Chapter 110
The day to visit the Magic Department had arrived.
The same chilly atmosphere I had felt before enveloped me as soon as we reached the entrance.
My eyes were drawn to the opulent office and the museum, where various high-end artifacts were displayed in glass cases.
Even though this was my second visit, it was still a place I couldn’t easily get used to.
“You’re three minutes late.”
Han Si-hyuk greeted us with a frown. The watch on his wrist glimmered under the ceiling lights.
I didn’t expect to see him again.
At this point, it feels like we’re seeing each other every day, almost like we’re family.
“…Hmph.”
He didn’t seem pleased either.
I shrugged my shoulders and spoke.
“Let’s go.”
Adela and Yoon Haul didn’t fully understand the awkward relationship here.
Adela might have a vague idea, but Yoon Haul had rarely seen us together.
Since Han Si-hyuk had completely erased his family name from his life, he likely hadn’t crossed paths with me much.
Adela, trying to make conversation, asked, “I’ve seen you somewhere before! Aren’t you the Prophet of Ardel? I remember seeing you at school before!”
But Han Si-hyuk’s response was cold.
“I don’t want to be called by that name.”
“Oh, I’m sorry!”
Actually, Yoon Haul should be the one more interested in him.
“…That looks expensive. How much do you think it costs?”
He’s just not interested in people at all.
Hey, shouldn’t you aspire to be like him, at least?
After all, the person in front of you is the most successful prophet in the empire.
Although, in a few years, Yoon Haul will become the greatest prophet on the continent.
The ease of someone who doesn’t consider anyone a rival—that’s the life of a genius.
I chuckled and pulled Yoon Haul forward as he was lagging behind.
Even though Han Si-hyuk seemed annoyed, he continued to explain things diligently.
“My office is on the second floor. You don’t need to know that, but if necessary, you can find me there.”
“Yes, sir!”
“And this is the lab. Most of the research is done in the adjacent building, so you can consider this place as a location where simple reports are compiled.”
The tour route wasn’t much different from last time.
Just a brief look around the Magic Department after receiving the award.
However, due to the incident last time, Han Si-hyuk was accompanying us as our escort this time.
It seemed like he didn’t intend to leave our side for even a moment.
“The Magic Department usually doesn’t allow students to enter freely. The reception area and exhibition hall on the first floor are the only places you’re allowed to roam around. Occasionally, there are lectures on the third floor. But… can’t you stay still for a moment?”
“Pardon?”
Han Si-hyuk clicked his tongue and looked back at us.
He seemed to be watching us as if we were children left unattended by the water, ready to cause trouble at any moment.
I planned to just follow quietly, but…
I’m a little worried about him.
Yoon Haul had already buried his nose in an artifact on the wall.
“Ah, what’s this? Will it break if I touch it?”
“It’ll break, and your family might break with it.”
“Huh?”
“If you can’t afford it.”
“Oh, I see.”
Han Si-hyuk casually dropped a line that could destroy someone’s innocence and walked ahead.
Although Yoon Haul’s background wasn’t particularly detailed in the original story, it was depicted that he came from an ordinary family. So, Han Si-hyuk’s words might very well be true.
Hey, if you’re broke, don’t park next to a luxury car.
But despite Han Si-hyuk’s words, Yoon Haul didn’t seem to be particularly hurt and continued to ask questions.
For someone who wasn’t usually that proactive, it was quite surprising to see him so curious.
Is he fixated on something?
He may not care much about the world, but when it comes to something he’s interested in, he’s all in.
The problem was that his questions were taking a rather unexpected turn.
“Are there any dangerous artifacts here?”
“In the Magic Department?”
“Something that could harm people or cause an explosion.”
“…Even if there were, we wouldn’t have it on display.”
That statement really made it seem like he was about to cause trouble!
Han Si-hyuk seemed to have a similar feeling, as he frowned.
“Don’t even think about doing anything foolish.”
“Are there any dangerous people? Someone who could harm others?”
“Why are you asking that?”
“…I’m worried.”
“That sounds like an unnecessary worry.”
A subtle but menacing aura swept around Han Si-hyuk.
It was the authority inherent to a prophet.
Given their job of speaking convincingly, their words naturally carry weight.
Feeling that aura, Adela clung to my side and whispered quietly.
“I’ve been feeling it for a while, but he’s really scary. Is it charisma? He just has this overwhelming presence.”
“…”
“Is that what it takes to become the greatest prophet on the continent?”
Hmm.
Hmm… Authority and charisma, huh…
‘Should I think about this after beating him up some more?’
‘Aaah! I wanted to settle this with words… Argh!’
‘Argh! Aaaah!’
Han Si-hyuk’s face, swollen and bruised after I had pummeled him, flashed through my mind.
“Uh, yeah. I guess so.”
Yeah, let’s keep up the image.
* * *
“Congratulations on your award. I hope you continue to be an excellent member of Ardel.”
“Yes, thank you!”
“Here is your prize money and certificate. Congratulations again.”
The event ended sooner than expected.
Han Si-hyuk seemed eager to get rid of us and hurried us out, so the tour was over.
Adela quickly walked toward the photo zone on the first floor, saying she wanted to see it.
Apparently, there’s a new golden statue erected by the Magic Department.
I wasn’t interested in such a hotspot, so I just waved at her.
“See you at school!”
“Yeah, have fun and head back safely.”
Now, only Yoon Haul was left.
His dark eyes sparkled as he gazed at me, the intensity of his stare making me uneasy.
“You’re leaving too, right?”
“Mhm.”
“Why? Want to take another look around the exhibition hall?”
Although other places might have the Magic Department staff trying to send us away, the exhibition hall in the first-floor corridor was open to the public.
Seeing him fidgeting like he had something to do, I asked, but he just shook his head.
“Well, you too, then. Get home safely.”
Maybe I should drop by Han Si-hyuk’s office while I’m here.
Shuffle, shuffle.
“Huh?”
Shuffle, shuffle.
As soon as I took a step, Yoon Haul took two to follow me.
He blinked his eyes again, as if nothing had happened, with a perfectly innocent expression.
Is it just my imagination? No, it’s not.
Even earlier, when we were walking with Han Si-hyuk, he seemed to be watching me cautiously. Now, he was openly trailing me.
What’s going on?
He’s always been a bit odd, but today he seems even stranger.
Scratching my head, I tried to shake him off for a moment.
“I’m just going to the bathroom for a bit.”
Shuffle.
“No, why are you following me here? Seriously, are you crazy?”
Yoon Haul quickly shook his head, looking startled. The way he waved his hands and added cheerfully only made it more unsettling.
“No way, I’ll wait for you outside!”
That’s even weirder!
A chill ran down my spine.
“…Did I do something wrong?”
“No.”
It was bad enough that I felt the need to ask that first.
I thought Han Si-hyuk was the only one looking at me like a child left unsupervised near water, but reflecting on today’s events, it seemed like Yoon Haul was watching me with that same look, maybe even more so.
But there was really no reason for him to feel that way…
Unless…
A thought flashed through my mind.
“Did you see something in the stars?”
“No! Absolutely not!”
“Yoon Haul.”
Gotcha.
Yoon Haul’s eyebrows twitched—an unmistakable sign he was lying. Something had definitely happened.
He must have seen something, but if he wasn’t telling me, it couldn’t be anything good.
“What’s going on? Tell me. If it’s about me, I should know.”
“…I’m not sure.”
Yoon Haul swallowed dryly and shook his head. He wasn’t forcing himself to hide something.
“Tell me.”
“…”
After a long moment of hesitation, Yoon Haul finally spoke, his face twisted in distress.
“I couldn’t see clearly. But something’s definitely going to happen… I just can’t see it well enough. You might not understand, but the future isn’t always clear…”
“I understand what you’re saying.”
“I don’t know anything for sure… That’s why I’m even more worried…”
He didn’t know where or when it would happen.
That’s why he had been so focused on each artifact and carefully observing the layout of the Magic Department—to find some clue.
Yoon Haul’s shoulders were trembling, unlike before.
“I came all the way here, trying to find something, but I just don’t know.”
“It’s okay.”
“That person… that person… is looking for the Cube.”
“What?”
The Cube.
The color drained from my face at Yoon Haul’s words.
I tried to keep my expression neutral, but my heart started racing.
“You know what that is, don’t you?”
I did. But Yoon Haul couldn’t find out.
In reality, Yoon Haul was the one who could help the most in finding the Cube, but because of that, he would be in even greater danger than I would.
He would only be safe if he were much stronger, but that wouldn’t be for at least two more years. Yoon Haul would only become powerful after Solia’s death.
Until then, he was just a lazy genius.
So right now, he was in grave danger.
“Is it dangerous?”
“Huh? Oh… a little, maybe. But it’s not as bad as you’re worrying.”
“…Liar.”
I needed to calm him down first.
I knew there might be someone targeting me after all the commotion from the camp to the presentation contest, just as Han Si-hyuk had warned.
But
I had no intention of dragging an innocent kid into this.
I sighed and spoke.
“I get that you’re worried and want to stick around, but if something like what you saw in the future happens, you should run. You won’t be able to help anyway.”
“I’m stronger.”
Ugh, that stings because it’s true.
Yoon Haul repeated his words with confidence.
“I’m really stronger. Stronger than you.”
“…Don’t hit me with facts.”
Without Basilus and Kloshti, you really are stronger.
“For now, let’s get out of here. Ardel will be safer.”
“Okay.”
Only then did Yoon Haul nod at my calm words.
And at that moment.
“Han Siha, Yoon Haul?”
A deep, heavy voice reached my ears.
It was Duke Becken—the man who had openly picked a fight with me at the last presentation contest, accusing me of dabbling in dark magic, and who was also Solia’s benefactor.
In the original story, he was such a minor character that he was barely mentioned—a mere extra, neither a villain nor a hero, just a forgettable figure.
That’s how I remembered him, but Duke Becken seemed to remember me differently.
A cold smile tugged at the corners of Duke Becken’s mouth.
“I enjoyed your presentation.”
“Thank you.”
“The Empire’s future is bright. I might have been needlessly critical that day, but I meant what I said. Han Taesu has a smart son.”
Duke Becken’s gaze briefly shifted to Yoon Haul.
Then, as if uninterested, he turned his attention back to me.
“If you have time, could we talk for a moment?”
There was no reason for him to call me.
Instead of answering, I glanced at Yoon Haul.
Was this the scene you saw in the future?
“…”
Yoon Haul’s pupils were trembling faster than before.
As I was about to turn to Duke Becken,
Grab.
Yoon Haul’s hand clutched my arm.
“…Don’t go.”
As if he had sensed something, Yoon Haul’s hand began to tremble violently.
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