episode_0271

– Wow… It was really pretty how the magic power kept rising.

– So I understand why everyone is pushing for it from day one.

– Aren’t the special admission students especially awesome? Their magic is so bright that I thought they were shooting stars going upside down.

The opening ceremony ended successfully. There were no major problems or accidents during the event, and the audience members who left the venue following the instructions of the guides looked satisfied.

– It’s finally starting… Hey, didn’t you say you were going to open a street stall? Where are you going to buy it?

– There are three of us, including me, selling takoyaki… If you come, you’ll be interfering with our business, so don’t come.

– Interference with business is bullshit. Look at the way you talk to customers who are trying to increase sales.

The cadets are waiting until all the audience has left.

Eavesdropping on their occasional chatter, it seemed like they were all excited about enjoying the festival.

‘There’s nothing special scheduled until the third day of the climb, so everyone is probably just enjoying themselves until then… By the way, how much magic power did you take with you…’

After taking a quick look at the surroundings, I touched my cold right arm.

I feel empty inside, perhaps because my magic power has completely drained away. My energy is steadily increasing in real time, but I feel hungry and nauseous.

I knew it would take a lot of magic power in advance, but I didn’t know it would take this much.

In addition, the place where the magic power was directed was the Tower of Growth. I was curious about what it was going to do since it was a short tower.

‘What did you say you were going to do with my magic power? What on earth are you going to do with all this?’

Why else would he have to draw on the magical power around him because the vast magical power he normally possessed was not enough?

There was a near-disaster at the end of the opening ceremony where one of the cadets collapsed from magical exhaustion, but I managed to cope by drawing on magical power from those around me.

It may sound self-deprecating, but if it were another cadet instead of me, they would have lost consciousness long ago from having their magic power sucked out of them.

It is logically impossible to bring in magical power from the surroundings and replenish it like you did just now.

It’s like pouring unrefined raw materials into a car. Normally, it would be an act that would immediately destroy the circuit and core.

But I, who have magical affinity, can do it. I can gather all the magical power of nature without any special uniqueness and make it mine.

– … Hey, didn’t all the surrounding magical power just flow over there?

– Do you feel it too? For a moment, I thought it was a mistake. But over there…

– To be exact, it all seems to have gone into that kid…?

There were quite a few people who noticed this change.

As I looked at those who were whispering and glancing in my direction, I saw that there were many magicians who reacted sensitively to changes in the surrounding magical power.

‘hmm…’

I was lost in thought for a moment as I listened to the murmur.

Being able to draw on the magical power around you and use it is a huge advantage.

I didn’t want to reveal that information to the public, so I tried not to expose it to the public, but quite a few students noticed it.

They say that a horse without legs can travel a thousand miles. There is no such thing as a perfect secret, and there is a possibility that one of my functions will be revealed to the outside world.

‘Actually, it’s okay to tell you now.’

He didn’t take it seriously. Instead, he just fidgeted with his right hand with a rather indifferent expression.

The reason I don’t reveal many secrets is because I don’t know what kind of tricks might come from outside.

I have been especially careful since I realized homogenization in Shipnaha.

Homogenization is an extraordinary ability that blatantly defies common sense.

Even the slightly revealed Cheonbyeonhwa would cause a stir in the world just as much as homogenization if it were to boast about its exact function.

I was afraid that the trickery and threats that had occurred in the 7th round would reoccur in real life.

I was also worried that if I spoke carelessly, my various weaknesses would be exploited.

‘It’s okay now.’

But now I wasn’t worried at all.

It’s not like I can just take it one-sidedly anymore. Even if I just think about force, I’ve now reached a level where I can turn around and tear apart any tricks.

To begin with, my abilities have few areas where weaknesses can be exploited. I can keep changing my abilities and using them, so how can the opponent exploit all my weaknesses?

If you point out my weakness, I’ll point it out, but my ability is to have little fear of being pointed at.

It also has some power aspects.

Didn’t I have the authority to direct the association from Maxwell right now? Now that the association presidents are in hiding, my level of authority is higher than that of a member of the association.

I also have a staff that I received from Ariel, the founder of the Magic Association, and if I unleash its power right away, not only the Association but also the Observatory will naturally become my side.

The cradle is already on my side… maybe…

Anyway, now even if homogenization is discovered, it is not a big problem.

I’m a beggar who hides his powers because he’s afraid of them being exposed, and it doesn’t happen that he gets caught and gets hung up on.

I’ve gotten stronger. I’m still not at the point where I’m confident I can fend off an invasion, but I’m not weak enough to be buried helplessly.

Even if some force tries to bury me, I can bury them in return.

So, there is absolutely no reason for me to be afraid of any being I meet.

“Ha-yul, do you have time now? Grandpa wants to meet you and me.”

[omg…]

[Concern]

[awe]

But he was afraid in a different way.

My shoulders, which were just about to straighten out, are now shrunken again…

“Oh, don’t be scared.”

Yeonhwa smiled faintly at my anxious appearance and hugged me tightly without caring about the eyes of those around her.

“If Grandpa tries to do anything weird, I’ll stop him, it’s okay… ”

[happiness]

[Warmth]

[milk smell]

[Worried…]

Although I felt somewhat relieved by that hug, my worries still didn’t completely end…

.

.

.

The place we arrived at following Yeonhwa was a tea house.

A building in the style of a traditional Korean house made of dark wood. There was a staff member waiting to guide us from the entrance.

I was guided by the staff to a room inside the building.

– Knock knock!

The staff member opened the door and stepped aside. Yeonhwa went into the room first, and I followed her.

Inside, there was a long table and a seating area with cushions instead of chairs.

“Are you here?”

Also, there was already a passenger in the seat facing the door. An old man sitting on a cushion facing the door sipped his tea.

“Yeah, you came quickly because you know Grandpa’s personality. Did you do well?”

“Oh, you’re the only one with a granddaughter. Stop standing with sore legs and sit down.”

The old man and Yeonhwa were having a calm conversation.

I nodded to the hand patting my back, and after Yeonhwa, I sat down softly on the cushion.

‘This is Yeonhwa’s grandfather…’

Sitting next to Yeonhwa, I swallowed hard.

I calmly observed the old man sitting cross-legged and calmly sipping his tea.

His hair is gray, but not limp and sagging, and his facial wrinkles are few and far between for his age.

Also, the body hidden in the clothes was by no means weak. It was clear that he had the strength to destroy a building with just one wave of his hand.

‘Terrible.’

As I raised my observation and magical power detection level, I could feel the fire sleeping within his body.

It is currently locked away like a quiet ember, but it is a terrible fire that will rise up to burn the world at the moment the creator desires.

Yeonhwa’s grandfather, Hong Seongjin, is the former head of the Gyeophwa clan.

At the same time, it is a rare case in the Gaphwa family where he stepped down from the position of head of the family while still alive.

Those who reach the level of the head of the Kyeophwa family are all great superhumans and have long lifespans, but many of them pass away before they can live out their natural lifespan.

To begin with, there are few superhumans in this industry who enjoy their longevity and then leave.

However, Hong Seong-jin, who retired with all his limbs intact, stepped down from his position as head of the household and became a senior member of the Gaphwa family.

‘But I couldn’t meet you last time.’

The Gaphwa family I visited during the last vacation. I had already met some of the senior members who resided there at the time, but I had not met Hong Seongjin.

‘At that time, you said you went to the Demon Realm with Gaju.’

I wonder what kind of magic a retired person would go to, but I heard that his skills are up to standard.

For that reason, he also participated in the last Magic Expedition and was very active.

The former head of the Kyeophwa clan. Although he has already retired from active duty, his skills are still top-notch. He is a big shot that ordinary people would not dare to even look at.

‘I’m nervous… ‘

To me, the title ‘Grandfather of Yeonhwa’ weighed much more heavily than those fancy modifiers…

“Yeah, you’re the kid named Lee Ha-yul?”

Chin- The old man placed the teacup on the table. At the same time, his gaze that had been staring at the tea turned to me.

Although the light was a little dim, my image was captured in those characteristically fiery red eyes.

[Yes, it is called Iharul]

He answered the question that came up at that moment as if he had been waiting for it.

At the sound of the necklace ringing dully, the old man’s gaze went down to the necklace of confession hanging around my neck.

“Well, I heard you said your eyes and throat were uncomfortable, but it looks like you’re using an artifact to deal with your voice.”

[Yes]

“I heard that the eyes are being replaced by the ability to sense, but I heard that there are cases where they are open and walking around these days.”

[Yes, the problem is showing signs of improvement and is getting better little by little]

“Yeah, that’s good news. You must have had a hard time at a young age.”

How should I answer this? There wasn’t really a problem? In fact, even though I had the ability to sense things, it was very difficult?

While he was thinking for a moment, the old man nodded to himself, took another sip of tea, and continued speaking.

“I’m sorry for calling you out while the kids are playing. I couldn’t meet you last time because you were away, so I thought I should at least see your face this time.”

[No, you don’t have to be sorry. If Grandpa hadn’t come, I would have gone to see him.]

This time, I shook my head without being late and the old man smiled brightly.

“Unlike others, you are a polite child.”

“Did I just say that?”

“Then I’m going to curse at just any person.”

“This is ridiculous.”

The old man shrugged his shoulders at Yeonhwa’s grumbling.

“Yeonhwa, you’re old enough to take care of yourself now. Don’t you hate it when people interfere with your actions?”

“Of course, I can do it on my own now.”

“I knew it. When I was your age, I could do it on my own, and I wanted to do it.”

The old man’s gaze turned to me again.

“That’s all. I just met you to see your face, not to judge you arbitrarily.”

“But you must have seen the first impression anyway. So what?”

[?]

Yeonhwa shrugged her shoulders, raised the corners of her lips, and suddenly grabbed my shoulder.

I, who had been sitting quietly, was dragged helplessly into Yeonhwa’s arms and leaned my body against her. My eyes opened wide on their own.

“Isn’t it pretty?”

“Well, considering your personality, you caught a really nice kid.”

The old man who nodded his head the loudest since we met.

[??]

A question mark appeared above my head as the progress was completely different from what I had expected.

* * *