Chapter 348 – Episode 348 – [Ending] Me and the Girls’ Final Return

* Episode 348 – [Ending] Me and them’s final return

And as time passed, the holiday came.

Soyeon borrowed a van and took us outside, wondering where she got it from.

‘I heard that it’s good to have an adult around because it expands the range of activities.’

I looked out the window.

A cool breeze enveloped us as we crossed the city and took the highway.

I’m not really going there to have fun.

I think a picnic would be nice in this weather, but our purpose is different.

“Um, Mr. Changgi? Is this the way? I’m completely new to this road, so I might take a few turns…”

“Turn right after passing the traffic light.”

“Yes…”

Although Soyeon was a bit anxious, she drove surprisingly cleanly.

Our vehicle entered a neighborhood where there was something once called the Silver Tower.

“Look at the gloomy atmosphere. Was there a place like this in Korea?”

“No matter how you look at it, it’s a slum.”

Everyone looked outside together.

The house didn’t collapse or anything, but the overall atmosphere here was somewhat chaotic.

-Where the damaged ceiling is covered with a blue sheet

-There are several layers of tape attached to the window in the shape of an X.

-A place where blankets were nailed to the outside of the window to prevent anyone from looking inside.

It hadn’t been long since I entered the neighborhood, but there were several police cars driving around.

Moreover, the convenience store we just passed by was still open for business even though all the windows were broken.

“It must be the effect of us defeating Freya.”

A white and silver tower was visible, not too close to Ian’s point, but not too far away.

The tower, which should have been shining silver, has now lost its power and is stained a dull gray color.

“From what I heard, a slum was formed from there. The current situation is that low-quality criminals have become hunters and are hiding out there.”

“I don’t want to go to prison, so I’m going to take refuge in the lawless tower?”

“Yes. There are even criminals who have learned to be Aurors because they don’t want to go to prison. It has become a ghetto in Korea. Recently, I heard that the country is having trouble because of this and that they are even preparing to send in the military.”

“Is the silver tower that once held even the World Tree now a den of scoundrels? It’s funny…”

“This is not the time to laugh. This neighborhood is where not only Jihyun, but also my mother and I once lived. Although we have moved now, maybe Jihyun and hers have been influenced in some way.”

When I was still a [Knight of Pure Love], I arrived at Jihyeon’s house just once.

She tried to return the child to her home, but failed and left her child at the police station.

I arrived at this place while tracing back memories, but no matter how I looked at it, it was not the neat neighborhood I remembered.

‘This must be the right place.’

Although the memory was clear, the gap with reality was extreme, so I was confused.

“Is it really this way? It feels like I’m going round and round in the same place…?”

“This is where I came from earlier.”

After going around the same place, I finally remembered the route and arrived at my destination.

We got off in front of a house and looked around blankly.

At first glance, it was an ordinary neighborhood, but it was truly bizarre to see almost no signs of people even though it was a holiday.

“Is it here?”

“Yes. Definitely this time.”

There was also a police station on the way.

This is the place where Jihyun’s house burned down, and the child left her body.

Fortunately, this time the house didn’t burn down or something, so the foundation remains intact.

“It’s normal. I thought it might be a bit more special since it’s where Jihyeon lives.”

“He was an ordinary student before something like that happened.”

It is a two-story house with red bricks and a blue roof that is commonly seen in Korea.

Most of the houses in this neighborhood looked like this, and beyond the dark, rusty walls, there were traces of dogs being raised.

‘It’s just an empty doghouse.’

I glanced at Seongyeon just in case.

Then she rang the bell and shouted loudly to our wise wife.

“Knock! Is there anyone~!?”

If you listen closely, you can hear the sound of the bell that Seongyeon had pressed to respond.

The bell at the entrance is operating normally.

…

…

…

But no one came out.

The dog house is empty, and it looks like no one is living there.

“Hey~~~!! Is there anyone there~~~!!!”

Seongyeon cried out loudly once again, but as expected, there was no answer.

Have you really moved?

Just in case, I turned off the car and looked around the house, and then I felt someone there.

“?”

For a moment I thought it might be Jihyun.

“Who are you?”

“What are you doing there!?”

A woman she had never seen appeared right next door to her.

A standard old lady with frizzy hair and heavy makeup who respawns no matter what neighborhood she goes to.

The woman was about to pick up her cell phone and dial 112, wondering what was going on in the neighborhood.

“Uh… “They’re kids, right?”

Fortunately, that sharp energy disappeared when they saw us.

Her hand stopped when she was about to call the police, and she approached me cautiously, putting her cell phone in her arms.

Soyeon was the only adult here, and she seemed harmless to me.

“Why are these young children in a place like this…?” ?」

「And what about you!?」

“Huh? Me, me?”

“Yes you! Are there any other adults here besides you and me?”

“What are you doing in a place like this with kids!?”

Apparently, this lady seemed worried about us.

However, So-yeon, who was the target of her anger, was weak and embarrassed by her person’s malice, so I stepped forward on her behalf.

“Oh, wait a minute, ma’am. Don’t be too angry. We came to find our friend.”

「Friend?」

「What, the kid who lived here?」

“Yes. I’m sure there must have been a girl named Jihyun living here… Do you know anything?”

When I clearly mentioned Jihyun’s name, even the slightest remaining wariness disappeared.

The lady stopped being angry at So-yeon, observed her surroundings, and hid in the shadows where her car was standing.

“Guys. It looks like you don’t know what you’re doing right now. This neighborhood is a scary place.”

“Naughty men are walking around naked in broad daylight.”

“Now, all the people here will be moving out.”

Perhaps because I got to know them as friends who came to this place, their tone of voice became much kinder.

When he speaks positively, it is in a tone that persuades you to leave this place quickly.

“Do you have any idea where they moved to?”

“I’m sorry, but she’s not that close with her next door neighbor.”

“From what I heard, there was an uproar once because the kid went missing or something?”

“I don’t know how you came all the way here looking for him, but let’s get in the car and go back quickly.”

「Hurry, hurry~!」

“Ah… Yes…”

“I understand…”

Is this neighborhood more dangerous than we imagined?

The lady almost pushed us into her van and was relieved when Soyeon started the car again.

“Let’s quickly pack up the kids and leave.”

“When I leave here, I avoid the police station over there as much as possible.”

“Run all the way and only go to places where there are a lot of people.”

“N-Yes…”

Then he motioned for us to quickly roll up the window and let us go.

Soyeon couldn’t overcome her motherly spirit and stepped on the accelerator, and she watched us leave.

Now that we’ve confirmed that Jihyun isn’t here, there’s no reason to stay any longer…

“… Isn’t this going to mean the military will be moving soon?”

“Wow. A civil war might really break out…!?”

“If you think about it, we haven’t even done a hunter qualification test yet in this episode, right?”

“That’s right… It was originally supposed to be done all at once at school. The delay may have something to do with that situation.”

As I realized how much worse the security situation had become near Silver Tower, I remembered what the lady had just said.

“You said you were missing?”

“Yeah. I heard that too.”

“Could it be that he has a transfer skill again?”

At those words, everyone’s eyes turned to me.

Of course, I responded to that gaze and contacted the goddesses who were looking at me right now.

Then.

〈 Mother Owl Goddess of Wisdom 〉

[If it is a skill given by Loki, of course I have it in this episode as well]

‘Why did you leave it alone?’

〈Goddess of the Shadow Land〉

[Because Loki’s transfer skill is also the child’s favorite skill]

[I thought it was a bit unfair to take it without saying anything]

〈Mosin of Winter Medical School〉

[Because both the damn witch mother and daughter are maintaining Freya’s skills]

[Unless Loki deliberately retrieves it, it will remain?]

‘Why didn’t you tell me?’

〈Goddess of Destiny 3 (right)〉

[We obviously said we would help you]

[That only applies when your women’s lives are in danger or in an emergency situation.]

〈Fate 3 Goddess(S)〉

[The story you are making is 〈 ending 〉, right?]

[Because it would be unfashionable for us to intervene, we will refrain from interfering as much as possible!]

Since he guides Nayami’s destiny and helps her with various things behind the scenes, I’ll pass on this part, right?

“… What are you saying?”

“They say the transfer skill remains the same. And since you’ve helped me a lot so far, you want me to take care of these little details.”

“It means don’t rely too much on yourself.”

I think it’s dependent and naive, and they just want to observe our situation…

But I can’t be angry because it’s true that it helped me in one way or another.

“What should we do now? If the trace is lost here, we have no way of finding it.”

I shook my head at Ceres’ words.

“You don’t have to worry too much. It might be funny to say this, but… I have a feeling that even if we stay like this, we will meet again someday.”

“Yes?”

「「「「?」」」」

Everyone tilted their heads, starting with her.

It seems like no one understood what I was saying.

“Even if you stay still, we will meet. Aren’t you being too optimistic?”

“That’s right! What if I get caught up in a dangerous incident!?”

I shook my head again.

“You saw Nayami. No matter what happens, the gods are watching over you. If Jihyun becomes dangerous, the goddesses will be the first to mention it. And… Maybe…”

If Jihyun really has the transfer skill, she must have gone through ‘some event’.

Then, through that, you can be reunited with me at any moment.

Then just wait until then.

“Let’s think of it as going out for some fresh air today.”

I took out my cell phone and waited for a call from [Louisa], Just in case.

I thought she might call to tell me something like she did with Yami, but she didn’t contact me.

Well, after concluding that it wasn’t time to meet Jihyun yet, my colleagues and I returned to our daily lives.