Chapter 290

Chapter 290

I Became the Only Non-mage in the Academy.

Episode 290: The One Who Devours Stars – Interlude (3)

The power that Seo Ga-yeon possessed was the magic of starlight.

It boasted an extreme advantage against all kinds of alien forces.

The evil god gained a power called “evil energy” through the negative emotions of humans.

It refined this energy and bestowed it upon the Mines, who in turn generated more evil energy for it.

When the Creator God made this world, there were heterogeneous beings born like bugs in the system.

Their power distorted all laws.

That was why their power was the antithesis of the magic of starlight.

This was because the magic of starlight, much like a white force, had the power to restore their distorted power to its original state.

Being entities born from distorted laws, they suffered severe damage from it alone.

That was why Seo Ga-yeon’s power boasted an extreme advantage against them.

It was as if, even if Seo Ga-yeon were mid-tier, she could gain the potential to kill a top-tier Mine.

That was why I treated Kim Seo-hyun and Seo Ga-yeon especially well.

After all, they were the ones who would play the biggest roles when confronting the evil god in the future.

Of course, it wasn’t just for that reason—I received help from them from time to time as well…

“So, when are you going to do it for me?”

“Pfft!”

I couldn’t help but spit out my water.

Fortunately, it didn’t splash on Seo Ga-yeon.

What she was probably talking about right now, asking when I’d do it with her… it was likely about nighttime matters.

‘She’s so direct, it’s something else.’

It felt somewhat subtle.

It’s not that I didn’t have feelings for them.

They were beautiful, kind, talented, and if we were to date, they’d only have eyes for me.

No, I’d make sure they only have eyes for me.

I had that kind of ability, after all.

No, that’s not the point.

Sighing inwardly, I thought of other things.

This world was more lenient about such matters than one might think.

To begin with, Transcendents openly existed, and although not now, there was a time just before I started deliberately killing Mines when Mines were rampant.

Terrorism was not a distant concept, and unless they were Mine worshippers, ordinary citizens feared the Mines.

As a result, the power of heroes grew stronger. Systems like monogamy with multiple husbands or multiple wives were laws passed hastily during times of societal chaos.

To begin with, even if such systems didn’t exist, if I wanted to do it, they wouldn’t be able to say a word against it.

However, certain thoughts were holding me back from acting.

I scratched my head.

Seo Ga-yeon was necessary. But beyond necessity, she was a precious existence to me.

“It doesn’t seem like you dislike the idea.”

“……”

“If it were the old me, I would’ve been satisfied with that.”

Seo Ga-yeon approached me.

Her sparkling purple eyes gazed into mine.

“Things are different now. Say it clearly.”

“……Uh……”

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

Seo Ga-yeon climbed onto my lap.

Huh?

Seolhwa Ryeon used the power of shadows and ice.

She wielded a power capable of freezing anything, even phenomena or concepts.

She said that if she could fully bloom her power, she might even be able to freeze time itself.

The Elder, Lee Seo-ha, said so, and if he said it, then it must be true. While Seolhwa Ryeon thought this, she was strongly conscious of one particular existence.

Hong Yu-hwa.

The power she possesses is that of flames and the one called the Usurper.

Instinctively, she believes that the power of her flames rivals her own.

If her ice can freeze everything, then Hong Yu-hwa’s flames can burn everything.

And it felt like her ice couldn’t grow any stronger than this.

That’s why she delved into shadows. A vicious ability to encroach upon her opponent and freeze them in that encroached state.

Even against a fully matured Transcendent like the Overlord, Seolhwa Ryeon, who could achieve a win rate as high as 40%, was not satisfied.

‘It’s not enough.’

She had heard news that the evil god had descended.

However, the only message she received was from the guild, instructing her to stand by in preparation for any potential situation.

This was proof that, in the Elder’s eyes, she still didn’t seem like a full-fledged force.

She could put in as much effort as needed.

After all, he is my one and only family.

However,

“Phew.”

Taking a deep breath, Seolhwa Ryeon bounced lightly on her feet.

Her body felt light. But the wall of talent endlessly blocked her. Though she had become a Transcendent, her enemies were overwhelmingly strong. And the Elder’s martial prowess was now beyond even her ability to fathom.

The desire to become his shadow remained, but when she thought of martial strength, she couldn’t help but wonder if she was truly worthy of him.

‘No.’

Seolhwa Ryeon erased her negative thoughts.

It was better to spend this time training, even if just a little.

“I’ll definitely take you along next time. …Because I need Yu-hwa and Seolhwa Ryeon.”

He had said that the next evil god would require her.

That she alone was needed.

Seolhwa Ryeon had a duty to grow stronger during this time.

“I’m going to die at this rate……”

Lime-green hair was sprawled messily across the desk.

With a haggard complexion, Jeong Bora sighed amidst a desk littered with books, papers, water bottles, and more.

‘Lately, I really feel like I’m going to die.’

In the hierarchy of alchemists, Jeong Bora, with only one being above her, sighed while refining her alchemy.

Jeong Bora, who held the title of Veritas’s prized disciple, revered Veritas.

However, lately, that faith had been, ever so slightly, fading.

Working 22 hours a day, sleeping only 2 hours.

Even bathing is handled with magic.

The reason was simple.

“…Lately, the guild’s financial situation…”

“…It’s gotten so bad that Veritas is starting to feel sad…”

“You understand, right…?”

‘Am I being kidnapped or something?’

“……”

She still remembered the Electronic Witch smiling brightly while looking at her.

Still, things have gotten better lately.

The Electronic Witch, having fulfilled her own ambitions, had loosened her grip on Jeong Bora from her perspective.

Jeong Bora could now sleep a full 4 hours and managed all sorts of meals and rest with magic.

She also received a lot of money.

Enough money to single-handedly cover Korea’s annual budget for a year.

This was because the conditions were extraordinarily generous.

Though, in exchange, she was being worked to the bone…

‘But will I even have time to spend all this money before I die?’

Realizing she had no time to spend the money, she, as a celestial alchemist, didn’t particularly care.

This place was a treasure trove of wisdom. Few people know, but only three cardinals, the Electronic Witch, Veritas himself, and herself were aware that Veritas was in the Galaxy Guild.

‘But when does he plan to reveal himself?’

Very few people in this world knew that Lee Seo-ha was Veritas.

Those who knew his identity were those who had a deep connection with Lee Seo-ha.

Jeong Bora didn’t know much, but the particularly sharp ones already knew that Veritas knew Lee Seo-ha, though their numbers were extremely few.

After working 20 hours, Jeong Bora leaned back on the sofa and turned on the TV.

The news was on.

[“Can you see it? This is the sky above Africa… Lee Seo-ha, called a god descended in modern times, has single-handedly defeated the evil god.”]

[“Look up at the sky. You can see an alien line. They say that when the evil god first descended, it tore through that line to emerge.”]

[“Is that according to the African natives?”]

[“No, it was the testimony of a hero observing the Vicious Abomination. The natives here fainted upon seeing the evil god and are still unconscious. It’s proof that ordinary citizens can’t even bear to look at the evil god.”]

[“…Truly astonishing, but why did Lee Seo-ha allow the evil god to be summoned in the first place?“]

[“What nonsense! There’s no way he would deliberately summon the evil god!”]

[“Now, now, everyone, calm down. More importantly, there’s other news. Truly shocking news. It’s said that Kim Seo-hyun has single-handedly defeated the Vicious Abomination, one of the great evils.”]

[“Some say the Vicious Abomination has weakened, but the evil god did descend. All Mines exhibit tremendous power the moment the evil god descends. Compared to its prime, the Vicious Abomination likely wasn’t much different.”]

Even in modern times, gods existed.

In America, there was the Hundred Temple, and in Europe, there were gods like those of Olympus and Asgard.

In Japan, most were called minor gods, but there were as many as a million gods.

In India, too, quite a few were distributed.

However, starting a year ago, people had gradually begun to revere Lee Seo-ha as a true god.

Even before that, he was officially recognized by the Hundred Temple as the god of alchemy, but now he had truly become a god.

The Black God, Lee Seo-ha.

A true god who had appeared in modern times.

Even as a human, he indiscriminately killed Mines and villains, earning immense favor from people.

Upon reaching transcendence, he was the only one to receive the title of god.

Veritas-nim lamented that there was no need to go and tear down that faith.

‘He seems to have become somewhat violent, though.’

Jeong Bora didn’t particularly care.

To begin with, the concept of gods didn’t feel real to her.

In Jeong Bora’s life, there was only one god.

Veritas.

That was why Jeong Bora didn’t particularly like it when Lee Seo-ha revealed his identity.

She didn’t like the idea of the god who belonged only to them receiving faith from others. Of course, if Veritas himself revealed it, she would actively promote it…

‘With so many foolish mortals on the internet…’

Heh.

Jeong Bora gave a sly smile.

It was a perfect opportunity to stir up trouble in the community.

[“The Black God, Lee Seo-ha, is clearly Veritas…”]

Tall stature, a handsome face.

And insane abilities. There’s no way this isn’t Veritas’s other identity, right?

ㄴ Ugh… Veritas fanboys, please just go away!!!

ㄴ But didn’t Veritas cover his face with a mask?

ㄴ Yeah, but if Veritas is Lee Seo-ha, does that mean he was active wearing two masks? Lee Seo-ha…

ㄴ Ahem!!

ㄴ Veritas… please get a grip. Because of your fans, Lee Seo-ha might storm your headquarters.

ㄴ Seriously, I can’t like Veritas because of his fanboys.

ㄴ But potion prices have gone down, haven’t they?

ㄴ You have to separate Veritas from his fans. Veritas has done a lot of good, but the problem is that he’s the god of basement-dwelling, community-obsessed, alchemy-researching weirdos…

ㄴ Veritas fanboys at least do alchemy, lol. Aren’t the people here just unemployed community fanatics?

ㄴ You bastard, where do you live???

ㄴ Want to die??? I’m unemployed because of the Mines’ slander, I tell you!! Villains and Mines are the ones making me unemployed!!

ㄴ LOL.

Jeong Bora continued her fight today against the evil forces slandering Veritas.