The Player Who Stands Above All

Chapter 241

-You there.

"Yeah, yeah."

Zzzzt-

Lee Shin, who had casually answered Irehgue, drew three circles on the ground with a suitable nearby tree branch.

In each circle, the words Martial Arts, Magic, and Aura were written.

-The powers I can give you two are these three.

At Irehgue's words, Mio and Rwen tilted their heads as if they didn't understand.

"I've heard about magic a few times near the mercenary guild, so I think I get the gist of it... but I don't know what the other two are."

"Martial arts and aura?"

-Hmm, it's natural that you haven't grasped the basic concepts since you grew up in the back alleys. I'll give you a simple explanation while I'm at it.

Tap-

Lee Shin pointed to the circle with the word 'Magic' written in it with the branch.

-First is magic. This is an ability that will allow you to handle numerous phenomena by changing the magic power in your bodies into a ki called mana, and then controlling the magic power spread throughout the atmosphere.

"It's so versatile that it's also called the all-purpose ability. Well, that's only when you have the skill for it, though."

They decided to start with what the two were at least somewhat familiar with.

"Then... is it possible to create fire or lightning from thin air, Master?"

-That much is possible even if you've only learned the basics.

"For reference, among the mages I know, there were kids who could create a tree the size of a mountain to bind enemies or use teleportation to leap through space."

At Lee Shin's words, Mio and Rwen, finding it hard to imagine, nodded their heads a few times with ambiguous expressions.

At that, Lee Shin added another word.

"The elixirs and potions you saw were also made by one of the mages I knew."

"He made elixirs and potions?!"

"Is that really true?!"

At Lee Shin's following words, both of them widened their eyes and spoke as if shouting.

Lee Shin, satisfied with the instantaneous change in their expressions, nodded, and Irehgue, who was on top of him, also nodded.

At their confirmation, Mio and Rwen glared at the word 'Magic' written on the ground with eyes that looked like they could eat it.

'These guys have a poor person's mentality too.'

-Haa...

Thwack-! Thwack-!

"Ouch!"

"Yipe!"

Irehgue, who had been watching the scene for a moment, sighed and hit both of their heads.

-Get a grip. The reason you want to learn an ability isn't to make money, is it?

"Ugh..."

"Yeees..."

The two, who had come to their senses at Irehgue's words, nodded while rubbing the parts hit by his tail.

Irehgue looked at the two with narrowed eyes as if to say he would be watching them from now on, then climbed back onto Lee Shin's head.

-It is a good thing to be full of interest in magic. However, unfortunately, magic is the ability I least recommend learning among the three I mentioned earlier.

"Uh... why?"

-It is difficult to learn and takes too much time.

At Mio's question, Irehgue answered as if it were simple.

-What you want is revenge, and for that, and to use you as my horns, I want you to gain power. And the strongest power possible in the shortest amount of time.

Having said that, Irehgue met the two's eyes and said.

-However, due to its nature, magic makes that difficult.

The sense of controlling mana is important. The sensory part is a crucial element in magic, and with that alone, one can use simple magic.

However, unless these two were real dragons, the level of magic they could use with just that was obvious.

Therefore, a vast amount of magical knowledge was essential, and the presence of a teacher who could lead them was important, but right now, they lacked both.

The magical knowledge Lee Shin and Irehgue possessed was only the basic magical knowledge learned in the tutorial long ago and the additional magical knowledge obtained while interpreting Irin's memories.

And since magic was not their main specialty, it was impossible for the two of them to act as teachers.

"The only Circling I can teach you right now is one that's completely basic and one that's specialized in one attribute."

"What's that Circling thing again?"

-Do you remember when I said that mages change magic power to create mana?

At Irehgue's words, the two nodded.

-Changing magic power into mana and accumulating it in the body, that is Circling.

Just as there were various internal energy cultivation methods depending on a martial artist's school, mages had various Circlings specialized in different directions according to their schools of thought and their own secret methods.

Even the trio of mages, though they walked the path of magic, had different goals and thus had acquired different Circlings.

Just changing magic power into mana and wrapping it around the heart in a ring shape?

In martial arts terms, it was an old-fashioned method treated the same as a basic breathing technique found rolling around in the market.

-One has too low performance, and the other is too specialized in one direction, so if you learn this, you'll have to give up on getting strong quickly.

"...It certainly seems better to give up on magic."

-That would be easier.

Irehgue nodded.

Unless the two had the talent of the mage trio, Irehgue's thought was that he would rather they not walk the path of a mage.

At that moment, Lee Shin spoke in a voice full of mischief.

"But you never know, right? I looked through Irin's memories, and there was an explanation that dragons are the masters of magic. Maybe these kids are like that too?"

-I am not foolish enough to tell my subordinates, who have just realized what blood flows in their bodies, to learn magic just by trusting the power of their blood.

Irehgue, who had cut off Lee Shin's useless temptation with a single stroke, tapped his head as if to say 'don't say unnecessary things'.

At that, Lee Shin chuckled and pointed to the next circle with the stick.

Tap-

-The second is Aura. This process is relatively simple. It ends with condensing magic power into a single point and then planting it in the body.

"The aura core planted like that can theoretically create infinite aura, as long as the owner's mental strength holds up."

At Lee Shin's word 'infinite', the two's eyes automatically rolled towards Irehgue.

When Irehgue nodded, the two showed slightly tempted expressions.

-For reference, if you choose Aura, all I can do is teach you how to create an aura core at the beginning.

"In a way, there's even less I can teach you than magic."

At the two's words, Mio's expression crumpled.

"Master, then is this also an ability you don't recommend?"

-No, this one is in the middle.

Irehgue looked at Mio with eyes that seemed to be debating whether to hit her for her continued informal speech.

However, seeing the light of respect lingering in Mio's eyes, it seemed she had no intention of rebelling, so he decided to let it slide.

'It seems to be just a habit of speech that stuck from living on the streets, and I'm in the middle of explaining right now, so I'll let it go just this once.'

Still, Irehgue vowed inwardly to correct it in the future.

-As you may have felt, Aura is the most heterogeneous and peculiar of the three powers. Therefore, teaching Aura is not an easy task, even for those who possess the same power.

"And even what can be taught is only the method of using pure aura, unaffected by 'Traits'. There are many complicated things, so most aura users just grow by pondering and enduring on their own."

-For reference, I will explain in detail what a Trait is if you choose Aura. For now, just remember that such a thing exists.

At the two's words, Mio muttered with a thoughtful expression.

"Just like magic, there's not much you can teach... but with Aura, it's possible to grow through one's own strength..."

"So that's why you used the word 'middle' at the beginning."

At Rwen's words, Irehgue nodded.

"I understand what you're thinking, but it's still a bit strange. It won't be easy to gain power with this either, so why is it in the middle?"

-That is because of you two. If you were ordinary kids, I would have said I don't recommend it, not that it's in the middle.

At Irehgue's words, a look of doubt appeared in the two's eyes.

-Aura is a power deeply connected to an individual's qualities, experiences, and spirit. That is why it grows rapidly by breaking its shell in the midst of hardship.

Swoosh-

-And for you two, a feast of a thorny path called revenge is prepared.

Having said that, Irehgue smiled and said.

-Now, has your curiosity been resolved?

"Yes, sufficiently."

At Rwen's slightly dazed answer, as if she were pondering something, Irehgue smiled and said.

-Aura is a power that boasts a versatility superior to magic in some ways, as it can become anything and be used for anything according to your will, so think carefully and decide.

"For reference, I think it wouldn't be bad for you to choose Aura."

Lee Shin said so with the expectation that if these kids chose Aura and their Traits also blossomed, they might not turn into real dragons, then tapped the last circle with the branch.

-The last is Martial Arts. This ability is the simplest of all so far. It ends with processing magic power into internal energy and using that to strengthen the body to fight.

"And it's also the only power you've seen directly."

"Ah..."

"So that's what it was..."

At Lee Shin's words, the two's eyes sparkled as they recalled Irehgue's appearance at the lord's castle a little while ago.

-And this is also the only power I recommend. In a situation like now, where there are many enemies and we have to keep moving, it's easy to learn, and there's a lot I can teach you.

Clap-

"Nyak!"

"Nyak!"

The moment Irehgue's words ended, Lee Shin clapped his hands loudly.

At that, the two looked at Lee Shin with startled expressions, and Lee Shin looked back at them with a wide smile.

"Alright, that's all for the explanation."

Grin-

"So, which one will you choose?"

The two's eyes, which had widened in surprise, soon settled with a serious light.

Knowing that the crossroads before them was not a simple choice, they were contemplating to make the best decision.

As time passed quietly, Rwen looked at Lee Shin and asked.

"Lee Shin-nim, why did you choose martial arts?"

"The reason I chose martial arts?"

At Rwen's words, Lee Shin said as if it were no big deal.

"I just liked the feel of dealing with enemies with my hands, so I chose it."

-It is similar for me.

At the two's answer, Mio said with an exasperated tone.

"...Then wouldn't it have been fine to just choose Aura?"

"Well, it certainly wouldn't have been bad if I had chosen Aura."

After all, he was more confident in his mental strength than anyone else.

"But with Aura, the fighting style splits into a thousand different ways depending on what Trait blossoms."

Lee Shin said with a smile.

"It would be annoying if some strange support or healing-type Trait blossomed, right? So I just chose the sure thing."

At Lee Shin's words, the two simultaneously thought that with his personality, an offensive ability would surely have blossomed, but instead of voicing that thought, they quietly swallowed it.

Thus, silence fell again, and this time, the one who broke the silence was Mio.

"...You said what you and the master used was martial arts, right?"

"Yeah, so?"

At Lee Shin's answer, Mio nodded as if she had made up her mind, and Rwen also looked at Lee Shin and Irehgue with shining eyes, as if she had also made up her mind.

"Alright, then I'll follow the master and go with martial arts. I'm confident in using my body."

"Me too, I'll go with martial arts. I don't know if I have a talent for using my body, but in the current situation, I think choosing martial arts is the best choice."

-Khuhu, is that so?

Pleased that both of them had chosen martial arts, following him, Irehgue secretly wagged his tail, invisible to the two.

At that, the back of Lee Shin's neck tickled, and he scratched it and asked.

"Then it seems it's decided that they'll learn martial arts... what kind of cultivation method will you have them learn?"

-You ask the obvious.

At Irehgue's words, Lee Shin chuckled as if he knew it and approached the two.

"Now, from now on, I'll tell you the incantations of the martial arts cultivation method, translated into your own way, so remember it well."

"Martial arts cultivation method?"

"Incantations?"

"Ah, you two don't know anything about martial arts, do you?"

Lee Shin pondered for a moment on how to explain this and then said.

"I'll tell you the detailed terminology later over a meal or something. For now, just know that I'm teaching you something made by an incredibly strong and amazing person."

At Lee Shin's words, the two looked at him with a strange expression and then said.

"...Does it perhaps have a name?"

"It does."

Lee Shin had never thought the day would come when he would say this to someone else, so he said it with a light smile on his lips.

"[Flame Lightning Tree God Art]."

◎ ◎ ◎

The two, in the moment they awakened their Dragon Hearts and reconstructed their bodies, had absorbed Lee Shin's internal energy flowing within them and used it as material to rebuild their bodies.

Therefore, from the moment he first taught the two the incantations of the [Flame Lightning Tree God Art], Lee Shin did not worry that the energy of the cultivation method might not suit them.

He was sure that for the two, who had absorbed and adapted to both [Flame] and [Lightning], the [Flame Lightning Tree God Art] would fit them as if it were custom-made.

Woooong-

Still, since unexpected things can happen in the world, Irehgue pestered Lee Shin to teach the incantations, then placed his hands on their backs, moved the magic power inside them to directly engrave the flow of the [Flame Lightning Tree God Art] into their bodies, and at the same time, checked if there was any rejection reaction.

The result of the examination was as the two had thought.

"Alright, now you do it on your own."

So, after a short ki circulation and confirmation, Lee Shin said that to the two, then took his hands off and stepped back.

At that moment, Irehgue spoke to Lee Shin in his mind.

-Now, is the only thing left to tell them what weapons they will use?

'Something like that. But it's not that urgent, so let's take it slow.'

He couldn't know what weapons the two would use in the future, but the [Flame Lightning Tree God Art] had the versatility to be used with any weapon anyway.

So, there was no need to rush, was Lee Shin's thought.

'The problem is whether they can raise their realm quickly... well, the vessel is made, so their stats should be sufficient. Now, with just some appropriate enlightenment, they should be able to rise quickly... huh?'

In the middle of speaking, Lee Shin's eyes turned towards the two who were sitting cross-legged.

Staring at the two for a moment, Lee Shin muttered.

"...These kids have no talent?"

Thwack-!

The faces of the two, who were concentrating while sweating profusely, contorted at Lee Shin's single word.

"No, should I say they're not smart?"

No, it went beyond contorting; their faces rotted.

(End of Chapter)