episode_0038

12. Towards the second tower (2)

After taking Mr. Vincent to the medical area, we followed the director to his office.

Pedro, Mr. Vincent’s nephew, continued to fidget and squirm.

” I… my uncle… is he okay? ”

The child who had been watching me like that asked me with tears in his eyes.

” Don’t worry. The treatment was successful. It will take some time for him to regain consciousness, but it’s nothing to worry about. ”

” That’s great. Thank you, Sister Charlotte! ”

Hmm, it’s not unfamiliar to hear the word “sister” or “noona” any time, but it didn’t feel bad to see the once depressed child smile and say thank you.

” Pedro, I need to talk to this guy and his sisters, so you wait here, or you can go to Mr. Bean. ”

” Yes, I will do that. ”

Pedro turned around and left, and we went into the director’s office with Director Ryu Jin-seong.

” Phew, I’m glad you guys were here. Thank you so much. ”

Director Ryu Jin-seong took off his hat and bowed his head to us to express his gratitude.

Hyunseok said that he was okay with his behavior and that it was right to help someone who needed help.

” I appreciate you saying that, but it can sometimes be rude to say that when expressing gratitude, so it would be better to refrain from doing so. ”

” Yes, I will keep that in mind. ”

Then he looked at me and asked about Mr. Vincent’s condition with a serious expression.

” Mr. Vincent is fine. He will regain consciousness in just a little while. But… ”

” Is there a problem? ”

” Hmm, I guess I should say there’s a slightly bad curse. To fix it, I have to catch the one who put the curse on me. ”

” Hmm, is that so? It’s not a serious curse, is it? ”

” It’s not enough to kill you, but it’s not good to leave it alone. It’s a curse that causes negative emotions to continue to arise. ”

As I said that, I glanced at Yeonseo.

Yeonseo seemed to have noticed my intentions and stepped forward to begin talking to me.

” The demon that ran away when we got there is probably the one who put the curse on us. And there’s also that weird guy that Charlotte fought with earlier, so we’re going to go to the tower right now. ”

” Really? Got it. Then I’ll just stand here and stop people from coming out in case those guys attack again… Did you lose that guy..?! ”

Suddenly, while talking, he turned his head towards the window, opened it wide, looked at the rooftop, and started clicking his tongue.

” What’s going on? ”

When Hyun-seok felt puzzled by the behavior and asked, Director Ryu Jin-seong scratched his head hard and soon opened his mouth to us.

” Looks like Pedro got in. That’s why I intentionally kept him from coming in… ”

” Yes? No, how did you hear that? ”

” Pedro is also an Awakened. Of course, he’s a kid who just recently awakened. I think he can create threads and do various things with them. I’m just practicing with him because he can’t use them properly right now… ”

I thought he would just let it slide this time too, but then he came out and acted so unilaterally again.

I wonder if it will be the same if I go to another settlement.

I had an idea where Pedro had gone, but I asked the warden just in case.

” With your skills, can you figure out where Pedro went? I have a rough idea of where he is, but I need to know the direction for sure. ”

” Wait a minute. I’ll search with the summons I’ve released around you. ”

The director, who had closed his eyes and concentrated for a moment, looked flustered after a while and then washed his face and told us where Pedro was.

” That guy… I think he’s heading for the tower. What an idiot. He’s still a half-ass who can’t even use his powers properly, and when Uncle Bean gets involved, he moves without looking properly… ”

” Don’t worry, we’ll bring Pedro. ”

Hyunseok told the manager not to worry and gestured for us to go out, so we prepared to go to the tower.

*****

Pedro continued to create a thread between the buildings, moving in a semi-circle like a Viking amusement ride.

” Uncle! I’ll definitely save you! ”

Pedro flew towards the tower for his Uncle Bin, his only remaining family.

While flying like that, Pedro hears a ‘whoosh’ sound from afar, and the string he was hanging from snaps and he falls.

” Oh my…! ”

Fortunately, there were several terrace sunshades where the fall occurred, which cushioned the impact and Pedro was not seriously injured.

But while he was momentarily unable to move due to the shock, a flock of harpies flew around Pedro with a ‘Kyaaak’ sound.

” Ah…ah…! ”

Pedro started to crawl backwards in fear, but soon the harpies attacked him and his clothes began to tear, one by one, and he began to get hurt.

” Ugh…it hurts..! ”

At that time, I was so consumed by fear that I couldn’t even think about running away using my own ability, the thread, and I just took the chance!

As a harpy came diving towards Pedro at high speed, its claws outstretched, ” Swish! “, Pedro screamed, crossed his arms, and squeezed his eyes shut.

After some time had passed, Pedro, who clearly thought he had been badly injured by the harpy’s attack, slowly opened his closed eyes, lowered his arms, and looked forward.

However, the harpy was not there, and when he heard a ‘squeak’ sound to his left, he looked and saw a harpy stuck in the wall by a sword of flame.

” What are you doing? Get up quickly. I said I was going to save your uncle. ”

He looked up at the young, yet slightly low voice that he heard, and saw Charlotte, with hair like blazing flames, looking at him.

*****

” Thank you for saving me… ”

When I saw Pedro bowing his head in gratitude, I immediately hit him on the head with my fist.

With a ‘thud’ sound, Pedro fell to the ground, covering his head.

” Ugh, why are you hitting me all of a sudden… ”

” Hey! You don’t know that and you’re asking? Where’s the guy who runs off without saying a word? He can’t even fight properly! ”

” Ha… But! My uncle is in danger…! ”

” Haa, Pedro. I understand you’re worried about your uncle, but going out like this without thinking will only cause trouble for everyone. ”

” My uncle said it was okay! But the atmosphere was a bit strange, so I eavesdropped for a moment and heard him say something like a curse…! ”

It’s not known whether it was because he had become quick-witted while living alone with his uncle, or because his senses had developed after awakening his abilities, but Pedro seemed to have a good intuition because he was able to smell that small gap.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that running out alone like this was a good thing.

The moment I was about to say something more, Hyunseok grabbed my shoulders and started talking to Pedro.

” Pedro. Charlotte didn’t tell you because she thought you’d worry more. And she was going to move to lift your uncle’s curse anyway.

But since you suddenly ran out like this, we couldn’t prepare properly and came in a hurry. ”

Only then did Pedro realize that his actions were wrong, and he quickly bowed his head again and began to apologize.

” Sorry, I ran off without permission… But please! Please let me go with you! ”

” Kid. No matter how well we fight, it’s hard to fight while protecting you. Do you know that? ”

When Yeonseo, who was watching Pedro, shot him an angry expression, Pedro flinched slightly and stepped back, but soon came forward again.

” I know that very well. I’m weak and can’t help… But I also want to save my uncle and become a hero who helps everyone! ”

” Haa, heroes are ultimately in a position to help others only after they can protect themselves. What can you do now? ”

” That… That’s…! ”

As Pedro and Yeonseo continued to assert their claims and did not give an inch, Hyunseok soon separated the two.

” Okay! Calm down, both of you. Yeonseo, you’re right. And Pedro, the hero is disqualified the moment he tries to become a hero. ”

” Huh? What the… are you talking about! ”

” Do you want a hero who is supported by people? Or a hero who helps people even if they don’t know it? ”

At Hyunseok’s words, Pedro immediately dropped his arms, pursed his lips, and stood still.

‘Wow… I guess that’s what happens when you come from a world where there are real heroes.’

I looked up and saw Hyunseok’s serious yet slightly bitter expression, and then I realized I could still feel his hands on my shoulders.

” So, how long are you going to upload it for? ”

” Huh? Oh, sorry! Did it hurt? ”

” Ah… no, that’s not… that’s not it… Ahem, anyway, we can take you Pedro, but don’t think we’ll protect you properly. ”

” Just go back… Yes? You’re taking me with you? Really! ”

When Pedro said he would take me, he came closer and put his face in front of me.

I just pushed Pedro’s face away

” You’re too close! Haa, but instead, I should teach you properly about the abilities you use. Then I’ll teach you how to protect yourself. ”

” Thank you! Sister Charlotte! ”

I thought he was going to move away, but Pedro kept hugging me, so I was flustered and tried to push him away.

However, with a woman’s body that was not strengthened by divine power, she could not properly push away even Pedro’s body, which was slightly larger than mine.

” Get… off me…! ”

The moment I gave up on dropping Pedro after failing to do so

Hyunseok’s hand quickly flew over and separated Pedro and me, and before I knew it, I was in Hyunseok’s arms as he wrapped his hand around me.

” Charlotte doesn’t like it. Get away from me, Pedro. ”

” Ah… I’m sorry… I was so happy that you said you’d take me, so… haha.. ”

I couldn’t see Pedro scratching his head and apologizing, but what I saw when I looked up at Hyunseok while he was in my arms was…

There was Hyunseok with a sharp and cold expression on his face that I had never seen before.

‘Why is he suddenly making this expression..? ‘

I could only wonder why he had such a ferocious expression on his face, but soon the sound of the harpies still flying in the sky made us take up a battle stance.