Rising in the World
Rising in the World
Hyeong-seop Gu was every bit the arrogant mage one would expect from a prestigious family.
Looking down on and mocking mages of lower rank was, to him, a virtue—a mark of true magical nobility. He had been raised to believe this, and never once in his life had he questioned it.
That said, he wasn't some reckless fool who acted rudely to just anyone.
In fact, just as he cast scornful glances at those beneath him, he reserved looks of reverence for those of higher rank. A textbook case of "strong against the weak, weak against the strong."
And that was his survival strategy. His mediocre skills and lack of tact had kept him alive in the family for so long precisely because of this attitude. While his peers had gotten themselves killed by acting out against their superiors, he had kept his head down and avoided conflict. Luck had also been on his side, sparing him from many dangerous situations.
But he had no awareness. None whatsoever—enough to undo all the reputation and good fortune he had built over the years. The tragic part was that he didn't even realize it.
Even now was no exception.
Hyeong-seop rubbed his stinging cheek and asked,
"Young Master...? Why me?"
"'Why me?' What kind of question is that? Hey, take this guy away."
Se-chan Gu motioned to the mages behind him, and they moved immediately.
"What the—?! Let go of me!"
"Senior, it's better if you stay still."
The mages restrained Hyeong-seop and his junior. The shadow of the Lantern had already receded by then.
"Young Master!! Young Master!! Why?! Why are you taking me away instead of him?!"
Hyeong-seop still hadn't grasped the situation. His junior, watching his senior flail helplessly, felt his eyes grow damp.
"To think I was working with someone like this... Near ink, one turns black. I'm afraid I might've picked up something from him without even realizing it..."
"What the hell, punk?! You done talking?!"
"Senior. Why are you resisting so much? If you just let these people take you, they'll escort you comfortably to the Punishment Room."
"No! I said no! Young Master!! Please, tell me why!"
Hyeong-seop wailed desperately, calling out to Se-chan. But Se-chan only looked at him with disinterest.
"You got involved in smuggling with pirates, didn't you?"
"Huh...? How did you—?"
"Thought I wouldn't find out?"
"We made sure no one would know...!"
"If you're gonna do it, do it right. You left so many traces even a civilian could've figured it out. What were you thinking?"
"Eek...!"
"Because of that, I had to clean up the mess. Imagine the rumors if word got out that a mage from the Gu Family was working with pirates? Sounds fun, doesn't it?"
"I—I'm sorry! Please, just this once, forgive me!"
Hyeong-seop bowed his head. If he hadn't been restrained by the other mages, he might've prostrated himself on the ground. But forgiveness was not in the cards for him.
"Take him away."
""Yes, sir!""
Dragged off with his arms held tight, fear flashed across Hyeong-seop's face.
"No! I don't want to! I don't want to go to the Punishment Room! Please! Young Master! Have mercy!"
"Senior, just accept it."
"No! You'll be fine because you're the Elder's son, but I don't have that kind of backing! I'll never make it out alive!"
"Well, that's your own fault."
And just like that, Hyeong-seop and his junior were hauled away by the family mages.
"...What the hell just happened?"
Watching the scene unfold, I pressed a hand to my head and muttered. A dull ache pulsed behind my temples. Had things just gotten way more complicated?
"Damn, why so gloomy?"
Se-chan slung an arm over my shoulder and grinned.
"We need to talk."
I gestured with my eyes toward the other mages still lingering nearby. Understanding, Se-chan smirked and waved them off.
"Hey, guys, I've got some important mage business to discuss here. Wait for me back there."
""Yes, sir!""
Without hesitation, they nodded and disappeared out of sight.
"They're pretty obedient for mages. You always this good of a leader?"
"Huh? Haha! As if. Those guys are usually insufferable. They barely listen to me even when I'm leading the unit."
"Didn't seem that way just now."
"Heh. That's because of you."
Poke poke.
Se-chan jabbed my ribs with his elbow, grinning meaningfully. I couldn't help but frown at that look.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Exactly what it sounds like. They're scared shitless of you."
"Scared?"
"Yeah! That insane magic and summoning you used to take down the infamous Deep Sea Demon! You should've seen their faces when they watched you fight the Kraken—hahaha!"
It wasn't my magic—it was Forbidden Book Magic. Clearly, he had the wrong idea.
That aside, I did remember the mages flinching when I made eye contact. Their pupils had trembled, and they'd tried to avoid my gaze. Se-chan's words didn't seem entirely off the mark.
Sssk—
Se-chan's grin widened further, as if he knew everything. I recoiled, taking a step back. That face was seriously unsettling.
"If you look at me with that gay-ass expression one more time, I'm smashing your face in."
"Tch. Don't insult my handsome face by calling it 'gay.'"
He ran a hand through his hair, striking a pose.
"Anyway, that was you, right? The rookie who took down a Calamity-class Aberration and the angel Gi-hyeok Joo had subdued? The community's been buzzing about it."
"Yeah, that was me. But word's already spread?"
"What, you don't check the Gallery? That's no good. All the latest info circulates there."
Tsk tsk.
Se-chan shook his head disapprovingly. Watching his playful expression, I asked,
"So, mind explaining what's going on here?"
"Yeah, yeah."
He pointed at the clothes he was wearing.
"See this outfit? What do you think?"
"Doesn't suit you at all."
"Hahaha! Still as blunt as ever!"
He was dressed in a wide-sleeved dobok, a traditional robe devoid of flashy decorations but exuding understated elegance. In short, it was the kind of attire reserved for nobility.
"This robe is woven from Thousand-Year Silkworm Thread—extremely rare and expensive! What do you think? Impressed now that you know?"
"Since when could you afford something like that?"
"Hah! Obviously, I got it for free!"
He puffed out his chest proudly, showing off the robe. Meanwhile, I just stared at him blankly. I'd seen him pull this act too many times before.
Back in our manual labor days, he'd always come to me with some new spell tool, bragging about it with that same stupid grin.
The only difference now was that this robe wasn't a fake.
"Not long after my Magic Awakening, someone came to my place. Said they were there to 'retrieve' me. One thing led to another, and I ended up going with them. Too much happened—I don't remember it all—but when I came to, I was one of the Gu Family's successors."
"I see."
Interesting. Stories about hidden origins always piqued curiosity. But I didn't press further.
As much as I wanted to hear more, I had other business.
"Do me a favor. Can you take me to your family?"
"Sure, easy. But why?"
"I still haven't fully awakened my magic. Someone told me your family might have a way to fix that."
"Wait, what?!"
Se-chan gaped at me, shocked. It was the same expression he'd made when I'd shattered his Curse Doll.
"That earlier thing wasn't your magic?!"
"So, is it true? Your family has a way to help someone awaken their magic?"
"Unbelievable! I already had my suspicions, but this just confirms it! You really are the genius I thought you were—!!"
"Listen to me."
Whack!
The back of his head was as hard as ever.
"Please, let them be safe..."
Yu-jeong Go waited anxiously in the broker's office, praying for Si-woo's return. She prayed for her family—for Mi-ho's safety. She prayed they could rescue her before she was sold overseas.
Just then, a black car pulled up outside the office. It was the broker Kim Yu-jin's car.
"Mi-ho!"
Recognizing the vehicle, she shot up from her seat and rushed outside. As she flung the office door open, the car door swung open, and Si-woo stepped out. In his hand was an iron cage.
"Mi-ho, are you okay? Thank goodness... thank goodness...!"
Tearfully, she approached, inspecting Mi-ho inside the cage as if embracing her. No visible injuries. No signs of discomfort.
She turned her gaze to Si-woo, who had protected her precious family.
"Thank you...! Thank you so much...!!"
With her idol-level beauty, she looked up at him with glistening eyes. Any normal man would've blushed, coughed awkwardly, and muttered something humble like, "Oh, it was nothing." But Si-woo just scratched at the bandages on his head and stared off into the distance.
"Here, take her. The lock's already undone."
"Thank you! Mi-ho! Let's get you out of there!"
But Mi-ho didn't respond.
"Mi-ho...?"
When Mi-ho didn't look at her, Yu-jeong called her name again. Still, Mi-ho ignored her.
And then Yu-jeong realized—who Mi-ho was looking at.
"Kyuuuun...♥"
"...I'd appreciate it if you took her quickly."
Mi-ho's gaze was fixed solely on Si-woo. Her unfocused eyes shimmered with heart-shaped pupils, and a thin thread of drool trickled from the corner of her slightly parted lips.
"Huh...?"
Even though she was back with her owner, Mi-ho paid her no mind.
"Kyuuuuun...♥"
Her eyes were only for her husband.
Completely oblivious to Yu-jeong's heartbreak.
"Heh. What a heartbreaker. Stealing someone else's precious person. Truly fitting for a genius mage."
From inside the car, Se-chan watched the dramatic scene unfold and laughed.