NOVEL WEB Chapter 76
“The internship starts next Monday and runs until Sunday. How boring, right? This weekend is just a dead zone.”
Finally, after a long time, I was able to go see that person.
Besides, I had some things to say to that person and Justitia, so there was no reason not to go.
Truth be told, I did get a message on Friday saying that things were finally wrapped up, but I was too busy hanging out with friends to go.
The reason I could chill despite receiving that message was simple.
When that person texts me saying they just finished, it’s not really a hint to come over.
When they say that, they’re just letting me know straightforwardly that it’s done, no hints or fancy words involved.
Plus, if I dropped everything to run over while I was having fun, I would definitely raise some eyebrows.
Minho might start getting curious, and more importantly, Jinhyeon could blurt something out. That’s why I couldn’t just go like that.
I asked them to keep it a secret, but if they were the type to mess it up, then they’d definitely slip up while chasing after their twisted “justice”.
As for the head of the pharmaceutical company, I could clearly picture them yammering about how they met during the Sports Festival, even though I hadn’t seen it in person.
Maybe it wasn’t a slip but a deliberate reveal. Minho might ask if they know anything about Blanca, and who knows how that’d play out then.
They’re chasing justice, so they might call it injustice, but who knows? Honestly, I have no idea.
They’re the kind of person who talks about seeking justice but has no real standards for what “justice” means in their heart.
They eventually get a standard, but…
Forget it. Why am I trying to look on the bright side? Let’s just call it what it is. It’s all that jerk’s fault.
All the misfortune and bad luck is entirely Jinhyeon’s fault. All of it. It’s not my fault; it’s his.
I tossed my uniform aside and changed into casual clothes, chomping on some pills.
After taming the rising nausea with scopolamine, I quickly regained my composure and dashed into that person’s embrace.
“Boss~”
“Hey… girl. Seriously, someone might think this is a miraculous father-daughter reunion.”
That person struggled to catch me while tossing around jokes. It wasn’t miraculous, but a reunion of sorts… right?
“It’s not exactly wrong, is it?”
“It’s just been three days, Blanca. Ugh, I should have kept my fitness up while young…”
“No, I meant in terms of miraculousness, not the reunion. And you’re only in your mid-30s now, right? That’s still pretty young, isn’t it?”
“I guess you could say I’m young… but I can’t really claim to be sprightly anymore. I used to think future folks would never age.”
“It’s not entirely impossible. It’s just that money vanishes like water in a bottomless well, and you end up on a leash to Heros Company. If you don’t like that, you resort to using cyborgs.”
“Well, I don’t like either option.”
“Then aging is your only course. There’s no other way. You could get an age-related Artifact, or you could just start exercising now… but I bet you’d rather die than do that.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to; it’s just that I’m too busy.”
“You tossed aside the dumbbells I gifted you, and now that you say that, it’s hard to believe. You just hate putting in the work. Go hit the gym so you can stay healthy.”
“With you around, I reckon I’ll manage health-wise somehow.”
“We can save on medicine, but anything like surgery is out of the question. By the way, why are you thinking about fixing things? You just need to manage well so they don’t break.”
“But what can I do about not wanting to struggle?”
“Honestly…”
After being released from that person’s embrace, I settled onto the sofa and we started chatting aimlessly.
It was totally unproductive chit-chat, but it settled my mind somehow.
My tail wagged quietly, and drowsiness began to settle in.
You could shrug it off as just the serotonin kicking in.
But honestly, trying to force out serotonin doesn’t create that sense of fulfillment.
Feeling this satisfied as I do now? That’s something you can’t engineer.
The only times I feel this peaceful are when I’m chatting with that person or hanging out with friends.
Of course, while their reassurance can’t compare to that person’s, it’s not like I dislike it.
What happens with this down the line? I’ll just think about that later.
I pushed away my anxieties with happiness and stability as I waited for Justitia’s arrival, rolling my thoughts around.
“…You’re already here, Blanca.”
As I was deep in serotonin bliss, black smoke began rising from the center of the room with Justitia’s entrance.
This time, it seemed like she properly took her motion sickness meds, only wobbling for a step or two before straightening up and settling into a chair.
“I’ve been waiting for you, Justitia. Blanca, stand up. It’s a meeting, even if it’s just in name, so you should at least be upright.”
“Yes!”
Since I was nearly asleep just before, I didn’t feel great, but I straightened up anyway.
“Alright, let’s get started. The plan is a success. We’ve set up waypoints in all ten spots. After that, thanks to Wei and Hanchō, we distributed the pearls to all the combatants.”
“…Waypoints have been established?”
Justitia’s expression looked a bit disturbed upon hearing that.
“It can’t be helped, Justitia. You wanted to reclaim true justice, right? This is just the way it has to be.”
“That’s… true. Current justice has rotted away.”
After that person’s admonishment, Justitia regained her composure, looking a bit steadier now.
“Then, what’s the status of the combatants’ preparations?”
“The soldiers are up to par, but we’re short on weapons. We’ve placed orders, but they’re currently circling around Heros’ watchful eyes, so it might take some time.”
“The soldiers are ready, but lacking weaponry. I guess we’ll just have to wait. How’s the funding looking?”
“Soon, Blanca might need to whip up some potions—did that give you an idea?”
“Sounds like we’re running low.”
Justitia and that person were deep in conversation, leaving no room for me to chime in.
“Um, I have something to say too.”
“Huh? What do you want to say, Blanca?”
“It’s about what happened during the Sports Festival, Boss.”
“Oh, that. No worries; it went smoothly, right?”
“Did something happen during the Sports Festival?”
Justitia seemed clueless and asked about any events we might’ve experienced. I had to explain everything to her since she had no idea.
“…So that happened. Minho and Jinhyeon…”
“The good news is, those two likely won’t be able to find us. They haven’t even had active roles yet; how could they figure it out?”
That person chuckled as if to ease Justitia’s tension, and honestly, they probably thought it wasn’t a big deal.
But knowing Minho’s true identity sent chills down my spine whenever I thought about it.
What if that person arrived just a bit earlier…
“Blanca. You okay? Can you keep going?”
Justitia spoke with more concern for me than for the organization. Such consideration didn’t bother me; I forced a smile and replied.
“I’m fine. And besides, I can’t just drop out now, can I? The Academy raid plan is already set with me in it.”
“That’s true. But don’t overdo it. And… no, wait. You’re the one who’s prepared the most for this.”
Justitia seemed to turn her head away, feeling a bit guilty about worrying me.
“Don’t worry. Until Heros Company collapses, I won’t be falling apart either.”
“Well… that’s a relief. So, is that all you wanted to say, Blanca?”
Oh, right. I still had more to say.
“No, not quite. I wanted to caution you about Minho. I don’t know why, but he seems to view me suspiciously.”
“Minho? Well, considering all the interrogating he did, that’s no surprise… but why?”
“I’m not sure myself.”
Since I couldn’t say I was possessed, I opted for a vague response.
“Alright, we’ve set our course then. From now on, let’s be cautious and solidify our base. Let’s make sure no one steals our fruit before it ripens.”
“Got it.”
“Have you ever not been cautious?”
“Well, not really. But this time, we’re being extra careful.”
“Anyway, understood.”
Justitia said it was time for her to leave, but before she could, she touched the black pearl as if something occurred to her.
“Blanca. Is it still the case that you can only synthesize one material at a time?”
“Yes. Why?”
“I see… still limited to making one thing at a time. Look forward to next Monday. I was planning on some good old ability training.”
Wow, ability training, huh.
…Oh, I’m really not looking forward to that. As I glanced at that person, they caught my thoughts in a heartbeat and cheekily said.
“Sometimes you just have to do what you don’t want to, Blanca.”
Honestly, there are moments when that person acts even more childish than kids. I playfully flicked their arm in response.