Chapter 39

Chapter 39

I Became the Only Non-mage in the Academy.

Episode 39: Organization (2)

I arrived at the room where Professor Song Ra-hee was.

Knock, knock.

“Come in.”

As I knocked, a soft voice invited me in.

When I opened the door, Song Ra-hee appeared, her eye shadows slightly deepened.

Dressed in an unusual purple robe, her purple irises and hair complemented it well.

“What brings you here?”

“Because of the recent incident.”

Song Ra-hee gestured for me to sit down as she spoke.

“It’s hard to stand, sit there. Oh, would you like something to drink?”

“Just water is fine for me.”

“Really?”

Song Ra-hee poured water into a cup from the refrigerator and passed it to me with telekinesis.

She filled her own cup with mint chocolate milk before sitting down.

It felt odd.

Song Ra-hee, who usually maintained a formal distance, was speaking informally.

She was typically very sensitive about such matters.

“You look curious about why I called you. I wanted to discuss something specific with you.”

“What is it?”

“About the recent incident. The principal was looking for you.”

“The principal?”

“Yes. She plans to offer you a generous reward. Consider what you need. And it’s not just the principal; let me know if you need assistance from other professors.”

Taking a sip of her mint chocolate milk, Song Ra-hee added,

“Thanks to you breaking the barrier, we were able to communicate with other places quickly. There were no student casualties. So, the other professors and instructors feel indebted to you. Just say the word if you need anything. And of course, you can always ask for my help.”

With that, Song Ra-hee handed me her business card.

“Normally, just breaking the barrier would have been beyond your capacity. And you even captured a prisoner. The principal is prepared to reward you beyond your imagination. Choose what benefits you the most.”

“Yes, thank you.”

“Then, go see the principal.”

Song Ra-hee gestured a farewell.

With a faint smile.

Lee Seo-ha left the room with a look of disgust.

Beside him was a woman with her eyes covered by a cloth.

The third star shone brightly in the night sky.

The woman, a specialist in healing powers, was guiding him through the darkness.

Disgusting.

Black Heaven seldom showed signs of displeasure.

That’s a doll whose ego has been shattered. It retains all its habits, hobbies, and aspects of life, but it’s merely a doll created by removing the ego. That monstrous person certainly has a peculiar taste for hobbies.

Indeed, it’s quite nasty.

Lee Seo-ha moved forward, his expression tinged with a wry smile.

“We’ve arrived.”

Startled from his reverie by the gentle tone, Lee Seo-ha realized they had come to the end of their journey.

Creak.

A massive door, towering twice the height of an average person, swung open as if by its own volition. There, inside the room, was Seo Ye-bin.

“Please, take a seat.”

Upon hearing Seo Ye-bin’s invitation, Lee Seo-ha seated himself.

“I’ve been briefed on all of your activities.”

“I see.”

“You’ve accomplished far more than I anticipated.”

Seo Ye-bin, who seldom allowed herself a smile, now bestowed one upon Lee Seo-ha in commendation.

“Do you desire something in return?”

“I am in need of some alchemical materials.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, alchemy-related materials would be quite helpful.”

Lee Seo-ha carefully chose his response.

He intentionally kept his request ambiguous, hoping that Seo Ye-bin would provide the finest options available to her.

“I understand.”

Seo Ye-bin closed her eyes momentarily.

“That should be feasible.”

Delving into the subspace, she retrieved an item.

“How would you regard the essence of Duoksini?”

“…I would be truly indebted for such a gift.”

A flicker of excitement danced in Lee Seo-ha’s eyes.

Duoksini.

Once a mere goblin, it had risen to divine status.

Its might was only a notch below that of Seo Ye-bin herself.

To consume such a potent essence was to absorb an immense surge of power.

‘Utterly unimaginable.’

This gift surpassed all his expectations.

Lee Seo-ha found himself swallowing hard.

From the subspace, Seo Ye-bin produced a black orb that seemed to devour the surrounding light.

Lee Seo-ha examined it closely.

[Duoksini’s Essence (S)]

The quintessence of a being that ascended to divinity and emerged as the sovereign of goblins.

Thick darkness concentrated in the essence.

: Upon consumption, Duoksini’s Talent (S) blooms.

: Upon consumption, greatly increases resistance to darkness.

: Upon consumption, greatly increases control over darkness.

: Upon consumption, greatly increases magic power.

: Upon consumption, greatly increases physical strength.

: Upon consumption, greatly increases latent potential.

: Upon consumption, slightly reduces resistance to light.

.

.

.

He found himself at a loss for words.

The appraisal was too extensive to read in its entirety.

Before him was an unbelievable Spirit Elixir that would cause national disputes if even one surfaced.

The effect was so alluring that he felt an urge to consume it immediately.

“It seems you like it.”

“Yes, I really do.”

“What next?”

“……”

For once, Lee Seo-ha wore a blank expression.

Although he heard the words, they seemed unreal.

Gazing at Seo Ye-bin, she could see nothing but brilliance.

The radiant, aurora-like glow of her golden hair shone before her.

“…I need the horns of a deer and a spiritual creature.”

“I happen to have the horn of the Green Deer.”

Seo Ye-bin reached into the subspace again and produced an item.

It was the horn of a deer, with lightning flashing around it.

The item was extraordinary at first glance.

Lee Seo-ha inhaled deeply and activated his talent, Appraisal.

Appraisal.

[Horn of the Green Deer (A+)]

The horn belonged to a Green Deer, which had nearly attained divine status.

Immense power resided within the horn itself.

: When used as a crafting material, greatly enhances lightning attributes.

: Upon consumption, activates the Talent Lightning Flash (A).

: Upon consumption, greatly increases lightning resistance.

: Upon consumption, greatly increases control over lightning.

.

.

.

…He said he needed the horns of a deer and a spiritual creature, but he didn’t expect something of this magnitude.

Lee Seo-ha looked back at Seo Ye-bin.

Seo Ye-bin looked back at Lee Seo-ha with a playful smile.

“What’s next?”

“……”

At that moment, fear began to creep into him.

Old sayings warn that there’s no such thing as a free lunch.

Wasn’t there a saying about being cautious around those who offered beef out of feigned friendliness, and to simply enjoy the pork given by others?

“…I’d like you to help Seo Ga-yeon with selecting weapons again.”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ll take care of it. That girl deserves it.”

Seo Ye-bin’s purple eyes curved into crescents.

“So, is there anything else you want?”

“……”

Lee Seo-ha hesitated for a moment.

The items Seo Ye-bin was offering weren’t stored at the Korea Hero Academy.

Each item could spark wars if leaked.

All of these she was willing to give from her own collection.

There might be something more.

Lee Seo-ha finally spoke.

“Hm?”

Seo Ye-bin tilted her head curiously, then nodded agreeably.

“There is. I’ll give that too. And what next?”

“…I think this is enough.”

Lee Seo-ha thought to himself.

Honestly, this felt excessive.

Resources like these could be used to create a high-ranking artifact, not just an ordinary resource.

Their value was so high that one could buy a small country and have funds to spare.

“That’s good.”

“Yes.”

“Then you may go now.”

At Seo Ye-bin’s words, Lee Seo-ha stood up from his seat.

“I look forward to our next meeting.”

Seo Ye-bin sent Lee Seo-ha off with a bright smile.

“How is it?”

A moment later, Seo Ye-bin spoke again.

-Strange.

The space behind Seo Ye-bin rippled.

A being made of blackness appeared.

-What is that? I can’t even see it properly with my ‘eyes’.

“Even your eyes cannot see it, Dara.”

Seo Ye-bin’s gaze lingered on the spot where Lee Seo-ha had been.

His words resonated with her.

That being couldn’t be ‘gauged’ with her eyes. That’s why she had summoned another being.

Someone of the same caliber as her.

A sorcerer known as the greatest observer in the world, who was said to have glimpsed the truths of all creation.

The world referred to him as Celestial, a nickname.

-Interesting.

“So it’s not completely invisible?”

-It’s shrouded in an unholy power. Fascinating. It negates the most fundamental magic that constitutes the world. Yet, it’s not from outer space. I didn’t realize such an unholy power could exist and still conform to the laws of this world.

“I see.”

-It can’t be crafted from ‘stars’. We can only observe and aid in the awakening of its talent.

“What are the chances it will come here?”

-Five.

“Five years?”

Seo Ye-bin felt a sense of disappointment.

She regretted that Lee Seo-ha was uncomfortable with her gifts and that she could not offer more support.

-What are you talking about?

Celestial dismissed Seo Ye-bin’s words.

-If we commit fully, five years will suffice.

“…What?”

Celestial followed her gaze.

That boy was quite intriguing. There was much that even he could not discern.

-An interesting individual indeed. I was in this vicinity because of our Seo-hyun…

Kim Seo-hyun.

Celestial, one of the entities who had a hand in creating that being, visited the school after a long absence to see Kim Seo-hyun.

He had assisted the Emperor by severing one arm of the Vicious Abomination and now observed the boy he had just noticed.

He wondered if the boy might become a contender to Kim Seo-hyun.

And the outcome was rather intriguing.

Celestial peered inside the school.

He noticed a girl with the soul of a transcendent being, flitting between dreams and reality, the Mare.

A girl with a luminous golden crown, exuding immense heat.

A girl who embodied the power of starlight, signifying the will of the world.

He also spotted a girl with the strength of a titan.

And the entity known as eternity, which was believed to have vanished…

-Emperor, are you still looking for professors at the school?

“…Could it be?”

Celestial grinned like an innocent child.

Seo Ye-bin stared at him, bewildered.

[You have attracted the attention of Celestial, the sorcerer! 2,500P awarded!]

“……?”