Eun Sua (3)
Eun Sua (3)
"Starting tomorrow, we will conduct a dungeon exploration trial. Make sure you all prepare well."
Kang Han-ja suddenly declared from the podium.
-So suddenly? How are we supposed to prepare?
-The Academy usually does dungeon trials suddenly. You never know when Demon-humans might show up.
-Dungeons? How many dungeons does the Academy have again?
-Quite a few. If you count the small and medium ones, it's probably around 15.
At Kang Han-ja's words, murmurs started here and there.
The Academy was famous for conducting dungeon explorations suddenly. It was to prepare for potential attacks by Demon-humans or to allow students to gather information in advance. In the game, dungeon exploration was actually randomized.
"That's it for today's class. Make sure you all review well."
Kang Han-ja said that and walked out the front door.
I took a quick look at the clock; it was 5 PM.
It was about time to finish training and have dinner. I headed to the training ground. There weren't many people inside. Well, everyone must be busy preparing for the dungeon tomorrow. I'm the exception. Since I know all 15 dungeons in the Academy inside and out... Well, not to the point of remembering every single detail, but once I enter a dungeon, most of the information comes to mind.
Today, I should do the C-route workout from the routine Choi Yu-na taught me. When Choi Yu-na taught me how to exercise last time, she gave me four routines, and since she said this way was more efficient, I've been trying to stick to it for just one month.
'It's just as grueling, though.'
Conversely, that meant it was a good workout.
I exercise for an hour, rest for 15 minutes, then exercise for another hour. Resting doesn't mean just sitting around, either. In the spare time, I watch videos uploaded by retired heroes as a hobby to learn weapon techniques.
The video I'm watching today is about daggers. I'm looking at basic throwing techniques.
'Knowledge Access really is broken.'
Just by watching the videos, I try to 'understand' the weapon techniques. It would be impossible to use them in real combat right away, but after a few practices, I'll get the hang of it.
It was already 7 PM. Time for dinner. I'm doing this to survive, so I didn't want to skip dinner just to exercise. I need to replenish nutrients, too.
I picked out a can of Coke and a can of Zero Pepsi at the store. Then I headed to the cafeteria. As I followed a slightly dark path, I saw a girl in front of me.
Faded white hair falling to her shoulders. Eyes sparkling with gold were directed toward me in a crooked manner.
A black sleeveless tee that exposed her shoulders. Perhaps because the weather was a bit chilly, she wore a long-sleeved top that went down to her elbows. A woman wearing shorts was squatting there, looking at me with a Chupa Chups in her mouth.
"Yeah, what are you looking at?"
A delinquent tone.
I was about to say something, but stopped. She wasn't the type to change just because I said something, and above all, she was much stronger than me. I would usually try to be cheeky, but our compatibility was also terrible.
However, she stood up and was walking toward me.
"Ah, sorry. Some other guys were picking a fight until just now, so I was on edge."
She said, taking the Chupa Chups out of her mouth. A thin strand of saliva connected it. It was kind of lewd.
By the way, who would pick a fight? With you? I made an absurd expression. Since the student who picked a fight with Eun Sua at the beginning of the semester turned into 'what' used to be a student, there were many bad rumors about her.
Rumors like if you touch her, you get beaten half to death, or you get secretly buried in the mountain behind the school.
"There are people who pick fights with you?"
"Some pale, washed-out guy from the Ivory Tower."
Eun Sua said, grinding her teeth. Come to think of it, there was a third-year student who picked a fight saying he couldn't believe a girl like her was the prospective Tower Master of the Ivory Tower. Eun Sua said she was the prospective Tower Master, but that was a matter for the future.
She was still just one of the five disciples of the Magic Tower Master. And the other four disciples, who were pointing swords at each other, joined forces because Eun Sua was too outstanding and kept her in check. Crushing the conspiracy of the four disciples who were keeping her in check and exposing it to expel them from the Ivory Tower. That was the Eun Sua route for the second semester of the first year.
"By the way, is it true that you're close with Nam Da-yoon-nim?"
"Yeah, pretty close."
Because I call Nam Da-yoon 'noona', the word '-nim' felt awkward. Unaware of my reaction, Eun Sua continued to speak.
"Close enough to call her 'noona'?"
"That's right."
When I answered by giving a moderate affirmation to Eun Sua's words, her eyes sparkled.
"But how did you know that?"
"That... I didn't eavesdrop, but I heard Lee Ji-ah talking to Im Na-yeon. I just happened to hear it. Just happened to."
Eun Sua said, averting her gaze. She definitely eavesdropped.
"Ah, anyway. So you're that close, right?"
"Well, yeah. Da-yoon noona thinks of me as a younger brother, too."
"R-really? You're not just smart, huh."
Eun Sua asked me, looking restless.
"Th-then, by any chance, could you get me an autograph?"
"......An autograph?"
Was Nam Da-yoon that popular? Getting an autograph wouldn't be hard.
It's a gain since I'm buying Eun Sua's favor with just an autograph.
"Do I just need to get an autograph?"
"Uh, uh? Is it really possible?"
"Yeah, an autograph is nothing."
She'd probably agree readily.
"Th-thank you!"
Eun Sua said, grabbing my hand.
"Thank you so much! I really wanted one! If you need my help, tell me! Anything, as long as it's not a bad deed—no, I'll even help with bad deeds to some extent!"
Eun Sua's reaction was more intense than I thought. I smiled awkwardly.
"Or should I take care of that bastard Han Jong-woo and his gang?"
Eun Sua said with a fierce smile. Purple, navy, and yellow colors were creeping up from her hands, trying to take shape. It was a precursor to the manifestation of the Seven-colored Sword.
"No, that's a bit..."
If I really beat up Han Jong-woo, her relationship with him would turn for the worst. It would be trampling on Han Jong-woo's pride, and it would open up the possibility of him becoming a Demon-human. Aside from that, I do want to crush him because of the bullying incident, though.
"I'll do that later, so you don't need to worry about it."
"Oh, right. As expected, you have to do your own revenge."
Saying that, as if she liked my words, she chuckled and patted my shoulder.
It hurts, you jerk.
"It's not exactly a favor in return, but there is one thing I'd like to ask."
"A favor? What is it? Just say it."
I explained my request. Eun Sua accepted my request with a reluctant look.
"Really? Is that all? No, in the first place, does that make sense?"
"Yeah. That's enough, and I'm just saying it just in case."
Eun Sua made a dubious expression at my words. She groaned for a while, then soon nodded.
"Okay. If the situation you mentioned happens, I'll do it."
Eun Sua watched the boy walking far away for a moment.
A guy who was born superior.
That was the evaluation Eun Sua made after seeing Lee Si-woo. At 8, he entered the Ivory Tower, and at 10, he became a disciple of the Tower Master. Upon becoming a disciple of the Tower Master, even if he didn't want to stand out, he had no choice but to.
The Ivory Tower, the union of all mages in the world. The meaning of having the potential to become its master meant that even if she didn't want to, she had to get involved in politics.
She had seen many handsome men and beautiful women while attending many parties, but among them, Lee Si-woo was exceptional.
'With that ability, his looks are a bit of a cheat.'
A tall height of 185cm. Broad shoulders and chest. Deer-like eyes. At first glance, he looked cold, but when he smiled, he was as warm as a flower blooming in a bright spring.
What about the traits he possesses? Parrying that cannot be seen in a mere cadet. Everyone who has crossed weapons with him would know. That you shouldn't cross weapons with him. Even though you swung your weapon, your own body gets caught up in the weapon.
Weapon techniques that even professors praise, saying it's not the level of a cadet, but as if they are looking at a hero of equal rank.
If there was a weakness, it was his body. His body was too frail. It's common for physical types to achieve the unity of Essence, Energy, and Spirit to promote to Middle Rank, but his mental strength is at least Middle Rank, and his technique is at least close to High Rank. However, his body was so low that one would wonder how he even got into the Hero Academy.
She briefly looked at Lee Si-woo and recalled the rumors circulating about him. On his days off, he stays in the training ground all day exercising. He doesn't seem to know, but many people are already paying attention to him.
Rumors that many of his stats have changed in just two months since entering the Academy are already spreading everywhere. Even to her eyes, he has become much stronger and fiercer than before entering the Academy.
That's why it was strange. A person so crazy about training is only now doing physical training? Unless there was some family history, his parents are already Middle Rank heroes. There's no way such beings wouldn't have trained him.
She once thought he might be hiding his skills like Kim Harin, but if he were hiding his skills, hiding his weapon techniques would be the correct answer. But he didn't hide them. A mind that the body cannot keep up with. Techniques that are far too superior compared to his body.
'Could it be.'
Thinking that far, Eun Sua recalled the content of a manga she had seen a while ago.
The Demon God who will drive the world to destruction.
The protagonist and his companions who oppose him.
She swallowed her saliva.
Come to think of it, there are many bad rumors about the Demon-humans these days, too. There are many rumors that the reason villains are running rampant is because a group of Demon-humans is sponsoring them. As is the case in this field, such rumors were mostly true.
And the ones manipulating them from behind are the 'Cults' trying to resurrect the 'Demon King'. It is said that beings who covet power by selling the 'future' of the world, beings that must be destroyed, are moving.
'Regression.'
A Regressor had existed.
The history humanity has built points to it.
At first, when the gates opened and all sorts of monsters tore through the cities.
There was a time when everything humanity had built collapsed.
The human population was reduced by nearly half, and monsters appeared everywhere.
There was an era where the value of 'food' was prioritized over human lives.
There was a time when a whole country collapsed due to a single monster.
There was a time when humanity had to launch nukes to kill a single monster.
It was an era where the world seemed not to wish for the survival of humanity.
However, no matter how great the despair, there is always light.
Humanity awakened mana and launched a counterattack.
Many heroes were born like stars.
Many heroes fell like stars.
A Regressor of that era appeared.
He announced that he had regressed and led numerous heroes.
He persuaded the Fairy Queen who came over from the gate, and the Fairy race stood on the side of humanity.
He persuaded other demi-humans, and other races stood on the side of humanity.
To change the destiny of the Earth's destruction.
An era where heroes laid down their lives, throwing their lives away like straw for the future of humanity.
'Regressor.'
Eun Sua was convinced. Lee Si-woo is a Regressor. That would explain everything.
The first-ever perfect scorer on the Hero Academy written exam. Lee Si-woo, who solved it fluently as if he already knew. It's not in the past, but it's possible if he uses 'future' knowledge. The information he uploaded to the 'Hall of Fame' must also be information from the future.
What he asked of her also roughly fit.
Eun Sua continued her thoughts.
Perhaps.
The Demon King must have been resurrected.
Humanity must have been pushed back helplessly, just like the day they first faced the gates. It must have been nothing but despair there.
I don't know why Lee Si-woo regressed, but he wanted to buy my favor. His 'favor' was that simple. Perhaps, it was to gain my favor.
It's self-praise, but Eun Sua was outstanding even objectively. It's just that the twins Yoon Seung-ha and Yoon Chae-rin are such monsters, but if you compare just the output, she surpasses even those two.
'He must want me as a colleague.'
Eun Sua thought. A colleague of a Regressor. It was a sweet ring. However, once she became a colleague of a Regressor, she couldn't have an ordinary epithet. She needed the power and coolness that only a colleague of a Regressor would have. She desperately racked her brain.
'Empress of Pitch Black?'
It was a bit plain. She had to come up with cooler words...!
Since her trait is seven-colored, English words indicating colors were essential. Her specialty is flames and lightning. Since flames are more of a specialty than lightning, Flame.
'Darkness Flame.'
Gulp.
Connecting two cool words completed a cool sentence. Then how cool would three be? Since she will become the Tower Master of the Ivory Tower, it would be good to add 'Master' at the end, right?
Three cool words.
'Darkness Flame Master.'
It was perfect.