NOVEL NEXT Chapter 237
Chapter 237
Witch (4)
***
About two weeks had passed since the start of the semester.
[You have completed Stage 13: ‘Sentient Hallways of Distortion.’]
[Your ‘Agility’ stat has significantly increased.]
In that time, I had been leading a relatively normal yet intense routine.
I attended classes regularly, submitted club activity reports with Ma Yuseong and Aiselle every few days, and continued my solo training in the dormitory after school.
The dungeon inside the Witch’s Crystal Orb of 500 years, designed to enhance physical abilities, was being cleared at an increasingly rapid pace, progressing faster and faster.
My stats were steadily rising, but this wasn’t just about growing stronger.
The Taeryeong Divine Art was also improving, and even my understanding of the Mana Leakage Syndrome had deepened. Not only that, but the precision with which I controlled Blink in extreme situations had greatly increased, causing my overall skill proficiency to rise sharply.
Could this be considered the most peaceful period?
Although no major episodes were unfolding yet, events were slowly progressing somewhere without my knowledge… It was just that kind of time.
Until then, I could simply continue training quietly.
That would have been fine.
But then, a problem arose.
Thi s w a s c op ie d fr o m k i n g m t l. or g
-Come to me…
A hallucination.
Ever since I started using the Witch’s Crystal Orb, I began hearing a woman’s voice in my ears.
T h i s w a s co p i ed f r o m k in gmt l. o r g
The truth was, I hadn’t known about any side effects because, in the game, the witch’s items were merely growth-enhancing tools. I had never encountered any issues.
‘…It did seem too overpowered as a growth item with no penalties.’
When the Witch’s Crystal Orb was still the [Witch’s Crystal Orb of 498], its performance was much weaker, but there were no such side effects. However, perhaps I had absorbed too much dark mana from the Witch Hunter last time, and the thick scent of the witch that had soaked into the orb had now seeped into me.
-Come to me…
“Shut up already.”
Even while working out alone in the dorm’s fitness room, pushing my back muscles to the limit, that woman’s voice kept echoing in my ears. It wasn’t frightening anymore; it was just plain annoying.
I’d gotten somewhat used to it, considering it almost like white noise, but annoying things were still annoying.
I even searched for information about potential side effects of using the witch’s items through the Bulbul Glasses, but no players controlling playable characters had ever experienced hallucinations like mine.
Thi s w a s co p ie d f ro m k in g m tl . o rg
Maybe it was because I was overusing the irregular item, the Witch’s Crystal Orb of 500 years.
In the end, I had no choice but to visit the library to search for answers. Unfortunately, there were hardly any records of witches left in the modern era.
Hearing hallucinations was a common symptom among those tainted by witches, and in severe cases, it could lead to mental breakdowns, delusions, or even split personalities…
But now that I thought about it, something didn’t add up.
I was protected by the Blessing of Red Spring March, which made me completely immune to mental magic. I had even nullified the illusion magic of Hyeijin Macaron, who had inherited the witch’s bloodline. So, how could I be hearing these hallucinations?
‘Could it not be mental magic?’
It had already been three days since I started searching the library for answers to the hallucinations. I had spent days sifting through books on witches and their lore, but I had found nothing useful.
If only I could meet the Witch Hunter again like last time.
Back then, I had taken him down like a pushover, but in Aether World, he was actually one of the most dangerous and intelligent individuals, and an expert in the field of witches.
However, unless he sought me out, it would be impossible for me to track down a Witch Hunter who could travel freely through space.
“Sigh, I don’t know.”
With a deep sigh, I put the book [The History of Witches and the Origins of Witch Hunting] back on the shelf.
As I was about to leave the library, the librarian spoke to me.
“Not borrowing any books today?”
“Excuse me?”
T his w a s c o pi e d fr o m ki n g mtl. o r g
“I noticed you’ve been borrowing a lot of books on witches these past few days. Have you developed an interest in them? I’ve prepared a few more for you.”
“…Really?”
Now that I thought about it, having a librarian, who could search the entire catalog of books, would be far more efficient for gathering information than looking for them myself.
“Then, please show me a few more.”
“Right this way.”
Thump!
The librarian smiled and placed a few massive tomes in front of me.
Honestly, I was amazed at how he had even carried them, as they looked incredibly heavy. Yet, he spoke casually, as if it was nothing.
“I, too, recently became interested in witches. You know, because of that Witch Restaurant? It’s all the rage now. But you’re the only student I’ve seen spend days digging through ancient texts like this.”
“Hmm…”
Witches were certainly an intriguing topic, but interest alone couldn’t make up for how downright tedious the research was.
Still, I selected a few books from the pile the librarian had brought out and checked them out.
“Enjoy reading. I found the legends and myths of witches quite fascinating.”
“Yeah… I’m not really into that sort of thing.”
“Be careful, they’re heavy.”
As the librarian handed me the books, he warned me about their weight, but honestly, it wasn’t that heavy for me.
While they would certainly be heavy for a normal person, I had long surpassed the limits of an ordinary body, so carrying them wasn’t difficult at all.
The principle of Taeryeong Divine Art.
By absorbing the mana of nature and releasing it externally, I could unleash explosive power.
Now, I could apply that principle even in everyday tasks.
“Baek Yu-seol.”
“…?”
I was just about to head back to my dorm to eagerly read the witch-related books when someone called my name the moment I stepped out of the library.
The man before me exuded an aura of ‘I’m very serious,’ causing the other students to instinctively avoid him. His dense mana indicated that he was a highly skilled mage.
“…Hello?”
It wasn’t difficult to figure out his affiliation.
He was wearing the uniform of the Stella Magic Knights.
But why would a Stella Magic Knight be seeking me out?
T his w a s co pied f r o m kin g m t l . o rg
“Commander Arain has requested your presence. Will you come now, or would you prefer to postpone it until tomorrow if you’re busy?”
What was this?
This seemed like a serious matter.
Arain, the commander of the Stella Magic Knights and one of the most powerful figures in the current world, personally calling for me? I couldn’t think of a reason.
Moreover, wasn’t Arain supposed to be a cold, unfeeling person? In the original game, he was remembered as being endlessly aloof and rude.
“Can I ask why?”
T h i s wa s c o p ie d f r om k ingm t l .o r g
“I don’t know the details, but if you ask, you’re to be told it’s ‘related to witches.’ Does that pique your interest?”
“…Hmm. Yes, it does.”
Very much so.
Anyone could have found out that I’d been investigating witches recently, but for Commander Arain to personally look into it and summon me…
“Alright. Let’s go now.”
I didn’t know what this was about, but there was no harm in meeting someone as influential as Arain. So, I accepted the offer without hesitation.
***
…The streets of Arcaneum, bathed in the glow of the setting sun, were painted in a warm, auburn hue, creating a serene atmosphere. In contrast, the streets were always bustling, thanks to the students heading home. Kaen, the leader of the 13th Extermination Unit, didn’t particularly enjoy the noisy scene.
He had originally planned to return to the Tower of the New Moon by now. He and Hyeijin had successfully apprehended a dark mage hiding in a large magic tower, and he had intended to report back immediately, even as Hyeijin whined about wanting to take a belated summer vacation.
However, plans had changed significantly.
‘A dark shadow has fallen over the magical city of Arcaneum.’
A direct order from Rudelik, the master of the Tower of the New Moon, had arrived. It was rare for Rudelik to issue an order without going through psychometry, so neither Kaen nor Hyeijin could refuse it.
Another reason she didn’t protest was likely because of the phrase ‘dark shadow.’
“Commander.”
“Speak.”
“The master of the tower has never been wrong, has he?”
T h i s w a s c o p ie d f r om kin gm t l . o r g
“…Indeed.”
Hyeijin Macaron was born with the bloodline of a witch. Because of this, she had faced all kinds of discrimination and persecution in the magical world. The one who had taken her in was none other than Kaen and Rudelik, the master of the Tower of the New Moon.
There had been a time when she resented her bloodline… but now, she was curious.
Did witches truly exist? And was the blood flowing in her veins really that of a witch?
Even the Tower of the New Moon couldn’t definitively confirm the existence of witches. As a result, the 13th Extermination Unit had only ever managed to find faint traces of witches…
But this time, something felt different.
“There’s a rumor spreading about a ‘Witch Restaurant’ in Arcaneum.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard it’s popping up all over the place.”
No one knew how witches manipulated space magic, but given that witches specialized in illusion magic, they had to keep their options open and consider all possibilities.
“Honestly, I have no idea how we’re supposed to find it…”
For once, Hyeijin spoke in a rare calm tone as she gazed out over Arcaneum.
“But still, let’s give it our best shot!”
Had she ever shown this much enthusiasm for a mission before?
Not that Kaen could remember, ever since they started working together.
Thi s w a s copi e d f r o m k in g m t l . o r g
“…Alright.”
Kaen nodded quietly.
He didn’t bother with pointless words like “Let’s work extra hard” or “We’ll definitely find it.”
He would simply do what he always did—give it his all, without holding back.
***
Late at night.
Just as usual, Flame made her way to Baek Yu-seol’s dormitory.
Ever since she had first come here with the excuse of checking on his recovery, she had discovered that his dorm was surprisingly cozy, well-stocked with snacks, and generally very comfortable. As a result, it had practically become her second home.
Some people might start spreading rumors about her visiting a boy’s dorm every day, but who cared?
She certainly didn’t.
Bang bang bang!
“I’m here.”
She knocked roughly on Baek Yu-seol’s dorm room, just like she always did, but today, there was no response. Was he ignoring her? She knocked a few more times, and just then, she happened to make eye contact with Ma Yuseong as he passed by in the hallway.
“…Hey.”
“Oh, Ma Yuseong. Do you know where Baek Yu-seol went?”
“Hmm… Maybe the library?”
“The library? That guy reads books?”
“Yeah, he’s been going quite often lately.”
That was strange. Baek Yu-seol had already figured out the truths of this world. What more could he be looking for in books now?
‘Or maybe…’
The price for manipulating time was the loss of all memories stored in one’s mind. There was no guarantee that knowledge would not be forgotten as well.
Still, what kind of books would he need?
As Flame pondered, Ma Yuseong seemed to suddenly remember something.
“Oh, now that I think about it, someone mentioned seeing him with a Stella Knight.”
“A Stella Knight…?”
Th i s w a s c o p i ed f r om ki n g m t l . o r g
That was even stranger.
T his w as co pi e d f r om k i n g m tl.or g
What kind of connection could there possibly be between Baek Yu-seol and the Stella Knights?
“Hmm… Got it. Thanks.”
Waving to Ma Yuseong, Flame turned around.
She wasn’t going back to her dorm, though.
She had nothing to do at the moment and was feeling a bit bored… so she figured she might as well stop by the library.
‘I’ll check what kind of books he’s been reading so diligently.’
If something was happening without her knowing, she needed to be aware of it in advance.
Since Baek Yu-seol would never tell her himself, she’d have to find out on her own.
End of Chapter.