The Detective's Training and a Secret Room

Seong-il nodded vigorously in agreement after receiving the warning from Inspector Lesras.

"Yes! O-of course!"

Whether she found his reaction amusing, the inspector smiled faintly before grabbing Whitten and the rest of the group and departing from Yuna's workshop.

"Well then... I'll be on my way! See you next time! Detective Moriarty!"

"See you next tiiime!! Inspector Lesras!!"

Once Lesras had left, Yuna approached the remaining Charlotte and Seong-il and expressed her gratitude once more.

"Thank you so much!! Thanks to Detective Charlotte and Detective Assistant Seong-il, I was able to overcome this crisis...!"

"Ohohohoh!! Justice always prevails! As a great detective, that's only natural! If you ever need help again, please don't hesitate to ask!!"

"Yes...!"

Yuna was now on the verge of tears at Charlotte's words. Watching her, Seong-il thought to himself.

I've created plenty of excuses by helping Yuna now... I can probably devour her on the day of our final transaction.

While admiring her figure from behind with lecherous thoughts, Seong-il returned to the office with Charlotte.

"You've worked hard today! Great Detective!!"

"Ohohoh!! You too, Seong-il! Today was quite eventful, so let's call it an early day and get some rest!!"

"Ooh...! Thank you! See you tomorrow!!!"

"Yeees!!!"

With Charlotte's permission, Seong-il left work early. After lightly handling only the tasks that couldn't be postponed, he began training his martial arts in his room.

After finishing his training, Seong-il started reviewing the fight against the gangsters from earlier that day while washing up in the shower.

Hmm... The fight earlier today... It wasn't too bad, was it...?

Seong-il had fought them wearing only light leather gloves with no weapons. Although Charlotte's powerful long-range magic had provided support, the fact that he had beaten three armed robbers without sustaining a single injury was undeniable.

At this level, I should be able to thoroughly beat up low-tier ability users from reality, right...?

With that thought, Seong-il finished his shower and headed to the living room. While drying his body with a towel, he stood in front of the decorative armor there.

And then.

BAAAANG!!

Seong-il stared at the steel decorative armor in the living room and drew up his internal energy. He then swung his fist, infused with that energy, and struck the armor with full force. The armor crumpled like a piece of paper.

"....At this level, I'd probably be treated as a decent physical reinforcement-type superhuman, wouldn't I?"

After about half a year of martial arts training, Seong-il once again realized just how much stronger he had become.

In game worlds like Explosive Murim Chronicles where irregulars run rampant, I didn't notice it while acting tough, but in a world where ordinary people mainly operate, I've definitely gotten strong.

....Maybe if I returned to the How to Become an Alchemist world and participated in the guild war, I'd be a big help?

Seong-il shook his head at that thought and reconsidered.

No way. I'm fairly strong now, but simultaneously suppressing dozens of armed adult men who know how to fight is still too much. Even today, there were definitely dangerous moments during the fight...

Thinking that, Seong-il lightly slapped his own cheeks with both hands.

Get a grip! I'm getting stronger smoothly, but I still have a long way to go! I can't get arrogant just because I'm satisfied with immediate results! Let's recall the lessons from Pocket Girls!

After whipping himself like that, Seong-il tilted his head and began pondering.

But... exactly how strong am I? Clearing game worlds easily might be too much, but wouldn't I be able to produce meaningful results in school sparring classes?

....Maybe I should return to reality soon and test my performance against Go Yeong-tae during sparring time?

Though while experimenting in reality, it would be good to have a mock spar so I can get revenge on Go Yeong-tae if I win... Hmm...

Then, a sudden idea flashed through his mind.

Officer Ilyna!! That's right!! There was Officer Ilyna!!

Ilyna Roengrim, the martial artist affiliated with the Windom City Police Department. Since she had requested a spar anyway, Seong-il decided to spar with her soon to accurately gauge his skill level.

His competitive spirit boiled over at the thought of sparring. Seong-il groaned.

Ugh... I just finished showering, but my blood's boiling again. Guess I'll train a bit more!

With that, Seong-il began training his martial arts again by practicing the forms of the Mountain Shattering Divine Fist.

By the way... That sensation I felt during the day! What exactly was that feeling of time slowing down when I was fighting the gangsters?

While contemplating the mysterious feeling he'd experienced earlier, Seong-il endlessly repeated the forms in training.

If I do a little more, I feel like I'll understand something....

Before he knew it, Seong-il had fallen into a state of no-mind and was training his martial arts. After training like that for quite a while, he began to feel something boiling up from within.

This feeling!! Yes!! This feeling...!!

Feeling as if his head was clearing up, Seong-il sensed that the forms of the Mountain Shattering Divine Fist were flowing out of his body like water, unlike before.

Enraptured by that sensation, Seong-il remained in a state of no-mind and continued training the Mountain Shattering Divine Fist for several more hours.

"Haa... Haa..."

Seong-il's training only ended after the internal energy and stamina accumulated in his body were completely depleted. Once it was over, he lay on the floor drenched in sweat, blankly staring at the ceiling.

While lying there absentmindedly, Seong-il could feel something like a shell breaking inside him, indicating that his martial arts had advanced to the next level.

And then.

Whoa... I got an insane amount of points for clearing two out of three main quests...? Last time, clearing one main quest gave me 15,000 points, right...?

And the fact that Mountain Shattering Divine Fist was reflected as a skill in my status window after I gained some realization while training in that state of no-mind earlier...?

Through the results of his Mountain Shattering Divine Fist training and the changes in his status window, Seong-il learned quite a lot. As he pondered, he thought:

Hmm... And looking at the points and overall evaluation... It seems like Game Master is encouraging play focused on main quests rather than training....?

Does that mean that even if I don't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠necessarily train, I can get stronger easily and quickly through ending rewards from clearing games or by using points?

While contemplating the ambiguous meaning behind the overall evaluation, Seong-il muttered to himself.

Yeah. For now, I'll do my best to see the ending of Magic City and the Great Detective, just like the overall evaluation says. I'll progress the story to reach the ending and try this and that! I'll ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠also spar with Officer Ilyna to gauge my level!!

Having wrapped up his thoughts, Seong-il dragged his exhausted body back to the shower room, cleaned himself thoroughly, and ended the day.

Knock knock!

"Seong-il! Are you in? Seong-il?"

"Uhh...? Just a moment..."

Seong-il had been sleeping deeply due to the intense training from the previous night. Someone was knocking on his door and calling for him.

"Ugh... I'm so tired..."

Still feeling the aftereffects of falling into a state of no-mind and training intensely for hours the night before, he struggled to open the door. Before his eyes appeared Elysia.

"Good morning! Seong-il!"

"Yawn... Good morning, Sia."

"What kind of reaction is that! You haven't forgotten that we're using the move as an excuse to go to the 'Secret Room' today, right..?!"

"Of course I remember... I'm just a bit tired. Can you wait a little? I'll wash up and get ready right away."

"Hmm... Okay. Even though you weren't injured, I guess I was rushing someone who even went into battle. When you're ready, come down to the first floor! I'll have breakfast prepared."

"Yeah... Thanks! I'll be right there!"

After saying that, Seong-il returned to his room and began preparing.

After finishing the meal Luphtesia had prepared, Seong-il moved together with her.

"Hmm... So this is the map...?"

"Yes, that's right."

"But... what exactly is this magic tool?"

Luphtesia made a greedy expression as she looked at the smartphone Seong-il showed her. Seeing her like that, Seong-il smiled wryly and answered.

"Why? You want it? Sorry, but I absolutely won't give you this. It's like my life itself."

Seong-il said this and put the phone back in his pocket. Nevertheless, Luphtesia still wore a greedy expression and tried to seduce and persuade him.

"Hmm... Can't you make an exception...?"

At her coquettish attitude, Seong-il almost said 'okay' but desperately held back and cut her off.

"No! If you hand over all the artifacts you have, I'll consider it."

"Hmph...!"

Luphtesia made a slightly pouty face. Seong-il soothed her and said.

"Sigh... Don't be like that~ If ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you really want to partner with me, you should understand this much. Right?"

"Haa... You're right, so I have nothing to say. But my greed for rare items is part of my nature... Hoo...! Fine! I'll hold back."

Having said that, the two began moving toward the clock tower shown on the map.

"Ho... It's unexpected that the Secret Room is hidden in the ancient clock tower, the symbol of Windom City, of all places?"

"...Is that so strange?"

"Yes. It's a great relic passed down from the ancient fallen magic empire, so it's been explored countless times. I thought there wouldn't be anything hidden anymore..."

"Aha...!"

Seong-il appropriately chimed in with her words as they headed to the clock tower.

"Hmm... By the way, how do we get in...?"

The security of the clock tower seemed strict, as befitting the symbol of Windom City. Seeing Seong-il like that, Luphtesia smiled and answered.

"You don't need to worry about that!"

With those words, she took out a ring from her pocket and handed it to Seong-il.

"....This is?"

"A Limited Superior Invisibility Ring!"

"Eh..?"

"It's a ring that allows you to use invisibility and silence magic for thirty minutes, three times a month."

"....Where on earth do you get something like this?"

"It's not a good habit to pry into a lady's secrets~"

Having said that, Luphtesia personally slipped the ring onto Seong-il's finger and continued.

"When you wear this ring and cast invisibility, your footsteps will completely disappear. We just need to take advantage of that to move to our destination."

"Aha...!"

"Shall we go? But before that~ Just a moment..."

With those words, she wrapped her arms around Seong-il's waist.

"Since we might lose track of each other's position, we'll go like this, hugging~"

"Hup...!"

Seong-il was flustered by her sudden intimate physical contact. Looking at him, Luphtesia asked.

"Why..? Don't you like it?"

At her words, Seong-il smiled wryly and answered.

"No? It's the complete opposite. Maybe I like it too much...?"

Having said that, Seong-il roughly hugged her back and whispered in her ear.

"Shall we go...?"

"Ahng... I don't like it when you're too rough~"

Using the power of the artifact Luphtesia had prepared, Seong-il entered the interior of the clock tower. Contrary to its evaluation as a great relic, it seemed to have no particular strategic importance beyond its symbolism. There were no significant obstacles during the exploration inside.

What the... For something called a great relic, there's really nothing special...?

The numerous gears and the magic that operated them without breaking were certainly a powerful mystery, but that was all. Aside from occasionally encountering what seemed to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠be wizards, there was nothing particularly dangerous.