Chapter 125.

Once I walked past a cave-like pathway, I could see two women sitting down on chairs .

Boss and Jain .

I could feel powerful magic power emanating from the two . It was the level of magic power possessed by those who surpassed a certain threshold .

I took a deep breath and walked up to them .

Boss spoke .

“You’re here, Little Apprentice . ”

“Yes . ”

I bowed . However,she was looking at me with eyes asking for more . I did as she wished .

“Boss . ”

“…Mmm . ”

Along with a satisfied hum, black magic power flowed out of Boss’ body, forming a chair . I sat down on it and stared at Jain . She was scanning me from top to bottom .

“…This is Jain . Think of her as a fellow member . ”

Once Boss gave the introduction, Jain smiled and waved her hand .

“Hi hi . ”

“Yes, nice to meet you . ”

Other than the times I saw her in disguise, this was the first time I was meeting her . I bowed as respectfully as possible .

“You see, Hajin-ssi, I have so many questions for you . ”

“…Yes, what is it?”

She likely wanted to know my motive for wanting to kill Chae Jinyoon .

“Those clothes, did you copy them from a fashion magazine?”

“…Come again?”

What kind of a question was that?

“Unlike other male cadets your age, you have excellent fashion sense . ”

“… . ”

To be honest, I put a lot of effort into my clothes . As an average-looking person with an average-height in his mid-20s, fashion was the only way to make myself more attractive . Since I didn’t have to worry about money now, it was only natural that my clothes were better than other cadets, who rarely wore anything other than their cadet uniforms .

“I’m just a bit interested~”

“I see . ”

“Jain . ”

Boss leered at Jain, who narrowed her eyes and murmured, ‘okay, okay’ .

“I want to know why you want to kill Chae Jinyoon . ”

“… . ”

I pondered . Could I tell them about the mysterious existence known as Devil’s Seed? Would they believe that such a calamitous thing existed, when I had no way to prove it?

“If you don’t want to tell us, you can keep it to yourself . ”

However, Boss cut off my worries . Putting aside Jain who was smacking her lips disappointedly, Boss continued with a serious face .

“But the price you’ll have to pay is clear . ”

Boss’ eyes flickered with a strange fervor .

“You will become our strength, not forgetting this debt and… signing this contract . ”

The last part made me chuckle .

“Of course . ”

“Good, then I’ll explain what’s going to happen . ”

Jain immediately spoke up .

She created a triangular table with her magic power and put her arms on it .

Jain’s explanation began .

**

After Chae Jinyoon regained his consciousness, Chae Nayun visited him every day . Chae Jinyoon’s condition continued to improve by the day . Although he still spent more time sleeping than awake, he was recovering fast enough that he’d be able to walk in a month .

“Mm… . ”

Today was the fourth day since Chae Jinyoon woke up . Chae Nayun visited Chae Jinyoon with her friends, and I was among them .

“Hm… . ”

Chae Jinyoon scrutinized Chae Nayun’s friends, then pointed at one person .

“You’re Kim Suho, right?”

“Y-Yes, I’m Kim Suho . How did you know?”

Kim Suho widened his eyes .

“Chae Nayun used to talk about you a lot when she was in Agent Military Academy . ”

Chae Nayun flinched at Chae Jinyoon’s words . She peeked at me for a moment before explaining herself .

“Y-Yeah, I said how you were a delicate-looking boy acting like a know-it-all . ”

“What? Isn’t that too harsh?”

“Haha, I agree with you, Chae Nayun . ”

Shin Jonghak chimed in, laughing heartily .

“Jonghak looks just as delicate as Suho though . ”

“No, no, I look manly . ”

Shin Jonghak reacted strongly to Yoo Yeonha’s point .

However, I couldn’t focus at all on their conversation . Their words practically entered through one ear and out through the other as I stayed seated on a chair, deep in thought .

According to the Book of Truth, the Devil’s Seed was 97% grown .

Assuming 100% was somewhere between 4 to 5 years, I only had two months or maybe even one . It was certainly not a long time .

“Why are you so zoned out?”

At that moment, Yoo Yeonha tapped on my shoulder .

I smile bitterly .

“Nothing, I’m just a bit tired . ”

“Ah, you’re Hajin, right?”

Chae Jinyoon suddenly pointed at me . Our eyes met, and Chae Jinyoon’s gentle smile entered my sight .

“Thank you for coming every day . You’re making me ashamed, really . ”

“Eh? He came every day?”

Yoo Yeonha asked in surprise . Shin Jonghak made a disgruntled face, while Kim Suho shrugged with a smile .

“Of course~ he’s been coming with Nayun every day . ”

“Ah, d-don’t say that, Oppa . ”

Chae Nayun was only allowed to visit him once a day for about three hours . It was also when Chae Jinyoon was awake .

For the past four days, Chae Nayun pleaded that I go with her, and I agreed, thinking I could maybe talk to Chae Jinyoon privately .

“…He’s, um, Oppa’s fan . ”

“My fan?”

“Yeah, he used to talk about you all the time . Right? Remember last semester?”

Chae Nayun growled jokingly and put me under a headlock . Because I didn’t have the energy to play along with her jokes, I silently squirmed out of her headlock .

“…I was just joking . ”

Feeling awkward, Chae Nayun poked my arm and muttered meekly .

“Hey, I was just joking . ”

“Chae Nayun . ”

Shin Jonghak cut in, clearly showing his displeasure .

“What . ”

“Follow me outside . ”

“I don’t want to . ”

“Your watch . ”

Chae Nayun looked down at her watch .

“Ah, I’ll be back in a moment, Oppa . ”

They seemed to have received a message as they left the room, leaving me alone with Chae Jinyoon .

I stared at Chae Jinyoon in silence . Chae Jinyoon also stared back at me .

Although I finally got the chance to talk to him privately, my head was in chaos with all sorts of complicated thoughts .

After organizing my thoughts, I spoke .

“Chae Jinyoon-ssi . ”

Hearing my stiff voice, Chae Jinyoon smiled gently .

“Yes, Kim Hajin-ssi?”

“…How’s your body?”

“Mm, I think I’m getting better . ”

Chae Jinyoon’s soft voice rang out .

I asked another question .

“What about your head?”

“My head?”

Chae Jinyoon tilted his head .

“Yes, were you struck with a sudden urge to do something bad?”

“Huh?”

“Like suddenly having horrible thoughts, or feeling demonic energy rather than magic power from your body . ”

“… . ”

I could see my reflection from Chae Jinyoon’s eyes . I could see that I was afraid .

But I wanted to ask .

Will you believe me if I said you will become a devil?

Can you give up your life to protect your young sister?

“…Mm, I’m not sure . Are you perhaps talking about Operation Fireflake?”

However, Chae Jinyoon was still stuck in the past .

Unable to ask the questions I wanted, I dropped my head . I clenched my teeth and tightened my grip on my chair’s arms . As I sat at a loss for words, worries rising up from the depths of my heart shook my body .

Then suddenly… Chae Jinyoon placed his hand on my head .

“I don’t know what’s troubling you so much, but…”

Thud—

At that moment, the door shot open .

“Ah, sorry Oppa… What?”

Seeing Chae Jinyoon’s hand on my head, Chae Nayun furrowed her brows .

“Hajin must have been a big fan of mine . ”

“…Pft, really?”

But she didn’t think much of it and sat down next to me .

Chae Jinyoon asked .

“Where are the others?”

“I sent them back . You have to rest soon anyways . ”

“Ah… that’s a shame . Did something happen?”

“Yeah, um, Master Yoo Sihyuk said he’d delay his camp for about four days . So I’m leaving on the 25th . ”

Yoo Sihyuk was well-aware of Chae Nayun’s extenuating circumstance . However, Chae Nayun’s expression wasn’t all that good .

“…But Oppa, should I just not go?”

Chae Jinyoon didn’t reply . Instead, he slowly turned his head and faced me .

“I think she’s asking you, Hajin-ssi . ”

“What? N-No, I’m obviously asking you, Oppa . ”

“…What do you think, Hajin?”

Chae Jinyoon asked .

Yoo Sihyuk’s school was located at the peak of Baekdu Mountain .

Baekdu Mountain had one of the highest concentrations of spirit energy and mana in the world . As a result, it was impossible to reach its peak without being above a certain level of skill .

To arrive in Yoo Sihyuk’s school, you had to train your lungs forcefully . Chae Nayun, Kim Suho, and Shin Jonghak would be unable to step a foot outside of it until the end of winter break .

“…Should I not go?”

Chae Nayun turned to me and asked .

I responded resolutely .

“No, you should go . ”

Chae Nayun had to leave for Yoo Sihyuk Camp .

“Eh? Ah… but it’s not the end of the world even if I don’t go…”

“Go . ”

“Tsk . ”

Chae Nayun’s face turned to a bulldog’s as she glared at me .

Thankfully, Chae Jinyoon seemed to agree with me .

“Nayun, I agree with Hajin . If it’s because of me, you don’t have to worry . You can see me any time you want, but this might be the only chance for you to go to Yoo Sihyuk-ssi’s school . ”

“…I was going to go anyways . Oh yeah, I brought a camera . ”

Chae Nayun changed the topic and took out a high-quality camera from her bag . Then, she pushed it toward me .

“Here, take pictures of us . ”

Chae Nayun ran next to Chae Jinyoon . Although he was taken aback at first, he soon smiled happily .

I watched them silently, then murmured .

‘…Scan . ’

The number was 44, a jackpot .

What kind of photos would this camera take?

With a somber expectation, I raised the camera .

“Say cheese . ”

Click .

Click .

Chae Nayun and Chae Jinyoon made all sorts of poses . Chae Nayun was hugging Chae Jinyoon in one photo, giving him a peck on the cheek in another, and leaning on his shoulder in the next .

After about thirty or so photos…

“Now you should take some with Hajin . ”

Chae Jinyoon made an unexpected suggestion .

“Ah, no, I’m fine… . ”

“Well I insist . Nayun, go stand next to him . ”

“What? No…”

“Chae Nayun . ”

“… . ”

As soon as Chae Jinyoon raised his voice, Chae Nayun walked up next to me embarrassed .

“Alright, say cheese~”

“C-Cheese . ”

Chae Nayun bashfully made a peace sign .

Click .

Thus, the only photo of me and Chae Nayun was taken .

**

The visiting period ended, and it was now night time .

While Chae Jinyoon slept, Chae Nayun and I walked around the hospital’s garden .

“Kim Hajin . ”

Under the faint moonlight, Chae Nayun was skipping through the garden, calling my name . Her expression could only be described as the happiest expression in the world .

“Kim Hajin, Kim Hajin . ”

“… . ”

“Kim Hajin, Kim Hajin, Kim Hajin . ”

“What?”

“Nothing . I just wanted to thank you . ”

Hearing Chae Nayun’s calm voice, I became speechless .

“…Kuhum, as if you have anything to thank me for . ”

“You came here with me every day . ”

Chae Nayun continued as she slowly strolled through the garden .

“To be honest, I was scared to come by myself . I love Oppa so much and I’ve been wanting to see him for so long… but it’s almost been five years since I last talked to him . I didn’t know what to say, and I was afraid what he might think about me all grown up . ”

She then poked my shoulder .

“But it wasn’t awkward at all with you around . ”

By the time she was done, we were at the front entrance .

My bike was parked next to a wall .

“I see . ”

I retorted unenthusiastically, leaving Chae Nayun behind . Then, I got on my bike, put on my helmet, and turned the engine on .

“…Are you free on Christmas?”

When I was about to step on the gas, Chae Nayun spoke .

I turned toward her .

“That’s the day you’re leaving . ”

“I want to see you before I go . ”

“… . ”

I didn’t answer .

However, Chae Nayun continued to speak unperturbed .

“I’m leaving at 6, so I’ll meet you at noon in front of the hospital . ”

“I’m leaving . ”

“…Yeah, good night . ”

I smiled bitterly and stepped on the accelerator .

As my bike raced through the road, I could see Chae Nayun looking at me from the side mirror .

**

Seocho District, Gangnam .

When I opened the door to the luxury apartment complex I bought, Evandel and Hayang greeted me .

“Hajin~”

“Meow~”

“Hey, guys . ”

I picked up Evandel with one arm and Hayang with the other .

Seeing them smiling as brightly as ever, I did my best to smile and asked .

“How did ordering food go?”

“It went well! We ate steak! Steak!”

“You did as I said?”

“Yeah! I told the delivery man to put the food in front of the door, then I brought it inside after he left!”

“Good job . ”

I put them down on the couch .

It was nice to have a big house . The spaciousness of the room gave me comfort .

“Oh right, did you take Hayang on a walk?”

“Un!”

Recently, I’ve been making Evandel practice going out . I made her wear a smartwatch just in case, but with Hayang as her guide, I didn’t need to worry too much about her getting lost .

“Good girl . ”

“Hehe, ehehe . ”

I patted Evandel and Hayang . Evandel smiled brightly and enjoyed my touch .

At that moment, I received a message .

[Little Apprentice, we are done with all preparations . January 3rd will be the day . Be ready . ]

My face immediately stiffened up .

“Watch TV for a bit . ”

I went into the bedroom and took out the Jar of Greed, which I kept outside of Evandel’s reach .

As soon as I obtained the Jar of Greed, I put Aether inside it . Aether was certainly worth enough to receive an upgrade .

That was December 10th . More than ten days had passed since then .

I slowly opened the jar’s lid .

It was then .

“Eh?”

My hands emitted a powerful golden light .

I’ve experienced this before .

This meant that ‘accumulation of luck’ activated .

If so…!

I quickly opened the lid .

Golden light rose up from the jar .

“Bravo . ”

Aether was inside the jar, carrying a strange pink light .

…Pink?

“Wait, what?”

With a sense of foreboding, I turned on my smartwatch .

===

[Aesthetic Greed]

The desire to seek beauty has been attached to Aether .

—Its user’s invariable charm stat will increase by 0 . 002 points every 24 hours, up to a maximum of 1 . (Note, the charm stat cannot be increased beyond 9) .

—Aether will now react to beautiful things .

—Aether’s Detail Materialization becomes more exquisite .

===

“… . ”

I became speechless and stood still in a daze .

From an objective standpoint, it was undoubtedly fantastic .

After all, it permanently raised an invariable stat .

Furthermore, as the charm stat was directly related to one’s physical beauty, it not only affected their outer appearance, but also their musculoskeletal balance and height .

With a full one point increase, I should grow at least 2~3cm taller .

It was a change worthy of triggering accumulation of luck .

Still…

“Why?”

Why couldn’t it have been intelligence rather than charm?

In fact, I would have been happier with an effect that increased my variable stats by 2 .

“Huu… . ”

As regrettable as it was, there was nothing I could do about it .

Of course, it was possible to change the setting with my Gift . However, erasing an already existing functionality and adding a new one had the possibility of causing unnecessary consequences .

So I decided to be happy with what I got .

I reached out to Aether .

As though it missed me, Aether shot toward me like an arrow and coiled around my body like a snake .

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