Ch.14148. Glass of Suspicion (1)

September had already reached its midpoint.

Yuri Tarkovskaya was sitting in her office. Not her familiar office at the Gangnam headquarters, but a temporary one in Busan.

A large-scale operation was scheduled to take place in Kyushu, Japan soon. Flame, an SS-rank guild, would be sending a significant number of personnel to participate in that mission.

Therefore, it was decided that the planning and preparation of supplies for the operation would be carried out at the Busan branch instead of the headquarters.

From Busan to Kyushu was less than a three-hour journey by boat. They could also send supplies separately and have the field team travel light.

Busan was chosen as the gathering point to facilitate coordination with the Busan branch’s raid team, who would be joining them for the upcoming operation.

‘The medication is already wearing off…’

In the unfamiliar temporary office in Busan, Yuri grabbed her trembling hand.

Hurriedly, she poured her familiar anti-anxiety medication into her mouth.

This operation in Japan was essentially a large-scale landing operation. The leadership of the Far East Trilateral Alliance had staked everything on this mission.

If Japan fell to the Red Lake, even the Far East, the territory of the Trilateral Alliance, would be in immediate danger.

The forces participating in the Japan operation were on a completely different scale compared to previous battles in the Far East.

The Korean Hunters Association President Jeon Taehyun, the ruler of the Martial Nation Cheonma Yeon Sehwi, and even her father, Grand Duke Andrei, had decided to participate.

An unprecedented operation with three of the Five Great Celestial Masters participating simultaneously. Moreover, the elite knights, warriors, and hunters led by these three would also participate in large numbers.

‘And they said quite a few of the Twelve Apostles have gathered in Japan as well…’

This would undoubtedly be the greatest battle that would determine the future direction of humanity.

As such, Yuri’s sense of responsibility and burden as the guild leader of an SS-rank guild was incomparably heavier than usual.

But Yuri Tarkovskaya knew.

The fact that her insomnia had worsened to the point where she could count on one hand the days she’d slept properly. And that her anxiety symptoms had become so severe that she couldn’t bear it without medication.

It wasn’t because of the operation that had humanity’s future at stake. It was all because of one man—Flame guild member Lee Minsu.

Yuri checked the time on the wall clock.

“In ten minutes…”

Minsu had requested a meeting with her in ten minutes. She could have called him to her office right after the meeting that had just ended, but…

She didn’t have the courage to face him right away. Yuri needed time to organize her thoughts too.

And Yuri looked at the monitor on her desk.

***

An email was open on the screen.

It contained Minsu’s personal medical records, which she had secretly ordered Flame’s intelligence team to investigate.

Not only that, but using her position as the Grand Duke’s daughter and her personal funds, she had requested a diagnosis of those medical records from a doctor in the Slavic Kingdom.

Though perhaps not as skilled as Dr. Sung Chaerin, Aerin’s older sister, Yuri had sent the records to the kingdom’s top medical doctor, befitting her status.

The doctor’s opinion that came back shortly after was shocking.

She couldn’t understand the medical jargon, but the doctor had naturally included a separate opinion written in terms Yuri could understand.

Yuri read again the sentences she had read dozens, no, hundreds of times over the past few days.

– The damage to the Mana Heart is abnormal. It is my opinion as a medical doctor that he must absolutely not use mana. Even using low-tier spells could worsen his condition and may endanger the patient’s life. The patient you inquired about needs absolute rest and rehabilitation even in daily life.

When she first read those sentences, Yuri’s mind went blank. And she couldn’t believe it.

‘Professor Sung Chaerin. She deceived Flame’s HR team… no, she deceived me!’

Sung Chaerin was a renowned scholar even in the global medical community.

Plus, given her connection as Sung Aerin’s sister, Yuri never imagined that someone like Chaerin would lie about Minsu’s condition.

The medical opinion written directly by Chaerin stated that Minsu had clearly recovered from his Mana Heart injury.

Of course, he was hired as an operator due to lingering aftereffects. But afterward, Minsu himself said he was fine and continued to use flame spells and magic.

But in the end, it was all a lie, just as Yuri had suspected.

‘It’s been over half a year since Minsu joined.’

Yuri covered her face with a bleak feeling. Having cried all night for the past few days, she had no tears left.

Her suspicions began when they recently went to the holy site for the Saint’s manifestation.

At that time, Minsu created flame spells against the Count of Ghouls that surprised even Yuri. And he fainted from the aftermath of using that spell.

Fortunately, he woke up on the passenger ship returning to Taiwan, but until he opened his eyes, Yuri, who stayed by his side, could tell.

That his body was abnormally hot. Alarmed, Yuri tried to cool that heat with her ice mana, but it wouldn’t cool down easily.

‘No matter how I thought about it, something was wrong with Minsu’s condition…’

And it certainly wasn’t the first time Minsu had fainted.

During their first public security dispatch together. Even when they were fleeing from Krosel. Minsu, after using flame spells, frequently fainted like this.

Of course, this never happened during his time at Eins Academy. And now Yuri’s suspicion had become certainty.

Absolutely, Minsu should not be a hunter.

Since joining, there were no medical records to provide concrete evidence, but the circumstances alone made it obvious that Minsu’s physical condition was not normal.

‘Surely… it can’t be… but if he stops now… at least the worst-case scenario…’

But as much as she cared for Minsu, it was inevitable to consider the worst-case scenario. He had been severely injured by the Doubt Demon and lost consciousness for a year.

If his body had deteriorated again due to strenuous missions after joining Flame, it could be seriously worse.

In the worst case, to the point where his life was in danger.

‘No… that’s… just my anxiety causing… excessive speculation…’

But Yuri was terribly anxious. Abnormally so. Negative thoughts that felt almost like certainty kept coming.

The anxiety of having lost him once before kept whispering in her mind.

– Because of you. You’ll lose him again. Because of exactly what you did.

For a moment, her heart seemed to freeze to the point where she couldn’t breathe. Along with guilt toward Minsu, regret and self-blame for her foolishness.

Yuri was in pain as if her heart was being torn apart.

If she hadn’t trapped Minsu in the eternal barrier at graduation, he wouldn’t have been seriously injured in the first place.

‘No. If I hadn’t hired Minsu in the first place…’

But that too was impossible in reality. She had barely managed to reunite with Minsu. She couldn’t reject Minsu who had returned to her.

And as an operator, if he didn’t participate in combat, it would have been fine.

‘No. I should have… suspected Minsu’s condition earlier… and kept him away from the field…’

Of course, she knew that would be impossible now.

As far as Yuri knew, Minsu was someone who never changed his mind once it was made up. Still, Yuri intended to somehow keep Minsu away from the combat zone in this operation.

‘Yes… here in Busan or… in the rear areas of Japan, just support duties…’

And she planned to persuade him to receive treatment again. If it was now. If they acted right now, it might still be okay.

No matter what the cost, Yuri was willing to support it all. No, even if she had to give her own heart, she would do so.

“Guild Leader. I’m coming in.”

In the meantime, the full ten minutes had passed. Minsu’s voice was heard. He opened the door and entered.

And before Yuri could hide her expression, Minsu stood before her and said:

“Guild Leader. I must participate as a raid member in this operation as well.”

In that moment, Yuri felt breathless.

***

I entered the temporary guild leader’s office at the Busan branch.

My eyes immediately met Yuri’s. Her expression had turned pale.

Although she usually maintained a cold expression befitting her nickname “Snow Woman,”

Her expression hadn’t been good for the past few days. Just like now. Especially when our eyes met. Her reaction became even stranger.

Previously, she would unconsciously avoid my gaze out of shyness. Now, somehow she unconsciously wore a sad expression.

No, perhaps closer to an expression of extreme anxiety rather than sadness. Clearly different from how she looked at others.

‘She might have noticed my physical condition.’

If she had noticed my terminal condition, her current reaction wouldn’t be strange. After all, Yuri still had feelings for me.

Even before, she had suspected my physical condition. I managed to get by with suitable excuses then, but now her reaction was completely different from that time.

Over the past few days, Yuri had casually asked if I would consider working as a rear operations manager. Of course, I refused immediately.

And now that worried and anxious look in her eyes as she looked at me made me think my assumption might be correct.

‘Well, even if she’s noticed my current condition, nothing will change. It’s too late.’

To prevent her from changing her mind, I spoke to her first.

“Guild Leader. I must participate as a raid member in this operation as well.”

“That’s absolutely not possible!”

As expected, Yuri immediately objected.

‘She really has noticed.’

But I had no intention of retreating to the rear. The Trilateral Alliance. And a large-scale battle with three of the Five Great Celestial Masters participating.

The situation against the Red Lake was that dire. And through the Association’s secret meeting, I already knew the fate I carried.

“You already know that I can’t miss this operation, don’t you, Guild Leader?”

“I-I don’t know anything about that!”

It was an answer unlike her usual cool-headed self. I went straight to the point.

“I recently attended a secret meeting called by the Association. The Tower Master of the Slavic Kingdom was also present at that meeting. I believe you’ve heard some of this already, Guild Leader.”

“That… that’s…”

Seeing Yuri’s reaction, I was certain.

Through Ayel’s prophecy book, I was designated as the Colorless Key. And the three people from Flame were foretold to be the Sages of the East.

“The Colorless Key. The Sages of the East. You already know about these, don’t you, Guild Leader?”

“……”

Yuri couldn’t deny it. That the revival of the Evil God was confirmed. And that only the sacred chant Epitheus could face that Evil God.

I emphasized that story to Yuri once more.

“According to the prophecy, you too are a Sage of the East. So for me, who must awaken you as a sage, to retreat to the rear would be absurd, wouldn’t it?”

Yuri lowered her head. No matter what she said, she knew that I had already made up my mind.

“But… Sages of the East… Colorless Key… such things… such things!”

Suddenly overcome with emotion, Yuri cried out with a tearful voice.

“A world without you, Minsu, has no meaning! If you’re not there… *sob*…”

And with that, transparent tears began to fall from her blue eyes.

For a moment, complex emotions crossed my mind. But I couldn’t reverse my choice.

I had to participate in the operation and, together with the alliance’s hunters, reclaim the Japanese mainland occupied by the Red Lake.

‘Because I need to take Yuri there. To her mother’s homeland.’

Yuri, who would become a Sage of the East. And Nivis’s awakening, which was still incomplete, would only be possible in that place in Japan where the legend of the Snow Woman remains.

I approached Yuri. And moving closer to her, I looked into her eyes.

“Yuri Tarkovskaya. Listen to me now.”

And I pulled her into my embrace.