115. It's overflowing with water!!!
115. It's overflowing with water!!!
-Peong peo beo beong!
"Smoke screen...?"
The moment I was about to throw myself to chase the Dark Elf who vanished into the smoke screen...
-Thup!
Yang Hae-yeon grabbed my sash and yanked me back.
-Suuuuck!
"Are you insane, junior?! Do you even know what that is and you're jumping right in?!"
"...Sorry. I wasn't in my right mind."
Maybe because of the booze, I couldn't make rational judgments.
It might not be a smoke screen, but poison mist.
Yang Hae-yeon gripped my sash hard with one hand and blew the smoke away with sword wind.
-Hwoong hwoong hwoong!
"Urgh... She really tried to tear me to shreds..."
From Ki Sense, it looked like she'd already slipped away.
Regret's regret, but I whipped up sword wind too and drove the smoke off.
-Kwaaak! Hwoong hwoong hwoong!
"Ha... Junior. What're we gonna do if Raid Members have zero caution?"
"Sorry. It's a pretty serious issue."
-Kwaaak!
"No! Even if you can't stand injustice, not like that! Hey?! Risking your damn life..."
"You said earlier it's fine if it fails..."
-Kwaaak!
With my constant backtalk, Yang Hae-yeon's grip got rougher.
"Hey!!! What batch are you from, you little shit?!"
"214th batch... Sunbaenim, just a sec on the sash..."
-Hwoong! Hwoong! Hwoong! Kwaak! Kuuuk!
"Hey?! You're a total fucking rookie!! I'm 135th!!! Why the backtalk nonstop!!! Argh! My gut's already killing me, and now top-grade potions too..."
Her freakout ramping up rougher. My sash screaming right along with it.
Sensing danger, I grabbed Yang Hae-yeon's shoulder.
-Thup!
"W-Wait! Sunbaenim! Sorry, so let go of the..."
"You basic bitch! Hey! When swinging a sword, your body... grab..."
In the end, my sash slipped right off, baring my front completely.
-Sruruk...
"Grab... ja... boobs... oh man..."
"Argh! Sunbaenim!"
I frantically covered up, and Yang Hae-yeon stood gaping with my sash in hand.
-Ppeokkeum... ppeokkeum... parur
What's her deal, seriously?
"Ha... My bad this time, too reckless. So, hand over the sash, please."
"...? Huh? Give back... what?"
"What's in your hand."
"A sword's a martial artist's life... Ack! S-Sorry!!!"
...How panicked do you gotta be to forget your own damn hands.
I turned away, snatched the sash from her outstretched arm.
Fixed my clothes again. Then eyed Yang Hae-yeon bowed low in parade rest.
"Ah... Uh..."
Wasn't even that much skin, why's she freaking...
Brushed it off like no biggie.
"Sunbaenim. It's fine... Anyway, let's head back to the first body's spot and report it."
"Ah? R-Right. Yeah, we should. But... you good...?"
"...What about."
"Th-That skin..."
Argh...
Just turned and bolted.
"Who gives a shit about that right now. Hurry and confirm first. Let's go!"
-Hwoong!
"Th-That shit... Wait! Reports gotta be anonymous, junior!!!"
...
As far as I know, a body takes about a month to skeletonize.
Why the random thought? 'Cause the body that should be there is gone.
If someone found it and reported, there'd be chaos at least...
"..."
"..."
Dead silent.
Un-fucking-believably so, for a body that shape.
We weren't gone that long...
Yang Hae-yeon squeezed her eyes shut and clutched my shoulder.
"Junior... Shit got way complicated. Even as an Honorary Knight of the Duchy, better not poke this lightly."
I got what Yang Hae-yeon was fretting over.
Hardin Count House probably seems way above a lone Honorary Knight's paygrade.
No way she figures I'm future-promised with Hilda.
"Sunbaenim. Thanks for the worry. But this one's..."
Yang Hae-yeon gnashed her teeth, balled her fist tight, and said.
"No... This one... I'll report and handle it, so butt out, junior."
She clearly sensed the insane scale, but stepping up like this.
Felt it at the drinking bash... She's straight-up righteous.
Her justice is damn noble.
'Damn, cool...'
Grabbed Yang Hae-yeon's shoulder and said.
-Thup...
"Hic...! W-What's that?"
"Heh heh, thanks for worrying, sunbaenim. But my pull's better than you think."
Yang Hae-yeon flushed cheeks a bit, tongue all twisted.
"Nyehe... N-No! You just don't get society yet!! Duchy babysitting you 24/7..."
Gripped the babbling Yang Hae-yeon's shoulder firm.
-Kwaaak!
"Hik!"
First real chat, and she's this worried.
Her pure kindness cracked me up.
"Heh heh, told you don't worry. I'll report elsewhere. Place you can't even dream of."
"Oof... Still..."
"Sunbaenim."
"..."
I'll report straight to the top, no sweat.
"Just trust me."
"............ Nye..."
Jenin being same party ties to her house, so digging ASAP.
Hardin Count House victim or perp?
Child kidnapping for real?
What the hell that Dark Elf is.
Days later.
Today was finally Hilda's return day.
Said afternoon, so I burned the spare time training with Blue Magic Tower Master grandma.
-Woong woong woong woong woong!
"N-Not seeing you... Mana in the Circle's grown...?"
Smiled small at grandma's twitching eyes.
"Scored some fortuitous encounters."
Shit-ton happened. Forgot odds and ends, merged energies too.
Grandma muttered vacant-faced.
"Monopolized all the world's encounters..."
"Huh?"
"...Nothing. Circle handling's plenty now."
Barely remember lessons, but next step already.
"Oh, good enough at this?"
"Huh, this? Output screams 2... nah, 3 Circle. Spinning brute-force... Body okay?"
Harder spin strains more, apparently.
No pain though.
"Yeah."
"...Good. Thanks for taking me as master."
Wasn't sucking up, but landed that way.
Grandma muttered, finger-sketched air.
-Sweek~
"Aigo, shame..."
Wall bookshelf melted to puddle on floor.
-Shwaaa~ Wheeek~
"That talent, magic-focused..."
Melted books slid tile-ward to grandma.
Grandma pooled water...
-Kkumeol kkumeol...
"Would've blown past me quick..."
Made clear-water altar pooling.
"Oh..."
Clapped natural as breathing.
-Clap clap clap clap
This is magic? Sword arts cool, magic's dreamy-beautiful.
Clapped mesmerized, grandma forehead-flicked me.
-Ttak!
"Quit it, punk!"
"Tch... So what's that?"
Grandma grinned lip-curling.
"Time for real-deal magic? Today's your Attribute!"
"Attribute!"
Jenin-style, fire wind etc.?
Yeah, magic lessons need this.
Nodded headshake hyped...
"Ah. But grandma's Water Magic pro? If..."
Other attribute pops? Fire maybe?
Class hiccups?
Grandma nodded all-knowing.
Spread hand...
-Hwaruruk!
"Huh? Fire magic?"
"Yup. Attribute check means your best-fit one. Others work fine too."
"Figured Blue Magic Tower Master Water Magic only."
Grandma paused, nodded convinced.
"...Right. Swordsman till lately. Ancient days yeah, but era evolved. Magic system's advanced, attribute-blind casting. Explaining needs history dump, so roll with it."
History study someday, but hate wasting magic time.
Nodded, grandma altar-pointed, small smile.
"Haha, still... Water Magic high affinity'd be nice. Teach full throttle... Tch! Nah! Whatever! Any result, full teach! Hand in."
Grandma'd nail it whatever.
Secure, dipped hand in altar...
-Boggle boggle boggle boggle...
Bubbles surged, engulfed to elbow.
Tickly, but chill-watched.
Altar water teabagged my hand, sucking color fast.
Color:...
"Blue!! Uhahaha!!! Nailed it! Kuhahaha!! Fated my disciple! Uhahaha!"
'Nice!'
Spot-on attribute, fist-pumped.
Water Magic fit, Blue Magic Tower Master teacher.
Jackpot encounter.
Grinning smug, altar bubbles raged, overflowing.
-Bubgle bubgle bubgle bubgle!!!
"Oh... Ooo! Th-This talent!"
"Th-Is good, right?"
"Hell yeah! Wahahaha! Genius!"
Grandma joy-overload.
Weirdly proud.
But...
-Bubgle! Puk! Puk puk!
Water gooped sticky, stew-boiling over.
"Oh... Ooo!! Insane! Wh-What!! Wasn't even me this bad?!"
"Really good?!!?"
"Not the point! Water... Water overflowing! First this watery dude!"
Wording off?
Glared, grandma just wild-eyed cackling.
"Uhahaha!! Yes! God drops effort-free jackpot! Yeah~ Life's gotta lucky day. Ah~ hahaha!!"
"Too much hype..."
"Hype? Hm? Anyway! Hiya! Itching bad. Hurry! Magic time..."
-Zizizik...
"???"
Weird noise, altar check...
"L-Lightning! Energy of Exorcism sacred vibe! History's 4th talent!"
Bubbling-sparking altar, grandma eyes flipped.
"Oh... Ooo god... Ooo..."
Repeated dumbstruck.
-Pajijijik! Bubgle! Puk... Puk puk puk! Bbadijijik!
"Hey so okay?!!!!"
"Ooo!!! Great Sage Murat!! Ilsen!!! Braksah!!! Watching?!!!"
"O-kay?!!!!"
"Here, sacred talent owner to purge evil, light world, born!"
Grandma staff-to-head, knelt.
"Please... Bless this kid's path..."
......
Beats me.
Good shit probs.
And.
-Pajijijik puk! Peoruk!! Bubgle!!!
"Fine probs..."
Doctor fish gnawing hand vibes?
Eyed overflowing altar, wry grin.
