Chapter 16

When the three of them left, the only ones left in the room were Nina, Min Ha-rin, and Lukas.

Min Ha-rin looked at Lukas’ face.

She’d thought that his expression would have changed this time. Because he had been criticised by someone whose life he’d saved. Even if he was an emotionless person, he still would have had some kind of reaction.

But it didn’t happen.

Lukas’ face was still as expressionless as before. As if he noticed her gaze, Lukas turned to look at her.

“Do you have something to say?”

“…and if I do?”

“I’ll listen to whatever you have to say.”

He paused for a moment before adding.

“Because there’s nothing wrong with what Lee Jong-hak said.”

“…”

Lukas’ voice was calm.

His voice didn’t shake even a bit, and his eyes remained clear like a tranquil lake.

“…you agree with him?”

“I do.”

How was that possible?

Of course, Lee Jong-hak’s words weren’t wrong

His doubts were natural, and from a certain perspective, his criticisms were valid.

Nevertheless, Min Ha-rin still had a few questions.

‘However…’

Despite her doubts and suspicions, it could not have been denied that Lukas had saved them.

He’d also been helping humanity for decades.

So she still wasn’t sure. She couldn’t understand Lukas’ intentions either.

However, she felt that there was a reason why this man refused to defend himself. And she realised why she was the only one who had this thought.

Only Min Ha-rin had heard what the mysterious black being, who had appeared after Duke Sandro died, had said.

‘It seems your patience over the past few decades has run out.’

Patience. What had he been patient with?

She didn’t know. And she could not read anything from Lukas’ expression.

He looked like someone without emotions.

Or.

Someone who knew that this would happen.

Min Ha-rin suddenly felt that his expressionless face seemed lonely.

“At this moment, tens of millions of people are struggling in pain. But I can’t save them all.”

“Even if you can’t save all of them, can’t you save as many as possible?”

Min Ha-rin knew how strong Lukas was. Because she’d seen how he killed Duke Sandro.

It wasn’t even a fight.

Sandro didn’t understand or accept his death even at the moment he died.

She couldn’t help but feel the Demons’ power would have been greatly reduced if he was willing to use his power more actively.

“I can only save a handful of people.”

“…even if you have that much power?”

“Even if I have this much power.”

This was said in a much firmer voice than she expected.

Min Ha-rin fell silent because she couldn’t understand.

Lee Jong-hak had already shown that they wouldn’t be able to understand the answer even if they asked the question.

Likewise, they wouldn’t be able to understand his true identity.

Lukas looked at her face and continued.

“I agree with Lee Jong-hak’s words. It’s an exaggeration to say that humanity only made it this far because of my help.”

Nina’s lips parted slightly when she heard those words. Although she did not agree with Lukas disparaging his own achievements, denying his words would be the same as denying her Master.

“It’s also arrogant of me to decide whom to save based on my own personal standards. There are people who are better and people who are not, but all life is precious.”

This was something that everyone knew.

These words, which were so familiar and easy to overlook, were the closest to the truth of the universe.

But Lukas still thought that he was ridiculous. Despite knowing the truth of these words better than most people, he had personally ended countless lives, and he would continue to do so.

Was it because he knew the law of the cycle of reincarnation?

Because he knew that death wasn’t the end?

Because he was aware of the existence of an afterlife?

How ridiculous.

Did knowing that lessen the weight of life?

No. Because every being still had one life. It was disgusting to comfort himself and justify his slaughter with such an excuse.

But Lukas thought.

Knowing it and practicing it were two different things.

He knew that all life was precious. Nevertheless, because of his personality, there were clear limitations. His judgements were bound to always be subjective.

Even Lukas could not look at everything objectively.

Min Ha-rin was proof of this.

To an extent, Lukas… had saved her on a whim.

“You said that we were qualified. Can I ask what that means?”

“The power of transformation.”

The answer came from Nina. It seemed that she had managed to suppress her agitation.

Min Ha-rin tilted her head to the side.

“…the power of transformation?”

“Some people have other childish names for it, but I like this one the most.”

She then shrugged and explained.

“To put it simply, it means those who will have a profound influence on the course of history. There are many cases in which a single individual managed to change history more than anyone could have expected. Those who possess hundreds or even thousands of times more of that potential are called ‘transformers’” (TL:…I had to… it’s literally ‘transformation people’)

“Then Mr. Lukas…”

“Right. He looks for those transformers.”

To be precise, he only looked for transformers. But Nina closed her mouth without mentioning that fact.

She didn’t know why, but Lee Jong-hak’s angry voice came to her mind at that moment.

“…Master… probably wanted to save Lee Jong-hak.”

Lee Jong-hak.

He certainly appeared to be the main character in a heroic tale. Min Ha-rin couldn’t fully understand the concept of the power of transformation and transformers, but she could at least see that he was an indispensable hero of mankind.

“He ended up saving everyone else, but…”

In truth, even Nina wasn’t entirely sure about this situation. This was the first time Lukas had saved so many people at once.

At least as far as she knew.

She shot a questioning gaze to Lukas, but he didn’t answer her unspoken question.

Then Min Ha-rin spoke again.

“Then he must have saved a lot of people… who were transformers. Since he’s been around for 30 years.”

“Not that many. Probably fewer than ten.”

“Huh? That’s all…?”

“Maybe.”

Nina shook her head.

“I don’t know just how many people Master has saved. And… just because he saved them doesn’t mean they think he’s their benefactor.”

Min Ha-rin could easily understand Nina’s words.

After all, she’d just witnessed such a case for herself.

“One thing is certain: Regardless of what they think about Master, everyone he saves is a key to sustaining humanity.”

This was something that could have been understood just by looking at Nina and Lee Jong-hak. After all, how many hunters were stronger or had more influence than them?

Nina held the position as the President of the European Branch of the Hunter Association. In other words, every hunter in Europe was her subordinate.

Although Europe was considered one of the weaker branches of the Hunter Association, it still had a large number of top hunters.

It was the same for Lee Jong-hak. He was a hero who was known throughout Asia. He was one of the Three Dragons who protected Asia, and it would’ve been hard to find a hunter who didn’t know his name.

‘If there were even just a few more people in similar positions to President Nina…’

And if they were to give their absolute trust and loyalty to Lukas, the influence that this blonde-haired man could exert on the association would have been much greater than anyone could expect.

“Master, there is one thing I’d like to ask you.”

Lukas turned to Nina and said.

“You want to know why I’m letting you explain all of this to Min Ha-rin?”

“…that’s right.”

Her thoughts had been seen through before she could even bring them up, but Nina wasn’t surprised. This was because this was something that anyone who talked to Lukas would encounter.

But Nina’s composure was broken by Lukas’ next words.

“I plan to take her as my disciple.”

“…”

Come to think of it, he had said that he would teach her magic. Min Ha-rin blankly recalled that conversation.

She was so distracted by everything happening that she’d forgotten about it.

‘But did I say I would learn it?’

“Of course, that depends on if she’s willing.”

Crack.

Min Ha-rin felt like she heard something crack.

She didn’t hear incorrectly.

Nina’s fists were clenched tightly, and her face was cold. It suddenly felt like the room was filled with cold air.

Min Ha-rin subconsciously swallowed her saliva.

She didn’t know why, but she suddenly felt anxious. It felt like she had taken something she shouldn’t have touched.

“Disciple?”

Nina spoke with a disjointed voice. Then she turned to look at Min Ha-rin.

The moment she saw the emotions brewing in her eyes, Min Ha-rin flinched.

“But…”

Envy, jealousy, and hatred seemed to form a dense web in her eyes.

Nina bit her lip before speaking in a strained voice.

“I would be…”

Nina, who had started trembling slightly, closed her eyes.

“…”

Then, after taking several slow, deep breaths, she opened her eyes and returned to her usual self.

“…I see.”

Nevertheless, she was unable to completely hide the slight tremors in her voice.

Nina spoke in a soft voice.

“I envy this child.”

“Nina, those who aren’t wandering—.”

“…don’t need directions. I remember Master’s teachings clearly.”

Nina sighed deeply.

“I’m sorry for pursuing this. And I understand, but…”

Min Ha-rin belatedly realised that Nina was upset.

She was complaining to Lukas.

“…Min Ha-rin’s not exactly young.”

Min Ha-rin’s expression hardened slightly as she heard the familiar words,

“I heard that she uses a sword. It would take a lot of painful effort for her to learn magic.”

Ah. Was that what they meant?

Then Lukas’ words last time weren’t because she looked older than her actual age.

Min Ha-rin briefly forgot her situation and nodded to herself.

“The important thing is her attitude. As you said, it would have been painful, but it wouldn’t matter if she believed that she could overcome it…. Though, it might be too late to ask.”

Lukas turned to look at Min Ha-rin.

“Do you have any plans of becoming my disciple and learning magic from me?”

Magic.

In the past, she’d yearned to learn it. To be precise, she’d always had a faint admiration for Wizards.

But after learning that she didn’t have the talent for it, that yearning disappeared.

What about now?

“You have great talent for swordsmanship.”

“Huh?”

“If you continue walking on the path you’re on, you will be able to surpass Lee Jong-hak in 5 years.”

“…”

What did he mean by ‘surpass Lee Jong-hak’?

She didn’t understand.

While she was only a rookie at best, Lee Jong-hak was viewed as the Dragon of Hope throughout East Asia and had defeated dozens of Demon Nobles.

Min Ha-rin had heard countless rumors about him. And she had been greatly impressed by his upright personality in the short time that she’d spent with him.

How could she surpass a man like that in 5 years?

Min Ha-rin looked at Lukas in confusion as he continued.

“But if you accept my teaching, you can surpass him in 1 year. With magic.”

“…”

This time, it felt like cold water had been poured on her head.

That was because those were too unrealistic.

‘In 1 year?’

It was impossible. She was absolutely certain that such a thing was impossible.

Min Ha-rin knew absolutely nothing about magic, and she could barely feel the mana that filled the atmosphere.

In other words…

“…I have no talent for magic.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Because I can’t feel mana.”

Lukas looked at her.

“It’s not that you don’t have any talent. It’s just that your mana sensitivity is low. I can help you with that. The most important thing is your attitude.”

Min Ha-rin’s expression changed when she heard the word attitude.

When it came to willpower and perseverance, she didn’t think she would lose to anyone.