Ch. 86.1 - Unexpected Event (2)
"Disappointed... you say?"

"Yeah..."

Even as his throat tightened, Haewonryang's pupils shook visibly when Mayuseong spoke those words.

Mayuseong and Haewonryang.

Their first meeting was somewhat unique.

"You, let's have a duel."

Spring of their first year in middle school.

Their connection began with Haewonryang's challenge.

"Huh? Why?"

"I can't admit that you're on the same level as me. It's so irritating. I need to correct the rumors about you that the world knows."

Since Haewonryang gained the ability to awaken his powers and speak, he had been studying magic. Even as a kindergarten student, he effortlessly used magic that could only be acquired as an adult, and in elementary school, he easily defeated upperclassmen from the middle school division.

Haewonryang was a prodigy attracting attention from the world.

But suddenly, out of nowhere, this guy named Ma Yuseong appeared, calling himself another genius.

Wasn't he threatening his position?

So Haewonryang observed Mayuseong for a while. What kind of person he was; what kind of training he did; and what kind of studies he pursued.

The results of his observation were extremely disappointing.

Mayuseong didn't put in any effort, spent his days goofing off, and during class, he read strange books unrelated to the subjects.

It was unacceptable.

His pride was hurt.

To be treated the same as that guy.

He thought of sorting out the hierarchy clearly. That way, he would feel refreshed.

But...

"... I won, didn't I? That magic battle was something else. It was so much fun!"

He lost. He lost to a complete newbie who seemed like he had never even experienced a magic battle in his life.

Haewonryang was at a loss.

Why did he lose?

He couldn't understand.

"To someone who doesn't make any effort, doesn't study, how...!"

The conclusion was simple.

"I was not disciplined enough."

Since then, he had trained relentlessly.

He trained and trained, and trained some more.

He grasped all of Mayuseong's magic, analyzed it, and studied it.

He swore to never lose in their next battle.

However, despite all his efforts...

"I won again this time! It was even more fun. How do you know my magic so well?"

Haewonryang lost again.

Mayuseong won once more.

From that moment on, Mayuseong probably considered Haewonryang merely as an entertaining playmate. He knew that his own talent was extraordinary, so he casually dismissed the idea that Haewonryang could win against him, even though he put in all his effort.

It had always been like that.

However, something changed when Haewonryang received the admission letter to Stella.

During dungeon training, Mayuseong nearly lost to Haewonryang. He was completely overwhelmed by someone he had regarded as just a playmate.

It was the first time Mayuseong doubted his perfect talent and experienced a bitter sense of defeat.

It was the first time he realized he had a competitive spirit.

Although it was only a close call in a competition, it felt like his entire worldview was crumbling.

That day, for the first time, Mayuseong turned his back and ran away from someone he considered weaker than himself.

After that, unlike his usual carefree self, Mayuseong incorporated "training" into his daily routine. He became determined to grow stronger to the point where he would never want to return to his old self, even going so far as to visit his hometown.

As a result, he discovered that he had noticeably become stronger. It was a sense of accomplishment he had never felt before.

When something considered natural no longer remained natural, it gained value.

"I will definitely win this time."

Finally, Mayuseong found value in his competition with Haewonryang. The joy of striving to defeat him became evident to him.

"I worked hard for our bet, and you... you rely on mere dark magic to defeat me?"

"No, that's not it..."

"We have always fought as equals. You're the only person who can make me feel tense."

"I have never defeated you!! That's why, that's why I...!"

At some point, Haewonryang regained the ability to speak properly.

"... You resorted to dark magic just to defeat me easily?"

Mayuseong spread his arms wide. His expression seemed free from the suffocating pain.

"Then kill me. With that power you easily obtained, pierce through my heart."

Haewonryang's arm trembled instinctively, but for some reason, he couldn't do it.

"I felt competitiveness from you for the first time, and I also made efforts to defeat you. But you…”

“Enough. Please stop."

Without realizing it, Haewonryang released his grip on Mayuseong's neck and took a step back.

With this immense power, it felt like there was nothing to fear in this world. Haewonryang believed he could defeat anyone, including himself.

However, there was still one thing that frightened him. It was disappointing someone he had always considered a lifelong rival.

"If you want to defeat me so easily... then go ahead, take the victory you desire."

"Ugh, I... I..."

Haewonryang's right hand mutated sharply, but due to the confusion in his mind, he couldn't move.

"I'm not afraid of death."

Mayuseong brought his sharp hand to his own chest.

"Instead... it's disappointing that we can never make another bet."

Will this victory, achieved at such a cost, truly be sweet?

Or rather, will it feel empty? If Mayuseong died, the result would forever remain that he never defeated him with his true power.

He must stay alive to break this streak of defeats and finally achieve a true victory.

He couldn’t remain an eternal loser.

He must keep himself alive and wash away this disgrace with his own strength.

Haewonryang clenched his teeth and said, "I won't... kill you."

Because he still hasn't defeated him.

Rumble!

At that moment, the full-powered magic was completed. She had originally intended to resolve the situation through dialogue, but for some reason, Mayuseong took that method instead and achieved quite successful results.

"I don't know what trick you used... but now is the chance!"

Now that Haewonryang's emotions had returned to almost human-like, if she used the purification magic, she could restore him to his original state.

Flash!

Finally, her magic was complete, and in the moment the chains of light were about to envelop Haewonryang...

…

Crack!!

Suddenly,

"Snap!"

"Ugh...!"

Tremendous pressure began to weigh down from all directions.

The magic remained incomplete and unable to be casted, and the three of them fell to their knees on the ground.

Thunk.

Ch. 86.2
In the midst of it all, a woman with silver hair gently descended.

"Oh my, it's someone else?"

It was a stranger's voice.

Startled, Edna barely managed to lift her head and take a glimpse of the face. She was terrified and could only widen her eyes.

Dressed in a magnificent mage’s robe and with fluttering multicolored hair, it was someone she knew from the original novel.

‘Grace, the Deputy Commander Captain of the Shadowblade Division...!'

Playfully twirling her rainbow-colored staff, she strolled around Haewonryang.

Mayuseong and Haewonryang were still crouched on the ground, unable to withstand this pressure.

Edna quickly grasped the nature of this magic.

‘Grace’s specialty, Illusion Magic.'

Perhaps Grace implanted an illusion of 'weight' into everyone present, causing them to sit on the ground.

Even if one recognized it as an illusion, it wouldn't change anything.

Releasing it required an interpretation ability of equal proficiency, and Grace currently possessed at least a Class 6 magic level.

Thunk…

Behind Grave, a man approached. It was obvious who it was without even thinking.

'Director Kaen...'

Kaen looked coldly at the fallen Haewonryang. Due to Grace’s magic, Haewonryang had fainted, and dark magic was emanating from his entire body.

Grace teasingly spoke to Kaen, her tone filled with mockery.

"Hmm, it wasn't Maizen Tyren, was it? In the end, the prophecy was wrong again~"

Whether in response or not, Kaen silently cast a special dark magic detection spell on Haewonryang using his technique from the Manwol Tower.

"The wavelength is faint. It's impressive for him to exert this level of power."

"Oh, really?"

Kaen nodded his head.

"Let's proceed with the summary execution, then."

"Oh my. Are you thinking of killing him right away? Ah, I think there's still a chance for purification."

The fact that the wavelength of dark magic was faint meant that there was still a possibility of reversing it.

However, Director Kaen remained firm.

"If someone can exert this level of power with just this... In the future, when they go on a rampage, it will truly be a disaster. It's right to kill him now."

Once those tainted by dark magic were corrupted once, it was easy for them to be corrupted a second or third time.

Even if they were temporarily cleansed, the corruption remained, and they would eventually succumb to another influence of dark magic and go on a rampage.

That was why those who were contaminated by dark magic would either leave the industry altogether, or in some cases, return as dark mages.

"It's a pity~ He's handsome, you know. I even like this cynical type of guy~"

Once a decision was made, it was carried out immediately.

When Kaen aimed his wand at Haewonryang, veins popped on Edna’s forehead. She wanted to shout at him to stop right away, but her body simply wouldn't move.

"Please, please...! If we just have a little more time, we can purify him...!"

Even tears welled up in her eyes, but Grace merely licked her lips as if finding Edna’s desperation amusing.

"I'm sorry for killing your friend. But there's nothing we can do. You know that too, don't you?"

"Ugh..."

"Oh?"

In the midst of their conversation, Mayuseong exerted his remaining strength to slowly rise up, surprising Grace as a genuine expression of astonishment appeared on her face.

"So, the first-year student from the Academy managed to endure this? Impressive... Ah, you're Mayuseong, right? I've heard your name, and you're as good-looking as they say!"

However...

"Regardless of that, please lie back down for a moment. You're getting in the way of my work, older sister."

"Snap!"

Just as Mayuseong managed to raise his upper body, Grace flicked her finger, causing Mayuseong to collapse once again.

The groans escaping his lips were unusual.

"No... it can't be..."

If Mayuseong were to go on a rampage and reveal his dark magic here, there was no doubt that they would be killed.

No matter how strong they might become in the future, they were merely seventeen years old at the moment.

They couldn't defeat the elite magical warriors of the Manwol Tower.

"Please..."

Whether it was the fear of Edna becoming a reality or not, explosive magic burst forth from Mayuseong's body. It was the preparatory process of depleting all of his righteous magic power to unleash the dark magic.

"You're trying hard, huh?"

"Sob..."

Edna gritted her teeth and tried desperately to raise her body, but the excruciating pain made it impossible.

She couldn't do anything.

The guilt welled up as she thought that they might lose the two boys who were destined for great things in the future.

Could it all be because of her?

This kind of content didn't exist in the original. So, the occurrence of something that didn't exist in the original might be due to her existence as an irregular.

And so, just as Kaen aimed his wand at Haewonryang's head, and when Edna was about to bow her head for the last time...

"Wait a moment."

… A familiar voice echoed through the space.

Kaen's wand paused, and Edna’s heart throbbed, pounding.

"Baek Yu-Seol...?"

Even though she couldn't turn her head, she could tell the direction of the voice thanks to the sound.

He stood tall on his two legs, unaffected by Grace Steele’s illusion.

"Oh, how did you manage to escape the illusion?"

Grace tilted her head in surprise but also aimed her staff at him.

A magnificent magic circle spun around, mocking Baek Yu-Seol’s gaze.

"Dinosaur, appear! Ta-da~!"

However...

Baek Yu-Seol didn't even flinch.

"Huh?"

The special illusion she created was a very powerful and potentially deceptive magic that could directly harm the target.

But to show no reaction at all...

Grace sweated coldly as she poured more mana into the magic circle, but soon realized it was futile.

None of the illusion magic affected Baek Yu-Seol. It felt like trying to bend a joint on a slime. It was like using all sorts of techniques to break bones and muscles, but the opponent didn't even have any joints, so it felt like floundering in the air.

"D-Director? The illusion doesn't work on him?"

"Don't play around and do it properly, Grace."

"No! I'm really doing it properly!"

Illusion magic fundamentally disrupted the opponent's mana, but for some reason, it felt like there wasn't a single drop of magic in Baek Yu-Seol’s body.

Since all living beings in this world were supposed to have mana, it would mean that Baek Yu-Seol had somehow produced a protective barrier to counter illusions...

‘C-Crazy. Did he perfectly defend against my illusion magic?’

Even so, even though she had cast at least a Class 5 illusion magic, there was no sign of using Dispel or any indication that he was perfectly resisting it. The thought that he wasn't an ordinary mage crept up Grace’s spine.

She gulped hard, her voice full of tension.

"... Director. It seems like you should personally deal with him."