Chapter 10: The Bulletspell Apprentice

“Lock them up.”

The three Parakho fled desperately.

It was fine if I ran to gather my own organization in response.

‘For now, just break everything apart.’

I put my original clothes into the bag I bought while purchasing new ones.

At this level, there was no way flies would swarm me.

As I moved toward the outer castle, my thoughts continued to churn.

It was half like a casual outing to get some fresh air. But after dealing with those flies, things had changed a little.

“There are so many bugs in the territory.”

Just hearing the situation roughly, there was a lot that needed cleaning up.

Several Parakho organizations—quite large ones—and the powerful figures who backed those organizations. Followed by corruption and betrayal.

It seemed I had more to deal with than I expected.

‘Jegal Hyeon also struggled quite a bit cleaning up the trash in the Jegal Clan.’

Back then, the situation was worse.

Jegal Hyeon couldn’t learn martial arts, so he had to maintain the clan with his head alone, using his body as a substitute.

All of it.

Compared to that, I had both magic and martial arts. I could smash things with my body, not just my mind.

‘I still need more training, but there’s no shortage of time.’

To take down large organizations, I would have to grow stronger, but that wasn’t a problem.

Following Jegal Hyeon’s method, it was best to slowly tighten the noose from below to catch the big fish.

Starting from the bottom and moving up was fine.

But before that—

“I should gather some information, too.”

For now, I had to enjoy the inside while collecting intel.

I disguised myself as a child from a somewhat well-off commoner family and began to walk around the outskirts of the castle.

“Delicious! You said 10 copper each, right? I’ll have one more, please.”

“Fire-grilled skewers are always the best.”

“Thanks for the food!”

“Come again!”

“Yes, sir!”

Unlike the well-constructed commercial district, I enjoyed wandering through the market formed in the commoner’s area.

“Waaah! I’m the hero! You’re a goblin!”

“Noooo!”

I also passed through neighborhoods where children played actively.

I didn’t just listen—I actually felt life through my skin.

Because of that, many things I hadn’t noticed before became visible.

‘These kids are basically tough.’

This world was richer in magic than any other world. Not to mention Earth or even the Martial World. With the magic here, Jegal Hyeon might have even been able to heal his shattered pulse.

Perhaps that’s why people here were inherently robust. They were sturdy.

‘No wonder I was always called weak.’

People lived even in filthy slums where no one else could survive.

“…”

“They’re hungry…”

They were plagued by minor illnesses but still managed to survive.

If such a slum existed on Earth, contagious diseases would spread quickly and wipe everyone out. Without their toughness, they wouldn’t have lasted.

And within these slums—

“So, you pulled off something big?”

“Damn it. What do you mean big? We failed. Our guys came back pretty injured.”

“Come on, you’ve got to know who you’re dealing with.”

Leeches lived there. So brazen they didn’t even hide. It was almost comical.

‘Here too. You’re on my list.’

I wasn’t just wandering aimlessly. I calmly searched and memorized the hiding Parakho and what appeared to be their hideouts.

There were more than I had imagined.

They had deeply infiltrated.

This was the conclusion I reached after patrolling the territory over time.

What I once thought were small bugs had turned out to be like hyenas that scavenged corpses.

‘Dealing with all of this is going to take some effort. There might even be more than expected.’

At first, I traveled using magic, but constantly doing so wasn’t sustainable.

Even if it was for my family, if they found out I was stirring up trouble, unforeseen variables could arise.

The current balance was just right.

My father was the lord with solid ruling power, and the eldest brother was set to inherit.

My sister was immersed in her training, which she enjoyed.

This was the exact state I wanted.

I had no interest in attracting unnecessary expectations or people gathering around me.

‘I have no hobby for siblings fighting each other.’

If all the brothers in the Count of Ophern family showed off, only tragedy would remain.

I wouldn’t create trouble against the family that cared for weak me. I wouldn’t allow it.

So.

‘Even if magic is my secret weapon, I need a way to cleanly deal with the hyenas without revealing who I am.’

“I already have the answer.”

The answer lay in potions.

Potions—filled with Life Force—were invincible against external wounds and easily healed internal injuries.

There were two ways to make them.

One, a priest filled with holy power prays over Holy Water to make them.

‘That’s expensive.’

Or, a magician extracts Life Force from troll blood to create them.

‘In that case, the effect is slightly weaker.’

Of the two, the potion I had was made from troll blood. Less diluted, it was mid-grade.

It was a precious item, not something easily obtained just by killing a Goblin Shaman.

I focused on the Life Force of the potion. Life Force meant full Qi, after all.

‘Abundant Qi is a divine elixir in itself.’

A good amount of time had passed since I first learned martial arts.

I helped my brothers with their training by killing shamans and using Magic Missile, and I secretly patrolled the territory.

‘The master hasn’t come for quite a while. Let’s just move past that.’

During that time, I wasn’t simply staying at the same level.

***

After gathering five years of internal energy through So Cheon Seonggong, I immediately transitioned to Great Celestial Divine Art.

By converting the power of So Cheon Seonggong into the attack of Great Celestial Divine Art, even the same internal energy produced much stronger effects.

The next step was Hyeonwon Dan Shingong, which required ten years of internal energy!

It was the supreme divine art that anyone properly in the direct line of the Jegal Clan had to learn.

‘My current internal energy is about six years’ worth.’

Considering I was also learning the Liu Lei Method, which consumed internal energy, this was quite fast.

But it inevitably took time to reach ten years. I planned to cover that time with one potion.

Gulp. The hot liquid slid down my throat.

“Kuh…”

I had no external or internal wounds. The Life Force in the potion began spreading all over my body.

‘I can’t be late.’

I immediately began chanting the hand seals of Great Celestial Divine Art.

Goooooo—

I endlessly absorbed the gathering Qi.

‘Done!’

Though my internal energy was shallow, the abundant Life Force spread through my body, but it didn’t matter.

I succeeded in gathering ten years’ worth of internal energy at once.

This was the moment I had waited for.

‘Now, I move on to Hyeonwon Dan Shingong.’

Suuuuu—

I began chanting based on the gathered internal energy of Great Celestial Divine Art.

I adjusted the meridians through which the internal energy flowed and simultaneously enlarged them.

“Haah…”

At the end of my breath, ten years’ worth of internal energy had transformed into a form befitting the divine art.

The divine art’s power exceeded imagination.

Pah— The strength behind a lightly thrown strike was several times greater than before.

‘Definitely different.’

Jjujik—

Watching the wooden fragments shatter like glass, I could truly feel the difference between a child’s strength and that of a trained adult.

Thinking back to how I knocked down a Parakho with a five-year internal energy punch, my current level had risen considerably.

‘Training the Liu Lei Method will come gradually.’

Even without So Cheon Seong Yuk Rae Method immediately, this level was beyond an aura user who just began using aura.

An aura practitioner.

I had surpassed the basic use of aura and learned how to focus power.

‘And I add magic to that.’

Although I was still 1st class, I was in a state where I could freely multitask. Furthermore—

‘My memory didn’t just remain memory.’

Jegal Hyeon’s memories combined with the power of Hyeonwon Dan Shingong had doubled my reasoning and adaptability.

My memory grew clearer, and using magic became easier.

I applied the inspirations I gained training with my older brother and sister.

The rotation of Magic Missile had strengthened.

‘My armor grew thicker.’

The armor covering my entire body was stacked multiple times and could be divided for use as needed.

Dig, which manipulated the earth—

‘It’s not just for digging.’

It had evolved into a spell that could trap opponents like a booby trap.

Magic and martial arts—if combined and applied well, ‘I’m at the level of an aura expert. If circumstances are right… I could win easily. At this level, my safety is guaranteed.’

There was no risk in going to break up the organizations.

Having no danger meant living a stable life, as in previous lives—a long, peaceful existence—was completely possible.

Plus, it fit Jegal Hyeon’s personality perfectly. He couldn’t tolerate injustice.

‘And at the same time, I’m helping my father.’

There was no reason to hesitate any longer.

“Jump!”

Whoooosh—

I launched myself using the Qi flowing beneath my feet as a springboard.

‘Let’s test this.’

As I fell, I immediately cast the next spell.

“Feather Fall.”

Wooooooong—

The Qi beneath my feet reversed.

The falling speed instantly slowed, and the more I kicked, the more slowly my body descended.

In the Martial World, this was similar to the legendary Eight-Step Ascension technique.

‘Now, it’s more like a Falling Descent than an Ascension. But who cares.’

Just feeling like I was walking on air as I floated down was enough to make me feel like flying.

The important thing was somewhere else.

Magic. Although 1st class, I continuously used spells without complicated calculations.

Even from this alone, it was proof that my current level had risen.

‘How could I not feel good?’

“Good. Now, let’s see the surroundings…”

Thud.

No one. Until I quietly landed, no one noticed my movement.

“Let’s go straight to it.”

It was time to move and sweep them all away.

The destination was already set.