Chapter 259: Diabology
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 259: Diabology
Monday arrived again, as it always did.
But today was different.
Vroom!
Because I was driving myself to the Magic Tower.
The morning rush hour traffic was a bit congested, but it was always like this when I took a taxi, so I didn't mind.
For the record, this car was a gift from Choi Hyena.
“My man, of all people, doesn't have a car? That doesn't make any sense.”
“Well, maybe a used one…”
“You’re not serious, are you?”
Last night, while we were talking in bed, Choi Hyena found out I got around on foot and took me down to the workshop's basement.
To my surprise, the first three basement floors were all garages. Dozens of cars from famous brands, recognizable by name alone, were on display.
I never knew Choi Hyena had a hobby of collecting cars.
At first, she told me to pick ten that I liked, but I refused. Every single one was a limited-edition model easily worth billions of won, and my conscience pricked at the thought of taking ten of them.
On her recommendation, I received a limited-edition model from F Corp—a supercar that was understated enough to drive around in.
“Guess getting my driver’s license as soon as I turned eighteen paid off.”
It had mostly been gathering dust, but that didn't matter. I could probably drive with my eyes closed and still be better than most professional racers.
The only reason I’d been walking everywhere until now was my complete lack of interest in cars.
It’d be slower than me running, so what’s the point?
Still, it was a gift from Hyena. I should probably make an effort to drive it for a while.
Gazing out the window, I recalled what Grandma Choi Young-ok had casually mentioned at breakfast.
“I think it’s about time you revealed yourself.”
There was no need to ask what she meant.
I already knew.
Until now, I had used the Necklace of Concealment to hide my true abilities. Thanks to it, everyone at the Magic Tower thought I was a 2nd Circle mage.
Of course, the Tower Lord had seen through it long ago.
For whatever reason, she had kept my secret.
I’ll be seeing her again today. Should I call her Sister Lael like last time?
Every Monday was the day I was contracted to assist the Tower Lord with her research.
Well, the research seemed to have taken a backseat anyway.
In any case, I was now a 5th Circle mage. A Battle Mage specializing in combat, at that.
It wasn't that there were no 5th Circle mages among the professors, but they were all focused on theoretical research.
In terms of raw power, I was already among the top five within the Gray Magic Tower.
In other words, I no longer needed to hide my skills out of fear of threats from foreign families or organizations.
But I still thought it was too soon to reveal my abilities.
At least until I reached the supreme level.
I decided to hide it until then.
It would probably take a considerable amount of time. Reaching the peak was possible without any great enlightenment, but from here on out, it was a different story.
The Duke of Rutland had given me some advice, but it was all things like, "You think too much for a mage," and "Throw it all away." I had no idea what he meant.
He couldn't have meant I need to choose and focus, could he?
If I was right, the Duke of Rutland was telling me to abandon one of my two paths.
Magic and martial arts.
Choose one, and discard the other.
Obviously, I had no intention of giving up either.
After all the shit I’d been through, to be told I had to choose only one…
Hoo…
Clearing my complicated thoughts, I pressed down on the accelerator.
*
As I’ve mentioned before, the gender ratio among mages is skewed.
Out of ten mages, only two, or sometimes even fewer, are men. So, it was only natural for the female students at the Magic Tower to be interested in me.
“Oh, it’s Hyun-woo!”
“What? When did you start calling him by his first name?”
“…We’re the same age, I can speak casually.”
“I bet he doesn’t even know your name.”
“Do you want to die?”
“Go on, hurry. You said you were going to talk to him.”
“What if I get on Senior Hyena’s bad side?”
“Then your life at the tower is going to be miserable.”
“Doesn’t he look more handsome somehow?”
“Right? It’s like his vibe is a little different from usual.”
“Yeah, yeah!”
As always, I could feel eyes on me from all directions.
A few of the female students I made eye contact with in the hallway even blushed.
Their reactions were all more blatant than usual.
Well, I have gotten more handsome lately.
I was actually getting asked for my number on the street, and I’d even received a modeling offer the other day.
Of course, that didn't mean any of the girls at the Magic Tower approached me. That was because of the rumor that Choi Hyena and I were a couple.
Getting on the bad side of the next head of the Seongbuk Choi family would make it hard to earn a living as a mage in Korea, so it was to be expected.
Click.
As I opened the classroom door, the gazes of the female students poured onto me. They all glanced at me, whispering amongst themselves.
They used to talk to me before, but now they all kept their distance, probably wary of Choi Hyena.
This feels strangely like I’m being ostracized.
It left a bitter taste in my mouth.
Scratching the back of my neck, I headed to my seat and my eyes met with a girl's.
A petite frame, an unbalancedly large chest, and fluffy pink hair. It was Lumina Hircus.
“Good morning.”
“Ah, g-good morning.”
She was the granddaughter of the 1st Grade Alchemist, Marna Hircus. We’d gotten to know each other after I commissioned an antidote from her.
“Um, Hyun-woo.”
“Yeah?”
I turned my head at the sound of a voice next to me.
Lumina whispered, covering her mouth with her hand.
“About the antidote you requested last time. We started brewing it yesterday.”
“Really?”
“Yes, thankfully my grandmother came back early.”
I cheered inwardly at the unexpected good news.
A while ago, I had commissioned Marna Hircus to create an antidote for the Heavenly Heart Extreme Yang Flower Poison Lotus that afflicted Cheon Yeo-hwa.
But due to her sudden overseas trip, I was in a position where I’d have to wait at least a few months.
“Could you visit the shop sometime this week? It seems there are a few ingredients that are difficult to acquire.”
I nodded.
As long as the antidote could be made, I was more than willing to get whatever ingredients were needed. Even if it meant going through hell, I had the reliable backing of the Seongbuk Choi family.
However, the thought of getting Choi Hyena’s help for Cheon Yeo-hwa’s sake felt a bit wrong.
But I quickly shook it off. I’d just have to treat Hyena that much better.
“Um, by any chance…”
While I was lost in thought for a moment, Lumina tugged on my collar.
“Are you free for lunch today…?”
“Lunch?”
“Yes, the research club president just came back. I thought you two should at least say hello, since you’ll be seeing each other often…”
“Ah, the one who went to work a part-time job?”
“…”
Lumina nodded silently.
It seemed even she was aware that a research club whose president had to work part-time because they had no budget wasn't exactly normal.
Still, I had no intention of backing out of joining the club.
I’d become interested in that area after encountering a demon worshipper and a demon at the gate last time.
I had initially joined the club to find a clue about demonic energy, but I had already found a method for that.
A rather crude method, but a method nonetheless.
“I’ll stop by the club room during lunch.”
“Ah, okay!”
*
The morning passed uneventfully, with nothing particularly interesting or annoying happening.
Screech—
“Everyone, please take your seats.”
With an hour left until lunch, Professor Lee Chaewon entered.
Starting this week, the Elemental Department's major courses would begin.
Not that a major course was anything special. I might be weak in theory, but it was still just a first-year level class.
I could just let it go in one ear and out the other.
In the past, I might have listened for fun, but now that I had reached the 5th Circle and was in the process of establishing and solidifying my astral plane, it was unnecessary knowledge.
Instead, I found myself more interested in the back of Professor Lee Chaewon as she wrote on the chalkboard.
A top with a daringly low neckline and a skirt that revealed the lines of her hips and butt.
She still stuck to her provocative fashion, just like when we first met.
Moreover, perhaps because of the dark circles under her eyes and her bright red lips, she exuded a strange sexiness.
Was Professor Lee Chaewon a 3rd Circle mage?
She was an Elementalist who handled two elements, fire and wind, and like me, she was a Battle Mage specializing in combat.
Of course, being a professor, she was probably diligent in her theoretical studies as well.
Contrary to her lustful appearance, Professor Lee Chaewon was a woman of extraordinary talent, enough to become a professor at a young age like Professor Shin Minha.
Looking at it that way, one might think she was just a person with an unexpectedly charming side, but for some reason, I’d found her unsettling from the moment we first met.
Of course, I had no proof. It was purely a gut feeling.
But I was certain she was hiding something.
Well… it’s not my problem.
If she were hiding a truly dangerous secret, the Tower Lord would have stepped in long ago. After all, she could see through my level even when I was hiding it with the Necklace of Concealment.
So for now, I should just stop worrying about pointless things and appreciate Professor Lee Chaewon’s backside for the remainder of the class.
Our eyes met again.
That woman. Since the last time, she’s been deliberately swaying her hips seductively whenever I’m looking.
To the point where other students notice.
Of course, no student pointed it out. Getting on a professor’s bad side would only make things difficult for them.
How audacious.
A professor, of all people, satisfying her personal desires during a sacred class.
I could not stand by and watch her behavior.
To start gathering evidence, I watched Professor Lee Chaewon without missing a single moment. Thanks to that, the remaining hour flew by.
“Well then, everyone, enjoy your lunch.”
After the informative major course ended, Professor Lee Chaewon smiled as if nothing had happened and left the classroom. As soon as she was gone, I could hear gossip about her from all corners of the room.
Isn’t she being too obvious? Is this a club? She’s not a professor, she’s a pervert. And so on.
I paid them no mind and headed to the cafeteria. In a situation with insufficient evidence, badmouthing Professor Lee Chaewon was no different from a witch hunt.
Looks like I’m eating alone today.
Normally, I would have had lunch with Choi Hyena, but not today.
Right now, she was probably too busy to rest, organizing everything she’d gained upon reaching the 4th Circle. It would likely be hard to contact her for a while.
Lumina had gone straight to the club room without even eating. Said she had something to do.
Just as I arrived at the cafeteria alone and was looking for a seat…
“Hyun-woo!”
I heard a voice call my name from nearby.
When I turned my head, someone familiar was calling me from a table where several guys were gathered.
I definitely recognized his face. We had even introduced ourselves last time, but I couldn't remember his name.
“…Son Jinho?”
I remembered.
He was in the same Class A as me, and he was the second son of the Cheonseong Group, which ranked 10th in the business world. In other words, a diamond spoon.
The guys sitting with him were also from my class.
“Alone today?”
“It just ended up that way.”
“Want to eat with us?”
I nodded.
It was better than eating alone surrounded by girls.
True to his friendly nature, Son Jinho introduced me to the other guys. Of course, I let their names go in one ear and out the other.
Early 1st Circle, maybe.
From my perspective, Son Jinho was a classic case of someone who became a mage through money. The type with meager talent who forced a mana circle into existence by buying mana sensitivity potions and elixirs.
He probably got into the training institute through connections.
Becoming a mage that way meant he would never advance beyond the 1st Circle.
But if my guess was correct, he hadn't entered the Magic Tower to become a mage in the first place.
Well, connections with mages aren’t easy to come by.
Even as the second son, he would eventually inherit a few subsidiary companies. If he planned to go into business, it was a good idea to build connections with promising mages.
I finished my meal, giving him appropriate responses to his chatter.
I had no intention of getting close to any guys, but if it was the heir to a major corporation with a good personality, it wouldn't hurt to be on a first-name basis.
Leaving the cafeteria, I headed straight for the research club.
Creak—
Opening the shabby door revealed the same cramped club room. At least it wasn't a total mess like last time.
There were signs of cleaning here and there.
“Hyun-woo…!”
Lumina, who was holding a broom, brightened up when she saw me. Seeing her sigh in relief made me wonder.
What’s this?
Did she think I was going to run away?
…Sharp.
It felt strange for me to say it, but no mage other than an oddball like me would want to join this research club.
The room was small, and there was no budget. On top of that, the club’s name was Diabology.
If there’s nothing to gain, I can just be a ghost member.
All Lumina wanted from me was to fill the member quota anyway. So I had no intention of doing anything more than that.
As I stepped into the club room, I sensed a presence from deeper inside.
Clank.
At that moment, a door opened, and a girl walked out.
She wore a neat uniform, her silky hair cascading down her back.
“Are you the first-year who’s joining?”
A voice as clear as rolling pearls reached my ears.
The moment I saw her, I was speechless.
Because she was too pretty?
I wasn't so sure.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Ryu Gaeun, the president of the Diabology Research Club.”
The woman who introduced herself as Ryu Gaeun offered me a handshake.
But I didn't take her hand, just stared blankly.
“Feel free to call me Senior Gaeun.”
I’d heard there were many eccentrics among mages, but this was the first time I’d met someone who showed up wearing a bizarre mask to a first meeting.
…Should I just quit right now?
As I surreptitiously glanced toward the door, Lumina frantically blocked it with her body.