34
034 ― Can't Go Again
There was no change to the sword itself. However, the sword began absorbing Magi from its surroundings. Though it wasn't a visible phenomenon, Jin-woo, who was holding the sword, could feel the change.
'Oh......'
It wasn't as overwhelming as the dragon's soul. The scene of the dragon absorbing Magi was truly like a star with gravity, where any surrounding Magi couldn't resist and was sucked in.
In comparison, the Magi absorbed by Jin-woo's sword was only slightly powerful.
Yet that slightly powerful absorption force shook the chain magic that Johan had cast.
'Is the structure being shaken?'
Jin-woo wasn't a mage, so he didn't know well. He had only casually read a few guides and tips written by mage Hunters on Hunter Net Blind for entertainment.
According to those posts, magic was like construction, where you had to stack Magi as materials in various, complex, yet stable ways.
A well-constructed spell structure would become solid and stable on its own, able to withstand any external pressure.
By that logic, the magic Johan had cast would be a structure as sturdy as an air raid shelter. After all, he was an S-rank black mage.
Yet that spell's structure was shaking and crumbling under the Dragon Sword's attraction. Like a building helplessly swaying when exposed to a strong earthquake.
'If S-rank magic shakes this much, crude magic wouldn't even be able to withstand it, would it?'
This was quite a considerable level among anti-magic abilities. Probably B-rank magic would crumble just by activating the Dragon Sword, and A-rank magic would at most endure for a while.
Only S-rank magic would be able to properly withstand it while maintaining its magical form.
'Actually, Johan's magic was shaking but didn't crumble either.'
The chain magic hadn't lost its effectiveness as magic. In building terms, it was a building with perfect earthquake-resistant design.
But no matter how perfect the earthquake-resistant design, if it received a greater impact from outside, it would inevitably collapse.
Scrape―
Clang!
Jin-woo simply cut through the chains with the Dragon Sword. Magical chains that would never have been cut by an ordinary sword were helplessly severed.
Even though Jin-woo only cut one spot, the entire chain shattered to pieces from the aftermath of the magic bursting. The Magi that had been forming the magic poured out all at once, then was absorbed into the Dragon Sword without leaving a single grain behind.
The absorbed Magi ultimately flowed into Jin-woo, who was gripping the sword. Through the sword, through his arm, through his blood vessels, and finally to his heart.
'This is Magi......'
Jin-woo felt somewhat moved by the sensation of Magi that he was clearly feeling for the first time.
It wasn't that Magi didn't exist. All living beings in the world have their own Magi, and the abilities that hunters awaken also have Magi as their foundation.
But unless you were in a magic profession that professionally handled Magi, it was difficult to directly feel that Magi.
Just like how blood flows in people's bodies, but not everyone feels the flow of blood.
But at this moment, Jin-woo became able to feel Magi's blood flow, its circulation.
'Magi also centers around the heart after all.'
The heart is the center of the body, and at the same time, Magi is also an energy that symbolizes life. It didn't feel awkward that it flowed centered around the heart.
'Magi absorption...... This would be more intuitively helpful than soul absorption.'
The ability to absorb blue flames was absolutely powerful; that was true.
But the blue flames absorbed that way didn't bring great changes to Jin-woo's body. Just getting less tired and feeling more energetic.
In contrast, Magi more directly strengthened the body and also sharpened things like eyes, ears, or skin sensitivity.
If he put his mind to it, he could even learn magic and apply it to combat, making it a resource with exceptional utility.
Of course, Jin-woo would rather swing his sword one more time at that time.
'Excellent.'
This was Jin-woo's impression after confirming the Dragon Sword's performance. It was superior to any ability he had obtained so far. Except for abilities related to blue flames.
Whether it was faster feet, stable breathing, or Shadow Sword or Rock Sword. They were all abilities with their own uses, but even combining them all couldn't match the performance of the Dragon Sword alone.
From the beginning, with the Magi obtained from the Dragon Sword, he could make his feet faster and increase his stamina too, so the Dragon Sword was unconditionally the superior version.
'Well then.'
Having finished inspecting his new ability, Jin-woo turned his gaze to the Ego Sword.
"All the chains binding you have been removed. Now speak."
When he asked while gripping the Ego Sword, the Ego Sword finally answered.
"Keeng."
"......"
"Keeng keeng!"
This guy, was this his original way of speaking......
Was it a side effect of being trapped in the sword for so long? Or was there some change as his soul was contained in an inanimate object rather than a living body?
Whatever the reason, it wouldn't be strange. From the beginning, having a soul contained in an object wasn't an ordinary thing.
Looking at the Ego Sword with an exasperated expression, Jin-woo thought a bit differently. If it couldn't speak, there were ways to deal with that.
"Your former master Johan is dead, so what should I do with you? I heard that Elves' lifelong wish is to return to the World Tree after death, so I could break you and set you free like this."
"Keeng! Keeng keeng!"
The Ego Sword reacted violently and cried. Even without understanding the words, anyone could tell what it meant by that reaction.
Above all, that appearance of wanting freedom. Understanding all that desperation, Jin-woo nodded and spoke.
"Ah really? You want to wander the world a bit more? You have broad ambitions."
"Keeng!?"
"The only moment I'll break is on the battlefield? Wow, a born warrior. Alright, let's turn the world upside down together."
"Keeng keeng keeng!"
The Ego Sword cried wah wah wah, but Jin-woo paid no attention and took out bandages from his inventory.
Since the Ego Sword had a soul, it couldn't enter the inventory, but Jin-woo didn't carry a separate scabbard. After all, he stored all his swords in his inventory.
He wrapped the chipped blade well with bandages and wore it on his waist. The slight heaviness on his waist felt surprisingly reassuring.
He was newly surprised to realize that he had never worn a sword on his waist despite using swords all this time. Since he had the extremely convenient ability called inventory, there was no need to carry swords around.
"Don't worry. When we get back, I'll buy you a fitting leather scabbard. I'll custom-order it with expensive, top-quality leather, so look forward to it."
"Keeng...... Keeeng......"
The Ego Sword cried and gave up. It felt like crying tears all night and lying on the floor.
The chains that had been restraining it had essentially just changed to bandages, so it was understandable that it would cry sadly. Of course, it wasn't something Jin-woo needed to worry about.
Having finished his business, he headed toward the altar room where Cheon Ju-hyeok was lying. Then.
"Keeng."
The Ego Sword cried very quietly once.
Even Jin-woo could understand the meaning contained in that cry.
―Thank you.
For saving me from the hands of that evil black mage.
To that cry, Jin-woo also answered sincerely without joking around.
"What's there to thank me for? I just brushed off the sparks that flew my way."
The Ego Sword was still grateful to Jin-woo.
Though it wasn't grateful for being captured again after being rescued.
***
He returned to the room where the altar was.
The surroundings where he had fought Johan were completely destroyed, with no passages or rooms remaining, but only the area around the altar was intact.
The entrance, walls, and ceiling were all smashed to pieces, but the altar and the floor around it didn't have a single crack.
He had laid Cheon Ju-hyeok behind the altar and was protecting him with the power of a wind barrier, but now it seemed that hadn't been necessary either.
Still, since it was about safety, being excessive wasn't bad.
"Urgh, uurgh......"
While leaning against the altar, eating some jerky, and briefly looking around the surroundings, Cheon Ju-hyeok opened his eyes with groaning sounds.
"Are you okay?"
"Brother......?"
Cheon Ju-hyeok, who had been half-conscious for a moment, soon recalled all his memories and jumped up.
"Johan! That black mage bastard is targeting brother!"
"I know. I already dealt with it."
"That guy is New York's...... Huh? You dealt with it?"
"I killed him."
Cheon Ju-hyeok made a stupid expression. It was because this was something he couldn't understand with his common sense.
"Killed, what? Johan? New York's black mage?"
"Yeah."
"S-rank?"
"God took the corpse. I received a blessing as advance payment using his corpse as collateral."
"......What?"
Receiving a blessing as advance payment was something he had never heard or seen either. How exactly things had proceeded while he was unconscious, Cheon Ju-hyeok couldn't even imagine.
"Now that I think about it, the surroundings......"
Hwang. When Cheon Ju-hyeok looked around, the room was no longer a room.
All the walls and ceiling on all sides were smashed, and the floor wasn't intact either. In this room, no, in this place, the only things that were fine were the altar and its vicinity.
The scenery visible outside was so open that it made one forget this was the underground labyrinth of the 2nd floor. The 2nd floor was clearly a place where narrow passages were tangled like ant holes, but this area was open like a runway.
Of course, it wasn't as smooth as a real runway due to the collapsed debris.
"You fought...... Against Johan?"
"Yeah. I told you I killed him."
At the clearly extraordinary traces of battle, Cheon Ju-hyeok gulped.
He knew Jin-woo was strong. The fact that he cleared Tokyo's Erosion in 1-2 hours was something that had become quite well-known recently.
About ten A-rank members from Tokyo's Shirata Guild had entered together. But according to Satomi Ayaka, the guild leader of Shirata, the Erosion was cleared by Jin-woo alone.
That alone was amazing, and he had even overcome his own attacks while being controlled by Johan.
The controlled version of himself was surprisingly bold and aggressive, much stronger than his usual ability, but Jin-woo was stronger than that strengthened self.
'Even just this is unimaginable for an E-rank......'
Killed an S-rank? Just escaping well would be an achievement praised as legendary talent, but he faced him and captured him instead?
"The blessing's help was significant. God seemed quite tempted by the S-rank black mage's corpse and lent me a considerable sword. It was a rental though, so it was taken back immediately after the fight ended."
"Still!"
Wasn't this an incredible thing? Wasn't this the first time in the history of the entire Hunter world?
He couldn't finish his words. He was too surprised to speak properly.
No matter how much help from a blessing there was, for an E-rank to beat an S-rank.
If this were posted on Hunter Net Blind, it wouldn't be strange to be sanctioned by administrators for being an absurd attention-seeking post.
"More than that, about future matters."
Regardless of how surprised Cheon Ju-hyeok was, Jin-woo brought up what he needed to say.
"Future matters, you mean finding the Blue Portal?"
"Oh, if it's that, I already found it. See that passage on the opposite side? I went out there and turned once, and there it was. It was easy to find since everything opened up."
Since he said future matters, I thought he meant finding the portal, but he had already found it.
Then the future matters Jin-woo was talking about were......
"Going outside."
"Yeah. Something big happened this time, right?"
"Yes. Don't worry, brother. I'll definitely keep my mouth shut."
Cheon Ju-hyeok made a determined expression with his vow. He would take today's events to his grave no matter what.
That was the minimum he could do to repay him who had saved his life.
"What are you talking about? Keep quiet about what?"
But that resolution was broken in less than 3 seconds.
"Huh? If this incident becomes known, it could attract unnecessary attention, New York might view it unfavorably, and Johan's acquaintances might hold grudges, so isn't it dangerous?"
"Danger is originally dangerous. How many things in the world are more dangerous than being attacked by an S-rank?"
"That's...... True."
Jin-woo briefly explained. He was very close to an S-rank Hunter named Shartia, but because she naturalized from New York to Seoul, New York's political circles and the Hunter Management Bureau viewed her as a thorn in their side.
He added that he was already marked as well, and Johan's attack this time was also part of that.
"Ah, so that's why......"
"In that sense, I'm sorry. You getting caught by Johan and controlled was also my fault in a way."
"No, how is it brother's fault! Of course, the perpetrator is 100% wrong!"
To Jin-woo, who felt sorry for getting him involved because of himself, Cheon Ju-hyeok vented his indignation. Being told that made Jin-woo's heart lighter, too.
If the ending hadn't been good, he would have continued feeling guilty, but for now both he and Cheon Ju-hyeok were safe.
"Anyway, since we were attacked, we should report it. I need to talk to the Management Bureau and also to Mayor Ma Du-sik. Ask them to officially protest. We need to extract something, whether it's an apology or compensation."
"Good idea. I also have quite a network. I'll try my best in every possible direction."
"That's good. You're also a victim who suffered unjustly, so let's stick together as victims."
"Yes!"
Cheon Ju-hyeok answered with a tightly disciplined expression. He looked like a soldier who had taken on a tremendous mission.
Actually, it wasn't that serious and he just needed to expose things well...... Still, since he was taking it seriously, Jin-woo had no reason to stop him.
"It might be dangerous to keep staying in the Gate, so let's go out first. We'll talk in detail outside."
"Good. Where should we meet?"
"Let's rest for a day, I need to report survival to the Management Bureau and go to the hospital too. Tomorrow at lunch...... Right, shall we have a meal at Jeongun?"
"Jeongun? That expensive restaurant?"
"I don't know if we can get a reservation, but for lunch instead of dinner, it should be okay without a reservation, right?"
"Lunch should probably be fine. Are you a regular?"
Jin-woo shook his head.
"I had promised to go with someone I know, but both that person and I were busy so our schedules didn't match. I was really looking forward to it but never got to go even once."
"Ah, I see. By any chance, is it a woman?"
"No. A business partner."
He didn't bother mentioning that the other party was Mayor Ma Du-sik.
"Understood. Jeongun has a calm atmosphere which is nice, and above all, the food taste is to die for. If it's your first time going, you'll be shocked."
"You've been there before? With your girlfriend?"
"No, it's not like that for me either. My grandfather often took me there."
For his grandfather to take him to expensive restaurants, this was a story unrelated to Jin-woo's life.
'Is this guy from a wealthy family?'
He didn't know, but it seemed his family was quite well-off. Or maybe his grandfather was a former Hunter and had accumulated a lot of wealth.
Either way, the fact that he was born with a silver spoon didn't change.
"Well, let's stop talking and go out."
"Yes."
Together with Cheon Ju-hyeok, he headed toward the Blue Portal that Jin-woo had found.
Jin-woo wasn't that badly hurt, but Cheon Ju-hyeok needed to go to the hospital. Though he had given first aid with Shartia's potion, he didn't know what state his body's interior was in.
In that sense, the two jumped straight into the Blue Portal without taking any detours.
Their vision changed completely, and when they opened their eyes, they would see the scenery of their beloved home......
'Huh?'
It wasn't visible, and something was strange.
Normally, when you enter a portal, you return home in an instant. Whether it's really an instant or feels like an instant because you lose consciousness, he didn't know, but anyway, sensationally, it's an instant.
But before returning home, Jin-woo came to his senses inside the portal.
'What?'
It was extremely bewildering. What kind of feeling was it? It was like the bewilderment of going for a sleep endoscopy but waking up in the middle.
To become conscious during the portal's transport moment, why on earth?
His mind wasn't completely clear yet, so Jin-woo's eyes were drowsy. In that state, his body was suddenly pulled somewhere.
More precisely, the Ego Sword on his waist was being pulled. Jin-woo gripped the sword more strongly so as not to lose the Ego Sword, and as a result, Jin-woo was also pulled along.
Gates that open and close with a cycle of about a month. Jin-woo had grabbed the wrong exit.
***
When he opened his eyes, what he saw was the scenery of a somehow familiar forest.
The grass and trees he had seen plenty of in Seoul's few remaining green mountains and Primeval Forests, but this forest was somehow different.
Both its appearance and the scent it gave off were a bit different. But Jin-woo had felt this kind of grass scent before.
'That from the 0th floor......'
In the past, when entering the special Gate called the 0th floor, that night forest had felt like this.
But this time, no special Gate had opened, right? No, from the beginning, Jin-woo had come out through a Blue Portal. Isn't a Blue Portal not a Gate but a portal that returns you home?
While bewildered, Jin-woo soon realized one thing and lowered his gaze to his waist.
"Keeng!?"
The Ego Sword flinched in surprise and trembled, afraid of getting scolded.
"So you were the culprit......"
Jin-woo grabbed his aching head and let out a deep sigh.
He didn't know what the principle was, but it seemed he had flowed into the Ego Sword's world rather than his own world.
'I should be able to return when the next Gate opens, but......'
Looking at how Rona and other Elves entered and exited Gates, he just needed to wait until the next Gate.
Unless this place uniquely had a different cycle, probably about a month. Enduring that long wasn't a difficult task. However.
"I can't go to Jeongun again."
The promise to have a meal at the restaurant couldn't be kept again.