Episode 12: Goblin Swamp (3)
A fierce explosion!
When Akan's magic detonated, the goblin collapsed to the ground, burned completely black.
The goblins that had withstood two hits from Jang Minho's magic couldn't endure a single blow from Akan's.
As Akan's magic unleashed devastating power at exactly the right moments, Jang Minho found himself watching Akan throughout the battle.
Thanks to that, he realized what made Akan special.
'It's obvious. Akan Hyung-nim's magic is stronger than mine. But that's not the only reason he's amazing. He wields magic with such proficiency, and his casting is faster than mine too. While I need over thirty seconds to cast, Akan Hyung-nim takes less than ten. What method is he using to create such a difference? It's too extreme to simply chalk it up to talent!'
After becoming aware of the gap between himself and Akan, Jang Minho couldn't focus on the battle at all.
Who was he?
Wasn't he a student at Shinhwa University, a name recognized throughout the Republic of Korea?
The title of Shinhwa University alone was enough to earn acknowledgment anywhere he went; it was a certified check guaranteeing Jang Minho's brilliance.
Compared to himself with his outstanding credentials, Akan was truly a nobody.
He had never once considered that Akan—a man in his forties who had spent the last ten years working part-time jobs—could surpass him in any way.
That made reality all the harder to accept.
Jang Minho's pride would not allow him to acknowledge Akan as he was.
'Wait. Why is Akan Hyung-nim better than us? It obviously can't be talent, so it must be an external factor. Akan Hyung-nim received a special reward from the last mission. He told us it was nothing, but he actually obtained an incredible item! An item that increases magic power and reduces casting time...!'
His head cleared.
Once he concluded that it wasn't Akan's ability but simply luck, he could accept Akan's current appearance.
The gaze with which Jang Minho looked at Akan was dyed with greed.
'That makes sense. The Akan Hyung-nim I remember could never be such an amazing person. Then what item did he obtain? Or maybe instead of an item, he mastered a special technique. Like a secret method for fast casting.'
Jang Minho's hypothesis couldn't perfectly explain the current situation.
But for Jang Minho, that was enough.
If he didn't console himself even this much, the surging jealousy would tear his insides apart.
'If it's in the form of a secret technique, couldn't I learn it too? Yes! That's possible. Since my hypothesis might be correct, let's ask Akan Hyung-nim. If it's Akan Hyung-nim, he'd gladly share the secret technique.'
He coveted Akan's ability.
Whether it was an external factor or whatever else, he wanted to obtain Akan's ability too.
Of course, it might be an item's effect rather than a secret technique, but Jang Minho intended to ask Akan first.
Judging by how Akan usually acted, sharing a secret technique would be a given, and even if it was an item, he believed he could get it if he played his cards right.
Having reached his conclusion, he immediately put it into action.
Jang Minho stood up and approached Akan.
"Akan Hyung-nim."
"What?"
"About that special reward you got from the last mission. It's different from what you told us, isn't it? Otherwise, the magic you're using makes no sense. It's stronger, and your casting is incomparably faster than everyone else's. Please be honest. You obtained an item or something like a secret technique, didn't you?"
At Jang Minho's words, people's attention focused on him.
Without caring, Jang Minho continued.
"Hyung-nim. Don't say it isn't. I observed during battle, and even though it's the same magic as mine, yours was stronger. We started from the same line, so there's no way your magic should be better than mine, right?"
It was a statement reeking of arrogance.
It carried the clear nuance that without external factors, Akan could never surpass him.
Naturally, it was offensive, but Jang Minho didn't hesitate to speak.
This was how he had always treated Akan.
Actions of ignoring and looking down on him had become so familiar that they came out naturally.
"Hey. Have you ever learned magic before the Other World's missions?"
At Akan's sudden question, Jang Minho's expression twisted.
The thought 'What nonsense is this?' was clearly visible on his face, but his mouth spat out different words.
"No."
"Then how can you conclude that I'm not better than you?"
"...What?"
Jang Minho was struck dumb for a moment by the pointed words.
It was a reaction he had never seen from Akan before.
But Akan's change didn't end there.
"Even if I got stronger through external factors like items or whatever, what does that have to do with you? The special reward is mine, not yours."
"But... we're all gathered here for survival right now. If you have such an item, I think it naturally makes sense to hand it over to the person with the greatest skill."
The one with the highest potential among the mages was himself.
So hand the item over to him.
Though phrased differently, Jang Minho was blatantly stating his opinion.
He thought that considering Akan's usual behavior, Akan would get caught up in his absurd logic.
But Jang Minho's assumption was a huge delusion.
In the past, he had no choice but to cater to them due to his illegal alien status, but the current Akan was different.
An 8th-Circle Archmage.
Though he hadn't yet recovered all his power, a trace of mana had awakened Akan's true nature from those days.
"Hey. Cut the crap if you're going to talk dogshit. What are you relying on to make such demands of me? Survival? You just covet my ability. First of all, I don't have such an item, and even if I did, I have no intention of giving it to you. Shouldn't you have the decency to speak nicely rather than grating on my nerves while expecting a favor?"
At Akan's sharp rebuke, Jang Minho was stunned.
He had never imagined Akan would react like this.
In fact, this was Akan's somewhat softened expression.
He wanted to pour out a stream of profanity, but he held it at this level considering the remaining missions.
The sight of Jang Minho sputtering incoherently made Akan's irritation flare.
"Just get lost. Before I flip everything over."
His hot-tempered personality reared its head.
During his time in Macedonia, this personality had earned him all sorts of labels.
The moniker 'Eccentric Mage' was caused by countless eccentric acts, but disputes born from his hot temper also played a major part.
In the Republic of Korea, he had been in an absolutely subordinate position, so he had faced reality and humbled himself, but now that he had recovered his mana, there was no reason to cater to them any longer.
At Akan's new demeanor, the people from the chicken restaurant were all left speechless.
They had thought he seemed like a different person when presenting the solution for the mission, but they hadn't known he could change this much.
It was then.
Go Changhyeok, who had been watching the situation, stepped forward.
"Hyung-nim. No matter what, aren't your words too harsh? Minho didn't demand that out of personal greed. He must be saying it because the party's survival rate would increase if Minho had it. Why are you reacting like that? If you act so selfishly, we can't stay with you."
As they say, the crawfish sides with the crab.
Go Changhyeok defended Jang Minho while condemning Akan.
Despite Jang Minho's actions being unfair no matter who looked, Go Changhyeok steered the atmosphere as if Akan was in the wrong.
'If he doesn't want to be cut from the party, he'll admit his fault. He must think he's something just because the world has changed. I need to step on him firmly at a time like this; if left alone, he'll keep crawling up. I'll use this opportunity to make sure he knows his place in this party.'
For Go Changhyeok, who had always ignored Akan, Akan's change was anything but welcome.
The threat of exclusion from the party was the strongest card Go Changhyeok could use right now.
He thought that for the sake of survival, Akan would have no choice but to bow his head and toe the line.
But.
"Really? Then do that. If you're going to treat me like this, I'll just do the next mission alone."
—To be continued in Episode 13—