The noisy clash earlier had caused panic throughout the surrounding neighborhood. Some families stepped outside to see what had happened, while others shut their doors and windows tight, hoping the chaos would not reach them.
Fortunately, the confrontation claimed no lives.
The environmental damage was minimal—enough to leave scars, but not enough to destroy everything.
Barsk, spared by Jenny, quickly withdrew his forces and fled without looking back.
Amazing…
With a single command, they moved as if they had trained together for years…
“So?”
Jenny’s voice broke the silence. She turned toward me with a faint smile.
“Are you impressed, Rinne?” she asked. “Would you like to join us?”
I fell silent.
What would happen if I went with them?
What would become of my family if I left?
“Wait,” Father stepped forward, his voice tense.
“What do you mean by asking our daughter to join you? We’re just an ordinary lower family. We don’t even have talents like yours.”
Jenny nodded slowly.
“Hm… I understand. As parents, that reaction is natural—especially when your beloved child is being recruited by an organization you consider dangerous.”
Her gaze moved between us.
“But I believe you’ve noticed something different about Rinne as well. Haven’t you?”
“W-what do you mean?” Father asked.
“The explanation is long,” Jenny replied casually. “And standing around here will only exhaust us. Come with me.”
“Where are you taking us?” Mother asked quietly.
Jenny inhaled.
“To our base. The base of 1Life.”
-----------------------------------
The journey took nearly two hours on foot, moving farther away from the kingdom’s territory. My parents—no longer young—were supported by one of Jenny’s subordinates with water abilities, using flowing currents as a foundation to ease their steps.
“We’re far enough from the gates now,” Father said. “Is your base still far?”
“No,” Jenny answered. “We’re standing directly above it.”
“Above it?”
ZRUUT!
Jenny formed a spear from the earth and drove it into the ground.
DUNG!
The soil trembled violently, as if something long dormant had been awakened.
ZUUUT!
A staircase slowly opened, descending into the underground.
“Come,” Jenny said. “Go in.”
The stairs were long and deep. As we descended the spiraling corridor, only stone walls and torches lit the way. After nearly five minutes, we arrived in a vast, majestic chamber.
The walls shimmered with a blue hue. The air was cold, clean, and… different.
So this is their base…
“Please, rest for now,” Jenny said. “I’ll bring some drinks.”
She walked off, leaving us behind in silence.
-------------------------------------
The air felt heavy.
My parents—still shaken by fear and exhaustion—slowly began to relax, though their unease hadn’t completely faded.
“My child…” Mother spoke softly. “Who are they, really? They’re terrorists, aren’t they? Why would they invite you? What have you done, Rinne?”
“I’m not sure either,” I answered. “Ever since I became a Miracle Seat, strange things keep happening. Everything feels too fast…”
“So you’re planning to go with them?” Father interrupted.
“With an organization that opposes the kingdom? Of course you’re not… right?”
I didn’t answer.
“I… don’t know…”
If I stayed with my parents, their lives might remain in danger.
But if I went with Jenny—
“Rinne!” Father raised his voice, gripping my shoulders tightly.
“You won’t leave us, will you? You’ll stay by our side… and raise us into an upper family, won’t you?”
My chest tightened.
What should I do…?
“Ahem.”
Jenny returned, carrying a tray of drinks.
“Sorry for the wait,” she said. “Don’t worry. This base is safe from any form of scanning or attack.”
She paused.
“And… forgive me for overhearing your conversation. To make up for it, I’ll answer your questions.”
“First,” she continued, “who we really are.”
“We are a group of Miracle Seats—just like Rinne—who have realized how broken the kingdom’s system truly is.”
“Broken?” Father frowned.
“Corruption. Discrimination. Dividing people based on wealth,” Jenny replied flatly.
“That is not a healthy system. That’s why we intend to change it.”
“What exactly is a Miracle Seat?” Father asked again.
“Why does everything seem to revolve around our daughter?”
Jenny fell silent for a moment.
“Miracle Seat is a term for people who were never given a choice,” she said at last.
“They possess uniqueness—not because they wished for it, but because the world decided so.”
“Most Miracle Seats are born into upper families,” she continued. “They have protection. But those born into ordinary families…”
She looked at me.
“…are often turned into tools before they’re allowed to learn how to be human.”
Mother stared at me, her face pale.
“So… Rinne?”
“Yes,” Jenny said quietly.
“Rinne possesses an exceptionally powerful uniqueness. One she cannot yet control.”
She took a breath.
“That is why I wish to ask her. Not for my own sake—but for those who have long been oppressed.”
Father looked at me for a long moment before speaking.
“This decision isn’t ours. It belongs to Rinne.”
“Rinne,” Mother squeezed my hand.
“You’ll stay with us, won’t you?”
I lowered my gaze.
“Then,” Jenny said calmly,
“I have my answer.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll observe Rinne from the shadows,” she continued.
“You won’t have to lose your daughter.”
She turned to my parents.
“One thing only—after today, your lives will never be the same. The kingdom will begin watching the Alz family.”
“But don’t worry,” Jenny smiled faintly.
“1Life will protect you.”
Father nodded slowly.
“Thank you… we trust you.”
“Yes,” Jenny replied.
“I look forward to working with you.”