Chapter 5: Preparation for a Leap Forward (1)

Moments later, during dinner time, Jae-hyun found himself holding back tears as disbelief washed over him. “Is this… not a dream?” he wondered, staring at his mother who sat before him, looking as youthful as he remembered. His mother, Lee Sun-hwa, watched him with worried eyes as he subdued his emotions and continued to shove spoonfuls of rice into his mouth, barely tasting the food.

Jae-hyun knew what his mother had sacrificed for him, giving up her youth for his sake. Earlier, when he returned home from his company, he had embraced her instinctively, crying his heart out—an unusual display for someone who had always been stoic and reserved with his emotions. His mother’s heart hurt, witnessing her child, who never showed affection openly, now openly sobbing in her arms.

A silence fell between them before Lee Sun-hwa cautiously broke it. “Jae-hyun, is something bothering you lately? Are you finding it difficult to write your high school applications?” she asked gently.

“No, it’s not that… I guess I just had a nightmare,” Jae-hyun brushed it off, avoiding the truth. His mother didn’t press the matter further.

After a pause, Jae-hyun spoke up again. “Mom… there’s something I need to tell you.”

Lee Sun-hwa nodded, somehow having expected this. “I figured as much. What is it?”

It was already rumored that Jae-hyun was apprehensive about entering Milles Academy, considering the risks of becoming a Raider and the intense competition there. Lee Sun-hwa was ready to support him in whatever he chose, even if it meant rejecting the prestigious military school and opting for a regular high school instead. To her, her son’s happiness was more important than any institution’s reputation.

However, Jae-hyun’s next words took her by surprise. “I’m thinking of changing my major to magic studies.”

This was an unexpected revelation. He had always expressed a desire to pursue martial arts. Lee Sun-hwa touched her son’s head with concern. “This isn’t a hasty decision, is it?”

“No. I’ve been thinking about it for a while,” Jae-hyun assured her, and Lee Sun-hwa smiled in relief. “Okay, I understand. Whatever you want to do, go ahead. I’d rather you follow your dreams, be it in magic or anything else. If you need support, I will back you up.”

With effort, Jae-hyun held back the tears that threatened to spill, reminding himself that now was not the time to cry. He needed to be strong—for revenge against his father, and to soar high as the mage he aspired to become in this world where power reigned supreme.

* * *

After completing the quest, Jae-hyun received a blank card as a reward. His energy had been fully replenished by the evening, and he felt ready to tackle his next objective. Although he didn’t fully understand the Norunir System, he acknowledged its potential value.

With his memory of the future intact, along with hidden pieces and exclusive access to various ruins, Jae-hyun had valuable knowledge at his disposal. Yet, he was troubled by the lack of magical skills, save for “Absolute Calculation” and “Chains of Lightning.”

Checking his status window, Jae-hyun pondered why only his passive skills had been retained after his regression. Shortly after, a system notification clarified the effect of the skill “Gods’ Favor,” which preserved his former passive skills.

Jae-hyun was intrigued by the skill’s bonus to his attributes and the attention it denoted from anti-Aesir gods. He quickly reviewed his new skills, “Eyes of the Absolute God” and “Chains of Lightning”—the latter already proving its worth.

The dilemma of allocating his stat points soon followed. Jae-hyun strategically distributed them, with a focus on agility for avoidance, magic power for his core strength, and mostly endurance for prolonged activity. He knew it was crucial to choose his next skills wisely, especially since his blank card should be used efficiently.

Jae-hyun pondered over his next steps. It was clear that offensive skills weren’t as urgent, thanks to “Chains of Lightning.” The priority lay in securing a healing skill, given their rarity and prestige. Such skills were highly sought after, both in and out of medical fields.

Remembering his limited number of blank cards, Jae-hyun’s thoughts were interrupted by a message from Kim Yu-jung—his childhood friend and close confidant who dreamt with him of becoming a Raider. She invited him to a lecture by the saint Yu Seong-eun, an opportunity Jae-hyun instantly recognized as his chance to acquire a powerful S-ranked healer’s skill.

* * *

Vroom…

A black van glided on the road.

Park Sung-jae, Yoo Sung-eun’s secretary and manager, spoke from the driver’s seat.

“Here’s the schedule for the rest of the day. After the radar encouragement lecture at the city’s outdoor stage, we’ll tackle a B-class dungeon in Seongbuk District, then inspect the Wonju Field Base before heading straight to the USA…”

While reporting, Park Sung-jae glanced at Yoo Sung-eun in the back seat, her face pale, and sighed.

He paused his report and asked, “Are you really okay in this state?  Your complexion seems worse than before.”

“It’s fine. Just a bit drowsy.”

“It’s because you’ve been pushing through a hectic schedule for months. You overexerted yourself in yesterday’s dungeon raid too… You know.”

Park Sung-jae hesitated, then continued, “Your magic… it’s killing you.”

Yoo Sung-eun’s lips pressed tightly together. Park Sung-jae was right.

Yoo Sung-eun’s healing magic 《Sacrifice》, which put her on the map, was powerful enough to heal several people on the brink of death at once. But it had one fatal flaw.

Each time she cast the spell, it drained her life force.

Typically, ‘Unique Skills’ like 《Sacrifice》 come with penalties. They might drain the user’s life force, demand a price, or apply debuffs.

This was also true for Yoo Sung-eun’s 《Sacrifice》.

Park Sung-jae dropped his head in sorrow.

‘If only healing magic could help.’

The life force drained by 《Sacrifice》 can only be restored by magic of the same or higher caliber.

The problem is, there’s no healing magic higher than 《Sacrifice》.

Saintess Yoo Sung-eun’s 《Sacrifice》 is a unique skill, a tier above even the S-class skills.

Unique skills are typically passed down through bloodlines or personal skill manifestation.

Yoo Sung-eun is the only person in the world to have acquired a healing skill as a unique skill.

Thus, receiving healing from others was impossible.

“We agreed not to talk about that, Sung-jae oppa.”

Yoo Sung-eun smiled playfully.

Park Sung-jae gripped the steering wheel, his heart heavy.

‘At this rate, the boss might collapse soon. If that happens…’

He looked at Yoo Sung-eun.

Yoo Sung-eun didn’t speak further, just gazing out the window, her expression serene.

She knew better than anyone that her time was limited. Her body was nearing its limit.

But she had to keep going.

To protect her countrymen and the members of her guild, Eonhwa, who were like family, she had to endure a little longer.

“Damn it.”

Park Sung-jae sighed, watching Yoo Sung-eun’s trembling hands as she drank water in the back seat.