Chapter 96: The Reincarnated One Completes It

Inside Seohoon's dorm room.

The TV, which had been placed in the living room as a decoration, turned on for the first time, and soon a screen began to appear.

["I request a sparring match with the Master as a candidate for the next Master."]

Yeon Seongha, who had just finished the promotion ceremony, publicly challenged the Master, Yi Wonryong.

The sudden challenge caused a commotion, and a deep voice echoed.

["Very well. Come at me."]

A middle-aged man with short red hair and a flame-shaped scar on his left cheek, Yi Wonryong, accepted the challenge. The two received practice spears from below and the sparring match began.

Kwaang!

With each swing of the spear, Yi Wonryong's Flame Wheel seemed to engulf the entire sparring ground, while Yeon Seongha's Black Flame Wheel barely held it back.

A first-rate A-rank hero and a newly promoted third-year student, a prospective B-rank hero.

The match was one-sided, as the outcome was already decided.

Punch! Slap!

Yeon Seongha, who had been on the defensive, was soon struck in the abdomen by Yi Wonryong's spear, followed by blows to his face, shoulders, and all over his body.

Yi Wonryong's attack, as if to humiliate him publicly, was like a beating. However, even in this situation, Yeon Seongha did not cry out in surrender but continued to endure the attacks.

And finally, when his body, which had been pushed back continuously, reached the end of the sparring ground.

Crack!

A thrust aimed at his sternum shattered the two short spears and sent Yeon Seongha flying out of the sparring ground.

Kuung!

Yeon Seongha, who had fallen to the ground below, twitched for a moment and then slowly got up.

His forehead and mouth were covered in blood, but he looked up at Yi Wonryong, who stood above him, with unwavering eyes.

["I will challenge you again next time."]

With a declaration of war, the video ended.

"......"

Seohoon, who had been sitting on the sofa in the living room watching the TV, raised his head and looked at the protagonist in the video.

Yeon Seongha, sitting on the sofa without a word, looked at him. Impressed by his determined appearance, Seohoon sighed deeply.

"Insane kid......"

He never expected Yeon Seongha to publicly challenge the Master, Yi Wonryong, right after the promotion ceremony.

Seohoon felt a headache from Yeon Seongha's unpredictable actions but asked calmly.

"Let's hear it. Why did you do this all of a sudden?"

Yeon Seongha, though a madman who plunges into things without hesitation once he makes a decision, was a kid who made sound judgments before that.

So, there must be a reason for this declaration of war. In response to Seohoon's question, Yeon Seongha answered calmly.

"The Master has started to purge those who maintained neutrality. It seems he wants to clean up the Yanhua Sect before I can act."

"So you decided to reveal your hand a bit early?"

"Yes."

Nodding, Yeon Seongha's appearance made Seohoon think deeply.

'If what he says is true, then it's the right move to act now.'

It's natural for the future Yeon Seongha to surpass Yi Wonryong, but there will inevitably be conflicts in the process.

Especially those who are after interests and have attached themselves to Yi Wonryong are likely to be hostile to Yeon Seongha, regardless of his talent or skills.

So, if there's an opportunity to check their power, it's better to take it without hesitation.

'The reaction is not bad either.'

Seohoon, looking at his phone, reviewed the articles he had found before watching the video.

["Yeon Seongha, the youngest instructor of the Yanhua Sect, challenges the Master."]

["Instructor Yeon Seongha, who uses two short spears, brings a new wave to the Flame Wheel Spear Technique."]

["Yanhua Sect spokesperson: 'Instructor Yeon Seongha's Flame Wheel and spear technique are unique. We will not adopt them until their efficiency is proven.'"]

'They probably gathered people to embarrass him in some way...... but it turned out the opposite of what they intended.'

To those who don't know, it might look like Yeon Seongha was beaten up the whole time and ultimately lost, but to those who know, it's different.

The sparks between Yi Wonryong and Yeon Seongha should have canceled each other out and ended in a decisive blow, but they ended up as ordinary hits.

Even if he didn't use his full strength, the fact that he couldn't subdue a B-rank hero-level student in one go suggests two things.

'Either Yi Wonryong's skills are that low...... or Yeon Seongha's talent is unbelievable.'

Interpretations may vary, but in any case, people will have to think about Yeon Seongha as a candidate for the next Master.

Seohoon was slightly impressed by how Yeon Seongha seized the opportunity in such a sudden situation.

'Is it because he's lacking in strength? He's acting more coherently than before the regression.'

Before the regression, the mad dog would have smashed all the opponents and proven himself as the rightful successor to the Flame Wheel Spear Technique.

While that might be faster, considering the future of the Yanhua Sect, it might be better to take a roundabout way.

"Alright, I understand how your face got like that...... but why are you hunting the Flame Hunter?"

From the video and news alone, Seohoon couldn't understand why the Flame Hunter was mentioned.

After looking at Seohoon for a moment, Yeon Seongha sighed and answered.

"Instructors of the Yanhua Sect receive various benefits but must regularly accept missions. After promotion, a simple mission is given to accurately test their skills."

"Is that mission to kill the Flame Hunter?"

"More precisely, it's to protect a blacksmith affiliated with the Yanhua Sect who is expected to be attacked by the Flame Hunter."

"Expected......"

While the Flame Hunt is currently ongoing, Seohoon knew from before the regression that the case was left unsolved.

'But for the Flame Hunter to be tracked by the Yanhua Sect...... that's a ridiculous claim.'

Recalling that Yi Wonryong had started purging, Seohoon asked Yeon Seongha.

"Is the blacksmith someone the Master dislikes?"

"......Yes."

"Of course."

Whether the attackers are really the Flame Hunter or not, their target is definitely Yeon Seongha.

Seohoon, seeing Yi Wonryong's public and unhidden intentions, had a headache.

"Can't you refuse?"

"If I do, I'll be assigned a new mission. And if I refuse three missions without a proper reason, I'll be stripped of my instructor position."

"Right. That makes sense."

Seohoon, getting the expected answer, thought for a while and then spoke.

"Alright. I'll try to make it within four days."

"Then what about the payment......"

"Instead."

Seohoon, cutting him off, looked at Yeon Seongha.

"I'll go with you."

Yeon Seongha's eyes widened in surprise at Seohoon's words, then his expression twisted as if he had heard a curse.

"What a ridiculous thing to say. Why would I......"

"Do you not need a hero-grade spear?"

"......"

Yeon Seongha, who was about to refuse, couldn't continue. His expression turned unpleasant.

After a moment, he got up and looked at Seohoon coldly.

"Do whatever you want. If you die, it's on you."

Yeon Seongha left, as if that was the end of it. Seohoon, watching his back, clicked his tongue.

"If I offer to help, you could just say thank you...... You can't even give a proper warning."

While he wanted to tell him to do as he pleased, Seohoon couldn't. Even if Yeon Seongha is a jerk, he's an ace who can kill a god in the future.

Seohoon, getting up, immediately infused mana into the Ascension Ring.

Whoosh!

A spatial pocket opened in the air, revealing a spatial box on the floor.

Normally, spatial items cannot be stored using spatial abilities, but Ludwig had somehow made it possible with the Ascension Ring.

'If the person who created the spatial array can't do it, who can?'

Seohoon decided to check this later and took out the materials he had already seen from the spatial box.

Whoosh

The inner flesh of a tree with lotus roots growing all over it. Smaller than the piece of divine wood used to make the Crimson Flame Seal, but with a higher density.

[Divine Wood Root]

[Grade: Hero] [Quality: Lowest]

A root of the divine wood that grew in the Black Lotus Flood.

One of the roots that directly supplied nutrients to the core, specialized in absorbing mana.

*The properties change rapidly according to the mana infused.

A material one grade higher than the piece of divine wood, the divine wood root is a rare material among the byproducts of the divine wood, with a strong ability to absorb mana, allowing for quick maturation.

"And......"

Seohoon, placing his hand on his sternum, immediately activated the skill 'Dream Storage'.

Whoosh!

A purple flame rose from his sternum. Seohoon, reaching inside, took out a finger bone with inscriptions densely carved on it, the Bone of the Unknown.

'It's been a while since I last took this out.'

Like the Ascension Ring, it's an item containing the power of a Perfect Ascender.

He had kept it in reserve, fearing that Wergen might detect it, but with no news so far, it seemed safe.

Seohoon, who hadn't checked the information window for a long time, took a look.

[Bone of the Unknown]

[Grade: Hero] [Quality: Highest]

The left index finger bone of the Absolute Being, 'Wergen Kruger', who successfully ascended to perfection.

The body of a necromancer who traverses the boundary between life and death is a powerful catalyst for necromantic magic in itself.

By infusing mana, you can use the three necromantic spells inscribed on the index finger.

*You can use the skill 'Eye of the Boundary'.

*You can use the skill 'Call of the Dead'.

*You can use the skill 'Eyes of the Dead'.

'Hmm. I can use Eyes of the Dead now.'

When he first took it from Polmont, the necromantic spell was marked as unusable.

It's likely that the skill he briefly sealed Ruyunha with was Eyes of the Dead.

'Since it works on S-rank targets, it could be useful......'

It might not be a bad idea to keep it handy in case of danger. After a quick inspection, Seohoon placed the Bone of the Unknown on the divine wood root.

Crack!

"?!"

The divine wood root turned black as soon as it touched the Bone of the Unknown. Seohoon quickly pulled it away at the alarming speed.

Crack

However, even after that, the divine wood root continued to turn black and, after a short while, shrank to about 10% of its original size.

"......Indeed. To this extent."

As expected, it's a part of a Perfect Ascender, performing far beyond his expectations.

Seohoon, feeling the dense dark elemental mana from the divine wood root, thought deeply.

'With this, there's plenty of time to make the spear...... The remaining issue is the assassins the Yanhua Sect will send, right?'

This sparring match has shown that mediocre B-rankers can be defeated by Yeon Seongha, so they are likely to prepare more thoroughly.

'A-rank. They might send something extra as well.'

If it's just one, Yeon Seongha might find a way to take advantage, but with more, it becomes difficult.

There might be other forces targeting him as well. So, this time, a reliable ally is needed.

A veteran skilled in killing assassins and with rich combat experience. Seohoon thought of the fussy old man, Ma Gwangsu, who fit the description, and smiled slightly.

"I need to make some noise."

***

Sunday morning.

In one of the lecture rooms of the Martial Arts Department, which should have been quiet on the weekend, a sharp metallic sound echoed.

Clang!

Two iron swords clashed in the air.

The movements of the swords, which aimed at each other's vital points without hesitation, were chilling to watch, but the participants calmly conversed.

"So you're going to follow him?"

Ma Gwangsu, deflecting a sword aimed at his neck, asked in disbelief. Seohoon, in response, stabbed at his heart and answered.

"If I send him alone, there's a high chance he'll get into trouble. I need to help him."

"People will laugh if they hear that."

Yeon Seongha, a third-year top student in the Spear Technique Department and ranked 10th in the martial arts hall, is aiming for A-rank.

For a first-year student from the Refinement Department to help him? It's a story that would make those proud of Akalupf sneer.

"People don't know him. He can fight head-on, but he won't be able to recover from a surprise attack."

"Can you recover from it?"

"Well......"

Clang!

Before he could answer, Ma Gwangsu's sword scraped along the blade and aimed at his wrist. Seohoon, seeing the attack penetrate a gap in the blink of an eye, immediately twisted his wrist and kicked the back of the sword.

Clang!

The two, each deflecting the other's sword, took a step back. Seohoon, quickly readjusting his stance, caught his breath and answered.

"To some extent."

"......"

Ma Gwangsu, seeing Seohoon deflect his sword, had a dubious expression. The attack was meant to be a serious warning, but he deflected it so cleanly.

'What a monster......'

It's been less than a month since he taught him the dual-wielding technique, and he didn't expect him to handle it so freely.

Missing the chance to speak, Ma Gwangsu cleared his throat and continued.

"Hmm. Anyway, it's not something you should get involved in. Even if Yi Wonryong is obsessed with the Master's position, he wouldn't take such a reckless step."

"What if he does?"

"Well...... he'll die."

Ma Gwangsu, scratching his chin, said nonchalantly.

"But it's the path he chose. So, he'll reap what he sows."

If Yeon Seongha gave up the Master's position, he could live a good life as a high-ranking hero without threatening his life.

But by aiming for the Master's position and walking into a trap, it's his own doing, and there's nothing to say about it.

"Well, that's true."

"So......"

"But what can I do?"

Seohoon, sighing deeply, looked at Ma Gwangsu and smiled bitterly.

"I promised to help him."

"......"

"Anyway, I won't be attending the next class. If you don't hear from me after that, just assume something happened."

Seohoon, bowing his head, put the practice sword back and left. Ma Gwangsu, watching his back, had a bewildered expression.

"What the hell is that crazy guy......"

Why would he make such a promise and then risk his life to keep it?

Ma Gwangsu felt annoyed by the foolish act.

'He won't last long. Might as well be for the best.'

Teaching the Heaven Piercing Sword to someone who will die before him is not fulfilling. As Ma Gwangsu was trying to shake off thoughts of Seohoon.

'─It's a promise.'

A past memory suddenly came to mind. Ma Gwangsu, pausing at the sight of a young man smiling at him, sighed deeply.

"Why are there no normal people among those who talk about promises......"

Grumbling in frustration, Ma Gwangsu took out his phone and sent a text to the second-year students scheduled for a class on Wednesday.

[Going on a business trip.]