I heard something popping and the leaves around me swirled. It was so strong that I couldn"t open my eyes. It was the same for Supreme Fire Dragon.
“Ick... What is this? This?!”
He wielded the burning greatsword but the leaves just caught fire, further blurring his vision. I crossed my hands and barely managed to support myself by digging my feet into the ground.
“This guy...”
In the distance, Kerenos stood still in the storm of swirling leaves. I s.h.i.+fted my gaze to the giant petals made out of wind magic behind him. I knew them well. It was a power that remained vividly in Prometheus" memories. The essence of the wind created by Aiolos that was used to raise the Royal Guards. This was the name—“Anemone...”
All the fallen leaves were scattered. I was able to open my eyes properly and saw bright green petals floating behind Kerenos. At first glance, I could feel an extraordinary magic power.
“You, this b.a.s.t.a.r.d...!”
After regaining his vision, Supreme Fire Dragon glared angrily at Kerenos. However, Kerenos simply ignored it. He walked toward me while muttering, “I understand now...”
“What do you know, you son of a b.i.t.c.h?” Fire sword energy stretched out from Supreme Fire Dragon"s greatsword and flew in a straight line. Of course, it was aimed at Kerenos. There was an explosion but Kerenos wasn"t there anymore.
“What is it? Where is that b.a.s.t.a.r.d? Is he dead...?”
Just then, something appeared in front of me. It really appeared without a sound. I was so surprised that I shook and kicked out reflexively. Then my jaw dropped when I discovered its ident.i.ty. “Kerenos...?”
“Thank you, old man. This child helped enlighten me.”
Enlighten...? I didn"t know what enlightenment he was talking about but it was embarra.s.sing to be thanked for nothing. I coughed and received Punghee. Punghee had used a lot of energy and was asleep. I opened the information window right away to check the new skill.
[Anemone [Active] (Heroic) (Growth Type)]
[The essence of the wind created by a first grade sacred creature of the wind to grow the Royal Guards.
Eating this will facilitate communication with the source of wind magic power and make it easier to use the wind.
Depending on the proficiency with wind skills, more magic power can be contained in the wind.
(Up to two can be created per day)
(There are currently four petals and one will last for five minutes)]
The first thing that caught my eye was "growth type." It seemed to be related to the four petals floating behind Kerenos. Originally, there was a maximum of six. In any case, Kerenos ate this? How interesting.
“W-What? When did you come here? Haah?” Supreme Fire Dragon stared at us with wide eyes and shouted.
Tsk tsk. He hadn"t noticed or maybe he couldn"t figure out what was going on.
“You, this b.a.s.t.a.r.d. Taste the heat like before.” Supreme Fire Dragon walked over while surrounded by white flames all over. Kerenos also walked toward him.
I hugged Punghee quietly and watched Kerenos" back. Maybe there was no need for me to act.
Kerenos opened his mouth. “These were my Master"s last words—"Don"t try and make the wind. You have to fully accept it."”
“Haah? What is that? Do you want to die...”
Kerenos reached out with one of his hands and the wind blew. At the same time, the light green magic power that flowed from his body mixed with the wind. Soon, it took shape. At first glance, it was an incredibly sharp spear. Kerenos held it and a small storm was created. “It isn"t about using magic power to generate wind but to use magic power together with the wind. It is literally a matter of accepting the wind. However, I thought about it too hard.”
Supreme Fire Dragon frowned and clutched his sword. “This b.a.s.t.a.r.d... stop speaking nonsense!”
Kerenos held the spear with both hands as he watched the charging Supreme Fire Dragon. One petal behind him disappeared.
“Your last teaching... this disciple will surely follow it.”
It was instantaneous. Kerenos disappeared with these words. He was really like a ghost. It was as if he was one with the wind. I could barely see his movements despite focusing my vision. A short time later, he appeared behind Supreme Fire Dragon.
“Eh? Xck! Where is he? Hey, old man! The b.a.s.t.a.r.d just now...” Just then, something happened to Supreme Fire Dragon"s body. “W-What? Xck! What is this?”
One of his legs tilted sideways. Then the opposite leg tilted as well. Blood flowed from his left shoulder and there was a long wound on his chest.
I muttered in a low voice, “Both arms and legs. Neck and stomach. Tsk. Considering the cuts on the chest and back, he wielded it around 50 times?”
I had my super sensitivity yet still couldn"t see all of it. It happened in an instant. I couldn"t track all of them with my eyes. It was a really tremendous speed. In the next moment, a ma.s.sive wind shook all over Supreme Fire Dragon"s body. It was because the wounds occurred at such a rapid pace.
Supreme Fire Dragon stood still and his body shook several times. The white fire armor around his body exploded several times before disappearing.
“Keeeeok... Cra...zy...”
This was his end.
I shrugged and muttered, “Good job.”
It seemed that I shouldn"t mess with Kerenos in the future. I would probably die without hearing a sound.
* * *
It was a night where darkness covered the moon. It wasn"t until around 11 p.m. that the capsule"s lid was opened. In contrast to the capsule, the place where the boy lived was quite shabby.
“Sigh...”
His name was Kang Yoohyeon. In the virtual reality game Arkstar, he had the name "Venice." He was now 15 years old and attending middle school. He didn"t eat much as a kid so he was a bit small. He was often misunderstood as an elementary school student but Kang Yoohyeon didn"t care.
“It is already this time. Ah, right, Yooyeong.”
Kang Yoohyeon hurriedly opened the door. Then he saw his sister, Kang Yooyeong lying on the couch and watching TV. Yooyeong was delighted when she saw him. “Uh, oppa!”
His younger sister got up from the sofa and hugged him. Kang Yoohyeon smiled and stroked his sister"s head. “How was the meal?”
“Delicious~”
“Our Yooyeong has grown up.”
“Hihi. I"m 11 years old and an adult!”
“Haha, yes. You"re an adult.”
He and his sister were abandoned by their parents. They were the typical abandoned children often talked about on TV. There was funding from the country but Kang Yoohyeon didn"t want to succ.u.mb to poverty. He was a 15 year old Arkstar user. Kang Yoohyeon started Arkstar when he turned 15 this year and chose the merchant cla.s.s.
In the morning, he went to school and at 5 o"clock, he came home and prepared Yooyeong"s meal in advance. Then he connected and played the game until 11 o"clock. It was due to the government"s policy that children under the age of 19 couldn"t stay up late. He had repeated this life for nearly a year. He scammed people and collected money like a villain. It was all to escape from a terrible poverty.
“Oppa, sleep with me.”
“Uh, yes.”
Together, they laid out their blankets and slept side by side. He turned off the lights and Yooyeong fell asleep. He couldn"t help smiling every time he saw the child who slept well.
“Umm, the soybean soup is delicious...”
The soybean soup that he made for dinner tonight was delicious. Kang Yoohyeon was smiling when he thought about what happened today. Using the money he gained during this time, he opened a small store in Fortren. At first, business wasn"t good and he failed to avoid a deficit. However, due to his good reputation, he gradually started to turn the deficit into a surplus.
It might be nothing compared to the n.o.bles of Fortren but Kang Yoohyeon"s dream was to one day live as luxuriously as them. Of course, the ultimate goal was to be the Merchant King but he was still far away.
“Tomorrow, I will go to Union Bank and exchange money.”
He would feed Yooyeong something delicious. A few days ago, she said that she wanted to eat pork ribs. Should they go and eat that?
"Still, that grandfather today..."
The grandfather in white clothes who spoke strangely. His clumsy English p.r.o.nunciation couldn"t be forgotten. Until now, Kang Yoohyeon had cheated many people and gave away his conscience. He pretended not to know the people he had scammed. Of course, he was killed a few times but he was fine. It was all for his sister.
"But today..."
He felt a strange remorse. Was it due to the grandfather"s words? He said he had already forgiven Kang Yoohyeon. He just wanted an apology. Kang Yoohyeon didn"t know if it was true but he thought so.
“Hrmm... I"ll sleep.”
Kang Yoohyeon turned and buried his face in the pillow. The pillow was soon wet.
* * *
Park Muyeol and his companions continued their harsh hunting. They hunted with no distinction between day and night. All the nearby dungeons and quests were accepted and completed. It was a h.e.l.lish schedule but the result was a fulfilling achievement.
Park Muyeol looked at the group gasping for breath with a satisfied smile. “It must"ve been hard on everyone. You are following me very well! Keke.”
Nearly all the people in the group had dark circles under their eyes. Some of them were drooling because they couldn"t close their mouths. The only one who was still fine was his grandson, Park Seongchan.
“Grandfather, not all of them are mentally and physically trained like me.”
“Everyone has to grow this way.”
“Hah, I can"t stop you.”
Park Seongchan sighed. His grandfather had always been like this. Well, they had leveled up a lot because of it.
“Grandfather, shall we go to Windia? They will fall down if we keep hunting here.”
They hadn"t gone to Windia because they hadn"t deserved to go there yet. In any case, his grandfather used strange excuses to torture the entire group. Still, they seemed to be getting stronger.
“Yes, we should go now.”
“Ohh! Really?!”
“Ah! It is finally a village! Hahaha!”
“Baroque... happy.”
The first ones to like it were the self-proclaimed Mukjeba brothers. Then the uncles, Uncle Momori and Uncle Tarmo, high-fived each other.
“Ahh, I thought I was going to die. Right, Tarmo?”
“Sigh. Yes, it was hard but quite rewarding, Momori.”
The two NPCs, no, two uncles who seemed to be next door neighbors, looked good. They were worthy of being instructors.
“Uhhhhh. Seongchan... I"m having a hard time. Save meeee...”
Uncle Jeonghyun placed a hand on Seongchan"s shoulder. It had been awkward because Seongchan only had a vague memory of Jeonghyun as a kid but they got quite close playing the game. His grandfather said that Uncle Jeonghyun used to carry Seongchan on his back. Seongchan didn"t know if it was really true.
After a while, they arrived in Windia.