Chapter 220: Rune Clan (2)

I walked toward Sunlight Orphanage while keeping an eye on my back.

As for Rebecca behind me, she didn't seem to care much about me.

Because she was certain she could catch me no matter when I ran away.

'There are no openings.'

Rebecca was walking leisurely while looking around, but she had absolutely no openings.

The magic power filling my surroundings would become a rope to catch me the moment I tried to escape.

"Haa."

"Why are you sighing, Lee Ho-yeon."

"... It's nothing."

It was a bit awkward for her to approach me so friendlily like that.

This is driving me crazy, seriously.

Truthfully, someone of Rebecca's level was on the beautiful side. It was because she was a villain who appeared quite often in the original work.

Evil Female Executives were supposed to be pretty, after all.

Like Im Sol, she was a researcher deeply immersed in magic, but while Im Sol was on the wholesome side, this person was more of a decadent mage.

Beautiful red hair like a melted ruby and light green eyes shining like gems.

If I had to specify, I'd say she looked like a witch.

"Is it very far?"

"We'll be there soon."

Honestly, she was such a beauty that I should be bowing in gratitude if offered a chance with her.

It was my first time seeing that type of woman. She really was pretty, after all.

But....

'There are way too many women.'

I already had a lot of heroines piling up; I couldn't go around seducing an Evil Executive who wasn't even a heroine.

However, as if refuting my thoughts, something popped up before my eyes.

[ Women with High Capture Probability : Im Sol (95), Rebecca (85 points), Liriana (83 points), Scarlet (43 points)... ]

"...."

Right.

Come to think of it, there was no way a villain of Rebecca's caliber would have low influence.

Since her position was strictly as an enemy in the original work, I hadn't even considered that she could be a heroine.

Smack.

I suddenly regret this.

'Should I have just said I was from the Rune Clan?'

No.

That could actually backfire.

Even if it made capturing her easier in the short term, if she found out later, all my progress would go down the drain.

It was better to reveal the truth at the start and capture her later.

Of course, whether I would capture her or not was still undecided.

"We could have just done some babymaking."

"... Come to think of it, didn't you say there were two boys?"

"Yeah, one is you, and the other is a younger child."

"How young?"

"He should be about an elementary school student by now?"

An elementary school student.

I didn't know about guys around my age, but the kid at the orphanage seemed to be around elementary school age.

The chances of my guess being right were steadily increasing.

"Is that place over there Sunlight Orphanage?"

"Yes. That's the place."

A short while later, we arrived at Sunlight Orphanage.

"Hmm...."

Rebecca followed behind me and entered Sunlight Orphanage.

Naturally, since we were enveloped in a Rune Barrier, civilians couldn't see us.

Even though it was definitely the same Rune Barrier as mine, it was far more solid and stable than mine.

'It feels like the magic power structure is completely different.'

There was no other way to explain it.

Because even if I manifested the exact same magic circle as Rebecca, the magic's output came out differently.

[Rune Clan Synergy]

I suppose I could roughly describe it like that.

As we entered the yard, I spotted a distinguished-looking mister watering the flowers.

It was the director of Sunlight Orphanage.

I approached the Director whom I hadn't seen in a while.

"Hello, Director."

"Hm? Oh, Cadet Ho-yeon! Wow, I thought you wouldn't be able to come now that you've become a celebrity."

"Hey now, it's not like I come here for image management. What's going to change just because I got famous? I got discharged from the hospital yesterday, so I stopped by to see your face, Director."

Honestly, it had been about a month since I last came, so it had been quite a while.

I only came to capture Baek A-yeong, after all... so there was no real need for me to come anymore.

Still, I should come with Baek A-yeong sometime later.

"Ah, that's right. I saw the news too, but it slipped my mind."

Seeing the director chuckle heartily, I continued my words.

"It's fine. Anyway, I'd like to see the children, but what are the children up to?"

"Right now is their free time after lunch. They're all probably doing whatever they want. They'll probably gather around quickly if they hear Cadet Ho-yeon is here, no?"

"Well, there's a specific kid I want to see today. Wasn't there a Red-haired Boy at the orphanage?"

Rebecca, who had been watching the conversation from beside me as if bored, only focused her attention this way when the keyword 'Red-haired Boy' came up.

"Red hair...? Ah, you mean Su-hyeon?"

"Yes. That little kid who looks like he causes a lot of trouble."

"He should be over there. Would you like to go together?"

"Please. I have something to say to him in private."

A short while later, I was left alone with the child named Cheon Su-hyeon.

Because I was a celebrity, and since I had gotten close to the children while coming to do volunteer work a few times, the director readily allowed us to talk alone.

"Hyung-a. It's been a while. But what do you have to say to me?"

"I'm going to ask you a few questions, and you just have to answer them. Is that okay?"

"Yeah. Of course it's okay!"

The Red-haired Boy. Cheon Su-hyeon was smiling innocently.

As far as I knew, he should be just barely 8 years old.

It was exactly the age to be cute.

- Is it this kid?

Nod.

I nodded at Rebecca, who was staring intently at Cheon Su-hyeon from behind.

Swish-

I felt Rebecca's magic power from behind me.

A very faint wave of magic power passed through my body and began to scan Cheon Su-hyeon's body from top to bottom.

- ... Can I try talking to him?

"Uh, it should be fine. Su-hyeon. Don't be surprised. I brought an older sister who wanted to meet you. Is that okay?"

"Yes. It's okay."

Creak-

The door opened, and Rebecca casually walked inside.

Of course, it was a trick using the Rune Barrier, but how was something like that possible?

"Hello. Are you Cheon Su-hyeon?"

"Hello, older sister."

Watching Cheon Su-hyeon bow his head, Rebecca put on a hesitant expression.

"... Can you give me your hand for a moment?"

"Yes."

After grabbing Cheon Su-hyeon's wrist and emitting her magic power, Rebecca opened her mouth a moment later.

"... It's true."

"It is?!"

"Yeah. He's definitely from the Rune Clan. I can tell by comparing him. His magic power circuit is different from yours."

"Oh... So you believe me now, right?"

"... Yeah. I believe you."

Rebecca seemed incredibly disappointed, but as for me, it was a relief to clear up the misunderstanding.

It was better to resolve things like this quickly.

Thank goodness.

I guess I won't get kidnapped and subjected to forced milking.

"Little boy.... By any chance, do you have any memories from before you came to this orphanage?"

Rebecca asked for information about the other survivor.

"Umm... I don't know. I can't really remember when I was young."

"... Haa."

Was it because she had lost the clan survivor she thought she found?

Rebecca let out a deep sigh, seemingly heartbroken.

"Thank you. Su-hyeon. You can go play with your friends now. Ah, these are snacks your older brother bought, so share them together."

"Thank you! Hyung-a! See you later!"

I placed the snacks in Cheon Su-hyeon's hands and sent him out of the room.

Watching Cheon Su-hyeon leave while going Pitter-patter-, I spoke to Rebecca.

"Let's ask the director for now. He should know something."

"... Okay."

*

"Ah... You mean Su-hyeon."

We asked about the situation when they first took Cheon Su-hyeon in at the director's office.

"We were wondering if there was a red-haired guy who came with him. He was probably around my age."

I didn't know where the Rune Clan had been located, but a young child of that age probably wouldn't have found his way here all by himself.

An older male definitely must have helped him.

"I don't know how you knew, but... there was. A Red-haired Boy. If he were alive today, he would probably be around Cadet Ho-yeon's age."

"... Excuse me?"

I doubted my ears at the director's words.

Because those words meant the survivor Rebecca had been looking for was dead.

"Ssss... It was a few years ago. On a day when it was snowing heavily, I heard a knock on the door, and when I went out, a Red-haired Boy was holding a young child in his arms, begging me to please let them sleep here for just one day."

"...."

The director continued speaking with his eyes closed, as if reminiscing about that time.

"The boy's condition was severe. His whole body was burning with a fever. He was so hot that we tried to send him to the hospital immediately, but he kept refusing. He said his body wasn't one that could go to a hospital. However, we secretly called an ambulance and sent him to the hospital."

"Yes."

"But his malnutrition was so severe that his whole body was ruined. Furthermore, he had frostbite all over his body from walking barefoot for so long, and his stamina had severely weakened too. It was already too late to treat him."

"Ah. So...."

"Yes. We received notice from the hospital that he passed away within a few hours. Fortunately, Su-hyeon, whom the boy had been holding tightly, was in okay condition, so we took him in and have been raising him."

"...."

What should I call this situation.

Stealing a glance at Rebecca, she had an expression of having lost one's country.

Well, considering she needed to revive the Rune Clan right away, it would be sad if the only remaining survivor was such a young kid.

No, thinking about her madness-laced expression regarding her clan... she really must feel like she's lost her country.

Creak-

"Hm? Why did the door open by itself? Is it the wind?"

Rebecca just opened the door and trudged right out.

Because she was still maintaining the Rune Barrier, the director's eyes widened at the suddenly opened door.

"... Thank you for the story. I'll be getting going now too."

"Alright. Cadet Ho-yeon. Thank you for stopping by."

I followed Rebecca outside.

Rebecca was blankly staring at the sky in the empty backyard.

As I stealthily approached, large teardrops were rolling down her cheeks and dripping onto the ground.

"Ms. Rebecca...?"

It was the first time I had called Rebecca's name.

Only then did Rebecca turn her head to me.

Drip. Drip.

Like an open faucet, tears fell from Rebecca's eyes.

If she were openly bawling, I could at least try to comfort her, but she was crying like someone who had truly given up on everything.

Haa.

Whenever I see a crying woman, I seriously have no idea what to do.

I should console her for now.

"Please don't cry. Umm... 8 years old is still young, but he'll grow up in a little bit...."

"... It's meaningless."

"Excuse me?"

"That child hasn't received proper succession training.... Since he didn't receive the education during the most important young age, he's just a half-measure that's hard to call a member of the Rune Clan."

"Ah...."

"Besides, by the time that child grows up, it will be too late. Because I'm getting older too."

"... How old are you?"

On the outside, she looks about the same age as Im Sol, but could she be deceiving her age with magic?

Hiding one's age is one of the witch clichés, after all.

If it turns out she's an 80-year-old grandma, even I would be a bit....

"... My 20s will be over the year after next."

"No, what. You're young, aren't you."

"... I have to give birth to as many children as possible while I'm young, I tell you!"

Sniff.

Sniffling while crying, Rebecca looked truly pitiful.

"There will be a way. I'll help you, so let's take our time and look for it."

Rebecca looked at me and roughly wiped away her tears with her hands.

"Gasp. ...I'm just going to do it with you."

"No, wait a minute. Why does it turn out like that."

"Because you're the only male in the world who can use the Rune Barrier."

"Even so...."

"And you're handsome. You're my type. If the survivor turned out to be an ugly pig, I was still going to endure it and aim for 50 kids, you know? But if it's you, I could give birth for you until I die."

"...."

Rebecca tightly grabbed my collar with eyes full of selfish desire.

Honestly, I was all for it.

It meant the number of heroines who would automatically be captured just by having sex with a beauty was increasing, after all.

One might think there was no reason to refuse, but in fact, there were many.

First was the Revival of the Rune Clan.

The talent contained within this body was a talent received through the divine authority called a special privilege.

Would this really be passed down to my children?

Of course, it would be great if it did. But there was also a chance it wouldn't.

"... Help me."

"... Ms. Rebecca."

"I've... I've already finished all the preparations. If you need money, I'll give you money too. Ah, I'll raise the child as well... I'll make sure there's absolutely nothing for you to worry about. You just... just have to plant your seed in me. Please...."

Rebecca's posture gradually collapsed as she spoke.

In the end, she practically knelt on the ground while grabbing and shaking my clothes.

It was an attitude 180 degrees different from when she forcefully pinned me down at first.

She probably acted that way back then because she thought I was also a member of the Rune Clan.

Rebecca risking her life for the revival of the clan.

And the man who brought Cheon Su-hyeon to the orphanage trying to protect the younger Cheon Su-hyeon at all costs.

Thinking about it based on those things, there was a high possibility they received education from the Rune Clan itself since childhood.

They must have been repeatedly educated on the importance of preventing extermination at all costs, or the importance of continuing the bloodline.

So she naturally assumed that I, being from the Rune Clan, would also accept the clan's revival.

But the current me is different.

Because I'm not from the Rune Clan, I have no obligation to continue the clan, yet I've also ended up in a state where she can't forcefully take me either.

Since I might just end up dying.

There was the option of doing it forcefully, but honestly, I wasn't at a level where I couldn't resist at all.

If I made up my mind to resist, creating an opening big enough to kill myself would be easy.

'Of course I would never die... but Rebecca doesn't know that.'

In a way, I had become the last hope that Rebecca couldn't control.

"I'll do anything, everything you want, so please...."

I grabbed the shoulders of Rebecca, who was about to smash her head into the ground, and raised her up.

"... Please get up. I don't want to have that kind of relationship."

A person with such attractive decadent beauty shouldn't break down like that.

Because people like her are prettier when they're brimming with confidence.

"Then are you going to get me pregnant? Are we going to do some babymaking?"

At my words, Rebecca looked at my face with eyes full of expectation.

"... I can make an effort. But there's a condition. Please follow my words exactly."

"I've practiced enough. I can digest anything."

Rebecca, who took my words to mean something else, hardened her resolve, but that wasn't important.

Because there was a really big problem that prevented me from accepting Rebecca right away.

I had to solve that first.