Chapter 131:

We kindly ask for your understanding regarding the inconsistency of character pronouns, particularly for the Entities (ex. The Greedy Predator). In Korean, pronouns are rarely used, making it challenging to ascertain a character's gender or identity until later narratives unfold. Update twice a week [SUN] & [THURS] starting August 2024!

On that day, it was January.

After the dreadful December ended, a new hope blossomed in January, and that year, an unusually heavy snowfall blanketed the world, which some said was the peace built by heroes.

However, it was the coldest winter for two children filled with despair.

Jaeheon and Seora held hands as they sat before their parents’ graves. When Jaeheon suggested leaving because of the cold, Seora stayed there until her nose and cheeks turned red.

The news of a monster appearing made their parents leave the house like any other time, but they never returned. Instead, all that was left for the young siblings were two solemn graves.

“Brother, Mom and Dad won’t be coming back again, right?”

Jaeheon smiled faintly and answered the voice frozen in anguish, “Mhm.”

“Did the monster eat Mom and Dad?”

“…Mhm.”

“Why didn’t Mom and Dad run away?” She had waited for them. Seora had prayed and waited without even sleeping, asking them to return safely this time. So why did they leave this world together on a day when cold, lifeless snow fell? “No one would recognize how hard they fought anyway.”

People rejoiced that they survived. They shed tears of gratitude. However, their family members were the only people who mourned the sacrifices of Hyeon Jaehui and Yun Seowu. To others, their own survival seemed more important.

The eleven-year-old child sneered, “I’ll never be able to understand Mom and Dad for the rest of my life.”

A small gloved hand gently touched Hyeon Jaehui’s tomb. It was at that moment.

【Contact with the tomb of the Awakened ‘Hyeon Jaehui’ has been established. Confirming the presence of her two children.】

“Huh?” Seora was startled by the sudden appearance of words before her and quickly withdrew her hand. “Oh, oh, Brother. Are you seeing something strange too?”

“You see it too? I do. I’m seeing something strange in front of my eyes. It’s like a game or a message window?”

“You too, Brother?”

The siblings looked at each other in confusion and turned back to the grave. Jaeheon cleared his throat and hesitantly touched the window. The content changed.

【Confirmed as ‘Yun Jaeheon’. Confirmed as ‘Yun Seora’. The Awakened ‘Hyeon Jaehui’ left a legacy. The legacy can only be opened once. Would you like to check it now?】

“Legacy…? The legacy Mom left behind?”

“Brother, a legacy is something people leave before they die, right?”

“That’s right. But Aunt Hanna has never mentioned anything like this.”

Unlike young Seora, Jaeheon, who was seventeen years old, had heard various things about the Awakened. The fact that the Awakened all used a system like a game had already become a new common knowledge worldwide. However, the idea of leaving a legacy through the system was completely new to him.

‘What should we do? Should we call Aunt Hanna?’

Anxious, Jaeheon looked at the entrance to the graveyard. Song Hanna was guarding the entrance to let the siblings say their final farewell to their parents in peace.

Just as he was about to go and call her, the message content changed.

【This legacy can only be confirmed by ‘Yun Jaeheon’ and ‘Yun Seora.’ If it becomes known to others, the legacy will be permanently destroyed.】

Jaeheon, who had started to stand up, eventually sat back down. The message seemed to respond to his will, sending shivers down his spine, but there was no way he could run to Hanna and risk the legacy being destroyed. First, they had to see it for themselves.

“Seora, it seems like only the two of us can see it. Let’s check what Mom left behind together.”

“Okay.”

“Do we just say ‘confirm the legacy’ or something?”

Fortunately, the system responded well to Jaeheon’s voice.

【Legacy of the Awakened ‘Hyeon Jaehui’】

‘Yun Jaeheon’ and ‘Yun Seora’ can inherit the power of the deceased Awakened ‘Hyeon Jaehui’. Upon inheriting the legacy, they will awaken as an S-class Awakened. This opportunity is available only once, and if rejected, the legacy will be automatically destroyed.】

“Brother, what is this? What does it mean?” Seora tilted her head, looking at Jaeheon, who could not respond.

The legacy was nothing other than power. If they inherited it, they would awaken as an S-class Awakened, just like their mother. It was absurd and unbelievable. While Jaeheon didn’t know everything about the Awakened, he knew such a thing was absolutely impossible. If possible, all the S-classes would have left legacies before they died.

But then, how on earth did his mother manage to do this? What did she do to make such a thing possible?

“S-class? Mom did mention she was an S-class, right? If we receive this gift, we’ll become just like Mom?” As Jaeheon was puzzled, Seora came to her own conclusion. “I don’t want it.”

And without waiting for Jaeheon to stop her, she made her decision. Jaeheon looked surprised at his younger sister. “You don’t want it?”

“Yeah, I don’t. S-class means being strong, right? I don’t want to become strong like Mom. I don’t want to be like her.”

“…Ah.”

“Brother, do you know what people say about me? ‘Grow up quickly.’ ‘Awaken soon.’ ‘Sacrifice yourself for others just like your parents did.’ They all say that.” Seora burst into laughter, finding it rather ridiculous. “Why should I do that? Mom was an ordinary office worker, and suddenly she became a hero. She got hurt whenever she returned. Why should I follow in her footsteps? Why do I have to do so much for everyone?”

“…”

“I won’t do it. I don’t want to. Aunt Hanna told me to live without standing out, to live quietly, and she’ll protect me even if I don’t do anything. I’ll live that way. Instead of gaining power and living for others, I’ll live thinking only about myself, without any power.”

Seora’s unwavering determination was clearly transmitted to the system.

【’Yun Seora’ has refused the inheritance of the legacy. This opportunity is available only once. Are you sure you want to refuse?】

“Mhm, refuse.”

【The legacy left for ‘Yun Seora’ has been destroyed.】

【’Yun Jaeheon’ still has the option to inherit the legacy. Will you accept this legacy?】

Without hesitation, Seora, who had refused her mother’s final gift, looked up at her brother holding her. Her brother, who resembled their mother in many ways, but unlike their mother, cared more about her than others.

He was different from her and didn’t have to make the same choice.

“Brother, do whatever you want. I won’t oppose your decision. It’s okay. Just as long as you don’t suddenly leave as Mom and Dad did.”

Jaeheon trembled slightly. Staring into Seora’s dark eyes, similar to their father’s, he saw her unwavering resolve.

“Brother, you didn’t force me to accept the gift, did you? I won’t do that to you, either. Do whatever you want.”

“…I’m sorry, Seora. I want to accept it. Not for others, but for myself.”

And to protect his sister, who chose to live inconspicuously.

Jaeheon looked at the system window with teary eyes. “I’ll accept it.”

【’Yun Jaeheon’ has chosen to inherit the legacy. As per the will of the Awakened ‘Hyeon Jaehui’, the legacy will be automatically inherited three years from now.】

Three years from now, when Jaeheon turns twenty, he will awaken. It actually worked out well. He wanted to stay by his younger sister’s side, who was still young.

Jaeheon embraced Seora tightly and let out a sigh. He needed to inform Aunt Hanna about this as soon as possible…

【There are limitations to this legacy. If the information about the legacy becomes known to others, the inherited power will vanish.】

“…It’s making it so hard to talk about it.”

Although he had no intention of going around and telling everyone, being unable to tell Hanna was frustrating. He wanted to ask her if it was okay in detail, but now he couldn’t even do that.

“Seora, promise me you won’t tell anyone about this. Not even to Aunt Hanna. This is a secret only the two of us know.”

“Even Aunt Hanna? Well, I’m not sure… Ah, whatever. It doesn’t really matter. It’s something unrelated to me anyway, so I might as well forget about it.” Seora pouted as if she found it bothersome.

And a few days later, she indeed forgot about that day. For Jaeheon, it was another day when his world changed after their parents’ death, but for her, who didn’t inherit the power, it was merely a peculiar experience.

Afterward, she lived busy, avoiding the curious glances of others, and soon, that day completely faded away within her.

***

“Ugh!”

As the memories that were playing in her mind came to an end, Seora took a deep breath. Overwhelmed by the sudden rush of memories, she staggered and lost her balance.

“Seora!” Song Hanna hurriedly supported her. Kang Sejun and Seong Jarim looked around in concern.

“Was there an attack?”

“Are you okay?”

“What happened to you all of a sudden? Seora!”

Seora couldn’t find the strength to respond to Song Hanna’s urgent voice. Her head throbbed from the flood of memories, and she pressed her forehead with trembling hands.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

‘That’s right. I’m sure something like this happened before… Oh my goodness, Yoon Seora! How could you forget about that?’

“Just a peculiar experience,” she had thought. It wasn’t just peculiar! It was truly special! How could she forget about it!?

Seora raised her trembling eyes. The events from about 12 years ago happened right here, in the very place where she was now sitting.

‘Come to think of it, didn’t Brother mention something like that before?’

He had mentioned it when she visited Jaeheon at the hospital after they completed the Cheorwon Dungeon raid.

“I believed you wouldn’t grow stronger, that you would remain inconspicuous. It seemed to be your desire.”

“Well, it’s true that I had that thought, but I never explicitly expressed it as a wish.”

“Huh? Don’t you remember?”

Seora bit her lips hard. She thought it was just a trivial story, but to think that it might have been about that day!

She should probably call Jaeheon and ask him about this. No, wait. There’s no need to call Jaeheon.

‘I’ve never heard of anything like Awakened inheriting legacies through a system.’

Especially inheriting the power of an S-class Awakened. It was an absurd idea. If such a thing were possible, not only S-class, but even L-class would have done the same.

Yet, Hyeon Jaehui managed to do it. Jaeheon couldn’t figure out why back then, but Seora wasn’t like that.

‘Administrator!’

Even if others didn’t know, the administrator surely knew the truth about this matter.