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Chapter 177

When asked about an impression of the girl named Choi Min-ji at the orphanage, an inevitable word always popped up. So, let’s hear the evaluation from Choi Jun-woo, the eldest of the orphanage.

“Her? She’s infatuated.”

Infatuated. Yes, Min-ji was indeed infatuated. Even at seven years old, she openly declared that her ideal type was a handsome person.

At one point, she even hung around Yeon-woo exclaiming, “When I grow up, I want to marry you, oppa!!” Yeon-woo could only smile at her childish declaration.

The moment Yeon-woo and the others returned to the orphanage, it was evident from her reaction to Shar and Tae-oh that Min-ji’s infatuation knew no gender.

In her mind, being pretty and handsome meant justice, and she approached others with her unique liveliness…

And Min-ji’s personality was clearly evident even to Alkeinea. With the mindset that it would be fine because she was pretty, Min-ji sprang up, startling Alkeinea.

“Wh- who are you?”

“I’m Min-ji!! Who are you, big sister? There’s no one who lives in this mountain except for us, where did you come from!?”

“D- don’t shout. You said your name is Min-ji, right? Is it just you living here?”

“Yeah! There’s only our orphanage here.”

At Alkeinea’s request, Min-ji lowered her voice to answer. Alkeinea pondered, thinking that this girl named Min-ji might have stolen an egg, but no matter how she looked, she didn’t feel any aura of an egg.

‘Then the probability of a criminal being in the orphanage is high…?’

But an orphanage… an orphanage. An institution that raises children abandoned by their parents.

It was hard to imagine that there would be an entity capable of stealing eggs across dimensions in such an institution. So here…

“Min-ji, could you guide me to that orphanage? I have nowhere to stay.”

Min-ji tilted her head in confusion. It didn’t seem like she disliked the idea. Still, it looked like she was contemplating if that was okay, in her own childish way.

With her adorable actions, Alkeinea couldn’t help but smile. She thought that if her daughter were to hatch, she would likely look just like this.

Though she’d never see that scene, this child’s innocence stirred something in Alkeinea’s heart.

‘Is this what they call maternal love…? Did my mother feel this way towards me?’

She couldn’t ask her already deceased mother about that, but Nea had surely felt that way. Despite living a life completely unrelated to maternal love, didn’t she feel those emotions now?

‘Please, just stay safe, Shar…’

Alkeinea clasped her hands tightly against her chest, trying to embrace her feelings. Though such actions wouldn’t influence a child’s safety in any way, she was unconsciously putting in her strength.

It was a strange sensation. Though it was clearly her own body, it felt as if it wouldn’t move as she intended. Just thinking about a child made her feel like tears could fall at any moment.

Having lived thinking that controlling emotions and actions was nothing, she realized, now that something more precious than her own safety had emerged, the fact that things didn’t go as freely as one thought.

“…Yes, that’s me! What’s your name? You need to ask the nun’s permission when bringing a guest!”

“Ah, I see. Speaking of which, Min-ji introduced herself, but I haven’t done so. Please forgive my rudeness. I am Alkeinea.”

“Alkeinea…? That name is difficult! But, okay! Follow me!”

Enthusiastically shouting, Min-ji twirled around and began to walk ahead. Alkeinea, smiling softly at the sight, chased after her.

“But big sister, you look a lot like someone I know. I’m envious of your blonde hair. I want to dye my hair blonde too!”

“Hehe, thank you… Wait a minute, what did you just say? That I look like someone you know?”

“Yes! There’s this girl named Shar, who looks just like you!”

“T- that girl named Shar, where is she!? Is she perhaps in the orphanage!?”

Seeing Alkeinea’s complexion suddenly change as she hurriedly asked made Min-ji tilt her head and slowly open her mouth.

“Huh? Shar is Yeon-woo’s daughter, so she’ll be with Yeon-woo!”

“D- daughter…?”

Alkeinea thought that the girl named Shar was indeed her daughter. Because Shar, the name Arkisha, was the name she herself had thought of.

But how on earth did the boy named Yeon-woo, said to be an egg thief, know that name and attach the name Shar to her?

If that girl named Shar was her daughter, just like it had been when she was an egg, she should know the existence of her mother, so why was she not running away but staying by that man’s side, being called a daughter?

‘I… I don’t know…’

What on earth is happening…? As Alkeinea looked dazed with a scrunched face, Min-ji turned back her steps and approached her.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but Shar looks happy! Do you know Shar?”

“Sh- she looked happy…?”

Did her expression look so bad that even a child would be considerate? Furthermore, did this girl Min-ji think Shar looked happy…?

‘I have no idea anymore…!!’

At this point, one might think it was merely a coincidence that Shar, who looked like her, even existed.

Watching Alkeinea wrap her head as if she were guilty, Min-ji smiled satisfyingly.

‘The blonde big sister is following me around like a chick!!’

*

The academy’s team competition had thus concluded.

Although the closing ceremony was still pending, the students had no urgent reason to participate, so Yeon-woo decided not to attend after all. Instead, he had to participate in his friends’ after-party.

“After-party… should happen, right?”

He could hardly withstand the pressure from his friends’ gaze.

With the week-long rest period following the competition, there were many things to do, and the list of after-parties to attend was as long as a mountain.

“Ugh~!? What’s wrong, Namgung Seong? Why are there two of you~!?”

“Why am I two? Don’t you need to get your eyes checked?”

Seeing Kim Yoo-min swirling around as if drunk despite only having carbonated drinks, Namgung Seong calmly replied in a tone that was more relaxed than usual.

His face was slightly flushed, so it seemed that he was the type to become calm when drunk.

“What if there’s only carbonated drinks? What on earth are these kids drunk on?”

“Maybe… people?”

“Still talking nonsense as usual.”

As he casually replied and turned his gaze, he noticed someone in the corner mixing drinks.

Sullivan. He had been helpful, so they had invited him, but he seemed a bit out of place.

And rightfully so. He was one who had joined a group with which he had to establish a rapport, and he seemed somewhat introverted.

What can you do? In times like this, I guess I have to step in. Thinking so, Yeon-woo sat across from Sullivan.

“How have you been? Your bomb worked well. Have there been any dramatic changes since then?”

“There are customers who recognized it. I couldn’t do anything due to a lack of materials, though. I brought business cards, so they should contact me if needed.”

“Oh, I might be touching some money. If you can survive without my support, that’s the best.”

“That’s true. Thanks to you, I’ll see some light. Thank you, Choi Yeon-woo.”

“Ah… I’m looking forward to your bomb as well….”

Nodding, the two exchanged hot gazes. Hot looks, just like bombs.

Now that I think about it, there wasn’t any at the auction, but maybe this guy has some. Thinking so, Yeon-woo decided to ask Sullivan about the ingredients for the antidote.

“Hey, do you happen to have that?”

“What’s that, you brat? I used up most of what I had for that bomb, but I do have some left. What do you need?”

“It’s called Tooth Flower. Do you know it?”

“Tooth Flower…? I’ve heard the name but never seen it.”

Ah, so it hasn’t been named yet at this time? That thought crossed Yeon-woo’s mind.

Tooth Flower would start gaining notoriety only when the disease Noel suffers from—the commonly referred to ‘Devil’s Blood’—began to spread like an epidemic.

This is a complicated explanation. Yeon-woo pulled out his smartphone and opened a drawing app. Although he wasn’t particularly talented in drawing, the Tooth Flower had such a unique appearance that even if he captured the key points, it should be recognizable.

“Like this, like this….”

“Hmm hmm.”

It’s a flower with a predominantly purple stem. Between the petals protruded sharp white teeth, and the leaves were jagged, making it not particularly visually appealing.

“Oh, this. So this is called Tooth Flower. I used to mix it with various other things, but since it didn’t really improve the potency, I held onto it. If freshness doesn’t matter, I can give a few.”

“Eh? You have it? Really?”

“I have it. Isn’t it something you need?”

“O-oh, if you give it to me, I’d be grateful…”

As Yeon-woo let his words trail off, Sullivan looked at him as if asking why he was acting that way. He hadn’t expected to have this, indeed. It was undoubtedly a flower with an effect that didn’t match the bomb…

“But what are you planning to use it for? I heard alchemists saying they didn’t know how to utilize it, so I ended up trying to buy it myself, but it really seemed useless.”

“Oh, I have a use for it. If later the department head gives permission, I’ll let you know.”

“What? So it’s actually a much bigger story than I thought? I guess I should forget about it. Let me know when you can.”

“Sure, sure… But is it good? Since it’s yours, it seems like it could explode.”

Yeon-woo pointed at the multi-colored drink Sullivan was mixing, asking. Sullivan smiled and took a sip.

“It’s delicious.”

“…Did you get a sponsorship or something?”

With such an overly contrived tone and action, Yeon-woo couldn’t help but voice that question.

*

“Looks like you’re having fun.”

Watching Sullivan staggering and mingling with friends over what he had drunk, Yeon-woo was standing a step away.

‘Could it be that there’s alcohol?’

Suddenly thinking so, he scanned the table, but he couldn’t see any alcohol. Of course, just because a label says it’s not alcohol, there’s no guarantee the contents aren’t.

While he was scanning, a shadow fell beside Yeon-woo. Baek In-hwa was holding a glass filled with a fizzy drink.

“You did great at the competition.”

“It wasn’t just one person doing all the work.”

“You participated in three big matches alone. You should have put in a little more effort than others.”

“If you think so, I appreciate it.”

As Yeon-woo smiled faintly, Baek In-hwa set down her glass and sat beside him. Yeon-woo subtly glanced to check on Shar’s condition. He saw the two kids deeply engrossed in food, their faces serious like food fighters. Thank goodness.

“Do you have something to say?”

“Just, I thought someone should acknowledge your efforts.”

“Are you some kind of queen from a country?”

If you think about it, that isn’t entirely wrong either. The Ice Palace’s power is indeed overwhelming in the North Sea. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say Baek In-hwa will one day become the queen of the North Sea.

While Yeon-woo began to take his words seriously, Baek In-hwa chuckled. Is it true that those involved don’t usually realize?

“Actually, the princess asked me to ask you. She wanted to know when you’ll use it.”

“…? What do you mean, when will I use it?”

“She told me to not let it just gather dust in the warehouse and to use the gift she gave you soon.”

“…Did I receive something like that?”

“…Didn’t I tell you?”

As she tilted her head, Yeon-woo stared at Baek In-hwa blankly, thinking.

What? So everything I need to retrieve was here? Jackpot.

(Continued in the next chapter)

 

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