Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Personal Meeting
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‘Mutual restraint.’
Sin Bihyeong unleashed Wood Art after first deploying Fire Art, which had reached the realm of mastery.
‘Energy at... around four.’
He then channeled energy at six and unleashed Wood Art once more.
The moment the vines sprouting from the ground touched the flames, the fire tried to devour the wood energy.
But the stronger infused energy instead swallowed the flames and took root.
‘...Tricky.’
It had succeeded.
However, it required quite a bit of focus.
‘5.5... That’s basically saying split it right down the middle, isn’t it?’
And yet it countered perfectly. For Bihyeong, who had only encountered spells through the game, this was utterly baffling.
Still, he felt like he was onto something—perhaps thanks to the 【Versatile】 talent he’d gained from Mina?
‘Ridiculously overpowered.’
It was an ‘SS’ rank, no less.
A bloodline ability equivalent to Hierarchy Rank 8.
No matter what random cultivation method she learned, she would have reworked it to reach Rank 8.
And Bihyeong shared that talent of hers.
‘Thanks to it, I’m starting to get a feel for this.’
What the professor had said.
More precisely, the implication behind it.
‘It’s not about focusing on controlling energy. It’s about studying the effects of spells already mastered in their realms through mutual restraints.’
Fire Art.
He ignited flames once again.
Unlike ordinary flames, now that it had entered the realm of mastery, he could see the flows churning within.
Bihyeong recognized them and immediately fused them into Wood Art.
‘Urk!’
The vines began to burn.
Even so, he kept pouring in yang energy and activated the wood energy.
And in the end, he discovered a ‘rotating’ essence within the vines.
‘...Got it!’
The moment he recognized it,
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ The basic Five Elements spell, Wood Art, has reached its proficiency limit. You take one step closer to the Derived Story, ‘Researcher’. Yes!
‘One step forward!’
Riding that momentum, Bihyeong threw himself into raising Metal Art’s proficiency.
Having grasped the essence in Wood Art made raising Metal Art a breeze.
‘Inside the ore. A sensation like energy bouncing around within.’
Naturally, Metal Art hit mastery as well, and
the long-awaited hidden piece finally unlocked.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Derived Story, ‘Researcher’ has unlocked! At the same time, the Metal Art in his grasp grew slightly more solid.
‘Hardness increased.’
Whew.
This was it!
‘Now that I have Researcher, time to say goodbye to basic spells!’
He’d acquire higher-level spells and, with Researcher’s effects, unleash power surpassing their rank!
As Bihyeong harbored such thoughts,
one notification mercilessly shattered his imagination.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Confirmed acquisition of basic Five Great yokai arts. Race, ‘Half-Demon’ confirmed. Prepared event has been deleted. ...Huh?
What got deleted?
‘What the hell...’
How much blood and sweat had he poured into this!
He’d avoided higher-rank spells entirely, grinding basics day and night just for Researcher, and now...
‘Now this?’
As Bihyeong glared furiously at empty air in outrage,
a soothing message rang out, like coaxing a crying child.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Preparing a new story. This is the superior story to the existing story, ‘Researcher’. Oh?
Well, that changed things a bit.
‘What story is it?’
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ You take one step closer to the Derived Story, ‘Explorer’. ‘Explorer?’
Another Derived Story he’d never heard of.
Developer’s commentary... Ugh, how many times had he said that now?
‘The developers deliberately excluded stuff related to half-demons or yokai.’
Wasn’t his entry into this world because he’d chosen half-demon?
That alone made it obvious.
‘Alright, so what do I need to do for Explorer?’
As Bihyeong calmly awaited the system’s next message,
the awaited conditions were revealed.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Master the basic Five Great attribute yokai arts. │Yokai arts reached mastery realm (0/5) Bihyeong couldn’t hide his bewilderment at the message.
‘What? I already mastered Gongdan, so why this condition?’
If Explorer followed from Researcher, the conditions should carry over.
Researcher required mastering basic elemental arts without learning other ranks.
‘Duyeok. You know anything about this?’
Just in case, he asked Duyeok, who had entered the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons.
-Hmm... Perhaps it’s the difference between techniques and yokai arts, sir.
‘Difference?’
-Yes. Gongdan derived from Horned Realm is strictly a technique. A realm of skill.
Simply enhanced senses.
A domain of physical ability.
-Yokai arts and spell arts fundamentally manipulate energy to wield wondrous principles upon the world. But my Horned Realm and Gongdan aren’t in that domain, so that might be the distinction.
Bihyeong nodded at the explanation.
He didn’t fully buy it... but he wasn’t completely lost either.
Just that ambiguous in-between feeling.
‘Feels like they tacked on the lore late.’
Tsk.
He clicked his tongue and eyed the system window again.
Fine.
Imposing such conditions meant it was at least achievable.
‘...Sigh. Still a long road ahead.’
Practicing yokai arts at an exorcist academy.
He had to do it without drawing eyes, which naturally meant it would take time.
‘Can I complete that by second year?’
Hiss... At best, maybe two.
‘It’s decided. I’ll see the ending, then smack the developers upside the head.’
As Bihyeong ground his teeth and swallowed his frustration,
“Bihyeong!”
Mina, a member of the Night Parade, came trotting up and held out her hand to him.
“Check this out? Yah!”
Contrary to her cute little kiai, what burst from her hand was something else entirely.
“...Water?”
It was the spell art governing water among the five elements.
The water stream confirmed it was basic,
but its power...
“...Main attribute?”
Mina beamed at Bihyeong’s mutter.
“Yeah! Thanks to the one I just got, and the cultivation method we earned together before. It fully blossomed.”
Bihyeong immediately checked the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons tab.
Upon viewing members and Mina’s system,
this information appeared.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ Constitution: 【Five Qi Converging to Origin】 Bihyeong’s eyes glazed over blankly.
‘Five Qi Converging to Origin. A constitution that appears only in those with aptitude for all five elements, or those who forge it postnatally.’
The latter was notoriously difficult, despite sounding simple.
To forge a main attribute postnatally, one needed at least some ‘aptitude’ to begin with.
Not enough to call it a main attribute, but undeniable talent.
That level of aptitude.
‘Stimulate and activate it with elixirs. That’s the postnatal path to awakening.’
Yet Mina had walked that arduous path.
‘From now on, all her five-element spell arts will grow stronger.’
One concern: how her half-demon nature would react.
...But she should be fine, unlike me?
‘Yeah. She killed her ancestor before, so it should be okay.’
As Bihyeong relaxed and prepared to congratulate Mina,
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ A new constitution possibility buds in Night Parade member, ‘Hwang Mina’. ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Race: ‘Half-Demon’ confirmed. Member ‘Hwang Mina’ is granted the possibility of ‘Great Yokai Accomplishment’. Huh?
What?
‘Great Yokai Accomplishment?’
He’d heard of great potential, but what was this?
Bihyeong turned his attention to the Night Parade, hoping for answers,
-I’ve heard of it, sir! It’s the constitution of yokai with aptitude for all yokai arts!
-Yes. Those who achieve Great Yokai Accomplishment have been famed yokai since ancient times.
Eoduk and Duyeok’s responses came.
‘So, the yokai version of Five Qi Converging to Origin?’
Such a constitution existed, huh.
First he’d heard of it.
‘Anyway, if Mina achieves this, will Five Qi and Great Yokai coexist?’
Or, like him, would it sprout new potential into a different constitution?
As Bihyeong pondered,
‘A body with aptitude for yokai arts... Then later, we could discuss the intersection of yin and yang energy...’
Hm? Wait...
‘Body. Yokai arts... Huh?’
Why hadn’t he thought of this before?
‘Come to think of it, I’ve been using spell arts through my body all this time?’
Mixed into Root or Demon Combat Technique, that is.
Which meant blending yokai arts into those two would let him train without detection, right?
‘If I completely mask yokai power’s presence with Root?’
It’d be tough and exhausting, sure.
But it wouldn’t take ages for Explorer.
‘...Since it builds on Researcher, the rewards should be even greater.’
Bihyeong’s eyes sparkled.
A path was opening.
‘Now I just need to prove this direction works, even a little.’
After class, spar with Duyeok and test if he could properly hide yokai power.
As Bihyeong found his direction and opened his eyes,
‘Hm? That guy?’
A familiar face.
Gentle eyes and clothing emblazoned with his family crest.
Classic scholar attire.
A face he’d seen often in game illustrations.
‘The villain who tried scheming for his own gain using dreams in the mirror.’
In other words, someone Bihyeong planned to deal with soon.
‘Must’ve gotten scared. Observing on the first day of regular classes.’
He was currently getting permission from the professor and instructing the cadets.
No sanctions.
As an academy affiliate who had to teach,
the professor saw no gain in refusing his help.
‘Hmm.’
Perfect timing.
Should he stir up a clash right now?
‘In the game, to expose him as a villain, you had to ‘contact’ him first.’
As Bihyeong steeled himself to approach,
“Cadet Bihyeong.”
He turned at the professor’s call; the man was beckoning.
“I said follow me for a bit, remember?”
The professor beckoned with a somewhat chilling smile.
“It’s personal meeting time. Let’s go.”