Chapter 38 (1/2)

”Magic Power.”

If one were to talk about this mysterious power, there would be literally no end to the conversation. However, if one were to define it in the simplest terms, then it could be called the 'unique gift'.

In a world where its main G.o.d had been devoured by the marauding invaders and filled to the brim with endless battles fought by all sorts of creatures - this mysterious energy called Magic Power provided the only form of defense for the human race who had fallen to the very bottom of the food chain.

Excluding one or two extreme cases, all humans generally possessed some amount of Magic Power. An individual's growth potential was dictated by one's inborn talents or bloodlines, but without a doubt, humans were born with this power existing inside them already.

Pretty much everyone who used this power 'professionally' would say the same thing: it'd be for the best if one started training their Magic Power as early in their lives as possible.

This advice wasn't simply meant to imply the fact that one's available amount of Magic Power would increase from the training. One would also get to train the pathways in their bodies where the Magic Power flowed, the aptly named 'Circuit', as well.

Someone born with a great deal of this energy needed to pay an extremely close attention when they started their training. There had been several cases where the fragile Circuits couldn't endure the circulation of the Magic Power and tore up, or if conditions worsened, even ended up getting destroyed completely.

Just as one would temper the steel repeatedly to remove impurities as much as possible, the 'Circuit' would also strengthen gradually as a manageable amount of Magic Power constantly flowed through the pathway. Thus, training oneself from early on was indeed the right call to make.

However, the situation Seol faced was quite complicated.

His powers manifested when he was extremely young. A small pathway gradually formed when he followed his instinct and used his new-found power. Never did he once receive proper training; he didn't even consciously realise that he'd been abusing his power repeatedly.

And the moment he lost his power proved to be a critical point in his life.

Although he'd been using his Magic Power almost subconsciously, he still did rely on it for almost 20 years. Inevitably, the amount of energy he could wield had grown by a lot. However, thanks to him suddenly abusing his power constantly, the Circuit that had been barely holding on, was pushed to the brink and ended up breaking apart.

Thanks to 'Future Vision', his body instinctively 'remembered' new pathways that could be used alternatively. That led to Seol recovering his powers, but still, his old Circuit remained broken.

The reason why Seol chose the 'Psychi's Tears' was because, after learning 'Magic Power Application', he regularly explored how the Circuit of his body operated while meditating and ended up discovering the broken pathway.

[Psychi's Tears]

The renowned alchemist of Scheherazade, Psychi.

He took pity on a woman whose body was ruined by disastrous Magic Power training when she was still a young child.

For this woman, whose body continued to wither with the pa.s.sing of every single day, Psychi relentlessly pursued knowledge and researched for a way, so she could get to live the life that she yearned for.

He went on a long journey to procure all the ingredients for his elixir, and after conquering many arduous trials and tribulations, he was able to taste the fruits of success. However, when he returned to the city of Scheherazade, the woman he devoted his entire life to had already pa.s.sed on from this world.

Many influential men desired to possess the results of his incredible journey, yet Psychi simply chose to head to the holy temple where the remains of the woman rested. There, he shed tears of sorrow and prayed.

He prayed that, even though he'd never see her again, at least let her receive this final gift from him.

The G.o.d was moved by this pure love that forsook one's honour and wealth, and saw fit to name this offering as the Psychi's Tears.

And thus, the Psychi's Tears was born - the miraculous item that perhaps exemplifies the purest essence of what alchemy is. The item that contained all of the knowledge a man gained throughout his entire life, from his youth to his old age.

”Mm….”

Seol's sight was blurry. He blinked several times, causing the pooled secretion there to glide off his face.

He could hear the wet, splas.h.i.+ng noises every time he tried to move. It almost felt like he was wading in a puddle of water or thick mud. His entire body felt sticky and heavy. Seol cautiously pushed his upper body up from the bathtub, only to begin retching out urgently.

”Euuuph…!”

The bitter, acrid odour of dried blood and rotting stench of filth combined to a.s.sault his nose. Seol continued to vomit for a while, and after recovering, he noticed all the filthy secretion and excrement filling up the tub alongside him. A deep frown formed on his face.

There were rotting black blood filled with remnants of his peeled skin; sickly yellow liquid that could be either his sweat or puss; real, bona fide c.r.a.p; and finally, completely unidentifiable floating hardened pieces of something….

All these disgusting and smelly excrements were doing their best to throw a party inside the tub. There were so much of these ”substances” in the tub, Seol could scarcely believe that they all came out of his own body.

'I made the right call, sleeping in the bathtub….'

Seol held his breath while opening the taps. The warm water rushed out and managed to dislodge the hardened excrement, slowly was.h.i.+ng them away.

Seol decided that, might as well, he'd take a bath too. He had a feeling that, once he leaves the Neutral Zone, taking a warm bath like this would be a luxury he might not be able to afford in a long, long while. Also, he wanted to get rid of all the dirty things off him as soon as possible, too.

He proceeded to pour the bathing supplements that aided with one's natural recovery and dipped his body down in the warm water. He stayed there for over 30 minutes and scrubbed his whole body clean twice. Only then did he feel fully refreshed.

Seol felt a lot more satisfied after seeing his much-cleaner reflection in the mirror. Before long, though, he fell into quiet contemplation. Now that he got rid of all the disgusting things off of him, it was time to confirm the effects of the Psychi's Tears.

'Mm…'

He realised that the flow of his Magic Power became even more smoother. Even though he never felt the flow was slow to begin with, it was still akin to someone who used 3G finally moving to LTE and discovering a brand new world out there or some such.

Seol soon figured out the reason from checking out his Circuit. Not only his previously-broken pathway had been mended in full, the overall length of his Circuit had become far greater as well. Also, impurities blocking the pathway had been cleared away, which effectively meant that the overall width of the Circuit had increased several folds, too.

More importantly, since the amount that could flow through the Circuit increased, the vigour at which it flowed also strengthened in turn.

If he were to compare his previous flow of Magic Power to a cute little stream of water trickling out from a valley, now it was like a majestic river that snaked and raged around quite freely.

And indeed, he found it even easier to control his Magic Power. Gooseb.u.mps broke out from his skin after he realised how refres.h.i.+ng it felt as the energy spread around and enter even the tiniest acupuncture points all over his body.

From hereon, Seol would be able to output far more Magic Power than what his current stats alluded to.

[Your Status Window] [4. Abilities] Other abilities (1)

- Reinforced Circuit (Superior)

'Would being born again as a new person feel like this, I wonder?'

Seol grinned after he checked his Status Window.

A strange set of coincidences led him to this point in time. If his Job had been a Sorcerer, he'd probably think that this was one of the greatest lucky chances he encountered in his life, something he'd most likely never encounter again.

However, Seol could only think about the recovery of his old pathway and remained oblivious of the actual truth.

As soon as morning arrived, Seol ended up facing a storm of chaos. Odelette Delphine went around advertising the fact that he managed to successfully clear the Impossible mission, that was why. Thanks to her, he had to repeat the same line over and over again as he made his way down to the first floor.

”What is the meaning of this chaos?” (Cinzia)

If it weren't for Cinzia making her timely entrance along with all the maids on the first floor plaza, Seol would've spent the rest of his day explaining things.

After receiving an explanation on what happened, even she got stunned, however. She took a quick look at the completely-empty noticeboard and a wry smile broke out on her lips.

”Looks like I owe Agnes an apology.” (Cinzia)

Overhearing that, the corners of Agnes's lips curled up a little.

A little bit of time later, a simple exit procedure commenced.

Cinzia offered a short praise for everyone, complimenting them for all their hard work for the last three months. Afterwards, the survivors paid 1000 SP and returned their smartphones.

After all that was said and done, the first floor was filled with the noises of heavy steel doors being dragged open.

”Go through there, and the Paradise you've all been itching to enter is waiting for you.” (Cinzia)

Cinzia spoke as she pointed towards the dark corridor.

”There won't be anyone guiding you out, since we'll have to remain behind and deactivate the Neutral Zone. However, I'm sure there aren't any dumb f*ckers among you who can't even cross a simple corridor, right?” (Cinzia)

Perhaps realising that she was making a joke, some survivors began chuckling in response.

”Well, nothing will happen anyways. We even prepared an open banquet area for you outside and all. All you have to do is to wait for those coming to fetch you. After that, negotiate, sign a contract, whatever…. In any case, you'll find simple meals ready for you on the tables placed outside. Quietly enjoy your breakfast and wait there.”

Cinzia then pulled out a packet of cigarettes as if she was done with her speech, before opening her mouth again.

”Oh, and a request, if I may…. at least for today, don't fight.” (Cinzia)

She momentarily stopped talking in order to pull a cigarette out with her teeth, then continued on with a surprisingly serious tone of voice.

”I'm advising you to let the events of the Neutral Zone be bygones. Today's a day to celebrate, isn't that right?” (Cinzia)

She lit the cigarette up, inhaled deeply, and a little while later, let the white smoke ease out from her nostrils and open lips.

”Especially you, the Invited…. I know very well how powerful your backers are. Being able to flaunt one's right to mobilise that many Marks, I'm sure they possess quite a bit of influence here.” (Cinzia)

”However, it'd be better for you to abandon petty grudges you have before leaving this place. Remember that.” (Cinzia)

There was a sound of someone snorting derisively coming from the crowd.

”Even though I made such a nice little request, you'd inevitably see some bloodshed on the first day…. Oh, well. The moment you step foot outside this place, you're no longer my concern, so do what you will.” (Cinzia)

Cinzia tsk, tsked and continued on while brus.h.i.+ng her bangs upwards.

”With that, I declare the official closure of the Neutral Zone.” (Cinzia)

For the first time ever, she began smiling softly.

”It was a real ch.o.r.e to look after you lot. Let's not meet ever again.” (Cinzia)

She then spun around and left.

'Is that the end?' (Seol)

Seol stared at the departing back of Cinzia, before surveying his surroundings. Others around him were showing similar reactions.

”Why are you still here?” (Cinzia)

It was then, that woman's sharp voice dug into their ear ca.n.a.ls one more time.

”Why aren't you leaving already? Do we have to hold your hands, too?” (Cinzia)

Only then did the survivors began moving one by one. They shuffled towards the direction Cinzia pointed towards.

'So, it's…. really ending.' (Seol)

Seol stared at one of the maids following Cinzia. Maybe she sensed his gaze, Agnes turned to gaze back at him. He dazedly waved his hand at her, and she replied him with the usual - the dignified, silent bow.

”Let's get going~! Off we go!” (Yi Surl-Ah)

Yi Surl-Ah excitedly grabbed Seol's arm and tugged at him.

'Really, this is it?' (Seol)

Even while being dragged away, Seol kept on glancing behind him. He didn't want to miss a thing.

Desperately, he took in the sights of the Neutral Zone.

'I did run on the track like crazy, didn't I?' (Seol)

He saw the mission noticeboard, now empty.

He also saw the lounge tables where he sat together with his teammates to have a chat, or to discuss strategy for their next mission.

'I practiced Strike, Thrust, and Cut like crazy, too.' (Seol)

….The gym where he trained like there was no tomorrow under Agnes's guidance; the stores he'd been windowshopping, wondering if there was anything eye-catching; the restaurant that he always ate in; and even his sleeping quarters that had been filled with the laughters and voices of the Yi kids staying with him….