Chapter 74
Chapter 74
Academy’s Gumiho is a Magic Genius – Chapter 74
"H-Hey, you were alive over there too?"
"Of course. Heh heh, who would've thought I'd get tangled up with those mine bastards at my age. You live and learn."
"Oh dear, Chairmen. What are you doing up there? It's dangerouscome down, please."
In the half-destroyed auction house, two elderly men in tailored suits hobbled across the collapsed floor, leaning on their canes.
A bodyguard with a stunned expression followed behind them.
Ignoring the approaching guard entirely, the old men continued their conversation.
"Don't worry about us. Even if more mine attack, those kids'll take care of 'em."
"You're telling me. They don't look a day over my granddaughter's age, and here they are wiping out mine. Judging by the embroidery on their dress shirts, they're Chilseong Academy students. This country's future is looking bright."
"Couldn't agree more. How about we donate something in return for them saving our lives?"
"Now that's an idea. If kids like these get better resources, it won't hurt us old folks one bit. Soon as I get back to the office, I'll tell Secretary Kim to pump some serious scholarship money their way."
"Heh heh... I can't fall behind. I'll double that."
The old men exchanged words and chuckled quietly.
They'd come to the auction house for a stroll after hearing a Japanese national treasure had arrived on these shores. They'd missed the treasure itself, disappointingly, but witnessed something even greater than the Killing Stone.
If kids like these grew up to become players protecting the nation from dungeons, monsters, and mine, what better national treasure could there be?
As the old men discussed donations to ensure such students never struggled for lack of funds, another bent-backed elder furtively picked something up from the floor while wearing gloves, head bowed.
Ignoring the dust on his clothes, the old man collected a white powder from the ground.
He swept up large and small fragments along with the powder into his bag at intervals.
Once he'd gathered every speck of powder and fragment from the floor, a flush of excitement lit his face
Snatch. Someone reached out and stole the bag.
"Who dares take my bag...!!"
"Oh? Were you picking up my Killing Stone for me?"
"...Huh?!"
"Aw, what do I do? I'm so grateful."
The old man whirled around in fury, only to freeze in shock.
The white powder he'd been collecting was the dust from the exploded Killing Stone.
He'd been sneaking it into his Subspace Bag alongside the fragments.
But to have the bag snatched right after he'd collected everything, by its owner no less.
From the old man's perspective, it was mortifying enough to turn his face red.
"You're the gentleman from seat 3, right? Thank you so much for finding my things."
"I-If you're grateful, at least give me one fragment..."
"Haha, good one. Consider this payback for saving your life."
"W-What...?"
"If I hadn't been there, you'd be dead."
You'd be dead without me.
The blunt fact made the old man from seat 3 stiffen.
His lips trembled, but no words camepathetic, really.
I waved casually with a vague thanks and moved on.
As I walked, I noticed the bag had high-level [Space Expansion] and [Weight Reduction] spells on it.
So that's where all the Killing Stone went.
Jackpot.
Guess being good pays off.
Never dreamed I'd score a bag this nice too.
This blessing's a big one.
Perfect for stashing my auction haul.
As I strolled without hiding my good mood, people soon crowded around me. I wondered if it was seat 3's doing, but everyone seemed too polite for that.
"You're Baek Family Head of the Heavenly Fox Baek Family, right?"
"Y-You gentlemen... know me?"
"Eh? Isn't this the young Baek Family Head?"
"That's me, but... haven't we just met today?"
"At our age, we get good at reading people. Especially when money's involved. How could we not know the family that dominates our nation's medical and pharmaceutical sectors?"
"Haha, exactly! And that refined facewhose else but the Heavenly Fox Baek Family Head? Even our cloudy eyes can spot a sparkle like that."
The group erupted in hearty laughter.
Tycoons who swam in money, all of them.
Impressive observation skills, despite their age-dimmed eyes.
They missed nothing money-related.
Regular folks, far from superhuman. Just honed instincts from decades in the industry.
In a way, everyone here was fox-like.
I was a real fox, but they hid fox-like greed within.
Foxes that age had stopped them from climbing higher, content to fatten up in place.
Some might already be massive foxes.
Sounds bad, but...
I wanted people like this.
Those craving money, fame, powerambitious types.
Who else is easier to employ and more capable?
Looks like I made some great connections today.
What a day full of good fortune.
My body ached from Dorudo's hits, but my status window had gotten flashy thanks to it.
I gave perfunctory farewells to those vowing to repay the favor and murmured softly to check.
"Status Window."
===
Name: Baek Seung-woo
Age: 21
Race: Three-Tail Fox
Title: Vampire's Heir
Rank:
Abnormal Status: Solar Vein Blockage
Magic Saint, Nation-toppling Beauty, Bluffing
Stamina: D+ (B-) Strength: E+ (C)
Durability: E+ (D+) Agility: D (C+)
Mana: A+ (S-) Senses: S (S+)
*'Ring of Strength' boosts Strength by two ranks.
*'Ring of Vitality' boosts Stamina by two ranks.
*'Wheel of Ecstasy' boosts Agility by one rank.
*'Choir Earrings' boost Durability by two ranks.
*'Ring of Oath' boosts Senses by one rank.
Charm (S), Fox Fire (A), Demon Eye (A), Essence Absorption (A), Blood Drain (B), Triple Helix (B), Black Mist (C), Drug Resistance (E+)
===
It was so abundant now, the status window didn't fit in one glance. Diverse skills and traits.
Above all, the boosted stats caught my eye.
All above C-rank, average for first-years.
Well, except DurabilityI'd deliberately dropped it two ranks using the 'Ring of the Patriarch' since it's lower priority.
In exchange, I boosted core Stamina by three ranks. Huge gain.
"Now I can handle decent melee fights."
Not flashy swordplay like Seong Yeon-hwa or spearwork like Seo Ye-rin, but I could tank hits and show some skill when needed.
Especially with that lofty S+ Senses aiding me fully.
S+ was the pinnacle, reachable by only a handful of top players worldwideeven among rankers and high-rankers.
Though achieved via the 'Ring of Oath,' pledging invincibility as the price. Not free.
Big gains come with big risks.
The 'Ring of Oath' boosts any S-rank stat by one unconditionally, based on the oath's caliber.
I pledged [Invincibility] to push Senses to S+. Vowing never to lose, no matter what.
A blessing and a curse. One loss dulls my Senses permanently.
Brutal stakes, but heyjust don't lose.
I had solid students by my side who could hold their own. Talented enough to absorb my lessons mid-battle.
No wonder Chilseong Academy's the best.
Reputation earned.
Everyone had changed a lot.
No Yu-ra incorporated my footwork into her style, gaining superior speed and technique for ranger scouting.
Isis reinterpreted my Double Helix formula her way, wielding ice magic with finer precision. Some ice hadn't melted yet, chilling the auction house.
Seo Ye-rin infused spear techniques with nuances; from afar, I glimpsed her wielding a spear of holy light.
Looks like she'd awakened holy power.
In my memory, that came after she joined a faith. Did battle convert her?
Seong Yeon-hwa reached peak unity of body, mind, and spirit as a martial artistseventeen and already at the Five Extremes Realm. My specialty; I could vouch.
She's a real genius.
She'd go down as one of history's fastest-rising martial artists.
Soon, she'd claim a spot back home in the .
Iji was absent, working part-time.
One left.
If asked who grew most today...
"...Isabel."
This one.
The ill-mannered brat always itching for a fight with me.
I'd have disciplined her harshly, but my past sins against her stayed my hand. I could've anytime, though.
"Huh? You call me?"
But from today, she was different.
"...Nothing."
"Lame."
Isabel replied with exasperation.
Nothing unusual there.
Just the conversation. The atmosphere had totally shifted.
Especially the quality and intensity of mana swirling around Isabel.
For a single insight, her aura was remarkably refined.
This raid had propelled her to a new realm.
Whatever, fast growth is good.
...Or should be.
Her growth looked abnormal to me.
Previously equals; now, her realm surpassed mine vastly.
...Does this make sense?
I'd still edge her in combat.
She's research-oriented; I'm battle and kill-focused. Gap inevitable.
But she felt equipped to bridge it now.
Something.
Something was off.
To resolve my doubts, I asked.
"...Hey, Isabel."
"What? Another lame stunt?"
"No, it's... Did you reach that place?"
I phrased that place vaguely.
That realm was sensitive for mages.
Close enough to seem reachable with effort, yet lifetimes might not touch it.
"That place?"
"Sanctuary."
Mages beyond a threshold could build their [Sanctuary].
Within, traits, skills, and spells all rose a rank, turning attacks into one-hits.
Dominating the space entirely.
The ultimate realm.
Not for just anyone.
"Sanctuary? Like Grandma or Professor Nam Hwa-yeon? No way I'd reach that already."
"Your aura's completely transformed, though."
"Ooh, how'd you notice? If you'd reacted like that when I had cute braids as a kid..."
"Ahem..."
"Not thrilled, but not bad. You're wrong, naturally. But I did reach my own domain. Improvised on the spot, so it's incomplete."
Mages learn spells, create their own, establish subjectivity, and build worldviews.
Thus, [Sanctuary].
One intermediate step:
[Domain].
Domain's just below Sanctuary, with drawbacks like capped spell elevation or invasion risk.
Sounds bad, but relative to Sanctuary.
Domains alone are impregnable fortresses. Fewer wield Sanctuary; still, elite mages only for Domains.
Player Association records: 7 Sanctuary mages, 100 Domains.
Tiny numbers.
Just registered mages. Include hermits and turncoats: double that. Still few.
"You really built a Domain? What type? Effects? Ranges varyyours?"
"My..."
I blurted another question, forgetting our dynamic. Pure curiosity.
Sanctuaries require declaration. Domains split two ways.
First: Declaration, like Sanctuary. [Domain Declaration]. Superior authority inside.
Simply: Better efficiency, power, speed than other mages.
Second: [Domain Deployment]. Via one spell as anchor.
Limited to that spell's powers, but borrows Sanctuary's one-hit, causality, reversalsurpassing Declaration in potency.
Declaration: Versatile. Deployment: Combat-specialized.
Dream realms for mages.
As a newbie, observing hers would inspire me hugely.
Intellectual itch drew me close unconsciously; Isabel covered her mouth.
Then eyes too, odd expression. Lips twitched through fingerswhat?
This... isn't bad... What isn't?
She mumbled to herself.
Lip-reading pro me inferred, but hand obscured the key parts.
Why mutter mid-sentence?
Didn't expect straight answers from her personality.
So I deduced from expressions, movements. Staring intently... Huh?
Faint blush: shy joy.
Twisted lips denied it.
Yes and no on one face.
No physiognomy skills; just watched her enigmatic look.
But.
Did she always exude this vibe?
Before: Icy yet distant on sight. Now: sticky sensation lingering in my mind.
Like slogging through mud.
Untraceable eerie aura around her.
Domain-building worldview assembly affecting her psyche?
Anxiety gripped my ankle as unease rose.
Smiling faintly, Isabel approached.
One step, another.
Unimaginably close now; she tiptoed to my ear.
Couldn't dodge. Sticky sensation ensnared my ankle.
Instinctively glanced down.
Just black shoes and pants, same as always.
But... why so sticky-looking today?
"You asked about my Domain earlier, right?"
"Uh, y-yeah. Right."
"Mm"
Sudden throaty voice as she whispered in my ear.
Sunk in ankle weirdness, her tone short-circuited me into a dumb reply.
Was her voice always this sticky?
Not just stickysweet, like jelly.
Exactly.
She can sound like that? Turning to see her whisper
"It's a secret."
"H-Huh? Secret what?"
"Why would I tell you my Domain? You're my ex-fianc who dumped me."
Her tone peaked oddly on 'ex'.
Not just voiceatmosphere turned weird too. Was there something like this in Eve's novel? I pondered.
Clunk. Door opened; suited man entered.
"The manager's come to host VIP 18. I'll guide you."
"Ah, yes. Got it. On my way."
One of the auction entourages who'd surrounded me.
I accepted immediately.
Couldn't pinpoint or grasp this weird vibe with Isabel.
Needed time.
Time to recall Eve's talks and think.
Perfect timing from the guide.
He scratched his neck incessantlyunbefitting a professional. Unpleasant face, like sticky residue.
I followed his lead and left.
"...Shame. Who knows when the next chance comes."
An unknown voice echoed hollowly through the auction house.