Chapter 196
Chapter 196
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Change
-----------------------------------------------------------------
html, body { margin:0; padding:0; }
"Un-ho! Check this out!!"
Alice, who had been lying beside me, slithered up my body like a snake and excitedly shoved her smartphone in my face.
It showed text reading "Pomuus Poll: World's Most Respected Person No. 1" with my face right there.
"As expected of you, Un-ho. The top spot for most respected person."
"Does No. 1 come with a prize or something?"
"Hehe, probably not."
The world had been turned upside down by the magic and aura training methods I released.
This even caused a brief slowdown in the Jeju Island subjugation efforts, as Awakeners became obsessed with magic and aura.
The Flame Lord Kwak Sang-hyun came to me personally to express his gratitude.
As time passed, even ordinary people who had been deemed unfit for Awakening started Awakening. In this situation, the secret arts viewing rights sold like hotcakes.
Awakeners who learned magic and aura grew even stronger.
Now, they weren't divided into Elemental or Enhancement Awakeners anymore.
They were classified as mages or aura Awakeners.
Amid all this, what I hadn't anticipated was the Basic Aura Training Method.
This world's version of Un-ho's Aura Secret Arts—the aura training method—began manifesting in wildly different ways for each person.
Some reinforced their bodies evenly and balanced, like normal humans.
Others focused aura specifically on their skin, hardening it to the point where weapons were unnecessary.
On top of that.
Some even created something akin to a dantian like in martial arts, or formed aura cores in wildly different spots—from the heart to arms or legs.
As aura training manifested in such diverse ways, confusion spread among people.
They weren't sure which method was the "normal" one.
Of course, I had no idea what was causing it either.
So I had no choice but to consult Liliana.
"That's the Basic Aura Training Method for you."
"That's how it's supposed to be?"
"It's not called the origin for nothing. Without direct intervention from someone, every trainee develops their own unique direction. If you want uniformity, you have to guide them personally and instill a consistent concept."
Unfortunately, the only one who could do that was me.
And naturally, I had zero intention of bothering with something so tedious.
"That's also why the Basic Aura Training Method fell out of favor in modern times. When people practicing the same method get different results, they feel uneasy and switch to other training methods."
Come to think of it, wasn't that actually a good thing?
A training method tailored to each person's unique traits.
How personalized and wonderful.
Thinking back, the knights of Pantera had pretty diverse aura training methods too.
I'd even seen some without an aura core at all, just stacking it throughout their entire body.
"Its stability is unmatched by any other method, so it's not a big issue. Without that stability, it never would have become the origin."
Once Hanna held a press conference with some slick packaging and a non-explanation explanation, the confusion died down somewhat.
Reassured by Hanna's conference, Awakeners began interpreting and practicing the Basic Aura Training Method in their own diverse ways.
When Liliana called it the origin of aura training methods, I just thought "oh, okay." But seeing the aura Awakeners now, I truly understood what that meant.
For magic, progress was heavily influenced by their original Awakening rank.
And Awakeners were progressing faster than I'd expected.
Specifically, high-rank Awakeners.
I'd only released magic up to 3rd Circle, but high-rank Awakeners' circles grew rapidly regardless.
The A-Rank Flame Lord Kwak Sang-hyun was a prime example.
He stacked up six circles in a short time.
I'd only made public the library's content up to 3rd Circle magic. Yet, just from that knowledge, he'd reached 6th Circle.
"Simply forming mana circles depends more on understanding and control of mana than magical knowledge. Studying magic is for that purpose."
Asking Liliana always cleared things up easily.
"So, you're saying that if someone has the talent, they could form circles without studying magic?"
"In simple terms, yes. I doubt they'd manage without learning magic... though some do pop up occasionally. Still, there are limits, so they should learn it."
Our world was unique due to Dimensional Rifts causing Awakenings, so it wasn't exactly like Pantera.
But high Awakening ranks naturally meant superior mana understanding and control.
Plus, even low-circle magic was new knowledge, so it was reasonable to assume their circles increased smoothly.
This made me think the beginner magic books might not be enough.
I figured I'd done plenty already, but that wasn't the main reason.
The biggest was for my women.
For them, I needed intermediate magic books someday.
Intermediate magic books from 4th Circle onward weren't sold in magic shops.
They had to be obtained from the Magic Tower.
The Magic Tower was in the kingdom's capital.
I had no plans to go there, obviously.
There was someone nearby who could get them easily, so why bother?
Did the world know?
That I was shedding blood in the shadows for world peace.
"You want intermediate magic books?"
Liliana's eyes sparkled.
Her gaze was pure hyena, plotting to fleece me properly.
Anyone could see her pulling out even bigger guts than before.
"Your guts have gotten..."
"No. Same size as always. You're imagining things, Un-ho."
Now she lied with straight-faced confidence.
Her face gleamed with naked greed.
Let her get away with it once...
She really thought I was an idiot.
The saying "needle thief becomes cow thief" fit perfectly. I regretted not nipping this bad habit in the bud back then.
"Where'd you learn such naughty tricks!"
I bound Liliana with mana interference so she couldn't escape, plopped her over my knee, and spanked her mercilessly.
-Smack! Smack! Smack!
I felt the forgotten springy resilience of Liliana's butt sticking to my palm.
"Eek!! Hitting a lady's butt!! How rude! Ahh! Why the magic... Hngh!"
Thoroughly spanked, Liliana had no choice but to hand over the intermediate magic books at a "grudge discount" with her blood money.
I uploaded the intermediate magic books from Liliana to the site but locked them.
The appearance of locked new magic books in the Secret Arts Library sparked another wave of buzz.
I planned to release them eventually.
For now, I'd watch and wait.
Owen was a hacker.
His main income came from encrypting others' computer files and extorting money.
The infamous ransomware method, as the world called it.
There was some hot news lately.
Magic and aura.
S-Rank Hero.
Dragon Slayer Park Un-ho's secrets.
Park Un-ho had created an internet site for viewing those secrets, accessible only there.
A new secret arts book appeared on that site.
Everyone assumed it was a high-circle magic book.
It was perfectly ripe prey for hackers.
Hacking and selling it would mean a fortune.
Not just Owen.
Hackers and groups worldwide would be eyeing it.
First to strike gets the biggest haul.
He attempted the hack immediately.
"Huh?"
But shortly after starting, his own files began encrypting rapidly.
He knew the signs instantly—it was his own modus operandi.
Before he could react, his computer died at ridiculous speed.
Text appeared on the monitor.
Owen never imagined receiving the exact messages he sent others.
He was dumbfounded, speechless.
"What the f...!!"
Unbelievable.
He'd been reverse-ransomed doing what he did daily.
Ridiculous.
But right now, he needed to save his computer, even if it meant complying. It held too many irreplaceable files.
There was a risk of scamming, so he hesitated. But the amount wasn't outrageous—temptingly reasonable.
Worth a shot.
Still, it pissed him off.
"Motherfucker!"
Cursing, Owen wired the money.
Luckily, the guy had some honor and sent the key.
His computer recovered, thankfully.
"No way... because I tried hacking that site?"
Hacker instinct told him so.
"Hah... you wanna play?"
Hacker pride was at stake.
He couldn't back down.
He switched computers.
One he could recover from ransomware, disposable if needed.
This time, he prepped thoroughly and tried again.
"Oh no!!!"
But ransomware hit again without fail.
"Damn it, what's wrong? This can't be real?"
The demand had ballooned twentyfold.
"Bullshit."
He tried resetting and recovering, but no dice.
Fine, it was disposable.
He booted another computer.
But the same demand appeared on that one too.
"Holy... shit!! This real?"
Ethernet unplugged, power off.
Yet infected.
Impossible.
"Fuuuuck!!"
Furious, Owen pounded the keyboard. Plastic keycaps flew in a frenzied shotgun blast.
-Hee hee.
"Gasp."
Hearing an impossible woman's giggle, Owen startled and looked around.
"Did I mishear?"
But cold sweat trickled down his spine.
Then, eyeless creepy woman's faces appeared on all monitors.
"Aaaah!!"
Owen toppled backward, fainting.
Suni could have zeroed his account in seconds but was toying with him.
Child's play for Suni, now capable of manifestation.
Owen wasn't the only victim.
Malicious hacker groups targeting the site were dismantled by Suni.
Those trying to copy and sell Un-ho's secret arts online fared similarly.
By then, hackers had to admit: the manager of Un-ho's Secret Arts Library was untouchable.
Thus, Un-ho's Secret Arts Library became a forbidden zone hackers dared not touch.