Chapter 213
Chapter 213
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 214
Chapter Title: After the Disease Beast's Subjugation
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Right after the Disease Beast was subjugated.
Jaun's group stared at the scene before them, expressing their satisfaction.
“Phew. Mission accomplished at last.”
“Good work. By the way, every time I use this Grand Magic Purifier Cannon, I can't help but think it's ridiculously powerful.”
Baek Eun-seong said as he patted the cannon lying on the ground.
“But Bert. Is this mission really over now?”
“Yeah. Subjugating the Disease Beast—that's our only task.”
“Hmm. Why on earth did That Person leave us this mission? And fifteen years ago, no less.”
Baek Eun-seong asked, his voice laced with doubt.
“Who knows. But since he foresaw something like this happening, maybe he received a prophecy somewhere?”
“......A prophecy.”
As Jaun's group discussed today's mission,
Jin, who had been quietly observing, spoke up.
“Isn't that guy over there Kim Sun-woo?”
At Jin's words, everyone's gazes turned to Kim Sun-woo, who was sitting alone on the ground.
“Yeah. His performance today was no joke.”
Natasha said with admiration.
“......I think that guy used Circle Reversal earlier.”
“Oh? You're right! When I saw it, it reminded me of that monster old man from fourteen years ago, and I got chills.”
At Ska's words, everyone nodded with grim expressions.
Fourteen years ago.
Back when Jaun's infamy shook the entire world.
When the Wizard Association failed to stop the ongoing terrorist attacks, the strongest wizard, Chairman Kim Jin-cheol, had appeared alone before Jaun.
Jaun had been arrogant back then.
At that time, Jaun was armed with countless arcana stolen from around the world, and by their side stood his disciple, 'That Person,' known to be as strong as Chairman Kim Jin-cheol himself.
So naturally, Jaun believed they would win.
But ten minutes into the battle.
They were thoroughly defeated.
No—utterly annihilated.
He deflected all the spells from over twenty S-Rank and higher wizards using fifty-six simultaneous Circle Reversals, without casting a single offensive spell himself. He annihilated Jaun solely by reflecting their attacks.
Even when 'That Person' arrived late to face Chairman Kim Jin-cheol, the outcome didn't change much.
After a thirty-minute fierce battle, That Person ultimately lost.
In the aftermath, Jaun lost everything.
Their leader, their arcana, and their future.
They scattered to evade the Association's pursuit, and it took over thirteen years for the members to reunite.
“He probably learned it from Choi Il-hyun. I heard Choi Il-hyun is his personal instructor at school.”
“......It's only been five months since personal training started, and he can already use it like that in such a short time?”
Baek Eun-seong turned to Kim Sun-woo with wide eyes in surprise.
“......A genius—no, a monster. At this level, isn't he beyond even Lee Seo-jun?”
“It could be a fluke. Looked like he timed it just right.”
“But timing it perfectly isn't easy.”
“Enough. Let's head back.”
“Yeah. This isn't the time. The Association will swarm here soon.”
That was when Jaun's group was about to leave.
One person blocked their path.
A face so familiar it was tiresome, one they never wanted to see again.
It was Yoo A-yeon.
“Oh my, if it isn't our stalker, the Fire Witch. Long time no see?”
Yoo A-yeon didn't respond to Bert's words and simply extended her hand toward them.
“Hand over the Disease Arcana.”
“Ah.”
Bert smirked and pulled a red hunk of meat from his pocket.
It wriggled as if it were an organ from a living creature.
“This?”
“Yes, that.”
“How did you know we had it? Fine. It's useless to us alone anyway.”
Bert infused magic power laced with electricity into the red mass and tossed it to Yoo A-yeon.
Pew—!
Yoo A-yeon swiftly swung her hand and caught the hunk of meat.
A normal person would have had their hand—or part of their body—blown off by the magic before they could even grip it, but not her, the top-tier wizard known as the Fire Witch.
Yoo A-yeon looked down at the Disease Arcana.
Thump, thump. It pulsed like a living thing.
She wondered if it was truly an arcana, but the faint arcane energy emanating from it confirmed it.
Yoo A-yeon glanced at them briefly, then turned away.
“If we meet again, I'll really kill you.”
“Scary~ We could kill you right now.”
“Try it if you want to die. The Association's reinforcements will arrive soon. Think you can handle them?”
“Tch. Threats don't work on her.”
Bert clicked his tongue and vanished with his comrades.
Yoo A-yeon trudged back to the site where the battle had taken place.
She saw people who had been infected with the black plague from contact with the Disease Beast's blood during the fight. They lay on the ground in agony, moaning.
She looked at them with pity, then spotted a man sitting alone in the distance.
The student who had shone brighter than anyone today, at just nineteen years old.
Kim Sun-woo.
Despite his brilliant performance, he sat with a serious expression, lost in thought.
What could he be thinking? He really sparked all sorts of curiosities.
Yoo A-yeon organized her thoughts and infused magic into her communication magic tool before speaking.
“I've secured the final arcana.”
Moments later, three people approached her. Jeong Je-won, among them, smiled as he spoke.
“Now we have all four.”
Each pulled out their Disease Arcana.
When the hunks of meat were brought together, they stuck like magnets and transformed into a throbbing, living heart.
“Ooh. Looks like a heart.”
“It's not just like one—it is a heart.”
Jeong Je-won muttered.
“......Wait, is this the Disease Beast's heart? The magic power feels almost identical to the Beast's.”
Everyone's faces filled with shock at his words.
The arcana was the Disease Beast's heart? It was hard to comprehend.
“......Does that mean disaster-class beasts are a kind of living arcana?”
［Nepal's Disaster Division has announced the successful subjugation of the 'Disease Beast.'］
［Disaster Division Chief Shakiya reported that they secured and destroyed the Disease Arcana, and the plague and land contamination caused by the Disease Beast have completely vanished.］
［The subjugation operation took place in Tebella, resulting in seven civilian and five wizard casualties.］
［Special rewards will be given to 'Blade of Dawn,' as well as students 'Lee Seo-jun' and 'Kim Sun-woo' from the Korean Wizard Academy, for their major contributions to the operation.］
“......What are you doing?”
The next morning.
As I read the internet news in front of the Nepalese government building, Lee Seo-jun approached me.
“Reading the article. It features you and me.”
When I showed him the photo in the article, Lee Seo-jun's expression soured.
“I was basically carried out by you. But the article makes it sound like we did the same level of work.”
“Why worry about that? And you already get so much attention.”
At my words, Lee Seo-jun gave a small smile.
“But Sun-woo, you ultimately perfected Circle Reversal.”
Perfected.
It was embarrassing to call it perfected, but it was fair to say it could now activate properly depending on the timing.
Too lazy to explain in detail, I just shrugged.
“Ah! Sorry. Have you been waiting long?”
The Disaster Division door opened, and Shakiya approached with a smile.
“Nepal's heroes! The government has decided to raise both of your rewards.”
“Oh. Really?”
Lee Seo-jun's face lit up.
“Yes! Last time, you mentioned wanting something exchangeable for the French Museum's Dreamcatcher. So we're providing the Mantra Ritual Wand, a superior relic with the same effect.”
“Oh......”
This was a bit unexpected.
Now I wouldn't have to go to France and haggle tediously.
“The wand will arrive soon. Ah! Here it comes.”
Shakiya pointed down the hall, and a man appeared carrying a long staff.
I soon received the staff.
It was a standard staff form, with a round object engraved with mantra patterns attached to the top.
［Mantra Wand (Relic)］
Classification: Wand
Description: A staff used in various rituals.
Its effects weren't much different from the Dreamcatcher.
The advantage was that it could be used in a wider variety of rituals than the limited-range Dreamcatcher. Quite satisfactory.
“This should do it. Thank you.”
“Glad you're pleased. Haha. Ah! And as Nepal's state guests, please visit anytime.”
“Sure.”
With all the formalities done, we left the Nepalese government building.
As we stepped outside, familiar faces came into view.
Wizards from Blade of Dawn.
Jeong Je-won approached with a smile.
“You kids did great.”
It seemed they came just to greet us.
“Ah, yes. You too.”
When Lee Seo-jun spoke, Jeong Je-won chuckled.
“You're heading to third year, right? When does school start?”
“Next Monday, three days from now.”
At Lee Seo-jun's words, I flinched.
Next Monday already. Time had flown.
“Really? Third year has lots of field training, so you'll get tons of attention out there.”
Jeong Je-won grinned and poked my side.
“Yeah......”
“If you ever visit during field training, contact us anytime. You're always welcome.”
“We'd love that.”
Lee Seo-jun replied brightly.
As the two conversed,
Yoo A-yeon handed me something.
A business card with her contact info.
“Contact me here tomorrow. We have things to discuss, just us?”
I nodded and took the card. Simple design, just like her.
“Ah, and......”
Yoo A-yeon trailed off.
“......Th-thanks.”
As I checked the card, her sudden gratitude made me look up.
Yoo A-yeon avoided my gaze, arms crossed.
“......Thanks for what?”
“Just...... various things. Feels like you helped in a lot of ways.”
“To summon a soul with necromancy, you need something connected to the soul you wish to call, from their lifetime.”
In Jin Cheon-woo's hidden hideout in the back mountain of the Korean Wizard Academy.
Lee Seo-jun was reading Jin Cheon-woo's research journal.
“Then, place it in a vessel for the soul and infuse magic power into a ritual staff.”
Lee Seo-jun looked up from the journal and turned to me.
“First, we need something related to Jin Cheon-woo. Will my blood work?”
“If you're connected to him, sure.”
“......Hmm. Good. Let's do it now.”
We gathered the materials needed for the necromancy ritual.
First, 'Lee Seo-jun's blood,' connected to Jin Cheon-woo.
Lee Seo-jun cut his fingertip with a knife and let drops fall into the 'Soul Vessel Box.'
Then he added the pre-prepared 'Soul Dust,' 'Ritual Incense,' and 'Illusion Mirror' around the box.
Finally, he infused magic into the 'Mantra Wand' and swung it through the air.
Wooooong......
A mystical energy filled the air, and the 'Soul Dust' inside the 'Soul Vessel Box' began to vanish.
The surroundings plunged into pitch darkness, and we entered a new space.
[Heh heh. Hello. Nice to meet you.]
I'd gotten used to it by now, visiting often.
This was the Arcana Realm.
Lee Seo-jun and I looked around and spotted someone before us.
“......A goat?”
A goat stared at us. The peculiar thing was its face was goat-like, but its body was human.
[Looks like you want to summon a soul. Right?]
“Yes.”
When I answered, the arcana stared at me intently and tilted its head.
Then it shrugged and laughed.
[......Hee hee.]
“Why are you laughing?”
[No reason. Just something amusing after so long. So, whose soul do you want to summon with this blood?]
At the arcana's question, Lee Seo-jun answered.
“My father, Jin Cheon-woo.”
[......Jin Cheon-woo? Hmm. Don't know who that is. But summoning your blood relative father's soul, right?]
“Yes.”
[Alright. Calling him now. Note that you only get five minutes with the soul.]
The arcana clasped its hands and began emitting a suspicious energy.
Then it tilted its head.
[......Huh?]
It tilted its head again, then burst into laughter once more.
[Hee hee.]
“Why are you laughing?”
Lee Seo-jun asked.
[This one won't work.]
“......What?”
Lee Seo-jun looked shocked.
It followed the original flow, so I kept quiet.
“Why not?”
[I can't say why. I don't have the right.]
“......What a waste of time.”
Lee Seo-jun's face went blank.
[Hmm. But there's another person you can summon with your blood. How about that?]
“Who?”
[Your other blood relative—your mother.]
Lee Seo-jun's face filled with shock. He nodded with a stiff expression.
“Call her.”
The arcana clasped its hands again, emitting suspicious energy.
Smoke rose, forming a hazy human shape.
[Here is......]
A voice echoed.
It was the voice of 'Lee Yun-kyung' from Ghost Island.
Lee Seo-jun spoke in a trembling voice.
“......Are you perhaps Lee Yun-kyung?”
[Yes, who are you?]
“......I'm Lee Seo-jun.”
The tremor in Lee Seo-jun's voice grew stronger.
This was the first time I'd seen him so shaken.
Meeting a family member he had no memory of would be overwhelming, of course.
Something I couldn't even imagine.
Then doubt appeared on Lee Yun-kyung's face.
[......Lee Seo-jun?]
Moments later, horror spread across her face.
[Wait, Seo-jun? Seo-jun means...... No way.]
Lee Yun-kyung's voice shook violently.
Lee Seo-jun looked at her and spoke in a calmer voice.
“I'm your son.”
[......It really is you, Seo-jun. The surname threw me off.]
“......I have questions for you.”
“Is my father Jin Cheon-woo?”
Lee Yun-kyung fell silent for a moment, then asked back.
[If you're truly my son, then yes, he's your father. But you don't know your own father?]
“Yes, I have no memories of my family. Chairman Kim Jin-cheol raised me from childhood.”
[I see......]
Lee Yun-kyung murmured quietly in a sad voice.
“How did you die?”
Lee Seo-jun asked curiously.
But Lee Yun-kyung didn't answer and stared at him intently.
[Before that, let me ask you something.]
Lee Seo-jun looked puzzled.
[How are you alive?]
“......What?”
[I was killed by Jin Cheon-woo's hand before I could even give birth to you.]