Xiaoming stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly gripped the secret letter from his mother.
---
Guochunshi stood up from his seat, letting out a loud laugh that echoed throughout the cafe. "Ha! Ha-hahaha! You're bold, really bold! Yes! Only someone like this can be called Vito Calione's son."
"But, Sir, you don't have any disciples yet, do you? As far as I know, even your son couldn't learn the Aura Style."
The Aura Style was a highly difficult technique even within the game. Aura itself was an extremely sensory skill, and it took Guochunshi a very long time to systematize it. By the time he did, his son, Guochunsam, was already quite old. In the end, Guochunsam managed to become an Aura Master but never learned the Aura Style.
"Aura usually hardens over time. That's why it's a very delicate and difficult energy to develop among abilities."
He raised his hand and made a star out of Aura. The star continued to change shape.
"That's why both time and talent are important. But even my son, who was called a prodigy, missed the opportunity and couldn't learn it."
Indeed, this seemed more like a bluff to regain control.
"I inherited my father's blood strongly. It might be a bit embarrassing to say, but I am confident that I am a prodigy blessed by heaven."
I smiled and observed his expression, noticing that his pupils were trembling slightly.
Would he really choose differently?
I can guarantee that, given my words, it was impossible for his character to do so.
"Ha, yes. In the end, to preserve the lineage of the Aura Style, I must take you as my disciple."
He pretended to be reluctant, but his decision to call me a disciple revealed his intention to maintain control.
Of course, I wasn't about to simply hand over control.
"…How about a mentor instead of a disciple?"
"What?"
"As you know, I am also the successor of Calione. It might be a bit much to be your disciple. Just a mentor who teaches me the Aura Style would be fine."
If I became a disciple, he would likely demand that I treat him as a master for life, engaging in all sorts of old-fashioned behavior. There was no need for that.
Is this all just because of that?
"Since I've only been awakened to Aura for less than a month, it should be fine, right?"
"…What? You've only been awakened to Aura for less than a month?"
"Yes. To put it in your terms… I'm like a baby who has just started crawling. This should be enough to qualify, right?"
Guochunshi was taken aback.
Indeed, he probably wouldn't want to pass on his legacy to just anyone.
But I didn't miss the momentary hesitation in his eyes.
"But… I have a granddaughter. She's a prodigy, awakened at a young age, a gift from heaven. Why should I teach you instead of her?"
"Can a child who has just entered kindergarten really endure the training for the Aura Style?"
Guochunshi, trying to find an excuse to refuse.
Surely, he didn't think I would come this far without doing my homework.
Learning the Aura Style inevitably involved forcibly expanding one's Aura pathways, a process that came with immense pain. Teaching such training to a child who hadn't even started school, let alone his beloved granddaughter, was out of the question.
This was just a bluff to regain control.
"Are you really going to take the easy way out?"
Guochunshi's expression showed his discomfort.
"Would I do this just for my convenience? This is all for the greater good, isn't it?"
Guochunshi was not a completely righteous hero. He had come here because he had killed a villain instead of capturing or subduing them.
In that sense, our values were not very different. Both of us were willing to stand above the law for our goals and values.
"Follow me."
Finally, Guochunshi sighed and stood up. I followed him out of the cafe, where I saw the nursing home attendant, Yuseokhoon, smiling.
"Yuseokhoon, I'm taking this child with me for a while."
"Follow your lead, Sir."
Guochunshi took me into the Silver Town. He was in a position akin to a king here, unlike other residents. It felt like a prime minister who had been exiled to a remote area during the Joseon Dynasty.
No one here would dare to challenge him.
We arrived at a park inside Silver Town, where many awakened elderly people were exercising or chatting.
"Hey, Chungsam. Chunchul."
Guochunshi approached two elderly men sitting on a bench and talking.
"Will you do me a favor?"
He whispered something into their ears. They lifted their heads and looked at me.
…Something feels off.
"That kid?"
"Indeed."
"It's been a while since we had some fun."
The two elderly men stepped forward, unbuttoning their shirts. The park had emptied as the other elderly people had moved back.
"Are you ready, Chungsam?"
"Of course, Chunchul."
Only then did I realize who they were.
The 'Chungchun Duo,' former C-rank heroes whose combined strength could take on an A-rank villain.
And the fact that they were taking off their shirts meant…
"Isn't it a bit much to attack a student who is still attending the Academy?"
"Ha!"
The elderly men's upper bodies swelled as their 'Muscle Enhancement' ability activated.
Guochunshi, standing behind them, laughed.
"Let's see if you have what it takes to be my disciple."
This guy, really…
"Since it's our first meeting, let's exchange greetings. I'm Chungsam of the Chungchun Duo!"
Chungsam punched at me with his now enormous bicep.
I activated [Bloodline: Calione] to enhance my physical abilities.
Clang!
I swung my right hand to meet his punch, and a loud metallic sound echoed as if iron had collided.
"Indeed, students are young and fiery! Chunchul!"
"Right!"
Chungsam aimed for my lower body as I struggled to push back his punch.
"Ouch!"
If I were to receive his enhanced kick without defense, my leg could easily break.
In a one-on-one situation, I could have easily dodged by jumping, but jumping now would only make me fly backward due to Chungsam's strength.
I had to choose.
So, I had to retreat.
I gradually released the force from my punch, using Chungsam's strength to propel myself backward and roll on the ground.
I felt it was more appropriate to create distance and look for an opportunity rather than defend against both of their attacks simultaneously.
Chunchul's kick, which had been aimed at the empty space, was now ineffective.
"Young man, you have some room to maneuver?"
"Your judgment is also quick."
I stood up, brushing off the dirt from my body, and saw the two of them looking at me with pride.
Truly, they were monstrous.
Now I understood why the game called 'Hero Silver Town' the ultimate destination for old-timers.
I reactivated [Bloodline: Calione] to prepare for the serious fight.
"Hmm?"
Guochunshi, standing behind them, watched with interest. He seemed to realize that the technique I had just used involved Aura.
"Sir, if you can't handle it, please surrender."
"Hehe! The young man is worried about us. Thank you!"
"If you can't handle it, you should also surrender, student."
I took a stance and observed them, then moved to attack when they would be off-balance.
Fighting both of them, who had worked as a duo for their entire lives, was difficult.
So, I decided to…
I aimed a flying kick at Chungsam, who was slightly closer.
"Hahaha! This is fun!"
I only needed to take one of them down first.
Chungsam seemed surprised by my sudden speed but quickly prepared to grab my leg.
But they overlooked something.
"If you block it, your hand might break."
"Huh?"
I bent my leg and kicked Chungsam, sending him flying backward with the mindset that I would take his hand if he blocked it.
However, Chungsam shifted his center of gravity backward and absorbed the impact by throwing his body.
If I could have taken him out right away, it would have been ideal, but he managed to recover.
"Chunchul!"
"Hey!"
Instead of worrying about his fallen comrade, Chunchul approached me and swung his swollen fist.
"Are you trying to fight one at a time? The stamina drain will be immense!"
"I'm still young, so my stamina is sufficient!"
I twisted my waist to avoid his punch and aimed a powerful punch at his sternum.
"Oof!"
It felt like hitting a steel plate.
I aimed for his sternum, hoping to end it quickly, but Chunchul only stepped back without falling.
"Young man, your punches are hot…"
"Do you think it's just the punches? My kicks are also quite hot. We need to attack together to take him down."
"Do you think so too? Indeed, we should?"
"Right. Let's attack one by one. One!"
But the two of them didn't hesitate and charged at me, one aiming high and the other low.
I raised my guard to minimize damage to my upper body and either blocked the low attacks with my shins or dodged them by stepping back.
"Hey, Chungsam, he's holding up?"
"Indeed. Let's increase our speed!"
Their attacks grew more intense.
If this continued, I would eventually tire from their relentless strikes.
If that happened, I would be forced to allow an attack and would likely be knocked down.
I needed a decisive move.
"I apologize in advance!"
I timed my punch to match Chungsam's and concentrated the Aura spread throughout my body into my right fist.
And then—
Bang──!!!
I unleashed the amplified power in a single explosion.
No matter how strong a hero they were in the past, the decline in stamina was inevitable.
If they were still active, they might have withstood it, but now they lacked the regeneration to recover after a rush.
"Ugh!"
Chungsam's body flew backward from the punch.
"Ah!"
"Chungsam!"
Chunchul's sharp punch aimed at my left liver came mercilessly, despite his apparent concern for Chungsam.
Even in a situation where one of them was down, he pretended to be worried to lull me into a false sense of security.
Was this just experience, or was it downright dirty?
I judged that dodging the next attack from Chunchul would be difficult, so I tried to minimize the damage by turning my head and receiving the punch, then stepping back.
"Ha… Ha…"
I had only managed to take one of them out, yet my body was already exhausted.
Indeed, this was not easy.
Still, I couldn't give up. I prepared for the next attack while looking at Chunchul, who was glaring at me from a distance.
"Enough."
A blue hand appeared in front of me, blocking the space between Chunchul and me.
"…Is the test over?"
Guochunshi chuckled and nodded.
Hearing this, I slumped to the ground and spat out the blood that had pooled in my mouth.
"Wow."
That blood came from inside my mouth?
Just a few punches caused this much damage. If I were a regular person, one punch might have split my head open.
The two people I faced were that strong.
Their seamless combo attacks and默契的配合，即使不说话也能互相理解。如果Guochunshi没有中途停止，这真的会是一场生死较量，需要全力以赴才能应对。
（Note: The last part of the translation was adjusted to maintain the narrative flow and context in English.）
---
"Follow me. I'll write you a confirmation to accept you as my mentee."
He started walking, and I followed, looking at his back. The two elderly men, who had approached me, were now smiling.
---
Indeed, their seamless combo attacks and默契的配合，即使不说话也能互相理解。If Guochunshi hadn't stopped the fight, it would have been a life-or-death struggle, requiring all my effort to handle.
I looked up and saw Guochunshi deep in thought.
"Phew… Phew… Do the elders here… just exercise after eating every day…?"
"Yes, this place is that boring. I heard you're a first-year student at the Academy, so I asked the Chungchun Duo. It's surprising that you can match those who even active heroes find difficult."
"I've had a tough life."
"Ha, indeed."
Really…
Even though I look this way,我也是Calione执行部的杀手，还是个干部。
（Note: The last part of the translation was adjusted to maintain the narrative flow and context in English.）
---
"Indeed, your practical experience doesn't seem lacking. From the way you concentrated Aura into your fist, it seems you can also control it appropriately within your body… not bad."
Hearing Guochunshi's evaluation, I adjusted my breathing and slowly stood up.
"Why don't you mention my moral integrity? I held back out of respect for you."
"Unhesitatingly punching an old man and sending him flying is truly moral. That was an attack, not respect."
"…No, you started it, and that's a bit much. Really."
But his expression was very pleased.
"Follow me. I'll write you a confirmation to accept you as my mentee."
He started walking, and I followed, looking at his back. The two elderly men, who had approached me, were now smiling.