TRPM 53

chapter 53

It had been two years since Rachel, Arthur, and Yeon had formed a bond, and Yeon Mirae had begun seriously training in Sammae.

Arthur and Yeon Mirae had entered the graduating class of the academy, and I and Lee Ha-eun were now in the sixth grade of elementary school.

A lot had happened over the past two years, but to briefly mention the major points: first, Arthur had also participated in the artistic activities that Mirae and I were involved in.

“You should be earning money first, at least to extend Rachel’s lifespan, right?”
“That was my plan originally, but Rachel has a hard time taking magical potions.”

Arthur said this, accompanying Mirae and me regularly. He even considered persuading Rachel to immigrate to Korea and join the Iron-Blood Guild.

Of course, Rachel’s refusal was likely, given the opposition from the British government and the presence of her family and mentor in England. Still, no matter how much Arthur tried to persuade her, once he graduated from the academy, he would eventually return to England with Rachel.

‘The next big thing…’

When Lee Ha-eun and I were in fifth grade, we reunited with Ryoo Ah-young, a manifestation-type psychic, at a training camp.

Ah-young was the same age as me, and the elementary school training camp was an event held twice, covering both fourth and fifth grades. She hadn’t known our names back then, but after I taught her how to properly use her manifestation powers, she felt grateful. She immediately recognized us and asked for our names.

She even exchanged phone numbers and learned which school we attended, planning to persuade her parents so she could attend the same school from middle school onward.

‘Even her parents are supportive, right?’

Since our neighborhood, Geomhwa—where Yeon Mirae lived—was well known, they thought moving closer wouldn’t be a bad idea for their children’s safety. I also had no objection; it would be nice if my pre-regression friend moved to the same neighborhood.

And finally…

‘I’ve probably surpassed my doll in combat ability.’

My doll had extraordinary physical strength, constructed with World Tree branches and eternal steel. Because of this, it had once been stronger than my main body. But that was no longer the case.

Although the doll could use internal energy reasonably well, it couldn’t manage it as cleanly as a human body due to its inherent limitations. But I was different.

From birth, I had tailored my body to suit my martial art, Harmonious Divine Skill. Using martial arts had become as effortless as it could possibly be. Furthermore, as I accumulated internal energy through Harmonious Divine Skill, my body naturally became robust, to the point where I was now stronger than the doll.

‘I expected this day would come someday, but not before even graduating elementary school.’

For that reason, I considered personally confronting any enemies that my doll couldn’t handle. Though I never expected such enemies to appear in Korea, insurance is always taken out for contingencies. Of course, I didn’t expect to ever need it.

‘Anyway.’

Other than that, life continued normally, attending school, training, and teaching Mirae and Ha-eun.

“Everyone knows that the school trip is the week after next, right?”
“Yes!”
“Yes!”

Right after the unit test, our homeroom teacher asked this as we were doing provisional scoring. It was mostly just comparing answers with the top student in class.

‘It’s just a unit test; we could compare with the book if we wanted.’

Still, the students had seen me score full marks repeatedly, so thinking my test paper was basically the answer key wasn’t unusual.

‘A school trip…’

In the past, it had been called a “school study trip,” but it mostly involved sightseeing and leisure. I probably just ignored most of it because I hadn’t been interested in history before regression.

As I pondered, the teacher handed us a notice. It contained information about the upcoming school trip.

‘Let’s see… Gyeongju…’

The location was the same as before regression. Although the school I now attended was different from the one I went to previously, the attitudes of nearby schools were probably similar. Gyeongju was famous for its Silla Dynasty cultural relics and as a tourist destination.

‘Two nights and three days there…’

I looked over the schedule on the notice.

“I’m excited.”
“What will you bring?”

By now, the students had stopped provisional scoring and were discussing the trip, occasionally deciding where to go during free time.

‘… Going with the others… is probably impossible.’

Before regression, I had the same sensibilities as other kids and didn’t feel much seeing cultural relics. But now, I wanted to see the wisdom of ancestors and the religious significance of cultural sites with my own eyes.

‘The more you know, the more you see.’

Unlike me, the other students would focus more on having fun rather than sightseeing. Going with them would be difficult.

“Geon-woo! You’ll be with us during free time, right?”
“……”

Despite my thoughts, Ha-eun approached as if it were obvious, speaking for herself and the other girls who usually hung out with her. They were looking at me with sparkling eyes.

‘Hmm…’

I suppose it wouldn’t hurt.

“Sure, let’s do that.”

Sightseeing with teachers during guided tours would be sufficient. I turned my gaze back to the schedule.

‘First day, visit the steel plant, then tour other attractions and write a field trip report on what we observed or felt…’

Ah, another diary-like assignment. Feeling a bit annoyed, I finished listening to the chatter and told the kids doing the provisional scoring:

“Put it on my desk when you’re done.”

Whether they heard or not, the last student would probably place it there. I thought so and left the classroom for the training room. Today, too, I would absorb the school’s gathered magical power and convert it into internal energy.

“A school trip? Ah, it’s that time already.”
“Yes! How was your school trip, unnie?”

We were at our usual open area, with Ha-eun excited about the trip and Mirae listening to her.

“Hm… I don’t remember clearly, but we must have gone to Gyeongju too, right?”

Mirae answered Ha-eun’s question. Seems like schools think alike everywhere.

“A school trip….”
“… When did you come back?”

Rachel’s doll, Arthur, had appeared beside us.

“Why are you so guarded with each other, Artist? We’ve broken the necks of criminals together.”
“Don’t say that in front of the kid.”

Are you really a doll? Your expressions are so nuanced… Is your brain human?

“Anyway, what about school trips… How are they in Korea?”
“Just sightseeing, mostly. How about in England?”

Curious, I asked Arthur. While he had no memories before Rachel made him, I assumed he would know about English school trips.

“It varied by school. Rachel’s high school recruited students in advance for vacation trips abroad.”
“Wow…”

I was a bit impressed—overseas school trips?

“Of course, that was because Rachel attended a prestigious high school; normally, trips were within England.”
“Hm… So where did Rachel go?”
“Japan. At the time, it was known to have more to see than Korea.”

Japan, huh. Americans and Europeans generally knew Japan better than Korea.

‘Japan is near the Pacific with the Black Mist.’

It was essentially one of the frontline nations during the Black Mist War, so no wonder it was famous.

“However, recently, special awakeners like Artist and Mirae have appeared, making Korea more famous.”
“Hm…”

I thought about Arthur’s words.

‘Japan, huh…’

Perhaps hearing us, Mirae asked:

“By the way, aren’t there Japanese students coming to Korea for a school trip?”
“Ah, there was news about that.”

Many Japanese high schools were preparing trips to Korea to promote exchange between future generations. Some schools were already arriving at the airport. Though their faces were blurred for privacy.

“Then maybe Ha-eun and I might see Japanese students in Gyeongju?”
“No way. Even for future generation exchanges, Japan would send students to Seoul, not Gyeongju.”

Why send Japanese students who barely know Korean history to Gyeongju?

However, it seemed I was mistaken—Japanese students were indeed in Gyeongju.

“Geon-woo, aren’t those people Japanese?”
“… Looks like it.”

I confirmed Ha-eun’s question. She was pointing at Japanese high school students in uniform.

Listening to them, it seemed some schools came to Gyeongju for school trips because it had Japanese-style inns (ryokan).

… If they wanted ryokan, they could’ve stayed in Japan. Why come all the way here?

‘… I kind of get it.’

Japanese high school trips to Korea didn’t exist before regression. Naturally, the butterfly effect caused by me was likely the reason. As Arthur said, Korea’s increased recognition and attention were probably the direct cause.

‘Well, it doesn’t concern us.’

… Could something happen just because Japanese students came to Gyeongju?
… Probably not?

Suddenly, I felt uneasy.