Chapter 78

Chapter 78. Observation Class (4)

Valhalla City.

The city, built around the Reynaldo Hero School, was bustling with people from all over the three nations who had gathered for the observation class.

Of course, the heroes who were actually participating in the observation class had already entered the school since morning, but there were also many people who had come here without directly participating in the observation class.

From attendants serving high-ranking heroes to those who came for the ‘social gathering’ to be held after the observation class, enthusiasts who gathered with sparkling eyes at the news of heroes from the three nations gathering in one place, and even merchants targeting them.

Rather than inside the school where the observation class was taking place, more people were wandering the streets of Valhalla City.

“First, we should change our clothes.”


“Yeah.”

Walking around the streets in school uniforms on a weekday afternoon was drawing too much attention.

“Let’s go to that store.”

We randomly picked any clothing store on the street and entered with Yuren.

Considering we just picked any store, it was surprisingly decent, with the spacious interior filled with hundreds of different clothes.

“There are so many clothes.”


“Let’s just pick something quickly and change.”

While looking around the men’s clothing section.

“Huh? Where did he go?”

Yuren, who I thought was following me, was nowhere to be seen.

Turning back, I saw Yuren standing still, staring blankly inside the store.

“……”

Yuren was staring at a mannequin in the women’s clothing section with a dazed look.

The mannequin was wearing a flowy skirt and an off-shoulder blouse that was popular among female candidates.

“What are you doing there?”


“Ah, yeah. Sorry. I was just lost in thought for a moment.”

Yuren awkwardly smiled and moved to the men’s clothing section.

After changing into the clothes we roughly picked from the men’s section, Yuren and I stepped back out onto the streets of Valhalla City.

“Wow, the weather is amazing.”

Why is it?

Even though it’s just an ordinary day, it feels so clear after skipping school.

“By the way, what should we do now?”


“Hmm…”


“Don’t you want to do something?”


“This is my first time doing something like this.”

Yuren smiled awkwardly, looking around nervously like a lost child separated from their parents.

I stifled a laugh seeing Yuren like that.

‘The strongest swordsman of humanity trembling with anxiety just because he skipped one school class.’

The innocent side of Yuren, which I had never seen in his past life, made me smile.

“Then, let’s just walk around the nearby streets?”


“Yeah. Let’s do that.”

The place I took Yuren to was ‘Republic Town,’ where most Republic citizens in Valhalla City lived.

It was a place I had been to before with Iris to watch a movie.

Republic Town was filled with various Republic-style restaurants and cultural facilities.

“Wow, so this is Republic Town.”

Yuren’s eyes sparkled as he looked around like a country bumpkin who had just arrived in the capital.

“Is this your first time here?”


“Yeah. I don’t go out of the school much… and even when I do, I never came to Republic Town.”


“Well, considering your mother, I can see why.”


“Ah… I-I don’t think of Republic citizens as mixed breeds or anything like that!”


“I know, man.”

As we wandered aimlessly around Republic Town, I started to feel hungry.

“I’m getting hungry. Should we have lunch?”


“Yeah. Let’s do that.”


“Is there anything you want to eat?”


“Hmm… something I want to eat.”

After a moment of thought, Yuren’s eyes sparkled as he answered.

“I want to try ramen!”


“…Ramen? All the way out here?”


“Yeah!”

Yuren nodded vigorously.

“Well… okay. If that’s what you want.”

As I looked around for a nearby snack bar selling ramen.

“Hey… Dale.”


“Huh?”


“Instead of buying it, can you cook it for me?”

“You want me to cook it for you?”

What, you want me to cook ramen for you even when we’re out?

“Let’s just buy it. It’s tastier that way.”


“……”

Yuren made a sullen face at my suggestion to just buy it.

“Iris cooked it for me herself…”

Seeing Yuren’s dejected expression, an indescribable sense of guilt washed over me.

“Sigh… fine. I’ll cook it for you, okay?”


“Hehe… thanks, Dale.”

Yuren smiled brightly, looking as happy as can be.

I sighed inwardly as I looked at Yuren.

“Ugh.”

This guy Yuren is really hard to figure out.

There are so many restaurants around, why is he so fixated on me cooking ramen for him?

‘Let’s see, where can I cook ramen outside…’

I can’t just walk into any store and offer money to cook ramen myself.

‘Ah, now that I think about it.’

I remember hearing from Hero Watch that there’s a place by the riverside near Republic Town where you can cook and eat ramen yourself.

“Let’s go, Yuren.”


“Where are we going?”


“You’ll see when we get there.”

The riverside we went to had a place just like I heard from Hero Watch, where you could cook ramen yourself and eat it at outdoor tables.

“Wait here. I’ll go cook the ramen inside.”


“Okay!”

After cooking the ramen inside, I brought it to the outdoor table where Yuren was waiting.

The noble young master’s taste evaluation of ramen, which he was trying for the first time, was simple.

“Wow, it’s really spicy.”

Yuren smiled awkwardly, as if it didn’t suit his taste.

It was a stark contrast to Iris, who had devoured the ramen with her eyes lit up.

‘Well, that’s the normal reaction.’

If ramen suited everyone’s taste, why would it mainly be consumed within the Republic?

It’s true that the spicy flavor is too intense for people from other countries where spicy food is less common.

“Doesn’t suit your taste?”


“Ah, no! It’s delicious!”


“You’re sweating buckets, how can it be delicious?”

I chuckled and took out a slice of cheese I had brought just in case.

“Put this in, it’ll make it much better.”


“…Cheese? You put cheese in ramen?”

Yuren frowned as if this was the most absurd combination.

“Just try it, you’ll see.”


“Ugh… okay.”

As I placed the cheese on the ramen, the remaining heat made it melt.

“Huh?”

Yuren’s eyes widened as he carefully took a bite of the cheese ramen.

“It’s… delicious!”


“Much better than before, right?”


“Yeah!”

Yuren, smiling from ear to ear, slurped up the cheese ramen with gusto.

I also finished my bowl of ramen cleanly.

After quickly finishing our ramen, Yuren and I sat at the outdoor table, watching the flowing river.

The peaceful moment made the events of the morning feel like a dream.

I broke the silence, looking at Yuren, who was silently watching the river.

“Yuren.”


“Yeah?”


“Were you always like that with your mother?”


“……”

Yuren tightly shut his mouth at the mention of his mother.

He shook his head slightly with a bitter smile.

“Mother wasn’t always like that. She was very caring when I was young.”


“…She doesn’t seem like that kind of person at all.”


“Haha. She has to lead the family alone. It must be hard for her too.”

Yuren awkwardly smiled, defending his mother.

I frowned and shook my head.

“No matter how hard it is, she shouldn’t treat you like that. You’re practically the hope of the Helios Family.”

“…Hope.”


“Anyway, if you don’t like it, say so. You don’t have to live under your mother’s thumb.”


“……”

Why is it?

Yuren’s expression turned cold.

He clenched his fists so hard they trembled.

“…I can’t.”

A faint, strained voice.

Yuren shook his head with a fragile smile.

“I don’t have the right to do that.”


“…What right?”


“Let’s head back, Dale. If we’re too late, the dormitory doors will close.”

Yuren hastily changed the subject, visibly anxious.

I watched Yuren, who was picking up the ramen bowls and getting up, with narrowed eyes.

His trembling hands and lips.

His pale cheeks and rough breathing.

A side of Yuren I had never seen.

A side I had never noticed.

Yuren, filled with fear.

‘…Why?’

Questions filled my mind.

The Yuren I knew was the bravest of heroes.

Even when everyone else fled in fear, he stood tall, drawing his sword without retreating.

Even in front of the Devil God.

‘So why?’

What could have made him so afraid?

“Let’s go.”


“Ah, yeah.”

Without a chance to find answers to the questions in my mind.

I followed Yuren back to the school.

“Ah, and Dale.”

Yuren, walking ahead, turned around with a smile.

“Thank you.”


“…For what?”


“For taking me out.”

Yuren smiled brightly as he said that.

* * *

After parting with Dale.

I headed back to my dormitory room.

The school, with all classes over, was enveloped in an eerie silence.

“Sigh.”

I recalled the memories of going out with Dale today.

Walking the streets together, seeing things I hadn’t seen before, eating things I hadn’t tried.

‘It was fun.’

I was so happy, to the point where I never thought such a day would come for me.

But.

“……”

Standing in front of the door, I bit my lip.

The happy time of deviation was over.

Now it’s time to return to my usual routine.

Creak.

With trembling hands, I opened the dormitory door.

“You’re back?”

Inside the room, my mother sat with her legs crossed, looking at me with cold eyes.

“…Yes.”

I didn’t ask why she was here even though the observation class was over.

I already knew she wouldn’t just leave.

“I’m sorry.”

I knelt in front of my mother and bowed my head.

My mother silently got up and approached me.

I closed my eyes tightly, thinking she might slap me.

“Yuren, no… Yurina.”

A gentle hand caressed my cheek.

“…Mother?”

In this completely unexpected situation, even the word ‘mother’ didn’t come out properly.

“You’ve been through a lot, haven’t you? To the point of hanging out with such a bad kid.”


“N-no, it’s not like that…”


“Don’t worry. I know better than anyone how hard you’ve worked until now.”


“……”

Am I dreaming?

My mind was a tangled mess in this incomprehensible situation.

“You did well, Yurina. You’ve been through a lot, haven’t you?”

My mother said as she patted my back.

“…Ah.”

A shiver ran down my spine like lightning.

Tears streamed down my cheeks.

“Mo-mother.”


“Yes, yes.”


“Ugh… sob. Mo-mother…”

I didn’t know why my mother’s attitude had suddenly changed like flipping a palm.

All I knew was one thing.

At this moment, the wish I had longed for so much had come true.

“Yurina, there’s something I want to ask of you. Can you listen?”


“Sob. Yes. Anything… anything.”

Would there ever be another day as happy as today?

I nodded, wiping away my tears with the back of my hand.

“Become Yuren.”


“…Huh?”

Become Yuren?

What does that mean after everything I’ve done?

“I’m not talking about some clumsy imitation.”


“What do you mean…?”

My mother grabbed my shoulders tightly and continued with an excited voice.

“If you overlay Yuren’s Holy Mark on your Holy Mark, you can become the real Yuren… the radiant sun.”

As she spoke, my mother’s eyes were twisted with deep madness.