Chapter 182 – Lee Do-won (2)

The academy’s training consisted of months of repetitive learning, allowing the students to become intimately familiar with the flow of the classes.

The basic format involved cadets competing against each other in martial exercises, providing feedback on each other’s performance. Alternatively, they would engage in realistic combat simulations, wielding actual weapons.

“Lee Si-heon.”
“Yes.”
“Why aren’t you assuming your stance?”

Even at the esteemed El Academy, renowned as the best in the world, the intensity and variation of the training were not significantly different from elsewhere.

The distinguishing factors in the classes we took were simply the individual training rooms and the skilled instructors assigned to each student. By pairing exceptional students with the finest mentors, the academy provided the utmost care and attention possible within the framework of the institution.

“I heard you utilized martial arts in your recent match.”
“…Originally, I wielded a sword. Now, I use magic.”

“Learning a wide range of skills may prove beneficial for dungeon conquests. When organizing an expedition, Lee Si-heon, people with extensive knowledge like you are indispensable.”

The instructor clenched his fists and assumed a simple stance, narrowing his eyes as he glanced at me.

“However, now is the time for selecting forest keepers, when individual prowess is of the utmost importance.”
“…….”
“I believe you understand this as well.”

The man pointed out my lukewarm attitude and reminded me of the present situation. His name was Jeon Yonghyun… I couldn’t recall it. There are countless people in the world; how could I know them all? Nonetheless, it was evident that he had gained some notoriety on the internet. In truth, I could sense the seasoned aura emanating from my opponent.

‘Grade A. Is he at a similar level to the S-Rank individuals I encountered in Do-won?’

As the grading system for hunters became increasingly stringent, the number of S-Rank hunters rapidly diminished. Cheonma, Cheondo, or other warriors referred to a certain ‘realm.’ The S-Rank was determined by how close one could approach that place.

It is said that recruiting S-class hunters at El Academy is difficult due to their distinct levels of freedom and authority. As a result, those who may not be as skilled as S-class but possess similar or superior experience, along with a talent for education, are assigned to us.

It is believed that the connections made during this time will prove helpful when searching for a job or conquering dungeons in the future.

‘Come to think of it… Baekdo, who I met as a teacher, was S-class.’

I was fortunate. I’m uncertain if my Luck 10 played a role in such a seemingly insignificant situation, but it felt almost like fate.

Meeting Baekdo was crucial, as it allowed me to acquire a power that sets me apart from current academy students.

‘Anyway…’

What should I do with this? I had no choice but to raise both hands and assume a stance.

“I’m ready. Go ahead.”

I emptied my mana as much as possible, and instead enveloped my body with magic that made it feel heavier. It was as if I had heavy sandbags tied all around my body, causing it to creak under the weight.

Forcing the magic that would never have ordinarily connected, I engraved it into my body as a magical sigil.

If one can make their body strong, the reverse is also possible. By engaging in combat with a weakened body, one might develop heightened sensitivity as a result.

-[Battle-Type Body] (SS)

Up until now, I have relied purely on my inherent qualities. Without any need for conscious direction, my body performed movements appropriate for battle.

‘It was quite helpful when I adapted the Heavenly Demon Sacred Art to suit my own methods.’

When an opponent’s attack approaches, the natural path to evade it becomes visible. If there is an opening, my fist feels drawn towards it. At times, it feels as though time has slowed down, and my body’s bizarre flexibility is largely thanks to that.

What if I ignore my body’s signals… could I gain even greater experience?

The intense training I underwent in Do-won now makes all other training seem dull by comparison.

-Screeeech!

An approaching fist.
The body responds, twisting the head, and preparing for a counterattack as if struck in the mind.

Suppression can be achieved by moving fluidly.
Yet, the movement is forcibly obstructed.
The body, which had been moving as though buffering, solidifies like stone.

Consciously, I contorted the paths of my fist and movement in entirely different directions.
The body is currently numb, as it doesn’t utilize overlapping magic and mana.
Hiding even my nerves, I received a blow to the cheek.

– Thump!

A resounding noise. My bones ache, my vision spins, and the corners of my mouth lift.

Familiar pain, now a refreshing stimulus.
Tap-tap – the delightful sensation of increasing skills that Do-won experienced, gradually awakening as if being poked.

If it were someone else, the pleasure of swiftly crossing the section where they would slowly whimper and move their feet with the grace of a crane’s legs.

With this, my skills could improve, even if only by the size of an ant’s eye.

“Heh heh…”

I pondered as I exhaled a breath tinged with blood. The wound in my mouth healed rapidly.

* * * * * * * *

“Guess who?”

As I strolled through Seoul wearing a mask, a pair of adorable hands reached out from behind me, covering my eyes.

“I feel like I’ve been seeing you quite often lately.”

“…Si-heon, are you saying that because you called me?”

“Hehe.”

“Well, I like it~ I have to come when Si-heon calls, right?”

The current time was 4 a.m. I didn’t need to sleep or be in the dormitory for a while, so I left Shiba with Azalea and ventured outside.

My reason for coming to Seoul was to find a disguise. The clothing in the dormitory was casual at best, and with many parts exposed, such as the face and hair, I sought the Artifact Market in Seoul to purchase battle attire.

The purpose is to pursue functionality while concealing one’s identity.

It doesn’t really matter what I’m wearing now. Isn’t it rather awkward to be constantly torn and exposed like in Dowon?

“True. It’s odd not to have a single piece of armor when fighting with Flower.”
“That’s why I called you.”
“Heh, when it comes to having a wide network, you can’t miss out on Byul! That’s what I’m saying!”

Thanks to her position as the Vice President of the association, Byul has the contact information of various craftsmen. Since I’ll need to get in touch with them in the future, I decided to memorize the coordinates of Byul’s office.

“But do you have a lot of time? They said to come when it’s convenient, but they contacted me right away.”
“…It’s a favor for someone, after all. Besides, you have your magic. It’s not difficult to spare a moment.”

I followed Byul, who led the way, into the dimly lit back alley. There were no common telephone poles, so the surroundings were dark. It’s early in the morning – isn’t Byul sleepy? I typically don’t sleep, so it doesn’t bother me, but Byul is different, isn’t she?

I took a peek at Bam’s eyes and noticed dark circles had formed beneath them.

“Why?”

Byul gazed at me and offered a gentle smile. Although not as supple as Cornus, her cheeks seemed to quiver.

“Ah!”

As I continued to watch silently, Byul covered her mouth with both hands.

“Could it be that I’m too pretty?”
“Ugh…”

I playfully tapped her head, and Byul took a step back, giggling with delight. Then, she moved right next to me and tightly linked arms.

“So, why?”
“No, I just thought you might not be sleeping since it’s so early in the morning.”
“…Have you already forgotten who I am?”
“The Vice-Chairman?”
“No, Gamsoon.”

Ah.

Staying up all night is her specialty, I realized. The dark circles weren’t due to being busy with work.

“Anyway, stick close to me so you don’t get lost, and follow me. I’ll give you a rough explanation as we go.”

Byul rested the side of her head on my shoulder and began to explain as we wandered through the intricate alleyways.

East Seoul. The Street of Sealcraft in Gwangjin.
One of Korea’s hidden corners where only high-ranking hunters and the affluent exchange business cards.

“Many Artifacts and Craftsmen have their own unique stubbornness or beliefs. It’s not that they’re strange, but often as they awaken, their temperaments become more pronounced.”
“Temperament… Indeed, many people live and die by their temperament. It’s truly difficult and filthy to overcome.”
“Heh, that’s why there are so many difficult people… Odd folks, all in the same basket… Still, they’re human and work to make a living.”

The path grows deeper and deeper.
It was a dark alley, but oddly, this area wasn’t filthy.

It seemed like a place where it wouldn’t be unusual for rats to scurry about or insects to crawl among the refuse.
Beyond mere cleanliness, a faint chemical odor reminiscent of a restroom or disinfection room wafted through the air.
It was a potent, yet strangely addictive scent.

“This is it.”

Deeper. The innermost building.
At first glance, it had a ragged roof, door, and broken stairs, but upon touching and examining the inside, one could feel the luxurious materials used.

“…Oh.”

One could sense the persistence in the sturdy magic circle etched throughout the entire house. Though not practical, its performance was exceptional.

“I heard that all magic engineering majors are perverts.”
“Agreed.”

As I mentioned the rumor I had heard on the internet, the stars seemed to nod in agreement multiple times.

“…These folks must be the only ones getting excited watching the barrel of a magic gun.”
“What’s so exciting about that?”
“Ever seen someone put a gun in?”

With a somewhat crude joke, Byul put her finger into a hand shaped like a circle. Perhaps due to her extensive exposure to the internet, she casually threw out high-level jokes.

“What would you think if there was a case of someone disengaging the safety, masturbating with a gun, and then being taken to the hospital?”

Disabling the gun’s safety mechanism?

Will you end up in the hospital doing that?

“…You’re insane.”

“The person I’m meeting today is that type.”

“?”

This isn’t your average lunatic.

With that thought, I firmly closed my mouth. When dealing with a mad individual, caution is crucial. The most frightening thing in the world isn’t a strong person, but a mentally unstable one.

“Let’s go up, I have some acquaintance with them. It shouldn’t be too hard to get a set of clothes. Oh, and watch your step. It’s precarious.”

-Squeak.

As soon as I took a step, an unsettling sound echoed from the stairs. The steel feels as if it’s bending, on the verge of breaking at any moment.

-Creak, creak.

The stairs descend with every added weight on the foot. However, they never bend beyond a certain angle. The design is meticulous. It’s intriguing that engraving a magic circle into a shattered staircase is dozens of times more challenging and tedious than carving it into an ordinary one.

Climbing the shaky stairs, passing the window nailed shut with boards, they stood before the door. The door of the house was crafted from a single piece of wood, with thick, tangled branches growing over it.

“A bush clover tree?”
“You know about it?”

Byul seemed well-informed about this tree, offering an explanation.

The uses of bush clover are nearly endless. Its fruit is edible, and the wood is utilized for things like colanders and fences.

“The flower language is… contemplation. It’s similar to this person’s personality. We’ve only met for business purposes, but unlike me, this person’s public and private selves are the same.”

With arms crossed and shoulders shrugged, Byul reached out a hand to the door. As it opened, a deep, floral scent wafted from within.

An enchanting, mood-lifting, and seemingly addictive aroma.

“Ugh, the smell of sweat.”

Byul didn’t seem to perceive it that way, covering their nose and flinging the door wide open. On an old armor stand, clothes and weapons hung.

And there they were, exquisite artisan-crafted jewels without any security measures in place.

Inside the house, a woman with disheveled purple hair sat, clutching a slender needle.

“Who’s there?”

Several types of guns were laid out beside her.

‘…I don’t typically use firearms.’

To increase their power, the cost of the bullets would exponentially rise, and managing the barrel proves difficult, so they’re not often used. Perhaps it was her stubborn nature. The woman’s hand, writing letters one by one with indelible ink on the gun’s handle, was strikingly deft.

“Hello. I’m Byul, the one who greeted you before.”
“…Ah, that cute kid?”
“Yes, that adorable one.”
“Oh, so it is you. Let me see… What brought you here?”

Lowering the glasses perched on one eye, the woman glanced at Byul and offered a sly grin. She operated a shop that only opened at dawn, a place inaccessible without connections. Inhaling what I presumed to be the scent of sweat, I surveyed my surroundings.

“It’s acceptable.”

Many other artifacts seem like they would turn out fine even if I were the one to handle them. But not here. Even the underwear haphazardly strewn about on the ground bore meticulously engraved magical circles.

There’s always a reason when something is trustworthy.

The woman with the purple hair, reminiscent of a clover tree, shared a conversation with the stars, her laughter ethereal and her demeanor witch-like.

“Is that your boyfriend?”
“Hehe, does it seem that way?”

The star laughed gleefully. Unlike the appearance she had when they met for business, she was quite sincere with her emotions.