Chapter 415
Chapter 415. Turning Point (3)
I feel guilty because I made an irreversible mistake.
It seed this matter required a deeper conversation. While Seonwoo Yeon was pondering this and that a man in casual clothes, with his ankles half-soaked, continued speaking.
I heard our Yoonseung even bought a house. Ah, he was living there, and all that was left was to build a better life...
Sir.
I ruined everything. I've been studying spellcraft for a while, but all I got was one confirmation after another that resurrection is completely impossible.
First of all, I'll say this again, don't go into the sea...
In any case, this is irreversible! And I know that myself so well that now I practically wish I could die!
“In any case, this is irreversible! And I know that myself so well that now I practically wish I could die!”
“You must not jump into the sea.”
The civil servant once again tried to stop him, her tone unintentionally formal. And yet, despite hearing all these warnings, the blond alien continued to wallow in self-bla, unable to stop.
“If I had stayed in Seoul, this ridiculous thing wouldn’t have happened, right?”
The chaos continued for a while. In fact, there was only one reason the otherwise empty beach had beco so noisy.
“No, how could that incident be Kim Giryeo’s fault?”
Kim Giryeo genuinely believed that this incident had occurred because of his own fault. Seeing this, Seonwoo Yeon imdiately spoke up.
“You’re simply a victim who’s been ntally hurt.”
“Do you truly believe that?”
“You’re in no position to compare yourself to the perpetrators who actually caused the criminal incident, so what is all
“Do you truly believe that?”
“You’re in no position to compare yourself to the perpetrators who actually caused the criminal incident, so what is all this nonsense all of a sudden?”
But despite the thorough and earnest explanation, the alien’s reaction remained extrely reluctant.
“That’s true, but.”
Above all, he didn’t seem to agree much with the other person’s consolation.
“Honestly, I did contribute to this incident to so extent.”
“Yes?”
Then what exactly was the mistake all this ti?
“I made a fuss about retiring for no reason…”
Guaranteed long-term employnt. At the sa ti, an Awakened affiliated with the association—famous as the epito of job security—flinched in surprise.
I made a fuss about retiring for no reason...
Guaranteed long-term employnt. At the sa ti, an Awakened affiliated with the association—famous as the epito of job security—flinched in surprise.
I had already expressed my intention to step away from the Hunter industry. From Ahn Yoonseung’s perspective, how difficult must it have been to reach out for help first?
Kim Giryeo-ssi.
At first, I was a lifesaver, and later, a sort of senior ntor-type figure—how could Ahn Yoonseung possibly approach soone like that?
....
How could he have simply asked the seasoned veteran, who was first his lifesaver and later briefly a ntor-like figure, to step in with household matters? Especially to soone who’d shalessly built up such an intimidating image...
However, this kind of lant about his situation was surprisingly brief.
Ah! But even thinking about it again, I still can’t understand. Why didn’t he call until it got to that point?
A few seconds later, the man on the beach ruffled his blond hair and began a new line of contemplation.
“Ah! But even thinking about it again, I still can’t understand. Why didn’t he call until it got to that point?”
A few seconds later, the man on the beach ruffled his blond hair and began a new line of contemplation.
“I clearly told him he could call anyti without hesitation!”
“Is that so?”
“On top of that, in a very, extrely, seriously earnest tone!”
From now on, the mage before him beca angry. To be precise, he embarked on the odd behavior of questioning the deceased’s side, asking why they had insisted on formalities.
“Hmm.”
But at that mont, the civil servant, the only one remaining calm, finally spoke up.
“From my perspective, it doesn’t seem like Hunter Yoonseung ignored the advice...”
Luckily, a picturesque sunset hung in the surroundings, so even if the conversation dragged on, there was no need for anywhere else to look.
“From my perspective, it doesn’t seem like Hunter Yoonseung ignored the advice…”
Luckily, a picturesque sunset hung in the surroundings, so even if the conversation dragged on, there was no need for anywhere else to look.
“What did you say?”
“The case has a sowhat complicated structure, so it’s understandable to get confused. But Hunter Ahn Yoonseung beca aware of Choi Jinhee’s death and took action within just a 24-hour period.”
“…”
“Moreover, during that ti, there were even police reports and dia notifications. From Hunter Ahn Yoonseung’s perspective, the initial response must have seed nearly perfect.”
“…”
“Whether it was that hunter or anyone else, no one could have thought of a third party during that sa period.”
For reference, on Earth there’s the concept of a “white lie.” But right now, simply pointing out the truth would be enough to offer comfort.
“During that brief mont when he returned from Chuncheon to Seoul, the guild decided to launch an attack. Who co
For reference, on Earth there's the concept of a “white lie.” But right now, simply pointing out the truth would be enough to offer comfort.
“During that brief mont when he returned from Chuncheon to Seoul, the guild decided to launch an attack. Who could have predicted that?”
“...”
“Still, when the situation beca too dangerous, he called the Awakened he trusted the most first.”
“...”
“It’s absolutely not Giryeo-ssi’s fault...”
But what kind of sudden, out-of-nowhere objection is this?
“, a third party?”
The blond mage tensed his neck as if about to raise his voice. Fortunately, nothing worth worrying about actually happened.
“Well, that’s actually true.”
The blond mage tensed his neck as if about to raise his voice. Fortunately, nothing worth worrying about actually happened.
"Well, that's actually true."
Even if he wanted to get annoyed for no reason, there was honestly nothing to bla. Ever since earlier, Seonwoo Yeon had been speaking nothing but entirely correct points. So Kim Giryeo, as if resigned to sothing, finally swallowed his words.
"...."
"...."
With the mage's silence, the sound that eventually filled the space was that of the waves.
‘He suddenly fell silent.’
Unfortunately, she didn't have the eloquence to continue the awkwardly cut-off conversation. For reference, this is what Seonwoo Yeon was thinking in her head at the mont.
‘I was really down thinking about Hunter Ahn Yoonseung until this morning. How long has it been since I last got to see the sea like this?’
'I was really down thinking about Hunter Ahn Yoonseung until this morning. How long has it been since I last got to see the sea like this?'
The silence between them continued peacefully for a while.
'Still, the scenery of the beach is really beautiful.'
Perhaps because it was the usual ti for dinner, the sandy beach remained quiet and empty.
Whoosh.
The natural breeze made people's hair flutter.
'The wind is pretty strong since we're at the beach.'
Yet, even facing a strong wind that would ss up anyone's hair, there's soone here who doesn't even blink for a mont.
"..."
The companion who had co to see the sea with her—naly, the coastal resident Kim Giryeo—was now staring into the air. He hadn't jumped into the water, nor was he running around in a frenzy venting his complaints. Until a little w
...
The companion who had co to see the sea with her—naly, the coastal resident Kim Giryeo—was now staring into the air. He hadn’t jumped into the water, nor was he running around in a frenzy venting his complaints. Until a little while ago, his behavior had seed rather unstable. But now, just quietly watching the waves like that... could it be that he’s finally found so peace of mind?
“But no matter how much of a third party you are, having witnessed all of this firsthand, isn’t it still pathetic as an Archmage...?”
Apparently, that wasn’t the case. Just when it seed quiet for a mont, Kim Giryeo couldn’t hold back for more than a few seconds and started voicing his negativity again.
“I thought I’d be able to ignore things like this easily, just like I used to.”
For reference, the sorrow he was feeling was one she could easily empathize with. Thus, Seonwoo Yeon nodded and focused on what the man was saying.
“I never thought losing Yoonseung would hit this hard. If I’d known, I should’ve just made sure to protect him from the very beginning.”
“Hmm.”
“And I should have made him quit that tiring and frustrating job a long ti ago.”
Hmm.
And I should have made him quit that tiring and frustrating job a long ti ago.
Hmm?
But what does that even an?
Honestly, isn't that so?
An unexpectedly abrupt topic ca up.
The reason nine out of ten people work is because they worry about money.
No, that's not it.
I was an S-rank Hunter before I retired. With the wealth I'd accumulated, I could've easily supported one or two people.
Yes?
e."
"Yes?"
"If I had used that money to separate Ahn Yoonseung from society, there wouldn't have been any problems, right?"
Maybe it was because he was an alien, but even his way of expressing sorrow was unusual... Still, it wasn't sothing that could be brushed off lightly—the atmosphere felt oddly unsettling.
"Besides, there was also the option of using [Tracking] magic to monitor him every day."
"Are you serious?"
"There were so many ways to prevent the accident, and yet... what on earth was I doing all that ti?"
The man with blonde hair no longer looked toward the sea.
"Calling myself an Archmage—how foolishly arrogant I must've been...!"
Swish.
Kim Giryeo turned toward the white sand beach where Seonwoo Yeon stood and faced her to continue the conversation.
A steady voice. Calm gestures.
Judging by several factors, his deanor was clearly the sa as usual—yet, for so reason, it was hard to look him straight in the face.
"I guess I've been too indifferent all this ti."
A few seconds later, the man walked forward with the setting sun at his back.
"Then, at the very least, I should protect the one that's left..."
He then reached out his hand toward the native nad Seonwoo Yeon and spoke.
"I should at least properly protect and take care of the one last thing that's left behind."
Because she, too, was soone acknowledged as an acquaintance by the alien.
I should at least properly protect and take care of the one last thing that’s left behind.
Because she, too, was soone acknowledged as an acquaintance by the alien.
Protection and managent—words that, no matter who heard them, were bound to evoke a sense of discomfort.
“Now, wait a minute! Kim Giryeo-ssi.”
In a way, it was only natural. After hearing everything the Alphaurin said, the human quickly expressed her refusal.
“I understand what kind of feelings made you say that, but I... I don’t like that sort of thing.”
“You hate it?”
Logically speaking, it was an offer that simply couldn’t be accepted.
“You could buy whatever you wanted, watch all the shows you wanted, and go out as much as you want, and yet?”
“But the condition would be that Kim Giryeo would stay by my side and keep safe for the rest of my life, right?”
“That’s true but...”
Even with such sweet rewards on offer, having her freedom infringed upon was a flaw she simply couldn’t overlook.
“Still.”
It was then. The man still standing with the sun at his back—his face cast in shadow, his expression unreadable—the great mage spoke to the woman.
“Still, don’t you ever find the working life unbearably tedious?”
The fact that his expression was hard to see might have been nothing more than a psychological illusion.
“Dragging your tired body to work every morning, to a company overflowing with individualism...”
“....”
“You probably told yourself to hang in there and do your best, but then ended up drained after getting into a big argunt with so rude client...”
....
You probably told yourself to hang in there and do your best, but then ended up drained after getting into a big argunt with so rude client...
For a while, his explanation went on without giving her any room to argue.
Besides, since you're a civil servant, if you end up with a boss who dumps all the grunt work on you, you'll be stuck suffering from that for half your life.
That's right.
I'll make sure you don't have to worry about that anymore.
After hearing everything, Seonwoo Yeon's gaze changed.
Have you... never once thought that you wished soone would support you?
But the new expression in Seonwoo Yeon's eyes wasn't one of empathy.
I'm fine.
But the new expression in Seonwoo Yeon’s eyes wasn’t one of empathy.
“I’m fine.”
This look was purely for sympathy.
“Kim Giryeo, I’ll say it again, Hunter Ahn Yoonseung’s situation wasn’t your fault.”
What followed was a calm persuasion.
“Honestly, Giryeo-ssi, you’re saying that even though you already know the answer, aren’t you?”
“The answer?”
“A person’s life can’t be left in the hands of others. That’s the concept.”
“…”
“Even if you possessed all the power and wealth in the world, you must never try to control or confine soone else.”
First ca surprise, then sorrow. After passing through a sense of compassion, the human’s mood returned to a distin
“Even if you possessed all the power and wealth in the world, you must never try to control or confine soone else.”
First ca surprise, then sorrow. After passing through a sense of compassion, the human's mood returned to a distinctly Korean warmth and friendliness.
“Hunter Ahn Yoonseung knew all of this as well, which is why, even in such a difficult situation, he would never have blad his seniors in the industry.”
Sniff.
Kim Giryeo covered his face and lowered his head.
“Huh? Are you crying?”
Startled, Seonwoo Yeon asked a question, and the other person imdiately revealed the truth.
“I don’t cry.”
“There’s really no need to hide that side of yourself...”
“I once tried crying with this body, but that way of expressing myself seed entirely pointless. So recently, I’ve completely blocked my tear ducts.”
Paused.
Seonwoo Yeon quickly looked at the other person’s face upon hearing that. Perhaps because the bizarre explanation had just co out, it sohow seed as if the fluids in the other person’s eyes were awkwardly stuck in place.
“You were joking, weren’t you?”
“Yes.”
Swish.
In the anti, it seed the sun had moved a little. Now, with the shadows gone and his face fully visible, the mage finally lowered his hands and faced his companion.
“I apologize for the strange remarks.”
Though his expression had remained impassive from the start of the conversation to the end, it was now clear that the Archmage had resolved his inner turmoil.
"Haha. No. Well, there’s really no need for you to apologize..."
After exchanging the customary apology, the conversation entered a brief lull.
"..."
"..."
Since they were already at the beach anyway, they took a mont to admire the waves reflecting the sunset. And they checked the ti on their phone at least once to see how much had passed.
"Seonwoo Yeon-ssi. Excuse ."
"Ah, yes!"
Kim Giryeo went about sorting out his thoughts through various small actions. But no matter how much he tried, it seed the grief wouldn't fully subside without addressing a certain topic. After so deliberation, he finally brought it up.
Kim Giryeo went about sorting out his thoughts through various small actions. But no matter how much he tried, it seed the grief wouldn’t fully subside without addressing a certain topic. After so deliberation, he finally brought it up.
“Though it's a bit funny, considering I just explained that I don’t cry…”
“What?”
“Even though my expression looks like this, I’m still incredibly sad.”
“Ah.”
“So I’m really sorry, but could you… just grant a small wish for a mont?”
“A wish?”
“I think that would at least help feel better.”
Well, as long as it wasn’t so nonsense about locking soone up like a decorative guppy to keep them “safe,” it didn’t seem like it would be impossible to grant.
“What wish?”
Seonwoo Yeon nodded lightly, without thinking much about it.
“Please get married.”
But it felt a bit odd to suddenly say sothing like that.
One second. Two seconds. Three seconds... As Seonwoo Yeon’s mind struggled to process the sentence, a brief mont passed. Fortunately, just before the human might have started foaming at the mouth, the alien managed to provide an additional explanation.
“This is a wish I only got after being reborn on Earth, but honestly, my dream was to attend Ahn Yoonseung’s wedding.”
“...”
“I secretly hoped all along that he would build a happy family and, ultimately, sohow have children who would carry on traits of this planet.”
I secretly hoped all along that he would build a happy family and, ultimately, sohow have children who would carry on traits of this planet.
...
But Seonwoo Yeon, from what I can see, also has good genes. By the sa logic, I’d be happy if you got married to o...
Of course, a child’s personality is influenced not only by genetic information but also quite a bit by their environnt.
If two good individuals co together, usually the upbringing process doesn't cause much trouble.
The blonde man quickly organized his thoughts and spoke again.
Oh, but this isn't forced.
....
In this harsh world, finding a decent partner—and then having and raising children—is no easy task.
....
I'm fully aware of just how arduous those tasks are.
....
Do you think I'd ever consider that easy? Besides, I've obviously factored in the possibility that you, Seonwoo Yeon, might be a non-marrier or part of a DINK household.
....
But still... just for this mont, my heart feels too heavy. I just want to hear sothing kind — even if it's only out of courtesy.
....
Could you perhaps tell if you're planning to start a family?
The nonsense ca out in an exceptionally polite tone. Yet, the alien looked far too distressed to be scolded. So Seon
“Could you perhaps tell if you’re planning to start a family?”
The nonsense ca out in an exceptionally polite tone. Yet, the alien looked far too distressed to be scolded. So Seon woo Yeon reluctantly granted the other’s wish first.
“Uh… honestly, it’s not sothing I’ve ever seriously thought about. I an… I’m not against marriage, so I’ll probably get married at so point…”
“Really?”
“Y, yes.”
Co to think of it, she was never even pressured by her family elders to get married.
“Excuse , Kim Giryeo.”
“Yes!”
“But I have to warn you beforehand—under no circumstances should you say sothing like that in front of others.”
For no particular reason, her tone ca out sounding sowhat angry.
“Why? Ah, as expected, it’s because it touches on personal matters, huh?”
“Please don’t use such language so carelessly in the future.”
“Understood. I’ll correct myself.”
“Anyway, you’re always the one who uses strange language...”
“I told you, I got it.”
Author's Thoughts
Hi, from now on, I will update this novel 3 chapters/week. Thank you for all your support so far:)
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