Chapter 219: The Influence of One Strong Individual on Their Surroundings
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 219: The Influence of One Strong Individual on Their Surroundings
“Discuss this with our partner companies and…”
Monica, who was giving instructions to her secretary, looked toward the door at the sound of a knock and told the person to enter.
Even just by the way the door opened hesitantly, Monica knew who it was.
Her most cherished daughter, Angelica, stepped inside cautiously, looking tentative.
“Carry out the orders as discussed. You may leave.”
“Understood.”
As the secretary moved to exit, Angelica flinched and hurriedly scrambled out of the way. Seeing this, the secretary gave a faint, bitter smile inwardly and bowed slightly in greeting.
She knew Angelica was talented and kind-hearted, but her personality was far too fragile to lead a group.
There were times when cold judgment was necessary, but with Angelica’s temperament, she was incapable of making firm, decisive resolutions.
Leaving that lingering regret behind, the secretary departed, and Monica sat down on the sofa with Angelica.
“I heard the news. That fellow did better than expected, didn’t he?”
“Yes…”
Monica, who was aware of Seo Yeon-woo’s attempt to take over Shibarata, offered praise first.
She hated praising the madman who harassed her daughter, but this particular job had been handled so cleanly that she couldn't ignore it.
However, noticing Angelica’s awkward reaction, Monica set down the glass she was drinking from and stared at her.
“Did that brat touch you again?”
“Eh?”
“Where did he harass you this time?! Don’t tell me… did he cross the line…?”
“N-No, Mother! Yeon-woo and I… aren’t… in that kind of relationship yet.”
The word yet caught Monica’s attention, but she felt relieved to hear her daughter hadn't been defiled.
But then why was her daughter acting like this?
Though she didn't know the specifics, the girl should have been happy that a dangerous situation involving the government had been resolved without any casualties.
Monica waited silently for her to speak. Angelica avoided her gaze for a moment before looking up to meet her eyes.
“Mother, please… train me.”
“…You understand what that implies, don't you?”
“Yes.”
For the head of the family to personally oversee training meant designating someone as the successor.
There would be significant backlash within the family, and the training for a successor was notoriously agonizing. That was why Monica had never mentioned it to Angelica until now.
Knowing her daughter’s gentle nature and her timid tendency to worry about what others thought, Monica had no intention of putting her through such harsh training.
“Can you tell me why you want to do this?”
She couldn't be sure.
Perhaps that wicked pervert had coaxed her into challenging herself.
No matter how soft-hearted her daughter was, she was smart, so Monica didn't think she would fall for such words—but one could never be too certain.
At Monica’s question, Angelica’s resolve seemed to waver as she lowered her eyes again, but then she grit her teeth.
She met Monica’s gaze with eyes full of determination.
“I want to become strong. At this rate, I won’t be able to stand by his side.”
“… …”
Monica didn't need to ask whose side she meant.
She knew exactly how much her daughter liked Seo Yeon-woo. It was all thanks to him that her daughter was trying to become stronger and overcome her fragile heart.
However, it wasn't as if Angelica was weak.
It irritated Monica to give Seo Yeon-woo the credit, but she knew that her daughter’s hesitation in battle had vanished, she had become more confident, and her skills were improving by leaps and bounds.
While she wasn't quite at the level of Daihara Akito or Amagi Shizuka, she was performing well enough to be ranked among the very top tier of freshmen within Yggdrasil.
Noticing the anxiety in her daughter’s eyes, Monica asked, “What happened to make you feel this way?”
“…Yeon-woo defeated Akito.”
“… …”
That was an unexpected result.
Among current mages, Akito was evaluated as having even more talent than his father, the strongest mage, Daihara Yukio.
He was so peerless among his age group that various organizations and even the government were keeping a close eye on him—and yet, he had been defeated.
Since he was a prospect everyone was watching, Monica had also kept tabs on Akito’s information.
Is it a bad matchup…? No, Akito has mastered various combat styles and magic to respond to any situation.
And yet, he lost to someone unexpected.
Well, perhaps not that unexpected.
Since Frey had taught him personally and even Chen had evaluated him as a monster, Seo Yeon-woo must possess considerable skill.
Still, it was hard to believe that Akito, who possessed the kind of overwhelming talent that defined an era, had lost.
“I suppose his combat style using Mana Barriers and Counter Magic is more effective than I thought.”
“No.”
Angelica shook her head at Monica’s words.
“This time, Yeon-woo didn't even use his original combat style.”
“…He didn't use Counter Magic?”
“No. And… he overwhelmed him.”
“…I must have misheard you. You mean Akito overwhelmed him, not the other way around, right?”
It was an absurdity that left even Monica, the head of the Graham family, flustered.
She could concede a hundred times over that Yeon-woo might win.
At that age, the rate of growth fluctuates wildly, so talented individuals often trade leads in skill.
But overwhelmed?
With Akito’s current level of skill, even most veteran mages would have to defer to him. It made no sense.
“You heard correctly. Yeon-woo overwhelmed Akito.”
Understanding her mother’s shock—since even she, who loved and trusted Yeon-woo, had been stunned into a daze at the scene—Angelica shook her head.
Monica blinked, then silently picked up her phone and dialed a number. A voice full of annoyance drifted through the receiver.
— What?
“How strong is your disciple?”
— Ah~ that? Were you really that curious?
“I’m not joking. Tell me straight.”
At Monica’s angry tone, Frey replied with a voice that sounded amused.
— Roughly… he’d probably beat you too.
“…Are you serious?”
— If you don’t believe me, try fighting him yourself. I won’t take responsibility for your embarrassment.
“… …”
— If you have nothing else to say, I’m hanging up. I’m busy.
The call ended. Monica put her phone down and sighed.
Seeing Angelica watching her while holding back what she wanted to say, Monica sighed again, stood up, and took her daughter’s hand.
“Angelica.”
“Yes, Mother. I…”
“No, why would I stop my daughter when she says she wants to get stronger?”
“Thank you.”
“But this path will be difficult. You know that, right?”
Seeing the worried look in her mother’s eyes, Angelica nodded with a bright face to reassure her.
The Graham family’s training for a prospective head was brutal.
It was grueling not just physically but mentally; one couldn't even begin if they weren't prepared.
In the game, this was an event that only occurred in the latter half after the war against the demons ended, triggered by Angelica’s awakening. However, the duel between Seo Yeon-woo and Akito had moved the timeline forward.
For Seo Yeon-woo’s sake, and out of the fear that she wouldn't be able to walk beside him if she fell behind, Angelica intended to overcome her weak self and become strong.
*
“If you have nothing else to say, I’m hanging up. I’m busy.”
Frey hung up the phone and stared intently at the bold brat who had suddenly shown up thirty minutes ago, demanding to be made stronger.
Yukina, who had been brutally struck down, gasped for breath as she struggled to stand.
However, even as she tried to force herself up, her legs gave out, and she collapsed. The sight of her trying so hard to rise again was pitiful.
“This has turned into your first lesson, I suppose… You’ve never fought a mage overwhelmingly stronger than you, have you?”
“… …”
Without the luxury of answering, Yukina poured all her strength into standing up.
If she collapsed here, everything would be over.
To Yukina, who had kept clinging to her and begging to be taught, Frey had set one condition.
She would test Yukina’s skills; all Yukina had to do was endure. If she could endure, Frey would teach her.
Yukina had been confident.
Since she was called a 12 Zodiac-class mage, she thought that while winning might be impossible, enduring would be doable.
Her past hadn't been pleasant, but thanks to it, Yukina prided herself on her grit and patience. It didn't take long for her to realize that such pride was mere arrogance.
From the very start, before she even knew what had hit her, a massive impact to her jaw sent her legs buckling. Every time she forced her body up, she was met with an unbearable impact and knocked down again.
“A Mana Barrier is just insurance for a mage, not a suit of armor. There are countless ways to bypass a Mana Barrier and deliver an impact. When fighting someone stronger than you, always cast spells to protect your internals first.”
“…I can… still… I can still do more…”
“You’d better. Weakling.”
Boom!
With a loud crash, Yukina was sent flying and slammed into the wall.
As Yukina rolled on the floor and vomited, Frey walked toward her with steady steps.
“The second lesson: get rid of the idea that mages will always be as kind as I am.”
“Ugh…!”
It wasn't exactly something one should say while stepping on someone’s head, but Frey said it with total confidence.
Yukina, her face pressed into the vomit she had just spewed out, struggled to get up but couldn't even break free from the foot pinning her down.
“Third. Where did you sell off your Ghost Fire?”
“Ugh…!”
“Ghost Fire is a purifying power. It’s a rare and useful strength that can be utilized in various ways, not just for simple attacks. And yet, you have something that incredible and this is all you can do?”
Frey moved her foot to Yukina’s side.
Sunwoo, who had come to the training ground in Turk’s stead, quietly stood up and opened the main door when he caught Frey’s gaze.
“You said you were confident in your grit? Congratulations, you’ve just realized that your only merit isn't all that special.”
Frey kicked Yukina out through the door Sunwoo had opened.
The fact that she had placed her foot against Yukina’s side and pushed her out rather than delivering a full blow was Frey’s version of mercy.
Yukina, flying through the air limp and without the strength to stand, tumbled and rolled outside the training ground.
Once Yukina was out of sight, Frey dusted off her hands and returned to the training that had been interrupted earlier. Sunwoo brought a mop and began cleaning up the vomit.
“Was it necessary to be that harsh?”
“Harsh? I was kindly educating someone who didn't know her place.”
Sunwoo wasn't sure about the 'kindly' part, but he agreed it was an education.
Everything Frey had told Yukina—aside from the bit about 'kind mages'—was genuinely helpful advice.
Points to watch out for when fighting a stronger opponent, the direction in which to develop Ghost Fire… if she reflected on these and put in the effort, it would significantly impact her skill.
Though, it would still be difficult for her to catch up to the now-monstrously strong Seo Yeon-woo.
Having watched the entire process of Seo Yeon-woo being granted magic and growing stronger, Sunwoo empathized with Yukina’s words that she had come here because she couldn't catch up to him through ordinary means.
Yeon-woo told me she works incredibly hard…
Her pride and self-esteem were likely as strong as the effort she put in.
Hoping she wouldn't be too discouraged by this, Sunwoo was wiping the floor when the door opened.
“I guess you haven't been beaten enough?”
Frey smirked as she watched Yukina crawl back through the doorway.
Having neither the strength to stand nor the power to open the door properly, Yukina looked wretched as she pushed it open with her head and crawled inside.
Her face was smeared with vomit, her clothes were filthy from the floor, and her black hair was a tangled mess. Despite her beauty, it was a sight that made one wince.
However, in contrast to her pitiful appearance, Yukina’s gaze was fixed on Frey without the slightest tremor.
“I said… pant, pant… I was confident… in my grit…”
She looked like she might die at any moment, but her eyes were sharp and fierce.
The event of Yukina learning from Frey didn't exist in the game.
Though she hadn't been there in person, Yukina had seen the recorded video of the duel where Yeon-woo overwhelmed Akito, and she couldn't help but be shocked by his strength.
I have to help Yeon-woo, who saved me and Haruna.
I have to repay the debt to Yeon-woo, who gave me a normal life.
If even her only useful trait—her combat ability—was of no help, then she had no value.
To avoid being discarded, to repay her debt, and for the person she loved.
As events that never happened in the game began to unfold, Yukina started to become stronger.