My Mom Is My Guardian Deity - Chapter 82

"...Passed stage three?"

I asked in a dazed tone, wondering if I'd misheard. No way—just smashing one mannequin, and suddenly I'd cleared all the way to stage three at once?

"And young Hwang Jae-min has already achieved the curriculum's goal."

"What did I... oh."

I glanced down at my right arm, where mana had gathered, and my eyes widened.

Kiiiiing-!

A fierce blue current spun wildly, like a windmill caught in a whirlwind. What the hell was this? From afar, didn't my arm look like some kind of blender?

"Wh-what is this...?"

"That is the new form of mana that young Hwang Jae-min unconsciously perfected."

"A new mana form...?"

"Normally, mana is common knowledge as something that strengthens the target it's applied to or expands its range..."

Rebecca trailed off, slowly extending her index finger toward my right arm. The moment her finger touched the roughly swirling mana—

Shk-!

A chilling sound rang out as a sliver of flesh from her fingertip was sliced off. She stared indifferently at the tiny drop of blood beading on her finger and said,

"As you can see, the mana form young Hwang Jae-min invented can become an immense weapon in itself. It's what you'd call an all-in-one offense and defense."

"...I could've understood if you'd just explained it, but did you really have to show blood like that?"

"Wouldn't providing visual information along with words help with understanding much more?"

This woman... Well, thanks to the sanctuary's auto-healing system, the wound closed right up.

"In Messiah's case, she compressed mana that basically radiated in a 'plane' form into a 'line' form."

"Compressing into a line form... that must've made the mana's properties incredibly sharp. Like a blade."

"Indeed."

Imagining it was a bit scary. So Mom could just unleash her mana and sword aura would automatically spread out? What was she, a walking guillotine?

"Don't overuse it recklessly. You could end up shredding allies too if you're not careful."

"......"

If Mom was a walking guillotine, what was I? ...A walking blender?

Anyway, just like Rebecca warned, I'd have to use it cautiously.

'If I just blast out this blender-like mana, it'll cause a horrific bloodbath without distinguishing friend from foe.'

I manipulated my circuits to revert the ceaselessly spinning line of mana back to its basic form.

Kiiiiing-.

Click.

The rampaging mana flow quieted down, like someone hitting the power button on a blender.

'Good, I can control it.'

It would've been a real disaster if even I couldn't.

Rebecca nodded, watching me freely manipulate the mana form.

"Even 'one step ahead of the masters' doesn't do it justice. Your learning efficiency is like a sponge, young Hwang Jae-min."

"It's all thanks to Mom and your Spartan training, Rebecca."

"Stuff twice the maternal love in, and it'll smother your son, Mom."

Maybe the reason my unconscious mana form turned out blender-shaped was because I'd been shredded like one all this time? Hmm... yeah, that tracks.

As I pondered this reasonable suspicion, Rebecca bowed her head with a gesture of respect.

"Regardless, you've worked incredibly hard this past month. Young Hwang Jae-min more than deserves the shop's benefits."

"Of course."

Alright then. Time for the shop distribution I'd been waiting for. This was the moment that always made me happiest, my heart pounding with excitement.

Clearing two stages at once gave me 100 shop points. No need to agonize—with four stat types, just divide evenly: 25 each.

Results... let's see the results!

"Level's still stuck at 26..."

Stats were skyrocketing exponentially—what kind of phenomenon was this? Before entering the sanctuary, my average was in the 400s; now it was 600s, so...

"Efficiency-wise, it's like I've leveled up nearly twenty times just by coming here."

In just one month? Wow, the cost-performance is insane.

Wait a sec.

'Come to think of it, at this point, Choi Kwang-hyun's average stats should be early 600s.'

But excluding Vitality, all my stats were nearing 650. Meaning my average was mid-600s.

"...Did I just surpass Choi Kwang-hyun?"

Of course, I knew stats were just numbers. A player's true value came from physical prowess.

But comparing my past life—where I saw S-rank Choi Kwang-hyun as some otherworldly native—to now, I couldn't help feeling a surge of emotion.

'Don't stop. Keep climbing higher.'

My heart raced at the fact I was inching toward heights I'd never even dreamed of before. Renewing my resolve, I turned to Rebecca.

"What's the stage four curriculum?"

"Won't you take a break? You're progressing so fast we have some time buffer."

"I'm not even tired. No need to rest—let's start right away."

Acting all worried sadly while planning to grind me like crazy anyway—I knew it.

Stage four curriculum was finally honing Storm Slash.

I'd been eagerly awaiting this—I was thrilled.

-Thud.

As I stood in the arena's center, ten mannequins surrounded me. I gathered grand mana over the training longsword in my hand.

And...

Kwa-gagak-!!

Sword winds exploded from the blade's tip with ferocious momentum, shredding the mannequins scattered everywhere.

'Compared to before, the precision and power are definitely up.'

The first Storm Slash I'd used in the Association's cyber field was more like detonating a bomb than launching sword auras in all directions. The swirling sword winds were indiscriminate and messy.

But now, with my mana control incomparably improved, it was different. Not only the power, but I could now control exactly which directions to send the sword winds.

However...

I clicked my tongue, looking down at my hands trembling uncontrollably against my will.

'The aftermath after using the skill is still the same.'

It still felt like forcing on ill-fitting clothes—Storm Slash wasn't familiar yet.

Rebecca's solution was incredibly simple.

"There's no other way than repeated practice until the system recognizes your proficiency."

"Repeated practice..."

"Even if you lose the strength to hold your sword, keep trying to use the skill without rest."

"If the skill's original owner says so, then... fine."

No choice but to follow. What else could I do?

I forcibly moved my aspen-like trembling arms and once more condensed mana over the longsword.

I repeated it for a full 20 hours straight.

Like a boxer shadowboxing, I stood alone in the empty arena, firing Storm Slash over and over. After 14 hours, sensation in both arms genuinely faded—no exaggeration.

Well, still...

After practicing until my arms nearly fell off, proficiency rose by one.

"...On one hand, after 20 non-stop hours, just one feels underwhelming."

After finishing today's training and collapsing onto bed, I opened my eyes and muttered emptily.

Had my body reached a new realm after a month of hellish training? Now, even one hour of sleep refreshed me like eight hours, clearing my mind and erasing fatigue.

"Feels like I'm drifting further from humanity..."

Well, faster recovery and less fatigue was a good thing.

Sleepiness gone, I figured I'd step out for some night air. I shuffled outside in my disheveled state.

But,

"Hm?"

-Kkiwoong?

Stepping out the front door, I spotted Rebecca leaning against the wall, squatting and gazing at the night sky.

...Gift, why are you next to her?

Rebecca gently stroked Gift's head and asked,

"Can't sleep?"

"Not that—I've slept enough. Was just gonna take a walk."

But leaving alone like this felt awkward...

I squatted down too. With Gift between us, we gazed endlessly at the clear night sky, moon fixed like it was embedded there.

I spoke first.

"...The moon and stars are beautiful, huh."

"Yes. Truly beautiful."

"Right?"

"......"

"......"

Was the conversation dying here? What was this damn awkward silence?

Come to think of it, outside training, I hadn't really chatted much with Rebecca.

That must be why. Sat down impulsively, but no idea what to talk about.

This called for Mom. She'd surely watched this cringe vibe and toss out a topic...

"......"

Quiet. What gives? Normally she'd break the silence like, "Why so awkward, you two?" Bathroom break maybe?

Damn. Guess I had to handle this crisis(?) myself.

"Ah."

Got it. A good topic. No—a pretty important one, even by my standards.

"Rebecca. Mind if I ask you something?"

Her eyes, blankly fixed on the sky, turned toward me.

"Of course."

"Yeah, um. It's not anything big, but..."

Feeling abrupt, I scratched my cheek.

"That 'shop' thing you give me. What's its deal, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠really?"

"......"

"I mean, the more I think, the crazier it seems. A power that massively boosts someone else's stats? If people knew, they'd freak."

Should've asked sooner, but things were hectic and I forgot. Oh, and while I'm at it...

If it can raise stats as desired, why not dump mountains of points instead of measly tens?

Sure, probably a no, but worth asking.

A brief silence.

Then Rebecca's lips moved.

"I'm sorry, but I can't answer that."

"...Pardon?"

You said ask anything. But her resolve was firm—she even shook her head.

"I simply can't tell you about the shop's nature."

"Why not?"

"If I did—"

For an instant, an inexplicable glint passed through Rebecca's eyes. I didn't miss it.

"—it wouldn't sit well with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you, young Hwang Jae-min."

"......"

"That's why I can't. Sometimes, ignorance is bliss."

Wanting to end the topic, she stood first.

That only fueled my curiosity more—I wanted to pry relentlessly, but...

"See you when dawn breaks. Good night."

Gazing into her eyes rippling with strange emotion, my mouth wouldn't move as my heart wanted.

Ten days passed since then.

After the sword winds passed, I looked down at my hands. Muscles a bit sore, but no trembling.

I smiled faintly.

"This level..."

"You've reached a stage where you can use it effortlessly in real combat."

Rebecca stroked her chin, surveying the arena etched with clear sword scars.

"Stage four cleared. Congratulations, young Hwang Jae-min."

"Phew..."

Maybe it was my imagination, but stage four felt easier than the others.

"...Guest?"

No. Mom, don't burden me with a guest. I don't need it.

As I scrunched my face like a kid served bad food—

"......"

... Lord of the Magic Tower?

The name rang a bell...

"Hold on. No way."

Had to be. I wasn't mistaken.

The Lord of the Magic Tower was definitely...

"Dad's contracted constellation...?"