Chapter 166
Chapter 166
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 166
Chapter Title: The Eunwol Family's Barrier
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"So that barrier really was made by the family head."
"Yeah, I designed it. My granddaughter owed that guy her life, after all. And well, there were a few other debts besides that."
"That guy?"
"Jin Cheon-woo."
Lee Seo-jun's face lit up with surprise. Then he glanced cautiously at me.
It was the conversation flow I'd expected, so I didn't act shocked. Keeping a calm expression, I met Lee Seo-jun's gaze and nodded.
"I'd like to hear what kind of debts they were."
"No thanks. I'm not really in the mood to talk about him."
Eun Hye-su replied in a disinterested tone.
"Anyway, that barrier is something special. You won't break through it just by learning protection magic for a few days. And with the mysteries woven into it, even a nation couldn't dispel it."
Lee Seo-jun's expression darkened.
"Well, with your talent, if you trained under the Eunwol Family for ten years—no, five—you could probably pass it on your own. But I already know you're not the type to stick around here for five years of instruction."
As Lee Seo-jun sank into deep thought, Eun Hye-su added one more thing.
"There is a special method that could drastically shorten the time, though."
"What method is that?"
Eun Hye-su didn't answer and turned her gaze to me instead.
"But did you come here to learn protection magic too?"
"Yes."
"I'll take Lee Seo-jun since he has a debt to pay, but not you."
"Can't I just become a formal disciple and learn protection magic?"
"Have you ever seen such a cheeky thief? Just learn protection magic and run?"
Even as I said it, it felt a bit shameless, so I chuckled.
"Your skills are impressive, so if you want to become a formal disciple, I'll accept you. But you can't just learn protection magic and bolt."
That's when Lee Seo-jun stepped in.
"He's my friend. How can you say no—"
"No."
Eun Hye-su cut him off firmly.
"Hoo..."
I let out a sigh.
The Eunwol Family's unique protection magic was essential for future events, even without Jin Cheon-woo's school barrier.
I could spend points to acquire ordinary protection magic, but the kind Eun Hye-su was talking about was special.
It was the Eunwol Family's secret technique, which would cost 100,000 points.
If she was going to be that firm, I had no choice.
I hadn't wanted to use this method yet.
"I know the cure for Mystic Fever."
"...What? What did you just say?"
Eun Hye-su stared at me in shock. Soon, her surprise turned to anger.
I felt a thick killing intent, but I continued calmly.
"I can cure your granddaughter's illness."
Mystic Fever.
It was the disease caused when untamed mysteries settled into a human body.
Those afflicted would suffer extreme fever and excruciating pain at times.
And Eun Seol-ah, the granddaughter of the Eunwol Family head, was suffering from it.
For reference, her illness would be cured during next year's Special Class episode.
"How did you know Seol-ah was sick?"
"From her hair color. That faint silver hair emanating mysteries is the hallmark of Mystic Fever."
"...I see. You must have seen Seol-ah on the way here."
Eun Hye-su nodded as if convinced.
"But we already know the cure for Mystic Fever. We just can't obtain the materials."
"I can get the materials."
"How?"
"That's a trade secret."
Eun Hye-su clamped her mouth shut before speaking to me.
"...Can you really cure Mystic Fever?"
"Yes. I've studied mysteries extensively. And I'm top of the theory rankings at the Sorcerer Academy."
Her gaze shifted to Lee Seo-jun. He was glancing back and forth between us, struggling to keep up with the sudden shift in atmosphere.
Then, pulling himself together, he spoke to Eun Hye-su.
"You can trust what Seon-woo says."
"It's hard to believe, but seeing how he spotted Mystic Fever at a glance makes me want to. Even after all those quacks fooled us."
Eun Hye-su gave a wistful smile.
"You can believe me."
"Fine. I'll trust you. If you cure Seol-ah's Mystic Fever, the Eunwol Family will consider you our benefactor and support you unconditionally from now on. But if you're lying, you'll pay for it."
Eun Hye-su said to me in a chilling voice.
"How much time do you need?"
"It's late today, so from tomorrow—Saturday through Sunday. Give me two days. And lend me your granddaughter for those two days."
"Two days? Fine. Seol-ah! Come in!"
"Y-Yes!"
At that moment, Eun Seol-ah, who had been eavesdropping behind the door, entered the room with a startled voice.
She glanced shyly at me and Lee Seo-jun before bowing deeply.
"Seol-ah is very shy. Bear with it. And as you can see, there aren't many men in the family."
Lee Seo-jun and I nodded.
"Seol-ah, show our precious guests to their rooms."
"Yes, Grandmother."
We followed Eun Seol-ah down a long hallway.
She kept glancing back at us timidly.
"You're Lee Seo-jun and Kim Seon-woo, right?"
Eun Seol-ah said to us, as if mustering great courage.
"Yes, that's us."
"I've seen you online. They say you're amazing..."
Lee Seo-jun gave an awkward smile at her words.
"We're not that amazing."
"I'm entering the Sorcerer Academy next year too. Grandmother opposed it because of my illness, but I really wanted to go, so I studied hard and took the exam."
"Oh, really? Guess you'll be our junior then."
Eun Seol-ah bowed her head again as Lee Seo-jun smiled.
"...Yes."
The conversation lapsed again, and we walked the long hallway for about three minutes.
We arrived in front of a room.
"Rest here. Let me know if you need anything. Oh, and have you eaten?"
"Yes, we've already had dinner."
Eun Seol-ah nodded at Lee Seo-jun's words.
Then she turned to me.
"Um... Kim Seon-woo? Can you really cure Mystic Fever? My mother couldn't cure it and passed away."
I nodded instead of answering.
"...I understand. Then rest well."
With that, Eun Seol-ah vanished somewhere.
Only Lee Seo-jun and I remained in the room. He looked around before speaking to me.
"Feels like we've come to a fancy countryside mansion."
"Yeah. It's really nice."
I replied while surveying the surroundings.
"Looking for something?"
"Wondering if there's a bed. Can't sleep comfortably without one."
"You slept on the floor in that last dungeon just fine."
"That was unavoidable circumstances." Then, as if remembering something, Lee Seo-jun continued.
"Oh, right. And I have something to tell you."
"What?"
Lee Seo-jun opened his mouth in a serious tone at my question.
"Earlier, Jin Cheon-woo's name came up. The truth is, he's connected to my birth."
"Is that so?"
"Why's your reaction like that? Not surprised?"
"No, your talent is so exceptional that it makes sense to me."
"...Still, that's too bland a reaction. Anyway, I wasn't going to say anything, but I figured I could trust you, Kim Seon-woo."
I smirked at Lee Seo-jun's words.
"Oh, and can you really cure that Mystic Fever thing?"
"Dunno. Have to try. But you'll have to help."
"What? You said yes without being sure?"
Lee Seo-jun stared at me in disbelief. I replied confidently to him.
"Yeah. It's a bit risky, but worth a shot."
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 168
Chapter Title: Mystic Fever's True Cause
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Early morning.
Lee Seo-jun and I were eating breakfast in the room.
It was a traditional Korean meal.
Rice, fish, vegetables, and more—all perfectly balanced and just to my taste.
"So what's the plan for today? You're treating the granddaughter's illness, right?"
Lee Seo-jun took a sip of soup and asked me.
"First, I need to figure out the exact cause of her Mystic Fever."
"The cause? You need to know that too?"
Lee Seo-jun looked at me with puzzled eyes.
"Yeah. It's complicated to explain. I'll go over it step by step later."
Too much hassle to detail it now.
Lee Seo-jun nodded at my words and resumed eating.
His rice bowl was piled like a mountain, but it was nearly empty already.
Amazing every time I see it.
How does he eat that much and keep those slim muscles?
"You eat a ton."
"Gotta fuel up."
As I turned my attention away from Lee Seo-jun and back to my meal.
"Is the food to your liking?"
A pleasant voice came from the door. Turning, I saw Eun Seol-ah standing there with a faint smile.
Yesterday she was so shy and awkward, but today her expression seemed more natural.
Well, her ears were slightly flushed, so maybe she was forcing it.
"Yes. It's so good I've almost finished already."
Lee Seo-jun replied, showing his nearly empty rice bowl. Eun Seol-ah gave a small laugh.
"Glad it suits you. Oh, I forgot to introduce myself yesterday. I'm Eun Seol-ah."
Eun Seol-ah bowed politely.
Her every movement exuded grace, likely from Eun Hye-su's strict etiquette training.
At the sudden introduction, Lee Seo-jun greeted her back.
"I'm Lee Seo-jun."
He glanced at me as if to say, aren't you going to introduce yourself? With no choice, I did too.
"...Kim Seon-woo."
Eun Seol-ah smiled faintly at my greeting and spoke.
"Feel free to drop the formalities. You'll both be my seniors next year anyway."
"Nah, you haven't enrolled yet."
"It's really fine."
Lee Seo-jun hesitated at her words before nodding.
"Alright, then. Casual it is."
"Yes! Go ahead."
Eun Seol-ah replied energetically.
"So, what brings you here?"
"Oh, Grandmother wants to see you. She said to come after breakfast."
"The family head?"
"Yes. She wants to discuss my illness..."
"Mm. Tell her we'll head over after eating. That cool?"
Lee Seo-jun glanced at me as he said it.
"Sure."
Eun Seol-ah nodded at my words.
"Got it. I'll let her know. Enjoy the rest of your meal."
She bowed to us again and disappeared. I picked up my chopsticks.
"Let's finish up."
"Yeah."
After eating, Lee Seo-jun and I headed straight to the family head's room.
There we saw Eun Hye-su and Eun Seol-ah.
Eun Hye-su was half-reclining on her bed in a relaxed posture, while Eun Seol-ah sat demurely beside her, chatting.
Eun Hye-su's youthful face made them look more like close mother and daughter than grandmother and granddaughter.
Eun Seol-ah stood up in surprise as we entered.
Eun Hye-su stared at us silently before speaking.
"I heard the food was good. No other inconveniences?"
"No, we rested very comfortably."
"Good."
Eun Hye-su adjusted her half-reclining position.
"I called you here because my feelings have changed."
"Changed?"
"Yes. Yesterday, with my granddaughter's illness brought up, I got emotional. Letting myself be swayed by some kid not even of age."
Eun Hye-su met my eyes directly. Strong distrust burned in her gaze.
"...So you can't believe it now?"
"Exactly. Slept on it, head cleared, and my thoughts shifted. Accepting a loan of my granddaughter based on some baseless promise to cure her? Ridiculous."
This wasn't going well.
Sure enough, things had gone too smoothly yesterday, leaving me uneasy. The veteran was a veteran.
No choice then.
Time to persuade with plausible words.
"I heard something interesting from your granddaughter yesterday."
Eun Hye-su looked at me with puzzled eyes at my sudden words. Eun Seol-ah beside her did the same.
"What?"
"That her mother died from 'Mystic Fever.'"
Eun Hye-su clamped her mouth shut before replying.
"Yes, my daughter died of Mystic Fever. So?"
"Diseases passing down genetically is common. But not Mystic Fever."
"What are you getting at?"
I don't know either.
I'm just making it up on the spot to sound convincing.
"Mystic Fever occurs when 'mysteries' touch human blood."
"I know that."
"And Mystic Fever isn't contagious. Nor hereditary. No cases like that so far."
"...Yes. That's true too."