Book 2: Chapter 249
Book 2: Chapter 249
After walking for a while, they arrived at one of the rest areas in Lirua. This area looked like a park, but there were more statues than trees.
“Would you like to have some water?”
“Wouldn’t it be lukewarm by now?”
“No. I just bought it.”
“Ah, when?”
“While Senior Sister was changing.”
“You’re really thoughtful.”
Min Ha-rin smiled as she accepted the water he handed over and took a sip of it. But she only took a few sips before she burst into a fit of coughs.
“Are you alright?”
“Yeah. I’m alright.”
She didn’t look alright at all.
In fact, Leo felt like she looked even worse than before.
‘Maybe I should’ve told her I’d come back in the morning.’
He had this thought for a moment, but he eventually shook his head. He didn’t think her condition would improve even if he did that. Min Ha-rin wasn’t like this because of lack of sleep or poor physical condition.
There had to be a more fundamental reason.
“What happened?”
He repeated the question he’d asked before.
Min Ha-rin didn’t answer immediately, instead, she took a few more sips of water before finally opening her mouth.
“Jong-hak oppa is dead.”
Jong-hak oppa?
Leo had his doubts about the unfamiliar title, but he decided to not bring it up for now since it might interrupt the flow of the conversation.
“I saw it in a newspaper. It said that he died at the hands of Kran.”
“It was my fault.”
“How is it Senior Sister’s fault?”
“It was something I could’ve prevented, but I didn’t.”
“…”
The weakness in her voice made him really uncomfortable.
Leo was able to infer a few things on his own, but over the past five years, he’d learned to be more patient.
Without rushing, he decided to ask questions one by one.
“Why did Kran kill Lee Jong-hak?”
“He’s being controlled. No. I think it would be more accurate to say he’s been brainwashed.”
“…the Demon King?”
“Yeah. It seems that he has a bit of control, but I don’t know the details.”
Leo thought for a moment before saying.
“Then let me investigate Kran fir-”
“No!”
It was a sudden shout in a cold voice.
Leo unknowingly flinched and turned to look at Min Ha-rin.
“Senior Sister?”
“Absolutely not. Don’t even go near him. I can’t take it a second time. I-”
Her trembling voice poured out like bullets from a machine gun. It was dark, so he couldn’t really see her complexion, but she seemed to have grown a few shades paler.
Did he touch her reverse scale?
Leo hurriedly did his best to calm her down.
“Alright. I’ll do as Senior Sister says. So please calm down.”
“…”
Min Ha-rin took a deep breath and slowly let it out in order to calm her rapidly beating heart.
As he looked at her, Leo couldn’t help but wonder if Min Ha-rin’s condition was even worse than he thought. She didn’t appear agitated, but she’d just completely lost her cool in an instant.
He’d seen people like this countless times on Desire Island.
People who suffered from severe emotional anxiety. No, he didn’t even need to consider those that he’d met before. After all, the current Min Ha-rin was just like Leo had been in the past. She’d experienced a major trauma, and now she was constantly suffering from it.
It wouldn’t be possible to fill the hole in her chest simply because he wanted to. And counseling her in a public setting like this one wouldn’t have much of an effect either. Instead, what she needed was reliable advice and encouragement from someone she trusted, like a mentor or teacher.
In Leo’s case, he was able to overcome the trauma of his past with Lukas’ help.
“What about Master? Have you met?”
“…ah. Right. Now that I think about it, I haven’t mentioned that yet. Master went to Death Island to look for Sedi.”
“To Death Island?”
It wasn’t strange for Leo to be so shocked.
This was because, in general, Death Island had a specific meaning for those living in the Heavenly Realm.
With a hint of urgency in his voice, Leo asked.
“When did he go there?”
“…around two months or so ago.”
“…”
Two months in that place?
Unlike Leo, who was filled with worry, Min Ha-rin’s expression was calm. It was an attitude that he couldn’t understand.
“Does Senior Sister not know about Death Island?”
“Of course I do. It’s one of the most dangerous restricted areas in the Heavenly Realm.”
She knew about Death Island, and she still wasn’t worried…
“Did Master tell you in advance that he would spend a long time there?”
“No. Originally, he was supposed to return before the Championship started.”
The Championship had ended two days ago.
“…so he didn’t return at the time that he mentioned to you?”
“Mhm.”
Min Ha-rin nodded calmly.
Unable to hold back any further, Leo decided to ask directly.
“Isn’t Senior Sister worried at all?”
“Have you forgotten who Master is? No matter the situation, Master will have the power to overcome it.”(1)
“…”
“Something must have happened. He’ll probably contact us soon.”
This wasn’t the kind of trust or belief that a disciple had in their Master. Instead, this felt more like blind faith.
Leo almost asked a question without realising it.
Then what if something happened to Lukas and he couldn’t come back?
‘I can’t.’
He barely managed to hold himself back.
That was because he felt that if he did ask that question, Min Ha-rin’s condition might become even worse than it was now.
Two things were abundantly clear to him at that moment. One was that Min Ha-rin was in an extremely dangerous situation, and two was that he himself had no way to solve the problem.
Suddenly.
“So this is where you were.”
A familiar voice came from behind them.
Min Ha-rin and Leo turned their heads at the same time.
“…Arid?”
“Yeah.”
Arid was standing there.
A look of joy flashed across Min Ha-rin’s face. She’d heard about him from Lukas, but this was her first time seeing him for herself.
And Leo was here as well.
For her, this was a very commemorative day, as it was her first time meeting two people from her home at the same time. (TL: I guess Lee Jong-hak and Kran don’t count)
“Senior Brother Leo is here as well. You worked hard.”
“Thanks. Have you been well?”
“Yeah. Compared to you guys, I could be considered to have had a smooth life.”
Leo couldn’t help but feel that Arid’s expression became a bit heavy after saying those words.
“What’s wrong?”
“…both of you… must return to Dragon God Island with me right now.”
“Dragon God Island? Even if you say that there’s no way for us to obtain…”
“I’ve already received permission from the Priestess. No. She is the one that requested you in the first place.”
Arid spoke in a firm voice.
“The situation has changed drastically.”
(Note:
1.This brings a question to my mind. Did Leo ever find out that Lukas was an Absolute?)