Chapter 117
Chapter 117
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: Faint Traces
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Taming Monster was a skill that dominated a monster's mind with mana.
It always left traces of the caster's mana in the target's brain, however faint.
'Not enough.'
Ogres, orc mages, and more.
Yi So-young had dissected the corpses of the tamed monsters but hadn't obtained the results she wanted.
The mana remnants in the brains of monsters freed from taming by death were far fainter than she had anticipated.
'It burned the whole brain.'
It seemed some magic had activated in response to certain conditions.
To erase the traces of mana even a little faster.
'Thorough, isn't it.'
Jae-kyung Pharmaceuticals.
More precisely, the mysterious figure targeting Jo Sung-hyeon was no pushover.
The fact that they had prepared for the possibility of a tamed monster falling into someone else's hands suggested that uncovering their identity would be more arduous than expected.
"Sugar..."
She dragged her weary body out of the dissection room and spent a long time in the bathroom. She used several bottles of body wash to scrub away the monsters' stench.
"I need sugar."
Even after washing up, Yi So-young's expression was still far from refreshed.
In her mind, packed with knowledge like a library, the blueprint of the main building surfaced, mapping out the optimal route.
And that led her here.
"What did you see? Mind sharing with me too?"
It was the staff room, equipped with a pantry.
"Wait just a moment."
Spotting a student and teacher engaged in an intriguing conversation lifted her mood slightly.
Perhaps it was the proximity of the pantry that excited her.
"Hmm-hmm-hmm... Huh?"
Feeling her uniform jacket lighter on her shoulders, she hummed a tune but suddenly froze in place.
Just three meters from the pantry, she turned to stone.
That student from moments ago.
Wasn't he unnecessarily handsome?
Just like someone she knew.
'Huh?'
Recalling the face of the person she hated most in the world, Yi So-young couldn't bring herself to turn around.
She rolled her eyes sideways to find a mirror and confirmed the student's face through it—the one she'd just spoken to.
Unusually jet-black hair and eyes.
A green scabbard at his waist.
"K-K-K-Kang...!"
"...!"
Yi So-young's mana detection ability surpassed most S-rank players.
The sight of her hair standing on end, as if she'd seen a ghost, easily unsettled the other teachers.
'What the hell? Why's she suddenly like that?'
'Did she sense some danger?'
'Terrorist attack!?'
Some teachers had already drawn their weapons.
"Kang?"
In contrast, Jae-hyeok stood silently, mulling over her words.
His Insight was a whopping 134.
Far exceeding the average teacher's, he easily recognized there were no anomalies around.
'I made such a mistake!'
Feeling Jae-hyeok's piercing gaze, Yi So-young wanted to go mad.
'I swore I'd never get involved with House Kang again!'
To think she'd end up tangled like this.
To make such a foolish mistake of not recognizing a face just because she was low on sugar!
"Ugh..."
Memories of time spent with the Yaksha flashed by like a montage.
Her eyes squeezed shut as convulsions wracked her stomach.
"Professor?"
Dazed and staggering from vertigo, Jae-hyeok steadied her.
"Eeeeeek!"
Startled by the gentle hand around her waist, So-young screamed.
Goosebumps prickled across her skin.
Jae-hyeok's hand, large as a pot lid.
Its texture—calluses thick on the palm and every knuckle—perfectly matched the Yaksha's.
"W-What the hell?"
"Did monsters invade or something? We need to contact the Martial Force..."
Whose scream was that?
The teachers panicked at the sudden shriek.
Grandmaster Yi So-young.
Despite her appearance, she was a great player.
She had created various mana operation methods, elevating South Korea's national prestige.
Rumors even swirled that the world's strongest nation, America, had offered her a baronial title to naturalize her.
Who could imagine Yi So-young letting out such an undignified scream?
No one in that room.
"......"
Even Jae-hyeok, hearing it up close, doubted his ears.
'Did I hear that wrong?'
Jae-hyeok aspired to major in Mana Studies.
He knew he couldn't master every mana operation method, but understanding their principles would unlock endless possibilities.
Moreover, he respected Yi So-young.
How could he not admire her for rejecting America's invitation and devoting herself to South Korea?
'Pretend I didn't hear it.'
Some secrets were better left buried.
For her dignity's sake, Jae-hyeok decided to erase her outburst from memory.
"Are you alright? You look anemic."
"Y-You..."
Blushing to her ears in embarrassment, Yi So-young started to say something but stopped.
Jae-hyeok wore an innocently clueless expression, as if he hadn't heard the scream.
It was obvious 'pretending' to anyone.
Yi So-young felt the sky crumbling.
'I'm done for.'
First the Yaksha and his eldest son Kang Dae-seong, now the second son Kang Jae-hyeok had a weakness on her too.
Her future already looked bleak.
'It won't be a big deal if word spreads about just screaming...'
But House Kang men specialized in inflating small matters or downplaying big ones to achieve their goals.
By any means necessary.
"Professor?"
"Eep!"
"You don't look well at all. Shall I escort you to the infirmary?"
"N-No, I'm fine!"
Shaking her head vigorously, Yi So-young subtly brushed off Jae-hyeok's hand still around her waist.
She wanted to shove it away forcefully but held back, wary of offending him.
"...Thanks for worrying."
She didn't forget to express gratitude.
She knew his every courtesy from one to ten was calculated, but she played along.
She didn't want to blunder on reading the mood and invite trouble.
"?"
The teachers were dumbfounded.
The government, military, association—even nobles—took a subordinate stance with Yi So-young.
Only by currying her favor could they hope to obtain desired mana operation methods.
The apex of South Korea's ecosystem.
For the mighty Yi So-young to respond 'thanks' to someone's kindness?
Unthinkable unless you fed her a cream puff.
She had long grown accustomed to favors, taking them for granted.
'To think Professor Yi and Kang Jae-hyeok are that close...'
'He's the Yaksha's son—how...!'
The staff room buzzed.
Many teachers reacted as if they'd witnessed something unseemly.
Some even muttered about the end times.
Among them, the most vehement was Kim Ji-young, the 1st-year F-class homeroom teacher.
'Park Min-cheol said Kang Jae-hyeok's guardian deity was Yi So-young?'
Kim Ji-young hailed from Iron Guild.
She still moved at the guild's behest.
Placing her as a teacher at Lion's Castle was Iron Guild's achievement, making severance impossible.
Her colleague, administrative staff Park Min-cheol, was in a similar bind.
But recently.
Park Min-cheol, acting on guild orders to target Kang Jae-hyeok, returned half out of his mind.
He rambled about a guardian deity protecting Kang Jae-hyeok, then submitted resignations to both Lion's Castle and Iron Guild in a mad stunt.
His whereabouts afterward were, naturally, unknown.
Park Min-cheol had vanished from the world as if he'd never existed.
'I wondered what gall he had to betray the guild...'
Had Yi So-young marked him, clouding his reason?
The mystery resolved in an instant.
Compared to second-rate Iron Guild, Yi So-young was like the heavens.
Order the kidnapping of Kang Jae-hyeok, who flaunted ties to such a being?
'Me?'
That was suicide...
"Excuse me?"
"...Huh?"
Pale-faced Kim Ji-young startled back to awareness.
Kang Jae-hyeok had approached and was staring at her.
"You're blocking the way."
"Ah! S-Sorry!!"
Kim Ji-young hurriedly stepped aside at the entrance.
Jae-hyeok left the staff room with Yi So-young without so much as a thank-you.
Heading toward a suspected beastkin hideout.
"Why am I with you...?"
"You asked what I saw, Professor."
"You could've just told me verbally..."
"I'm a first-year. I enrolled a month later than others. I'm not familiar enough with the school layout to describe locations in words."
"I'm not interested in your cir—in other words, I see. I'll impose on you then..."
The teachers watched the pair stroll down the hall like close mentor and student, the image searing into their minds.
***
"Here."
Arriving at the destination, Jae-hyeok turned to Yi So-young.
"......"
Yi So-young looked soulless.
She still couldn't grasp the situation or why she was here.
Even in her confusion, her obedient demeanor deeply touched Jae-hyeok.
'She must have a deep connection with Father, given her kindness to me.'
Just like the chairman.
'Father, your life was not in vain.'
There are people here who remember you, even a little, and show me goodwill.
Placing a hand on his warming chest and taking a deep breath, Jae-hyeok smiled faintly.
"Not going to check it out?"
Aren't you busy with construction? Am I taking too much of your time?
His considerate urging made Yi So-young bristle inwardly.
'No breather at all?'
Jae-hyeok had taken a detour to keep Yi So-young from encountering the Lion Statue.
He trusted her, but he wanted to uncover its identity alone for now.
They'd even crossed mountains and rivers.
It was a forced march so grueling that even A-rank player Yi So-young breathed heavily from repeated monster encounters.
Yet she couldn't complain.
"Professor?"
That irritatingly radiant smile on the spiteful boy—he hadn't broken a sweat.
"Yeah... I'll hurry."
To think he had talent surpassing even Kang Dae-seong.
A chill ran down Yi So-young's spine.