Haidel (3)
“Shaaaahhh!”
The Melkanto Specter, engulfed in a storm of flames, let out a wretched scream. Its hide boasted a hardness that could withstand all but the most extreme shocks unscathed, yet before the blaze unleashed by the phoenix, it melted away like ice cream on a sweltering summer day.
Thud.
Dust billowed into the air as the colossal beast collapsed. The sight of the twenty-meter behemoth, wrapped in golden flames as it fell, was truly spectacular.
“Ah……”
Sharze stared at the scene in a daze. She wasn’t alone. Every elf gathered there gaped in stunned silence at the Melkanto Specter melting in the fire.
This is… the power of a phoenix.
Kim Jehyun shuddered as he witnessed the phoenix’s might firsthand. As its summoner, he knew better than anyone just how much power it had exerted—and that was without even going all out, merely a fraction of its strength. To melt a giant-type monster in a single strike…
Of course, manifesting even that much required an enormous amount of mana, but with his mana reserves having grown tremendously as of late, Jehyun could handle the expenditure with ease. He wondered what might happen if the phoenix truly unleashed its full power.
Shaaaah.
The phoenix hovered motionless in midair without so much as a flap of its wings, gazing down at the dissolving Melkanto Specter before turning its eyes to Jehyun. Its look all but said: Did you summon me to deal with vermin like this?
Now I get what Ifrit meant by ‘arrogant.’ Jehyun recalled Ifrit’s words and chuckled softly. The phoenix’s demeanor was arrogance personified. Even during their contract ritual earlier, it had given him no end of trouble until the end. Only when he’d drawn upon his draconic authority and met its gaze once more did it finally show a flicker of interest.
Even then, sealing the contract wasn’t easy.
It was an exceedingly proud being, pushing and pulling right up until it grudgingly bowed its head before him. And even now, it maintained that sullen attitude.
I should be grateful it even answered the summons.
Jehyun let out a wry laugh at the phoenix’s attitude, but its power was the real deal.
With even a portion of this… the phoenix alone could handle Kang Sihu.
Jehyun’s eyes gleamed as he regarded it. At that moment, a system message notified him that the Melkanto Specter had finally perished completely.
You have obtained a large amount of experience points.
A large amount of experience points. As expected from a high-grade giant-type monster, it yielded a substantial haul.
Not bad. I could just hunt these things from now on.
Jehyun turned to Sharze and the other elves, who were still staring at him with mouths agape in bewilderment.
“Alright, everyone. Let’s head back for now.”
* * *
Jehyun and the elves returned to their temporary shelter. On the way, he could feel their sidelong glances.
The elves keep staring.
―Kekeke. Can’t blame them. The phoenix you summoned is like a dream come true for them.
Hmm.
―Think of it like encountering a 9th Circle mage. That’ll make it click.
Ah, got it.
Alkasha’s apt analogy made the elves’ feelings crystal clear. Glancing back at Sharze, who was trailing just behind him like a puppy, Jehyun caught her staring intently—only for her to jolt and bow her head when their eyes met. Her adorable reaction drew a chuckle from him.
“Curious about that fire spirit I summoned earlier?”
“Yes… that’s right.”
Sharze’s eyes sparkled as she nodded vigorously.
“What do you think it was?”
“Well… At first, I thought it might be a top-tier fire spirit, but it didn’t match any I know… Could it be… a Spirit King?”
Jehyun smiled at that. The phoenix’s power did indeed surpass that of ordinary top-tier spirits. For an elf like her to suspect it might be a Spirit King confirmed as much.
“Not a Spirit King, but a top-tier spirit.”
“Wow……”
Sharze’s mouth fell open wide. She’d never laid eyes on a top-tier spirit before. Her eyes still shone with awe as they spoke, clearly smitten by the phoenix’s majesty. What a cute one.
Jehyun chatted with her about her curiosities as they entered the meeting area where the elven leaders were gathered. The higher-ups who’d come out to greet him followed close behind.
“So, have you all decided?”
Jehyun scanned the elves as he spoke. Truth be told, whatever he chose, they’d follow without question. There was no real need to offer options. But he’d done so anyway.
To respect the elves who struggled to find me.
If they hadn’t clashed repeatedly with the Black Snake Clan, his lair might have been exposed during their search with Kang Sihu.
That would’ve been a disaster.
Being interrupted mid-breakthrough could have prevented him from reaching stage 7—or worse, damaged his mana road. A true catastrophe. This was his way of honoring Haidel and the others who’d fought for him and been captured. And unexpectedly, it deepened their loyalty. Sincerity welled in their gazes toward him, especially Sharze’s—her eyes practically sparkling with intensity.
Wonder what they decided.
As Jehyun shot her a curious look, Sharze met his eyes and parted her cherry lips.
“Jehyun-nim, um… I’m sorry, but could we… change our minds?”
She looked at him anxiously. He nodded readily, and she continued with even greater caution.
“At first, we discussed going with the second option.”
As expected from the elves’ rigid nature. But…
Why back out now? Her next words cleared it up.
“But we felt bad leaving everything to you. And… we want revenge against those who hurt and captured our kin. So… if possible, could our elves join the fight in that ‘superhuman duel’ too?”
Jehyun nodded, understanding their sentiments fully.
“I get it. No problem. In that case, let’s do a captain’s match.”
He explained the format to them. At its core, it was one-on-one bouts, with winners advancing in a relay. For a 4v4, say: vanguard, mid1, mid2, captain. They’d fight sequentially. Your vanguard could potentially sweep the enemy captain, or their captain could reverse-sweep for victory. Ultimately, it favored teams with a standout powerhouse.
“Thank you.”
The elves expressed their gratitude for accommodating them and agreed without protest.
“Then… time to visit the Magic Tower first.”
Jehyun’s eyes gleamed. It was time to set the stage for hunting Kang Sihu.
* * *
—Beep.
Error.
“Huh?”
Kim Gwan-yong, manning the Magic Tower’s entrance that day, frowned at the message on the mana orb.
“Sorry, please wait a moment.”
He apologized to the man presenting his ID and pulled out the manual to check the glitch.
Damn it. Why on my shift?
The tower’s ID system was near flawless, glitching maybe once a year. And of course, it happened on his watch.
Error code 0xc12EEadf22… What’s that? ID verification suspended?
He tilted his head. The man’s ID was temporarily suspended, triggering the error. Rare case.
Never heard of it since I started… Wait, last year!
Memory jogged, he checked the details and recognized the man.
“……Y-You’re.”
Kim Jehyun. The century’s genius had returned to the Magic Tower.
* * *
“Hey, isn’t that Kim Jehyun?”
“Where? Whoa, looks like it!”
The Magic Tower erupted in chaos. Kim Jehyun, the prodigy once tipped as the next Tower Master, had vanished abruptly a year and a half ago. The tower had mobilized fully but found no trace—naturally, since he’d erased them en route to meet the elves.
They’d presumed foul play.
“What? Kim Jehyun’s back?”
Word spread like wildfire. Those connected to him rejoiced.
The tower’s internal community burned with Jehyun talk all day. Everyone genuinely celebrated his return—he was the shining star destined to lead them.
The superhuman community caught wind fast too. Though brief, his impact was huge—many remembered him.
The superhuman forums were flooded with Jehyun chatter all day, speculating on his future moves and what he’d done during his absence.
* * *
“Kim Jehyun’s back?”
Matapju Choi Hanseom’s head snapped up from his paperwork pile. Gentle surprise spread across his face.
“Where is he now? No, I’ll go to him. Inform them.”
He hung up and unleashed his senses fully.
Whoosh.
Brilliant light streamed from his room, sweeping the entire Magic Tower—an insane range for mana detection. Anyone hearing would scoff: Impossible. Each floor was city-sized; scanning them all? Only the Tower Master could dream of it. He’d swept floor by floor, starting from the first.
Found him.
Jehyun was already on the 6th floor, likely in the hotel district.
Choi Hanseom yearned to see him, to hear his story. A pentagram magic circle bloomed beneath his feet.
Teleport.
A spell at the cusp of 8th Circle manifested.
Flash!
Dazzling light erupted from the circle, enveloping him.