Chapter 44: New Trait

The Namgoong Clan was utterly destroyed.

It caused a tremendous ripple effect, more than anyone had anticipated.

"Have you heard that the Namgoong Clan has fallen?"

"They say it's declined so much that it couldn't even be considered the lowest of the Five Great Families, but isn't the patriarch of the Namgoong Clan still of high status?"

"There were rumors that Han Seojin was involved in the recruitment war by the Five Great Families not long ago."

"It's not a rumor. It's true."

There were more than a few witnesses.

Most were from the Five Great Families, but some civilians who had been conscripted also spoke about it.

To make things worse, the gates opened.

Perhaps because of that,

The truth of the incident was spreading quickly.

"Hello, brothers!! I stopped by Incheon Station and…"

"You mean they broke through the gates of the Namgoong Clan and attacked immediately? Wasn't that just intimidation? The use of qi was surprisingly delicate, wasn't it?"

"Did you say Han Seojin? Bring me everything related to him immediately!!"

The troublemaker of Iron-Blood Sword Clan.

Or the eldest son who was neither chosen by the system nor by mana.

That assessment of Han Seojin was slowly changing.

And such was Han Seojin.

He was tormenting the students.

"Our Eunchae. You claimed to be my first disciple, yet you came in last."

"No, what am I supposed to do! I have the most potential, but it's a bit much to ask someone as delicate as me to climb a cliff so crudely!!"

"Yes, Eunchae, you came in last."

"…Please, don't be so affectionate. You usually nag so much, but when you do this, it really scares me."

"You think so?"

"Hey, you devil aaaaaaaaaah!!"

With a laugh, he pushed Yoo Eunchae, who had climbed up to the edge of the cliff.

"Wow, he really pushed her."

"I, I thought it was a lie until I climbed the cliff three times, then I decided to always be number one."

"…Sigh."

Jo Gaeun and Wi Gunak.

And that was Shin Yura's reaction.

Shin Yura would have been in that state if Yoo Eunchae had been just 10 seconds faster.

So, it's a sigh of relief.

"Those who have finished the basic physical training and advanced stages, rest well. We'll start the theoretical course tomorrow, so brace yourselves."

"Why do we need to brace ourselves for theory?"

"If our Gunak wants to know in advance, I can tell you."

"…I absolutely don't want to. I'll definitely do it tomorrow."

"That's too bad."

Tsk.

A legally permissible opportunity to torment… no, to train.

"What are you smacking your lips for?!"

"It's the heart of a teacher who wanted to train his disciple out of love."

"…You really are a bad person."

"Yeah, yeah, that's right."

While tolerating Wi Gunak's complaints, I walked leisurely.

There was a lot to do today.

I had been preparing for a while to destroy the Namgoong Clan, had to drill the students, and now, I needed to extort compensation from the principal.

And there was someone I had to meet.

"Ah, and tell Yoo Eunchae to come straight to the staff room once she climbs up from the cliff."

"What kind of torment are you planning this time…"

"Come with Seon Woohyeon."

"…Is this related to the previous incident?"

"Yep."

After giving the instructions, I headed to the staff room.

"Wow, is there an aura of light shining from the professor's face…"

"I don't think it was this much last time. Did you awaken some kind of power again?"

"Ah, I want to take the class. I heard Han Seojin's students have really gotten stronger."

"Most students who take the class end up battered."

"Ah, that must all be smoke and mirrors."

"…Is that so?"

Step by step.

As I was walking like that, someone blocked my way.

It was my first time seeing that face here, but I knew this person.

The person who was staring blankly at me when the Namgoong's patriarch tried to kill me.

"It's been a while."

"I fainted last time and couldn't greet you properly. I am Han Seojin, the head professor at the academy."

"…I am Seo Pilju, holding the position of elder at Mighty Seo Clan. I am sorry about that time."

"Ah, don't mention it. This would be enough for a thank you."

I made two circles with my hands.

Meaning, give me money.

The man looked bewildered and bowed his head.

"As a sign of gratitude from the Seo Clan, we will support you with a donation. Our Seo Boram has become incredibly strong, more than we thought."

"Student Seo Boram is also a student I am keeping an eye on. If you show sincerity like this… shall we increase the intensity of her training?"

"… No, if that happens, student Boram might try to kill me."

Is that so?

That's unfortunate.

"Anyway, thank you. If it weren't for Professor Han Seojin, I would have been in trouble, and they would have sought the power of the devil in the devil's ruins. Thanks to you, we were able to stop the ambition of the Namgoong Clan."

The devil's ruins?

It was the first time I've heard of it, but I smiled without showing it.

"What about the school?"

"Ah, I have things to do today. And things to report."

"Report?"

"The principal specifically asked for it."

At the same time, a voice penetrated my ears.

[I can't tell you here because of the peering eyes, but it's a story related to the power struggle of the Five Great Families and the devil's ruins.]

The devil's ruins.

My intuition told me.

Soon, some incident related to that will come my way.

"…We're here."

"I brought her."

Yoo Eunchae, who was half-dead, and Seon Woohyeon, who was relatively neat, entered the staff room.

I stopped typing the theoretical part and looked at Yoo Eunchae.

'It might be time to start teaching her.'

Glacial Heavenly Moon.

It was time to initiate her into that technique.

And Seon Woohyeon is…

'How does he know this martial art?'

That martial art is supposed to be difficult to learn.

"Everyone's here. Then, shall we get ready to leave?"

"Eh, I feel like I'm going to die from exhaustion right now."

Floating.

So, I lifted her with telekinesis magic.

"Ah, wait a minute! You can see up my skirt."

"Don't worry, I've lowered your skirt."

"I'll just walk! Eek!"

When I released the telekinesis magic, she collapsed. She really has no athletic ability.

'Well, like someone who spends all day glued to a computer studying.'

Ah, right, she was always like that.

"Hurry up and get ready. The person you saw last time is here."

"The person I saw last time?"

Yoo Eunchae pondered for a moment before exclaiming, "Ah!"

"Raging Thunder, Heo Yoonji?!"

"Yes."

"Wow, really?! Well, it makes sense for her to personally take action in such a case. But how can the timing be this perfect?!"

"Have you met her often?"

At that, Seon Woohyeon became flustered.

"Ahem. That's not all? She can remember names."

"…What?!"

Seon Woohyeon was genuinely shocked.

It was as if remembering a name was such a big deal.

'But it seems like she didn't remember Yoo Eunchae's name.'

Could it be that she's saying she remembered me?

Well, it's about time.

I looked at Seon Woohyeon and Yoo Eunchae with a peculiar gaze.

'It's a good time.'

It's indeed the age for such things.

I led the kids to the reception room for guests.

There, Raging Thunder, Heo Yoonji was sitting with her legs crossed.

"Nice to meet you. You are Han Seojin, right?"

I nodded my head.

"Seon Yoohui. And Geum Eunchae. I've heard a lot about your achievements too."

"Pfft."

"Why can't you remember our names properly? You only remember the teacher."

"…I'm sorry. It's strange to blame it on my madness."

Heo Yoonji smiled bitterly.

Genuinely sorry, she apologized to Yoo Eunchae and Seon Woohyeon.

"I don't know if it's his Unique Trait, but he feels more distinct and easy to remember."

"He feels more distinct and easy to remember?"

Yoo Eunchae questioned Heo Yoonji.

But I think I know.

The second ability of Eternity came to mind.

[Eternity]

Magic gains the attribute of eternity.

The user becomes eternal.

Special skill, the use of Eternity becomes possible.

The user becomes eternal.

It means it won't be forgotten from memory.

That's the most easily apparent effect here.

'It's a very scary ability, isn't it?'

People remember me.

And forever at that.

It's a distant future story, but if that continues to exist,

'Maybe I could reach a peak that can't be caught even in the next life?'

But that is a matter for the future.

I focused on Heo Yoonji.

"Speaking of this incident… it was quite bold yet meticulous."

"…It's just being reckless."

"That's what being bold is, my disciple."

"No…"

Yoo Eunchae looked wronged.

It was as if she was the only modern person in the medieval era.

'But the thing is, it was really meticulously planned.'

The Namgoong clan's patriarch learned Charm Art and made a pact with the devil.

Seon Woohyeon and Yoo Eunchae plan was to find sacrifices but,

'Well, could that bring down Namgoong's patriarch?'

I was somewhat skeptical.

Because fundamentally, the world treats those with power well.

Once you reach a certain rank, you gain power similar to that of a member of the National Assembly.

The Namgoong crossed the line when they forcibly conscripted civilians living in Incheon for forced labor.

'Conversely, it's just barely crossing the line.'

Isn't that absurd?

To do that, and it's only just crossing the line?

"Anyway, well done. Korea tends to treat superhumans well, but it becomes quite ruthless when it comes to demons."

Heo Yoonji paused as she was about to light a cigarette she had put in her mouth.

"It's okay. You can smoke."

Yoo Eunchae said with a smile, and I nodded, too.

"Thank you."

Hoo.

Heo Yoonji smoked in front of us.

"Anyway, they decided to acknowledge this achievement. They tried to nitpick because you're the eldest son of the Iron-Blood Sword Clan, but when they heard a demon was involved, they all backed down."

What kind of incident did the demon cause to make them act so submissive?

"The prize money won't be that much. It's capped at 500 million."

"Well, it's a government thing."

Governments are always stingy.

Even if they say they'll give something, it's not enough to get excited about.

But thinking about the various conveniences they offer instead is not bad.

"Also, a certain portion of the taxes will be exempt, and if you want, the government can even lend you an A-grade artifact."

"Whatwhatwhatwhatwhat!?"

Yoo Eunchae falls over in surprise at Heo Yoonji's words.

Seon Woohyeon also stands there with his mouth agape.

"I've been paying close attention to this case because of that. It's significant that the Namgoong Clan has settled in our country but has always wanted to return to China someday."

"…You're thinking of it as having subdued a demon contractor."

"And there's also the fact that the eldest son of Iron-Blood Sword Clan wanted to get closer to us."

Heo Yoonji said with a smile.

Yoo Eunchae and Seon Woohyeon also nodded their heads in bewilderment.

"Anyway… for now, this much…"

Heo Yoonji was about to continue but then looked at me.

"…Sorry. I forgot to mention something. Han Seojin, if you want, I can also offer you an elixir."

"An, an, an elixir too?"

"… It's what he deserves. So, it's not about Han Seojin, the eldest son of Iron-Blood Sword Clan, but about attracting Han Seojin as an individual?"

"That's right. The government sees Iron-Blood Sword Clan and Han Seojin separately."

"When will he go to receive it…?"

"It should be fine this Saturday."

"Ah… I mean. Looks like I have no choice but to take a break from training this Saturday."

Yoo Eunchae breathed a sigh of relief as she gauged my reaction.

"But."

Yoo Eunchae looked at her and then spoke up.

"It seems to be getting worse lately, doesn't it?"

"…Yes."

At Yoo Eunchae's words, Heo Yoonji gave a bitter smile.

"Forgetfulness… but it's getting closer to dementia."

"Isn't it getting dangerous?"

"What can I do? There are just too many criminals."

"Would you believe me if I said there's a way to solve that forgetfulness?"

"What?!"

Aha. So that was her aim.

No wonder her eyes were shining so much earlier.

"I'll solve it for you!!"

She began to cling to Heo Yoonji.