Chapter 53: I Must Win (5)

I roughly finished surveying the children's career paths.

It's fine if you could call it that.

Their paths all corresponded to being heroes.

When I found out what lay at the end of their paths, it was dizzying and disorienting, and I wondered what would become of Korea.

But anyway, they all chose to be heroes.

And finally.

I looked at a boy.

Seon Woohyeon.

A holder of a very unique history.

Like Yoo Eunchae, perhaps a being who knows the knowledge of the future.

Using both sword and magic.

'And strangely, he uses martial arts that seem to have a low profile.'

The reason I'm watching him.

Perhaps he's likely to learn the martial arts from my third life.

I looked at Seon Woohyeon's dream.

[To save the world.]

It's common for children to say such things.

For middle and high school students, it'd be acceptable too.

'But still.'

There's no way someone like Seon Woohyeon would just casually write about saving the world.

Whatever the case, Seon Woohyeon now carries the title of the Chosen One, wielding both sword and magic.

Naturally, he received all sorts of expectant looks. Someone who tasted the bitterness of the world wouldn't write something like this.

'Well, he did keep saying, "Look at me! Look at me!" during the exam yesterday.'

It's not strange enough to write about saving the world out of the blue.

In fact, you could just chalk it up to wanting to save the world.

But, unlike the others I've seen so far, these types are the most dangerous.

Because their purpose is noble, they don't discriminate in their methods and means during the process.

And because of that process, countless victims emerge.

So then.

"Is saving the world your goal?"

"Yes, it is."

There's no wavering in his eyes.

Such eyes are truly dangerous.

'Clearly, in his eyes, he believes he's the only one who can save the world, not me.'

What's more dangerous is that his eyes seem as if he's already experienced it.

'Caution advised. He might seem the most docile usually, but once he loses it, this kind of guy causes the most trouble.'

Thinking to myself, I looked at Seon Woohyeon.

"Saving the world is good. But…"

I was about to say something, but I didn't.

Because he's not the kind to listen anyway.

"It's fine. You can go now."

"Is it fine?"

"Yes."

"…"

Seon Woohyeon looked at me.

He seemed about to say something, moving his lips slightly, then soon bowed his head.

I sent Seon Woohyeon off.

There was one last person.

'A Problem Child with great expectations.'

She's just like Seon Woohyeon.

[The Salvation of the World.]

A perfect match.

"…Isn't that a very rude thought?"

"My disciple, your information might mostly be correct, but your thoughts aren't always right."

"So, what were you thinking?"

"That you and Seon Woohyeon are similar?"

"That trash!"

Calling him trash, that's too much.

However, since Yoo Eunchae genuinely despises and hates Seon Woohyeon, I decided to stop the joke here.

"What is the salvation of the world?"

"It means exactly what it says. This world is more rotten and precarious with people than you think."

The world is precarious.

I think I can understand.

Not long ago, when I destroyed the Namgoong Clan, I realized something: superhumans, or so-called heroes, look down on ordinary people if they don't awaken the same mana.

'As if they were slaves, peasants, or perhaps livestock.'

It's truly ridiculous.

How dare these worthless beings look down on people like that.

"Anyway, I wish the master would help too."

"If I have a spare hand."

"Eh. Usually, in this situation, wouldn't you say you'll help? Something like, 'I'll devote everything I have to save the world!' Not that I'm expecting that much!"

"You're expecting too much, my disciple."

I suddenly became a professor, but my goal wasn't that grand.

I only aspire to research as many traits here as possible.

And since I don't know where I'll be next time, I want to enjoy modern civilization as much as possible.

That's all there is to it.

"Then let's end the meeting here. Oh, on your way out, call Wi Gunak for me."

"No, how much are you going to overwork that child? She'll collapse."

"Then you can do it instead."

"I'll call her right away!"

"…"

Really, she's only quick-witted at times like this.

Well, it's not like I'm calling Wi Gunak to make her work.

"Ah, right."

Yoo Eunchae, who was about to leave, looked at me.

"Do you know it's about to start?"

"That?"

"I told you before! The exchange event is starting soon."

Ah, now that I think about it, she did mention that.

This time, our school is going to the United States.

'The US is nice.'

During my first life, when I was a professional gamer, I went there often.

I visited Europe more often because they were more enthusiastic there.

"Even if you are a master, you won't be able to use your energy there, right?"

"Why?"

"Because there, high rankers are overflowing."

High rankers.

Usually, it refers to supreme masters and sorcerers who have reached the 6th circle.

The problem is those guys start to engrave themselves in the world.

'That's a bit troublesome.'

The head of the Namgoong Clan lacks enlightenment and is covered in all sorts of traits, so he hasn't fully awakened yet.

Engraving oneself in the world.

By undertaking this task, their power becomes of a different dimension.

The forces that one will come to use by freely twisting the laws are incredibly tricky.

Even if a master at the peak of his art might lose to a first-rate practitioner, it is safe to say that a grandmaster at the ultimate peak would never lose to a master at the peak.

'The most common barrier is sword qi.'

At this level, one can almost invincibly reign over those below their level.

Similarly, the levels above become even more profound.

And we call it Manifestation of Thoughts.

The mind's image.

With one's intention, it is brought into the real world.

Only those who engrave themselves upon the world can use this power.

"By the way, what is yours, Master?"

"What?"

"Your Manifestation of Thoughts."

"My Manifestation of Thoughts? You know it's rude to ask that, right?"

"Hehe, but I'm curious."

Well, I don't mind teaching you.

"It's a mirror."

"A mirror?"

"Yes. A mirror that stores the 'me' in the best condition."

"Eh. That seems less impressive than I thought."

I couldn't help but chuckle.

"No, that's not it. Rather, if it's made up of things that can do tremendous feats, like your Meteor Sword, it can be used once more."

"Well, you could use it that way."

In fact, I had used it to defeat the Insect Dragon King as well.

"But why do you ask about that?"

"Just because. I have something in mind, too, but I'm wondering if it's right or not."

"The path no one has taken is always the scariest. But the high rankers all have it."

"…"

"Whether it's wrong or not, take your time to create it. After all, just because they're called high rankers doesn't mean they got there without hardships."

The concept is a bit difficult.

It's like building a huge house. In the upper levels, usually, just making the foundation is enough.

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

"Then, Master…"

Yoo Eunchae licked her lips and then shook her head.

"I'll call Wi Gunak."

"Alright."

After a while, Wi Gunak entered the room.

"What brings me here?"

"Do you know what starts after the meeting?"

"What starts?"

"Parent-teacher conferences begin."

"Wait, what…!"

Wi Gunak looked perplexed.

"Well, it's a joke. You're all adults, so there's really no need for a guardian meeting."

That's right.

They are all adults.

Although, it's rare for those who have become adults actually to act like real adults.

The president of Korea must become the strongest in military power, or desires to become the goddess of death, or wants to become a magic empress to make the heads of the other five great families kneel, or is the type to want to be tricked by a ruined man.

'I'm not sure about the others, but.'

I looked at Wi Gunak.

Either destroy the Wi family or kill the junior head. That meant the current head was at least somewhat decent.

'But what did the junior head do to her for her to hate him so much?' I wondered.

"Anyway, going to the Wi family is real."

"Is it really?"

"Yes."

Let's at least see his face.

The Wi family is located in a region called Seongsimdang.

'Seongsimdang is delicious.'

We took a train and headed to the lower region.

Wi family.

I had to visit at some point.

'What on earth did she go through—to want to destroy her own family?'

I haven't seen Wi Gunak for long, but she's not a bad character.

She's not the type to want to annihilate a family, but if she says she wants to.

That means there's a problem with the family.

"What are you looking at?"

"Your family's records."

"That's all lies. If you write weird stuff, there will be retaliation…"

"It's okay. Abel made it for me."

"Ah, is that so?"

Wi Gunak didn't say anything unusual.

Perhaps because he wants to rule the underworld while being a hero. His records were quite detailed.

But there was one problem.

Abel said something strange when he gave this to me.

「The Wi family is manipulating part of the underworld in the shadows.」

「So, you also wanted to join forces with me, hoho…」

There's not a single sane student.

In the midst of this and that, the train arrived at Seongsimdang.

"By the way, they say the food from Daejeon in Seongsimdang is so delicious."

"What are you talking about? It's Seongsimdang in Daejeon that is delicious."

"What?"

While they were joking around with each other, a commotion was stirring outside the train.

"I've got some impressive information. I didn't mention it, but they've already come out to meet us."

"…"

"Let's go outside."

Dragging Wi Gunak up forcibly, we went outside.

"Welcome, you've arrived at the Wi family's place."

"Is this whole area the Wi family's territory?"

"Yes."

I asked sarcastically, but the person who came to meet us responded with a bright smile.

They seemed to be enveloped in an atmosphere that they were Daejeon.

As soon as I got off, I handed my bag to someone who looked like an attendant.

The attendant handled my bag as if it were something precious.

"This way."

We were guided outside. There was a limousine waiting, and we took it towards the Wi family's house.

I looked outside.

At the expressions of the citizens.

They seemed to have lost hope, bearing dead expressions.

Indeed, it was understandable.

Before long, we were heading towards the Wi family's house.

"Welcome to the Wi family's house."

It was a welcoming atmosphere.

I looked around.

Everyone was looking this way, radiating a positive atmosphere.

Towards Wi Gunak, respect, and reverence.

And towards me, eyes full of respect as the teacher of Wi Gunak.

I let out a hollow laugh.

According to the information Abel had organized, although they had done certain things, they were showing us infinite respect.

'The more surprising thing is that they are genuinely welcoming us.'

They revere mana, and they worship superhumans.

But those not chosen by mana or not selected by the system are utterly despised.

'What a ridiculous world.'

Just like nobles and slaves.

That was the look in their eyes.

In this tiny battlefield, the Wi Clan reigns supreme.

And Wi Gunak is no different from a crown prince there.

I am her teacher.

"Welcome."

He was a man with quite an intense presence.

Dressed in light Chinese-style clothing, he was smiling brightly.

"Professor Han Seojin. I've heard a lot about you. Instead of staying here, let's go inside."

"Father, the professor is…"

"It's alright. This father will take care of everything."

"It's okay. I came today not for any particular business, but to see our Gunak."

"I see."

Gunak's father displayed a look of regret.

I went inside.

"I understand now."

"What?"

"Why you asked me to destroy this place."

"…!"

Wi Gunak quickly looked around.

"It's okay. There's no one here except for one person."

"What…?"

"This is more dangerous than I thought."

An old-fashioned voice.

In front of us, the space fluctuated, and a man appeared.

His hair and beard were white, and he was dressed in the same simple traditional Chinese attire as the man Wi Gunak had introduced as his father earlier.

He contained an immense aura.

'In this place… he must be of the highest caliber.'

In other words, a master martial artist and a magician who has achieved the 7th circle.

"Grandfather!"

"Yes, my child. You've grown well."

As Wi Gunak ran to the man she called grandfather, the grandfather greeted Wi Gunak with a warm expression and made her sit.

The problem was that he was looking at me with a cold expression.

'He can't see anything, right?'

I've hidden my abilities even from the transcendent, so there's no way he'd see.

"Wi Gunak. Go inside. I have something to discuss with the professor."

"…"

Wi Gunak glanced at me for a moment. She looked at Grandfather once.

"It's dangerous."

Wi Gunak was looking at me with worried eyes.

I smiled.

"It's okay."

Because I will definitely win.