Chapter 29: Watching The Fire Is The Most Fun

"Why is that?"

"Don't you feel it?"

"What are you talking about?"

Tsk.

I clicked my tongue and glanced aside.

A faint magical power had been flowing out since earlier.

Though it has dissipated, its presence lingers faintly, like an aftertaste.

'I have a bad feeling.'

These things always come back to annoy me.

Not immediately, but eventually, they return to me in a very bothersome form.

'Even dog poop can be considered a valuable medicine.'

I regretted the absence of Yoo Eunchae's help at such a crucial moment.

'If it were a magic world, or a martial arts world.'

Fortunately, this world was the modern world.

This is an era where communication is possible through cell phones.

I sent a text.

[Text sent.]

"You've really thrown manners out the window, texting while we're in the middle of a conversation."

Han Junseok said with a look of contempt.

"Something more important came up."

"Important? It's probably trivial matters at best. Predictable. Your endeavors have always been like that."

"You seem to know a lot about me?" I said, my lips curling to a smile.

There's nothing significant I could recall from Han Seojin's memory.

Just a few pieces of information passing by in fragments.

"…"

"Well, that's not important, let's move on."

I looked at Seon Woohyeon.

He seems suspicious too, but he doesn't seem to be aware of my thoughts yet.

'It seems like Yoo Eunchae ran out of time.'

Looking at my phone, the typical immediate response is missing.

"Are you ignoring me right now?"

Han Junseok stepped forward with an irritated expression.

His hand was resting on the hilt of his sword, as if he could draw it at any moment.

I smirked.

Just what do you plan to do with such a trivial thing?

"You, if you pull that out, you're dead."

"Ha, you truly…"

I walked straight up to the guy named Han Junseok before he could do anything foolish.

Intimidating him into immobility with murderous intent is one method, but,

'That's too dangerous.'

Most things don't react properly to my real murderous intent.

Some slowly died from it.

And it's hard for me to manifest it properly with this body anyway.

Snap!

I lightly stepped on the sword's handle as he was about to swing it.

"Ha, this pathetic attempt…"

His expression changed abruptly.

Probably because he couldn't move at all.

"But you, do you have something?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Do you have a strong backing?"

"I am the son of the head of the Iron-Blood Sword Clan! Even without such things…"

"Then let's settle this with a beating."

"I've been waiting…"

Before he could say anything, I kicked upwards.

Was he aware? Han Junseok tilted his head back to dodge.

"Scoundrel!"

I immediately took the stance to draw my sword.

"Stop!!"

The woman named Han Yurim intervened.

I was in the process of drawing my sword. And another sword was pointed at me.

"Coming at me?"

2 against 1.

Not bad. I am pretty confident in group fights.

It doesn't matter to me whether it's one-on-one or facing multiple opponents.

"Han Junseok. Stop it."

"But sister!"

Han Junseok, the guy, looked at Han Yurim, gritted his teeth, and stepped back.

"You're lucky…"

"You."

Ignoring Han Junseok, I looked at Han Yurim.

"You're quick-witted."

With a slight smile.

If.

If Han Yurim hadn't intervened, I intended to break one of Han Junseok's arms.

'It's still too early to provoke them.'

But as a sign of affection, I wanted to smash one of his arms.

"Han Seo…no, who are you?"

"Han Seojin."

"Han Seojin doesn't act like you. From the way you act to your habits, everything is different."

"Is that so?"

"You are another being wearing Han Seojin's mask. Don't expect us to like you."

"You never liked me in the first place."

Han Yurim tightly closed her mouth and looked at me.

I looked over at Han Junseok.

He looks like the type who recklessly swings his sword around when he gets ignored.

'I have a rough idea of what kind of place the Iron-Blood Sword Clan is.'

He seemed to have picked a fight because he felt disregarded.

That attitude felt very familiar.

It must have been from continuously making his children compete.

And seeing how nonchalantly he placed his hand on the sword,

Drawing his sword in retaliation for being ignored must be his usual behavior.

'Seriously.'

It was a ridiculous, good-for-nothing family.

"So what are you going to do?"

"…Originally, I stopped by here today to solve a task given by the family."

"Was that just stopping by?"

"Since our family and the academy have never been on good terms, it wouldn't be a problem to just withdraw at this point."

"Doing things half-heartedly, I see."

"But it would be better than clashing with you, wouldn't it?"

"It seems you've investigated me thoroughly."

"A lot has changed, after all."

Those anxious eyes said a lot.

Han Yurim sent those eyes my way and took Han Junseok with her.

Just before leaving,

"Still, I think it's fortunate."

"What is?"

"I didn't think it was real. We may be called iron-blooded, but when it comes to raising a child...no, never mind."

"Ridiculous."

I looked at Han Yurim.

She seemed to have some conscience, since she tried to say something.

'I roughly know what she wanted to say.'

Probably,

The fact that the head of the Iron-Blood Sword Clan had his own son, Han Seojin, experimented on.

That's what she probably wanted to say.

'I will avenge you.'

Iron-Blood Sword Clan.

I planned to avenge Han Seojin by erasing them from the world,

As long as it doesn't interfere with my life.

But no matter how much I think about it,

'I should move it forward a bit.'

It seems I'll inevitably clash with Iron-Blood Sword Clan soon, anyway.

While thinking such thoughts,

Munch munch.

Someone next to me was munching on a waffle.

Where on earth did they get that?

"Do you want some?"

"Just one."

Curious about the taste, I used telekinesis to snatch and taste it.

"Mmm."

It's too sweet.

"How can you eat this?"

"I'm eating it for the taste."

Ridiculous.

I was about to rinse my mouth with cola when I felt someone's gaze.

Wi Gunak looked at the ring hanging on my arm.

"Isn't that heavy?"

"This? It's pretty okay."

"Give me one too."

"Rather than this, first you need to train your body."

"Train, you say?"

Wi Gunak looked at his own forearm.

It resembled a woman's forearm more than a man's.

"I must tell you in advance, I have diligently trained my body."

"I know."

"You say you know?"

"Yes."

Mysterious.

The meaning of his ability is mysterious, literally.

Most people can neither understand nor adequately handle it.

Wi Gunak, who manages it somehow, is indeed a genius.

Of course, not as much as me.

But he can follow to the extent of my fingernail.

"Don't worry too much. I'll distribute it to everyone soon."

"Is that so?"

"…A 30kg iron ring?"

"That's not it."

Wi Gunak shook his head at Seon Woohyeon, who had interjected.

"This is a much more intense version of it. Your bodies won't be able to take it, right?"

"…Can I do it too?"

"If you want to."

I glanced at my phone after receiving a reply from Yoo Eunchae.

[I solved it!]

…So it's solved.

It would be odd if she couldn't figure it out, given our conspicuous presence here in the academy.

Not everyone here is incompetent.

I put my hand in my pocket and looked back.

"Should I give it now?"

"Do you have it?"

"No, I'll go make it. It'll probably take about an hour or two."

"Then, should we go to the tower…"

"No."

I grabbed Wi Gunak's neck. His nape was as soft as a woman's.

Is this also the power of the Mysterious?

"Just follow me. I'll teach you why I said that."

"I'm curious about something."

"What is it?"

"Why are you so sure that I should go with martial arts?"

Wi Gunak asked me with a questioning look.

"Do you control it consciously?"

"Yes, I do."

"That's why I was sure."

"…?"

"The reason others are sure about magic is similar."

I chose my words carefully.

It would be best if these guys could understand.

'But that would take too much time.'

Martial arts and magic.

It starts with understanding the difference between them.

In that case, the best method is undoubtedly,

'Actual combat.'

Since ancient times, those who couldn't memorize theories or those who objected were everywhere.

If you rigorously train them in actual combat, they'll come to understand on their own.

'For that, first.'

I should start by making iron rings.

Mysterious, Wi Gunak.

His power is something that cannot be understood.

No mage or scholar could comprehend what his power was.

Among the five great families that dominate Korea, the family of Wi Gunak was just below the few at the top.

The Mysterious Yoo Clan tried to research various things about Wi Gunak, only to learn that they didn't fully understand the power he held.

However, Seon Woohyeon was certain.

Wi Gunak is a mage.

Because he saw a mage who destroyed everything with an incomprehensible power.

And Wi Gunak was much stronger when he was alone than when he was with others.

Therefore, Seon Woohyeon was convinced that Wi Gunak had a strong magic affinity.

As for Yoo Eunchae, she hated agreeing with such a strange idea, but she didn't deny Wi Gunak's talent in magic.

Because his abilities were so deeply ingrained in her mind.

However, Han Seojin said, Wi Gunak should also do martial arts.

Others might have scoffed or laughed, but Han Seojin is different.

The things he has shown so far.

Basic Mana Manipulation.

And the magic that erased the Corpse Lords and hordes of zombies in one fell swoop.

That alone lends weight to his words.

'I don't know what it is.'

But it's worth watching.

"Your eyes have changed."

Woohyeon got goosebumps in an instant.

Han Seojin is looking at him as if amused.

"…You noticed that too?"

"Roughly."

"But where are we going right now?"

"You said you needed iron rings. To make those."

"Are you making the iron rings yourself?"

"Yes, I have something else to show you as well."

"Something to show?"

"It might be useless for you guys, but just think of it as watching. The most fun things are usually watching fights and playing with fire."

"Both are dangerous, aren't they?"

"That's right."

"But if it's a forge, isn't there one near Iron-Blood Sword Clan as well?"

"There are members of the Iron Tribe where we're headed."

"What's that?"

"Dwarves. That's the name most commonly used by those involved in the martial world."

Seon Woohyeon looked at Han Seojin as he was explaining.

When talking about the study of magic or the methods of Basic Mana Manipulation, he spoke like a born mage, but now he's using terms that martial artists use.

So, it's hard to tell where he belongs.

'Who are you?'

To say he has awakened a past life seems insufficient, given his exceptional magic and martial arts skills.

But to say otherwise, the person has changed too much.

He used to lack confidence and always behaved passively.

Now, he acts with overflowing confidence and without hesitation.

As if he is the correct answer.

And astonishingly, he always showed more than just the right answers.

Therefore, Woohyeon was a bit excited about what he said he would show this time.

Soon, they arrived at the forge.

And a moment later, Seon Woohyeon and Wi Gunak, in shock, were trying to dissuade Han Seojin.

Because Han Seojin was,

"Oh wow, it burns well?"

"Stop! Please stop!!"

"What are you talking about? This still isn't hot enough. Look."

"The forge is burning doooown!!"

"This is an opportunity to build it bigger."

Since he was burning down the forge of the blacksmith he had been coveting.