The Ruin
"Hello."
"Oh, you're here? Go ahead and sit on the sofa for a moment. You wanted green tea, right? Iced?"
"Yes, that's right."
Kim Ilshin watched Joo Chae-rin, who was skillfully preparing the tea. The increase in her energy was noticeable; it seemed the performance of the artifact she had obtained last time had led to significant growth.
'It’s not just the artifact that made her stronger.'
For a powerhouse of her caliber to grow by such a margin was no easy feat. It was a result only possible through bone-grinding effort on top of the artifact's assistance.
"Why are you staring at me like that?"
"My apologies. You just seem a bit different from before."
"You have a sharp eye, Ilshin. I trimmed my bangs a little—you noticed that?"
"……Yes."
That wasn't what he meant, but he decided to let it slide.
"You said you had something to give me? This is it."
Joo Chae-rin didn't waste time and got straight to the point. The object she pulled out and placed on the table was something Kim Ilshin hadn't even imagined—an incredible item.
"Seeing your reaction, I take it you know what this is?"
"This… is it the genuine article?"
"Yes. It’s the real thing."
Kim Ilshin looked at the artifact on the table: the Hourglass of Distortion.
When used, it allows the user to enter their own inner mental world for exactly one week. During that week, less than a second passes in the outside world, and any recovery or growth achieved inside applies to the physical body once the effect ends. Therefore, if one’s stamina or mana is depleted during a battle, using it allows for a full week of rest before re-entering the fray. It was a precious artifact that, if used well, could turn a fatal crisis around. There were so few in the world that even in the game, he could count the number of times he’d used one on one hand.
"Are you… giving this to me?"
"Yes. But it’s not coming from me. The Principal asked me to deliver it to you."
"……The Principal?"
"Yes."
Pan Hae-yul, the Principal of the Academy. He was one of the legendary heroes who had been active during the same era as Baek Ho-san, a world-class archmage, and the very alchemist capable of crafting the Hourglass of Distortion.
"The Principal came by, asked about you, and left this with me, asking me to pass it on. He said he’d enjoyed quite the interesting spectacle lately."
An interesting spectacle. He didn't know what that meant, but it likely had something to do with Baek Ho-san. He remembered reading an article about the Academy Principal personally going to protest what happened during the last sparring exam. Since he’d heard the two were close friends, he figured the Principal had just found a good excuse to tease him.
"Oh, don't worry, he didn't badmouth you. I just told him exactly what I saw."
Joo Chae-rin said that and pushed the Hourglass of Distortion toward him. Kim Ilshin accepted it with both hands and immediately tucked it into his pocket, thinking to himself.
'Jackpot.'
An item worth at least several billion was now in his possession. He felt genuinely grateful to Pan Hae-yul.
Clatter.
"Whew."
Kim Ilshin let out a deep breath after finishing a set of bench presses and racking the bar. The heavy sensation lingering in his palms gave him a thrill.
'It’s increased again.'
The weight of the plates on the bar was 560kg. Including the bar itself, it was 585kg. It was significantly heavier than when he first started training with mana. Throughout the repetitions, his form hadn't wavered in the slightest. It meant his physical body was growing steadily.
'It would be stranger if I didn't grow, training like this.'
Kim Ilshin looked to the side. What he saw was like a scene from hell.
"Good! Good! One more!"
"Ugh…."
"Don't give up! Break your limits! Only then can you reach the end of the path of muscle!"
"Guaaaaaaah―!!"
Terrible, blood-curdling screams echoed alongside sweat dripping everywhere. Bulky masses of muscle were repeatedly squeezing their bodies in grueling motions. Other students looked as if they were afraid to even go near them, but Kim Ilshin didn't think much of it. Having trained among them every day, he was now used to such sights.
"I, I can't do any more…."
"Save me……."
There were two among them who still weren't used to it: Namgung Hyeok and Namgung Min. They had come here of their own volition, saying they wanted to become as strong as Kim Ilshin, and now they were regretting it deeply. But this wasn't a place you could just leave because you wanted to. Those two wouldn't be released until they had squeezed every last bit of muscle under the supervision of Hwang Hercules Deok-bae. Since he possessed the strange and miraculous ability to accurately judge the state of an opponent's muscles, slacking off wasn't permitted until the end.
'That’s why I told you not to do it.'
Kim Ilshin had tried to stop them enough. He had told them multiple times that they would surely regret it, so the rest was their own choice. Once they set foot in this place, they would have to train with Hwang Hercules Deok-bae until they graduated from the Academy.
"I'll be going now."
"Good work today!"
Having finished his quota, Kim Ilshin ignored the voice calling from behind and headed outside. His next destination was the training grounds. Today, he planned to focus on training his Snow Trace Steps.
"E-excuse me…!"
As he was walking, a young woman's voice reached him. He turned to find a woman with a somewhat familiar face looking up at him. She looked extremely nervous.
"Student Kim Ilshin… right?"
"Yes, that's right. Is there something you need?"
"Ah, w-well…."
She fidgeted with her fingers, stammering. She looked like she was hesitating. Kim Ilshin waited without rushing her, searching his memory. She was definitely someone he had seen before.
'Ah, could it be…?'
Kim Ilshin soon spotted the name tag on her chest and realized who she was. Lee Yeon-woo, the teacher in charge of Martial Theory, who taught the fourth-year students. He hadn't recognized her immediately because they had never crossed paths. She was a genius who had become an Academy teacher at a young age by producing several major research results based on her excellent analytical skills. In the game, she was a character who helped with things like data interpretation. But in Kim Ilshin's memory, Lee Yeon-woo rarely came out and walked around like this. She had a hikikomori-like personality, staying in her room and only doing research outside of class hours. That was likely the biggest reason they hadn't met until now.
Having finally gathered her courage, Lee Yeon-woo spoke in a small voice.
"Student Kim Ilshin…. If, if you really have the time, could you perhaps help me with my research…? I'm not trying to burden you… it might actually be helpful for you, too……."
Even for a personal request, it was far too humble for an Academy teacher to be speaking to a student. It wasn't because the request was incredibly difficult, but rather due to Lee Yeon-woo's timid personality and her tendency to be overly conscious of others.
'I think I heard about this while playing the game.'
Whenever he visited her in the game, she always had the phrase, "I'm busy with research…," on her lips. However, he didn't know the details of her research. He only knew she was deeply absorbed in something.
"First, I'd like to hear what I need to help you with."
"Ah, w-well, it's a ruin I'm researching. Could you take a look at this for a second…?"
Lee Yeon-woo pulled out her phone, found a photo in her gallery, and held it out in front of Kim Ilshin.
'It certainly looks like a ruin.'
The photo showed a stone gate covered in the traces of time, such as moss and vines. It appeared to be the entrance to the ruin Lee Yeon-woo had mentioned. Naturally, a question arose.
"So, what kind of ruin is this?"
"It's a ruin where it's said the Mad Demon left behind his treasures before he died."
"The Mad Demon?"
"Yes. Surely you don't mean you don't know who the Mad Demon is……?"
Lee Yeon-woo reacted as if that were impossible, but Kim Ilshin had truly never heard of him.
"I've never heard of him."
"How could that be……."
Lee Yeon-woo, who had been dazed with shock, soon regained her composure and began to speak passionately.
"You don't know the Mad Demon…? The legendary existence who traveled the world thousands of years ago, won every duel against the strong, and eventually ascended, claiming he would even fight the heavens…? He's really famous in archaeology…!"
Based on Lee Yeon-woo's explanation, he seemed to be just a figure from mythology. About on par with Hercules from Greek mythology. If so, it was highly likely there was nothing special in that ruin. His interest suddenly plummeted.
"Hmm… I'm a bit busy. It would be better if you found someone else."
"W-wait a minute…! If you listen a little more, you'll change your mind……."
Kim Ilshin tried to refuse, but Lee Yeon-woo wouldn't give up. She had said she wasn't trying to burden him, but the atmosphere suggested she wouldn't accept a refusal. Lee Yeon-woo, who had blocked Kim Ilshin's path, zoomed in on the center of the ruin's entrance and said,
"You can only open this door if you use your One Body Heaven-Destroying Art. I absolutely need your strength. Please, help me……."
One Body Heaven-Destroying Art. If that name came up, the story changed. He needed to hear more details.
"I'd like to hear more, but how about we move to a quieter place?"
At that, Lee Yeon-woo suddenly took a step back. She looked at Kim Ilshin with a guarded expression and said,
"…We're talking about my request, right?"
……What else would we be talking about if not that?