[Mage King (2)]
"Wow.... I didn't know there was a place like this in the library."
"..."
Ignoring Jung Ha-yang's exclamation of admiration.
Hwang Jin-hee silently examined the room.
They've done well to create such a place without others knowing.
She clicked her tongue inwardly.
She knew the
But she didn't expect him to go so far as to create a secret space in the library.
Moreover, the room was quite elaborately decorated.
"It looks just like someone's study, doesn't it?"
Jung Ha-yang's words were correct.
A room reminiscent of a personal study.
The walls of the small room were covered with bookshelves.
There was a desk in the center of the room.
Furthermore, a portrait of someone was hanging on the wall directly in line with the desk.
It was obvious who it was.
"I guess the person in that portrait is the owner of this room? Who is it.... I don't think I've seen them before...."
"It's the
"What? The
"I've had a few encounters with him in the past. Rather than a comrade..., he was just someone I knew professionally."
An old man with white hair sitting in a chair with unique armrests.
The old man in the portrait was looking down at them with a face full of confidence.
Hwang Jin-hee calmly looked up at the old man hanging above her head and answered Ha-yang's question.
"It's natural that you wouldn't know, Ha-yang. The
"Ah.... I see...."
Despite having the alias of
Hwang Jin-hee stubbornly referred to him as the
That's how much she disliked him.
Meanwhile, Jung Ha-yang's face clouded over upon hearing that the old man in the portrait had already passed away.
She belatedly composed herself and put her hands together in prayer in front of the portrait.
Regardless, Hwang Jin-hee turned her gaze below the portrait.
"He really had no taste."
A pedestal tightly attached to the wall.
The black pedestal, which looked just like an altar for a memorial tablet, turned out to be a coffin when examined up close.
A coffin that people enter when they die.
Realizing this, Hwang Jin-hee sneered.
It was truly befitting of the
"Instructor? That's...."
"There's something written here. Let's see, what did this guy write...."
"To the future generations who wish to walk the path of magic. I leave my will here for you. Future generations, reach the extreme of magic. And thereby embody the legend? Instructor, what does this mean...."
"There's no need to understand such writing. It's just the senile words of an old man who couldn't let go of his childish sentiments even in old age."
Dust had accumulated on top of the coffin.
Hwang Jin-hee wiped the dust off with her hand and read the engraved writing on the surface.
By now, Ha-yang had also approached her side and was reading the writing.
What a pity.
The first person to discover your will is not someone who wants to walk the path of magic, but me.
Insignificant writing.
Hwang Jin-hee snorted.
Then she decided to open the coffin.
"Um..., Instructor. If we open the coffin, what if there's a person inside...."
"That won't happen. Don't worry."
Jung Ha-yang seemed anxious.
In case there might be a corpse in the coffin.
But Hwang Jin-hee knew there wouldn't be a corpse in the coffin.
Because─.
─Ban Ik-hyun, that guy, disappeared from the world without a trace.
It was a very long time ago.
She, Hwang Jin-hee, was the one who witnessed his death.
That's why she opened the coffin and checked inside.
"..."
"...Instructor? There's nothing strange inside, is there? Is it okay to open my eyes now?"
"Yes, open them. And take a look."
"Wow.... This is...."
The coffin was filled with treasures.
Treasures that the
Ha-yang, who had been covering her face with her hands, opened her eyes and checked inside the coffin, then let out an exclamation of admiration.
He really collected a lot.
On the other hand, Hwang Jin-hee let out a small laugh, finding it absurd.
Nevertheless, she opened her eyes like a hawk and carefully examined the items in the coffin.
She put her hand into the coffin and stirred it around, thoroughly searching to the bottom.
Meanwhile, Jung Ha-yang stood beside her, quietly watching her actions.
To think these things were here.
Eventually, Hwang Jin-hee discovered artifacts that the
Among them, she took out a few artifacts from the coffin.
"Instructor, those are...."
"I'll keep these. These items shouldn't come out into the world. I hope you can understand."
"What? Why do you need my understanding.... The items here aren't mine, are they?"
A staff with a crystal skull attached.
A book of magic wrapped in chains.
A ring with a thick jewel embedded in it.
In addition to these, she pulled out several other items and asked for Ha-yang's understanding.
Then she said to her.
"You can have the rest, Ha-yang."
"What!? What are you saying? Why should I...."
"It's only natural since you, not I, discovered this room. Since the owner has long since passed away, it's like an ownerless lair, so the first person to find it becomes the owner. Moreover, the owner of this room made this intending to give it to whoever found it first, so you should take it."
"..."
Hwang Jin-hee turned her gaze away from the coffin.
She had already selected the artifacts that looked dangerous, though she would have to examine them in detail later.
She stood up, leaving Ha-yang at a loss for words.
Just in case she had missed anything, she carefully examined the books in the study as well.
"Instructor, even so, this is a bit.... Since it was discovered in the academy, wouldn't it be better to leave the disposal to the academy?"
"I was thinking of handing over all the books remaining here to the academy if you took the items there.... Well, if you really think so, you can hand over all those treasures too. Of course, I'll definitely keep these."
"..."
"There's no need for modesty or humility. Any player with a proper mind wouldn't say anything to you."
"...Can I really take all of this?"
"Yes, take it all. If anyone tries to find fault with you for it, I'll crush them for you then."
"Don't you need anything else, Instructor?"
"I might take another look later, but for now I'm satisfied with this."
Jung Ha-yang's hesitation was long.
Hwang Jin-hee kindly persuaded her, making her take all the treasures.
"─Then if it won't cause any problems, I'll take them as you said."
"Yes, that's how it should be."
In the end, Jung Ha-yang accepted her offer, albeit with some burden.
☆
─What's going on here?
Eun-ha was dumbfounded.
He had been nervous when Jung Ha-yang suddenly called him in the middle of the night.
Eun-ha, who landed on the balcony and found her room, blinked his eyes repeatedly.
"Am I dreaming...?"
"Papa?"
"I thought I was dreaming at first too. But this isn't a dream. Should I pinch you?"
"...No, it's okay. I can tell it's not a dream."
When Eun-ha entered Jung Ha-yang's room.
She was waiting for him with a grinning face.
And at her feet, sitting on the bed, was a black coffin.
Then she exclaimed "Ta-da!" and opened the coffin lid─.
"─You found this in the library?"
"Yes, there was a secret space in the basement of the library. You know what? Instructor Hwang Jin-hee, who was with me then, told me to take all of these."
"Wow...."
Eun-ha couldn't help but admire.
He could barely hear Ha-yang's explanation.
He was so captivated by the brilliant light emanating from inside the coffin.
What a windfall is this? Ha-yang really has good luck.
To think she discovered someone's legacy while looking for books in the library.
Eun-ha clicked his tongue while looking at the treasures inside the coffin.
He was simply envious of Jung Ha-yang.
While some have to rely on memories from before the regression to find opportunities.
Others find opportunities while looking for books.
But according to Ha-yang─.
"─What are you going to do with these?"
"Huh? Why are you asking me?"
"Well, I'm not sure what to do with things like this. You handle it somehow, Eun-ha. You know better, don't you?"
"Are you saying you're entrusting this to me now?"
"Yes! I thought if I entrusted it to you, you'd use it well for the party.... It's awkward to call these things mine anyway, so wouldn't it be better to use them for the party instead?"
"Ha-yang..., you're really an angel."
Jung Ha-yang suddenly handed over all these treasures to Eun-ha.
Truly, there's no one like girlfriend.
Eun-ha felt like he wanted to hug her right away and shower her with praise.
He was so moved that he couldn't control his emotions.
But how did this happen when it didn't in the previous life?
As he gradually calmed down.
Eun-ha thought while stroking the writing engraved on the surface of the coffin lid.
This didn't happen in the previous life.
Did Ha-yang change the future?
Even so, it was somehow strange.
How could he not have known until the day he died in his previous life that there was an opportunity hidden in the academy library?
It's an alias I've never heard before.
Meanwhile, Eun-ha stroked his chin at Ha-yang's words.
It's possible he might not know a player from
But to create such a secret space in the academy library, he must have been a named player at the time.
Yet how come it hasn't been known until now?
"─Oh?"
"Eun-ha, what's wrong?"
"Why is this here...."
"Beep beep beep?"
At that moment.
Eun-ha's gaze, lost in thought, suddenly fixed on a certain object.
He immediately grabbed it with his hand.
It was a ring with an impressive green jewel.
When he held the jewel up to the light, there was some kind of picture engraved inside.
"..."
A picture in the shape of a mouse.
There was no doubt.
This is─.
─Why is Bebe's ring coming out of this coffin?
The Midnight Whisper, which was known as
He checked the ring several times.
The result didn't change.
Eun-ha's gaze didn't leave the ring.
Why is this here?
An artifact used by
Eun-ha tried to grasp the situation.
Then he put his body into the coffin, ignoring Ha-yang's surprised voice, and rummaged through the items.
This too, and this....
These are artifacts used by
There are also ones used by Jo Ara.
And ones used by Yoon I-byeol....
What's going on here?
Then Eun-ha took out several artifacts from the coffin.
A lamp with a long spout.
A crystal ball the size of a child's head.
A monocle with an extraordinary aura.
A pocket watch with stopped hands.
All of them were artifacts he was familiar with.
They were artifacts possessed by On Tae-yang's party members in his previous life.
It's not that it wasn't discovered.
Someone must have discovered the secret space in the library in the previous life too.
They just didn't make it public....
Eun-ha was lost in thought.
When he made a stern expression, Jung Ha-yang closed her mouth to avoid disturbing him.
It's not that uncommon for people to discover dungeons and not report them, so even if this is the case....
Who discovered it in the previous life?
Eun-ha racked his memories.
In the previous life, On Tae-yang's party members seemed to have used the artifacts on the day Seoul was invaded by monsters.
Originally─.
─Bebe had the Midnight Whisper from when she was at the academy.
Having thought that far, Eun-ha soon realized who had discovered the secret space in the library in his previous life.
Though he didn't know how she discovered it.
She must have somehow discovered it and then distributed the artifacts to On Tae-yang's party members afterwards.
It's fortunate, if anything.
It was something I would have missed, but to find out like this....
In other words, this was
Eun-ha, who had unintentionally obtained Bebe's opportunity thanks to Jung Ha-yang, soon gave a bitter smile.
However─.
─How did Bebe find it?
From what Ha-yang said, it was quite deep in the library. She said you even had to solve a trap to enter the secret space....
Eun-ha couldn't shake off his doubts.
The secret space in the library that Bebe couldn't reach with her skills at this time.
How on earth did she reach it in the previous life?
...Let's think about it later.
It was a question without an answer.
Eun-ha decided to shake off the question for now and turned his head to Jung Ha-yang.
Their eyes met.
"Are you done thinking?"
"Yeah. Sorry, were you bored?"
"No. I was just watching you and didn't even notice the time passing."
"You're lying."
"Tch, it's true though."
Jung Ha-yang, sitting on the bed, swings her legs back and forth.
The two looked at each other and smiled, exchanging emotions.
Then Eun-ha─.
"─Here. This is yours."
"Huh? You're giving this to me?"
"You're the one who discovered this, so you should keep something. Did you think you wouldn't get anything from me?"
"...Thank you, I'll use it well."
Eun-ha placed the lamp and crystal ball among the artifacts on the floor at her feet.
She visibly liked them.
These will be helpful for Ha-yang.
Since Ha-yang is the one who discovered these, I should give her a lot.
The lamp that Bebe used in the previous life was called the Goblin Lamp.
It was an artifact that filled the surroundings with smoke leaking from the lamp's spout, causing people in the smoke to lose their sense of direction.
The fog also became a barrier that turned away people's footsteps from the outside by concealing the surroundings.
And the other one was the crystal ball used by
It was a map that showed the structure of the area within a certain radius centered on the position of the crystal ball, and the locations of beings with mana in three dimensions.
He gifted her artifacts that would suit her as she aspired to be a navigator.
"And in the case of this artifact, if you register a being with specific mana, you can easily find them as long as they're within the artifact's range."
"Really?"
Eun-ha demonstrated using the Witch's Model Garden himself.
When he infused mana into the crystal ball, it sparkled and displayed a three-dimensional map above their heads.
Not only did it roughly show the structure of the girls' dormitory, but it also showed the presence of students
Not only was the structure of the girls' dormitory roughly displayed, but the presence of students staying in the dormitory rooms was also shown.
He puffed up with pride as he explained the Witch's Model Garden.
Then─.
"─So with just this, you can find Eun-ha's location anytime as long as you're close to the crystal ball?"
"Huh? Uh..., that's right. But why are you asking that?"
"Oh, you know why." "..."
"Why are you silent?"
He had dug his own grave.
Eun-ha, who had lost the Witch's Model Garden to Ha-yang, couldn't open his mouth.
She was grinning.
And then pressuring him with a smile.
"Okay. I get it. You can do it if you want."
"Ah! I can adjust the range that appears in the crystal ball to some extent. If I do this, your dormitory comes into range too!"
"..."
"Now I can monitor what you're doing from my room."
"Monitor...? Why do you want to monitor me?"
"Hm? Oh, I misspoke. I just want to see what you're doing whenever I think of you."
"..."
If that's not monitoring, then what is it?
Eun-ha wanted to ask but couldn't and kept his mouth shut.
Ah, I feel like I shouldn't have given it to her....
If I had known this would happen, I should have thought it through before giving it.
Eun-ha regretted it belatedly.
At the same time, he resolved.
I'll sell the gold and silver or hand them over to Hae-su hyung to use as materials....
I should share the elixirs with the kids. I'll think about the rest of the artifacts and distribute them to the kids.
The monocle is the Eye of the Mountain God.
The pocket watch is Memento Magia.
And the Midnight Whisper.
Eun-ha decided to think about who would become the owners of the three artifacts.
☆
He said.
To transfer to the academy and monitor
Why do I have to do this because of one little brat....
So she, who had been living in the shadows, transferred to the 3rd year of high school academy while perfectly disguising her identity.
And she tried to flatter Noh Eun-ha, never leaving his side and monitoring his every move, but─.
─What's this? Am I not attractive?
No way. There's no way I'm not attractive....
She, who had pretended to have a chance encounter to get acquainted with Noh Eun-ha, was unable to make any further progress.
Because he kept avoiding her every time.
She was simply bewildered.
"I thought he was greedy for women to the point of two-timing.... Is that not the case...?"
Her beauty tactics didn't work at all.
Even though she deliberately shortened her school uniform skirt excessively to attract the male students' attention, it didn't work on Noh Eun-ha at all.
So she wanted to ask if he perhaps liked men instead.
Of course, since he was two-timing, that possibility was very slim.
"Sigh.... Let's not be hasty. I just need to slowly get in within a year. And I can't just monitor that Noh Eun-ha guy. I'm so busy."
Only two weeks had passed since the semester started.
While deciding not to be hasty, she recalled the other tasks she had to do.
The Noh Eun-ha squad is one thing....
Was it On Tae-yang?
Didn't he say to monitor that guy too?
He had said.
While transferring to the academy this time, to also assess the skills of the academy's promising students.
Besides this, what she had to do was─.
"─The lowest floor of the library, was it? There must be treasure there. Ah, this is the one thing I like! I wonder what's inside?"
Inherit the will of the
He had told an anecdote about the
And then told her to inherit the will left behind by the
A hero who disappeared from history because of magic that toyed with the dead....
Surely there must be magic that can control the dead in that person's tomb. I can't miss out on something like that.
It's the legacy of a living legend.
That morning too, after being ignored by Noh Eun-ha, she decided to deal with the task she had been putting off to change her mood.
So she came down to the lowest floor of the library and headed towards the
"─How did this happen.... No, why are those people there!?"
Bebe couldn't help but be surprised.
The academy instructors were gathered there, pulling out books.
"Th-that's mine...!!"
Bebe cried out.