Episode 2 - A New Path
Devour.
It was a word ill-suited to Noejeong, the trait from his past life.
*Because Noejeong was better suited to ruling than devouring.*
But now that he had obtained a fine weapon called Mukgi, Seojun needed to change his combat style.
“Raph... if I recall, that bastard definitely grew by transforming Mukgi and absorbing his opponents….”
Even as he spoke, he licked his lips while looking at Mukgi’s stat value on the status window.
“What could I possibly do with a measly Mukgi stat of 2?”
*To grow Mukgi, I have to enter a Gate.*
But there was a separate reason he was choosing a dangerous Gate over a safe dungeon.
“It’s because I need the magic essence stones that only come from Gates.”
Until recently, most of the Awakened had far preferred dungeons to Gates. Unlike dungeons, which were safe and offered abundant rewards, Gates were dangerous and offered only magic essence stones as compensation.
But a few years ago, that perception began to change.
The main reason for the shift was that dungeons, which had formed en masse in the early days of the Day of Upheaval, had stopped appearing over time, causing their numbers to decline exponentially.
And now that the successful development of new energy using magic essence stones had been announced, the situation had inevitably reversed.
*The Awakened’s interest began shifting from dungeons to Gates.*
And as a result, the price of magic essence stones—the Gate’s sole reward—
*has risen nearly fifty-fold.*
Even acquiring a low-grade magic essence stone on the market would cost an amount burdensome for an ordinary household.
*Am I somewhat fortunate, then?*
Although he had been driven out of his family, they still sent money under the guise of support funds.
*In truth, it wasn’t support money but what we rightfully deserved.*
Either way, money wasn’t much of a problem.
The bigger problem lay in the purchasing process.
*If an individual buys magic essence stones in bulk, it’ll attract unwanted attention.*
Even though they were a new energy resource, if an individual rather than an organization bought in large quantities, the chances of drawing attention were high.
*No, it’ll definitely draw people’s attention.*
He knew full well that attracting unnecessary attention while he currently possessed no power whatsoever was unwise.
*Even if I buy some at once, around five at most should be appropriate.*
He had to make it look like he was purchasing out of mere curiosity to avoid suspicion.
While Seojun was deliberating like this because he needed magic essence stones, the reason he needed them was simple.
*Because I can absorb, or consume, them.*
Although magic essence stones were now valued more highly than gold as a new energy resource, in the past, they had supposedly emitted a heterogeneous energy and were treated as trash.
And the Seojun of his past life had called that heterogeneous energy of magic essence stones “Moqi” (磨氣).
*Not just Earth, but most of the numbered universes—save for a few—are unaware of Moqi’s existence, so they wouldn’t have a separate name for it.*
“Since they don’t even know of its existence in the first place, it shouldn’t matter.”
There was no need for Seojun to go out of his way to inform them, so he decided to let it go.
Returning to the main point, that Moqi was necessary for the current Seojun.
Because among the many energies composing Mukgi, Moqi (磨氣) was also included.
Moqi was on a completely different level from other energies in terms of destructive power and control, to the extent that it evoked a primal fear in living things merely by its presence.
*The reason monsters from Gates are stronger than dungeon monsters is also because of Moqi (磨氣).*
Having watched Raph since long ago, Seojun knew how strong Mukgi could become after absorbing Moqi.
The moment he saw that savage aggregate of Mukgi charging forward without regard for what lay behind—
“Even the me of my past life couldn’t underestimate it.”
To achieve that—
*First, I’ll aim to absorb Moqi and raise my Mukgi stat.*
Mukgi was certainly a broken trait, but in its 1-star state, it couldn’t do anything.
*I’ll need to reach at least 2-star before I can use it.*
Beep beep.
At that moment, the sound of a lock disengaging came from the front door.
“Huh? You’re home early today~.”
With a pristine, wrinkle-free face that belied her forties, the woman greeted Seojun gently.
*Mom.*
She was Shin Ayeong, his birth mother and the person Seojun loved most in the world.
“Welcome home. I came back earlier than usual because I’m tired today.”
“Yes. Don’t overdo it. Getting some rest is good too.”
“But did something happen today?”
Ayeong’s expression was darker than usual.
“Uh, huh? Anyway, Seojun, let’s have dinner a bit early today. Mom will make you a delicious stir-fried pork.”
Seeing her hastily change the subject, Seojun decided to feign ignorance.
*Because I can guess why….*
With a bitter smile, he explained what had happened that day.
“I heard from the security guard that they’ll be installing Gate bypass stones starting next week.”
“That’s a relief. If it had been even a little later, I was thinking about moving to another district.”
“Uh… Mom. There’s something else I need to tell you.”
*I think it’s best to tell Mom.*
Along with Sua, Ayeong was one of the two people Seojun trusted most in the world.
Sensing Seojun’s grave demeanor, Ayeong began to tense up as well.
“Seojun, wh-what is it?”
“I awakened my unique trait today.”
“Really? Then I shouldn’t make stir-fried pork today—we need to go out for Hanwoo beef!!”
Watching Ayeong’s delighted reaction, Seojun vowed to treasure this feeling as he spoke.
“Sua was with me when the trait awakened, but I haven’t told her yet. I was worried it might be a bad trait.”
“Yes, you did well. Sua might have had a hard time like she did four years ago. But seeing as you’re telling me, I suppose it’s a good trait?”
“I’ll tell you the details over dinner. You’re going to call Sua today, right?”
“Of course. If it were a bad trait, that would be one thing, but since you’ve awakened a good trait, I need to tell Sua, who’s been so worried all this time, as soon as possible.”
“Yes. Then I’ll call her now.”
Seojun pulled out his smartphone and called Sua.
—Hello?
“Sua. Mom and I are going out to eat. Want to come?”
—Oh! You going out to eat must mean something good happened? But why didn’t you tell me when we met earlier? I’m almost home now.
“Sorry. It wasn’t certain back then. So you’re coming, right? There’s something I want to talk about over dinner….”
—So what are we eating?
“Why even ask? Beef, of course!! And Hanwoo at that.”
—Ooh!!! Then send me the location of the beef restaurant. I’ll head right over.
“Yeah, I’ll send the location, so be careful.”
Seojun sent the restaurant’s location to Sua in a text and put away his smartphone.
“Sua is leaving now. The location is close, so she’ll probably arrive right away; I think we should head out too.”
“Yes. When you see Sua later, explain it well.”
***
The beef restaurant was packed with people, perhaps because it was prime dinner time.
“Auntie! Seojun! Over here, over here~!”
“Hoho. Is our Sua that happy?”
“Of course! A student like me could never even dream of eating expensive Hanwoo. Hee hee.”
“Han Sua. You’re not even a physical-type, so if you eat too much and gain weight, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“Hey, Shin Seojun!! Don’t you know you shouldn’t say that before eating? You brat with no manners when it comes to food. Hmph!!”
“Hoho, but Sua, shouldn’t we order soon?”
At those words, Sua shot her hand up to call a waiter.
“Ah, right! Excuse me, umm. Let’s start with sirloin and….”
“Ribeye cap, chuck flap, and strip loin—let’s go with these for now, please.”
Seeing Seojun place the order for the hesitating Sua, she gave him a thumbs-up.
“Ooh, Shin Seojun~. Anyone would think you’ve eaten out a lot. Keke.”
“I just ordered cuts I’ve heard a lot about. Besides, beef tastes good no matter which cut you eat, right?”
“That’s true. Ah! But didn’t you say you had something to tell us today?”
“Uh, huh? Right. Uh… I should start by saying thank you before I get to it.”
Sua blinked at Seojun’s sudden words, unable to understand the situation for a moment.
“Huh? Why are you being like this all of a sudden?”
“Our Seojun is turning red from embarrassment. Hohoho.”
“Hoo, I awakened my unique trait today.”
“Wha, really? When? Don’t tell me it was when you fainted earlier?”
Startled by the words Sua blurted out without thinking, Ayeong, who was beside her, spoke up in surprise, pressing for an answer.
“Goodness, Seojun, you fainted today? Why didn’t you tell Mom?!!”
“Sigh… Everyone, please calm down. It’s true that I awakened when I fainted. I think I fainted due to the awakening’s influence, so I didn’t tell you.”
“Th-then it’s not like the trait from four years ago suddenly disappearing again, right?”
Looking at Sua, who asked in a trembling voice, Seojun answered with an apologetic heart.
“Yes. I awakened as an innate trait, not a temporary one that suddenly disappears like back then. And…”
He spoke, putting all the emotions he had felt whenever he looked at her into his words.
“Thank you so much for everything until now. And four years ago, you had nothing to be sorry for; rather, I should have congratulated you. I’m truly sorry.”
Seeing her already shedding tears, he felt his heart swell even more.
“Hic, hic, really… thank goodness. I was so scared that you might never awaken a trait like this….”
Crying on a good day could potentially ruin the mood, but because he knew the emotional hardship she must have gone through, he didn’t dare have the courage to console her.
To reverse the somber mood, Ayeong picked up some meat and spoke.
“Sua. Only good things lie ahead now, so shake off the past and let’s eat. Oh my~ look at this beautiful color.”
Wiping her runny nose with a tissue, she forced a smile.
“Pwaah!! Hic, please grill the strip loin first.”
“Hohoho, yes. Auntie will grill it deliciously for you.”
And so, while they were eating harmoniously, Sua, her mouth full of meat, opened her mouth to speak.
“But, Seojun. Can you tell us what your trait is?”
“Right! Sua. This rascal Seojun said he’d tell us together, so he didn’t even tell me what his trait is, you know?”
“Huh? Really?”
Forcibly lowering the corners of her mouth that had been about to rise, Sua asked.
“So, what is it?”
“Hmm… I don’t know much about the trait itself. But my magic power stat changed into a unique stat called ‘Mukgi’.”
In truth, he knew exactly what the trait was, but since it could be dangerous while growing, he decided not to tell Ayeong and Sua.
“Mukgi? Hmm, I don’t know what a unique stat is, but it’s something good, right?”
“Then just think of it simply as your magic power changing into Mukgi.”
“Then can your magic power problem be solved too?”
“I think I’ll need to run dungeons and raise my level to know for sure, but it should probably be fine.”
*Though I don’t think leveling up is strictly necessary.*
The Mukgi stat would rise through leveling up as well, but since it could also grow by absorbing various energies, he didn’t pay it much mind.
“Still, that’s a relief. Now there’s a way!”
Seojun looked at Sua’s relieved expression and recalled that time four years ago.
If asked to recall the most unfortunate period in Seojun’s life, he would say four years ago without a moment’s hesitation.
He had awakened the trait he dreamed of.
*But that happiness ended after just thirty minutes.*
The trait that had just appeared disappeared after thirty minutes, and a side effect of being unable to accept magic power occurred, so the sense of loss was indescribable.
As fate would have it, Sua, who had awakened her trait at the same time as Seojun, watched the entire process vividly from right beside him.
Perhaps because Sua’s parents had died in a Gate when she was very young, and she had come to live with Ayeong and grown up alongside Seojun from an early age.
She, who had always been grateful to Ayeong and Seojun,
*unintentionally ended up feeling guilty.*
She felt sorry about having awakened a trait that Seojun had failed to obtain.
Moreover, since she had awakened an S-rank trait, that feeling was inevitably even greater.
No matter how many times he said it wasn’t her fault, that it was just bad luck, she would only smile bitterly and apologize.
The fact that she moved out to live independently while working part-time, despite having lived with Ayeong and Seojun.
*She didn’t say it, but it was probably because she felt sorry toward me.*
Though there was no need for such worries now.
Seojun, who had been briefly reminiscing about the past, soon collected himself and focused on the conversation again.
“It is fortunate. If I hadn’t awakened Mukgi, I wouldn’t have been able to overcome the side effects.”
Mukgi was as mysterious a trait as it was called the essence of defying the heavens.
And to describe the Mukgi used by its original owner, Raph, in one word—
*Avatar of Greed.*
If anyone saw the black energy trying to devour everything in sight, they would all think the same.
“I’m thinking of running dungeons now too.”
*Well, I’d like to get my hands on some magic essence stones before that, though.*
“The graduation ceremony is coming up soon, so why not do it after?”
“That would be nice, but I don’t think they’ll wait until the graduation ceremony.”
“Ah. That’s true.”
*I need to build up my strength in advance to be fully prepared for the graduation ceremony.*
“I think we’re done eating now, so let’s get the check and leave.”
When Seojun opened the bill to pay, he couldn’t help but doubt his eyes for a moment.
“Huh? Five hundred thirty thousand won?”
When he turned his head, Sua was avoiding his gaze with an embarrassed expression.
“Ahem. I mean, the ribeye cap was just too delicious.”
“Y-yeah. As long as you enjoyed it.”
After paying the bill and parting with Sua, just as Seojun and Ayeong were about to hail a taxi to go home.
A luxurious black sedan that would draw eyes no matter where it was suddenly blocked their path, and the rear window began to open.
The face that poked through the open window was—
“Shin Hajin? What are you doing here?”
“Speaking so rudely to your uncle. Your habits haven’t changed.”
He was Ayeong’s second older brother and Seojun’s maternal uncle.
“You ignored my calls, and when I sent a letter, there was no reply. The family ordered me to get an answer directly. As you can see, I’ve come in person.”
“Brother! Aren’t you going too far?!! Seojun is your nephew too!!”
“Shin Ayeong, stay out of this. Even though you were driven out of the family for stealing.”
“Th-that’s because you all to Seojun….”
“Enough. Decide quickly. After this graduation ceremony, do you consent to being conscripted to the Magic Beast Border Zone as the representative of Tianjian Shenjia? Shin·Seojun?”
To Hajin’s question that demanded nothing but sacrifice from him.
The decision Seojun chose was—
“Piss off, dumbass.”
Refusal.