Chapter 2
Chapter 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: The Bet and the Cure
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Come here, you rascal! I'll fix it for you!"
"Ah, you damn scammer! Just stop it already!"
This girl really doesn't trust anyone.
"I told you, it really works. I'll fix it for you."
After my passionate speech, she was even putting on a serious face now.
"Teacher. I don't know what kind of senility hit you out of nowhere, but..."
"It's not out of nowhere. Now that I've awakened, I can fix it."
"Anyway! Do you think I haven't tried everything?"
Aden launched into her life's lament.
"I-I lived like a total princess in my childhood."
"Mm."
"Servants did everything I asked for. Noble uncles gave me whatever I wanted as gifts. I grew up showered in that kind of love."
"Mm."
"But do you think my family just kicked me out for no reason? I tried every damn method in the world!"
The mood unexpectedly turned solemn.
Should I kneel and listen politely?
For now, I held my tongue.
"We called in every renowned healer from Thea. We even invited Earth's S-Rank mages. But nothing worked! Do you think you're better than all those people, Teacher?"
"Honestly, way better..."
"Kuaaaak-!"
Aden let out a scream.
Failed to convey sincerity.
It had been such a dramatic, serious atmosphere.
And in an instant, it turned into a comedy sketch.
But what can I do? It's the truth.
"Aden, I get why you can't trust me. But!"
In a situation like this, anyone would tell me to shut up with my nonsense.
"But just assume you're getting scammed and trust me once—your life will change."
I'm saying all this for the sake of my student.
"Just sit here for 10 minutes, 10 minutes!"
"Kuaaaak-!"
Aden clutched her chest in frustration.
"Hey, rascal, I'm the frustrated one here!"
Kang Hyun clutched his own chest in response.
"Hey, let's make a bet! A bet!"
"...A bet? What's the prize?"
"If I can't fix you, I'll be your slave for life."
"Who'd believe a prize like that?"
Come to think of it, yeah.
"Ah! That thing you wanted to go see? I'll go with you."
"[Chronicles of Kyle: REMAKE]?"
Aden double-checked, as if she'd misheard.
"Yeah, rascal."
Done. She's hooked.
This feels over-the-top but realistic enough.
[Chronicles of Kyle].
It was the touching epic saga of the mercenary Kyle.
The tale of how he wandered Thea's lands and rose to hero status.
This remake was especially special.
Word was, they'd put insane effort into historical accuracy.
That's why the fans were going wild.
Fans like Aden, exactly.
"For real?"
At this point, even Aden couldn't just brush it off as "he's senile again."
"What's wrong with this guy? Did he eat something bad?"
"Hey, don't spill your inner thoughts to your teacher."
"You said you'd never see it, even in death."
"I did."
In fact, that's exactly what happened.
I died and came back, and still haven't seen it.
'How the hell am I supposed to watch that crap.'
Apparently, they perfectly recreated Kyle's real appearance.
In this modern era of advanced magic engineering.
Especially that ridiculously good memory visualization magic.
They directly visualized the memories of survivors from 100 years ago.
So it'd be super vivid, no doubt.
The cringey lines I spouted in my youth, high on hero vibes.
The dark history of rolling in blood on the battlefield.
'How am I supposed to watch that stone-cold sober.'
The movie ratings were through the roof.
People raved about how cool it was...
But watching it myself was a whole different story.
'I'd rather die. I already died once, but even if I die again, no way.'
But Aden didn't know about Kang Hyun's ironclad resolve.
So it was perfect bait.
"...You really promise. If I sit just for a bit, you'll definitely go with me."
"What nonsense. If I can't cure you, then yeah, we'll go together."
"..."
Is this old man for real?
Aden's eyes said it all.
"Whatever. Sit down or not."
"...Yes."
"Back facing me."
Aden sat in front of Kang Hyun, but she still didn't trust him.
'Finally got this guy hooked.'
Her mind was solely on how to spread Lord Kyle's greatness to this stubborn fool.
So she never dreamed.
That the palm on her back would change her life.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Kang Hyun's divinely precise mana control.
It pinpointed and shattered only the concretions in her meridians.
Aden's eyes trembled violently.
She stared blankly at her status window.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ ✨ Magic Power: A Trait <Mana Concretion Disease> has been removed. What should have been F- Magic Power stat.
"A...? Real A...?"
She could feel the enormous mana surging inside her.
Yet Aden couldn't immediately accept the reality.
Painful memories from her past flashed by.
Right after the Mana Concretion Disease diagnosis.
Her father's cold glare.
The healers shaking their heads.
The servants, nobles, siblings who no longer smiled at her.
Her mother wailing to the heavens on the final day.
All of them were horrific scars and traumas from her childhood.
And the root of every misfortune was Mana Concretion Disease.
'Even the trait <Mana Concretion Disease> is gone.'
She was truly cured.
The concretions had turned back into mana.
And piled up wholly in Aden's body.
Proof was the insane Magic Power A stat.
A level worthy of being hailed as the greatest talent in her family history.
"Congratulations."
Clap. Clap.
A plain, indifferent applause.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
Aden couldn't hold back the flood of sobs.
"Waaaaaah-!"
Aden threw herself flat and bowed.
A sudden action like explosive acceleration.
Kang Hyun flinched.
"Whoa, whoa..."
"Waaaaaah-! I'll serve you as my lifelong benefactor! Teaaaaaacher-!"
"Yeah, study magic hard from now on."
"Waaaaaah!"
She burst into full sobs.
She's really thrilled.
Must've suffered a ton mentally.
"I absolutely! Won't forget this grace! Never!"
"Got it, so stop crying, rascal."
Kang Hyun replied curtly.
He hated these embarrassing situations.
He'd faced reactions like this countless times since his hero days.
But praise never got comfortable.
Rather, Kang Hyun preferred watching the results of his actions from afar.
"You think I cured you 'just because'?"
Good karma matters.
I learned that the hard way rolling as a mercenary and hero.
A small good deed saved his life later.
A petty outburst came back as an assassin's blade.
You can't achieve great things without good karma.
That was Kyle's conclusion.
The allies who followed him in the World Tree War.
They didn't follow for his money or looks.
Live kindly in the world.
That was one of his creeds.
Petty for a hero like Kyle, but still.
"Sniff... So you didn't cure me 'just because'...? Then what?"
"How could I let talent like yours go to waste? It's a shame."
Aden's talent was the real deal.
A good deed bestowed on such a genius.
It'd surely return as massive good karma later.
'Plus, she loves magic that much.'
How could I just leave her be?
And she's a huge Kyle fan, to boot.
In a way, Aden's fangirling had contributed to changing her life.
Though she had no idea.
Aden just cried.
"Kuhahahaak-! Teacher! Teaaaaaacher-!"
"Agh, damn it!"
Why else had Aden planted herself at the academy?
Only Kang Hyun ever called her a genius.
Even her father had called her a failure and kicked her out.
And his teaching skills were top-notch.
Miraculous, since he wasn't even an Awakener.
That's why Aden couldn't leave [Kang Hyun's Magic Academy].
And now, even more so.
"Wipe your snot and fix your clothes, rascal!"
"Snort! Where are you going...?"
Aden came to her senses and blew her nose.
Complete with snivelly sounds.
"Eww, gross."
So un-elf-like and ungraceful.
My disciple from my past life was exactly like this too.
Whatever.
Kang Hyun grinned with overwhelming anticipation.
"Time to hit a real dungeon this time."
One Word of Command wasn't enough to scratch the itch.
His throat was already tingling.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The two arrived at a gate on the outskirts of Seoul.
"Did you report the raid?"
"Yeah."
"How? It got approved just for us two?"
"Heard in training—gates up to F+ don't need permits."
F-range gates don't overflow even on failed raids.
So the process was simple.
I deliberately picked an easy one. First time and all.
One perfectly suited for Word of Command too.
The area was quiet.
No one around in this remote spot.
"But really, can we two handle it?"
Normally, minimum five-man team.
But Aden wasn't well-versed in this world.
She just fidgeted anxiously.
"What, you don't trust me?"
"Yes."
"What."
Sharp as a knife answer.
"Separate from gratitude, you don't seem reliable..."
"What's that supposed to mean? My magic skills aren't trustworthy?"
"Magic is amazing, but you're too airheaded."
"What."
Hero Kyle.
Getting called airheaded by his student.
"Can't run a business. Temper's too foul for sales. That's why the academy tanked."
"Th-that's..."
He was the strongest, Kyle.
But business? Never tried.
"A teacher like that doesn't seem like he'd prepared well for a raid... Ah, wait."
Aden's realization hit.
"You're trusting me and going in as a duo? Because my Magic Power is A-Rank now?"
What the hell.
Tried to refute, but her face said she was already convinced.
"Sigh, guess I'll have to..."
"Shut up and let's go in already."
Ignored her and stepped forward.
But paused briefly.
"Oh, right."
"What's up?"
"You registered as an Awakener yet?"
"Ah."
Unauthorized raids are illegal.
"Not yet."
"Jeez, who was calling who airheaded."
"Hehe..."
Aden just scratched her head.
"Well, good thing. Today we'll head back, form a team, check newbie guides..."
"I'll clear it solo and come back."
"Yes!?"
Aden jumped in shock.
"Are you insane!? Who clears a dungeon alone!?"
"I'll be quick, so wait here."
"W-wait, Teacher!"
He entered the gate alone.