Chapter 213 – The Moment of Tilting the Glass (2)

“What kind of place is this?”

I gazed at the mansion’s entrance from a distance.

A massive outer wall, intricately woven with various spells.
I spread my mana to examine the surroundings.

“Wow.”

I couldn’t help but marvel at the sight.

If the traces of artifacts appeared as red dots, the entire area around the mansion was awash in red.

Each one was a first-rate spell, crafted with advanced techniques.
Hired hunters were continuously patrolling the perimeter.

‘It seems difficult to sneak in.’

Breaking through the security system, devised by hundreds of wizards working together, seemed near impossible.

Yet, I couldn’t just walk in and claim to be Sansuyu’s friend, hoping that a mere glance at my face would suffice.
I circled the mansion’s outer wall, searching for any vulnerabilities.

“Magic interference is impossible, so even if I memorize the coordinates, I can’t use spatial magic.”

I walk along, carefully examining the wall.

Will it be a problem if I get caught? I’ve put a mask on my face just in case.

After scrutinizing for a while, I find a faint crack in one corner of the wall.

“A hole?”

An empty circle.

*Swish.*

The wall crumbles as I rub it with my hand. When I let go, the wall slowly regenerates.

The magical treatment in this part of the wall is sloppy. I make sure no one is around, then follow the circle to break down the wall.

*Thump!*

The wall shatters like sand, as if cracking a cookie, and soon a rather sizable hole is revealed.

A crevice large enough for a 15-year-old child to fit through. With a little more effort, it might accommodate an adult’s body.

“Handy.”

It seems to be the perfect hole for that person to enter.

It truly seemed like the right choice. Seong Ji-ho had mentioned that Champi would appear suddenly in a place with neither bottom nor end. They must have secured a means to sneak into the mansion.

With magic energy encircling my hand, I gently expanded the hole. As it was a technique that revealed a weakness only once, the process of widening the hole was not too difficult.

I gazed inside the hole from the outside.

The rear of the mansion – a secluded area. Upon infiltrating the mansion through the hole, it seemed as if the intrusion route was visible at first glance.

‘Sansuyu’s room.’

The third floor, in the far-right chamber.

Was it necessary to risk my life like this just to catch her off guard? I climbed the wall, doing my best to suppress any noise.

*Knock, knock, knock.*

I tapped on the window three times.

I wedged my fingers into the gap between the windowpanes, holding on using only my muscle strength. Simultaneously, I removed the mask with my other hand and tucked it under my arm.

The full moon illuminated the night sky, with clouds scattered moderately throughout.

Like a thief infiltrating a lavish mansion, I clung to the wall, cautiously surveying my surroundings. Just then, the wind blew, causing my hair to flutter.

*Swoosh!*

As the window opened, her golden-yellow hair danced in the breeze. Sansuyu, clad in a translucent silk nightgown, placed her hands on the window and her chest, cautiously gazing at me.

The bright dawn.

“Ah.”

Sansuyu’s crystalline eyes shimmered, ensconced in the moonlight. Her once sickly skin had lost its vitality, appearing even paler than before.

“Sieon–”

I covered Sansuyu’s mouth and entered the room.

First, I closed the window.

“Is anyone out there?”

Sansuyu shook her head as she whispered softly. I had thought there might be guards outside the door, but it seemed she wasn’t under such heavy protection.

My hand, which had covered Sansuyu’s mouth, felt damp. As I pulled it away, she coughed.

*Cough, cough.*

I adjusted my position and helped Cornus sit up on the bed. I placed the alcohol and snacks I had bought just in case under the bed, then laid my hand on Cornus’s forehead, which appeared flushed.

Her forehead was cold.

“What are you thinking, trying to drink in this condition?”

Upon scolding her, Cornus snorted and looked at me through half-lidded eyes, seemingly drowsy. It didn’t feel good knowing she couldn’t say anything even if she was in pain.

What could be wrong with her? Still, trying to drink in her current state seemed unreasonable.

“How… *cough*… did you get here?” she asked.
“Is now really the time for that question? Are you in a lot of pain?”

Cornus glanced at her own body with a vacant expression and furrowed her brow. She seemed disoriented.

Even breathing appeared to be difficult for her. Her chest heaved irregularly, and her eyes lacked focus. Sweat trickled down, soaking her pajamas and clinging to her skin in various places.

The areas exposed without even wearing underwear.

Given the situation, my gaze did not linger there.

“Close your eyes.”
“Okay.”

I activated the healing power in my hand and spoke to Sansuyu. She obediently closed her eyes without a word. I placed my hand on her forehead.

– Ugh!

The power seeped out through my palm.

– Soowook!

‘What?’

And it did so rapidly.

It felt as if I were holding her soul with both hands and pulling it toward me. In the blink of an eye, the green energy was absorbed into Sansuyu’s body.

Despite being a power that had grown by healing my body countless times in Dowon, Sansuyu’s physical condition was still a mess.

– Flash.

Sansuyu’s eyes, which had been closed, suddenly flicked open.

“?”

Looking at her own hands, she touched various parts of her body with a puzzled expression. A faint color had returned to her face.

“Sian, what did you do?”

On the other hand, my body was slumped as if someone had cast a spell on it.

‘So, there are side effects like this when I suddenly expend my power.’

“No, it doesn’t hurt… it’s not painful.”

Still, seeing Sansuyu’s surprised expression made me feel good.

“Are you okay?”

Sansuyu pressed her palms to her cheeks and blinked her eyes like Pikachu.

“Did Siwon do this?”
“Yes. I’m exhausted.”
“…Incredible.”

Indeed, it was remarkable.

With that level of power, one could even save people on the brink of death. Despite receiving that power, it was odd that Sansuyu’s condition remained so poor.

I reached out and touched Sansuyu’s forehead. Sansuyu, slightly squinting her right eye, did not reject my touch.

Her forehead was still cold.

“Let’s just sleep for today. It’s not the best time for drinking.”

I patted the sweat-soaked blanket. Each time my hand made contact with it, the fragrant scent of flowers filled the air.

However, Cornus seemed to catch another scent before that. Even though her body wasn’t fully healed, her eyes sparkled as if possessed.

“The smell of tteokbokki.”
“Hey… later.”
“Do you want to drink?”
“Is it alright to drink?”

It was still an experiment…

I was about to say that, but I closed my mouth halfway and exhaled a bitter breath.

Cornus had already taken out a bottle of alcohol and tteokbokki, rustling a plastic bag. The sight of her holding the tteokbokki was like a child welcoming a father who brought home fried chicken for dinner.

“No, you can’t.”

When I snatched the tteokbokki from Cornus’s hand, the excitement on her face vanished in an instant. Her downcast face looked adorable.

I lowered my hand from her forehead and pulled her cheek, stretching it like a glutinous rice cake.

– Thud.

“You touched my cheek again…”

Cornus, who slapped my hand away, touched her stretched cheek. Her face was sullen.

“Hehehe. Let’s finish everything and then drink.”

“After that? What?”
“Well, what do you think?”

I gathered a plastic bag, removed only the tteokbokki, and placed the alcohol back inside the bag.
Leaving Sansuyu seated on the bed, I climbed up to the window.

“If you’re in pain, send a message right away. And Sansuyu, tell me if anything happens.”
“Anything?”
“Uh… Wait. If there’s anything strange or bothersome, consult with me.”
“Is that necessary?”
“Absolutely necessary.”

Seong Ji-ho would contact me in advance if anything happened, but it was faster to hear from Sansuyu first.

“Understood?”
“…Understood.”

When tipping the glass.
I hope she arrives soon.

It’s not like I can encourage her to drink just because I want to.
Now that the drug experiment was in full swing, I didn’t know what effect alcohol would have.

“Sian is strange.”

However, the child’s personality hasn’t changed so far.
That alone is a positive aspect.

Before I threw myself under the window, I told Suyu.

“See you tomorrow, then.”

Sansuyu blinked and nodded without any change in her expression.

“Yes.”

* * * * * * * * *

“Lady.”

Sung Ji-ho bowed his head and whispered in young Sansuyu’s ear.

“Lady?”

Her eyes lit up with a flash when called twice. She got up from her seat and rubbed her eyes, not showing any hint of complaint on her child-like face.

“…Is the secretary here?”

A voice permeated with bright emotions escaped her lips. She was dressed in angelic white pajamas, her hands and feet delicate and lovely.

“You must slowly get up.”

“Today… I slept in strangely. I’ll be ready in a minute.”

Sansuyu rose from her seat, and as Seong Ji-ho left the room, she washed up and changed into her neatly arranged, difficult-to-wear clothes. Facing a mirror, she placed a hand on her neck and practiced her vocalization.

“Ah, ah! Ah! Ah~ Very well. That’s enough.”

After strapping a child-sized sword to her waist and loosening her throat, she opened the door.

“Let’s go for a meal, Miss.”
“Good morning.”

Seong Ji-ho followed behind her, and Sansuyu walked gracefully towards the dining hall, taking one dignified step at a time with her old-fashioned gait.

Despite the considerable distance, not a trace of unsteadiness could be seen in her steps. Her golden hair swayed with each stride.

Every two paces, pots and jars were placed, engraved with bright yellow flowers that seemed to symbolize her name. Everyone who passed Sansuyu bowed their heads in her presence.

Regal and poised, her distinct presence shone through even in the bustling crowd. A golden radiance that drew others in.

– Clip-clop, clip-clop.

With every single step.

The vibrations in the room resonate loudly amidst the silence.

Standing before the restaurant with her shoulders spread wide, the secretary swung the door open for her.

– Screech.

“Hello, Father.”
“Yes.”

San Hyuk-won was immersed in his meal with a stern expression on his face. His wife had been out of the picture for a long time.

Sansuyu took a seat next to her other cousins, maintaining a composed posture.

The dish before her…

“…?”

A white lump soaked in a bright red broth. The dish was filled with square fish cakes, and cheese adorned the top like a grand finale.

Sansuyu’s eyes fluttered.

– Slurp.

As she speared a piece of rice cake with her fork and put it in her mouth, her body reacted.

– Chewy.

It was an irresistible taste.

– Slurp, slurp.

Spicy and savory.

– Chewy, chewy.

Words that didn’t even exist in reality surfaced in her mind.

“I… Miss.”

Seong Ji-ho, seemingly flustered, spoke to Sansuyu. His words were inaudible. Sansuyu silently concentrated on the tteokbokki.

Tteokbokki. Tteokbokki… The abundance of my life. The dizzying spiciness makes me realize I’m alive.

“Miss?”
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“Miss.”

– Flash.

Sansuyu, who opened her eyes, blinked in a daze.

“…Tteokbokki.”
“Yes? Tteokbokki?”

Sansuyu rose from her seat with sweat on her face. Her face was swollen, and she caressed her cheeks, which were much softer than before.

What kind of dream was this? It seems like it reminded me of something from a long time ago.

Everything was buried in the tteokbokki.

“…Miho?”
“It’s Jiho.”
“Shiho.”
“It’s Jiho.”

The tteokbokki scent grazed the tip of her nose. Sansuyu turned her head and chased the scent.

An empty bowl of tteokbokki was placed on the table.

“…Miss, didn’t I tell you not to eat late-night snacks? You’re already not feeling well.”

With sleepy eyes, as Sansuyu recalled the events of yesterday, Lee Si-heon’s face was distinctly etched in her mind. Her body felt lighter than before. It used to be difficult even to move.

Seong Ji-ho looked at Sansuyu with a puzzled expression and sighed inwardly.

“Anyway, get ready.”
“…Huh?”

Forest Keeper Selection.

“You must go now.”

Today was the day.