Chapter 51: Return 3
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Suddenly, Chris opened his eyes and began to act crazy.
"Ha-ha-ha-ha!"
His eyes were full of madness, and the researchers were dumbfounded by his behavior and went up to him.
He was tied to a bed and restrained, but he was trashing so much, he might break free.
Elise looked at him with her arms crossed.
"Give him a tranquilizer."
The researchers gave him a tranquilizer by injection.
"Ugh!"
He looked around him with uncomfortably creepy eyes and soon fell asleep. Elise was looking down at him and slowly walked toward him.
"PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), but this behavior is unexpected."
Elise looked at him for a moment and began searching his body. Inside his clothes, she found two gems. She took them and looked at them.
Elise had a blue colored gem on her hand and whispered:
"One Mana Stone."
She picked up another stone with her thumb and index finger.
"What is this?"
Elise looked at the gem and pushed it toward a researcher who was standing behind her. The researcher placed the gem on a plate. Elise turned her head and said:
"First, search his body thoroughly."
"Yes."
She walked toward the door and stopped to look at the researchers.
"Thoroughly," she pressed the point one more time and went outside.
The researchers took Chris' clothes off and examined his body. Elise went back to her office and placed a hand on the desk.
Soon, five screens rose from the desk. Their faces were full of expectations, surrounded by a thick layer of curiosity. Elise spoke calmly, giving her report.
"One survivor. The rest of them did not make it back."
The people on the screens were not interested in those who did not make it back, but they were told there was a survivor and were all very interested in that.
"So, did he bring back anything?"
"One Mana Stone and an unknown red gem."
"Oh!"
Everyone looked very interested, and Elise smiled and reported:
"First, we are examining his body. After that, we will find out what happened right away."
"We will be waiting."
"Have some confidence in me."
The screens turned off simultaneously, and Elise got up from her seat. Then, one screen turned back on, and Doyeol Kim appeared in it.
"Do want something?"
"How is the survivor doing?"
"He is experiencing more than PTSD. We gave him a tranquilizer."
"Is that right?" Doyeol thought hard and said "OK. I will be expecting good news."
"Trust me."
The communication ended, and Elise tapped her index finger on Doyeol's screen.
"You… What are you hiding?"
---
A big kiss from a woman! It was not the first time, but he still had a hard time looking at Sarang while the two ate pizza because she was still in high school. Sarang thought Junhyuk was being funny, and she smiled and ate her slice. She thought it was delicious.
"Big brother, I have something to ask."
"Yes? What?"
Junhyuk collected himself and swallowed the pizza he was chewing. Sarang put her slice down and asked:
.
"What's so good about becoming a novice?"
Junhyuk thought for a moment and answered:
"First, for me, after becoming a novice, my physical strength and conditioning went up. When your soul's ability goes up, the body tries to keep up. So, I followed Artlan's training technique, and the results were phenomenal."
Junhyuk flaunted his biceps, and Sarang touched one with her index finger and was astounded.
"It's totally like a rock."
Junhyuk smiled a little and said:
"The most important is that your soul's ability has increased. You have many times the strength of an ordinary person."
Sarang shook her head a little and said:
"I don't feel any extra strength."
Junhyuk crossed his arms, mulled it over and said:
"First, you are a magician novice, so I am not sure what will happen. Maybe your mind will grow exponentially."
"My mind?"
"Yes. Don't you feel anything different since you became a magician novice?"
Sarang shook her head and lifted hands. Suddenly, she made an energy orb.
"Because I have to concentrate to make this, my concentration has increased."
"Concentration? When you became a novice, your concentration might have increased a little. You might consider doing meditation for your soul."
"Meditation?"
"Yes," Junhyuk smiled and continued: "But you must not neglect your body. Do you know the saying healthy body, healthy mind? So, every morning, you should do some light jogging or ride a bicycle, do other basic exercises and, when you have time, meditate. When you are alone, you should practice your newly acquired power."
"I don't have a place to practice."
There was no place to practice energy blast, and Junhyuk got worried.
Right now, Sarang had a power that ordinary people called supernatural. If her power was discovered, crazy people would want to dissect her. Even if they didn't dissect her, she would be the object of many experiments.
Sarang smiled.
"Big brother, can I practice it here?"
"Here?"
"This is the safest place. No one will find out."
Junhyuk crossed his arms. He made the most scary expressions he could make.
"Aren't you scared of me?"
"Should I be?"
Her big eyes were already bigger, and she tilted her head down. Junhyuk sighed:
"OK..."
Junhyuk thought it would be good for her to develop her power further. That was the way to survive the Dimensional Battlefield, but they couldn't practice together, especially if he came home late.
"How far are we from your home?"
"By bus, it takes two stops."
"That close?"
"Yes."
Junhyuk pulled out his keychain, took out his spare key and said:
"You should come alone. Don't bring anyone."
"Don't worry."
Junhyuk pushed the key forward, and Sarang covered the key with both hands. He tried to not to give in. He was an expert and was trained in Artlan's technique. He held on to the key, and
Sarang tried hard to get it from him. Junhyuk laughed and said:
"You may use the room in exchange for cleaning it, OK?"
"Ch, Cheap!"
"Cheap?"
Junhyuk pulled the key toward him, and Sarang was about to cry.
"OK."
Junhyuk let go of his hand, Sarang laughed.
"All right! I got a safe house."
"You will be alone. It's not a safe house…"
"Still, now I have a place to practice."
She was right. Junhyuk hadn't been able to practice when his parents were around. She couldn't talk about her powers to anyone. At such a young age, she must've been very worried.
Junhyuk, himself, had been stunned when he experienced it for the first time. Fortunately, he had no sign of injuries or stress disorders.
"Your soul grew, and you will be fine, but when you have problems, you should call me any time."
"Then, give me your number."
Sarang pushed her hand forward, and Junhyuk unlocked his phone and gave it to her. Sarang punched in the number on her phone and smiled:
"I got the number."
Junhyuk shook his head and picked up another slice of pizza. She asked him:
"Do we have to go back in two weeks?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"Hm. I can come back here when it's time, right?"
Junhyuk took a bite of his pizza and said:
"That's a good idea, but don't wear your school uniform next time, and don't come to my company. Just come here instead."
"I can do that!"
"You can't come to my company."
For now, they had told them they were cousins, but they wouldn't believe it forever.
Sarang picked up a slice of pizza.
"This time, some minions survived!"
Two minions had survived, but they were still crazed, and he didn't know how to stop their madness.
"Right."
"You think they will be fine?"
"What?"
"They were crazed because of an item. Maybe they've returned in that state…"
Junhyuk smiled bitterly.
"They will be sent to a mental hospital."
Sarang sighed deeply.
"Also, heroes are too much."
Junhyuk agreed on that point. Minions were not human to heroes. Minions were pieces on a chessboard. Not more, not less.
"Minions are lucky if they are chosen."
Vera had taught her with care. If not for that, she would've been in the same position as the other minions. Both of them were very lucky.
She got her power, became a novice and did not end up like the minions.
Sarang sat and hugged her knees, rocking herself back and forth.
"Whew! I have a lot to study. I am a senior and, now, I have to train as well. It's too much."
"Your concentration went up. Doesn't that make it easier to study?"
"Boo, boo... Studying is never easy in this world!"
Sarang jeered, and Junhyuk laughed and took another bite of his slice.
"It's late. Go home."
"Whoa! Aren't you going to walk me?"
"You are wearing your uniform. They'll think I'm a pervert."
"It's really late, and I am still in high school!"
There was no one that could threaten her because she had her powers. She could kill anyone she wanted to, but she couldn't use her powers in public. Junhyuk shook his head.
"OK. I'll walk you home."
"All right!"
Sarang got up and took off the workout clothes he gave her. He was looking at her without thinking when she pulled down her pants underneath her skirt, and he turned his head quickly.
Sarang folded the workout clothes, placed them on the bed and strapped on her backpack.
"Let's go."
Junhyuk walked next to her, and felt other people's stares shooting daggers at him. Every time someone looked at them, he talked to that person.
"I am her uncle. Uncle."
Sarang thought he was funny and took his arm.
"You!"
"What, cousin?"
Junhyuk let go of her and realized how scary a girl wearing a school uniform could be. She should've been wearing normal clothes.
The two of them arrived at her apartment complex, and people continued to stare disapprovingly.
"Go in."
"Big brother, until next time."
Sarang waved, and Junhyuk got worried.
"I should get a car."
However, it was still too early. He had money from his advertising gig, but he shouldn't waste his money, yet he still wanted to buy a car.
On his way home, Junhyuk thought about getting a car. Sarang was on the elevator and thought about what to put Junhyuk's phone number under.
"My Mr. Junhyuk? My love Junhyuk? Big brother Junhyuk? House owner?"
Sarang thought about it for a long time, and the elevator stopped, and she inserted Junhyuk's phone number as "Mine."