Chapter 52

Chapter 52

I Became the Only Non-mage in the Academy.

Episode 52: Legacy (3)

Whoosh.

The car hovered in mid-air.

“How is it? Do you feel the power of the new serial magic engine?”

“Yes.”

I had realized a few things while with Song Ra-hee.

First, Song Ra-hee talked a lot.

And she was a student of science.

Which meant…

“Of course. As expected of the top student. Normally, magic is connected in parallel, but this serially connected magic engine is…”

It was a story about her being an incredible explainer.

Despite the journey only requiring 30 seconds for what would normally take 30 minutes on foot, I quietly listened to Song Ra-hee’s explanation in the car.

“Oh, my. I’ve been explaining too much. Let’s go inside then.”

Inside, I saw Ershil playing with a doll.

“Oh, you came together.”

Ershil smiled and then asked.

“But did you prepare a swimsuit?”

“Swimsuit?”

“Yes, there’s a sea near our villa. And the beaches in England are famously beautiful.”

Ershil said this, then folded her arms and looked me up and down.

“Hmm, but with Lee Seo-ha’s naturally handsome face and body proportions, anything would probably look good.”

“That’s right. Our top student has a face and body sculpted by a god.”

“Indeed. Professor, do you know something? It would be almost sinful not to appear on TV or online media with such looks.”

“Exactly.”

“Cough.”

Feeling oddly embarrassed by Song Ra-hee and Ershil’s barrage of compliments, I coughed awkwardly.

“By the way, where’s Yu-hwa?”

“Hong Yu-hwa will come straight to the warp gate. She said she had to stop somewhere briefly before coming here.”

Ershil’s eyes twinkled.

“Speaking of which, things have been quite serious between you two recently.”

“Me and Yu-hwa?”

“Yes. Like eating together, or Yu-hwa looking for your photos, or exercising together. There’s been a lot of talk among the students~.”

“…”

It was an unfairly loaded statement for me.

Eating together was because Hong Yu-hwa wanted to compete with me; her seeking photos was likely her way of fostering a sense of rivalry, and joining me for exercise was simply Hong Yu-hwa’s unilateral decision.

“Hmm, seeing Lee Seo-ha’s reaction, I guess not.”

Ershil smirked and swayed her head happily.

I regarded Ershil with a strange feeling.

The journey to England was swift.

Most of the warp gates around the world existed because the artificial Sky Island, where the Korea Hero School was established, served as a midway point.

The great and mighty hero who founded the school conveniently set up a warp gate that connects to the rest of the world.

Thus, despite it being merely a club activity, we, the students of the school, could travel anytime.

“Hmm, it feels good to be back home after a long time.”

Ershil said with a smile.

Hong Yu-hwa, with her arms folded and a haughty expression, handed her luggage to the butler.

“Students of the Korea Hero School can go home anytime, right?”

“I wanted to focus. Because I’ve found a rival I want to defeat.”

Ershil’s eyes curved into half-moons as she gazed at me with a playful smile.

“Me?”

“Yes. I don’t feel much competitive spirit towards Kim Seo-hyun, but strangely, I do towards Lee Seo-ha.”

“Seo-hyun is also strong.”

“Well, with him, it feels like I could win right now.”

“…”

That was actually accurate.

Ershil was a master of illusion magic. Kim Seo-hyun’s innate talent was superior, but he still had much to learn.

Although both were transcendent beings, Melanie, who had mastered illusion magic for over a thousand years, and a mere illusionist couldn’t be compared.

‘He also has martial arts.’

With the collapse of the martial world, he too had to learn the Thousand-Year Martial Arts they left behind.

Kim Seo-hyun might be weak now, but that would change once he progressed from the first to the second year.

“But I am strong against illusion magic.”

“That’s why I’m learning a special technique.”

Ershil said with a mischievous smile,

“So, please remain the top student. At the final evaluation, I will defeat you.”

“Alright.”

I felt a bit reluctant but eventually nodded.

Thinking about it, both Ershil and Hong Yu-hwa were precocious, yet still young.

“So, what are we going to do now?”

“There are four of us, so we can just do whatever we want or relax together.”

“And the leader?”

“Oh, right.”

Ershil glanced momentarily and panicked toward where the leader was. Fortunately, the leader seemed to be exploring nearby and didn’t hear us.

Then our eyes met.

“Cough, cough. My mistake. It’s my first time in England.”

“What activity are we doing today?”

As Ershil said this with a cheerful smile, the leader pondered for a moment before speaking.

“Since it’s the first day, I think it’s okay to act separately.”

“That sounds good.”

I quickly agreed.

The location of the Heavenly Demon’s legacy was quite far from danger.

I had planned to come to England immediately after obtaining the Heaven Defying Body and just get through the very beginning.

‘I should hurry; there might be something else there.’

“Hmm, what’s this? Were you that curious about England?”

“I have a place I want to visit.”

“Where is it? I’ll guide you. As the eldest daughter and future head of the English Illusion Magic Family, I’ll personally guide you.”

Ershil said with a sly smile.

“I can only go there alone.”

“Hmm.”

Ershil narrowed her eyes, trying to gauge me.

Suddenly, Black Heaven appeared next to me, watching Ershil.

‘Black Heaven?’

-Hmm, that thing inside. Now you should be able to feel it.

‘Are you talking about Melanie Merchen?’

-Is her name Melanie Merchen?

Black Heaven kept an eye on Ershil.

Click.

A sound like something turning on in my mind rang out, and my vision changed.

I activated Divine Sight.

And then, I looked at Ershil.

Enormous.

Within Ershil’s body, I saw an enormous ‘world’ – a world created by a being named Melanie over a thousand years.

In the heart of that world…

I beheld a woman with silver hair. Her eyes, a peculiar silver, seemed to mirror scales.

Melanie Merchen.

-…Interesting. A true successor of the Heavenly Demon, yet you lack the ‘qualification.’

Her soft words touched my ears, and my consciousness began to fade.

And then, clarity returned to my vision.

‘…’

-Master, did you actually witness it?

‘…Yeah. I’m feeling a bit dizzy.’

-Turn off the Divine Sight. Viewing a transcendent being comes with a cost for mortals.

I massaged my eyes and deactivated the Divine Sight.

Ershil gazed at me, her expression filled with astonishment.

“…Can a descendant of the Heavenly Demon really see such things?”

“I’m a little exceptional.”

I exhaled a heavy sigh.

“…So, the reason you must proceed alone is connected to the Heavenly Demon?”

“Yes. But do you understand who the Heavenly Demon is?”

“Yes, my master has instructed me.”

“Truly? Could you share those stories with me later?”

“Of course, that’s simple. Is it perilous? I can offer assistance.”

Ershil proposed with a playful smile.

“You’ve just met my master, haven’t you? I can momentarily wield her powers.”

Ershil indeed had the capability to tap into Melanie’s strength.

Yet, the consequence was severe; she would find herself confined to a hospital bed for roughly a week.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s unavoidable. Just spend time with me after your mission is done.”

Ershil offered with a light laugh.

“Ah, there’s a Korean saying, isn’t there? About treating someone to a full meal. I’ll indulge you with an English-style full course.”

“…Alright.”

I agreed, albeit with muted enthusiasm.

After all, England was notorious for its lackluster cuisine.

Within the dungeon,

Dungeons where Black God Martial Arts were practiced pose almost no threat.

At their worst, they consist of a few riddles and minor traps.

‘Those traps are harmless too, as long as an average person exercises a bit of caution.’

The Black God Martial Arts dungeon was an exceptionally forgiving place.

I mentally revisited the layout of the dungeon.

Still, no clues surfaced in my thoughts.

“Then, is it reacting to the Energy of Defying Heaven?”

As I walked deeper into the dungeon, I realized I was quite familiar with its structure, having been here over a hundred times.

I deftly avoided traps, solved puzzles, and ventured further in.

Before me stood an old altar.

Upon it lay a book.

Black God Martial Arts (黑神武).

-…It’s the real Black God Martial Arts. A book used by the previous owner.

Black Heaven spoke.

-But it’s strange. I can’t sense the spirit of the previous owner around here…?

“Really?”

While Black Heavenly might not have felt it, I sensed it clearly.

The Conceptual Stat Energy of Defying Heaven.

The Conceptual Stat that directly governed that power.

Even if Heavenly Demon, the one known as the previous owner of Black Heaven, were to come here, my ability to control the energy of Defying Heaven would not be inferior.

I placed my hand on the book inscribed with Black God Martial Arts.

Then, I tapped into the Energy of Defying Heaven.

-Aaaargh!

A scream echoed.

Following that, a very familiar energy entered my body—the Energy of Defying Heaven.