Chapter 212: The First Experiment (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 212: The First Experiment (4)
The flow of mana was displayed on the screen.
Even seeing it, Han Ju-hee could hardly believe it.
‘This is impossible….’
It was, simply put, an impossible result.
Mages draw magic circles.
Magic circles are the medium that helps convert mana into what we call magic.
They gather the surrounding mana, convert its properties, and complete its form.
The entire process required for ordinary mana to become what is called magic is contained within them.
But the magic Kim Do-jin had just shown her skipped this entire process.
His mana itself drew in the surrounding mana, expanding in size, transforming into the desired shape, and then naturally taking the form he willed.
‘It’s as if….’
Wasn’t it as if mana was an extension of his own body?
How could he so freely command the aloof mana that refused to budge unless one adhered to its strict laws?
‘No, that’s not it.’
If that were the case, the study of magic would never have developed this far.
After all, if anyone could control mana at will, it would be a completely useless field of study.
People had given many nicknames to Kim Do-jin, who had acquired his B-rank Hunter license at the age of nineteen.
Among them was the moniker ‘Magic Genius.’
This was because rumors circulated that his inexplicably fast casting speed and power would allow him to grow into a figure who would one day represent the world of magic.
‘This kid isn’t some magic genius.’
But that nickname didn’t suit him at all.
Because he didn’t possess a shred of magical aptitude.
‘To be precise, he has no need for it.’
When the surrounding mana obediently followed the lead of his own will-infused mana, why would he bother going through the trouble of drawing a magic circle?
If she were to give him a nickname, this one would be far more fitting.
‘Ruler of Mana.’
This was the only title that could so intuitively and majestically describe his ability.
She saved the results displayed on the monitor, then pressed a button, opening the glass tube where he lay.
“You can come out now. Any further confirmation seems meaningless….”
For any ordinary result, she would have repeated the same experiment several times, but this outcome was so shocking that she saw no point in doing so.
With a light jump, he exited the glass tube and looked at her.
“What should I do next?”
A confident smile and tone, as if to say she could experiment with him however she pleased.
At first, she thought it was baseless confidence, but she was wrong.
On the contrary, the basis for it was all too clear.
‘His talent must be the source of his confidence.’
With that level of talent, it was no wonder he was so self-assured.
Her brain, which had momentarily frozen from the shocking result, slowly began to wake up.
‘My hypothesis was more or less correct.’
It was just as she had predicted.
It was proven that, unlike other mages, he didn’t use magic circles to cast spells.
When she first had the thought, she had believed that if her hypothesis was true, by studying him, she could reach a state that could be called the pinnacle of magic.
But she was wrong.
The result she had just confirmed wasn't the pinnacle of magic.
‘It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it the evolution of magic.’
It wasn't just a matter of climbing another step, but a leap that changed the dimension itself.
Suppressing the excitement bubbling up from the rising heat within her, she spoke with a calm demeanor.
“You… are not a mage.”
To this, Kim Do-jin chuckled lightly and nodded.
“I suppose I am different from a mage by the usual standards.”
At that, she let out a dry laugh and replied.
“The word ‘different’ doesn’t even begin to cover it.”
“Hmm… Is that so?”
Kim Do-jin shook his head with a bright smile, as if he didn’t quite understand.
She found his expression utterly detestable.
It was so obvious he was acting, fully aware that he was a completely different breed from the likes of mages.
She pressed her temples and grimaced, her mind overloaded with unknown information she had never encountered before.
“It's overwhelming. I don't even know where to begin.”
She understood how he manifested his magic.
But she didn't know what kind of experiments to conduct to understand the principles behind it.
His entire ability was essentially treating mana like his own limbs. Was it even possible to learn anything more from that?
Despite her frustrated mind, her heart swelled with excitement.
‘If I could obtain the ability to control mana at will….’
Magic was a law, and a shackle.
If only she could be freed from the incredibly inconvenient processes one had to go through to convert and shape mana into the desired form.
She would be able to personally conduct the countless experiments that had been confined to the realm of thought, trapped within the framework of magic.
To do that, she needed it.
The active cooperation of that young student staring at her with a deep smile playing on his lips.
* * *
The corners of her lips trembled.
A storm of emotions raged in the eyes looking my way.
The greatest among them was, by far, elation.
It was clear she had glimpsed some immense hope in me.
Otherwise, she wouldn't be so shaken as to let her feelings show so plainly in her eyes.
With this, a small certainty formed.
That she now needed me.
That there was so much she could gain from me that she would have to grant even somewhat unreasonable requests.
And that our relationship had risen to an equal footing.
I spoke to her as she was lost deep in thought.
“We can just take it step by step. You know, like the saying, ‘A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.’”
At my generous-sounding tone, her suspicious gaze turned to me.
“What do you want out of this?”
That's Han Ju-hee for you.
She understands well that nothing in this world is free.
No one would offer their body as a test subject just to satisfy someone else's curiosity.
If such a person existed… it would be because they expected a corresponding price.
Just like me, right now.
“Naturally… a fitting price.”
A blatant demand for compensation.
At that, her slightly furrowed expression relaxed.
There's no such thing as a favor without a price. An explicit demand was probably more comfortable for her.
“If it's money, I'll give you whatever you want.”
Han Ju-hee said in a confident tone.
She must think I'm doing this for money.
But what to do.
“What I want isn't money.”
Money.
For her, it would be the easiest way to pay the price.
She was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, and her outstanding abilities must have earned her an enormous fortune.
Unlike me, who could only use my body to make money, she was a multi-talented person.
Having lost her easy means of payment, she asked me with a slightly displeased expression.
“If there's something else you want, name it.”
What I want.
The young Son Si-woo wanted Han Ju-hee.
He wanted to spend his life with her, the one who was so passionate that others treated her like an eccentric.
And now, having regained my youth once more, I…
“Hunter Han Ju-hee.”
Though the meaning behind the words may be worlds apart, I want you once again.
Confirming that her brow furrowed, I leisurely continued.
“To be more precise, so you don't misunderstand, I want your information.”
Her intensity subsided a notch.
But her furrowed brow showed no sign of smoothing out.
After a moment of thought, she parted her lips again.
“So… you want the information I possess?”
“No. I don't want the information Hunter Han Ju-hee has. I want to know about Hunter Han Ju-hee herself.”
Her expression grew even more bizarre.
The fact that I would volunteer for experiments just to learn about her must be difficult for her to comprehend within the bounds of common sense.
Most people would probably feel the same.
Anyone who didn't know my complicated circumstances would think the same, ten out of ten, a hundred out of a hundred times.
“…Are you messing with me right now?”
“Not at all. I've been completely serious from the very beginning.”
I can say with certainty that I have never once been dishonest with you in my life.
I faced you without a shred of shame under the heavens, and I lived my life believing you were the same.
But that faith has been shaken, so don't I need to find out?
What was in your heart, in your mind, while you lived with me all this time?
“Haaah….”
She pressed her temples with her thumb and forefinger.
It wasn't because she actually had a headache.
It was just a habit she had when faced with something complicated or difficult to handle.
To ease her complexity, I continued speaking.
“You don't have to think so hard about it. Hunter Han Ju-hee can conduct whatever experiments she wants, and in return, all you have to do is honestly answer my questions.”
Hearing my words, she shot me a sharp glare.
“Did someone put you up to this? To find out information about me?”
“No.”
It's understandable why she'd think that.
She's the S-rank Hunter in South Korea who makes the most public appearances, but despite that, less is known about her personal life than one might think.
“It's just personal curiosity. The information I hear from you won't leak out. We can even make a Blood Oath if you want.”
A Blood Oath.
It's one of the artifacts occasionally found in dungeons, possessing the terrifying effect of making all the blood in one's body dry up, leading to death, if the contents of the oath are broken.
Well, because of that, it's used when making oaths that absolutely must not be broken. But there are fewer on the market than you'd think, so they're hard to find and quite expensive.
Of course, Han Ju-hee would probably have a few.
That's why I brought it up.
“You get your experiments, I get my information. On the condition that there will be no falsehoods between us, and that the information obtained will never be disclosed to others… That sounds fair, don't you think?”
Her face clouded over with worry.
If my words weren't worth even a moment's consideration, she would have rejected them flat out.
But the fact that she started contemplating it instead… must mean my value is that high.
In that case, there's only one thing I can do here.
I have no choice but to raise the value she has placed on me even higher.
“Since you seem to be deliberating, let me add one more thing….”
With a completely relaxed demeanor, I played another card I held in my hand.
“I still have many secrets hidden away that would make Hunter Han Ju-hee drool if she knew them.”
It's not just about controlling mana at will.
My eyes can see mana without the aid of any machine.
If she were to learn this fact, I'm certain she would be engulfed in a shock similar to the one she's feeling now.
The moment I said that much, she pressed down on me with a chilling aura and opened her mouth.
“…Let's add one more clause to the oath.”
“Go on.”
“The right to remain silent in response to questions that are excessive compared to the information gained through the experiment.”
Her determined gaze seemed to say to me that if this couldn't be included in the oath, she would never agree.
Well then, what choice do I have?
“Let's do that.”
“Haaah….”
With a small sigh, she walked off somewhere.
She stopped in front of a bookshelf packed with countless magic tomes.
From a book she picked at random, she pulled out a single sheet of red paper.
That was the Blood Oath.
I never would have guessed she kept one tucked away in a bookshelf.
Han Ju-hee took the fountain pen from her suit jacket and began writing the clauses we had discussed on the oath.
Soon finished, she lightly pricked her thumb with the sharp nib of the fountain pen.
After pressing her blood-covered thumb firmly onto the bottom of the oath, she handed the pen to me.
“Your turn.”
I pricked my thumb with the slightly bloodied nib of the pen.
And then, I pressed it firmly next to her thumbprint on the oath.
A message appeared before my eyes.
[The Blood Oath is complete.]
[Failure to abide by the terms of the oath will result in death.]
The oath, acknowledged even by the System, was complete.
Her expression still looked troubled.
Even after completing the oath, she must be endlessly wondering if this was the right thing to do.
Well, it doesn't matter.
The oath is already done, and there's no way to reverse it.
So now, it's my turn.
“Since I helped with this experiment, I'd like to ask for one piece of information.”
An utterly cold gaze.
But she had no choice.
“…Ask.”
The moment had finally come.
The moment I could hear an honest answer from her.
The thing to keep in mind was that not just any question was allowed.
Today's experiment was relatively simple, so I couldn't get to the core of the matter.
So for today, I'll ask something light.
“I'd like to ask about a rumor that's been circulating online recently.”
“What is it?”
I'm curious.
What she thinks of her current relationship with me.
“Some netizens have been suggesting that Hunter Son Si-woo and Hunter Han Ju-hee are a show-window couple… Is that true?”
If I'm going to start, it has to be here.
Once she admits they're a show-window couple, I can start digging for more, one thing at a time.
“A show-window couple….”
Her gaze wavered violently before returning to normal, as if nothing had happened.
“That's right. The man I'm with now and I… are living in a way that fits the term ‘show-window couple.’”