Episode 394. Preparing for the Mage Conference (4)

“Holy crap. I almost died.’

Tak-

I let out a sigh of relief, put my hand on the floor, and stood up.

Just because you were flustered, does that mean you go all out on your disciple like that?

“Are you crazy? Im Sol! Hurry up and apologize to Hoyeon!”

Baek Ahyoung, who came up to the training ground, yelled at Im Sol.

Still, I appreciate her getting genuinely angry like that instead of me.

“…I’m sorry. Hoyeon, are you okay?”

“Yes. It hurts, but I’m okay. Is Professor’s back okay?”

The spiral hit her back directly, so it must have hurt a lot.

Professor Im Sol rubbed her back, making a wry face.

“…I’m okay. I’ve gotten hurt like this a lot in the field. And I blocked the dangerous parts with my shield.”

“Ah, but Professor. That last move was a bit much. What were you thinking going all out like that suddenly?”

“I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to, I couldn’t control it.”

“By any chance, if Ahyoung-ssi hadn’t stopped you, it wouldn’t have been a serious situation, right?”

“I don’t think so. I think I would have regained my senses by the end.”

“Are you sure?”

“…Probably.”

Seeing Im Sol avoid my eyes, I shook my head.

Judging by how she spoke, she probably would have been fine… but still, it was scary.

“Still, after a long time, it was an intense spar, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah. Definitely.”

I looked at the gauge shining in the air and smiled.

The gauge was 15 to 65.

Naturally, I was the 15.

We both landed one proper magic attack, but seeing as my damage was much higher, it’s safe to say it was a loss for me.

However, reducing the Professor’s gauge by 35% was important.

Last spar, I properly caught her off guard, but I couldn’t even reduce it by 1%.

I had finally pierced through Im Sol’s defenses, who was like an unshakeable mountain.

If a human manages to chip away 35% from a mountain, that’s a miracle.

Moreover, I still had room to improve.

Arc is a skill I just used for the first time. If I keep honing it, I’ll be able to use it better.

I’m starting to feel more confident.

“How was my magic?”

“It was amazing. What kind of magic was that?”

“It’s called Arc. Um, but what kind of magic it is, is a secret.”

“…Why?”

Im Sol looked disappointed, but now I can’t just tell her everything.

What I felt from this spar is that I can’t reveal more of my weaknesses.

Every time I reveal one, the difficulty level increases too much.

“I’m also in a position where I need to beat you, Professor. Please consider my position too.”

“Until now, you’ve told me.”

“I’m not saying I won’t tell you anything. When the day comes that I beat you, Professor, I can share everything.”

“Hmm….”

As if she didn’t understand, I added an explanation for Im Sol, who tilted her head.

“We spar so often like this; if I share every little bit of progress, you’ll come up with countermeasures every time, Professor. Then it becomes too hard for me to win.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. So, I’m going to hide some things from now on.”

“No wonder. So that’s why you revealed it right away. Hmm. What’s the principle behind it? A skill that consumes magic to cast magic….”

Im Sol continued to ponder right in front of me, but Arc would likely be quite difficult to figure out.

It’s a skill made by mobilizing my [Sharp Mind] and [Mana Sensitivity] to the fullest.

Basically, since my will is embedded in each sphere, an ordinary person’s mental strength couldn’t withstand it.

Even for a Professor with high mana affinity, Arc would be difficult to use.

“You guys, are you talking like that knowing the training ground is completely wrecked? I’m going to contact the facilities team, so hurry down.”

And at Baek Ahyoung’s words, who had been watching from behind, I checked my surroundings.

The ground completely melted, the ceiling and walls were shattered, even the lights had fallen.

If things had gone wrong, it might have even strained the system.

“…I don’t get wizards at all. How can they chat so casually in a place like this? It feels gross in a place that’s all broken.”

“I know, right? I don’t really know either.”

I calmed Baek Ahyoung, who was grumbling, and returned to Im Sol’s lab.

I’m grateful she’s worried about me, but I’m worried Im Sol, who followed us, might overhear.

When I glanced sideways, Professor Im Sol was walking while looking at the floor.

A completely different attitude from when she went to the training ground.

She seemed to be conscious of the mistake she made towards me.

Even after returning to the lab, the Professor wasn’t saying much, so I finally spoke first.

“We had a spar, so let’s go grab a meal together. I said I’d treat.”

Honestly, I kind of want her to leave now.

Moving my body made me really hungry.

“I won’t come along. I made a mistake with my disciple… so today feels a bit off.”

“Huh? I’m fine, though.”

“It’s weighing on my mind.”

Im Sol said with an apologetic expression.

Even though she pretends not to be, it seems like it’s really bothering her.

She doesn’t need to worry about it.

“Professor. If you feel sorry, you shouldn’t just not come; you should come along and buy me a meal.”

“…Are you sure it’s okay? It feels awkward.”

I looked at Im Sol and chuckled.

It’s been a while since I saw her look so vulnerable, it’s quite cute.

She looked like that at the Magic Expo too, and it only seems to come out when she makes a mistake.

“I don’t feel offended. You remember what I said, right? You’re Im Sol, Professor. Act normally.”

“…Okay. Then I’ll pay.”

“Now you’re finally acting like the usual Sol.”

Professor Im Sol finally gave a slight smile.

Baek Ahyoung, who was next to me, also nodded.

I thought Baek Ahyoung would prefer eating alone, but it seems she’s looking out for her friend Im Sol.

“Professor, shall we review the spar we just had?”

“Sure. I must strive for my disciple’s development.”

We reviewed the spar from the beginning.

While listening to the Professor’s diligent review, I suddenly asked something that came to mind.

“But what was that thing the Professor used at the end? I think I saw it at the Magic Expo too. Is that your secret weapon?”

“You could call it a secret weapon. I usually use it when I meet an opponent I can’t possibly beat, no matter what I do. It’s a dangerous method that puts a strain on my body. You pushed me that far.”

“Oh, it’s like a last resort. But at the Magic Expo, didn’t you use it from the start?”

“…At that time, I was so annoyed that my reason snapped. Other strong individuals probably have something like this prepared too. Because if you’re going to die anyway, you have to try everything.”

Indeed, if she could maintain that momentum, wouldn’t she be able to wipe out Pandemic alone?

The pressure was that intense.

As I was talking with the Professor, I started to worry about Baek Ahyoung next to me.

“Ahyoung-ssi, isn’t this boring for you?”

“It’s not bad listening to it. I can feel how serious you both are, so it makes me feel energized too.”

“Since Ahyoung is here too, shall we stop here? If you need more, you can come back alone to review.”

“Yes. Let’s go eat.”

Fortunately, the Professor, who was serious about magic, saw Baek Ahyoung and stopped the review.

Baek Ahyoung waited patiently, but I felt bad leaving her alone.

We got up together and left the lab.

*

After finishing the meal with the two of them, I headed home.

As expected, food eaten with beautiful women is truly delicious.

Moreover, if beautiful women even pay for it, it becomes impossibly delicious.

As soon as I got home, I heard Liliana’s voice filling the living room.

“Rebecca must go through the process of calling me Unnie.”

“Liliana. Where did you hear something weird this time?”

“It’s not weird. I need to establish the hierarchy in this house…!”

What does Liliana even do normally to learn something weird every day?

Last time she threw a fit about starting a fried chicken place, I wonder how long this one will last.

“Liliana. What nonsense are you talking about?”

“Ah, you’re back! You have to call me Noona too.”

“…Why?”

“Because that’s the hierarchy!”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but if you call me Master first, I’ll consider it. That’s the hierarchy.”

“Master…? Wait a minute. Can I call Master ‘Noona’? Is Master my younger sibling? That won’t do.”

Liliana fell into thought, muttering strange things, and I, used to this, sat opposite Rebecca.

Rebecca looked at me, who had instantly silenced Liliana, and clapped her hands.

“Baby Daddy handles Liliana well. I still don’t know how to react.”

“I’ve gotten used to this too after doing it for a long time. Could I have a cup of coffee too?”

“She comes suddenly during my research, insisting on establishing a hierarchy; you have no idea how difficult it is.”

Jjo-reureu-

Rebecca poured me coffee and smiled.

Because Liliana kept bothering her, she hadn’t been able to do her magic research.

‘Come to think of it, does Rebecca also have a secret weapon?’

Seeing Rebecca’s face, it suddenly occurred to me.

Although it might not compare to Im Sol’s ‘serious mode’, Rebecca is also an incredibly strong individual.

If so, does she have a secret weapon too?

“Rebecca-ssi. I have something I’m curious about.”

“Hm?”

“Do you, Rebecca-ssi, also have a secret weapon?”

“What do you mean by a secret weapon? What are you talking about?”

“Like magic used when facing an opponent you can’t possibly beat… or when the enemy’s strength is so overwhelming that the odds are slim, you unleash it, prepared to die.”

“Ah. Of course, I have a hidden card. It’s better to risk your life than to die.”

“Oh… Should I make one too?”

It seems everyone has a trump card like that.

In the end, to become strong, you must survive by resolving life-or-death situations.

These experiences accumulate and eventually become my strength.

Should I develop a life-risking magic too?

“Well. Baby Daddy, why are you suddenly like this?”

“I was talking with Professor Im Sol and found out she also has a life-risking trump card. Since you also have one, Rebecca-ssi, I wondered if it’s a characteristic of strong individuals.”

“Ah… Well. Mine is a magic that was accidentally created during magic research. I managed to create it, but it’s magic that’s difficult to use properly because it puts too much strain on the body. Perhaps Mage Im Sol feels similarly?”

“Hmm, hearing that, it seems plausible.”

Professor Im Sol isn’t the type to develop life-risking magic herself.

It was probably magic accidentally created during other magic research.

“And it’s best if such situations don’t happen, right? Instead of trying to create something like a secret weapon, it might be better to strengthen your fundamentals and become stronger.”

“That too is persuasive.”

“Yeah. But the choice is yours, Baby Daddy.”

Rebecca took a sip of her coffee after saying that.

As expected, magic is difficult.

But Rebecca’s words seem right.

It would be better to focus on magic research than to waste energy trying to create a secret weapon.

Besides, increasing my mana circuits with my Blood Veet can also be considered a secret weapon. It’s a skill that puts an immense load on the body.

“Hmm, Master. No, I need to search for ‘hierarchy’ again. What did it mean again?”

I looked at Liliana, still lost in pointless worries, and thought.

The reason I’m worrying about things like secret weapons.

My opponent is the Demon King.

Even if I hone Arc and defeat Professor Im Sol, the Demon King is another story.

The Maestro, who had such immense power, sacrificed Pandemic and himself to summon the Demon King.

Naturally, he is incredibly strong, and in the original work, an opponent who could only be defeated in the very late stages.

As I am now, I was far too lacking.

“Liliana.”

“Yeah?”

“In the Underworld, how strong is the Demon King?”

I asked Liliana.

How strong a being is the Demon King in the Underworld?

“How strong?”

“Yeah. What kind of presence does he have?”

“Well… I haven’t actually seen him fight. But he is literally the ruler of the Underworld, so he must be incredibly strong.”

“That makes sense.”

Liliana, lacking memories, doesn’t seem to know.

Maybe I should ask Chiron later.

Though I wonder if asking will even solve the problem.

“Baby Daddy, I can’t tell if you’re a serious person or a frivolous one.”

“Me?”

Rebecca, who was staring intently at my face, continued.

“Yeah. Usually you seem frivolous, but sometimes you show a serious side.”

“How can a person be fixed like that? You can’t be frivolous every single day.”

“That’s true. Baby Daddy is quite mature.”

I smiled, seeing Rebecca’s lips curl up in a smile.

The world won’t leave me alone, so I have no choice but to overcome it.

‘I guess I should train my magic diligently.’

Ever since I saw Maestro in person, I’ve felt inexplicably more anxious.

In the original work, it takes at least a few years for the Demon King to appear, but I have a feeling it’s going to happen much sooner.

The butterfly effect I created is growing larger, and it’s already too late to stop it.

Therefore, I must become stronger.

Sparring with the Professor is good, and fighting against demons is good.

Until Pandemic executes its world-ending plan… I need to at least catch up to Professor Im Sol.

I saw the possibility today, so all that’s left is effort.

I made another resolution and finished my coffee.