Training Ren and Paul was important, but Revivalâs other members were just as important. Some of them were slowing down in their dungeon climbing speed, and they also needed something to prepare for if they lost the dungeonâs power.
After thinking about it for a long time, I came to a decision. I was going to teach them Peruta Circuit.
âPeruta Circuit⊠The mana whirlpool that you use? That thing!?â
âYou already have a mana cultivation method, so I guess you might not need it, Lebuik.â
âNo, I want to learn it! Let me learn it!â
âItâs fine. Just focus on the one you already have.â
I shouldnât say this as someone who mastered Peruta Circuit at only 22 years old, but it took a long time to learn Peruta Circuit. Without Perutaâs continuous instructions and, though Iâm a bit embarrassed to say this, my talent, I would have needed twice or thrice the time I spent.
For those with already excellent mana breathing technique and mana cultivation method, learning Peruta Circuit might do more harm than good. Good examples were Ludia, who used to be a princess of an empire, Daisy, who didnât need to learn anything, and Ren and Paul, whom, as crown princes, must have gotten the best training from a young age.
âSo here is the list of people who will be learning Peruta Circuit from me.â
Hwaya Eleni Mastiford, Kang Yungoong, Shuna Aren Lihita, Illina Alexandrovna Mikhalova, Kang Yua, Minami Violet Sumire, Edward Walker, Sophie Brightman, Laz Michel, Ilayda Van, and Ciara Kenex.
When Ye-Eun saw the list, she spoke dejectedly.
âHiing, Iâm not here.â
âYouâre already learning one from Duca.â
âBut there are seven competitors here. I canât be the only one excludedâŠâ
âWait, seven? Tell me who they are now. You just included two people that you shouldnât have!â
âOwwwwww!â
When I was punishing Ye-Eun, someone else raised his hand. It was Leon, who had confused face.
âFriend, can I not learn that thing? Or is there a special reason Iâm excluded?â
âYeah, Leon. Youâll be learning from someone other than me.â
I made a mischievous smile.
âThereâs a sunbae whoâs perfect for you.â
âThereâs someone like that!? Why didnât you tell me earlier!? Hahaha!â
âBecause you needed to be a First Dungeon explorer to meet him.â
âAh, I see! Now that you mention it, I only became one last week!â
In truth, he was already extremely quick. Him being a Gold rank explorer of the First Dungeon meant that he had broken through 80 floors of the Second Dungeon. I made a bitter smile and asked Leon to wait. Father also asked me.
âDidnât you say you couldnât teach it to other people?â
âI did, but not now. I mastered it enough to teach other people. Thatâs why Iâm willing to teach it.â
âThatâs great, but I wonât need to learn it. Iâll break through my limits on my own.â
âI thought youâd say that, Father.â
I took out Fatherâs name from the list without regret. Suddenly, there were only two guys left. When I glanced at Michel just to be sure, he smiled.
âIâll gladly accept your teaching. If Iâm not doing well, please punish me accordingly.â
âDonât worry about it too much, Michel.â
Michel probably said that half as a joke, as he flinched at my serious response. I didnât go easy just because the person I was teaching was older than me. It was entirely possible that more people would join Ren and Paulâs thrashing phase.
âWill it be okay, Shin-nim? Youâre already so busy.â
Sumire knew that I didnât yet master the technique I displayed in front of her. Her reaction was completely justified. Still, I replied confidently as I stroked her head.
âItâs fine. As you know, I improved while teaching you. Iâm sure there will be something I can learn while teaching Peruta Circuit to others.â
Plus, when the demon race conquered Oceania, I realized I couldnât be the only one progressing. When I first made Revival, what I had in mind was an elite group that could overwhelm any foe. Now was the time to make everyone stronger.
âIâll need to engrave Peruta Circuitâs mana path. Iâll do that individually. I canât give everyone one-on-one lessons, but Iâll check up periodically and give advice. Iâll do my best so that everyone can one-day master Peruta Circuit.â
âThank god Iâm not on the listâŠ!â
âEven thinking about it gives me chills. Crown Prince doing his bestâŠ!â
Ren and Paul hugged each other and trembled. I snorted and vowed to do my best for them too.
After safely telling everyone my plan and getting their agreements, I set up appointments with each of the ten people who would learn Peruta Circuit. Then, I took Leon to Fairy Garden.
[Prince-nim is here!]
[Itâs Prince-nim!]
[Ah, he brought someone else.]
[I havenât seen him before!]
âOoooh! This place is amazing! How beautiful!â
As soon as we arrived at Fairy Garden, nearby elementals greeted us. Although Leon couldnât see them, he could detect the magical light they were emitting. Seeing the assortment of colors produced by the elementals, Leon exclaimed in awe. To me, he looked like an old man from the countryside who came to Seoul for the first time.
âFriend, if there was a place this beautiful, you should have brought me earlier!â
âItâs not a place anyone can get into. I had to get permission from you too.â
âIâm touched! Iâm really touched! I havenât felt this way since I first felt mana!â
âYou use too many exclamation marks! Anyways, follow me.â
Leon couldnât take his eyes off the elementals, so I had to drag him to Linâs workshop. When we neared it, we could hear a noisy hammering noise.
âOh? Heâs working today too?â
For someone like Lin who hated work, he was working recently to a worrying degree. I tilted my head and kicked open the door to the workshop. Lin shouted as if he knew we were coming. He still had a hammer in his hand.
âArgh, just wait a bit!â
Lin was striking a small cylindrical metal. I immediately knew what it was.
âLin, are you making a gun for Leon?â
I didnât even ask him to. He was doing it out of his own will! Lin began hammering again as he gave us a glance.
âIs that him?â
âHey, dude! Nice to meet you, Iâm Leon Pepper! Thatâs a handsome horn you got there!â
âYou sure use a lot of exclamation marks. Wait a moment. Let me finish this real quick.â
Lin seemed to have liked Leonâs compliment, as he grinned and went back to work. Meanwhile, Leon looked around the workshop and continually let out awe-struck remarks. If I could live like Leon, my life would be filled with happiness. I stared at him absentmindedly as I thought about something.
âHu⊠Okay.â
Did Lin get a satisfying result? He picked up the cylindrical metal brimming with magic power and nodded approvingly. Then, he turned his head towards us.
âLeon Pepper, was it?â
âYes. What should I call you?â
âLin.â
âLin! Thatâs a cool name!â
Lin grinned and took out a cigarette before giving Leon an offering gesture. Leon nodded immediately, then received the cigarette Lin threw at him.
âI donât usually give my cigarettes out to other people. Consider it an honor.â
âHahaha, Iâll remember it!â
When Leon tried to take out a lighter, Lin smirked and lit the cigarette in his mouth without moving a finger. When Leon saw it, he also put his cigarette in his mouth, and as expected, it lit up. Leon widened his eyes and murmured with the cigarette in his mouth.
âWhat an enviable abilityâŠâ
âThis is the first time you said something without an exclamation mark, and itâs about lighting a cigar?â
âUnlike you, Kang Shin, he knows whatâs good. Oi, let me see.â
He reached out to Leon. Leon tilted his head and grabbed Linâs hand. Lin then placed his index finger and middle finger on the back of his hand and closed his eyes. Question marks rose up on Leonâs face?
â⊠He was right. You really are like me.â
After a while, Lin murmured quietly as he opened his eyes. His expression carried an interest that didnât exist before.
âJust what kind of a place is Earth? It has someone like Kang Shin, and now someone who has a similar ability to me. Interesting, itâs really interesting.â
âSo how is it?â
Lin seemed to be hesitating about something. When Leon grinned, Lin shrugged.
âGood. I can use him to ignore the women bothering me.â
âThatâs not a very pleasing reason.â
âWhat floor are you on?â
Leon replied immediately.
âIâve only been in the First Dungeon for a week! Iâm on the 54th floor now!â
âYou advanced from the Second Dungeon? If you climbed three floors in a week, you arenât all that bad⊠Good. Do you want to learn from me?â
âIâm always welcome to learn, Friend! Learning is what makes someone human!â
âHow am I your friend? Well, itâs fine. Ah, I havenât told you what Iâll be teaching.â
Lin let out a last puff of smoke from the cigarette in his mouth, then threw the cigarette into the air. He then took out a small handgun and shot it.
A huge explosion bloomed.
âWeâre in Fairy Garden, Lin!â
âDonât worry. I built it sturdy.â
Lin retorted lazily and put away his handgun, but I felt like I could see an enraged Loretta running over. Leon, on the other hand, was riled up.
âYour ability really is similar to mine! No, itâs even more amazing than mine!â
âHmph, so youâre at least good enough to see that. Let me cut to the chase. I hate people without talent and people without work ethic. Iâm teaching you since Kang Shin recommended you, but if I donât like you, youâre out. If youâre okay with that, Iâll lend you my help.â
He stared at Leon.
âYou want to give it a go?â
Leon faced him directly and smiled. His face full of confidence never felt so reliable.
âTake good care of me, Friend! Weâll be seeing each other for a long time!â
Leon and Lin seemed to have something going for them. Was it because they were both smokers? I tilted my head, but if their personalities matched, thatâs all that mattered. I nodded approvingly and spoke to Lin.
âLin, thereâs something else I want to request from you.â
Lin put on a dumbfounded look.
âDo I owe you something? How can you make a request so confidently?â
âMy accessories are all broken. Please, Lin. Youâre the only person, no, draconian, I can trust!â
âThatâs because Iâm the only draconian you know⊠W-Whatâs this!? None of them are even remotely intact!â
Even as he complained repeatedly, Lin accepted the accessories. Then, after examining them one by one, he screamed. He truly was a master craftsman!
âReally!? I shouldnât have agreed to help this guy⊠Kuk, come back in a week!â
âThanks, Lin!â
âGo away!â
Lin really was kind! I gave him a thumbs up while Leon snickered from the side with widened eyes.
Just like that, I successfully connected Lin and Leon.