Chapter 90
Chapter 90
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: The Ability Called Mystery
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"An ability like that... is called a Mystery?"
"It's... your first time hearing about it, right?"
As Walter said.
The ability known as Mystery was something Jeon was hearing about for the first time.
He had never even considered that there might be other kinds of power besides magic and aura.
"What kind of power is it?"
"I'm not entirely sure myself. I just know it's an innate ability, not something acquired later."
"A power you're born with?"
"The awakening varies, but since I could suddenly use it without ever learning... yeah, probably."
To wield magic or aura, education in those arts was essential.
Of course, natural geniuses might internalize basic steps unconsciously, but proper training was still required to master them.
However, Mystery seemed like a different kind of power altogether—one not learned through study.
"They say it's so rare that most people have never even heard of it, and even those who have dismiss it as rumor."
"That few people have it?"
"Even including all the rumors, I heard there are fewer than ten Mystery users in the entire Empire right now."
An ability that rare...
"So, does every Mystery user have a completely different power?"
"I've never met another, so I can't say for sure, but I've heard they're all unique."
And if those rare abilities were all distinct from one another...
'Even the Third Prince might not have seen it coming.'
It wasn't magic or aura.
Its very existence wasn't even properly proven, and even knowing Mystery existed didn't reveal who had it or how it manifested.
In other words, it was impossible to guard against using conventional methods—or any methods, really, without intimate knowledge of the specific power.
It was asymmetric warfare incarnate.
'Definitely similar to the Korean Patch.'
The more Walter explained, the more parallels Jeon saw between Mystery and his own Korean Patch.
It wasn't magic or aura—just a power he had innately.
The Korean Patch activated on its own in his mind, without him needing to control it.
'Maybe the Korean Patch is a type of Mystery... or at least related.'
Since he'd had it the moment he arrived in this world, Jeon had never deeply pondered the Korean Patch.
It was like a story from drunken chats with friends suddenly becoming real.
Just like in all those media tropes, he'd assumed he came to this world with such an ability as a given.
"What does your ability do?"
"...It interferes with the opponent's mind. I can make them hear hallucinations, or in severe cases, even brainwash them."
"Then why did you come to the White Magic Tower?"
"It's related to my ability."
"Brainwashing is your power, right?"
"Brainwashing isn't always bad. Depending on how you use it, it can unlock potential. And I used it on myself to enhance my mental abilities."
...What the hell was that supposed to mean?
He brainwashed himself?
Like self-hypnosis or something?
"But what does that have to do with coming here?"
"Boosting my mental power sometimes leads to prophetic dreams."
"Prophetic dreams?"
"As the name implies, they're not clear visions. But right after waking from one, the words Linkcroft, White Magic Tower, and child prodigy were burned into my mind."
"So why pick me out of everyone they summoned?"
"It was a gut feeling."
This guy...
Jeon was listening, but it was hard to buy into any of it.
Brainwashing himself to boost his mental power and dream prophecies?
As if that were possible.
Still, it gave him a rough idea of what Mystery was.
A power utterly unlike magic or aura—an unknown force whose limits were impossible to gauge.
That was enough about the ability itself.
Now it was time for something more important.
"So, who's your boss?"
"That's..."
Walter froze at Jeon's sudden question.
His eyes darted anxiously as he agonized over whether to speak, how much, and how.
"Shrink it another 10cm?"
"Hngh, hnghk! P-please, not that...!"
But when Jeon casually raised his hand in threat, Walter gave up scheming and spilled honestly.
"This was all... on Second Prince Lupeon's orders."
"...Second Prince?"
An unexpected name popped out of Walter's mouth.
The Second Prince?
'Why would the Second Prince target the Third...?'
The Second Prince, Lupeon, was competing for the throne against the First Prince.
So why target the Third, who wasn't even a rival?
"Did the Second Prince really order a hit on the Third Prince?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"To... stir up chaos."
To stir up chaos.
Even hearing the reason didn't make it click.
"I don't know the details, but... in the current succession struggle, the First Prince holds the advantage no matter what."
"Obviously."
Jeon didn't follow the succession details closely,
but he'd picked up enough rumors to get the gist.
The First Prince had legitimacy as the eldest son and exceptional personal ability.
The Second Prince was talented too, but not enough to surpass the First on merit alone.
Yet he remained a contender because of his ruthless ambition and knack for rallying supporters—unlike the First, who shone solo.
"I heard the Second Prince wants to shatter that legitimacy and the whole First-vs-Second dynamic."
"What does that have to do with you brainwashing the Third Prince?"
"I don't know beyond that. I just do what I'm told."
Whatever the full story,
it was clear the Second Prince was willing to drag his own brother into the mess to overturn his disadvantage.
'The Second Prince... doesn't sit right with me.'
Someone who ignored means and ends for ambition was dangerous.
More so with power and position backing it.
And that described Second Prince Lupeon perfectly.
Jeon reaffirmed his resolve to steer clear of imperial entanglements.
"So, what's your exact mission?"
"Brainwash the Third Prince first. Then I get separate tasks as needed."
"You didn't report or get permission for this side trip?"
"As long as I stick to the return schedule. Coming here was my call—I have that much leeway."
Walter seemed like a valuable asset even on the Second Prince's side.
Makes sense, given he was impersonating the Third Prince.
"I've told you everything honestly. So please... restore my height."
Thud.
Walter dropped to his knees, begging Jeon.
His pitiful expression would tug at anyone's heartstrings.
"Oh, right."
Jeon nodded at the plea and extended both hands forward.
Gathering mana, he locked eyes with Walter looking up at him.
"But when were you planning to use all that you've been gathering?"
Flinch.
Walter shuddered at Jeon's words.
"What... do you mean...?"
"While we talked, you've been pouring purple energy into that dagger you've been holding."
Jeon's body was fully enhanced by the Reinforcement rune.
His senses were sharpened too.
Not magic or aura, but he'd noticed Walter fussing over the dagger in his right hand.
From Walter's perspective,
even if his height was restored, he was already backed into a corner.
Would the Second Prince spare a mission failure?
No chance.
The moment failure was detected, assassins would come.
And Jeon might not let him live either.
So Walter had prepared his own escape.
"Fuck!"
Tat!
No turning back now that it was exposed.
Walter sprang up from his kneel, kicking off the ground with all his might.
The dagger slashed straight at Jeon.
"Too slow."
But Jeon had anticipated it, so he was ready.
Crackle!
"Gaaaargh!"
Lightning magic from Jeon's hand struck Walter first, faster than the dagger swing.
Electricity coiling around him yanked his extended arm inward, sending him crumpling to the floor.
"How... do you always... figure it out...?"
Collapsed on the ground, Walter glared at Jeon with a mix of resentment, rage, despair, and admiration.
He'd never failed to fool anyone like this.
He could brainwash himself.
Meaning he could impose any emotion—sorrow, fear, joy—onto himself at will.
His "acting" was total self-brainwashing, indistinguishable from truth.
With it, he'd backstabbed countless experts, his undetectable Mystery power ensuring zero failures.
Until Jeon.
"If you're gonna do it, commit fully—no side thoughts. I felt everything."
Jeon knew Walter's words and emotions were genuine.
But the faint ulterior motives afterward were caught by his activated senses.
'Still... it'd fool most people easily.'
Jeon had the Reinforcement rune active beforehand, but without it—or at Master or Archmage level senses—it'd be undetectable.
Superb acting plus a completely alien power? Unavoidable without prior knowledge.
"Thanks for the info."
"S-spare... me..."
"Goodbye."
Crackle-crackle!
Jeon unleashed lightning mercilessly as Walter tried another pitiful act.
To ensure no last tricks, he fried Walter's brain completely.
Droop.
Walter's body went limp, life fully extinguished.
And at that moment...
"...Huh?"
Whoosh!
Jeon felt some power flowing into his body.