Book Eater

Chapter 243: Where is This (3)

It was clear they weren’t coming with good intentions. Were they coming to search for a girl who wasn’t even seventeen yet? Theo didn’t think they were here to promote friendship. They were being led by a bald man who seemed to have an inflated sense of ego. Theo watched them secretly and guessed their intentions.

There’s no killing intent. It seems they aren’t coming to pick a fight. But with that many people, it looks like they want to create a sense of pressure? I don’t know why, but their purpose is to threaten Lee Seol.

It was too accurate an analysis for someone who didn’t know the situation very well. Theo’s eyes sharpened as his insight increased beyond the norm. At this moment, Lee Seol stormed out of the cabin toward them. If Theo’s analysis was correct, then he would be needed very shortly.

“You! Daring to come to the Baekun Mountains without the permission of the mountain god... Do you not fear his wrath?”

There was an astronomical difference in Lee Seol’s attitude toward Theo and the group of men. She was furious as she yelled at the men without hesitation. A few people were overwhelmed by her spirit and took a few steps back.

However, the bald man stepped forward instead of backward. “Girl, you shouldn’t act all grown up. Should the descendant of a prestigious family be shouting so loudly?”

A normal girl would burst out crying, but Lee Seol just snapped at him, “If you know who I am, why are you concealing your name like a rat? You think I’m scared of you?!”

“Huhu, you are trying to lecture me? Don’t regret it after asking me.” The bald man pulled out a sword and slammed it into the ground. The sword seemed rather heavy, as the hard ground cracked when it was planted point down.

The bald man preened for a moment before shouting, “I am the knight who cut off the head of the ferocious tiger! Crushing Knife, Sir Wang Hochul!”

The other men cheered and hollered in response, shaking their weapons. An average person would feel scared, but Lee Seol just clicked her tongue like it was absurd.

“Yes, yes. So, you’re just a passerby?”

The bald man fumed. “This girl! You should speak more politely to your guests!”

Lee Seol cocked her head. “Are you saying that you’re not a passerby? By the way, can you tell me what you came here for?”

They claimed to be guests, but Wang Hochul and his men were the ones who had come here with weapons. There was only one reason why they would come to see Lee Seol: someone hired them and directed them here.

“No, you don’t have to answer. My maternal uncle’s behind this.”

Wang Hochul was shocked that his client had been discovered and cried out, “What? If so, do you know why we have come?”

“Of course. It’s been a few years already.”

“Then this conversation will be fast. Girl, what proof do you have of the mountain spirit? My employer said that he will pay five gold coins, so it is better for you to come quietly to avoid getting hurt,” Wang Hochul threatened Lee Seol.

Lee Seol refused point blank. “I don’t want to.”

“What?!”

“Don’t you know that nothing can touch me on this mountain? It would be better if you don’t think about dragging me away with force.”

A few people stiffened, but not Wang Hochul. He’d already heard from his employer that the Baekun Mountains helped the one who was living here. It was rumored that if he tried to hurt Lee Seol, the mountain spirits would tear him and his men apart.

However, Wang Hochul didn’t believe in that rumor.

“This girl! If you don’t follow me right away, I will smash your house!”

Lee Seol paused. “... What?”

“I can’t touch you, but your house is different. If you don’t have a place to eat and sleep, you’ll have to come down the mountain!”

Before Lee Seol could react, Wang Hochul grabbed his sword and ran past her. It was a house which had survived over a hundred years, but it would obviously collapse if it were hit a few times with a big sword. Furthermore, there was currently a guest staying in the cabin!

Lee Seol belatedly thought of Theo and screamed hurriedly, “W-Wait a minute!”

“It is too late to say that!”

The moment Wang Hochul was about to swing his sword at a pillar...

Kwack!

The blade unexpectedly froze in mid air. Wang Hochul had closed his eyes to avoid getting hit by splinters, but he quickly noticed something strange. He had swung his sword for decades, but it didn’t feel like he had hit wood.

Something was wrong. When Wang Hochul opened his eyes, he was met with two blue eyes. Theo’s palm was holding back the blade’s edge as he said, “You attacked.”

“... Y-Yes?!”

Theo repeated, “You attacked me, and I was just defending myself. Am I wrong?”

“T-That's right.”

Wang Hochul didn’t know what he was saying. He had no idea why a Westerner was standing before him, blocking his sword with the palm of his hand. Furthermore, he also didn’t understand why this Westerner could speak fluent ancient Chinese.

Too many questions were swirling in his mind, so he really didn’t hear what Theo said right afterward.

“Then this is self-defense.”

A flash emerged from Theo’s finger.

Peeok!

Wang Hochul couldn’t even scream as he flew back a few meters. He was an aura user, but the attack had come too fast. When Wang Hochul flew into his men, they scattered. This was proof of the huge impact Theo caused.

“U-Uh, what is this?” a henchman asked, barely managing to rise to his feet.

However, instead of replying, Theo raised a hand. Hundreds of lights, Magic Missile, floated behind him, distorting the atmosphere. It was a 1st Circle attack magic, but it contained huge destructive power if a magician of Theo’s level used it.

It was also a variant developed by Alfred, so Magic Missile didn’t fall behind other top-grade spells. Instead, it meant that these lousy aura users wouldn’t be able to endure them.

“There is no point telling you my name,” Theo declared to the cowering henchmen. “If you stay on the Baekun Mountains, I will make you pay the price of your leader’s disrespect to Lee Seol.”

“H-Hiik!”

They didn’t need to ask what would happen. The Magic Missiles floating behind Theo could break their bones with one hit. Immediately, they took Wang Hochul and disappeared from sight. They might go into hiding somewhere in the Baekun Mountains, but they would die by Theo’s hands if they appeared again.

Theo watched them leave before looking back. Well, it is natural to react this way.

Lee Seol was staring at Theo like she didn’t understand the current situation. Theo tried to lighten the atmosphere by speaking, “I would like to hear about your situation. Is that okay?”

After all, he was a third party who had gotten involved. Lee Seol nodded silently. It seemed like today’s breakfast would be skipped.

“Let’s go inside.”

Theo followed Lee Seol back into the cabin. Unlike last night, she sat before Theo with the polite demeanor of a descendant of a prestigious family.

“I am the 14th generation of the Fairy Dance Lee family, a family that has protected the Baekun Mountains for generations. Before I start the story, I would like to thank you for your help earlier.”

“No, it could’ve been avoided even if I wasn’t present.”

“They might not have harmed me, but this cabin would’ve been destroyed. There are a lot of memories in this place, and thanks to you, it is safe,” Lee Seol bowed deeply. She lifted her head and continued the story, “They are probably hired by my maternal uncle.”

“Why do such a thing?”

“In order to understand, I have to go back to the past.”

This was the main point, so Theo listened along with Lee Yoonsung.

The Fairy Dance Lee family...

They had protected the Baekun Mountains long before Lee Yoonsung had been born, and he wanted to know what had happened since he had died. But the story they heard was shocking.

***

It was said that over a hundred years ago, a man who had been expelled from the family had returned to the Baekun Mountains. Despite being a direct descendant, he had been expelled due to a birth defect. However, he had mastered the family’s techniques to an exceptional level through other methods. He had carried the Lee family name and laughed at those who ridiculed him. There had been a duel, but he had won.

This had when the schism in the Fairy Dance Lee family had begun.

“Someone questioned the situation. Could a loser who had fallen to his knees truly lead this family?”

It was truly an absurd accusation. At the time, the head of the family was uncontested within his family when it came to strength. There would’ve been no problem if the head had stood up again and showed his strength.

However, the 6th generation head, Lee Ingwang, had given up. He hadn’t been able to bear the insult of being an incompetent leader and loser, so he had stepped back from his position as head of the family. This helpless compliance had caused the biggest problem.

“It wasn’t a proper resignation, so the line of succession became murky. The candidates eligible to become the head of the family tore each other apart, and the Lee family split into several factions.”

“Then your maternal uncle...”

“Yes, he currently leads the largest faction in the divided Fairy Dance Lee family.” Lee Seol’s expression was bitter as she put down her mug. “I inherited the role of keeper of this mountain. The origin of the Fairy Dance Lee family is in the Baekun Mountains, and my maternal uncle wants to negotiate or forcefully take it away.”

She didn’t explain any further. However, Theo had Lee Yoonsung’s memories, so he knew what a keeper was. A keeper was the guardian of the Baekun Mountains, and the intermediary between the humans and spirits.

It wasn’t a responsibility that could be held by a greedy person. Even if Lee Seol’s uncle received the keeper’s token, the spirits of the mountain wouldn’t recognize him. It might even lead to a war between humans and the spirits of the Baekun Mountains.

Lee Seol was more talented and far-seeing than her peers. Despite only barely being sixteen, she lived in the mountains to prevent a war. She didn’t want to see the death of her clan.

“This is the only explanation I can give you. From this point on, it is a matter for my family, and foreigners can’t get involved.”

Theo muttered, “Foreigner... is it?”

“Yes, I don’t want to cause you any more trouble over this.” Lee Seol was sincere.

A guest had come from a distant place, and they had shared many interesting stories. Theo’s presence was a breath of fresh air to her, who couldn’t leave the Baekun Mountains. Stories from across the sea, of lands that couldn’t be seen in any book, and adventures which couldn’t be read... Theo had freely told her of many wonders.

If possible, she wanted Theo to stay a few more days.

If my uncle finds out about the existence of the foreigner... he will surely do something. I have to send him away before that.

Lee Seol put away her greed. While she may long for those stories, she carried the responsibilities of an adult. Her kindness that put others in front of her own desires might be something she had learned from the spirits of this mountain that raised her.

But Theo answered without any hesitation, “I’m not a foreigner.”

She blinked. “Huh?”

“Come outside.”

Theo left the cabin without waiting for her answer, and Lee Seol followed with a bewildered expression. He wasn’t a foreigner? From the color of his hair to his place of birth, Theo had nothing in common with Lee Seol. They were both humans, but that was too far a stretch.

Theo ignored her and stood in the open. From here on out, it wasn’t Theodore Miller’s turn.

Senior. Give your descendant a good show.

- Yes.

It was time for Lee Yoonsung, the man who was a blemish in the history of the Fairy Dance Lee family, to prove himself. There was no need to use Overwrite. Theo’s body was the embodiment of Battle Song, and he had used martial arts constantly in his battles. Thanks to that, the transition of consciousness was the mildest one Theo had ever experienced.

After a hundred years, Lee Yoonsung stepped into his home.

Kung!

Each step was powerful, carving footsteps into the ground.

Lee Seol’s eyes widened. “Ah!”

Each step exuded pressure. It was the same pressure she had felt from her father, but it was more intense and perfect. The foreigner was showing a form which existed in the Fairy Dance Lee family’s martial arts, the base of their martial arts.

“... Your body has become well-trained in the meantime. This should be enough to use it.”

Theo—no, Lee Yoonsung admired the body of his junior. It wasn’t easy for a magician to develop such physical abilities. Unless you were naturally gifted like Veronica, this kind of body would only come from diligent training.

Huuk!

Lee Yoonsung extended a hand. Lee Seol watched in amazement as the arm flowed through the air like a leaf riding the wind. It was more appropriate to call this a dance, rather than martial arts. He stood on his toes and stretched out his fist, then his palm moved through the air. The beginning and end points of his movement weren’t clear, making it seem mysterious.

It doesn’t distinguish between attack, defense, and evasion!

Theo watched in admiration from the depths of his consciousness. If he could grasp even half of the skill that Lee Yoonsung was showing now, his martial arts ability would double. He was deep in the depths of ignorance, but he wasn’t foolish enough to not drink the water in the lake.

It might’ve been an hour or the period of a single meal. Lee Yoonsung’s demonstration caused him to forget the flow of time as Theo’s body moved through a hundred years.

Tears started falling from Lee Seol’s eyes. It was a martial art that her bloodline had forgotten, and her heart wasn’t prepared to see its culmination in front of her. As a martial artist, she couldn’t help being completely overwhelmed.

“Huoong...” As Lee Yoonsung slowed and stopped to breathe deeply, Lee Seol fell to her knees without hesitation and prostrated herself. Her eyes showed a clear conviction. “I am Lee Seol, from the Fairy Dance Lee family’s 14th generation. Please forgive this stupid child’s rudeness.”

“Raise your head.”

“Yes.” Lee Seol obediently raised her head and looked at Lee Yoonsung.

Lee Yoonsung smiled gently. “Yes, you have the role of the keeper?”

“I am still lacking.”

“I’m not trying to blame you. Rather, I want to praise you. I am truly impressed by your dedication to the role of the keeper despite your youth, as well as your actions to prevent anger between the mountain spirits and our family.”

He wanted to stroke her head, but this body belonged to Theo. Lee Yoonsung tried to suppress his own hopes. He thought he had lost all hope in his family, but he could shake off his resentment because of this girl. Despite having been abandoned by his father and gone to a distant kingdom, the beauty of the Baekun Mountains and his affection for the land of his home hadn’t blurred.

“You already know my name, but I will introduce myself once again,” Theo said. Then with Lee Yoonsung in his mind, Theo firmly declared, “I am Theodore Miller, a descendant of the Fairy Dance Lee family and a direct descendant of Lee Yoonsung. I will put an end to this fighting.”