Chapter 162
Chapter 162
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 162
Chapter Title: The Mysterious Savior
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After drinking the medicine, the pain from using the magic circle eased just a little.
But because she had grown too reliant on it,
the effects were gradually diminishing.
'Should I look for a new medicine...
A new drug. Something stronger.
Come to think of it, wasn't the boss's little sister a renowned pharmacist in the world?'
"How the hell did you survive?"
"What are you talking about?"
Elrin asked in response to Jeong Kyung-won's words.
"No, you and that guy from underground, Baek Eun-seong, right? I heard no one can match him in a 1-on-1 fight."
Elrin briefly recalled what had happened in the underground today.
Baek Eun-seong. He really was incredibly strong up close.
She had used every ability at her disposal just to barely hold her own against him, but he never lost his composure until the end and even held back his final trump card.
For a sorcerer, mana and spell proficiency were important, of course, but ultimately, the most crucial thing was 'experience.'
That man was a veteran who had fought thousands of battles, while she was still a novice compared to him.
In a normal situation, she definitely would have died by his hand.
But she survived. No, she was saved.
It was such an extraordinary event that it was still hard to believe even now.
The mysterious man who suddenly appeared before her.
Incredibly, he was a survivor of the same clan as her.
One of the retainers of the clan, just like Sir Douglas.
And true to his title as retainer, he used the clan's secret technique, Rune Binding, to briefly overwhelm that Baek Eun-seong guy.
He seemed quite proficient not only in the clan's magic but also in other systems of spells.
How much effort would it take to acquire such abilities...
He was truly remarkable.
She wanted to meet him again, but when would that be?
She should have at least asked his name.
"...What's with that look?"
Elrin snapped back to reality at the sudden voice.
"What?"
"No, it's just the first time I've seen you smile. Did something good happen?"
Elrin froze for a moment at Jeong Kyung-won's words.
Me, smiling?
She didn't think she'd smiled even once since Sir Douglas passed away.
"W-When did I smile?"
"What are you talking about? I clearly saw you smiling just now."
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 164
Chapter Title: Breakfast Reunion
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10 a.m.
Atlantis's main power source, 'Poseidon,' was gone, but thanks to the auxiliary engines, the ship was still cruising steadily.
As morning arrived, the atmosphere had already returned to normal.
The passengers woke up with bright faces to greet the morning, and several facilities for their entertainment opened their doors.
However, facilities infused with Poseidon's mysteries were now off-limits.
For example, the mana recovery room or the mystical training hall...
It wasn't as lively as yesterday, but considering the incident just a few hours ago, the recovery was unbelievably swift.
Ding-
"Welcome."
I entered the shop for breakfast.
I acknowledged the staff's cheerful greetings and looked around. Even early in the morning, people were gathered in small groups, eating.
I ordered some food and sat at an empty table.
Ding-
"Welcome."
As I waited for my meal, a familiar face entered the shop.
"Sunbae?"
It was Choi Seo-yoon. Dressed casually since it was early, with a cap worn backward.
Seeing the messy strands of hair poking out from under her cap, she flinched in surprise and smoothed them down.
Then she plopped down right across from me.
I stared at her face wordlessly. She looked cheerful.
"When did you get here? We can eat together."
"Where's that friend you always hang out with?"
"Seon-ya? She said she's tired and sleeping."
I nodded instead of answering.
"But you woke up early? You looked so exhausted at dawn."
"10 a.m. isn't exactly early."
"Still, there was that commotion at dawn yesterday. Everyone else seems to be sleeping in because of it."
That made sense.
Choi Seo-yoon tapped the table with her fingers for a moment, then opened her mouth as if remembering something.
"Oh, are you still using the music box I gave you?"
"Yeah. Still using it."
For reference, I listened to it and slept with it again today.
It might seem trivial,
but its sleep-aid effect had a huge impact on the next day's condition.
The reason I woke up earlier than others today was partly thanks to the music box.
Maybe that's why Choi Seo-yoon did too.
She grinned bashfully at my response.
"Good. Ah! I'll go order!"
She shot up and disappeared somewhere. Left alone again, I leaned back in my chair when the restaurant door opened once more.
Ding-
"Welcome."
Three people entered. One of them was a face I'd seen too often lately—it felt familiar.
Elrin.
"What are you gonna eat?"
"Mana grilled shrimp for me."
"Then I'll have that too."
At that moment, her gaze turned toward me. Our eyes met for about 0.5 seconds. I smoothly averted my eyes to my smart student handbook.
Right now, with nothing to be proud of in front of her,
there was no reason to draw her attention.
"Hey, Elrin, what are you staring at?"
"...Nothing. Nothing at all."
"You were checking out a guy. He looks like a student. Your taste is kinda..."
"Shut up."
From overhearing their conversation, it seemed they brushed it off without suspicion.
She stared at my face because I resembled 'Kim Jin-woo'(?), probably.
"Must be those kids from the Sorcerer Academy who were talking about training."
"Hey, Jeong Kyung-won. Didn't you say you graduated from the Sorcerer Academy?"
"Yeah, true. I was pretty high up in my class."
"Oh. Does studying there make a difference?"
"It's less about learning specific things and more about gaining a variety of experiences."
"Experience, huh... Yeah, diverse experiences matter more than just studying. Unless you're a total magic newbie."
I eavesdropped in case they mentioned something about me.
Like talk about the rune clan.
Fortunately, nothing about me came up.
I averted my gaze, and when things quieted down, I glanced back at them.
At that instant, my eyes met Elrin's again. She was still looking at me with that strange gaze.
Her eyes were so deep it felt burdensome.
Just as awkwardness started to set in,
"Table 7, your mana grilled shrimp is ready."
The server's voice rang out.
I checked the number on the table.
Table 7. Me.
"Yes, coming."
I finished eating and stepped out of the restaurant. Mana grilled shrimp. The oceanic flavors suited my taste perfectly.
It was a dish they often served at the Sorcerer Academy, but eating it in a high-end place like this made it taste different. Especially the special sauce—it was incredibly sweet.
"Ah, that was good."
"Same here. Ah, but sunbae, why did you get it to go?"
Choi Seo-yoon looked at the takeout food in my hand and asked.
"This? To eat back at the dorm."
"Huh? Didn't you eat a ton already?"
She stared at me with wide eyes.
"We've still got some time before we reach land. Figured I'd rest and eat at the dorm until then."
"Ah."
Choi Seo-yoon nodded. She seemed like she had more to say but ultimately accepted it with a nod.
Ding-
Then the restaurant door behind us opened. People came out, spotted me, and stopped in their tracks.
"Oh? It's that student from earlier."
Jeong Kyung-won said.
Choi Seo-yoon looked back and forth between me and them, her face puzzled.
Then she recognized Jeong Kyung-won and Elrin and gaped.
Everyone on the ship knew they had fought the Jaun group.
And their identities as mercenaries had been somewhat revealed through the association's investigation.
Of course, their employer's identity remained unknown.
Jeong Kyung-won approached and scrutinized my face closely.
"Hmm. A face like this, huh? Gotta remember it."
"What is it?"
"No, just... one of my comrades seems interested in you... Ow!"
Elrin kicked Jeong Kyung-won between the legs.
He crumpled to the floor with a thud. It looked like she infused mana into that kick...
I winced vicariously, a chill running down my spine. The male comrade next to Jeong Kyung-won also looked terrified as he patted his back.
"Hey, hey, you okay?"
"Urgh..."
"If you don't wanna die, know your limits."
"Y-You crazy bitch..."
Ignoring Jeong Kyung-won's yell, Elrin turned to me.
"I looked because you resemble someone. Don't mind it."
"...Ah, okay."
"Your name."
"Pardon?"
"What's your name?"
This girl doesn't recognize the retainer and has quite the attitude. Of course, he's not the real one.
"Why do you want my name?"
"Just curious. I'm Elrin."
"Kim Seon-woo."
"Kim Seon-woo, huh..."
Elrin nodded. Then she kept scanning me up and down before turning her gaze to Jeong Kyung-won sprawled on the floor.
"What are you doing lying there like a beggar?"
"Hey, you... This is your fault!"
"Stop whining and get up."
"Argh! Damn it."
Jeong Kyung-won staggered to his feet.
The pain must have subsided after a bit.
"...We're going."
With that, Elrin disappeared somewhere.
"I figured out who that girl you were just looking at is."
After parting from Kim Seon-woo's group.
Elrin halted at Jeong Kyung-won's words.
"You know her?"
"Yeah. I thought she looked familiar, and it clicked."
"Who is it?"
Jeong Kyung-won smirked at Elrin's question.
"Whoa, you're really into her, huh? What's so great about her?"
"Wanna get kicked again?"
"Hey, there's a line between people. Don't cross it, okay?"
"Ugh, what are you even saying since earlier."
"...You really lack empathy."
"Shut up and answer. How do you know her?"
Then the comrade next to them chimed in knowingly.
"Ah~ You're talking about Choi Seo-yoon, right? She's famous. Even prettier in person."
"No, not her—the guy next to her."
"The guy? No idea."
"He's the one famous lately at the Sorcerer Academy for top exam scores."
"Ah~ I know who. Is that him? The one who was captain in the second-year Captain's Battle."
"Yeah, exactly."
As the two chatted animatedly, Elrin furrowed her brow.
"Who is he?"
"Wait."
Jeong Kyung-won pulled out his smartphone and searched the internet for 'Sorcerer Academy Kim Seon-woo,' then showed it to her.
"This guy."
In the video, Kim Seon-woo was facing off against Lee Seo-jun.
"His specialty is manifestation magic, but he uses reinforcement magic really aggressively."
Elrin watched the video.
Kim Seon-woo's opponent, Lee Seo-jun.
She usually had no interest in world affairs unless they involved Jaun, but even she knew of Lee Seo-jun, hailed as a once-in-a-generation genius.
Yet against such a Lee Seo-jun, he was holding his own evenly.
Considering their ages, it was a remarkably high-level fight.
But those movements. They felt familiar somehow.
Especially the way his body suddenly exploded forward in speed.
Isn't that 'Instant Acceleration'?
"...That's Ren's technique."
"Huh? You know Soon-shin too?"
"We worked together once."
Soon-shin Ren.
It was the sorcerer's patented technique from three years ago when they collaborated.
Elrin's expression turned serious.
Instant Acceleration.
Come to think of it, the retainer had used something similar...
The source of that incongruity she felt when seeing Kim Seon-woo up close earlier.