novelraw Chapter 64 : Chapter 64
Chapter 64 : Chapter 64
Chapter 64: Child
“Good. I’ll look forward to it.”
Edward accepted my last bluff with interest.
I survived for now.
It didn't mean I was completely free.
Behind the relief of having survived, a greater burden came crashing down.
The condition he left me with settled heavily on my shoulders.
His demand was that I must become a top-tier hero.
Furthermore, my life depended on proving that possibility.
If my performance is lacking or if he judges there is no hope as things are, he will immediately demand a ‘body swap.’
By then, there wouldn't even be room for excuses.
‘To think a drop in performance leads directly to my neck.’
Besides, I have to continue living as ‘Balzac’ from now on.
Even if I become strong enough to satisfy the standards those guys demand, I will still be in Bremen’s grasp.
‘Don’t make me laugh. Damn it.’
I have absolutely no intention of living my whole life with a leash on.
Ultimately, to survive completely, there is only one way.
I must become much stronger than Edward thinks. Faster. More overwhelmingly.
At least enough to handle one Edward with my own hands without anyone knowing.
Only then can I regain true freedom.
Strength filled the back of my neck.
Edward scanned my face for a moment, then smiled broadly.
There was no suspicion in that smile, but instead, it was full of curiosity.
Like a child who just received a new toy.
“Then let’s get going. You need to return to the Academy before it gets late.”
Checking the time, he slowly approached the table.
In front of the table was Representative Park Esther, who was still absorbed in work as if she couldn't see us.
Standing before her, he carefully began peeling something off.
“I will guide you personally.”
In his hand as he turned while speaking, a ‘skin’ as thin as a mask pack was held.
‘…….’
Beside him, Representative Park Esther’s figure was visible.
A hollow face.
With her eyes, nose, and mouth smoothly vanished, she had transformed into an appearance like an egg ghost.
Even so, the sound of steady breathing, like someone fast asleep, was flowing from her.
Edward covered his face with the ‘skin’ held in his hand, and soon his face transformed into the appearance of a middle-aged woman.
Following that, his body also shrank as if compressed, making a cracking sound—ttuduk.
It was an appearance that went beyond the level of simple disguise.
“Hmm, it’s frustrating when there’s a height difference, you know? I might change the representative to someone with a similar body type!”
Before I knew it, his tone and voice had also changed to Representative Park Esther’s.
‘……It’s a relief I have the Eye of Deception.’
I thought while glancing at the Mimic.
No matter how much the guy changed his appearance, the name [Edward] still floated in the Eye of Deception.
If I didn't have this eye, I might have had to live in endless anxiety, suspecting the identity of every person I meet.
“We shouldn’t stay too long! Miss Do Haru must be waiting, so let’s head out!”
Pointing at the door, she, no, Edward chattered brightly.
***
I followed Edward down to the second floor of the building.
Upon hearing that Do Haru and Author Yu Nara were chatting in the lounge, we headed straight there.
The lounge, befitting a company rest area, was permeated with a faint scent of coffee.
A few employees were typing on laptops or chatting, and freshly brewed coffee and plates of simple desserts were placed on their respective tables.
Sunlight entering through the large window warmly covered the floor.
Over there, by one side of the window.
Do Haru was sitting facing a woman with long purple hair and round glasses.
Do Haru chattering while waving her hands continuously as if excited.
The woman opposite was nodding and listening to Do Haru’s words with warm eyes, as if looking at a baby.
“I’m telling you, I really cried seeing the Grand Duke’s expression back then? The tears he shed upon realizing Ripley was alive…… Ah, wait a moment, some tissue please……. I think I’m going to cry again.”
“Ah! That scene! It comes to mind immediately. Since I put a lot of effort into drawing it. Fufu, thank you for viewing it favorably. Wait, Miss Haru, are you really crying?”
“Heuk, these are the Grand Duke’s tears flowing from my eyes…….”
……It’s a total mess.
I knew Do Haru was addicted to SNS and addicted to manhwa, but was it to that extent?
“Ahem.”
Edward, wearing the mask of Representative Park Esther, deliberately let out a loud dry cough and approached.
“Ah, Representative, you were here? It’s been a while.”
The woman handing a tissue to Do Haru raised her head welcomingly.
“Oh my, who is the boy next to you?”
Her gaze turned towards me.
“You know Team Leader Ryu Jeongyeol, right? This is his nephew. Since he lives with his uncle, he used to visit the company often to play. Thanks to that, we became close. Hoho.”
Edward continued the lie nonchalantly.
The voice and attitude were the representative herself.
Of course, Do Haru wouldn't know what kind of person the representative is, so it might not matter.
“Gasp, Representative? Hello! I am Do Haru! I’m a fan of Author Yu Nara! And Jinwoo’s friend!”
Do Haru shot up and bowed her head 90 degrees to Edward.
The polite folder bow was energetic, but the tear stains still smudged on her face were a bit embarrassing even watching from the side.
Anyway, that’s how the strange combination was formed.
With three women gathered, chatter naturally began. One was actually a man, though.
The problem was that the situation was eternally uncomfortable for me.
If asked if it’s because I’m the ‘only’ man, that is also true.
But the real problem was separate.
[Ju Ara]
[Gladness, Interest, Joy]
Author Yu Nara’s status window.
The word ‘Suggestion’ was not attached there.
Furthermore, the name was also ‘Ju Ara.’
It was a familiar name.
‘……Was a Bremen member doing the author job personally?’
Impressive if impressive.
And astounding.
At that moment, our eyes met.
Ju Ara slyly raised the corners of her lips and secretly sent a wink.
‘…….’
I tried hard to avoid her gaze and looked toward Do Haru.
Do Haru was still chattering with an excited voice, bursting into exclamations at Ju Ara’s every gesture and every single word.
Watching that sight gave me a strange feeling.
She was completely deceived.
Without knowing that the guys in front of her were villains.
I couldn't blame Do Haru.
Because these guys’ camouflage was too perfect.
“Hey kids, it’s time to go back.”
A familiar voice was heard from behind.
Turning my head, my uncle, Jack, was standing there.
“I’ll take you back, come out.”
“Eh? Already? I want to stay a bit longer…….”
“Tsk, the author is busy too. Is chatting for a whole hour not enough for you? Come again next time or something.”
Jack looked at Do Haru with a genuinely fed-up expression.
Do Haru didn't hide her regretful expression and bid farewell to Ju Ara.
“Author, you must stay healthy. But you know hiatus is a no-no, right? I’ll die.”
You’ll really die if you keep that up.
Suppressing the words I wanted to say to Do Haru, I shook my head inwardly.
“Pfft—Thinking of Miss Haru, I should try harder, right? You said you were Jinwoo-gun? Please continue to get along well with Miss Haru.”
Ju Ara looked my way and spoke insinuatingly.
Her meaningfully smiling gaze caught my eye for a moment.
Whether that smile was simple kindness or implied some intention, I couldn't know yet.
After wrapping things up and on the way out of the company building, Do Haru spoke first.
“Everyone was such a good person. That’s a relief. Right?”
“What’s a relief?”
“Just thinking that you’ve been doing reasonably well. Your uncle is a good person, and the representative seems to take good care of you. Anyway, thanks! Thanks to you, I even saw Author Yu Nara and fulfilled a wish.”
Do Haru giggled while fiddling with the signed volume.
‘Good people…….’
On the surface, it would look like that.
The problem is that I, who know their identities, cannot agree.
Normally, they are crazy bastards one shouldn't associate with.
Still, I shouldn't show signs of anything strange.
I shrugged my shoulders and started walking first.
“Uh-uh? Jinwoo is embarrassed?”
Do Haru teased playfully and stuck close.
While half-heartedly chiming in with her continuing chatter afterwards, I thought.
‘With this, it’s confirmed that Bremen is watching me.’
My gaze touched the Beetle Comics signboard.
Those guys will probably try to keep monitoring me in some way.
While gauging whether I can really become a ‘top-tier hero’ with this body.
Treating Do Haru well and establishing a connection must be part of that too.
‘Surely, they won’t go as far as entering Zero Academy directly, right?’
I shook my head at the sudden thought.
Zero’s security system isn’t that lax either. Surely not that.
It must not be.
***
One floor of an abandoned building.
Wallpaper was half torn off, and dust fluttered as wind seeped through cracks in broken windows.
Signs of neglect from a long time ago were evident on the dirty floor, but there were strange elements nevertheless.
A solid wood table and high-end chairs placed in the middle of the room.
“That kid named Haru, she was quite a cute child.”
In that scenery, a woman with purple hair spoke with a smile on her lips.
“Liking my manhwa that much too. Fufu, I want to see her often.”
Unlike when she was Author Yu Nara, Ju Ara stroked her cheek with her glasses off and hair let down.
Jack’s brows narrowed at her words.
“Tsk, squealing so loud I thought my ears would tear.”
“Pfft—At first you called her ‘Miss Haru,’ but after thirty minutes you called her ‘kid,’ right?”
“I hate noisy punks.”
When Ju Ara scolded him, Jack wrinkled his nose.
“How did everyone see Balzac?”
Edward asked as if organizing the conversation.
“That guy is the same. An unlucky and arrogant bastard.”
“He looked good? New face, handsome as expected. Should I use it as a reference and put it in the manhwa?”
Jack’s expression distorted as if just thinking about it was unpleasant.
Conversely, Ju Ara brightened as if just thinking about it was enjoyable.
Jack glared at Ju Ara with a look of disbelief, then opened his mouth towards Edward.
“What happened with the talk with that guy? The talk about switching bodies.”
“Well.”
At Jack’s casually thrown question, Edward slowly raised the corners of his lips.
“Not yet. He said he can become a top-tier hero with that body. He flatly refused the suggestion to change bodies early.”
“Tsk, that lump of bluff must have spouted some impossible bluff again.”
“Hmm, that might be so.”
While responding to Jack’s words, Edward didn't erase the interest dwelling in his eyes.
He scanned the two people in front of him alternately and spoke again.
“Still, isn’t there fun in watching? Let’s trust Mr. Balzac for once. If it turns out not to work, it won’t be too late to find an alternative then.”
It was when Edward put his hands together and spoke calmly.
Wooguguguk—
The broken debris on the floor rattled and vibrated.
Dust and cobwebs stuck in the wall cracks swirled and fluttered, and the temperature in the room slowly dropped.
Pressure pushed in from all sides as if an invisible hand was pressing down on the entire room.
Chair legs were pushed back making screeching sounds—kkiik—and glasses placed on the table rattled before shattering one by one—peoseok.
The gazes of the three people headed to the entrance simultaneously.
Jack immediately brought his hand to his sword, and Ju Ara gathered magic power in the air, revealing sharp eyes.
Only Edward fixed his gaze quietly, still wearing a calm smile.
Beyond the crumbled doorway.
Someone was standing there.
“Is it Ai?”
Edward’s low voice resonated in the room.
Soon, she revealed herself.
Light sky-blue hair coming down to her waist.
Distinct anger was dwelling on her innocent-looking face.
“Why, did you call, Balzac, when I wasn't here?”
Ai’s surroundings distorted like waves.
Space undulated and the air was pressed down heavily.
“Tsk, it was just because it was an unscheduled visit. If you have a problem, you should have been at the company…….”
The moment Jack tried to retort.
“Jack, don’t speak! Noisy!”
Ai’s voice rang out sharply.
Simultaneously, Jack’s mouth hardened.
It rattled as if trying to open by force, but not a shred of sound leaked from his mouth.
“……!”
With eyes full of rage, Jack drew his sword.
The sound of soles kicking the floor strongly rang out as if to pay back the humiliation.
Swish-!
His body rushed straight toward Ai like an arrow.
Erasing the distance in front of his eyes in an instant, the sword tip flashed.
Hwaaek-!
Reacting to that, Ai’s hand swiped the empty air.
At that moment, the empty air next to Jack distorted, and Jack’s body, which was running in a straight line, was bounced roughly to the side.
As if hit directly by a huge and heavy object.
Kwagwagwang-!
The wall exploded out and debris flew everywhere.
Jack’s body was buried deep inside the dust cloud.
Red blood flowed down his jawline starting from his forehead.
However, that mark didn't last long.
His skin squirmed and the split wound was repaired in an instant.
Teoeop-
Jack, recovering his posture immediately, gripped his sword and ran straight toward Ai again.
Kwaduek- Kwaduedeuk-
Jack’s footsteps charging while heavily crushing the floor.
His figure reached right in front of Ai’s eyes in an instant.
At the moment the sword tip extended toward Ai’s mouth.
“Preparations are almost finished.”
Edward’s voice rang low.
Ttuk—
As if time stopped, Jack’s body and Ai’s body froze simultaneously.
Ai turned her gaze to Edward while biting the tip of Jack’s sword in her mouth.
The pressure that was pressing down the air gradually began to subside, and when Ai flicked her fingertip.
“Phew- This damn brat…….”
Jack’s frozen mouth loosened and a groan mixed with anger flowed out.
Gripping the blood-stained sword, his eyes were still murderous.
He slowly sheathed his sword and looked down at Ai intimidatingly.
“If you do that one more time, I’ll cut off your head.”
“You can’t even do it. Idiot!”
Hehe- A bright laugh.
The overwhelming feeling from just a moment ago was nowhere to be found, and Ai had switched to an innocent attitude.
She passed Jack just like that and trotted up to Edward.
Cupping her cheeks with both hands, she burst out in an excited voice.
“Really? Edward? When can I go? When?”
“Just about ten nights of sleep. At the latest, within twenty nights.”
When Edward answered with a broad smile, Ai puffed up her cheeks.
“Eeh! Too much time left! Edward is a liar!”
Stamping her feet, her appearance was no different from girls her age.
“Fufu, that way you calm down. But you’re okay now, right?”
“Yeah, I’ll forgive you for today! Can’t wait!”
Edward quietly stroking Ai’s head and Ai all excited as if waiting for Santa.
Watching that scene, Jack clicked his tongue.
It seemed like the word ‘disgusting’ was faintly heard.