This Is The Kind Of Person I Am! (3)

I had the skill list spread out and was looking it over. I was making skill books to give to the legion members. There were so many types of skills my eyes were getting tired.

Every skill. I turned every technique that wasn’t a divine power into skill books and stuffed them all into the magic pouch I received from Unos.

It took a long time because some failed, but I ran into a more unexpected obstacle.

Once again, I was stymied by the unhelpful explanation.

I metaphorically kicked the uncooperative divine power in anger and closed the skill book crafting window.

―On a day in June, Year 1 of the Battlefield of the Gods, in Kim Han’s study.

Personally, Hazel is a special representative to me as well.

She was the first woman I truly opened my heart to, and it was the first time the feeling was reciprocated—a two-way exchange.

That’s why!

Which is why I can’t stand watching her situation.

She doesn’t have a strange power like mine, so supporting her with technique scrolls is no longer possible; I forced her to choose.

As her physical grade rose, all useful skills became Ex rank. There were still usable skills left, but the problem was that none of the spirit-related skills Hazel needed remained.

In the awkward silence everyone stared tensely at Hazel’s mouth.

“First, I’ve always been grateful to you, and today you’re waking me up again—thank you, my Comess.”

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. Hazel’s pupils trembled as seriously as her inner conflict.

“I am…”

“Speak freely. Whatever you choose, I’ll respect it.”

“…I’ll choose the Force Core.”

“Ah…!”

“Hm.”

“…Hm.”

Her voice, once released—enough to shock the group—bore no hint of regret or hesitation. Only a calm, resolute determination.

A vow to live from now on as Spatium’s representative.

“Alright, do that.”

“Thank you, Comess.”

I offered her no words of consolation. No, I mustn’t. Representatives in the Battlefield of the Gods are that kind of existence.

The Battlefield of the Gods is hardly a place where you can freely do as you like.

As her comrade and lover, my job is to respect her choice and trust her as much as possible.

“Now then, if anyone needs any items, speak up.”

But no one readily said what they needed. Even Lee Hyo-ju couldn’t bring herself to ask for a Spirit Core.

Actually, Lee Hyo-ju is the bigger problem.

Unlike before, she possesses tremendous techniques that even many representatives in the top 100 don’t have, so her combat power is immense.

It’s a waste to have her focus only on tactics like in my previous life when her skills and combat power are so strong.

But for her concealed-weapon techniques to shine, she needs to be positioned at least immediately behind the vanguard warriors.

She must be positioned ahead of the mages; that’s fine for monster raids, but in fights against representatives anything could happen, which is the issue.

This happened because Song of Light and Gwaneum synergize far too well.

The talent tied to Gwaneum, ‘Governing Gluttony’, made Song of Light even more terrifying.

‘If we add one decent footwork technique here, she might become invincible…?!’

“Lee Hyo-ju!”

“…Yes?!”

“Ah… never mind. You’ve used all your registration cards, right?”

“Yes….”

There’s no real way around it.

Since both Song of Light and Gwaneum use Spirit, I hand the core to her thinking she’ll get the greatest effect among those gathered if she consumes a Spirit Core.

Then I take the Elemental Cores—Water, Wind, Earth, Fire [Unique]—and approach Hazel, placing them before her.

Hazel, and everyone else, clearly look surprised. I was the one who just told her to choose between the two.

“The reason you chose the Force Core: I respect that you’ll be of use to the legion as Spatium’s representative and that you’ve set a clear path as a representative. That’s why I’m giving you this—to help you cut ties completely. The grade of summoned spirits is determined by the spirit-summoning circle and Elemental Affinity, not by the amount of Spirit.”

I deliberately pause.

In fact, Elemental Affinity is the most ambiguous ability that doesn’t show a numeric value in the status window.

Even I don’t immediately know my own Elemental Affinity or Spirit Affinity values.

But from experience, Elemental Affinity determines the grade of spirits.

“So, take these and let’s perform the summoning ritual together. I’ll help.”

“…I refuse.”

I stroke Hazel’s head as she looks up at me with tears in her eyes, then return to my seat.

What remained were sixteen Enhancement Stones.

“And I’ll entrust the full authority to distribute the Enhancement Stones to Arun, who’s making that dumb face over there.”

“Oh?”

“Huh? Captain, really?”

“Heh heh, to Arun?”

“Hey, friend!”

“….”

“M-me?! Why me?”

At Hazel, Naruan, Lee Hyo-ju, Merus, Mae Young-ryeong’s reactions in that order, Arun stood up and leaped in surprise.

“Why? Because you received the least, so I’m giving them to you. You can keep them all or give them to others.”

“…Then I’ll give them to Mr. Kim Han…!”

“If you say that you’ll die. On future expeditions, people of the same profession will gather and multiple people might want the same magical items. You won’t dump it all on me each time, right? Don’t be wishy-washy—decide clearly.”

I tore my gaze away from Arun, who had a crying face while agonizing, and looked at Hazel.

I handed two divine power recovery potions to her and gave the same to Lee Hyo-ju, urging both of them to take the cores now.

They stood, stepped near the fountain, sat comfortably on the ground, and drank the potions in order.

They probably moved outside to take them because the Jaryong woke earlier thanks to Arun and Mae Young-ryeong; I saw them smile at the Jaryong as they moved.

The two women consumed the cores, Arun kept worrying, and Merus froze up again.

Mae Young-ryeong still said nothing, and Naruan kept stroking ‘True Flame’ while reciting the emotional ledger placed on the table.

Naturally, aside from the breeze in the garden, a peaceful, pleasant silence settled.

Abruptly, Mae Young-ryeong rose and left her seat.

A moment later she returned with steaming tea and potato chips spread with butter and honey—the so-called ‘butter honey chips’—and everything remained quiet.

When the storm of divine power calmed, Hazel and Lee Hyo-ju returned to their seats carrying heavy auras.

I used the ‘Confirm’ divine power to check the changed information after they consumed the divine power.

Mae Young-ryeong and Hazel increased by 16, not 15.

I don’t know the reason either, but I cautiously guessed that the original ‘120.9’ might have nudged up due to the divine power recovery potion.

For reference, Violentia’s mana I visited not long ago was 134.

Of course, if she had consumed the ‘Ancient Black Dragon Heart’ I stole, she’d be close to 150, but that’s beside the point for now.

Considering that, even Arun has become somewhat useful.

“Aren’t you disappointed?”

I suddenly asked Merus, who was still frozen, and after a moment’s thought he gave a small smile.

“I’m not disappointed. In fact, I’d be disappointed if you had given me something greater than this.”

“Why?”

“Whether a group or an organization, leaders must be careful about how they distribute things. From what I’ve seen in the two months I’ve been here, these people always work hard and contribute to many aspects of the legion’s affairs, so they deserve what they received. And if I may guess, these items seem related to the gods each of them serve. I didn’t know at first, but seeing the name Spatium in the book Lee Hyo-ju carries and these incredibly ranked Elemental Cores tailored to each of them feels almost planned. Haha.”

Merus explained in an annoyingly knowing tone, which made me snort. A lizardman smarter than most people.

“Really? Got it. The Jaryong’s waking up.”

“What? Eek!”

I left Merus frozen in his tracks—it’s not because his ‘I know everything’ look annoyed me—and turned my gaze to Arun.

Arun opened his mouth with difficulty.

“Mr. Kim Han, do you happen to have a divine power that can reveal other representatives’ information?”

“Huh?”

“Well, I sometimes thought about that. Anyway, if you have a power that can at least roughly reveal someone else’s information like Merus’s, I think it’d be more efficient for you to distribute it… Eek! Or—! How about offering it as a prize to those who achieve certain progress in training going forward?”

When I projected a cutting glare at Arun trying to wiggle out with a sly idea, he flinched and suddenly offered another suggestion.

This actually isn’t a bad idea.

“…That’s an unusually good idea for you, Arun.”

“Indeed.”

“I lucked out. Hng, the emotion ledger’s hard.”

“Oh?”

“As expected, friend.”

“….”

“Then let’s do that. Hand them over.”

“Yes? Ah, yes!”

I took the Enhancement Stones from Arun and placed them into my inventory.

But before I put all the Enhancement Stones into the inventory….

I forced this special Enhancement Stone into Arun.

As soon as the item distribution ended, Arun pulled out the communication crystal and gave a meaningful smile—like a mischievous kid planning a prank.

“Ah, ah! I’m Arun. I’m the one who can call the Rebound Legion’s commander Kim Han ‘you’ in the garden—I’m starting Hazel’s spirit summoning ritual. Come out quickly.”

―Don’t lie.

―Really?

―…He is Arun. It’s a lie.

―I’m telling the commander.

―How much scolding are you going to get from Hazel this time.

―Oh! Arun! Is this some kind of bait this time? How would I draw a spirit summoning circle in the garden?

…

But sadly, no one believed him.

Those who watched the scene snickered, and Arun became so excited he did his best to insist it was true.

Only after I spoke up did the members rush down to the garden.

So Hazel’s spirit summoning ritual was held in the right garden, where a Spirit Accumulation Array had been set up, with all the legion members watching.

Contrary to everyone’s expectations, high-grade spirits of the four major elements and Wood appeared from the start.

Of course, she collapsed in exhaustion immediately after contracting with five high-grade spirits, but the other members’ perception of Hazel clearly changed.

Especially Soria looked at Hazel as if she were a mentor, and those who knew the situation all secretly laughed.

But Soria’s expression was serious and earnest.

It was like a bold, formal script.

As a honeyed break was ending, after dinner when we were leaving the dining hall, Lee Hyo-ju hurried up and asked.

“Um, Mr. Kim Han.”

“Yes?”

“What about Katarina… what should we do? At least because of the meals.”

“Ah, Katarina…”

Katarina is probably on the verge of losing her mind by now.

The drug we forced into her was the one she gave me along with a registration card. Its name was probably…

“Where is the Mother-in-law going? Rare…”

“What?”

“No. Don’t go to Katarina’s room for a while. Especially men, absolutely not. She’ll be out of her mind. If a man pokes his nose in he’ll be in big trouble—might end up as nothing but bones. Make sure Arun knows.”

“Ah…! Yes.”

Fortunately, Arun never went near Katarina’s room after that day.

But a mage who hadn’t received the message and was assigned to the mansion for the first time enthusiastically went in to clean and was rescued just before dying, or so the story goes.