Chapter 61
Chapter 61
Nari’s gaze turned cool when her name was called, nerves wound tight.
Even with Perception Interference up to hide herself, the woman before her still looked straight at her. Nari bit down hard on her lip. The woman’s words continued.
“Right. Yes, it’s you, Nari. There’s only one friend with a soul like that, Miss Hana’s daughter. There’s no way I don’t recognize you.”
Nari let out a sharp sigh. Sensing she couldn’t fool the woman any longer, she slowly released Perception Interference.
Spirit energy scattered into the air like dust. Nahan and Nari faced each other. Nari spoke first in a grumbling tone.
“Hello. I’m sorry for barging in.”
“…You grew a lot, Nari.”
Her tone was curt but polite. Nari was always weak to grandmothers and grandfathers. When she lived alone, the only person who looked after her had been the convenience store manager.
Because of that, she couldn’t bring herself to act rude to Min Jaewon, and she couldn’t be outright disrespectful to the grandmother in front of her either.
“You say that, but I don’t remember. I don’t remember someone named Nan, or you.”
At that, Nahan laughed. She slowly approached Nari. Now Nari could see it, a gentle green aura of soul energy was wafting from her whole body. Nari squinted one eyebrow.
‘Shouldn’t you… not be leaking that everywhere?’
Soul energy, the upper-tier counterpart to spirit energy. Spirit energy could create illusions, but soul energy could convert one’s power into raw energy for use.
However, unlike spirit energy, which used the power of the mind, soul energy was said to draw on the power of the soul, so the vessel’s limits were fixed.
“…Then I should introduce myself again.”
With each step she took, soul energy seeped out, blooming into lotus-shaped green gems that shattered and turned to smoke, over and over.
When Nari stared, fascinated, Nahan smiled. Then she held out her hand. It seemed to be a signal for a handshake.
“I am Arahan, the Incarnation of the High God and Kang Hana’s foremost disciple. You may call me Nahan.”
“Foremost disciple?”
Eyes round, Nari looked at her. She had heard there was a bond, but she hadn’t imagined a disciple. Not just influenced, but a disciple. Seeing Nari stunned, Nahan laughed heartily.
“Yes. I awakened at the same time as your mother twenty years ago, and I learned many things at her side. From handling this power to state of mind, all of it.”
After a brief hesitation, Nari took her hand. She felt the fine, crinkled wrinkles and a cool rush of soul energy. The unfamiliar sensation made her blink, then she shook her head to steady herself.
“Um, what is this place?”
“This is a memorial hall for your mother. And, incidentally, it is also where I live.”
“Here?”
Nari looked around. It was an endless corridor lined with framed pictures. Did she sleep in the hallway? Or were there other rooms to live in?
“I live well, so don’t worry. I don’t sleep rough in the corridor. This place simply gives the optimal conditions for preserving my life intact.”
“Are you reading my mind?!”
Hearing her own thoughts come straight out of Nahan’s mouth, Nari hurriedly stepped back. It was bad enough that the woman broke through her skills, but if she could read minds too, that seemed a bit dangerous.
Her psyche was supposed to be protected by several layers of shielding from the Lord of Chaos. Secure under a constellation who specialized in the mental realm, Nari looked at Nahan in genuine alarm. Nahan smiled again.
“I see your heart by watching your actions. I never try to dig into your mind.”
[The Lord of Chaos pats your head and says not to worry, the ward is still firm!]
Buoyed a little by his assurance, Nari grumbled. The moment she thought she wasn’t sloppy enough to let thoughts leak into actions, Nahan spoke as if she read even that.
“I don’t think you’re sloppy. I have a body-link gift, so my senses are extremely keen.”
“…You really know everything huh.”
Feeling she couldn’t even think carelessly, Nari only swallowed her complaints and lifted her eyes with a sulky look. Nahan burst into bright laughter at the sight.
“Ahaha, you’re just like your mother.”
“I’m the spitting image of my dad though.”
“That means your soul resembles hers, doesn’t it. You are truly alike, it surprised me. My son would recognize you at a glance too.”
Souls resemble each other. Nari had no idea what that meant. It wasn’t that their personalities matched, but their souls.
“Does that mean our personalities are similar?”
“You can put it that way. Your mother and you both look like very delicate glasswork wrapped in sturdy packing.”
“My mom has a better personality than me. I see the frames too, but I can’t treat strangers that nicely at first sight.”
“What you see isn’t all there is. Inside, your mother was full of emptiness and doubt. And deeper still, there was a heart like a gem.”
Click. Turning her steps, Nahan looked up at a frame. The photo still remained. Half-lidding her eyes, she spoke.
“My son must see the frame of your mother talking.”
“Yes, but…”
“What do you see?”
What? Nari rubbed her chin for a moment, then answered as she saw it. She rattled off how her mom helped, that she seemed kind, and so on. Nahan asked her this after.
“What did you think when you saw my son’s eyes?”
“His eyes? Well. I didn’t look that closely…”
Nari twisted a lock of her hair and peered at the frame as if she didn’t know. Watching her, Nahan gave a wry smile.
“Your mother had no sense for romance either. Most people notice that first. That’s why your dad dislikes my son.”
“…That was what his gaze meant?! Ugh!! I hate that!!”
Nari hugged her shoulders as goosebumps rose. People said other folks’ love lives were sweet honey, parents’ love lives aged honey, but there was nothing pleasant about this.
‘I-I thought that uncle was joking last night. He must be serious. What do I do…’
Thinking that, Nari made a horrified face. Nahan chuckled and said,
“Rest easy, your mother and father never once committed infidelity. Honey drips from both their eyes. And my son never crossed the line.”
“Still!! It’s just, ugh!! I mean, I’m glad he didn’t… cross the line, but…”
Assured there had never been an affair, Nari finally calmed down. People’s hearts couldn’t be helped.
Besides, her mom had been pretty, kind, and strong. It might have been inevitable that others gave her their hearts.
“At any rate, being hopeless at noticing those things is a trait you two share. Looks like you have the same taste in men as your mother? You dislike bad men, you want someone obedient and single-minded toward you, and on top of that he has to be skilled at treating you like a jewel.”
Nahan giggled, clearly teasing. At her words, Kang Ihyun popped into Nari’s head, and she stammered, ears blazing red.
“Ugh…! Wh-What does that have to do with anything! Are you saying we both lack sense?!”
“So there is someone like that nearby huh?”
“M-Mind your own business! I-I’m not like that, okay?!”
When Nari fumed, Nahan laughed again, then pressed her shoulder firmly as if to calm her.
“Ah! S-Sorry.”
Realizing belatedly that her words could be taken as rude, Nari mumbled an apology. Seeing how quickly she turned meek, the Lord of Chaos sent an indirect message.
[The Lord of Chaos watches you and says, Nari… why did you become so soft.]
‘I-I don’t know. This grandma has razor-sharp intuition…’
Caught and unsettled by Nahan’s pace over and over, the usually sharp-edged Nari was long gone. Watching her, Nahan smiled.
“Because you’re a vessel for a god. You’re born to treat others’ emotions as no big deal. You have too much to do.”
“…A vessel for a god?”
Nari asked slowly.
“People whose vessels are big enough to be entrusted with a mandate. You probably have it too. You’ll surely leave something in this world on behalf of your constellation.”
“…I don’t have anything like that.”
At her words, Nari gripped the hem of her zip-up tight and turned her gaze aside. A long silence followed. Unable to endure the awkwardness, she finally asked,
“Did my mom have something like that too?”
“Yes. Most likely.”
“What was it, what my mom left?”
She hoped it wasn’t the failure at the East Sea class 1 gate that the world remembered. Seeing her face, Nahan smiled.
“Someone who saw your mother up close for a long time will know better than me.”
Nari paused and stopped her hands that were fiddling in her jacket pocket. She knew exactly who Nahan meant. Her expression crumpled.
“I don’t want to.”
“Why?”
“Do you know what that guy did to me after Mom died? And he started a new family right after she died. He doesn’t care about my mom anymore. And I should contact that man? You know, I’m never seeing him again. Never.”
Her words sped up. Nahan listened quietly, then placed a hand on Nari’s head and patted it a few times.
A cool strength of soul energy settled through her body. The slight easing in her chest made her only clench her fists. Nahan spoke evenly.
“Didn’t you come here because you wanted to find your mother’s traces?”
“…Yes.”
“There is a part of your mother we don’t know. Only your father will know that. Weigh it carefully. Which lets your heart rest more, burying it, or digging to the end even if it hurts to learn the truth.”
At that, Nari stared down only at her shoes. Dig to the end even if it hurts, or just bury it. She knew she couldn’t stand the latter. She jerked up her head and said,
“I, I don’t completely trust you yet. I haven’t decided about this godfather thing.”
“Yes, you’re a child who questions a lot after all.”
“Is that necessarily bad?”
Nahan looked down at her. Nari stood straight, lifting her black eyes, and Nahan thought this was exactly like Kang Hana. She snorted and patted Nari’s head again.
“No. Suspicion and verification are a hair’s breadth apart. Blind faith without doubt only keeps you from standing on your own.”
“That… is a little unexpected to hear from you. Everyone else hates being doubted.”
Nari narrowed her eyes. Watching her, Nahan snapped her fingers.
“Doubting itself isn’t bad. It’s a survival skill that has kept you alive until now, isn’t it. The problem is always how you use the skill.”
Following her finger, Nari looked back to see a dimensional gate linked to the outside of the stupa. It was almost morning already, and the temple bell was ringing. After thinking it over, Nari let out a long sigh and headed for the gate.
“Then I’ll go verify it. Only that’ll make my heart feel a little lighter.”
“If you find an answer, come pay your respects here again. I cannot leave this place.”