Seo Pangyo, Jinhyuk's house.
Baila sat in the garden rocking chair with her eyes closed.
The gentle breeze blowing, the birds chirping in her ears.
And the neatly trimmed trees in the garden.
These days, she felt like she was learning the concept of peace all over again.
Of course, that was only until yesterday.
*Thump!*
"Hey, Mochi-face! Bring me my floatie!"
"Why is that yours?!"
"Can't you see the pointy ears drawn on the side?!"
"Mochi's ears are pointy too!"
"What kind of piggy dumpling ears are pointy?!"
"Yaaaaaah!! Don't call me a piggy!!"
Judging by the swimming goggles they wore, they had just come out of the pool.
The Kkan-mo duo ran around the house, dripping water everywhere.
Bungbung Units 3 and 4 chased after them frantically.
*Bang!*
A door swung open in midair, and a pile of junk and books came crashing down.
Stepping over them with practiced ease was the Star Alchemist, Ellia.
Behind her, the workshop assistants busily picked up the scattered items.
Why was it?
She saw the images of Bungbung Units 3 and 4 overlapping with them.
"Hey, Baila. Enjoying the peace all by yourself?"
Ellia approached and pulled out a chair from the table naturally.
"Nia is here."
"Oh, you scared me. First a sleeping mambo, now a sleeping cat?"
She avoided the sleeping Nia and sat in another chair.
With a practiced motion, Baila tilted the teapot on the table.
"It's pre-brewed black tea."
"Oh! As expected, only Baila knows what's up!"
Ellia gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up and took a sip of the hot black tea.
"Ahhh. It really hits the spot."
Ellia nodded with a blissful expression.
"Such a peaceful afternoon."
At Ellia's comment about peace, Baila tilted her head.
"Goblin kidney punch!"
"If it's a kidney punch, why are you headbutting?!"
"Because Mochi feels like it!"
*Thump! Crash! Rumble!!*
Just when she thought she had somewhat grasped the concept of peace, confusion set in again.
What exactly was peace?
Did it mean different things to different people?
"Oh, nice scent."
Jinhyuk, who had just finished showering, walked over to the table.
"Careful. The sleeping cat is right there."
Jinhyuk brought his hand close to Nia's nose.
Her breathing was perfectly fine!
"It's black tea."
"Thanks, Baila."
He smiled as he tilted his teacup.
"You worked hard watching the house alone. Were you bored?"
Their eyes met.
For some reason, there was a slight delay.
Only then did he notice the scene behind Baila.
The two little giants had completely wrecked the spotless house in an instant.
Even the garden was piled with junk that seemed to have come from Ellia's workshop.
"Sorry."
"It's fine. It's peaceful."
He started to worry inwardly.
Baila, who had been learning the concept of emotions one by one since leaving the Tower of Myths.
Was she learning the meaning of peace backwards?
"Hey, master."
Ellia poked various parts of his face with her fingers.
"The wounds from Pamirhan haven't healed yet? If anything, they look worse."
"Rinya gave me these."
"There's a huge bruise on your neck too. If loyal Seira saw this, she'd have words with Rinya."
"Seira gave me that one."
"Oh."
Seira, who usually doted on Jinhyuk like he was precious treasure.
But when it came to training, she showed no mercy.
"This won't do. My heart aches just seeing my master's bruises."
Before she even finished speaking, she handed him a potion.
It was still bubbling, as if freshly made.
"This will get rid of the bruises and swelling in one go."
He swallowed dryly and stared at the potion.
A liquid with a strange viscosity, like the Black Sea of Pamirhan.
What did you have to put in to make it like that?
"Come on, don't be shy. Down it all in one go."
*Ding-dong!*
As the bottle drew closer, he quickly stood up.
"Baila, you rest. I'll go get it."
He had just finished showering.
He wanted to hold onto this refreshing feeling a little longer.
He went down the stairs and opened the front door.
A dozen or so people stood in neat suits.
One of them stepped forward and bowed.
"Hello. We've come from Cheonilgyo to deliver some good words."
"Oh... Good words."
He slowly stepped back and closed the door he had just opened.
The people on the other side of the iron gate looked slightly flustered.
"It'll only take a moment. Could we have a word inside?"
"Yes."
"Thank you."
"I said no."
A heavy silence fell between them.
The people behind were extremely flustered.
But the woman in front was not.
Far from being flustered, she chuckled and raised the corners of her mouth.
"You're an interesting person. Well, since you won't open the door, I'll take the liberty."
Min Soyul, the chairwoman of Cheonilgyo, pulled a small bell from her pocket.
It was one of the sect's holy relics, personally bestowed by the god.
She infused it with holy power and held it out.
And not long after.
*Diiiiing—! Diiiiing—!!*
The bell began to ring violently.
An enormous sound for its small size.
The louder the bell rang, the wider Min Soyul's smile grew.
After thoroughly searching every house in Seo Pangyo, she had finally found it.
"This bell is a holy relic designed to react only to a light that is both brilliant and violent."
She took a step closer to the front door and continued.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Min Soyul, chairwoman of Cheonilgyo."
He quietly stared at Min Soyul, then smiled and spoke as well.
"Nice to meet you. I'm the Runner."
After the introductions, the two stared at each other in silence.
A faint twitch appeared at the corner of Jinhyuk's mouth.
His greeting just now wasn't empty words.
He was genuinely pleased.
And for good reason.
Because on the garden steps above, watching them, was the awakened Sin of Gluttony and Sloth, Nia.
---
* * *
Yeeun Girls' High School, located in Yesan County, South Chungcheong Province. Class 2-2.
"That's it for today's lesson. Kids, what grade are you in next year?"
Silence fell over the class, as if no one wanted to answer.
"You have to answer. Do you want me to stay?"
"Third year!"
"You know it well. Don't regret it later and work hard now, got it?!"
"Yes!"
As soon as the teacher left, Yoo Jinhee flopped onto her desk.
"Hey, Minhee."
"What, Jinhee."
"Do you think it's fair that she took up half our break time?"
"It's not. It's not. We can't even go to the convenience store."
"Malatang after school, and then two cream puffs from Gowoon Bakery?"
"Will there be any cream puffs left? I heard they sell out as soon as they come out."
Yoo Jinhee grinned and put her arm around Oh Minhee's shoulders.
"Hey, Minhee. Who's your unnie? The top VIP of Gowoon Bakery, right? They said they'd save two for me."
"Unnie!"
"Hehe."
Of course, she didn't become a VIP by choice.
The summoned beasts had gotten a taste for the bread she happened to try.
Thanks to that, she was buying large quantities of bread every day.
How could a high school student afford that?
Of course, she was using the allowance her older brother Yoo Jinhyuk gave her.
And if you asked why she was living off her brother's money when he sold the byproducts from the tower, well, that money didn't count.
Because the moment the neighbor's sister sold them, Mrs. Kim Minji took them away.
She said she opened an investment account in the US under Jinhee's name and was buying stocks every month. Anyway, she said she'd give it to her later.
"Is Oppa coming home?"
"Oppa's coming?!"
Oh Minhee's eyes sparkled, and Jinhee let out a deep sigh.
"Our Minhee, you must be so blinded by love that your ears aren't working anymore. I need to beg for some allowance soon. The bread prices these days are no joke."
A small palm-sized piece of bread cost three or four thousand won, so the money was disappearing fast.
As she shook her head.
The classroom door opened, and the homeroom teacher came in.
Was break time already over?!
"Alright, kids. I told you this morning, right? That a transfer student would be coming today."
Not only Yoo Jinhee, who had been lying on her desk, but the entire class turned their heads in unison.
A transfer student was a rare sight in the countryside, probably due to the low birth rate.
It was like seeing a unicorn, simply amazing.
*Step.*
"Whoa...!"
Gasps erupted from various parts of the classroom as the transfer student entered.
Yoo Jinhee and Oh Minhee's jaws dropped.
They thought a movie star had walked in.
"She's a friend from abroad, so make sure to help her out. As for the seat... Jinhee!"
"Yes!"
"Sit next to Jinhee. She said she lives in Gowoon-ri too."
"Ohhh! Leave it to me! Teacher, you know, right? Gowoon-ri is in the palm of my hand!"
"Hmm, I'm a bit worried, but let's do that."
As the transfer student approached, Yoo Jinhee puffed out air from her nose.
I have to get close to her quickly!
---
* * *
A café with a great view in Seo Pangyo.
Jinhyuk took a sip of his coffee and looked around.
"This place is usually crowded."
"I rented it out for just today. I paid them a week's worth of sales, and they gladly agreed."
'You must be rich.'
Looking closely, her ring, necklace, earrings, and sunglasses were all luxury items.
He didn't know the brand names, but they were the expensive accessories that often appeared in videos.
Usually, religious missionaries dressed modestly, but Cheonilgyo seemed different.
"So, what's the reason for seeking me out?"
"First, on behalf of Cheonilgyo..."
Min Soyul stood up and bowed her head.
"I want to formally apologize for telling you not to trust the Runner and not to open the floors."
So she was the one.
The one who rallied all the sects to start a public opinion campaign against waking Azriel.
"It's fine. I didn't care."
Except for the fact that I wanted to punch her once, I really didn't care even a speck.
"I'm just grateful for your understanding. As you know, our Cheonilgyo also realized our mistake belatedly and supported you, Jinhyuk-nim."
"Yes, I know."
Of course, he wasn't the least bit grateful.
Because they only switched sides after he killed Azriel and cleared the tower.
Min Soyul sat down and let out a low breath.
Then she spoke.
"The reason I came today is to apologize and convey my gratitude, and to bestow a blessing befitting that."
"A blessing?"
"According to the Book of Honor... It's your turn to climb the 91st floor now, right?"
"That's correct."
"You must be lacking a lot of information. And you're probably planning to strengthen yourself like last time?"
"That's also correct."
Min Soyul nodded and smiled.
"It will probably be a terrible battle. That section is like that. From the 91st to the 100th floor. So our Cheonilgyo intends to lead that battle to a certain victory. What do you think, Jinhyuk-nim?"
As soon as Min Soyul finished speaking.
*Ding!*
The silent system rang an alarm.
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T/N:
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