Chapter 15: Say, How Old Are You This Year? (2)
Chapter 15: Say, How Old Are You This Year? (2)
One week later.
After taking a literal, well-deserved rest, I met my disciples again.
In the meantime, I did find some spare moments to break the limbs of about three people in the name of justice, but that’s not really important.
“Hello, Master!”
“Please take care of me… Senior.”
Receiving the greetings of my two disciples—who remained polar opposites—I rested my chin on my Hammer and stared at them blankly.
How should I teach these two? I’d transferred techniques to comrades before, but this was my first time having actual disciples. I did have experience raising a fledgling once, but that was a different story.
“Is he in a bad mood?”
“I think it’s because of me… because I’m so weak….”
I needed to get things moving before they misunderstood further. I’d start with the basics.
After organizing my thoughts, I lifted my chin from The Hammer and raised my voice.
“If you’re my disciples, don’t walk around with your heads hanging low. It lowers my reputation when my own students act like that. Hold your heads up high.”
Actually, I wasn’t even sure if I had a reputation left in this world.
“Y-Yes! Understood!”
Good. The voice was strong. Looking at her like this, she didn’t seem truly weak-hearted.
“I am Lee Ha-ram. From today, I will be the master who eats and sleeps alongside you. You’ve met me once, so you already know who I am.”
As I stepped closer, the two disciples straightened their backs and looked down at me with sparkling eyes.
Seriously, can’t I do something about my height? To think I’m in a position where I have to look up at my own disciples.
Telling myself there was nothing I could do about my appearance, I calmed my mind and continued.
“What I intend to teach you isn’t how to handle magic well or anything like that. It is purely the art of survival.”
These were techniques that were unnecessary in this era—jokes of skills that didn’t fit a time where even A-Rank Otherworldly Beings had become rare.
“How to face an enemy far more powerful than yourself, and how to survive, even if it’s shameful.”
“Isn’t that just a technique to get stronger?”
Curiosity piqued, Baek Si-hyun interrupted and raised her hand to ask a question.
If I were an authoritarian person, I might have scolded her, but I didn’t want to change her nature. I wanted her to grow up bright and energetic, never stained by the darkness.
“Skill and power follow naturally if you survive.”
I thought of the countless Heroes I’d known.
Heroes with endless talent who lost their futures due to a single moment of carelessness.
“No matter how much talent or power you have, if you die, that’s the end.”
“Then we just have to get stronger! Strong enough to never lose to anyone!”
“Baek Si-hyun, the O-Ranks you will eventually fight don’t care about such obvious logic. It wouldn’t matter even if you became strong enough to destroy the Earth with a single finger.”
Confusion clouded Baek Si-hyun’s face.
I suppose I should start with a basic explanation.
“How much do you know about O-Ranks?”
“They are extremely strong enemies!”
“Otherworldly Beings are ranked from F to A… but O-Rank refers to enemies for whom the measurement system is meaningless….”
Baek Si-hyun was completely off the mark, while Han A-bin’s answer was decent, even if she stuttered a bit from a lack of confidence.
However.
“You’re both wrong.”
“They aren’t strong?”
“What do you mean we’re wrong?”
Yes, it would be hard to understand.
“O-Ranks are self-contained entities that form their own worlds through their own internal cycle.”
“Huh?”
The two disciples asked in unison.
“I’m saying they aren’t designated as O-Rank simply because of raw strength. Though, in the old days, there was a tendency to hand out that designation a bit recklessly.”
Despite my explanation, the disciples only tilted their heads.
It was a natural reaction. It’s a concept that’s hard to grasp unless you’ve experienced it firsthand.
“Let me give you an example.”
What would be good?
A giant robot rising from The Sea?
A phoenix that turned the entire world into a sea of fire?
No. There was a high chance these kids would just interpret those as simple displays of power.
In that case….
“There was once an O-Rank Public Enemy known as The Mad Magical Girl.”
Gulp.
I heard the sound of them swallowing hard. Perhaps because they rarely heard about battles with O-Ranks, the disciples tensed up and pricked up their ears. Most records related to O-Ranks were censored, so if they had any interest at all, they wouldn’t want to miss this.
“She claimed the entire world needed to be happy, so she mixed drugs into the rain and covered the whole world in darkness.”
The Three Days of Happiness. A time when the world was filled not with sunlight, but with heavy rain pouring from dark clouds.
People went mad with joy, strangling the person next to them, eating until they died, or becoming vegetables unable to feel any stimulus due to the endless pleasure.
“The rank doesn’t exist anymore, but dozens of Heroes equivalent to A-Rank and S-Rank rushed at her. Countless weapons flew through the sky, and Heroes who had reached their respective peaks swung their weapons at her.”
The dark sky was lit up by tracer rounds. Countless anti-air guns fired.
Even if they couldn't deal damage, they fired to keep The Mad Magical Girl’s attention focused.
“With the dark clouds at her back, she flew through the sky, mocking us.”
The Mad Magical Girl, smiling brightly, saying everyone would be happy if they just followed her.
“Whether they could fly or not, every Hero leapt into the sky and poured out their attacks.”
So that even those who couldn't fly could jump between projectiles to attack her, countless projectiles blanketed the sky.
There were accidents where projectiles collided and exploded or misfired toward Heroes, but it was a strategy we employed because we could ignore explosions of that magnitude.
“No matter how powerful a Hero is after falling and accepting Otherworldly Power, we had dozens of such powerful Heroes on our side. Losing the power struggle, The Mad Magical Girl’s wings were broken, and she fell to the ground.”
I paused the story and looked at my disciples.
‘So, what happened next?’ They didn’t say it, but the atmosphere was thick with the question.
Not just Baek Si-hyun, but even Han A-bin clenched her fists, waiting for the rest of the story.
“What do you think happened next? In a situation where Self-Propelled Artillery shells were raining down and dozens of top-tier Heroes surrounded The Mad Magical Girl.”
“Obviously, it would have ended right there, right?”
“…Did The Mad Magical Girl have some hidden Great Magic?”
I wish it had been something like that.
“In that moment, humanity betrayed us.”
“What?”
The disciples’ voices merged into one.
It must be that hard to believe. This is why combat records are never made public; battles with O-Ranks are always like this.
“The shells that were falling toward The Mad Magical Girl started falling toward us instead, and the soldiers stood between us and her, blocking our path.”
The disciples’ mouths hung open in disbelief.
“It’s a simple story. The drugs mixed in the rain had a Mental Domination effect.”
Three days was more than enough for that poison to spread to all of humanity.
That was how humanity collapsed.
“Even if you didn't get hit by the rain, it soaked into the earth, and any human who came into contact with the rain infected others. The moment the rain started falling, it was already over.”
“Healing Heroes fired off detoxifications and magic dispels, and those with mental-type techniques tried to overwrite the commands, but the concentration was already beyond anything they could handle. Even the Heroes began to succumb to the Mental Domination.”
Even among the top-tier Heroes, those with weak minds were slowly eroded. Some knelt on the ground and covered their ears to protect their sanity, while others stabbed themselves in the stomach with their own weapons.
Even so, the end approached slowly.
The Mad Magical Girl’s laughter echoed, and bizarre, incomprehensible sentences seeped into our minds.
“There is an enemy in front of you that you can kill right now, but the people you are supposed to protect are blocking your way. What would you do in that situation?”
“….”
“….”
For two disciples who had only ever heard about the bright side of Heroes, this must be a shocking story. I felt I had made the right choice in telling it.
If I had picked an O-Rank designated for its strength, they wouldn't have truly felt the danger. Since The Mad Magical Girl’s power wasn't just about raw force, it was enough to make them realize the true peril of an O-Rank.
Well, the Black Marauder is pure physical force, so he’s an exception to this.
“That’s how it is. O-Ranks are vastly different from the Otherworldly Beings you’ve imagined. You never know what will happen, and no matter how strong a Hero is, you never know what will become of them.”
An immortal Hero who supposedly blocked all attacks was annihilated by a single Otherworld Banishment Magic.
A Hero of contradiction who supposedly pierced all defenses died after being pierced by his own spear.
A sea god who supposedly controlled the oceans was betrayed by the water and drowned.
A saintess who supposedly could revive the dead couldn't heal her own wounds and rotted away while screaming in pain.
That is what a battle with an O-Rank is like.
Nothing can be trusted, and all the strength and experience you’ve built up lose their meaning. The battlefield is instantly eroded by the Otherworld, physical laws are flipped, and common sense becomes a lie.
Eyes see sound.
Objects fall toward the sky.
The attacker is the one who gets hurt.
Everything possesses life.
People do not die.
The past becomes the future.
All of it. It’s just how it is.
“Then what happened after that? I’m sure The Mad Magical Girl was defeated and all the magic and drugs she spread were purified….”
“You were there, Master, so you defeated her, right?”
“Yeah. Despite her struggles, The Mad Magical Girl was struck down by a Hero, and humanity survived.”
“In that situation, how…?”
“I’ll tell you later.”
The Mad Magical Girl was eliminated.
Crushed by a massive Golden Hammer.
Along with the people around her.
The fallen Heroes and the soldiers who were merely being mind-controlled. They all equally became lumps of flesh. That was all there was to it.
* * *
The story of The Mad Magical Girl provided sufficient stimulation for my disciples.
Even though I didn't tell them to think about it, the two of them were deep in thought, their faces scrunched up.
What would they do if they were in the same situation? Whom would they abandon, and whom would they save? Did they even have a technique they could use in such a scenario?
It was a good direction. It’s important to consider such "what ifs" regularly, not just focus on raw power and technique.
With O-Ranks—no, even with A-Ranks—nothing ever goes as expected, leading to delayed responses when facing unexpected situations.
However, if you regularly think about the "what ifs" and solidify your own value judgments, your body will move before you have time to hesitate, reducing unnecessary delays.
Of course, that’s only possible if you have the skill to back it up.
“Baek Si-hyun. You keep thinking for a bit. Han A-bin is the urgent one.”
“Yes.”
Even the energetic Si-hyun had a serious expression, having understood how cruel a battle with an O-Rank could be.
Keep thinking and preparing, Si-hyun. Because a battle with an O-Rank is more horrific than the worst-case scenario you can imagine.
“Han A-bin. What do you think your problem is?”
“My basic abilities are too low.”
Han A-bin didn't shrink back at the sudden question. Had she also realized how rough the path she wanted to take was?
Or was she a slow-starter type whose mind had settled after hearing my words?
Well, I’d find out eventually.
“Right. Your basic abilities are too low. Your basic physical reinforcement isn't done properly, and the mana you can output is too weak.”
As I spoke, I swung my hammer and rested it on her shoulder.
“Senior?”
“Let’s fix that first.”
Thump.
“Kyaak!”
I pulled The Hammer, tripping her, and placed my palm on her back.
“Now. A villain has knocked you down and pinned you so you can’t move. Now, try to escape.”
“What do you mean?”
I pressed down on her back as she struggled to understand the situation.
“The pressure on your back will keep increasing, so get out before you die.”
“…What?”
It would be hard to understand through words alone. But since I had no intention of making her understand through words anyway, I continued my actions.
My weighted palm dug into her back, and the mat on the floor sank accordingly.
Creeeak. Snap.
The sound of a skeleton twisting reached my ears. It was commendable that she didn't scream, but at this rate….
“Your spine is going to snap. Hurry up.”
Realizing I was serious, terror filled her eyes. Only then did mana begin to flow through her entire body, reinforcing it.
Han A-bin struggled to escape with her slightly reinforced body, but.
“Clumsy.”
I clicked my tongue and added a bit more force, pinning her back into the mat.
“Ugh…!”
She scattered mana throughout her body and continued to struggle, but what I was looking for didn't appear.
Hmm. It should have appeared by now.
Is there not enough mana gathered? Or does she still not realize she’s about to die?
Just before my palm truly shattered her spine.
“Found it.”
Snap.
“AAAAAAAAAAAH!”
Along with the sound of something breaking, a loud scream escaped her lips.
You endured well, Han A-bin.
“Good. We’re done.”
“Wait, Master! A-bin, are you okay?”
Startled by the scream, Baek Si-hyun rushed over.
Baek Si-hyun reached out to support the injured Han A-bin, but.
“She’s fine, leave her alone.”
I swatted Baek Si-hyun’s hand away to prevent her from touching Han A-bin.
“Fine…?”
Baek Si-hyun looked at the collapsed Han A-bin as if doubting my words. Han A-bin was foaming at the mouth with her eyes rolled back.
Well, I suppose a person who’s fainted and foaming at the mouth doesn't exactly look "fine."
“…She won’t die.”
“Master, this is too much! How could you break someone’s spine?!”
“It’s not broken.”
“Huh?”
“Why would I break my own disciple’s back? Something else broke.”
“I don’t see anything else broken.”
“Her Magic Staff.”
Si-hyun’s expression turned into one that said, ‘What kind of nonsense is this?’ To be doubted by my disciple after only one day… as a master, it’s quite saddening.
“Every Magical Girl has a Magic Staff, right?”
“I don’t have one!”
“You do. Around your waist.”
Baek Si-hyun began to feel around her waist, looking completely baffled.
“There’s nothing but my spine.”
“It’s a conceptual thing. Of course you can’t feel it normally.”
A-bin should be the one hearing this, but since the one who actually needs the lecture is unconscious….
“…You explain it to A-bin later.”
“Yes!”
“Tell her that a Magic Staff is something a Magical Girl needs to use magic, but since she doesn't need it right now, I broke it.”
“Pardon?”
She’s good at answering "Yes, yes," but she doesn't understand a thing.
“I’m saying I broke it because it became unnecessary to waste mana on something that wasn't helping anyway.”
If a useless Magic Staff hasn't grown in four years, you have to break it and pull out a new one. What else can you do?