Chapter 240

The South Korean government declared that they would not appear on official broadcasts until they punished those responsible for concealing the incident and revealed the purpose of Valpurgis.

However, there was a turning point that changed this mindset, which was due to an event that occurred soon after arriving in Korea.

After having dinner early and studying a paper with Professor Cheon, the doorbell rang, and when I opened the door to check, I found a delivery box sitting there.

After checking the sender, I immediately called Baek Bong Gon.

“Yes, Na Mea! Did you receive the package well?”

“Yes, Grandpa. I received it. But what is this other item that came with it?”

“If I only gave you one, it wouldn’t be enough, so I included one more. You can either throw it away or use it as you like. Just don’t complain.”

“Huh?”

The call abruptly ended.

I tore open the packaging to check the simple wand crafting device he made for me.

“A charm?”

It’s a typical accessory that hangs from a hanbok jacket.

This one was a three-part charm with three pieces tied together by a single string.

Compared to ordinary charms, it was considerably heavier.

Upon closer inspection, there was a marbled stone embedded in the center, forming the core of the wand, and there were gyroscope sensors in the knot and body of each charm.

The threads used to make the charm seemed to be made entirely of hemp fibers, serving as the wand’s circuitry.

I casually hung it from my pants pocket, exited to the living room, and attempted to cast any spell using the charm.

“[Simple Spell: Light]”

Then I moved forward three steps.

“Oh.”

Even though I hadn’t modified the coordinate system separately, bright lights continuously poured out from the magic circle with the same intensity.

Although there was no mana amplification feature or space to store the magic circle structure, it seemed to be performing well according to my desired incantation.

The most important coordinate modification function was excellent, and on top of that, the optimal injection function was raised to about 95%, making it a product worth several million won considering its miniaturization.

At this level, it wouldn’t violate the Academy competition regulations, and it would be suitable for Ji Hye to use.

I drew back my magic and turned my gaze towards another piece of packaging.

“This is a pearl, isn’t it?”

The jewel shone with a faint purple hue and was about the size of a human eye.

Seeing that it felt like a weak mana flowing out of it during the production process, I guessed this too must be a form of mana stone.

I wondered about the pointed golden decorations surrounding the pearl that seemed to symbolize the sun.

No matter how I looked at it, it didn’t appear to be a ring or a bracelet at all.

After all, when I called Baek Hun Jang again to ask, I received a clear answer.

“It’s not a bracelet; it’s a hair tie for you, Na Mea.”

“A hair tie?”

“Yeah. Haven’t you ever felt a tightness in your chest when using Aura?”

“Uh… now that I think about it, I think I have…”

“That’s because your heart is small.”

“Not an Aura Heart, just a heart?”

“The blood supply around the Aura Heart has to circulate well for it to function properly. You’re currently using two to five times more than an adult, but your heart is as small as a baby’s, so your body can’t withstand it.”

“Will it change anything if I wear this?”

“It’ll automatically adjust the output to avoid straining your heart.”

“Hmm, it doesn’t seem to have any special features, yet it looks way more expensive than a magic item?”

They had placed such a large mana stone in just a product that adjusts Aura output; I wondered if it was a good business decision.

“You’re wrong; it’s even more expensive! The magic item I’m giving to your friend contains my 60 years of cultivation; that’s much more expensive.”

“Got it. But what about this animal keyring? Does it have a function too?”

“That’s something I received from an insurance seller at the community center a long time ago; I thought you’d like something cute, so I attached it. Take it off if you don’t like it.”

“No, I like it. Thank you.”

“Alright, I’m busy, so don’t call me again!”

I immediately changed to the hair tie.

They even included a hairpin.

The more I see this instructor, the more they seem like a tsundere style.

With the money generously given back to me, they only return it in this way, being so stubborn.

Since I received a wand, I planned to summon Ji Hye and Seo Ri for some unplanned special training in front of the house.

[Nona Mea: Seo Ri, are you busy?]

[Seo Ri: I was just about to ask you something, Na Mea!]

[Seo Ri: By any chance, have you seen Ji Hye?]

[Nona Mea: ?]

[Seo Ri: Ji Hye ran away!]

* * *

Unless it’s a ghost infant not registered at birth, all South Korean citizens are given biometric chips.

[Nona Mea: Ji Hye, I know you’re looking at your phone. If you don’t answer now, your mom said she would call the police.]

When Ji Hye’s mother was anxiously pacing and considering whether to report her missing to the police, thankfully, she accepted my call and prevented the situation from escalating.

After all, an eight-year-old child wouldn’t have many places to run away to.

At best, she would be loitering around near home or hiding at school.

“Excuse me, security officer, have you seen my friend? She has short hair and wears glasses like this.”

Seo Ri asked the academy security officer, and he quietly pointed with his finger towards the elementary section.

We discovered Ji Hye, sorrowfully swinging alone on a swing at the elementary school playground.

I immediately texted Ji Hye’s mother that I found her and would safely bring her home later.

“Ji Hye! What are you doing there, Ji Hye?”

Seo Ri dashed over and wrapped her arm around Ji Hye’s neck.

“Ah, don’t!”

The usually gentle Ji Hye pushed her away irritably.

“Ugh… I think she’s angry. What should we do?”

“Ji Hye, what happened?”

As soon as she saw me, she immediately got up from the swing and asked.

“Did you not say anything to my dad? Please…”

“Doesn’t your dad know you ran away?”

“Uh-uh! He can never know!”

“He won’t find out, right? I haven’t said anything.”

“Phhew, thank goodness…”

Come to think of it, her father was a detective.

I could understand to some extent why she was so scared.

Seeing her eyes reddened, I could guess she had been crying a lot.

Thinking that it would be best to first ease her feelings, I handed her a peach-flavored Eclipse candy, her favorite.

“…?”

Then I stuck a Pokémon sticker on the back of my hand.

“Wow… this is really rare.”

Lastly, I showed her the wand that just came in the delivery today at the perfect timing.

“Here, this is your wand, Ji Hye.”

“A wand? Is this really a wand?”

“It looks a bit unique, but the usage is the same. How do you feel? Is your mood a little better now?”

“Yeah… thank you… I appreciate it…”

Since Ji Hye didn’t understand the value of the wand, she seemed more focused on the stickers, but that was alright with me.

“Your mother is very worried.”

“…”

“We were planning to train together with Seo Ri today, but I think we should just go home instead, right?”

“I don’t think there’s a need to train.”

“Hey, what do you mean by that! How much have I and Na Mea helped you come to school every day?”

“I might move far away. Ah… Dad told me to stop going to the academy.”

By now, the teardrops streaming from her eyes reflected the light of the setting sun, shimmering red.

* * *

“I’m back.”

The lives of academy students are generally tough.

Since if they don’t attend academies from elementary school, they would struggle to keep up with class progress, their vacations are practically nonexistent.

They may not be among the top brilliant students, but if someone like Ji Hye is born with an average intelligence, they have no choice but to make up for it with hard work.

Still, Ji Hye enjoyed being with her academy friends so much that she silently attended the academy, hoping to be in the same class as them someday.

When Ji Hye returned from the academy, drenched in sweat, her mother greeted her.

Today, her father, usually grim but more severely contorted than usual, was unexpectedly home early.

“Ji Hye, go wash your hands in the bathroom and come sit here.”

“Okay.”

“And you need to wash your face too.”

Due to the nature of his job as a violent crimes detective, working late was a daily routine.

It wasn’t a common sight to see Detective Ma Bum Il at home on a weekday at four in the afternoon.

When I came out after washing my face, my parents were already raising their voices and fighting.

It would be nice if their topics had some similarity, but they always fought over new subjects.

Despite being much smaller than my father, my mother didn’t back down in the argument against Detective Ma.

Ji Hye sat awkwardly in her seat.

“Ma Ji Hye, where have you been wandering around during vacation?”

Detective Ma, who wasn’t pleased with Ji Hye attending an academy, questioned her.

Then my mother snapped, insisting he shouldn’t meddle in the education of children he barely even knows.

“If she participates in the competition, she’ll get bonus points! She’s just trying to practice in advance; what’s your complaint?”

“If I were you, I would have studied harder during that time to do well on the final exam.”

“You’re the one who sends her to three academies. Can’t you see that Ji Hye is trying hard? You used to threaten me not to send her to an academy.”

“Ma Ji Hye, look at your dad. Are you really studying hard? The academy teacher said you’re not focused in class and are always sleeping.”

“Y-yes… I’m working hard…”

“Then can you be first next semester?”

Ma Ji Hye’s eyes widened.

First place? That was an unreachable position.

In Seviron Academy, there was a presence revered almost as a deity, Nona Mea.

When she shook her head in uncertainty, Detective Ma changed his tone.

“Then how about 10th place?”

10th place was also impossible.

She needed to compete with kids from wealthy families like Shin Si Hoo and Seoyuna to reach that level; being ranked 56th was far from it.

“Do you think 20th place seems difficult?”

“Yeah… 20th place seems tough too…”

As she couldn’t even meet the minimum criteria for a half-scholarship, Detective Ma folded his arms and made up his mind.

“Then let’s transfer. I’m skeptical about Ji Hye continuing at the academy.”

“What are you saying! That’s the academy Ji Hye got into!”

“Counting middle and high school, it’ll be ten years until she enters college! And her grades keep dropping; there’s a chance she won’t even move up to middle school! Do you think we should keep living apart as a family? No, we’re all going to Incheon.”

Now, the high school she graduated from had become more important than college, but in Detective Ma’s mind, college still held far more weight.

“Incheon? Why are we suddenly going to Incheon?”

“Ji Hye, just go to your room for now. Mom and dad will talk more.”

“We’ve already finished talking, what’s there to discuss! And Ma Ji Hye, you should quit all that training practice and just attend the academy properly. No, I don’t want you even thinking about practicing anymore. Got it?”

“But I can really fight well and beat all the seniors…!”

“Ma Ji Hye, just listen to Dad. You can’t spend your life doing something that dangerous. You too, make sure Ji Hye is properly attending the academy she’s currently enrolled in. It’s obvious that three is already too much—why send her for more? Huh!”

“Ji Hye, hurry and go inside.”

In the end, thanks to my mother pushing Ji Hye into the room, only the couple with their only daughter remained at the kitchen table.

Detective Ma rubbed his throbbing head and sighed heavily.

“So when do we get assigned to Incheon?”

“At the earliest in September. The major tasks have all been handed over, and everyone is just waiting to play. They said not to get involved if there are gaps in work.”

“Isn’t this ridiculous? Are you just going to kick someone who lived in Gangnam to Incheon without a word? A police officer is not a military soldier.”

“Who knows how? It’s up to the ones who change the law…”

The Seoul Violent Crime Investigation Unit 2 was anticipating a storm of organizational restructuring and personnel relocation.

As a nominal measure to curb collusion, they not only transferred detectives with over eight years of service to other regions, but also made personnel decisions without considering job similarity or entry pathways, causing all of them to be upset internally.

But if the order is given, it must be followed.

Their unresolved grievances would eventually drift within the department, leading to specific individuals being singled out for blame.

Particularly, Detective Ma Bum Il, identified as the main culprit of this incident, became estranged from his colleagues.

If one were to assign guilt, it rested on the fact that he had personal communication with Chief Prosecutor Cheon Jung Ho, failing to report it, thus providing political factions with ammunition to attack.

The false accusation of receiving bribes was even more outrageous.

“Haah, these ungrateful bastards… I really just want to quit this whole thing… let me have just one smoke out front.”

“Then while you’re at it, throw away the food waste.”

“… go soothe Ji Hye for me. I can hear a girl crying from the room.”

The sound of a young girl sobbing sadly tangled Detective Ma Bum Il’s heart like a complex knot.