Chapter 99
Chapter 99
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Mirna's Secret
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After a fierce sparring match with Lena.
Jeon's daily routine hadn't changed much.
Unlike his companions, who were busy mingling with the villagers here and there, Jeon spent most of his time alone.
'Well, not entirely alone.'
He might look solitary on the outside, but that wasn't the case within.
Inside Jeon dwelled the purple energy seeping from Walter, represented by violet, and the golden energy from Anne, represented by gold.
And strangely enough, both energies possessed a certain degree of will.
So in a sense, there were three presences in Jeon's inner world besides himself.
'Anne's side is pretty friendly, too.'
Even though he'd acquired the purple energy first, it felt reluctant to let him use its power easily whenever he tried. In contrast, the golden energy infused with Anne's will was more permissive, allowing him to wield its abilities.
'That said, it's not complete.'
He could use the golden energy, but not to the extent he'd seen in Anne's recollections—like firing it out in all directions.
What Jeon could do now was perceive mana more clearly through the golden energy.
When it settled in his eyes, he could vividly see how mana was handled, how it moved, and what changes it underwent.
'And I didn't expect this unexpected manifestation...'
Back in his room after the spar, Jeon recreated the spell Lena had shown him earlier.
Whoosh.
A silver flame bud bloomed at his fingertips.
This was only the second time casting it, yet it felt far smoother and faster than Lena, who had learned it properly.
'No, it's not the same.'
For starters, the casting speed was quicker than Lena's.
And since he'd analyzed its applications thoroughly during their spar, it was fair to say Jeon wielded this spell better than she did.
'Without the golden eyes, this would be impossible.'
The golden energy from Anne—and the golden eyes it manifested—were undoubtedly remarkable abilities.
They were especially helpful for learning magic or handling aura, but even then, simply watching someone else's spell and replicating it wasn't possible.
But Jeon was different.
Activating the golden eyes combined with his innate ability, the Korean Patch.
And the result surpassed Jeon's wildest imagination.
'It felt like reading magic—no, mana itself.'
Perhaps because he could now see the intricate movements of mana that were previously invisible.
Jeon could clearly discern how the mana in a spell changed through specific methods, how those changes structured it, and how it manifested as magic.
It was akin to how his past self could grasp the meaning of a language just by hearing or seeing it—now, he could comprehend the "meaning" of the mana a mage wielded.
"Hard to put into words."
Even Jeon was still amazed, as this was something he'd never experienced or even imagined before.
A few days ago, when Lena kept pestering him for a spar to test the golden eyes, he'd been utterly shocked upon discovering this.
'Just watching someone cast a spell lets me understand it.'
It was an absurd ability.
Of course, he'd only tested it on Lena so far, so there might be limits, but Jeon didn't think its potential was that narrow.
'Anne demonstrated far more than just golden eyes.'
In her recollections, Anne hadn't limited the golden energy to mere golden eyes.
She'd wielded it in countless ways, so perhaps nurturing this golden power would also evolve Jeon's own Korean Patch ability further.
"Has time passed this quickly already?"
How long had he been lost in thought while gazing at the silver flame bud?
Snapping out of it, Jeon realized it was already dark outside.
In other words...
"I should head out before it's too late."
It was time for his meeting with Mirna.
Jeon waved his hand to disperse the silver flame bud and stood up.
"You've arrived."
Clink.
As Jeon reached Mirna's home, she greeted him as if she'd known he'd come, having prepared tea already.
'Feels a bit nostalgic.'
On the first day in the village, the whole group had sat around here.
Now, only Jeon and Mirna sat facing each other.
It had felt cramped back then, but now it seemed spacious—almost empty.
"......"
The two sat in silence.
Mirna was carefully choosing her words, and Jeon patiently waited.
Slurp.
So Jeon took a sip of the tea before him.
The warm energy seeping into his body calmed his mind and spirit.
By the time he'd emptied his cup...
"Where should I begin?"
Mirna, who had been silent for so long, finally spoke.
"Jeon, you've noticed, haven't you? The unusual way I look at Lena."
Jeon nodded at her question.
From the moment he'd caught that fleeting glance on the first day she saw Lena, he'd suspected some history between them.
"Sigh... I've agonized over how to say this, but honesty seems best."
She'd hesitated even before speaking, and now paused again after opening her mouth.
Curiosity peaked as Jeon wondered what she was about to say, his mind racing through scenarios.
'Maybe she wants to take Lena as a disciple and raise her here, or perhaps she pities Lena for studying magic in the Silvermont Family while she's still in Langley, unlike them who left...'
But Mirna's next words far exceeded Jeon's expectations.
"The truth is, Lena is my granddaughter."
"......Pardon?"
Caught off guard, Jeon nearly dropped his teacup.
'What is this, some morning soap opera twist?'
Whose granddaughter was who?
Even though he'd heard it clearly, it didn't sink in. Jeon stared at Mirna in shock.
She nodded, as if expecting his reaction.
"It's surprising, isn't it? No one in the village even knows."
"No, but... how did this happen...?"
His calmed mind now swirled with question marks and confusion.
Noticing, Mirna began her tale.
"I had one daughter. She inherited the Foxkin blood quite strongly, almost like me."
Her voice carried a deep nostalgia as she delved into the story.
"But unlike me or my comrades, she hated living as a Silvermont mage. She was curious and talented."
The villagers lived here casually, hiding their identities in this remote mountain village.
But it was no easy feat.
It meant abandoning everything for the duty of a Silvermont mage.
"But there was little I could do. All I managed was sending her out to the White Tower."
So, not a Silvermont mage, but part of the White faction.
'The Whites are freer than Silvermont mages, for sure.'
The White Tower was in a massive city, incomparable to this village.
They bore duties, but could enjoy far more freedom and luxuries here.
"Selen was content with that—until she met the Silvermont heir who visited the White Tower by chance."
"......They met at the Tower?"
"Yes."
Come to think of it, Alexar Silvermont had odd reactions whenever the White Tower came up.
'Now that I reflect, there are more oddities.'
His subtle investigations into those who left Silvermont long ago despite revering swordsmanship, his strange response when Jeon mentioned going to the White Tower, and easily allowing Lena to stay there.
'All suspicious.'
Individually dismissible, but together, definitely off.
"As love often does, it couldn't be torn apart easily. In the end, marriage was permitted."
"Marriage to an outsider was allowed?"
"It is, with a thorough secrecy oath."
A most thorough secrecy oath.
It erased Selen's existence entirely.
"From that day, she became an orphan. All records of her and us vanished."
"......Impressive."
"We believed it kept us—and her—safe."
They lived leisurely now, but few knew of Silvermont mages or the Whites.
It showed their centuries of strict secrecy.
"No other Silvermont mage knew she'd married, except me, her mother. We marked her as deceased."
It was ruthlessly thorough.
But Mirna's trembling voice suggested regret.
"So when she truly fell ill and died, I couldn't even visit."
"......I see."
Knowing her daughter was suffering yet unable to act, not even seeing her face once.
It must have been horrific for both.
"Looking back, it's ironic. The secrecy, bonds, and existence we guarded so fiercely crumbled with one betrayal from our leader."
"......Ah."
Jeon let out an involuntary sigh of pity at her self-deprecating words.
What they'd protected for ages had recently collapsed spectacularly.
Jeon knew this better than most, making Mirna's lingering regrets hit home.
"Then you asked if you could come with Silvermont's young lady."
Her heart must have stirred from that moment, swelling upon seeing Lena.
"......Will you tell her?"
"How could I, with no face to show?"
Mirna shook her head.
She herself had erased her daughter for the organization.
How could she now play grandmother?
She couldn't face her dead daughter's ghost.
"Still, I wanted to help somehow, so I taught her magic. But her talent overflowed—matching Selen's, or perhaps surpassing it."
She'd planned simple spells at first.
But soon, Mirna was fully invested, even teaching her own developed magic.
"Still, it's time to go. We've stayed too long."
"Yes, I know."
That was that, and this was this.
They could return later, but now was time to leave.
Mirna nodded slowly, understanding.
"Unburdening this to someone feels better."
"Glad to hear it."
She looked relieved, and Jeon smiled faintly.
Shocking, but harmless to him.
Just an intriguing story.
"Thank you so much."
"No trouble."
He'd worried she might cling to Lena, but listening resolved it all.
Perfect for Jeon, but Mirna had more.
"Wait a moment."
She rose and entered her room.
Moments later, she returned with a small wooden box.
"Here, take this."
She offered it to Jeon.
"What's this?"
"Ho ho, open it."
Jeon carefully opened the box, revealing a ginseng-like root emitting a faint silver glow.
"This is...?"
Clearly extraordinary, but unknown, so he looked to Mirna.
She explained kindly.
"One reason Silvermont mages live in this village."
"Reason?"
"The finest spiritual herbs like this thrive in such mountains."