Chapter 16
Chapter 16
Chapter 16 Becoming the Strongest Me.
Tutorial year 42.
Regulating my body wasn't particularly difficult.
I had experienced explosive physical growth several times before, and this time simply had an unusually large surge. It would just take a bit more time, but the process itself was familiar.
Just because the surge was large didn't mean its essence had changed. All the countless efforts I had made to regulate, control, and build up my body had created who I am now.
Having my body optimized was a huge help too.
A body that had undergone complete transformation and become one with my world. Now, even the boundary between consciousness and unconsciousness had disappeared for me.
I no longer needed to think. I simply had to 'desire.'
That alone was enough for my body to manifest that desire in its optimal form. This was precisely the realm of Harmony.
I had only needed adaptation time due to the sense of alienation from the difference with my past self, but the moment I overcame that alienation, power control naturally followed.
And what changed upon reaching the realm of Harmony wasn't just that.
Just as a supreme martial artist opens their middle dantian to operate innate true qi and handle qi reinforcement, a martial artist of realm of harmony opens their upper dantian to manifest their 'inner self' externally through will.
A realm where a superhuman's will cuts through reality. The manifestation of the world that only those who have begun to transcend humanity possess.
My world, the Heaven-Shattering Flame Annihilation Heavenly Diagram.
The years I had lived, the efforts and bonds I had accumulated became flames that burned the order decreed by heaven, an endless hell of hell fire that devoured everything.
It was a world unique to me alone that burned away existing laws and created new order.
Of course, I couldn't fully unfold this world.
What could be manifested at the realm of hamonry level was merely a 'part' of the whole, and even that consumed so much mana that it couldn't be maintained for long.
"Tutorial Monster, Baal's Avatar."
But even that part was sufficient. The reason Baal's Avatar had been difficult to penetrate even at the supreme level when I had obtained qi reinforcement was because it 'dominated' the surrounding mana, maximizing the efficiency of its unified offense and defense.
THOOM. THOOM.
Its fists were still heavy and powerful. But when I twisted the 'law of domination' partially with the Heaven-Shattering Flame Annihilation Heavenly Diagram, my fist pierced through that gap.
THWACK! THWACK!
Eventually, after three minutes of counterattack, its head and torso were separated. Baal's Avatar, which had been the most powerful in the tutorial, now couldn't even last a hundred seconds.
"Certainly, maintaining it for long is difficult."
After burning Baal's Avatar with Hellfire, my mana was depleted. The manifested world, the Heaven-Shattering Flame Annihilation Heavenly Diagram, soon disappeared.
A mere three minutes.
Even now when I had reached the realm of hamonry and maintained qi reinforcement constantly, manifesting it for just over three minutes depleted my mana, meaning the fuel efficiency was ridiculously poor.
It wasn't a weapon I could easily draw.
It should be resolved when I climb the tower.
In the tower, the stat 20 restriction would disappear, so the total amount of mana itself would increase. However, I didn't intend to rely on that alone.
Increasing the total amount was important, but the key was optimization to reduce mana consumption. Just like when I first learned advanced martial arts, if I steadily refined it, an answer would eventually appear.
"Let's take this slowly..."
Now my body regulation was completely finished. This time it was my turn to experiment with Hellfire in earnest.
After filling my mana through breathing exercises, I summoned monsters in order starting from the weakest.
Low-grade monsters like goblins fainted the moment they were touched. Mid-grade monsters like trolls also endured briefly before fainting.
They disappeared without leaving even a trace.
Afterward, even high-grade monsters like wyverns couldn't endure and crumbled along with mental collapse.
The power is considerable, isn't it?
Of course, it didn't work on Baal's Avatar. Like a being lacking fear, it was immune to mental attacks. It simply burned slowly.
If there was one thing I gained, it was learning that I could extinguish the Hellfire whenever I wanted.
I'll need more samples.
"Estelle."
"What are you going to make me do now?"
As if she had finished showering and was enjoying tea time, Estelle in a gown sat at a table, holding coffee and looking at me.
"When you say it like that, it makes me sound like someone who only calls you when I need you."
"Isn't that the case?"
...Actually, that's right.
"Right. Sorry."
"Good that you know. So?"
She who had been drinking coffee snapped her fingers to change her gown into angel robes and organized the table and chairs into subspace.
"I'm testing Hellfire, but monsters alone aren't enough. I can't tell their reactions."
"Aha... so you want to try searing my body with Hellfire... is that it?"
Her blade-sharp gaze poked at my chest.
"...That's correct, ma'am."
I groveled to appease her. As if that sight was amusing, Estelle laughed and said,
"Well. There's nothing wrong with that. Give it a try."
"Thank you!"
I immediately used Hellfire on Estelle. But surprisingly, there was no change at all.
"Did you think something like that would work on an archangel like me?"
Estelle laughed cheekily.
"Mental-type attacks aren't even your specialty. Hellfire will probably only barely work on beings weaker than you, equal to you, or maybe one level above you. Wake up from your dream."
...As expected, she had agreed too easily. She had known from the beginning that it wouldn't work.
I turned off the Hellfire with a dejected expression.
"What's with that expression? Don't tell me you were expecting to see me frightened by some terrifying illusion?"
"...Was I caught?"
Testing Hellfire was one thing, but I also had a slight desire to see Estelle's 'true form.'
"Sigh... If that's the case, try it on your disciple. She's coming this way."
As Estelle said, Baek Ryeon, who had finished training, was running toward us.
"Master!"
My disciple who had reached the pinnacle in just one year and was already facing the wall of the supreme level, possessing extraordinary talent.
...It took me 10 years to surpass that realm.
After learning the Baek Ryeon Divine Art, she was growing as if she had sprouted wings. If she just had a trigger to weave together everything she had accumulated so far, she would surely overcome the wall soon.
I naturally caught Baek Ryeon as she threw herself into my arms.
"How long are you going to keep jumping like this? What if I can't catch you?"
She smiled brightly and hugged me tightly.
"There's no way Master would drop me, right?"
...An irrefutable statement.
Really, why are all the women around me so good with words?
If they attacked with sound arguments, I couldn't say anything, and I'd rather they came at me with agitation and fabrication.
"Yes, yes."
Well, either way, she's cute so it's fine.
I quietly stroked her head.
"By the way, what were you talking about?"
Baek Ryeon, who had been entrusting herself to my touch, asked with eyes full of curiosity.
"I gained an ability called Hellfire. It shows the opponent their most feared illusion, and while it was effective on monsters, I couldn't tell their exact reactions. So I experimented on Estelle, but the gap was too large so it didn't work at all."
At my words, Baek Ryeon thought for a moment, then carefully spoke.
"...Right now, you're troubled because you don't have anyone to experiment your power on, right?"
When I nodded, she soon spoke as if she had made up her mind.
"I want to be helpful to Master. I also don't like only receiving from Master anymore. So... how about experimenting on me?"
It was a sweet proposal.
Monsters had dull reactions, and Estelle was too strong for it to work.
If it were Baek Ryeon standing before the wall of the supreme level, I could get accurate results.
But I wasn't a crazy psychopath who would use my disciple as a test subject for research.
"I don't want to experiment to the point of making you suffer."
At that moment, Estelle beside me looked at me with an incredulous expression. That look clearly said:
-Then what was I?
...You're already a completed being in both mind and body. Are you the same as Ryeon?
When I answered Estelle with that look, she couldn't retort and sighed before turning her head away. It was Estelle's quiet declaration of defeat, characteristic of her strong pride.
It was the truth. Baek Ryeon was not yet complete.
Though she had grown strong on the outside, her inner self was still like fragile glass.
As time passed, her dependence on me grew greater, and if I disappeared, she might return to the unstable state where she could collapse at any time.
Over 20 years of accumulated pain and sorrow. Erasing all of that in just a few years was impossible from the start.
As if she had looked into my heart, Baek Ryeon smiled gently and said,
"I know what Master is thinking. You're worried I won't be able to endure it, right? Because I'm still weak and immature. You can't help but worry."
...She hit the nail on the head.
"Of course, I like such a kind Master. You always worry about me first and show consideration. But I'm not that weak. And I can't always receive Master's protection forever."
There is no eternal spring. A harsh winter will surely come.
I thought my role was to block that winter, but Baek Ryeon shook her head.
"If Master is by my side, I'm not afraid of anything. I also... want to become someone who can protect Master. Please let me grow stronger together by your side."
She says that even that winter can be overcome if we're together.
When she begs so earnestly, how could I refuse?
...I was still seeing you as a child.
Just as parents see their children as children no matter how grown they are, the relationship between master and disciple wasn't much different. I thought of her as a child.
But Baek Ryeon was no longer a fragile child who needed my protection. She was a martial artist, a person who wanted to face trials with her own feet.
"Alright. If that's how you think, let's try it once."
At my words, Baek Ryeon's eyes lit up as she asked back,
"Really?"
"Yes. But remember just two things. First, what you're seeing is just an 'illusion.' Second, I'm always by your side."
This was the minimum safety measure for Baek Ryeon.
From now on, this wasn't just a simple experiment, but a 'trial' for her growth.
Even if it looked dangerous, I wouldn't intervene immediately. I would watch to the end to see if she could overcome it herself.
"Yes."
"Sit in front and close your eyes. Hellfire might be hot. Protect your body with the energy of the Baek Ryeon Divine Art."
She quietly nodded, then sat in front of me and drew up her mana. Having enveloped her entire body with cold energy, she bowed her head as if ready.
I placed the dark red flame that bloomed on my hand onto her body.
At that moment, Baek Ryeon's vision collapsed.
Tears wouldn't stop flowing from her eyes. She clenched her teeth until blood flowed, and her whole body was trembling.
Through that reaction, I could tell.
She was now facing the darkness deep in her heart, what she feared most.
I wanted to withdraw the Hellfire immediately but held back.
She wouldn't want that. Now was the time to simply trust and wait.
The flower called Baek Ryeon would overcome this trial and bloom even more brilliantly.
*
Sitting in place with her eyes closed, Baek Ryeon had covered her entire body with the energy of the Baek Ryeon Divine Art.
She roughly guessed what illusion she would see.
For her who had gained the faith called Han Yeong-min, there were only a few things that could evoke fearful emotions.
Him disliking her.
If Master hated me, my heart would feel torn.
Being separated from his side.
If Master left me, I would become endlessly empty.
But in reality, what she feared most wasn't those things.
Baek Ryeon would be fine even if he disliked her.
Because I can make him like me again.
She would be fine even if he left.
Because I can go find him again.
As long as he was alive, there would always be opportunities.
However, the moment the Hellfire touched her body, the worst imagination hidden deepest in her heart unfolded before her eyes.
"Ryeon-ah. Run away. You must... survive. By any means necessary. Use anything you can... live. Do you understand? This is... my final teaching."
CRACK—!
Han Yeong-min died.
The reliable pillar who had always protected her side. His head shattered to pieces before her eyes.
The person who was her master, her god, her love, her everything, threw away his life to protect her.
Of course, this wasn't reality.
She knew this was all an illusion, and that the possibility of such a thing actually happening was almost nonexistent.
But even so, Baek Ryeon absolutely couldn't stop her tears.
Blood flowed from her lips where she had bitten them, and her whole body trembled.
She knew. This illusion was the substance of the darkness she feared most.
Gathering cold energy as if coughing up blood to create a spear, she rushed at the being that had killed her master.
But there was no way the current her could defeat a being that even her master couldn't overcome. Without even achieving revenge, she simply fell miserably.
Her arms broke, her legs snapped, and her body was slammed to the ground. But all that pain was nothing.
That thing was defiling Han Yeong-min's corpse right before her eyes.
As if it wouldn't show even the minimum respect.
Baek Ryeon was in pain.
She was in so much pain.
Not her body, but her heart hurt more.
Her chest wasn't being torn apart or burning up.
The pain of being ripped to shreds.
The helplessness of being unable to do anything before that being that insulted her everything came as an even deeper despair.
...I'm still weak.
Han Yeong-min was her life.
She had to just watch that life being defiled, unable to do anything.
This couldn't continue.
The boundary between illusion and reality was meaningless.
Because she couldn't deny the possibility that this could become reality someday.
What if something like this really happens? If Master dies because I'm weak, because I'm lacking...? I... could never forgive myself.
She had to become strong.
Because something like this should absolutely never happen again.
At that moment, Baek Ryeon's obsession pushed away the despair.
I have to protect him.
If it were ordinary emotion, it couldn't have pushed away this despair.
But her driving force was the belief to 'protect Han Yeong-min.'
That was already no different from a major premise of life within her.
An emotion that couldn't be erased or dimmed.
All those emotions fused into one to fill the microcosm in her dantian, finally becoming one giant moon that rose.
The cold energy that surged from her dantian opened the path toward her heart.
The moment her heart stopped, that cold energy spread through all the blood vessels in her body.
The moment when a withering flower bloomed brilliantly again.
Innate earth energy naturally permeated her body.
A completely new power, on a different dimension from before.
It was the moment she broke through the supreme realm with emotion alone.
And with that power, she shattered the terrible illusion that had bound her.
Beyond the shattered illusion, Han Yeong-min stood.
Looking at her with the same kind eyes as always,
quietly extending his hand.
Such a warm touch.
There was no mistake. That was the right hand.
Feeling that warmth, Baek Ryeon could no longer suppress her emotions.
She embraced him and shed tears.
Gripping his collar tightly as if she would never let go again.
Now I finally know. What I want to do.
The moment she faced him, alive and well, before her eyes, the path ahead became clear.
For you who protected me when I was weakest, I will become the strongest me and protect you.
I will protect you, my everything, with everything I have.
Baek Ryeon vowed deep in her heart.