Chapter 856

EP.856 [Light Novel Side Story] The Death Dinass of the Sky 1 – Chapter 003

“It’s the infirmary ceiling.”

Yuinah woke up to the familiar smell of medicine and sat up. Pushing aside the thin blanket covering her, Yuna quickly scanned her surroundings to assess the situation.

“When you wake up after fainting, don’t panic. Stay calm and analyze the situation.”

The academy instructor’s voice echoed in her mind as she recalled the rules drilled into her ears. Yuna noticed other unconscious people lying on cots besides herself.

“They’ve all been laid down in the infirmary after fainting.”

It wasn’t just her who had been shocked by the Argetavis airport attack. Those with weak constitutions might have fainted from the monster bird’s roar alone, while others could have been injured by broken glass.

“I should be the one protecting people…”

Though ashamed of having fainted, Yuna reflected that even as an E-Rank special ability user, she shouldn’t have passed out from just a roar…

“Ah!”

Yuna remembered why she had fainted. It wasn’t because of the monster. She had lost consciousness due to the gunshot fired by a man trying to save her, which caused a magical explosion.

While Yuna was reminiscing, a young woman checking on the patients noticed she had awakened and shouted.

“Senior! This student has woken up!”

“What?!”

With a loud clamor, a scruffy-bearded man rushed in. Wearing a ‘US Today’ journalist badge around his neck, he wiped his greasy hands on his pants before handing Yuna a business card.

“Greetings. I’m Kwak Yong-woo, a reporter for US Today. Would you mind doing a short interview?”

Reporter Kwak Yong-woo seemed anxious and pressed for time.

* * *

“I decline.”

Xian took a step back from Park Ra-on.

“You’re quite direct. Didn’t you already pass through security? What grounds do you have to say that?”

“It’s my gut feeling. More specifically…the smell of an imugi corpse.”

When Xian saw Ra-on sniffing suspiciously, she was momentarily startled but quickly composed herself. Fortunately, she had regained her composure fast enough that her opponent hadn’t noticed. Xian shrugged and hid her carry-on behind her back.

“I’d prefer not to delay. I already have a ticket to New Seoul.”

“…I’ll make it quick.”

As Ra-on reached to forcibly open the carry-on, Xian stopped her. The suspicion had become confirmation, and Ra-on glared at Xian as if about to arrest her.

“Let go of my hand.”

“On what legal basis are you trying to touch my carry-on?”

“It’s in the airport security regulations. I’m just doing my job according to the rules.”

“…Bring me the regulations. Then I’ll open it for you.”

Ra-on silently activated her Magical Gear to display the relevant regulations.

Apparently many others had requested to see these regulations before, as Xian swallowed hard upon seeing the screen pop up in front of her eyes. It stated that anyone attempting to bring hazardous materials into or out of the airport could be subject to random inspections. It was actually part of the official regulations.

“What kind of ridiculous rule is this? Why is it like this as soon as I come to Korea?”

“…Please follow me.”

Just as Ra-on was about to touch the carry-on, a voice came from her Magical Gear.

[Airport Security Team 3, please report to your designated location immediately. We repeat…]

“…Do I need to go?”

Though Ra-on pouted in dissatisfaction, the summons was urgent. After alternating glances between Xian and her wrist multiple times, she sighed and stepped back.

“A brave person who saves others wouldn’t do smuggling. Sorry for wasting your time. I was too sensitive.”

“No, you were just doing your job. Well then, I’ll be going.”

Xian bowed slightly and pulled her carry-on while walking toward the end of the corridor. Fortunately, Ra-on had rushed off in the opposite direction, and upon turning the corner, Xian let out a sigh of relief.

“That was close.”

After confirming no one was around, Xian entered the restroom. Thankfully, there was no one using the stalls, and she slipped into a toilet cubicle, locking the door.

Click. Placing the carry-on on the toilet seat, Xian entered the password again. Not the decoy password, but the real one – 1225 – that protected her most valuable possessions.

Snap. The bottom of the carry-on slid open, revealing its contents.

Six colorful .50 caliber bullets were neatly arranged in a red cushion. Xian picked up a gray bullet with a wry expression.

‘The arrangement is different from how I left it.’

All six bullets were in different positions. It must have been that student named Yuinah who opened the carry-on, dropped the bullets, and put them back.

‘What strange coincidences keep happening.’

What are the odds that someone would get on the same flight using the exact same four-digit password for an identical carry-on?

Xian whistled as she deeply inserted her hands into her coat pockets. The specially-made anti-sword coat concealed a hidden space that looked like mere design at first glance.

Xian placed the gun she retrieved from inside her coat into the groove between the cushions and hastily closed the case.

‘I need to escape before that agent lady comes back.’

Getting caught would be troublesome. Xian flushed the toilet to pretend he had used it, gathered his belongings, and left the restroom. After that, no one at the airport ever saw him again.

* * *

“Yes! I am the hero who defeated Argetavis with one strike, Wind Horse. Nice to meet you, aspiring hero trainee.”

Caught off guard, Yuna shook hands with Wind Horse. Click! The camera flash went off, causing Yuna to furrow her brows. While maintaining his smile, Wind Horse muttered under his breath.

“How can a special ability user not withstand a camera flash…?”

Though it was quieter than an ant’s whisper, Yuna heard the snide remark perfectly.

If asked to name the most developed skill she had learned and experienced during her year at Hero Academy, it would undoubtedly be her heightened ‘hearing’ for others’ words. Though she might have ignored it if it were from a fellow trainee, the person speaking was an A-Rank hero far above her level.

Yuna quickly smiled at Wind Horse’s frozen expression.

“Ah…is this really Kim Kyu-min, the Ogre Slayer from the Blue Pine Guild?”

“Haha! So you know me! You can speak casually, junior.”

Though he had already spoken casually himself. Hiding her true feelings, Yuna nodded. She kept getting jealous whenever she met someone much more powerful than herself, which led to feelings of self-loathing.

Wind Horse grabbed Yuna’s hand with both of his. Unable to free herself from his enormous hands, Yuna felt trapped.

“We met by fate, didn’t we? You said you’re a first-year, right? Do you have any guilds in mind for your second-year internship?”

“…Not yet.”

To be precise, no place had accepted Yuna. But fearing the man in front of her would pierce her nose if she told the truth, she tried to hide the reality. Of course, Wind Horse became very excited and patted Yuna’s hand.

“Really?! Then join our guild! I’ll put in a good word for you.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

“…You seem awfully unenthusiastic. Don’t you like it? If you don’t, just say so.”

“Would an E-Rank dare say ‘no’ to an A-Rank hero?”

Hiding the resentment rising to her chin, Yuna shook her head.

“I’m still inadequate to apply for an internship at a big guild like Blue Pine. If I do apply, I’ll be sure to mention I was referred by Senior. Please take care of me then.”

“…Ah, got it? …Alright. Take care of yourself, junior.”

Wind Horse released Yuna’s hand, gave a rather dull farewell, and left the infirmary. Hiding her unsettled feelings, Yuna bowed to the waiting reporter Kwak Yong-woo.

“Sorry to interrupt the interview. There’s nothing I can do about it…”

“No, it’s fine. Um, if it’s not too much trouble, could we talk about guild internships?”

“Probably not. As an E-Rank, I can’t even apply to Blue Pine, let alone any guild.”

Yuna calmly revealed her truth. The minimum rank required to participate in second-year Hero Academy guild internships was D-Rank. Anyone whose current level exceeded 11 in any category was eligible.

However, Yuna was an E-Rank who hadn’t reached the D-Rank threshold, with a current level of only 10. Worse, her maximum growth limit was also 10, making her nearly unqualified to be called a hero.

Kwak Yong-woo awkwardly bowed his head.

“I apologize.”

“Not at all. I can work hard for two months. Now that I’ve visited America to clear my head, I’ll be fine. …I didn’t expect such an incident to happen right after arriving.”

Starting the new year with a monster bird attack, Yuna resolved to approach the situation positively.

‘Consider it bad luck.’ Her growth limit might have increased after experiencing this crisis. Deciding to check her rank immediately upon returning, Yuna spoke again.

“So, where were we?”

“We talked about where Argetavis fell. According to other witnesses, you stayed still until suddenly rushing forward just before the monster fell, right? Was there a reason for that?”

“……”

Yuna searched her memory. She clearly remembered staying low as instructed by the academy, so why did she have to run?

“Ah.”

She remembered. The blond foreigner who spoke fluent Korean.

“That gentleman said we needed to run. By the way, is that gentleman alright?”

“T, please calm down. That person has already received treatment and left the airport.”

Kwak Yong-woo had already shown Yuna what he had interviewed the man about. Sighing as if dealing with a headache, Kwak recited the temporary article he had prepared.

“Though shocked by the accident upon arriving in Korea for sightseeing, he couldn’t stand by while a helpless maiden was attacked by the monster bird. Though he nearly died, thanks to the Korean hero <Wind Horse> defeating the monster bird, he managed to survive. It was a miraculous moment. ‘I love Korea.’ …Phew.”

“Eh…that’s him?”

Yuna gave a wry smile. Kwak Yong-woo didn’t miss it, looking at her sharply.

“There’s something, isn’t there? To be honest, the story was interrupted when Wind Horse arrived earlier…”

Kwak quickly scribbled something in his notebook and showed it to Yuna.

“Wind Horse couldn’t have generated that much firepower. Definitely not.”

No matter how lacking Yuna’s special abilities were, she wasn’t completely clueless. This reporter had clearly concluded that the golden phenomenon that shattered the monster bird wasn’t caused by Wind Horse, but by that blond foreigner.

“……”

Yuna recalled the mishap in the taxi. When she briefly checked the carry-on by entering the password ‘1225’, the bottom suddenly slid open, scattering bullets. And there was definitely a space in the cushion large enough to hold a ‘gun’.

– Keep it secret.

“Indeed. That gentleman seems to have something going on, doesn’t he?”

Kwak Yong-woo exhaled sharply while tapping the screen with his pen. Seeing the scent of a scoop, Yuna took a deep breath internally before responding.

“That coat looked expensive.”

“…Huh?”

“He saved me, but his coat got completely torn up.”

Yuna decided to play the role of an oblivious idiot.

* * *

“Are there no buses to New Seoul?”

Xian looked at his watch in confusion. Though he had rushed to the terminal without eating dinner, it was already 9 PM. The tired-looking terminal staff pointed to the information board.

“There’s an A-Rank dungeon on the way to New Seoul. Buses can’t run until it’s cleared.”

“Is there no detour available?”

“Yes. Besides the Gyeongbu Expressway, there’s no other way to get to New Seoul.”

Scratching his cheek, Xian double-checked the notice on the bulletin board. At 6 PM, an A-Rank dungeon appeared near Dongdaegu IC. If the guild from New Seoul had departed immediately upon its appearance, they should have succeeded in clearing it soon.

As if reading Xian’s thoughts, the staff tapped on their Magical Gear and displayed a screen in front of Xian.

“Currently, three guilds – <Sun>, <Us>, and <Blue Pine> – have applied for clearance, and they’re discussing how to divide the shares.”

“…So the guilds aren’t handling it individually?”

“Unlike foreign countries, in Korea, you can reach anywhere within an hour, so joint dungeon clearances are common. Actually, three guilds is rather few. Last time, nine guilds applied to clear a dungeon in Daejeon.”

“Then they haven’t even started the clearance yet?”

The staff nodded and switched the screen to show a map of nearby lodging facilities.

“You should cancel your New Seoul accommodation and find a new room.”

“…Thank you.”

Before leaving, Xian booked a noon departure bus for the next day and exited the terminal.

He had no idea what consequences being stuck in Busan for one night would bring.

“Pooey!”

Cold wind blew through the holes in his coat as he hunched his shoulders and shivered uncontrollably.