Chapter 26: Seo Gayeon (3)
TL/Editor: looloo
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Lee Seoha thought carefully about Seo Yebin''s words.
''What I want.''
There are many things I want.
But, I can only get what is within my reach right now.
I don''t need shoes. I got a pair recently.
I don''t need a weapon either, since I have the ck Heavenly Demon Sword.
Sure, there''s the dream of wielding dual swords.
But dreams don''t put food on the table.
Nothing that Seo Yebin can offer me right now is appealing.
Most items are useless to me, since I can''t use magic. With a little effort, I can get better items.
''So, I''ll go with an Elixir.''
Elixirs can be dangerous if mishandled. Their properties can react and cause an explosion inside the body.
But, I''m willing to risk it.
"I need an Elixir."
"Elixir?"
Seo Yebin looked puzzled for a moment, thenughed.
"Sure. Do you want an Elixir that affects the body?"
"Yes."
"This one should be suitable."
Seo Yebin reached into her bag.
Out came a white box.
She had pulled it from her personal space.
"This Elixir doesn''t react as much as the others. I heard you''ve been having a hard time with physical training."
She handed it over with a teasing grin.
"Thank you."
"Keep pushing. Physical strength is the basis of everything."
"Yes."
After I put the Elixir box in my pocket, I felt someone watching me.
Baek Jiyeon was gazing at me.
Lee Seoha looked back at Baek Jiyeon.
"That''s unusual."
Baek Jiyeon began to speak.
"I can''t sense anything from you, even though I''m looking right at you. I''ve never seen anyone like this."
Baek Jiyeon shared her honest thoughts while looking at Lee Seoha.
He appeared ordinary, like someone who works out a little.
That''s what made it odd.
At Baek Jiyeon''s level, she could estimate someone''s abilities just by watching them walk.
Unless it was someone like Seo Yebin, who went by the alias of the ''Emperor''.
That''s why it felt strange.
She''d never seen a student like this before.
''Could it be?''
There was only one person.
Even the greatest hero in human history was said to be the same.
''Did he inherit a power rted to him?''
Or perhaps he has a simr talent.
"I''m beginning to understand why you value him, Seo Yebin."
"Watch your words. Flies tend to swarm."
Seo Yebin responded with a faint smile.
But Baek Jiyeon felt pressure from it.
If that woman makes a move, the monsters under her control will follow.
That''s not good.
The association has plenty of adversaries.
They operate under the guise of national defense, enjoying vast support from the country. This makes them strong, but they can''t afford to have the ''frontline'' emperor as their enemy.
"I''ll take care of it within my authority. I have at least that much power."
Baek Jiyeon nodded, speaking again.
"Don''t worry about rumors since Seo Yebin has acknowledged your capture of the Mine."
She inwardly sighed after saying that. The association was powerful but had a lot of connections with the country. To reward someone of unknown identity, they would need to present substantial evidence. Seo Yebin would certainly not appreciate that.
It had to be handled with tact. Even if it wasn''t the right thing to do, she had picked up this habit while working in the association, a job almost like being a civil servant.
"The ck Magic Society is quite renowned. Though few, their members, particrly those in high-ranking positions, are mostly top-ss. So, the bounty and rewards will be sizable."
"Can you handle it quietly?"
"Of course. However, it will differentiate you from the rest."
"Still, I''d prefer it that way."
Baek Jiyeon nodded.
''It doesn''t seem like he''s avoiding attention because it irritates him.''
People his age usually don''t realize that attention can be harmful. She had been like that once, too.
The student standing before her was exceptional in many ways.
''Think of it as a short-term investment.''
Baek Jiyeon didn''t have a good feeling about this, but she did trust in the benefits of establishing a rtionship with Seo Yebin.
And Baek Jiyeon was a woman who trusted her instincts enough to turn 1 billion into 300 million.
---
Raei Trantions
---
"Ugh."
I feel sick.
I had negotiated with Baek Jiyeon to receive a reward and some other things. I had also agreed to ept a potion from Seo Yebin. Still, I felt nauseous.
There was only one reason.
''Mask of Enthrallment'' (A-)
A mask once used by the legendary thief, Lupin. It hides all information about its wearer.
:Obscures the wearer''s appearance.
:Alters the wearer''s aura to be the most appealing when viewed by another person.
:Nullifies ''Observation'' skills of rank A or lower.
...I had spent all my points on this single item.
''Well, it''s not that bad.''
I considered it an investment, crafting another identity I could use in the future. In that case, I needed a different kind of power.
The power I currently have is the Body Against Heaven.
It''s a power that doesn''t blend with others.
However, it''s slightly different with mysterious or psychic powers.
''I have something in mind.''
But that''s a power I''ll acquire a littleter.
With these thoughts, I made my way to the library. There was something I needed to find there.
Then I saw Kim Ara.
She was standing there, focused in a book.
However, her expression was strange.
Her cheeks were flushed beneath her half-covered hair, and she seemed to be frequently swallowing as if her mouth was dry.
''...Did she finally wake up?''
Kim Ara didn''t have a normal upbringing.
The fact that her parents were tyrants meant her life was far from ordinary.
Hong Yuhwa, who was in a simr situation, epted her life and yed the role of ady, but Kim Ara couldn''t do that.
That''s why she yearned for a regr girl''s life.
Like those wealthy daughters in dramas who long for the life ofmoners.
By enhancing my vision, I could make out the title of the book Kim Ara was focused in.
Beast-man Hypnotizes Me.
...Is that so?
Since there was nothing beneficial for Kim Ara to see, I decided to silently walk away.
"..."
At some point, Kim Ara noticed me.
"When did you get here?"
"Just a while ago. Why?"
"Nothing."
Saying that, Kim Ara looked at me with suspicion.
That suspicion was fleeting, quickly disappearing behind her dark purple eyes.
"Do you have something you''re looking for? I work here, so I know where everything is."
"Really? Can you help me find ''The Chronicles of the Great Hero''? The cover is a bit worn out."
"Sure, I can do that."
Kim Ara sat down at a nearbyputer and said,
"You can find it on the bookshelfbeled ''B-11''."
"Alright, got it."
I made my way to the bookshelf as directed by Kim Ara.
[Master, that woman is dangerous.]
"Really?"
The voice of the ck Heavenly Demon Sword trembled unusually.
[Yes. How can she read such obscene books? The titles of the books she had set aside to read were ''The Emperor Under the Foot.'' and ''Methods to Assist a Duke'', and they contained illustrations of a man and a woman, naked, embracing each other. How peculiar between a man and a woman!]
"."
Personally, I respect individual tastes.
I quickly found ''The Chronicles of the Great Hero''.
The cover looked like it was over 10 years old.
I took it and exited the library.
"Are you going to borrow it? If you return it within a week, there''s no problem."
"Okay."
I put the book in my space and went outside.
---
Raei Trantions
---
Upon reaching the penthouse, I went to the training ground.
I sat down on the bare floor, cing the ck Heavenly Demon Sword next to me.
Should I move onto the next stage?
Yes, I should.
The ck Divine Martial Art was a martial art developed by a woman known as Cheonma over her lifetime.
Even though the ck Heavenly Demon Sword has taught me a lot, I was still at the beginning.
Yes.
The words of the ck Heavenly Demon Sword were correct.
I was growing at a rapid pace.
However, this rate was still not enough to prepare for the threats that the future might hold.
I directed the scattered energy inside my Body Against Heaven towards the ck Essence.
This process was a lengthy and tedious one.
But, I could not afford to ck off.
Unlike mana, the energy of Body Against Heaven is dangerous, there was a risk that it may go out of control inside my body if not handled carefully.
Thankfully, the conceptual stat makes it easier.
I let out a sigh and closed my eyes.
The energies of the Body Against Heaven inside me started to gather towards my heart,plying with my will.
This process took two hours.
The ck Essence, initially the size of a fingertip, had grown slightly.
The tedious task was over.
And now it was time for physical training.
I changed into my workout clothes and headed towards the training grounds.
There were already many people exercising on the training grounds.
Seeing so many people working out was a motivation in itself.
I walked towards the exercise machines located in a corner.
They looked simr to the ones in the gyms from my previous life, but the weights were on a different level.
All of them were at least ten times heavier.
I sighed and picked up the 60kg barbell for bench press.
.
If cultivating the ck Essence was a long and tedious process, this phase added physical pain to the mix.
Once I finished the predetermined set, I moved on to the next exercise.
I walked towards the bicycle fitted with gravity magic.
Huff huff.
At some point, Hong Yuhwa was next to me, pedalling the bicycle furiously.
She looked like she might copse if she continued at this pace.
Miss Hong Yuhwa, you conduct yourself like a refined schr during the day, but you train so intensely at night.
Elegant in academics, and equally vigorous in physical training.
.
I couldn''t help but be amazed while looking at the followers of Hong Yuhwa.
Weren''t they practically contradicting themselves?
Huff, huff.
Nevertheless, Hong Yuhwa continued to pedal with even more intensity than me, as if trying to surpass me.
Heh.
Our eyes met, and she had a broad smile on her face.
---
Raei Trantions
---
Evening mealtime.
Exhausted, I headed down to eat.
''I have no appetite.''
However, if I don''t eat, it would affect my trainingter.
"Did youe?"
Kim Ara, rubbing her eyes sleepily, spoke to me. I nodded, picked up my food tray, and proceeded to the serving area.
Maybe I should have tteokbokki today.
Kim Seohyun asionally brought tteokbokki, and I often snatched a few bites, but on days like this, I craved it more.
I collected tteokbokki, along with fishcakes, fried food, and blood sausages, and began looking for a ce to sit. That''s when I spotted Seo Gayeon.
She looked lonely, sitting there by herself.
"Is this seat free?"
"Huh? Oh, it''s not taken."
I quickly sat down opposite Seo Gayeon after hearing her reply.
But, I didn''t know what to talk about.
So, I checked my phone.
''Nothing important.''
While eating fishcakes and fiddling with my phone, I logged into the Alchemy Guild website out of curiosity.
''...What''s this?''
I saw an inbox filled with 999+ messages.
The top posts on the bulletin board were:
-Shouldn''t the recipe Master Truth shared be named after him?
-A detailed examination of Master Truth''s recipe.
These posts were all over the bulletin board.
"Have you joined the Alchemy Guild too?"
Kim Ara, who had silently sat down next to me, asked.
"Well, I''m studying alchemy, so yes."
"Did Seo-ha join the Alchemy Guild too? Do you know a person called Master Truth there? They''re trending on YouTube right now!"
Seo Gayeon rapidly fired questions.
As usual, she was fluent.
That was typical of Seo Gayeon.
When an interesting topic came up, she became enthusiastic and talked about it non-stop.
That''s why she had earned the nickname Super-fan Ga-yeon in themunity.
"I''ve heard of it."
Of course I have.
Because Veritas is me.
"I recently started learning about alchemy, and I managed to scrape together a bronze rank. But with a bronze rank, I can''t see all of Master Truth''s recipes. Do you know what rank you are?"
I paused my meal.
I could tell her my rank, but revealing my ID might cause issues.
"Oh, I apologize. I, I got a bit carried away."
Seo Gayeon apologized, and started eating her bread right away.
Taking small bites.
"Hamster...."
Kim Ara murmured in a low voice.
I nodded in agreement.
enjoy! :)
sorry, didn''t upload yesterday, doing a double drop to make it up to you tho
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