Chapter 51 – The Immortal, the Transcendent, and the Witch

For Lee, Rachel, Hajin, Suho, and Yeonha, the weekend had become last minute prep time.

Lee had immediately gone back to Wonju with Yeonha to pick up more spirit ginseng and other stat boosting consumables, having Yeonha foot the bill for the moment in exchange for getting her a nine-year spirit ginseng.

Yeonha had agreed, of course, because she was trying to boost Hajin's stats up as much as possible as well since she was worried about him getting involved in another ridiculous incident... though she would never admit it.

Suho had gained an epiphany from reviewing the footage of Lee sparring Jonghak (illegally sold many times over on the Cube Cadet blackmarket) and was working on cementing it before Monday rolled around.

Hajin was busy testing out various loadouts for the duels. Since Cube didn't set an upper limit on the number of weapons you could carry into the duel, only that they had to be training weapons, Hajin was making various builds for different opponent types.

As for Rachel... Since this would be her first time showing off, and since she was the heir to the Kingdom of Britain (which made her always upset when people still just called it England), she was mastering her elemental magic and workshopping a magic swordsmanship style with Suho.

That, of course, would make one wonder what Nayun was up to.

And as for her, Evandel's dedicated babysitter...

===

"I'm home, Dad!" Nayun walked into her family home, a traditional Korean house with tiled rooves and eaves... at least on the surface.

The moment she entered the threshodle though, a sprawling large interior no different than a European castle unfolded, the result of various spatial expansion enchantments and stitched together space.

Nayun didn't know how it all worked, but it was nostalgic to see since it'd been a while since she'd been back.

Evandel, snuggled in Nayun's arms, looked around the place with wide eyes. "Wow! Magic!" She reached out, as if trying to touch the spells weaving the space into what it was.

Nayun laughed and said, "Yep." She shifted Evandel in her arms and said, "Lots of magic put into this place."

At that time, a butler who had served the family home for thirty years walked over. The elderly man smiled as he noticed Nayun. And he started to speak. "Welcome back, young lady-"

But the moment he saw Evandel, he froze.

Evandel blinked. Then she giggled and waved. "Hello, Grampa!"

"G-G-Grandpa?" The butler's eyes widened, his eyes snapping to Evandel's light brown hair, the same hue as Nayun's. Then to her eyes, a blue tint that could pass as green under the right light... the same hue that Nayun's turned when she was using magic...

Nayun rolled her eyes and said, "Eva's not mine, gramps. Relax."

The butler paused. Then he let out a relieved sigh. "...Of course. Forgive me, young lady. Not that it would have been bad if she was yours, but... this one is getting old. My heart is not quite as strong as it used to be..."

Nayun laughed and said, "You're saying that, but isn't Grandfather even older? And he's still fine."

"Well, Lord Chae Joochul is-"

"That is high praise coming from my granddaughter."

Nayun froze and glanced off to the left.

There, descending from the stairs, was a sharp man with silver hair and cold eyes that seemed to swirl with every color of the rainbow.

The term 'silver fox' suited him completely, a handsome man despite his age, having only grown even more distinguished with time.

Wearing a crisp suit, Chae Joochul walked down and looked at Nayun.

"G-Grandfather!" Nayun quickly bowed her head.

Evandel noticed and copied Nayun. But she smiled and said, "Hello, Grampa!"

"Eva, you can't just-"

Joochul tilted his head and said, "...You've brought home something interesting."

Nayun paused and looked back at her grandfather.

'Interesting?'

It was the first time she heard her grandfather hint at any sort of emotion.

Out of instinct, Nayun held Evandel closer, shielding her from Joochul. "...It's been a while, Grandfather. I'm only stopping by for a bit. Today and Sunday. Then I'll return for the Combat Exams."

"Of course. Enjoy your stay then." Joochul nodded. "I was simply confirming various details regarding succession with your father. There is no need to pay me much heed on your relaxation."

Nayun let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. Then she nodded and said, "Thank you, Grandfather."

"However..."

Nayun tensed again.

Joochul walked closer to Evandel and tilted his head, watching her closely. Then he slowly murmured, "How intriguing. You are the exact opposite of me. One who does not resonate with the raw essence of nature, but instead dominates it to paint your will over it. Like the heavens are but a mere suggestion."

Evandel blinked, clearly confused. But seeing Joochul's serious demeanor, she copied him and nodded. "Heavens, paint. Yes."

Joochul let out a low chuckle. "...It seems there are still a few things I haven't lost yet. Very interesting... Whose child is this, Granddaughter?"

"A-Ah. It's... complicated." Nayun hesitated, trying to figure out how to answer. But then she said, "...Evandel is the daughter of two of my dear friends."

Joochul let out a smile.

It wasn't warm. Instead, it was like a mechanical motion to mimic what used to exist.

But the fact that he made the effort...

Nayun was confused. Especially since her Grandfather hadn't shown a hint of emotion when her mother passed, and again when her brother was attacked and put in that coma.

...No, at that time he had shown anger. But it was mostly only towards the fact that someone dared to cross the Chae family, not at Nayun's brother being hurt.

'...I guess Evandel really is special, isn't she?'

It made Nayun feel a bit proud of the little girl... but also worried.

Joochul nodded. "Understood. If she is the child of your dear friends, she is important to the Chae family." He smiled again at Evandel and said, "Little one. If you need anything, do not hesitate to ask your Auntie Nayun."

Evandel nodded, copying Joochul's solemn expression. Then she said, "Kay. Will ask Auntie Nayn."

The butler, quiet until now, cleared his throat and said, "Lord Chae Joochul. Your car has been prepared outside for you."

"Understood." Joochul nodded towards the butler. But before he left, he stared into Nayun's eyes.

Nayun tilted her head, confused. "...Grandfather?"

For the first time, genuine emotion crossed Joochul's face. Surprise... and the faintest traces of concern. "...You touched it."

"Huh?" Nayun frowned. "Touched what?"

"...No. It's still early." Joochul stared at Nayun and murmured, "And it's subtly different as well. Maybe for you, there will not be a price to pay."

"...Grandfather? I don't understand what you're talking about."

Joochul stared at Nayun a bit more. Then he said, "You are walking a path close to nature. Do not delve within it, but move alongside it. If you do so, you will keep all of yourself. If not, you will have to discard parts as well."

Nayun blinked and wanted to ask what her grandfather meant.

But before she could, he was gone.

And since the butler went with Joochul to escort him to the car, it left Nayun alone with Evandel.

So Nayun stared at Evandel, the cause of this strange turn of events.

Evandel stared back. Then she smiled and patted her hands on Nayun's cheeks. "Auntie! Got you!"

"Gah! You...!" Nayun laughed and raised Evandel into the air. "Of course you'd be silly... whatever." She placed Evandel over her shoulders.

Evandel giggled and hugged Nayun's forehead to hold on tight.

Nayun smiled and said, "Let's go to Auntie's room and have a play date." She started walking towards her bedroom and said, "Auntie's got lots of games and a big bathroom. You can swim around and have fun."

"Games?! Yay!"

Nayun laughed. "Of course that's what you'd focus on- Wait. How do you know what games are?"

"Oops?"

"It was Auntie Yeonha again, wasn't it?"

Evandel giggled.

"Maaan. Rachel's going to murder her. Maybe. At the least, she's definitely going to nominate Yeonha for a duel after hearing about this..."

"Murder!"

"No, Evandel! Murder is bad!"

"But bad people murder?"

"No murdering bad people. You make them work for you instead until they wish they were dead."

Evandel gasped. "Auntie, smart!"