Vol 3 Chapter 24

"It seems you're the same, so you don't appear to have the right to say such things..."

"Huh? What?"

Kapros hadn't expected Un-o to play the obedient younger brother role from the start, casually delivering a big counterattack with a cold face... Anyway, seeing the two getting along well even though he had kept his mouth shut, Kapros thought he should now get back to the magic imaging he had originally intended to do, so he unfolded the paper again.

Aerial Servant. The first 6th circle spell he had to challenge was waiting for him.

[I desire that you break free from your existence and reveal your breath in this moment to move for me. - Aerial Servant]

Aerial Servant, in other words, a servant of the wind. So the usage of this magic would be what one could do using the wind. Something that could be done specifically by using wind...

'...'

Quite a few uses quickly came to mind. Of course, using it as support during combat would be the standard, but... The biggest advantage of wind-based magic was that it was invisible. Moreover, this magic seemed to have a high degree of freedom for application, so it could make better use of that advantage. Then, even if not used during combat...

'...'

An image of a floating stone flying by itself and hitting the unsuspecting Kran's head once flashed through his mind.

"Heh..."

That would be fun too. Anyway, Aerial Servant... It was indeed a fitting magic given by an elf. It might have low direct killing power, but it was still 6th circle. Would it be worth it?

"Um, ...Kap."

Suddenly awakened from his thoughts by Kran's hesitant voice, Kapros saw Kran with his eyes wide open as if he had seen something he shouldn't have, and Un-o with a slightly strange expression.

"...What?"

"Oh, nothing. Just now... there was a sound like someone trying not to laugh, and somehow it seemed to come from your direction."

With an expression already full of 'It couldn't be, right?', asking like that...

"I was just sitting here..."

"Ah... is that so? You were just looking at the scroll, right? Haha. I guess my ears were playing tricks on me, after all."

"..."

Unlike Kran, who turned his head away again, forcing a laugh with a bewildered face, Un-o kept sending deeply suspicious glances until the very end before turning away. Kapros couldn't help but smile where the two couldn't see.

Right... He had just laughed, that's all. Besides, if they knew what he had been thinking, even Kran might be a bit shocked.

Swallowing his laughter inwardly, Kapros began to focus on imaging again.

Yoon Seok-ho's call came during the week Ilumine had given them, when Kapros was busy injecting mana to raise the percentage of Ma-Rakian swordsmanship and imaging Aerial Servant. It was a day he had to go to the kendo dojo, and just as he had finished preparing after getting up early for once, a notification sound suddenly rang out.

[ You have a video call from number 01A-1169-G89SCB. Would you like to answer? ]

"...01A-1169-G89SCB?"

The number was strangely familiar. Who was it?

"Answer."

As soon as Kapros spoke, a screen appeared in mid-air, showing a man in a sleek suit sitting in a chair.

[ Ah, Mr. Kang Mu-heon. It's been a while, hasn't it? ]

As Kapros looked at Yoon Seok-ho, he thought that next time he should definitely save this number and block it.

"What is it?"

[ Are you still not happy to see me? I'm so interested in you, Mu-heon, and every time you act like this, it's so disappointing... ]

"Put aside that interest and just tell me what you want."

[ I like that sharp demeanor of yours. Anyway... Well, have you been keeping healthy? ]

"Ah..."

Kapros was about to retort to forget about health and everything else when a past incident suddenly crossed his mind, making his eyes sharpen. He remembered the incident with the thugs that he had meant to confront Yoon Seok-ho about but had forgotten. Damn. To forget such an important matter... Had he gone crazy?

"I haven't been healthy at all."

[ Pardon? You look fine from what I can see here... Did you have some problem? ]

Kapros opened his mouth, looking strangely at Yoon Seok-ho, whose gaze had sharpened as he examined Kapros through the screen.

"A while ago, I met some suspicious people in front of the kendo dojo where I work. They showed me your photo and asked if I knew you. It was almost dangerous."

The moment Kapros finished speaking, Yoon Seok-ho's usually sly expression changed. It was such a sharp gaze that even Kapros, who had brought it up, was startled.

[ Fortunately... it seems you weren't seriously injured. ]

Although he quickly composed his expression, it was clearly evident that he was trying to change the subject, as his words were too awkward for someone asking if everything was alright. It was unbelievably unsmooth for someone who usually redirected conversations without others noticing.

"Mr. Yoon Seok-ho. This was an incident related to my personal safety. Don't think you can brush it off with such diversions. Why exactly did you come there three years ago?"

When Kapros asked sharply, Yoon Seok-ho remained silent for a moment before bowing his head deeply.

[ Mu-heon. First, I deeply apologize that such an incident occurred in relation to me. ]

I'm telling you, I don't need that kind of apology...

[ First of all... I want to say that I was also extremely surprised. I still don't know why such a thing happened or who was behind it. For now, it seems I can only answer your question after we resolve this issue on our end first. ]

"Why is that?"

[ Because if I carelessly say something here, we can't rule out the possibility that such individuals might come looking for you again. ]

'...'

Judging by his expression, it didn't seem like he was joking, whatever it was.

[ It seems those people didn't know that you and I were connected like this. To think they only found out about this now... Why didn't you contact me earlier? ]

At Yoon Seok-ho's tone, which now seemed not just serious but almost angry, Kapros slightly furrowed his brow.