During the Chuseok holiday, the Eternal Lake team building.

Normally, when the holidays arrive, Korean team players all return home except for the minimal staff needed on standby, but the Eternal Lake team was different.

This was mostly because many of them, like Jared Lee, a Brit, or those whose nationality was Korean but who had lived abroad long enough, saw the holiday simply as a break.

However, as Eternal Lake extended its Korean Peninsula system period, the team members’ mindset gradually began to change.

Moreover, this year’s Chuseok was especially meaningful because Kwon Je-in finally revealed to Kwon Rena that she was her niece, and they invited Lee Yeoreum—related to Jared Lee by blood—to celebrate together for the first time.

Mok U-ram was also present, though in truth, while he had ties to Eternal Lake, their relationship wasn’t close enough to spend the holidays together.

Still, many warmly welcomed him because he ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) had tracked the Ministry of Defense’s official vehicle to protect Kwon Rena and had broken into a military facility flooded with darkness to deliver the ability violin.

“U-ram, you were here?”

Mok U-ram, who had been absentmindedly enjoying the breeze through the window, turned his head toward his muse.

Kwon Rena was dressed in a blue silk dangui, and instead of her usual ribbon, her hair was adorned with a swallowtail hairpin.

The specially crafted platinum norigae matched the design of those worn by Kwon Je-in and Lee Yeoreum, making Rena feel a bit burdened but the three greatly pleased.

‘Rena looks happy.’

No matter how Rena appeared or played, Mok U-ram was confident he loved her sound, but watching her smile happily in that beautiful attire made the music feel even more beautiful than usual.

On top of that, performing a Chuseok concert with the ability violin Mok U-ram had gifted her overwhelmed him with emotion.

Before this incident occurred, Jo Yi-shin had strictly warned him not to faint even after hearing Rena’s performance, so he had done thorough image training, barely able to hold on both then and now.

Hearing Rena’s voice revived the thrill of that moment, and though the excessive happiness made him dizzy, he endured with the resolve to answer his muse.

“I was calming my overwhelmed heart after hearing Rena’s performance. Even now, the sound she created keeps resonating inside me.”

“Haha, U-ram, you always speak so grandly.”

“For today’s Rena, such grand words are not an exaggeration! She always struggled with the glissando technique, but thanks to her effort and growth, her fingers moved smoothly and nimbly, completing a wonderful performance. It was hard not to faint......”

Mok U-ram explained in detail which parts impressed and moved him.

Though Rena was very shy, she listened carefully to his lengthy impressions.

Whenever Mok U-ram shared his impressions without fainting, he always offered helpful and encouraging words.

Being a violin craftsman, he had a good ear, and it was somewhat hard to understand why he praised Rena’s playing so highly.

Still, it was clear that Mok U-ram sincerely treasured and loved Rena’s performance.

While Mok U-ram’s face flushed with excitement as he expressed endless gratitude for the performance, Rena said,

“The one who should be thanked is me. It’s thanks to the ability violin you gifted me that I could perform here today and safely celebrate the holidays with my sister. Thank you.”

“Rena......”

Rena stroked the surface of a pearl-decorated pouch.

Inside was the card-formed ability violin.

On that day, as soon as she materialized the ability violin Mok U-ram had gifted, she realized the instrument was made solely for her.

The body of the ability violin bore the same color as Rena’s ability wave, and the shoulder rest and chin rest fit perfectly to her body and posture without adjustment.

Most of all, when she tested it by drawing the bow across the strings filled with ability wave, the violin immediately began to sing as if it had waited only for that day.

‘U-ram had been continuously making and preparing to give this violin.’

It was well known that Mok U-ram had secluded himself in his workshop, neglecting his basic needs, attempting to procure rare materials himself, and even being scammed.

So it was obvious he was making the ability violin.

It was also widely known how deeply absorbed he was in Rena’s clumsy playing, openly calling her his muse.

Thus, Rena vaguely understood that Mok U-ram had been making the ability violin for her.

But Mok U-ram had never given her the ability violin despite pouring all kinds of care on buying her snacks and more.

When the topic of the ability violin came up, Mok U-ram suddenly looked troubled, his eyes reflecting guilt and self-reproach as his face darkened.

“There’s nothing to thank me for. The workshop I use and all the materials were provided by Eternal Lake and the Hwangmyeong Foundation. No one has said it directly, but I guess they supported me because they wanted me to give you the ability violin. But I delayed it for a long time.”

“Oh, really? But making an ability violin is difficult, and there’s no obligation to give it to me......”

“I knew you needed the ability violin, Rena. Yet, I still......”

Rena thought Mok U-ram was exaggerating again, but he was always sincere.

After a brief breath to calm himself, he continued.

“I always knew your performance could save someone someday. Just like it saved me.”

“Saved you...?”

Rena didn’t understand what Mok U-ram meant, but it was true without exaggeration that she had saved him.

He had once forgotten the joy and pleasure music and art could bring.

It was Rena’s performance he heard beyond the screen that revived those feelings.

And Mok U-ram knew what Rena needed and had prepared it, but failed to deliver it.

“I also knew that to do that, you’d need a different instrument—not a normal violin that can’t handle ability waves or one made for skilled players like the Blue Violinist. I even made such violins, but I couldn’t give them to you for a long time.”

Though Mok U-ram was a master craftsman worthy of being called a genius, his skill was inferior compared to deceased masters or world-renowned greats.

Judging purely by tone quality without considering ability wave capacity, the ability violin he gifted this time was not an extraordinary instrument.

Still, Mok U-ram confidently assured that this ability violin was exactly the instrument Rena needed.

It was adjusted to cover Rena’s small mistakes when nervous and to produce her finest tone when in good condition, always ready to sing whenever her bow moved.

For that reason, Mok U-ram hesitated even more to hand it over.

“I couldn’t give it to you because I was afraid you’d be in danger......”

“Huh? You thought I’d be in danger if I had the ability violin?”

“Yes. If there is an instrument that can respond to your ability wave and performance, you will someday become a player violinist at the level of the Blue Violinist. That means you will face dangerous situations.”

Mok U-ram’s biggest reason for withholding the ability violin was safety.

As a prospective violin master and player who traveled the world, he knew.

He knew how dangerously the Blue Violinist fought on the battlefield matching her ability, and how high-ranking beings, true clans, and humans enchanted by her performance reached out their hands.

When a huge threat struck on Christmas Eve, destroying the ability violin and endangering Rena’s life, Mok U-ram was terrified.

Thus, his wish that Rena would play his violin conflicted with his desire to hide her potential and power.

“But Rena went to dangerous places to save her family even without the ability violin. My thinking was wrong.”

“U-ram......”

Rena could somewhat understand Mok U-ram’s feelings.

Lee Yeoreum had awakened an extremely strong and rare ability.

She had once wished her sister had also been a player, but now she wished she wouldn’t get involved in dangerous affairs.

Though not exactly the same, Mok U-ram seemed to hesitate with similar feelings.

Rena stepped closer to the slumped Mok U-ram and said,

“U-ram, you know, I don’t think we had many chances to talk.”

“We talked more than enough. I’m worried I might have taken too much of your time.”

“We usually only talk about performances. We don’t know much about each other.”

Mok U-ram lifted his head quickly and said as if to excuse himself,

“That’s not true. I even knew about your background... ah.”

“Haha, the fact that I’m hearing this now shows we really need to talk.”

Since then, during the holiday, Mok U-ram and Kwon Rena had many conversations.

Sometimes just the two of them, sometimes with Kwon Je-in, Lee Yeoreum, Jared Lee, or other Eternal Lake team members.

As their talks grew longer, Mok U-ram’s anguish eased and Rena’s hesitation lessened.

By the end of the holiday, both thought the same thing.

“We want to tell Uishin about our conversations.”

“Yes, and thank the vice-captain too.”

“Right! Let’s do it together!”

Though the holiday ended perfectly, the two made a big mistake.

Rena and Mok U-ram were so excited they completely forgot about the midterms.

Because of that, their thanks to Jo Yi-shin were a bit delayed.

Of course, their gratitude was no less sincere.

Mok U-ram and Kwon Rena shared everything that happened over the holiday and their concerns without holding back.

They felt more like a devotee and her object than classmates, but this event seemed to bring them much closer.

When they exchanged looks and gave thanks simultaneously, they looked like ordinary classmates.

In truth, their efforts were great, so it felt a little strange that I should be the one to receive thanks—but since they came together, I couldn’t bluntly refuse.

“When the exam period ends, I’ll tell the class about my birth. I want Uishin to be there.”

“Yes, having the vice-captain will be reassuring.”

Rena seemed eager to share this secret with her friends but restrained herself to avoid shocking them during exams.

I pictured the gloomy Rena who appeared as a villain in Plma High but now she seemed almost like someone else.

I’m confident Rena will never again appear as a villain in this world.

“Yes, I’ll be there too.”

Of course, Rena would have to pass her midterms safely to be able to accompany me then.