Chapter 95: Chapter 95

‘What?’

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ says that magic is difficult to use. Even the slightest mistake will cause the magic to attack the user.]

‘But I successfully casted it, didn’t I?’

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ pretends it didn’t hear you.]

‘......’

[The ‘Manipulator of Dreams and Desires’ says that’s probably because you used your internal energy to execute it.]

Rather than using external magic power, Choi Yeonseung brought up his internal energy, the power inside him, to use magic. The external magic power wasn’t his own, so even the slightest loss of control could lead to a dangerous rampage. This wasn’t the case with his internal energy. It didn’t matter if the user failed to control it properly. The caster’s power would still ignorantly activate it!

Right now, Choi Yeonseung activated magic through force.

[The ‘Manipulator of Dreams and Desires’ says it’s amazing that you managed to activate magic even though it failed. Only an archmage can do that.]

In fact, there were skills that could do that. Skills such as ‘Advanced Combat Magic’ and ‘Forced Mana Activation’ were very popular among magicians since they helped activate magic even if they had failed during its incantation or something got in the way of casting!

In other words, Choi Yeonseung possessed such a skill. The recoil from casting a spell damaged him, though.

‘Taking damage every time I use magic is too annoying.’

He wasn’t an undead monster that should take damage when using healing magic, so why should he accept getting damaged by it?

[The ‘Manipulator of Dreams and Desires’ says that the answer is to get used to it. She says you won’t take any damage if you do.]

The Manipulator of Dreams and Desires was right. Thinking about it now, he suffered simply because he failed. If he skillfully succeeded, then he wouldn’t sustain any damage.

‘... But in your opinion, do you think I have a talent for magic?’

[......]

[......]

The two constellations grew silent. Choi Yeonseung had good battle senses and sharp instincts. But magic...

… They didn’t know!

Choi Yeonseung didn’t show any magical talent. An excellent magician should be able to draw the magic power flowing in the world and handle it delicately. However, Choi Yeonseung tried to change the world with his own power instead. He was so simple, honest, and upright that it was too much.

To be honest, it was amazing that he had triggered magic. The idea of doing that through force was ridiculous under normal circumstances.

‘They’re not answering. I probably have no talent, then.’

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ tells you not to be discouraged. It says that the incarnation has martial arts.]

‘I’m not discouraged. It doesn’t matter if I don’t have any talent. I can just train.’

Choi Yeonseung didn’t care at all. No matter whether he had talent or not, what Choi Yeonseung had to do wouldn’t change. He had been learning martial arts for over 10,000 years. He could do at least that much for magic as well.

[......]

[......]

The two constellations were shocked.

Such an ignorant person—constellation!

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ asks how you’re going to use magic in the meantime.]

‘Hmm. Come to think of it, I have the Eternal Regeneration skill.’

[Eternal Regeneration]

[Rank: A+

[You have inherited the hydra's essence. Your immortal body is constantly regenerating.]

Eternal Regeneration was a fraudulent skill that used internal energy to immediately heal him! As long as he had it, it didn’t matter if he got hurt a bit while using magic.

‘I just have to get hurt and cast it until I’m used to it.’

The two constellations were once again shocked.

Choi Yeonseung’s idea was no different from ignorance itself. Risking getting hurt and forcibly using magic was an idea that no magician would ever execute.

***

-Do you have any other skills?

Choi Yeonseung spoke to the goddess upon suddenly remembering something.

-That’s difficult to answer.

The goddess replied melancholically.

-Ah. I’m sorry. I’ve already received one. I shouldn’t ask too much of you!

-No, no! That isn’t it. My power of existence has weakened a lot, so it’s difficult for me to give out a lot of?powers...

-......

Choi Yeonseung was moved to tears by her circumstances.

-If it’s so hard, you don’t have to give me anything...

-Y-You would’ve belonged to my household. I can give you this much!

The goddess gently emphasized the words ‘my household,’ but Choi Yeonseung didn’t react much. She grew sullen once more.

-I understand. I will cherish and practice the skills that you’ve given me. Thank you. Now...

-OnceI’verecoveredmypowerofexistenceandIcanafforditIwillgiveyouanotherpower!

Just as Choi Yeonseung finished praying and was about to get to work, the goddess urgently spoke.

-Huh? No. I’ll just learn another one myself.

-It’s fine! I can do it! Please accept my help...!

-No... Please do so in a way that isn’t burdensome.

From Choi Yeonseung’s perspective, the goddess was in a really bad situation. The power of a constellation’s existence was basically like a person’s salary that went into a bank account. They recovered it over time, but they had to use it to pay their bills, insurance, credit card, and installments.

Likewise, the goddess, a constellation whose power of existence had been greatly diminished, would have to feel strained by their money—their power of existence. It would be hard to manage their own realm...

‘I should never accept it.’

The goddess would’ve cried if she knew Choi Yeonseung’s thoughts.

***

“I received an epiphany about magic.”

“?”

“Are you crazy?”

Elisabeth and Antony panicked when Choi Yeonseung suddenly spoke nonsense. They still had a long way to go in magic even after training for ten years, yet he suddenly achieved enlightenment?

“What epiphany?”

“Magic isn’t hard. It’s similar to martial arts. In the end, I just have to turn my internal energy into magic power and defeat the world.”

“... No!” Elisabeth screamed. Choi Yeonseung’s words were so arrogant and crazy. Who would be so crazy to use magic like this? It sounded like the perfect way to experience a magic power recoil.

“In any case, I have already decided to practice magic little by little, but I have to finish the task we’ve been given first.”

Choi Yeonseung wasn’t aware of it, but Ernest held him in high regard. He could talk directly to Hwang Gyeongryong if he wanted to, but he had no intention of using such a shortcut. He had joined the Icarus clan, so he would show his sincerity and follow the clan’s rules! If Ernest and the other examiners had heard this, they would shed tears while saying, ‘I can’t believe such a sincere hunter exists.’?Compared to other hunters, Choi Yeonseung had a very sincere personality.

“Is the Endless Tower Dungeon really that notorious?”

“It is. Some dungeons are impossible to clear for a reason.”

“What about raiding it with a team?”

“First of all, no one’s trying to form a team right now. The Endless Tower Dungeon is rumored to become more difficult if several people entered as well.”

“......”

Choi Yeonseung was amazed. He didn’t know a tower like this existed!

‘Who built the dungeon?’

He didn’t know if a constellation liked it or if it came naturally from the Abyss, but it was a really nice place.

[The ‘Cat of Lava and Magma’ says you shouldn’t be moved by it.]

‘But it is inspiring.’

‘Choi Yeonseung vowed to one day use his power of existence to create a similar building.

“Even if its difficulty goes up, I think it’s still better to move as a team.”

Elisabeth was puzzled by Choi Yeonseung’s suggestion. “Why?”

“The advantages of moving with a team outweigh the increase in difficulty.”

Choi Yeonseung believed in the power of good teamwork. They weren’t just adding their powers together to become stronger. They were multiplying it. The clan hunters were focused on individual play and didn’t feel the need for teamwork, but they should.

One of humanity’s greatest weapons against monsters was team work... No, it was unity!

“Sigh. Choi Yeonseung, didn’t I already tell you no hunter is trying to form a team right now?”

“It seems that Schneider doesn’t like it. What about you, Gutierrez? Want to team up?”

“I see no harm in it.”

“N-No. No... Don’t trust Gutierrez! She could have an ulterior motive!”

“Tell that bastard to get lost, Choi Yeonseung,” Elisabeth said while pointing at Antony.

Antony sounded incredibly sincere yet resentful.

“Why aren’t you giving me the same offer?” I’m several times better than Gutierrez.”

“Isn’t it because you’re a foolish bastard?”

Choi Yeonseung stopped Elisabeth. Elisabeth was so excited that she was teasing Antony too much.

“Didn’t you say you didn’t want to be in a team?”

“I said the other hunters won’t accept such offers, didn’t I? I, Antony, am different!”

“Do you want to join us, then?”

“I will!”

“If that’s what you want, then okay.”

Choi Yeonseung decided to accept Antony since he wanted to join so much. Antony clenched his fists and rejoiced after receiving permission. Then he became flustered.

…?I received a request, sure, but why did I bet to join?

“N-No. Why should I... ”

“Choi Yeonseung. I think that jerk wants to leave.”

“Really?”

“No!”

***

“I think there are some faces here that I’ve never seen before.”

Choi Yeonseung was looking around for any useful people among the hunters. He didn’t have a long list of desired conditions. First of all, they should be willing to move as a team, have talent, and shouldn't be too trashy…

‘Meeting all those requirements could be a bit difficult.’

Hunters all had trash personalities, so...

“Icarus often changes its members.”

“Aren’t you guys still here?”

“... My skills have been clearly recognized in the Icarus clan,” Elisabeth spoke as if she dared anyone to compare to her.

Elisabeth and Antony seemed to talk a lot, but they had maintained a top rank in the Icarus clan and were consistently in the 1st team. However, not everyone was the same. Hunters who scored low on tests and couldn’t offer anything were immediately kicked out. In addition, they were collecting talent from all over the world, so there were bound to be quite a few new people coming in and leaving.

“You called them in, then kicked them out? That’s way too cold.”

“Didn’t you hear how things work around here when you got recruited? They’re also given a signing bonus and the rest of their salary, so they’ll walk away with a few million dollars anyway. There’s a reason people want to join this clan.”

“......”

The conditions, which were more generous than expected, surprised Choi Yeonseung.

‘Hyung... You are very money ■...’

So that was why there were no complaints!

However, no matter how generous the clan was, hunters were inherently proud. Even though they could receive the best treatment everywhere else, they chose to come here—a place where they could get kicked out if they couldn’t meet the clan’s standards.

Getting kicked out was a complete disgrace. That was why the competition within Icarus was fierce. That was also why they worked alone instead of teaming up.

“They can’t keep doing that. I’ll try to persuade them.”

“That’ll probably be a waste of effort,” Elisabeth murmured.

Even so, Choi Yeonseung grabbed a nearby hunter he hadn’t seen before and asked, “Are you interested?in the dao of martial?arts?”

“What? Am I interested?in the dao?”

“... It sounds strange when you say it like that. Are you interested in martial arts?”

"No. Get lost.”

“Don’t you know martial arts?”

“I know what it is. It is nonsense that an old-fashioned bastard like you uses!”

Bam bam bam!

Choi Yeonseung immediately hit the hunter’s abdomen, chest, and jaw with?Origin?of the Celestial Fist. He held back most of its power, but it was still strong enough to knock down the hunter, who couldn’t properly defend. Unconscious, the hunter foamed around the mouth and trembled.

“... I thought you were going to persuade them?” Elisabeth murmured from behind, sounding bewildered.