Chapter 153

Chapter 153

“It seems like I won the bet... so, what should we do now?” questioned Se-Hoon smugly.

Before he answered, Seon-Woo took a deep breath to calm down.

“Let’s discuss that later. For now, could you shoot a few more arrows into the wind barrier? The bet ended much earlier than expected... so I still need more samples.”

Though Seon-Woo acknowledged Se-Hoon’s impressive ability to strategize and respond in real-time, he knew it wasn’t enough to assess his talent fully. Therefore, he spoke politely, despite his wounded pride.

Because of that, Se-Hoon nodded in agreement and said, “Okay.”

Refocusing, Se-Hoon notched another arrow, aimed at the wind barrier with a much more practiced stance than before, and released it, all in one swift motion.

Twang!

Again, the arrow smoothly burrowed into the barrier and began moving with the wind.

How is this... possible?

Seon-Woo was in disbelief. After each arrow shot, Se-Hoon’s archery skills seemed to improve, as if a year of training had passed. Initially, Seon-Woo assumed Se-Hoon had practiced in secret or was simply exceptionally talented. However, after observing Se-Hoon with his unique skill, he discarded his assumption.

Rather than learning anew, he seems more like he’s... recalling.

Like a seasoned archer picking up a bow after decades, the more Se-Hoon shot, the sharper his skills became. The scene was so uncanny that Seon-Woo was left both amazed and puzzled.

Is it merely because of his unique skill’s effect... or is something else at play?

He thought back to how Se-Hoon had shown sudden and exceptional growth since entering Babel, becoming the promising talent with an extraordinary array of skills he now was.

“Hmm.”

Staring at the flying arrow, Se-Hoon reached into the quiver again.

“Should be just like this...”

Twang!

Unable to react, Seon-Woo watched Se-Hoon shoot a second arrow at the wind barrier, making it fly alongside the first. A few seconds later, both stabilized despite their shaky appearances while Se-Hoon was adjusting to controlling two.

It feels like... each one should take around thirty percent more. around thirty percent, I’d say.

In a flash, Se-Hoon finished calculating the stamina and mental stress required to control each additional arrow, accounting for the increase in demand needed.

“Here they go.”

Twang! Twang! Twang!

He shot another three arrows, one after another, toward the wind barrier. Like the second, the arrows all wavered when a new one joined before quickly stabilizing and surging forward again. And following the same behavior, five more arrows shot toward the barrier, making a total of ten.

Whirr!

Together, the arrows moved in unison against the stream of wind like a school of salmon swimming upstream. Flabbergasted, Seon-Woo fell into a daze as his eyes followed the arrows.

At this level, isn’t he basically a master...?

To think Se-Hoon could perfectly read the wind currents around the ten arrows and control each one individually. Even in Seon-Woo’s family’s archery dojo, only the masters, including himself, could perform such an intricate technique.

“Next... actually, never mind. I think that’s my limit for now.”

Despite maintaining the flight of the ten arrows, Se-Hoon could speak so casually, stunning Seon-Woo again. Just like how when something was too surreal, people tended to accept it as it was, Seon-Woo, who was at a loss for words, was about to do the same.

Ring!

Snapping out of it, Seon-Woo hastily pulled out his ringing phone and looked at the screen: Great Aunt.

At that caller ID, Seon-Woo tensed and straightened up before picking up.

“Yes, Seon-Woo here.”

—Can you tell the kid in front of you... actually, just put me on speakerphone.

Heeding Baek-Yeon’s request, Seon-Woo quickly adjusted the speaker settings to ensure her voice could be heard by everyone around.

—Ah, ah. Can you hear me?

Baek-Yeon’s voice resounded from the phone.

Unsurprised, having expected the situation to some extent, Se-Hoon replied, “Yes, I can hear you well.”

—Good. I’ve had a good look at your archery. You seem to have quite the talent.

“Thank you for the compliment,” Se-Hoon responded politely.

—Did you learn that archery which beat my grand-nephew from Kwang-Soo?

Hearing his name, Kwang-Soo snapped, “Don’t mention me.”

“...”

Meanwhile, Seon-Woo blushed with embarrassment. Having his defeat pointed out by someone he admired was humiliating.

“I didn’t learn archery from anywhere; he just taught me how to fight well,” answered Se-Hoon.

—Really? For someone who hasn’t formally trained in archery, you even had your own hidden skills...

“Stop the chatter and just get on with your assessment!” Kwang-Soo grumbled when she paused.

A chuckle resounded from the phone.

—Alright, alright. If I were to give a simple assessment... you were neither good nor bad.

—Well, you can think it over as you don’t have to decide right away. I understand you might have your own plans.

“Thank you.”

—Sure, until then... right. Sunwoo, you can assist him, the senior disciple.

“Understo... Wait, what? Senior disciple?” asked Seon-Woo in bewilderment.

A senior disciple was a fellow student of one's master. In other words, it meant that he had to treat Se-Hoon with the respect due to a senior.

—If that guy becomes my disciple later on, he’ll be on the same level as your master, your father. So, he’s technically your senior.

“But, but still...”

—But what?

“No matter what...”

—No matter what, what?

“...”

At her repeated questioning, Seon-Woo sighed.

“Understood... ma’am.”

—Good. Now, I have something to discuss with that Kwang-Soo guy, so you two can go and settle that bet from earlier.

“Yes, ma’am...”

Click.

The call ended, and an odd silence filled the training hall.

After dejectedly staring at his phone for a while, Seon-Woo slowly looked up at Se-Hoon.

“Please take care of me from now on, junior disciple,” greeted Se-Hoon, grinning widely with delightment.

Seeing that grin, Seon-Woo's eyes twitched, and he inaudibly mumbled for a while.

“I'll be in your care... senior.”

***

Once the energetic Se-Hoon and the utterly defeated Seon-Woo left the training hall, Kwang-Soo’s phone vibrated.

“Tsk.”

Annoyed, he let the call from Baek-Yeon, who had been waiting for the moment Se-Hoon and Seon-Woo left, ring before answering.

—You were going to answer anyway, so why the delay?

“Shut up! More importantly, what were you thinking?”

She had previously told him that she would be casually observing the fight, but then suddenly mentioned taking someone on as her disciple. And while the fact that it was Se-Hoon annoyed Kwang-Soo even further, there was a bigger reason behind his reaction.

“No matter how you look at it, he’s not at the required level to be your disciple. Why did you change your mind suddenly?” Of this, Kwang-Soo was confident.

Kwang-Soo and Baek-Yeon had known each other for decades. And since most of that time had been spent on battlefields, they were well aware of each other’s tendencies, skills, and standards.

—Well, to be honest, he is a bit lacking.

“Then why did you take him?”

—I told you. I like the way he perceives things.

Moving her gaze to Se-Hoon, who was walking out with Seon-Woo, Baek-Yeon quietly observed him before continuing.

—That kid has a rather twisted perspective. It’s like he has a bit of the future mixed in his gaze.... It’s all just quite unusual.

“The future? Are you saying that he has some kind of foresight or precognition?”

—It’s a little different. It’s more like he’s already seen it rather than seeing it in real time.... The point is, his eyes aren’t common at all.

Depending on the perspective one viewed objects, the same vision technique could have vastly different effects. So from that standpoint, she deemed Se-Hoon’s perspective had enough potential to be refined and honed.

—Even if I take him as a disciple, it’ll only be for a while. With such an unusual perspective, it won’t take long to see what he’s capable of.

“What about Ludwig?”

—That guy always goes around telling everyone to teach his students. Can’t you tell by how I’m leisurely handling this right now?

“Damn it... If only he’d help me out a bit too...”

For a moment, Kwang-Soo silently cursed Ludwig, wondering if he was being discriminated against for not being a Perfect One

—Plus, it wouldn’t be that bad of a thing for you if he learned from me.

Still irritated, Kwang-Soo asked, “What do you mean?”

—That kid. He’s pretty similar to Doppelganger.

Kwang-Soo’s expression instantly hardened at her words, and he turned his head in her direction instead of looking at his phone.

His frigid eyes conveyed that he wouldn’t tolerate any nonsense.

However, when Baek-Yeon met his gaze, she smiled.

—If he receives my teaching well, he should help you find what you’re looking for.