Chapter 34: Han Ruah… I’m Twelve Years Old…

Late at night, somewhere on the artificial island.

In the darkness, only the red dot at the corner of Park Haengsin’s mouth glowed. Exhaling a puff of smoke, he spoke to the person on the other end of the call.

“I can’t interfere with the competitions where students compete against each other.”

<…Is that so.>

“The most appropriate timing to disrupt the event would be during a major competition where everyone’s attention is focused.”

<The obstacle race, perhaps?>

“Correct.”

Park Haengsin snapped his fingers.

“I’ve made arrangements for the obstacle race, the highlight of the event. If there’s a problem with the obstacles, it’s 100% the Academy’s fault, so it aligns with what the boss wants.”

<Boss?>

“Uh… then what should I call you?”

<It doesn’t matter. Just handle your assigned task properly.>

“Yes, don’t worry. The boss only needs to worry about the payment you’ll give me. The deposit, like last time, when I report…”

<No, I’ll give you the payment directly.>

“Huh?”

Park Haengsin raised an eyebrow at the unexpected words.

“Directly, you say…?”

<I will go to the Academy. That’s necessary to make it look like a strong protest, and I need to see that person’s face to ensure they won’t resist.>

“I see.”

<We’ll meet then.>

“Understood. Then at that time—”

—Click!

The call ended before Park Haengsin could finish speaking. As always, the person on the other end did as they pleased.

‘Whatever.’

He put his phone in his pocket and raised his head. The massive circular stadium, where the event would unfold tomorrow—no, in a few hours—filled his vision.

“Hehehe.”

The corners of his mouth curled up.

“Those brats are going to be scared stiff during the competition.”

—Bang!

—Boom!

The sound of fireworks exploding under the blue sky.

The Academy Sports Festival was held at the circular stadium located in the center of the artificial island. Owned by the Felix Foundation, it was a comprehensive stadium capable of hosting various international competitions.

Usually quiet without any events, the stadium was bustling today for the annual Sports Festival.

As the public was allowed entry today, the roads leading to the artificial island were jammed with cars and buses, and the plaza in front of the stadium was crowded with various stalls and food trucks. Not only guild agents and students’ families, but also people unrelated to the Academy came to enjoy the games.

<…Attention, please. The opening ceremony will begin shortly at 11:00 AM. Visitors, please take your seats…>

The stadium seats were packed. The excitement and energy generated by countless spectators created a festive atmosphere.

—However, the temporary infirmary located at one side of the stadium was far from festive.

“I sprained my ankle going up the stairs!”

“My child’s hand is bleeding!”

“Excuse me, do you have any vitamins? I’m a bit tired…”

Countless people kept coming in. Ruah, in charge of healthcare, had been busy attending to them since morning.

Only about half of them actually needed treatment, but since the chairman had instructed her to be kind to outsiders, she couldn’t turn them away.

‘Don’t come here just because you’ve got a little cut on your finger…!’

“H-Here’s a band-aid…”

“You don’t offer [Healing]?”

“I’m… conserving my mana in case of an accident…”

“Humph! What’s this?”

A woman holding a child snorted and left the infirmary. Ruah sat down on a chair, exhausted.

‘At this rate, I’ll collapse before I can even do anything.’

Fortunately, she wasn’t working alone. The foundation had provided nursing staff from the hospital. Three nurses were also assigned to this First Aid Station where Ruah was.

“Teacher, please take a break.”

One of the nurses, noticing Ruah’s complexion, made the suggestion.

“Oh, no, but…”

“It’s okay. The opening ceremony is starting now, so there won’t be that many people.”

Accepting too readily might seem suspicious, but this was an opportunity. A chance to see what Park Haengsin was up to.

“Th-Then, I’ll be back by lunchtime…”

“Yes, alright!”

Ruah awkwardly bid farewell and left the infirmary. She was the very picture of a Florence Nightingale.

“Wooo!!”

“?!”

As soon as she left the infirmary, a huge cheer from the stands hit Ruah’s ears.

Looking down at the stadium, she saw the students, the stars of the day, entering. The boring parts like the chairman’s speech seemed to be over.

Along with the announcer’s words, the second-year students standing in the center of the stadium waved in all directions. Ruah narrowed her eyes and spotted Suah. Her bright smile was beautiful as always.

<Next, the first-year students experiencing their first Sports Festival!>

The second-year students exited, and the first-year students entered. Applause and cheers erupted from the stands once again.

‘I wonder if I can see Himari and Juju?’

Juju was in the middle of the line, but she was jumping and waving, making her easily recognizable. On the other hand, Himari seemed a little nervous, clasping her hands together and bowing to the audience.

‘Cute.’

<Shortly, the first event will be the third-year Capture the Flag…>

Ruah turned away. Although she wanted to watch Suah, Juju, and Himari perform in the competitions, she had something to do.

—Flap.

Ruah first entered a restroom, took off her white coat, and changed into clothes she had prepared to look like an ordinary tourist. If anyone questioned her while she was wandering around, she could just say she was lost.

“Done. Preparations complete.”

Coming out of the stall, Ruah checked her reflection in the mirror. A perfectly ordinary person.

‘First, the achievement hunt.’

There were three main things to collect during the Sports Festival event. She intended to finish the easiest collection achievement first.

All she had to do was walk around the stadium and pick up the ‘Commemorative Coin’ items.

“Heave-ho.”

Of course, since she knew all the locations, it wasn’t difficult. Inside the hallway fire extinguisher, the window frame of the south entrance, behind the third seat in the fifth row of the stands…

‘Done. 50 coins.’

Ruah wiped the sweat from her forehead and sighed. If she took the 50 collected Commemorative Coins to the operations headquarters, they would exchange them for a ‘High-Performance Telescope’ item. It was an item that allowed her to see the games closer and in more detail.

Of course, Ruah also planned to use it to observe what Hunter Park Haengsin was up to.

—Knock, knock!

When she knocked on the headquarters door, a staff member came out.

“…Can I help you?”

A huge security guard, seemingly twice Ruah’s size, looked down at her with his arms crossed, wearing a uniform. He even had a stern expression.

“Uh… um… well…”

Ruah couldn’t help but stammer under the unexpected pressure.

‘I need to say I’m here to exchange Commemorative Coins…!’

“Co, co, co…”

Clutching the strap of her crossbody bag with both hands, she struggled to speak.

“Huh?”

After confirming that no one else was around Ruah, the security guard raised an eyebrow.

“Are you perhaps…”

“Co, co, commem…”

“Did you lose your mommy?”

“…Huh?”

With a sudden, friendly smile, the security guard lifted Ruah up with both hands.

“You’re so smart, coming all the way here by yourself. It’s okay now. Will this mister help you find your mommy?”

“Ah, no, um…”

The security guard carried Ruah to the lost children’s center on the floor below.

‘He doesn’t know me because he’s from an external security company…!’

Ruah could only facepalm. Because she had changed her clothes, she looked exactly like a lost child who had come to enjoy the festival and got separated from her parents.

“We need to find this child’s parents. She came all the way to the headquarters.”

“Oh, I understand!”

A staff member at the lost children’s center crouched down to Ruah’s eye level and offered her a lollipop.

“What’s your name, little friend? How old are you?”

‘It would be even more embarrassing to say I’m not a child at this point….’

Ruah had no confidence in handling the awkwardness and embarrassment if the truth came out. So—

“H-Han Ruah… I’m twelve years old…”

In the end, Ruah said it herself. She felt something break inside her.

“B-But it’s okay! I can go by myself…!”

However, Ruah’s words didn’t reach the staff member. As soon as she heard Ruah speak, she turned and headed somewhere.

Ruah’s heart sank when she realized the staff member was heading towards a microphone.

“Oh, n-no…!”

But the announcement began mercilessly.

<Announcement from the lost children’s center. We are currently looking after a twelve-year-old child named Han Ruah. If you are her guardian, please come to the lost children’s center on the third floor.>

“Ah… ah…”

<Announcing again. The guardian of twelve-year-old Han Ruah, please come immediately…>

“Himari, aren’t you nervous?”

“Nervous… I’m fine. I just need to show what I’m capable of.”

“Amazing.”

This was a conversation between Juju, who had just finished the no-skills relay race, and Himari, who was sitting cross-legged on the floor, waiting for her turn, in the first-year special class waiting room.

Himari, who had been quiet, spoke first.

“Juju, did you complete the task Teacher gave you?”

“Ah… I couldn’t. It’s much harder than I thought.”

Juju answered, scratching the back of her head shyly.

“How about you, Himari? Did you succeed with the Battoujutsu on the moving platform?”

“Unfortunately, not yet.”

Himari sighed softly.

“I feel sorry for disappointing Teacher.”

“Hmm… Honestly, it was a pretty difficult task.”

The two couldn’t hide their disappointment. The Sports Festival had already started, so their chance to spend time with Ruah had practically vanished.

“But Teacher must have had a reason for giving us such a task.”

“…Well, that’s true.”

<Announcing again. The guardian of twelve-year-old Han Ruah, please come to the lost children’s center immediately—>

“…”

“…”

Himari and Juju looked at each other.

And, without a word, they both dashed out of the waiting room and ran towards the lost children’s center.

“Teacher!”
“Teacher!”

The sight that greeted them as they burst through the door—

“—Ah.”

It was Ruah, listening to the staff member reading a book and licking a lollipop.