Chapter 150
Rachel remained kneeling with both hands raised.
Sniffling and shedding a few tears, she seemed quite distressed.
“What a terrible world where you can’t even make jokes…”
“Don’t lower your hands.”
When he glared at her, her gradually lowering hands shot back up.
Choi Hyun-seok turned his gaze back to stare intently at the communication crystal.
“Hmm, this is a problem indeed. Having a communication crystal but not being able to use it.”
Thinking vaguely ‘I’ll be able to use it someday’ was the root of the problem.
Now that the moment to use it had arrived, he still didn’t know how to operate the communication crystal.
How should he solve this problem?
“There’s no ability to handle communication crystals in the Hero Shop.”
“Of course, such miscellaneous abilities wouldn’t be in the Hero Shop!”
Rachel spoke her mind even while being punished.
“What nonsense! For a cheap shop that sells pet supplies, drugs, and even flavored salt!”
Choi Hyun-seok shouted angrily.
To think the Hero Shop would sell all sorts of trivial things but lack something actually important.
“Hmm, now that you mention it, that’s true.”
“Don’t try to sneakily lower your hands.”
“Yes.”
Rachel, who had been pretending to think while stroking her chin, raised her hands again.
“Can’t be helped. In this situation, we’ll have to learn the technique.”
The Hero Shop doesn’t sell the ability to handle communication crystals.
However, they did sell the communication crystals themselves.
⥠Low-grade Communication Crystal Set
Description: A low-quality communication crystal. Characterized by low durability and short communication distance.
Ability: Communication function up to 20km.
Required Hero Points: 50
Looking at the shop’s description, Choi Hyun-seok clicked his tongue.
“Tch. Characterized by low durability and short communication distance? This isn’t just a merchant, it’s a straight-up scammer.”
“But it’s cheap! Originally communication crystals were super expensive items. Even a low-grade one would cost at least 1 gold coin!”
“Hmm, if that’s the case…”
Choi Hyun-seok sighed.
“Well, it’s better than nothing.”
Trying to think positively, he pressed the purchase button.
Then two heavy crystals fell from the air.
Choi Hyun-seok held the crystals in both hands and looked at them carefully.
“So if you infuse magical power, these connect to each other for communication?”
“Yes.”
“Rachel, do you know how to use these?”
It occurred to him that Rachel might know how to use them.
While the communication crystal from Reidrun used demonic energy, this one used magical power.
As expected, Rachel struck a confident pose.
“Of course! I can do anything that involves magical power!”
“Try it then.”
“Leave it to me!”
Rachel jumped up and approached the communication crystal.
“Ahem! Now I’ll explain how to use the communication crystal.”
“Alright, alright.”
“First, infuse magical power to unlock it and activate the transmission crystal. Like this.”
Rachel began infusing magical power into the communication crystal.
Woong…!
The response was immediate.
Rachel’s crystal began to shine, and almost simultaneously, the one Choi Hyun-seok was holding also emitted light.
“Ooh! What do I do next?”
“It’s the same. Since this side sent a signal, that side needs to receive it.”
“How?”
“Unlock it and grab the thread of magical power sent from this side. That activates the receiving crystal.”
“That’s what I’m asking – how do I do that!”
“…”
Rachel pouted.
After thinking for a moment, she spoke again.
“Can you explain how you use Fighting Spirit?”
“…”
This time it was Choi Hyun-seok who kept his mouth shut.
‘I could explain if asked, but…’
It would be extremely complicated and lengthy.
Even for a single Fighting Spirit punch, there were numerous elements and variables involved, such as the flow and transformation of magical power, bodily stimulation, and more.
Fighting Spirit is a power that formulated all those processes for instantaneous use.
It wasn’t something that could be explained with words.
Understanding it just by listening was even more impossible.
“To be honest, it’s impossible to learn how to use the communication crystal right here and now. This is something you’re supposed to learn from an expert.”
“Yeah, yeah. I get it, so just shut up and watch.”
Choi Hyun-seok decided to try anyway.
He carefully channeled magical power into the communication crystal.
‘This feeling is strange…’
It felt like scanning through the inside of an extremely complex machine.
He couldn’t even begin to understand what Rachel had described as the locking mechanism.
‘Oh, is this it?’
He sensed something peculiar.
The moment Choi Hyun-seok moved his magical power to that specific part.
Crash!
The communication crystal shattered.
Rachel clicked her tongue.
“Aiyah~ tsk tsk. Hero! You need to handle it carefully. Only an idiot would put magical power in so rough… I mean, so powerfully… Haha!”
Rachel quickly changed her words when Choi Hyun-seok’s expression turned fierce at the word ‘idiot’.
Choi Hyun-seok sighed and threw the crystal fragments on the ground.
“What about the communication crystal you’re holding? Can’t we use it?”
“Well, if there was a technician, we could connect it to another crystal, but I don’t know how to do that either.”
“So basically, once one breaks, that’s it.”
“That’s right!”
“Stop being unnecessarily cheerful.”
“Yes…”
Choi Hyun-seok went into the Hero Shop and bought another low-grade communication crystal.
‘Tsk, there goes 100 points already.’
He had been diligently saving points to buy inventory, but now they were gone like this.
It wasn’t a lot of points, but it didn’t feel good.
‘Let’s think of it as tuition.’
After buying the communication crystal, he shared it with Rachel again.
Just as he was about to move to activate the communication crystal again,
Rachel stopped Choi Hyun-seok.
“Hero. First, please watch carefully what I do.”
“Ah! Right. It would be better to properly observe what you do.”
“But don’t have high expectations. Actually, even if you watch, there’s no possibility.”
“Why?”
“Can you use someone else’s fighting technique just by watching it?”
“Hmm, it does seem difficult.”
“It’s not just difficult, it’s impossible!”
“Yeah, yeah. I get it, so hurry up and do it. If I was going to give up because it’s difficult, I wouldn’t have started.”
“Alright.”
Rachel channeled magical power into the communication crystal.
Choi Hyun-seok observed the process with all his concentration.
Woong…!
The communication crystal shone brightly.
Choi Hyun-seok’s expression darkened.
‘Too fast.’
The communication crystal activated in less than a second.
A process that happens in just a flash of a moment.
As Rachel said, it wasn’t something you could copy just by watching.
“Can’t you do it slower?”
“Hmm, I’ll try.”
Rachel channeled magical power again.
Although it was slower than before, it was still too fast to grasp.
“This is the limit. If I go any slower, I can’t unlock it.”
“Ugh… Keep going for now.”
Rachel repeatedly put magical power in and out of the communication crystal.
After about 10 minutes,
Rachel collapsed on the floor with an exhausted expression.
“Ughh… I really can’t do it anymore…”
Operating the communication crystal requires precise magical power control.
Naturally, it consumes a lot of mental energy.
Even repeating it hundreds of times in such a short time was only possible because it was Rachel.
An ordinary magician wouldn’t have managed even thirty times.
“Hero. Why don’t you give up? This isn’t something you can learn in such a short time. Take your time and gradually…”
“I think I’ve got the feel of it.”
“What?”
“I’ll try it once.”
“No, don’t waste points unnecessarily… Mmph!”
Choi Hyun-seok covered Rachel’s mouth and concentrated.
‘Sensitively. Channel just a tiny amount of magical power and slowly feel the way.’
Choi Hyun-seok’s magical power flowed in very finely.
Less than one-fifth of the amount Rachel put into the communication crystal.
The magical power that flowed in like a single thread explored inside the communication crystal.
‘If I mess up, that’s 50 points gone right away. Focus!’
Choi Hyun-seok’s concentration reached its peak.
The entire structure of the communication crystal began to feel like it was being dissected.
‘Pass through here… Is this not it? This way. Ah, so this is where that was.’
Sweat dripped from his forehead.
Choi Hyun-seok stared at the communication crystal without even blinking.
After about 5 minutes like that,
Woong…!
The communication crystal shone brightly.
“It worked.”
“How is this possible…?”
Just as Rachel was looking at Choi Hyun-seok with a dumbfounded expression,
[You have perfectly executed fine magical power control!]
[Magical Power Control skill grade has increased from B â A]
Choi Hyun-seok smiled brightly.
“Oh! My Magical Power Control grade went up too. This was totally worth the 100 hero points.”
“Whew… It’s not the first time, but hero, you really are naturally gifted.”
Should we say this is indeed befitting of a hero with SSS-grade potential?
To copy a technique that normally requires long-term training from an expert just by watching – it should have been impossible.
It was only possible because he possessed extremely sensitive perception and control abilities.
“Alright. Should we do some repetitive training to get used to it?”
Choi Hyun-seok channeled magic into the communication crystal.
Whoong…!
The communication crystal shines brightly.
At first, it took 5 minutes, but this time it didn’t even take 30 seconds.
“Good. I’ve completely got the hang of it.”
After several more attempts,
Now he could operate the communication crystal freely at will.
The communication crystal activated at almost the same speed as Rachel.
“Phew. This requires quite a bit of concentration.”
“It’ll get better once you’re used to it. Like using Fighting Spirit.”
“But this is a communication crystal that uses magic.”
“That’s right.”
“Isn’t the one Reidrun gave me different since it uses demonic energy?”
“Whether it uses magic, demonic energy, or holy power, the basic structure is the same. You’ll see when you check it yourself.”
Choi Hyun-seok immediately checked the communication crystal that Reidrun had given him.
‘Ah, indeed…’
Although it wasn’t completely identical since it used demonic energy and was a high-grade rather than low-grade communication crystal, the fundamental principle was the same.
Just by scanning the interior briefly, he got a sense of how it should work.
“Alright. I’m starting right now.”
“Right now?”
“No need to waste time.”
There was no reason to postpone what needed to be done.
Choi Hyun-seok immediately channeled demonic energy to activate the communication crystal.
Whoong, whoong, whoong…!
The communication crystal repeatedly emitted black light.
“Why is it doing this?”
“They’re not receiving the communication on the other side. They probably don’t always carry the crystal around.”
“Ah…”
It was like how you can’t have a phone conversation if the other person doesn’t answer.
Whoong, whoong…!
The communication crystal continues to emit light.
There was still no response from the other side.
“Should I try again later?”
Just as Choi Hyun-seok was about to give up and withdraw the demonic energy,
A deep voice flowed from the communication crystal.
-Choi Hyun-seok…?
***
Reidrun is engrossed in sparring.
His opponent is Motem, a knight in black armor.
The two continued training that was like actual combat every single day without fail.
As they were good training partners for each other, their achievements grew rapidly with each passing day.
Kuwung! Kwaaah!
The surroundings are devastated as limbs and greatswords intertwine.
“To keep up to this extent already. What remarkable talent.”
“You flatter me.”
Their sparring didn’t stop even as they exchanged conversation.
Reidrun extends his fist.
Motem swings his greatsword to accomplish both defense and attack simultaneously.
Their fight wasn’t simply about speed and power.
The attacks that came after intense tactical exchanges were designed to restrict the opponent’s movements and make the flow of battle favor oneself.
However, since the opponent also moved after such meticulous planning, to outside observers it merely appeared as if they were simply exchanging attacks.
“Division Commander!”
Just then, someone called for Reidrun.
Looking back, it was Vice Commander Roiger.
“I apologize. Just a moment…”
Originally it was a rule to never interrupt Reidrun during training.
For him to break that rule and come looking, it must be an extremely important matter.
“What is it?”
“A communication has arrived.”
“Communication… Could it be!?”
“Yes. It’s from that communication crystal you mentioned, Division Commander.”
“I understand.”
Reidrun immediately ran toward his office.
Motem followed behind and asked.
“Is it that guy?”
“Yes. It seems so.”
Arriving at his office in an instant, Reidrun activated the communication crystal right away.
“Choi Hyun-seok…?”
-Yes! Lord Reidrun. It’s been a while.
“Indeed. About two weeks, I suppose.”
A wave of joy came over him hearing Choi Hyun-seok’s voice after so long.
Reidrun maintained his composure while suppressing the urge to get overly excited.
“So, what’s the matter? Given your sudden contact, there must be a reason.”
-There’s something I need to tell you.
“What is it?”
-Well…
Choi Hyun-seok dragged out his words.
He seemed to be hesitating.
“Speak freely without holding back. Whatever you have to say, I will listen.”
-Huu, thank you.
Choi Hyun-seok took a breath.
‘What is he trying to say?’
How important must it be for him to hesitate like this?
Reidrun waited silently.
Finally, Choi Hyunseok opened his mouth.
-Lord Reidrun.
“I’m listening.”
What followed from Choi Hyun-seok’s mouth was completely unexpected.
-What are your thoughts on necromancy?
The demon race’s taboo flowed from his lips.
