Beyond the Eternity

I gasped as if a nuclear bomb had detonated in my chest. My legs gave way, and I collapsed to the floor in despair. 「 "No way... That can't be..." 」

I had thought the issue was simply my lack of magical potential, but now this woman was saying I couldn't even learn alternatives like skills and martial arts.

How the hell was I supposed to accept something like that?

I spoke with a feverish voice.「 "Are you certain about this? It doesn't make sense." 」

「 "That's the only reasonable conclusion I could think of." 」

「 "No, that can't be right? Are you saying I'm really that talentless?" 」

Soo Jinyoung tilted her head thoughtfully, holding her chin as she scanned me from head to toe.

「 "It's indeed strange. Even from here, I can't sense a single trace of mana inside your body. Is something like this even possible? It's my first time seeing anything like this. Could it be some kind of unique constitution that has a negative effect?" 」

I said with a frown.「 "If I had something like that, I would have known." 」

「 "You're right. You wouldn't have passed the First Story if you possessed a debilitating constitution." 」

「 "Then why? I had no problem using skills I purchased from the shop, so why can't I learn something directly from someone else?" 」

「 "I don't know. This is also a first for me. I believe it's either the effect of a unique constitution or a curse. But from what I can see, it doesn't look like you're under the effect of any curses, so I can only assume it's the former." 」

I mulled over her words carefully, trying to remain calm despite the sinking feeling in my chest. Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire

Unique constitutions were hidden attributes that some Seekers possessed, often a double-edged sword. For example, Kagura's Saint attribute enhanced her physical abilities, making her twice as strong as the average Walker. However, it came with a devastating downside where she couldn't kill her own species.

Furthermore, not all unique constitutions had a balance of pros and cons. Some were completely useless, with no redeeming qualities whatsoever. There were constitutions that left their owners constantly starving no matter how much they ate or ones that inflicted excruciating pain whenever they experienced sexual pleasure.

Such constitutions were often referred to as "Cursed Constitutions."

But I was absolutely certain I had nothing that wretched. If I did, I would have found a way to rid myself of it long ago. Therefore, the cause of my current predicament was something else.

「 "So what should I do? Perhaps talking to Aurora about this would be the best course of action." 」

「 "I won't recommend that." 」

「 "Are you worried she would report my data to the Buseau?" 」

「 "So, you know..." 」

「 "Of course, I do. Why do you think I've been able to do everything I have done? There won't be any danger if—" 」

「 "That's naive." 」

Soo Jinyoung cut me off with a sharp sentence. Her expression turned icy cold as she said:

「 "Let me warn you about something. I don't know what kind of relationship you've formed with that fairy, but don't recklessly give away your personal information to her. Whether you two have a strong bond or you're simply using each other, the Buseau has ways of extracting information from her without needing her consent or resorting to violence. I learned this the hard way. And this doesn't just apply to her but to the perverts watching us as well." 」

By perverts, she meant...

[Some constellations are confused by the sudden tension.]

[Many constellations are curious why you're just staring at each other.]

[A few constellations are attempting to read your expression.]

Both of us instinctively glanced up at the grey sky above.

It was filled with the unseen gazes of the constellations. Most had already left the channel, bored by the lack of action, but a few lingered, silently observing, waiting for something to happen.

At some point in the future, I knew many of those constellations would turn into enemies of <Night Management.>

Revealing our weaknesses here would be akin to committing suicide.

Soo Jinyoung's voice softened slightly as she continued. At that moment, she stopped using private communication.

"As for the matter of your strange condition… I think this is something only you can solve. I can only hope that, eventually, you'll find the answer on your own."

"It's strange. Why are you helping me? I thought you didn't trust me."

She paused briefly as if choosing the right words before answering.

"You're right. I still don't trust you completely. However, you're undeniably resourceful. It would be a waste if you went off and got yourself killed. That is something I can't allow."

I couldn't help but smile wryly. "Ouch. Isn't that a cruel thing to say to your companion? You're really heartless."

"Would you rather I lied to you."

"No. This is okay too. Thank you for your help."

Soo Jinyoung shook her head lightly.

"There's no need to thank me. The essence of martial arts is to pass it on to the next generation. It's the duty I accepted when I inherited these teachings from my master."

I raised a skeptical brow.

"That's something all martial artists say, isn't it? I still don't get it, teaching divine arts to someone who might betray you doesn't seem logical."

"It's not as complicated as you think."

She directed her gaze toward the sky covered by the gray fog. "In Murim, there's a saying: one tree can't make a forest. Tell me, how many trees do you think it takes to make a forest?"

"I don't know. A hundred? A thousand? It's impossible to count the number of trees in a forest."

She shook her head.

"That's wrong. The right answer is one."

Her response left me more confused than before.

"One? I don't understand. Doesn't that contradicts the saying itself?"

Soo Jinyoung turned her sharp gaze toward me and explained in a calm voice:

"There's only one tree, and there's only one forest. One tree grows, spreads its seeds, and gives life to many others. That's how a forest begins. Teaching martial arts is no different. Even if there's a risk of betrayal, passing down knowledge ensures its survival and growth. Without that, it all withers away."

[Many constellations say that explanation makes no sense.]

[Some constellations complain that this is exactly why martial artists are so hard to understand.]

It wasn't surprising that the constellations didn't understand. I was also equally confused.

Her philosophy was riddled with contradictions and left plenty of room for argument. I could have countered her words in more ways than one, but I kept my mouth shut. I wasn't in the mood to debate the intricacies of her worldview.

Besides, I knew that the person who taught Soo Jinyoung martial arts wasn't a typical individual. In truth, she was simply repeating the ideals her master had instilled in her.

Perhaps, in her own way, she was still trying to make sense of them herself.

Soo Jinyoung paused briefly before continuing,

"At first, I didn't understand it either. But over time, I came to realize the meaning behind those words. Perhaps you'll grasp it too when you're ready to confront your own worldview. As I said before, the answer to your mysterious condition is something only you can uncover."

"As a teacher of martial arts, I have fulfilled my duty to the best of my ability. With this, my responsibility ends."

"If you find a way to solve your mysterious situation, then you may come to me again. If not, don't bother. I am a busy person, and I have little patience for anything that doesn't concern martial arts. And just to be clear, I won't teach you my personal skills. Martial arts is as much about independence as it is discipline. You'll have to find your own path you wish to walk."

She straightened her posture, and her voice took on a colder edge as she turned to leave.

"I'm heading out now. Keep this in mind: I dislike being bothered by anything outside of martial arts. If you bother me unnecessarily, I might just cut you down."

With those parting words, she turned on her heel and walked away without looking back.

Just as I thought the conversation was over, she paused mid-step and glanced back at me.

A smile, one I'd never seen from her before, not in all the short time we'd known each other, spread across her face.

It wasn't warm or reassuring.

It was a smile that sent a chill crawling down my spine.

With that eerie smile, she said, "Also, make sure to become strong. It doesn't matter if you're my companion or not. If you ever try to betray me in the future, I'll make sure to kill you properly."

† †

Recalling the conversation I had with Soo Jinyoung, my body trembled. I could still feel the goosebumps that had risen in that moment.

Even disregarding the respectable aspect, her words were genuinely scary. Was she revealing her true character in that instant? It seemed our relationship had reached a point where she felt comfortable enough to make such casual threats.

Whether that was a good thing or a bad thing, I couldn't say. Still, setting that Incident aside, I felt like I understood Soo Jinyoung far better than I understood myself.

There was only one way where I could understand myself better. But I had to take care of something first.

My gaze shifted to Miyuki, who tilted her head innocently. What was I supposed to tell this girl?

I sighed. I chose my next set of words very carefully and said:

"I can't teach you magic since it's not compatible with my abilities. I prefer a more direct approach. The best I can do is offer you information and insight. That's all."

"A magus isn't just someone who uses magic, they research it, too, to uncover its mysteries. How can you call yourself a good magus if you don't even research?"

"Of course, it's not about hypocrisy.I believe you'll learn better on your own. Independence is a crucial part of a Walker's journey. Whether you choose a practical or theoretical approach, the choice is yours."

I paused for a moment, then added,

"If you don't understand anything, make sure to meet Kim Hyunwoo upstairs. He's a rather intellectual individual, but he might be able to help you to some extent. Magic has a very close relationship with science, after all."

"You can also talk to the others if you need help with the practical aspects. And remember, if you want to go out and hunt monsters, make sure you tell one of the adults first. Do you understand?"

Miyuki nodded. "Yes, I understand."

"Good."

I smiled and gently placed my hand on her head, ruffling her hair softly.

There was something about headpats that seemed to comfort children, and judging by the pleased expression on Miyuki's face, I guess that held true for her as well.

For a moment, I felt like a father heading out for work on a Monday morning. Wouldn't it be nice to have a child of my own?

A few moments later, I pulled myself away and walked toward where I had hung my coat and slipped it on.

Opening the door, I paused halfway and glanced back at Miyuki, offering a few parting words.

"I might be gone for a while. If the others come back before me, tell them I left to do something important and might be late. This time, it's Jung Yunhee's turn to make dinner, so make sure to remind her about this. You guys can eat without me if I don't return on time."

There could be some trouble if the others tried to look for me, so I needed to leave these instructions behind.

"Okay."

Miyuki muttered a simple response. It was good enough.

Like that, I stepped out of the room and closed the door behind me.