TRPM 19

Chapter 19

Yeon Mirae was a genius.

Her high school specialized in Awakeners, so she was surrounded by countless talented peers. Yet even among them, she stood out as a true prodigy.

She scored perfect marks in nearly every subject, not just at the high school level but also in academy-level courses that were normally reserved for post-graduates.

She was undefeated in sparring matches against other Awakeners.

The only thing she lacked was aura—the essential power needed to fight monsters.

Aside from not having those wings to soar, she was already fully prepared to take flight.

And then, she was given wings to replace aura: internal energy.

‘This feeling… This must be what Awakeners sense when they can actually wield the energy provided by the Awakener System.’

Yeon Mirae felt the power Han Geon-woo had injected into her body. And she understood instantly.

She could not control it herself. If she tried, her body would collapse.

‘But if I don’t try to control it…’

If she simply used it as refined energy to enhance her physical abilities, just as he had prepared, then there would be no problem.

She realized it was a test. Han Geon-woo was giving her a chance.

If she passed this trial…

“Hoo…”

Yeon Mirae leapt forward.

Just once.

But that single leap was enough to plunge her into the midst of the orcs.

“Chwik?”
“…Was it like this?”

She gripped her dagger and slashed, performing moves she had only ever known in theory—techniques she had imagined but never executed due to her lack of physical strength.

‘Smoother.’

With her body reinforced by Han Geon-woo’s internal energy, her movements flowed.

The dagger sliced cleanly through the orc’s body—

Shhhhk!

The creature fell, dead before it could even scream.

‘So this is the sensation of cutting down monsters with aura…’

Even stabbing goblins, with their thin hides, had never felt this smooth.

She scowled inwardly.

‘So I was the only one who never felt this before.’

But she liked it. She wanted more of it.

And so—

Puk!

Her dagger thrust into another orc’s vital point.

Daggers, by design, excelled at stabbing over slashing. And Mirae already knew every weak point on an orc’s body by heart—lessons drilled into her at school.

Each precise stab ended a life. Each withdrawal sprayed blood.

The orcs tried to evade and counterattack, but they were too slow.

‘They’re quick for their size, but still slower than the kids at my school who can use aura.’

Even without power, she had been strong enough to dominate her classmates.

Now, with strength? Evading attacks and landing blows was almost too easy.

“Uwooooooh!”

An orc swung its axe down with brute force.

But Mirae, unafraid, closed in, slicing its wrist before plunging her dagger into its throat.

“Gk… kweeegh!”

Using the falling body as a stepping stone, she leapt again—straight at another unsuspecting orc.

Puk! Puk! Puk!

Her speed wasn’t remarkable. For an Awakener, she was slow.

But her skill filled the gaps.

Every strike landed; every attack missed her.

“…Chwiik!”
“…Kkiieek!”

Eventually, some of the orcs decided she was untouchable. They turned toward Han Geon-woo instead.

But Han only folded his arms and watched.

Shhhhk! Puk! Thud!

Before the orcs reached him, Mirae had already cut them down.

The ones charging him fell mid-stride, and only then did Han Geon-woo speak.

“Are you satisfied?”

“…No.”

Too many orcs remained. Mirae had no intention of stopping until they were all dead.

“Good. Then I’ll go prepare dinner. Have fun.”

“…Yes!”

She rejoiced at his words. She had passed his test.

‘From now on… I can keep feeling this.’

She could continue using his internal energy.

Now that she had tasted aura…

‘I never want to go back to being powerless.’

If she could just keep this strength, this sensation—she would sell her soul to the devil.

‘Even if the one who gave me this power is a devil.’

She was ready to follow him for life. His gift was too sweet.

Of course, she knew.

‘The man who saved Yeouido could never be a devil.’

Even if his mask obscured his face, she recognized the sword and stance. He was the Artist, the hero from the broadcast.

A savior who rescued people without asking for anything in return.

There was no way he was a devil.

* * *

I watched Mirae fight.

And I thought to myself—
So this is what a real genius looks like.

Not like me, a fake genius.

Her slashes and thrusts… frighteningly efficient.

This wasn’t the future Yeon Mirae, the famed “Swordflower.” This was just a high schooler, yet her technique already impressed even me.

Compared to the woman I once knew in my past life, she still had a long way to go. But she had more than ten years left to grow.

How strong would she be by then?

I couldn’t help but smile.

“I’m back.”

Mirae returned after slaughtering every last orc. The aura around her dagger flickered out—the borrowed internal energy finally spent.

“…Huh?”

Her body gave out. She collapsed where she stood.

Of course.

The energy I’d given her came from my Harmony Divine Art—a technique even I had delayed practicing until my body matured.

How could her body endure it?

“Well done.”

I praised her as she lay there, confused about why she couldn’t move.

“You’re drained because you used someone else’s aura. Don’t worry—I adjusted it so your organs wouldn’t be damaged. But still… you pushed beyond your body’s limits. Tomorrow, expect severe muscle pain. Maybe so bad you won’t even be able to get out of bed.”

“Ugh…”

Her face twisted. She hadn’t considered that. Missing school because of muscle pain could seriously disrupt her routine.

I added, “I can lend you aura again. But it’ll always come with backlash, since it isn’t your own. You wouldn’t like that, would you?”

“…No. I don’t mind,” she whispered weakly.

“Pain… doesn’t matter… Not if it’s the price for this power.”

“…Hmm.”

She thought I’d stop lending it to her if she refused. That wasn’t my intention.

So I clarified.

“I wasn’t talking about borrowing mine again. I meant—what if you could produce your own aura?”

“…I could… make my own aura?”

“Yes.”

What if I healed your constitution?

“!”

Her eyes widened. She silently asked if I was serious.

I had planned to wait until we grew closer. But she was more cooperative, more desperate for strength than I expected.

And from the way she looked at me, she might have already guessed I was the Artist.

Most of all—

I knew those eyes.

Eyes of obsession. Eyes of a fanatic who would do anything for their god’s love.

That was Yeon Mirae right now.

Only difference was, her “god” was me.

She’d believe me if I told her beans could brew soy sauce.

No matter what I demanded, she would accept it.

So I decided to move up my timeline.

“Preparation is needed, so not immediately. But as early as tomorrow, I could heal your body. What do you think? We’ve only just met, so trusting me might be hard… but would you like to try?”

Her answer was immediate.

“Of course… I’ll take it.”

And then, almost reverently:

I believe in you. I’ll believe anything you say.