Chapter 93: Will

Cha Jeong-hoon, He was someone who had a deep interest in magic studies from a young age. Since he was a child, he had a righteous personality, and his dream was to enter the Magic Tower.

However, his dream collapsed exactly when he turned 20.

“Due to frequent tuition fee arrears, as well as involvement in violent incidents, we are expelling student Cha Jeong-hoon from the academy.”

It wasn’t just suspension, but expulsion. The reason was simple. The first issue was that he had no money. There was

no money in his family, and Cha Jeong-hoon had worked part-time jobs to pay for his tuition. But at the time, the

academy’s tuition was ridiculously expensive, far beyond what a 20-year-old student could afford. Therefore, Cha

Jeong-hoon had often fallen behind on his tuition payments. However, the academy’s president had been lenient and

had often turned a blind eye to this. So, the first reason wasn’t the biggest issue.

The problem arose with the second issue. He had crossed paths with someone he shouldn’t have. In the same class as

Cha Jeong-hoon was Kang Seung-gyeol, the son of a high-ranking guild leader. Kang Seung-gyeol often bullied the

other students, and Cha Jeong-hoon, unable to tolerate it, threw a punch at his face.

“Enough. Don’t you feel ashamed living like that?”

“You… will regret this.”

Cha Jeong-hoon thought he had done a righteous thing, but the consequences were harsh. First, Kang Seung-gyeol’s

mother, who had connections with influential people, cut the financial support that the academy was receiving. As a

result, the academy quickly fell into financial turmoil and could no longer afford to be lenient with tuition fees.

The academy that Cha Jeong-hoon had attended was known for being lenient with tuition fee arrears, with the

president sometimes secretly covering the fees. This had made it a place where many students with little money but

strong academic determination attended. However, after the conflict between Cha Jeong-hoon and Kang Seung-

gyeol, in order to resolve their financial issues, the academy changed the system to immediately suspend students

from classes if their tuition was not paid. It was a situation the academy couldn’t avoid.

Cha Jeong-hoon had thrown a punch at Kang Seung-gyeol’s face to address his disgusting behavior of bullying other

students. Although he had used violence, he had no shame in his heart. At first, everyone seemed to support Cha

Jeong-hoon’s actions, but soon, when it began to affect them personally, many started to blame him.

“It’s because of you…”

“If you hadn’t messed with Kang Seung-gyeol…”

The arrows of resentment from the weaker students naturally turned towards Cha Jeong-hoon, who was in the same position as them, as well as towards the powerful high-ranking guild heirs, and even the academy president.

‘Did I… did I do something wrong?’

He was confused. He thought he had done the right thing, thought he had acted according to his beliefs, but the

outcome was far from righteous. His small actions had caused trouble for those around him. The power of authority,

the influence of wealth, was stronger than he had imagined.

“Jeong-hoon, I’m sorry, but if your tuition fee arrears continue like this, we will have to make a decision. Moreover, I don’t think I can continue to extend any favors to a student who has used violence.”

Money, tragically, was all too real. The president, who had once been lenient with the students, thinking of them as

righteous, had changed. As the support began to dry up, he became obsessed with money, and the compassionate

demeanor he once had was nowhere to be found.

Cha Jeong-hoon’s father, however, stood by him.

“Well done. In life, there are moments when someone has to speak out. I hope you don’t lose that belief, Jeong-hoon.”

Cha Jeong-hoon appreciated his father’s words. But even his father couldn’t escape reality.

“Choi… please, can you lend me some money? It’s really urgent… please…”

Kang Seung-gyeol’s mother demanded a huge settlement in exchange for forgiving the assault, and Cha Jeong-hoon’s

father didn’t have that kind of money. Not wanting to send his son to prison, his father tried to borrow money, but

no one would lend it to someone with no credit. Eventually, he had to resort to loan sharks. That was when the once-

laughing house turned cold and silent.

The day Cha Jeong-hoon was expelled from the academy, Kang Seung-gyeol sneered and said,

“Live like that for the rest of your life. Pathetic bastard. Where do you think you’ll get?”

At the moment of his expulsion, Cha Jeong-hoon felt a surge of emotion, but he didn’t throw another punch at Kang Seung-gyeol’s face. He now knew how much money it took to maintain his beliefs. And he had learned more than anyone how money could move people, change them.

Fortunately, after being expelled from the academy, there was no further retaliation from Kang Seung-gyeol. Cha

Jeong-hoon diligently balanced work and study. He studied with tattered textbooks at home and paid off his father’s

loan debts. It took years, but it was okay. He was getting closer to his dream of reaching the Magic Tower.

“Your qualifications do not meet the requirements. I’m sorry.”

Having accumulated enough skills and knowledge, Cha Jeong-hoon visited the Magic Tower to apply. There, he

received a shocking revelation. If a student had been expelled or withdrawn from their previous academy, they were

not even eligible to apply to the Magic Tower.

“W-well, there’s a reason for that…”

“I’m sorry. It’s a rule of the Magic Tower, and I don’t have the authority to change it. Even if you explain, there’s nothing I can do.”

-Thunk

That day, Cha Jeong-hoon’s world crumbled. Was the price for standing against power, the cost of being poor, really this cruel?

He spent a year living like a shell of himself. He neither worked nor studied. But the urge to explore magic would occasionally resurface, and he couldn’t resist it.

So, he started studying again. And he found it. A place where he could study and research magic, even if it wasn’t the Magic Tower.

The place he found and entered was a magic research institute. At first, it was a shabby institution with only a few

rickety boards. After about a year, the former director of the institute handed over the position to Cha Jeong-hoon.

But the team members who had been there before were just happy to be given the space and resources to do

research.

-Click, click

Even when he was hungry, he didn’t care and used his own money to buy materials, continuing the research. It wasn’t much of a living, but no one complained. Yet, everyone could feel it.

“If things continue like this, it won’t be long before the Magic Studies Research Institute is disbanded.”

As the days went by with team members going hungry, one by one starting part-time jobs, and whispers about having to quit, Chae Jeong-hoon thought again. Without money, a person cannot live. The need for money was more urgent than ever.

It was then that Kim Hee-ra made her move.

“Hmm… I’m sure His Majesty Seo Man-yong expressed a great interest in magic studies… If that’s the case, this place will eventually be useful, right?”

“Yes. His Majesty is deeply interested in academics. One way or another, this place will be used effectively. Even if later Seo Dae-hyeok becomes the Emperor, this won’t change. He follows His Majesty Seo Man-yong very closely.”

A woman, whose identity was unclear, chatted with her secretary and then handed over a large trunk.

“What… what is this?”

Chae Jeong-hoon asked, his expression puzzled. Kim Hee-ra answered.

“An investment… I suppose? I’m here in person this time, but from now on, I’ll send the money through an account.”

• Swish

“Th… This is…!”

Inside the trunk, there was about 100 million won. Money he had thought he would never earn in his lifetime, even if he worked tirelessly, was now right in front of him.

‘With this money, the Magic Studies Research Institute won’t be disbanded, and my team members won’t have to go hungry. Most importantly… it will be an enormous help when we need to buy research materials or publish magic-related books in the future.’

Just imagining it brought happiness. However, Chae Jeong-hoon couldn’t help but feel suspicious. He knew well that money never comes without a price.

“Why are you giving me this?”

When Chae Jeong-hoon asked, Kim Hee-ra answered.

“Hmm… First of all, remember that I am the wife of Artemis Guild Leader Kim Hee-ra. Later, if I ever need to use

you, you’ll follow my instructions as a condition of this investment. Whatever I say, you’ll do. If I tell you to live, you

live; if I tell you to die, you die. Understood?”

It was something that could hurt his pride. Before he understood the importance of money, the 20-year-old version of himself might have refused. But now, that wasn’t the case.

“Is that all… Is that all I have to do to accept this large sum of money?”

He didn’t understand. They currently had no plan to use this money, and she was offering it without any immediate benefit. Wouldn’t it just be a waste of money in the end?

Kim Hee-ra laughed.

“Haha. A large sum of money, you say? Do you know how much my daily lodging and meal expenses are when I go out?”

He didn’t answer. He understood her intent. For Kim Hee-ra, 100 million won was just pocket change, money that could be spent without a second thought as part of the opportunity cost.

“Thank you.”

He bowed his head and accepted the money.

Kim Hee-ra continued to support them, and thanks to that, the team members were able to live more comfortably. Since she made no further demands, Chae Jeong-hoon thought that this peaceful situation would continue.

Then, one day, Kim Hee-ra made a request.

• “Refuse the Mana Database usage request from the Broad Academy’s Magic Tower without exception.”

Kim Hee-ra made it clear. Then she added a final remark.

• “If you don’t comply with this request, not only will you lose all the support I’ve given you so far, but there will be no further support in the future, either. Understand?”

He couldn’t refuse. He couldn’t bear to see his team members, once again facing a life-and-death struggle with

nothing but a rickety wooden plank. So he accepted. Later, when Baek So-yoon threatened to kill him if he rejected

the request, he remained firm. He wasn’t sure whether life or money was more important anymore. After all, if he

had to return all the money Kim Hee-ra had given, his life would be as good as dead. So, he gambled his life. He

didn’t know exactly who Lee Hyun-seung was, but he figured that if he could stop him from using the Mana

Database, that would be enough.

However, the moment he came face to face with Lee Hyun-seung, he found it hard to look away.

• “My dream is to study magic and enter the Magic Tower. That’s the only thing I ever wanted. But, unfairly, I was falsely accused and expelled. And they say that anyone with a suspension record can never enter the Magic Tower, even if their name is cleared later.”

“I was just an ordinary person. All I wanted was to study the academic field I enjoyed and make money from it. But everything fell apart.”

“Is money really that important? Is it so crucial that you’d support ruining someone’s life over it?”

Each word he spoke felt like a knife twisting in the heart. He, too, had been like that once. There had been a time

when simply learning had been enough to bring him joy, a time when he believed that justice was more important

than money. But that version of him had been completely crushed, and all that remained was a wrinkled, aging man

who wanted nothing but money.

‘It’s inevitable.’

He tried to convince himself of that. Life was inherently unfair, after all. When he had struggled, no one had ever extended a hand to him. So he tried to ignore it, thinking that it was simply how things were. But then—

Shwoooosh!

A dagger flew towards Lee Hyun-seung’s head. He didn’t know who had thrown it or why, but one thing was certain: if it hit, the man would die.

Before he could think further, Cha Jeong-hoon threw himself into the path. He didn’t know why he did it. His body just moved on its own.

Thwack!

Instead of hitting Lee Hyun-seung’s head, the dagger embedded itself in Cha Jeong-hoon’s hand. Intense pain surged through him.

“AAAGH!”

Lee Hyun-seung stared at him with eyes full of disbelief.

Tremble…

Cha Jeong-hoon’s hand started shaking, his body growing numb, and his lips turning pale. The dagger had likely been poisoned.

‘Damn… I didn’t expect to die in his place…’

Even though he thought this, the look on his face wasn’t one of agony—it seemed almost relieved.

Gargle!

Cha Jeong-hoon coughed up blood. Seeing this, Lee Hyun-seung trembled and asked,

“Wh… why?”

Hearing this, Cha Jeong-hoon pondered the question. Why had he done this? He had intended to ignore him, yet when the man’s life was in danger, his body moved first… After some thought, he finally found an answer.

“Why… I guess I was curious. Maybe… If someone had reached out to me back then… my life could’ve been different…”

He coughed up more blood and smiled faintly.

“I’m sorry, for being a useless adult.”

His body began to stiffen, growing cold.

Szzzzzzzt!

Lee Hyun-seung sprayed some unknown liquid on him and said,

“We’ll talk later.”

Then, he pointed his gun at the man who had thrown the dagger.

“Who sent you? Why?”

The masked man simply stood there, holding his dagger. He answered quietly,

“Why bother telling you? You’re going to die soon anyway. Waste of time…”

Lee Hyun-seung coldly replied,

“That last sentence will be your final words.”

With that, Lee Hyun-seung’s body charged at the man.