Ch.109Seiran

Cheongik’s rest was quite long. Perhaps it was due to their unprecedented achievements. Or maybe it was because everyone had different recovery periods and varying degrees of injuries.

Whatever the reason, Seo-rin enjoyed some rare leisure time with her friends. She basked in the sunlight while watching the clouds drift by. This was her favorite way to rest.

Normally, she would have trained to become stronger. But not now. The memories she had recently gained through the Ice Dragon Sword were overwhelming. They were memories of someone with talent that shone like stars. Just digesting them was challenging enough.

Every single muscle fiber must be under one’s control. That’s how the girl in the memories was. It was rest, yet not rest. Seo-rin observed her body in this manner.

“How long do we have to lie here?”

Theo, unable to bear the boredom, half-raised his upper body and asked.

“Until Seo-rin gets up. If you don’t like it, you can go first.”

Flora replied. Theo frowned, let out a small sigh, and lay back down. The three of them soaked up the warm sunshine.

After a considerable amount of time had passed, when the sun in the sky was beginning to set, the three had to get up from their spots. There was a small commotion at the entrance of the Cheongik headquarters.

Seo-rin rose from her place and frowned. Among the unfamiliar presences, she sensed one familiar one.

“What’s going on?”

“Looks like something came from the Imperial Palace?”

Theo and Flora moved first, brushing off the grass and leaves stuck to their bodies. But Seo-rin didn’t do that. As her small foot took one step and touched the ground, wind burst forth with her at the center. The swirling wind blew away all the dust on her body.

Whoosh—

This wasn’t something Seo-rin had intended. Her subconscious had summoned the wind. Thus, the power of the Ice Dragon-Heart had deeply permeated Seo-rin’s daily life.

The Cheongik entrance, which should have been quiet as usual, was bustling. The people standing in disarray were surrounding a specific person.

Fine golden hair of a woman shimmered as it fluttered in the wind. Her calm, red eyes gazed at the ground. She looked a bit thinner than when they first met.

It was Clara.

However, her attire was extremely out of place. Seo-rin couldn’t understand. Why was this transmigrator wearing the official uniform of a Cheongik member?

“Wasn’t she supposed to be executed?”

“They say the original owner of the body is still alive, so they didn’t execute her.”

“But she still harbors the soul of a transmigrator, right? Wouldn’t it be better to deal with her before she causes problems…”

“It’s an incomprehensible choice. But we must accept it. If that is His Majesty’s decision…”

The decision not to execute Clara came from the Empire’s highest authority—the Emperor. The current Emperor is hailed as the greatest sage since the founding of Karma. There was no way anyone could raise objections.

“Oh, Seo-rin?”

It was then, as Seo-rin’s group slowly approached the entrance. Karnok, who was standing with Clara among the people, raised his hand. His sly smile stood out even among the crowd.

Seo-rin felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding.

“Vice Captain.”

“Perfect timing. Here, you know her well since you brought her in. This is Clara, who’s joining our order.”

She had somewhat expected it since Clara was wearing the Cheongik uniform. But hearing the fact from her superior’s mouth, she couldn’t help but be surprised. So it’s true.

“Two souls coexisting in one body. It’s quite an exceptional case. That’s why it took so long to decide on Clara’s treatment. We couldn’t just execute her because the living Clara would be affected, but the transmigrator’s soul was a problem. In the end, His Majesty decided to keep Clara alive and use her… should I say ‘their’? Anyway, to use her abilities in our Cheongik.”

“Vice Captain, can you trust a transmigrator? Even if it’s His Majesty’s order…”

The voice of concern came from a mid-level member. It was an understandable sentiment. Everyone present nodded in agreement. Karnok, who had been quietly observing, gave a small smile.

“What are you so worried about?”

“Well… she might leak our information to others…”

“What else?”

“She might cause problems internally…”

It was at that moment when Karnok nodded. Blue mana swirled around him, and a faint image of scales appeared above his head. It was the Scale of Balance, the blessing he received from the world at birth.

Karnok’s Scale of Balance was a blessing so famous that there wasn’t a citizen of the Empire who didn’t know about it. When difficult trials were held, he was often called upon.

“Do you think I wouldn’t be aware of your concerns? I’ve already verified everything.”

Karnok’s words carried a special weight, thanks to the blessing he possessed. Only then did the members withdraw their suspicious gazes. One person had removed the doubts of everyone.

Next, the members’ gazes turned once again to Clara. She was a sudden new recruit. According to Cheongik’s regulations, even a new recruit who hasn’t yet become a low-level member is assigned a senior to guide them.

Everyone present wondered who would be in charge of Clara. The answer was immediately apparent.

“So, Seo-rin. I’m counting on you, okay?”

“What…?”

Karnok gestured lightly and pushed Clara’s back. Stumbling forward, Clara approached Seo-rin nervously.

“Hello…”

“Hmm…”

Seo-rin crossed her arms and looked Clara up and down. The curvaceous figure that hadn’t been visible in the loose-fitting nun’s habit was now revealed by the tailored uniform.

Her chest was quite large too. So large that if you looked up at her from close by, you couldn’t see her face.

‘Similar to Flora.’

Seo-rin shook her head. That’s enough of these unnecessary thoughts. No matter how envious she was, staring would be disrespectful to the other person. Besides, with this body, and her sister also having inherited their mother’s genes strongly, such a figure was a certainty in her future.

“I look forward to working with you…”

***

The other soul residing within Clara was named Alberich, a transmigrator from another dimension. Since he shared a body with Clara, he would emerge at random times.

It was also easy to distinguish between Clara and Alberich. If the speech pattern was stiff like a man’s, or if the behavior wasn’t feminine, it was Alberich.

Alberich found the Cheongik uniform uncomfortable. Due to the neatness that tightly constrained the large chest, he would often unbutton it. When Clara regained control of the body, she would blush and button up her chest first.

“Is it Alberich now?”

“That’s right.”

Alberich was extremely cooperative. He had no reservations about explaining his abilities. He didn’t try to become stronger either. That was because he didn’t have any particular goal.

Seo-rin brought Alberich to a quiet place and asked questions.

“I’m curious about something, Alberich. How did two souls come to coexist in one body?”

“I protected the soul. With my power, I held onto Clara’s soul and formed a thick barrier of holy power over it.”

“Holy power?”

“I’m rather surprised that everyone has a similar reaction when I explain about holy power. This is truly a strange place. There are religions, but holy power doesn’t exist. I wonder if there are no gods, but that’s not it either. I clearly felt the presence of a god when I crossed over to this world.”

“Is it like mana?”

“Completely different. Holy power is, as the name suggests, the power of gods. We merely borrow that power by paying a price.”

“This holy power… can I handle it too?”

Alberich shrugged. He couldn’t be certain either. The holy power he used was merely borrowing the power of a god existing in another dimension.

In his own way, wanting to help Clara, he had made her pray to the god he believed in. But no answer came.

Alberich took out a small piece of wood from between his chest. It was a symbol with a small star decorated on an inverted triangle. Even though the dimension had changed, the god he believed in was still lending him power. There was a possibility.

Alberich handed it to Seo-rin.

“Give it a try. Who knows? Perhaps Elune will answer your voice.”

‘What kind of object from the chest…’

It was an object that emerged from an unexpected place. But after a moment of surprise, Seo-rin took the symbol he offered.

“Just try to voice it in your heart. While invoking Elune’s name.”

Seo-rin tried to pray as Alberich instructed. But no answer came. Watching her, Alberich nodded as if he had expected it.

“Don’t be too disappointed. I can still help you feel the holy power…”

Paat—

A warm light flowed from Alberich’s hand. He slowly extended it to Seo-rin. It was a power completely different from mana and inner strength. It even gave a sense of inexplicable vastness.

As if entranced, Seo-rin grasped the light.

Sssss—

The light disappeared as if melting into Seo-rin’s hand. After a moment of confusion at the unfamiliar power entering her body, Seo-rin felt a warmth spreading throughout her body.

“It’s warm…”

“It’s a benevolent power.”

At the same time, Seo-rin’s consciousness began to sink. She instinctively realized that her one and only sister was awakening from a deep sleep. Seo-rin didn’t resist the drowsiness.

The shimmering light slowly faded. Alberich, who had been observing, tilted his head. The atmosphere of the girl sitting in front of him had changed.

“W-wow…”

The small girl rose from her seat. Her eyes, looking at the world as if everything was new, sparkled beautifully.

“Wooow…”

Hop—

The girl jumped off the chair and touched the ground. Immediately after, she began to tear at the grass beneath her. The small girl, Sei-ran, reacted sensitively to everything approaching her from the surroundings.

All of these were sensations cultivated by her brother. Sharing the same sensations as the person she loved most gave Sei-ran unbearable joy.

Sei-ran shuddered and sat down on the ground. Her legs had given out, and she could no longer walk. At the same time, Sei-ran’s consciousness began to sink.

She couldn’t stay awake for long with such weak holy power. But Sei-ran wasn’t too disappointed. She had directly felt the holy power that had entered her body. She realized how that power interacted with the soul.

‘It might take some time, but…’

The sorcery she used was a power centered on curses. It was fundamentally different from the all-embracing, benevolent holy power.

‘The reversal of a curse…’

Wait, brother.

Sei-ran wasn’t particularly interested in revenge. She just wanted to be with her brother always.