Novel Bin Chapter 27: Seo Gayeon (4)
Chapter 27: Seo Gayeon (4)
TL/Editor: looloo
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In this world, a place called the 'boundary' exists.
It's a phenomenon that happened when the dimensional gate broke, linking Earth with another dimension.
The people known as 'guardians of humanity' watch over the area closest to this 'gate'.
Deeper within lies the territory of entities called 'Mines' the sworn enemies of humanity. The Mines harbor no common ground with humans.
Driven by their offerings to those considered outsiders of this world, their ultimate goal is to obliterate humanity.
Over time, the Mines realized that their time was running out.
I heard that the one left by the prophet enrolled in Korea Hero Academy this year.
The Mines were conducting a meeting in a place filled with darkness. All of them were far from ordinary. Some had bodies exceeding 15m in size, while others looked as if they were immersed in a fireball, their bodies melted and trapped in a liquid form.
"We can't leave this place. But if that being wakes up, our lives won't last much longer."
"The best plan is to kill all the students at the school."Visit no(v)eLb(i)n.𝘤𝑜𝓂 for the best novel reading experience
"That's impossible. The 'Emperor' is at that place. The moment we step outside the boundary, she will be there waiting."
The Mines' power weakens the moment they step outside the boundary. This is due to a pact made by the greatest hero known to humanity.
"We should mobilize the villains."
"Can we trust them, though? On the surface, they want to destroy social order, but when it comes down to their lives, they choose safety. They are trash."
"But even among trash, some jewels are likely to be found. The Legion of the Sky. The ones who call themselves 'heaven' and wait for the Tianma to cover the sky. They might be useful."
The Mines thought about it.
"To get them to move will cost us a lot, but they could be a decent help."
"Let's use the Celestial Gathering. Afterwards, let's find the one who can awaken the Starlight Magic."
"What do we know about this entity?"
"Nothing. We don't know what it looks like, its gender, or even where it comes from."
"So that's why you sent the Black Heavenly Demon Sword?"
"Yes. I did it to get even a tiny piece of information. The only detail I got is that it's a freshman."
"That's tough. We can't even figure out who it is."
"Then, shouldn't we just kill them all?"
The quietest man suggested.
A man who seemed to be about 2 meters tall.
Unlike the Mines, this man aligned with the Mines due to his desire to disrupt the world's order.
He was a villain.
They didn't derive their power from special entities, but that only made them more unpredictable.
"Good, you seem confident. Let's keep this simple. The outcome of the entrance test will be determined by how you handle this matter," one of the Mines declared.
Upon hearing the Mine's words, the villainous man chuckled.
"First of all."
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Raei Translations
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Soyosan, Dongducheon, Gyeonggi Province.
Originally, the place was quite a distance away, but I managed to reach here directly through the warp gate at Korea Hero Academy.
Leaning against a pillar with a guitar case, I waited.
"Hmm...."
The Black Heavenly Demon Sword, standing next to me, tilted its head.
[The power of the stars, huh? To think there's a being that has inherited the power of starlight in this age.]
"Do you know?"
[Of course. But only from the literature. Master, what's important is that you don't miss that girl.]
"I definitely won't."
I yawned lazily. Yesterday's training had been too rigorous, leaving my body exhausted.
"Seo, Seoha."
Soon, Seo Gayeon arrived. I had instructed her to dress comfortably, so she looked quite relaxed. Dressed in a black short sleeve shirt and white high-waisted shorts, she carried a sword for self-defense. As Korea Hero Academy students are considered potential heroes, there are no restrictions on carrying weapons.
"Are you here? Shall we get going then?"
"Uh, yes."
I started walking toward the mountain, and Seo Gayeon followed.
"But, but Seoha, where, where are we going?" Seo Gayeon asked.
I considered for a moment, but decided to tell her the truth.
"To a dungeon."
"Huh, dun, dungeon... Dungeon?!?!" Seo Gayeon exclaimed in surprise.
"Into, into a dungeon? Can, can the two of us clear it?"
"Don't worry, just trust me."
I had handpicked this dungeon specifically for Seo Gayeon. It was safe enough, unless she was in cahoots with the Mines to trap me. While I was a bit wary about the Mines, I had set the level easy enough for me to handle on my own.
'Above all, I have Nyeom.'
Nyeom (). The power to bring reality into existence based on one's mind. This power has now transformed into the 'Spirit Against Heaven' stat, but it still exists. Even stronger than before.
'Status window.'
I glanced at my status window.
[Name: Lee Seoha]
Strength: 7, Agility: 10(+3), Stamina: 13, Talent: 8, Conceptual Stat (Spirit Against Heaven): 5, Spirit: 6
Talents
-None(-)Unfathomable Talent(A-)Nimble Hands(B+)
Skills
-Black Divine Martial Arts(?)Alten's Advanced Alchemy(B)Icarus's Advanced Spirit Control(C)Black Flash Swordsmanship(D)
Physique
-Body Against Heaven(S-)
My Stamina had seen a significant boost. It had surged impressively. Even without taking the elixir that Seo Yebin had given me, I was doing quite well. The other attributes had also marginally increased.
"Your mountain climbing skills seem pretty good."
"Uh, yeah. When I was young, my parents liked to go hiking."
A faint blush appeared on Seo Gayeon's face.
I knew why.
Seo Gayeon's family was not impoverished, but they were far from wealthy. Because of their modest circumstances, they often spent time foraging for things like mushrooms and herbs in the mountains when she was a child.
"Shall we continue?"
"Mm."
And so, our climb resumed.
My breath became ragged at times, but we would always pause, catch our breaths, and then proceed further.
After about an hour of climbing, we reached a plateau scattered with tombs. There were also numerous people around.
"What's this place?"
"It's a graveyard."
Specifically, a graveyard without bodies.
When the dimension first shattered, beings from other dimensions awakened people's mana or innate abilities. Among them, the benevolent ones taught humans of Earth martial arts and magic.
However, the problem came with the appearance of 'Mines' and monsters as the dimensions broke. Many people were consumed by these creatures, leaving no bodies behind. Some disappeared after venturing into the gates. Others were trapped within towers until their deaths.
Just in Korea alone, the number of casualties exceeded an astonishing ten million.
This graveyard was created to honor those who were lost.
And this time, our dungeon is near here. It was formed by the resentment of those who were lost, resonating with a particular object.
I took Seo Gayeon deeper into the area.
As we ventured further, fewer people and tombs were visible, until eventually, we reached a cliff devoid of both. A small crevice carved into the mountain was the entrance to the dungeon, just large enough for a child to squeeze through.
"So this is the dungeon," Seo Gayeon shivered.
"Yes."
Her knowledge was impressive it was something worth asking about, as this was exactly how it was in the game world.
"I'll go in first. Stay close."
"Uh, yes."
It was safer for me to lead the way.
I manipulated the guitar case that contained the Black Heavenly Demon Sword with my mind and proceeded.
-Master, am I not being treated too harshly?
'Please understand.'
We had a mental connection, something similar to telepathy that I had gained through my mind manipulation. Ideally, I would prefer to store it in a subspace, but it strongly opposed the idea, leaving me with no choice but to carry it in this manner.
Bending my body, I entered the crevice.
"Uh."
I could sense Seo Gayeon following closely behind me. She was keeping up quite well.
I continued inward.
After crouching and moving through a narrow tunnel for about 100 meters, the passage began to widen.
Suddenly, a monster appeared.
It emitted a deep violet flame-like substance and had a translucent form. It was what we referred to as a ghost.
"Th-that... what is that?"
"It's a monster. Essentially, a spirit composed of concentrated grudges."
"Isn't it... dangerous?"
"Not at all."
To alleviate her worries, I pulled out the Black Heavenly Demon Sword.
Swish.
Guided by my will, the Black Heavenly Demon Sword was hurled at the ghost.
-Heheheheak!
The ghost let out a death rattle before succumbing to the sword.
The Black Heavenly Demon Sword, a weapon tempered countless times with the power of Demonic Qi, was especially deadly against entities composed of 'mana,' like the ghost. From the ghost's perspective, I was more than just a natural enemy.
Yet, sometimes, having such immense power could be a problem.
Seo Gayeon was safe, but as soon as I intervened, the ghost-infused mines could not stand against my attack.
"It... it's gone?"
"Do you really think I would have brought you to a place of danger?"
I responded with a sly smile, causing Seo Gayeon to flinch. Did she think I came here without a plan?
"Don't worry. It's safe. The reason we're here is because this dungeon is the most suitable for you."
"This... this dungeon?"
"Yes. The star magic you possess is the natural enemy of the demonic. The more you combat entities related to demons, the more your magic will awaken."
"I... I see."
Seo Gayeon stared at me with trembling eyes.
"And do you know what the fastest way to awaken magic is?"
"By... by fighting hard?"
"No, it's by throwing oneself into the fray until you're nearly at death's door. Don't worry. I'll ensure your life isn't in danger."
"Wh... what?"
From my inventory, I pulled out a potion that emitted a scent beloved by spirits.
Upon uncapping it, a strong aroma wafted through the air.
"Well, good luck."
"Huh... what?"
Seeing the spirits rushing towards us, I gave Seo Gayeon a push forward and positioned myself behind her.
---
Raei Translations
---
"Gasp, pant."
After the ordeal, Seo Gayeon was grasping her sword and gasping for air. Her once neat clothes were now tattered and scratched in places.
Most of the spirits had been dispelled. There was a moment when things had gotten a bit dangerous, but as soon as Seo Gayeon's star magic power had awakened slightly, the spirits literally 'evaporated.'
Silently, I handed Seo Gayeon a recovery potion.
"Drink this."
"Gasp, cough. Th-thank you."
With both hands, Seo Gayeon accepted the potion and gulped it down.
"Do you think you're getting the hang of it?"
"Y-yeah, to some extent."
Seo Gayeon managed to respond between gasps for breath.
"Then a bit more... No. Let's call it a day."
Upon hearing my words, Seo Gayeon's expression changed dramatically.
Her expression clearly conveyed that she had reached her absolute limit.
Lee Seoha felt a pang of disappointment, but he made the decision to let it be for now.
If it was a task that he absolutely had to complete, he would have pushed on regardless, but it seemed unfair to impose the same pressure on Seo Gayeon.
Not yet.
As she was catching her breath, Seo Gayeon reflected on the recent events.
The way the spirits reached out to her.
The moment she felt a surge of power within her, just before Lee Seoha intervened.
The astonishing vividness of that power had left her shocked.
"Hmm, next time we'll have to visit a different dungeon."
"Huh?"
Before she could ask what he meant by that, she felt a cold, spine-chilling gaze wash over her.
"It's a Mine."
Lee Seoha stated with a light smile, clutching his Black Heavenly Demon Sword tightly.
He hadn't planned on tackling it at this moment, but if an opportunity presented itself to him, it was only courteous to take it.
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