.
To you, the high spirit of the wind.
Hearing those words, Belluna’s eyes literally twinkled brightly.