episode_0075

No matter what, time flows. The moon sets and the sun rises. In other words, the morning of the next day was bound to arrive.

Today was no different. Even after my decisive battle with Teacher-nim, I greeted the morning.

[Pikachu: Mom wants to see you.]

[Pikachu: As soon as possible, if you can.]

“…….”

While receiving those messages from Cheon Soyul.

It was truly an eye-opening morning.

A summons from Cheon Sehee. It was something I’d heard about previously through a conversation with Cheon Woohyuk, but this time, its weight would be completely different.

Back then, it was merely a request for a casual meeting, perhaps to see her daughter’s friend, or a potential romantic partner (?), just once… Now, it was different.

“Haa.”

With a short sigh, I pressed my forehead against my smartphone. What more was there to say?

This was undoubtedly my karma.

The lightning magic, Heavenly Thunder. Let’s recall that unique magic of the Cheon family, which I just happened to use in the tournament match the day before.

The lightning, which had started to take on a bluish-white color due to being infused with my attribute, even if its color had changed, its fundamental structure hadn’t.

Naturally, many people would have noticed something strange, and at least a considerable number of high-ranking awakened individuals would have realized the truth.

After all, how common was a unique magic as violent as Heavenly Thunder?

How could they *not* notice that it was suspiciously similar magic?

Setting everything else aside, most experts of that magic would have surely discerned the truth.

Yes, in other words, Cheon Sehee and Cheon Woohyuk, and likely even Cheon Soyul’s older sister, the eldest daughter of the Cheon family, who would have come with them.

If it were them, they couldn’t help but know, even if they wanted to remain ignorant. It was obvious what the implications were at first glance.

-Cheon Soyul leaked a unique magic.

‘What a truly foolish guy.’

It was something like that. Since she was a direct descendant and the Archmage’s own daughter, it probably wouldn’t escalate into a massive problem, but she was undoubtedly being scolded severely. I could just imagine it.

I let out a bitter laugh and strongly reprimanded myself for my foolishness internally.

I did it because I wanted to win, and back then, no other countermeasure came to mind…

What meaningful use would such excuses and pretexts be in this current situation?

In any case, as a result, I put Cheon Soyul in a difficult position. If I had considered her situation, I should have just lost then.

Because I needlessly displayed useless pride and a desire to win, fighting to the very end, things got twisted.

“…….”

After a brief silence, I tightly clenched my fist. Then I stood up.

Anyway, I had to take responsibility. The incident had occurred, and naturally, it was my job to handle it.

It was while I was steeling my resolve with such thoughts.

“Shall I go with you?”

Suddenly, a voice from beside me stopped my steps. It was her distinct languid voice, slightly dazed from sleep, characteristic of someone weak in the mornings.

I let out a hollow laugh and turned my head. There, my nude Teacher-nim was hugging a pillow, looking up at me blearily.

Her expression was tinged with no small amount of fatigue, a result of the second round with me throughout the night.

Even so, I thought it wasn’t quite right to end the first night purely with outdoor play.

Thus, we had secured accommodation within the academy. Naturally, simply holding hands and sleeping did not happen…

Already, the mattress, bedsheets, and parts of the blanket bore the traces of yesterday’s passionate lovemaking.

In such a situation, Teacher-nim had spoken to me, asking if she should go with me.

Though there was no subject, I knew she had fully grasped my situation.

Well, naturally. From the start, if even others had easily noticed the problem, how could she not know?

On the contrary, as she was once the only person who knew my unique characteristics, she would have been even closer to the deeper truth.

‘…She’s probably already upset because of it, but anyway.’

I had no intention of deliberately bringing her to a conversation with Cheon Sehee. It was common knowledge nationwide that the two Archmages didn’t get along.

I didn’t want to witness a meaningless ‘Ice vs. Lightning’ showdown at the academy…

With a faint smile, indicating I was fine, I gently patted Teacher-nim’s head a couple of times.

“Mmm…”

At my gentle touch, she pleasantly squinted one eye and lay back down.

She would probably fall asleep soon. Seeing her eyes close, I decided to quietly leave the room.

Creak-

Leaving the unmanned hotel building and stepping outside, bright sunlight greeted me. Normally, I would have considered it a truly pleasant start to the day.

But now, it felt as if that sunlight might soon turn into lightning and melt me away.

Though I didn’t know Archmage Cheon Sehee’s personality in great detail, it seemed unlikely she would greet with laughter a scoundrel who had charmed(?) her daughter and stolen a unique magic.

The more I thought about it, the more uneasy I felt. But what could I do? Was there anything I could do?

If you can’t avoid it, enjoy it. If you still can’t enjoy it, give up. The incident had already erupted, and at this moment, I had to go meet the Archmage of Lightning.

Taking a deep breath, I calmed my racing heart. Then I opened my smartphone screen and checked the location I had received from Cheon Soyul.

‘Ah.’

Should I call this a coincidence? It was a place I knew.

It was a high-end restaurant located in the commercial district on the east side of campus…

It was also a place I sometimes went with Cheon Soyul when something good happened. For example, if we both achieved good grades in a midterm evaluation.

Perhaps Cheon Soyul’s recommendation had influenced the choice of this location to some extent.

Recalling such trivial thoughts, I took heavy steps forward.

I blankly gazed at the blue sky, and watched people walking around the campus.

As I moved and moved, I eventually arrived. My destination. The entrance to the restaurant where Cheon Sehee would be waiting.

I repeatedly took deep breaths to calm myself, and then made a decision.

Just go in. What’s the big deal? If I get scolded, I get scolded. If they kill me, I just die.

Whatever it is, if I bow my head, there’s a slight chance it’ll resolve. Maybe?

‘…Whew.’

Right.

‘Let’s go.’

With that, I opened the restaurant door.

And I came face to face with Cheon Woohyuk.

“…….”

“…….”

A brief, quiet silence.

There was no warning.

Crack-!

“Huh.”

In an instant, a flash of bluish lightning gleamed, and I reflexively twisted my body, pulling my head out of the menacing trajectory.

Baek Ayun’s reflexes, instinctively drawn out, helped me. A distinctly stinging sensation grazed my cheek as it passed.

I turned back to Cheon Woohyuk with a bewildered expression, and he was immediately grabbed firmly by both arms by a woman who had approached from behind.

Light brown hair and deep golden eyes.

“Now, now, Woohyuk. Calm down and let’s go back, okay? Yes, good boy. He’s still a guest, you know.”

It was a face I hadn’t seen before, but I had a feeling I knew who it was. Cheon Soyul’s older sister, whom I’d heard about a few times… The eldest daughter of this family, Cheon Hyeon-a.

She gave me a friendly wink, then dragged Cheon Woohyuk away.

A reaction quite different from Cheon Woohyuk’s.

I blinked in bewilderment.

‘…More than I thought.’

Perhaps the atmosphere of this meeting wasn’t entirely hostile. It was because I had just happened to think of such a hopeful observation.

Cheon Hyeon-a’s reaction was like that. Then perhaps Cheon Sehee wouldn’t view me as someone who deserved to be utterly torn apart.

For some reason, my heart calmed down. Perhaps I was secretly relieved. After all, they were Cheon Soyul’s family, and I didn’t want to leave a bad impression.

With those thoughts, I turned towards where I sensed Cheon Soyul’s presence, along with the most intense golden mana in the place.

There was no doubt. Beyond that, the strongest Archmage in this country must be located.

I had vaguely heard that she wasn’t a person of particularly passionate temperament.

On the contrary, if I were to infer from Cheon Soyul’s accounts, it was more likely that she was a person with a surprisingly gentle personality.

Embracing such hope, I turned the corner inside the restaurant.

Given that no other customers were visible around, it was probably a private rental, wasn’t it?

If they wanted to talk quietly, it wasn’t particularly strange.

By now, I had quite calmed my mind and body, so there was nothing more to fear. I directly proceeded to the spot facing Cheon Sehee.

And there, my eyes met Cheon Soyul’s.

“…….”

“…….”

So.

Hmm.

She was now kneeling before her mother, sweating profusely…

That was my eye contact with my prospective wife-nim.

‘Aha.’

My judgment was very swift. After all, wasn’t I a young genius mage by name?

Immediately lowering my posture, I likewise knelt beside Cheon Soyul.

For now, I didn’t know. I didn’t fully understand the situation either, but it seemed that starting by bowing my head wouldn’t change.

And for good reason.

Rumble, rumblerumble…

Because at this very moment, before my eyes, there existed a truly massive lightning storm.

In Cheon Sehee’s eyes, I could find not a single trace of gentleness.