Can't Control My Strength
I nodded lightly at Lee Chaeyeon’s words.
“You have made a wise choice, Mr. Baek Woobin.”
A faint look of satisfaction crossed her face as the corners of her lips curved upward. I glanced down at the Aegis provisional consent form she had handed me.
…Is this really okay?
Even though the Association had vouched for it, something about the whole thing still felt off.
“The discharge procedures have already been completed by the Association. If you’re feeling well enough, you may leave immediately.”
“Ah, yes. Thanks for your hard work.”
I answered half-heartedly and pushed myself up from the bed. Lee Chaeyeon efficiently gathered the documents with crisp, professional movements.
…Oh.
Wait a second. Where exactly am I supposed to go now?
Would my room even be intact? Probably not. The memory of losing control of my lightning and burning the place down flashed through my mind. I’d be lucky if they didn’t demand compensation on top of the security deposit.
My entire fortune amounted to a measly hundred thousand won.
When I made a troubled face, Lee Chaeyeon paused mid-step, tilted her head, and asked,
“Is there some kind of problem?”
“Ah, well… Leaving the hospital is great and all, but I don’t really have anywhere to go right now. My place burned down during my reawakening.”
I tried to look as pitiful as possible, secretly hoping the Association might offer me some temporary lodging.
But Lee Chaeyeon simply let out a small sigh.
“Since you are still only a provisional candidate, you will be able to stay in top-tier facilities once you complete your official registration. All lodging and meals will be fully provided, so you need not worry too much about that aspect.”
“…Right, but that’s after I register. Haah… Understood.”
With that, Lee Chaeyeon gave a light bow and left the hospital room first. I stared at the closing door for a moment before finally getting up from the bed. As I changed into fresh clothes, I let out a short sigh.
“Haa, what am I supposed to do?”
I ran my hand through my hair, messing it up completely, and muttered to myself. Maybe I should have pretended to be in more pain and stayed longer.
She had said that once I registered with Aegis, I’d be living in top-class facilities and wouldn’t need to worry about housing… but that was all after successful registration.
If I failed to get into Aegis, it was basically the same as saying I’d get nothing.
“…What the hell am I supposed to do?”
I left the room, murmuring quietly to myself. As I slowly walked down the hallway, I focused my mind inward once more.
The Regia cultivation method that the Archmage had taught me.
The mana core located in my heart was pulsing steadily.
Thump. Thump.
With every beat of my heart, mana flowed smoothly through my blood vessels and spread throughout my body.
Circulate. Circulate. Circulate.
The more I circulated it, the more mana—though only in tiny amounts—accumulated. In other words, just by breathing, my mana was being cultivated automatically.
…Should I ask them?
I had a cheat called the Gallery. What was the point of having it if I didn’t use it?
The moment I thought of the Gallery, a familiar notification sound rang out and a translucent blue window floated in the air.
I continued walking down the hallway and began typing.
China my ass.
“Well, that’s true, but…”
…Sorry. Yeah, it’s true.
If I cleared the Tower and sold the mana stones, I could make money, right?
Easy to say. But it was all because of the mess my past self had left behind. Because I used to be such a pathetic loser who couldn’t even clear the first floor, I only had one attempt left out of five.
Still, the 5th floor is basically a semi-boss stage, isn’t it?
Wasn’t it already a miracle for an F-rank to reach the 4th floor?
I swallowed the rising irritation and hit the back button.
…These bastards are for real.
“…Is that so? Yeah, maybe?”
I had the Regia cultivation method now, and I was a natural element type. There was no way I couldn’t clear a single 5th floor.
Thanks to the posts, I regained some confidence and nodded.
By then I had reached the lobby, which was bustling with a huge crowd of people. Injured hunters coming in for treatment, guild members protecting them, and Association staff were all mixed together, creating quite a commotion.
It was the Association’s own hospital, so I figured it was normal and started heading for the entrance—when it happened.
BOOOOM!!!
A massive explosion rang out.
Far ahead, the door to the special treatment room crumpled and flew off its hinges.
“Kyaaaaa!” “W-what the hell! What’s going on!”
Screams erupted from every direction and people began to murmur in panic.
From behind the mangled door, a massive man with a vicious face burst out. His broad shoulders, body covered in scars, bloodshot eyes, and ragged breathing made it obvious—he was anything but normal.
A villain? Or was this a rampage?
“Get the hell out of my waaaaay!!! I’ll rip you all to shreds!!! I’ll kill you all!!!”
He screamed in a horribly hoarse voice and began charging forward. Red energy flickered like heat haze around both of his hands.
“P-patient! Please calm down! If you don’t withdraw your ability right now…!”
Security personnel rushed in with equipment, but the man swung his hand without hesitation.
THUD!
“Ugh!”
With a single swipe, three security officers were sent flying through the air and slammed into the corner with a deafening crash.
The people froze in terror, unable to move an inch. They knew that if they stepped in recklessly, they would get caught up in it too.
Realizing this, the man laughed even more ferociously.
“Kuhahaha! That’s why I told you to move!!! Move!!!”
He began charging madly toward the hospital’s main entrance, smashing and destroying everything in his path.
But ironically, the direction he was heading was exactly where I was standing.
The man who had knocked out the security officers in one hit and was now smashing everything while running straight at me.
Like the people trembling in fear over there, I should have been terrified too.
But that was only if I were still the old me.
“I clearly told you to move!!! If you don’t, I’ll smash your skull first!!”
What a kind villain, giving a proper warning and everything.
Whether he was truly a villain or not didn’t matter anymore.
His bloodshot eyes were locked on me, radiating murderous intent.
The distance closed at terrifying speed.
But I didn’t run. I didn’t scream. I didn’t even stumble backward in fear.
I simply… stared calmly at the idiot charging at me without thinking.
Strangely, my mind was completely at peace.
Why? Was it because I had completed the mana core with the Regia method? Or because I had reawakened as a natural element?
Whatever the reason, it didn’t matter.
The only thing important right now was that I felt absolutely no threat from that crazy bastard.
The current flowing through my body sent a tingling sensation across my senses.
It stirred my combat instincts. It was almost like it was whispering to me.
Test your new power. Feel for yourself just how strong you really are.
…He won’t die, right?
Of course, I was talking about him, not me.
I slowly curled the corner of my mouth and muttered quietly.
“I still can’t control my strength, so try not to die.”
I slowly raised my right hand and pointed it at the man.
Then I deliberately accelerated the Regia circulation, drawing up my mana.
My heartbeat grew violently rough for a moment. The mana circulating throughout my body rushed toward my right hand at terrifying speed and began to condense.
The instant I sensed the mana hovering precariously at my fingertips—
The man’s massive fist came flying forward.
Even so, without changing my expression in the slightest, I lightly swung my right hand downward.
As if swatting away an annoying fly. Extremely arrogantly.
Crackle— BOOOOM!!
A straight line of blue lightning shot forward.
It struck the villain square in the chest with perfect accuracy.
A thunderous roar like a lightning strike rang out, accompanied by the smell of burning flesh.
“Kuuu… uuuuh…”
The villain trembled, wrapped in blue lightning.
Then he foamed at the mouth and collapsed to the floor.
His blackened, scorched body twitched grotesquely on the ground.
“…Phew. He didn’t die.”
A heavy silence fell over the lobby.
The people who had been trembling in fear, even the security officers who had been slammed into the corner—none of them made a sound.
They simply stared at me in blank shock.
I looked down at the blue sparks still crackling at my fingertips.
Thanks to the cultivation method, controlling it wasn’t that difficult. And the power was beyond what I had expected.
“…Oh, right.”
I turned my head toward the receptionist, who was frozen stiff, and asked with complete sincerity,
“Does this sort of thing come with a reward?”