Chapter 447
Chapter 447
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 448
Chapter Title: Spirit Materialization Complete
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After Kim Jung-hee left, I was left alone at the ruins, staring blankly at the murals.
Several stars and the complex spells drawn within them...
It felt like the ruins were trying to convey some kind of message to me, but the obscure information wasn't easy to understand.
"Jin Cheon-woo feared an otherworldly being...
What was Jin Cheon-woo worried about?
Afraid of having his body and mind taken over.
But wasn't Jin Cheon-woo in the position of the 'taker' aiming for Lee Seo-jun's body, rather than the one being taken?
No, to begin with, I couldn't quite grasp the idea that Jin Cheon-woo feared anything at all.
In the original story, Jin Cheon-woo was always brimming with confidence."
"...Kim Chang-hyun."
Come to think of it, there was one other thing Jin Cheon-woo feared.
It was Kim Chang-hyun, who could be called his apostle.
"Kim Chang-hyun... otherworldly being...
What do these two have in common?
Just then, I suddenly recalled the spells Kim Chang-hyun had been searching for around the world.
They were definitely spells related to dimensions.
I'd even speculated that he was trying to summon something from another dimension."
"Is Kim Chang-hyun summoning what Jin Cheon-woo fears?"
That would explain everything.
The reason Jin Cheon-woo felt fear upon hearing the name Kim Chang-hyun.
Because Kim Chang-hyun's goal is to summon an otherworldly being.
"...Hmm."
But even with that thought, some doubts lingered.
Why doesn't Kim Chang-hyun, Jin Cheon-woo's apostle, follow him?
And who exactly is the 'Lord' he follows?
Is it Jin Cheon-woo?
...Or perhaps...
The otherworldly being that Jin Cheon-woo fears.
Right at that moment.
[A minor change in the future has been detected.]
[The causality rate increases by 0.2.]
"What?"
The causality rate had suddenly risen.
It wouldn't rise without reason. That means...
"My deduction was somewhat correct?"
Time flowed on to September.
After the 'Cruas Descent' incident that occurred at the new year, Seoul had fully regained its former splendor.
Citizens who had evacuated to other regions returned and resettled, and various corporations and guilds reclaimed their original spots, restoring the city to its past glory as the capital.
The Wizard Association invested heavily in manpower and funds to ensure Seoul's safety.
As a result, Seoul's crime rate had noticeably dropped compared to the previous year, fully reclaiming its past peace.
"It feels peaceful these days, probably because that big wave has passed."
At the top floor of the Wizard Association, in the president's office.
Choi Il-hyun murmured blankly while gazing at the Seoul scenery outside the window.
Kim Jin-cheol, seated in a chair, looked at his disciple's back and replied.
"It's more peaceful compared to last year. Even the consistent demon bloodsucking incidents that happened every week have almost vanished starting this year."
The biggest change in Seoul was this.
The decrease in demon bloodsucking incidents.
No, it wasn't just a decrease—it was practically gone.
Excluding January and February right after Kim Sun-woo's death, not a single bloodsucking incident had occurred from March to September.
"Hmm. Now that you mention it, I haven't seen any demon-related news lately."
Choi Il-hyun stroked his stubbly chin beard and turned around.
"But why have the demon incidents disappeared this year? Their bloodsucking urges couldn't have suddenly been cured."
"According to them, they've succeeded in supplying blood using mana conduction stones and blood crystals. It seems to have worked, given how quiet it's gotten."
"Utilizing blood crystals and mana conduction stones...
That's a method I never would have thought of."
Even Choi Il-hyun, with his high understanding of mysteries, let out a small sigh of admiration at the unexpected approach.
"Whoever the demon is, it's a good idea."
"It was Kim Sun-woo's idea."
At the mention of Kim Sun-woo's name, Choi Il-hyun's face stiffened momentarily.
"...More importantly, old man, how do you know about that?"
"Know what?"
"The demons' information. Even I hadn't heard this, so it doesn't seem like the Association knows either."
"A demon named Ha-ryeong, their new leader, came to see me and told me. She said that following the previous king's will, they won't attack humans much anymore."
Kim Jin-cheol let out a hollow laugh as he recalled the memory.
It was absurd no matter how he thought about it.
For a demon to boldly come find him, whom all demons feared.
"So, Ha-ryeong became the fourth king?"
At Choi Il-hyun's question, Kim Jin-cheol shook his head.
"She said the king's authority wasn't inherited, so the throne will remain vacant. She's not the king."
"...Hmm."
Choi Il-hyun suddenly had a question.
Kim Sun-woo was definitely dead, so why wasn't the king's authority inherited?
Even though his body was sucked into the void, a 'trait' is a mystical power without physical form.
Empty space alone couldn't block the inheritance.
"Old man."
"I know. It's not a normal situation for the inheritance not to happen."
Kim Jin-cheol's words were firm.
It was evidence that he too had harbored many doubts about this for a long time.
Choi Il-hyun sank into deep thought before heavily opening his mouth.
"Do you think there's a possibility that Kim Sun-woo is still alive?"
"...A possibility he's alive."
Kim Jin-cheol murmured blankly before continuing.
"If it's that guy, it might be possible."
[Five! Four! Three! Two! One!]
[The new year of 2035 has dawned! Happy New Year!]
The peaceful year of 2034, which recorded the lowest crime rate in nearly a decade, passed in the blink of an eye, and the new year of 2035 arrived.
The news chattered about the possibility of coexistence between humans and demons, then began introducing the rookie wizards debuting this year.
[If we're talking about the most anticipated prospect for 2035, it has to be Choi Seo-yoon, who passed the Special Task Force.]
[Yes, she showed tremendous growth over the past year. Her overwhelming victory over Daria, Russia's top prospect and rival, was truly shocking.]
[She's gained a vicious edge and become noticeably fiercer... That's the experts' evaluation, and I somewhat agree—]
Beep.
The TV, which had been blaring noisily, turned off, and Choi Seo-yoon stood up from her seat.
Looking out the window, white snow was falling amid the darkened night sky.
Choi Seo-yoon stared blankly at the scene before turning on the smartphone she'd received as a graduation gift.
At the same time, a flood of messages popped up.
[Seo-yoon! Happy New Year!]
[This is Guild Master Im Sung-hee of God's Path. Happy New Year! If you have time, please give me a call~]
Choi Seo-yoon cleared the messages and checked her favorited group chat.
As expected, many messages had piled up there too.
[Yun Ha-young: Happy New Year! And Seo-yoon, belated congrats on graduating. I really wanted to go to your ceremony, sorry.]
[Shin Young-jun: Whoa, you're an adult now? Heard you passed the Special Task Force. We'll be working together soon.]
[Lee Seo-jun: Sorry I couldn't make it to your graduation, Seo-yoon.]
Choi Seo-yoon read the messages carefully with a bittersweet smile and typed a reply.
[I'm fine, so don't worry about it. How's life in Antarctica, seniors? Isn't it tough?]
Replies came soon.
[Shin Young-jun: Feels like I'm dying lol]
[Yun Ha-young: Pretty sure we've explored over ten ruins in the last half year tttt]
[Lee Seo-jun: We'll match schedules and come back to Korea soon. Probably won't be too late.]
Confirming the messages, Choi Seo-yoon turned her gaze to the table beside her bed.
Next to the photo frame from two years ago with her seniors was the January 2035 calendar.
And on one date was a small memo.
[Senior 1st Memorial]
Choi Seo-yoon stared silently at the calendar before typing a message.
[Got it. I'll wait.]
Kim Sun-woo's small-scale first memorial concluded successfully, and the warm spring of April arrived.
Lee Seo-jun and his cohort, who had returned for the memorial, went back to Antarctica for the Jin Cheon-woo investigation, while Choi Seo-yoon, who had joined as a rookie agent, stayed at the Association and began taking on various missions.
"Good work, rookie."
"You're doing great. No wonder they're calling you a top prospect."
Choi Seo-yoon built her position in the Association with performances unbefitting a newbie.
Though still a probationary agent, her achievements rivaled those of full agents, creating positive tension among the veterans.
And then.
The final day of her three-month probation arrived.
"You worked hard rolling through three months of probation. Among the recent rookies, you were the best. Not just lip service—I'm serious."
"Thank you."
Choi Seo-yoon bowed her head at the praise from Kim Mun-tae, the new team leader of Special Task Force Team 5.
With her probation ending, she felt a twinge of regret at the thought of possibly leaving the team she'd been with.
Kim Mun-tae stared at her face before speaking.
"You know why I called you, right?"
"...Yes."
"Good. Your first assignment's been decided."
At those words, a flicker of tension appeared in Choi Seo-yoon's eyes.
Kim Mun-tae met her gaze steadily and continued.
"They took your preferences into account since you've worked hard. I'm disappointed we won't be working together, but anyway, congrats."
"...You mean?"
Choi Seo-yoon's eyes widened. Kim Mun-tae chuckled.
"Pack your bags—you're heading out soon. It's cold, so bring lots of padding."
"Th-thank you! I'll do my best!"
Choi Seo-yoon bowed deeply with genuine joy for the first time in a while.
It meant her opinion had been heard from above.
She was joining the 'Jin Cheon-woo Special Investigation Team'—the group investigating Kim Sun-woo's death-related matters, and where the people she wanted to work with had gathered.
Watching her continue to bow and promise to work hard, Kim Mun-tae let out an exasperated laugh.
"That happy to go to another team? And save the 'I'll do my best' for over there."
Settling in the Boundary, time had passed over a year and a half.
In the living world, summer 2035 had passed, and autumn was approaching...
About three months remained until my return to reality.
When I first heard I'd spend two years in the Boundary, time had dragged like military service.
But time does flow, after all.
"...Hoo."
In any case, over the past year and a half, I'd received steady guidance from Kim Jung-hee and achieved great growth in various magic abilities.
My support magic growth was explosive, and using [Mask Theater], I'd steadily practiced Lee Seo-jun's secret swordsmanship, the Baekcheon Sword Method, and my specialty manifestation magic.
As a result.
[The proficiency of Spell Comprehension has greatly increased.]
[You can now use Reversal Strike, Mana Storm, and Rune Binding more effectively.]
[Spell Comprehension (A)] [Proficiency: 83%]
[Sword Comprehension has increased.]
[Baekcheon Sword Method (B)] [Proficiency: 47%]
[The proficiency of Mana Control Technique has increased through diverse experiences.]
[Mana Control Technique (S)] [Proficiency: 32%]
I'd seen major growth in various basic abilities.
Spell Comprehension's proficiency reached 83%, leaving only 17% to S-rank, and I'd achieved significant progress in other magics as well.
"...Focusing solely on training really makes growth feel faster."
If I'd kept intervening in the original story's plot, I wouldn't have achieved this much.
And today, as usual, Kim Jung-hee, who had overseen my training, looked at me steadily and said.
"You've finally completed it. Ready to get started then?"
"Yeah. Time's running short now."
Answering her, I checked the message that had just appeared upon completion.
[You have successfully perfectly acquired the 'Spirit Materialization Spell.']
[You have gained new enlightenment.]
[As a reward, you acquire 3,000 points.]
Today, I had fully made the Spirit Materialization Spell my own.
All preparations were complete.
Now, to obtain the Seed of Origin, a Holy Grail material, I would subjugate the Boundary's Great Spirit.