Hyeonu entrusted the equipment to Kapa and immediately left the League of Different Species. His destination was a secluded city with few players.
âWhy is he staying in a place like this? This isnât the only place where he can study,â Hyeonu muttered as he wandered around the empty city.
âBrother!â a man in a colorful robe screamed and ran out from behind Hyeonu just then.
âYes, yes. You seem to be doing well in a place like this.â Hyeonu greeted the man who ran out. It was a face he hadnât seen in Arena for a long time.
âWhat do you mean by doing well? I am just practicing magic. So what if I learn a skill? I canât use it,â Mason grumbled a lot. He had many complaints.
âThen are you going to just gain it by doing nothing? You have to make an effort, an effort.â Hyeonu clicked his tongue at Mason. It was clear what was going on even without looking.
âWhat level is he? It is past the time when itâs easy.â
This was a problem stemming from one of the characteristics of Arena. Arena put a huge burden on its frontrunners, i.e. the rankers.
âIt isnât about eating it raw. I just want to be able to use it. How can I use this in practice? I canât use it unless it is a raid,â Mason grumbled regardless of Hyeonuâs criticism.
Hyeonu was the only one Mason could act spoiled with. In reality, everyone around Mason disliked it when he focused on Arena, so he naturally had no one to talk about it with. However, the situation was similar within Arena. The troubles of magicians werenât known unless they were magicians.
Out of Masonâs friends, the only one who was a magician was Sunny. The problem was that Sunny was a necromancer. Her problem was dealing with the undead itself, not magic. So, no consensus could be formed even when Mason grumbled.
âYou have to practice in order to be able to use it easier. Who is good at it from the start? You should practice, practice.â Hyeonu grabbed Masonâs shoulder and pressed on it.
âWe canât communicate. This is why talent... I shouldnât talk.âMason shook his head and rubbed his shoulder, which was burning due to Hyeonuâs vicious grip.
âThen what about Suped?â
âTeacher? He isnât far away. Canât you tell when you see me coming out of here?â
âLetâs go quickly.â Hyeonu pushed Masonâs back.
Unable to hold on against Hyeonuâs strength which was built based on massive stats, Mason has pushed away.
âI will go as long as you say so. Can you take your hands off me?â
***
Suped sensed someone and opened his mouth to speak while turning his head: âWhere did you go? You need to practice...â
Then Suped stopped talking. It was because a face different from the one he was thinking of appeared.
âHello, Suped. It has been a long time,â Hyeonu greeted Suped with a bright smile.
âWhat are you doing here? No, how did you know to come here?â Suped had the opposite reaction to Hyeonu. He was far from welcoming and didnât hide his discomfort. Rather, he revealed it blatantly.
âHow else could I know? I asked.â Hyeonu pulled Mason, who was standing far behind him, forward. âIsnât your lovely disciple my dearest younger brother?â
Hyeonu smiled constantly. He never became angry due to Supedâs words.
âI donât know how you can look exactly like your teacher. I would believe it if you were his child.â Suped sighed. He raised the white flag. He couldnât beat this person when it came to words.
âHe would be successful enough with his tongue, even without a sword.â
Hyeonu was different from other adventurers who shrank in confidence when they stood in front of Suped. He was polite but not submissive. He was always dignifiedâexcept when it came to one person.
âSo what request brings you here today?â
âWhy are you speaking like Iâm someone who only comes when I have something to ask for? Iâm not that rude.â
âSo you just came to visit?â
âOf course, I have something I would like to ask of you, but... that is incidental. The biggest reason is something else.â Hyeonu casually blocked Supedâs continuous attacks.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
âAnother reason? Then say it. Iâm looking forward to hearing what nonsense you will say.â Suped laughed.
Hyeonuâs words seemed absurd. He said, âI came to say hello. Isnât communicating the most important thing between people? I need to see you again before you forget my face...â
Hyeonu couldnât finish his words to the end. It was because Suped couldnât listen to Hyeonuâs sophistry and threw a fireball at his face. Hyeonu raised his hand and grabbed at Supedâs fireball lightly. He caught the fireball in his hand and extinguished it instantaneously.
âIs it possible to implement this type of magic circle? For example, it normally has the appearance of a ring. Then once magic power is injected, it will take the form of a sword.â Hyeonu naturally brought up the main point as if nothing had happened.
âForm conversion? The magic isnât hard. Anyone like me can use it,â Suped responded while nodding slowly.
âIt is easyâ¦? It sounds like you are the only one in the empire who can do it though?â Hyeonu asked back with a disbelieving expression. Anyone who could reach the level of a great magician could use it. Yet in the Yusma Empire, the only great magician was Suped.
âIs he trying to appeal that only he can do it?â Hyeonu suddenly felt uneasy. If it was something that only Suped could do, it meant Hyeonu had to appeal to him.
âYou understand the words very well.â
âWhat should I do?â
Suped shook his head at Hyeonuâs question. âWhat can I ask of you, a duke of the empire? If you want me to do it, Iâll do it.â
âWhat do you mean by that, Suped? Am I just a duke? I am your discipleâs friend. Your discipleâs friend. You just have to treat me that way.â Hyeonu shook his head from side to side several times faster than Suped. Suped erased the playfulness on his face and scanned Hyeonuâs entire body.
âI canât see the single-edged sword...â Suped confirmed that Hyeonuâs waist was empty. He couldnât see what was always there. Then he asked, âBy the way, what do you want me to engrave that magic circle on? From the example, it seems you want it engraved on a weapon...â
In response to Supedâs question, Hyeonu silently pulled the Guardianâs Spear out of his inventory.
âThis is it, Suped. This is the spear I gained by accident. I want to engrave a magic circle on this.â
Suped couldnât help feeling admiration when he saw the Guardianâs Spear. It was because the aura he felt was unusual.
âYou found something good.â
Suped was a magician, but this didnât mean he was blind. As a magician, he realized it through reason and knowledge, not instinct.
âI was lucky.â
âBeing lucky is also an ability. There are many people who canât catch the luck that comes once in a lifetime.â Suped lightly ignored Hyeonuâs humility.
Luck came to everyone. They just couldnât catch it.
âWould you like to take a look?â Hyeonu held out the Guardianâs Spear to Suped. Suped accepted the Guardianâs Spear and examined it thoroughly.
âIt definitely isnât a work of the present era.â
Suped figured out the origin of the Guardianâs Spear with one glance.
âAt the very least, it is a pre-Yusma Empire item. I canât see any traces of the dwarves.â
âIf I look closely, it is even better. Do you want to turn this into a ring?â Suped asked while tapping the ground with the end of the spear.
âYes, it should usually be in the form of a ring. Then I hope it will regain its original appearance if I inject magic power.â Hyeonu revealed exactly what he wanted. It was better than speaking vaguely.
âIt will take a while. Is that okay? I donât know if I will be holding back a busy person.â
Hyeonu shook his head and smiled. âIt is fine. I am going to rest for a week or so anyway. There should be times when I should relax.â
In any case, he couldnât move even if he wanted to until Kapa finished upgrading his equipment.
âAh, I also have a request of you. Will you listen to it?â Suped asked with a serious expression.
âYes, I have to if it is Supedâs request.â Hyeonu nodded without hesitation. Suped had already granted his request, so it was natural for him to grant Supedâs.
âGet involved in the northern war. I want to reduce the damage to the empire as much as possible. It would be good to restore at least one city.â Supedâs request wasnât for personal gain but for the entire empire.
âI naturally have to enter the northern war. It is my duty as a duke of the empire,â Hyeonu gladly accepted Supedâs request. It wasnât tricky or difficult.
âThen go away. Mason, come back after talking in moderation. I need time to be alone.â Suped ordered both Mason and Hyeonu to leave. He also needed time as it wasnât easy to engrave a magic circle that was semi-permanent.
âI understand, Teacher.â Mason smiled and nodded. He also needed time to talk to Hyeonu.
âTell Mason once the magic circle is complete. Then I will come and find you,â Hyeonu said to Suped.
The latter replied, âI understand. Iâll give you the news through Mason.â
***
Supedâs expression changed in an instant the moment that Hyeonu and Mason left. It was as hard as stone.
âHe really came to me as His Majesty said...â
Suped had been called by the emperor just a week ago. Then he received an order from the emperor. He should listen as much as possible if Hyeonu came and asked for a favor.
âHe told me to come straight to him and make a report.â
The emperor told Suped to come find him right away after that.
âHe ordered it, so I have to do as Iâve been told.â
Suped moved his finger through the air, and a colorful magic circle emerged there. The moment the magic circle was completed, Supedâs figure was no longer in the laboratory. He was already in the capital.
âYour Majesty, this humble Suped has come.â Suped arrived in front of the great hall where the emperor was.
âCome in,â the emperorâs languid voice rang out from inside.
âYour Majesty, it is as you said. Duke Gang Hyeonu came to visit me.â Suped stood in front of the throne and looked up at the emperor politely.
âReally? What did he ask for?â
âHe brought a spear that looked pretty good and asked me to turn it into a ring.â
The emperor didnât react much to Supedâs words and continued to lean against the throne. âWhat else?â
âI told him to take part in the northern war as Your Majesty commanded.â
âDid you tell him to retake a city?â
Suped bowed deeply and replied, âYes, Your Majesty. I told him that.â
âGood. Very good. I hope the duke will handle his duties well.â The emperor waved his hand as if telling Suped to go.
âI will see you again in the near future, Your Majesty.â Suped bowed and slowly left the great hall.
The moment he disappeared from the great hall, a rainbow-colored bear appeared from behind the emperorâs throne. The bear smiled and floated around the emperor. The emperor looked at the rainbow-colored bear and smiled happily. Then he reached out toward the rainbow bear. The bear was naturally embraced in the emperorâs arms.
âJust wait a bit longer. You will soon be able to see the scenery outside to your heartâs content. There arenât many days left until I donât have to stay here,â the emperor murmured while carefully stroking the bearâs head.