episode_0098

Personal details of S-ranks were quite widely known in the current awakened society. At least special cases, like his mother, were hidden. In other words, anyone with considerable interest in Awakened ones could easily memorize all the S-rank Awakened ones within this small country. Even their identities, abilities, and characteristics. Rather, S-ranks had less strict information control than A-ranks. Perhaps it was the so-called destiny of a celebrity.

Because of that, I could, conversely, be certain.

The monster before my eyes. A magic sword user. A black shadow. This person must not be someone who operated within the Korean Peninsula. Undoubtedly. At the very least, it might be different if they were an unregistered Awakened who hadn’t reported their awakening… At least as far as I knew, there was no swordsman in this country using such a grotesque magic sword. In other words, someone with that much skill was brought into Korea from another country.

“Haa…”

I couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh. Isn’t the scale larger than I thought? When I heard about it from Yang Chan-ho beforehand, I had some sense of alarm, but I still didn’t assume this scale. Because I couldn’t imagine any individual or force being able to attack Cheongsong Academy.

‘…Still, I wish there was only one monster like that.’

I repeatedly moved the cold energy gathered at my fingertips between my joints, swallowing dry. If two monsters of S-rank or higher were mobilized for this attack, it would truly be hopeless. Of course, if it were the allied figures gathered in the arena just before, they have the track record of easily subduing Jörmungandr even if it came back to life ten years ago. Even so, a monster’s attack and a human’s attack naturally felt different. If the opponent also knew how to use their head, they would naturally have recognized their existence. Even so, that they dared to carry out such a bold attack… surely means they prepared a means to tie down those S-ranks.

If so, another answer also emerged. After glancing at Cheon Woohyuk’s expression, I then cautiously began to check the monster’s condition as well. So why did a person of that caliber kidnap the two of us to this kind of space? There was only one answer. A hostage situation. A ridiculous hostage exchange for buying time, to be carried out by seizing two disciples of the Great Mage.

“How ridiculous, truly.”

Crack crack crack…!

I twisted my lips and froze both my arms to the limit. Now that I had my Teacher-nim’s unique characteristic, there was no need to deliberately adjust the output. The durability of my body that would be lost by being cooled would be borne by the ‘Frozen Core’ instead.

‘It’s truly thankful that they value me and that Hyung-nim highly, but…’

Still, I couldn’t help but feel displeased. It was clear that the villain was evaluating me as just a hostage, so how could I be cheerful? I sent a gaze full of hostility towards the monster in front of me, and in response, the monster’s only visible red eyes were tinged with interest.

[Hoh.]

“……Lee Hyunjin.”

Rather, the one who was flustered was Cheon Woohyuk, who was standing next to me. He frowned and sent a worried gaze as if to dissuade me. I know what he wants to say. How could I not know? First of all, I also sufficiently grasped the monster’s capabilities. Perhaps I might seem like a reckless junior trying to act brave. But, well. It’s not like I can just stand still, is it?

Slowly beginning to condense the cold energy, I whispered softly towards Cheon Woohyuk.

“Sunbae.”

“……”

“I know. I understand what you want to say, but let’s try just once.”

And at my words, before Cheon Woohyuk could utter a negative reply, I pointed at the monster with my eyes. More precisely, his ‘magic sword’.

“Anyway, even if we combine our strength, we won’t be able to put down that crazy monster… but the sword is different, isn’t it? We should try to break it.”

Cheon Woohyuk’s eyes, which had simply been subdued, changed considerably immediately after that. In the corners of his eyes, as he looked back at the magic sword, golden lightning intensely flickered.

“……You mean.”

“Yes.”

Cheon Woohyuk asked me, and I nodded, affirming.

“Let’s just get out of this space. Even if it’s a gamble, there’s nothing else we can do right now.”

There’s no reason Cheon Woohyuk wouldn’t have seen what I saw. And in my judgment, what tied us to this unknown space was definitely not the monster’s own ability—. There was only one other possibility. The magic sword. The magic sword’s special ability. We had to break through that. What would actually exist outside was an uncertain matter from here. Still, it’s surely better than engaging in a one-on-one battle with an S-rank monster in a place where no other interference could be received at all. At least I believed the situation wouldn’t get worse than this, and frankly, there was nothing else I could do but believe.

Lastly, I sent a calm look, as if asking for Cheon Woohyuk’s will. Anyway, it was something I couldn’t even attempt alone, and if the person I needed help from wasn’t proactive, there was nothing I could do.

“……Hoo.”

Well, fortunately. Cheon Woohyuk was a pure-blood mage, but he was the sort of young mage who possessed a moderate sense of challenge (?). He let out a complicated sigh and gathered lightning at his fingertips.

Crackle crackle crackle—!!

“Assist me, Lee Hyunjin. I’ll handle the attack, so you restrain him as much as you can.”

And I nodded wordlessly. Because his directive was extremely rational. Objectively, it was Cheon Woohyuk who achieved a higher level than me, and given the nature of ice and lightning, it was also Cheon Woohyuk who should be the core of the coordinated attack. I faithfully followed my superior’s command.

Thump-!

I immediately stomped on the ground, spreading cold energy. What I summoned was a ‘tree’. Frozen Wood… That ancient tree that soared high, uncaring even in the unknown dark space, soon emitted a bright blue light, dyeing the surroundings. I would do as much as I could. And what I had to do now was to perfectly bind the monster’s feet. Even for a moment was fine. 3 seconds, or 1 second. Or even just an instant, it didn’t matter. Anyway, the portion of the attack was not something I would bear.

If I say this, is it a bit cowardly?

“Heh.”

I let out a dry laugh and stepped forward. One step, large and heavy—. Thud.

ROAR-!!!

And a loud roar burst forth. Baek Ayun often used it… a momentary explosive leap accompanied by leg strength.

[……!]

The monster’s two eyes opened wide for the first time, and I bit my lip to not miss that first, and perhaps last, opening. I gathered the strongest cold energy I could force into one hand. I stomped down on the ground as I was, quickly regaining my disrupted posture as much as possible, and launched an attack that preceded the opponent’s countermeasure even earlier than that. I extended a Frozen Palm Strike.

CRASHHHHHHH!!

*****

It was a fact many didn’t know. Cheongsong Academy held one of the Hero’s biggest secrets. Fragments of Jörmungandr’s corpse. The heart of the most powerful monster since the Great Cataclysm, which died and disappeared ten years ago, existed right in the basement of that educational institution. The end of the Cheongsong Festival… The aim of those who attacked the academy, targeting that period of joyous excitement, was precisely that. Hero Yang Chan-ho probably also knew that fact well. If they attacked the academy, unless it was a personal grudge against the child of a certain Awakened one, they would surely target ‘that’. Indeed, that prediction was precisely correct.

Although not well known domestically, in fact, a certain force existed overseas. Perhaps a crazy villain group that worshipped the Jörmungandr that had already died and disappeared. The rumor that such individuals were attracting black mages from all over the world and preparing a historical monster revival ritual was also publicly widespread… And it was a foregone conclusion that whenever it happened, if it became known that Jörmungandr’s heart was in an academy in Korea, they would lose their minds and attack.

“Hehehehe…”

The man, Christopher Ryan, was one of those who had lost their minds. He, who was also a high-ranking executive of the Jörmungandr worshipper group, was the commander of today’s academy attack operation, and was currently in the basement of the main building. He thought. What would actually happen if it became known that a monster’s heart existed in the deepest basement of a building where young students studied? Though he didn’t know for sure, wouldn’t a rather interesting chaos unfold before his eyes? Watching that would surely have its own charm. If today’s operation didn’t have to proceed in top secret, he would have spread rumors and watched that scene.

Christopher quietly gestured towards his subordinates behind him and moved further forward. Anyway, after drawing a lot of attention in the arena, they succeeded in infiltrating the main building. If so, having come this far, as long as they weren’t caught by the Hero now, reclaiming Jörmungandr’s heart wouldn’t be difficult.

“……Ah.”

Tinged with joy and rapture, a smile worthy of being called subtle madness appeared on Christopher’s face as he reached a certain door and stopped.

…I feel it. I feel the heart beating. I feel myself resonating with the great being that must exist beyond this door!

A quiet silence briefly descended upon the group. It was a silence that would not last long.

“Soon, I will meet you.”

Because Christopher was not a man of great patience or endurance. He, whose eyes had suddenly turned, stretched out his hand with the momentum of immediately taking the heart—.

Slice!!!

“……!”

His grasp was cut by the black blade that flew in immediately, and his action was stopped. Christopher’s complexion changed in an instant. He quickly retracted his severed wrist and, with his other hand, pressed the severed part, forcibly staunching the bleeding by mobilizing mana. And with a fiercely distorted expression, he turned his head and let out a low growl.

“……Who are you?”

“……”

There was no reply from beyond the darkness. However, a presence existed.

Thump, thump…

And the echoing sound of footsteps. An indescribably thick tension began to fill the narrow space. Over Christopher’s shoulder, mana of an ominous color flickered, and his subordinates also drew their weapons. In that atmosphere where it wouldn’t be strange if a full-blown chaos erupted immediately.

“──Disgusting.”

The one who broke the silence and appeared was a man with dark teal hair hanging gloomily. Ryu Jinseong gripped the black blade again and coldly stared at the black mages. Christopher unknowingly pressed his lips together tightly. Ryu Jinseong continued to speak coolly.

“When I look at your unrefined black mana… do you know that it always makes me nauseous…?”

“……”

“I never imagined I would see such mongrels in the academy.”

Ryu Jinseong, who let out a sigh, roughly swept up his bangs. His two eyes began to gleam chillingly, horrifyingly, beyond compare.

“Well, fine. Anyway, since you caught my eye, now it probably doesn’t matter.”

Dark-colored mana originating from his unique magic, ‘Black Heaven,’ violently surged. Ryu Jinseong raised one hand high.

“……Attack!”

That was also the first signal announcing the start of combat. Christopher gave the attack order to his subordinates.

And on this day. In the basement of the academy’s main building. The Great Mage Ryu Jinseong had to face a very terrible defeat.