Chapter 91 – Masked Man (2)

[Life with Everyone, L Academy Korea Every Day]

―Who attended Class K’s midterm prep session yesterday?
Legendary lol

[Comments 14]
– Anonymous 1: What’s going on? Am I the only one who doesn’t know?
└ Anonymous 2: I think they’re talking about that guy with the mask.
– Anonymous 3: Lim Jong-hyun was a legend haha
└ Anonymous 4: What are you talking about? It’s obviously him.
└ Anonymous 3: Just say it like it is!!!
└ Anonymous 5: Hahaha, look at that denial hahahaha
– Anonymous 6: But isn’t that guy watching this too?
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“Whew…”

White smoke escaped from Jong-hyun’s mouth.

“I don’t like it.”

Lee Si-heon.

At first, he thought the guy was just famous due to a series of coincidences.

‘What’s going on?’

But if it keeps repeating, isn’t it inevitable?

Lee Si-heon’s ability to conceal his skills was not enough. Once again, he found himself at the center of the turmoil.

‘Why… No, why did I sit down with such thoughts in mind?’

In truth, he was a man in whom he held no interest. He believed that Jung Si-woo was overestimating Lee Si-heon, and he had no doubt that his thoughts were correct.

‘I don’t know now.’

Jonghyun extinguished his cigarette in the ashtray and wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead with a towel. He re-entered the training room and took a seat on the strength training equipment.

It was right to cast aside such trivial curiosities. After all, it wasn’t strange for him to focus solely on moving forward and striving to achieve his goals.

‘Wait, Jung Si-woo.’

He was determined to surpass the bond that had originated from the military academy and to confidently outdo his father as well. Jonghyun reached for the massive dumbbell.

* * * * *

“Beep-“

When I returned to the dormitory, Shiba wouldn’t speak to me.

“Shiba…?”
“Beep.”

Shiba lay in bed with her face buried, crying continuously. There was a tear-stained mark on one side of the pillow, as if she had moved while lying down.

“Has she not been able to adjust?”
“She said she adapted well.”
“Then why…”

“Beep!”

Shiba shouted furiously at Heaven’s words while she was drying the dishes.

“It must be a protest.”
“A protest?”
“Yes, wouldn’t she be angry because her father is only wandering outside and pretending not to know her? She’s young and wants to monopolize his attention. You understand.”

Had I been indifferent to Shiba?
Not exactly.
Except for a few times when I went out, Shiba was always with me. There were even times when I spent more than half of a day off with her.

“A daughter always wants to be with her father.”
“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

Somehow, Cheondo’s words seemed tinged with bitterness. Knowing her family history, I refrained from saying anything more.

“Beep!”

But Shiba, shouldn’t you listen to your dad? As you grow older, you’re becoming more and more childish. What’s the reason for this behavior?

“Shiba, if you’re this upset, we can’t communicate properly. Just take a look at Dad.”

– Whack!

As if she had eyes on the back of her head, she struck me with the back of her hand.

…Perhaps I need to be a bit more forceful. I reached under her arm and lifted her small body.

“Beep, beep, beep!”

Shiba struggled in surprise, her tiny feet hitting the bridge of my nose and slapping my cheek.

However, once I held her close, she calmed down quickly, burying her face in my chest and letting her tears flow.

“Oh, look at your runny nose. Tissue… Now, blow your nose.”

“Beep… Sniffle.”

For quite a while, I wiped her tears and helped her blow her nose.

After I patted her back, Shiba seemed to feel at ease. She wriggled her arms free within my embrace and hugged me as tightly as she could.

“Papa…”
“Do you hate being apart from your dad that much?”

– Nod, nod.

She understands so well with just a single word.

“I’ll do my best. I’m sorry, right now I’m going to school and have a lot to take care of.”
“Peep…”
“Can my daughter wait?”

Shiba was silent for a while before finally nodding.

I had no choice but to accept the situation, even if my heart ached. After all, I could die tomorrow in an attack by someone I don’t even know.

For now, Heaven is protecting the entire academy, but there’s no telling when another incident might force her to leave.

“Are you almost ready?”
“Ah, yes.”

I set Shiba down and stood up, stretching my neck. I roughly stroked her sullen head, and she nuzzled her cheek against the back of my hand.

Still, their mood seems to have improved a bit. I should take them to an amusement park later.

“Ugh!”

As I stretched, a groan naturally escaped my lips. After days of relentless training, instead of feeling like I’d grown stronger, I was more convinced that I was going to die like this.

“Well, let’s begin.”

But there’s no helping it. Skills don’t improve all that easily.

Today’s training is focused on magic. Given my aptitude in various areas, I needed to sharpen as many weapons as possible.

“Before altering your body, I’ll gradually inform you of your current shortcomings.”

Heaven removed the cotton cloth wrapped around her and hung it on a chair.

“First is magical power. The power required to use basic spells is on a different level. You know this because you’ve used it once before, right?”

“Yes.”

“There’s no simple solution to this issue. Consuming an elixir is one way, but… obtaining an elixir now would be quite difficult.”

Recently, for some unknown reason, the supply of elixirs has come to a halt. Moreover, White Peach and Heaven, who pursued only pure power in their worldly lives, did not have many connections in that regard.

If there truly is no other way, it might be worth considering the abilities of the lottery or the World Tree.

“And the second thing is—”
“You mean that inheriting Heavenly Demon’s power takes precedence, right?”
“Yes. I’m not sure if you’ll return to the original world… but that’s a matter for later.”
“Understood.”

As Cheondo nodded, she closed her eyes. Shortly after, a puff of smoke appeared, and the bashful orange-haired Zodiac rushed toward me, her hands outstretched like branches of a tree.

“Brother~!!”

I caught her as she threw herself at me. I nearly succumbed to her soft touch but managed to restrain myself, grasping Zodiac’s shoulders and gently pushing her away.

“Brother… today.”
“Today is training, right?”
“Hmph.”

It’s one thing to ask for it in the evening, but requesting it from the Hundred Spirits Group is quite another.

No matter how much one’s desires have surged recently, there are still some things that cannot be done.

“Alright. Come here. Just take off your top.”

Following Zodiac’s words, I removed my shirt and exposed my back. She soon placed her hand near my spine and began to infuse her magic deep within me.

“Hehe, the statue’s back…”
“…”

A tingling sensation reached deep into my bones.

“It’s fascinating, the statue. It wasn’t like this when I first saw it. Your face has changed so much.”
“It’s the face… I’ve been diligently enhancing it through the status window. Though it’s peeled away now.”
“Ah, it still looks neat, doesn’t it? It matches your voice perfectly, making it quite fitting.”

As I shattered the status window, various abilities underwent changes. My intelligence increased from 5 to 6, and the imbalance in my body was resolved.

It felt as if things that shouldn’t have existed, like stretch marks, had been completely transformed.

Most importantly, my body was reformed as if extracting only the advantages from the status window, making me feel as if I had personally experienced events that could only occur in martial arts novels.

“Nonetheless, you’ve lived with great effort.”
“Why the sudden, bizarre praise?”
“Do you always want to compliment the statue? It’s quite large here, too.”

Tuk tuk-

When Zodiac tapped my groin with her free hand, the magic inside me shuddered for a moment, and blood rushed to my lower body.

What on earth did she just do?

“It’s standing.”
“…Insane. What did you just do-“
“If you become a bit more accustomed to it, you can make the statue happen too. Maybe even to a woman? How about trying it once?”

…Such a cunning woman.
She’s someone you cannot be off guard around, not even for a second.

That’s when it happened.

“Beep! Beep!”

Shiba, who had been sulkily sitting and watching me, stood up and slapped Zodiac’s shoulder.

“Beep!”
“Sh-Shiba?”
“Beep! Ee-beep!”
“Ouch! Shiba, that hurts. Alright, I’m sorry….”

Don’t you dare touch my dad!

Perhaps sensing the threatening tone, Zodiac regained her composure and concentrated on searching for my magical power once again.

Shiva returned to her seat and settled on my lap. Zodiac only caressed my back with a hint of regret.

“…Hing.”

Surprisingly flustered, isn’t she?
To hinder Zodiac, Shiva must be present… Remember that.

“Enough nonsense… Focus on what you should be doing.”
“But shouldn’t the apprentice learn this?”
“Why teach your disciple magic that induces a woman’s arousal? Sister, was Heavenly Demon actually a Lustful Demon? Does he even use lewd techniques?”
“It’s not magic, just a skill, and it can even be used to prevent pregnancy! Perfect for an apprentice, right? I might be the only one in the world able to do it. Wait a moment… or not? Perhaps the sage could manage it.”

Zodiac spoke with such confidence, as if she had read my every thought.

“Why use this unique ability in such a manner?”
“Because the apprentice has talent just like me, it will be possible. And it’s needed.”
“…”
“…Eating fruit increases your magical power.”

Zodiac’s words held numerous meanings within them.
Her skill in deliberately twisting her speech so that Heaven couldn’t understand was truly remarkable.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re a pervert.”
“Hehe.”
“That’s not a compliment.”

Filling the Record of Nourishment was one of the methods to quickly grow stronger.
However, the conditions were harsh, so it was reserved as a last resort… Yet, I never expected Zodiac to bring it up.

“Anyway, should we finish this first?”
“Please do.”

Zodiac closed her eyes once more, concentrating on releasing her magical power.
I, too, took a deep breath to soothe my excitement and raised my own mana.

“Try it slowly.”

Mmm-Mmm-

A blue aura shimmered on the surface of the skin.

Though it was called a magic investigation, one must not lose focus during the process.

When Zodiac pushes the magical energy generated within the body, I check the magic manipulation ability by suppressing it. However, if I make a mistake during this process, the magic circuit or container could be damaged.

There are risks, but there are also returns. As a teacher, knowing the performance and capacity of a student’s magic circuit is the greatest benefit.

– Ugh.

However…

‘What?’

It’s surprisingly difficult.

It seems as if she’s determined to enter, but no matter how hard I try, it’s difficult to push her back. The sensation of forcibly squeezing through the magic circuit, exploring its interior, and pushing in.

Feeling awful, I adjusted my posture and increased my concentration.

“…?”

‘Look at this person?’

The elongated magical energy, like a snake, undulated within me. I also extended my magic to counter hers.

As I increased the output and the two magical energies interlocked, the circuit slightly went off track. At that moment, I contemplated whether I should forcefully increase the output to the maximum.

“Now, up to here.”

Zodiac’s words trailed off.

“Whew…”
“Is this your first time? It hurt so much when I first did this with my partner. Still, if it’s a statue, it’s quite talented!”

Before I knew it, sweat had formed on my forehead.
Seeing Shiba sitting between my legs and resting her head, it seemed to lift my spirits a bit.

“I didn’t know it would be this hard.”
“I’ve almost finished checking. It looks like you can learn to teleport now. It seems possible.”
“…That’s a relief.”

This means that Shiba can be sent to kindergarten even without Zodiac in the future.

As I sighed with relief, Zodiac, clinging tightly to my back, whispered in my ear.

“Do you want to learn that too?”

A magical skill that sexually arouses a man or woman.
For a moment, I considered hitting her because it seemed cheeky, but a better idea came to mind.

“I think I can still do that earlier thing.”

“Ah~ No matter what, it’s not like teleportation; this isn’t something one can learn all at once.”

Is that so?

I pressed my finger into Zodiac’s thigh. Slowly and gently, I channeled my magical energy into her lower body, caressing her.

“I thought I used my magic like this.”
“…It won’t work like that, you know?”
“Just a moment.”

Seeing no reaction, it must not be that easy. I exuded more magical power, recalling the sensation from earlier.

“…Huh.”

Her skin gradually began to quiver. A flustered voice could be heard.

– Squeeze.

Should I twist it more forcefully here?

“Hic!”

Zodiac suddenly hiccuped. Turning my head, I saw her face flushed red.

“I, uh… I need to use the restroom for a moment.”
“Ah? Oh, sure, go ahead.”

As I watched Zodiac abruptly rise and head towards the kitchen, I stared blankly at my own finger.

“…Hasn’t this happened?”

Magic.
No… I’ve acquired the skill.