episode_0172

The Cheon family mansion was incredibly spacious. It was a grand estate of such vast proportions that one might wonder how such a large plot of land was secured within Seoul.

As such, it was equipped with various facilities, and the training ground was no exception.

“…Hmm?”

I, who had arrived early at the training ground and was warming up, turned my head. Along with a presence, Cheon Woohyuk entered, looking as if he’d bitten into something sour.

Behind him, Hyeon-a Cheon walked in, her bobbed hair swishing, a subtle smile gracing her lips.

“Hey.”

That’s when Cheon Soyul poked me. When I blinked and looked back, she mumbled with a rather sulky expression.

“Be careful. My older sister… she’s really strong.”

However, her voice was much more serious than her expression, so I was slightly surprised and asked back,

“That strong?”

“Yes, that strong.”

Cheon Soyul nodded, affirming again. As small bolts of lightning crackled from her fingertips, she subtly revealed an aggressive aura.

“For one, I’ve never once beaten her before.”

At her subsequent words, I retorted with a stiff expression.

“Isn’t that just because you’re weak…?”

“…”

Cheon Soyul looked back at me and thrust out her lightning-infused fist.

Thud!

“Ugh.”

It was a light touch, but the lightning energy seeped in and lightly shocked me.

I trembled, briefly stiffened.

At times like this, I couldn’t help but inwardly envy the existence of lightning resistance. I clearly possessed the Heavenly Thunder, yet how could I lack resistance?

“Anyway, be careful. Despite appearances, she’s clearly a top-tier A-rank practitioner.”

“…Yes, of course.”

I laughed foolishly and carelessly tousled Cheon Soyul’s hair. She frowned as if to say ‘stop that’, but I didn’t mind.

That’s when Cheon Woohyuk approached us.

“Are you ready, Lee Hyunjin?”

“Ah, yes, Hyung-nim.”

There wasn’t anything special to prepare. Warming up adequately was enough, and the injuries from Cheorwon had already recovered considerably.

Though not perfectly… still, wouldn’t a light spar be doable?

“Then, I look forward to it, Jebu.”

Hyeon-a Cheon spoke to me, smiling brightly. I simply nodded slightly without answering, and she moved to the opposite side from me.

The two siblings, Cheon Woohyuk and Cheon Soyul, also retreated far enough to create sufficient space for us.

Looking up casually, on the second floor, which was structured like a corridor, stood my Master-nim and mother-in-law.

My Master-nim, in other words, our Seol Hayeon, what could she be so displeased about?

Since the meal, she had been glaring at me like a perpetually sensitive cat. Of course, it was the same now, muttering something as if cursing me.

‘What is she saying?’

Even reading her lips, it was difficult to interpret the proper meaning. Roughly reinterpreting it, was it something like, ‘insolent,’ ‘outrageous,’ ‘annoying’…?

Why was she so grumpy? I seriously had to wonder if it was because I had truly been caught in the act of nipple masturbation in the garden.

Sizzle!!

A fierce thunderous roar echoed at that moment. As I flinched and turned my head, Hyeon-a Cheon stared directly at me, holding a lightning spear in one hand.

“Jebu, you should be focusing on me right now.”

“…”

The momentum was exceptionally sharp… I couldn’t help but think this wasn’t going to be a light spar, but still…

‘Even so…’

It was manageable. This wasn’t just me saying it out of overconfidence; it was the result of reading the aura she emitted and making an assessment based on it.

I’ve met quite a few A-rank Awakened so far. Jiwoo Noona and Lee Seo Ssi are A-rank, aren’t they?

If I were to point out a difference between her and those two older sisters, it would be that Hyeon-a Cheon is a pure magic-type.

Anyway, it seemed there wouldn’t be much difficulty in dealing with her.

But… a lightning spear?

‘Battle Mage?’

At the thought that suddenly came to mind, I let out a small gasp. Her well-fitting workout clothes, and guessing from her leggings…

The possibility seemed quite high. Even the bare skin occasionally revealed was covered in muscle…

‘…And abs…’

For a fleeting moment, I lowered my gaze, then lifted my head, feeling unnecessarily uncomfortable.

I wasn’t caught, right? Even if Cheon Soyul watching was secondary, the gaze of the person herself bothered me.

“…Hmph?”

At that very moment, Hyeon-a Cheon let out a meaningful snort. I instinctively knew my gaze had been caught and lightly touched my face.

“…My apologies.”

“Huh? I don’t quite understand what Jebu is saying~?”

“…”

Hyeon-a Cheon deftly parried my words.

I let out a small sigh. I realized she was someone who could easily sweep me away if I continued to exchange words with her.

“Hoo.”

So I immediately brought up my ice energy. The conversation was over now; it was time to focus on the spar.

With a chilling aura permeating my entire body, I spoke directly to Hyeon-a Cheon.

“Are you ready, Cheohyeong?”

“…Heh.”

And Hyeon-a Cheon wore a slightly menacing smile on her lips. With a faint blush somehow also gracing her cheeks, she immediately swung her arm.

“Of course…!”

Crack! Boom! A sound like thunder and lightning striking echoed, and the lightning spear Hyeon-a Cheon threw reached my throat in an instant.

“Of course!”

“…!”

Crash!!

Accompanied by a massive explosion, the lightning spear directly clashed with my two arms.

*****

Hyeon-a Cheon’s eyes flickered with heat. The moment she threw the spear, she also stomped the ground and launched herself towards Lee Hyunjin.

Because she naturally didn’t think she could defeat him in a single blow.

Of course, wasn’t he a mage acknowledged by the Great Mage Ryu Jinseong and recommended for S-rank promotion?

Even if she surpassed him somewhat in age and experience, he couldn’t be an easy opponent.

But she wasn’t thinking of losing either, so Hyeon-a Cheon immediately grabbed the lightning spear that had floated into the air and swung it again.

Clang!!

It wasn’t the chilling sound of lightning slicing through human flesh, but a harsh clang proving it had struck something and been blocked.

Soon, the black smoke cleared, and beyond it, Lee Hyunjin’s figure, having erected an ice wall, was revealed.

“…Haha.”

Far from embarrassment, not even a hint of surprise was revealed on that plain expression, and Hyeon-a Cheon inexplicably felt her pride wounded.

Even if he was a genius, still, she too was a top-tier A-rank Awakened.

Such a nonchalant response?

Is he looking down on me?

“Tsk!”

Hyeon-a Cheon, clicking her tongue, immediately twisted her body. Her entire body, imbued with lightning energy, was as swift, intense, and fierce as any close-quarters Awakened, if not more so.

Slam!!

The kick she unleashed miserably shattered the ice wall. Passing through the ice shards scattered in all directions, this time, it was a fist.

Thump!!

“…!?”

The straight punch Hyeon-a Cheon extended was blocked by Lee Hyunjin’s leg. As her confidently unleashed fist was blocked, Hyeon-a Cheon swallowed a groan.

A leg, of all things? Wasn’t Lee Hyunjin a pure mage? Like her two siblings.

“During the Cheongsong Festival, I did act like a typical mage, but…”

“…Kh!”

“I’m actually quite versatile. I can do a lot of things, you see.”

After saying that, Lee Hyunjin reversed his leg and struck Hyeon-a Cheon’s arm.

Although she hastily raised her guard, the impact traveled past her arm and reached her head.

The leg strength obtained from Baek Ayun was powerful enough to affect even an A-rank Awakened.

“Ugh…!”

Hyeon-a Cheon bit her lip and once again imbued her body with lightning.

Not easy. As expected, I suppose? After all, one would need to be this strong to be recommended as an S-rank Awakened.

Twisting her lips into a cold smile, she once again formed a lightning spear.

Crack, sizzle…!

This time, not just one, but two, three, four.

She swung them immediately. A fierce assault followed.

Bang! Crash! Rumble!!

The training ground floor was torn up, and the ice walls Lee Hyunjin continuously created were miserably shattered.

Ice shards and crystals scattering in all directions dyed the space a bluish hue.

At first glance, it was a close fight, almost evenly matched, but…

“…Ah!”

The flow immediately changed. Lee Hyunjin stomped the ground roughly, and the moment rising ice whips bound Hyeon-a Cheon’s legs…

Wham!!

“Gasp, ugh…?!”

Lee Hyunjin, who had found an opening, extended his kick and landed squarely on Hyeon-a Cheon’s exposed stomach.

Cough! Gagging and spitting out stomach acid in an instant, the A-rank Awakened, Hyeon-a Cheon, was sent flying far away.

“…Huh?”

Even after creating such a scene himself, Lee Hyunjin let out a briefly bewildered voice.

For him, he had surely kicked, expecting her to block it at this level, but…

“Gasp, ugh, ha-euk.”

That very attack not only sent Hyeon-a Cheon flying in a single blow, but also made her kneel in place, clutching her stomach.

“…”

“…”

The surroundings instantly turned cold. Lee Hyunjin felt the incredibly indescribable gazes pouring towards him from all directions, and sweat ran down his back.

Only one thought came to mind.

I’ve become too strong…