episode_0147

47. The peace that came after the tower disappeared (2)

A month has passed since we conquered Namsan Tower.

Sister Jia still hadn’t woken up yet, so we spent our time doing various chores in her stead while she was sleeping.

The first Blue House settlement established in Korea.

There is a lot of operational know-how accumulated here, and since we have also done work sending material and human resources to other settlements, there is quite a lot of paperwork going back and forth.

Of course, now that the government has collapsed, even if it is a document format, it is only as simple as location, required personnel, work content, etc.

Since the people who worked with my sister helped me, my job was to handle the rescue and support issues sent from each settlement, as well as reports on the towers conquered in each settlement.

Other people said that it would be easier to just review the documents that had already been processed, but I applied because I wanted to do it myself.

The reason is that even after a week of conquering the tower, there was no sign of movement from the religious groups Obelisk and Thanatos led by Oh Hyuk-jin, and when I contacted people I met in other settlements such as Mokdong, Seonyudo, Nodeul, and Garam, they also said that there was no particularly suspicious activity.

At the moment when I was wondering if I had no choice but to go and look for it myself, Ji-seong Oppa said this.

‘They’ve been hiding their presence and moving for a long time. Even if you look for a place you can guess and dig around, they won’t show up. So…’

So, what I was saying was that since we have been running nonstop up until now, we need to take a break and build up our skills.

Well, that wasn’t wrong.

Before conquering Namsan Tower, there was a lot of chaos in each settlement, including the incident at Garam Settlement, and the Blue House Settlement also suffered damage due to the reconnaissance team incident that resulted in the death of Choi Si-woo and the attack of the devil.

That’s why I thought it would be better for me to check out the information about the surrounding settlements and the towers around them myself.

A month passed like that.

I sipped my cup of coffee, the ice half melted in it, put down the documents in my hand and looked out the window.

Outside the window, preparations were being made for the ‘Memorial Ceremony for the Reconnaissance Team that Left This World’ that was to take place this afternoon, as well as the ‘Celebration Banquet for the Conquest of Namsan Tower’ that was to take place shortly thereafter.

Why did you hold the event a month later? Well, it’s adult circumstances.

The reconnaissance team was originally created to gather capable people from other settlements and conduct reconnaissance before attacking Namsan Tower.

As a result, there were quite a few people who were not from the Cheong Wa Dae settlement, such as ‘Mr. Doosik’, whose whereabouts are unknown now, and while talking with the settlements they belonged to and communicating about compensation and support, the Cheong Wa Dae settlement was reorganized internally and externally, and eventually a month passed.

” Oh my…! Let’s stop here for today… I said Arado would come later… ”

I put down the cup I was drinking from, stretched, and thought about my plans for the future.

” I’ll go to my sister and send her a letter… and then… I’ll meet Ara with Hyunseok! ”

Yeonseo is said to be leaving the Blue House settlement today and returning to Garam settlement where her older sister Yeonwoo is.

Since all I’m going to do here is research on magic, I’d rather be with Seojin Oppa.

Well, it was not that I didn’t know her feelings, and since I didn’t know when, what, or where something would happen, I thought it would be better for Yeonseo to go for the sake of Garam Settlement, so I accepted her leaving.

” We’re not completely breaking up or anything, but still… I’m a little sad that you’re leaving. ”

” Then, you should have treated me well when you had the chance. ”

When I turned around at the sudden voice, Yeonseo was already in front of me, ready to go.

” If someone heard this, they’d think I was bullying them. In fact, they were the ones who teased me more. ”

” Hehe, what are you talking about~ Are you going to see your sister? Let’s go together. I should say hello too. ”

” Okay. Let’s go. ”

After organizing the remaining documents and saying goodbye to everyone, Yeonseo and I headed to the room where my sister was sleeping.

At first, we were going to put her in a room in the medical area, but Ji-sung said that since she didn’t have any major injuries, we should move her to the room next to his, and I thought that would be better since I could go see her every day.

*****

When I opened the door to my sister’s room, Ji-sung was sleeping next to her.

My brother slowly gets up and yawns when I tap his shoulder.

” Really… Did you stay up all night again? ”

” Haaam, no. I slept a little. More than that… Yeonseo, is today the day you leave? ”

” That’s right? So, go wash up first. You have to give a memorial speech later. ”

” Yeah, that’s right. ”

My brother dragged his trembling body to the bathroom, and Yeonseo and I sat down next to my sister.

” How’s your sister? ”

When Yeonseo asked me while holding my sister’s hand and sending out divine power,

” Same as usual. Only… I guess I can open my eyes now… ”

” Don’t worry, you’ll wake up soon. ”

” Yeah, thanks. ”

Yeonseo began to slowly wipe her sister’s body with a wet towel from the side.

It’s originally my job, but since I’m leaving today, I wanted to do it as a way to say goodbye?

As Yeonseo was wiping her sister’s body, she felt movement in the hand she was holding.

” Huh?! ”

” Whoa…! Why, why? ”

” Hey, wait a minute…! Oh, Oppa!!! ”

My brother, who came running with his head dripping wet at the sound of someone calling him urgently, asked what was going on.

” Oh, I think my sister is going to wake up…! ”

” What?! ”

We could all see her hand moving so slowly, and after a little more time passed, she slowly opened her eyes.

” Ugh…. ”

My sister, who had been unconscious until now and was groaning as if her body was not moving the way she wanted, began to slowly get up while staggering as I breathed life into her with my divine power. I supported her body and placed a pillow on her back so that she could sit up.

” That, so… Oh, hello…? ”

At my sister’s words, Ji-seong and I hugged her and cried.

My sister was surprised when the two of us suddenly hugged her and didn’t know what to do, but then slowly came out and stroked my brother’s head.

” Sorry… I’m a little late…? ”

” No… Ugh… ”

” Thank goodness I woke up… ”

” Haha… ”

When I told my sister that I had been collapsed for a month, she was surprised at first, but she accepted it calmly and asked how things were going.

” Right now… I’m getting information about the surrounding settlements and towers. ”

” Really…? Then I’ll send you the documents later… ”

” No. ”

The older brother cut off his sister’s request to bring the documents and spoke firmly.

” It’s not like work will be in big trouble without you right now anyway. So just rest until you can move your body. You haven’t been able to rest properly because of me. ”

” But, but…! ”

” Then go to sleep and rest. Jisoo, do you agree? ”

” Huh? Yeah. You can rest a little more, unnie. ”

” Oh, really…? ”

” Rather, oppa, there isn’t much time left. ”

” Okay. I’ll go first. Yeonseo, you too. ”

” Yes, thank you for your hard work. ”

Brother Ji-sung left the room first to give a speech at the memorial service, leaving Yeon-seo to bid her farewell.

When Sister Jia asked what was going on, she told me that there was a memorial service for the people who were part of the reconnaissance team today, and Yeonseo said that she was leaving for Garam to coincide with that.

” Yeah… Phew, that’s too bad. I should have just come a little earlier… ”

” It’s okay, Sister. I can contact you anyway, and Charlotte is here, so I can come and go quickly. ”

” Okay. Then, Yeonseo, take care. And tell Yeonwoo unnie that too. ”

” Yes. Then, I hope to see you in good health next time we meet. ”

” Yeah. ”

” Then, I’ll bring Yeonseo. ”

I called someone who was close to Ji-ah and left her in her care, and went with Yeon-seo to where Hyun-seok was.

*****

The place where Hyunseok is is Deoksugung Palace, next to the Blue House settlement located in the Seoul Metropolitan Government Building.

I was exploring the area around the settlement with Cerberus, practicing controlling my powers that had grown stronger there.

Sometimes he would go quite far and often he would come back just as I was finishing up work and coming into the room to prepare dinner, and I quite… liked that kind of life.

‘ It’s like… we’re newlyweds… ‘

Did I look so ugly when I laughed and said ‘hehehe’?

” Hey, you idiot. Stop laughing. It makes my teeth rot just looking at you. ”

” Sorry. Hehe… But anyway, when you go back, you’ll be sticking with Seojin oppa, right? ”

” Ugh… That, that’s… That’s right… ”

As we were talking, when we arrived, a large puppy was running towards us from afar.

” King! ”

Cerberus, now a fully tamed puppy, ran towards me and started licking me with his tongue.

” Oh! Okay. I’m happy to see you too, so let’s stop. Okay? ”

Since I was completely soaked with Cerberus’s tongue and saliva, I used the Holy Fire to quickly dry it off and stroked its head. Yeonseo also started stroking it from the side.

” Seriously, this guy has completely turned into a puppy. ”

” But is it good? ”

” That’s right. I really like it. This fur is so soft, I’m addicted. ”

As I was caressing Cerberus like that, I felt arms embracing me from behind and turned my head slightly, and Hyunseok was there.

” What, I didn’t want to see it? ”

” What are you talking about? I’ve missed you so much…! ”

She turned around, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him gently.

A short, falling bird kiss with a ‘ss’ sound.

If it were up to me… I’d like to kiss you more deeply, but there was someone glaring at me from the side, so I made it short and pulled myself away from his embrace. As if regretting it, his arms wrapped around my waist.

I had no choice but to whisper in his ear.

‘Do you want to… do it tonight…? ‘

When I heard that, the arm wrapped around my waist was released and I smiled faintly and turned my back to him and looked at Yeonseo.

” Oh, this is why I’m going. My side is getting cold because you keep doing that next to me. ”

” Okay. I’ll open it now. Are you ready? ”

In response to Yeonseo’s silent nod, he snapped his fingers, and a ring of pure white flames spread out, revealing the garden behind the buildings in Garam Settlement.

” Then, I’ll go. If I’m not there… Don’t be too hard on me. Okay? ”

” What, what are you saying…! ”

” Hey, do you know what it was like for me to hear you panting nonstop for a month? ”

” Stop talking and go…! ”

” Okay, let’s go! Hyunseok, you should control yourself too. ”

I sighed deeply at the sight of Hyunseok waving his hand while smiling at those words, and I waved my hand as I watched Yeonseo crossing to the other side.

Yeonseo waved her hand and left without saying a word.

After she leaves, I hold his hand and look at him.

” Then, shall we go now? ”