Choi Hyun-seok’s expression was quite disgruntled.

He had just heard that his skin was like a mineral.

“Are you joking?”

“No. I’m serious.”

“But calling a person a mineral…”

“Really. Even looking again, this is closer to a mineral’s reaction than a living thing’s.”

Sullivan’s expression was deadly serious.

“Please explain in detail.”

“Do you know the concept of magical conductivity? It shows how easily magic flows through an object.”

“Yes. To some extent.”

This was something Choi Hyun-seok had known about for a long time.

He had experimented by flowing magic through various objects before.

He simply didn’t know the term ‘magical conductivity’.

But he was aware of the concept itself.

Sullivan continued her explanation.

“Mr. Choi Hyun-seok. Your body has abnormally high magical conductivity. It’s dozens of times higher than normal humans.”

“Hmm, isn’t that because I use a lot of magic?”

“No. Even legendary humans don’t show this level of conductivity.”

“…”

“Actually, Park Hyun-a over there has quite high conductivity even among legends. But compared to Mr. Choi Hyun-seok, it’s not even a quarter of yours.”

Only then did Choi Hyun-seok realize that this situation wasn’t ordinary.

Those who have reached legendary status have high magical conductivity because they’ve handled magic for a long time.

Park Hyun-a’s conductivity is high even compared to such legends.

Yet they’re saying his conductivity is several times higher than Park Hyun-a’s.

How should he take this?

“It’s impossible for a living being to have such high magical conductivity.”

“Is this a problem?”

“Theoretically, it’s not a problem. Rather, it’s good. High conductivity makes it easier to use magic or fighting techniques, and various restrictions disappear.”

“Ah.”

Choi Hyun-seok can put much more magic into a single fighting technique than others.

He’d always wondered why, and it seemed it was because of his high magical conductivity.

“Then isn’t that good?”

“No. Look at this.”

Suddenly Sullivan walked to the corner of the cabin.

After rummaging through a drawer, she pulled out a metal lump about the size of a fist.

“This is a mineral called Ertel.”

“Ertel?”

“Yes. It’s the substance with the highest magical conductivity.”

Sullivan injected magic into the Ertel.

Then the Ertel began to change its form.

It became a small dagger, then suddenly changed into a bowl, and so on.

It constantly changed its appearance according to Sullivan’s magic.

“Ertel can change its form like this according to magic.”

“That’s fascinating.”

“What you’re about to see is even more fascinating.”

Sullivan approached and injected magic into Choi Hyun-seok.

Then his skin began to ripple as if it were alive.

“Wha!? Why is it doing this!?”

“Mr. Choi Hyun-seok’s body has similar properties to Ertel. That’s why it changes form according to magic.”

His continuously changing body returned to normal when Sullivan removed her hand.

‘I thought this only worked with fighting techniques, but it works with magic too…’

Actually, body transformation was familiar to Choi Hyun-seok.

After experiencing an accident(?) in Rotark’s laboratory before, he became able to transform his body.

Now he had even created and was using fighting techniques based on it.

However, this was the first time he knew his body could change with magic too.

“But is this a problem?”

Sullivan nodded with a serious expression.

“Ertel is a very expensive mineral. It’s useful when making magical tools and equipment. However, nothing is ever made with pure Ertel.”

“Why is that?”

“Because its form can be changed with magic at any time.”

Sullivan picked up the Ertel again.

“For instance, if there was a sword made of pure Ertel.”

As she spoke, the Ertel instantly took the form of a dagger.

“The moment an enemy knows this fact, it’s no longer a sword. Because they can change its form with magic.”

The dagger in her hand changed into a flower.

Only then could Choi Hyun-seok catch on to what Sullivan was trying to say.

“Then don’t tell me…”

“Yes. The same goes for Mr. Choi Hyun-seok’s body. Just as I did, others can change Mr. Choi Hyun-seok’s body. Until now, they simply haven’t tried because they didn’t know this fact.”

“…”

“The bigger problem is that your body can react and change even from indirect magic. Like this.”

Sullivan released magic again.

This time, instead of sending it directly to the Ertel, she let it pass nearby, yet the Ertel still trembled and changed into strange forms.

“Right now it’s not this sensitive, but we need to consider the possibility that Mr. Choi Hyun-seok’s body might become like this in the future.”

“Huh…”

This was truly a serious problem.

What if his body changed randomly every time he was hit by an enemy’s magic or fighting technique?

He would have to completely abandon the thought of close combat.

“Is there a solution?”

“Even I’ve never seen anything like this before… Obviously, there are no records either.”

“Actually, I handle demonic energy. The first time my body changed was because of demonic energy, could it be related?”

Choi Hyun-seok asked hopefully.

Sullivan’s eyes sharpened at this.

“Demonic energy… Until now, there have been no cases of humans handling demonic energy. This is worth investigating.”

“Please help.”

Choi Hyun-seok bowed his head deeply.

Sullivan patted his shoulder as if telling him not to worry.

“Don’t take it too seriously. This might be an opportunity.”

“Opportunity…?”

“If we can achieve stability, you’ll have a body that far transcends human limitations.”

Sullivan said with a smile.

“They say crisis is an opportunity, right?”

Choi Hyun-seok smirked at her words.

A crisis is an opportunity.

It was his favorite saying.

‘Right. If you want to do something, you can. I’m sure we can find a solution.’

While there were currently fatal risks, the situation also had advantages that weren’t inferior to those risks.

Solving this problem might become another opportunity for growth.

“Let’s have you come in periodically for examinations. I’ll look for solutions on my end too.”

Choi Hyun-seok nodded at Sullivan’s words.

‘I should do my own research too.’

This was a problem he would have had to face eventually.

Grateful to have discovered it even now, Choi Hyun-seok planned for the future.

***

A few days later, somewhere in Inessimot.

Choi Hyun-seok wore an expression of deep emotion.

“Finally… Finally…!”

Rachel also looked at Choi Hyun-seok with tears in her eyes.

“Hero!”

“Rachel!”

The two embraced each other while sobbing.

Though it looked more like Rachel clinging to him like a cicada on an old tree.

Nevertheless, their hearts were as one.

‘Unpleasant guys…’

Park Hyun-a, who was standing nearby, quietly took three steps back.

Regardless, Choi Hyun-seok and Rachel were in a festive mood.

“Finally reached level 1,000!”

“Ugyaaaa!”

Choi Hyun-seok and Rachel roared while raising their hands in celebration.

“Sheesh… Tone down the excitement a bit.”

Despite Park Hyun-a’s sarcasm, Choi Hyun-seok and Rachel were undeterred.

“Hero! The days of hardship in this other world are flashing before my eyes…”

“Each day was a struggle to survive… It was like hell…!”

“That’s right! It was so hard when we fell into the Demon King’s Army fortress!”

At the mention of the Demon King’s Army fortress, Choi Hyun-seok’s face froze.

“Ah… That…”

Rachel, realizing her mistake, rolled her eyes around.

Choi Hyun-seok’s gaze became increasingly intense.

“Hero is the best! Level one thousand is so cool! Kapshong-chang!”

Rachel cheered exaggeratedly, praising Choi Hyun-seok.

He smirked at her obvious attempt to avoid the crisis.

Since it was a joyous day, it would be fine to let it slide just this once.

‘Though it’s speaking in hindsight, thanks to starting in the Demon King’s Army, I was able to become this strong so quickly.’

If Choi Hyun-seok had started on the human side instead of the Demon King’s Army fortress, would he have been able to grow like this?

Forget growth, he probably would have died in foreign lands with high probability.

Thanks to falling into the Demon King’s Army fortress, specifically the Hemorn fortress, he met Reidrun.

After that, he was able to come this far by overcoming numerous trials given by Hemis.

Looking at just the results, Rachel’s mistake made the current Choi Hyun-seok.

“Hero! Let’s measure your combat power to commemorate level one thousand!”

“Good idea!”

They couldn’t skip measuring combat power after reaching such a monumental level.

Choi Hyun-seok approached Park Hyun-a.

“Older sister. Can I borrow the measuring device?”

“Why? Don’t you have your own?”

“Mine only measures up to 200,000, doesn’t it?”

Park Hyun-a suppressed a laugh at Choi Hyun-seok’s words.

“You think you’ve already exceeded 200,000 combat power?”

“Well, you never know…”

Choi Hyun-seok scratched the back of his head with an awkward smile.

“I’ll just buy you a new one. I have extra points anyway.”

“Ooh! Thank you!”

Park Hyun-a bought and handed over a high-grade combat power measuring device from the hero shop.

Taking the device, Choi Hyun-seok examined it, turning it this way and that.

“Hooh… This feels a bit like sports sunglasses. I could just wear it around, couldn’t I?”

□ High-Grade Combat Power Measuring Device Description: Measures combat power by synthesizing the target’s abilities when viewed through the measuring device.

Ability: Can determine the ‘approximate’ battle power of the target.

※ Warning: Do not rely too much on combat power.

Required Hero Points: 500

“That one can measure up to 600,000, just so you know.”

“600,000? Didn’t you say yours could measure over 1,000,000 last time?”

“You think I’d use store equipment? Of course, it’s specially made! Custom!”

“Ah…”

He thought buying items was the end of it, but it seemed they could be modified further.

‘I should ask her to do that for me later too.’

Asking right after receiving the gift would be asking to get cursed out.

Choi Hyun-seok decided to ask at a more appropriate time in the future.

“Well then, let’s check!”

“Alright.”

And so, the combat power measurement began.

Choi Hyun-seok proudly put his hands on his hips.

Rachel placed the measuring device on a rock and brought her face close to it.

“Let’s see…”

The numbers on the measuring device started rising rapidly.

“Passed 100,000!”

“Ooh!”

“150,000!”

“Let’s go!”

“190,000…!”

Choi Hyun-seok and Rachel waited for the results with tense expressions.

Beep!

Finally, the measurement was complete.

“How much? What’s the number!?”

Choi Hyun-seok asked urgently.

“Ugh~! So close.”

“How much is it?”

“198,000.”

The combat power had barely failed to reach 200,000.

[Combat Power: 198,328]

Choi Hyun-seok nodded with a satisfied expression.

Though it was a bit short of the target, this was enough.

“Just need to level up a bit more.”

Just as he picked up the combat power measuring device to put it in his inventory naturally—

“Hey. I’m heading out now.”

“Where are you going?”

“I promised to train Abelson later.”

“Ah…”

Suddenly Choi Hyun-seok’s expression became gloomy.

“Older sis, how long are you going to neglect me? I’ve reached the promised level 1,000 now…”

“Let’s start properly from tomorrow. You’ve escaped from having a paper-thin body, so it’s time to upgrade your software.”

At her words, Choi Hyun-seok’s expression brightened as if he’d never been gloomy.

“Thank you!”

“Well, I’m off. You worked hard, so rest well today.”

“Yes! Take care!”

After Park Hyun-a left.

The remaining Choi Hyun-seok and Rachel looked at each other.

“Think she’s gone?”

“Yes. Seems like it.”

Cunning smiles appeared on both their faces.

“Shall we start the real party then?”

“Kihihit! Sure!”

Choi Hyun-seok took out a yellow fruit from his inventory.

“Haah… Hero! Rachel has been waiting for this day!”

“I’ve held back as much as I could… No more!”

Dusebaryche, meaning sweet greed.

They hadn’t eaten it because Park Hyun-a has been around, but today was a happy day.

One should be fine.

Choi Hyun-seok carefully cut the fruit with magic.

“Kuuh! Look at that color!”

Drool dripped from Rachel’s mouth.

“Older sister was right. The inventory is so useful like this.”

The fruit was extremely fresh because it had been stored in the inventory right after being picked.

“Well then, let’s eat!”

“Aang~”

Just as Choi Hyun-seok and Rachel were about to put the fruit in their mouths—

“You bastards! I knew you’d do this!”

“H-Hero! We’re busted!”

“Don’t care! Just shove it in your mouth!”

Choi Hyun-seok and Rachel stuffed whatever fruit they could grab into their mouths.

“Spit it out! I said spit it out!”

***

That day, when the appointed time came but Park Hyun-a didn’t show up, Abelson went looking for her.

Shortly after setting out.

She found Park Hyun-a trying to gut Choi Hyun-seok and Rachel and ran over in shock.

“P-Please calm down!”

“Let go! I need to fix these bastards’ habits!”

“They’ll really die at this rate!”

As Abelson held back Park Hyun-a.

Without anyone noticing, she secretly hid a piece of fruit in her chest.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter! If you would like to support me or read advanced chapters, you can do so by unlocking chapters.

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