Unrecognizable (3)

-Tsukuyo’s whisper: You work too much, really too much.

-Tsukuyo also wishes to complete the dimensional quest.

It was the morning after he had returned to Earth from his work on Mirotoz. He had already received the login bonus for the day (it was a consumable that could take a blow for the owner, but it made him feel a little anxious as it looked like a straw doll used for curses).

-Tsukuyo’s whisper: I also want to meet with Anvil…

-So you want to complete the dimensional quest.

-Tsukuyo’s whisper: Indeed. Unfortunately, there is no urgent issue in my dimension that requires the services of Anvil…

It seemed to Kang Shin-hyuk there were some complex conditions behind generating a dimensional quest that he didn’t fully know about.

-Tsukuyo’s whisper: I was really jealous. Even if I try to be satisfied with the things you’ve made, the number of weapons you sell these days has also decreased…

-I’m sorry; I’ve been focusing on other research.

-Tsukuyo’s whisper: I heard about it already.

After all, it just sounded like she wanted to complain. Kang Shin-hyuk was hesitant to answer, but another message aimed right at him arrived.

-Tsukuyo’s whisper: I want you like this too…

-A few words are missing there.

-Tsukuyo’s whisper: Oh, there’s nothing to add or subtract.

-…

After that, Tsukuyo made fun of Kang Shin-hyuk for a little while before stepping back, seemingly barely satisfied. She hinted that if he continued not to suit her, she would take more active actions than before.

-Tsukuyo’s whisper: Oh, and Anvil?

In the midst of her flirting, a new message appeared.

-Tsukuyo’s whisper: It’s good to be careful not to get too stained by lowly things.

Those words reminded Kang Shin-hyuk of the reality of Tsukuyo, whose gentle tone he had been adapting to.

-Hm?

-Tsukuyo’s whisper: The world is shaking in full swing. Has it been noisy?

-Do you mean Jormungand?

-Tsukuyo’s whisper: You don’t need to put it together in one word, I think.

Kang Shin-hyuk wondered what she meant, feeling confused. Was it something on Earth that he needed to pay attention to? If so, it would be better to have more precise information.

-Tsukuyo?

-Tsukuyo’s whisper: The administrator is noisy, so today, that’s enough. Just don’t forget that I’m always by your side…

After that, the message broke off, replaced by the administrator.

-I would also like to rid the Hero Universe of that fox.

Kang Shin-hyuk briefly considered asking the administrator about the meaning behind Tsukuyo’s words but decided not to. If there were anything he could tell him, the administrator already would have.

“Don’t overdo it, administrator.”

-500HP bonus for members who show kindness and consideration…

It seemed like his words weren’t very helpful to the administrator, so the bonus was a little smaller than usual. However, it was still a lot compared to when he first accessed the Hero Universe.

“Then, let’s start.” After morning training, he ate breakfast, washed up, and dressed neatly. He turned to Onyx, who was sleeping in his pet bed.

“Do you want to go too?”

-Myu…

Onyx, who had stuffed himself in a paradise called the garbage warehouse the other day, was hazy as he focused on digesting the metal he had consumed.

-Myuuu.

Onyx seemed concerned for a moment before he crawled over to sit down on Kang Shin-hyuk’s shoulder. He couldn’t do anything while digesting, but it wouldn’t be needed.

“Yes, the kids will love you.”

-Myu…?

They left the room together, stopping by briefly at Baek In-ha’s room (who asked if he was going to spend a hot night with some noonas) before leaving the dorm. His destination was the Starlight Orphanage near the quiet reed forest by Seoul. At the time of the third war, the neighborhood was flooded with monsters, and most of the landowners were slain. The country had reclaimed the land after that, building several facilities there. Many children were orphaned in the incident, so one of the facilities built was the orphanage operated by the church. There was originally a priest, but he had passed away, so due to a lack of manpower, one of the nuns had taken over to raise the children.

“I don’t know if they’re staying healthy.” Kang Shin-hyuk suddenly frowned as he recalled her face, his gaze directed towards the scenery passing by the bus window. She sounded healthy the last time he talked to her. Although she was weak, she had divine power. Strength born from her strong faith helped to revitalize her body and maintain her health. Without it, it wouldn’t have been possible for her to raise and take care of dozens of children alone.

“I’m worried about the kids too…”

-You probably don’t need to worry.

“I hope so.” An hour later, Kang Shin-hyuk confirmed the administrator’s words, as the orphanage building was not the same as the last he saw it. The government-built orphanage, which had never been a comfortable place despite its size, was coated with shiny new material. It was easily two or three times as wide as he remembered it. Just from a glance, he could tell the material was reinforced with monster by-products to prevent it from being broken. At this scale, it must’ve cost billions.

“Uh, uh…?”

“Shin-hyuk is here!”

“It’s our brother!”

-Myu?!

“It’s a hedgehog!” The children playing in the yard found Kang Shin-hyuk and jumped on him to hug him, their eyes twinkling. Kang Shin-hyuk held them one by one, asking them about what was on his mind.

“Siwoo, Minseo, what happened here?”

“The pretty noona built it!” To the boy of six, any older lady was a pretty noona.

“They said they built it because you did a lot of work!”

“Hey, Kang Shin-hyuk!” Lee Jinseok, a boy of the same age as him who had given up the idea of school to work as an apprentice mercenary while living at the orphanage, appeared to save him.

“Lee Jinsu, long time no see…”

“Kang Shin-hyuk, you crazy kid. If you were in a relationship with the Alchemist, you should’ve told me first!”

“Ah…” Perhaps that pretty noona was referring to Claire. Kang Shin-hyuk looked vaguely refreshed, his worries resolved… but then his eyes went wide as he realized what they meant.

“Claire?!”

***

“My son’s hand is fast to catch such a woman.”

“Mother…” Sister Esdel, the mother of the orphanage, smiled happily as she served tea to Kang Shin-hyuk. He drank it as he avoided her gaze, instead opting to look outside the window. He watched the kids play outside in the garden with Onyx for a while before looking up, noticing a sign saying ‘Stellar’ hanging proudly over the orphanage’s entrance. Yes, that design was definitely Claire’s.

“No, she didn’t tell me she did this…”

“Isn’t it embarrassing? To be honest, renovating the orphanage for a man she is dating isn’t exactly an ordinary person.”

“That…you honestly don’t believe it, but we’re not dating.”

“Yes, I don’t believe it.” Who would at that point? But that was how it was with Claire.

“Did she ever ask for anything weird?”

“She said she would come visit occasionally. I set aside a room for her.”

“I’m sure… even so, really.” He wasn’t angry. He knew that Claire usually did weird things, and he never hid the fact he was from an orphanage. He didn’t know if she had done anything bad, but he couldn’t help but be grateful that she rebuilt the orphanage for these children.

“Ha, really.” Some people might dislike it, viewing it as interference, or feel burdened by the scale of it, but for Kang Shin-hyuk, who had grown physically and mentally over the past few months, it was possible to accept Claire’s actions purely. He fell in love all over again. Maybe now he couldn’t escape.

‘My confession is sincere, but…’ Did this mean she thought of him more like a younger brother? No, no matter what, who would do this for a man they viewed as a younger brother? When he thought about the messages they had shared on their last date, it seemed like there was still hope.

“It’s rare for someone to do something like this. There are a lot who have the ability but don’t care.”

“I know. She is a very good person. We’re not dating, but…”

“It is the Lord’s work. So, do your best. If possible…”

“Please stop selling me religion and stop doing those hand movements that aren’t proper for a nun. I know you’re still healthy.” Kang Shin-hyuk handed over the gift he had prepared for Sister Esdel, as well as the gift he had prepared for the children. After that, he headed up to the roof of the orphanage with Lee Jinseok, who had been waiting for him. Even the rooftop had changed.

“Jinseok, you too…”

“Please introduce me.” Lee Jinseok made a huge display of bowing in front of Kang Shin-hyuk, who was caught off guard. He recovered quickly, responding firmly.

“Go back.”

“I’m not aiming for your woman. I just want connections! Honestly, it’s difficult to succeed in the mercenary game playing at the regional level.”

“Claire doesn’t have connections with mercenaries either.” Mercenary. That was the path for those who couldn’t handle mana because they hadn’t awakened or had trouble handling it even after they did. They mainly dealt with monsters using modern weapons combined with mana stones, but they couldn’t catch high-ranking monsters because of their limits. The skilled among them could deal with multiple monsters at once, however, making them particularly active combatants in fighting emissive-type gates. Lee Jinseok had lost his parents during the third countercurrent, just like Kang Shin-hyuk. The difference was that Kang Shin-hyuk had awakened, though he still couldn’t handle mana, and Lee Jinseok hadn’t. Still, he hated monsters, and Kang Shin-hyuk helped him train in all forms of martial arts. In fact, Kang Shin-hyuk helped train several of the children here.

“It’s better than nothing! I will repay with my heartfelt grace, so please, brother!”

“It’s pretty good to play this role…” Wasn’t it the right answer to use everything available at one’s command to become stronger? It wouldn’t be bad for Kang Shin-hyuk to have acquaintances that were active in the mercenary field as well.

“Hye-na? Does she work with you?”

“She can’t give it up either.”

“You can still afford to see it as useless.” At the Starlight Orphanage, there were four children, including himself, who were the same age. One of them had gone to a public high school, whereas the other two, Lee Jinseok and a girl named Yoo Hye-na, trained with Kang Shin-hyuk since they were twelve to become mercenaries. Most of the children older than them had chosen to live as ordinary people, although there were a few who had tried to become superhumans like Kang Shin-hyuk, viewing him as a role model.

“It’s not Claire, but I might know someone with a connection to the mercenary corps. I’ll take it to them, so wait.”

“Hey, wait, then Woonhyung.”

“…He’s still in middle school.”

“Alright, I’ll back off.” It was fortunate that Sister Esdel hadn’t collapsed yet of exhausting dealing with these ones. Kang Shin-hyuk sighed and nodded. Lee Jinseok was staring at him, however.

Only

“What?”

“If it’s not the Alchemist, who do you plan on asking?”

“There is… a person on the association side.”

“Association?! By any chance…is that…” Lin Jinseok asked, half-expecting the answer.

“Is it a woman?”

“Huh.”

“A world where only damn handsome men get ahead! Perish! Perish!”

However, the world didn’t perish, and Kang Shin-hyuk attended the first day of school the following morning.