Ch. 86 - An Unexpected Event (2)

Chapter 86: An Unexpected Event (2)

"Disappointed, you say?"

"Yeah..."

Even as his throat tightened, Hae Won-Ryang's pupils shook visibly when Ma Yu-Seong said those words.

Ma Yu-Seong and Hae Won-Ryang.

Their first meeting was somewhat unique.

"You, let's have a duel."

Spring of their first year in middle school.

Their connection began with Hae Won-Ryang's challenge.

"Huh? Why?"

"I can't admit that you're on the same level as me. It's so irritating. I need to correct the rumors about you that the world knows."

Ever since Hae Won-Ryang awoke his powers and learned to speak, he had been studying magic. Even as a kindergarten student, he effortlessly used magic that could only be acquired as an adult, and in elementary school, he easily defeated upperclassmen from the middle school division.

Hae Won-Ryang was a prodigy attracting attention from the world.

But suddenly, out of nowhere, a guy named Ma Yu-Seong appeared, calling himself another genius.

Wasn't he threatening his position?

So Hae Won-Ryang observed Ma Yu-Seong for a while. What kind of person he was, what kind of training he did, and what kind of studies he pursued.

The results of his observations were extremely disappointing.

Ma Yu-Seong didn't put in any effort and spent his days goofing off. During class, he read strange books unrelated to the subjects.

It was unacceptable.

His pride was hurt.

To be treated the same as that guy.

He thought it would feel better to establish a clear hierarchy.

But...

“I won, didn't I? That magic battle was something else. It was so much fun!"

He lost. He lost to a complete newbie who seemed like he had never even experienced a magic battle in his life.

Hae Won-Ryang was at a loss.

Why did he lose?

He couldn't understand.

"To a guy who doesn't even try, doesn't study… Why?!"

The conclusion was simple.

"I wasn’t disciplined enough."

Since then, he trained relentlessly.

He trained and trained and trained some more.

He grasped all of Ma Yu-Seong's magic, analyzed it, and studied it.

He swore to never lose their next battle.

However, despite all his efforts...

"I won again this time! It was even more fun. How do you know my magic so well?"

Hae Won-Ryang lost again.

Ma Yu-Seong won once more.

From that moment on, Ma Yu-Seong considered Hae Won-Ryang merely an entertaining playmate. He knew that his talent was extraordinary, so he casually dismissed the idea that Hae Won-Ryang could win against him even if he put in all his effort.

It had always been like that.

However, something changed when Hae Won-Ryang received the admission letter to Stella Academy.

During the dungeon practicum, Ma Yu-Seong nearly lost to Hae Won-Ryang. He was completely overwhelmed by someone he had regarded as just a playmate.

It was the first time Ma Yu-Seong doubted his perfect talent and experienced a bitter sense of defeat.

It was the first time he realized he had a competitive spirit.

Although it was only a close call, it felt like his entire worldview was crumbling.

That day, for the first time, Ma Yu-Seong turned his back and ran away from someone he considered weaker than himself.

Since then, unlike before, he included a bit of training in his daily routine.

He even visited the main house he thoroughly disliked to become stronger.

As a result, he discovered that he had noticeably become stronger. It was a sense of accomplishment he had never felt before.

When something considered natural no longer remained natural, it gained value.

"I’ll definitely win this time."

Finally, Ma Yu-Seong found value in his competition with Hae Won-Ryang. The joy of striving to defeat him became evident to him.

"I worked hard for our bet, and you... you rely on mere dark magic to defeat me?"

"No, that's not it..."

"We have always fought as equals. You're the only person who can make me feel tense."

"I have never defeated you!! That's why… That's why I...!"

At some point, Hae Won-Ryang regained the ability to speak properly.

"You resorted to dark magic just to defeat me easily?"

Ma Yu-Seong spread his arms wide. His expression seemed free from the suffocating pain.

"Then kill me. With that power you easily obtained, pierce through my heart."

Hae Won-Ryang's arm trembled instinctively, but for some reason, he couldn't do it.

"I felt competitiveness from you for the first time, and I also made an effort to defeat you. But you…”

“Enough. Please stop."

Without realizing it, Hae Won-Ryang released his grip on Ma Yu-Seong's neck and took a step back.

With this immense power, it felt like there was nothing to fear in this world. Hae Won-Ryang believed he could defeat anyone.

However, there was still one thing that frightened him. It was disappointing someone he had always considered a lifelong rival.

"If you want to defeat me so easily, go ahead and take the victory you desire."

"Ugh, I... I..."

Hae Won-Ryang's right hand mutated sharply, but due to the confusion in his mind, he couldn't move.

"I'm not afraid of death."

Ma Yu-Seong brought Hae Won-Ryang’s sharp hand to his chest.

"Instead, it's disappointing that we can never make another bet."

'Will this victory, achieved at such a cost, truly be sweet? Or rather, will it feel empty?’ 

If Ma Yu-Seong died, it would forever be said that Hae Won-Ryang never defeated him with his power.

He had to keep Ma Yu-Seong alive to break the streak of defeats. 

He couldn’t remain an eternal loser.

He had to keep himself alive and wash away the disgrace with his own strength.

Hae Won-Ryang clenched his teeth and said, "I won't... kill you."

Because he still hadn't defeated him.

Rumble!

Around that time, Flame's magic was completed. She initially intended to resolve things through conversation, but for some reason, Ma Yu-Seong used that method instead, producing quite a successful result.

'I don't know what he did... but now's my chance!'

Now that Hae Won-Ryang's emotions had returned to almost human-like, if she used the purification magic, she could restore him to his original state.

Flash!

Finally, her magic was complete, and the moment the chains of light were about to envelop Hae Won-Ryang...

Boom! 

"Ugh!"

"Gah...!"

Tremendous pressure began to weigh down from all directions.

The magic remained incomplete and unable to be cast, and the three of them fell to their knees on the ground.

Thunk.

A woman with flowing hair gently descended.

"Oh my, what do we have here?"

It was a stranger's voice.

Startled, Flame barely managed to lift her head to catch a glimpse of the face. She was terrified and could only widen her eyes.

Dressed in a magnificent mage’s robe and with fluttering multicolored hair, it was someone she knew from the original novel.

‘Hyejin, the Deputy Leader of the 13th Extermination Squad!'

Playfully twirling her rainbow-colored staff, she strolled around Hae Won-Ryang.

Ma Yu-Seong and Hae Won-Ryang were still crouched on the ground, unable to withstand this pressure.

Flame quickly grasped the nature of this magic.

‘Hyejin’s specialty, illusion magic.'

Hyejin implanted an illusion of weight onto everyone present, causing them to sit on the ground.

Even if one recognized it as an illusion, it wouldn't change anything.

Releasing it required an interpretation ability of equal proficiency, and Hyejin currently possessed at least a Class 6 magic level.

Thunk…

Behind Hyejin, a man approached. It was obvious who it was without even thinking.

‘It must be the leader, Kaen…’

Kaen looked coldly at the fallen Hae Won-Ryang. Due to Hyejin’s magic, Hae Won-Ryang had fainted, and dark magic emanated from his entire body.

Hyejin teasingly spoke to Kaen, her tone filled with mockery.

"Hmm, it wasn't Maizen Tyren, was it? In the end, the prophecy was wrong again."

Whether in response or not, Kaen silently cast a special dark magic detection spell on Hae Won-Ryang using his technique from the New Moon Tower.

“The wave is faint. It’s surprising he could produce this much power.”

"Oh, really?"

Kaen nodded his head.

"Let's proceed with the summary execution, then."

“Oh my. You intend to kill him right away? I think he can still be purified.”

The fact that the wavelength of dark magic was faint meant that there was still a possibility of reversing it.

However, Director Kaen remained firm.

“If he can produce this much power even with just this amount... in the future, if he goes berserk, it will be a disaster. It’s right to kill him now.”

Once those tainted by dark magic were corrupted once, it was easy for them to be corrupted a second or third time.

Even if they were temporarily cleansed, the corruption remained, and they would eventually succumb to another influence of dark magic and go on a rampage.

That was why those who were contaminated by dark magic would either leave the industry or in some cases, return as dark mages.

“What a waste. He’s handsome. I like these cynical handsome guys.”

Once a decision was made, it was to be carried out immediately.

As Kaen aimed his wand at Hae Won-Ryang, veins popped on Flame’s forehead. She wanted to shout at him to stop right away, but her body simply wouldn't move.

‘Please, please…! Just a bit more and I can purify him…!’

Tears welled up in her eyes, but Hyejin merely licked her lips as if finding Flame’s desperation amusing.

"I'm sorry for killing your friend. But there's nothing we can do. You know that too, don't you?"

"Ugh..."

"Oh?"

In the midst of their conversation, Ma Yu-Seong exerted his remaining strength to slowly rise up, surprising Hyejin as a genuine expression of astonishment appeared on her face.

"So a first-year student from the academy managed to endure this? Impressive... Ah, you're Ma Yu-Seong, right? I've heard your name, and you're as good-looking as they say!"

However...

“Still, lie down for a bit. You’re in the way of my work.”

“Ugh!”

Just as Ma Yu-Seong managed to raise his upper body, Hyejin flicked her finger, causing him to collapse once again.

The groans escaping his lips were unusual.

‘No way...’

If Ma Yu-Seong were to go on a rampage and reveal his dark magic here, there was no doubt that they would be killed.

No matter how strong they might become in the future, they were merely seventeen years old at the moment.

They couldn't defeat the elite magic warriors of the New Moon Tower.

‘Please…’

Whether it was Flame’s fear becoming reality or not, explosive magic burst forth from Ma Yu-Seong's body. It was the preparatory process of depleting all of his righteous magic power to unleash the dark magic.

“You’re trying hard~?”

“Ugh…”

Flame gritted her teeth and tried desperately to raise her body, but the excruciating pain made it impossible.

She couldn't do anything.

Guilt welled up in her at the thought that they were about to lose the two boys who were destined for great things in the future.

‘Is all this... because of me?’

In the original story, this event didn’t exist. So if something not in the original story was happening, could it be because of her existence?

Just as Kaen aimed his wand at Hae Won-Ryang's head and Flame was about to bow her head for the last time...

"Wait a moment."

A familiar voice echoed through the space.

Kaen's wand paused, and Flame’s heart throbbed, pounding.

‘Baek Yu-Seol...?’

Even though she couldn't turn her head, she could tell the direction of the voice thanks to the sound.

He stood tall on his two legs, unaffected by Hyejin’s illusion.

"Huh? How did you break free from the illusion?"

Hyejin tilted her head in surprise and aimed her staff at him.

A magnificent magic circle spun around.

"Ta-da!"

However...

Baek Yu-Seol didn't even flinch.

"Huh?"

Even though the illusion she created was powerful enough to inflict direct harm despite being an illusion, he showed no reaction at all.

Hyejin sweated coldly as she poured more mana into the magic circle, but she soon realized it was futile.

The illusion magic simply didn’t affect Baek Yu-Seol. It was like using all sorts of techniques to break bones and muscles and realizing the opponent didn't have any joints.

"L-Leader? My illusion isn’t working on him?"

"Don't play around and do it properly, Hyejin."

"No! I'm really doing it properly!"

Illusion magic fundamentally disrupted the opponent's mana, but for some reason, it felt like there wasn't a single drop of magic in Baek Yu-Seol’s body.

Since all living beings in this world were supposed to have mana, it would mean that Baek Yu-Seol had somehow produced a protective barrier to counter illusions...

‘Impossible. Did he perfectly defend against my illusion magic?’

She had cast a Class 5 illusion magic, and there was no sign of using dispel or any indication of how he was resisting it. The thought that he wasn't an ordinary mage crept up Hyejin’s spine.

She gulped hard, her voice full of tension.

“Leader. I think you should personally deal with him."

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