Chapter 7 Part1 (1/2)

<chapter 7.=”” three=”” way=”” -=”” 1=””>

By the time Lee s.h.i.+n Woo got a hold of himself, he was in a bright interior, rather than the sewers. It was as if he were in a dream, as the surrounding landscape looked blurry, and he couldn't move his body as he wished. Though he was able to indirectly experience the feeling of a human's body, he wasn't very happy.

Yes, he was looking through a certain human's memories. It was a moment where he once again felt the endless abilities of Bone Reinforcement.

”I'm here, Teacher.”

Those words came out of his own mouth. That person, whose body was permeated with Lee s.h.i.+n Woo's consciousness, spoke those words, and raised his head. For the first time, he saw someone else in the room. He was really old, frail, and even the mana within him wasn't anything special.

'Teacher? But this guy seems like he's way stronger.'

Since he was within this person's body, he knew for sure. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo had just become level 3 and possessed an ample amount of magic, yet this guy had much more mana than himself. He was obviously a higher level than him, and had probably focused on his growth in magic.

Whereas the strength of the old man before him wasn't even at the level of a Skeleton Warrior. If they were to quibble over mana, the old man had about half of Lee s.h.i.+n Woo's mana. Normally, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo didn't have the ability to precisely measure someone else's mana, but it was possible for the person who he was inhabiting.

”Gerrit... why have you come?”

”I have something I must tell you.”

Of course, since they had a teacher-student relations.h.i.+p, strength probably wasn't that important. They don't say that the 'student surpa.s.ses the master' for nothing. For starters, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo decided he'd listen to their conversation.

”I have nothing to hear from you.”

”Teacher, I heard you've become responsible for a group that's researching under His Majesty's supervision.”

”...Where did you hear about that?”

”That's not important. What's important is that what you're doing is wrong.”

Ah, as expected. When he thought about it, the last time he reinforced his skull, he remembered hearing about 'research' of some kind. He had roughly guessed what it was, but this memory made it clear what the research was. It was the research that would fill this Empire with the undead.

”Teacher, you must stop that research at once. It's research that's twisted at its very core. Bringing immortality within everyone's reach will bring nothing more than ruin!”

”But that's what His Majesty wants.”

”Isn't it you, who had told me that this research was wrong?”

”...”

”Teacher, please tell me honestly. Who's the one who really wants immortality? Is it His Majesty? Or...”

Around now, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo started to feel like he was watching a movie. The Empire had fallen anyway, so there was no need to be on the edge of his seat! He watched their conversation extremely comfortably. Meanwhile, it seemed as though their argument was reaching its climax.

”Ha. Yes, one born with genius such as you wouldn't understand what it feels like to lack in natural ability and be unable to proceed to the next stage; you don't know how wretched it feels...”

”I just practiced as you taught me, Teacher.”

”Then why couldn't I reach that level!?”

Suddenly, the old man's temper flared. It felt as though it had built up, more and more, and had finally exploded.

”I lack in talent, in magic, and in everything! I can't... I can't get to level 3 before I die. Karma... I don't have enough karma...! At least, if I don't buy more time!”

”And yet, why are you voluntarily trying to shoulder the burden of the horrific karma that you vehemently rejected in the past!? At the time, you were the one I respected the most!”

”You don't know! You, who has everything, wouldn't know what it feels like!”

The old man suddenly screamed. But Lee s.h.i.+n Woo thought he had heard that voice somewhere before, and then, a truly shocking development occurred. The teacher had been delivering his impa.s.sioned speech, and suddenly, one of his eyes popped out and rolled onto the floor.

”What the...!?”

”Ugh!”

That wasn't all. The teacher suddenly vomited rotten blood and bowed his head. His student, Gerrit, had a hunch that something had gone terribly wrong, but the moment he was about to retreat, his teacher raised his head and suddenly attacked him. The teacher's eyes had turned yellow, and had a dull glow! It was like the standard development for a zombie.

”Kyaaaaahk!”

”What the h.e.l.l!?”

Gerrit realized that his teacher, who had sought immortality, had instantly become an existence furthest from life... he had changed into an undead. He quickly diagnosed whether he could turn his teacher back to normal or not, but soon, shook his head, and extended his hand.

'Ooooh...!'

In a brief instance, the world's mana responded to his call, and he instantly created a net comprised of mana, trapping his teacher. It was the stage that his teacher had so fervently desired to reach.

Lee s.h.i.+n Woo felt it across his entire body and was deeply touched. So this was how you handled mana! He could energetically feel it all: how Gerrit had manifested his will in that brief moment, how he drew out the mana within his body, and how he caused change in the mana.

”Kyahak, Kyahaaahk...!”

”d.a.m.n it, Teacher...”

His teacher, who had transformed into a zombie, also raised his mana and struggled; but when Gerrit grit his teeth and flicked his finger, the mana net changed into flames and began to magnificently burn his teacher. When he released the flames, all that remained was a small blue bone.

”d.a.m.n it, what the h.e.l.l did those b.a.s.t.a.r.ds do to him...!”

The sole survivor, Gerrit, persistently grit his teeth, muttered, and picked up the bone fragment. The mana that arose from his body almost acted as proof of his rage.

”I can't let this insanity go on any longer. I have to protect the Empire at all costs. To do that, d.a.m.n it...”

Gerrit chewed on his lips. Whereas Lee s.h.i.+n Woo was concentrating so desperately in order to further engrave Gerrit's high level mana control into his mind that he couldn't feel sympathy for him.

”...In the end, I have no choice but to meet with General Seagald.”

'It's Seagald again!?'

He couldn't help but retort when he heard about General Seagald! However, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo hoped that he would explain what Seagald did, though unfortunately his hope was dashed, as that was the last thing he heard before his consciousness became faint.

It was as if someone decided that these were all the experiences and memories that he could receive, and cut it short. His sight turned dark, and his own senses gradually returned to him. Back to the senses of his cold, hard bone body.