episode_0031

Claire Harold.

A girl who was Lloyd’s childhood friend and a member of the warrior party.

A woman who helps revive a fallen countess family and becomes a hero herself, shining brighter than anyone else.

The hero Claire Harold was becoming increasingly worn out.

There was no visible devastation.

Because on the outside, she was obviously doing well.

Harold’s upper house was rapidly growing in power based on its monopoly on trade in the capital.

The status of the three heroes was improving day by day.

Claire’s fame spread throughout the continent, with the image of her being the daughter who revived the fallen earldom.

Everything was fine and going well.

Just one.

Except for the variable called Lee Han.

Lee Han was a huge risk to all three heroes. A revelation had been given that they had to find him. The relationship between the three heroes was getting worse day by day due to Lee Han’s will. In order to keep their crimes from being discovered, they had to secure Lee Han.

It was a burden given equally to all three heroes.

but.

Claire was in pain for another reason.

– rustle

Every night, bed.

Claire couldn’t sleep.

No matter how good the bed is,

Even if you change into a bedding that has been painstakingly woven by the experts.

Claire spent the night rustling around with her eyes wide open.

‘Surely not.’

At first, I denied it.

I was determined to endure Lee Han’s death.

It was actually bearable.

I haven’t slept since that happened.

It didn’t make sense logically that Lee Han was the cause.

I thought so.

but.

“……..”

Insomnia got worse and worse.

There are many days when I can’t sleep for even an hour.

It became difficult to even erase the dark circles under my eyes with makeup.

why.

Why on earth?

Insomnia was better anyway.

But if the cause of insomnia is… If the reason you suffer from insomnia is this…

I couldn’t stand that much.

I went to see a doctor who said Yonghada.

And finally.

Claire was able to get the answers she wanted.

It wasn’t insomnia, it was some other illness.

“I have mana hypersensitivity.”

“Is it hypersensitivity?”

Near the capital of the empire.

The small city of East Tan.

The doctor I went to after hearing the rumor diagnosed Claire like this.

“Mana hypersensitivity is literally a disease in which the body reacts excessively to surrounding mana. It is a disease that occurs when the body’s immune system recognizes mana as an attack target and attacks it.”

“Then what happens?”

The doctor, wearing glasses, answered.

“I don’t know the exact etiquette.”

“You don’t know…”

“The number of patients reported to date with mana hypersensitivity is extremely rare. Estimated to be one or two cases per continent. Even if you look through the books, it is not a common disease.”

Claire wasn’t even being treated unfairly.

I can’t believe I’m getting a disease with a chance of one in billions.

It was just absurd.

But there was one strange part.

“If it’s mana hypersensitivity, but you haven’t had any symptoms up until now. If it was a reaction to mana, shouldn’t you have been sick earlier?”

Sharp observation.

The doctor nodded.

“That’s right. In this case, we can think of two cases.”

“Two?”

“Yes. First. A disease that had not existed before suddenly broke out. As I said, mana hypersensitivity is a very rare case. It means that it is difficult to determine the exact cause and causality. ”

“What’s the second one?”

The doctor tilted his head.

“It’s unlikely, but.”

“But only a little?”

“There is a possibility that some element was suppressing Claire Youngae’s mana hypersensitivity symptoms.”

“Suppress? What does it mean to suppress mana…”

“Mana is an intangible substance that affects both the human body and the soul. Mana sensitivity is related to the effect of mana on the soul. The physical symptoms that appear to Claire Youngae are just side effects.”

The effect that mana has on the soul.

I’ve heard of it.

The doctor continued speaking.

“As you know, there is no physical way to stop mana. It is impossible because mana exists in the air. However, spiritually, it is possible.”

“That means.”

“Yes. An item or symbol. Or some entity that was protecting Claire Youngae’s soul from a certain mana. ”

Claire’s head dropped.

It was because I was lost in thought.

If what the doctor said is true, something must have disappeared from her side recently, that is, in the past few months.

“… Then. If I just get that thing back, will the symptoms be alleviated?”

“Yes, probably.”

Have to find it.

What on earth is it?

Claire shook her head quickly.

‘But I’ve never lost anything.’

That moment.

Claire’s complexion turned pale.

So much so that even doctors were confused.

“Are you okay, Youngae?”

“Yes… That, but. That ‘being’ that blocks that harmful mana…”

“Yes.”

“Could it be a person?”

One person.

There was one person who disappeared from her side.

Claire stared intently at the doctor’s lips.

And the moment his mouth opened, she despaired.

“Yes, it could be a person.”

◆

The capital of the empire.

As you go deeper into the bustling and splendid downtown area, the scenery begins to change one by one.

Claire began walking deeper into the alley, wearing a colorless hood.

The road is becoming increasingly muddy and rough.

The air becomes humid and heavy.

A musty smell and darkening walls.

The gorgeous people adorned in silk are nowhere to be found, and what is being seen is a sight filled with people with dark circles under their eyes, skinny figures, and people dragging their bodies in an awkward manner.

Harlem in the capital.

Inside the hood, the gaze is often drawn to Claire’s red hair.

The men of Harlem are dangerous. They are starving for women.

That was why Claire had her hood pulled down. Claire walked quickly and confidently, as if she was familiar with this place.

The men who had been wandering around as if looking for prey disperse.

Claire sighed and turned into an alley.

A huge, leafless, pitch-black tree standing tall in the middle of an alley.

It’s an alley with a distinctly different atmosphere from other places.

The smell of blood seemed to be permeating the houses lined with trees.

The end of the alley.

A wooden shack on the verge of collapse.

– Smart.

When you knock on the door, a small hole at the top of the wooden door opens with a clanking sound.

The wrinkled, wrinkled eyes of the old woman scanned Claire.

“What’s going on.”

“Request. Payment can be made in any form.”

Rattling.

The door opened.

The smell of honey, disinfectant, blood, and herbs spread throughout the surroundings.

People say this somewhat out of context smell:

The smell of a witch.

“How did someone as young as you know about this place?”

An unfamiliar space.

Instead of panicking, Claire opened her eyes.

Negotiation and bargaining were her specialties.

“I came here to find someone. And you are the most reliable in this field.”

“You have a pretty good source of information.”

“So how much is it?”

Even at the impudent question, the old woman smiled.

“The lady is rich.”

“… You can tell just by looking at the clothes.”

“No. Not the rich who are revealed by their clothes, but the rich who have the power to rule the continent.”

You wouldn’t be able to recognize your own face, would you? The disguise was perfect.

Gulp.

Claire swallowed dryly.

The old woman continued speaking.

“If it was a girl like that, it wouldn’t have been hard to find someone. But since she failed, she must have come to me. It’s difficult. It’s very difficult. You don’t know her appearance or name? But, I know her soul. She was dead, right?”

Claire felt a chill down her spine.

The witch smiled with the corners of her lips raised.

“I’ll find it for you. I can tell you the area.”

“That… That’s enough. How much is it?”

“You have to give a part of your soul.”

“How much?”

The old woman raised her hand.

Then fold one of your five fingers.

“2%.”

One fifth of your life is lost in an instant.

To find Lee Han.

To be precise, to find out which city he is staying in.

“Please let me know.”

Claire nodded.

◆

“I need to find someone.”

East Tan Branch, above Harold.

Claire’s eyes were extremely firm as she spoke.

But why are people looking for people here?

He is just a branch manager at the top who buys and sells things.

The guilt of the branch manager of the East Tan branch was clear.

It turned out that Claire was the branch manager of the branch she was visiting because she happened to be nearby.

“What kind of person are you looking for?”

Of course, this is still the upper branch.

Compared to other places, there is an abundance of information.

‘If I search for it for a few days, I’ll probably be able to find it.’

The branch manager decided so.

It would be easier if there was something like a name, but as long as the appearance is clear, that’s fine.

‘I guess I can just order my subordinate to do it.’

It will be possible to leave work normally.

The branch manager sighed inwardly and asked.

“Do you have the name or information of the person you are looking for?”

“Yes. He is a boy who will become a future warrior.”

“What’s your name…?”

“I don’t know.”

“What about appearance…?”

“Of course you didn’t know, so you came looking for me, right?”

No, how do you expect me to find that?

The branch manager barely suppressed the urge to vent his dissatisfaction right away.

Claire.

Her expression was frowning.

Although she had a slightly aggressive and straightforward personality, Claire Budanju was not the type to show her feelings.

But the woman in front of him now.

“…….”

Anger, rage, regret.

He had a face that seemed to be swirling with many emotions.

It would be an extremely personal matter.

And the most important thing in social life is to take care of your boss’s personal affairs. After all, the debt you have created privately is stronger than anything else.

The branch manager realized.

That the opportunity had come to him.

He asks in a slightly more serious voice.

“I will search for everyone in East Tan.”

“Good posture.”

“But shouldn’t there be a way to check whether or not Claire is the person you’re looking for?”

“I don’t know his name now, but his old name was Lee Han.”

“…Lee Han?”

It’s an unusual name.

“And there are some behavioral habits. He acts cold. He is confident. He is always cold, but when he takes care of someone, he is affectionate. He makes eye contact and asks questions slowly one by one…”

Claire shut her mouth.

A silence followed for a while.

‘Why are you stopping talking?’

The branch manager looked up at Claire in confusion.

Knock knock.

Tears were falling from the corners of her eyes.