Returnee's S-Rank Management Guide

Chapter 124 : The Values of the Era (4)

The Values of the Era (4)

'Odyssey, huh.'

To be honest, I hadn't even thought about it.

Odyssey was a special event held once every three years, where S-rank Awakeners from around the world gathered in one place.

It was the greatest festival and a stage for competition for the Awakeners.

Because of this, in some countries, refusal to participate was common.

If the difference in level between S-rank Awakeners became apparent, it could bring shame upon a nation's prestige.

Losing in Odyssey was not the same as simply losing in a sporting match.

Since S-rank Awakeners essentially represented a country's top fighting force, losing there meant...

'Korea has participated in Odyssey five times so far.'

The most recent participation was ten years ago, during the prime of the Divine Sword, Jung Yoo-shin.

At that time, Korea had a total of three S-rank hunters, including Hunter Jung Yoo-shin, which was the largest number in its history.

So, they joined Odyssey with confidence, but the results were truly disastrous.

Except for Hunter Jung Yoo-shin, they did not achieve a single win, and even Hunter Jung Yoo-shin himself suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of a British S-rank Hunter.

Just three victories.

Shocked by the disastrous report card from Odyssey, Korea has not participated in Odyssey even once since then.

"Odyssey... But don't you think it's worth giving it a try this time?"

When I shared what Eugene had said, PD Jung Jun-su seemed quite intrigued.

From the PD's perspective, it was certainly an appealing morsel.

"There are currently six S-rank hunters in Korea—all-time high, isn't it?"

"That's right. I do think this is a good opportunity as well."

The problem was, just because I wanted to participate didn't mean I could.

If the government told me not to, it was impossible.

'Should I try talking to Chairman Song about it?'

No matter how powerful Tae-yeong Group was, I wondered just how much influence they really had.

'If that doesn't work...'

If I could sway public opinion in that direction, maybe it could be possible.

Like PD Jung said, the current number of Awakeners in Korea was at its historic peak.

"What were you two talking about?"

While I was lost in thought, Alencia returned.

It looked as if she had finally managed to shake off the persistent Leon.

"Oh, nothing. We were just talking about Odyssey. Did you finish saying goodbye to Leon?"

"Yeah, he told me not to go, but when I said that sticking around here would only make things more tiresome, he let me go."

Just as Alencia said, if she stayed in the US, she'd undoubtedly be hounded by paparazzi for a while.

The guilds and agencies who had witnessed her power would all be vying for her, and who knew what they might try in the process.

No matter how much Enoch held on to Alencia, there were limits.

No matter how strong the authority of a nation was, they could not restrain S-ranks.

"Oh, right..."

While explaining how her parting with Leon went, Alencia suddenly hesitated and glanced at me, gauging my reaction.

"So, from now on, what should I call you? I'll be part of Unique from now on, after all."

"Pardon? Well, you can call me whatever you're comfortable with. Didn't you just call me by my name before?"

Wondering why she was suddenly worried about titles, I asked, and Alencia averted her gaze with a slightly guilty look.

At the end of her gaze stood Yeon-ji, wearing a distinctly sulky expression.

"Yeon-ji said that if I call you that in Korea, people might see it as strange."

"Hm."

I honestly didn't care anymore, but I could see that it might look odd.

Besides, since we'd be living together from now on, being too informal wouldn't be good.

"Do you have another title you had in mind?"

"Nope? I was just thinking of calling you Manager Park-nim. Is that not okay?"

"That's probably the safest choice."

Luckily, she'd picked a perfectly normal title this time.

As I nodded in relief, Alencia drew close to me with a strange smile.

"Or would you prefer another title since I'm older? Like 'oppa'. I saw in a Korean drama that it's common."

"Please, just call me Manager Park-nim. If there's an unnecessary misunderstanding, it'd be troubling."

One person calling me that, Shin Ah-yeon, was more than enough.

If more started, others would certainly find it odd.

"Geez, what's that about?"

Alencia laughed, showing her white teeth at my response.

As I quietly watched her, I suddenly remembered something I needed to give her.

"Oh, Alencia."

"Yeah, what is it?"

"Do you realize that today marks exactly one month since we met?"

A month filled with many events, starting from when we first met at Minerva.

Today, having completed our shoot successfully and returning to Korea, marked exactly one month since I met Alencia.

"Really? I didn't notice."

To Alencia, who was giving me a look asking why I was bringing this up, I grinned and took out a small, square object.

"It's your S-rank certificate."

"... What?"

"I promised, didn't I? That I'd make you S-rank within a month."

Honestly, it was touch and go.

Getting an S-rank license in the US required a much more complicated process than in Korea.

Especially for someone with powers as irregular as Alencia's.

Fortunately, since so many witnessed Alencia's power and Eugene Garland vouched for her, it was possible.

Originally, Alencia was supposed to receive the certificate herself, but as there was no time, just a while ago Eugene delivered it to me personally.

Eugene hadn't just come by earlier to say goodbye, but to hand this over.

"Now you're truly S-rank, Alencia."

As I handed over the certificate, Alencia received it, staring blankly as if she couldn't believe that what was in her hands was a real S-rank certificate.

"... It's real."

Awakener ranking, S-rank.

Alencia Walker.

As she repeated those few short words over and over again, a single tear dropped from Alencia's eyes.

One drop, then another.

As the tears fell, Alencia clutched the license to her chest.

'Alencia, I'm certain you'll become someone amazing.'

To Alencia, those words were a milestone, but also an unattainable goal.

She always said it didn't bother her, but in her heart, that couldn't be true.

Otherwise, none of her actions up to now would make sense.

"... Thank you."

Perhaps, to Alencia at this moment, the S-rank certificate was the first reward ever granted to her.

"Really..."

Proof that she'd made it herself, a precious step toward becoming someone amazing.

And so, all Alencia did was thank me again and again.

"Really, thank yuu."

Overwhelmed by her emotions, her words turned into a blur, barely understandable.

But she kept repeating it.

I quietly patted Alencia's back.

Until the flight to Korea took off.

* * *

"Is there anything you want to do from now on?"

On the night before the final battle.

I casually asked her that question.

I hadn't meant anything special by it.

I was just curious.

I simply couldn't imagine her as anyone but a Saintess.

I wondered what she'd do, freed from that burden.

If I won the battle, I would return to my original world, unable to witness her future.

So, I wanted to hear it directly.

What lay beyond, after everything ended.

"... What I'm planning to do from now on?"

She looked oddly apprehensive—so much that I felt awkward for asking.

Under the dark night sky, sitting side by side atop a hill, she buried her face in her knees.

"I've never thought about it."

"But there's got to be at least something you want to do, right? Other than the whole Saintess thing, since that was a duty you couldn't avoid."

"That's true. It's not like I chose this path myself."

"So shouldn't you have at least one goal if you're going to live a new life?"

At my words, she frowned.

Her expression was so serious, as if she'd never thought about such things in her life.

"A new life, huh..."

After pondering seriously for an endless moment, she finally spoke, about ten minutes later.

"Alright, there is one thing I want to try."

"What is it? Wait..."

I hurriedly interrupted her before she could speak.

"Don't say something boring like you want to live as an ordinary person, okay?"

Of course, living as an ordinary person in this world was incredibly difficult.

But I hoped she wouldn't give that answer.

After such a painful life, I wanted her to live with a real goal.

"No way, what are you talking about—I don't want to be an ordinary person."

"... Really?"

I hadn't expected such a firm denial, and I felt a bit flustered.

"Of course! I'm going to become someone special."

I looked at her, surprised, and she gave me a gentle smile.

I avoided her gaze and mumbled a question.

"Like, as special as you are now—as the Saintess?"

"Well, being a Saintess is certainly special. But that's because of the uniqueness of my authority, not because I'm special myself. Even if I help people, that's just some kind of miracle that grants their wishes."

But isn't that also your own power?

With that thought, I gazed at her, and she smiled clearly, as if her earlier worries had been a lie.

"Remember what you once told me, Jung-woo? In your world, magic and miracles were basically the same word."

Magic had not existed openly on Earth for even a century.

Until then, magic was no more than a product of imagination.

To say something was "like magic" was the same as calling it a miracle.

"I thought that was incredibly romantic. Doesn't that mean mages can create miracles through their own power? Unlike my Stigmata, which requires everyone's wishes to come together."

Her face as she said that—

It was brighter than I'd ever seen it before.

"You know... if I get the chance to live a new life..."

As if setting a life goal for the first time.

"—I'm going to become a mage!"

Someone who can cause miracles not with divine favor, but their own strength.

That was the future she longed for.

"I see."

As I laughed along with her, I couldn't help but smile myself.

It was just so like her.

That's why, I didn't delve deeper into why she'd never once thought about 'another life'.

About being a Saintess.

Or about the ending of a Saintess whose humanity had ended so long ago.

About what would happen if the value of an era changed.

Why she, someone who wouldn't be odd to hate the world, chose to fight alongside me to kill the Demon King.

Back then, I had no idea.

If I had, I never would have asked that question.

"... Estella."

For the first time in ages, I let that name slip out as I looked around the dark cabin.

Perhaps because it was late, or the cabin was dim, most people were fast asleep.

I let my gaze linger on Alencia, sleeping soundly, then turned to look out the window.

Of course, being over the ocean and at night, there was nothing to see.

'Stigmata remain as scars on the soul.'

Estella had once said that to me.

I hadn't understood what form it remained as, or how.

But this time, through Sarah Walker, I learned what that meant.

The Saintess's power did not disappear, even if they were reborn.

It remained as a trace, forever following their lives.

Alencia had told me, that there was no visible mark on Sarah's back.

But as Sarah created the "Heart of Prometheus" and the device at the Polaris Research Institute, she had undoubtedly used her blessing.

Leon had said as much.

The machines in the lab were generations ahead of their time; without divine miracles, duplicating them was impossible.

To a reincarnated Saintess, perhaps the Stigmata were invisible.

Or perhaps they appeared and then vanished again, fleetingly.

Just as with Sarah Walker.

And one other person.

"... Shin Ah-yeon."

The great mage who was right now probably waiting for me in Korea.

Only now, finally, could I be certain of the truth behind all the power she had shown.

A miracle, so close to omnipotence.

For there had only ever been one Saintess who wielded such power.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

So, Shin Ah-yeon is a reincarnator as well? But without her past life's memories?

【「(°ヘ°)?】