Chapter 22: The Passage of Time, Part 2

(T/N: [Mana Layering] has been changed to [Mana Cloak]... I think it sounds better like this. Any thoughts?)

...

It has been three years since Seonhwa and I graduated from school, and since the confession, she still has not given me an answer. Our relationship remains the same as it was before the confession.

Now we have completed our high school studies and the mandatory government requirements. Whether we continue to study at university is a personal decision.

For men, there is a requirement to serve a minimum of two years in mandatory military service between the ages of 18 and 28. I told my family that after finishing high school, I will undergo this military service before deciding whether to attend university or start a business.

Well, that is a lie. In reality, it will allow me to embark on a training journey to surpass my human physical limits and learn about other martial arts in the world. It is time to fly away from my family. I have already made preparations to keep them safe even if I am not with them.

As for Seonhwa, she wants to study abroad, specifically in the United States of America. I was surprised by the news because in the original story, she made the same decision. However, the life she has lived until now is very different, and I thought she might choose differently. But perhaps it is still part of Causality and Destiny. Unless I take an active role in preventing something destined from happening, it is unlikely to change.

My journey will begin in a month, and Seonhwa's will start in two months.

In these three years, I have managed to reach the maximum human physical limit. I know this because I keep track of my progress by using Observation which is a sub skill of the [Nine Eyes]. And here are the latest results:

{ Seol Jihu's Observation

1. General Information

- Name: Seol Jihu

- Age: 21 years

- Gender: Male

- Height: 181 cm

- Weight: 90 kg

- Health Status: Excellent

- Nationality: Republic of Korea

- Affiliation: The Shadow

- Aliases: Oppa, World's Best Oppa, Oppa of Oppas, Blue Prince, Best in School, Best in College, Best in High School, The Four Gossips, Seoul's Most Eligible Bachelor, Genius, Shadow Leader, Martial Arts Master.

2. Traits

- Self-Control: Suppresses emotions, greed, and impulses with rational will.

- Supernatural: Exceptional at enduring pain and difficulties compared to an average human.

- Tender: Displays a sweet and gentle character with friends, allies, and family.

- Cruel: Ruthless and indifferent toward rivals, threats, and enemies.

- Overprotective: Constantly watches over and protects loved ones.

- Ambitious: Claims, enjoys, or covets things they feel are lacking.

- Playful: Enjoys playing and making jokes.

3. Aptitudes

- Observant: Analyzes and carefully studies elements and events in their surroundings.

- Computational: Capable of receiving, processing, and analyzing large amounts of information at high speed.

- Creative: Has the ability to think of new things.

- Universal Genius: Naturally born with exceptional talent in any field.

4. Physical Level (At the limit of humanity)

- Strength: Intermediate (High) Maximum

- Durability: Intermediate (High) Maximum

- Agility: Intermediate (High) Maximum

- Endurance: Intermediate (High) Maximum

- Mana: High (Low)

- Luck: High (High)

5. Skills

Innate Skills (4):

- [Nine Eyes] (Development: 6/9)

- [Passive Natural Talent] (High - Maximum)

- [Passive Rapid Recovery] (High - Maximum)

- [Self-Healing] (Intermediate)

Other Skills (4):

- [Mana Circuit Application] (Intermediate)

- [Physical Reinforcement] (Intermediate)

- [Mana Cloak] (Low)

- [Continuous Mana Flow] (Intermediate)

}

Regarding the "Maximum" attached to my physical stats, it indicates the physical limit of humanity on Earth. However, in Lost Paradise, humans do not have that limit. It is not applicable to everyone and is not due to the place being special.

In reality, many of the humans in Lost Paradise aren't much stronger than the humans from Earth. What changes that limit is the blessing of the gods in Lost Paradise. With their blessing, a human loses that physical limit and can reach greater heights.

Also, remember that it is a world with much more mana than Earth. Despite all my advantages, developing mana-based abilities here has been challenging due to the quality and quantity of mana.

My goal therefore is to find a way to break my limits here on Earth. Perhaps I am the only one capable of doing so due to my unique abilities. This is my greatest objective before heading to Lost Paradise, to surpass the human plateau on my own. If I achieve this, the foundation for the success of my master plan will be complete.

I will take this month to relax and enjoy time with my family. Afterward, I will embark on my training journey to push my limits further and take the opportunity to learn the various martial arts around the world.

"Have you found the person I asked for?" I inquired without looking at anyone in particular. Although it may appear as though my private study is unoccupied by anyone else except for me, that couldn't be any further from the truth however. Around me are the "Shadows," individuals that I have secretly recruited over the years.

Thanks to my family's economic resources and the freedom I have gained, I sought out and recruited people who share common traits; economic struggles, strong will, determination, and loyalty. With the [Nine Eyes], I easily assessed these qualities and gathered several individuals who met these requirements.

I helped them overcome their problems, provided training, resources, and assisted them in developing the [Mana Circuit Application] skill. While all humans in this world have the capacity to manipulate mana, developing this ability independently remains challenging due to the quality and quantity of mana available, hence external assistance is a requirement. The ability allows a small degree of control over mana.

It is unfortunate that my mana control is still only basic. True mana control can only be developed with the blessing of the gods. That is why I have not been able to increase my mana control enough to easily enhance my abilities or create skills that require much higher mana control, such as healing others.

Others don't have the natural abilities I possess, nor do they have as much talent. They have struggled to master the basic abilities I've taught them: [Mana Cloak] and [Physical Reinforcement].

When I began teaching these skills, I realized how deficient the [Mana Circuit Application] ability is for mana control. The reason I can activate multiple abilities is that my brain is more powerful than a normal one; it functions like a computer. I can perfectly divide tasks, using my mental processing to complement mana control in my abilities. This allows me to activate several abilities at once, even though the [Mana Circuit Application] ability only provides limited mana control.

In the case of others, they can only activate one ability at a time, despite expending significant mental effort. Even the most talented among the Shadows whom I have personally trained, can barely activate both [Physical Reinforcement] and [Mana Cloak] together for a few minutes before mental fatigue sets in.

Still, I have taught all Shadow members to use both abilities. Due to their personal limitations, they can only activate one at a time. However, when combined with their extreme physical training and external protections like bulletproof vests and limb armor, they use [Mana Cloak] to shield their vulnerable parts. Alternating with [Physical Reinforcement], even at the most basic level makes them the most powerful by human standards.

This was the plan from the beginning. They are "The Shadows," serving and protecting my family on Earth, absolutely loyal to me.

"We have narrowed down the possibilities to a hundred. In less than three weeks, we will determine which one is the right candidate, boss," a voice from the ceiling said. The Shadows inside the house specialize in stealth and must protect my family without being noticed. The hired bodyguards are good, but nowhere near the Shadows' level.

So, if anyone thinks they can get past the bodyguards to reach my family, they will learn their mistake the hard way.

I will not allow a repeat of what happened with my uncle and auntie. The Shadows have taken control of Seoul's underworld, the city where we live, and our network continues to expand. Hopefully, we will eventually dominate the entire Korean Underworld, and then the rest of the world's.

"Very well, they have a maximum of one month. I need that information before I begin my journey. Also, Team 3 should prepare passports; they will accompany Seonhwa while she studies abroad.

They are authorized to deal with all illegal forces and powers there, but their priority is to protect Seonhwa and report anything unusual around her," I ordered.

"It will be done as you say boss," the Shadow replied before silence once again settled in the study.

This is all to protect Seonhwa from earthly troubles. But if fate continues its course, Seonhwa will somehow end up in Lost Paradise and the Shadows will not be able to follow her there.

I have not explained anything about Lost Paradise to them. When the time comes, I will. The Shadows will not be allowed to go there, at least not until I have established a solid base of operations. The reason for this is rather obvious. If such a capable group suddenly enters Lost Paradise, the Parasite Queen will notice immediately and overpower us with overwhelming force. I must not tempt Fate and Causality.

We are nearing the end of 2011, and based on my knowledge from the novel, the first batch of people who entered Lost Paradise and subsequently spent the most time there arrived in 2012. Next year, the access to Lost Paradise opens.

I don't know the exact moment, but the Wheels of Destiny are turning, and I must advance my plans. There are still several things I need to achieve and people I must find. I must also be cautious so as not to disrupt Causality. My moment to enter Lost Paradise without affecting Causality is in 2017, five years from now. I have that time to prepare, I'm already on the home stretch.

*TOC* *TOC* Someone knocked on the door.

"Come in," I said, adjusting myself in my chair and pulling myself out of my thoughts.

"Oppa, it's me. I want to talk, but if you are busy, I can come back later," Seonhwa said as she entered the study. She looked fine, but there was a hint of sadness to her. I suppose it is because in the coming months, she will be separated from everyone like never before, going abroad to study.

"Of course not. You know that unless it is a matter of life or death, I am never too busy to listen to you, right?" I tried to lighten her mood.

She took a seat in the chair across from my desk. She seemed restless, but after a few deep breaths, she calmed down a bit.

"You know, I have been thinking and thinking about what happened at the café three years ago. Trying to understand and make sense of the whole situation. But no matter how hard I tried, I just could not find a way out...

I talked to auntie, Mom, and Hyo-ri Unnie, seeking their advice. Somehow, Jinhee and Seunghae managed to sneak in at some point and it turned into a girls' talk. I know I should not tell you this, but I want you to know how we eventually resolved my dilemma.

You should have seen their expressions when I told them everything. Auntie wanted to go find you and give you a scolding. She thought it was her fault for not scolding you when you were little. Mom, on the other hand, wondered if it was just an excuse on your part to reject me and spare my feelings...

Hyo-ri Unnie suggested that maybe you were going through a phase and would eventually change your mind and settle down.

Jinhee was speechless because in her eyes, you are the perfect Oppa. Discovering this side of you surprised her a bit. She could not believe her Oppa was a womanizing scoundrel. But in the end, after much back and forth, Seunghae helped me somehow escape the dilemma.

Do you know what she said?

She said, "Are they crazy? We are talking about Oppa here, not some bad boy or rogue who preys on women and treats them like toys.

Oppa is the best person I know. He took care of Unnie and me more than anyone else when we were sad about Mom and Dad's accident. He stayed up every night, watching over us until we could fall asleep. And when we had nightmares, he comforted us.

When we did not want to eat anything, he learned to cook and fed us. Do they think he is a womanizing scoundrel? How many girlfriends has Oppa had? Do they know how popular he is? Have they seen social media? Oppa is the most sought-after bachelor in the city, and his popularity keeps growing. He is almost the most eligible bachelor in the country.

Literally, if he asked any girl aged 15 to 30 to be his girlfriend, none would hesitate to say yes. It would be a dream come true. They call him the blue prince online, and I am sure those girls would not mind sharing him."

"If Oppa were a womanizing scoundrel as they think, he would have taken advantage of his situation and dated hundreds of girls. But he has not dated anyone. Oppa is not the type to use girls for fun; he would only date someone he truly loves and would never treat them like toys. The proof is that he has not had a girlfriend yet.

So, if your concern is that Oppa will date thousands of girls and play with their feelings, then I can no longer consider you my Unnie. If you simply say you don't want to share him, I will understand. But speaking ill of Oppa is something I will never forgive. Oppa does not want to play games with you, and he made that clear. If you can't accept that, then simply reject Oppa and forget about him. Find another guy who will be exclusively yours Unnie. But in my opinion, no guy will be as good as Oppa.

Now that I know Oppa is okay with dating multiple girls, I will take a step forward. If you don't make your decision quickly, don't blame me for winning the race Unnie."

"What she said surprised all of us and made us realize we were judging you unfairly. It made me realize that ultimately, the biggest problem was me, not you. Her declaration of war scared me a little, but in the end, she is not wrong.

It all comes down to whether I can accept sharing you or not. If I can't, I simply have to let go. So, I have made my decision Oppa. In the future, I might regret not being able to share you, and I might end up with a broken heart.

But that is still preferable to the regret I would carry if I did not even try. That is why I would like to be your girlfriend. I want to take this step and see where it leads. If I truly can't handle sharing you when you have more girlfriends, then I will end the relationship. If you are okay with that, then I would like us to date," Seonhwa said. She spoke for quite some time, and I was surprised by the content of her words.

Apparently, they recently had a girls' talk, and the content sounds terrifying. It will be difficult for me to face mom, aunt Seonmi, and Jinhee for a while. Seunghae's declaration surprised me a bit.

I know she looks at me with admiration, but I thought it was more like the infatuation young girls have for artists, singers, or athletes, the so-called platonic love, since she is only 15 this year. But judging by Seonhwa's words, maybe it is more than that.

And finally, Seonhwa's response; she wants us to date. While she is unsure if she can accept me having more girlfriends in the future, she is still willing to give it a try. It is also normal that if she can't handle it, she would want to end the relationship. My feelings for Seonhwa are sincere, and I am filled with incredible happiness that she finally accepted. But it is disappointing to know that we will have to part ways in a month.

"I will tell you as many times as necessary Seonhwa. I love you! And I would love for us to date," I said, standing up from my seat, leaping over the table to where she was sitting. I lifted her and hugged her. She blushed and returned the hug. We pulled back slightly, staring at each other, neither of us moving.

"This is a bit awkward, should we kiss now? I've never kissed anyone before, so don't laugh if I do it wrong," I said, feeling a little embarrassed.

"Don't be silly Oppa, it is my first time too. I have no idea if it will be good or bad, but as long as it is with you, I think it will always be on the good side," she replied, moving her face closer to mine.

As we tried to touch our lips, we had a coordination problem and ended up bumping noses. Then we tried again, but she rushed, resulting in a slight headbutt. We laughed, and finally, we managed to coordinate properly. Our lips touched slowly, and it was a soft, tender kiss. I felt a rush of excitement, and I could not help but try to use my tongue which startled Seonhwa, causing her to accidentally bite my tongue.

Our first kissing experience was a mix of fun, joy, and disaster. We laughed for several minutes.

This was my first kiss and my first relationship in my two lives, and I can only say that the wait until this moment was worth it.