Returnee's S-Rank Management Guide

Chapter 255 : The Era of Awakeners (2)

The Era of Awakeners (2)

'It's painful that there's no other way to recover.'

Although the one Shin Ah-yeon used was through Estella's authority, Baek Hojun had certainly glimpsed a state of mastery.

The realm of Baek Hojun that I saw through Alencia's footage was higher than any swordsman I had ever witnessed, and even for a brief moment, he had clearly overwhelmed even Cade.

Had there been a swordsman like Baek Hojun during the Demon King's subjugation, the Demon King could've been defeated much more easily.

'If it were a simple injury, there would've been plenty of other ways to heal him.'

The reason Hojun couldn't wake up now was, as the doctor had said, mainly due to excessive mental exhaustion.

On top of that, since he forcibly advanced his realm using authority, his body hadn't kept up with it.

Perhaps, if he woke up, Baek Hojun might be a completely different person from before.

Since he had no physical wounds, he couldn't be healed by special methods like magic.

Even if Estella's authority was used to heal him, Baek Hojun's unconscious state made it impossible to realize it through his wish.

'Ordinarily, a wish is strictly limited to the individual.'

One thing I learned was that Estella's authority couldn't directly affect another's body when wishing.

A personal wish could only affect the one who made the wish.

In other words, an individual cannot directly influence another's body through their own wish.

There is only one exception.

Only Estella herself could affect others via wishes, and not herself.

Whether it was because she was a saint, or due to the nature of the authority, was uncertain.

'That must be why Shin Ah-yeon couldn't heal her own body with her wish.'

When her mana hall was broken, Shin Ah-yeon probably wished for herself to be healed.

But that didn't happen because Estella's authority couldn't be used on oneself.

What she wished for would only affect others.

Conversely, because her wish could affect others, she was the most powerful saint.

If Estella held truly wicked intentions... it was hard to even imagine what would have happened.

"Oh, manager."

Just as I stepped out of the hospital, I ran into Soo-ah, who happened to be on her way in.

She must have come to check on Hojun's condition as well.

"How is Hunter Baek Hojun?"

"I think it'll take about two weeks for him to wake up."

"Two weeks... That's pretty long."

"It is."

Soo-ah also knew about the incident that would erupt within the next week.

Looking up at the sky, it was just clear and blue.

The looming event a week later felt vague and unreal.

But up in that sky, the demon castle was approaching Korea, and the inflection point deciding humanity's future came closer day by day.

"So, is that why he entrusted it to me?"

"Sorry?"

"The Heavenly Sword."

Her words gave me a hunch.

Baek Hojun's final sword strike in Alencia's video.

It was somehow different than what he usually wielded.

I knew a fair amount about swords, but even I couldn't grasp the level that sword had reached.

It was, of course, a huge topic online.

The way Baek Hojun single-handedly stopped Cade with his overwhelming strength cast him as a figure who seemed to pierce the heavens.

【Was Baek Hojun always this strong? He was active in Odyssey, but I don't think he was at that level.】

【I'm an A-rank awakener, and that's just ridiculous.】

【lol, I guarantee it, Baek Hojun is the top among swordsmen right now.】

【But how strong must the demon be if even Baek Hojun could only scratch him? Can that even be handled?】

【But he died anyway, so isn't it all over?】

【There could be tons of freaks like that in that castle.】

【lol, if so, Earth would've been destroyed long ago.】

Along with that, Cade's strength, battling Baek Hojun, was discussed.

What if there were more demons like him? Arguments went back and forth on whether demons could truly benefit humanity.

"That last sword—it felt like he was letting me know the path my own sword should take."

Soo-ah's face looked more worn than usual as she spoke.

"Soo-ah-ssi."

"Yes?"

"Have you slept at all recently?"

"Well..."

At my question, Soo-ah avoided my gaze without answering.

I could guess why, and let out a small sigh.

'For someone of Soo-ah's level to feel fatigue...'

For relatively less sturdy awakeners like Shin Ah-yeon, they didn't get tired unless they really pushed their bodies.

Let alone Soo-ah, whose body was her main weapon as a swordsman.

Naturally, not sleeping for a few days wouldn't make her feel exhausted.

'Has she not slept at all since we returned from the demonic zone?'

Otherwise, Soo-ah would never look so fatigued.

Even in the demonic zone, she never looked this tired.

"May I ask why?"

"It just kept bothering me. So I watched Hunter Baek Hojun's sword strike over and over."

The footage Alencia had taken—Baek Hojun's final blow.

It might have just looked like an ordinary sword strike to the average person, but it hit Soo-ah differently.

That was the Heavenly Sword Baek Hojun had demonstrated for her to see.

"I think I get it... But I can't grasp it at all. Like a mirage."

Soo-ah said she'd never experienced anything like it before.

Since realizing her talent, she'd never once felt "stuck" with a sword.

Training made her stronger as naturally as breathing.

Even without swinging a blade, her talent alone would move her inexorably to a higher realm.

But even with that talent, after watching Baek Hojun's last strike, it seemed shrouded in fog. No matter how many times she replayed it, it was less clear than when she saw it in person.

'The trajectory alone isn't what matters.'

There's much the footage couldn't capture.

In the moment he swung the sword—the movement of the magic power Hojun channeled.

The simultaneous fluctuation in magic power, the myriad flows mixed in.

I couldn't tell from the video, but Soo-ah must have seen it.

So she kept rewatching to recall the situation.

"Soo-ah-ssi."

"Yes?"

"Will you go see Hunter Baek Hojun before you leave?"

"No, if you've already checked in, there's no need for me to go."

At her answer, I hesitated for a moment before opening my mouth.

"Then, are you free for a while today?"

"Free?"

At my sudden words, Soo-ah opened her eyes wide.

There wasn't much I could do in the coming week anyway.

I'd already delivered all my duties to Ardan and the higher-ups; all that was left was to wait for the outcome.

Until the day the castle reached Korea.

"I think I'm free."

"Then let's go together."

"To where?"

When she puzzledly asked, I gave a little chuckle.

"The baseball stadium."

***

For Soo-ah, a baseball stadium was a special place.

It had been her only real hobby, and once the place where she'd nurtured her dreams.

It was also where she first met Jung-woo.

Once she joined Unique, she went less often, but sometimes visited the stadium with Jung-woo.

"Come to think of it, this is the second time I've gone to the stadium during a crisis like this."

Jung-woo remarked evenly.

Soo-ah found it hard to read his thoughts.

'To say "at a time like this"...'

Something terrible might happen in a week.

Even knowing that, Jung-woo went to the stadium with her, as if nothing were wrong.

It left Soo-ah even more anxious, unsettled.

Time was running out—was it alright to be relaxing like this?

'I need to reach Hunter Baek Hojun's level quickly.'

If Baek Hojun heard her say that, he might laugh dryly.

For him, it was a realm attained only after a lifetime of swordsmanship, and with Estella's authority.

But Soo-ah was serious.

Otherwise, if another demon like Cade appeared, she would only be a burden.

That was never her wish.

Soo-ah wanted to be like Shin Ah-yeon.

She wanted to be a Hunter who fought proudly at Jung-woo and others' side, not just someone watching from afar.

"Are you watching the game?"

"Ah, yes."

But it didn't really catch her eye.

Neither the cheers in the stadium nor the actually pretty exciting game.

"Three wins, seven losses, lately."

"Huh?"

"Doxuris' recent record."

"O-oh, is that so."

Of course, she didn't know recent results.

Honestly, she hadn't watched a game in ages.

And it wasn't a surprising record.

Even though there were more losses than wins, for the team Soo-ah supported...

"That's usual."

"Are you reading my mind?"

"No, it's just written all over your face."

Three wins, seven losses. A poor record, and second-to-last in rankings.

Today's game wasn't so important, either.

By "a time like this", Jung-woo obviously meant a moment when fate was about to be decided.

Before the Super Hunter K finals, Soo-ah had gone to a baseball game with Jung-woo.

Back then, it was a decisive game for Doxuris' postseason.

But today, there was nothing special at stake.

'Just an ordinary game.'

They were winning for once, but that was all.

Win or lose, nothing dramatic would change.

"Then why do you think they play? Even when it's nothing special?"

"Because they don't know. In a week, something might happen, but they don't know..."

"Exactly. They don't know."

The castle in the sky, the support for awakeners by demons and people alike.

Even in these turbulent times, the players were still playing as usual.

"They're getting ready for the next game. Because that's what they do."

At his calm words, Soo-ah held her breath a moment.

A crack! The sound of the batter hitting the ball, the cheers in the air.

"What we're trying to do isn't some big deal. We're just helping so people can play the next game."

"..."

"So don't think of it too harshly."

Come to think of it, that was right.

She picked up the sword, became an S-rank awakener, all to lead a better life.

That went for the players on the field, and the fans in the stands, too.

Even preparing for the final decisive battle now—it was just to protect that better life.

That's all there was to it.

"I said it before, didn't I? That you took a long road, but you still arrived first, Soo-ah-ssi."

I still think the same now.

The reason Soo-ah became impatient was because she saw a shortcut for the first time in her life.

"You don't need to get lost running after shortcuts. If you've seen the destination, just take your own route there."

As Jung-woo spoke, Soo-ah stared at him, dumbfounded.

It overlapped with the time the two of them talked after a baseball game before.

"You'll be able to do it."

Nothing had changed since then.

What she had to do was the same.

Somehow, she felt the impatience that crowded her mind fade away.

"... Yes."

So, finally, Soo-ah was able to smile.

In this ordinary moment she could share with him.

She wished this pounding in her chest would continue.

That was the very reason she picked up her sword.

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

27 chapters left.

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】