Free Web Novel“Indeed, as befits someone with the God’s Lightning skill, Roy had a knack for rattling people’s mental states.
But his counterpart was no pushover either.
“Ha ha. Doesn’t seem like there’s that much of an age gap.”
“.......”
Roy just stared with a sullen look, as if refusing to admit it. Then the woman spoke again.
“Come to think of it, I don’t see your sister around?”
“No. A friend is watching her.”
“On your way to buy snacks for your sister? Oh my, what a good oppa~”
“Yes. Well then.”
Not knowing her intent, Roy decided to stay on the defensive.
Sure enough, as he tried to pass by, the woman forced her way alongside him and spoke again. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
“Thanks to you, I solved an urgent matter. If the student’s okay with it, nuna wants to repay you.”
“Why would an ajumma do that?”
She set her jaw.
“Ha ha. I just want to buy you an ice cream. Want to pick one? You can pick one for your friend too.”
The woman opened the freezer and gestured to Roy.
‘Maybe I should go along with this.’ Roy, pretending reluctance, approached and picked the most expensive ice cream bar of all.
“Can I have this one?”
It was a U.S. brand costing 4,500 ₩ each. With so many 2+1 deals, the ability to choose the non-discounted item was a skill in itself.
The woman set her jaw again.
“Mmm~ That one looks good too.”
“I’m just not going to eat ice cream.”
“No! No, eat it. You have to eat what you want.”
Though Roy had more than enough money, free treats were always welcome. As he chose bars for Roze and Galbi, the woman spoke again.
“By the way, how old are you? Do you live around here?”
“No. I’m here to meet a friend.”
“Oh, came to see a friend~ Middle school?”
“High school student.”
“Oh my, sorry. You’re so short I thought you were younger.”
Ha. This time Roy got scratched. He was about to switch to a pricier bar when her next words made him reflexively turn.
“Then how old are you? My sibling is entering Awakened High School this year.”
“Your sibling’s an Awakened?”
“Of course. Actually, not my real sibling but someone I know—they awakened recently. I kind of expected it.”
Expected it? As Roy stared, she smiled and continued.
“I can see people’s energy. Want me to check you too?”
“What kind of energy?”
“Whether you have what it takes to become an Awakened.”
She leaned in and whispered just for him.
“Actually, I’m an Awakened too.”
“......?”
What was this? She reeked of a con artist. But what was her scheme? Roy just stared blankly, deep in thought. Then a smirk curved her lips.
“They say these days kids’ number-one dream is to become an Awakened. If you’re interested, I can check.”
She didn’t even realize he was already Awakened...? He almost chuckled at the lie but was secretly curious how far she’d go. Roy took a seat at an outdoor table.
“I see a fierce flame blazing from you.”
He flinched. Could her talk of Awakened not be a complete lie? Roy nearly bought it. He needed to stay sharp against her silver tongue.
“You’re destined for greatness. But you have too many enemies around~”
“.......”
“You’ve accrued a lot of karma. Especially on your tongue. People must call you annoying a lot, right? Your personality’s fiery too.”
Taking revenge for scratching him earlier? But he’d heard he had a fiery personality before, so he couldn’t refute it. Roy coughed, revealing his discomfort.
“But didn’t you say you’d see if I could awaken?”
“I’m doing that now.”
“This is it?”
“Yes. Do you know what people who awaken have in common? They’re free of accumulated karma.”
“Oh~ But I have too much karma from my club activities, so I can’t?”
“It’s not that—”
“No chance of awakening, so wake up from that dream?”
Since he’d already awakened, he could have let it go. But for some reason he felt provoked and clung to her every word. He sensed her flustered attempt to recover.
“What? No, no. Don’t be so discouraged. There’s always a way. You just need to clear your karma.”
Clear my karma...? Now she was showing her true colors. Time to demand money.
Just as his interest waned and he prepared to leave, she said unexpectedly:
“Do you happen to go to church?”
“Huh?”
Why bring up church now? Roy blinked, and she held out a familiar business card.
“Actually, I don’t give this to just anyone, but you’re like a brother, so here. Have you heard of the Awakened Church?”
Huh? Could it be...?
“We’ve had over twenty Awakened come from our church already. Ever heard of Salvation Church?”
That was the cult that lured my brother! But it seemed so legitimate. I’d been completely deceived...!
✧
Meanwhile, in the café remained Bi and Roze. Unlike bright-eyed Roze, Bi was extremely uncomfortable. With no childcare experience, Roze felt like a ticking time bomb.
‘I hope the video doesn’t end before Roy comes back.’
But fate was unkind. Roy hadn’t returned, and in her impatience, Bi called only to have the call cut off.
[Galbi]
At those two letters, Roze’s eyebrows furrowed.
“Hiing.” freewebnσvel.cøm
“......!”
Startled, Bi ended the call and tried to restore service. But it was too late. Roze, tossing the phone onto the sofa, looked around, searching for Roy. Seeing only a strange bespectacled person, Roze’s chin trembled like a walnut sprouting.
“Oppa....”
Her quivering voice made Bi’s heart pound.
“O-oh baby. Maybe Oppa went to the restroom for a bit. He’ll be back soon. Until then, want to watch the pin video again?”
“Whooing, Oppa....”
“I said he’ll be back soon!”
Her big eyes began to glisten.
“Oppaaaaaa.”
Though fake, Bi couldn’t tell. She tried desperately to soothe her.
“I—I’ll show you something fun, okay?”
Thus began Bi’s three-trick personal performance:
– Crossed eyes.
– Fist in the mouth.
– 360-degree arm spins.
By the end, Bi had turned fake tears into real ones.
“Waaaaah!”
“Oh baby...! I’m sorry baby, it’s my fault, so please don’t cry, okay?”
As she rubbed her palms in distress, she met Roy’s gaze through the window—he was holding back laughter. Since when had he been there...?
‘Damn. He was here all along.’
She glared, trembling, and only then did Roy step inside.
“I told you to watch her. Why make her cry? Here, princess, come.”
“Oppaaaa.”
Roze reached out; Roy lifted her gently to calm her.
“There you go~ Oppa got ice cream and pin jelly for our Roze.”
“......sniff. Ice scweam?”
Roy handed her the U.S. ice cream he’d wrested from the cult.
“Don’t drop it when you eat it. Can you do that?”
“Yeah.”
The Roze who’d been wailing like a demon now rocked her short legs, completely calm. That little Roy...! Bi’s throat tightened as Roy offered her the same ice cream.
“Galbi, you can eat yours without dropping it too, right? Want me to unwrap it?”
“Shut up! ...I got it!”
Bi snatched the ice cream and glared at Roy.
“I didn’t do anything wrong. She suddenly came looking for you—”
“I know. Thanks. But, Galbi, want to look at this?”
Roy pulled the Salvation Church card from his pocket.
“It’s what she ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) showed earlier.”
“Look closely. How many are there?”
There were two. Bi’s eyes widened.
“What? Where’d you get these?”
“Just got them.”
“What?”
Still confused, Bi watched as Roy said:
“I thought Hojin hyung being targeted was a coincidence, but it wasn’t. She deliberately approached from the start.”
Roy said the person who gave him the cards was the one who’d asked him for directions at the intersection.
“How did she know you and Oppa?”
“That’s what I’m wondering, but in any case she seemed to think I wanted to awaken.”
“What does that mean?”
To Bi, who knew Roy was Awakened, it must’ve sounded strange.
“So I thought...could this be it?”
Roy then produced another card: a card for Awakening Pills.
“There was one of these in Hojin hyung’s drawer too. Look. Doesn’t it feel wrong?”
Awakening Pills... It was something Hojin had asked me about before.
“Give it here.”
Bi took the card, glanced around, then closed her eyes and discreetly used her ability. In an instant, memories tied to the card replayed chaotically:
– Hojin picking up a card in the bathroom.
– Blood-soaked floor.
– An unlabeled blue bottle.
– Someone’s back entering Salvation Church.
– A card left in the bathroom on the day of the Star Hero prelims.
– Someone coughing up blood and crawling on the floor in pain.
“Guh!”
Bi dropped the card and breathed harshly.
“Hey, are you okay?”
Roy checked Bi’s complexion, placing a hand on her shoulder. Bi flinched and brushed it away, then said firmly:
“R-Roy. Don’t worry about it. Hojin hyung said he’s done going there. That’s enough.”
“Why? What’s up with you?”
Roy asked, curious, but Bi couldn’t tell him—he’d only get more curious. She said nothing, just handed back the card.
“I don’t think it’s just some regular cult.”
“Indeed.”
“So don’t poke around and get hurt. I told you.”
