The Mist Vol 1 Chapter 56

Vol 1 Chapter 56

"You can practice in any room on the first floor after leaving this library. Superior's magic cast on this tower itself neutralizes the magical power during practice, so it will be convenient for you to train."

"Really? Thank you."

Fortunately, even the last objective was successfully concluded. Kapros let out a small sigh as he left the library, walked out, and entered a room that caught his eye.

"Hmm..."

He wasn't sure what purpose this tower had been built for, but it was a sparse room with nothing but a single bed, devoid of any other furniture.

"Well, it should be good for practice."

Kapros tossed Superior's swordsmanship scroll, which he had taken out of his inventory window, onto the bed and picked up the 5th circle magic book. He had no time to rest if he wanted to train the magic he had left off imagining before.

'From now on, I won't think about anything else.'

"Phew..."

Kapros slowly opened the magic book at his feet and began to visualize the spells in his mind.

After the incident where he had supported Mu-heon when he almost fell from colliding with the children, Mu-heon found himself increasingly observing the sword practice of the student named Park Un-o. Unlike his intense practice, Un-o's skill level was surprisingly not that impressive. Rather than being due to having just started, it seemed that his talent didn't match his concentration, and he himself seemed aware of this.

"Why don't you have a cup of coffee and take a break?"

Mu-heon approached Un-o, who had been swinging his sword for about three hours again today, and suggested a break. Being older, Mu-heon had naturally started speaking informally to him. Un-o glanced at him and slowly stopped swinging his wooden sword with a small sigh. The reason Mu-heon, uncharacteristically, offered coffee to someone else was partly because the master had told him to watch over Un-o so he wouldn't swing until exhaustion, but also because Un-o's overly focused appearance reminded him of his past self.

There was a lounge with tables inside the training hall. Un-o approached, wiping his sweat, and accepted the cup Mu-heon offered. Though his expression was sullen, he surprisingly never refused anything given to him.

"It's hot."

Un-o muttered with a face that looked like he had seen it all. He lacked any of the liveliness typical of his age group. But according to the master, Mu-heon was even worse, so perhaps they were two of a kind.

"The master's wife said that if it's hot, you'll have to drink it slowly, so your break time will be longer. She said you need to rest more."

Like the master, the master's wife was quite fond of Un-o. Despite her appearance that suggested she couldn't hurt a fly, she was actually an 8th dan in kendo and respected by all the disciples. Un-o drank the hot coffee without complaint upon hearing it was the master's wife's wish.

"Is your school nearby?"

Mu-heon asked, his gaze meaninglessly fixed on the hologram TV in one corner of the room. Un-o wiped the sweat flowing from his short hair and answered.

"It's Suun High School."

"Suun High?"

Mu-heon turned to look at him, his chin resting on his hand. It had been a long time since he had heard such a familiar name.

"I graduated from there too. Do they still have special admissions for martial arts talents these days?"

Suun High was a school that offered many benefits to martial arts talents. Un-o just drank his coffee without answering. Mu-heon hadn't particularly expected an answer, so he turned his gaze back to the TV. A moment later, his eyes widened slightly at the advertisement that appeared.

[ The 2nd Update! Turning the Mist Continent into the 'Awakening Continent'! Full support for the guild system, upgraded job diversification system, and enhanced monster AI. Don't you want to get your hands on the numerous new rare items that have appeared? Master of the sword, fantastic magic, everyday joys you couldn't achieve. You can experience it all. THE MIST's world, now more vivid than ever, is coming to you! ]

Images of the Mist Continent, lively cities, and hunting scenes in dungeons and fields flowed one after another with music.

'There was an update... What does it mean that the monster AI has been improved?'

As Mu-heon was lost in thought, Un-o suddenly spoke to him.

"Do you like games?"

It was very rare for him to initiate conversation. Mu-heon tilted his head slightly.

"Rather than liking it... I do play. How about you?"

THE MIST couldn't be explained to Mu-heon in terms of liking it. It was like another life. But surprisingly, Un-o smiled at Mu-heon's bleak answer.

"I can't say I like it either, but I do play."

It was the first time Mu-heon saw a side of him that seemed fitting for a high school student.

"What game?"

"THE MIST."

For a moment, Mu-heon's hand slipped from his chin.

"Same here."

"Ah."

Un-o's eyes narrowed.

"I see... Well, we might meet someday."

The break time was over. Mu-heon pressed on the table, trying to put strength in his arms to stand up. Un-o helped him from the side.

"Do you enjoy playing the game, Master?"

At the sudden question while being supported, Mu-heon turned to look at Un-o. A smile, something he hadn't done in reality for a very long time, appeared on his face.

"Yes. I enjoy it."

Mu-heon headed towards the master's house behind the training hall building, carrying the cups. Because of this, he couldn't properly hear Un-o's response left behind.

"I... play to survive."

That day, somehow, Mu-heon ended up going home with Un-o after hearing they were heading in the same direction. Watching Un-o match his pace beside him as he walked slowly, leaning on his cane, Mu-heon thought that the boy might be more considerate than he had imagined.

They stopped when they reached a fork in the road. Turning right would lead to the neighborhood where Mu-heon lived, and going left would lead to a large general hospital. Because he had deliberately chosen a place not far from the hospital when looking for a house, his home was relatively close to the hospital.

"Then I'll be going now."

Mu-heon had thought Un-o would naturally go right, but the boy turned his body towards the left, towards the hospital.

"...Why are you going to the hospital?"

"I'm visiting my younger sibling."

"Younger sibling?"

"Yes."

"I see..."

Mu-heon didn't ask any more and turned away. Based on his experience, Un-o's expression was that of someone who didn't want to hear any more questions. The last glimpse Mu-heon caught of Un-o's back as he headed towards the hospital looked very gloomy. Mu-heon tried to erase unnecessary thoughts as he slowly made his way home.