episode_0043

*****

Unlike the day before, the day of Chuseok went extremely smoothly. The day went by in an instant as we performed the ancestral rites, made songpyeon, and ate it.

Come to think of it, it’s been a while since I had a Chuseok like this. Lastly, the last time I made and ate songpyeon with my parents—to be exact, in this life—was when I was 9 years old, so even if you exclude the 7 years when I was unconscious, it has been 21 years.

… It’s really been a really long time. Let’s also thank Hwain and Raon for giving us the opportunity to recall these sentiments.

I thought it would be okay to rest for a day, but after dinner, I saw Hwa-in going out again. I thought he wouldn’t be able to practice properly on his own, so when I tried to follow him, I received a warning from Raon.

“Don’t overwork yourself by staying up too late like yesterday.”

“… I will treat you kindly~.”

Since I had a record of getting scolded while training yesterday without realizing it was past midnight, my voice naturally shrunk.

Still, I probably won’t be able to train until midnight today even if I want to. Unlike yesterday, I plan to move my body a lot today.

“You can’t use magic power?”

“Yes. If you use magical power, you will just ignore the wind of low density and fill it with your body.”

Today’s training is an extension of yesterday’s horse power training. Training to look at and judge each attack with different magic density. However, I told Hwa-in not to use magical power because it was easy for me, as the person overseeing the training, to judge the accomplishments only when there was a certain amount of sign when attacked.

The training went smoothly. Hwain became accustomed to seeing my magic power by repelling and dodging my wind blows and occasionally getting hit. At first, if you hide faint magic power behind strong magic power, you would get hit easily, but now you are able to block it quite well.

However, as time passed, movement without magic began to have its limits. Up until now, even if you were hit, you could only block attacks with strong magic power and only be hit by weak attacks, but gradually you started to barely block strong attacks.

“Ugh.”

In the end, the strong blow that was meant to be blocked ended up hitting Hwa-in’s solar plexus.

“Achacha… . It must be really painful.”

Just looking at Hwain, who was crouching down and shaking his body, looked like he was in pain. I could see Muspelheim, which I was using for training, disappearing as if melting. It was proof that the attack just now had caused enough damage that this space could not be maintained.

… hmm. Maybe I did it a little too hard.

As the surroundings completely returned to the clearing in the forest at night, the chilly wind cooled my heated body. However, Hwa-in was completely lying down and spread out. Wow, look at him. Sweat is no joke.

“Hey, sit down properly and rest. If you lie down because you’re covered in sweat, the back of your head will be a mess.”

“No… . It’s impossible… .”

It seemed like he had completely gone into a groggy state. Looking at the color on their faces, it looks like they are simply exhausted, but as someone who supervises training, if they are having such a hard time, I feel like I have neglected my responsibility to supervise and feel a bit stung.

Tsk. I can’t help it. First of all, should I just take a break and make it a little more comfortable?

“Lift your head for a moment.”

I sat down by Hwain’s bed and put my legs under Hwain’s lifted head. Ugh, sweat is dripping down the back of my head like rain. What good is it that you have to get your legs covered in a man’s sweat? I feel uncomfortable, so I think I should take a shower first when I get back to the facility.

Hwa-in was still panting, unable to even catch his breath. However, since this kind of pain becomes the foundation for increasing basic physical strength, all I could do was tell him to take a breath.

Fortunately, he was just exhausted from the intense exercise, so he lay down and took slow, deep breaths, and I could feel Hwain’s breathing becoming more stable.

“Okay, are you okay now? However, your body may not have regained its proper strength yet, so lie down for a while.”

After exercising intensely for a long time, the most important thing is breathing, but once breathing is resolved, the body begins to feel weak. It will get better after some rest, but in the meantime, it is better to reduce movement as much as possible. Otherwise, the muscle pain will double the next day.

“Wow, surprise.”

However, as soon as I told her to stay still, Hwain immediately stood up. It was a shame because I quickly dodged it and my forehead almost collided with it. Hwain had been beaten by the wind and was exhausted, so Hwain struggled to get up and was stumbling.

“That’s because he suddenly stands up. Now, lie down a little longer.”

“It’s okay. Feeling better now… , ugh.”

I gently pulled Hwain, who was stubborn, and he returned to his original position. It would be great if you were this calm from the beginning.

Still, looking at the reaction when I got up, it seems like being hit in the solar plexus did more damage than I thought. Should we end today’s training here? I also promised Raon that I wouldn’t be too hard on him.

“Let’s end today’s training here. Because it’s not good to do too much.”

“I just said it wasn’t too much training… ?”

The painter was stunned by what I added. But really, the training I did just now was the basic of the basics in magical energy training. The attack only came from the front so it was easy to block, right?

We have already prepared all the supplies needed for the school. No, should I say I prepared this, or should I say it rolled in on its own on the first day of school? In any case, it will be much more intense and much more helpful than the current training. If possible, I would also like to ask for help from Mare.

When I told her that fact, Hwain closed her eyes tightly with a look of disgust on her face.

… ?

No, it’s not just that it’s wrapped tightly, it’s that your face becomes pale?

“What’s wrong? My face suddenly became pale. If you have any pain in your chest, please tell me right away.”

“No, it’s okay. That’s not it.”

Turning pale after intense exercise is not good news. However, even when I asked various questions if she was okay, Hwa-in just gave a vague statement that she was not that kind of person.

No matter how I look at it, it doesn’t look okay… .

“… Hey, it’s me. Can I become a proper hero?”

But perhaps it was really due to some other problem, as Hwa-in spoke with an expression as if she was dying.

what? I think I’ve heard this line before in this atmosphere. … Oh, is that it? But didn’t this event already happen a long time ago?

Let me explain for a moment what the event just mentioned was. In the original, it happened ‘two years ago’. After becoming the first awakened person by signing a contract with Sara, Hwa-in continues to try, but no significant results are achieved. It is difficult to ask a person who has just become an awakened person to skillfully use an ability that hurts his entire body every time he uses it.

That line came out during those days of training when Hwa-in was confiding her true feelings to Ra-on. Hwa-in did not intend to become a hero from the beginning, but he had no choice but to choose the path of a hero in order to protect Sarah. In the meantime, I was not able to practice my potential well, so it was inevitable that I would sound weak.

Of course, Ra-on wonderfully restores Hwa-in’s spirit by offering to help Hwa-in find the answer. In other words, it is the same as the origin of the hero Surtur, so it can also be said to be the main heroine’s achievements.

That event is the opportunity for Hwa-in to make earnest efforts to enter Cheonmyeong High School, and in the end, Hwa-in is accepted to Cheonmyeong High School in a dramatic and narrow fashion. In other words, at the time Hwain was at Cheonmyeong High School, it could be said that that event had already passed.

“A proper hero, why suddenly?”

“Because of me, the people around me are caught up in Genesis’ attack, but I’m weak and of no help. Of course, you said it was helpful last time, but that isn’t enough. At least, I have to do something about what happened because of me… . I think so.”

Why am I worrying about this again now? Hwain told me the answer to that question. Now that I think about it, I also often thought that Hwain seemed less confident than in the original. Should I say that another small difference between the original and reality was revealed?

Anyway, it’s not like I’ve forgotten what I talked to Raon about. Perhaps I lost confidence for a moment because the enemies that appear now are much stronger than in the original version of the same period.

In that case, I think my job is to help people relive their memories with Raon.

“So, why did you want to become a hero?”

Hwa-in looked like he wanted to say something at my opening words. But I stretched out my hand to stop Hwain from speaking and continued talking.

“I heard why you have to become a hero. So, if possible, I would also like to hear why you wanted to become a hero.”

“The reason I wanted to become a hero… .”

Why did Hero Surtur become a hero? That’s because they want the happiness of people around them. Because the monster, the villain, and the world did not save the people around him, he became a hero to save his precious people.

However, Hwain at this stage does not have that clear determination and will. All that exists is resentment at the absurdity and a wish to see the smiling face of the girl he cherishes. So, ‘I don’t know’ would be the correct answer as to why Hwa-in now wants to become a hero.

Hwain shook his head once, wondering what he was thinking, but did not give a clear answer. Probably, as I expected, he doesn’t know much about it himself.

“It’s better to think carefully. Forcing yourself to do something you don’t want to do will only make you unhappy. The important thing is not that you become stronger. You become happy.”

“But if I don’t get stronger, Genesis will take me──”

In the end, the answer that Hwain chose was the same as running away. Even in the events of the original work, Hwa-in only chose to make excuses to Ra-on, who urged her to answer.

But that answer is not enough. You can’t be strong in this world because you can’t do this, you have to do that, you can’t become strong in this world for those reasons.

That’s why I quickly cut him off.

“It’s okay.”

I hesitated here for a moment. Here, if you say, ‘I’ll be with you,’ you’ll end up saying exactly the same line as Raon, but I was reluctant because I thought overlapping too much would raise a strange suspicion.

Okay, let’s go with my style here.

“In that case, I will save you.”

“… … .”

Smile and confidently make a decision! With this, Hwa-in will recall the time when she talked to Ra-on and regain her motivation and confidence. That’s what I thought, but it’s such a perfect response. Wouldn’t it be okay for me to be the main character in an extra film?

As I expected, Hwa-in smiled a nostalgic smile and did not agree with my words. Instead, he covered his face with both hands as if he had seen something he couldn’t see. Oh, what? Is it a failure? Was it a little too formal and not cool, but cringy?

“… huh. I’ll think about it seriously.”

Still, when you say it like that, it seems like it had the intended effect.

“I like that. You don’t have to worry about becoming stronger too hastily.”

“Yes. I will do that.”

It is advisable to answer obediently. But you’re not giving a vague answer, like, ‘Let’s just accept it before I hear those cringeworthy lines again’, right? Can I trust you?

Next time, let’s think of more sensible lines and poses. Thinking like that, I looked up at the night sky to ease this subtle awkwardness.

… ah. This guy is you. My legs are not pillows… .

*****