Chapter 108
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: Entangled (3)
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That night.
The first thing I did when I got home was contact Meiden.
...You encountered the boss of the Seekers of Truth?
Yes.
Meiden sucked in a breath.
Tell me everything.
I explained all that had just happened.
From discovering someone emitting a terrifying aura during the friendly match to accidentally bumping into him.
Fortunately, he didn't seem to know who I was.
...Thats a relief, at least.
Right?
Its still nerve-wracking to think about.
Anyway, I understand. As you said, I'll look into whether anyone in Korean politics is acting suspiciously.
Yes. Please do.
And with that, the call ended.
I stretched, moving my tense muscles this way and that.
Are all your communications finished?
Suddenly, the princess poked her head out from behind my shoulder.
Ah, uh. Yeah, they're done.
You had quite a serious look on your face. Is something the matter?
Its nothing.
...It certainly looked like something.
I said its nothing.
I gently tapped the head of the princess, who wore a look of worldly concern, then stood up from my seat.
There is most certainly something going on.... For the sake of my own pride, I must learn this... Hangul?
The princess pouted, her lips jutting out.
Yeah. Its good to learn Hangul. I can teach you. Its not that hard.
Ooh! Truly!
Yep. For you, Princess, youll pick it up in no time.
A brilliant mind like hers could probably read and write it in ten minutes.
Hangul is just that simple.
...At least, the reading and writing part is.
Hmph. My brilliant mind was famous even in my home country.
The princess beamed.
I have a favor to ask of that brilliant princess.
Hm? What is it?
The princesss ears perked up. The compliment seemed to have put her in a good mood.
Its not a difficult request.
After meeting Unknown today, I felt it again. I have to get stronger, somehow, during this lull before the international competition.
At the very least, I need to be strong enough to win a one-on-one fight against any of the executives, except for Maestro.
Teach me magic.
To do that, I need to learn magic.
* * *
I began to learn magic from the triumphant princess.
You move the mana with a sort of *swirly-whirly* feeling, then you make it burst with a *flash* at the end.
...Can this even be called learning?
And thats it.
The princess grinned, looking like a certain frizzy-haired painter on TV. For some reason, I could almost hear a phantom voice saying, See? It's that easy.
?
I didnt understand a single thing.
What the hell is *swirly-whirly* and *flash*?
Did the beastkin language proficiency I presumably got from Shin-hyeong have a bug?
Hmm. Plausible.
The next part is even easier. You make the mana go *fwoosh*. Then, at the end, its like a *hummm*.
...
Once you get the *hummm*, the next step is a *ba-bang*...
It didn't seem to be a translation error.
I let out a hollow laugh.
Id read somewhere that geniuses cant teach. Is this what they meant?
Are you listening, you?
...Im listening.
Literally just listening.
Then I shall continue.
After that, the princesss lecture in her alien language continued for another ten minutes.
How is it, you? Do you think you understand?
...
Nope. Not a single clue.
Hmm. Your expression says you dont understand.
My thoughts must have been written all over my face.
I let her continue since she was so excited, but at this rate, Id get nowhere.
To be honest, I dont really get it.
I said with a serious expression.
Which part did you find difficult?
Which part...
All of it?
Hah.
The princess sighed.
And here I was, explaining it in the simplest terms possible. You found all of it difficult?
...That was her explaining it in the simplest terms possible?
Indeed. Come to think of it, the tutors assigned to my education were much the same. They were all left speechless by my sophisticated vocabulary.
...Speechless at your out-of-this-world vocabulary, more like.
Hm? What was that?
My inner thoughts must have slipped out. Thankfully, they slipped out in Korean.
Nothing. I just said youre amazing.
...That wasnt the feeling I got. For the sake of my pride, I must learn this countrys language quickly.
The princess nodded slightly, her lips pressed firmly together. She seemed to have made a resolution.
It cannot be helped. If theory is difficult, then we must resort to practical instruction.
Practical?
Yes. It is the method used by the retainer who first taught me magic.
The princess rose from her seat with a playful smile. She then moved behind me and wrapped her arms around my body from behind.
Princess?
It was what one would call a back hug.
Concentrate.
The princesss profile was dead serious.
Close your eyes, and slowly move your mana according to my guidance.
The princess placed her hands over mine.
A warm sensation spread throughout my body. I could feel an unfamiliar mana in my system, but it wasn't unpleasant.
First, the heart. Can you feel it? From here, you will slowly circulate your mana.
The princesss mana urged my own to move.
I followed her mana, moving mine little by little.
I felt a sense of peace settle over my mind and body.
How is it? This is the *swirly-whirly*.
...
...I dont know about that.
I cleared my mind of distractions and focused again on circulating my mana.
Ooh. Though not as much as me, you are quite a fast learner.
The princess exclaimed in admiration.
Then let us move to the next step. Not for circulation, but for release. Draw out a little more mana from your heart.
*Fwoosh-!*
In that moment, a warm flame flickered to life on my body.
Your primordial mana attribute is fire... a talent that is not bad.
A hint of pleasure colored the princesss voice.
In that case, a simple fire spell should be good. Move your mana as I guide you.
I moved my mana as she guided.
The flow of mana was on a completely different level from simply moving it from heart to hand for a mere discharge.
I kept moving it.
Now.
At that moment.
*Fwoosh-!*
I felt an intense heat on my face.
Truly a remarkable talent. I wonder if you are special, or if all of this era's humanity is as skilled as you.
The princess smiled.
Open your eyes.
I slowly opened my eyes.
Congratulations. You are now a mage.
Before me flickered an arrow-shaped flame.
Its size was by no means large, and the heat it contained was less than what I could produce with my energy, but it was undeniably magic.
Fire Arrow. It is the most basic of fire-attribute spells. Remember it.
A strange thrill ran through my entire body.
* * *
Thursday morning.
I finished my training with Instructor Pi Jinho, which had become part of my daily routine.
Thats all for today.
Th-thank you for your hard work.
I never got used to Instructor Pi Jinhos physical training.
Shouldnt the exercises get at least a little easier as my physical abilities improve?
How does it keep getting harder?
Hmm. The more I see it, the more wondrous your recovery rate is.
The boiling blood of a pureblood.
The driving force of my growth.
Muscles grow as they recover. Thanks to my accelerated recovery, my muscles were growing at a rapid pace.
I think we can increase the training intensity a bit more.
...And this devil instructor's training, so ruthless it would make a demon blush, was also accelerating.
Please save me...
Any more intense and I might just...
Are you asking me to increase the training intensity?
How on earth did you interpret what I said like that?
Training makes you stronger. When youre stronger, your survival rate naturally goes up. Therefore, your plea to be saved is the same as asking to increase your survival rate, which leads to the conclusion that you want to increase the training intensity.
...
Thats some twisted logic.
Well, if you have no intention of getting stronger, I could lower the intensity a bit...
Instructor Pi Jinhos lips twisted into a smirk. It was a smile that strangely pricked at my pride. It was getting on my nerves.
Increase it, sir.
Besides, he wasnt wrong.
I couldnt afford to be complacent right now.
At my firm declaration, Instructor Pi Jinhos smile deepened.
Good resolve.
...Did I just do something Ill regret?
I was starting to have second thoughts.
Ah, right. What are your plans for club activities?
The deadline for joining a club was fast approaching.
Honestly, I still havent decided.
As it was, seniors had been visiting me during every break, so I had a lot to think about.
But why do you ask?
Did he have a club to recommend?
I heard youve been using me as an excuse to reject club invitations. Something about how you cant join any club without my permission.
Ah. Um...
Instructor Pi Jinho chuckled.
In any case, choose your club wisely. Once you join, you cant quit for at least one semester.
Yes. Im aware.
* * *
After all my classes were over.
I walked out of the school gate.
I was on my way back to the luxurious mansion Id received as a gift from Meiden.
Having a private house is comfortable, but its a bit inconvenient being farther away than the dorms.
Id been running it like a light jog, but even that was becoming a hassle these days. Honestly, I was past the stage where just running would improve my physical abilities, so it felt like a waste of time.
...Should I look into getting a car?
If I could shorten my commute, Id have more time to learn magic from the princess at home.
Id felt the need for a car back in Gangneung, too. I needed some means of getting around on my own.
If I asked Meiden, shed arrange it in a heartbeat, but...
Ive already received a house, so asking for a car too feels a bit shameless...
I had some conscience. After receiving Cheonbyeon and a house, asking for a car felt like too much. Still, I probably did need one...
Sigh.
I suppose I need to start earning some money. It was then, as I let out a sigh.
Havent you heard that sighing makes your good luck run away?
A woman approached me with a smile. I looked at her without much reaction.
...Thats just a superstition.
Oh. Is that so?
The woman, Shirakawa AiLustsmiled innocently.
Another chance encounter during a walk today?
Yes. Im lucky.
This was the fourth time wed met since our first encounter on Monday.
She claimed it was a coincidence, but anyone could see it wasnt.
Ive been wondering, dont you have to go to work?
I didnt understand why this woman was approaching me. At first, I thought she was just trying to seduce me as per her character setting.
But that didnt seem to be the case.
In the first place, the Seekers of Truth should be busy preparing for their operation right now.
There was no way Lust would be lazing around for four whole days at a time like this.
There had to be another reason.
I got a month-long vacation.
...Shouldnt you go back to Japan then?
Its fine. Theres no one to see even if I go back.
Really?
But I couldnt for the life of me figure out what that reason was. Was her purpose to investigate me? No. If she were investigating me, it would be more advantageous for her not to show herself.
No, in the first place, this woman showed no signs of being suspicious of me at all.
Oh. Your shoulder.
Lusts eyes widened as she approached me.
It seems even the leaves recognize a handsome man.
She then reached out to my shoulder and plucked off a leaf.
She smiled, as radiant as a blossoming flower.
...Thanks.
It felt like with each day we met, the burning desire in her eyes grew stronger and stronger.
Well, Ill be going now.
Okay. Take care.
With Lust seeing me off, I quickened my pace.
...This is driving me crazy.
Shirakawa Ai.
What should I do about Lust?
At first, I considered luring her into a trap and dealing with her like I did with Vagabond, but that seemed difficult.
For one, even if I wanted to, I had no evidence.
Even if I had Lust arrested now, shed likely be released without charges.
No information about Lust was publicly known.
It would be great if she just went on a rampage like Vagabond.
But I couldnt just leave her be either.
Honestly, it was scary.
The thought of an executive from the Seekers of Truth loitering around me sent shivers down my spine.
But what could I do?
I had to just leave her alone.
Through a process of elimination, leaving her be was the only answer I came up with.
Hoo.
If possible, I wanted to avoid creating any more major variables before the international competition.
I just wish she would quietly disappear.
I smiled bitterly and hurried on my way.
* * *
When I arrived home, two small tigers and the princess greeted me.
Nyaang.
Geumho and Baekho greeted me as they always did.
Welcome back-y.
The princess greeted me in oddly stilted Korean.
Youre getting pretty good.
Yees. I studied a wot-y.
Her cute, age-appropriate way of speaking made me smile without realizing it.
I lightly stroked the princesss head. She flinched and then shouted.
I-I told you to stop touching my head, did I not!
When she spoke the beastkin language, her tone was still stern. The gap between when she spoke Korean and when she spoke her native tongue was just too wide.
Well, it was my fault for tricking her into thinking this formal way of speaking was a stern tone in the first place.
Alright. I wont do it again.
Y-you said that yesterday and the day before, did you not!
Hm.
Did I?
But I couldn't help it.
This princesss hair was so silky it put fine silk to shame, so my hand moved on its own.
It was beyond my control.
Anyway, I get it, so lets go inside.
There you go again! Do you think I cannot see your obvious attempt to change the subject!
I paid her no mind and went inside.
Stop right there! Today, I shall make you realize how rude it is to touch my head!
The princess grumbled as she followed me.
I gave a half-hearted reply and headed to the bedroom.
Ah. By the way, Princess. I succeeded at that thing today. Dual Casting?
I told you, I will not fall for such a transparent attempt to change the sub... what did you say?
The princesss eyes went wide.
I grinned and turned my palm upward.
The next moment, two arrows were floating above my palm.
Arrows of magic, one imbued with the property of fire, the other with wind.
Hows that?
The princesss pupils quaked as if in an earthquake.
You... you learn quite quickly. I did not expect you to master it in a single day.
She broke into a cold sweat and avoided my gaze.
Well, you are still inferior to me, who mastered it in an hour!
...
She had the face of someone who was clearly lying.
Wh-why are you looking at me with those eyes!
...Did it take our princess longer than me to learn Dual Casting?
I-it is not a lie. I am a genius of the century! There is no way such a one as I would be slower to learn than you! I-I struggled a bit with Triple Casting, but Dual Casting was very easy!
I looked at her and smiled playfully.
Ah~ so you struggled a bit with Triple Casting.
Hmph. That is correct. Triple was quite difficult.
*Crackle-!*
The moment another arrow formed next to the other two, the princesss expression hardened.
Tr-tri... Triple...?
A third arrow, composed of lightning.
I moved the three arrows of different elements around and smiled brightly.
It wasnt that hard, though?
The princesss pupils started to quake violently again.
If the last one was about a magnitude 5, this time, the quake in her eyes was at least a magnitude 8.
End of <Chapter 108. Entangled (3)>