Path of the Giant (2)
-With limited materials, you have created a wonderful object that pushes the source to the limit. Spiritual strength has slightly increased.
-Synchronization has slightly accelerated – current rate of 65.8%.
Kang Shin-hyuk had also realized that he had been acting strange these days. He couldn’t help it, though. As the synchronization rate increased, those memories that were tightly sealed started flowing into his mind. Sometimes they were of happy moments, sometimes of frustration, and some were of infinitely painful moments. He couldn’t deny them as they were all his, so he had to accept them all. It was fortunate that it didn’t happen every day, but it was quite severe whenever it did occur, especially when he was holding the hammer.
‘Don’t go somewhere weird. Ha.’ The words Lee Na-hee said left him feeling a bit conflicted, but at the same time, he mentally thanked her. She helped him get rid of his confusion and find his center. No, though, she had kissed him too while she was at him.
“Shin-hyuk, are you okay?”
“You’re saying it properly.” Kang Shin-hyuk hurriedly arranged his thoughts and looked up to see Eleanor with a spear in hand, proudly tapping her chest.
“I’ve been practicing hard.”
“It was a bit messy at the end.”
“Ugh.” Kang Shin-hyuk laughed and picked up his sword. They had just finished sparring as they often did since he had become the vice-captain.
“Today, I think there was something…”
“Sorry. Something like that did happen.”
“Shall I punish Na-hee?” Shin-hyuk narrowed his eyes.
“How’d you know?”
“We’re closer than you think.”
“No, you can’t convince me just by saying that.”
“It was after she boasted that she became Miss Shinyoung this year.”
“Ah, the popularity vote?”
“Uh-huh.” The school festival, which Kang Shin-hyuk had yet to experience, was canceled because of the damned gate situation. Still, there were several events for the students who wouldn’t completely give up on the chance to enjoy some festivities. The selection of Miss & Mr. Shinyoung was one such event.
“I heard you received a lot of votes too.”
“There are more students in the Knight Department than the Magic Department…” Eleanor looked away in embarrassment.
“I heard you came pretty close.”
“No, it’s only because mine are so small…” Kang Shin-hyuk thought Eleanor’s charm didn’t lose out to Lee Na-hee, but there were certain differences in the proportions between the two that couldn’t be overcome.
“But I voted for you.”
“Really?” Her expression brightened immediately at that. He laughed and nodded.
“Yes, but don’t tell anyone. It’ll be annoying if Na-hee knows.”
“Okay!” Eleanor responded vigorously and hummed to herself as she cleaned up the equipment. He didn’t tell her this, but the biggest reason he voted for her was that she reminded him of a cute little squirrel.
“Has there been no problems with your practice?”
“Uh-huh. We were assigned a low-difficulty gate.”
“That’s because you’ve been hiding your skill.”
“We’ve been active at night instead.” It seemed that Eleanor was still embarrassed to be a part of Masked Bacchus.
“You’re getting better little by little now. Once you’ve gotten the posture down, we’ll be done practicing.” Kang Shin-hyuk nodded. While the frequency of gate occurrences had increased compared to before, no explosive increases had occurred like they did a few months ago. Now, the students’ usage of the ranges and training facilities had been reduced to the minimum as they constantly assaulted gates.
‘Although the overall amount of gates is steadily increasing.’ No doubt, the association, and the world governments were both aware of that. It was becoming difficult for low-level superhumans to work, and even the higher level ones were being burdened. According to the other members of the Hero Universe, Jormungand was more likely to invade worlds that were stronger and more developed.
“You’ll have more opportunities to work with Masked Bacchus.”
“I’m prepared.” Eleanor clenched her fist, her eyes full of determination. He decided to ask her what had been on his mind for a while now.
“What will you do after you graduate?”
“…” Eleanor was stunned by the sudden shift in topics, but soon she recovered with a serious expression.
“I will head back once.”
“Once.”
“Yes.” Eleanor hesitated but then resolved herself again.
“Will you go with me then?”
“To England?”
“Yes.” Certainly, she would be reluctant to go back to her own family that hated her (well, Karen would be with her, but neither were thinking of her at this moment). Asking him to go to such a place meant she relied on him, rather than that she wanted to burden him. Since he had asked her to join Masked Bacchus, he could hardly refuse.
“Let’s go together… if Claire allows it.”
“Yes.” She looked relieved as she clasped her hands together. Then, she blushed very slightly.
“Then… maybe we can keep going?”
“Are you saying to live with you in England?”
“I’m not Na-hee.”
“What a relief, but isn’t that a little rude to Na-hee?”
[You have such anxieties, Anvil.]
Halos’ voice was, as always, calm and peaceful. Kang Shin-hyuk shrugged as he hefted the hammer.
“It must seem funny to you.”
[Not at all. I’ve never experienced reincarnation. It’s like you’re balancing both of your lives.]
“That’s a good way to put it.” His conversations with Halo served to soothe his mind.
“Is this going well?”
[It’s going better than that. You can tell just by looking.]
“You can tell that easily?”
[Sure. Isn’t it something that was a part of me?]
The shackles made out of tree roots were now 70% completed. The giant continued to shake the ground every two days, but that was no problem for the elves since Kang Shin-hyuk secured a field for them. The continued vibrations were never pleasant, however.
[You know where you need to focus right now. It will be painful sometimes, but once you get over everything, you’ll never look back with regrets.
“…Is that so?”
[At least I like you very much.]
“Haha, thank you so much.” Halo had lived a long enough life that Kang Shin-hyuk couldn’t even dare compare to it even after recovering his previous life’s memories. Maybe that was why conversing with him made him relax.
“Thank you.”
[Thank you as well, Anvil.]
-… Master Halo, please pay close attention.
It was then the administrator interrupted the conversation between them. The sound of the giant stepping down once again caused Mirotoz to shake.
“…?” Kang Shin-hyuk looked up. The giant’s steps were two days apart, but now…
“Isn’t it too early?”
“Come. Maybe we should take a look.]
Halo sounded tense as he stretched his consciousness to the highest point of the tree. Kang Shin-hyuk frowned as he gazed out through the fog toward the huge feet that were dimly visible. Then, once more, the giant’s foot landed on the ground.
[That seems to be a problem I’ve never considered.]
Halo returned to Kang Shin-hyuk’s side as he remained tense.
[The giant has sped up. I guess he learned how to move faster. Jormungand must’ve been closely monitoring us, but when did they contact the giant?]
“If it’s moving faster… haste?”
[Oh, that makes it easier if you already know of the magic. Yes, that’s right.]
The sound of the giant’s footsteps echoed out once more.
“Ahhhhh!”
“The giant is running!”
“This world will finally be destroyed!”
“Ah, if we die anyway, attack Anvil for the last time…!” The elves had no choice but to panic as the shaking that occurred once every two days had increased so rapidly.
“Anvil!”
“Please accept my last!”
“…” Kang Shin-hyuk turned to Halo after hearing the shouts from the residential area.
“It won’t last long if it is magic.”
[Perhaps. I guess we can tell soon if that’s the case… oh, it’s slow again.]
The problem was that it was likely not to end as a temporary phenomenon. Kang Shin-hyuk looked down at the shackles.
“At first, you said 100 years, right? How many now?”
[Well… three months?]
“It’s become quite urgent.”
[I’m sorry, Anvil. I had no intention of rushing you with this quest.]
“It’s okay.” Kang Shin-hyuk crossed his arms.
“I’ll have to do the work in My Room.” The time ratio there was 1 to 3, so it would be more efficient. The issue was taking this huge work there.
[What are you trying to do?]
“Hm… that means we have to do a prefab design.”
Kang Shin-hyuk stood up and began to buy large quantities of spiritual adhesives from the trading board.