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A Man Growing Too Fast (4)

“You can make whatever you want this time.” Like Kang Shin-hyuk, Lee Na-hee threw off her summer jacket and stretched. He felt like she was doing it on purpose, but he still couldn’t ignore the sight. Lee Na-hee ignored his gaze and continued.

“Don’t get me wrong. I heard about it from my grandfather last time. He said that we made the last one according to my will, so you couldn’t show your skills properly. This time, do whatever you want. I’ll match you.”

“Thank you for the suggestion…first, let’s check the materials.” Kang Shin-hyuk produced a lump of metal that had been refined in advance from his inventory. Among the metals obtained from Gromas, it was an A-rank metal with the second highest quality after benadelite called [Lightning Urot].

“What is that? Isn’t it an unconfirmed material?”

“It’s alright. I was lucky enough to get it inside the gate we practiced in.”

“That sounds like a lie.” Lee Na-hee clearly didn’t believe him, but she shrugged and let it go.

“We only have to make something good out of it.”

“Yes, but not for the contest.”

“Then, just purely because you want to make something with me?”

“That’s right.” Lee Na-hee wondered if he was trying to get over his heartbreak after being rejected.

“It may be because of that, but… I’ll trust you.”

“I’m sorry, senior, but are you going to keep talking about it?”

“Oh, it’s fun.” Lee Na-hee clapped her hands and then placed a roll of paper on the table. She stretched it out and motioned for Kang Shin-hyuk to come over.

“So? What’s that magic metal’s characteristics? I can’t read it with my abilities yet.”

“It’s simple, it just has an electric attribute.”

“The metal itself has that property?”

“Yes.” Metal with attributes was one of the highest quality materials for weapons. A weapon made out of it would become an elemental weapon even if forged by an amateur, and thus it had a high probability of becoming an artifact. Of course, it was usually very expensive, given its rarity. Lightning Urot was a metal that wasn’t originally present in Gromas. Rather, it was created through the changes in the world made after Shin Eunah accepted the benadelite and used her lightning to stop Jormungand. There wasn’t much created in that process, but he had mined what he could find.

“Hey, hey…” Lee Na-hee’s expression changed as she looked at the metal. She had been willing to help from the start, but now she was burning with passion.

“Let’s make it!”

“You sound so motivated now.”

“Ah, you noticed?” She didn’t have any intention of hiding her greed.

“But this time, I want to make something.”

“You really know how to get someone interested…!”

“I won’t be disappointed.”

“You want to do even more?!” Kang Shin-hyuk nodded. Lee Na-hee considered his words for a moment before clapping her hands.

“Okay, I’ll cooperate with your production activities in the future, so make me a weapon with the same materials before I graduate. How about it?”

“Sounds good.” He had already confirmed her abilities the last time they worked together. There were better enchanters than her, undoubtedly, but she was the only one who could spend this much time with him in the club and who went to the same school as him. If it meant continuing their partnership in the future, such a condition was easy enough to agree to.

“Then, the negotiations are concluded. You are the first to be able to indulge me. Isn’t it an honor?”

“It’s an honor…?” Kang Shin-hyuk shook his head with a sigh.

“So, what are you going to make?”

“Oh, yeah. I’ve been thinking about a lot of things, but I wanted to experiment.” He took the pen offered by Lee Na-hee and drew a line in the center of the blank paper. He could practically see the question mark floating over his partner’s head.

“What is it?”

“A thread. Of course, I’m not intending on making just a metal thread…”

“It’s fine if you make it, but…are you telling me to draw a magic circle on a thin thread?” Kang Shin-hyuk smiled and gave her the thumbs up. She looked like she wanted to break his thumb off.

“It doesn’t matter if we fail, I want to make it. Will you help?” Lee Na-hee wanted to quit, but his eyes remained serious. She let out a sigh and made up her mind, finally nodding.

“…Yes. So, what kind of thread do you want to make?”

“I don’t want anything complicated, for now…” The two started working on the blueprint together. Lee Manwoo arrived at the club a bit later, noticed them working, and quietly walked away.

‘Maybe there is hope for our granddaughter.’ The old man’s plan for his ambitious granddaughter was underway, unaware of the conflict it would place her in with the Empress and the Alchemist.

***

Shinyoung’s practical training became even more difficult. Assignments began to steadily increase in their writing classes as the students realized that the previous week really was their last break.

“How does Kang Shin-hyuk run so fast…!”

“He’s the Rookie King.”

“Why are both Kang Shin-hyuk and Baek In-ha in my class…! Hey, slow down!” Kang Shin-hyuk was moving particularly quick in the day’s training, as his status was already far beyond the level of a first-year. He had no struggles from the practical writing portion, either.

“Wow…Shin-hyuk, help…!”

“Ask in Korean.”

“Mr. Kang, I am completely unsure of these assignments…!” Needless to say, Baek was at the top in the physical practice but was lagging behind in writing.

“Let’s go play during the exam.”

“It was an act. You’ve been preparing for the election, haven’t you?” The student council election would be held at the end of the final exam, and he was planning on taking part in it.

“Hmm…okay, I’ll help you.”

“I love you!”

“If you say that again, you can kiss your royal class future goodbye.”

“Sorry, Mr. Kang, I was wrong.” If Baek became the vice president of the student council, Shin-hyuk’s school life would become a little easier. With such a goal, he decided to help out a little bit with Baek’s work. Of course, that didn’t mean he could help him with the actual tests.

“Guys, they say there’s a fight for 3rd class today.”

“It’s a way to relieve the stress of studying for exams against your classmates.”

“If you lose, your score will be reduced.”

“It’s the worst.” The subject of the third class of the day was [Non-Skill Training 2]. That was the class Kang Shin-hyuk had defeated Do Woojin in before.

“Are you my partner today as well?”

“Won’t you stick with me?” Baek In-ha lowered his voice and smiled at Kang Shin-hyuk.

“I know you’re stronger. Isn’t it worth testing with me now?”

“Well…” He knew Baek’s words weren’t wrong. If it was before Gromas, it would’ve been impossible, but now his status was above the average A-rank. Assuming their results from before hadn’t changed, Baek was still one step ahead of him in agility, but Kang Shin-hyuk was a step ahead in strength. There was a big difference between A and S rank, but it might be doable. He could also boost his own agility with his spiritual power…which meant all that remained was magic power.

“I thought it would arrive someday, but not so quickly. How the hell did you grow so fast?”

“Well, maybe you can tell if you stick with me.” A friendly tension arose between the two. At that moment, the bell sounded, indicating that five minutes of class time remained, and the two stood up as one.

“Shall we go?”

“Yeah.”

“Hey, I think they’re going to fight today.”

“Oh!” The students in the class stood up as they saw the two burning with passion. The students followed after them, hoping to see the big match between them. However, their expectations were not to be fulfilled.

“Today, I will be seeking the help of the Magic Department seniors to test your abilities to cope with more diverse situations.” Gong Joonpyo, the teacher in charge, said so, but the students wondered what the hell he was talking about. There were magicians in school uniforms wearing black ties nearby.

“You will battle with your 3rd-year seniors and train in responding to magic. Thank you, 3rd years, for helping your juniors despite the final exams.”

“Oh, yes…yes…?” The teacher then led the students in clapping. Something didn’t feel quite right about the training.

“Shin-hyuk.” Baek jabbed him in the back.

Only

“The Magic Crown is staring at you.”

“The Magic Crown?” Kang Shin-hyuk looked up, noticing a handsome blonde man staring at him.

“Are you the one who’s been flirting with my fiancée?” It was Nathan Bodin, the top student in the Magic Department. Kang Shin-hyuk strode forward, facing the man staring him down and feeling a sense of déjà vu.

“…Who’s your fiancée?”

“Lee Na-hee, 2nd year in K class.”

“I think you’re misunderstanding…of course, you won’t believe me either way.” Kang Shin-hyuk responded with a hesitant smile.

“Come on.” Nathan’s voice was dripping with arrogance.

“I’ll teach you some proper manners.”