As always, I was in the training grounds, sweating under the sunlight.
"Hey, focus. You're losing concentration."
My aunt, who had placed her hand on my back, spoke firmly.
She was usually reckless and unpredictable, but when it came to magic training, she was more serious and strict than anyone else.
Wooong—
I refocused on my magic.
I gathered the lingering energy of Jaha Seokcheong and Nectar that had yet to be fully absorbed and pulled it toward my magic core.
I had no idea how much time had passed.
"Hoo, let's call it a day."
My aunt removed her hand from my back and wiped the sweat from her forehead.
After briefly adjusting the magic inside my body, I opened my eyes as well.
"Jaha Seokcheong… I've been watching it for days now, and it's still fascinating. It's unbelievably pure. It was only ever mentioned in ancient records as an elixir, so how on earth did you get your hands on it?"
"I keep saying—it was just luck."
"Hmph! If you don't want to say it, just admit it!"
"It's not that…"
That was really the only answer I could give.
Because, honestly, I still wasn't entirely sure what had happened back then.
"Well, I suppose getting an elixir like that requires fate. But it was foolish of you to consume two elixirs at once without any preparation. Even for a single elixir, proper preparations are essential. Don't do that again."
"Yes, I understand. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision in a chaotic situation."
Even now, thinking back on it, it had been a reckless move.
Even with full preparation, there's no telling what could happen—yet I had consumed two elixirs while in my worst physical condition.
"Still, something doesn't add up. If Jaha Seokcheong worked as described in the records, your magic reserves should have increased far more than they have… Honestly, your magic capacity has grown tremendously, but not that much."
"Maybe most of its energy was used to heal my body?"
"Even if we account for that, the numbers don't match. Plus, you said you were unconscious and couldn't even use healing magic, right? If elixirs worked that perfectly, why would potions even exist?"
"Well, that's true…"
My aunt tilted her head slightly and crossed her arms.
"Did you fail to absorb some of the energy? Hmm… no, that doesn't seem right. There must be another reason. Maybe Jaha Seokcheong isn't as effective as the records claim. Or perhaps it has something to do with that magic grass or the mana booster you mentioned."
"That could be the case."
I didn't tell her, but I did have one theory.
'It's probably because of this.'
I felt a strange energy stirring near my heart.
Something distinct from magic.
Black energy.
Ever since the naming ceremony, its presence had exploded.
Previously, it had only increased when I absorbed weapons, but now, it had grown significantly on its own—something that could only be explained by Jaha Seokcheong.
"By the way, Auntie, how's work going today?"
"Uh, well…"
"You did go to work, right?"
"Of—of course I did! But, uh, there was this morning drama I've been following, so I just wanted to finish watching—"
"No excuses. If you want results, you need to be diligent."
"But—but Ha-min is actually Min-jae's daughter! And her father has leukemia!"
I had absolutely no idea what she was talking about.
With a firm expression, I grabbed my aunt by the arm.
"You can watch the rerun later. Get going."
"But I've been working unpaid even on weekends! Can't I rest a little?!"
"You're not planning to break our agreement, are you?"
"You little brat! I went out of my way to help you!"
"More like you lost control and caused a scene in the conference room. You were on the verge of receiving severe disciplinary action, and I had to negotiate with Father to get you out."
"You insolent—how dare you talk back to an elder?!"
"I heard people call elders like that boomer nowadays."
"You—ugh! Uggghh!"
She stomped her feet against the ground in frustration.
Recently, my aunt had been reinstated as a Wŏnro (a senior official) and was working as a researcher in the family's research division.
As compensation for my role in The Coffin of Struggle, I had requested that she be appointed as a Wŏnro and that she be allowed to take me on as her disciple.
However, there were two problems.
First, Wŏnro officials were required to produce results on a regular basis.
Second, my aunt was currently awaiting disciplinary action.
"Do you really think your aunt can handle her assigned duties? And besides, that child wouldn't want it."
"In the research division, she can put her abilities to use. And I will persuade her myself."
Through half-threatening persuasion, I had convinced my aunt to agree.
As for my father, he had agreed to commute her punishment in exchange for six months of unpaid work—including weekends.
'Father must have been concerned about Aunt wandering around like a vagabond, which is probably why my request worked.'
No matter how significant the reward for The Coffin of Struggle was, it wouldn't have been possible if Father hadn't approved of it.
Becoming a Wŏnro (Elder) of the Soongmu family came with immense authority, requiring a complex process and strict qualifications.
"Ugh! My own nephew is bullying me. I'm so sad."
"That act won't work on me. Go do your job."
"Uwaaaah!"
I pried my aunt off me as she tried to cling like a leech.
Requesting her Wŏnro position as a reward was partly for her benefit, but honestly, it was something I needed as well.
'The support provided to Wŏnro members by the family is enormous. If she secures her position, it'll benefit me too.'
After a long struggle, my aunt finally gave up and sluggishly stood up.
"Well then, kid. Are you going again today?"
"Yes. Today's the last day."
"What exactly are you looking for that you're digging through all that?"
"There's something I need to check."
She was referring to my access to Janggyunggak (the family's archive).
Three days—long if long, short if short.
It wasn't even enough time to read through a single advanced magic manual or martial arts text properly. Even if I did, they wouldn't be immediately useful to me.
"Well, I'm sure you know what you're doing."
My aunt dusted herself off and stood up.
With a light chuckle, I walked alongside her.
One of the rewards I had secured during the naming ceremony—
Today was the final day of my three-day access to Janggyunggak.
Janggyunggak was located close to the research division.
It was a three-story building with no windows and a fortress-like structure, guarded at a level comparable to Bigo (the family's treasure vault).
"…Today is your last day, I see."
The warrior overseeing the entrance examined my access pass as he spoke.
"I'll remind you again—removing any documents is strictly forbidden. You may take brief notes, but transcription is not allowed. Your notes will also be inspected. Any damage to the documents will result in appropriate disciplinary action, and…"
"I heard all of this yesterday. It's fine."
"…Understood. You may enter."
Only after a thorough inspection of my belongings and enduring yet another long-winded explanation was I finally allowed inside.
The interior of Janggyunggak resembled a massive library.
Documents were meticulously categorized and stored in bookshelves throughout the space.
I headed toward the section containing ancient records and magic manuals.
'I need to find information about the black energy.'
I had already combed through an enormous number of books, yet after two full days, I had found nothing.
If I still failed to uncover anything today…
'That itself is valuable information. If even the Janggyunggak of the Soongmu family holds nothing on it, then it means this knowledge isn't easily found anywhere in the world.'
Black energy.
Weapon absorption.
Increase in magic power.
Invisibility to anyone but the wielder.
Negation of Monster Fear…
Using the archive's search device, I inputted keywords and systematically refined my search.
'This is the last set of documents I haven't checked yet.'
Since reading the original manuscripts was forbidden, I accessed their scanned copies and translations on the reading room's screen.
One by one, I continued to examine the documents.
While gathering information in Janggyunggak, I came across an interesting book.
It was none other than a record mentioning Mujin.
An ancient document so old that its exact era was impossible to determine, written on bamboo slips.
Reading through the translated version, I found references to a "weapon that could change its form freely" and the activation words needed to become its wielder.
'Did Third Brother read this and obtain Mujin?'
As I was reading, my hand froze.
[…Like the six livestock raised by the land and the sea, it plunged many nations into despair… It was shrouded in a dark aura, feared by all manner of beasts, and impervious to spears and swords…]
[Even the bravest generals of the kingdom were defeated, leaving none under the heavens to oppose it.]
Many words were too faded from time to be decipherable.
It was impossible to tell whether the text described a person, a monster, or perhaps a natural disaster or mystical entity.
'A dark aura… feared by beasts…'
Could it be referring to the Black Energy?
[For hundreds of days and nights, war raged, plunging the nation into sorrow… Countless heroes gave their lives to seal it within Mangwi Mountain… They felled it at last, and the king, in recognition of their deeds, bestowed them with land.]
[The heroes, moved by the king's grace, forged a single sword and named it Mujin. They presented it to the king.]
The following lines were once again unreadable due to time's erosion.
'Could the dark aura be…?'
For some reason,
Though it might have been an absurd leap of logic, I couldn't shake the feeling that it was referring to the Black Energy.
'Could Mujin and the Black Energy be connected?'
If so, it would explain the words of the massive entity—presumably Gwisusan—when I consumed Jahaseokcheong.
"It" had claimed that "they" had emerged into the world.
'Mangwi Mountain… Mangwi Mountain, huh…'
Ancient place names had changed significantly over time, so finding its modern counterpart would require quite a bit of research.
'Still, I found a trace.'
Mujin and the Black Energy.
I was left with only more questions, but I had discovered a faint lead.
***
Several seasons passed.
After the naming ceremony, my schedule remained largely uneventful for a while.
Eighth Brother, Lee Seohyun, was constantly being summoned everywhere, but as an illegitimate child, my only duty was endless training.
And so, after dedicating myself to training, time passed swiftly, and I turned thirteen.
"…Young Master, I really don't know if this is right. The budget provided by the family includes maintenance funds and salaries for the staff who serve you."
"Nanny, that's why I'm telling you to spend only the minimum necessary amount."
"I wouldn't say anything if you were buying something else, but… you're asking me to purchase used weapons…"
In my previous life, I was only given a pitifully small budget.
But now, that budget had significantly increased.
With it, I ordered my nanny to purchase all the training weapons that were set to be discarded by the various martial divisions.
"This isn't a waste of money. It's something I really need."
It truly was essential for me.
My nanny sighed and shut the ledger with a firm thud.
"You're starting today, right?"
At her question, I straightened my collar and nodded.
"Yes, it begins now."
"I can't believe the Young Master is already thirteen…"
Once again, she looked deeply moved.
In this cold and rigid family, she was one of the few people who showed genuine emotion.
"Well then, I'll be going now."
I adjusted my outer robe as I spoke.
It was distinctly different from the martial attire I had worn before.
The finely embroidered brown fabric and elegantly draping sleeves gave it a refined look.
"My cadet life begins today."
From the age of twelve, the Soongmu Family's cadet training officially commenced.
Now, the real beginning was upon me.
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