Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: A Boring Sword
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"It's a damn horde."
Han Su-hyuk lit a cigarette as he eyed the group in black robes swarming into the convent building.
His disheveled hair was now neatly slicked back, and he had changed into a crisp suit.
Han Su-hyuk exhaled a deep puff of smoke and recalled what had just happened.
"Definitely..."
It was magi that devoured magi.
An ancient legacy so obscure now that few even knew of it.
Even he might not have recognized it without the oath passed down through his bloodline.
Its power was still too crude to unleash its full potential, but the authority itself was no trifling matter...
Bzzzzt.
Right on cue, his phone buzzed.
The irritating vibration shattered his thoughts.
"Who the hell is this?"
Han Su-hyuk checked the caller ID and spoke in an annoyed tone.
"Yeah, old timer."
-Did you wrap things up? Things seem pretty chaotic around there.
"Ah, that..."
Han Su-hyuk glanced around, searching for Chilma's presence.
He sensed the old demon's sticky aura nearby and sneered.
"Failed."
A brief silence followed before Chilma muttered in disbelief.
-What do you mean, failed? With your skills, how...
"Too much hassle to explain. Just take my word for it. I'm busy, so talk later."
-W-Wait. You aren't thinking of just dropping this, are you?
Chilma yelped in alarm.
He had shelled out a fortune to hire this guy, only for him to bail now.
-Even for you, a contract is a contract. Either retry or pay the penalty...
"What bullshit, old timer."
But Han Su-hyuk was utterly indifferent.
"Got proof? Any contract?"
-Well, considering your reputation, we skipped it out of respect.
"Hey, old timer. Wanna die?"
Han Su-hyuk growled in a low, menacing voice.
"I know you're skulking around like a rat. Want me to come rip your head off?"
-A-Are you threatening me right now?
"Threat? That's for loudmouth worms. If I kill you, you're dead."
-...
"So, call the fee payment in full. Don't contact me again."
Click.
And that ended the call.
"Loan shark bastard getting all high and mighty."
Han Su-hyuk scowled, then looked back at the convent.
He lit another cigarette.
And didn't move until it burned down completely.
He thought it would be enough time to sort out his dilemma, but his mind was still a mess.
"Sigh."
In the end, he turned away with a deep sigh.
An oath was an oath, after all.
Even if it was from generations past, a blood oath could not be ignored.
Especially in demon society, where blood ties ran deep...
"I wonder if the old hag's still alive."
Han Su-hyuk flipped through his contacts and called another contact.
It had been ten years since last contact, so he wasn't optimistic, but after a few rings, a cheerful voice answered.
-Tsk tsk, who is this?
The voice was still full of life, so Han Su-hyuk smirked faintly.
"Hey, you been well?"
-Old folks like me just keep kicking. How's the brat Bongsik?
"Ah, come on. It's Han Su-hyuk. Han Su-hyuk."
But his face hardened at the old name that slipped out.
* * *
Fact or fiction, the world worked the same way.
If there's a cause, there's an effect. Do wrong, and you pay.
[The government has named a certain demon group as the prime suspect in the Vatican terror incident. This group has been rapidly expanding its influence lately...]
The next afternoon, despite the medical staff's protests, I returned to the dorms and rushed to Flower Bud.
I'd gone nearly two days without feeding her blood, so I was antsy.
"Hungry, huh?"
Drip drip.
I cut deeper than usual, letting more blood flow, but it didn't hurt.
Flower Bud trembled and greedily absorbed it.
I watched proudly and murmured softly.
"Ah, so pretty..."
[...]
Still awkward praise, but she seemed to like it.
Flower Bud fluttered her closed petals in response.
Yeah, she must feel good too.
It had been over four weeks already, so blooming day wasn't far off.
My anticipation had built up right along with the wait—I was secretly thrilled.
Since it's a fairy, maybe it'll be like Tinkerbell.
[Greed snickers that high expectations lead to big disappointments.]
Piss off.
I petted Flower Bud for a while before standing.
It wasn't planned, but with one incident wrapped up, there was plenty to review.
First, I summoned my status window to check my current state.
I muttered softly, and a bluish panel shimmered into view ahead.
▷Strength: 5.0
▷Vitality: 4.7
▷Agility: 4.8
▷Senses: 4.7
▷Intellect: 5.1
▷Mana: 5.075 (10%)
▷Luck: 3
Impressive growth, no doubt.
Intense physical training had steadily boosted Strength, Vitality, and Agility. Senses, which had lagged, shot up after incorporating Thousand-Zen-Snake training.
It's more combat sense than raw senses.
Mana, my weakest stat, had nearly doubled after pouring in time and effort.
"But 10%?"
That's when I noticed the unfamiliar marker.
I tilted my head and stared ahead. The panel rippled in response.
[The proportion of pure mana has exceeded the threshold and is now displayed.]
[Effects of pure mana are partially activated.]
[Improved affinity against magi.]
[All supernatural abilities based on mana see a slight power increase.]
[Effects strengthen as the proportion of pure mana rises.]
Whoa.
I mulled over the messages, marveling repeatedly.
Of course, I'd need to test the exact boosts.
But purely in terms of effects, it resembled the original's mana quality concept.
"At this level, maybe around rank 3?"
No expert, but definitely ahead of Baek Sa-young.
Leina calling me a saint and absorbing holy power without backlash was probably thanks to this.
That thought made me worry about Leina.
She'd lost her holy power and lifespan to trigger her trait—must've hit her hard.
"Why'd you go off on your own like that?"
It was justified, but still regrettable.
She's the third heroine, after all.
I'd treat her better when she joins as an exchange student next semester.
"Buy her lots of tasty bread."
Anyway, the status window after so long was quite satisfying.
Overall, it confirmed what I knew.
I'm getting stronger at an unprecedented pace.
Pouring over twelve hours a day into training, this is peak growth speed.
But is this the right path? After today, the answer was a firm "no."
If Han Su-hyuk hadn't vanished...
The protagonists would've all died, ending the story prematurely.
"Thinking about it pisses me off more. Demon Subjugation Society bastards."
I clenched my fist hard, then shook my head.
What mattered was countermeasures.
Time to expand beyond solo grinding in the dorm.
No telling when the next crisis hits, so no more delaying key issues under the guise of training.
I'd tackle the now-critical priorities one by one.
"First, help the protagonists grow..."
Up to now, my benchmark was the original story.
Stick to its flow, and all would be well—or so I thought.
But after an unavoidable deviation, my view shifted.
Can't stray too far, but I need a one-step lead.
So, until the next episode, I'd devote time to the protagonists.
First up: this world's true protagonist, Baek Sa-young.
Lately, he's been off his game.
I'd hinted at training methods, but real results take time.
This time, I'd get more proactive.
Grrrrowl.
First, fill the stomach.
"Haven't had dinner yet."
I clutched my growling belly and headed to the kitchen.
The pantry held only canned chicken breast and ramen.
Hm.
I'd been avoiding carbs to manage my diet lately.
Sick of low-sodium hospital food?
Gulp.
My hand reached for the ramen—just then.
[Sunbae-nim. Hello. Sorry to contact you so suddenly.]
"Baek Sa-young" lit up my phone screen.
* * *
Meanwhile, at the hospital where the security team was recovering.
In the two-bed room where Lee Dae-ho and Baek Sa-young shared out of boredom.
With his condition improved, Baek Sa-young started light exercise to shake off the stiffness.
Legs propped on the bed, supporting his body with one finger, he pumped out push-ups—until Lee Dae-ho finally snapped.
"Hey, rest just for today. We're still patients. Your stitches could rip."
"I know. That's why I'm going easy."
"That's easy?"
"Yeah. Wanna join?"
"Nah, still hurts."
Lee Dae-ho rolled himself in the blanket like a burrito and lay on his side, despite his bulk.
Baek Sa-young asked,
"Hurts? Your wounds are mostly healed."
"Body's fine. It's my head. That monster freak's got me in shock still."
"...Oh."
Baek Sa-young sighed softly and sat up.
Lee Dae-ho's slumped vibe was unfamiliar, but he empathized more than anyone.
Wiping sweat from his face with a towel, Baek Sa-young spoke.
"Honestly, same here. I was scared. Thought I might die right there."
"You too?"
Baek Sa-young nodded silently, replaying that day.
Insane speed. Simple yet piercing sword path. Overwhelming aura that shook space itself.
Demon or not, he was an extraordinary swordsman.
Baek Sa-young had felt like a firefly before the sun.
And that critique?
"A boring sword. So dull it makes you yawn."
It echoed in his mind, etched there.
"What? You're moping too? Ruining the mood."
"...Let's sleep. Gotta head back tomorrow. Ha-yul's already discharged."
"Ugh, fine. That guy's weird, though. Shaman lineage, yet recovers faster than us? Makes no sense."
"Maybe took fewer hits. Gonna step out for air. Sleep first."
Baek Sa-young gave a vague reply and left the room.
Once the stuffiness took hold, it wouldn't fade easily. He wandered the quiet halls for a good while.
"Ah..."
Then he stopped abruptly and fiddled with his phone.
He pondered carefully, hesitating repeatedly, bit his lower lip, and finally typed word by word with care.
[Sunbae-nim. Hello. Sorry to contact you so suddenly. I just can't figure this out alone.]
[What makes a sword boring?]
Unlike himself, he squeezed his eyes shut and hit send.
Among swordsmen he knew, only that demon could compare.
Baek Sa-young clutched his phone like a prayer, waiting for a reply.