LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 76
“Is that it?”
Kim Il-shin, who had been running without pause, thought as he looked at the crowd gathered at the entrance of the Mountain Range Workshop.
There were citizens and individuals dressed as researchers mixed together, all wearing expressions of surprise or worry.
The reason became clear soon after.
As he got closer to the entrance, he felt a strange force emanating from inside, where the main workshop was supposed to be located.
Mana was swirling chaotically, taking over the vast space.
The flow even affected the mana inside objects, and Kim Il-shin immediately recognized the danger.
“Haung Deok-soo is over there.”
Haung Deok-soo sat with a despairing expression, staring at the entrance of the workshop.
From that look, it seemed Hanareen must be inside the Mountain Range Workshop.
Now that he knew where she was, there was no need to waste time.
Kim Il-shin dashed toward the entrance of the workshop.
“You can’t go in there!”
“Stop! It’s dangerous!”
Ignoring the people around him trying to stop him, Kim Il-shin stepped into the entrance, immediately entering a space where mana was overloading.
Then, the irregular flow of mana began to infiltrate his body.
The mana in his circuits was rampaging in unpredictable directions, delivering a pain like being stabbed by needles.
“Is there… no pattern?”
Since he had no way to control all the surrounding mana, Kim Il-shin decided to surrender his body to the chaotic current.
He didn’t slow his legs and began to take action.
After stopping the movement of mana circuits, he cut off even the minimal force that was holding the mana in his body.
After that, when he widened the path of mana circuits, the mana floating in the space couldn’t harm Kim Il-shin anymore.
“Got it.”
Confirming that the pain had lessened after completing the process, Kim Il-shin looked ahead.
He found himself standing right in front of the entrance to the main workshop.
“That fool.”
He could see Hanareen staggering and making her way toward the center through the large glass window on the right.
Her steps were so precarious that she looked like she would fall at any moment.
Seeing that, Kim Il-shin quickened his pace, and as he feared, Hanareen’s body swayed greatly.
Boom!
Kim Il-shin lunged through the door, throwing himself to catch Hanareen.
“She has endured mana exhaustion for too long.”
Since she had also been working hard in that state, there was no way her body could be normal.
Hanareen’s treatment method involved injecting mana into her body.
However, that was impossible in this environment.
“Why… did you endure it until now?”
Although his head was boiling, this wasn’t the time for such thoughts.
“…Just hang on a little longer.”
Saying that, Kim Il-shin closed his eyes.
He mustn’t try to control the mana all at once.
He concentrated on the chaotic flow and gently pushed it in the desired direction.
Soon, he pulled the small amount of mana gathered in his palm like a thread and connected it to Hanareen.
After forming a floating space at her dantian, he slowly let the mana flow.
“…”
As mana filled her body, Hanareen’s breathing stabilized.
Her complexion seemed to regain a bit of color.
Eventually, Hanareen slowly opened her eyes and spoke.
“Hey… why are you here?”
At her nonsensical words, Kim Il-shin let out a small chuckle and replied.
“That’s what I should be asking.”
“Grandpa told you, didn’t he…! I said not to tell you that…”
“You should have said something. Why didn’t you?”
“You didn’t say anything either…! You always lie… But why does your face look like that? Are you hurt?”
Hanareen fussed inappropriately for the situation.
Since she seemed still half-asleep, Kim Il-shin flicked her forehead.
“Ow…!”
“Are you feeling a bit more awake?”
“Eh…? Huh!”
As Hanareen suddenly widened her eyes while glancing around, she tried to go toward the center light.
“Let go…!”
Blocking her path was Kim Il-shin.
“Where do you think you’re going? We need to get out now.”
“What? No! There’s not much time left…!”
Although Hanareen was flailing in a panic, Kim Il-shin had no intention of listening to her.
He had made some simple adjustments, but he didn’t know when her condition might worsen.
He couldn’t let her continue working.
“Let go! We can’t do it now!”
“I don’t know what you’re trying to make, but no. Let’s go.”
“I don’t care! Let go! I’m fine!”
Hanareen was desperate.
Having used up the only remaining materials in the world, if this opportunity slipped away, there would be no further attempts possible.
This was her last chance.
“Please, just listen to me.”
“…What?”
At the sound of Kim Il-shin’s sigh, Hanareen snapped back angrily.
The accumulated grievances exploded.
“Why do I have to listen only to you? You never listen to me either.”
“…Huh?”
Kim Il-shin froze, facing Hanareen’s eyes filled with resentment.
“When I told you not to train because you weren’t fully healed, when I asked you to let me know before going to dangerous places, when I said not to lie. You never listened to me. So why should I listen to you?”
“…”
“I have to make this. If I don’t, I’ll be in big trouble. So… just let this go.”
Kim Il-shin silently released his grip.
Hanareen hesitated for a moment as she looked into Kim Il-shin’s eyes, then turned her back and walked toward the light, placing both hands on it.
Fwoosh!
The mass of light began to emit light, and the rays inside started to flow slowly.
Hanareen focused her attention on each individual ray, altering their properties one by one.
‘…Ugh.’
But the progress of the work was slower than expected.
Handling the light rays with high-density energy inside was not going as smoothly as he thought.
Swoosh.
“How should I do this?”
“Uh, uh…?”
Just then, Kim Il-shin, who had approached from behind, placed his hand over Hanareen’s and connected the threads of mana.
Hanareen, startled by the sensation coming from behind her, fidgeted her fingers and let out a blank sound.
“Hey… haven’t you gone out yet…?”
“It’s not over until this is done.”
“Uh… just connect that red one over here…”
“Like this?”
“Wow…”
Hanareen admired as she watched the light rays moving freely.
She knew he was good at handling mana, but she didn’t expect it to be at this level.
Once Kim Il-shin joined in, their progress accelerated incredibly.
“Not much left now. Connect that purple one to the end.”
Following Hanareen’s instructions, Kim Il-shin moved the light rays while asking.
“Things are better with me around, right?”
“Yeah…”
“Then you should’ve told me in advance.”
“Hmph.”
Turning her head, Hanareen glared at Kim Il-shin, resembling a cat that had just been bathed, peeking out from the corner.
“So, did you tell me everything?”
“Most things.”
“Wow… What have you been up to until now?”
“…I said I had a mission.”
“Was it really not dangerous?”
“It went according to plan, so it wasn’t dangerous.”
“Not that kind of thing!”
As Kim Il-shin was dodging the question, Hanareen asked directly.
“Who did you fight today?”
“…Only two.”
“So, who?”
There was no way out anymore. Kim Il-shin squinted his eyes and replied.
“Uh, it was against the puppeteers and the sword demon.”
“…What?!”
Puppeteers and the sword demon.
Both were notorious criminals from the Evil Heaven Church that Hanareen was familiar with.
“What? Not dangerous? Really? You’re crazy, crazy…! Ugh! Ugh…!”
Hanareen, furious, thrashed about, but soon realized she couldn’t let go of him.
But she didn’t give up.
Bam! Bam!
Shaking her head back and forth, she whacked Kim Il-shin’s chest with the back of her head.
It hurt more than she expected.
“Sorry.”
“You’ll see after this is all over.”
“I said I’m sorry.”
“…Then promise me. From now on, tell me everything. Then I’ll tell you everything too.”
“…”
“Not going to do it?”
Seeing no response, Hanareen loaded her head again.
Seeing that, Kim Il-shin hastily replied.
“Okay, I promise I’ll tell you everything now.”
“Hmph. I’ll let it slide because I’m so understanding.”
“Thanks.”
From that point, the two focused silently on their work.
Hanareen gave commands, and Kim Il-shin moved following her instructions.
During that time, Hanareen repeatedly pondered over the softly flowing colors.
“This is the last one.”
Just then, when the work was almost complete, with only the last connection left, she finally made her choice.
Suddenly.
The light ray that was about to connect stopped. Hanareen had severed the link.
“Why, is there a problem?”
To Kim Il-shin’s question, Hanareen responded with another question instead.
“Don’t you wonder why I’m making this?”
“…Not really?”
“If I tell you, will you tell me too?”
“What?”
“Why you’re fighting.”
“……”
Kim Il-shin’s words faltered.
He realized what Hanareen hoped to hear through her questions.
“Is that a no? Then let’s change the topic.”
Hanareen turned her head away.
Faced with her big eyes, Kim Il-shin understood.
His moment of choice had come.
“To you, what kind of person am I?”
“……”
“Can’t answer? Then let me say this first. I’m a very understanding person.”
As Hanareen withdrew her hands from the mass, turning away, the brilliance flowing from behind drew all of Kim Il-shin’s focus to her.
“I… Kim Il-shin…”
Hanareen gently closed her eyes, placing both hands on her heart, wearing a calm smile.
Then she spoke.
“You’re… so precious.”
Kim Il-shin’s eyes shook.