Martial Arts Returnee’s Game Broadcast

Chapter 205

1.

Saint Eve.
Her attire was always striking.
A black dress that fit her body perfectly, with a white belt and veil, creating a harmonious nun's habit.
Despite always exuding a neat and sacred atmosphere, the practical nun’s habit with a side slit, allowing for unimpeded movement, reflected her personality as well.

“You’ve arrived, Sister Ha Eung Eung.”

Eve, sitting by the window, basked in the sunlight like a plant photosynthesizing.
Contrary to the sacred atmosphere, the belt of daggers revealed on the side of her thigh and the daggers tucked between them emitted a dangerous vibe.

[You promised not to use your abilities.]
“If it were someone else’s injury, I might have endured it. But I couldn’t bear seeing a sister’s injury.”
[It’s just a temporary inconvenience.]

Ha Eung Eung was more worried about Eve.
Eve’s end point was different from the B-rank one like Sacred Barrier, it was an A-rank end.
The side effects caused by the corrupted energy were naturally more severe when it came to A-rank awakeners than when they were B-rank.

Eve, a wielder of sacred magic, sometimes found her own body infected with this corruption.
It wasn’t a much better ability than the hardened one.
Anyone who doesn’t understand how divinity works might think it’s a good ability.

“I’m sorry. But the time left for me is not long.”
[What did the doctors say?]
“They said it’s a matter of maintenance for now. Thanks to the significantly slowed progression, they said my life span is no longer shortening.”

A living creature’s aging and lifespan are determined by telomeres.
Telomeres are designed to allow cells to divide a set number of times, with a limit to how many times they can replicate.
This Hayflick Limit usually doesn’t exceed 60 cycles for humans. After that, the cells can no longer regenerate, and aging and death follow.
The problem was that this corrupted sacred magic accelerated the activation of the telomeres.

‘It’s pure fallen divine magic at its worst.’

A magic that forces immediate recovery by depleting the body’s regeneration capacity.
The recipient regains combat power instantly but at the cost of shortening their life.
This isn’t divine magic; it’s forbidden dark magic.

“I want to handle the remaining time as I wish. Even if it means speeding up the little time I have left.”

This ability, which activates increasingly rapidly, forces its will on her body, even against her intentions.
Having realized that her end point wasn’t just constrained by time but marked by an accelerated pace, Eve declared her retirement from the public scene.
Desperately trying to control the sacred magic by any means, she sought out Ha Eung Eung.
Ha Eung Eung readily accepted her request to learn the manipulation of magic.

‘Eve reminds me of Bing Soso.’

Bing Soso, the young master of the North Sea Ice Palace, who had also been given a short life, was a former companion who passed on her inner strength before her death.
Bing Soso, a golden-haired, blue-eyed Slavic girl, had a different appearance, but her fate and nature were very similar.
Eve’s selfless behavior, putting others before herself, was a constant source of unease for Ha Eung Eung.

‘I don’t want to go through another situation where a terminally ill companion sacrifices themselves to save me.’

Such experiences were something Ha Eung Eung never wanted to repeat.
Thus, Eve, who was inclined to treat her life lightly, had become a new source of vulnerability for Ha Eung Eung, a ticking time bomb of emotional fragility.

“Now, please extend your arm. I will treat you...”

Thud!

“Ugh?”

Ha Eung Eung pinched Eve’s cheeks with her thumb and forefinger.
If Eve continued to make those sad sounds, it felt like her own mental state might break too.

[Don’t start making decisions on your own. We’ve already found the solution.]

As the corrupted energy of the Sacred Barrier was purified, Eve’s body regained its elasticity and recovered, unexpected reactions began to occur.
The telomerase component was generated, which began to heal the worn-out telomeres.

[Every action has a reaction. This applies to the manipulation of energy as well.]

Every time Eve received Ha Eung Eung’s end-point treatment, her body slowly regenerated its terminal branches, extending her cellular division.
In short, each treatment added to her remaining lifespan.

‘A terminal patient extending the lifespan of another terminal patient, but for now, there’s still time left.’

Eve smiled awkwardly.

“Your kindness, Sister Ha Eung Eung, is putting me in a difficult position. If it weren’t for me, you could be enjoying more of your youthful time, but you’re constantly dedicating your time to treating me.”
[If you’re concerned, just keep up with the energy flow. You’ll need to tame everything to gather the corrupted energy in one place. Once that’s done, you’ll regain your lifespan without needing my treatment.]

Aside from the life-supporting treatment, Ha Eung Eung had prescribed Eve a permanent treatment method.
It was the same sealing technique she had used on her disciple, Joo A-young, using the womb tattoo to seal their elemental inner power.

‘It took 20 years of cultivation just to carve the seal for A-young, who had weak inner power. Eve’s cultivation is beyond what I can handle.’

Eve’s corrupted energy, converted into cultivation power, was equivalent to two centuries of effort—over 120 years.
Unlike Joo A-young, Eve had to rely on steady effort.
Although there were no immediate results, it was understandable why Eve was growing impatient.

[Don’t get too impatient.]

Eve nodded before finally letting go of Ha Eung Eung’s hand.

“Ugh, my cheeks hurt. Sister Ha Eung Eung, you really need to fix that bad habit of yours.”
[If we’re going to be picky, you’re no better.]

Both of them had a playful expression on their faces.
The cold war between the two cute women, who couldn’t bring themselves to truly dislike each other, only ended after Dashman brought tea.

“Did you two argue again? If others saw you two fighting like this, they would be horrified. A war hero from Ukraine and the next S-rank awakener from Korea fighting.”
“Hmph. I don’t know about that.”
“Still, please be careful. Just recently, didn’t a reporter with a strange detection ability get caught trying to spy on Eve from behind a wall?”

An A-rank beauty awakener from Eastern Europe, who had reclaimed the capital of her homeland from monsters.
Eve Christina, the war hero and saint, had gained a surprising amount of public attention. If it weren’t for Min Woo-seong, who used mind-reading to uncover the abilities of stalkers, this would have spread through the media.

“It’s not really my fault.”

Eve puffed up her lips.

“Don’t act so proud, Guild Leader. We’re in the same situation.”

Ha Eung Eung froze.

“What did I do? Don’t act so smug. You were photographed jumping over building roofs when there were too many people at the main gate.”
“!”
“You didn’t know? Huh. A news article came out about it. Here, take a look.”

[Headline]
[Haemang Sect Guild Leader’s Passageway: Skyscraper?]
[Over 2 million views]
[Over 1500 comments]
(Picture of her perched on a roof)
(Picture of her jumping between buildings)
(Picture of her frowning in front of a bird-monster frequency transmitter)
(Picture of her discovering fan letters from rooftop residents)

• Is she some kind of migratory bird? Why is she sitting on the roof?
• Looks like she’s getting some fresh air.
• She’s so pretty.
• Totally doable.
• Why does she move so naturally?
• The bird repellent must really work haha.
• The residents are leaving gifts like they’re welcoming a migratory bird haha.
• Honestly, if such a beauty came to my apartment’s rooftop, I’d probably leave a note too.
• Isn’t that asking for an autograph?
• Nope, I’m just taking it with me~
• Hey, give me back my autograph.
• Hahaha, why would you take it?

These were the popular posts on the community’s trending page, one or two appearing on each page of the top posts.

“Even just being photographed walking around like this is a big deal, but if people see us arguing, it’ll cause an international incident with the Ukrainian government.”

It was too big a deal to just dismiss as a joke.
This was clear proof that Ha Eung Eung was as much in the public eye as Eve.

[Sorry. I’ll be careful.]

After her meeting with Eve was over, Dashman quietly followed her out.

“Guild Leader, thank you for always looking after Saint Eve. I’m truly grateful.”

Dashman, who had always treated Eve’s matters like his own, seemed especially sincere today.

[When are you going to confess?]
“Cough! Cough, cough!”

Dashman choked up as he wiped his tears.
He asked with a red face.

“Your joke is too much. Confess? How could someone like me do that to Saint Eve?”

Did he really believe he had successfully deceived her all this time?
Ha Eung Eung felt a bit of jealousy, knowing that the man she had once been jealous of was now eyeing a beauty she could never dream of.

[Eve is indeed a great loss.]
“Yeah… I guess so.”

See? He quickly shrunk back after hearing just one line.

[Eve is always grateful to you.]
“She’s such a kind-hearted person.”

She wouldn’t think too highly of that, and she’s always kind to everyone around her. It’s hard to think of it as something special...
In a reality where the sincerity gauge would already be at rock bottom, Ha Eung Eung felt both sorry and helpless.
Perhaps that’s exactly why.

[Would you like some help with your confession?]

The unnecessary meddling.