Chapter 89: Chapter 89: “………..?”

“………..?”

Ban Hye-young turned her head at the sense of alienation she felt from the back and looked at the hotel through other buildings.

The eternal appearance of it or the Detection Magic she cast in the interior showed no strange behavior. Ban Hye-young who was furrowing her brows at it relaxed her muscles.

‘Is it my misconception?’

Kang Yoo-sik must’ve returned from the auction and would’ve been up all night experimenting with anything he purchased, so perhaps that could be the one affecting the Detection Magic.

Ban Hye-young chuckled imagining Kang Yoo-sik experimenting with his eyes sparkling and turned her head.

A gloomy alleyway with no trace of humans. Ban Hye-young entered the alleyway and stood in front of the backdoor of a building.

‘Is it here?’

A rusty door that looked as if it wouldn’t even open.

Ban Hye-young checked the address again on the letter she received from Julius and grabbed the door handle after confirming that she was at the right place.

Toooooong—

At that, a strange stir spread throughout the building, starting from the doorknob.

The 8-storied tall old concrete building turned into a small two-storied café.

It’s not about the building getting hidden or transforming its shape, but how the entire space turned into a whole new place.

‘It’s magic that doesn’t make sense as always.’

Ban Hye-young clicked her tongue while giving a ridiculous look and opened the door to enter the building.

Jingle~

A bell sound rang clearly while the aroma of coffee permeated through.

The place was small enough to fit four tables for four and the interior was decorated in a lovely manner, so it felt cozy rather than stuffy.

At the ambiance that felt like it could only be seen in the neighborhood of quiet countryside, Ban Hye-young took her seat at an empty spot, took off her hoodie, and looked at the kitchen over the counter.

“Iced Americano.”

“Yes, sure~”

A lively voice rang out from the kitchen, and moments later, a woman in her 30s approached with the coffee.

“Here you go~”

She wore a white t-shirt on denim pants with an apron and had long hair tied up in a single knot.

Ban Hye-young looked at the lively woman and stared at her with a slightly loathsome expression.

“This time you’re a woman?”

“I mean, it happened to be so.”

“Isn’t it a bit too much to go from a bald man from his 50s to a young lady like that……?”

The woman let out a bitter smile at Ban Hye-young who was staring contemptuously while sipping her coffee.

“The owner of this place is a woman so I can’t help it. Though you say so, this is not my choice, okay?”

“Then, you can just go to a place where your desired figure is, right? You can’t even do your own magic right. Does it make sense that you’re an S-class hunter?”

The woman who gave a smile at Ban Hye-young’s scolding, an S-class hunter Hermit of the U.S looked up with his chin propped up.

“You call this magic I see.”

“If this is not magic, then what is it?”

“I don’t know…. maybe, a miracle?”

Ban Hye-young narrowed her eyes and stared down at Hermit who chuckled at her words.

“Now you’re talking about nonsense like miracle huh… You’re making fun of me for not being able to use such magic, aren’t you?”

“No way~ It’s all a difference in perspective.”

“…….. Just wait and watch. Once I master it for sure, I will show it in front of you.”

Hermit smirked at Ban Hye-young who spoke while clenching her teeth.

“You sound more confident than last time huh?”

“I found a clue you know. It’s still in the process of confirmation, but you better start worrying about it. Because once it’s done, the first thing I’ll do is see your face you’ve been hiding under that mask.”

“Hmm~ Looks like the student you love has given you a good realization huh.”

“Th-……….. Wh-, What nonsense are you talking about!”

Hermit let out a laugh at Ban Hye-young who yelled at his face and looked at her with a sly expression.

“Isn’t it obvious for the teacher to love their student? What’s there to get mad over it?”

“……… You’re, such a jerk.”

“The owner’s personality is a bit nasty you know”

Hermit chuckled and held his hand out. He placed a book on the table even before realizing he had pulled one out.

“Here. The S-class skill book that you asked for.”

Ban Hye-young took the book that Hermit pulled out and nodded after confirming whether it was the book she had asked for.

“This is it.”

“I worked hard to find it, so make sure to use it well. Don’t give it to anyone out of the blue.”

“Shut up……… So, what’s the price this time?”

At Ban Hye-young’s question, Hermit thought for a moment and stirred his head.

“There’s none this time.”

“No?”

“Hm. I usually do have, but…… somehow this time I feel like someone else will pay it instead, so… just work hard on your magic research.”

He handed over such an item and didn’t ask for any kind of payment for it?

Ban Hye-young stared at Hermit without being able to understand his way of thinking as always.

“I always ask this, but……… what on earth are you?”

Hermit laughed at Ban Hye-young’s question.

“Owner of the café. At least for now.”

***n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The light that filled the room started to disappear slowly and Kang Yoo-sik who spread out a reflexive barrier looked ahead.

The Tyrfing sat still inside the bag as if nothing happened. Kang Yoo-sik looked at how it had nothing changed and turned to look at Percival.

“Ohhhh……..”

There hadn’t been any big changes as a whole, but there was a new red gemstone studded on it. Kang Yoo-sik called out Percival with anticipation after looking at Tyrfing who looked colorful and emitted a sense of coercion than before.

‘Percival?’

-Yes. Lord.

A voice that didn’t sound any different from before.

Kang Yoo-sik asked after looking at the sight that didn’t have a difference as of now before one more seal is unsealed.

‘Are you sure that its’ all unsealed?’

– That’s right. Lord.

‘Explain to me what exactly has changed.’

– Firstly, all basic performances have been enhanced with the mana amplification including the computational power, aid adjustment, etc. You can just consider it to be twice as much as the level.”

“…….. Twice?”

At Percival’s reply, Kang Yoo-sik replied with his voice without realizing it. Percival who’s still the same as before from the inside has gotten twice as better as before?

As far as general-purpose, it was safe to say that Percival was now the highest among the AA-class items.

– And a skill was created by combining the characteristics of the Tyrfing and Andvaranaut which were used to release the seal.

‘Skill?’

– Open your left index finger.

Kang Yoo-sik opened his left index finger as he was asked to. Percival heated up faintly and the entire finger started glowing.

“Huhhhhh…….”

It was a glow as white as snow, making it unbelievable to say that it was a skill coming out of items that were all dark & dull.

When Kang Yoo-sik was looking dazed at the strange sight. Percival continued with the explanation.

– This skill is called the ‘Stigma of the Sinner’. This skill restricts the ability of the opponent you specify and has the effect of being able to locate them as well.

‘Hm. What’s the limit of restriction?’

– It can differ according to the opponent’s ability and armor. But basically, you’ll be able to limit their abilities by about 20 percent and use their skills too.

‘…….. What’s the limit of location tracking?’

– There isn’t a limitation for the distance, and in the case of the person entering a special space, you cannot detect their location. But retargeting is possible once they get out of the place.

Kang Yoo-sik who felt his heart beating like crazy as the explanation escalated made one last check.

‘Is there any limitation on the overall use of it?’

– Except for the fact that you can use them only on five people at a time, there aren’t any other limitations.

‘Five people……..’

Kang Yoo-sik who was in deep thought about the new skill ‘Stigma of the Sinner’ came to a simple conclusion.

‘This is of S-class.’

If it has this much of a performance, it was safe to say that it was of S-class than of AA-class. Kang Yoo-sik gave a look of disbelief at the effects that go beyond his imagination.

‘How……. much more on earth will you get strong when all of the seals are released?’

Though it was a magic sword that ranked within the Top 10 even before his regression, if it can be of S-class just by unsealing one magical seal, it was still at a ridiculous level no matter what.

– I cannot give an exact answer to that.

‘Is the seal not fully unsealed to figure out the original strength of it?’

– It’s not that. That’s because the power I’m going to finally possess depends on the equipment that you are incompatible with in the future.

‘…….. Ah.’

Kang Yoo-sik figured out what Percival meant by that.

‘And it turns out that it’s not the standard yet, is it?’

Before his regression, if the ‘Magic Sword Percival’ was made out of the revelation through standard awakening methods, Kang Yoo-sik is now blooming through different directions by fitting in the compatible equipment.

In other words, the currently existing Percival that’s compatible with Six-eye, and is unsealed by Tyrfing & Andvaranaut was completely different from the one before.

‘If that’s so……. I can understand the current performance too I see.’

Though the items to awaken Percival before the regression were all items of special material, now he’s awakening Percival using highly notorious items.

And in this case, he can’t help but awaken a Percival radiating superior performance than before.

‘I thought I can only customize it to a performance I wanted, but……… looks like it’s turning into an insane weapon.’

At this point, he couldn’t even imagine how it’s going to turn out in the final form. Kang Yoo-sik choked up looking at Percival and suddenly looked at Tyrfing who sat still as ever.

‘Coming to think of it, isn’t there any change in Tyrfing?’

The sealing condition of Percival was a thought. In other words, gaining another prick like Andvari from Andvaranaut.

Indeed, Tyrfing who unsealed the remaining half had a thought. It also means that if it works well, it can be used easily just like how he did with Andvaranaut.

– Ah. I have few things to say about that.

‘Mm?’

– It’s that Tyrfing has thought too and will still have a lot of power left inside after it’s unsealed. His root of thought is terrible and can cause a negative influence on you, so I will not bring him inside.

‘Hm. So?’

– So, I’ve used Andvari who was already inside of me and created a leash that can control the thoughts of Tyrfing.

“………. Ah?”

When Kang Yoo-sik looked bewildered at the unexpected answer, Percival continued the explanation.

– Please hold the Tyrfing once.

‘Ah, yes.’

Right when he grabbed the handle of the Tyrfing that was lying still.

– I will kill!! I said I will kill!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will kill you!!!

– Wh-, What is this? Why is this insane bastard next to m-…… Arghhhhhhhh!

Andvari was screaming along with the voice that barked sharply. Kang Yoo-sik looked down at Tyrfing with a nervous look at the state of violence.

– I’ve shattered Tyrfing’s judgment using Andvari’s curse and turned on the aggression against his owner. As long as you are the owner of Andvaranaut, you will not be attacked by Tyrfing.

‘What?’

The violence against the owner was all removed now. Kang Yoo-sik looked down with a look of surprise at that.

– Urghhkkk. I will kill! I will kill you!

– Arghhhh. Don’t come near me, you lunatic bastard!

“………..”

Though he wondered if it would all be over if Andvari gets killed by Tyrfing like that, Kang Yoo-sik moved on thinking that she’d keep up with him and continued to look at Tyrfing.

‘Hm. So, there’s no change in the performance?’

– The skills get stronger if it absorbs blood and soul, but the soul part will be solved if you use it along with Andvaranaut, so I think it’d work even with just the blood.

‘The development has gotten easier huh.’

Not only he can awaken it easier than before if used together with Andvaranaut, but it can also reduce the danger faced through Tyrfing.

Of course, there was also a possibility of getting stabbed in the back by Andvaranaut, but it doesn’t matter as long as Percival is there.

‘Besides, it also looks like he’s gotten a bit soft-tempered than before……’

After checking how much it will change after it’s unsealed, Kang Yoo-sik put Tyrfing back into the box and closed the lid.

– These……. damned people…….

– Cough. Right right. Now just go in and rest.

Percival consoled an exhausted Andvari probably feeling a bit sorry towards her. Kang Yoo-sik chuckled hearing their voices and looked down at his hand.

‘Hm. I was to properly test the power of this at least once…….’

But there wasn’t a facility that’s suitable enough to do so in New York and more than anything, it’s not a great idea to use it recklessly in front of other people too.

‘I hope a stupid bastard asks me to bring it on, but…… I bet it’s hard.”

Trying to fight him? A person who is sought after by all the magicians in the world. He couldn’t even dream of it unless there was a person with a great deal of strength or just someone lunatic to do so.

‘In case there was any……’

Kang Yoo-sik imagined what would happen if he was under attack by somebody and let out a laugh.

‘I mean, I don’t think there’s such a person who doesn’t know the worldly affairs.’

***

A large mansion darkened with all lights turned off.

A man holding luggage walked quietly through the front gate with no people around and a voice rang out from behind him.

“You’re leaving?”

Archbold nodded at the call from behind by none other than his brother Douglas.

“……… Yes.”

“I don’t know why are you suddenly in a hurry. Your magical accomplishments are smooth and the Guild Leader-…. No, mom too promised to expand her support, didn’t she?”

The possibilities have arisen compared to how powerless he was last time, but that didn’t mean he was at a level he could succeed at all costs.

Due to that, Douglas prepared as much as he could and wished he attempted on it, but Archbold was stubborn.

“No. Brother. If not for now…….. If I don’t do it now, I won’t ever be able to do it.”

“…….. What do you mean by that?

At Douglas’s question that seemed as if he did not understand Archbold looked down at his hand.

He learned the skill of his enemy and got stronger by fair means or foul for his revenge. He developed faster thanks to that and even thought about the possibility of destroying Kang Yoo-sik.

‘No way.’

But Archbold had a strong feeling at the same time.

The moment his accomplishments get better, he instinctively realized that the moment the knowledge he gave settles in his body, it would make him unable to aim his sword.

‘Urgh. That damned little-…….’

He just simply recalled it and his hands were already trembling in fear. Archbold looked at that and continued by biting high lips tightly.

“I can’t if not for now.”

“……. When are you planning to do it?”

“Maybe right after the announcement.”

“If you’re really going to be like that……”

Douglas threw something and Archbold received it while looking confused.

6 pairs of black wings that stood upside down on a grey crucifix. Archbold looked at that sign and widened his eyes.

“This is……”

“If you take that with you, they will be of help.”

Douglas gave a cold look at Archbold.

“If you’re going to do it, then make sure to do it. I will not allow you to waste your life.”

Archbold clasped it tightly at Douglas’s words and muttered in a cold voice.

“I will make sure to……. kill him.”