Chapter 36: Proposal (1)

Proposal (1)

"No, why did you come into the crack without me? Why?"

"It's okay now..."

Han Yeon-soo hurriedly returned as soon as she heard that I entered the crack.

"I was worried. Whoa..."

She looked concerned about the blood covering my body, then sighed in relief upon knowing that it was all monster blood.

"Are you okay, Uncle?"

Seong Hyun-woo also appeared.

"Of course. Did you do well on the test?"

"Huh!"

I took the document on the little boy's hands. The words 'Level 3' was written on it.

Thank God. What I was worried about didn't happen.

I had a lot of useless worries.

The bracelet wrapped around Seong Hyun-woo's wrist looked slightly cracked, but it seemed that he was able to manage his strength.

Now, the Association has marked him as an appropriately 'gifted' awakener.

"Excuse me..."

A middle-aged woman approached me.

"Yes?"

"Thank you..."

Her hands did not stop trembling, and her face was very pale.

She repeatedly thanked me over and over.

Probably, the mother of the child I saved.

When the crack occurred, she froze in place, unlike the people who ran away.

She stayed on the spot as she watched her little girl disappear into the rift.

She fell to her knees and cried. No one helped her.

"If it wasn't for you..." she trailed off, then bowed again.

As I looked at her, I felt an overwhelming emotion that I didn't feel when I was an analyst.

Her hands that grasped mine were warm. As she wept, I remembered what the hunter that saved me when I lost my family told me that day.

"I just did what I had to do."

Those words made me what I am now.

* * *

Time passed since then.

Quite a few by-products were gathered from the crack. They were all cashed out and deposited to my account, and I was able to earn a lot of money.

"Are we doing the same thing?"

"No, something more elaborate. We will train your abilities even more."

"Huh!"

Training with Seong Hyun-woo went smoothly. He had enough power, so I didn't need to grow him further. He just needs to learn how to use them properly.

Of course, the total amount of power he has was so great that even a little miss during training would be...

Still, he followed instructions well, and we had no problems so far.

"Well... you said you got a love call?"

"Uh, yes. From Explorer's Eye..."

Lee Jin-woo was also growing steadily. He received an invitation from a guild to sponsor him and an offer to come to them after graduation.

"I think it's a fine guild."

It was a respectable guild. Also, there wasn't much good about bringing Lee Jin-woo around in his current state. Rather than being with me, it would be more helpful for him to enter a suitable guild where he could gain experience and develop his skills.

After graduation, Lee Jin-woo and I will play in different fields.

It would be much better for Lee Jin-woo to grow steadily from below.

"So... what did you mean that time when you said that he was someone at your level?"

[Well, I don't think it's time to tell you yet.]

"Ah..."

After meeting Kim Min-jae, I steadily prepared myself. I couldn't afford to have the strong power of the Association running after me. But no matter how dangerous he is, he couldn't be a threat to me, who had knowledge of the future.

"What? I thought you would be sharing it with me..."

[The timing is a little early now. You will now everything later, anyway.]

"Wow."

I covered the notebook.

[Stop analyzing and start today's training! You've already been holding that pen for hours.]

"I will."

It was already dark outside.

But no matter how late it is, I couldn't rest.

My muscles are used to the tension, and my body aches if I missed exercise.

"I have to learn more stories today. I've been holding onto only one being for a week."

[Well, other users of Akashic Records only spoke to one entity for a year or even ten years...]

"Yes. But I am not in a situation where I can relax like them."

I stretched my stiff neck and shoulders. I felt refreshed when I heard the joints crack.

I went outside through the dark corridor until I reached the cadet training ground.

It was very dark, but instead of turning on the lights, I prepared for training by turning Nightmare into a weapon.

『Aren't you going to turn on the lights?』

There was a magnificent-sounding voice in my head.

Along with it, a tingling sensation rose inside my chest.

"What for... It will be bright soon, anyway."

『Hahaha... Interesting. I hope your skills will satisfy me as much as your sense of humor. 』

Instantly, mana filled my body. This time, the mana was of a pink color, distinctly different from my blue-colored mana.

"Whoa. I can't get used to this even if I've seen it a few times..."

The power shook my body and raged in all directions.

It was contrary to the characteristic of mana flowing smoothly and showing a stable appearance.

It was like... an electric current.

['Image Training' is activated.]

In my head, a battlefield constructed based on the being's memory unfolded.

『The reason for my name probably started in that battle.』

Enemy soldiers yelling with spears and swords.

Allies crying while dying in cold blood.

A torn military flag was on the ground.

『Nobody predicted victory. The remaining soldiers on our side were only about a third of our enemy's numbers. 』

The scent of blood was strong, and the enemy's silhouettes could be seen beyond clouds of dust.

Strange voices came into my ears.

"You have to run away! There is nothing good about losing a valuable wizard in a battle that has already been lost!"

"Go, we will cover you as much as we can! Make sure you let Command know the situation here. Hurry!"

Everyone wanted the wizard to retreat. Next to him, a spear pierced his colleague's head.

It was terrible. Until yesterday, they were comrades who were drinking, laughing, and talking together.

Mana, like an electric current, rose through his body.

"Where are you going?"

Another man's voice rings in my head. "Where are you going?"

His memory and my image training synched perfectly.

Damn, here it comes.

Dark clouds form in the blue sky.

Mana rushed from the wizard's body, getting more unstable by the second. Stone and dust rise around him.

He turned to the man who asked him to retreat.

"You return to Command. I will stop them."

At that moment, lightning flashed, blinding everyone in the area.

The formation of the approaching enemies broke down.

Lightning bolts struck them. Their heat and destructive power were not something that steel armors could stop.

Kwarreung-!

One beat later, a roar rings out from heaven.

Thunder.

Thunder always followed lightning.

[The Man with Thunder]

[Rating: D]

[The total amount of 'mana' is insufficient.]

[The skill level of 'magic' is insufficient.]

[The story of a hero praised by the empire wizards permeates your soul.]

* * *

"Ah... Really."

It was clearly a powerful force, and my body can't take it all in yet.

Well, I can learn it slowly.

Now that I had magic, I needed a powerful technique to complement my physical attacks.

His technique, called 'Thunderbolt', suited my purpose perfectly.

I headed faster to my appointment after the image training.

Surprisingly, even thought I came twenty minutes early, I found the man waiting for me already.

"Yes, the schedule is a little light today," he smiled.

I also tried to laugh.

He got up from the table and offered a handshake.

I took it.

"That attack took longer than expected. Greetings again. I am Kim Hyun-soo, deputy guild leader."

"I am Jeong Si-woo, cadet at Hwayeon Choin Academy."

"I'm glad we can shake hands today. I was totally surprised the last time..."

I felt a bit embarrassed, as Kim Hyun-soo laughed.

Damn, Han Yeon-soo ruined his first impression of me.

"Then, it is okay to get to the main point directly?"

Fortunately, Kim Hyun-soo wanted to get to the point without asking any difficult questions about Han Yeon-soo.

"There is one thing I want to tell you before that," I cut him off.

"Ah, yes. Please tell me."

I tapped on the desk as I stared at him.

"The crack in Busan, which is scheduled to be attacked by Sabangshin next month... I want to ask if I can participate."

His expression hardened.

"Is that right?"

It was understandable.

Only

"Are you sure?" he asked once more.

The crack was assessed as a level 2 risk.

Anyone who was not a second-class hunter could get killed right at the entrance.

"Yeah. I mean it."

I looked back at him with a casual expression, as I answered.

Whether it was dangerous or not, I had a reason to participate in the attack.

Busan crack.

It was the starting point of the <Second Disaster>.