Chapter 87: Merhen (2)
The mansion's training ground was wide and sturdy.
Security was airtight too, making it the perfect spot to test out Merhen. I headed there with Naye in my arms.
On the way, I asked,
“Merhen.”
―Yeah.
“Magic-wise, how many kinds can you use?”
―Death attribute? Pretty much all of them.
“What about other attributes?”
―Dunno. No idea.
“No idea?”
―Yeah. This is a first for me. Even after becoming a banshee, no other types of magic manifested. Just death magic.
This Death Lord guy.
He'd told Merhen her body was a prison, that she needed to die to awaken her powers and such.
‘Was that bullshit too?’
Seemed like it.
Otherwise, there's no reason someone with aptitude in all four elements like Merhen would only manifest one type of magic.
“Even after practicing?”
―…Yeah. And honestly, I didn't even try that hard. It would've just benefited the Death Lord anyway.
“You could've gotten strong enough to break the enslavement.”
Merhen stared straight at Kim Minwoo.
―…You're so ambitious, Minwoo. You were like that at the academy too.
She gave a faint smile.
―…If I'd really met you back then, maybe I would've tried.
I nodded.
I had a rough idea of her past now. Merhen didn't seem like one of the Death Lord's eagerly proactive minions.
Maybe she'd just followed orders like a machine.
“What are you two talking about?”
“Nothing. We're here. Sit over there.”
I set Naye down in the corner and summoned Cedric. Her eyes lit up when she saw him.
“Whoa! It's the talking skeleton guy! I saw you! On NewTube!”
―…Good to meet you.
Cedric gave an awkward wave. Naye squealed and clapped before latching onto his leg.
“Heehee. It's cold.”
Cedric froze, shooting me a pleading look.
―…The little sister your lord mentioned?
“Yeah. Naye. Baby of the family.”
―Such a lively kid.
Cedric's gaze soon shifted to Merhen.
―…It's been a while.
―Yeah.
The two legion commanders exchanged greetings. Amid the awkward vibe, I tilted my head.
“You two weren't close?”
―We hardly ever met in the first place. The three legion commanders, myself included, each managed our own territories. Merhen handled the spirit realm.
―Right. Capturing souls and turning them into undead. That was my job.
―And one more thing…
Cedric stared at Merhen and shook his head.
―She was hostile to everyone. Honestly, I didn't want to get chummy either.
―Yeah. That's how I was back then. Sorry. Let me apologize.
―…No need. I understood, more or less. You got royally screwed by the Lord, after all.
―…Yeah.
I'd been listening, so I asked Cedric,
“You weren't like that?”
―When I became the Lord's minion, the three legion commanders were already by his side. In other words, the world was already half-turned upside down.
“So?”
―I think the Lord back then… had a bit more leeway than before. At least he didn't coerce me as aggressively as he did Merhen. And to begin with… I had business to take care of, even if it meant becoming undead.
I didn't pry into what that business was.
That was Cedric's personal history. As a sentient undead, he deserved his privacy.
‘I got what I needed.’
My earlier questions had yielded some intel.
‘The Death Lord was different in the early and late stages.’
When he acquired Vulcan and enslaved Merhen, his name hadn't spread across the continent yet.
In other words, it was still a peaceful continent.
I recalled what he'd said during the first summoning.
[I came running for revenge. I dyed the continent in death. I thought I'd achieved my goal.]
Revenge.
Whatever it was, he'd apparently gone pretty aggressive early on for it.
Merhen's case proved it. When she refused to become a minion, he casually offed the students around her without hesitation.
A textbook evil lich straight out of a storybook. By the late stage, with revenge mostly wrapped up, he'd probably eased up a bit.
I looked at Merhen.
“Want to try some other attribute magic?”
―Which one?
“Just pick any…”
That's when Naye piped up.
“Me! I wanna see water magic! Water!”
―…Water?
“Yeah! Look at this!”
Her smartphone was already playing a NewTube video.
[Overseas S-rank Mage Angela's Magic Demo]
[120 Million Views]
A blonde mage named Angela chanted a spell.
A massive water dragon took flight.
The crowd cheered.
Merhen didn't know much about NewTube yet, but she got the gist. Some mage putting on a magic show.
“The water turns like whoosh! Cool, right? Even Big Brother thinks so!”
“Super cool.”
“Yeah! Sister Angela's huge in America! I even got a hug from her? Heehee.”
“For real? Naye's got connections. Hanging out with an awesome Awakener like that.”
Angela probably cozied up because of her Ilsung Group heiress status, but whatever.
The point was to play along. Bashing Angela here would've made me a total jerk.
“Come to America, Big Brother! I have her number! I’ll set it up!”
“For real? If I go, I'll hit you up. Can't wait already.”
Such a cutie.
I grinned and nodded.
Just a casual agreement.
Then.
―…That's not how you use water magic.
A very sulky voice came from nearby. Merhen had sidled up and was glaring at me.
“Huh? It is! Sister Angela's great at magic! Top ten in America!”
―…This?
“Yeah!”
―She's terrible?
Merhen deadpanned.
She'd never used water magic herself, but her memories of fighting the Death Lord told her otherwise.
Water wasn't used like that.
Water magic had to be taut and sticky.
That video mage was just a hack mimicking the surface.
But why.
Was her master grinning ear-to-ear at this amateur's spell?
Seeing that soured her mood instantly.
‘Idiot.’
Total idiot.
Time to prove it.
That this was nothing.
“Then show us your magic, sis!”
―…Fine. I'll give it a shot.
Merhen closed her eyes in focus. Mana swirled inside her.
Water connections needed to be stickier. Yet fluid. She pictured the dragon from the video.
A blue dragon brimming with water, soaring through the air.
[Merhen visualizes 'water'!]
[Refining water attribute magic!]
[Archmage (SS) activates!]
[Comprehending the origin of water!]
[Replicating magic seen with the eyes!]
[S-rank magic, 'Water Dragon Strike (S)' is generated…]
[User's skill vastly surpasses the replica!]
[A new magic is created!]
[Merhen casts Water Dragon Storm (SS)!]
The water gathered above her hand morphed into a massive dragon.
Far bigger and grander than in the NewTube video.
“W-Wow…!”
Naye gasped.
Every whisker on the dragon's face was intricately sculpted.
Not just that—inside the dragon's body, water droplets churned in a fierce vortex.
Like a storm raging within. Blue on the outside, white tempest inside.
Naye thought magic was just cool, but this was on another level.
“Th-That's amazing…”
Her eyes sparkled wildly.
She'd thought calling Angela bad at magic was a lie.
Angela was a real deal mage, after all.
But it was true.
―…What do you think, Minwoo?
Merhen glanced over.
Her eyes screamed:
Praise. Me.
My reaction?
“Whoa. Way better than Angela.”
―R-Really?
“Not even close. Oh, yeah, there were more videos like this.”
I pulled up NewTube and played clips of mages using the four elements. I'd gotten a feel for how to trigger them.
Wind, earth, fire.
I gushed over the three spells, and sure enough.
―…I can do better?
She whipped up SS-rank magic on the spot.
‘Nice.’
That's what I wanted.
Other mages would cough up blood seeing this.
They slaved away for bound skillbooks to learn spells, but Merhen copied them just by watching.
And upgraded the rank too. Her spell list was ballooning.
Naye was seal-clapping too.
It was just that flashy.
Kids and adults alike had a blast.
After a few hours of fun, when Naye finally dozed off.
My smartphone buzzed.
It was the security chief.
“What's up?”
―Young master. Could you come out for a sec? Government folks are here.
“…Government?”
―Yes. They say they'll explain after meeting you…
Government showing up.
Better meet them.
I reverse-summoned Merhen and left the training ground. One of the guards whispered,
“Young master. Government people are waiting.”
I nodded.
Soon, I met them.
“Pleasure. Han Younggil, team leader of the Korean Gate Management Division.”
Gate Management Division.
A big deal department.
A team leader there? Elite of the elite, grade 3.
Not higher than Ilsung Group's heir, though.
“Pleasure. Kim Minwoo. So, what's this about?”
“We were wondering if you'd come to the Blue House.”
“Blue House?”
“Yes. His Excellency the President wants to meet you.”
“Any special reason? Or just courtesy? If it's the latter, I'm kinda busy.”
No way I'd drop everything for chit-chat.
I had mountains of work. Not some pushover. Normally, they'd schedule ahead, not just summon on a whim.
Then.
Han Younggil shook his head, glanced around, and whispered,
“…It's not just that. The 'System' put out a message. You're possibly… in the scope, so I thought I'd tell you.”
System?
My face turned serious.