Mu-hyeong (Formless)

What do I live for?

I have no intention of asking myself philosophical questions. However, consistently reminding myself of my goals will never be a bad habit.

Rather, it can be called a good habit in that it can make actions for the goal clearer.

I’m Ross, a lump of inferiority complex and expendable character in the novel I wrote, and the protagonist’s younger brother. A lot has happened since I possessed Ross, but my ultimate goal has never changed.

That Roel reaches the ending where he kills the Demon King and saves the world as in the original, but changes the unnecessary waste of time and tragic events that occur in the process.

In other words, to put it simply. It is to secretly help Roel to focus only on killing the Demon King. Like a mastermind who changes the game from an unseen place.

Like the authors or readers who possess the novel, similar to my current situation. I had no intention of stealing the protagonist’s lucky encounters at will.

Of course, the Magic Book of Patoullga was originally supposed to belong to Rosalyn… Strictly speaking, it doesn’t belong to Roel either, and Rosalyn used space magic as a secondary skill, so it didn’t cause any problems for the hero party’s power.

It may sound like an excuse that I am better at using the Magic Book of Patoullga than Rosalyn, but it was beneficial to everyone.

The vacancy of space magic can be filled with something else. Rosalyn is a genius of alchemy. Rather, it would be better for Rosalyn to provide help related to alchemy rather than space magic, which is different from her main abilities.

In other words, what I can aim for are artifacts or treasures mentioned in passing in the novel. Or a way to steal the lucky encounters that the Order or the Demon King’s forces will use. Reducing the opponent’s strength and increasing our side’s strength. It can be said to be the basics of strategy.

If I use Modest and my setting book’s powerful information, I can monopolize all kinds of lucky encounters and treasures scattered across the continent. If I use it well, Roel’s party can become even stronger than in the original.

However, there was no reason to focus on Roel’s growth right now. Roel has even reached the realm of transcendence faster than in the original. That means that I don’t have to worry about Roel’s growth for about a year.

Then the goal for this summer vacation was clear. I set my growth as the main goal, and prepare elixirs or relics for the growth of the club members before the second semester begins. I’ve already finished organizing what to get.

However, there was no need to rush, so I was relaxed. If Ember rescues her younger sister from the undead Roman, Estelle will faithfully follow my orders.

In the end, the remaining task is training for my growth, but Lykan has not yet returned from his family. He told me to train alone, but I waited for Lykan and went straight back to the club room.

It’s not that I’m slacking off because the eyes of surveillance have disappeared. I was sincerely determined to become stronger for the people who are precious to me. That determination was not enough to be shaken by the heat that felt like my skin was burning.

However, I just thought I’d check the sewers in advance when I had time, so I headed to the sewers through the closet.

I decided to erase the names on the kill list to help Roel in earnest after becoming a sophomore, but I was planning to do a rehearsal from the second semester.

Before the seeds of evil sprout, some need to be removed in advance. Like the Sixth Prince I cruelly killed, there are still monsters shamelessly wearing human masks, sacrificing people for their desires or killing innocent children for pleasure.

Killing them will not affect the flow. At least that’s what my calculations showed.

After wandering through the sewers full of stench and darkness, I was able to find a sewer that led to a pub in the capital.

Today’s achievement is that I found a way to get out of the academy without being seen by anyone. With a satisfied smile at the sense of accomplishment, I returned to the club room through the sewer again. Now it’s time for real training.

***

…Academy training ground.

Lykan, who hadn’t shown any signs of returning for several days, finally appeared. Next to him was an unfamiliar old man with a bent back. His wrinkled face was full of dissatisfaction.

It seems like his expression is telling me that the reason he followed Lykan was not his own will.

“Sorry I’m late. It took a little while to persuade the head of the family.”

It is about informing the family’s vision. It is only natural that there are objections to the idea of ​​telling a stranger who has nothing to do with the family about the vision.

Fortunately, Lykan seems to have persuaded the head of the family well. Instead of saying I’m okay, I took out the Spear of Destruction from the space warehouse and stretched my body silently. Lykan smiled at my actions, as if he liked them.

“You rascal, you must have been itching to train all this time. Keuheuhe.”

Lykan laughed heartily as if he was happy, then turned his head to the old man next to him.

“Eurolan-nim, the family has already given permission, so stop being stubborn and help your disciple.”

The old man called Eurolan frowned. But in the end, he nodded with a reluctant expression. Lykan smiled with satisfaction and introduced Eurolan to me.

“This person is Eurolan. He looks grumpy, but his skills as an alchemist are certain. Eurolan will perform a procedure on you. It is a method of artificially twisting the flow of mana flowing in the body to maximize the effect of the family’s vision.”

I bowed to Eurolan, but he didn’t even pretend to see me and deliberately turned his head. After meeting an old man similar to Rotten after a long time, I couldn’t help but scratch my head.

Lykan began to talk to Eurolan without me hearing. Seeing Eurolan nodding and taking out something like a leather wallet from his pocket, I was a little worried that he would start the procedure right away, so I carefully spoke first.

“Um, you haven’t properly explained to me what the family’s vision is yet.”

It might be unnecessary for me. Even if it is the family’s vision, I had to check this point for sure. Fortunately, I have a good habit of carefully checking any contract.

“Ah, that’s right.”

As expected, Lykan didn’t seem to have any intention of explaining what the family’s vision was, as I was worried about. I was a little uneasy about his awkward expression as he scratched the back of his head, as if he hadn’t even remembered that he had to explain it.

Lykan scratched his chin with his thick hand and said.

“So… um, it’s a breathing technique.”

The explanation is too short. It was a word with very little information, so I couldn’t help but scratch my cheek in embarrassment. Eurolan, who was next to Lykan, seemed to feel the same way, and frowned and said.

“Is that all you can say for an explanation? You have to explain exactly what the Perlkus family’s vision is, how valuable it is, and what it means for an outsider of the family to learn it, and take all the credit you can!”

To say this in front of the person involved, Eurolan seems to be as brazen as he looks. He resembles Rotten….

“How can a teacher take credit from his disciple? Hehehe.”

Eurolan glared at me and warned me, as if he didn’t like Lykan’s hearty laughter.

“Listen carefully, brat. What you are allowed is the vision that the head of the family has improved for the branch family. It is inferior to the main family’s vision, but it is still a breathing technique that shows tremendous efficiency. If Lykan hadn’t persuaded the head of the family, an outsider of the family would not have been able to learn it so easily!”

Eurolan, who was trembling as if he had been insulted, suddenly came up to me, pointed his finger at me, and added.

“You must never share even a part of the breathing technique with anyone. Also, if you go somewhere and act like a brat and tarnish the Perlkus family’s reputation, I won’t let you get away with it.”

I didn’t like Eurolan, who was saying such things out of the blue, but I nodded. For now, I am in a position to receive learning. It is necessary to maintain minimal etiquette before entering the bathroom.

When Eurolan finished speaking, Lykan said with a smile.

“Unfortunately, I couldn’t get permission for the main family’s vision. He’s being strict even though you’re my disciple. He’s like a stingy older brother. But just by learning this breathing technique, you will be able to grow several times more than you are now in a short period of time.”

It was a pity, but it was still beneficial to me just to be able to grow. As Eurolan said, I wouldn’t have been able to learn it if it wasn’t for Lykan.

I said with sincerity. I even added the word ‘teacher’ as a service.

“Thank you, Teacher-nim.”

“Euhm!”

He coughed for no reason, but he couldn’t hide that he was in a good mood. I smiled at Lykan’s twitching lips.

But all I’ve heard so far is about the efficiency and warnings of the breathing technique, not the explanation.

“So, what exactly is the amazing breathing technique that I will learn?”

When I said that, Lykan answered with a very satisfied expression.

“Mu-hyeong (無形)!”