Chapter 165 – Unintended Luck (1)

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Translated by Jinmu

Read only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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The next morning.

When I stepped out of the dormitory, a dark-brown sedan was parked at the entrance. It was so well maintained that it gleamed with a polished shine.

Its appearance did not suit this place, where the dorm fees were the cheapest. The eyes of the cadets passing by each stopped on the car at least once.

‘Whose car is that?’

Curious gazes. But because of the gold-plated license plate, I was able to roughly guess whose car it was. That was because I remembered seeing it in the Miracle’s Blessing M setting book.

A license plate plated with pure gold. As far as I knew, in Korea there were only a few people who could freely ride in that car.

The President and Seven Stars-tier heroes. Since there was no way the President had come calling in person, the possibility was naturally the latter.

Jiiiiing.

The heavily tinted window rolled down. Through the opening, a stylish woman wearing sunglasses came into view. She lowered the shades slightly with her index finger and rested them on the bridge of her nose.

My gaze met her green ringed eyes. It was Media. Smiling brightly, she waved me over.

“Geom-ma, over here! Hurry up and get in!”

“……”

For a moment, I was dumbfounded. Last night, Manager Seong had given me a hint by text that someone else would be taking me to the Association in his stead. But who would’ve guessed that person would be the Headmaster.

I should have noticed from the strange tone in Manager Seong’s message.

No wonder every sentence in that text had been dripping with caution. I hadn’t expected him to hide this kind of twist.

‘Manager Seong?’

And things were already excessive enough as it was, with the Seven Stars Spear Saint volunteering himself as my guide once I got to the Association. Now the one driving me there was the Seven Stars Sage.

How had the scale of this gotten so huge? To exaggerate a bit, it was as if two Presidents had attached themselves to one personal errand of mine.

No, their international standing was beyond that of a President. Anyway, it was too much. The pressure had me practically suffocating.

Haa.

Think positively. The subspace portal couldn’t be used for personal business. It only took about an hour and a half by bus from Wonju to Seoul, but.

If I rode in that car, it’d be forty minutes, tops. Because there was a special lane reserved for state-level guests.

Even if it looked absurd, there was nothing to be done. I emphasize again, this world was very much a status-based society. Democracy was a romantic fantasy here. Fucking hell.

I clicked my tongue. Then I slowly approached and got into the back seat. The moment I boarded, Media’s enthusiastic welcome began.

“Oh, our Geom-ma. Do you know how many days it’s been since I last saw you~! Do you know how much I’ve wanted to see you?”

“Cough. Cough.”

Media pinched both my cheeks with her fingers. I swatted her hand away.

“Headmaster, I get it already. Why don’t we talk after you’ve started driving.”

“I was just too happy to see you. Driver, please get us going.”

Inside the car as it sped along the open road.

Media and I exchanged this and that. The opening wasn’t anything particularly important.

To summarize, it was mostly things like, `Geom-ma, you’re absolutely everywhere these days!?` and `Geom-ma, you don’t know how grateful I am to you.` She praised me until her lips nearly dried out.

Still, Media’s excited tone felt a little strange to me. Right now, she was trying hard to hide what she really felt.

As Headmaster, Media had an unusually strong sense of duty. Every time she talked to me, she grumbled that `the pay is low,` `the benefits are nonexistent,` and `the workload is murderous,` but she cared more for the cadets than anyone.

And yet just a few days ago, a large number of cadets had died. Guilt and pressure would be weighing heavily on both of her shoulders.

I quietly looked at Media. Through the dark lenses of her sunglasses, I could still see the black fatigue settled beneath her eyes. It was proof that she hadn’t slept for days.

The world revered her as the Headmaster of Hoakin and the Sage among the Seven Stars.

But in the end, she too was only a single human being. One who lay awake at night, tormented by guilt.

A little later, the look in Media’s eyes suddenly grew deep. At that, the driver closed off his ears. The atmosphere in the car became markedly solemn.

Media intertwined her fingers and let out a long breath. In a low voice, she asked me.

“To be honest, Geom-ma, this should’ve been the first thing I asked you… that enemy you fought back then… was it maybe the rank I’m thinking of?”

“Yes. At the time, the enemy introduced itself as Third Legion Commander Vesna. And since I fought it myself, I think that’s right too.”

“Gasp!”

The dramatic reaction came from the front seat. The driver’s face reflected in the rearview mirror. His face had gone pale white, and cold sweat had gathered on the hand gripping the steering wheel.

“Haa….”

Media slowly massaged her temples. Her expression was calm. Her prediction and the account of the person who had actually fought lined up exactly. She elaborated.

“The cadets don’t know who the enemy was. Even the instructors don’t. Honestly, if you told people they’d seen a Legion Commander in their lifetime, would anyone accept that as common sense? They’d probably just think it was some incredibly strong enemy.”

“That’s true. And it probably hits the cadets less hard if they don’t know exactly who the enemy was.”

As I nodded, Media’s eyes widened. Then with a kindly hand, she stroked my head.

“How can a child be this composed? Seriously, you’re such an old soul. But Geom-ma, now that things have reached this point, it’s not something we can keep hidden forever.”

“That’s true….”

“So the academy and the Association are going to整理 all of this together and announce it. What sort of enemy you faced for the sake of the cadets, and exactly who they were. That way people will at least be on guard.”

Media took her hand off my head and gently held mine.

“On top of that, that fossil contacted me a little while ago, and apparently the preparations are nearly finished.”

“Preparations? For what?”

“Come on, what is this, a young kid already getting absentminded? Obviously, for your Seven Stars succession!”

“……!”

Hic!

The driver started hiccuping. Media kept talking.

“You subjugated both Fifth Legion Commander Agor and Third Legion Commander Vesna, didn’t you. We should keep pushing while we can. Everything should be ready within two months. The reason I’m even going to the Association’s Korean branch today is to discuss that with the gorilla. Of course, there are other matters included too.”

The driver had heard far too much in this cramped space. He felt like he might get indigestion.

The hand gripping the steering wheel trembled violently. The driver rolled down the window of the driver’s seat. A favorable wind swept over his face, which was soaked in sweat.

…In the midst of that, the gold-plated license plate entered Seoul.

* * *

The car pulled into the Association’s Korean branch. Agents who had been waiting quickly opened the car doors.

Straight legs extended through the gap in the door and stepped onto the laid-out carpet. The agents all bowed in unison toward those legs.

“Welcome to the Korean branch of the Association! Headmaster of Hoakin Academy and Seven Stars Sage, Media Poison-nim!”

Media stood up straight. The sunglasses under the noon sunlight flashed sharply.

Bang.

The next moment, the opposite-side door opened. The agents once again recited in booming unison.

“Welcome to the Korean branch of the Association! Cadet of Hoakin Academy and hero of the Hoakin tragedy, Kang Geom-ma-nim!”

“…Yeah, well.”

Looking awkward, Kang Geom-ma stood beside Media. He asked her in a near whisper.

“Do we really have to go this far?”

The welcome was too grand. At this rate, it looked like they were even about to drape flower garlands over him. Media answered.

“The Hero Association is conservative like that. People who work in national affairs are always big on stiff chains of command, you know. Well… that isn’t the only reason, though.”

That was when it happened.

Thump thump. Along with the sound of footsteps, the ground vibrated. The agents silently stepped aside and opened a path.

Media’s eyes narrowed slightly. In a voice barely loud enough to hear, she muttered.

“He’s here.”

Kang Geom-ma raised his head. From a distance, a figure was approaching while showing off his presence from far away. A man with a heavy build and a beastlike face. The Spear Saint, Richard de Muir.

“Hahaha, I don’t know how many years it’s been since we last met. Have you been well in the meantime, old hag?”

The Spear Saint laughed loudly. Click click, Media strode forward in her shoes and stood face to face with him.

“Hey, gorilla.”

“What is it, old hag.”

With the innocent face of a child, the Spear Saint tilted his head.

“I….”

Hoo. Media exhaled deeply. She swallowed once sharply.

“Told you not to call me that!”

Swaeak!

With a piercing shout, Media threw a straight punch. Her fist tore through the air and slammed into the Spear Saint’s lower abdomen.

Boom. The sound of the air being torn rang out like a war drum. From the aftershock of the collision, a violent gust of wind whipped through the area.

‘What is this?’

Kang Geom-ma found the situation absurd.

Did Seven Stars heroes greet each other by throwing punches out of nowhere? This wasn’t just friends roughhousing. The stone pavement cracked, and the wind reversed itself. It was obvious, that was an attack thrown with killing intent.

As everyone’s eyes widened in utter shock, the Spear Saint said with a bright smile.

“It seems you’ve grown older too. Back in the day it felt like my intestines were flipping over, but now it only stings a little.”

Though he said that, blood was running down his chin. Media snorted.

“Oh really, all that bluff. I only hit you lightly because it’s been a while, but I guess you can still take it? And besides, it’s only because I haven’t slept for several days, you know? Gorilla, your abs have gotten soft like pudding too.”

The Spear Saint’s smile reddened a little more with blood. The pain came crashing in a beat late. His insides were damaged. Stroking his stomach, he still tried to look calm as he spoke.

“Lately I’ve neglected my training, and this is what became of me. Cough. Still, for someone spending her days at a desk, you seem healthy enough. It’s a relief, old….”

“Old?”

“…Media.”

Only then did Media turn around in a burst of cold air. Watching the scene, worry entered Kang Geom-ma’s eyes.

Was inheriting the Seven Stars position really the right choice? If greetings in this circle looked like this kind of fistfight, it was enough to make him seriously hesitate.

While everyone else stood there unable to do anything, Kang Geom-ma’s eyes met the Spear Saint’s.

“How wonderful it is to see you in person!”

Despite his excited expression, the Spear Saint hobbled over. He tried not to show it, but the pain seemed considerable.

“I canceled all my plans and came rushing over just to see you! Since I’m already here, let’s all have lunch together first.”

The Spear Saint offered a handshake. Media rudely slapped the hand away.

“Don’t try anything funny. Getting Geom-ma to the Monolith is the extent of your role, gorilla. And while Geom-ma handles his business, don’t you and I have more than one thing we need to discuss between ourselves?”

“Tsk, I was hoping the men could build some camaraderie while tearing into a bit of meat together.”

The Spear Saint clicked his tongue. Media growled out a warning.

“What are you, some bandit? You just want to tear into meat? And don’t think I can’t tell you’re only using food as an excuse to gradually reel our Geom-ma in. Gorilla, you’ve gotten into politics and turned into a snake.”

“Media, I understand that you care for your cadets, but sometimes I wonder if you’re not being a bit overprotective.”

Media cut him off mercilessly.

“If the alternative is another tragedy like the Hoakin one, then overprotection is better. So at a time like this, nobody gets to approach my cadets. Even if they’re comrades who fought for life and death together. That’s my duty as Headmaster.”

“…Hah.”

The Spear Saint awkwardly scratched the back of his neck. Media removed her sunglasses. Eyes haggard from days and nights without sleep glared at him.

“You and I each have our own share of debt in this tragedy. Remember that today is the day we talk about that responsibility. Not some day to wallow around chewing meat.”

“Hah, right. Sorry about that.”

With his shoulders drooping, the Spear Saint took the lead.

“Follow me. I’ll guide you straight to the Monolith.”