Chapter 81: The Reincarnated One Completes It

At the parking lot of Borsipha's dormitory.

On a weekend, the usually quiet area became even more deserted as a golden sports car smoothly came to a stop. Out stepped Lee Se-hoon and Jake.

"Thank you for the ride."

In response to Lee Se-hoon's gratitude, Miles, who was sitting in the driver's seat, waved his hand.

"No, no. After doing something so stupid, I should at least do this much. I'm really sorry about what happened earlier."

Miles, who kept apologizing for grabbing Se-hoon's shoulder, seemed so polite that Se-hoon, finding it strange, shook his head.

"It's fine. Honestly, it was suspicious enough to look at."

"Right? As expected..."

"Uncle."

At Jake's low call, Miles flinched and quickly composed his expression.

"Hmm. No, no. It was definitely my fault. If anything happens to your shoulder later, tell Jake. I'll take full responsibility."

"Understood."

"Oh, and about the succession ceremony..."

Seeing Miles cautiously checking their reaction, Se-hoon, who had already guessed what he was going to say, spoke first.

"Don't worry. I've already talked to Senior Aria about keeping it under wraps."

"Really? Well, Aria is quick at handling such matters..."

Miles nodded in agreement, looking a bit embarrassed.

"Since this is unprecedented, the family will likely investigate. Depending on the situation, they might request your cooperation. But we'll make sure to compensate you properly, so please be positive about it."

"Thank you. If you give me the chance, I'll do my best."

Pleased with Se-hoon's sincere response, Miles smiled.

"Thanks. If I had more time, I would have had a drink with you, but the head of the family is nagging me to come back quickly."

With a sigh, Miles extended his left hand to Se-hoon.

"Let's meet again when we have time."

"Sure. I look forward to it."

As Se-hoon shook his hand, a notification window naturally appeared before his eyes.

[Your connection with 'Miles Myers' has been established.]

'Oh...'

A connection that didn't exist before his reincarnation. Se-hoon quickly extracted the connection before letting go of Miles' hand.

[Extracting connection from 'Miles Myers'.]

[Your connection with 'Lee Se-hoon' is at Level 1.]

"Alright, I'm off. See you later, Jake!"

Vroom!

After shaking hands, Miles quickly drove away in the sports car, and Jake, watching him go, sighed deeply.

"Sorry. I got you involved in something troublesome."

"Yeah, that's true."

Initially, he thought it was just a bit unusual when talking to Aria, but his conversation with Miles changed his perspective.

'Aria's succession ceremony results were a secret even within the family.'

Thinking about it, if Miles had known the results of Aria's succession ceremony, he wouldn't have been so surprised.

'Even the head of the family's younger brother didn't know... This seems to be a deep involvement.'

On the bright side, it could mean forming a deeper relationship, but on the dark side, it could mean losing one's head in certain situations.

'Myers was relatively clean, but I need to be cautious.'

One should never let their guard down when dealing with individuals from any group. Se-hoon had learned this the hard way before his reincarnation, which is why he didn't cooperate with the alliance.

'To do that... I need to solve this problem first.'

Looking at Jake, who had a sheepish expression, Se-hoon asked calmly.

"Jake."

"Uh, yeah. What is it?"

"Do you know why I hit the Light Sword with a hammer?"

"That's... because you couldn't make the Light Sword properly, right?"

"Why?"

"Because you weren't skilled enough to handle the sword energy. The blade breaking at the end was also because of that..."

Recalling the embarrassing moment when he couldn't even handle the sword energy he created, Jake felt embarrassed.

"You're wrong."

Se-hoon firmly shook his head.

"Wrong?"

"If you were unskilled at handling sword energy, there would have been problems from the moment you received the Origin's sword energy. The real reason is different."

"Real reason...?"

Confused by the unexpected answer, Jake looked at Se-hoon, who explained calmly.

"Force control."

"Force control?"

"Exactly. When creating the blade of the Light Sword, you unconsciously relaxed your grip, resulting in an incomplete form."

"That can't be..."

Jake was sure he had used his full strength to grip the handle, but he couldn't completely deny it.

In any case, the Light Sword was incomplete, and Se-hoon had immediately noticed and corrected it.

'If the real reason is with me...'

Looking at his hand, Jake seemed to have made a decision and looked at Se-hoon.

"Is there a way to fix it?"

"There are a few methods."

It might seem difficult because it's unconscious, but ultimately, it's a habit that can be changed with a 'simple' shock.

"Let's see. For a week, we can put you in a sensory deprivation state, lock you in a cave, reverse your mana flow temporarily..."

"Wait, wait!"

Jake looked bewildered at the terrifying methods Se-hoon suggested.

"Are these all really possible?"

"Really. I haven't tried them, but I've seen the effects."

The information came from high-ranking heroes he had traded with before his reincarnation, so the effectiveness was certain, regardless of the risks.

'I've tried them all.'

While they were extremely dangerous and could be fatal if mishandled, they could be relatively safe if properly controlled.

Seeing Se-hoon's confident demeanor, Jake asked curiously.

"Where did you learn these?"

"From... video sites?"

"..."

"..."

An awkward silence fell.

Jake's strange look made Se-hoon narrow his eyes.

'I'm offering you knowledge that you can't even buy with money, and you're acting like you're full...'

In the past, he would have just told Jake to figure it out himself, but given the situation, Se-hoon decided to be more considerate.

'Given his personality, he wouldn't have refused just because it's difficult... The important thing is to make it seem plausible.'

As he thought of various methods, a memory from the past flashed through Se-hoon's mind.

'If your body is fine but it doesn't move as you want, it means you can't use it properly. Don't worry. I'll make you understand it from head to toe.'

The first lesson he received from his master. Thinking about it made him shudder, but it was the most suitable method for Jake.

"I'll teach you a useful technique for your current situation."

"Is this also something you learned from videos?"

"No, man. And I use it often, so don't worry."

"Really?"

Se-hoon's explanation made Jake's skepticism fade, and he looked curious.

'His main technique, which always creates unexpected situations... It's hard not to be interested.'

"However, it's not as easy as the methods I just mentioned. There will be moments when you doubt if it's right. Can you trust me and learn it?"

"Of course."

If he could properly wield his sword and its blue sword energy, he would do anything.

"Teach me anything. I'll definitely learn it."

Jake's determined expression reminded Se-hoon of his past self.

'So... that's how it was.'

His master's strange smile when he saw his determination.

At the time, he didn't understand why his master smiled so annoyingly, but now he could empathize.

'How long will that determination last... That's what he was looking forward to.'

Despite his master's annoying personality, Se-hoon decided not to criticize him too harshly.

"Alright."

He was also looking forward to it.

***

In the corridor of the Non-Combat Department.

Ma Gwang-su, who had just visited the principal's office, was drinking a large bottle of vodka straight from the bottle.

"Hmm..."

The lingering taste of alcohol and mana in his mouth. As the alcohol took effect, Ma Gwang-su frowned and muttered.

"Ludwig, that damn brat..."

A string of curses that would make anyone break out in a cold sweat if they heard them. But Ma Gwang-su, the one saying them, shouted them in the corridor as if he wanted to be heard.

"We could have just let it go as friends... A rich brat with a narrow mind..."

For the past few days, Ma Gwang-su had been racking his brain to make Lee Se-hoon his disciple. Finally, he sought help from his old friend and superior, Ludwig.

He could have used the promised support to negotiate or, as the principal, force Se-hoon to be his disciple.

'If you do it that way, he won't learn properly. Try to persuade him well.'

However, contrary to his expectations, Ludwig smiled and flatly refused, leaving Ma Gwang-su disappointed and empty-handed.

'He used to suggest teaching the Thousand Insect Sword to even mediocre students... Now he's making a fuss about teaching it.'

Perhaps he shouldn't have mentioned that Se-hoon had learned the Thousand Insect Sword by observation.

Thinking of Ludwig's stubborn attitude, Ma Gwang-su cursed inwardly and took another swig of vodka.

"Hmm... What can I use to persuade him..."

The materials could be obtained without his help, and it didn't seem like offering a different technique would change Ludwig's mind.

He considered threatening to give Se-hoon a failing grade, but given his personality, he would likely just quit.

'The only thing that might interest him... is Yecheon.'

Thinking of his beloved sword 'Yecheon,' Ma Gwang-su pondered seriously.

A famous legendary weapon known worldwide and a sword that many craftsmen dreamed of examining.

As a blacksmith, it was irresistible, but he was also worried.

'If it were anyone else, it would be fine, but that guy might extract more secrets of the Thousand Insect Sword just by looking at Yecheon.'

Yecheon was not just a sword but also a manual for the Thousand Insect Sword.

While it wasn't easy to understand just by looking, given that Se-hoon had learned the Thousand Insect Sword by observation, it was a possibility.

After much deliberation, Ma Gwang-su suddenly frowned.

"Why am I going to such lengths?"

No matter how talented Se-hoon was, there was no need to beg him to learn the Thousand Insect Sword.

Realizing he had been too submissive, Ma Gwang-su firmly resolved.

'Is it that guy who's missing out, or me?'

How many people had begged to learn the Thousand Insect Sword? Seeing Se-hoon's lack of appreciation, Ma Gwang-su smirked.

'He doesn't realize how lucky he is yet. If I teach him a few application techniques, he'll beg to learn more... Damn it.'

Thinking of ways to manipulate Se-hoon, Ma Gwang-su sighed.

"It's this damn alcohol..."

If he were sober, he wouldn't be thinking such nonsense.

Feeling a sense of doubt about alcohol, Ma Gwang-su put away the vodka and entered the lecture hall.

"–Give it to me!"

A faint voice from the training ground.

Hearing the desperate plea, Ma Gwang-su's eyes sharpened, and he kicked open the door to the training ground.

Bang!

The door flew open with a loud noise.

Ma Gwang-su, who had assumed a stance with his blade, quickly looked around the training ground.

"You're going to die! You're going to die!!"

Jake, with his upper body covered in blood, was doing a handstand.

"If you keep doing that, you'll die! Quickly draw the blood in! If you keep this up, I'll destroy this and never make it again?!"

Lee Se-hoon, holding a blue cross as if ready to smash it with a hammer, was threatening Jake.

Stunned by the bizarre scene, Ma Gwang-su felt a sense of fear about alcohol's ability to make one see things.

'I need to cut down on drinking...'

Putting the vodka in his subspace pocket, he resolved to do so.