Chapter 63

“From a reader’s perspective, descriptions aren’t really a big deal.”

In fact, even when descriptions are made, everyone’s imagination differs. So, no matter how detailed a novel is, it’s tough to completely visualize what the author had in mind without any illustrations.

Of course, this applies not just to character descriptions but also to buildings. Even if the author provides specific details, intuitive understanding is nearly impossible unless you actually draw it out yourself.

Besides, there are hardly any authors who go that far. Probably only mystery novelists, where structure plays a crucial role in the story, would put that much detail in.

The novel I read was similar. The author did mention what would happen and roughly when it would occur, but didn’t precisely describe the building structure.

“Do you think you can remember the structure well enough?”

“Well, since it’s just a building built by people, and they didn’t intentionally make it confusing. The issue is more about security level.”

Yeah, as Ria said, if there’s a problem, the building’s security itself was the biggest issue.

We live in an era where human combat abilities defy common sense. Injuries can be healed on the spot, and people can re-enter battle immediately. It’s a world where someone can slice through thick iron like butter. There are more people capable of demolishing building walls without guns or cannons than you’d think.

When people like that commit crimes, it’s troublesome, so the government wants to employ them as securely as possible. But even then, you can’t relax completely. You never know with people.

Naturally, such places are designed with the consideration that those capable will try to break in. This is almost always the case with important government facilities.

The Gate incident wasn’t just a problem with the Gate itself.

“…Do you have something on your mind?”

Ria asked, noticing my expression.

“Yes, of course, I have something in mind.”

I’m reasonably confident.

However, that doesn’t mean I’m completely sure.

In the original story, by the time the protagonist arrived here, the situation was almost over. The important magic stone had already fallen into the hands of the assailant, who then used its power to blast the protagonists away and escape smoothly.

As for how ‘the weakest Hunter,’ Lee Si-yoon, ended up in such a dangerous place, well, isn’t that just a given?

…Though it’s not an academy story, it somewhat follows the structure of one.

Naturally, in the beginning of academy stories, there’s the cliché of getting ambushed while being complacent during a school event, which also happened in the original.

Well, this isn’t an academy, and the organizing body is the Hunter Association, but let’s say it’s roughly similar.

So, the question about the timing—which was somewhat vague in the original—was resolved.

Still, that doesn’t mean I’m fully confident.

Since there are parts where the story deviated already from that point.

Moreover, what I’m planning to do would only serve to derail the story even further. How far would that ripple spread?

“Are you feeling uneasy?”

“Um, a little?”

I let out a long sigh and lay back on the bed.

“But we can’t just do nothing and let it pass, right?”

I replied like that.

“Well, after all, I’ll be sticking close to you while things unfold.”

Ria said.

“…“

Yeah. How can she make such a declaration so casually?

Well, thinking about it, that makes sense, right? She’s the one who trained me. Plus, she’s already participated in a few battles with me.

From what I experienced in the military, it only takes a month for people to get close. Especially when you’re living together, that bond becomes even stronger. Sure, once you part, you might barely remember each other’s faces.

For some reason, I feel like I’d still remember Ria’s face though—

“I’m counting on you.”

Feeling the need to respond, I said that. Oddly, after saying it, I felt a bit embarrassed and turned to face the wall.

…I’m not sure if the friendliness I feel towards Ria really comes from a genuine friendship as she feels towards me.

Is it because I’ve read novels that make me think that way?

That’s probably something I’ll only know with time.

*

As I expected, we received contact from the Association around the end of May.

In the meantime, I checked and rechecked the notes I had written down. In a situation where even one mistake could be disastrous, caution was necessary.

The Saintess didn’t actually have a very cooperative relationship with the Association from the start.

In the novel, she wasn’t just a ‘Saint Candidate,’ she was a true Saintess. In fact, the moment I recognized myself as a Saint Candidate, I had already been a Saintess for quite some time.

It’s far more complicated to have a Saintess—almost treated like the Pope—be on the move than it is for a simple candidate.

Think about the difference in weight between a presidential candidate moving around versus the president themselves.

At that point, the Saintess had already taken a liking to Lee Si-yoon, which is why she couldn’t participate at that moment. But once she saw Si-yoon in danger, she disregarded the opposing voices and rushed to the research facility.

In that regard, I had a significant advantage.

Each time Ria and I moved, we made it to the Association with the Church’s minibus, which was loaded with Association Hunters. Most of them were kids still in training.

At the bottom rung was Lee Si-yoon.

“Hey!”

Han Yu-ri waved energetically at us.

Not long ago, we used honorifics, but remembering that in the original they dropped the formalities, I told Han Yu-ri it was okay to be casual. Incidentally, so did the other Hunters around.

Everyone was technically an adult, but they weren’t all the same age. Most had graduated from high school and joined the Association early to become Hunters, so they were mostly the same age as Ria and me. There were a few older and younger, but we didn’t bother to create barriers.

As we exchanged light greetings, I caught a glimpse of Han Yu-ri and Glaria locking eyes and having a bit of a stare-off, and I couldn’t help but chuckle a little.

I sat in the back row with Ria. No particular reason, I just wanted to be a bit apart from the young Hunters. It wasn’t uncomfortable, but I wasn’t particularly eager to mix in either.

I had no intention of interfering.

In that sense, Ria was the same way. She had no intention of sitting near Lee Si-yoon, who was in the front row.

On the way to the research facility, I stared blankly out the window and shivered.

A strange sensation creeping up my left hand made me shudder, and when I shot Ria a glare, she just grinned playfully.

No way, aren’t you feeling tense at all—

No, that’s right. Ria had a way of easing the tension of the others around her. Whether she did it with silly jokes or funny stories that help forget the fatigue.

Her acting this way toward me likely meant she considers me somewhat of a comrade.

“……”

Did I unintentionally steer Ria’s path in a strange direction?

I hope that the protagonist and childhood friend will get to stay together, but I don’t want my presence to force Ria’s future to take an odd turn.

But I can’t just bring that up right now.

I shot a sulky glance at Ria once, then turned back to the window.

Ria chuckled softly.

*

What’s the best way to infiltrate a research facility boasting ironclad security?

If opening a Gate were something an individual could do, I would’ve done that right away and snuck out, but in this story, that’s probably nearly impossible.

If that’s the case, the best method is to take on a bit of risk.

When outsiders enter the research facility.

And when those outsiders head deep into the facility.

That would likely be when the security is at its weakest.

We were welcomed by a professor I had seen before. We exchanged greetings as well.

The professor glanced at me and smiled brightly once again, bowing his head. He must have really liked that artifact.

First on the agenda was a simple lecture.

After that, we’d go into the storage area for a tour.

Of course, we weren’t going all the way in.

What’s important is how an outsider can get in there—

“Breaking down a door is straightforward.”

“How?”

Ria tilted her head as she asked.

“With magic. Ah, of course, when entering, you would have to pour all your powerful magic into opening just one door.”

But once you get inside, everything resolves itself. The magic stone inside holds an incredibly powerful magic.

Creating a massive explosion inside and blowing the door away would be no big deal.

“……”

Ria tilted her head a little at my words, but still seemed to believe me.

Even if she didn’t, the event would eventually take place anyway.