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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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‘As expected, there are no reported cases.’
Na-yeon closed her laptop and leaned back in her study chair, closing her eyes. She had been searching through various academic journals, papers, and news articles.
The image of Tae-jin was still vivid in her mind.
The memory of his crimson eyes made her shiver.
She had hoped to find some clue about that chilling aura while they were in the same hospital room.
Unfortunately, she hadn’t found a single thread.
“Hmm…”
Na-yeon let out a soft hum, tapping her index finger on the armrest of her chair.
The crimson glow stood out starkly against the backdrop of darkness behind her closed eyelids.
The image of her student, which surfaced every time she closed her eyes, felt strangely like it was dredging up something forgotten from her past.
It felt familiar, yet the common color of red mana seemed… special.
Was it simply because he was her student?
“No… There’s something more.”
Initially, she had intended to take Choi Do-han as her student.
But she had changed her mind after sensing an unusual, familiar mana signature from the seemingly weak and unremarkable Han Tae-jin.
And she had chosen him.
She had taken Han Tae-jin as her first student.
She had first met Han Tae-jin a few months ago.
When she had been invited as a temporary instructor for the graduating class.
She hadn’t felt anything special about him then.
But as he grew stronger, a strange sense of familiarity grew, intensifying after she took him as her student.
Also,
Even though their personal acquaintance was recent, she felt a sense of “long time no see” whenever she talked to him or trained him.
As if they had known each other for a long time.
It was truly strange.
She had definitely met him for the first time at the academy, so why did his mana signature feel so familiar, and why did their conversations feel so comfortable?
She had even investigated his background, wondering if he could be the person she had been desperately searching for, but she hadn’t found anything concrete.
‘Well, the one year I spent there was only a single day here, so there’s no way any evidence would remain.’
The year she had been abruptly summoned to another world and tasked with defeating a powerful enemy, the Black Dragon Velokas.
Thanks to that world sharing the same mana as Earth, she had returned as a powerful, well-rounded Hunter.
The skills and mana she had accumulated there remained intact even after her return.
And in that world, she had met a wonderful comrade, a man…
He had been an incredible source of support, a fellow Earthling in a strange land.
She had confided in him whenever she felt homesick, and time seemed to fly by whenever they talked.
The memories of their adventures together were still vivid.
So, after returning, she had tried to find him.
But unfortunately, whether due to memory distortion or loss during her return, she couldn’t remember any details that would help her find him.
His name, his appearance, his age… all lost to the fog of forgotten memories.
Despite that, she had tried to find him, piecing together the fragmented memories.
If he had displayed such overwhelming power in Pangaea, he would surely be a Hunter of her caliber on Earth.
That’s why she hadn’t joined a guild.
She needed to participate in raids with various Hunters to increase her chances of finding him.
But she hadn’t encountered anyone with a similar mana signature.
Perhaps, just as she had lost some of her memories, he had lost some of his power during the return.
It was a distinct possibility, and that possibility both saddened and worried her.
While she was desperately searching for him, was he even looking for her?
Had he even forgotten their passionate nights together?
Years passed, and weary from the fruitless search with no leads, Na-yeon had finally given up.
It had been a fool’s errand from the start.
Mana signatures could change from time to time for Awakened individuals.
It was her only clue, and even that was unreliable.
And then, Han Tae-jin appeared.
At first, she had dismissed the vague sense of familiarity as nothing more than a coincidence.
Perhaps a sense of kinship due to their similar black hair and red eyes.
Such feelings of kinship or déjà vu were common, so she hadn’t thought much of it.
But after that day at the gym, her perspective had shifted.
The familiar crimson glint in his eyes, the mana signature she had tucked away in a corner of her memory, the one she had almost forgotten… After witnessing them that day, she started to believe that this strange sense of familiarity and closeness might not be a coincidence.
That’s why she had suggested the special training during the month-long school closure, hoping to observe Tae-jin more closely.
But,
“I’m going on a training trip near the Taebaek Mountains.”
Tae-jin had suddenly announced his intention to leave.
However, Na-yeon sensed something more.
She could feel, without him saying anything, that something had happened.
It was strange.
To know something without being told.
So, she didn’t ask for an explanation. Instead,
“Please tell Manager Kim Ki-seok to prepare for a long trip. Pack light. I’m going alone.”
She offered to accompany him.
She had nothing else to do during the month-long school closure anyway.
As a visiting professor, she didn’t have any research or preparations to attend to.
And more importantly, if her student had a problem he couldn’t talk about, it was her duty as his master to help him.
And perhaps, to confirm her suspicions.
“Huh? You’re going too, Master?”
“Why? Is there a problem?”
“N-no, not at all.”
“You said you’re leaving the day after tomorrow at noon?”
“Yes. But…”
Tae-jin hesitated.
The journey to find the power Han Chang-ho had left behind was dangerous.
If they were caught by Illusion’s executives, their safe return wasn’t guaranteed.
But Na-yeon’s gaze was firm.
“Tell me. What is it?”
It would be impossible to keep secrets if she went with him.
He needed to tell her the truth, but he couldn’t reveal it so readily.
He trusted Park Na-yeon more than anyone, but this secret involved several other people, and he needed Kim Hye-seo’s permission before revealing anything.
So, Tae-jin simply said,
“…It could be very dangerous.”
It was a warning, a truth without revealing the whole truth. It was a way of telling her that this wasn’t just a simple training trip.
But for Na-yeon, who had already guessed as much, it was a trivial warning.
She chuckled.
“Then all the more reason for me to go.”
“……”
Tae-jin was speechless.
Then, he smiled, mirroring Na-yeon’s smile.
How could he repay his master’s kindness, her willingness to accompany him on a dangerous journey without asking for an explanation?
He could only offer a smile.
“Don’t just stand there grinning like an idiot. Follow me.”
Well, it was a foolish smile, one that earned him a scolding from his prickly master.
“Huh?”
“You said it was dangerous, right?”
“Yes?”
“Then we need to be properly equipped. Follow me. I’ll show you something.”
“But I’ve already prepared all my low-rank equipment.”
Na-yeon clicked her tongue.
“And you plan to embark on a dangerous journey with low-rank equipment?”
“Well… I don’t have a choice, do I?”
As he had explained earlier, as a cadet, he couldn’t even purchase, let alone use, high-rank equipment.
And he couldn’t secretly bring them either.
The guards at the wall conducted thorough inspections, as did the guards at the dungeon entrances.
The use of equipment was strictly regulated.
That’s why Tae-jin had packed his low-rank equipment in his mana pocket. In hindsight, it had been a naive decision.
To embark on a life-or-death journey with inadequate equipment… How foolish he had been.
But borrowing Park Na-yeon’s equipment was out of the question, as each piece was registered to its owner.
He would be caught immediately at the wall’s checkpoint.
Unless…
If Na-yeon went with him, it would be a different story.
“I’ll just say it’s mine when we pass through the wall. Who cares what happens after that?”
“I guess… you’re right.”
“It’s not like you’re going on a dungeon raid.”
‘As expected of Master,’ Tae-jin thought, nodding in agreement. She had seen right through him.
She was right.
Once they were past the wall, as long as they didn’t enter a dungeon, the association wouldn’t know who was using high-rank equipment.
Therefore,
“Follow me.”
Tae-jin quickly followed Na-yeon.
He had gained a powerful ally.
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‘It’s a treasure trove.’
Following Na-yeon, Tae-jin arrived at a building where high-rank equipment was stored(?). His eyes widened at the dazzling display.
Most of the items were masterpieces crafted by renowned blacksmiths, equipment too powerful for cadets to handle.
But Na-yeon was certain.
That the current Tae-jin could wield the equipment here, even the [ Heavenly Thunder Dragon Bow] bow he had struggled with before.
Tae-jin, whose growth was accelerating day by day, likely possessed A-rank level mana now.
And there was another reason why Na-yeon had come here.
Providing equipment was secondary.
So, bypassing the display of high-rank equipment, Na-yeon led Tae-jin to a rather empty space.
“There’s not much equipment here.”
“There’s something I want to show you first.”
Na-yeon stopped.
The reason she had brought Tae-jin here stood silently under the soft LED lights.
It was…
“…Huh? This is…?”
A statue, clad in the same equipment she had worn when she was summoned to Pangaea and tasked with defeating the Black Dragon Velokas.
The rugged yet sturdy armor, and in its hand, a sword with a brilliant white blade, worthy of being called a holy sword.
“Do you… recognize this?”
Na-yeon asked cautiously.
She desperately hoped that the mana signature she had sensed at the gym hadn’t been a mistake.
Tae-jin’s eyes widened with surprise and he suddenly collapsed.
-Thud.
It was a sudden, unexpected faint, with no warning signs.
“Hey! Han Tae-jin!”
“Oh my! T-Tae-jin! He must still be in shock…!”
Renia rushed over in alarm, and for the first time, Na-yeon looked flustered.
Could he… Could he really be the one she had been desperately searching for?
Could the strange familiarity, the closeness, the identical mana signature… Could it all have been real?
Na-yeon couldn’t draw any conclusions. All she could do was wait for Tae-jin to wake up.
It was an agonizing, heart-wrenching wait.
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[T/N: Another lore dump]
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