Clear (3)
“Ryu Seo-yeon…?”
Beatrice read the name on the business card. It’s a name you don’t know. Because it was already known that the aspiring hero Seo-yeon Ryu is the heir to Black Hawk. It was another reason that embarrassed Beatrice.
Beatrice asked, turning her business card toward Ahat.
“Is this real?”
The title of ‘CEO’ written on the business card. In other words, it was a sign that Ryu Seo-yeon would lead the Black Hawk in the future.
At the age of only 17.
From the point of view of a third person who does not know the internal affairs of Black Hawk, it was an unconventional move, even if it was an unconventional move.
In response to Beatrice’s question, Ahart nodded in affirmation.
“Not yet, but soon. I expect it to be around the end of the year.”
“what···. No, rather than that, why did Ahat-sama come to deliver this?”
“Isn’t it a secret for now? There are security reasons, as you can see.”
Ahat tugged at the end of his suit as if cramped.
“I didn’t know that a short-lived relationship would turn out like this.”
Beatrice could not open her mouth hastily.
It’s a simple word, but it carries a lot of meaning. It was because it meant that Ahat, the owner of the tower, was affiliated with the Black Hawk.
I didn’t come here to convey the position of the tower, so my vigilance was lessened than before, but I had no choice but to harbor other doubts.
블랙 호크가 가장 강한 군수 기업인 건 맞다.
외부에서 들어오는 어떠한 공격에 대응할 수 있을 정도로 말이다. 하지만 그건 어디까지나 ‘탑’을 제외했을 때의 경우다.
베아트리스가 알기론 지구의 광물도, 기술력도 ‘마법’을 제련에 이용하는 탑에 비하자면 그 무엇도 나은 게 없었다. 그런데 아하트가 탑에서 블랙 호크로 소속을 옮긴다는 건···.
‘···그에 대한 보복을 블랙 호크가 감당하겠다는 거지.’
다만 현재 탑의 상황이 혼란스럽더라도 블랙 호크쯤은 처리하는 데 문제가 없다. 애초에 세력 자체가 비교되지 않는다.
블랙 호크가 단순히 하나의 기업인 것에 비해 탑은 여러 세계로 이루어진 하나의 차원이기 때문이다.
그렇기에 베아트리스는 그들이 무엇을 노리고 하는 행위인지 짐작이 가지 않았다.
특히 아하트. 가주인 아하트라면 자신의 움직임이 탑에 영향을 미칠 거라는 걸 모를 리가 없었다.
As her mind became more complicated, Beatrice pressed her temples, which were starting to throb.
“Oh, Mr. I have one or two questions to ask.”
“This isn’t your last chance, so let’s ask the questions you’re most curious about.”
Beatrice asked, putting Ryu Seo-yeon’s business card in the drawer next to her.
“Why are you working under the Black Hawk?”
“Hmm. You seem to be a little misunderstood.”
“I am not moving under a black hawk.”
Ahat glanced at the door. Just to see if anyone is listening. After confirming that there was no popularity, he opened his mouth again.
“It’s just that you’re moving at the request of Miss Ryu Seo-yeon.”
“…are those different words?”
“Of course it is different. In other words, should we call it a cooperative relationship?”
But Ahat blurted out the ending. It was undoubtedly a statement that he himself was not sure of.
“Hmmm. Anyway.”
Ahat coughed and continued the story.
“The young lady gave me what I wanted, and Top didn’t. Just for that reason.”
“What you want… is it?”
“okay. Incidentally, the present tower has no time to worry about a loner like me who moves alone. It seems that the plan that was made based on ‘Prophecy’ was ruined. haha.”
The shape of the tower was quite funny, but Ahart was smiling. However, Beatrice couldn’t smile leisurely along with Ahart.
“Then how did you get out of the tower now?”
“Sir Beatrice. Didn’t I say this isn’t my last chance?”
Ahat said with a smile still on his lips.
“I don’t think it will be too late to fill in the holes in the body first.”
“This job has been difficult. You may be busy in the future, so please rest.”
Leaving meaningful words, Ahat left the hospital room.
“Thank you for coming.”
Beatrice couldn’t get up because of the pain and greeted Ahat’s back. widely. As the door closed, silence returned to the hospital room.
Beatrice looked at the drawer and sighed.
Drakan’s abode. Once Seo Ji-han had asked the shrine side, he did not expect it to go well. Even if Seo Ji-han had a holy sword, the temple, which means neutrality, would not embrace the conflict.
Then there is the imperial power…
‘There is no reason for the imperial family to accept her brother.’
If there is any comfort, the shrine and the imperial family do not accept their powers, but there is no reluctance to cooperate with them.
There is no element of conflict for acting with Drakhan. So Black Hawk’s suggestion was the best to catch his breath.
Then, in Beatrice’s mind, something very important that had been missing came to mind.
‘How does a Black Hawk, not a Top, know that his brother is alive…?’
Realizing that, Beatrice looked back at the door belatedly. But Ahat, who could answer that question, had long since left.
“Twitter.”
When I saw Olivia Roa, I frowned.
Like Irtisch, he was a character who behaved differently from the original, so I had to feel a sense of rejection. Why did that bastard come here?
“Noah. Shall we go back?”
I asked Noah Park on the back of the head, but this time there was no answer.
but. It’s no different than her follower, Olivia Roa. Even Arwell, who took care of him by his side, had not responded until now.
그때 이쪽을 발견한 듯 로아가 달려오기 시작했다. 혹시 모를 상황을 대비해 홀스터 쪽으로 손을 움직였다. 그러나 손에 만져지는 건 아무것도 없었다.
“아.”
그러고 보니 나, 어썰트 울프 박살 났지?
일전에 이르티쉬의 전투로 항상 소지하고 다니던 어썰트 울프는 부서져 버렸다. 에이든에게 선물 받은 데다가 여태까지 애용하던 무기라 그런지 상실감이 컸다.
···무엇보다 이제 자금도 비상금을 제외한다면 바닥난 터라 새로 구매할 수도 없었다.
‘끙. 아카데미에서 대여라도 할 걸 그랬나.’
커스텀 무기는 들고 다니기엔 너무 크단 말이지. 어쩔 수 없이 영혼철을 움직여 손목의 팔찌 형태로 만들었다. 위급하다면 단검으로라도 만들어 쓸 생각이다.
나는 로아의 노려보는 시선을 피하지 않고 점점 다가오는 걸 기다렸다.
띠링!
‘About it?’
When the privilege was activated, I slowly removed my hand from the wheelchair.
Roa, who came all the way to the front, swung her right hand toward my cheek.
“aah…!”
At the same time, Loa’s scream leaked out. It was because I grabbed his wrist and bent his arm back.
Hmm. Now, the ‘Master of Physical Arts’ perk seems to be used to prevent surprise attacks. It seems to have changed from its original use, but it doesn’t matter. I had to deal with this guy in front of me first.
“Isn’t that the person you met with me a long time ago?”
I asked with Loa’s arm broken. However, his eyes full of hostility were still staring at me.
“Hey, can we solve this first? If you don’t want to get hurt.”
It’s not funny.
When I didn’t answer, Loa raised her voice and said, thinking that she was being pushed by the momentum.
“Who made Noah become like this? uh?! If you have a conscience, you will benefit!!!”
“What is conscience? Are you crazy?”
I repeated raising and lowering the angle of the arm with little force. Each time that happened, Loa continued to frown, while maintaining a hostile gaze.
“ね. Because you keep doing this, noah!”
There was nothing difficult, so I twisted my arms without answering any more. while repeating it a few times.
pudding!!!
“Hey hey!!!!”
“ah. I raised it too much.”
“Ah, shoulder shoulder shoulder!!!”
I felt the strength to resist, whether it was really painful or not, was disappearing. I slowly relaxed my strength at Loa’s urgent cry.
“Ugh…”
제압에서 풀려난 로아는 그대로 주저앉았다. 그리고 눈시울이 붉어진 채 오른쪽 어깨를 빙글빙글 돌려댔다. 아까보다는 성질이 많이 가라앉은 모습이다.
로아는 방금 전과 다르게 내 눈치를 보며 물었다.
“갑자기 이게 무슨 짓이죠···?”
“다짜고짜 따귀부터 때리려던 사람이 할 소리냐?”
“윽.”
할 말이 없는지 로아가 움찔거렸다. 흐름상 박노아를 보고 그 분풀이를 나한테 할 생각이었나 본데···.
내가 미쳤나. 그걸 맞아주게.
길게 얘기할 생각은 없어서 바로 본론부터 꺼냈다.
“당신. 노아 친구지? 여기까지 왜 온 거야?”
“···그야 노아를 데려가려고 왔죠.”
얼씨구. 탑 때문에 이렇게 됐는데 탑에 데려가려는 건가. 상황을 정확히 파악하지 못하고 있다는 건 알 수 있었다.
“누구 맘대로. 아르웰이랑 상의한 내용이야?”
“아르웰? 그 무기요?”
“뭐?”
어째 함부로 취급하는 말투가 내 신경을 갉아 먹는다. 로아는 콧방귀를 끼며 말을 이어나갔다.
“흥. 그 녀석이랑 상의할 필요는 없겠죠. 노아가 가는 곳을 걔가 따라와야지. 애초에 무기면서 노아를 지키지 못한 걔한테 그런 자격이 있을 리가 없잖아. 안 그래요?”
“······.”
“···또, 또 왜요?”
“아냐.”
할 말은 많았지만, 굳이 꺼내지 않았다. 그럴 필요성을 느끼지 못했기 때문이다. 이 녀석한테 아르웰에 대해 설명해도 아르웰의 가치만 낮출 뿐이다.
“데려간다면 25층인가?”
“어···, 네. 거기라면 이런 돌팔이보다 빠르게 회복시킬 수 있을 거예요.”
“어떻게?”
“그건 비밀. 탑만의 방법이 있다고나 할까?”
의외로 내가 순순히 나오니 로아의 말투는 다시금 자신감으로 차올랐다. 비밀이라고 해봤자, 25층으로 데려가서 추종자로 하여금 ‘신앙’을 이용할 셈이 분명했다.
이 녀석의 말이 맞기는 하다.
‘신앙’. 그 힘이 있다면 박노아를 제정신으로 돌아오게 할지도 모른다.
‘하지만.’
과연 그게 맞는 판단일까.
박노아를 탑 안으로 진입시킨다는 것이 위험하다는 걸 제외하고도, 신앙으로 박노아를 회복시킨다는 건 어찌 보면 강제 회복에 가까웠다.
나는 휠체어에 앉아있는 공허한 눈빛의 박노아를 바라봤다. 녀석의 겉모습에는 아무런 상처도 남아있지 않았다.
겉모습에만 말이다.
“무슨 의미인지는 이해한 것 같고. 그럼 노아를 저한테 넘겨주시지 않을래요?”
로아는 내가 동의를 하고 있다고 생각했는지 슬그머니 휠체어로 다가갔다.
“그거 안돼.”
“예?”
그보다 앞서 박노아의 휠체어를 내가 다시 잡았다. 그 탓에 옆으로 밀려난 로아가 나를 노려봤다.
“당신. 혹시 노아가 이 꼴로 있는 게 좋으세요?”
“반대로 노아가 이렇게 될 때까지 넌 뭐 하고 있었지?”
그 물음에 할 말이 없어진 로아는 입을 다물었다.
조금 치사한 질문이긴 했다. 이 녀석은 영웅 지망생이 아니다 보니, 박노아 옆에 있을 수 없었으니까.
“······그럼 이렇게 계속 내버려 두자는 건가요?”
박노아의 추종자답게 걱정은 진심으로 보였다. 나에게 향했던 것과 달리 박노아를 향한 시선에는 근심이 가득했으니까.
‘박노아를 침식에서 벗어나게 한 건 신앙 덕분이었지.’
올리비아 로아를 위로해줄 마음은 없지만, 신세 진 것은 있기에 쓸데없는 말을 덧붙였다.
“내버려 두자는 게 아니라 우리가 기다리는 거지.”
“어렸을 때부터 같이 지냈으니 네가 나보다 노아에 대해 더 잘 알거 아냐?”
나는 가만히 서있는 로아를 내버려 두고 휠체어를 밀기 시작했다.
박노아의 몸이 병원으로 움직였다.
그런 뒷모습을 보며 마치 나에게 하는 말인 것처럼 중얼거렸다.
“You will get over it soon.”
Noah Park is the main character.
*********************
“Oh, it’s cold.”
Lian Arwell muttered as he breathed in his hands. Her tiny hands were red from the cold. He was holding a box of cakes in both hands, so he couldn’t put his hands in his pockets.
‘Did you come with gloves on?’
With such regrets, Arwell was busy moving somewhere.
It had snowed in the morning, so there was a pile of snow on the roadside. The word “midwinter” is certain to be true, and all the people walking on the streets were wearing thick clothes.
It is said that this winter is colder than last year. But Arwell couldn’t compare it.
It was because this was the first time I felt winter on Earth because I always spent the beginning of the year at the tower. So today is a particularly exciting cold.
As promised in the past, today is the day to celebrate the beginning of the year in a small way.
Since then, Yoosung Academy has gone through the fall and winter without major incidents. As half a year passed, Arwell also had a change in appearance.
His always immature gestures and childlike impression had matured quite a bit. The blue hair that used to be neatly trimmed with raised hair has long since been untied. Just like Noah Park.
Its appearance is so beautiful that there are many people of all ages passing by. In the old days, I was ashamed of the gazes that felt more sensitive with the sense of a weapon human, but now I am used to it for a long time.
Arwell with the cake came into the hospital.
Now that we have seen each other for a long time, we have become close enough to greet each other and chat. Arwell handed the cake box in one hand to the nurse at the desk.
“I bought this when it came. Eat together later.”
“What is this…? I will eat well.”
Arwell nodded and headed towards the hospital room with familiar steps. He could feel his sympathetic gazes behind him, but he could ignore it because he got used to it.
I made a meaningless knock and opened the door.
As Arwell opened the door and entered, Noah Park, who was looking at the window, came into view. Even after half a year had passed, there was no change in his appearance, and it seemed as if time had stopped alone.
“Whew. It’s cold outside today.”
Arwell walked inside, accustomed to talking to himself. Then he put the cake box down to one side and took off his coat.
“Now we are in our second year. Today is a day to celebrate, so I bought Noah’s favorite cake to commemorate it.”
Arwell pulled the chair next to him and put the cake box on his lap.
“Noah.”
Arwell called out Noah Park’s name. However, as soon as he lost his strength, he slowly lowered his head over the box without taking out the cake.
“Can you eat this…?”
But this time there was no answer.
It was snowing, so I was looking forward to the gift with excitement.
There was no such thing as a miracle even with the slightest expectation.
Time has passed.
At Yoosung Academy, some are going to college and some are nearing graduation.
“···········”.
Park Noah was still unconscious.
