#134: Pathetic (1) — Starborn Cheat Character

Kwa-kwakwa!!!!

“Kuoooooo!!!”

A crimson sword aura spread across the entire body of the <Sea Dragon>.

It trembled as if struck by lightning.

A powerful sword aura surged through its long body.

Though the number and precision of the sword strikes couldn’t match Peng Jin-ah’s <Overlord Sword Technique>, the sheer momentum was at least equal, if not greater.

The Legendary skill [Monstrous Strength] lived up to its name, demonstrating the bizarre and terrifying power of the [King of Monsters].

And with the effect of the skill’s [Derived Skill], [Monstrous Dominion Step], combined with my own determination, the crimson sword aura began to shift into a deep, violet hue.

It was a phenomenon caused by the fusion of a force not fully defined by the system called <Spirit Power>.

The <Sea Dragon> writhed in agony.

It couldn’t even strike back.

Its muscles had been slashed apart, and its nerves were severed, leaving it with nothing to do but tremble, awaiting death.

The [Overlord’s Destruction Island] lasted for a full 10 seconds.

About 20 sword energies directed by my will.

Each one was imbued with my intangible will, tearing through its body like a blender.

And then shortly after.

Bang!

In the end, the upper body of the [Sea Dragon] couldn’t withstand it and was blown away entirely.

Thud…! Its body collapsed.

Step, step.

And from within it…
I emerged, drenched in the blood of the [Sea Dragon], walking out majestically.

Like a hero.

“…Whew.”

I wiped the blood flowing from my mouth and briefly looked over my body.

It was truly astonishing.

The power of [Monstrous Strength] coursing through my body now.

All the fatigue and pain I felt until just now had completely vanished.

An overwhelming sense of omnipotence filled my veins, whispering that I could do anything at this moment.

‘…Well, not really, but still.’

Anyway, it was clearly my body…
It felt as if I’d evolved into a completely different species, exuding an inexplicable warrior’s strength.

Step, step.

Each step I took left a clear imprint on the ground, as though a small earthquake had followed my every move.

‘Is this the majesty of a Legendary, High-Rank skill…?’

Gradually, however, the strength began to fade.

The sensation of returning to an ordinary human body was enough to instill a peculiar sense of emptiness.

['Monstrous Dominion Step' is deactivated.]

[All abilities return to their original state.]

['Monstrous Strength' is deactivated. The subordinate skills return to their original state.]

I averted my gaze from the vanishing strength and looked at what was held in my left hand.

A jewel shining with the most resplendent hue.

It was the purest mana stone embedded deep within the heart of the [Sea Dragon].

‘At the same time…’

It was also the [Dragon Heart].

Of course, since it was from a fallen descendant and not a pure 100% [Dragon], the quality was significantly lower, but the immense mana it contained was more than enough to be overwhelming.

“Meow!! Seha!!!”

The voice of Meowi echoed in my ears.

She was crying and running towards me with tears streaming down her face, seemingly worried.

At that moment, as I was smiling at her,

‘Huh?’

I was suddenly startled by the power flowing through my arm.

‘What is this?’

It’s gone.
It’s gone.
It’s disappeared.

“…Huh?”

The [Dragon Heart] I was holding just moments ago had vanished without a trace.

“…Shit?!”

I looked around everywhere, thinking I might have dropped it.
But there were no such signs.
No, in the first place, I had been holding it so tightly; there was no way I could have dropped it.

Thud!

“…Ugh!”

That was the moment.

With the distinct throb echoing in my heart, steam began to seep from my entire body.

As if my very flesh was being heated, I instinctively realized.

‘I…’

That I had absorbed the [Dragon Heart].

['Eyes of Reversed Heaven' absorbs the 'Dragon Heart'.]

[The power of the ancient ruler, 'Dragon', is contained in your eyes.]

[Your insight now begins to look towards a higher stage.]

[Congratulations. 'Yu Seha' has succeeded in advancing to a higher path.]

[A new path, 'Synthesis', is fully unlocked.]

[There are skills currently available for synthesis. Please check.]

“……”

Did I just… get this handed to me so easily?

Not even as a temporary power—it was a full, permanent unlock.

“…Uh, um.”

I was naturally flustered.
What do I tell the others? I wondered…
At the same time, I felt a desire to quickly check it out.

However, I shook my head and quietly closed the [Information Window] that came with a double serving of rice.

‘The skill won’t disappear if I check it later.’

I must not make a mistake.
I must not lose focus.

My purpose for becoming stronger.
It’s not to revel in power and rampage.
It’s not to smash those I don’t like.

‘To stay beside them until the end…’

Right before my eyes now.

For my precious character and beloved comrades, who were watching me with wide smiles of relief and admiration.

To reach the ending they desire.

‘Yes…’

I am always…

A ‘Supervisor’ who loves ‘GAL.’

Meeeeeooooww!
Waaaaaahh!

“Meow. Seha!”
“Our Meowi!”

Meowi leaped into my arms, her soft, squishy form making me chuckle as we twirled together in the air.

“Seha, Seha! We did it! We defeated the dragon!”
“That’s right, our Meowi did so great!”
“Meeoow~”

A moment later.

“Young-ah…”
“Are you alright?”
“Young-ah…”

I looked at Ju Na-young, who was sprawled out and purring lowly.

Ju Na-young was trembling like a withered old tree.

She looked dangerously fragile, but she would be fine.

“Meep! [Healing], [Healing]! Ah, anyway, [Healing!]”

Thanks to Senior Choi Mari’s holy magic, her life wasn’t in danger.

She just used too much energy and had no strength to move.

I slowly bent my knees and offered Ju Na-young my shoulder.

“Can you hold on?”
“Young-ah…”

She raised her hand, clutching onto me weakly as I helped her to her feet.

Ju Na-young wrapped her arms around my neck like a baby clinging to their mother.

‘Hmm…’

Feeling a bit embarrassed.

Currently, Ju Na-young was only in her underwear, as all the fabric around her chest had burned away.

It couldn’t be helped.

Hadn’t she just breathed out such a powerful blast?

The reason Ju Na-young’s chest was so large was because it actually served as a fire pouch.

With such intense heat, it was natural for her clothes to melt away.

Squeeze!

Suddenly, Ju Na-young tightened her grip around my neck.

I was momentarily terrified.

No way…?

‘Is she going to beat me up right here and now?’

I was prepared to face the consequences for the forced kiss…

‘If possible, later…’

I’m a bit tired and worn out right now…

But fortunately, what Ju Na-young said was entirely different.

“…Yu Seha.”
“Huh?”

Right in front of my nose.

Ju Na-young, with a bashful smile, looked at me.

Her green-tinged pupils were fully dilated, giving her a reptilian sharp gaze.

It might seem scary, but her unique smile was so beautiful that it dispeled such thoughts.

“…Did I help?”

Help?
How could you say something so silly…?

“We won because of you. I can say that with certainty.”

Ju Na-young, you are…

“The best dragon I know.”
“…Hehe.”

“…Senior. You’re touching my cheek too much. Mmm~”

Squeeze!

“Ah! Hana, you’re too cute to resist touching. This is all your fault!”

Squeeze, squeeze!

“Mmm… Stop it… This is unfair… Mmm…”

‘Remnants of a Fallen Dragon’ [Sea Dragon].
The strongest enemy Yu Seha and the group had ever faced.

Having safely overcome the great ordeal, they were now enjoying a moment of respite.

Yu Seha was supporting Ju Na-young.

Choi Mari was holding Ma Hana in her arms, playfully squeezing her soft and chewy cheeks.

Everyone felt a sense of relief for having survived.

A sense of exhilaration for the victory.

And they were eagerly anticipating the rewards they would obtain from the <Treasure Room> seen far away and the corpse of the <Sea Dragon>.

Except for one person.

“……”

Yes.

Only the one who was the least helpful here was staring blankly at the four of them.

The owner of that gaze was Moon Bora.

Clenching her fists tightly, she hung her head low.

She alone was unscathed.
She alone was clean.

She had not suffered any injuries.
And her mana was still abundant compared to the others who were drained.

‘Of course.’

Because she was the only one who had trembled in fear and couldn’t fight properly.

Shiver.

“……”

Moon Bora was aware of her trembling arm even at the moment when the <Sea Dragon> was dead.

Was she… afraid of even that, which had already become a cold piece of meat?

Bite.

Moon Bora bit her lip so hard that it bled.

Only me…
Only I was of no help.

The small and tiny Ma Hana had bloomed her <Ultimate Skill> and bought time to deal damage to the <Sea Dragon>.

Ju Na-young, who burned with rivalry, unlocked [Dragon Breath] and made a decisive contribution to the victory.

Choi Mari as well.

Only Moon Bora did nothing.

‘Because I was… too afraid… overwhelmed by the power of the dragon’s presence…’

To Yu Seha…
She was of no help to him.

Moon Bora gripped the [Mermaid’s Voice] around her neck as if to break it.

Hot.

The gem that was certainly blue was now glowing blood-red and resonating strongly.

‘I am…’

I am…

Then and now, nothing has changed.

A shameless woman who doubted Yu Seha during the entrance exam.

Unknowingly cornering him, regretting it after finding out it wasn’t true.
Barely reconciling and having an honest conversation…

‘Like that, just like that…’

Only now had she steadied her heart…
Vowing and vowing again to surely become his strength…

“…H-haha…”

Like this…
She was worse than a porter.
Worse than a street bug.

Moon Bora felt an indescribable resentment burning in her chest.

Self-hatred, inferiority complex, sense of entitlement.
Something undefined and festering.

A heavy lump was forming in her throat.

A feeling like she was about to cry.

However, ironically, it was steadily becoming Moon Bora’s strength.

['The Little Mermaid's Voice' is activated.]

[Longing desire becomes your strength.]

['Obsession' is activated. Target: Yu Seha.]

[Strength increases by 1, Speed by 1, Magic by 4.]

[Mentality decreases by 1.]

Moon Bora bowed her head deeply.
She could hear the voices of her companions, but she felt excluded from their conversation.

“Young-ah…”
“Good girl, drink it up!”

Moon Bora…
She looked at Yu Seha, who was feeding Ju Na-young a potion like a baby bottle, and continued her thoughts.

‘Seha…’

Actually, you know.
I have a confession.
There’s something I couldn’t say.

‘Do you remember?’

The day we all discussed <Course Registration> in the dormitory.

That day, you said.

‘There is <Lady Snow Ice> Cheon Mira on the 3rd floor, so go and see her…’

If it were her, she would definitely be a great help.

The day after Moon Bora actually heard those words.
She went to find her immediately.

There was no doubt.
Yu Seha wouldn’t deceive her with such an obvious lie.

And as always, he only spoke the truth.
The “Lady Snow Ice” Cheon Mira truly existed.

“…Oh my God.”
“……”

Moon Bora calmed her racing heart as she looked at the small-framed woman before her.

No matter how she looked, the woman with white hair in a white kimono seemed younger than herself.

A person who perfectly matched the image of “Snow.”

It was unmistakably “Lady Snow Ice” Cheon Mira.

Moon Bora found it hard to suppress her trembling heart.

It was inevitable.

Though unofficial, Cheon Mira, who had lived for over 80 years, was practically a living fossil, more so than Bong Mi-chun.

Here was the <Prophet>, a legendary hunter who had achieved countless feats.

Known as one of Ji Han-sung’s companions.

It was unknown why Cheon Mi-ra’s aging had stopped.
It was merely speculated that the cold she controlled had cast a blessing and curse of stagnant time upon her.

In fact, this was not very important.

Cheon Mira, true to her name as <Lady Snow Ice>, was a hunter who had honed her [Frozen] ability over many years.

Although she was a chosen genius, she could not reach the S-grade, the realm of the heavens beyond the heavens.

Cheon Mira also reached the pinnacle of A-grade, no less than Peng Jin-ah.

In fact, she was like a role model to Moon Bora.

In reality, the [Icicle] that Moon Bora uses was originally a technique developed by Cheon Mira, and it was a magic spell that Moon Bora obtained through her efforts to emulate her.

“…Um, excuse me!”

The first meeting, the first conversation with such a person.

Moon Bora wanted to leave a good impression.

But…

‘…I was immediately turned away.’

“Shallow.”
“…Pardon?”

Without any preamble, Cheon Mira left a word, staring intently at Moon Bora.

Eyes as cold as ice froze Moon Bora’s entire body.

“With that level, you can’t achieve anything.”
“…What on earth are you talking about?”

Cheon Mira took a red ginseng candy from her pocket and put it in her mouth, continuing her words.

“Munch, munch. You probably know well. You are excellent, but not an extraordinary talent…”

Moon Bora flinched at those words.