Episode 53: Disassembling the Junk (2)
Bong Jae-seok came running in a hurry and took a moment to catch his breath.
After catching my breath, I take a deep breath and look over the materials on the workbench.
His reaction was almost the same as that of the senior next to him.
“It’s brand new. You took it apart?”
“Yes, senior.”
Bong Jae-seok looked at me with a look of mixed admiration and regret.
“It’s a shame to let you rot away as an independent. A guy like you should join our club… … . Are you really not thinking about coming?”
“sorry.”
“… … Tsk, I understand. If you change your mind, just tell me. Take a look at this.”
Bong Jae-seok took out several failed items from his inventory.
Normally, failed items are just thrown into a corner of the 4th workshop, but if the materials used in them are very valuable, they are stored in the inventory.
I plan to disassemble it myself when I have time.
However, being the president of the Magic Engineering Club is not an usually busy position.
As Bong Jae-seok rarely had any free time, he must have kept putting off disassembling it day after day, even though he kept saying that he should do it.
In the midst of all this, I received a message.
My workmanship is so neat.
As I was silently observing the failed works that Bong Jae-seok had presented, he asked.
“How about it, can you take it apart?”
“Well, it seems possible… … .”
Difficulty wasn’t a big issue.
Even if it was one or two levels higher than what I’m touching now, it was at a level that I could definitely do.
“This is going to take some time.”
The problem was that it was a failure and the lump was huge.
It was almost half-finished, so it would take a long time to completely dismantle it.
It seemed like a lot of care had to be taken since the materials that went in were all high-quality materials, around B grade.
In summary, it means that it takes an incredibly long time and is very tedious.
It was something that Bong Jae-seok couldn’t even touch, and it was something he could just leave to rot in a corner of his inventory.
“I know it takes a lot of time. What can I give you?”
In other words, it means that the longer it takes and the more difficult it is, the greater the reward.
If I could do the heavy lifting for you and get a bunch of B-grade materials in return.
Wouldn’t it be a profitable business even if it costs a bit?
I said what I wanted with that in mind.
“I would like to receive one [magic organ].”
An organ that changes the infused mana into power of a different nature.
It was a key material frequently used in the production of magical engineering equipment, especially weapons.
Since it was difficult to obtain, it was understandable that he would hesitate to give it to me, but Bong Jae-seok readily accepted my request.
“Get ready. How long do you think it will take?”
“Is it urgent?”
“No. I was just putting it off all along.”
“Then let’s resolve it this week.”
The materials have been gathered, today’s priority is to complete Go Hyun-woo’s item.
So I can take it to the rest of the battles and use it.
It is not too late to start working on other goals, including the request to disassemble Bong Jae-seok, starting tomorrow.
Bong Jae-seok nodded with satisfaction, thinking that it would be quick if it could be resolved within this week.
“Okay. Well, thanks for your hard work. Are you going to use the first workshop today?”
“I’m thinking of coming in for a bit when there’s no one around.”
“I think there’ll be a seat open at eleven today. Come then.”
“thank you.”
* * *
Ruby Matap, the head of the department, Hong Ye-hwa frowned.
Because a very unusual sight was unfolding before my eyes.
“… … .”
Hong Yeon-hwa sits by the window and stares blankly at the sky.
If you watch the gaze move slowly to the side, it seems to follow the clouds.
He looks like an old man who has realized the transience of time.
It’s a sharp contrast to his usual bomb-like appearance that could explode at any moment.
The only person who could give a clear explanation about this situation was Baek Jun-seok, who had fought a two-on-two match with Hong Yeon-hwa.
As soon as I sent the message, Baek Jun-seok came to the Ruby Tower club room.
Hong Ye-hwa pointed at her younger brother and asked.
“Hey, why is it like that?”
“… … .”
Baek Jun-seok followed the finger and looked at ‘that thing’ for a few seconds, then sighed deeply and began to explain.
“That’s it… … .”
Entering the 2 vs 2 match, we faced the team of Kim Ho and Seo Ye-in.
That’s twice in a row.
Hong Ye-hwa interrupted her explanation and asked.
“Kim Ho? Are you the Kim Ho who lost the placement test?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Um, sorry to cut you off. Please continue.”
In the first match, Hong Yeon-hwa’s magic spell was canceled by the strong wind blowing back and forth, and she ended up losing miserably as she allowed Seo Ye-in to snipe her.
In the second game, Hong Yeon-hwa played defensively for some reason.
It worked to some extent, blocking Kim Ho and Seo Ye-in’s attacks once and achieving some decent success in counterattacking as well.
I thought it would be okay to just leave it like this.
As Kim Ho, who had been standing far away, approached them, the game was turned upside down in an instant.
With just a few gestures, Baek Jun-seok was thrown to the floor, so Hong Yeon-hwa, who was left alone, had no answer.
In the end, the second match also ended in a pointless forfeit.
“I see.”
Hong Ye-hwa slowly nodded her head.
I completely understood how Hong Yeon-hwa ended up in such a state of soullessness.
She has just left the Ruby Tower and is starting to fight outside the well.
It must have been a huge shock to experience three losses to the same person, and to lose so overwhelmingly without even being able to fight back.
I understand everything.
But… … I cannot tolerate it.
“… … !”
Baek Jun-seok sensed something ominous and took a step back.
Hong Ye-hwa walked to Hong Yeon-hwa and stood behind her.
And with a snap of the fingers,
– Boom!
Hong Yeon-hwa’s body was engulfed in flames.
“Ugh!”
As the flames exploded without her knowledge, Hong Yeon-hwa rolled down from the chair, letting out a strange scream.
I soon discovered my sister, the culprit who had set the fire, sitting on the floor and screaming.
“Ah, sis! Hey!!”
Hong Ye-hwa seemed even more irritated by her younger brother’s resistance, and she clung close to him and started smashing his back.
This back smash was no ordinary spicy one, as the palms of his hands were red with flames.
He spits out a word every time he hits someone.
“What did you do well! You idiot! You’re shaking!”
“Ah! Ah! Stop it! Stop it!”
“Among the prospects, you’re the only one who’s already lost three times! And to the same opponent!”
“Damn!!! What do you want me to do! That guy is the only one who got caught twice in a row!”
– Boom!
The flames exploded once more, spreading to Hong Ye-hwa.
The Hong sisters glared at each other in the blazing fire.
The temperature inside the room soared rapidly, and beads of sweat formed on Baek Jun-seok’s forehead.
It wasn’t clear whether it was simply because it was hot or because of his nervousness.
Hong Ye-hwa went on the offensive again.
“If you think you’re going to get caught up in the same match again, take a break! Who are you to blame when you’re hastily setting up the next match!”
“evil!!”
– Boom! Boom!
Baek Jun-seok stood there, hurriedly looking at the wall.
As I listened to the conversation, I saw signs that the sparks were flying towards me.
– Hong Yeon-hwa, calm down and go to the next game.
Because he was the one who suggested that we quickly have the next match.
As expected, Hong Yeon-hwa glared at me.
Baek Jun-seok stared desperately at the wall.
If you look away now, you will be engulfed in a 100% flame explosion.
And unlike the Hong sisters, he was not immune to fire magic.
Hong Yeon-hwa lost her target for venting her anger due to Baek Jun-seok’s timely evasion.
I have no choice but to protest to my older sister.
“What do you know, Sister! You haven’t even fought with that guy!”
“… … .”
Hong Ye-hwa’s eyebrows furrowed.
That is why fear flashed through Hong Yeon-hwa’s eyes for a moment.
How badly did that guy Kim Ho treat you that you’re even scared?
I became a little more curious about what kind of person he was.
However, it doesn’t matter if I put off satisfying my curiosity until later, and for now, my priority is to get my little brother up from the ground.
Hong Yeon-hwa is the future of Ruby Tower.
We can’t afford to be defeated any longer.
Even if you lose, you have to keep moving forward.
Hong Ye-hwa collected all the flames in an instant.
The tone also became calm and composed.
“So. Are you saying you’ll lose every time we meet from now on?”
Hong Yeon-hwa was startled.
I’ve learned from experience that this is when you really need to be careful when answering questions.
If you say the wrong thing here, it won’t end in a fire blast or a back smash.
So Hong Yeon-hwa answered cautiously with an even more reserved attitude.
“No… … . It’s not like I lose every time we meet… … . We should fight again later… … . I’ll become stronger… … .”
“Okay, then apply for mentoring.”
“Why is the story like that?”
“You said you’d get stronger and come back? Then you should do it.”
Hong Yeon-hwa had been holding out on not doing mentoring until now, but the reason behind it was quite childish.
I don’t want to learn from just anyone.
She dreamed of one day ascending to the throne of the Ruby Tower.
When I imagine that after all these years and hard work, I’ve finally reached the top of the mountain, and some idiot comes looking for me, claiming to be my old mentor… … I feel sick already.
The location of the magic tower is still very far away, but that was how Hong Yeon-hwa imagined it.
So, this was a matter of feeling.
If you are being mentored, you must be a member of the Mataphoe, or at least have a name among the powerful factions.
However, since there is no way for the applicant to know who will be selected, it is already unsatisfactory in Hong Yeon-hwa’s eyes.
I try to resist timidly again.
“Really, you have to do this? You can just work harder on other things.”
Hong Ye-hwa answered with a smile.
“Then I’ll give you a choice. Apply for mentoring, or challenge Kim Ho-han to a duel.”
If you want to prove that you don’t need mentoring, then go and take down Kim Ho now.
It was practically like putting a bell around a cat’s neck.
Hong Yeon-hwa’s expression became rotten.
“… … Just do it, mentoring. If you do it… … .”
“I thought about it carefully.”
Hong Yeon-hwa filled out the application form in front of her older sister.
Caster, and… …. all-rounder.
If there is something that Hong Yeon-hwa missed,
We focus too much on ‘who’ we are mentoring,
The point is that I never thought about ‘who’ I would be mentoring.
