Chapter 121 - Chapter 118: Episode 116 - Determined Will
As Yu-rin tried to enter the house after recovering from her mental shock, she found Yu-ra standing by the shoe rack.
"Yu-rin-ah. Don't come in today. Go back out, stay somewhere else, and come back tomorrow. No... go to your father's place. Shouldn't you at least show him with his own two eyes that you're doing better?"
Yu-rin looked at Yu-ra's cold gaze, confusion etched on her face.
She had felt their relationship, which had soured after Yena arrived, was finally on the mend, but her mother's sudden behavior made it feel like all that progress had been for nothing.
The suggestion to visit her father was clearly just an excuse.
Yu-rin wasn't so dense that she couldn't read the room.
"Um... Mom? Why? How come..."
"You know better than anyone. After causing such a mess, do you really have the nerve to face Seon-ah? I didn't think you were that kind of person... I'm disappointed."
"Seon-ah... Where is he? I have to apologize to him... please..."
Yu-ra figured Yu-rin's mind still wasn't quite right.
It bothered her that even though Yu-rin had just been outside and seen Seon-ah in the garden, she had acted as if he weren't there at all.
"No. Seon-ah doesn't want to see you."
Yu-ra stated the facts calmly.
"I just want to see him... I'll apologize and leave right away. Mom... please..."
As Yu-rin tried to push past, Yu-ra grabbed her and blocked her path.
"Stop it!"
With a shove, she sent Yu-rin stumbling back.
Yu-rin hit the floor hard, the front door still standing open behind her.
"Yeah... I know. What I've done... it can never be forgiven. Not by you, and not by Seon-ah. I'm sorry... please, tell them that for me."
With those final words, Yu-rin walked out of the house.
She had actually thought her relationship with her mother was getting better.
She had believed she could have a happy life with Yena.
But that was just a pipe dream.
It was incredibly greedy of her to think that after Seon-ah returned, she could just apologize and live happily while raising Yena, the daughter they shared.
Accepting that, Yu-rin just walked aimlessly.
She knew what had happened to Seon-ah and his family because of her, but she hadn't been able to say a word for fear that Yena would hate her.
She was truly selfish.
'What a bitch I am...'
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Seon-ah reflected on everything he had endured.
There were so many times he'd been toyed with, held hostage, and forced to watch his loved ones suffer.
He recalled the law of the jungle in the Demon World.
The realization that power was the only thing standing between him and being treated like an object flashed through his mind.
Sophia had told him that magic power existed within him, and that he could use it to strengthen his body. He wanted to believe he could become strong, too.
But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't tap into that strength.
His magic power wouldn't even budge.
If he could just use it at will, he wouldn't be a puppet for others anymore.
He had to get stronger, if only to protect Yena, the only thing he had left.
Yena was stronger than him, sure, but he needed enough strength to ensure he wouldn't be taken hostage again, and to make sure no one else got hurt because of him.
Considering how many people had suffered because he'd been a hostage, this was the only logical path.
He couldn't use magic power yet, but he was an Awakened.
And thanks to his re-awakening, he had two abilities.
One was healing, which didn't make him stronger, but the second one—adaptation—seemed incredibly versatile.
It didn't just help generate magic power; it helped him adapt to any environment, even allowing him to see clearly through the magic fog spewing from a Gate.
Not only that, but while traveling with Yena in the Demon World, it had supplemented his stamina and even slightly increased his muscle strength.
An ability that adapts to everything.
That was how he viewed his adaptation ability.
Since it was always active, he couldn't control it, but he felt it held the key.
If he could push it, he might finally be able to get used to the magic power inside him and actually use it.
Most ability users trained in specific ways.
Physical enhancement users trained through extreme combat, and healers developed theirs by pushing their limits while healing others for long periods.
His adaptation ability had to work the same way.
He needed to force his adaptation to accept magic power.
If there was a way to get used to magic power, there was only one thing he could do on Earth.
He had to expose himself to the magic power spewing from a Gate and force his body to adapt in an extreme situation.
If he engaged in a fierce battle with demons in the middle of that magic fog, maybe his ability would develop.
There was only one profession that fought demons inside Gates.
"I have to become a Hunter... It's the only way."
Seon-ah hardened his resolve.
He wouldn't yield to anyone who tried to toy with him ever again.
Looking at Yena sleeping soundly beside him, Seon-ah made a silent vow.
No more mistakes.
No more letting his precious things be taken away.
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Yu-ra couldn't sleep until morning.
She was terrified that Seon-ah, having lost everything but Yena, would suddenly vanish without a trace.
Watching him yesterday, he seemed so at ease, as if he'd transcended everything—like he had no attachments left in this world.
She feared he might just disappear, leaving Yena behind.
But it was just her own anxiety.
Seon-ah came into the living room, stretched, and greeted her.
"Did you sleep well? Your complexion looks terrible."
"Oh... I slept fine. My face has always been like this, don't worry about it."
He looked hollow, with dark circles under his eyes, but he held his tongue, not wanting to make her uncomfortable.
"Seon-ah, what are you going to do now? It's fine to stay here, but is there anywhere else you'd rather be?"
"..."
Truth be told, he didn't have a single penny or a place to call his own.
"I thought so. Then stay here for now. If it's uncomfortable, I'll find you a new place. I was going to buy your old house back, but... because of that foreign woman... no, never mind."
She mumbled, feeling like she'd made a mistake by bringing it up.
She wanted to make sure he didn't feel burdened, and she hated herself for blurting that out.
"No... I'm grateful just for your concern. I'll stay for now. And..."
When he agreed to stay, the haggard look on Yu-ra's face brightened.
"I want to become a Hunter. I want to join the Hwaryong Guild. Would that even be possible for a man?"
Her face crumpled instantly.
Being a Hunter was the most dangerous, rough profession a man could enter.
The fierce women he'd have to work with were a hurdle, and men were always the primary targets for demons.
The thought of him in such a high-risk job made her head throb.
It was clearly more than just a lack of sleep.
She tried to scold him, but seeing the seriousness and determination in his eyes, she couldn't bring herself to crush his will.
She couldn't force him to stop.
Instead, she tried to persuade him.
"Is there... a reason? You don't have to do such a difficult job. With your healing ability, you could live an ordinary, safe life, even if the pay isn't great..."
"I can't explain it, but... it means a lot to me."
"...If you get into danger, what happens to Yena? You aren't alone anymore. Think about it carefully."
"I'm doing this for Yena's sake."
Sophia might come looking for them one day.
She was different from the fickle Miel or Yu-rin; once she made up her mind, she followed through to the end.
Besides, the second contract wasn't over yet.
The first ended when Yena was born, but he had to be ready to stand against Sophia when she came to collect on the second.
He needed at least a minimum level of strength.
It might be a futile struggle, but he had to try.
Seeing his expression, she knew persuasion wouldn't work.
She didn't know what might happen if he left and joined some random, small-time guild, so she decided it would be better to get him into the Hwaryong Guild, where she still had some pull.
"If that's the case, I'll help. Men usually have to start in the supply team, but since you have a healing ability, I think I can get you into the vanguard or combat support team."
"Thank you, Ajumma."
After that, Yu-ra brought up everything she'd been meaning to tell him.
Where his father was buried.
The fact that she'd sent Yu-rin away.
To Seon-ah, Yu-ra was becoming a reliable ally.
She was one of the few normal people he'd met, and he was deeply grateful for her support.