Chapter 384
Chapter 384
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 385
Chapter Title: The Taehwi Festival Comes to an End
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The three-day festival at the Wizard Academy, the Taehwi Festival, had finally drawn to a close.
At the scheduled closing ceremony, award ceremonies for each category began, and the theater team also received a major award thanks to my performance, which successfully reinterpreted(?) the "porter" of the "Four Elements" as a highlight—a topic that had been hugely popular in various media and communities.
[Luck Stone (B)]
Classification: Talisman
Description: Increases luck while held.
“......Hmm.”
And right now, I was fiddling with the award item I had received today, the ‘Luck Stone.’
Luck Stone.
As the name suggests, it’s an item known to grant luck when held.
Since three Luck Stones had been prepared for the Taehwi Festival, Lee Seo-jun, Yoo Ah-ra, and I each received one.
The other staff members of the theater team, who had no choice but to be in the same group, split the cash prize instead, and since the amount was larger than expected, there didn’t seem to be much dissatisfaction.
“......Can’t see the exact numerical value of the luck boost, huh.”
Even activating Outsider’s Boon didn’t allow me to confirm precisely how much luck it increased.
Since it was an intangible ability, I had somewhat anticipated this, but there was still an inexplicable unease.
If the luck increased by just a speck, I wouldn’t even feel it.
“Well, it probably doesn’t matter much.”
No matter how low the luck increase, it’s still better than nothing.
..And.
What’s important to me right now isn’t that.
“Ugh...... What should I do about this part.”
In the Wizard Academy’s multipurpose lounge.
I pocketed the Luck Stone and approached Yoon Hayoung, who was groaning in front of a hologram computer.
“What’s the problem?”
“This exam category section. Not sure which number to pick.”
Yoon Hayoung pointed to a section of the screen with her finger.
Exam category.
She was filling out the application for the upcoming Professional Wizard Certification Exam.
“Academy graduates pick 2. Detection type, so 3 for that. Ice attribute goes here.”
“Ah. Thanks.”
Yoon Hayoung tapped in the numbers.
I double-checked each item afterward to make sure nothing was missed.
I couldn’t just trust her completely, given her track record of mistakes.
“......Hmm. Looks like you filled out the rest correctly.”
I went through it all, and surprisingly(?), there were no errors—she’d done it well on her own.
She’s not a kid, so of course she could handle it, but given what she’d done before, I checked extra carefully.
At that moment, Yoon Hayoung glanced around and spoke.
“By the way, I can already see kids writing their resumes.”
As she said, there were students at the hologram terminals in the multipurpose lounge, filling out resumes.
“Graduation’s right around the corner. Gotta prepare early.”
It was the day the Taehwi Festival ended, so you’d think they’d slack off, but school life was truly almost over now.
For third-years, every day from today until graduation would be busy, so they had to prepare thoroughly without any days off.
“Then, since it’s come to this, should I write my resume now too?”
“Nah. Do it later.”
“Hm? Why? You just said to prepare early.”
“......That’s.”
Yoon Hayoung was slated to be scouted by her top-choice Special Task Force.
She wouldn’t need to spend hours on a resume to achieve her goal.
Of course, I’d have to subtly guide them to notice she possessed the ‘Power of Demon Extermination’ so things stayed on track with the original story.
“Your resume content might increase or change a lot. At least write it after the pro exam.”
Yoon Hayoung seemed lost in thought for a moment at my words, then smiled faintly.
“Content might increase, huh. Sunwoo, aren’t you overestimating me?”
“Nope. If anything, you’re being underrated right now, so it’s time for some proper reevaluation.”
Right now, her stats might be lower compared to other main characters, but she had strong potential unique to her and the special weapon of the Power of Demon Extermination.
Yoon Hayoung was indeed heavily underrated at the moment.
And perhaps my words touched her, because her gaze toward me softened.
“Sunwoooo......”
Followed by that syrupy voice. Feeling burdened, I subtly stepped back.
“......What’s with that. It’s creepy.”
“Iii...... really only have you, Sunwoooo......”
Yoon Hayoung stretched both arms toward me as if demanding a hug and clung on.
What was she doing? She wasn’t Gretel or anything.
I recoiled in horror and stepped back again.
“Hey. Get off.”
Even so, Yoon Hayoung didn’t let go and instead clung even more stickily.
Wrapping around my waist. Like a cicada or something.
“Sunwoooo...... We’ll be together forever, right? Yeah? Hm?”
At that question, I fell silent for a moment. Then I chuckled lightly, grabbed her shoulders, and gently pulled her off.
“Enough nonsense. Let’s go train for the exam.”
Time passed, and it was Saturday evening.
For a pre-scheduled appointment, I arrived at a deserted park on the outskirts of Seoul in the form of Kim Jinwoo.
As I walked to the bench, a beautiful black-haired woman spotted me and waved happily.
“Jinwoo-ssi. Over here.”
She was today’s appointment, Han Se-yeon.
And at the same time, the three men in suits who had been behind her bowed their heads and stepped away.
I watched the men leave and asked.
“Who are those guys?”
“My bodyguards. You told me to be careful in advance, Jinwoo-ssi.”
“Oh.”
I had said that.
With Han Se-jin cornered and the Ten Demon Society not knowing what crazy thing they might do to her.
Of course, with Elin, who could be called Han Se-jin’s close aide, providing related info, we could cope to some extent, but it never hurt to be cautious.
I subtly used [Character Insight] on the departing men, and all three were A-Rank Wizards.
If villains attacking Han Se-yeon were likely S-Rank, it seemed insufficient to my eyes, but it was probably the best from her position.
The other S-Rank Wizards in the Han Sung Clan would be tightly controlled by Han Se-jin.
The only powerhouse who might guard Han Se-yeon was the Sword Ghost, called the Han Clan’s Sword.
But since President Han Dae-hyun’s death, he’d been resting, so getting his help wouldn’t be easy.
“You should increase the number of bodyguards.”
“......Pardon?”
Did my words come out of nowhere? She blinked blankly.
“They’re skilled enough, but isn’t it too few for the future head of the Han Sung Clan? Unless it’s someone like the Sword Ghost.”
My words must have sounded like a joke, because Han Se-yeon let out a small laugh.
She pondered for a moment, then nodded.
“Got it. I’ll increase them as much as possible without it being an issue.”
With that, Han Se-yeon handed me a black case bag.
“The spirit elixirs I mentioned last time. Made from Gretel’s branches and leaves.”
“Oh.”
Today’s meeting with Han Se-yeon was for this very reason.
I immediately opened the bag. Inside were ten vials filled with a transparent liquid glowing faintly green.
[Concentrated Demonic Tree Spirit Elixir (B)]
Description: Permanently increases all recovery abilities by 200% and all stats by 3 upon consumption. Effect halves with each duplicate consumption.
“Oh......”
The elixir’s effects, viewed through Outsider’s Boon, were pretty good.
200% recovery ability. And +3 to all stats.
It had the drawback of halving with duplicates, but without that penalty, it’d be broken.
“These are really good. Ten is the perfect number too.”
“You noticed the effects right away again. Even experts in elixirs wouldn’t spot them easily.”
Han Se-yeon said that, then suddenly smiled as if remembering something and continued.
“This reminds me of when we first met, doesn’t it? You immediately recognized the mana herb’s effects back then and surprised me.”
Her words naturally brought our first meeting to mind.
“Yeah. It’s almost been two years already.”
“I never thought we’d end up talking this often. And......”
Han Se-yeon trailed off and closed her mouth.
Wondering what it was, I looked at her face, and she smiled as if it was nothing.
“No, don’t mind it.”
I nodded and pulled out the ‘Mysterious Demonic Tree Fruits’ I’d prepared in advance from my pocket.
Han Se-yeon’s eyes widened slightly at the fruits.
“Uh...... these are.”
“The fruits I asked you to process last time.”
Han Se-yeon took the Demonic Tree fruits and examined them closely.
“I’ve never seen fruits like these in my life. From Gretel, right?”
“Yes.”
“Wow......”
Han Se-yeon’s eyes turned to those of a child who’d found a new toy.
“What do you think? Can you amplify their effects?”
“Doesn’t seem impossible, but their unique energy is so strong that I wonder if processing is even necessary......”
Han Se-yeon trailed off, then turned to me with a smile.
“But I’m not your average pharmacist, right? I can amplify them even further.”
As expected. I knew Han Se-yeon could do it.
Her pharmaceutical skills were among the top five in the world.
Moreover, her eyes burned with strong ambition.
I was looking forward to it. Wondering how the Demonic Tree fruits would change.
Of course, there was the downside of delaying discovery of the ‘Blessing of the Demonic Tree (S)’ effect, but I could wait a few days.
At that moment, Han Se-yeon checked the time on her smartphone and made a regretful face.
“Time’s up already. I’d love to stay longer, but I have a lot of backlog, so I should go.”
“Ah, sure. Go ahead.”
Nothing I could do if she was busy.
“I’ll contact you as soon as the elixir processing is done.”
“Yeah, I’ll wait......”
It was then.
Ding.
A message alert rang from my smartphone. After excusing myself to Han Se-yeon, I checked the content immediately.
[Conflict seems to have erupted between the Demons and Han Se-jin. Probably over something related to Han Se-yeon.]
At the message from Elin, my expression hardened momentarily.
The feared situation had broken out.
Conflict between two cornered villain groups. And the way to resolve that conflict would naturally be Han Se-yeon, who was hindering their takeover of the Han Sung Clan.
“......Jinwoo-ssi?”
Did my expression look serious? Han Se-yeon called my name in a worried voice.
“Ah, it’s nothing. Don’t worry.”
And then, another alert rang from the smartphone.
This time, without excusing myself to Han Se-yeon, I checked it right away.
[Something bad might happen to Han Se-yeon today.]
“Your expression keeps looking bad...... Is something wrong?”
I pocketed the smartphone and turned to her.
“Se-yeon-ssi.”
Reading the mood, Han Se-yeon hardened her expression to match mine.
“Yes......?”
“You said you have a lot of backlog?”
“......Yes. That’s right. Things have been piling up lately.”
“I don’t think I can let you go like this.”
At my words, Han Se-yeon blinked blankly.
“Stay with me today.”