Ch. 97.1 - Hospitalisation (3)

‘It looks like I can finally be discharged. I can even start attending classes right away.’

Baek Yu-Seol thought to himself.

When he regained consciousness, it had already been a staggering three days.

‘Three days...?’

He couldn't help but feel a sense of disorientation. He had no idea that he had been sleeping for such a long time.

‘Why?’

Initially, he thought he was just a little exhausted from the excessive activation of his skill, 'Breath of the Spirit.'

However, it seemed that his body had suffered more strain than he had anticipated.

Although numerous status messages were displayed, he couldn't muster the immediate mental clarity to check them.

Looking at the room filled with gifts piled high, Mayuseong wore an expression of perplexity and asked him, "Yu-Seol, how are we going to move all of this?"

In response, Baek Yu-Seol couldn't help but smirk.

"What's the big deal? They're all your gifts. I'll help you move them."

Confused, Mayuseong replied, "Huh? No, about half of them are addressed to you, aren't they?"

Startled by this revelation, he exclaimed, "What?"

It was hard to believe.

While Baek Yu-Seol had recently played pranks on his second-year seniors, he hadn't led a kind enough academy life to deserve receiving such an abundance of gifts.

He was even considered the ultimate outsider among outsiders.

However, as he carefully inspected each gift, it turned out that a significant portion of them was indeed intended for him.

He had never experienced receiving this many gifts, not even in his previous life.

After all, he wasn't a celebrity back then.

Suddenly, Baek Yu-Seol’s vision blurred.

While receiving gifts should have brought him joy and gratitude, he found himself faced with the daunting task of moving them all.

Lost in thought, Mayuseong and Baek Yu-Seol stared at the mound of gifts before the hospital room door swung open with a loud bang.

Eisel appeared, wearing an eager expression.

"I anticipated this, so I prepared a cart.”

"A cart?"

Baek Yu-Seol inquired, puzzled by her statement.

Eisel responded, "I'm quite skilled at pulling carts since I used to do it on construction sites four years ago. They even nicknamed me 'Construction Cart Eisel’!"

".....?"

Baek Yu-Seol couldn't help but wonder if that nickname was indeed related to her cart-pulling skills.

"Well then, let's get going!"

Eisel declared enthusiastically.

Eisel tightly clutched the gifts in her arms, her grip efficient despite her slender wrists.

Perhaps it was a result of her rough labor during her younger years, but her ability to carry the load seemed even more formidable than that of girls the same age.

"Give them all to me.”

"But I'm stronger than you," Baek Yu-Seol retorted.

"Well, I have strong arms.”

"Does that mean I have weak ones?"

"Um... There are moments it seems that way.”

Eisel said with a peculiar glance. She then chuckled sarcastically, leaving him utterly perplexed about her intentions.

Nevertheless, thanks to Eisel, they managed to transport the gifts back to the dormitory with relative ease.

Although they had to distribute some of the gifts, mostly fruits, to the dormitory supervisors and staff along the way, they still had a substantial amount left.

With a thud, they finally unloaded all the gifts, as if they were moving houses.

After that whirlwind of activity, as the atmosphere settled, reality sunk in.

Baek Yu-Seol had successfully defeated Maizen Tyren.

Even in this markedly altered episode, he had somehow managed to save the main characters and secure his own survival.

"Come to think of it, there was mention of a reward…”

A sudden realization struck him.

Without delay, Baek Yu-Seol eagerly examined his abilities, eager to discover the completion reward for the episode.

[Baek Yu-Seol]

[Attribute Stats]

[Strength: 2 stars, 89%]

[Senses: 2 stars, 77%]

[Agility: 2 stars, 63%]

[Endurance: 2 stars, 21%]

[Grit: 0 stars, 99%]

[Mental strength: 3 stars, 01%]

[Mana: ~]

[Skill List]

[Flash Lv.2]

[Breath of the Spirit Lv.1]**

[Special Traits]

[Magical Accumulation Retardation Lv.3]

[Blessing of Yeonhong Chunsamwol Lv.1]

And then, his eyes widened with disbelief.

"What on earth is this...?"

All of his attribute stats had experienced a significant boost.

But what caught his attention even more was something else altogether.

It was a new special trait.

[Blessing of Yeonhong Chunsamwol Lv.1]

[12% increase in Senses]

[90% increase in Mental Strength]

[Psychometry: Expends Mental Strength to partially read the memories of specific objects.]

[Telepathy: Expends Mental Strength to transmit or receive thoughts to/from others.]

[Mentalist: Expends Mental Strength to perceive information about a target's actions and gestures.]

[Mental Shield: Expends Mental Strength to resist spiritual attacks.]

[Even if the world turns its back on you, your heart, crimson like spring, shall remain unwavering.]

There was no mistaking it.

This blessing which could only be obtained by completing a quest of utmost difficulty in the original game, Aether World, and gaining recognition from the Twelve Gods, had firmly found its place in his skill roster.

"This is insane... What is happening...?"

As they say, when you hold something so unreal in your hands, it almost feels like a dream.

And that was precisely how Baek Yu-Seol felt at that very moment.

[Baek Yu-Seol]

[Attribute Stats]

[Strength: 2 stars, 89%]

[Senses: 2 stars, 77%]

[Agility: 2 stars, 63%]

[Endurance: 2 stars, 21%]

[Grit: 0 stars, 99%]

[Mental strength: 3 stars, 01%]

[Mana: ~]

[Skill List]

[Flash Lv.2]

[Breath of the Spirit Lv.1]**

[Special Traits]

[Magical Accumulation Retardation Lv.3]

[Blessing of Yeonhong Chunsamwol Lv.1]

And thus, he had to complete the challenging "Favorability Quest" to obtain the Blessing of Yeonhong Chunsamwol.

It required significant time and effort, making it one of the toughest quests.

However, to his astonishment, he had received the blessing effortlessly, without even putting in any effort.

Moreover, the effects were astounding.

Mana Accumulation Retardation came with penalties, such as the inability to store mana, use magic, and a lifespan limited to twenty years.

However, it compensated for those drawbacks by providing enhanced senses, accelerated cognition, and other bonus attribute boosts.

This pattern applied to most special traits.

Traits without penalties had underwhelming effects, while those with significant benefits came with severe limitations, making them challenging to utilize.

But, the Blessing of Yeonhong Chunsamwol defied this trend by boasting legendary-level effects without any penalties.

"This must be the grandeur of the Twelve Gods...”

Although Baek Yu-Seol had encountered this trait once in Aether World, it was still overwhelming to obtain it for real. He couldn't contain his joy.

"Grrrr...!"

He clenched his fist, punched the air, and even rolled on the floor.

Furthermore, with the trait level being only 1, he could expect even greater effects as the level increased in the future.

Finally, he realized why he had been hospitalized for three days.

It was because after defeating Maizen Tyren, while he was unconscious, the Blessing of Yeonhong Chunsamwol had been bestowed upon him.

It seemed that the blessing would have been too difficult for a frail human body to withstand.

In other words, the Blessing of Yeonhong Chunsamwol acknowledged him...

"... Could it be?"

Hastily, he opened the box containing his previously worn clothes, and as he took out the garments, a bead fell from the inner pocket.

[Familiar’s heart]

"Heh, heh..."

He never thought he would receive it since she adamantly refused, but now he even obtained this.

In other words, he could use it as payment to win over Celestia and... learn how to efficiently control Mana Accumulation Retardation and receive training in ancestral swordsmanship.

Amidst the overwhelming rewards pouring in, he couldn't contain my excitement.

[To the one who has unveiled a perfect story, the 'Constellation Project' promises a special additional reward."]**

Ch. 97.2
Amidst the incoming overwhelming rewards, he couldn't contain his excitement.

[To the one who has unveiled a perfect story, the 'Constellation Project' promises a special additional reward.]**

Something else popped up with a message promising to give him more.

He felt as if all accumulated dust was pushed away all at once, leaving a refreshing sensation.

Baek Yu-Seol’s heart seemed to melt with joy.

And then, he faced a dilemma.

"What should I choose?"

This time, there was an additional special reward.

While he couldn't ask for equipment he had used in the game, maybe he could aim for something quite valuable this time.

He tried to avoid items that could be crafted, considering that now he could create almost anything with Alterisha’s help.

"Hmm, how about something like the White Dragon Armor?"

[You cannot receive a unique item that is one-of-a-kind in the world.]

"Darn it."

The White Dragon Armor, an item with a story that claimed there was only one in the entire setting.

He wondered if he could have brought such a unique item and doubled its existence in the world, but as expected, it was not possible.

"If that's the case, then most of my items will have to be forfeited as rewards..."

Just before the ending, the equipment worn by his character, Baek Yu-Seol, was mostly unique items that had no duplicates in the game world.

"Well then..."

He pondered on what to choose, but once again, he realized that it was skills rather than items.

Until now, he had relied on items to compensate for his insufficient attack power, but that wouldn't be possible in the future.

Thanks to the special item he obtained, he was able to defeat Maizen Tyren.

Therefore, the most crucial stat for him, which was attack power, could only be enhanced through skill development.

However, it was a problem that he couldn't predict when the circulation rate of magical power would increase enough to penetrate a mage's shield.

So, unsure of whether it would work or not, he decided to request a special skill as a reward.

"I want the derivative skill 'Mana Concentration' added to the Mana Accumulation Retardation skill."

After that, the system message fell silent for a moment.

[Upon checking, it is possible.]

[The derived skill 'Mana Concentration' has been activated for the trait Mana Accumulation Retardation.]

Excellent.

Baek Yu-Seol couldn't help but let out a sigh of excitement as he tightly clenched his fist.

Mana Concentration.

It might be difficult to grasp the significance of this skill in a world where mana didn't exist.

But, his body naturally breathed mana, but it couldn't be contained within; it dissipated into the external environment.

As a result, his physical abilities were elevated to superhuman levels, but he remained unable to wield magic.

Mana Concentration, on the other hand, allowed him to focus the mana that escaped through his entire body into a specific area.

Originally, it was limited to the fist, but he had the ability to control its release from various parts such as the head, shoulders, knees, and feet.

What would happen then?

Naturally, with all the mana converging into his fist, its power and intensity would amplify, wouldn't they?

While Mana Accumulation Retardation was supposed to evolve into "Natural Mana Manipulation" in the future, accompanied by skills like Mana Coating, he couldn't afford to wait that long.

"Well then..."

He couldn't contain his desire to test this skill.

Although it was the weekend and he had just been discharged from the hospital, he couldn't afford to rest.

He was eager to hand over the heart to Celestia and learn the art of controlling Mana Accumulation Retardation from her.

From this moment on, through the practice of Mana Concentration, he could finally possess the attack power that had eluded him before.

The thought sent his heart racing, and he couldn't suppress his exhilaration.

————

Meanwhile, Kaen, the leader of the 13th Division, made a long-awaited return to the main tower of Manwol, and confronted the Tower Lord.

Although it appeared as an ordinary cabin on a hill, this place was an integral part of the formidable Manwol Tower.

Interweaving numerous dimensions and spaces, it stood as the embodiment of the tower's power.

"Kaen, I heard you reported the successful completion of your mission in the Skyflower Haven."

"Yes, as instructed by the Tower Lord. Although a dark mage had emerged, it turned out to be a mere student of Stella, not Maizen Tyren."

"I see. And instead of eliminating them, you allowed Stella's students to purify them."

"... Yes."

"You've done something quite unexpected. I never thought you were capable of such actions.

Rudrick remarked, disguising himself as an old man. He frequently changed his appearance, attributing it to having forgotten his true age.

"I apologize, but... I saw potential in that."

The possibility of restoring a dark magic-infused mage back to their original state.

However, even as Kaen spoke these words, he doubted that this stubborn Tower Lord would trust him.

‘Every dark mage must be eradicated.’

It was Rudrick, the Lord of Manwol Tower, who instilled this belief in him.

"Is that so..."

Surprisingly, Rudrick responded nonchalantly.

"You don't plan on interrogating?"

"What good would it do to interrogate? Time keeps flowing, eras constantly change, and the world evolves. My words can't always be right."

"I thought you wouldn't believe me..."

"I don't."

Taken aback, Kaen looked up.

Rudrick remained composed, stroking his beard with a resolute determination.

"But I sensed a shift in the times. Even if I couldn't do it, and even if you couldn't do it... there's no law saying that the younger generation can't."

Kaen fell silent at his words.

He still struggled to fully accept the younger generation.

The magic of a girl named Edna and the abilities of a boy named Baek Yu-Seol were remarkable enough to make a slight crack in his unwavering convictions.

"Oh, by the way... I heard that despite your successful mission in Skyflower Haven, Maizen Tyren succumbed to dark magic and made an appearance."

"... Is that so?"

That was completely unexpected, leaving Kaen greatly bewildered as his pupils trembled in surprise.

So this meant it was a failure, not a successful mission.

He had never anticipated the emergence of another Dark Mage.

"No need to blame yourself. It was my mistake for not providing information about another second Dark Mage.”

Rudrick spoke, his gaze fixed into the distance.

"At some point, I became unable to foresee the future.” Rudrick continued. "No, to be more precise... it became as hazy as mist.”

"Isn't that a serious problem?"

Rudrick simply chuckled.

"Not at all. In fact, not being able to foresee the future makes it all the more interesting. It allows human beings to think more flexibly. Humans who only distrust what they see are unable to look in other directions. I used to be like that. That's why I feel relieved now."

Why was the future closed off?

Why was Rudrick’s ‘Future Sight’ losing its power?

The cause remained unknown, but Rudrick himself appeared content.

"Don't worry about the Skyflower Haven. Ah, the boy you encountered... yes, Baek Yu-Seol, was it? I can envision a scene where that child defeats Maizen Tyren."

"Is that so..."

Baek Yu-Seol.

The name resurfaced once again, becoming quite frequent in Kaen's recent encounters.

Maizen Tyren was estimated to possess Level 6 Danger power as a Dark Mage.

Judging by Kaen's abilities, he could easily eliminate him with a few strikes.

However, the fact that a single student managed to defeat a Level 6 Danger Dark Mage...

It simply defied logic.

"As I suspected, there's something more to it."

"Do you truly believe so?"

Rudrick’s words caught Kaen off guard, prompting him to raise his head.

Rudrick nonchalantly shrugged and spoke, "You're mistaken. That child is indeed a seventeen-year-old student. He simply has many things hidden within him."

"That can't be... it's impossible."

"A mere seventeen-year-old student cannot possess such power. There are truly unimaginable things happening in the world. But don't try to understand. We are too exhausted to comprehend such things. We can only accept them.”

Rudrick remarked. He appeared unusually fatigued and worn out, yet there was a glimmer of fulfillment in his expression, as if he had finally unearthed something he had been tirelessly searching for.

"The future will change rapidly from now on, beyond what you can handle. So, prepare your mind and brace it.”

Rudrik faded away along with the surroundings, leaving the final sentence.

Left alone in the serene meadow, Kaen silently gazed at the sky.

The clouds drifted lazily towards the distant horizon, their movements seeming preoccupied with important matters.

Meanwhile, he remained rooted in his place…