Ch.136136. Senia, and Jang Seon-hee (5)

I hadn’t been paying attention to such things until now.

No, to be precise, I rather disliked it.

I had grown accustomed to people in this country picking fights with me just because of my black hair.

Perhaps I had gradually become used to what I initially accepted and was slowly erasing it from my mind.

I had no reason to bring it up, and after falling into the Kempriton continent, I had no use for it, so I buried it. But it definitely existed.

In the three-character form commonly used in South Korea.

Thinking back carefully, there were things about Senia that felt strange.

The lack of a surname indicating her region of origin, her habit of preparing for lessons in advance which people from the principality rarely did, and other clear differences from other principality citizens.

If I attribute all these to her being Korean, the puzzle pieces about Senia start falling into place.

That she could be a person from another world, completely disconnected from this one, knowing nothing.

“Are you done processing this revelation?”

“…Yes.”

That’s right.

I had lived in a world far removed from things like magical beasts, born and raised in a world completely unrelated to mana, let alone magic.

And Senia standing before me was the same.

That black hair is a color almost no one in this place possesses, but in that country, it’s extremely ordinary.

Moreover, the three-character name she just mentioned herself. Senia is also a Korean named Jang Seon-hee.

“Then I’ll get to the main point. About the Kalix discussion you had with Nella before Shanbereshu appeared. Actually, the most important part was missing.”

“The most important part?”

I wondered what being Korean had to do with Kalix. But this was precisely the essence.

“A Kalix is a being that fulfills what someone in the Kempriton continent desperately wishes for. That’s why they usually summon people from other worlds.”

“What? That’s absurd…”

“You know it’s true even if it sounds impossible.”

It sounded completely nonsensical, but Senia didn’t seem to be joking.

Actually, things have been absurd since I fell into this world.

Suddenly dropping here from Korea. The appearance of magical beasts, the concept of mana, and magic—all of these are close to fiction in Korea.

But now? It’s reality.

That fiction has become reality, and it wasn’t something I could dismiss as complete nonsense.

“So, you’re saying I was summoned here to fulfill someone’s purpose?”

“That’s right. In my case, it was the Sirens. They say they summoned me wishing for the survival of the Siren race.”

“…So you want me to remember who summoned me?”

“Correct. The important thing here is not just who summoned you, but understanding why they summoned you.”

The survival of the Siren race.

If one closely examined Senia’s relationship with the Sirens, it would immediately make sense.

Her deviation during the heavenly migration and her easy passage through the barrier alone were enough to confirm it.

But here’s where the problem arises.

“I… don’t really know…?”

Even thinking hard with my eyes closed, I couldn’t remember anything.

“There must be some small clue, right? Try to recall when and where you were summoned.”

“Well… I suddenly fell right in the middle of the Academy. So I have no idea what they want. I don’t even know who summoned me in the first place.”

“That’s impossible. Falling in the middle of the Academy? If anyone had seen this summoning ritual, it would have caused an uproar! Plus, the summoning circle is so distinctively different that no one would fail to recognize it…”

“But it’s true. I fell in broad daylight in the middle of the Academy and landed right on my butt.”

“Huh. So there wasn’t anyone waiting for you either?”

“…No.”

After mentioning that they investigated all the students and that no one confirmed anything, and that Professor Jake came as a result, Senia pressed her temples firmly.

“This is serious… This is what the Sirens asked me to find out…”

“…I’m sorry. But that’s really all I know.”

“I’m not blaming you. The problem is that not knowing this creates issues.”

After pressing her temples, Senia sighed deeply at my question about what problems might arise and rolled up her sleeve to reveal some kind of symbol.

“What’s this…?”

“It’s called a Summon Rune. The summoner can place this on a Kalix and give exactly one command. This command… the Kalix absolutely cannot disobey.”

There was no need to ask what the problem was.

The existence of that symbol was evidence that one would be forced to carry out a single command issued by the summoner, an irresistible force.

Even if that command was given with twisted intentions.

“For now, this issue is also tied to the Lemterert plague cure. It’s difficult to explain in detail, but I’m planning to go see the Elder. Can you move?”

“How could I stay still after hearing something like this? I’d go even if I couldn’t move.”

“I suppose so. Then let me help support you.”

***

The danger of a Kalix’s existence was so great that the principality, having experienced all sorts of cases, had already issued a ban.

If an evil person were summoned, the Sirens would have no solution.

Therefore, Senia’s existence was tremendous luck for the Sirens who had no backup plan.

Although she initially outwardly ignored them, saying she couldn’t trust anyone, she was not someone who would disregard the fate of the entire Siren race.

Thanks to her, the Sirens had escaped the risk of having their dwelling discovered by humans.

After that incident, the Sirens showed deep trust in Senia and went so far as to vow not to issue the rune’s command.

But what about Junon’s case?

Although summoned as a Kalix, there was no guarantee he wouldn’t be hostile to the Sirens.

It’s not about doubting Junon’s character.

What if the summoner, upon hearing the command of the mark, ordered the elimination of the Sirens? Given the precedent in their vicinity, it would be foolish to dismiss that possibility.

That was why the Sirens wanted to find out who Junon’s summoner was.

‘I hope the summoner is not much different in character from him.’

There was supposedly another card to play, but she didn’t want to use it.

Senia would surely extract all the information from Junon.

The Elder was just staring intently at the medicine bottle on the table, waiting for him to enter this office once more.

Knock knock.

-Elder, it’s me. May I come in?

“Senia…? Come in for now.”

“Excuse me.”

This time too, the Elder had asked Senia to bring only Junon to this room. Her knocking on the door meant something was outside of expectations.

The Elder decided to hear what was going on, but,

“You…? Senia, what’s happening?”

“Junon needs to hear this too. That’s why I came in with him.”

This time she wanted Junon to join them.

“Well… first I’d like to ask if the message was properly conveyed.”

“I understand everything. From what a Kalix is to the existence of the rune.”

Then this should be easily resolved. But why did Senia want Junon to join? To this, Senia answers.

“Junon… says he doesn’t know who summoned him.”

“Doesn’t know?”

“It might be hard to believe, but I think he’s not lying. He said he first heard the term Kalix from Nella.”

“Hmm…”

The Elder stroked his beard as if troubled.

“But you know he has no hostility from this incident, right? So wouldn’t it be better to send him to the principality to build some trust…”

“That’s out of the question, Senia.”

“Elder…”

Junon was just watching with wide eyes, wondering what this was all about.

Then the Elder suddenly pulled out a medicine bottle and explained.

“This is a cure that can treat the Lemterert plague. It’s made by Senia using Hipplisia, which we Sirens cultivate, as the main ingredient.”

My eyes lit up at the mention of a new medicine for the Lemterert plague.

‘I see… that makes sense. With this, they could help humans and clear their name.’

So that’s what Senia was concocting—this was what the Sirens needed.

“I’m sorry. This was confidential even from you…”

“Don’t apologize. I roughly understand why you did it.”

But the Elder just said it was out of the question. He cut off Senia’s suggestion to send the medicine to the principality.

“Is it because of me that you won’t send it?”

“No. We would show any gratitude to you who dealt with Shanbereshu, our Sirens’ archenemy. However, we still cannot trust humans.”

“Humans…”

“If the one who summoned you is from the principality, there’s no guarantee that we Sirens will be safe. That’s why we’re not sending it. Especially after this recent incident.”

“What recent incident?”

“I see they didn’t explain that to you. Listen carefully.”

They might have given the medicine bottle to Junon alone without suspicion.

However, the current perception of Sirens had plummeted even further, making it a situation where even if they handed over this medicine, its credibility would be questionable.

‘You’re saying… I was asleep for a week?’

The problem was that during that time, what the Elder had feared came to pass.

One of the imprisoned humans revealed the existence of the Sirens, and as their imprisonment became known, hostility toward Sirens in the principality intensified.

Despite Cain stepping forward to explain that it was actually the Sirens who saved them, as a minority, they were bound to be overwhelmed.

The principality side was advising reservation, saying they should wait and see, but what if Junon’s summoner got involved?

Even just making a key figure tell lies could lead to an extermination order against the Sirens.

Therefore, not trusting humans right now was an entirely reasonable stance.

Nevertheless, that cure was essential for Professor Dalia.

There was no disagreement that it was needed by any means necessary.

“And I hear that news of you confronting Shanbereshu hasn’t reached the principality yet.”

The Elder glanced at Senia. This meant he had collected information directly from the principality.

“So you’re asking me to find a way?”

“That’s right. This alone will never dispel humans’ suspicions.”

“Elder, that’s unreasonable! How can Junon, in his condition, do anything more from here…!”

“How much time do I have?”

“Junon!”

Senia jumped up from the table, but for Junon, this was the only way.

He had no intention of backing down, as minimizing damage to the principality would also increase his own chances of survival.