Chapter 33: A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with a Single Step (4)
After that day, my relationship with Han Seohyun improved quite a bit. At least he wasn't grumbling like before.
He seemed to have shaken off a good chunk of his guilt over his brother, if not all of it.
And he was following the training steadily.
"We did upper body today, so tomorrow it's legs. Take a short break, then skeleton class..."
"Ughhh."
Han Seohyun buried his face again before I could even finish. We hadn't even started proper training yet, and he was already wiped out. How bad was his base stamina?
Right? When I was training, that was just light post-meal exercise.
'Didn't you say you had no memories?'
Ahem! I just feel like it was.
Making up stories just to nag, even without memories. Impressive, really.
Your eyes look impure, though.
'It's nothing.'
With physical training done, it was time for the next phase.
"Catch your breath and summon a skeleton."
"Huh?"
"Your stamina's shot, but your mana’s fine, right?"
Proper training meant no wasted time.
Han Seohyun, face pale as a ghost, summoned a skeleton. Maybe from calling them hundreds, thousands of times over the past week—its summon time had definitely shortened.
I approached the skeleton slowly, then swung my dagger. It shifted its center of gravity backward, dodging. Followed by the second strike, aimed at its side.
Clang.
The skeleton's forearm bone blocked the dagger midway. I stepped forward, targeting its neck.
Oh ho, its unexpected move made my eyes gleam.
But that was it. The skeleton shattered in my hand moments later.
"That move just now."
"Ah."
"It was like mine."
Han Seohyun's face flushed at my words.
"Is that bad?"
"No, it's good. Just surprised me."
Someone mimicking me after watching wasn't something I was used to.
"Anyway, you've improved a ton."
Still clumsy as hell, but compared to just standing awkwardly before, it was astonishing progress.
"S-see you later then, Boss."
With that, Han Seohyun toppled backward.
Ah, he'd settled on calling me "Boss." Hearing a seventeen-year-old kid say it felt a bit off, so I'd considered alternatives, but nothing fit.
The safest, "hyung," was a loaded word for him now.
Every time he said it, his already gloomy face darkened like he needed a flashlight.
I approached the iron bars and spoke amiably to Kim Jaeho.
"Hey, Kim Jaeho. Not hungry?"
Ray jumped in immediately.
You said you'd win him over with actions?
"But if I don't even talk, he won't even look at me."
Suddenly sounding creepy—what's that about?
Didn't he get the reference? Different dimensions, I guess. I cleared my throat inwardly and whispered an excuse to Ray.
"Now that he knows I won't hurt him, it's time to build rapport."
Kim Jaeho could understand me. He just didn't—or couldn't—respond in human speech.
Right now, his wary eyes ignored me, picking at the dirt under his nails.
He's not even listening.
"Still, chatting like this, a few words might sink in eventually."
At this rate, when?
"Someday."
And that someday came sooner than expected.
Having roughly figured out the skeletons, I naturally turned to Han Seohyun's other summons.
"Now summon the rats and that bird."
Han Seohyun confidently called the rats. He knew next to nothing about skeletons, but he handled rats and birds decently.
"I'm confident in intel gathering."
True—he'd tracked me down with them, after all.
Way more competent than the Awakener Crime Team.
I'd thought rats were gross, but his were almost like live mice—kinda cute. More hamster than rat, with bright, lively eyes for dead things. Adorable, really.
"They have names?"
"Ratty."
"..."
Under my gaze, Han Seohyun hurriedly added,
"I-I'll give it a cool name once I summon something proper."
"Really?"
"Yeah, the coolest name in the world!"
I was speechless. Amid his chatter, a burning stare hit from somewhere.
Kim Jaeho, pressed right against the bars, eyes intense.
"Whoa, you scared me!"
I yelped involuntarily. Han Seohyun turned and flinched too.
"What's with that stare?"
I followed Kim Jaeho's gaze. A rat sat on Han Seohyun's palm.
"Curious about the rat?"
The moment I said that to Kim Jaeho, Han Seohyun jumped up from his seat.
"No way!"
Not enough—he swiftly hid his rat behind him.
"Don't worry, I won't give it to him."
"H-he's still eyeing it!"
True enough, Kim Jaeho's stare was fixed on Han Seohyun—or rather, the hidden rat. As Han Seohyun moved, those eyes rolled wildly. I stepped between them and soothed Kim Jaeho.
"Hey now, Jaeho. This isn't food. It's rotten old stuff anyway. Huh? Got it? Eat that and you'll die. No-no."
Wait, did he just give me a pitiful look? Kim Jaeho, of all people?
I shrugged.
"Jaeho gets it."
"He doesn't look like he does at all!"
Han Seohyun freaked, sending the rat far away. Kim Jaeho slumped in disappointment.
"Guess he doesn't wanna eat it. Seohyun, bring the rat back."
"Why me?!"
"Just keep it at a distance. Try again."
Han Seohyun cautiously placed the rat back on his palm.
At its appearance, Kim Jaeho plastered himself to the bars, staring intently. Eyes sparkling, even.
"Doesn't seem aggressive."
If anything, he looked delighted. Come to think of it, future Kim Jaeho loved small, shiny things too. He'd collected candy wrappers I'd given him. Ratty wasn't shiny, but small and cute enough.
"It can resurrect anyway, right?"
Han Seohyun panicked at my words.
"Severe damage doesn't work! And re-raised corpses take double the mana!"
"Still, why not trust him once?"
"Sigh, fine."
Han Seohyun sighed and moved the rat near the bars. Kim Jaeho tentatively extended a finger.
"A bit closer."
Han Seohyun reluctantly flicked his finger forward. The rat climbed onto Kim Jaeho's finger.
Kim Jaeho stared at the rat on his palm, fascinated. Stroking it so delicately, like fragile glass—it was almost funny.
"Should've bought him a teddy bear."
"Yeah."
I chuckled dryly at Kim Jaeho hiding the rat possessively.
After that, Kim Jaeho treasured the rat. Seeing him share his food with a dead rat was absurd, but at least he'd bonded with something. Good.
Then Ray's excited voice boomed in my head.
Oh! Great idea—great idea!
"What now."
Let's talk somewhere quiet.
Unlike usual, it felt important.
I reluctantly followed Ray's lead to a secluded spot.
"If this is more pointless nagging..."
Why so harsh? It's all for your own good!
"So why'd you call me?"
Helping others train matters, but you getting stronger is priority one, right?
I shrugged at Ray's words.
"I'm training now too. The problem's fundamental."
No matter how hard I pushed, I couldn't exceed my fixed mana like a car without more fuel. Control's useless without quantity.
Borrow an artifact's power.
"Easier said. Mana boosters are ultra-rare. Even with elixir hunts, it'd take years."
Ray wasn't wrong—ways to boost internal mana existed. Like wuxia spirit pills, but SS-gate drops only. The ones I knew appeared at least two years out.
Not that. What about mana stones?
"Mana stones?"
You couldn't raise personal mana with them. Only artifacts used mana stone energy, via engraved circuits. Human bodies couldn't...
Ah! I realized.
"You said my body has tons of mana circuits."
Like an artifact. If I used mine, I could absorb mana stone mana.
"This might work."
My biggest lack was firepower.
Theoretically, I handled all attributes—all talents. But low mana output kept me weak.
Still, I'd need an artifact to channel mana stones into me first.
I called Geum Doctor immediately.
"Can you make artifacts?"
[Simple ones, sure... but it's just a hobby?]
"Or introduce a craftsman..."
Right then—
I think I can. Just need tools and space.
I switched gears at Ray's words.
"Never mind—I have a workshop. Somewhere private, away from eyes?"
[Perfect. Come to my place.]
"Your place?"
[Yeah! Told you I tinker. Built a workshop easy. Top facilities.]
What? Geum Doctor's wealth meant great setup, sure... but his house?
[I'm alone right now!]
A thirty-something guy inviting me over alone? Not thrilled. But my response was set.
"On my way."