v1c1 (1/2)

TL note: Rather important TL note at the end of this, so please read it if you want to know some necessary information

I opened my eyes The stench of mold pierced my nose

I coughed once and looked at s A confined space co the iron door placed in front ofsihts If that were so, then ten to one, this was most likely a solitary cell

The smell of mold

Although it felt as if there were a large pile of things that I could question, inquiries such as ‘Where is this?’ were not important What could I do with such infors were ‘Why was I brought here?’, ‘Hoas I brought here?’, and ‘What a to do from now on?’

While touching the prayer beads on my wrist, I recalled the previous day

There was nothing in particular that happened Even after the New Years had passed, I woke up at around 5 o’clock again, washed up, took a shower after going out for a light jog, ether with , and washed the dishes afterward I went to cra into h school once this winter break was over, I had engrossedIn the afternoon, I went to the hospital and visited Minhee Afterward, I returned ho up inside the house, I prepared dinner and ate withfirst I then washed the dishes, returned to my room to doup, my uncle came home froain Once I finished doing so, it was 10 o’clock, so I studied until 12 and went to sleep

And when I opened ht while touching my beads

I checked e into before going to sleep and the prayer beads I would alear on lasses I placed next to h I was able to find e icon was being displayed

Therefore······no matter how much I wracked my brain, I could only conclude that I had been kidnapped and confined in a nals couldn’t enter No, this orse than a solitary cell There wasn’t even a toilet here

“Is that you, Chanmi?”

The leader of the bullies that had torloazed around “Give it up We settled things a year ago, didn’t we? Doing soraceful for you”

There was no need to feign composure I have constantly been calm ever since Minhee was admitted to the hospital

“You probably wouldn’t understand even if I told you this was a criht you would at least have some self-respect, but did you not even have that?”

The trigger to h the motive behind my resolve to break away from that torment was not trivial, separate from that praiseworthy ti couldn’t be anything mentized Chanmi’s clique and raised up le was like a type of chess, janggi, or Go It was irrefutably a board game, and in the end,by a narrow in

So that ‘8 Years’ War’ should have been settled 1 year ago during the scorching 18th summer of my life

“I’m disappointed Or is it because my finish wasn’t proper?”

There were no other methods to explain this situation It would be different if I had been hit in the back of the head while walking the streets, but to be able to abduct a person as sleeping in their bed and house, and to construct sos were only possible by someone who possessed a considerable a those people who possessed all that, the only felloho had an ill-fated relationshi+p with me was Chanmi

“Joo Chanmi”

I stood up This enclosed space was packed whether I stood or laid down Though if overnment, were here, she could most likely accuratelyon my own eyes to make an approxiht seemed to be both around 2 meters A putrid smell of mold

Since I couldn’t find anything no s, I approached the door A heavy doorhandle attached to it I tried placing both of , but it didn’t show any signs of opening I gave up aze at the door more carefully······ I then discovered it

There was a hole around 1 meter and 50 centimeters from the bottom of the door It was a hole that wasa peek outside Since I was 175 centih it I contemplated for a moment However, since there were no other methods, I lowered myself and

peered through the hole

And then, I met someone’s eye

Ο

The first half I was bullied norht back for 4 years Aftermath The amount of time I spent as the victor was barely over 1 year As I had spentshoved around at hoh to forget my survival instincts The ability to read the flow of e within ment was—

First, it was a silvery gray that felt as if it could abolish darkness despite being similar to the thickness of snow that had been stepped on and crushed

In the center of that, a certain rupture was situated there

After that, even when our eyes had

And as if so

“······, ··················, ······”

Strength went intothe prayer beads Press As if I were trying to crack it, I pressed down onto the beads I was barely able to regaindown on one bead at a time It’s fine It’sfineit’sfineit’sfine Be calm Calood?] That’s right Since I have a good head, I need to think calmly whenever and wherever I am

(TL note: The line in the [] is hi a line that someone said to him in the past)

“Who?”

I asked quietly Gray eyes? This is the first time I’ve ever seen them

“Do you have any relations with Chanmi?”

A foreigner? If it isn’t an incredibly diluted shade of blue, it’s difficult for pupils to be that kind of silver Therefore, the base color has to be blue, ner? Although nothing is impossible for her, isn’t that too ht that

The other party started to laugh

Ah hah A strange laugh Ah hah hah hah ha An unnatural sound that required one to ue on purpose in order tothe situation Ah ha, ah ha ha ha ha, ah hah ha······ The eye on the other side of the door hole was tre, but the head movement made them appear as if they were The eyes the, were still s

Without a word, I waited for the laughter to stop While the transparent plasticity flowed by, the stench of hter stopped, but the scent that felt as if it had becoo anywhere

The other party spoke

“Chanmi? Who’s thaaat?”

It was a girl It was a young voice that had yet to break(Girls experience so as boys do) Somehow her aard pronunciation further pointed towards ner Additionally, I beca this voice

“Who are you?”

It wasn’t until then that ed I didn’t lose my composure, but it did sink down further

“Are you talking about me? Are you curious⎯⎯⎯?” On the other hand, her voice carried hter reverberated once more “Okay I’ll teach yoouu—”

Her eye dreay from the hole, but since the field of vision was already too narrow, I could barely see anything further out

“Now then I Am”

‘Look forward to it!’, it felt as if her body was uttering that as she spread her shoulders The sight of the edge of her clothes rising up and going down entered

“The First Sky Reacher of the 12 Sky Reachers, the deepest sky!!”

The fluttering edges of her clothes appeared inonce more It was either a skirt or a robe In any case, she earing a

“Although it would be good to refer to me as ‘The Gate of Simla(The Lost Gate)’, I am the one everyone refers to as ‘The Universal Summoner(Princess : Featly)’⎯⎯⎯!!”

It felt as if she had taken the pose of pressing her hand against her forehead while shouting ‘How discourteous!’, but I was unable to see it

“The e and lord of the City of Confinement(The Asylum)!! I am the Earl of the Silver Lion⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯!!”

It was a relief that the door was closed If it were open, thenso, the self-proclaimed First Sky Reacher of the 12 Sky Reachers, Universal Summoner, Earl of the Silver Lion’s eye appeared at the other side of the hole onceas there was a loud thud, it seems she had headbutted the door

“And the reason why you’re here, that’s because! I! Su!” Her eye moved away for a ain, acco of the door “How’s that? Has your curiosity been sated—? Ah hah hah hah ha ha ha······!!”

Yeah, I understand well that you’re a lunatic I thought

Ο

Ο

Putting aside the cackling Earl of the Silver Lion(Self-proclaiather

Ο

First, I was kidnapped

Second, it seeirl that I have never seen before

Third, the kidnapper is someone who attaches ridiculous nicknae and lord’ and ‘Universal Su from a chronic disease known as chuunibyou, like Eunji or Hanjeun

Fourth, although it’s a irl plans to do withpast the border of a cri ‘I’m sorry, my jokes went a bit too far, ehe’

Ο

I rotated my prayer beads

‘Don’t ry like that would be easy ‘What do you think you’re doing!?’, shouting out is sie if one were to do so? I’ confined The fact that one should avoid behaving rashly until they are able to discover what the other party’s intentions are, this is so so obvious that I didn’t have to recall the ‘8 Years’ War’ with Chanmi to know I spoke in a voice that wouldn’t invoke irritation

“I’19 this year”

No matter how ridiculous the other party’s words may have been, you must respond appropriately You have to introduce yourself If you wish to implant the fact that you possess a ‘life that you have lived up till now’ and that you are a ‘hu’ into the other party, then this is one of the bestthe other party be aware of these facts, then they will not consider you as an equal hus to you without possessing even the slightest bit of a guilty conscience The reason why the nazis were able to slaughter the Jeas because the Jeere not considered as ‘equal hus’ to them

“I like green tea, injeolives too much stimulus”

In this situation, discovering that the other party is younger than you is never a good variable I have yet to forget the incident involving a person named shi+n Eunji⎯⎯⎯the person who declared that, as the black angel of the Choir of Alcania, they possessed 7 different personalities and each personality had their own respective special ability(For some reason the names of each personality were in japanese) The fact that these type of people do not mature, that it is nearly impossible to reason with them, that they lack a tremendous amount of self-restraint in their actions, and that just these characteristics alone couldthat had been engraved into my bones

“So, Miss Earl of the Silver Lion, hat purpose did you summon me for?”

The Earl blinked her eyes Quickly after, her smile returned

“Ah hah ha ah Mm Aren’t you incredibly caaalm?”

“Is that surprising?”

“Nooope!! Well, it’s within expectations Within it” She spoke after chuckling once, “So to use your head to think up petty tricks I can see it cleeaarly”

“That’s rude I’ my head to think up petty tricks”

“Then are you turning your head to make white hair?”

“Though I don’t have any”

Since the situation is like this, it feels like soht actually come out

In any case, she’s wrong I’ to conjure up ‘petty tricks’ I’ all of my human capabilities to utilize my entire head 〈Is she really not related to Joo Channer as hired by Chanmi〉 〈Then is that lunatic-like behavior of hers an act?〉 〈Or is she the esteen coree that doesn’t fall behind Chanmi?〉 〈In any case, there’s a reason why she kidnapped me〉 〈If that’s so, then as it?〉

“Anyhy did you summon me? There should be a reason”

〈Do you not require a reason since you’re a madman?〉 〈That’s doubtful The fact that I was ‘chosen’about me〉 〈Look back at myself〉 〈I’ll be 19-years-old this year A norlasses〉 〈Although I don’t have ht now〉 〈I’m confident about my intellect〉 〈Of course, I’m proud of my ability to be calm as well〉 〈However, I have never been conceited〉 〈No ure out a reason〉 〈If it’s like this, then should I confirm it with her?〉

⎯⎯⎯Going along with her pace⎯⎯⎯

“Do I perhaps have the blood of a hero that’s destined to save this world?”

“Pbbt···!?” I wanted to retort that a child shouldn’t make such a crude sound “Eub Eheit? Either way, bzzt! Nope Wrong answer!”

I succeeded in receiving a response Then all I can do is continue asking

“Then what is it? Do I have to get married to you?”

“Pfft? Pbbbt That’s not it! Ah hah hah hah ha You really are interesting”

If it isn’t su the other chuunibyou-like settings there is only one left Since their nickna, then maybe this is it

“Then aet ready for the SAT later this year”

“Fa a bit cloooser······ But bzzt! Absolutely bzzt! It’s not so stupid like that, Kuzato–Rospiante!!”

The girl uttered so She then suddenly spread her shoulders as if stretching out her body

“The answer!”

Bang! She hit the door

“A toy to be tortured!”

Bang! She hit the door again

“From now on, you will be tortured!! Now then, now then I’ll stab a fork underneath your nail and BAM! raise it using a level principle I’ll use a nail clipper and clipclipclipclipclip your eyelids off I’ll grab a pair of scissors and slightyslightlyslightlyslightly cut off your lips! Aah, but it’s okay! Don’t worry, since I won’t penetrate your brain when I stab, stab, stab chopsticks into your ears! Why? M like that, then in an instant, wooooosh, in an instaaant”

BANG!! I wonder if she had hit the door with her palm, as the entire door had shaken

“You’ll diiieee, ah hah ha ha!! I won’t kill you immediately That’s why it’sokayit’sokay Worries ZERO!”

The girl cried out while pounding the door There were two thoughts that crossed my mind while I rotated h tension······ (TL note: High tension)

And

This situation is far ht

Ο

Ο

“I understand what you plan to do with me now”

I did not scorn the other party Ilooked down upon Therefore, I didn’t speak sarcastically Always treating the like that, I did not put an insincere sravate the other party, I spoke calmly like how the winner of the ‘8 Years’ War’ should behave

“But could you stop hitting the door? Your hand must hurt”

“Pbbt? Eub Ah hah hah ha hang Still with the petty tricks⎯⎯⎯? Normally, people who end up in this kind of situation fall into despair, start crying, or get mad, you know? Ooh Maybe, you think this is a joke? Do you think this is so like a candid cameraaa?”

“I don’t” Since this situation had already crossed the line of possibly being a candid cairl lets out such an undignified laugh, then people would start to suspect her class, Miss Earl of the Silver Lion”

The silver pupil of the Earl, who had stoppedbefore her smile could return to her eyes

“Only half was done”

“Hmm? What, do you mean?”

“The answer I asked ‘why’ ‘you surateful that you explained the reason behind the ‘why’ and ‘summon’, but why did it have to be ‘me’? Is there a special reason?”

“Ah, tha–aats”

The smile in her eye deepened This response, if I look back at the patterns up till now

“Are you perhaps trying to tell me that I was chosen by random?”

Twitch The Earl let out a ‘Mm–‘ sound

“Koreans, shouldn’t have had the ability to read minds”

Oi, to be able to know that I’h you said I was su, that chuunibyou of yours

Anyway, it seems I was on the , then that means I was the one selected when the order ‘Capture anyone’ was given to her subordinates(whether they moved by money or authority) Si kidnapped by vans in alleyways, I unluckily ended up being a target of one of those ‘indiscriminate acts of evil’

However, if that were so, then there’s still one fact that I can’t understand I was sleeping in my home, in my room, and in , isn’t invading a randoht for now

“But why are you trying to torture me?”

“Are you curious?”

“Yeah Is it si?”

“M like that······ There’s a lot, a lo~~t of annoying things piled up Ehem I need someone to vent it out on”

“Aren’t you an earl? You can just torture your subjects”

‘This idiot!’, the Earl of the Silver Lion shouted and pounded the door powerfully After doing so, I could hear the sound of her hopping around as if she were in pain

“Uu~ my hand Mmm There’ll be probleado, accordingly!”

“Accordingly?”

“Isn’t tors from completely different worlds! More! Rational!?”

Truly, it’s things outside the border

Doing harm means to do harm to the offender as well Theoneself against that reflective dae is the controversy I mentioned earlier between the nazis and the Jews Thus, ‘the border’ After having drawn a line, you can prevent any type of e that you and the people in question are cos I now understood what this self-proclaifro it as so, she is able to obtain a psychological i to say

Whatever it was, the essence was sonificant

“Are you going to do it immediately?”

“Yuup♪”

An iht by a bad person

“How? Are you going to open the door and come in? I’m not bound, you know?”

“Hmm? Do you intend to, resist?”

“That’s obvious······ since you said you’re going to torture ic so I can’t move?”

Is she going to use sleeping gas or shoot un? If that’s the case, then this hole I’ sharp could pierce through it For starters, I backed away froainst the wall However, the Earl spoke up in a rather flat tone

“M Further ability—”

Abruptly, the sense of falling enveloped me

“Huh?” Without even being able to react, I fell backward just like that Thud······!! “Kuh······!” A sense of impact spread from my bottom, back, and to the back of my head My field of vision was distorted for a moment before it restored itself And then, inthat was 2 meters up······

It went up a considerable a of a hallway?

“Like this, I can only teleport et directly in front of me It isn’t like those Korean fantasy novels where a vow of loyalty co”

And near the feet of my sprawled out body, there was a black-socked foot, Imanner with her arms crossed

Ο

Ο

······, ··················, what?

What, happened, just······now?

I was certainly······ huh······ yeah, I had the door in front of ht? But why did it suddenly feel like the wall behind me disappeared······ and in the next moment, I was in a hallway No, to be exact, I was moved to the hallway instantaneously and because that had happened, the hich I was leaning against was gone, so I fell backwards······ but why? How? So like that is impossible······ Teleportation? It can’t be······ Or maybe that as retractable, and this hallway is located past it······ wait, then who’s the person I was h the door······ it’s her······ it’s those eyes······ but······ no, no

Nononono

No

Calood?] Yeah, the [8 Years’ War], think about it, thinkthinkthinkthink Okay As long as I don’t loseup, and redefine anything It’s not difficult It’s not difficult at all

Calm yourself down, Yujin

My composure was just barely able to return as I put rip on the beads I raisedby my feet, the ‘Earl of the Silver Lion’

The first thing that stuck out was that silver bobbed hair Though normally, when solossy natural hair would come to mind, but her hair was disheveled like a lion’seyes, which held silver pupils that harbored darkness A sharp nose and light scarlet skin There was a delicate pale pink color, as light as the breath on glass, on her lips Within those slightly parted lips of hers, there was acanines and a s like an ember

Her height was short Somewhere around 150 centimeters For some reason, I was certain that she wasn’t in the latter years of her teens Since she had a ring on each and every one of her 10 fingers and a bracelet on both her wrists, she gave off a parvenue-like feeling Furtherernails were all painted black and that there was a tattoo on the back of both of her hands, boosted that parvenue-like feeling further

Matching her hair, she earing a white cereolden threads and balls of fluff were attached to the sea shi+rt and skirt that she had on underneath were awhite color But for soh socks that reached up to her knees were black Moreover, for so shoes

Nor to say that she has a ‘western look’, but I couldn’t recoirl on Earth could never look like her No, any girl on Earth most likely couldn’t look like her Especially her eyes⎯⎯⎯her pupils were different The sense of difference I felt when I first met her was more obvious now since I was in an open space

Located in the center of her eye, a scar that looked like so a pickaxe into a wall of ice with all your strength⎯⎯⎯a rupture

I understood two things

First, the fact that this fellow and I were absolutely not part of the same ‘humankind’

Second, the fact that this is the sa I had when I met Joo Chanmi for the first time⎯⎯⎯that this is fate, that this will be an ill-fated relationshi+p, this feeling passed by after having left htly bound

The Earl of the Silver Lion, while looking down at led and raised the handkerchief she had in her right hand to cover her mouth

“Ah ha ah It’s e if you stare at me so intensely—”

Poof Everything in front ofstench of mold hat infor experienced this twice, the desire to deny the possibility didn’t come up anymore

“You······really are a e”

“Mmm?” Her eye reappeared at the other side of the hole in the door “What did you think I was?”

“A kid with chuunibyou”

“Ufu, ah, ah hah, ah hah hah ha ha hah ha ha······!! Uah Chuunibyou, is it?”