Joo-yeon had been moving frantically until she received a message from Rohan and the Public Safety Department.
Drawing on her vast magical power, she repeatedly conducted her own search and stimulated many thoughts in her head.
The location where the Monolith had appeared as indicated by the officers.
The remnants of the disaster that she had sensed at that site.
The silence that lingered on the path following humanity’s disaster.
She remembered the lingering air there.
It seemed as though she dismissed the occurrence of a terrible disaster as nothing more than an illusion.
…I had built up my strength so as not to be powerless, so as not to be inferior.
In the face of such a disaster, she remained powerless. There was no clear way to devise any countermeasure.
It had been so in the past, and it remained so in the present.
It seemed as though the world had imprinted that upon Joo-yeon.
“……..”
Was she, once again, destined to endure the same despairing ordeal as before?
In the midst of persisting in her search by crude means while believing that she could not simply sit back and wait…
Bzzzzt! Bzzzzt!
Joo-yeon’s smartphone rang.
[Rohan]
That name appeared on the screen.
Upon hearing the news, Joo-yeon raced at full speed to the Elysium Public Safety Department.
She streaked across the sky like an arrowhead composed of flames.
“General Joo-yeon, like we had communicated to you, we were protecting Student Rohan and his friend.”
“Please lead the way.”
Following the officer’s guidance, when she finally came face-to-face with Rohan,
“Instructor!”
In that moment, upon witnessing Rohan’s bright smile, one she had believed she would never see again—
A torrent of emotions surged within Joo-yeon.
Ah…
She could not possibly articulate her complex inner feelings in a single word.
The student uniform, now reduced to tatters, and the blood splattered on it tore at her heart, yet above all, it was a relief that he had returned alive.
Joo-yeon strode purposefully toward her student, as her heart dictated,
And she embraced Rohan who was seated in a chair.
She gently ran her fingers through Rohan’s hair, which had stiffened in shock.
The past that still tormented her.
Had her younger sibling returned safely that very day, would the joy have been comparable to this?
Sensing that the memory that once twisted and pierced her heart at the mere recollection of it was unusually softened today, Joo-yeon spoke up,
“…I’m glad you’re safe.”
Rohan, who had been so overcome that he seemed to be holding his breath, felt the heart-wrenching emotion in Joo-yeon’s voice and touch.
Though Joo-yeon’s embrace exuded a sweet, rich scent reminiscent of fruit, it was not the time to indulge in such provocative observations.
Joo-yeon’s hand gradually loosened its grip.
Rohan straightened his head and met her gaze.
“Instructor, I apologize for making you worry.”
“Really… I’ve never had a student like this before.”
“I’m truly sorry.”
“Still, since it was an unavoidable disaster, I have no intention of berating you. It only makes sense to commend you for your safe return.”
Even as she spoke those words, Joo-yeon suddenly realized something.
Looking at the condition of Rohan’s clothes, she wondered if perhaps there was a part that might have been injured when she had embraced him.
“Rohan, what was the condition of your injuries? Have you received any treatment?”
“I will report every detail, including that. I had just returned, so I haven’t yet reported everything properly.”
After the officers had heard the situation from Rohan and Clara, it was urgent to report to their superiors and share the information with other nations, yet—
There was no choice but to refrain from interrupting Joo-yeon’s time.
They simply stood in a corner, holding their breath as they waited for it all to end.
Then,
Joo-yeon’s burning gaze turned toward the officers.
“I will accompany you as Rohan’s guardian. Is that acceptable?”
“Yes. Of course.”
The officers, now convinced that they could finally proceed with their duties, moved swiftly.
They took their positions opposite Rohan and Clara, turned on the recording devices, and set up their equipment.
“Hmm?”
While the materials for the investigation were being arranged on the table,
Joo-yeon’s gaze shifted.
Only then did she notice the girl sitting beside Rohan.
She appeared tense as if she had been on edge.
Joo-yeon recognized the girl at once.
Was this presence from the bookstore where Rohan worked…?
She became certain of the identity of the beautiful girl before her.
Because this quiet aura was far more familiar than the visual details she had seen in the footage.
Joo-yeon had many questions for the girl, who kept stealing glances at her with a timid demeanor. However, she decided that now was not the time and waited for the officers to speak.
“Before we begin the investigation, as we mentioned earlier, if you’re feeling unwell, you may receive treatment first.”
At the officer’s words, Rohan hesitated and was unsure where to begin.
He put his hand on Clara’s shaking hand to calm her and spoke in a calm, gentle voice.
“I know it’s hard to believe, given the state I’m in, but I swear I’m not lying. My body is completely fine.”
The officers nodded slightly at his words, continuing to take notes.
Their attentive posture encouraged him to go on.
“I suffered many injuries there and even lost an arm, but when I returned and opened my eyes, the arm that had been severed was back in place.”
“Your arm… was back in place?”
Joo-yeon and the officers reacted with clear astonishment.
They had no idea where this “there” he referred to was, nor could they make sense of the situation.
“Not just my arm…. even all my wounds, from cuts to deep lacerations, healed completely. As you can see though, my torn clothes didn’t come back with me.”
As if seeking confirmation, the officers turned their questioning gazes to Clara.
The girl who was still tense nodded her head in agreement with Rohan’s words.
“I’d like to hear about the moment you encountered the monolith. May we ask you some questions?”
The speaker was a sharp-eyed officer wearing glasses.
Rohan felt a slight disappointment at not recognizing the man, but at the same time, he found it interesting that he had managed to pique their curiosity.
“There are some things that will be difficult for me to explain.”
“Difficult… in what sense?”
Was it some kind of restriction? Joo-yeon and the officers’ expressions grew serious.
But Rohan glanced at Clara beside him, subtly indicating that the difficulty lay in discussing the girl.
“I already hold an official status in the academy city of Elysium. That means I will share all the information I have without concealing anything. For the public good of the academy city.”
“….…”
“But Clara who helped me get back from there is currently in a state of having submitted her immigration application and is waiting an extended period for her academy city identification.”
He repeatedly emphasized that without Clara, the information could never have been exposed to the outside world.
Clara wasn’t a fugitive, and her country of origin was even confirmed.
“Perhaps the country to which Clara currently belongs might not wish for the exposure of information linked to the Monolith.”
As Rohan continued his explanation with clear intent, the officers calmly took notes and responded.
“We’ve heard that, in many troubled countries lately, such cases have been on the rise. We are also aware that the immigrant assessment process itself takes at least over nine months.”
When one of the officers finished speaking, the officer sitting right next to him added,
“Even so, since the administrative matters of the institution are unrelated to our Public Security Department, it puts us in a difficult position. We only conduct criminal background checks when requested by the institution, so it’s hard for us to get involved.”
In other words, he indirectly indicated that it would be difficult for them to grant any favors.
Knowing that the authority of the Public Security Department was so overwhelming that it governed every institution in the academy city, Rohan had expected a positive response. But things did not go as anticipated.
“I am confident that I possess information of great value.”
“On that matter, our Public Security Department had planned to form a committee to agree upon your merits.”
And so, the amount to be paid out increased.
While Rohan was pleased, it would be a pity to back down at this point.
“Hmm… if there is merit, isn’t it only natural that there would be an advantage in the immigration application?”
Rohan, with a dissatisfied expression, folded his arms and leaned back in his chair.
That gesture conveyed a firm refusal. One that visibly startled the officers.
“May I request a brief pause in the recording?”
It was Joo-yeon who had been watching that spoke up.
The officers exchanged glances before stopping the recording.
“Rohan.”
“Yes!”
With a swaggering air, Rohan straightened his back and replied briskly, causing the officers’ expressions to waver.
“Even those present here find it difficult to give a definitive answer regarding the affairs of other institutions.”
“Yes. I am aware of that. Nevertheless, I thought that since it’s the Public Security Department, we could reach an agreement through proper consultation. Besides,—”
He knew that Clara was suffering in a small room with no heating or air conditioning.
Most people waiting for immigration would be like that, but he couldn’t turn a blind eye to Clara right next to him.
As she listened intently to Rohan’s words, Joo-yeon let the corners of her mouth rise slightly.
Then she reached out and touched Rohan’s cheek.
How should that action be described? It was both commendable and concerning in many ways.
“Rohan, regardless of the facts, this amounts to openly demanding that the Public Security Department intervene in the institution’s affairs. Surely you must realize that you’ve been unreasonable? The right thing to do is to apologize first.”
“I’m sorry for being unreasonable!”
Rohan apologized with his cheeks sagging.
The officers then exchanged apologies with Rohan, while remarking that they had used language that could easily be misunderstood.
“Good. But don’t worry about your friend’s immigration issues.”
“Yes?”
The gazes of Rohan, Clara, and the officers in the room turned toward Joo-yeon.
“The instructor will take care of that part.”
··
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After that, everything proceeded without a hitch.
They brushed off any questions about Sion by vaguely saying that she had disappeared from sight after leaving the area.
Rohan then pulled out his smartphone, showing the timer and a series of photos he had taken. In doing so, he unleashed a flood of information that left Joo-yeon and the officers visibly flustered. At one point, he suddenly remembered his part-time job at the Red Spider Lily Bookstore and quickly asked for their understanding.
And so the questioning dragged on for about four hours.
By the time it finally ended, draining them both, Rohan and Clara emerged from the Public Security Department looking utterly disheveled.
Even so, this was far from over.
There was a strong chance they would be called back for further questioning.
By the time they stepped outside, night had already fallen.
Joo-yeon’s gaze shifted to Clara.
“Your name is… Clara, correct?”
“Ah, um, y-yes…”
Despite knowing that Clara was Rohan’s friend, Joo-yeon still spoke to her in formal language as she stopped her in her tracks.
Clara mumbled softly, asking her to speak more casually.
“You mentioned that you live alone.”
At Joo-yeon’s words, the girl shyly nodded her head.
“Then how about coming to my place? You can wash up and get something to eat.”
“……!”
Rohan who had been quietly listening jolted in shock and turned his head so fast that his neck made an audible crack.
Clara also gasped, snapping her head up in surprise.
She found herself staring at Joo-yeon who was smiling kindly.
“There are some things I’d like to discuss regarding immigration, and I also want to thank you for helping Rohan.”
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