CH 229

After traveling an hour by car, a lab building slowly came into sight.

It was the Mana Nuclear Energy Research Institute, which I visited once with Director Lee.

Thanks to the arrangements made by Director Lee, we were able to enter the lab without doing any identification procedures at the entrance.

I parked my car at the research center parking lot, which had a lot of empty parking spaces.

As soon as we got out of the car, Ryan approached us and greeted us.

“You’re late. I was worried. Was everything fine?”

Lilia, who got out of the car, ran toward Ryan as soon as she saw him.

“BROTHER RYAN!”

“Oh, Lilia. How have you been?”

Looking at them greet them greet each other happily, it felt like they knew each other very well.

“Thank you, Sihyeon. Thank you very much for finding this tomboy.”

“We were very lucky. The people who Lilia met as soon as she came to this world were really nice.”

“Let’s go inside and talk about the details. The director of the research center is also waiting.”

“Why is he waiting…?”

“Hahaha. You’ll find out when you see it for yourself.”

We left the parking lot with Ryan and headed toward the entrance of the lab.

“Here you are! I’ve been waiting for you.”

A familiar man approached us from the entrance of the lab. He greeted me with a delighted look.

“It’s been a while. Mr.  Sihyeon.”

“Hello, You’re……!!!”

“I’m Heo Yung, the head of the research center.”

“Oh… I’m sorry I forgot your name. At that time I was with Director Lee and…”

“Haha! It’s okay. It’s been a while.”

Director Yung smiled, waving his hand to me, who felt ashamed for forgetting his name.

Director Yung, who finished greeting me, turned to Andras and Lilia.

“Then the people next to you…”

“Um…”

I was at a loss when I thought of how to introduce the two.

Looking at me hesitating, Ryan whispered softly.

“It’s all right. We’ve already explained the situation to Mr. Yung.”

“Oh! Is that so?”

“After talking to Mr. Lee, I personally visited the research center and talked to Mr. Yung. In order to get the supplies, we really needed his help.”

In order to make the dimensional door, complex equipment and special materials were needed.

There are not many places in the country where such supplies can be made available on short notice.

“How are you? I’m Heo Yung, director of the Mana Nuclear Energy Research Institute.”

“I’m Andras, from the Schnarpe family. Thank you so much, even though it was such a sudden request. And, this is my sister, Lilia

“Hello, glad to meet you, Mr. Yung!”

“Uh. Mr. Sihyeon, are they really from the Schnarpe family?”

“Yes.”

“Oh WOW… really!”

I was surprised at the exaggerated response from Director Yung, and when I asked Ryan about what was going on, he replied.

“Hmm, he met a member of the Schnarpe family. In a way, that’s a natural reaction.”

“……?”

Ryan continued the explanation with a small smile.

“Schnarpe family has an overwhelming knowledge about Magic, especially about artifacts. And by Earth’s standard, their knowledge is far ahead.”

“Ah….”

“In fact, simple artifacts made by the Schnarpe family are of great value on Earth. Anyone involved in an artifact study would have the same reaction as Mr. Yung.”

Only then did I understand why the eyes of Director Yung were sparkling like that. It was as if he was meeting his idol.

Director Yung guided us directly with a very polite attitude. And even while walking, he continued to talk to Andras whenever he could.

We followed Director Yung into the innermost part of the laboratory building. In the large space we arrived, there were various equipment and materials.

“Here it is. I’ve got as much equipment and materials as I can get from Director Lee. Please check it out.”

“Thank you, Mr. Yung.”

“Thank you.”

Andras and Lilia immediately began to check what was prepared. Director Yung watched the scene with a nervous face as if he were being evaluated.

“There is a little shortage of equipment, but I think this is enough, we can manage.”

Director Yung brightened up when Andras said it was enough.

“I’ve made sure that the other researchers aren’t around the perimeter of this workshop. Please, feel free and work here.”

“Thank you, Mr. Yung. We’ll start working on it right away.”

“Um, can I watch the work from afar? If you’re uncomfortable, I’ll leave right away.”

At the request of Director Yung, Andras nodded his head.

“It doesn’t matter even if you look closely. If you have any questions, feel free to ask, and I’ll give you an explanation.”

“Huh?! Oh Oh, I’m so honored! Thank you! Thank you!!!”

“Don’t mention it. Rather, we’re the ones who are bothering the Director. It’s okay to ask, don’t feel so burdened.”

Director Yung trembled as if he was moved greatly by Andras’s words.

After checking the equipment and materials, Andras began working with Lilia. Director Yung looked closely at the two and sometimes helped them with simple tasks.

I and Ryan, who are not very interested in this kind of thing, settled down nearby and talked.

“Is it okay for you to stay here? You’re usually very busy, aren’t you?”

“Yeah, a huge amount of work has piled up, but right now, more than those things, it’s most important to send Lilia back. And… I want to be here for Andras.”

For a moment, I felt jealous of the friendship between Andras and Ryan.

I turned my head and looked at the place where Andras was, he was working seriously and the work was in full swing.

Lilia, who had only been playful so far, was concentrating on her work with a serious expression.

I murmured a little surprised, looking at her figure.

“Lilia definitely looks different when she’s working.”

“Haha! I know. Usually, she’s this playful and curious tomboy, but when it comes to working, she immerses herself as if she doesn’t know what’s happening around her.”

It felt like a 180-degree change from her usual self.

Her focus on the work and the atmosphere around her was very similar to Andras’.

We arrived at the lab in the morning and the work on making a dimensional door continued until it was close to dinner time. While I and Ryan sat back and watched the scene, Schnarpe’s siblings and Director Yung continued to work without eating anything for the whole time.

I couldn’t take food to them because I was worried that it might interfere with their work, so I just waited for them.

“It’s over!” cried Lilia, raising her hands.

“Is it over?”

“Yes, Brother Sihyeon.”

“So, we can go back to the Demon World now, right?”

The answer to my question came out of Andras’ mouth.

“The production is finished, but we still need more time. Right now, it does not have the power to determine the coordinates to return to the Demon world and open the dimensional door.”

“How long does that take?”

“I think it’ll take about an hour.”

“Great.”

Fortunately, things seemed to have gone well. My face and Ryan’s face brightened hearing Andras’ answer.

“Thank You for the help, Mr. Yung.”

“No, it was a very meaningful time for me to see Schnarpe’s work in person. It would have been great if I could share this precious experience with all the researchers in the center…….”

Director Yung was satisfied as if he had achieved his lifelong dream, but on the other hand, he was very depressed that he could not share this experience with other researchers.

Despite the sulky Director Yung, everyone looked happy because things went well without any setbacks.

Except for one.

Lilia muttered with a gloomy expression.

“Uh… I can’t believe I have to go back already. There were still many things I wanted to do here…”

Then,  she clung to me and said with a mournful look.

“Brother Sihyeon! I can really come back here? Right?”

“It’s going to be hard right away, but I’ll definitely bring you back later if we had a chance.”

“Promise?”

Lilia seemed really wanted to come back, so she kept asking for my confirmation again and again.

Andras, who was watching from the side, sighed quietly and said.

“Lilia. There are other things you should be more worried about right now.”

“……?”

“I don’t know about Father, but Mother… she’s really pissed off. Maybe it’s going to be hard for you to get out of the mansion, even entering the workshop would be banned for a while…”

“Ugh?!”

Lilia twisted her face when she realized the price she had to pay for all the trouble she caused.

She stared at Andras as if asking for help, but he shook his head firmly despite seeing his sister’s droopy eyes.

Andras’s cold response made Lilia turn towards me and Ryan for help, but we shrugged as if there was nothing we could do.

Lilia quickly realized that no one was not on her side and was frustrated.

When I was watching Lilia’s cheeks puffing up in frustration, Ryan’s phone rang. He checked the phone screen and immediately took the call.

“Oh! Mr. Lee? Yes, things went well here. In a little while, I think we can open the dimensional door to the Demon wor….!! What? What do you mean?”

Ryan’s face hardened in an instant.

The longer the call lasted, the more the people around noticed the unusual atmosphere.

Naturally, everyone’s faces started getting filled with tension little by little.

As we were watching Ryan talking on the phone, suddenly there was a commotion on the outside.

Feeling strange, Director Yung went out to look at the situation. After a while, he returned with a flustered look.

“Oh, we’re in trouble!”

Director Yung spoke as if he was having a panic attack.

“What’s going on, Mr. Yung?”

“Angels… It’s the Angels. They have surrounded this place. A man who called himself an “Executive officer” is in command. And… I think he’s looking for you guys.”

Everyone’s expression turned pale at the completely unexpected situation.