16. Each Other’s Time (2)

Sanya sat on the bed, quietly gazing out the window.

Unlike right before she lost consciousness, the scenery was incredibly peaceful.

She sacrificed her body to extend this brief peace even a little, but how long would this tranquil scene last?

With incidents foreshadowing disaster erupting all over the world, not being able to use her power was incredibly painful for her.

“Did Jihu-gun go back?”

“Yes, I just saw him off. Is your injury a little better?”

“Yeah, I just got up and moved around too quickly, so I strained myself a bit. My body is still fine, so don’t worry.”

Sanya tightly grasped Siana’s hand, who was looking at her with worried eyes.

She understood why this kid, who followed and relied on her like a mother, was so concerned.

“So, what happened to the Sea Dragon’s Orb?”

“The purification process is still ongoing… You’re not really going to transplant it, are you? It won’t suit your body, and more importantly, there’s no guarantee that the shattered essence will return to its original state…”

“Ahem, that’s why I said we’re just purifying it for now.”

Sea Dragon’s Orb.

As the name suggests, this object, shaped like a jade-colored bead, is a type of essence not found in ordinary monsters.

Monsters are made of magical power, and most of them use their abilities by converting parts of their body into magical power. However, the story changes when it comes to special monsters labeled as ‘Calamities.’

Handling vast amounts of magical power indiscriminately is extremely inefficient, so they eventually created their own essence.

It was an organ that didn’t appear in demons, aberrations, or spirits, but only in Calamities.

Of course, the essence should also disappear into magical power along with the body upon death, but Sanya quickly took out the orb and prevented it from decaying, allowing it to be preserved intact.

“Anyway, a body without essence is useless. I can’t create artificial ones, and my internal balance is off, so I can’t even train properly.”

Sanya was thinking of transplanting the Sea Dragon’s Orb into her own essence.

The current orb is filled with tainted magical power, but after sufficient purification, it would be reborn as an essence concentrated with high-purity magical power.

For Sanya, whose essence was completely shattered, transplantation was the only option.

However, the essence of a monster itself is rare, so it had never been attempted before. Even with thorough preparation and safety measures, the possibility of failure was high, which greatly worried Siana.

“Well, if it really doesn’t work… I’ll have to create a successor.”

“Do you have someone in mind…? Sanya-nim doesn’t know many students, does she?”

“Well… I’m not sure yet. I’m planning to look into it slowly.”

Sanya picked up the blade placed on the table next to the bed.

Gently stroking the blunt edge, she thought.

‘Is there really someone who can handle everything?’

Now that she could no longer be active, she definitely needed someone to take her place.

Even if the transplantation succeeded and she returned, it would only be a temporary measure, and there was a high possibility that she wouldn’t be able to use her abilities properly.

At most two years, maybe not even one.

Within the remaining time, she had to choose a successor to pass on everything she had, along with this sword.

But did such a person with outstanding abilities even exist…?

“Ah, whatever… I need to succeed in the transplant first and then think about it. I’m hungry, give me food. I’ve been sleeping for a month, so my mouth is bored.”

“Sanya, try to speak more elegantly…”

“Whyyy? No one’s watching, and students these days like this kind of speech more.”

“Jihu-gun doesn’t seem to like it very much… Try to speak a little softer, even if it’s not like me.”

She’s already nagging after just waking up.

Still, Siana, with her wide eyes and serious expression, was very cute.

“Well, they say people don’t change until they die. I’ll consider it for my last words.”

“Sanya! Don’t say things like that…!”

“Just kidding, just kidding. Let’s eat, and call the others too.”

Siana, looking tearful, strode out to call the others.

Quietly watching her leave, Sanya lay back down on the bed.

Working with the government was an unavoidable choice, but she had to return as soon as possible before they did anything to the school.

As soon as the orb purification was complete, she thought she should try the necessary procedures for the transplant.

Sanya didn’t have much time left.

* * *

[National Intelligence Service Classified Level 1 Management Department]

A blue sign with serious words written in white.

A woman who looked like a college freshman kept pacing in front of the door with the sign.

“Ray. Come in.”

“Yes!”

The woman called Ray vigorously opened the door and stepped inside as her name was called.

Her sparkling eyes and flushed expression clearly showed how she felt.

“Ahem, I told you to manage your expression better. How come you haven’t changed in almost 10 years?”

“Hehe, but I’m just that excited! Ah, the Academy…! I’m finally going outside…! If Team Leader-nim hadn’t chosen me, Ray would have cried from sadness… Anyway, that’s how much I like it!”

“Okay, okay. Read this carefully. You know you’re not going to the Academy to play, right? The mission list and observation targets are in there, so you need to read it carefully before you go. Got it?”

“Yes! Team Leader-nim, please accept Ray’s gratitude grand bow!”

“Enough, just get out of here. You’re distracting.”

“Heeing… Yes.”

Even after leaving the room, Ray couldn’t contain her fluttering feelings.

To finally go to the Academy she had only heard about…!

An orphan who had been adopted by the government since childhood and had been semi-isolated from society, she couldn’t believe the sudden good fortune that had befallen her.

She couldn’t even dream of using two-way communication media like the internet and social media, and she had only read books and thoroughly censored newspapers produced by the government, so the outside world was like an unknown world to her.

She had to tell the other team members this happy news quickly.

As soon as Ray opened the door to the dormitory, she shouted in a booming voice so that everyone could hear.

“Unnies! Ray is going to the Academy!”

“Oh, yeah. Congratulations.”

“Ray, I told you to be quiet.”

But the reaction she got back wasn’t as enthusiastic as she had expected.

Hehe, could it be that everyone is jealous of Ray?

That could be it, Ray can understand with a generous heart!

“You’re going to the Academy? That’s great. You’ve always wanted to go outside.”

“Ah, Yuna Unnie! Thank you!”

At that moment, a colleague from the same team who was walking over spoke to Ray.

With a happy face, Ray skipped over and grabbed her hand, shaking it wildly.

“But Ray doesn’t know the outside world very well, so Unnie should tell her a little. Um… Do you know that you have to take off your skirt at the entrance when you go to the bathroom at the Academy?”

“Eii, how could that be true~ Ray knows that much too.”

Taking off your skirt in front of everyone, that’s too embarrassing…

Having at least a minimum of common sense, Ray sensed that Yuna’s words were false.

‘Yuna Unnie is great in every way, but she teases Ray too much…’

She had been tricked more than once or twice, so she vowed not to be fooled this time.

But her resolve was shattered by Yuna’s next words.

“It’s true? Ray doesn’t know because she hasn’t been outside yet. Unnie used to go out for as long as a year while working. Surely you don’t believe Unnie when she’s giving you sincere advice?”

“Ah, no! I believe Unnie! I guess Ray judged rashly… Heeing.”

Oh, is it true…?

Even when Yuna Unnie was teasing her a lot, she had never said it so seriously…

Ray tilted her head at Yuna’s firm words, but decided to believe her.

The unnies had been by her side since she was little, teaching her a lot, so maybe this time it wasn’t a joke.

“Wh, what do you call it…? A꿀팁(kkultip)! Thank you for the 꿀팁(kkultip), Unnie! I’ll bring you a present when I come back!”

“Okay. Have a good trip.”

Yuna smiled and stroked Ray’s head a few times before passing her.

Ray also headed to her dormitory room to pack her luggage to take outside.

“How am I going to survive the remaining week…? I’m so excited that I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep…”

Of course, there was the annoying task of having to monitor targets and report on her work every day, but just going outside was enough to make her do all of that.

When she went out, she would buy a lot of delicious food and go to a PC room, which she had only seen in pictures…

The more she thought about it, the more she looked forward to her future life.

“Taking off my skirt when I go to the bathroom… I have to memorize this every day so I don’t forget!”

If Yuna Unnie told her so earnestly, it must be very important…

Ray deliberately packed a few pairs of panties that were easy to take off in her luggage.

It was a little embarrassing, but if she thought that the Academy had a fairly open culture, she thought she should adapt to that culture as well.

“Let’s see… H, he’s kind of handsome…? No, I shouldn’t judge by his face…! I’ll find out every single one of his schemes!”

Ray muttered as she thoroughly scanned the paper that the team leader had given her.

She didn’t know what he had done to become a surveillance target, but she vowed to use her outstanding skills, which had been recognized by the team leader, to uncover all of his suspicious points.

[Lee Jihu]

The paper had a three-letter name written under a man’s expressionless face.