287 – Flags (2)

As the anniversary slowly approaches, the Academy begins to get busier.

Of course, strangers coming in for the first time, the number of stores gradually increased in the square.

Perhaps that store will soon turn into a street restaurant. I’m curious how it tastes since it’s food from outside.

‘But a lot of people are coming.’

As it was the end of the year, there were many people leaving the academy, so the number of people coming in was also significant.

The collapse of the Academy would be better if there were fewer people, but with so many, it is difficult in many ways.

Moreover, there are very few believers in Gaia. This is an inevitable phenomenon since most priests flock to Byzantine.

The good news is that Rize has remained strong. It’s not so strong that it’s at a level where you can fight alone.

What I have to do now is check to see if the devil has come in. According to Rize, only those wearing navy blue or higher will be allowed in.

‘The highest possibility is the performance…’

According to the original story, the role of the ‘clown’ is to announce the official beginning.

Unlike a hunter, the modifier ‘clown’ may be a bit strange, but his words and actions are worthy of being called a clown.

The problem is that it is not a humorous clown, but a scary clown. You never know what you might do with a smile.

‘I can’t see anything in particular.’

Even when I looked around the podium where the upcoming performance would be held, there was nothing to see.

An official came up to me in the middle and asked what was going on, but I was able to brush it off by saying this.

“Participating in a performance. How do I do it?”

“Ah. You were a participant. Please write your name here. What sport will you be doing?”

“Dance.”

“If it’s dancing, you need music. Do you have any music in mind?”

“Um…”

I was surprised that it was more detailed than I expected. Moreover, there was too little time to do just the moonwalk.

So I added a song. I wanted to cry a little, but I had to do something dark to buy time.

After that, I roughly chose the music and then moved on to another place. Even in this busy time, there was someone working alone.

-Kang! Kyaang! Gang!

A workshop area far from the square. However, as the end of the year approaches, it is normal for the workshop area to be quiet.

But only from one place did the sound of hammering resonate widely. I walked to where I heard the sound of hammering.

As everyone expected, it is Jane’s workshop. Even as the end of the year approached, she did not return to her hometown and remained in the workshop.

‘My hometown might be more dangerous.’

Jane’s hometown and the country of science, Santia, is currently very unstable.

This does not mean that the crime rate among ordinary citizens is high, but that you never know when and where a bomb will explode due to the activities of the revolutionary army.

Of course, most of the times the revolutionary army commits terrorism is limited to high-ranking people, but there are also cases where the higher-ups take advantage of it.

Therefore, it is best not to go to Santia if possible. If you’re bored, a bomb explodes somewhere.

– Cheesy! Crackling!

As I entered Jane’s workshop without saying a word, a familiar figure caught my eye.

It looked like they were welding because instead of the sound of hammering, there was a flash of light. I waited quietly in the back.

Even though it was a bitterly cold winter, the workshop was quite hot. Because of this, Jane also appears to be half-clad in work clothes.

Underneath his work clothes, he was wearing a sweat-soaked T-shirt, and perhaps because of the sweat, his underwear lines were clearly visible.

“Whoa.”

It looks like the work is finished just in time. Jane sighed as she took off her welding mask.

She even wiped her forehead with her arms, as if she was sweating profusely. I know that it takes a lot of strength to be a blacksmith.

‘I’m slowly gaining muscle.’

Blacksmithing is absolutely impossible without strength and stamina. First of all, not only is it close to the fire, but it also consumes a lot of calories due to hammering.

No matter how genius Jane is, it would be useless against her physical strength. At least she has better stamina than Grace.

“Jane.”

“Huh? Oh! You’re here!”

Jane welcomed my call warmly. She threw away all the tools and came running.

Thanks to this, she was able to see her appearance up close. She’s sweating like she’s been working hard.

“What brought you here? Are you here to check?”

“Just watching.”

There is no particular reason for coming to look for Jane. She is literally just a sight to behold and a greeting.

I don’t know if she doesn’t have enough money to invest, but she doesn’t usually come to me first.

She likes to stay inside and rarely meets people.

Although Ellie takes care of her, she finds Jane uncomfortable. It is a typical example of Assa.

‘Thanks to this tendency, I avoid anger.’

Even as the academy collapses, Jane is caught in the middle of nowhere.

She was so focused on her own work that she had no idea what was going on outside.

Furthermore, what happened after everything was over? Until I asked. In fact, this might be better.

“Jane.”

“Yes.”

“Jane isn’t going to play on our anniversary?”

“Uh… I feel uncomfortable in that kind of position…”

Jane smiled awkwardly and answered my question. This is truly an introvert-like answer.

The type that is much more comfortable inside than outside. She had no intention of forcing it.

‘It looks like Ellie will be leading it, not me…’

Ellie declared that she would enjoy the festival with Jane.

She wouldn’t be of any help in the fight anyway, and if she got any signs of it, she’d run away with Jane.

Moreover, Porori will be by her side and protect her, so it might be better for her to stay with Ellie just in case.

‘Because the location of the workshop has changed.’

Jane’s old workshop was a facility that was embarrassing to even call a workshop. There is only the most important and nothing else.

It was located in the deepest part of the workshop area, but the environment is now better than that.

So, it means that monsters may raid Jane’s workshop. It is better to prevent this.

Above all, it is better to go with Ellie than to be alone.

“Let’s go outside.” Look around a little.”

“Yes? But…”

“Let’s go out and get some fresh air. The air is not good here.”

“I… I understand.”

Jane reluctantly agreed when she heard that the air was bad.

In fact, the atmosphere is not very good due to the sweltering heat and the aftereffects of welding.

It would be better to take Jane with her for both ventilation and ventilation. It’s for her health.

“Then I’ll take a quick shower.”

“Yes.”

Afterwards, Jane washed herself clean and came out of the workshop.

Jane’s clothes were just barely there, but even this felt shabby.

‘I heard that Ellie bought her clothes?’

Maybe you didn’t buy winter clothes yet? I asked with puzzlement.

“Clothes. “That’s all you have?”

“Yes?”

“What did Ellie buy you?”

“Oh, I haven’t worn that yet. I plan to wear it once a week.

“·······Why?”

“This is comfortable.”

How does it seem like all of Assa’s characteristics have been poured into it? Even if I bought her clothes, she only chose clothes that she was comfortable with.

Does that mean she ignores Ellie’s sincerity? That’s not it again. She will wear it only when she needs it.

“Besides, it’s a waste, isn’t it? I’m sorry she carelessly wears the clothes I bought her.”

“··· ···”

From the point of view of Hwaryong to the appearance of a miser. It really is a great combination.

Still, because of my good looks, I tend to look good no matter what I wear. In particular, Jane has a body that is good for her so-called clothes.

Ellie has limited clothes she can wear because her breasts are so big, but Jane is quite large, so it’s pretty good.

“Brother Sivar?”

“?”

By this time she and Jane were looking around the square. A familiar child’s voice reached my ears.

When she turned her head, a little boy with a mischievous look was looking up at me.

Maybe it’s because he cut his hair short, but he looks like a real-life version of Crayon Shin-chan.

“Dun?”

“What are you doing here? Why are you with this sister?”

It was Don, Marlboro’s son. Dawn asked another question.

It was momentarily unclear what to answer first, but I decided to answer the first question first.

“I was just watching.”

“Hello. Nice to meet you again.”

No matter how cute Jane is, she still finds children cute. She bowed her head with a happy smile.

Dawn looked at Jane blankly and then turned her head to me. Then she nodded and said something strange.

“I see. They’re like my mom and dad, right?”

“Hmm?”

“Then, do you have children? There is a woman next to you who is like a mother.”

“Uh…”

This is a slightly disconcerting way of thinking. At the same time, it is an extremely childish idea.

If a man and a woman are together, they should have children, a statement that is puzzling in many ways.

I blinked at that statement and then looked at Jane. She made eye contact with me, as if Jane was just as embarrassed.

“Well, well, well, what do you mean…?”

How embarrassed must he have been to stutter like that? Jane’s face also turned red in an instant.

Either way, Dawn just tilted her head as if it was strange. On the contrary, it is as if he himself does not understand.

“Isn’t that right? I heard that if there are two men and women, Mom and Dad, she will naturally have a baby?”

“··· ···”

“We were together last time, and we’re together this time too. Then, we’re mom and dad.”

It’s not that Marlboro taught Dawn wrong. It’s just the way children think.

Thanks to this, Jane became even more embarrassed and began to look at me. I’m secretly weak to this aspect.

Just as I was about to deny this, a funny prank suddenly occurred to me. I answered with a smile on my mind.

“Yes. It will happen soon.”

“Si, si, Sivar?!”

“Is that so? I guess I’m right.”

While Dawn was elated, Jane’s face turned as red as a tomato. Her flowing glasses represented her emotions.

It’s your first time dealing with this kind of prank, so you’re probably quite embarrassed. The feeling of hitting was not easy.

“Dawn! Where did you go again!”

“Oh. It’s dad.”

Then, Dawn’s father and academy professor, Marlboro, came to visit.

As soon as Marlboro faced me, huh? He made an expression and then smiled shyly.

“Ahaha. This is it. It was a Shiva student. Next to him…”

“Dad. Dad. That older brother is the dad, and that sister is the mom.”

“Oh, no. That’s…!”

Even before introductions, Dawn dropped a bombshell. Now Jane’s eyes began to roll.

I want to wave my hands and say something, but it seems difficult to do so. I’m not that good at speaking, so it has to be that way.

Moreover, Jane tends to put a lot of effort into dealing with people. She is probably on the verge of overload even now.

“······Ah. I roughly understand what you meant. If that’s what Dawn is like, then so be it.”

“Right?”

Fortunately, Marlboro was quick to notice. He responded appropriately.

I think I overlooked the introduction. Because his wife came up behind Marlboro.

While Marlboro had a rather harsh appearance, his wife looked healthy. I think I know where Dawn’s face she came from.

“Then, I hope both students can enjoy the festival well. Let’s go now.”

“Bye! Show me the baby next time!”

It was Dawn who dropped the bomb and left until the end. I suppressed a laugh and stared at their backs.

Marlboro and his wife were holding both of Dunn’s hands. Just by looking at it, it looks like a harmonious family.

There was a time like that when I was on Earth. It was so long ago that I don’t remember, but it was definitely there.

‘······I miss mom and dad too.’

Even as adults, we miss our parents’ embrace. A saint is someone who can endure that long.

But as I was forced to leave like this, the longing doubled and tormented me.

Is it really possible to go back? Even if I go back, will it still be the place I know?

I couldn’t help but worry about what kind of hardship my parents were going through when I disappeared.

“··· ···”

“··· ···”

There was no conversation between me and Jane. I only have eyes for the Marlboro family.

Then, she felt a strange current and turned her head, and at that moment Jane also turned her head.

It seems like this situation happens often, but maybe I’m mistaken. It’s a little different this time.

“······This is a really good family. You think so too, Sivar, right?”

“Yes.”

“I grew up with my grandfather without my parents… So I don’t know what that feeling is. I’m jealous.”

Jane’s parents were eliminated by Santia’s superiors. But she doesn’t know the truth.

If she had known the truth, Jane wouldn’t have been safe either. Her grandfather also knew that, so he raised her quietly.

I read the envy in Jane’s blue eyes and turned her head forward.

“Wow~”

Dawn was floating high in the sky, holding her parents’ hands. The parents on both sides held Dawn’s hands and pulled her up.

It was a scene that made me happy just to look at it, but at the same time it made me feel lonely. Why am I brought here and suffering like this?

“Shivar?”

“Huh?”

“Shivar, don’t you have parents too?”

What. Why are you suddenly making padding?

Jane’s question completely broke the warm atmosphere. I blinked at that question.

However, Jane had a very serious expression, as if she had no idea about the problem. So she was even more embarrassed.

“My parents are not here either. I know how you feel, Sivar.”

“··· ···”

“I don’t know if it’s okay to say this, but…”

Jane looked embarrassed, scratched her cheek with her finger and then held it out proudly.

The so-called handshake request. Jane rarely suggests first.

Just one thing. This is the story of when I gained Jane’s trust in her. For Jane, this kind of courage is nothing short of a token of trust.

“Let’s do well among those who don’t have any!”

“··· ···”

But the speaking style is still a sad one.

I blinked and then burst into laughter. Then, I grabbed Jane’s hand

Her hands were called from working as a blacksmith. Surprisingly, it was a very strong hand.

“Yes. Let’s do well.”

“Thank you!”

Jane answered vigorously.

[Faith rises!]