novelraw Chapter 127 : Chapter 127
Chapter 127 : Chapter 127
Chapter 127: Dangerous Ability
SPLASH-!
A stream of hot water flowed down my shoulders.
After the midterm evaluation ended, we returned straight to the hotel.
Finally, a time worthy of being called rest had come.
After briefly collapsing onto the bed, I got up again and started my shower in earnest.
I enjoyed the warmth for a good while before opening the shower booth door.
My reflection appeared in the bathroom mirror.
Among everything, my chest particularly caught my eye.
‘It’s too conspicuous.’
A mark was engraved.
A blue mark engraved directly by White Deer.
Unlike the beginning, it didn't emit light now, but the pattern was still distinct.
Suddenly, I had become a tattooed man.
I gently rubbed the mark with my fingertip.
Will it erase? Of course not.
Instead of erasing, a weak vibration-like resonance spread out.
[You are bold.]
Suddenly, a voice echoed in my head from White Deer.
‘What the?’
I covered my lower body with a towel.
Let's just call it an instinctive reaction.
“……Why are you suddenly speaking to me?”
[Did you not seek attention?]
Me?
Don't tell me touching the mark was something like a call button.
‘Damn it.’
This is an invasion of privacy.
A serious level at that.
Of course, the opponent is White Deer.
Since it's not an existence that can be called human, there was no particular reason to be embarrassed about showing my naked body.
That's true, but I still quickly put on my clothes and stepped outside.
A spacious living room connected outside the bathroom.
It was a suite with one large living room and two bedrooms.
Polished floors, antique interior, and the scenery of the Jeju sea spread out beyond the open window.
It had been a long time since I stayed in a hotel room.
Even after coming here, I was mostly indebted to the hospital.
If I had my way, I would want to stay in this hotel a bit longer.
Unfortunately, tomorrow was the day to return to the Academy.
CREAK-
As I was tidying my clothes and drying my hair, one of the room doors opened.
“Jinwoo, are you going out?”
It was Lee Junhyeok.
As joint first place in the Olle Trail race, I was sharing the living room with him.
Lee Junhyeok was already in full training gear.
“Just washed up. Going training?”
“As you can see.”
Lee Junhyeok tapped his bag and said.
It hasn't even been 10 hours since the midterm practical evaluation ended, and he's already going to train.
Moreover, Lee Junhyeok dealt with guardians in droves at Hallasan.
Even postponing his climb to second priority.
And yet he's going to grind his stamina again?
Once again, I thought he was a crazy guy.
“I heard you fell right in the middle of the sky at Hallasan. Is your body okay?”
Lee Junhyeok asked.
“Well, for now.”
I shrugged, vaguely glossing over it.
I entered the Sanctuary and was dropped into the air by White Deer.
It was a bit much to say this as it was.
Above all, my story was the topic of conversation throughout the return to the hotel.
Words poured out one after another asking what kind of accident must have happened to make someone dive at Baengnokdam.
For now, I roughly summarized it as an accident involving spatial distortion.
Even for me, talk about White Deer and such was burdensome.
“Tell me what happened next time. I’ll also tell you about the unique guardian I saw.”
Lee Junhyeok grinned while slinging his training bag over his shoulder.
Unique guardian……. I think I know what it is.
‘It’s me, that.’
I swallowed the truth I couldn't bear to speak out loud.
“You’ll be surprised when you hear it. There was a guardian that fought like a human.”
“Like a human? That’s fascinating.”
Well, because it was me.
I roughly played along.
“It was a bit similar to you too, Jinwoo.”
“Was i…… What? Me? Similar to me?”
I looked at Lee Junhyeok with blank eyes.
Why am I suddenly popping up?
Did he notice something?
“Huh? Ah, I don't mean looks or anything like that. Sorry if I offended you. Do you have a moment? The feeling from back then came to mind.”
Lee Junhyeok suddenly shook his shoulders and started mimicking a certain movement.
“Movements like dodging this way, I meant that style overlapped with yours. Just before my sword reached it, it twisted its body instantly and…… dodged like this.”
Perhaps recalling the battle with the unique guardian, Lee Junhyeok's gaze turned towards the ceiling for a moment.
“It was similar in that aspect. I had no other intention.”
“Is that even possible? Fascinating.”
So it was about that.
I quickly regained my composure.
Lee Junhyeok, who looked at the ceiling for a moment, grabbed an intangible sword as if reviewing the fight and started moving his body again.
‘I’m getting tired of this. Do geniuses notice even things like that?’
It is understandable that Lee Junhyeok thinks it's similar.
Whether in human state or guardian state, I dodged using the same [Evasion Instinct] passive.
Since it's the same system, it was natural to feel similar.
But surely he won't notice with just this.
How would he know the fact that I turned into a guardian just from such fragmentary impressions?
Watching Lee Junhyeok take various stances like that, memories of when I mimicked the guardian came to mind.
More precisely, the scene of facing Lee Junhyeok was drawn in my head.
Gradually, a sensation as if blood was slightly boiling spread inside my body.
It was a familiar feeling.
‘Wait.’
This, it’s a mimicry reaction.
A chill ran down my spine.
‘I just recalled it, so why?’
I didn't intend to mimic right now.
‘I’m screwed.’
Maybe because the ability isn't fully controlled yet.
My body seemed ready to turn into a guardian.
And at that moment.
‘Ah, right. I can't transform.’
DING-!
[‘Mimicry’ has failed.]
[You are outside the domain.]
A message popped up.
‘Outside the domain.’
I opened the Tactical Manual page.
The name [Guardian of the Mountain] was displayed in red letters.
[Guardian of the Mountain: A magic entity existing by the Hallasan Baengnokdam Core System. You must maintain a certain distance from the Baengnokdam Core for mimicry.]
‘There was this.’
It meant that for special entities, special conditions must be met for mimicry to be possible.
‘I saw it in passing, but I forgot because things were so hectic.’
Fortunately, an accident didn't happen.
If mimicry had taken place in front of Lee Junhyeok like this, I would have been in a mess.
On the other hand, a new question followed.
If it's simply copying the target, there's no reason why mimicry shouldn't work just because I left Hallasan.
But right now, mimicry into a guardian is blocked at the system level.
‘……In the end, what is this ability anyway?’
Naturally, one deduction was established.
‘Does it consider even the essence, not just simply taking it?’
If it's taking even the essence of being a magic entity, it makes sense.
If it were simple imitation, restrictions like location wouldn't be needed.
But the current mimicry ability was even considering the environment where the Guardian of the Mountain could exist.
Even the basic structure of the magic entity and the premise for the magic entity to exist.
This meant that mimicry was copying the essence of the target itself.
‘It might be more dangerous than I thought.’
I thought just copying traits like passives was incredible.
Perhaps the potential of the mimicry ability is beyond that.
Suddenly, the system window that appeared when I cast Hundred Night Yaksha in the Sanctuary came to mind.
[Hundred Night Yaksha]
[Body Transformation: 0.33%]
A skill that transforms the body.
The technique called Hundred Night Yaksha was being performed based on mimicry.
It's a meager figure now, but what if it rises further and reaches 100% someday?
‘…….’
My thoughts stopped.
Because beyond that was a realm I couldn't even imagine.
“……Jinwoo, are you okay?”
“Huh?”
Suddenly, a voice was heard breaking the hovering silence.
Lee Junhyeok was looking at me with a worried expression.
“Your face suddenly stiffened, so I wondered if you were sick somewhere.”
“Ah, just felt a bit dizzy for a moment.”
It must have looked strange.
I cleared my throat and made up a rough excuse to the worried Lee Junhyeok.
After continuing small talk for a while like that.
“Then I’ll get going. Rest well.”
“Oh yeah, have a good trip.”
Lee Junhyeok raised his hand and left the room.
Left alone, I let out a deep sigh.
‘Almost got into big trouble.’
Mimicry almost activated in front of Lee Junhyeok.
I felt sharply that I wasn't handling mimicry perfectly yet.
It was fortunate that the conditions weren't met; otherwise, it would have led to a major accident.
What if the mimicry ability gets caught?
It would be fortunate if I just get slapped with a government special surveillance subject label and not get confined somewhere.
Besides, that's if I get caught by the Hero society.
If I get caught by the villain side, it's a disaster beyond that.
Let's imagine the Villain Alliance's Chief or Bremen's Edward found out about this ability.
What would those guys demand from me with their mindset that only villains can have?
Perhaps the Chief might come out like this.
- You can transform perfectly? Then can you obtain materials too? Try transforming into the Primordial Bird. I will help with preparations and treatment as much as you want.
After making me transform into a specific demonic beast, infinitely supplying materials by cutting off body parts.
I suspect they would commit such madness-filled acts on me.
Then what about Edward's side?
If it's that guy, he would demand something worse, not less.
He would probably try to utilize it like this.
- I have kidnapped the President in that room. From now on, you will…….
‘No, even Edward wouldn't go that far…….’
Hmm, I can't be sure.
Since he's a guy who would commit even worse things casually.
Anyway, the conclusion is the same.
If caught, it's the end.
It's a matter directly connected to future survival, something I can't just gloss over.
‘Survival, huh.’
I'm a game veteran, but it might look a bit ridiculous.
Since I have to utilize everything I have every time.
‘It can’t be helped. Frankly, it’s not like I can crush things with magic power.’
If I had even 1 magic power, I would mobilize all the knowledge I know and enter veteran cultivation methods.
The damn figure of [Magic Power: 0] is holding me back all along.
But still, I gained one thing this time.
A means to extract maximum benefit without magic power.
I unzipped my bag and rummaged through it.
Something cold and heavy touched my fingertips.
A stone where faint warmth was felt amidst the chilly cold.
It was the Moonlight Stone.
I carefully took out the Moonlight Stone and walked to the window.
When I pulled back the curtains, the night sky was visible.
The moon was waxing.
The point heading from half moon to full moon.
The light dwelling in the Moonlight Stone was also swelling accordingly.
‘It’s already quite full.’
By the time the full moon rises, I will probably be able to use it properly.
There is one thing I can do now.
Preparing to use this Moonlight Stone properly.
‘Shall I take a look.’
I sat on the edge of the bed and looked at the Mimic.
The guy quietly floating while staring blankly into empty space.
[Tactical Manual]
As I stared at the Mimic and slowly infused my will.
Its pages opened and started turning rapidly.
FLIP FLIP FLIP-!
The sound of pages turning was heard for a good while.
And finally, its pages stopped at a certain point.