Chapter 134: Chapter 134

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Translator: Vine

Chapter Title: The Cost of the Veil Bandage

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Vulcan Zebra, the boss of Act 5 and the leader of the Mystics.

Act 5 focuses on defeating Vulcan with the help of the reincarnators.

And this is where the Veil Bandage comes in handy.

It is used to infiltrate the Mystics, led by Vulcan.

After hearing about the Mystics from Vanesha, Lucas realizes their danger.

So, during his winter break, he infiltrates the Mystics using the Veil Bandage he received from her.

That is the standard, orthodox scenario.

Musika, who had mentioned Vulcan, offered a bittersweet smile.

She knew, at least in part, why Vulcan had become the way he was.

"I'm sorry that those who were once called heroes have dragged their problems into the present."

Before he became Vulcan, Rosalie was undoubtedly a revered hero.

However, they, too, had personal lives.

Rosalie was broken through a series of events, and ultimately, her unfortunate life intertwined with Vulcan's, causing her to spiral out of control.

Thus, the Mystics were reborn.

Musika, possessing Vanesha, was part of the Mystics.

So, she also knew the stories intertwined with Vulcan.

"But I believe he must be stopped."

Musika wanted to stop Vulcan.

His actions, leading the Mystics, brought him no happiness.

They were merely a way to unleash his grudges upon the world.

Musika did not want Vulcan's end to be like that.

"So, that's why you're asking me for this favor?"

"That's right. You knew from the start that I was Aquiline's reincarnation, didn't you? And you probably know far more beyond that."

In Musika's eyes, I was a very peculiar existence.

I know countless undisclosed secrets of this world.

This was by no means normal.

"To be honest, I don't really know who you are."

She knew that I was Vikamon.

Yet, she said she didn't really know who I was.

"I was once called a Soul Keeper. I can clearly see the structure of a soul. But your soul's connection to your body is too faint. As if you're possessed."

My shoulder twitched.

She could see that far.

Regarding this, I couldn't hastily open my mouth either.

Because I didn't know anything about it myself.

Nor could I openly declare that I had taken over Vikamon's body.

This was a story that would never bring anything good if revealed somewhere.

"Even I can't fully see through you. But despite such a faint connection to your body, it's stable."

It was stable, as if the original owner of the body had accepted a new soul.

"And I can clearly see the soul imbued with your mission and mindset."

Musika approached me and lightly tapped my chest with her index finger.

"You want to protect the world, don't you? That feeling still resonates clearly with me. I've seen someone with the same heart as you before."

She could see even that?

She wasn't called the best Soul Master for nothing.

"Who is that, and where do they live?"

If possible, I wanted some help protecting the world.

"Olphram."

The Great Hero.

The one who led the five heroes was mentioned.

"Musika, do you happen to know who Olphram's reincarnation is?"

I knew the reincarnations of the other five heroes.

But Olphram remained a complete mystery.

As a Soul Keeper, she might know.

As I held my breath in expectation, Musika let out a short laugh.

"Unfortunately, I don't know either. He always said things that were hard to understand, even back then. He was an unpredictable person."

She revealed a longing for the past.

"Perhaps that's why he often acted beyond common sense, with a peculiar knack for putting people in difficult situations."

Musika shrugged her shoulders and moved away from me.

"Still, I think he must have reincarnated somewhere. He's that kind of person."

Her eyes held the distant past.

Long ago, heroes who protected the world under the dazzling sun.

And herself, standing shoulder to shoulder with them.

"Ah, I was quite something back then!"

Lost in nostalgia, she let out a "Kuh!" like an old man. Even heroes, it seems, can't resist reminiscing about their badass plays.

"Anyway, that's why I'm shamelessly asking you for this favor. Though for some reason, I feel like you'd stop him anyway."

She's too good at seeing through people.

"That's right."

I affirmed without hesitation.

"I have to keep working hard until this world can function properly again."

I know my own destiny best.

Lately, I've been thinking.

Perhaps someone called me to save this world, which was heading straight for a bad ending.

If so, it was a good thing.

Because I am determined to guide this world away from a bad ending and towards a happy one.

"But that's only until I graduate from the academy."

The world I know extends only until Lucas safely graduates from Jerion Academy.

Even I don't know what world will unfold after that.

So, I wanted to tell her.

"After that, I hope everyone, including you, Musika, will lead the world."

For my role, I will exert all my strength until the very end.

Even if it means I break, I will certainly complete it.

So, I want to tell those who will live in the next world.

Please, lead the world I protected well, so it doesn't break down.

"That sounds a lot like you're about to leave."

Musika tilted her head and looked at me.

"How strange. That person you just mentioned often spoke in a similar way."

Was she talking about Olphram?

My eyes widened slightly.

Could it be that Olphram was also someone who had been possessed, just like me?

For a very brief moment, that thought crossed my mind.

However, I didn't know where Olphram was.

It was a fact I couldn't confirm.

"But unfortunately, it's not my part to play. I've already become like this."

Musika reached out and placed her hand on Granthony's shoulder.

"That's the part of the children living in this modern era."

That was true.

The countless students enrolled in all the academies, including Jerion Academy.

They were truly the stars of the future who would lead this era.

As Aquiline, Musika had become the brightest starlight, leading countless people.

Therefore, she now wished for other students, not herself, to carry on that starlight.

"And that includes you, Hanon."

Musika pointed at me.

"Don't exclude yourself from that. You, too, are living in this same era."

She smiled, a hint of sadness in her eyes.

"You know the effects of the Veil Bandage, don't you? You lose love, anger, and sadness."

Thanks to glimpsing Vanesha's memories, Musika also knew this fact.

That's why she reminded me of it.

Love, anger, sadness.

I had almost lost love.

Anger, too, had dwindled in my heart, with little left.

The last remaining was sadness.

Honestly, I wasn't sure about sadness.

I even thought, isn't it good if you don't feel sad?

However, I remembered something a doctor told me when I was treating my facial paralysis.

It was a response that began with my question of whether I needed to practice a sad expression.

"Sadness is the most human emotion. It's about empathizing with your own pain and suffering, and furthermore, with the pain of others, and feeling that pain together. That's what sadness is."

If anger is an explosion, then sadness is a calming force.

Those who know sadness can empathize with and comfort others.

But those who don't know sadness can't even do this.

Human emotions are ambiguous.

Therefore, if even one emotion is lost, the emotions lose balance and collapse.

'Perhaps the Veil Bandage...'

It might be making me increasingly numb to these feelings.

Unlike before, I've become even less bothered by using the Veil Bandage.

That was probably because my anger was dying.

Anger is an emotion that erupts when one's interests and rights are violated, and one is forced to suffer loss.

In this situation, where the Veil Bandage was taking away my emotions, I felt no particular anger and didn't react.

"Protecting the world is certainly a good thing."

Musika urged me to make a promise.

"But you are also a part of the same world. Cherish yourself, Hanon. You are the benefactor of me, Vanesha, and Granthony."

"I promise."

I resolved to heed Musika's words carefully.

"Well then, my conversation ends here. Granthony will be able to go to the Magic Palace without any problems."

Granthony made a V-sign from behind Musika's back.

"Soulmate, see you tomorrow."

"Alright, I'll count on both of you tomorrow."

The conversation concluded successfully.

Now, it seemed I needed to go find the last person.

It was the moment I grabbed a chair and slid the door open with a rattling sound.

"Ah!"

With a startled cry from outside the door, someone crumpled to the floor.

My eyes slowly widened at the sight.

Because outside, there was familiar red hair.

I could see a forehead that shone brightly, catching the light spilling in from the window.

"Seron?"

When I called that name, Seron stood up with a flustered expression.

"Th-that, well, I heard Prince Sweet Potato was doing something on the first-year floor, so I followed you."

Did she track me down?

"And I was just waiting to surprise you, and then..."

In the midst of it all, Seron's playful side took over, and she waited by the door.

The problem was that in the process, Seron heard something she shouldn't have.

"...Prince Sweet Potato, what do you mean by losing love, anger, and sadness?"

After Seron finished speaking, she bit her lip and looked up at me.

It was a question asking if what she had just heard was true.

I remained silent, looking at Seron for a moment.

At that instant, Seron came closer to me.

"Take it off right now."

Seron reached out to remove my bandage.

"Take that off right now!"

I quickly grabbed Seron's wrist.

"Seron, calm down for a second."

"How can I calm down?!"

She shrieked in a shrill voice.

"How can I calm down when the person who taught me about love is losing it?!"

She certainly knows how to say things that make your face burn.

But seeing Seron's tear-streaked face, I knew she was sincere.

"I don't want that."

Seron gripped my wrist tightly.

"I don't know what you're trying to do, Prince Sweet Potato. But I don't want you to do it if it means becoming like that."

She let her tears fall.

I looked at her for a moment, then slowly released Seron's wrist.

She truly was a girl who seemed tough, yet was a tender soul.

And she was someone who genuinely worried about me.

"Seron."

Seron slowly looked up at me.

I raised my hand and wiped away her tears.

"If you cry twice in one day, your eyes will swell up."

"Whose fault is that?"

"Right. So, you make me cry like this later."

I couldn't tell Seron that I wouldn't use the Veil Bandage.

Vikamon would become an adult next year.

As Vikamon, I wouldn't be able to enter the Magic Palace starting next year.

So, I needed the Veil Bandage until next year.

I couldn't bring myself to say I would take off the Veil Bandage right then and there.

So, I decided to ask this forehead girl, who worried about me.

"Make me cry buckets."

To awaken the sadness I haven't lost yet.

"And make me a little angry too."

To awaken the anger I'm gradually losing.

"And finally, help me understand the love you've come to know."

To awaken the love I had lost.

I asked Seron.

Upon hearing my words, Seron reached out, wrapped her arms around my back, and pressed her face against my chest.

"Okay. I'll do it a hundred, a thousand times."

Perhaps it was the first promise I made for my future self.

I made that promise with Seron.