Chapter 215
Chapter 215. UN (2)
Sitting on the sofa, Olivia crossed her legs and pretended to be relaxed.
With a well-toned body and a face that could definitely be considered beautiful, her composed demeanor suited her perfectly.
But her inner thoughts were worlds apart from her outward behavior.
“Dammit! Dammit! This is all that bald guy’s fault…!”
She was cursing the executive in front of her in her mind.
You could say it bordered on a curse.
“I was so comfortable until recently!”
A few years ago, she had been tempted by the promise of better conditions than Korea and changed her nationality to American, entering the UN through several guilds and connections.
As a hero, her official activities were almost non-existent; she merely had her name on the list.
But the monthly income was comparable to that of heroes actively working in large guilds.
Thanks to that, Olivia was able to lead a comfortable life without risking her life hunting monsters.
——You were Yoo Ji-han’s girlfriend?
Recently, as Yoo Ji-han started making a name for himself, Olivia boasted about her trivial past connection with him to those around her.
She wanted to draw her companions’ attention.
Also, when rumors circulated that she was in a relationship with a famous hero, it often led to her gaining attention as well.
Hoping for even a droplet of that attention to fall her way.
But that hasty action backfired.
The stories she told, filled with bravado, spread even to those she had never met.
Eventually, it reached the ears of the higher-ups.
Just in time, the UN had plans to recruit the hero Yoo Ji-han and forced Olivia to participate in the plan.
By the time she realized the situation was getting odd, it was already too late to back out.
“Right… I can’t just quit now.”
Olivia collected her chaotic thoughts.
Since she couldn’t withdraw anyway, she thought she’d follow through as thoroughly as expected from her.
Of course, it wasn’t for free.
“If this goes well, I won’t have to worry about money for years!”
Olivia despised bloody battles.
Though her job often forced her into combat, she had a strong physiological aversion to it.
But if she succeeded in recruiting Yoo Ji-han to the UN, they’d reward her with a massive bonus!
For someone with a serious tendency to waste money, it was an irresistible offer.
“Plus, that guy looks kind of dashing now…”
The image of Yoo Ji-han from movies was quite different from the student he was back at Hero Academy.
What she was thinking when she confessed to him only to be rejected was still a mystery even to Olivia.
But the fact that the current Yoo Ji-han appeared to be quite an attractive man was undeniable.
“If you need anything, just say it.”
“Hmm… I’d like to get some perfume.”
“Perfume?”
“I’ll use it to charm the target.”
“Sure. Consider it done.”
A limited edition perfume made from the essence extracted from transformed violets.
The executive instructed a subordinate to order the high-priced perfume she wanted.
Though it was something Olivia personally wanted but found hard to get due to limited supply, this organization overflowing with resources could get anything.
“Just wait, Ji-han.”
Olivia smiled, lifting one corner of her mouth.
Though she was participating in the plan a bit absurdly…
After all, Yoo Ji-han was someone who had once been interested in her.
It was a gamble worth taking.
*
In the driver’s seat, Min Yu-ri fiddled with her new necklace.
It had been a while since she’d worn a necklace, but it felt completely comfortable.
She glanced at her necklace in the rearview mirror and turned to Kim Si-hu.
“Si-hu, aren’t you wearing a hat anymore?”
“Hehe… I’m practicing.”
Even outside, Kim Si-hu revealed his hair and ears.
He awkwardly rubbed his head while practicing taking off his hat.
“Oh, this is a letter from an elf living in Seoul.”
“What does it say?”
“They’re happy to see someone like me.”
For the hybrid races, hiding their different features from the keen eyes of the outside world had become a basic habit.
Even among the few hybrids who had built a large company, many still wore hats or gloves for the image of their businesses.
Meanwhile, there were those who expressed gratitude to Kim Si-hu for openly revealing his race, gaining considerable recognition.
“Seeing this makes me feel more responsible.”
“I’ll help you out, so do your best.”
“Chilla! I’ll help too!”
Yoo Ji-han’s party arrived in front of the Sky Shelter in a car led by Min Yu-ri.
They had business with Fran Fager regarding the Kingdom of Kallem, where Yoon Do-ha was.
But then…
Bang!
Suddenly, a pulse of magic resonated from inside the Sky Shelter building.
Someone was releasing magic outside.
It was a strangely aggressive and sharp magic that felt like piercing nails.
“Ji-han!”
“Let’s go!”
With a bang!
Yoo Ji-han’s party burst out of the car and ran toward the direction of the magic.
When they arrived at the area…
“Tell me immediately! Who did this to you?!”
They saw Fran furiously yelling at a younger shelter resident.
He was so angry that he didn’t even notice Yoo Ji-han standing at the door.
“Fran! Stop it!”
“Look at how scared the kids are!”
The hybrid kids, resembling the cat-eared Lixis that Yoo Ji-han had saved in the past, attempted to restrain Fran.
At that moment, one child spotted Chilla.
“Oh! It’s Chilla!”
“What?”
All eyes turned toward the entrance in an instant.
Yoo Ji-han’s party approached Fran under the gaze.
“Hyung! When did you arrive?”
“Fran, what’s going on here?”
“Well, that’s…”
Fran, who had been erupting magic in anger, bit his lips.
“My little brother was bullied at school.”
A child with slight burn marks on their hair.
Someone had used magic to set their hair on fire.
Having grasped the general situation, Kim Si-hu’s face hardened as he spoke.
“Have you talked to the school?”
“The principal came to me directly, saying not to exaggerate the issue…”
“…Give me the school’s number.”
Kim Si-hu received the phone number from Fran.
When he called that number, a woman answered.
“This is Kim Si-hu from Yoo Ji-han’s party.”
—Oh? Oh? The one from the movie?!
“This is urgent, so please transfer me to the principal immediately.”
Despite it being the weekend, he got through to the principal, and Kim Si-hu introduced himself again.
Then he spoke coldly to the delighted principal.
“You tried to cover up the racial discrimination happening in your school, didn’t you?”
—No, that’s…
“Apologize to the affected student and ensure proper punishment for the offenders. If not, I will publicly mention this incident through the media.”
—Ah, no!
Kim Si-hu, who had revealed his race and garnered significant attention, knew that if he directly mentioned instances of racial discrimination, the repercussions would be huge.
Sensing the crisis, the principal’s voice became urgent.
—I’ll have everything ready by tomorrow.
“Don’t forget that I’m watching.”
After giving one last warning, Kim Si-hu hung up the phone.
A benevolent threat using the influence of a hero.
Fran gazed at him with a somewhat moved expression.
“Hyung…!”
“Hey, I can do at least this much.”
After briefly comforting the child who had been bullied,
Yoo Ji-han’s party moved to a quieter place with Fran.
The shelter director, Jung Eun-young, seemed to have stepped out for a moment.
“Chirp! Follow me!”
—Hey, kids! Try to catch me!
With the other kids left to Chilla and the Sylph, they could have a calm conversation.
Min Yu-ri spoke to Fran, whose expression was dark.
“Is the school atmosphere not good lately?”
“…It seems that way.”
The racial discrimination, intensified by people from another world, was also affecting the hybrids attending school.
While older adults could shrug off the numerous criticisms, it could leave a significant scar on younger students.
“I heard that a dwarf I only knew by name couldn’t stand the bullying and eventually dropped out recently.”
As racial discrimination worsens, the number of hybrids entering society would inevitably decrease.
This was something Yoo Ji-han, as a human, was not particularly pleased about either.
He was aware of the unfortunate ends that some hybrids who couldn’t blend into society faced as they descended into the shadows.
“Still, it’s a relief that there are people like Si-hu hyung.”
“What have I done…?”
“To us, you’re a celebrity!”
The leader of a guild recognized beyond the barrier of race.
Kim Si-hu himself was unaware, but he held considerable popularity among younger hybrids.
Especially among those dreaming of becoming heroes, there was no need to mention it further.
“If there’s anything I can help with, just let me know.”
“Tell me everything you know about Kallem.”
As Fran organized his thoughts in his mind, he picked up a pen.
Then, roughly sketching a map, he said.
“Kallem has three major factions. One of those factions is similar to a country on Earth.”
“I knew that.”
“I grew up in a region full of large mines…”
Fran had grown up in a village near mines, following his father, who was a miner.
He had almost no memories related to cities bustling with people.
But he poured out everything he knew to Yoo Ji-han’s party, who were planning to visit Kallem.
“In the sky, there are three moons that have different shapes, and all factions held sacrifices whenever one moon was completely round. And on the day when the three moons took the same shape, a festival was held across the entire continent. During the festival, a peace treaty was made, and all wars were paused, with the rule that no one attacks one another.”
“Wait? A festival? I’ve never heard of that.”
“Can the moons really become the same shape?”
“They can only be the same for exactly three days a year. During that time, the magic in the air becomes so rich and dense that just breathing causes your magic to recover rapidly.”
For about an hour, Fran continued explaining.
The knowledge of the young dwarf, a local of Kallem, was a tremendous help to Yoo Ji-han’s party, who had only researched information online.
“Fran, what if you could come with us to Kallem?”
“I appreciate the offer, but… I’ll have to decline.”
Although coming to Earth had been a near coincidence,
Fran didn’t want to set foot in Kallem, even for a moment.
A world where dexterous dwarves were treated like slaves.
In a place where rebellious dwarves were ruthlessly crushed like bugs, Fran had no intention of ever returning.
*
Incheon International Airport.
Unlike the time when the airport was closed due to expeditions, it was once again crowded with people leaving and entering Korea.
The Hero Department was preparing to welcome the delegation sent to the UN.
“When will they arrive?”
“In five minutes.”
Yoo Ji-han’s party was waiting behind a staff member from the Hero Department.
Chilla, dressed in formal attire, scratched his belly and said,
“Chirp! Master, this is so frustrating!”
“Chilla, you used to wear this well, didn’t you?”
“That was when I couldn’t talk! Chirp!”
“Is it because you’ve gained weight?”
“Chirp! Don’t insult a dignified chinchilla!”
As the arrival time passed slightly, people began to emerge through the immigration hall.
The staff member, who had been scanning the crowd, quickly spotted someone and waved.
“Oh! Nice to meet you! I’m James!”
“Welcome.”
“Is that hero Yoo Ji-han over there?”
It was a gathering of people who had spoken a few times via video call.
After briefly exchanging greetings with the chief of the delegation, who was accustomed to Korean, Yoo Ji-han scrutinized the appearance of the heroes coming in behind him.
“…Huh?”
Suddenly, a woman from the delegation strode confidently toward Yoo Ji-han.
Seeing her face, which was oddly familiar, he couldn’t believe his eyes.
“No way…”
“Yay! Ji-han! Long time no see!”
“…!”
Olivia, having approached Yoo Ji-han, hugged him tightly.
As he was momentarily bewildered by the sudden turn of events,
‘Who is that woman?’
Min Yu-ri’s expression next to him turned icy.
