Chapter 35 - No, Not Really

Yang Minji had a rather special experience.

Like floating on the surface of water. But it wasn't comfortable.

What she heard were screams and groans of pain. The echoes of souls crying to live.

If she could, Yang Minji would have wanted to scream those words too. Wanted to shout that she wanted to live.

But she didn't. She didn't need to.

The reason was really quite simple.

─Give back the souls, you bastard.

Because she could see everything. The people fighting for her.

It was a strong opponent. Even Kim Taehyun, the most talented person she'd ever seen, struggled and ultimately could only defend.

Yet the reason they could win.

─Watch the great Raphael's power!!

─Shut up!! Hurry up!!

It was because of that man. The man who either ignores you or runs away when you try to talk to him is fighting.

If asked who it was for, probably for the students who had their souls stolen, but something felt strange.

It was her first time feeling this way, having someone who only ran away now fighting for her.

Seeing him and his partner take down in one strike a monster that even Kim Taehyun couldn't properly fight against was like, like seeing a hero from a manga, making her heart flutter.

'When I return.'

When she returns, she'll have to say thank you. To Kim Taehyun, to that man, and to that beautiful person too.

And.

If he ignores her, she'll keep following him and talking until he answers.

Keep saying thank you until she gets a response.

Like that, Yang Minji, for the first time as a soul, was drawn into light that warmed even her heart.

When she opened her eyes again─

"Yo. You're awake?"

She was on a bed. Unlike her soul state, she could feel her body's sensations. Feeling alive, she unconsciously wiggled her hands and feet several times.

And looking to the side, there was the black-haired man. A somewhat depressed-looking beautiful blonde, Ishia, and Kim Taehyun too.

What should Yang Minji say in this situation? After thinking for a while, she finally opened her mouth.

"Thank you!"

It was an innocent, bright smile. Or so she thought herself.

***

"I knew life doesn't go the way you want. I knew but!! I never dreamed it would be like this. How can you give something and then take it back? At this rate, I can't even be an angel─!!"

"It's not taking back what was given. You said it's charging magic power, how is that taking back what was given? Be grateful for what you got."

"Are you kidding? Wings are my identity. I can't be without them. I'm angry about the poor efficiency with just one pair too. Can't even fly. The magic power I can use is tiny. How can the wings disappear after using them just once?"

And from the start─ She keeps grumbling beside me while I halfheartedly answer and organize my inventory.

The incident was naturally concluded. We caught the Reaper who was the main culprit, and thanks to people rushing over after seeing the pillar of light, it ended well.

Fortunately zero deaths. Zero worries since Raphael confirmed all six souls returned to their places.

So what's important is this.

I looked at the newly added items in my inventory.

[Death Reaper] [Grim Reaper Robe] [Skull Mask]

"Hmm."

This is a complete Reaper series. Things that were left where Raphael's "Angel Fall" struck. In other words, spoils of war.

I wanted to check each one's performance, but there's only one message.

[These items are under "Curse".]

[Status effects "Curse", "Mental Split" will be applied when equipped.]

So they're just for show! Though I want to say what's the point of looking at things I can't use, I still need to check the Death Reaper.

Well, it's a scythe right? I have "Scythe Mastery(A+)" right?

----------------

Name: Death Reaper

Type: Weapon

Grade: Legendary

Weapon Skills: "Gale(C+)" "Soul Slash(A)"

Note: The Reaper's scythe. A weapon that became legendary just by being carried for a long time. Just holding it has a chance to apply status effect "Fear" to opponents. A weapon of death capable of cutting even spiritual beings that aren't physical.

----------

"Oh my."

It was a legendary grade weapon. No wonder it felt unusual. The attacks were tremendous. If only we could do something about this "Curse".

A legendary weapon in my possession? My goodness. I actually thought getting attacked by the Reaper might have been beneficial, but then shook my head.

Just thinking about rolling earlier still makes my teeth chatter. I don't want to roll. I just want to watch from behind. A peaceful life is best.

"But this place is nice. We can be noisy in the hospital. Is this that VVIP thing? Is this what they call privilege?"

"No."

It's just the privilege of rich people. We're currently in the hospital. Well, of course we'd come to the hospital first after a battle.

Ishia and Kim Taehyun who got blown away by the wind also came here unconscious, and we're sitting in what's commonly called a VVIP room. An extremely spacious and comfortable place.

Though only Raphael and I are awake.

Looking around, there's Ishia and Kim Taehyun lying in beds.

And Yang Minji comes in. Yes. That's right.

This was Yang Minji's private room, but we were called here after they learned we took down the Reaper.

Who called us? Obviously Yang Minji's dad. The Guild Master of "Dawn".

Though I don't particularly want to meet him, I'm sitting here thinking I might get some benefits for saving his daughter.

You can call me materialistic. Because it's true!

"Materialistic."

Don't actually call me that. I'm surprisingly sensitive to getting hurt.

"More importantly, when is this person coming after calling us? It's already 11 o'clock? It's bedtime for good children?"

"What good child are you when you watch TV and use your smartphone until past 1 AM every day."

She says something like 'I'm an angel so it's okay─'. Until just now she was definitely Ms. Angel, but now her wings have disappeared again and she's back to being that damn blonde.

Well, this is more familiar so it's good. Raphael blocking wind with wings and annihilating enemies with devastating attacks? Ugh. That's weird.

Thinking about earlier Raphael gives me cognitive dissonance. As I shook my head to clear the thoughts, I saw Ishia in my view.

Looking like she's about to wake up, making sounds like "mmm..." while smacking her lips─

"I thought of a fun prank."

"What is it?"

Together with Raphael who followed, probably bored, I sat beside Ishia's bed. And whispered.

"Ishia. Time to wake up. You need to go to school."

When I whispered, Ishia stirred. Frowning and muttering something, I listened carefully.

"Mmm... just a little. Just a little more...."

She whines while pulling the blanket over her head. I grinned and kept whispering.

Typical mom things to say like you're late, no breakfast if you don't get up, you need to get up now to greet dad.

Then from under the blanket came words like 'Ah really~ Mom~' 'I said just 5 more minutes...' so I grinned and grabbed the blanket she was hiding under.

After that what should we do? Seeming to catch on to what I was planning, Raphael said Let me do it! Me!! and pulled at it, so we decided to do it together.

Counting down 3, 2, 1 with lip movements, we pulled off the blanket and shouted together.

"Wake up!!"

"Ah!! Mom!! I said just 5 more min─!!! ....huh?"

Silence.

Ishia who met my eyes closed her mouth. Eyes rolling urgently, trembling lips.

Eyes shaking like an earthquake as she grasped the situation.

Finally.

AAAAHHHHH.

Her face turns bright red and her hands tremble.

Though I at least had the conscience to try holding in my laughter, the damn blonde beside me doesn't seem to have such thoughts.

After rolling her eyes around for a while in that state, the radish finally opened her mouth.

"G-good morning..?"

Good afternoon to your eyes.

***

Not long after Ishia woke up, thanks to us being so noisy, Kim Taehyun also woke up.

And as if he'd been waiting for everyone to wake up, the door opened and a middle-aged man wearing a fedora walked in.

When the man in the black coat took off his fedora, a face full of small scars was revealed.

"So you're the ones. Who took down the wraith."

His voice was heavy. A voice so low and dark you might wonder if it really belonged to a human.

I unconsciously swallowed dry saliva, but what he did next was quite impressive.

"Thank you so much. If it weren't for you all. My daughter─!!"

He lowered his head. Well, this would be the natural reaction of a parent to people who saved their child, but his position is Guild Master.

What it means for the master of Korea's largest guild to lower his head to mere students needs no explanation - even Raphael can understand.

"N-no. We just happened to be around─"

"Yes. Ishia. Thank you. The Association has my gratitude."

"No. It wasn't the Association─"

The uncle who doesn't listen and looks about to cry. I've decided to call him uncle now that we're familiar.

This uncle is crazy about his daughter. If the Magic Association President is a tsundere daughter-con, this man is just a straight daughter-con.

What I mean is. It's okay to casually say things like this.

"If you're that grateful then get me something? There's something I need. Holy water in bulk─ Mmph!! Mmmmph!! Mmph mmph!!!"

"Are you crazy? Do you not know who this person is? Be quiet!! Please!!"

"Mmph!! Mmph!!"

Ishia panicked and covered my mouth. A fragrant scent stung my nose, but that's not what's important.

This won't be solved just by covering my mouth. How naive, Ishia.

"I'd be satisfied with just a house. A house with a garden would be nice. I played a big part this time so that much should be fine right? If you think of it as the price of your daughter's life─ Mmph?! Mmmmph?!"

"These people are insane!!"

Ishia crossed her arms to cover both our mouths. No it's fine! This guy isn't the type to get serious over this much.

"Haha!! What interesting friends. Yes. I can give you a house. After saving my daughter, how could I not do that much? But is that enough? I'll give you something bigger. The opportunity to join our "Dawn" after graduation─"

Wow. What a really useless gift. In the moment Ishia released her hands due to the Guild Master's okay response.

Raphael and I naturally opened our mouths.

""No, not really.""

"Huh?"

We heard the sound of Ishia smacking her head and the Guild Master's dumb noise.

***

[Justitia Emergency Notice]

[Due to the occurrence of an unfortunate incident, we are moving up the "Ranking Battle" to help heal students' minds and bodies.]

[It will be held for one week starting next Monday, and we hope students can prepare without confusion.]

[The following students will have their ranks raised by one level.]

[1-5 Lee Seonghoon F->D]

[1-5 Kim Taehyun A->S]

[1-5 Ishia A->S]

[1-5 Raphael A->S]

[As student Lee Seonghoon's rank was too low, after discussion, it will be raised by 2 levels.]

[We hope all students will strive to become better heroes.]