Episode 27

In Korea, countless clans exist.

However, among them, five clans stand unparalleled.

The Iron-Blood Sword Clan.

The Magic Shin Clan.

The Mysterious Yoo Clan.

The Shadow Jo Clan.

The Mighty Seo Clan.

These five clans are collectively referred to as the Five Great Clans.

Among them, if one were to be named the foremost, it would be the Iron-Blood Sword Clan.

But even the Iron-Blood Sword Clan cannot disregard the other four clans.

The Magic Shin Clan, which deals with magic.

The Mysterious Yoo Clan, which researches Unique Traits.

The Shadow Jo Clan, gathering those who move secretly like assassins.

And the Mighty Seo Clan, handling tyranny and power with immense strength.

Each of them possesses their own formidable power.

The Five Great Clans.

These five most outstanding clans in Korea possess tremendous power.

Each has an incredibly powerful background as well.

The corporations that originally dominated South Korea had also formed connections with them.

It was said that the world would end if Korea fell out of favor with the Five Great Families.

And at the heart of this was the Iron-Blood Sword Clan.

It was a tranquil space.

A man was sprawled on the chair that only the family head could sit in.

He appeared to be in his early thirties and had a neat impression.

“So… Han Seojin has made a move?”

“Yes.”

In front of the family head, another man, a dark sword bowed and answered.

“It seems he escaped at the very end of the experiment.”

“The very end of the experiment…”

“And he is now working as a professor at the academy.”

“A professor?”

Caught off guard by the remark, the family head stopped speaking.

“Yes, it seems… he has awakened to his past life.”

“Reincarnation, huh. Can one become so strong so quickly by recalling memories of their past life as a Unique Trait?”

“I think he hid some of his power. After all, he fled when the Five Swords were away.”

“Then we can’t do anything about it. If I could, I would like to catch him again and redo all of it.”

Tap tap.

The clan leader tapped the armrest of the chair with his fingers.

‘It’s still too risky to touch him.’

The academy is a space where the principal operates.

Even though she is considered the weakest among the transcendents, she is still a transcendent.

Even if all the Five Great Families were to lead, they couldn’t destroy a transcendent.

Because that’s what a transcendent is.

‘I feel like I could break down the wall with just a little more effort.’

For that purpose, he created the laboratory.

And experimented on Seojin.

Knowing his eldest son possessed a ‘strange talent,’ he could throw him over to those who called themselves ‘traitors.’

If only he had that talent.

His son might have easily become a transcendent, so his expectations were high.

But it needs to be done in the academy, where the spiritual veins are situated, so the risk they were taking is great.

‘This time, there’s no choice.’

The family head’s eyes reddened like blood.

“How is the academy?”

“…We are currently investigating.”

“Besides that.”

“The principal is favoring Han Seojin. She is supporting him to an unprecedented extent.”

“How much?”

“Not only did she appoint him as a professor, but she also promoted him to head professor in no time. And she has given him control over the enormous budget flowing into the academy.”

“How much?”

“5%.”

“…What?”

The head of Iron-Blood Sword Clan was at a loss for words in an instant.

5%.

It might not seem like much, but no one in the Academy handles that amount of budget alone.

The cost of maintaining the Academy’s colossal Spirit Veins the cost is astronomical.

“From what is visible on the surface, that’s the case. The relationship between the two is unusual, according to Heavenly Palace’s stance.”

Heavenly Palace.

Where the brains of Iron-Blood Sword Clan operate and those who observe the world’s situation.

If they thought so, it must be right.

The head closed his eyes and said,

“Leave it be for now.”

“By ‘for now’, you mean…”

“Don’t just withdraw your attention. What about the second son and the eldest daughter?”

“Han Junseok has reached the first rank recently. Han Yurim as well.”

He spoke in a mechanical voice.

The tone was more like dealing with weapons than addressing one’s children.

However, the head did not mind that.

They were meant to become weapons for their family head from the beginning.

“Fortunately, things are going smoothly. Luckily, we won’t have to dispose of them like the eldest son.

“…Yes.”

“However, we must ensure tight-lipped secrecy. The principal might trust Han Seojin’s words, but maybe won’t act against us…understand?”

“Yes.”

Erase anything that might arouse suspicion from the principal.

Following that order, the dark sword left his spot.

The family head closed his eyes again.

‘What a pity.’

Though it’s already out of his hands.

The laboratory from which Han Seojin escaped.

It has already been erased from the world.

However, the records found there were troubling.

‘What a shame! Such a pity.’

Because of his ability to control the dead, he wouldn’t need to expose himself.

He would’ve possessed an outstanding talent to become the family’s hidden blade..

The head of the family could only feel regret.

But he was unaware.

That the demon they spoke of had the talent to become the Demon King known as the Star Devouring Demon King.

Sssk.

Gulp gulp gulp gulp.

A refreshing coolness passed down my throat.

The fizz and sweetness follow.

‘Ahh.’

This is why I had to live in the present world.

In a fantasy world, in a world of martial arts, this taste was hard to replicate.

That’s why I drink cola whenever I get the chance.

“…You seem to like cola.”

“That’s right.”

The child chosen by magic, Shin Yura, was looking at me with a curious gaze.

‘Isn’t she a child of the Magic Shin Clan?’

The head of the family personally expects great talent from her.

She has the reputation of being chosen by magic.

And sometimes, even I am surprised when I see her.

When using magic, there’s a certain uniqueness in every user, and she’s really unique in her element.

‘That’s what you call pure talent.’

I looked beside Shin Yura.

There was a woman who blended with the wind like air.

If Shin Yura is a magician, then that child from the Mysterious Yoo Clan,

‘Yoo Seolrang.’

Is a child blessed by the wind.

And then.

“Master, I’m here!”

There was Yoo Eunchae, a child that is never calm.

These three are having a magic tutoring session today.

“Magic tutoring?”

“Yes.”

“I’m really grateful for your concern, but just the two of us?”

Yoo Eunchae frowned as if something was not to her liking.

What nonsense.

“There’s one more person here.”

“One more person?”

“…?”

At my words, Shin Yura and Yoo Eunchae tilted their heads in confusion.

“Are you being ostracized by them?”

“…Uh, can you see me?”

To my serious question, Yoo Seolrang answered in a strange tone.

“…There you are, Yoo Seolrang.”

“…I knew from the beginning.”

As if they knew.

I momentarily got angry, but I felt it was justified.

‘The winds around have hidden her traces.’

Smells and shapes, those things naturally scatter in the wind. The same goes for appearances.

I could immediately tell because I have special abilities and methods.

She probably received such treatment a lot, knowingly or unknowingly.

The fact that she was surprised when I found her proves it.

“Yoo Seolrang still needs more magic training.”

“…I also want to learn martial arts.”

“Do you guys know more about magic than I do?”

“…”

“…”

Both of their mouths shut.

Was it because Yoo Eunchae was being ignored? Shin Yura’s lips slightly lifted.

“And you, stop telling other kids that they suit magic more than martial arts.”

“No, I’m telling you, should she really become a magician?”

Thwack.

I flicked her forehead because she was talking nonsense.

“Ouch!”

“She’s a martial artist.”

“No, how can it hurt this much over 3m away?”

“That’s martial arts for you.”

“But, is she really skilled in martial arts?”

“Yes.”

I looked at Yoo Eunchae and smiled slightly.

“I know what you’re thinking too. Since you think you know a lot, it makes sense that you think it’s magic.”

“No, my expertise is exceptional!”

That girl, not so long ago…

No.

If she thinks so, then it could be.

Everyone has a plausible plan before doing anything.

The problem is that most of them fail.

“Anyway, today’s lesson is simple. These three have passed the Basic Mana Manipulation, so today, we’ll learn about basic magic manipulation.”

“Basic again today?”

“You lack even the basics.”

Yoo Eunchae became quiet at my words.

I like this atmosphere.

“Don’t worry, though. Today, I’ll teach you something quite useful.”

“Could it be, that?”

Yoo Eunchae’s anticipation could only mean one thing—Glacial Heavenly Moon.

But I can’t teach that yet.

It’s not that I’m holding Glacial Heavenly Moon hostage.

‘Learning it now, when you have nothing, would be a perfect way to freeze to death.’

It’s not anything else.

The magic formula of the Glacial Heavenly Moon engraved in her heart is the ice of destruction.

With its nature, that magic formula will freeze Yoo Eunchae to death.

“If you try to learn it at your level, you’ll freeze to death.”

“…”

“Anyway, we’ll start with basic magic.”

I threw three black stones at them.

“It’s a Mana Stone. A stone filled with mana that can be harvested from monsters. With this, you can enchant items, engrave something on them, and even create artifacts.”

“This looks really expensive.”

“Right, it is expensive. And it’s also the prize for today’s lesson.”

“Hehe, as expected, you pretend not to care, but you do favor me.”

“And if you don’t succeed within the set period, I’ll take it back.”

“Don’t worry! I’m here, having passed Basic Mana Manipulation as the third best.”

While actually being fourth.

Well, Seon Woohyeon passed with his Unique Trait, so saying she was third wasn’t exactly wrong.

‘After all, Basic Mana Manipulation is something you use in everyday life, so passing with a Unique Trait is one thing.’

But once he succeeded, he quickly got the hang of it.

“And today’s lesson is about engraving fire magic on that Mana Stone.”

“Sounds easy?”

“Does it look that way?”

“…No, no, no! Suddenly it seems difficult, and I feel like I can’t do it today!”

“That’s right.”

Today’s lesson won’t be as easy as last time.

Everyone may have learned magic and passed easily because they have special powers.

‘Short as one week?’

It might take that long.

Thinking it’s just about casting a fire spell would be a huge misunderstanding.

Because that magic stone is engraved with the Glacial Heavenly Moon.

The cold of destruction that even freezes fire.

I still might not know how difficult it is to cast a fire spell over it.

“Do you know the fire spell?”

“Yes, I know the basics.”

Yoo Seolrang nodded at my words.

“Hehe, with this level, selling it in the market could easily fetch ten million won…”

Yoo Eunchae was drooling.

“I must……”

Shin Yura was looking at the magic stone with a haughty expression.

I smiled broadly as I looked on.

Casting the magic formula of Glacial Heavenly and maintaining it for more than a week is impossible even for me.

I can manage up to 5 days with the power of eternity, but…

No more than that.

However, if the magic stones are enormously expensive,

Such a thing could easily be done.

Because high-purity magic stones are crucial for this training.

So, I skimmed a bit from the budget.

「St, stop it! You already took 5% of the academy’s total budget! I, I can’t give this as a bonus!」

「Ah. Ahk. A. Ca. De. My. Stu. Dent. Sa. Ving. In. Ju. Ry.」

「You just broke your own leg, right now! And the arm that was broken before is all healed up now!」

「Kuk! My heart is… because I overexerted the circle to save the students!」

「Ta, take it! And don’t come back again!」

I remembered the conversation with the principal.

In the end, I even started to sob.

But what can I do?

It was they who pushed us into a corner.

Anyway, that’s the budget I managed to scrape together after all the hardship.

‘This time, I’ll have to suffer a bit.’

2 hours had passed.

The three were still focusing and casting fire magic.

Surprisingly, Yoo Eunchae and Shin Yura were progressing at an astonishing speed.

Was it because their competitive spirits were triggered?

Or because they despised and looked down on each other?

I could feel their determination not to lose.

‘Yoo Seolrang seems to be the one who will finish last.’

It’s also a disadvantage.

I lowered the difficulty quite a bit.

I looked at Shin Yura and Yoo Eunchae.

It’s a relationship where they despise and look down on each other.

But I consider it a blessing.

After all, I’m an expert in this field.

‘Which time was it?’

Living three lives, I’ve seen such guys more than once or twice.

Snarling at each other or ignoring one another.

Yet, they all became close.

No, at least they no longer pointed swords at each other.

Because of my existence.

Bond.

Comrades.

I made those guys be tied with such words.

Because I was there.

Don’t worry.

I will soon make you the same.

A way to bind those two?

Really simple.

‘Just roll them together.’

Right until just before death.

Or to the point where they feel they’ll die if they don’t cooperate.

Then they’ll naturally get along.

So, you should consider yourselves lucky.

To have a teacher like me.