Chapter 25: Irina’s First Meal

“Y-You say you’re a wizard?”

At the security officer’s words, Hio shrugged his shoulders and replied,
“Yes. Well, as you can see.”

Next to them, the mercenaries were tied up and being transferred in a long line.

“I-I see… Your identification is confirmed, but Count Dalton’s Domain’s lord will arrive soon, so please wait a moment.”

The townsfolk here regarded ravens as extremely ominous birds.

And mercenaries, who were already sensitive to superstition, felt even more uneasy.

Hundreds of ravens surrounded the alley.

Perched silently on trees and walls, watching intently without making a sound.

The mercenaries who had tried to flee completely lost their will to resist.

They were subdued by the pursuing guards and ended up in this state.

Of course, by then the ravens had already vanished without a trace.

‘No wonder things went so smoothly.’

They had promised to introduce a caravan heading to the city of Bayer after completing this lucrative job.

But as expected, there’s no such thing as a good deed without strings attached.

“Wizard! That magic—I’ve never seen it before!”

As Hio quietly watched the mercenaries being escorted, Irina approached.

Her eyes were filled with admiration.

A smile appeared on Hio’s lips as well.

“Well, of course. I’m the only wizard in this world, so it’s natural you’d be seeing magic for the first time.”

“That’s so cool!”

“Hm. Well, well.”

“Wizard’s the best!”

“You’re way better than those foolish adults.”

‘How long had it been since he heard such praise for magic?’

‘Or maybe this was the first time.’

While exchanging heated admiration about magic with Irina, a man approached.

“You must be Hio Pavlenko?”

Hio gently put Irina down and turned around.

A middle-aged man with a stylish mustache and two knights standing beside him.

A noble.

“Yes, that’s right, but…”

“I am Count Xanthippe Harbor, lord of the estate. Tch, this is why I hate letting in filthy mercenaries… Anyway, you caught those scoundrels, didn’t you?”

“Just lucky, I guess.”

It would have been nice if the conversation ended there, but Hio’s clothes stood out too much.

“By the way, your outfit is quite unique.”

“That’s because I’m a wizard.”

“…Wizard? Are you talking about the wizard I know?”

“I’m not sure which wizard you know, but I think it’s probably me.”

“Ohho…”

The count’s eyes quickly scanned Hio up and down.

A look as if trying to estimate his worth.

“Could you show me that magic of yours?”

“Well… it’s not hard.”

He raised his staff and quickly rotated the circle.

Not the magic of painstakingly drawing glyphs with mana like before, but the power instantly drawn from the engraved circle.

“Fire.”

Flames suddenly ignited at the tip of the staff.

“Oh! So that’s magic!”

Hio nodded at the count’s words.

“Indeed, it’s trivial yet… interesting!”

“…Yes?”

The count stepped closer as if he had made a decision.

“Instead of standing around here, why not come with me to the lord’s castle?”

“To the lord’s castle?”

His smile was broad, but the intent was clearly suspicious.

“Yes. Nothing special, just stay a few days and come with me to meet the count.”

“So the count likes interesting and new things?”

“That’s right! You seem to have some sense. If you win the count’s favor, you might get a big reward. So come with me.”

In other words, he was being asked to play the fool.

To entertain the count and pick up the crumbs that fell from his table.

It showed how ridiculous magic was regarded.

“Alright then.”

Hio readily nodded.

Not for any great reason, but…

‘This might help me fill my endurance.’

He could sense from the count’s attitude and tone that following him would greatly boost his patience.

“Good, good! Smart choice!”

“Since it’s a lord’s castle, the meals should be delicious, right?”

“Of course. You’re my guest, so don’t worry while you stay.”

“I can wash up and have a good place to sleep.”

“Ha ha ha, you keep saying the obvious.”

“I’ll come along with my companion.”

Lifting up Irina, who had been standing quietly beside him, Hio said.

The count frowned openly and asked,
“You have… a companion?”

“Yes. She warned me that those thieves would try to run, so I was able to catch them. So she’s qualified.”

Hio didn’t know Irina’s situation well, but there were things he could tell without asking.

Her appearance—unwashed, unfed, and unkempt.

‘How could an educated modern person ignore such a child?’

Using this as an excuse to take her along meant she could have a warm meal and experience a proper bath.

“Alright… understood.”

Count Harbor nodded, unable to hide his displeasure.

To him, a stinky brat like that was neither here nor there.

What mattered was bringing that ridiculous wizard before the count who enjoyed pleasures.

“Go. Follow me.”

Turning around, Count Harbor was followed by Hio and Irina.

***

The upper floors of the Imperial Academy main building.

Professor Sirbert’s room.

Zing—

At the vibrating signal, Sirbert rummaged in his bosom as if he had been waiting.

A palm-sized communication Artifact.

Sharp messages quickly scrolled across the surface.

[User #3: Explain yourself, Sirbert.]

[User #4: …What are you talking about?]

“What!?”

[User #3: What else! They said Jijoncheonma would soon come to find you! We waited for a long time and this is what we get!]

[User #4: I don’t know either. All I know is that we definitely met him in Korea, confirmed his power, and that he said he’d come soon.]

[User #3: That sounds like an excuse…]

User #3.

She was understandably furious.

They had deployed people at every approach to the academy, searching for the figure suspected to be Jijoncheonma for months.

Yet there was no significant progress.

[User #1: The plan’s already pretty messed up. You realize that, right?]

[User #4: It can’t be helped. The plan was made assuming Jijoncheonma didn’t exist.]

If he had, this plan wouldn’t have been approved.

[User #3: So we cleared floors two and three of the Abyss. But where is this Jijoncheonma you’re talking about?]

Me.

‘If I knew, would I be here?’

Sirbert frowned deeply and stared at the communication Artifact in his hand.

He seriously considered leaving the chat.

They panicked and scrambled after hearing that Jijoncheonma had been met, only to act like this now.

[User #1: We can’t keep relying on your word to keep advancing in the Abyss. They won’t just stand by and watch.]

[User #3: They’re already making a fuss about why we’re attacking the lower floors… There will definitely be interference. I have no intention of pushing through with such interruptions. If you want to do it, Sirbert, you do it.]

[User #4: …Do as you see fit.]

Fools who still treat this world like a game.

Thinking about such idiots grinds his teeth, but there was nothing he could do right now.

Unless Jijoncheonma really returns.

[User #1: Anyway, besides the Abyss mission, there’s a bigger problem. The possessed who entered Heuka have definitely caused trouble.]

[User #3: If it’s related to those who entered Heuka… no way?]

[User #1: Yeah. They seem to have succeeded in creating a Ma-in with Abyssal Curse energy.]

[User #4: Those lunatics really did it.]

Ma-in.

This was an enemy that appeared mid-to-late in the game and was a test subject created by the Heuka who studied Abyssal energy.

A monster made by injecting large amounts of Abyssal Curse energy.

It becomes a slaughter-happy beast with a shattered mind, but possesses incredible physical abilities.

[User #3: They already made that horrific thing?]

[User #1: Probably not perfect yet. But we’ve got a lead, so we’ll attack soon.]

[User #4: You’re going yourself?]

[User #1: No, someone higher than me.]

[User #3: Higher than you?]

There aren’t many above User #1, who is deep in the empire’s core.

Especially if they’re a superior connected to him, there’s only one.

[User #1: The Sword Saint is moving personally.]

The Imperial Golden Lion, or Sword Saint.

He has many nicknames, but one thing’s certain—he is one of the top five strongest.

[User #3: The human disaster is moving. Well, it’s well known the Sword Saint hates Heuka.]

[User #4: Location? Where exactly?]

[User #1: The empire’s south. The city of Sauer.]

As the conversation reached this point, a knock sounded at the door.

Sirbert pocketed the Artifact and sat at his desk.

***

“Come in.”

The door opened cautiously, revealing red hair.

Claire.

“Hello, Professor. Did you call me?”

Claire greeted Sirbert politely.

To her, Sirbert was complicated.

He was both an academy professor and her benefactor who gave her a new life, as well as the only person connected to the mysterious figure, Hio.

“Claire, you refused the award for academic excellence last semester.”

“Yes. Getting that doesn’t make you stronger.”

Despite enrolling a semester late, Claire attracted the attention of countless professors due to her overwhelming talent.

However, she showed little interest in her peers and was obsessively fixated only on becoming stronger, which worried Sirbert somewhat.

“Well, anyway, the reason I called you today is about… that friend of yours.”

“That friend…?”

Since there was only one person they could call ‘that friend,’ Claire’s expression changed.

From indifferent to full of curiosity.

“Ahem. Have you had any contact with him lately?”

Sirbert hadn’t asked until now.

Claire was still adapting to academy life, and he expected Jijoncheonma to arrive soon.

But the soon-arriving Jijoncheonma showed no sign of coming, causing frustration.

She had also received criticism from other rankers today.

“No, I haven’t been in contact.”

Claire’s face noticeably darkened.

She was the most upset about not being able to contact him.

“Sigh… I see.”

Sirbert sighed deeply at Claire’s answer.

If that was the case, he shouldn’t have said he’d come soon.

They had been anxiously waiting for months.

He had even lost weight from stress.

Watching Sirbert sigh deeply, Claire asked, “Why suddenly about that friend?”

“Actually, that friend is a bit angry.”

“…Huh? Angry?”

Claire couldn’t help but be surprised by Sirbert’s answer.

Hio had only ever been seen angry once.

When he became the incarnation of thunder to punish evildoers with fury.

“When he’s angry… he’s scary.”

“Scary…”

Sirbert recalled a similar scene.

‘Are you sure that was the best choice?’

His voice was deep and chilling.

Behind it floated a blue sun.

If he had spoken a word, not only Sirbert but the entire city would have turned to ashes under the ruler of flames.

Of course, he knew Hio wasn’t the type to do such a thing, but it was terrifying nonetheless.

“He’s scary when he’s angry.”

“He hardly ever gets angry… so how did this happen?”

“Well. Let’s say there was some misunderstanding. Anyway, he said he was angry and would come soon.”

“H-He’s coming soon?”

“Yes. That’s why I called you to see if you had any contact. Oh, and to ask if there’s anything he’d like.”

“Anything he likes?”

Claire thought for a moment, then answered smoothly.

“He likes any meat dishes, loves spicy food, but can’t handle it as well as I do, so he always has a cool drink nearby. And… he really likes cute things.”

They had lived together every day for two years, but this was all she knew.

If she had known, she might have asked him about his past, his story… but that didn’t seem appropriate.

After countless shakes of her head, she always came to the same conclusion—she had to become stronger.

So that someday she could stand beside him.

So she could ask such questions without hesitation.

“I see.”

Sigh… She didn’t even know when he’d come.

‘Why say he’s coming soon if he’s not?’

It had already been months of restless waiting.

Sirbert shook his head.

“Well, I guess I can leave now.”

“Yes.”

Claire bowed and turned to leave, then suddenly remembered something and looked back at Sirbert.

“Really… he said he’d come soon?”

“Yeah? Oh, yes. I heard it clearly.”

“Then… I’m sorry, but can I accept the academic excellence award after all?”

“Hmm? That shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Please! Thank you!”

After saying that, Claire turned and left again.

Her expression was much lighter than when she entered.

‘Hio is coming soon!’

What could be better news than that?

If Hio came, she would show him the award naturally, pretending not to care.

‘Wouldn’t that change how Hio looked at her?’

Claire’s quick steps gradually slowed.

‘Hio is angry…’

Sirbert’s words suddenly came to mind.

‘If that’s true, it won’t be ordinary.’

‘Where was Hio now? What was he doing?’

She was curious, but with no way to find out, she felt gloomy again.

‘No. He’ll come soon! Cheer up and work harder!’

Worrying about Hio was a luxury.

To her knowledge, no one stronger than him existed in this vast empire.

‘Maybe only the Imperial Golden Lion, who was said to have reached the heavens.’

‘So I have to get stronger fast!’

Though she had no idea where or what Hio was doing, she faintly imagined he must be handling something enormous.

With that thought, Claire hurried her steps.

And at that moment.

“Hey! That amazing magic you talked about—hahahahaha! Pathetic! Why don’t you shake your butt with it too? Is that all? Hahahaha! Really trivial!”

Hio was energetically demonstrating his magic in front of the count.

[Hidden Trait: Violence Is Not Allowed! (Patience: 881 / 1000)]