The Seed Planted in Princess Arian

"Is that really true?"

"Yes. Arian's abilities are powerful, but her control over them is still immature. If she masters the right techniques, she will become far stronger."

This was a flaw described even in the original story. Arian Liberin's powers were immense, and she trained diligently, yet because her abilities were so overwhelmingly strong, she often found herself at their mercy rather than commanding them. She was being swayed by her own strength.

She still hasn't realized it.

The difference was that in the original tale, she had already recognized the problem herself and was working hard to overcome it through training. Her growth came from sparring with Seo Moon-hyun and surviving crises alongside him while fending off schemes targeting the princess of the Liberin Kingdom.

"Would you like my help?"

"Yes, please."

Her eyes burned with enthusiasm as she spoke, only to realize a moment later that their relationship was still that of strangers. She flinched in surprise.

"Ah! Was that… presumptuous of me?"

Watching her worry that she might have overstepped, I offered a gentle smile to reassure her.

"It's fine. I'm only providing the clues. The effort required to truly master it will be yours alone, Arian."

She was a woman who would one day become my wife. This small kindness was only natural. I kept that thought to myself and steadied my breathing. In the past, my gaze would have drifted to the soft skin of her thigh visible between the slits of her skirt, but now I could feel the temptation and still keep my eyes firmly under control.

"I won't forget this kindness."

Arian seemed uneasy about owing me a debt and promised not to forget it.

Yes. You shouldn't forget.

She would repay today's favor by helping me take revenge on Seo Moon-hyun—and by becoming my woman. Even if she met Seo Moon-hyun as she had in the original story, the seed I planted today, combined with the karma of the Seo family itself, would ensure that Arian Liberin became mine instead.

To make that happen, I began teaching her in earnest.

"Hold your rapier and stand still for a moment."

"Like this?"

"Yes. Stay still for a bit."

I moved behind her and gently adjusted her hands and waist. The soft sensation beneath my fingers was pleasant, but indulging in it now would ruin everything. It would be the height of foolishness.

"W-wait…"

"Focus."

Because we were meeting earlier than in the original timeline, a trace of innocence still lingered in her. Her cheeks flushed as she grew flustered. I spoke coolly, telling her to concentrate, then corrected her posture.

"I'm going to use magic power to move your body lightly. Remember this feeling carefully."

"…Understood."

Arian seemed to realize that panicking would only make her look foolish. Though still embarrassed, she began to focus. I guided her body with a subtle flow of magic power. The sword in her hand thrust forward smoothly and swiftly.

"If you can reach the point where you can catch a dewdrop falling from a leaf on your blade and return it to the leaf without breaking it, countless applications will become possible. At that level, even I wouldn't have been able to dodge your earlier attack."

If I had been fighting at the same level of power as before, I would have been defeated. Arian naturally caught the hidden meaning in my words.

"Does that mean… even if I become stronger, I still won't be able to beat you, Seo Moon-jin?"

"I'll keep that a secret."

I answered her probing question with a smile and stepped back.

"Remember the feeling you just experienced and practice it. Also, think about how to apply your light and lightning powers more flexibly."

Doing so would allow her to reproduce ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the techniques and finishing moves from the original story.

"Flexibly?"

"Yes. Both light and lightning possess tremendous offensive power. Right now, the problem is that their trajectories are too straightforward. If you move them softly and fluidly, you will be able to wield their strength freely—like an extension of your own limbs—making your attacks both more powerful and more versatile."

"Yes, thank you. I'll remember that and practice."

"Haha, good. Then I'll be heading back now. Levia is probably waiting for me."

"Wait a moment. I'll go with you."

After receiving her thanks, I put my mask back on. Together, Arian and I left the training hall and headed for the reception room.

What a fascinating person.

Arian thought as she recalled their sparring session. She felt a slight pang of regret that his handsome face was hidden behind the mask as he walked beside her, but her mind kept returning to his teachings. Worrying that he might get hurt during their match had been her own arrogance. Though he was only a year older than her, the heir to the Yucheon Group possessed strength that far surpassed her own.

How can he be this strong?

The question lingered. How had he become so powerful while also being the successor to such a massive conglomerate? As these thoughts ran through her mind, she suddenly remembered the moment he had corrected her posture. He had only lightly touched her hands and waist, and he had seemed to have no other intentions—yet she couldn't stop thinking about it.

It keeps coming back to me…

Arian found herself repeatedly recalling the brief contact, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her thoughts unsettled. When they returned to the reception room, King Royus and Levia appeared to have been discussing business matters.

"Hmm, if we do it this way… Ah, Arian. You're back. Has the sparring already ended?"

"Yes… I lost."

Arian openly admitted her defeat. There was no reason to hide it, and after acknowledging the gap in their abilities and receiving his guidance, she felt no hesitation in speaking about it. While it was true that losing stung, she was also grateful to Seo Moon-jin for showing her a path to greater strength.

"You lost?"

King Royus looked slightly surprised at Arian's loss and turned his gaze toward Seo Moon-jin. As the king watched him remove his mask and lower his hood once more, Arian could sense that his evaluation of the young man had shifted again.

"Impressive. To think you defeated Arian. I'm not just saying this because she's my daughter, but objectively speaking, I believed her abilities had few equals among her peers."

"It's not necessarily the case. There are many powerful ability users in Korea, after all."

Arian felt an even stronger resolve to train harder.

There really are many people stronger than me.

Korea was a country that produced an unusually high number of powerful ability users. While the exact figures were unclear due to hidden masters living in seclusion, over seven hundred of the world's top one thousand officially ranked ability users held Korean nationality. Even among the remaining two hundred and fifty, many were graduates of Korean academies.

I won't lose.

Determined not ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to fall behind them, Arian watched as Seo Moon-jin, now seated, began discussing business between the Yucheon Group and the Liberin Kingdom with King Royus.

"We will also expand the Yucheon Energy branch in the Liberin Kingdom. This will allow us to convert ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠more magic stones into energy at lower costs, reducing energy prices within the kingdom and improving the quality of life for its citizens."

"Good. I would appreciate that. We will do our best to assist with tax matters and other issues as well."

Watching him work as the heir to the Yucheon Group, Arian silently vowed that one day she would show him how much stronger she had become as an ability user.

After bidding farewell to King Royus and Arian, I left the Liberin Kingdom and returned to Korea. While teaching Arian, the desire for revenge had once again risen to the surface, so I carefully suppressed it, ensuring it remained hidden.

While synchronizing, I collected every skill that looked useful. With these, I can carry out the revenge I've planned.

The skill "Remembered Favor" was one of them. If I had wanted to, I could have conquered all the heroines before even entering the academy, making them obey my every word. But that was not what I desired.

That wouldn't be revenge.

The heroines needed to grow close to Seo Moon-hyun—close enough to feel happy with him, even if they never became lovers. Only then would I tear everything away from him. For the sake of my revenge against the Seo family and Seo Moon-hyun, I could endure any desire. Defeating the Eternal Dragon Terenity would also be my achievement, not his. Seo Moon-hyun would receive none of the glory that had once been his. All that awaited him was downfall and despair.

In the original story, Seo Moon-hyun was the last hope.

If not for him, Terenity would have destroyed Korea first, marking it as the first nation to fall, and eventually the entire world would have followed. Yet the method to kill Terenity was no longer limited to Seo Moon-hyun alone. While the Seo family's secret technique could damage Terenity's immortality, defeating it was another matter entirely. That was why Seo Moon-hyun's unique trait had been necessary—but now, I possessed it as well.

"Shall I go give Min-hye her gift, then?"

Before that, there was something else I needed to check.