LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Kwang!!
Kim Hyun-soo swung his mace lightly. The cave walls crumbled into pieces. Was he perhaps a religious figure? I found myself wanting to ask that in disbelief.
Before my return, I had heard tales of a swordsman who once sliced through the sea with his sword, and standing here, it felt like this sight validated that legend.
Compared to the maze-like environment, it was likely easy to break, but still, it seemed bizarre that just a casual swing could create a hole big enough for someone to pass through.
As Yeon-woo, who had just hit around 170 cm in height during her growth spurt, was being supported by Shar, who looked like she was around 140 cm tall, it was a bit of a stretch. Yeon-woo was floating gently, engulfed in a reddish mana.
Void Manipulation. The most mystical act that aura users who have reached a high realm can perform by manipulating mana.
Simply lifting and moving objects requires high output and skillful control, but raising a living being with mana like this proved that Kim Hyun-soo’s mana sense had transcended ordinary realms.
[This is comfortable.]
“Isn’t this like lying on a luxury water bed?”
The snugness that felt like being drawn in enveloped Yeon-woo’s entire body. I guess they took care of her since she was injured.
“Uh… but we’re actually going deeper?”
“Noticing that, huh? You’re better than I thought. It’s simple really. It seems quicker to clear the gate than go to the exit.”
“Do we really have to…?”
“There’s a major injury involved. You might be pretending you’re fine, but inside, it’s a complete mess, isn’t it? Just bear with it a little longer.”
I guess she caught me. At first, I hadn’t felt any pain, either from fainting and waking back up or from all the adrenaline surging through me, but after a while, I began to suffer from intense pain, like bugs gnawing at my skin.
The torn sides and thighs were one thing, but the most problematic was definitely my arms.
They had melted during the doppelganger incident, and after the duel with Darius, both arms were riddled with cuts, including my left arm, which had completely dropped down from the shoulder this time.
Until a moment ago, I could still move them, but now they had entered an indefinite strike state, completely ignoring my brain’s commands…
Soon, I would have to negotiate with my arms’ union regarding their contract…
[You’ve overworked yourself, so take a break, okay, Dad?]
“I wish I could rest, but life doesn’t always go my way…”
[Are you going to rest?]
“If the situation allows.”
[Are you going to rest? Are you going to rest? Are you going to rest? Are you going to rest? Are you going to rest?]
“I-I will rest.”
[Great!]
Shar, you’ve grown into a scary child… You know how to threaten your father better than anyone. At this rate, I’ll become a father who silently opens his wallet and gives 100,000 won every time Shar asks for pocket money.
Carrying at least 30 in cash as an adult was Yeon-woo’s primary goal.
Well, I could give her as much pocket money as she wanted. This father would do anything for his daughter’s happiness.
Jokes aside, I was glad to be able to safely and comfortably watch Kim Hyun-soo’s fight. Although our weapons were different and skills varied widely, there would surely be something to learn from the battle of an outstanding hunter.
Above all, it was significant that I had never seen Kim Hyun-soo fight in my previous life. Just how powerful was Kim Hyun-soo, who was one of the strongest with unparalleled destructive power in the hunter realm?
Even though it was a low-tier gate, perhaps I could catch a glimpse of it?
That optimistic thought surprisingly crumbled quickly. After turning the dungeon environment into a molehill, scattering mana all around, the monsters fled. Without any dramatic flourish, he casually entered the boss room.
He threw his mace at the rushing 3-meter tall hobgoblin giant, a smile on his face.
─Kiiiii
Kqaqaqaqaqaqaqaqa-!!!!
The deafening sound shook the boss room. A sonic boom. He had merely tossed it, and yet it broke through the sound barrier, turning the area into chaos.
The pitiful hobgoblin giant was left body-less, resembling Exodia with only its limbs remaining, twitching on the ground. It was clear that seeing green arms and legs wriggling on the floor was not a pretty sight.
A giant, spider-web-like line marked the wall beyond.
In the center, the mace that caused such massive destruction was embedded in the ground like a sword stuck in stone. As Kim Hyun-soo approached the mark of destruction, he reclaimed it like a great king.
“Ugh, shall we head out then?”
While saying this with a smile, Yeon-woo had no choice but to nod towards Kim Hyun-soo looking back at her. Let’s not mess this up.
*
Yeon-woo was escorted to the infirmary by the medical team waiting outside the gate. Unsurprisingly, the impressive-looking nurse, Na Yang-ho, glared at her.
“What on earth are you doing to get hurt like this so often?”
“It’s not like I want to get hurt…”
“Well, you’re lucky we did a good job with the first aid. You could’ve lost a limb! Now rest for a while.”
“Yes…”
“Don’t just say it, actually rest. Anyway, there’s no urgent schedule. I’ll talk to the department head for you.”
Wow! Resting!
Was her injury that serious? Na Yang-ho, who always smiled to comfort her patients, looked genuinely concerned now. She looked like a child who was angry because her words weren’t taken seriously.
This person is popular for a reason…
Regardless of whatever happened, Yeon-woo, wrapped in bandages like a mummy, took the opportunity to sneak out of the infirmary while Na Yang-ho stepped away for a moment. While resting was good, she had something she needed to do.
Yeon-woo quietly pushed open the door to the department head’s office.
“I’m back, Master.”
“Oh dear, I know I shouldn’t say this to a student, but you really got yourself into a bit of a mess, haven’t you? Why not casually spill your guts while you’re at it?”
“Oh my, I thought it was going to spill out! Can I really say such things to my precious disciple?”
“I never raised you to be so weak.”
“Considering you’ve taught me nothing.”
Saying that, Yeon-woo plopped down onto the sofa in the middle of the office. With both arms in casts, she couldn’t rest them anywhere, so as she leaned back against the sofa, her body relaxed, sliding down a bit.
Not being able to use my arms is incredibly uncomfortable. My back hurts. No, my whole body aches.
“So why are you here instead of resting?”
“I have a favor to ask. Shar, can you come out?”
“Sure, Dad.”
Something that had been nestled within her quickly exited and formed a shape. Yeon-woo felt Shar’s warmth as she nestled beside her.
It was hard to believe it was a dragon, now recognized as a reptile, given how warm it felt.
“Ah… I see.”
“You’re not as surprised as I thought you’d be?”
“I’ve seen your body a few times. With both a mana core and a mana heart, I thought there might be a reason, so I didn’t ask.”
“You just skip over that like it was no big deal, huh?”
This person isn’t all there either.
“So tell me about that girl. Isn’t it uncomfortable?”
I was going to think about that, but Master threw the first punch. Letting out a sigh while glancing at the master who was a master of pre-emptive strikes, Yeon-woo decided to share what had happened, albeit slightly fabricated in the telling…
……
“Okay, Shar. Would you like to eat this?”
“Haa…! Ah, no, I’ll pass…!”
Nonetheless, Shar, who brightened at the chocolate Yuri took out, tugged at Yeon-woo’s sleeve, hiding and shaking her head.
The tactic of winning affection with dessert was undoubtedly effective. Yeon-woo took the chocolate that Yuri pushed her way and handed it to Shar.
Is it okay to eat? Go ahead, eat.
Communicating with their eyes, Shar awkwardly peeled off the chocolate’s wrapping and popped it into her mouth. Her expression melted like a marshmallow in an instant. Despite her appearance, Yuri was an older person and a child usually preferred her. It looked like a peer-to-peer friendship, almost.
“Wow. I had no idea that my supposedly insignificant disciple was actually such a remarkable person.”
“Did you really choose me because I was insignificant? So you could file a complaint?”
“Go ahead, then. But don’t you think that’s important?”
Resting her chin on the table, Yuri stared at Yeon-woo with a sulky face. It seemed there was something else more critical, given the vibe; what could be more important than my own mood?
“Kid, let’s assume people accepted that you’re my disciple since you defeated Black Raven. But after adding on that you’re contracted with a dragon, can you really bear that expectation?”
“Um…”
“So far, it’s been the cheerful rebellion of a countryside kid not from a famous clan, but once that’s publicized, the situation is going to shift in the opposite direction. You’ll go from not having a golden spoon to being the king of golden spoons. Can you handle that?”
Oh…
When she put it that way, it really did sound alarming! Is this gaslighting??
Jokes aside, Yuri did sound like someone who’d fought off a lot of political factions.
Yeon-woo never considered this before. It was true that she would officially be the first one contracted with a dragon.
There’s record of both evil and good dragons in both this world and Alcayone, though mostly told as legends that came with enormous costs.
And making a pact with such a being could mean purposefully inviting a multitude of foes, different from the burdens of fame that she had once considered.
“Oh…”
“Don’t use that ‘oh’ like a kid.”
Bang. Yuri’s scabbard swung like lightning. The impact that hit the top of her head sent her vision spinning.
“Why are you hitting me?!”
“Because you’re so blissfully clueless! While you may calm down a bit, you should also care about the one who’ll inevitably be swept up in it! With you babbling about being a father or something, you’re lacking any responsibility, you brat!!”
With that, Yuri’s scabbard swung violently. Dodging it somehow, Yeon-woo pondered over Yuri’s words.
“…Aren’t you actually worried about me?”
“Who wouldn’t worry about having such a foolish disciple?”
Clair, how did you raise such a child? Yuri let out a deep sigh. Wait, is it time for the nun’s educational theories now?
It seemed like more than just a casual topic that had to be addressed.
With chocolate being nibbled like a squirrel, Shar perked up upon hearing her name. The chocolate smeared around her mouth and the hamster-like cheeks swelling up made her look incredibly adorable.
“So what should we do? Should we reveal this after I get stronger?”
“No, just announce it. If it takes too long, people will just say ‘meh, of course that happened!’”
“Wow, is this a leading question?”
“That’s how it always is. If you dislike it, you only have one option.”
“What’s that?”
Yuri rested her chin on clasped hands and replied.
“I’ll lend you a helping hand, so become greater than anyone else. If you rise to a height that no one can approach you for petty matters, you won’t have to worry about such things.”
“Sounds like an extremely difficult request for a seemingly insignificant disciple?”
During the time before my return, Yeon-woo could only smile while recalling the man who had shattered every consequence with nothing but his own power, even while dealing with countless political sharks.
(To be continued in the next episode)