Chapter 51
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Leak (2)
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After that, I attended classes up to Mana Operation with Joo Ha-yeon after lunchtime, then headed back to the dormitory.
This time's Mana Operation class was the same as before—we only practiced moving the crystal orb around.
-There's no helping it. The Mana Operation exam is about moving the crystal orb too.
"Just moving the crystal orb for the entire semester?"
-It's building a solid foundation from the basics. Besides, Mana Operation is the basics.
I nodded silently at the talk of building a solid foundation from the basics.
I had no intention of denying how important the basics were.
"Fine. If it'll help, I'll work hard."
-Plus, Mr. Lee Seongmin practices magic diligently every night. You'll see results soon enough.
"If results come like you say, that'll be great."
Unfortunately, I knew my own talent all too well.
My potential—which I checked frequently—was a measly [25].
-And since you've focused your Skill Stones on Multi-Casting, you might even become a top-tier mage if you play your cards right.
Lee Seojun, oblivious to the truth, simply stated it as a possibility.
'Well, if I keep at it, I should be able to handle some decent spells.'
Since I'd already started learning magic, I planned to see it through to the end.
'Hm?'
That's when I overheard students whispering from a nearby bench.
Whispers weren't anything special, but they seemed to mention my name, so I perked up my ears for a moment.
"Lee Seongmin that asshole is so damn annoying, right?"
"That dead-last loser lucked into a good Innate Ability and snagged first place."
"If it was just first place, whatever. But check out Practical Combat—his whole team was girls."
"And he seems tight with Joo Ha-yeon too?"
I kept walking toward the dormitory, pretending I hadn't heard a thing.
From what I gathered, they were pissed that I'd claimed first place with just the Warlord's Weapon.
'And me hanging out with girls probably rubs salt in the wound.'
As I mulled it over, more of their chatter drifted my way.
"No joke, he probably thinks every girl in school is his."
"For real. Struts around like he owns the place off one Innate Ability."
"Tell me about it. Saw him at morning PT—guy's got the physique of a corpse."
It occurred to me that, to other students, things might look that way.
Whatever—they couldn't touch me anyway, so I was about to keep walking when...
"If you hate him that much, I've got a good idea."
A familiar voice pricked at my nerves.
'Who... Ah.'
I recalled the owner without much trouble.
'Ma Dong-woo. That was his voice.'
One of the Doomsday Cultists Lee Seojun had warned me about.
Since he was out recruiting more contractors, I needed to handle him somehow.
"A good idea?"
"Show up late to morning PT on purpose. You'll run into Lee Seongmin alone—then just give him a little touch."
"You think that'll work? He runs with Cheon Seo-yun every morning."
"Complain to Instructor Choi Ji-an. We've been half-assing it so far—if we kick up a fuss, the other cadets will pile on."
It sounded plausible enough.
'Cheon Seo-yun won't give a damn, though.'
Either way, if things went well tomorrow, I might end up clashing with those guys.
-Mr. Lee Seongmin. What's wrong?
Lee Seojun must have picked up on my expression, because he asked what was up.
I could hear them just fine, but they couldn't hear me—so I spoke freely.
"The guys on that left bench. Ma Dong-woo just suggested jumping me during morning PT."
-The left?
Lee Seojun soon spotted the group huddled on the left and narrowed his eyes.
-That filthy bastard? What're you gonna do?
"Give 'em what they want—a fight."
Bonus: I'd kill Ma Dong-woo and sever his demon contract while I was at it.
"Once Ma Dong-woo's demon contract breaks, he won't be able to recruit more contractors, right?"
-Probably not. The moment they contract, it plants this unconscious urge to spread more contracts.
"Right after contracting?"
-Yeah. The demon can't micromanage everyone, so that's how it's set up.
I nodded at Lee Seojun's explanation—more restrictions than I'd thought.
"You mentioned the demon has to issue direct commands, right?"
-Correct. But it's a world-class crime organization. Given time, it can command from a distance. And after more time... Demons start showing up.
"Demons?"
-As the demon builds power through contractors, it unlocks all sorts of abilities. A Demon is what happens when a contractor desperately craves more power—they transform into something demon-like.
Even so, Lee Seojun still looked pretty relaxed.
I took that to mean there was still time before any Demons appeared, and asked about them.
"How strong does one get if it transforms from sheer desire for power?"
-Think A-Rank hero jumping to S-Rank. But there's a ceiling—they can't hit SS-Rank like a true S-Rank hero could.
"Realistically, though, no S-Rank's becoming a contractor."
-True. But the world's not that black-and-white.
In other words, even S-Rank heroes might sign on.
'Fair enough. Even S-Ranks have their reasons.'
Hell, Seo Do-kyung and Lim Yeo-sol—beaten by me back when I was the Destroyer—would make sense if they craved power that badly.
'For now, I'll handle those punks tomorrow... Hm?'
Suddenly, something happening with one of my other bodies made me pause.
To be precise, my body in the warehouse had just gotten a call from someone.
"Seo Do-kyung's calling."
-Seo Do-kyung? Bet it's tied to that Association President who showed up before.
"Same here."
I answered simply and focused my mind a bit more on the warehouse side.
I always had four fields of view in my eyes and mind, but I dialed in on the warehouse specifically.
Seo Do-kyung had called and immediately asked how he'd gotten the number.
"So. How'd you get my contact?"
-Asked my son. Sorry for reaching out like this.
"Guess I'll change numbers."
Not that it was a hassle.
I could just hand my current phone back to the original owner and grab a new one.
-Good thing you haven't yet. Anyway, I've got a favor to ask.
"A favor, huh..."
As Lee Seojun and I had predicted, my mind went to the Association President—and the Destroyer.
'But even with a healer, beating the Destroyer won't be easy.'
Or maybe it wasn't the Destroyer—could be a request to heal someone else.
I'd find out soon enough, so I played along with Seo Do-kyung on the line.
"What's the favor?"
-Too sensitive for phone. Can we meet in person?
"Important enough for a private meet?"
-Important enough that I'm calling you.
I mulled over Seo Do-kyung's suggestion to meet separately.
Either way, he clearly needed something from me.
'Might be a chance to squeeze more out of him.'
With that in mind, I dragged it out like I was thinking hard, then agreed.
"Fine. But heads up—this is a huge concession on my part just to move at all."
Externally, I was a healer—couldn't go gallivanting around freely.
It was also a warning: no more calls like this from now on.
-Understood. I'll be careful.
Seo Do-kyung got the message, thankfully.
"Meeting spot?"
-I'll text it.
I got the location via text after that, then headed first to where Ha Chae-jeong and Ga Se-yeon were.
"[Door to Personal Villa]."
[Door to Personal Villa]
Flash!
This was one of those online game systems, like [Job Change].
It was also the housing system from certain MMOs that I'd implemented for myself.
Click—
With that, I opened the antique wooden door that had appeared before me and stepped inside.
The interior was a fantastical space straight out of a painting—complete with a villa, farm, lake, and more.
'They're probably down in the underground training room.'
The villa's basement level one had wooden sparring dummies set up.
Ha Chae-jeong and Ga Se-yeon were hard at work training against them.
Clang! Clang!
As expected, the moment I entered the spacious two-story villa and headed downstairs, the sound of weapons clashing rang out.
'Both putting in the work.'
Ha Chae-jeong and Ga Se-yeon were each facing off against a single wooden dummy, moving vigorously.
Of course, since it was the housing system, I could edit it anytime—and I'd adjusted the dummies to match their numbers.
Thud!
"Agh! Damn it. Lost again."
Ha Chae-jeong, struck by the dummy's wooden sword and defeated, grumbled with annoyance all over her face.
She sensed my presence then, turned to look, and blinked several times upon confirming it was me.
"Huh? Time already?"
Right now, Ha Chae-jeong and Ga Se-yeon were cycling through three patterns: training, sex, rest.
So they'd assumed my arrival meant it was time for the post-training sex.
"No. Can't today—got a meeting."
"Oh... got it?"
A flicker of disappointment crossed Ha Chae-jeong's eyes at my response.
"Ah, no sex is fine. But you must be bummed, right? You always finish complaining it's not enough."
"That's 'cause you pass out."
I brought up her passing out, and her face flushed bright red in an instant.
"Still, I can handle two rounds now. Might even make three if I'm lucky."
"That's only 'cause I switch it up."
Meaning I'd go from her to Ga Se-yeon, giving Ha Chae-jeong time to recover during the break.
"..."
Separately, Ga Se-yeon stared at me with eyes full of disappointment and hurt.
Ga Se-yeon—who'd been a virgin—had turned even more proactive than Ha Chae-jeong since our first time.
"Anyway, keep training moderately and get some rest today."
"...Okay."
With that heads-up to both of them, I left the villa and headed to the spot Seo Do-kyung had indicated.
I'd also relocated Lee Seojun from the Hero Officer Academy along the way—it turned out to be a fairly large restaurant.
"Dinner hour's approaching, so he picked this place?"
-Seems like it.
Chatting with Lee Seojun as we entered, I spotted Seo Do-kyung already there, waiting.
"Ah. You finally made it."
I nodded and took a seat across from Seo Do-kyung.
"So? What's this about?"
I cut straight to it, and Seo Do-kyung gave me a long look before thinly spreading mana in all directions.
-Sound barrier. Like how Instructor Kang Ju-young transmitted sound with pinpoint precision before—it's a technique that demands control.
Once the sound barrier was up, Seo Do-kyung answered my question.
"I'm planning to take down the Destroyer."
"..."
-...
Lee Seojun and I stared at Seo Do-kyung in silence for a moment.