Chapter 42
Perched atop a hill that overlooked the entire field, Roh Hae-choon’s gaze remained unwaveringly fixed in one direction.
The berserk Kumas, the earth breaking beneath it.
Like a grim art etched into the verdant meadow, gaping pits of raw earth scarred the green expanse in real-time, marking a chaotic battlefield.
At its center, Park Ki-hyuk wielded his greatsword, ruthlessly cleaving through the Kumas as his army of white skeletons pressed forward.
“…It’s extraordinary.”
Park Ki-hyuk swung his greatsword with unrestrained force—no form, no finesse, just a brutal, downward strike.
Calling it swordsmanship felt almost embarrassing.
But as some say, true technique evolves from ‘deficiency.’ It emerges from acknowledging one’s limitations and finding ways to overcome them, especially to defeat those who are stronger.
Humanity, at its dawn, was vulnerable.
They lacked the fangs of wolves to snap the necks of prey in an instant. They had no sharp claws like lions, nor the powerful jaws of hyenas.
In the brutal wilderness, humans had no natural assets. To compensate for these shortcomings and to survive, they chose ‘technique.’
But…
What if a human was born without any deficiencies?
What if they were complete from the start?
With fangs sharper than a wolf’s, and claws deadlier than a lion’s?
Would such a person ever even need technique?
To Roh Hae-choon, Park Ki-hyuk embodied this very notion.
Strike after strike, unrelenting and resolute, Ki-hyuk hammered away at the Kumas’s body, undeterred by its thrashing, whip-like limbs.
With nothing but a simple downward slash.
“The last one endured 47 strikes. So you, make this more entertaining!”
With a fierce smile, Park Ki-hyuk brought his sword down once more.
I will kill you.
I will see you dead.
You will die by my hand.
There was no technique, no insight—only pure, raw intent to kill.
This was Park Ki-hyuk’s blade.
Roh Hae-choon felt his body tremble.
Though he had watched this scene for days, it still sent chills down his spine.
“Whew… My pulse hasn’t calmed at all.”
There was a primal thrill to Park Ki-hyuk’s fighting style, a raw ferocity that stirred something deep within the chest.
Roh Hae-choon found himself absentmindedly running his fingers over the shaft of his old spear.
There was a time when he, too, had been in his prime. Days when he’d charge into battle armed only with a spear, fearing no one, no obstacle.
Park Ki-hyuk’s fight had the same intensity that recalled those burning memories. Even for Roh Hae-choon, who thought himself long cooled, watching him ignited a long-lost fervor.
As Roh Hae-choon wrestled with his surging emotions, Park Ki-hyuk’s battle took a sudden turn.
Crack! Ssszz… Pow!
What had seemed an impenetrable shell began to fracture, with dark blood seeping from the cracks.
“Forty-four. It broke sooner than expected. Are you weaker, or am I stronger?”
To this taunt, the Kumas replied with a shattering shriek.
Its face twisted into a snarl as it unleashed a venomous spit aimed directly at Park Ki-hyuk.
Hissss-!
The venom shot forth like a breath attack, hissing through the air, the acidic poison eating away at everything it touched.
Even for Ki-hyuk, taking that hit head-on would mean severe injury. Dodging with fluid precision, he avoided it entirely.
And in that moment, the skeletons, momentarily forgotten in the heat of Ki-hyuk’s assault, swarmed onto the Kumas, clambering over its massive form like ants onto candy.
Chomp! Clatter! Clatter!
The Kumas roared, thrashing wildly to shake them off, but the skeletons held fast.
When the giant Kumas was finally covered in skeletons, an ominous hexagram flared briefly behind Park Ki-hyuk…
The same hexagram appeared on each skeleton’s forehead.
Hell Blaze
The cursed flames of Hell Blaze ignited.
A sinister blue fire engulfed the Kumas. It shrieked, writhing in agony as it struggled to escape, but the azure flames consumed it, burning everything alive with relentless fury.
In moments, before it could take seven steps, the Kumas was reduced to a pile of gray ash.
Roh Hae-choon’s only response?
“…His magic is as ruthless as his sword.”
While Roh Hae-choon leisurely watched Ki-hyuk’s battle from atop the hill, Jin Yuri was closely observing Ki-hyuk’s every movement, squeezing every second she could spare.
“Wow…”
On the orb, she watched the Kumas consumed by blue flames, its colossal body disintegrating in real-time. The level of destructive power was nothing short of awe-inspiring.
But Yuri wasn’t just impressed by the strength.
“Is it really possible to use Hell Blaze like that…?”
Hell Blaze—a fire magic of the fifth class, renowned in the Mage Tower for its sheer destructive power. Many mages favored it, Jin Yuri included.
But to attach Hell Blaze to a skeleton and use it as a bomb… she’d never even considered it.
“Easy target focus, reduced magic spread, enhanced mana efficiency, and even reduced mana consumption…”
She could instantly see the innovative advantages of this approach.
Jin Yuri felt a newfound realization.
“He’s… a genius.”
It would take a genius to think of something so unprecedented.
Sure, anyone could imagine it, as creativity is limitless. But actually manifesting it in reality was another matter entirely.
From the moment he cast the unheard-of spell Apocalypse, she’d known it.
His mind was as intriguing as his physical prowess!
“I want it. I want everything.”
His methods, his insights, his skills.
Everything he possessed, she wanted to make her own.
“Ahhh…”
Jin Yuri, clutching the orb, stamped her feet in excitement, watching him like a fan enthralled by her favorite idol.
And from behind, someone was watching her—Merhem.
“Yuri, what are you doing?”
“Gah! Don’t scare me like that!”
“What are you doing, skipping meals? If you don’t eat now, you won’t get dinner. Did you forget we leave at one?”
“But Ki-hyuk’s hunting!”
…What did that have to do with anything?
Ki-hyuk’s hunting, and you’re skipping meals? How is that related?
With an exasperated expression, Merhem simply stared at Yuri.
But Yuri, caught up in her excitement, wasn’t listening. There was no stopping her.
“Look! He’s using Hell Blaze with skeletons! If this groundbreaking approach doesn’t shock you, you’re failing your duty as a mage!!”
Like an unleashed firework, Yuri began excitedly rattling off her thoughts, not a comma in sight.
The spellwork, resonance effects, control over summons, even her theories that his swordsmanship might be designed to support his magic.
However powerful Hell Blaze might be, Merhem felt, at that moment, that Yuri was a hundred times more overwhelming.
“Enough! Keep your voice down. You’re giving me a headache.”
“How can I not be excited?! This is revolutionary! Groundbreaking! Aren’t you amazed?”
“It’s just…”
Frankly, what’s more amazing is your reaction.
Merhem swallowed down her thoughts, summoning patience.
“Alright… So, what are you trying to say, Yuri? Ki-hyuk is amazing? I know that. I’ve known him longer than you have.”
“You’re lucky, Merhem. I’m jealous.”
“Jealous? Hold on. Who said you could call me Merhem? We’re not that close yet!”
“If only I’d joined Team 20 from the start, could I have learned from him? I really want Ki-hyuk to teach me magic. Isn’t there some way? Please?”
“Ha…”
This was the real point, then. Merhem looked straight at Yuri.
Her expression was earnest.
Jin Yuri’s dedication to magic was no secret, the fervor clear in her eyes.
“Have you tried asking him?”
“No…”
“I’m surprised. I figured you’d pester him to teach you.”
“Listen, I’m a mage… It’s not exactly proper to ask for another’s secrets. I do have some shame, you know.”
“Well, why not give it a shot? Ask sincerely, like you’re asking me now.”
“…I’m a bit scared. Actually, very scared.”
“Of being rejected? It’s not like that’s new for you.”
“It’s… well, I just… I don’t want him to think I’m shameless.”
“…Honestly, who are you, and what have you done with Yuri? The Yuri I know wouldn’t even know what ‘shame’ means.”
“Ugh, I don’t even know anymore…”
Yuri fidgeted with her fingers, her eyes darting nervously, a girl caught in the confusion of her own emotions.
Merhem found her adorable and couldn’t help a small, sly smile.
“Be serious and ask him. Personally, I don’t think he’ll refuse. He’s surprisingly sentimental.”
“True. He’s soft on others too. You should see him with Bom; it’s hard to believe it’s the same person.”
“Exactly. Ki-hyuk holds on to his connections once he forms them. If he didn’t like you, he would have turned you down at the club tryouts.”
“R-really? Then there’s a chance?”
“Yes, and this is just my theory, but… I can’t be entirely sure.”
Merhem looked closely at Yuri.
“But I think he’s especially soft on you, Yuri.”
A pause.
Then both broke into laughter.
“Oh, as if!” They brushed it off with laughter, treating it as just a joke.
Little did they know—
That “as if” might actually turn out to be true.
Sweat beaded on his forehead.
“Please accept me as your student.”
Accept her? As what, exactly?!
He had no idea what was going on.
“If you take me on, I’ll do anything.”
Usually, Jin Yuri would just tease him with a laugh, but now…
Why was she on her knees? And why was she suddenly pledging her dedication?
“It was love at first sight. I want to learn your magic…”
“…!!”
He quickly clapped his hand over her mouth.
The situation looked strange.
He was over two meters tall, so naturally, his hands were large. With Yuri’s petite face, his hand practically engulfed it entirely.
He felt the stares from their teammates watching from a distance, and they burned.
What in the world is going on?
Feeling unjustly guilty, he quickly lifted Yuri to her feet and led her behind the tents.
“What’s gotten into you?”
“Merhem said I should just be honest. So, accept me.”
“Accept what, exactly? You need to tell me what you want.”
Finally, Yuri explained in her own way.
She’d been moved by his magic; it had left her on the verge of tears. She wanted to learn from him. She wanted to be his apprentice.
She cut out all the preamble and went straight to “accept me.” He had half a mind to throttle her.
“I’ll do anything. Just teach me.”
“Ugh… I can’t even hit you for this.”
“…I’m scared, but I’ll endure it. I’m ready.”
“Oh, shut up! Don’t say anything else; you’re giving me a headache.”
A dull ache throbbed in his head. Somehow, the last ten minutes felt more exhausting than the entire day’s hunt.
He took a cup of coffee from the support machine and took a sip.
The caffeine revived him slightly.
“Let’s get this straight. You watched me hunt today, and now you want to learn magic from me, right?”
“Yeah, if you accept, I’ll do anything…”
“Sigh! Just quit saying that.”
With a sharp look, Yuri fell silent, her eyes watching him timidly. He’d never seen this side of her; it was almost… cute.
“All right, I’ll teach you.”
“R-really?! Really?!”
“You did ask, didn’t you?”
“It’s just that you agreed so easily… You know how mages guard their secrets like treasures.”
“Normally, yes, but for you, it’s fine.”
He had, in fact, been considering it. He’d been waiting for the right moment, and now that she’d asked, he didn’t need to wait any longer.
The inheritance of bloodlines in this world was far more intricate than he’d first thought.
There was no need to look further than the “Sword Saint” within him—a force so overwhelming, even he was sometimes taken aback.
And this was Jinryong, known as the pinnacle of Korean magic.
To deny a mage’s curiosity would be a lie. What power lay within the Jinryong bloodline?
And then, of course, there were those eyes—the “Dragon’s Eyes.”
They had to be glimpsing at something close to truth.
It was intriguing. If teaching magic meant gaining insight into that, it was more than a fair exchange.
Of course, even without all these reasons, refusing Jin Yuri’s request would have been difficult.
Thanks to a certain saint’s influence.
“W-why are you…”
“What’s wrong with you? Is your face broken? Why’s it all red? Are you overheated?”
“I… I… I…”
“…What? You? What? I’m teaching you magic; what’s the big deal?”
“I’m… happy!!”
And with that, Yuri dashed off.
Watching her disappear into the distance, he made a silent vow.
I will teach you.
And I will make sure you understand what it means to respect your master.
Never.
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