Chapter 38
Chapter 38
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: The Meeting of Old Disciples and New Disciples (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Helmont Academy's Practical Magic Studies Beginner Class students were on their way to the gate.
Among them, Kim Siyeon spoke up.
"Last time we barely avoided disaster, and now they want us to enter a dungeon again? I can't understand why they're pushing us like this. What if something really bad happens?"
Yoon Seulgi replied.
"I feel the same way... I just don't get why Instructor Yang Hangil is driving us so hard. We haven't done anything wrong..."
Unaware of the oath between Yang Hangil and Choi Juwon, they naturally questioned his obsessive behavior. The root of their doubt was simple: Why was Yang Hangil so desperately fixated on his students' growth?
But they couldn't find an answer.
Lee Haru spoke to Baek Hyunseo, who was huddled in the corner.
"Hyunseo, are you okay?"
Baek Hyunseo's face was pale, her whole body trembling. During the previous dungeon expedition, she had panicked, leaving her vulnerable not just to goblin attacks but to assaults from other monsters as well.
Of course, it was hard to imagine dozens of mages from the beginner class getting hurt in a mere C-grade dungeon. In reality, they had cleared it without major casualties. But clearing it didn't mean they escaped unscathed psychologically.
An expedition without guardians meant death could come at any moment from anyone or anything. This had nothing to do with magical skill. Even skilled mages often died pointlessly during dungeon explorations.
A place where a hundred successes could be undone by one mistake. That was a dungeon beyond the gate. Until now, they had only conducted safe explorations under Choi Juwon's protection. He had always taken the lead, swiftly shielding them in any crisis.
The threat of survival.
Fundamentally, they had never once felt their lives were in danger, no matter how many dungeons they entered in the past. But now, things were different.
Baek Hyunseo trembled as she spoke.
"I... I don't want to go in... It's scary..."
Kim Siyeon comforted her from the side.
"We still have to go... If we don't, who knows what that bastard Yang Hangil will do. If we just do as well as last time, we'll come back fine this time too. I'm scared as well... but there's no choice."
Yoon Seulgi quietly added,
"At least this time, other guilds are nearby, so it might not be as bad... They might help if we get into danger."
"Yeah. Last time it was just us, but now other guilds are joining. I don't know who yet, but just having another group there makes me feel a bit more secure."
On the way to the gate.
Choi Juwon spoke to his disciples.
"We'll arrive at the gate soon. The dungeon's measured rank is C-grade. Obviously, it should be less than a warm-up for you all. Still, don't let your guard down just in case."
Park Hye-yeon asked Choi Juwon,
"Will we get stronger by entering the dungeon?"
"That's obvious. Dungeon monsters all carry mana to varying degrees. And beings that wield mana grow even more powerful as their level rises. Sparring with strong opponents not only boosts basic combat abilities but also sharpens your response to unexpected situations."
"Above all, dungeons feature diverse terrain. If you've only practiced magic in crowded urban areas with buildings everywhere, adapting to swamps, deserts, forests, and more will greatly improve your spell versatility."
"Did you rely on dungeons a lot while growing stronger yourself?"
"Of course. When I was building my power early on, I benefited greatly from them. Now I can solo clear A-grade dungeons, but back then, I nearly died countless times in D-grade ones."
"I can't believe it. You're one of the strongest people I've ever seen—maybe even stronger than the man I need to get revenge on. And you achieved that through effort, not just talent?"
"To be honest, I can't say talent played no role. Some people might follow the exact same methods I did, train the same way, and still never reach my level even after decades."
Choi Juwon pointed at Park Hye-yeon.
"But at the very least, you have even greater talent than I do. Given enough time, growing like me wouldn't be impossible for you."
Park Hye-yeon nodded firmly, her expression resolute.
Kang Eun-byeol sidled up to him and whispered,
"Um... Masked Instructor. I know it's a bit late to ask, but why are your disciples training so obsessively?"
Kang Eun-byeol wore a puzzled expression, which made sense. She hadn't put in any effort to attend his lectures. She hadn't competed with tens of thousands; she had simply been parachuted in as the Hunter Association President's daughter.
Moreover, Kang Eun-byeol had no one to seek revenge against. That was why he hadn't even applied an SSS-grade buff to her or performed a circle break. In truth, she was receiving genuinely 'standard' instruction from him.
But the others were different. When selecting his four disciples, he had deliberately chosen those with clear motivations. From over 30,000 applicants, he first filtered for talent, then for those with desperate drive. In the end, only four remained—excluding Kang Eun-byeol. His disciples were the most desperate four among over 30,000 mages. They were united by a thirst for 'revenge.'
They wanted to grow stronger as quickly as possible. Strong enough to hunt down those who had tormented them and tear out their throats. He understood their feelings all too well. He had been the same.
'Baek Juseok...'
Baek Juseok was imprisoned, but he wasn't acting alone. He was entangled with corrupt high-ranking officials who had funneled him bribes, various guilds, and even the Magic Tower Lord, all in cahoots.
He might be in prison now, but who knew what traps he had set before the forced intranet opening? Even if it happened, he might slither out of punishment somehow.
That was why Choi Juwon needed even greater power to crush them all. This time, not just martial might, but influence.
He gazed at his venomous disciples.
'Even I, with all my power, feel this rage and pain. It must be worse for them.'
That was the moment he truly understood shared suffering.
"Um... Instructor?"
'Oh right, I need to answer.'
Snapping out of his daze, he replied to Kang Eun-byeol.
"They all have their own circumstances pushing them to grow fast. You don't need to worry—just keep to your own pace."
"Do we really need to rush? Power isn't everything in this world..."
"You're right. But not everyone thinks the same."
He found her words absurd inwardly. The daughter of the Hunter Association President, someone who could wield part of that immense authority—what did 'power' mean to her? It was inevitable. She had been born with influence far beyond mere strength.
'If there's someone she doesn't like, she can just give an order, and it's done.'
He decided to understand. She lived in a completely different world. But someday, Kang Eun-byeol would come to grasp her fellow disciples' hearts. The misery of having everything trampled, the helpless fury of losing it all to someone else without recourse.
-Whoooosh
A chill wind blew through the barren area. They had arrived at the C-grade gate. Choi Juwon instructed his disciples.
"Everyone, wait here. The group that reserved this gate with us hasn't arrived yet."
The group that had reserved the gate first. He didn't know who they were exactly. Gate reservations were visible, but specific details like the booker weren't.
'Still, lucky for us.'
Gates were generally used by those who reserved them first. There were other methods, like dungeon entry tickets or the state pre-allocating gates to academies, but most people relied on reservations.
Naturally, the first to reserve gained rights for their 'hunter,' 'guild,' 'academy,' or other group to tackle it.
However, sometimes anomalies caused dungeons to split into two within a single gate. These gates were twice the normal size. The state mandated dual-group entry for such anomalous gates.
The cause of dungeon splits remained undefined, and to prevent potential disasters, they enforced this minimal safeguard.
'Thanks to that, we can enter without delay.'
Some of his disciples had dungeon experience before. But now, with his buffs and circle breaks skyrocketing their stats, their magic usage was worlds apart from before. The difference was like riding a tricycle versus a motorcycle.
Dungeons were places to unleash and refine magic freely. Exactly what his current disciples needed most.
'Here they come.'
As he thought that, a group appeared in the distance, walking toward them.
'Mages?'
The mana aura flowing from them screamed mages.
'Weird. It feels familiar...'
The figures drew closer. Soon, Yang Hangil appeared at the front. Behind him were familiar faces: Baek Hyunseo, Lee Haru, Yoon Seulgi, Kim Siyeon, and the other Helmont Academy Practical Magic Studies Beginner Class students. His former disciples.
'Why the hell are those bastards here...?'