Chapter 24: The Weight of Strength and the Bonds That Heal

Kiriel’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.

She looked as if she was expecting something grand.

“L-Lord! Please share your thoughts!”

“Hmm… What’s different about you?”

“C-Could it be that you haven’t noticed, my lord?”

No matter how much she pressed me…

A dense person like me wasn’t likely to notice anything unusual.

Ah.

“Don’t tell me… You’ve changed your hairstyle?”

“I’m touched, my lord! You’ve noticed! Such grace and kindness are beyond compare!”

In an instant, Kiriel’s face lit up completely, as if she had just heard the answer she had been waiting for.

She always wore a ponytail, but the twin tails suited her surprisingly well.

Her golden hair, braided on both sides, framed her face, making her features stand out even more.

She also looked younger.

Despite her voluptuous, captivating figure, which exuded allure wherever she went, she now resembled a schoolgirl.

If she ditched that armor, you’d be hard-pressed to tell her apart from a modern citizen.

“It suits you quite well,” I remarked.

“My lord’s praise… Ah, such glory is overwhelming. How about tying your hair into twin tails as well, my lord?”

“I don’t really mind…”

Before I could even finish my sentence, Kiriel’s eyes lit up as if a fire had been ignited in them.

Her zeal was so intense that it seemed like a catastrophe might occur if she didn’t braid my hair right away.

“My lord, please take a seat! Leave it to me I will braid you the most perfect twin tails!”

Breathing heavily with excitement, Kiriel grabbed my arm and guided me to a chair.

I didn’t see any reason to refuse, so I sat there quietly.

Twin tails? I wasn’t sure if they’d suit me, but then again, it didn’t really matter.

Swish.

Swoosh.

Kiriel deftly began braiding my hair.

Her touch was surprisingly gentle and precise.

For someone who usually focused on swordsmanship and combat, her skill in hairstyling was unexpected.

She’d only recently arrived from another world, yet she seemed more in tune with modern life than I was.

‘I’ve always just let my long hair hang loose, never bothering to style it. ‘

‘It didn’t seem necessary, and I didn’t really care, so I just let it be.’

Maybe that’s why it felt a bit strange now.

The sensation of my hair being neatly arranged was new to me.

“Where did you learn to do this?” I asked.

“I learned out of my loyalty to you, my lord! It’s done your perfect twin tails are complete!”

“Hmm…”

“Please, look in the mirror!”

This didn’t feel like me.

The reflection staring back was someone I didn’t recognize.

“Is… is this me?”

The twin tails Kiriel had braided were flawless and adorable to an almost excessive degree.

My silver hair, styled into twin tails, shimmered like moonlit silk, softly resting on my shoulders.

Though my eyes were still half-lidded, giving me the appearance of someone uninterested in the world…

The hairstyle told a different story.

Strangely, it seemed to imbue me with a sense of vitality.

It was just a change in hairstyle, yet it completely altered my image.

Looking at myself in the mirror, I couldn’t help but feel an odd sensation.

‘My eyes are still as lifeless as ever, but somehow I look more lively.’

The power of a new style it was more transformative than I’d imagined.

Kiriel leaned in closer, her radiant smile revealing a sense of satisfaction.

It was the look of someone who had achieved exactly what they set out to do.

“How do I look, my lord? Don’t I look absolutely adorable?”

“Well… It’s fine, I guess.”

“Oh, the honor of having my lord recognize such cuteness is overwhelming!”

Wait, I’m the one who’s supposed to be cute here. Why does she look like she’s the one basking in glory?

Setting aside my overly enthusiastic subordinate, I decided to ask what was bothering me.

“So, what made you decide to change your style?”

“Well… the truth is, I saw a video that said twin tails and a bit of aegyo work wonders. ”

“So, I tried it out. My lord, did my aegyo work on you?”

“…?”

Kiriel’s cheeks flushed faintly as she nervously fidgeted with her fingers, waiting for my response.

…Aegyo? She tried aegyo?

When?

I didn’t notice anything at all.

If Kiriel really had tried to act cute, I would’ve at least reacted in some way.

Maybe it’s because she’s an angel that even her attempt at deception felt oddly pure.

“I don’t think so.”

“It seems I’m still far too clumsy… But one day, my lord, I’ll surely succeed in making you notice!”

“And what exactly was so important that you felt the need to try aegyo for it?”

“Well… actually… I’ve only been in this world for a short time, so there are still many things I don’t know. So, um… I…”

The confident knight who once felled monsters with a single strike now hesitated,

her demeanor uncharacteristically sheepish.

Her golden hair swayed slightly as she turned her head, the soft motion expressing her embarrassment in her stead.

She seemed to struggle even to form the words.

“…It’s… a date.”

“Pardon?”

“A… A DATE! I want to go on a date with my lord!”

“A date?”

“You’ve taken care of me so kindly… I wish to repay you. And so… I thought we could… try this ‘date’ thing together.”

“…?”

When did I ever take care of Kiriel?

I thought back to the time she meticulously deboned fish for me.

No matter how much I racked my brain, I couldn’t recall any instance where I was the one looking after her.

If anything, it was always the other way around.

Yet Kiriel spoke as if I were a guardian who had nurtured her.

“…So, it’s impossible, isn’t it…?”

An uneasy silence lingered between us.

For once, Kiriel’s words trailed off, her uncertainty palpable.

Her eyes reflected a flicker of fear—fear of rejection.

Watching her, I realized something.

I didn’t really understand Kiriel.

I knew how to brawl with villains and face apocalyptic threats,

but I had no clue what emotions drove this valkyrie standing before me in the real world.

A soft smile naturally curved on my lips.

Normally, I preferred staying at home, but for a subordinate like her? A brief outing wouldn’t hurt.

“This isn’t a difficult request.”

“Th-That means… my lord is truly agreeing to a… a d-date with me!”

“But before that, there’s something we need to take care of first.”

“What is it, my lord? A gate-clearing mission? ”

“Has a world boss reappeared? If it’s for a date with my lord, I am prepared to deliver justice to any foe!”

“No, nothing so troublesome.”

I glanced at Kiriel.

Her figure, impossible to conceal, was tightly confined under her armor.

It looked incredibly uncomfortable.

I couldn’t let her go out dressed like that—aside from the discomfort, it would also draw too much attention.

“Kiriel.”

“Yes, my lord!”

“Take it off.”

“…??!!!!”

Her expression was a whirlwind of confusion and shock.

Kiriel’s face turned completely crimson, as if steam might start rising from her head at any moment.

“M-My lord… This is the first time you’ve given such a command, but… could it be that… my greatest wish is about to come true?”

“What?”

“The ultimate reward… bestowed upon me by my lord… If it is your order, I shall disrobe immediately.”

“…? No, no. I just mean your armor. ”

“I bought some clothes from the coin shop; wear these instead. That heavy armor is impractical for going out.”

Turning my notifications back on for her sake, I browsed the coin shop and bought several simple items.

With a flash of light, the clothes materialized out of thin air.

I wasn’t sure what she’d like, so I just bought a variety of options. I could afford it.

And then…

Kiriel suddenly wore the expression of someone who had lost everything.

Her eyes looked even more despondent than mine ever had.

“…What? Did I say something strange?”

“…You’re merely ordering me to… change clothes?”

“Yes.”

Kiriel visibly deflated, slumping as if the weight of the world had come crashing down on her.

Her dejected appearance was pitiful enough to rival a soaked kitten left out in the rain.

‘What on earth was she expecting?’

I had no idea.

Cheon Yeoul’s dream had always been to become a hunter.

It stemmed from a deep admiration for her idol, a desire that had planted the seed of ambition within her.

“Hey, kid. What are you doing?”

“!!!”

Before her awakening, Cheon Yeoul had encountered her hero amidst burning buildings and shattered rubble.

Though his face showed nothing but weariness and irritation, his presence was steadfast a true hero of the era.

Nameless.

“Don’t just stand there. It’s dangerous here. Go find your mom.”

With a back as sturdy as a mountain,

Nameless shielded Cheon Yeoul from the falling debris of a collapsing crane before charging into the enemy’s stronghold alone.

“Yeoul! Come here, sweetheart!”

“Thank you! Thank you so much! Yeoul, are you okay?”

Even as her parents clung to her in relief,

Cheon Yeoul’s wide eyes remained fixed on the heroic figure, etching his image into her memory.

Her hero.

Witnessing a lone hero singlehandedly defeating hideous monsters,

and extending a kind hand to those in danger left an indelible mark on Cheon Yeoul.

It was that vivid memory of Nameless’s deeds that inspired her dream to become a hunter.

But then, tragically, her moment of awakening arrived far sooner than anyone expected.

Nameless went missing.

Another gate opened right in the middle of the city she lived in.

The hunters failed to clear the gate, and monsters spilled into reality.

Warning sirens blared as people scrambled to evacuate, but it was too late.

The sky split apart as if torn by some colossal force,

and enormous monsters descended from the crimson-black clouds.

“Yeoul! Over here! Quickly!”

Her father’s urgent voice snapped Cheon Yeoul out of her daze, and she clung tightly to her parents’ hands.

Together, the family ran toward the shelter.

But before they could reach safety, a massive monster blocked their path.

“No…!”

Instinctively, her mother pulled Yeoul into her arms while her father stepped forward like a shield to protect them.

In that instant, the monster’s claws lashed out toward her father.

“Dad!!!”

“Yeoul, run!”

Her father’s shout was filled with desperation.

And then, coldly, without hesitation, the monster tore their world apart.

Cheon Yeoul froze, paralyzed by the shock.

She watched helplessly as her parents fell before her, their lives slipping away in a spray of blood.

The sight of their final moments felt like time itself had come to a standstill.

But then, something deep within her broke free.

“A… Ah… Aaaahhh!!!”

Amid her despair, a blinding light erupted from her body.

“I’ll kill you!”

Dark crimson mana swirled around her, sharpening her senses until everything came into crystal-clear focus.

Cheonmashin-gong (Heavenly Demon Divine Arts).

It was the moment South Korea witnessed the birth of a new S-class hunter.

Cheonma.

Cheon Yeoul felt weighed down by a heavy gloom.

‘Ugh, what a fool. Why were you lying there, sleeping, of all things?’

So many people had been in danger, and she hadn’t been able to save any of them.

Even the child she most desperately wanted to protect.

That child had, fortunately, made it home safely.

But that didn’t change the fact that she had done nothing.

The guilt gnawed at her.

‘I’m so weak. Lately, all I do is hit walls.’

The Tower of Infinity?

She had already reached the 99th floor ages ago.

She cleared every S-class gate without fail.

Recently, she had even secured second place in contribution during a world boss raid,

earning some excellent skills and equipment.

But still.

It wasn’t enough.

She needed to be stronger.

Like Nameless.

If she wanted to protect others, she had to grow even more.

“Would things have been different if I’d accepted a patron constellation back then…?”

As those thoughts lingered, someone approached her.

“Sunbae-nim, you’re here!”

It was Baek Soul, known by her hunter nickname, [CheonmaLove].

“What are you doing here?”

“I’ve been looking for you! You’ve been so down lately since that whole Saintess incident, so I thought we could go on a little date. Hehe.”

“A date? Hunters don’t date they hunt monsters.”

“Exactly! That’s why you’re burning out! And what about that housemate of yours?”

” They don’t say anything about how you’re barely home and just work all the time?”

“I guess… they’re just indifferent.”

Cheonma found herself thinking about that child at home.

Why had they slapped the Saintess that day?

All she had wanted was to protect them, but maybe… just maybe, the child had known the Saintess was trouble all along.

‘There’s something mysterious about that kid.’

Her thoughts were cut short as Baek Soul suddenly grabbed her hand and started pulling.

“Enough moping! Just follow me, sunbae!”

“Wait, hold on”

“I’m going to make sure you recharge properly. Gloomy sunbae is such a bad look for you. ”

“Oh, by the way, there’s this amazing restaurant nearby. You probably haven’t heard of it.”

“I’m not really in the mood to eat…”

“There you go again! ”

“Do you know how nerve-wracking it is to recommend a restaurant and wait for someone’s opinion? ”

“I’m not letting you ruin this for me today, so don’t even think about saying the food isn’t good.”

With a cheeky grin, Baek Soul led the way, and Cheonma reluctantly followed.

Neither of them realized that, hidden in the dark shadows, someone was watching their every move.