Chapter 20

EP.20 Academy Underground Dungeon (5)

"Dad, why are you so busy lately?"

Kim Chae-eun looked at Kim Myung-hyun, who was sitting at his desk.

Lately, he had been busy all day.

During work hours, he taught students at the Academy, and in his free time, he trained his exclusive disciple... and when he came home, he was busy writing something.

Except for the weekends, he worked every weekday.

As a result, Kim Chae-eun hardly had time to eat with her father.

Kim Myung-hyun smiled kindly at his daughter.

"I'm making teaching materials."

"Teaching materials?"

"Yes. Do Jae-hyun is very strong in practical aspects, but he's almost a blank slate when it comes to theory. There are limits to just telling him, so I'm trying to write it down simply."

Do Jae-hyun is a holder with outstanding absorption ability.

From his registration as an assassin, he probably thought he had talent for the [Dagger] rune, but from Kim Myung-hyun's perspective, he seemed to have more talent for the [Sword] rune.

Just by seeing him learn sword techniques from two masters, it was clear.

[Flowing Water Sword Technique] and [Crashing Wave Sword Technique].

These are completely different sword techniques in terms of learning methods and nature.

Unlike 'derived skills,' which can be learned if the level is sufficient, 'derived runes' require a deep understanding and insight into the corresponding rune to be registered.

"Ordinary warrior-type holders won't develop runes even if they are taught as exclusive disciples."

"Flowing Water Sword Technique?"

"Yes. Unlike the normal [Sword] rune, the Flowing Water Sword Technique, a derived rare rune, is actually a matter of talent."

And the same goes for the [Crashing Wave Sword Technique].

These two sword techniques are not just rare runes for no reason.

They are runes that can't be learned just by following someone.

However, Do Jae-hyun not only learns them simultaneously but also fuses the two sword techniques, making various attempts in swordsmanship.

His efforts to learn and his passion to fill his shortcomings.

As a holder educator at the Academy.

Kim Myung-hyun couldn't help but like him.

Kim Chae-eun looked at her father with a pouting face.

"Do you like Jae-hyun so much?"

"Hahaha. As a professor, it's good to have a student who learns well."

"Anyone would think Do Jae-hyun is your son."

She said it bluntly.

But Kim Chae-eun couldn't help but smile at the corners of her mouth.

Her father, who was still working overtime even after his work was done, looked bright and not tired.

'He looks happy.'

Kim Myung-hyun is a person with a strong sense of pride in his swordsmanship.

A sword that moves like art, receiving and countering softly and flexibly.

He spent a long time perfecting his own sword technique and walked his own path for most of his holder life.

That's how the [Flowing Water Sword Technique] came about.

And that's how he obtained his professorship.

'But...'

However, he wasn't very popular among holders.

Most warrior-type holders wanted destructive and powerful abilities.

So, Tae Won-ho, who used a bold and powerful sword technique, was popular, and Kim Myung-hyun, who had no special background or clan, was relatively less popular.

Of course, his [Sword] basics lectures weren't unpopular.

His teaching style was known for being clean and substantial.

It's just that there were few people who actively wanted to learn the [Flowing Water Sword Technique].

That's why Kim Myung-hyun didn't take any exclusive disciples.

Because there was no one who genuinely wanted to learn from him.

'I'm lucky to have Jae-hyun.'

Recently, his closest friend, Do Jae-hyun, became his exclusive disciple and started learning his sword technique.

And the impression he made was so strong.

It even reignited Kim Myung-hyun's passion for teaching.

A positive change brought about by good people.

Kim Chae-eun, who was close to both of them.

Naturally, she found this change satisfying.

"Anyway, come to the dining table when you're done. I've prepared dinner."

"..."

I've prepared dinner.

At those words.

Kim Myung-hyun, who was rolling his pen, stopped moving.

Then he slowly looked at his daughter with a serious face.

"By any chance... do I have to eat it?"

"Are you really going to die?"

"I'm just too tired, so my words came out wrong. I'll be right there, Chae-eun."

Kim Myung-hyun quickly nodded and changed his words.

With no special appointment, and Do Jae-hyun absent.

The only one who had to eat the homemade dinner prepared by Kim Chae-eun.

Unfortunately, was her father, Kim Myung-hyun.

* * *

Academy Underground Dungeon.

Our party has completed the final stage of the entrance.

One step away from moving to the next stage.

But we were faced with one obstacle.

"This thing won't budge?"

Moon Ga-eun pushed the rock with all her might.

And the rock didn't move an inch.

Of course, we couldn't move to the next stage of the dungeon because of this rock.

"...Wait a moment."

Kang Ju-yeon raised both her hands.

She was about to cast a rune spell.

Moon Ga-eun and I quickly moved behind her.

Kagaga- Whoom!

The [Light Meteor], which was very effective when hunting lizards, shone again.

Originally, [Light Meteor] is a wide-area attack aimed at multiple monsters, but it was possible to focus it on a single point for a large rock like this.

Several rough flames bombarded the rock.

But after the smoke from the flames cleared.

There was a moment of silence in the dungeon.

"..."

"Ju-yeon. It didn't even scratch?"

Moon Ga-eun is really amazing.

To be able to say such things to Kang Ju-yeon without hesitation.

Isn't she afraid of getting angry?

Still, the shock therapy had an effect.

"...Wait a moment."

Kang Ju-yeon bit her lip slightly.

Then she took a stance to prepare for another spell.

Ah...

No matter how many times she tries, it won't work.

In the original story and now.

The rock at the end of the dungeon entrance.

Cannot be broken by Kang Ju-yeon's magic.

First, this rock is not an ordinary rock but a special rock made entirely of 'mana stones' on the surface and inside.

Mana stones are inherently imbued with mana and have a high affinity with all things composed of mana.

Therefore, this rock, made entirely of mana stones.

Doesn't break easily even when a powerful mana-infused attack hits it.

The second reason it's hard to break.

Is that Kang Ju-yeon's magic is fire-based.

Fire-based magic is not very effective against rock-type objects.

The magic itself is not very effective, and it's a fire-based spell... so Kang Ju-yeon's attack couldn't break the rock no matter what.

Kagaga-

Whoom, whoom!

[Light Meteor] raged again.

This time, it felt like a more powerful attack than the one just used.

But it was still impossible.

The hard mana stone rock had a slight scratch, but it was difficult to break it with just this.

Another suffocating silence followed.

"Ahaha. Even Ju-yeon can't do it. That's surprising. Ahahaha."

"..."

Please stop.

Stop it, Moon Ga-eun...

The atmosphere instantly turned as cold as ice.

I tried to ease the tension by taking the lead.

"H- Haha! Kang Ju-yeon's fire magic is almost the best, but since it doesn't work, this rock is probably hard to break with magic. We need to try with physical force..."

But my body suddenly stopped as I spoke.

I felt something strange in what I said.

Physical force...?

While touching the rock, I suddenly remembered.

After entering the dungeon and hunting lizards.

I got a rare rune, [Brute Strength], by luck.

Rare runes are different from normal runes and often have derived skills or special effects from the start, and [Brute Strength] was a case with both.

The special effect of [Brute Strength].

It allows you to exert twice your strength when lifting or pushing a specific object.

The mana stone rock blocking our path.

Naturally falls into the category of 'specific objects.'

To put my sudden idea into practice.

I immediately took a position in front of the rock and called Moon Ga-eun.

"Moon Ga-eun. Can you help me for a moment like before?"

"Push again? It didn't budge at all last time."

"It's okay, just once."

"Hmm... Okay."

Moon Ga-eun took a position next to me.

After shaking my hands a few times to prepare, I

mobilized all my strength in an instant.

"Huff...!!"

Pushing the rock with all my might.

It still didn't move, but...

I could feel the rock trying to move through my palms.

"Huh...?"

And I wasn't the only one who felt it.

Moon Ga-eun, who was pushing with me, tilted her head.

"What's this? Why does it feel like it's going to work?"

"Let's try one more time."

"Ah, okay."

Grrrr-

The sound of the rock being pushed could be heard.

But it still seemed to lack the power to push it completely.

The rock only showed signs of moving.

It hadn't moved enough to be visible yet.

Still, compared to before, it was a huge improvement.

Moon Ga-eun asked me with a surprised face.

"Wow. Do Jae-hyun, how much strength do you have? It's moving a little."

"Me too. I'm surprised."

I had a sudden idea and tried it, but

I didn't expect it to work.

My current strength value is 27.

With twice the strength, it's 54, so it's no wonder this hard rock is moving a little.

"Still, I don't think we can push it with just this."

"Yeah. I guess..."

Even with my [Brute Strength] and Moon Ga-eun, who probably has a decent strength value, pushing together, the rock didn't move completely.

Even if Kang Ju-yeon joined, it would probably be the same.

She is a mage-type holder, almost unrelated to strength values.

So, to push this rock.

And to move to the next stage.

There was only one way.

"Party member. We need more, right?"

To add a new holder to the party.