Ch.146Starlight Scales

Star Forge became incredibly busy with preparations for the upcoming Artisans’ Competition. Many workshops that had been wide open were now locked, and rare materials were being delivered everywhere by carriages.

Talisman, the blacksmith who had promised to let Seo-rin examine the Fire Dragon Sword and Ice Dragon Sword, was in a similar situation. His forge remained open, but Talisman himself had secluded himself in his workshop to prepare for the competition.

Time passed quickly. By the time most guild members who had been bedridden after the Hayato subjugation were able to move again, Flora and Theo had begun their training in earnest.

In contrast, Seo-rin did nothing. She merely watched her two friends train or wandered the streets of Star Forge looking for delicious food.

As time passed, even though her meridians had recovered and she could use mana again, she still did nothing.

The reason was that her burning passion and desire for revenge had faded. Training to become stronger had only been a means to achieve her goal. Now that she had achieved her revenge, Seo-rin felt no need to become stronger.

Seo-rin’s condition wasn’t unusual. It was common among Blue Wing members who had completed their revenge. Sephiroth sought out Seo-rin and quietly requested a conversation.

In a small room.

Sephiroth sat across from Seo-rin, looking at the cookies placed on the table. The plate was positioned off to one side, suggesting they were prepared for personal consumption rather than for a visitor.

Sephiroth reached out her long arm and took a cookie.

“How are you feeling?”

“Empty,” Seo-rin replied, watching as Sephiroth took the cookie. After achieving her revenge, she felt completely hollow inside. With her burning desire for vengeance gone, nothing had filled the void it left behind.

“Are you thinking of retiring? I hear you haven’t been training lately.”

“Training is…”

Seo-rin stopped mid-sentence. The word “retirement,” which she hadn’t considered until now, echoed emptily in her hollow heart. Retirement—now that she had achieved her goal in this world, it was a word she needed to consider.

After all, this body wasn’t even hers. She was merely borrowing her younger sister’s body. Suddenly remembering that she had been using this body without any consultation for the sake of revenge made her heart heavy.

“Personally, I hope you won’t retire.”

Sephiroth said this as she put the cookie in her mouth. The moist cookie crumbled, releasing chocolate that flowed out like a stream.

Seo-rin was an exceptional force within Blue Wing. In terms of advancement speed, she was the fastest in Blue Wing’s history. Her rate of becoming stronger was also unprecedented, leading many to believe she would be the next vice-commander.

Blue Wing was always short-staffed. With Vice-Commander Kanok in a comatose state, if Seo-rin were to leave as well, it would severely hamper their future activities.

Due to the commander’s frequent absences, Sephiroth effectively managed all of Blue Wing’s affairs. She desperately wanted to keep Seo-rin.

A brief silence fell between the two. Seo-rin subtly pulled the cookie plate closer to herself and said:

“For now… it’s hard to answer. I need time.”

Crunch—

As she picked up a cookie and ate it, she silently asked a question.

Sei-ran, what do you think?

The question to her sister echoed in her empty heart. No answer came.

That night, when everyone was asleep, Seo-rin got up alone and went to find Alberich and Clara. Despite the late hour, he was still awake.

As someone with two souls in one body, when one slept, the other would wake and continue activities. Clara’s body rarely slept except for the minimum required rest.

“What brings you here?”

In the early hours, it was Alberich who greeted Seo-rin. Though clearly male, after spending so much time in Clara’s body, his gestures had taken on a strange femininity.

Seo-rin spoke boldly.

“I’ve come to receive holy power.”

“…It’s late, but you’re quite bold. Fine. I don’t mind. There are no urgent patients anyway.”

Seo-rin had sought out Alberich to communicate with her sister. Her sister was usually quietly asleep. To speak with her, Seo-rin needed to receive the holy power that Alberich possessed.

Entering the room, Seo-rin sat across from Alberich and carefully clasped his right hand. Immediately, golden light began to flow from Alberich’s hand.

Seo-rin accepted the warm energy without resistance. The gentle holy power that enveloped her body began to wrap around the distorted soul sleeping deep within Seo-rin.

As the distorted soul accepted the holy power, it began to restore its form. Soon, Seo-rin could sense another personality awakening within her.

[Brother?]

“You’re awake.”

Sei-ran understood why her only brother had awakened her. Sharing the same body, she also shared his memories.

Of course, only Seo-rin shared memories. Bound by magic, Seo-rin couldn’t read the memories of Sei-ran, the caster.

[I know what you want to talk about. You’re thinking of retiring from Blue Wing?]

“Yes.”

Seo-rin nodded at her sister’s question. She had died long ago. She was only surviving through her sister’s magic. Now that she had achieved her revenge, Seo-rin wanted to return control of the body to her sister.

‘This is troublesome…’

Sei-ran thought to herself. It was indeed troublesome. Sei-ran had never cared about the tribe’s revenge. She had only wanted her beloved family to live together in this body.

‘The will to hold onto the body is fading… the spell is weakening.’

As the spell caster, Sei-ran could tell. As Seo-rin’s will weakened day by day, control of the body was gradually shifting to her.

If the soul containing the magical power took over the body, Seo-rin’s soul would not be able to withstand that powerful force and would crumple and disappear. It was only possible for him to endure because she was the one in control.

Sei-ran didn’t want her brother to disappear.

Suddenly, Sei-ran had a good idea. Seo-rin would do anything she asked. If he had lost his purpose, she just needed to create one for him.

[I want you to continue your activities with Blue Wing.]

“Why?”

[Because not all transmigrators have disappeared from this land yet.]

“That’s…”

[If we leave them unchecked, victims like us will continue to appear. Are you okay with that?]

At her sister’s question, Seo-rin thought of her two friends. Theo and Flora both had pasts where they had suffered greatly because of transmigrators.

[So I think you should stay with Blue Wing. I’m personally asking you. So…]

“Is that what you want?”

[Yes.]

“Then…”

Whoosh—

A small flame began to burn in the empty heart. Light returned to Seo-rin’s dim eyes. Noticing her brother’s change of heart, Sei-ran spoke with a hint of laughter.

[And don’t worry about the body. If I’m given a little more time, I think I might be able to solve that problem.]

“What do you mean?”

[I have something in mind.]

After that, the conversation ended unilaterally. Since Sei-ran no longer wished to talk, Seo-rin could no longer hear her voice.

“Are you finished?” asked Alberich, who had been observing. Seo-rin nodded in response. As their hands separated, the holy power dispersed in all directions.

In the center of the golden light.

Seo-rin tidied her flowing hair and turned around.

“Thank you. I’ll visit again sometime.”

As Seo-rin left the room, she took out a candy from her pocket and placed it on the table. It was her way of showing gratitude.

***

The Dwarf Artisans’ Competition had begun. The streets, busy since early morning, were filled with a festive atmosphere, and the dwarf artisans who had locked their doors emerged onto the streets.

Just as the competition entries began to be displayed on street stalls:

BOOM!

A massive explosion occurred at the back gate of Star Forge, and simultaneously, a large bell rang throughout the city.

DONG! DONG!

The majestic bell sound stopped midway. A strange tension descended upon the streets that had been filled with festive spirit.

-Wasn’t that the bell warning of intruders?

-Since it stopped midway, I think it might have been rung by mistake…

-Hey, didn’t you hear that explosion just now? The city is definitely under attack!

Blue Wing members who had come to watch the competition also sensed the strange atmosphere on the streets. The soldiers stationed for security suddenly began moving in one direction.

Watching this, Sephiroth said:

“All Blue Wing members, vacation is over. Our ally is under attack. Draw your swords.”

As soon as Sephiroth finished speaking, Seo-rin, Theo, and Flora vanished in an instant.