Episode 215. The Rune Clan (2)

“….”

I walked towards Sunshine Nursery, watching my back.

In reality, Rebecca, who was behind me, didn’t seem to pay me much mind.

It was because she was confident she could catch me, no matter when I tried to run.

‘There’s no opening.’

Although Rebecca was walking around, leisurely looking at her surroundings, there was no opening.

The magical energy filling the space around me would become the rope that caught me the moment I tried to escape.

“Haa.”

“Why the sigh, Lee Hoyeon?”

“…It’s nothing.”

Her approaching me so familiarly felt a bit awkward.

This is driving me crazy, seriously.

Actually, Rebecca is quite beautiful. It’s because she’s an antagonist who appears quite often in the original work.

Usually, the female executives of evil have to be pretty, you know.

Like Im Sol, she’s a researcher engrossed in magic, but while Im Sol is on the wholesome side, this person is more of a decadent mage type.

Her beautiful ruby-melted red hair and jewel-like shining emerald green eyes.

If I had to say, I could say she resembles a witch.

“Is it far?”

“It’s close.”

In fact, she is indeed a beauty, the kind you should gratefully accept if offered.

I’ve never seen a woman of that type before, and she really is pretty.

But….

‘There are too many women.’

Even without this, the number of heroines is increasing, and I can’t possibly seduce a female executive of evil who isn’t even a heroine.

However, as if to refute my thoughts, something popped up before my eyes.

[Women with high potential for capture currently: Im Sol (95), Rebecca (85 points), Liliana (83 points), Scarlet (43 points)… ]

“….”

That’s right.

Come to think of it, an antagonist like Rebecca wouldn’t possibly have low influence.

Since she’s positioned as a direct enemy in the original work, I hadn’t considered she could be a heroine.

Tch.

I suddenly regret it.

‘Should I have just said I was part of the Rune Clan?’

No.

That might actually have the opposite effect.

Even if seducing her is easy for a while, if it’s revealed later, everything I’ve done to seduce her will be for nothing.

It would be better to reveal it first and then try to seduce her later.

Of course, whether I’ll pursue seduction or not is still undecided.

“You could just make babies with me.”

“…Speaking of which, you said two boys, right?”

“Yeah, one is you, and the other is a younger child.”

“How old?”

“Probably around elementary school age right now?”

Elementary school age.

Even if I don’t know about boys my age, the child in the nursery seems to be around elementary school age.

The possibility that my thoughts are correct is increasing.

“Is that place called Sunshine Nursery over there?”

“Yes. It’s right there.”

A moment later, we arrived at Sunshine Nursery.

“Hmm….”

Rebecca followed me inside Sunshine Nursery.

Naturally, as it was wrapped in a Rune barrier, ordinary people couldn’t see it.

Although it was clearly the same Rune barrier as mine, it was much more solid and stable than mine.

‘It feels like the magical structure is completely different.’

If not for that, there’s no way to explain it.

Even when implementing the exact same magic circle as Rebecca, the magic output came out differently.

[Rune Clan Synergy]

I guess I can describe it like this.

As I entered the yard, I found a stout gentleman watering the flowers.

He’s the director of Sunshine Nursery.

I approached the director, whom I hadn’t seen in a while.

“Hello, Director.”

“Huh? Oh, Student Hoyeon! Wow, now that you’ve become famous, I thought you wouldn’t be able to come.”

“Nah, I don’t come here just to manage my image. What difference does becoming famous make? I was discharged yesterday, so I stopped by to see you.”

Actually, it’s been about a month since I last came, so it has been quite a while.

I came to seduce Baek Ahyoung… so I guess I don’t need to come anymore.

Still, I should come with Baek Ahyoung later.

“Ah, that’s right. I saw the news too, but I forgot.”

Seeing the director laugh ‘ho-ho’, I continued.

“It’s okay. By the way, I’d like to see the children, what are they doing?”

“Right now, it’s free time after lunch. Everyone is probably doing whatever they want. If Student Hoyeon arrived, they’d likely gather quickly, right?”

“Hmm, today there’s a child I want to see. Wasn’t there a red-haired boy at the nursery?”

Rebecca, who had been watching the conversation with boredom beside me, focused on us only when the keyword ‘red-haired boy’ came up.

“Red hair…? Ah, you mean Suhyun?”

“Yes. That mischievous-looking little kid.”

“He’ll be over there. Would you like to go together?”

“Please. I have something personal to discuss.”

A moment later, I ended up having a private conversation with the child named Cheon Su-hyun.

Since I was famous and had visited a few times to volunteer, becoming friendly with the children, the director readily granted permission for a private meeting.

“Big brother. It’s been a while. But what do you want to talk about with me?”

“I’m going to ask a few questions, you just need to answer them. Okay?”

“Yeah. Of course, it’s okay!”

The red-haired boy, Cheon Su-hyun, was smiling innocently.

As far as I know, he must be just 8 years old.

Just the right age to be cute.

• Kid?

Nod.

I nodded towards Rebecca, who was gazing intently at Cheon Su-hyun from behind.

Swish-

Behind me, I felt Rebecca’s magical energy.

A very faint wave of magical energy passed through my body and began scanning Cheon Su-hyun’s body from head to toe.

• …Can I talk to this kid?

“Uh, it’s okay. Suhyun. Don’t be surprised. I brought a ‘noona’ who wanted to meet you. Is that okay?”

“Yes. It’s okay.”

Creak-

The door opened, and Rebecca naturally walked in.

Of course, it was a trick using the Rune barrier, but how was that possible?

“Hello. Are you Cheon Su-hyun?”

“Hello, Noona.”

Seeing Cheon Su-hyun bow his head, Rebecca wore a displeased expression.

“…Can I have your hand for a moment?”

“Yes.”

Holding Cheon Su-hyun’s wrist and channeling her magic, Rebecca spoke a moment later.

“…That’s right.”

“It is?!”

“Yeah. You’re definitely of the Rune Clan. I can tell by comparing. Your mana regeneration is different from mine.”

“Oh… You believe me now, right?”

“…Okay. I’ll believe you.”

Rebecca looked quite disappointed, but I was relieved that the misunderstanding was cleared up.

It’s better to resolve these things quickly.

What a relief.

I guess I won’t be kidnapped and forcibly impregnated.

“Kid… Do you perhaps remember anything before coming to this nursery?”

Rebecca asked for information about other survivors.

“Hmm… I don’t know. I don’t remember well from when I was little.”

“…Haa.”

Maybe it’s because I missed the clan survivor I thought I had found.

Rebecca seemed heartbroken and let out a deep sigh.

“Thank you, Suhyun. You can go play with your friends now. Ah, these are snacks that ‘hyung’ bought, so share them together.”

“Thank you! Big brother! See you later!”

Giving Cheon Su-hyun the snacks, I sent him out of the room.

Watching Cheon Su-hyun leave with a ‘wadada-‘ sound, I spoke to Rebecca.

“Let’s ask the director first. He might know something.”

“…Okay.”

*

“Ah… You mean Suhyun.”

In the director’s office, I asked about the situation when Cheon Su-hyun was first taken in.

“I was wondering if there was a red-haired man who came with him. He was probably around my age.”

I don’t know where the Rune Clan originated from, but a child that young probably wouldn’t have come all the way here alone.

An older man must have helped him.

“I don’t know how you knew… but yes, there was. A red-haired boy. If he were still alive now, he’d probably be around Student Hoyeon’s age.”

“…What?”

I couldn’t believe what the director said.

That meant the survivor Rebecca was looking for had died.

“Tsk… It was a few years ago. On a snowy day when flakes were falling heavily, I went out upon hearing a knock on the door, and found a red-haired boy holding a young child in his arms, begging me to let them stay for just one night.”

“….”

The director closed his eyes as if recalling that time and continued speaking.

“The boy’s condition was serious. He had a fever all over his body. He was so hot that we tried to send him to the hospital immediately, but he kept refusing. He said he was someone who couldn’t go to the hospital. But we secretly called an ambulance and sent him to the hospital.”

“Yes.”

“However, he was suffering from severe malnutrition, which had damaged his entire body. Moreover, he had walked barefoot for a long time, causing frostbite all over his body, and his stamina had weakened considerably. It was already too late for treatment.”

“Ah. So…”

“Yes. We received word from the hospital that he passed away just a few hours later. Fortunately, Suhyun, whom the boy had held tightly, was in good condition, so we’ve continued to raise him.”

“….”

What should I make of this situation?

Glancing over at Rebecca, she looked like she had lost her entire country.

Well, she needed to revive the Rune Clan immediately, so if the only remaining survivor was such a young child, it would be sad.

No, considering her crazed expression regarding the clan… she must have felt like she had truly lost her country.

Creak-

“Huh? Why did the door open by itself? Is it the wind?”

Rebecca simply opened the door and walked out dejectedly.

Since the Rune barrier was still active, the director’s eyes widened at the door opening suddenly.

“…Thank you for the story. I should get going soon.”

“Okay. Student Hoyeon. Thank you for telling me.”

I followed Rebecca outside.

In the deserted backyard, Rebecca was blankly staring at the sky.

As I cautiously approached, tears like a hen’s droppings were falling drop by drop down her cheeks onto the ground.

“Rebecca… ssi?”

I called Rebecca’s name for the first time.

Only then did Rebecca turn her head towards me.

Drip. Drip.

Like an open faucet, tears fell from Rebecca’s eyes.

If she were sobbing loudly, I could try to comfort her, but she was crying like someone who had truly given up on everything.

Ha.

Whenever I see a crying woman, I really don’t know what to do.

First, I should try to comfort her.

“Don’t cry. Um… She’s still young at 8 years old, but she’ll grow up soon….”

“…It’s meaningless.”

“What?”

“That child didn’t receive proper hereditary education… Since they couldn’t receive education during their crucial young years, they’re only half a Rune Clan member, making it hard to call them one.”

“Ah…”

“Besides, it will be too late once that child grows up. I’m getting older too.”

“…How old are you?”

She looks the same age as Im Sol on the outside, but is she perhaps using magic to hide her age?

Hiding one’s age is also one of the witch clichés.

If she turned out to be an 80-year-old grandmother, I’d be a bit…

“…The year after next, my twenties will be over.”

“Wait, what? You’re young.”

“…While I’m young, I need to have as many children as possible!”

Sniff.

Rebecca, crying while sniffling, looked truly pitiful.

“There will be a way. I’ll help you, so let’s look slowly.”

Rebecca looked at me and roughly wiped away her tears with her hand.

“Sob. …I’ll just do it with you.”

“Wait, just a moment. How did it get to that?”

“In this world, the only male who can use the Rune barrier is you.”

“That might be true, but….”

“And you’re handsome. You’re my type. Even if the survivor turned out to be an ugly pig, I intended to endure it and have 50 children? With you, I could even give birth until I die.”

“….”

With eyes full of ulterior motives, Rebecca tightly grabbed the collar of my clothes.

Honestly, I’m fine with it.

If I just have sex with a beautiful woman, the number of heroines who get conquered automatically increases, right?

You might think there’s no reason to refuse, but actually, there are many.

First of all, there’s the revival of the Rune Clan.

The talent within this body is a gift received through the divine authority known as a special privilege.

I wonder if this will be passed down to my children?

Of course, it would be great if it did. But it might not be possible.

“…Help me.”

“…Rebecca ssi.”

“Everything, preparations are all done. If you need money, I’ll give you money too. Ah, I’ll raise the child too… I’ll make it so there’s nothing for you to worry about. You just need to… sow your seed in me. Please….”

Rebecca’s posture gradually collapsed as she spoke.

In the end, almost kneeling on the floor, she grabbed and shook my clothes.

It was a 180-degree difference from how she forcefully grabbed me at first.

Perhaps back then, she thought I was also part of the Rune Clan, which is why she acted that way.

Rebecca staking her life on the clan’s revival.

And the man who brought Cheon Su-hyun to the nursery, trying to protect the younger Cheon Su-hyun somehow.

Based on those things, it’s highly possible he received education from the Rune Clan itself since childhood.

He must have been repeatedly taught that the clan must be saved from extinction at all costs, or the importance of continuing the bloodline.

Therefore, naturally, she thought that I, also being of the Rune Clan, would accept the task of reviving the clan.

But the current me is different.

Since I’m not part of the Rune Clan, I don’t have the obligation to continue the lineage, but I’ve also ended up in a state where I can’t forcibly take it.

Because I might die.

There are ways to do it forcefully, but honestly, I’m not at a level where I absolutely cannot resist.

If I decide to resist, it’s easy to create an opening to die.

‘Of course, I won’t die, but… Rebecca doesn’t know that.’

In a way, I am someone Rebecca cannot control, but I have become her last hope.

“I’ll do anything, I’ll give you everything, so please….”

Trying to bang her head on the floor, I grabbed Rebecca’s shoulder and helped her up.

“…Get up. I don’t want that kind of relationship.”

Someone with attractive decadent charm shouldn’t collapse like that.

That kind of person is prettier when they’re confident.

“Then will you get me pregnant? Are we making babies?”

Rebecca looked at my face with eyes full of anticipation at my words.

“…I can try. But there’s a condition. You have to follow my words exactly.”

“I’ve practiced enough. I can handle anything.”

Rebecca, misunderstanding my words, hardened her resolve, but that doesn’t matter.

The real big problem preventing me from accepting Rebecca right away is…

First, I need to solve that.