I looked back at the party and said,
“The quest’s over. Good work, everyone.”
“I’m glad I could help.”
Go Hyeon-woo replied with a soft smile, and Hong Yeon-hwa nodded in agreement.
Then Seo Ye-in looked straight at me and asked,
“So, what did you get?”
“I’ll show you right now.”
Right in front of everyone, I cast [Sylphid].
Whooosh—
A gentle breeze began to swirl through the area.
Sylphid is a spirit of wind, and its very presence affects the surrounding environment.
Its basic effects include making wind-element spells easier to use and reducing mana consumption.
Whoosh—
Soon after, the wind gathered before me, and a translucent, steamed-bun-shaped creature appeared.
Normally, it’s invisible in its dispersed state, but it can take a visible form like this when needed.
“……!”
Seo Ye-in’s eyes filled with curiosity.
She reached out as if to touch it.
But Sylphid didn’t seem to like that, gently pulling its body away.
The more she reached, the more it backed away.
A short game of tag followed, until just as she was about to catch it, it puffed up like a balloon.
Pop!
Then it burst, pushing Seo Ye-in’s hand back with a light recoil.
A flicker of intrigue passed through Go Hyeon-woo’s eyes.
“Isn’t that your wind magic, Kim-hyung?”
“What I’ve learned, it can use too.”
Spirits have their own independent will. They can understand their master’s intent and cast spells on their behalf.
They can even intercept attacks coming from blind spots.
“That’s just its basic capability.”
Lastly, I had to show the combo skill that was my goal all along.
With a light gesture in the air, I summoned Sylphid once more.
Whooosh—
Wind gathered again a short distance away, and the translucent, steamed-bun-like creature appeared.
It spun around, riding a small whirlwind.
Then, I began casting a series of skills in succession.
[Wise Armor]
[Wind Barrier]
[Sylphid]
Whiiir—
A faint mana armor formed around my body, and a rounded wind barrier materialized.
As Sylphid attached itself to it, the barrier quickly contracted and merged with the armor.
[Sylphid Armor]
As expected of a combination skill, its defense is superior to simply layering multiple protective spells.
Of course, I didn’t create this just for the defense.
There’s an extra effect.
With a light stomp, my body lifted gently about a handspan off the ground.
Right now, with Sylphid still being F-rank, that’s as far as I can go. But as it continues to grow, I might just realize my dream of aerial combat.
As I dispelled the skill and landed, Seo Ye-in came closer with sparkling eyes.
“……!”
“You want to try it too?”
“Floating~”
Of course, it’s possible to cast it on others as well.
But it looked like it was time to stop the skill demonstration—
Rumble……
Because the dungeon had started collapsing.
It had been a while since we took down the Orc Champion.
If we lingered any longer, we might get caught up in it, so we each headed for the exit in turn.
Once outside, the lower levels of the Dungeon Building had grown much quieter.
Most people had probably gone into the dungeon or were resting after finishing their runs.
Still, it was crowded enough for us to blend in unnoticed.
We put on our ordinary badges and quickly made our way up the spiral staircase.
By the time we emerged above ground, the sun was beginning to set.
I looked around at the others and asked,
“Want to open the rest of the chests and call it a day?”
We still had one C-rank and one C+ chest left.
And if we also opened the “Later Chest (A)” we got earlier, even better.
Go Hyeon-woo and Hong Yeon-hwa responded.
“I’ll follow Kim-hyung and Miss Seo’s decision. I’m just an observer here anyway.”
“Doesn’t matter to me either.”
As for me, I was definitely leaning toward getting it over with as soon as possible.
The problem, however, was that Lucky Charm-nim looked extremely sleepy already.
His eyes were half-closed as he stared at the evening glow.
So I asked casually,
“Should we just open them another day?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Better than later. Let’s do that.”
After exchanging brief farewells, we went our separate ways.
***
Ruby Magic Tower Club Room.
As Hong Yeon-hwa walked in, the club members paused what they were doing and greeted her warmly.
“Hey, Yeon-hwa’s here?”
“Haven’t seen you in a few days. Were you at the dungeon?”
Hong Yeon-hwa returned the greetings just as warmly.
“Hello. Yeah, I just got back from a dungeon.”
“You’ve been through a lot. Get some rest.”
“Thank you.”
Passing by the upperclassmen, Hong Yeon-hwa naturally looked for her sister.
As usual for someone in charge, Hong Ye-hwa was buried in paperwork.
“Unnie, I’m here.”
“Oh, hey.”
Hong Ye-hwa replied absentmindedly.
Hong Yeon-hwa didn’t take it personally and flopped onto the guest couch.
Her expression immediately melted into bliss.
“Hehe, home really is the best.”
Lately, the Kim Ho Pillow had been gaining a lot of traction, but honestly, nothing beat a sofa or bed over a sleeping bag.
Hong Yeon-hwa sprawled out even more excitedly, and one of the cushions rolled off onto the floor.
Seeing that, a vein popped out on Hong Ye-hwa’s forehead.
She slammed the document she was reading down with a thud and said,
“There you go again, the moment you walk in. How many times do I have to tell you not to lie down there? If you’re going to sleep, do it on the floor!”
“What, why the floor?! I said I’m gonna lie down! My choice! Just mind your own business and do your work!”
“I would, if you weren’t getting in the way!”
It felt like the room temperature had gone up a bit, but the other club members continued focusing on their tasks without a care.
To them, the sisters’ bickering was a daily routine.
Hong Ye-hwa growled threateningly.
“You better move before I torch that couch with you on it. If you’re sleepy, go to the dorm and sleep.”
“Ugh! I will, okay?! …Just let me lie down a little longer.”
“Ugh, seriously, you…”
Whether she had never really intended to burn it or not, Hong Ye-hwa simply clicked her tongue and returned to her paperwork.
Hong Yeon-hwa, wearing the smile of a victor, rolled around the couch even more gleefully.
After a while, she suddenly found herself staring up at the ceiling.
Scenes from the dungeon began replaying before her eyes, one by one.
It really was an emotional rollercoaster.
The feeling of crashing into despair after two consecutive bad pulls, the struggle to make a comeback, and the thrill of finally pulling an A-rank statue…
Above all, it had been a raid that left a strong impression.
And on the other hand, she clearly remembered what Kim Ho had said when he gathered everyone together.
Bond… huh.
Just hearing the effect of that skill made it sound incredible.
And since it was Kim Ho using it, it would be even more powerful.
But to enter that kind of bond, you had to give up a lot.
One example would be—
Becoming the Ruby Tower Master.
It was the goal she had been dreaming of all along.
Not only that, but there were plenty of people counting on her too.
Giving up a dream was hard, but letting people down wasn’t any easier.
Maybe it’s better to just keep doing what I’ve been doing?
Still, since it was such a major decision, she wanted to ask someone close to her for advice if possible.
Sitting up from the couch, Hong Yeon-hwa called out to her sister.
“Unnie.”
“What now?”
Judging from her tone, Hong Ye-hwa clearly thought it would be something trivial again, and didn’t even glance over. Her eyes were fixed on the paperwork.
That annoyed Hong Yeon-hwa a little, but she continued speaking anyway.
“If… I mean, just if, okay?”
“Yeah? If what?”
“What if… I didn’t become the Ruby Tower Master…?”
“……?”
Hong Ye-hwa’s head shot up immediately.
Her face stiffened as she asked,
“Hey, where’d you hear something weird again? What do you mean, not be the Tower Master?”
“No, no! It’s just a what if! A hypothetical!”
Hong Yeon-hwa frantically waved her hands, afraid her sister might leap up from her seat any second.
Then, in a much more timid tone, she added,
“…I’m just wondering what would happen if I didn’t. Just thinking through the scenario.”
To Hong Ye-hwa, even the hypothetical was hard to accept.
She felt the need to dig into where this was coming from.
But that didn’t mean she couldn’t answer the question.
“If you really don’t do it, then I will. Or maybe our cousin will. Or someone else from another family.”
“That’s… all…?”
“There are plenty of people who want the position. It’s the Tower Master, after all.”
“…Right?”
So it didn’t have to be me?
Thinking about it, it really was a foolish worry. An equally foolish question.
As Hong Yeon-hwa blinked blankly, this time it was Hong Ye-hwa who asked the question.
“So, why’d you ask in the first place?”
“Well… I just thought… if I said I wouldn’t do it… everyone would be disappointed…?”
“Sure, they’d be disappointed. But it’s not like the sky’s falling or the earth’s cracking open.”
“Oh…”
Maybe it really wasn’t something worth feeling so pressured about.
Hong Yeon-hwa felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
But Hong Ye-hwa’s questioning was only just beginning.
“Alright, spill it. What kind of weird breeze blew through your head to make you say you won’t be Tower Master?”
“I just… had the thought, that’s all.”
“Out of nowhere, when nothing’s happened so far? I’m not buying it. Who is it…Kim Ho?”
“I said I just thought of it!”
But Hong Ye-hwa didn’t miss it.
Her younger sister’s eyes were darting all over the club room, clearly avoiding her gaze.
It was a disastrously obvious attempt at hiding something.
“So it was Kim Ho.”
“I-it’s not…!”
“Hey, Hong Yeon-hwa! Are you out of your mind? Falling head over heels for some guy! Dad didn’t say anything so I let it slide, but this is just getting worse!”
Hong Yeon-hwa felt wronged.
It wasn’t like she’d just declared she was quitting. She’d only asked a hypothetical question.
Did she really have to get scolded like this?
Maybe that’s why although she should have explained her real reason clearly…. instead, what came out of her mouth was something completely different.
“What would you know?! You’ve never even had to worry about a guy!”
“…What did you just say?”
“Of course you haven’t! You’ve never dated! I mean, you couldn’t even if you wanted to! I started in my first year, but you haven’t had a single relationship in all three years and you’re about to gradu—”
Hong Yeon-hwa stopped mid-sentence, suddenly realizing what she’d just done.
She had way overstepped the line.
The ice-cold look on Hong Ye-hwa’s face said it all.
Panicking, she tried to backtrack.
“W-Wait, that’s not what I meant… I just… I didn’t mean to say it like that…”
“……”
Instead of replying, Hong Ye-hwa slowly got up from her seat.
Then, she opened her hand wide.
Sizzle sizzle sizzle…
Not only did her palm turn a blazing red, it even looked like it was half-melted and bubbling.
The Flame Back Smash had evolved into a Lava Back Smash.
The moment she saw it, Hong Yeon-hwa sprinted straight for the door.
Alarms were going off nonstop in her head.
If that hits me, I’ll die! I’ll seriously die!
But Hong Ye-hwa didn’t give chase. She just stood there silently.
Was it just a scare tactic? Was she trying to kick her out of the room?
Then, just as Hong Yeon-hwa was about to make her escape, she suddenly felt a presence and a wave of heat directly behind her.
She didn’t even need to turn around to know what had happened.
I-I’m the only one without Blink!
Despair washed over Hong Yeon-hwa’s face.
The next moment, a scorching blow landed squarely on her back.
Splaaaaat—!
“Kyaaaah!”
A loud, juicy smack echoed through the club room.
Leave a Reply