Juyun was moving like crazy until the call from Rohan and the Security Bureau came.
She repeatedly conducted her own search based on her vast magical power and thought a lot.
The area where the Monolith appeared, as guided by the Security Officers. The remnants of disaster she felt there.
The silence lingering at the crossroads where humanity’s calamity had passed.
She remembered the air swirling there.
It felt like a fantasy, a lie, saying that a terrible incident had occurred.
‘…I grew stronger to not be powerless, to not be inferior.’
Yet, in the face of such a natural disaster, she was still helpless. There was no clear means to devise a plan.
It was the same in the past and now.
It felt like the world was imprinting this on Juyun.
“…”
Would she experience the same despairing moment as before this time?
No matter what, she couldn’t just sit and wait, so she continued her search in a brute-force manner.
Ring! Ring!
Juyun’s smartphone rang.
[Rohan]
That name appeared on the screen.
Upon hearing the news, Juyun sprinted at full speed to the Elysium Security Bureau.
She became a fiery arrowhead, streaking across the sky.
“General Juyun. As I informed you, we are protecting Cadet Rohan and his group.”
“Please guide me.”
When she faced Rohan under the guidance of the Security Officer.
“Instructor!”
At the moment she faced Rohan’s bright smile, which she thought she’d never see again.
Various emotions boiled inside Juyun.
‘Ah…’
Her complex feelings couldn’t be expressed in a single word.
The tattered cadet uniform and the bloodstains on it tore her heart, but it was a relief that he had returned alive.
Juyun stepped closer to her student as her heart dictated.
She embraced Rohan, who was sitting on a chair.
Juyun gently stroked Rohan’s head, which had stiffened in surprise.
The past that still tormented her.
If her younger sibling had returned safely that day, would it have been similar to this joy?
Juyun felt that the memory, which twisted and stabbed her heart just by recalling it, was unusually loose today, and she opened her mouth.
“…I’m glad you’re safe.”
Rohan, who had buried his face in her chest and stopped breathing, felt intense emotions from Juyun’s voice and touch.
Although a sweet, rich scent reminiscent of fruit emanated from Juyun’s embrace, it wasn’t the time to make such a peculiar observation.
As Juyun’s hand loosened.
Rohan returned his head to its original position and met her gaze.
“Instructor. I’m sorry for causing you trouble.”
“Really… I’ve never had a student like you before.”
“I’m ashamed.”
“But it was an unavoidable natural disaster, so I have no intention of scolding you. It’s only right to praise you for coming back.”
Juyun said so and then felt a pang of regret.
Looking at Rohan’s clothes, I couldn’t help but wonder if there were any painful spots when I hugged him.
“Rohan. How are your injuries? Have you been treated?”
“I’ll report everything in detail. I just got back, so I haven’t had a chance to explain properly yet.”
After hearing the situation from Rohan and Clara, the security officers urgently needed to report to their superiors and share the information with other countries.
But there was no option to disturb Juyun’s time.
They just stood in the corner, holding their breath, waiting for it to be over.
Then.
Juyun’s fiery gaze turned towards the security officers.
“I will sit in as Rohan’s guardian. Is that okay?”
“Yes. Of course.”
The security officers quickly moved, thinking they could finally get to work.
They sat across from Rohan and Clara, turning on the recorder and setting up the equipment.
‘Huh?’
While the materials for the investigation were being prepared on the table.
Juyun’s gaze shifted.
Only then did she notice the girl sitting next to Rohan.
She seemed stiff, probably very nervous.
Juyun recognized the girl instantly.
‘This presence… from the bookstore where Rohan works?’
She was sure who the beautiful girl in front of her was.
The quiet presence itself was too familiar, more than the visual information she had seen in the video.
Though she had many questions about the girl who kept glancing at her nervously.
She decided now wasn’t the time and waited for the security officers to speak.
“Before we begin the investigation, as mentioned during the briefing, if you’re feeling unwell, it’s okay to receive treatment first.”
Rohan tried to figure out where to start with the security officer’s words.
Placing his hand over Clara’s trembling one to calm her, he spoke in a gentle voice.
“First of all, it might be hard to believe looking at me like this, but it’s no lie, my body is perfectly fine.”
The security officers nodded slightly at Rohan’s words and continued taking notes.
They listened attentively, as if urging him to continue.
“I suffered many injuries there and even had one arm severed, but when I woke up after returning, the arm that was gone had reattached.”
“Your arm reattached…?”
Juyun and the security officers visibly showed their surprise.
They didn’t even know where ‘there’ was, and the situation itself was incomprehensible.
“Not only reattached, but all the wounds, like lacerations and cuts, have completely healed. As you can see, the torn clothes didn’t come back, though.”
When the security officers’ questioning gazes turned to Clara.
The girl, still nervous, nodded in agreement with Rohan’s words.
“We’d like to hear the story from the time you faced the Monolith. Is it okay if we ask some questions?”
It was a sharp-looking male security officer with glasses.
Though they had never met before, Rohan felt a bit curious and decided to get to the point.
“It’s a bit difficult to explain everything…”
“There seems to be a problem.”
“If it’s a difficult issue…?”
Perhaps some kind of restriction. Juyun and the security officers’ expressions turned serious.
But Rohan, looking at Clara beside him, gave the impression that the story was about the girl.
“I am already a member with a status in the academy city of Elysium. Therefore, I will share the information I have for the public good of the academy city without holding back.”
“…”
“However, Clara, who helped me return from there, has currently applied for immigration and is in a long waiting period for her academy city status.”
If it weren’t for Clara, the information might not have been disclosed to the outside.
Rohan emphasized again.
Clara is not a wanted criminal. Her country of origin is clear.
“Perhaps Clara’s current country of affiliation might not want information related to the Monolith to be exposed.”
As Rohan’s explanation with a clear purpose continued, the security officers calmly responded, taking notes.
“We’ve heard that there are many troubled countries recently, and the number of such people has increased. We are aware that the immigration screening process itself takes at least nine months.”
As one security officer finished speaking, the officer sitting right next to him added.
“Even so, the administrative part of the institution is unrelated to our Security Bureau. We can only conduct criminal history checks upon the institution’s request, so it’s a difficult area for us to get involved.”
They indirectly conveyed that it would be hard to provide any convenience.
Knowing that the authority of the Security Bureau is overwhelming enough to oversee all institutions in the academy city, they expected a positive answer, but it was unexpected.
“I am confident that the information I have is of significant value.”
“Regarding that, our Security Bureau was planning to form a committee to agree on a reward.”
This meant the amount of money to be received increased.
It’s happy news, but it’s a pity to back down here.
“Hmm… If there is merit, isn’t it natural to have an advantage in the immigration application?”
Rohan, with a dissatisfied face, crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair.
The gesture conveyed a strong refusal to compromise. The security officers also looked quite flustered.
“May I request a temporary pause in the recording?”
The voice came from Juyun, who had been watching.
The security officers exchanged glances and stopped the recording.
“Rohan.”
“Yes!”
Rohan, who had been acting defiantly, straightened his back and answered briskly, causing the security officers’ expressions to waver.
“The people here also find it difficult to give definitive answers regarding other institutions’ affairs.”
“Yes, I am aware of that. But I thought the Security Bureau could sufficiently negotiate. Moreover──.”
Knowing that Clara is suffering in a small room without proper heating or cooling.
Like most immigration applicants, but with Clara right beside him living like that, he can’t turn a blind eye.
Juyun, who listened to Rohan’s words, slightly raised the corner of her mouth.
He lifted it up.
Then, he reached out and grabbed Rohan’s cheek.
What can I say about this behavior? It’s both admirable and concerning in many ways.
“Rohan. Regardless of the facts, this is a blatant request for intervention from the Security Bureau. You must realize you were being stubborn, right? It’s only right to apologize first.”
“I’m sorry for being stubborn!”
Rohan, with his cheek stretched, offered his apology.
The security officers exchanged apologies with Rohan, admitting that their words might have been misunderstood.
“Well done. But don’t worry about your friend’s immigration issue.”
“Huh?”
The gazes of Rohan, Clara, and the security officers in the room turned to Juyun.
“That part, the instructor will take care of it.”
…
After that, everything went smoothly.
As for Sion, they vaguely mentioned that she seemed to have disappeared from the area, so they didn’t know where she went.
Rohan showed the timer on his smartphone and occasionally shared photos, pouring out information that left Juyun and the security officers stunned. He also remembered his part-time job at the Flower Root Bookstore and asked for their understanding.
And so, about 4 hours later.
After finishing the investigation until they were exhausted, Rohan and Clara came out of the Security Bureau in a disheveled state.
But even so, this wasn’t the end.
It seemed highly likely that they would receive another call from the Security Bureau and have to visit again.
When they stepped outside, it was already dark.
Juyun’s gaze turned to Clara.
“Your name is… Clara, right?”
“Ah, yes, that’s right…”
Even though Juyun recognized Clara as Rohan’s friend, she spoke formally and called Clara aside.
Clara muttered softly, asking to speak more comfortably.
“You said you live alone, right?”
At Juyun’s words, the girl nodded shyly.
“Then, how about coming to my place to wash up and fill your stomach?”
“…!”
Rohan, who had been quietly listening, was so startled that his head made a loud thud as he turned it sharply.
Clara also looked up in surprise.
The girl faced Juyun, who was smiling warmly.
“I have some things I want to discuss regarding immigration, and I also want to express my gratitude for helping Rohan.”
