I Will Save the World and Retire Chapter 217

Greenhouse (3)

Kim Chae-min’s magic begins quietly.

Originally, plants did not need loud noises to grow.

It was a quiet dawn, just as day was beginning to break. Only when the sky was turning bright blue did Kim Chae-min open both her hands wide.

“This is the time when magic is at its clearest.”

The magic I’ve seen so far has never really changed in the morning. But since it’s what the noble wizard says, I agree. No, it could actually be different. A person’s mood is a pretty important variable.

“You don’t have to be so quiet.”

Kim Chae-min smiled brightly.

“I feel like I shouldn’t bother you.”

“It’s as easy as breathing for me. I can do it even if someone is playing the gong next to me.”

It sounded like a personal experience.

As she said that, Kim Chae-min moved her hand.

It was different from the magic that Kim Chae-min had shown so far. The roses that bloomed in her hand had a splendidness that was so quiet that it was impossible to take your eyes off of them, but the magic that was unfolding before her eyes now was infinitely quiet and unnoticeable.

But there were changes. At first, they were movements so small that they were imperceptible. From the tiny leaves that had just sprouted on an unknown plant growing in an old flower pot to the fine roots that had not yet been covered with soil.

That insignificant gesture gradually grew bigger. It swayed gently as if a leaf bigger than my hand was fanning itself, then turned around. Towards Kim Chae-min.

Finally, all the plants in the house raised their heads as if they thought Kim Chae-min was some kind of sun.

It looked like it was worshipping.

It was a strange sight, but if it was just magic to control the movement of plants, Kim Chae-min wouldn’t have been so hesitant.

As expected, Kim Chae-min’s hand stopped. The magic was fully activated. Kim Chae-min looked as if she was surrounded by golden fog.

But Kim Chae-min’s magic really started from the lowest place. I realized too late that what was rolling around on the floor of Kim Chae-min’s domain, the remote log cabin, was not dust but dirt.

“This is actually my grandfather’s magic.”

When Kim Chae-min’s magic reached the dirt, the grains of dirt began to shine like gold dust.

“Should I say this is my grandfather’s unique magic?”

Kim Chae-min tilted her head.

“Unique magic? Can you use other people’s magic?”

“Someone else? I said he was my grandfather!”

There is a high probability that magical properties are inherited. Even unique magic often has a similar trajectory if it is not exactly the same among family members.

Even Kim Chae-min has the same attribute. Even if it is not the same unique magic, he can use the magic created by his grandfather or father without any restrictions. It is the best advantage a wizard can have.

“Of course, I can’t do the same magic as Grandpa. According to Grandpa, I’m too aggressive.”

“I guess I caused Grandpa a lot of trouble?”

“She was my grandfather’s favorite granddaughter?!”

“You didn’t have just one granddaughter, did you?”

Kim Chae-min maintained her magic, but her shoulders trembled.

“… That’s true, but that’s not it! It’s unfair.”

Kim Chae-min said with a sullen face.

“Anyway, I can’t do the same as my grandfather, but that’s enough. After all, it’s the magic of the great wizard.”

Kim Chae-min put her outstretched hands together. Clap. A light clap was heard.

“The land where wild flowers dance for you.”

And to that sound, pre-charged clay particles became sails. There was no other way to describe them than as sails. Sails, or… well. Antenna?

The magical power grew like wildfire, starting from the dirt grains. The magical power was amplified to the point where it was suffocating.

Everywhere I looked, it glowed with a soft golden light. It was as if the spring sunlight had been confined to this small room. It was bright and warm. Before the magic was cast, Kim Chae-min’s magic that had been lying on the floor had disappeared. At least, I couldn’t see a single speck of magic.

It is easy to simply create a sharp space by generating magic power. Hong Seok-young also often uses it when threatening others. But this is… different. Kim Chae-min’s magic changed the very nature of this space. I, who can see the magic power directly, could feel with my whole body how great this magic was. However, I still did not know what role this space played.

I looked at Kim Chae-min and asked honestly.

“Mr. Kim, isn’t this something greater than magic?”

“… Have you ever seen my magic, Mr. Woo?”

Kim Chae-min narrowed her eyes and looked back at me. It was only after she spoke that she realized her mistake.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to ignore you, Mr. Kim.”

Kim Chae-min looked at me intently and nodded.

“Well, it’s true that Grandpa’s magic is amazing. You won’t be able to see this kind of magic anywhere else.”

“Student Seo-Hyeon, it looks similar to magic.”

“… You won’t be able to see anyone else but Seohyun and me!”

Park Seo-hyun’s shadow magic was also like this magic, separating space and granting properties. Thinking about it, I was a little worried about Park Seo-hyun’s unstable mental state. I was busy with one thing or another, so I couldn’t pay attention to the kids.

I’ll see you again soon anyway. It’ll be enough to check then.

Fortunately, Kim Chae-min accepted my apology.

“Oh, but my pride is a little hurt. Just wait. Next time, I’ll show you my unique magic properly.”

Kim Chae-min moved her fingers elegantly. Every time Kim Chae-min’s hand moved, golden buds sprouted, bloomed into roses, and then fell. It was a welcome sight.

Kim Chae-min explained while looking at the breaking rose.

“Grandfather’s magic is optimized for growing plants. It works well with my magic, so when I use it with my magic, its power increases.”

“Amplification? How much?”

“If your condition is good, even double?”

“Isn’t that a scam?!”

“Right?”

Kim Chae-min said with a playful smile.

“But even without that, it’s still a really great magic. My grandfather used it mostly to raise things in dungeons. When he used it, he could make potions on the spot. I’m not that good at it.”

“But I told you I could imitate it.”

“Yes. So I managed to grow that.”

Kim Chae-min pointed to the greenhouse on the table. Under Kim Chae-min’s magic, the magic plant was swaying gently. Despite being a plant, it was a movement that seemed somehow pleasant.

In reality, the plants weren’t moving, but were simply stimulated by Kim Chae-min’s magic.

“Ultimately, it’s all about magic.”

“…Magic power?”

“yes.”

Kim Chae-min nodded.

“The magic power inside and outside the dungeon is completely different. Things like the concentration and the properties of the magic power. If you can roughly guess that….”

“Can anyone grow a magic herb?”

It was the most important issue of all.

Fortunately, Kim Chae-min shook her head.

“Not to that extent. But you can’t do without me. At least not right now?”

I was relieved to hear that it wasn’t true, but then I became anxious again. What was that ominous explanation?

“No, we don’t know what the future holds….”

… That’s not wrong.

“Shall I tell you what to prepare?”

“Other than Mr. Kim?”

“Yes. There are a lot.”

Kim Chae-min pointed to the greenhouse floor where the magic grass was.

“This tiny greenhouse alone is worth hundreds of millions of won?”

“… How much is it?”

Kim Chae-min called out a ten-digit number with a subtle smile.

I looked at the greenhouse with suspicious eyes.

At most, it’s 50cm wide. It’s big enough to fit on a desk. Did it cost that much?

However, it is unlikely that Kim Chae-min would have said anything that was not true.

After asking Kim Chae-min’s permission, I carefully inspected the greenhouse.

Something unusual caught my eye right away.

The greenhouse floor was a white-painted iron plate. Only when you looked closely could you see thin lines engraved on it.

“On the floor… is that a rune?”

“Yes. Full of them, front and back. There are runes that Mr. Woo taught me, and there are runes that my grandfather made. I use them at home. I had a hard time putting them together.”

The delicately engraved runes were barely visible. This was partly because they were carved so thinly, but also because the thin grooves had been filled in with white powder. There was still some powder left on the floor that could not be wiped off.

“The greenhouse floor is made of silver, you know? It comes from mole mines.”

Contrary to its cute nickname of Mole Mine, it is a notorious S-class dungeon. Many hunters enter despite the high risk because useful metals are found inside.

It is said that silver ore from the very bottom of a mole mine is worth what you ask for.

Kim Chae-min began to list the materials used to make the greenhouse, one by one.

“And I carved the runes with the dwarf’s spinning wheel needle. Here, do you see this powder? It’s ground up mermaid scales.”

These are all equally terrifying materials.

I looked at the greenhouse with a half-exhausted face. How much did Kim Chae-min say?

“That’s all it took to make this?”

“Actually, I heard a lot less.”

Kim Chae-min burst into laughter as she looked at my face.

“Luckily, I had the materials I had saved up. It didn’t really cost much. Do you see the greenhouse glass? I had no choice but to buy it.”

Kim Chae-min tapped the glass with her fingertips.

“This is made of blown sand. I had a hard time finding this.”

“… No way, a flower pot too?”

I pointed to the flower pot with the magic plant in it.

“No. That’s a thousand won pottery I bought at the mart.”

“… … .”

“But please give me only the water from the spring of Urd.”

Of all the materials I’ve mentioned so far, this was the easiest to obtain.

I looked at the greenhouse with new eyes.

I was momentarily taken aback by the sheer volume of ingredients, but it was all for the best. They are all hard to obtain even if you have the money. Even if you are Noah Michelle, it is difficult to obtain them in large quantities.

“I can’t use magic all the time, so I made a greenhouse to create a similar environment.”

“It can’t grow outside a greenhouse?”

“yes.”

Kim Chae-min planted a small seed in an empty space in a flower pot in the greenhouse and watered it thoroughly. That, too, was said to be the spring water of Urd.

“Just wait a week and it will sprout!”

“Um… Wouldn’t it be enough to just have a greenhouse? Why did you use magic?”

“I need my magic to activate the seed.”

Even if Noah Michel were to learn this, he would be convinced that it would not be easy to imitate it. Even if Noah Michel were a genius, he would not be able to imitate the unique magic of someone with a different attribute than himself.

I was worried for a moment.

So I wonder if it’s just a waste of time to scratch it.

But eventually, I had to check.

There is a saying that goes, “One in a million”. Even if the probability is one in ten thousand, you have to keep everything in mind as long as it is not zero.

“Mr. Kim.”

There is nothing in this world that never happens.

“Have you ever tried growing anything other than magic grass?”

“No… I don’t have time. Now that I’ve confirmed that the magic grass is growing, I plan on trying the others one by one.”

“Please be as careful as possible.”

“of course.”

“and….”

Kim Chae-min frowned as if her pride was hurt by my repeated request, but then opened her eyes wide as I continued to speak.

“Please find out if your magic works on monsters as well as plants.”

Hunter Training High School

December 15, 2021.

Hunter training high school opens.

“At this awkward time?”

The one who said out loud what everyone had been thinking but no one had the heart to say was Han Tae-kyung.

“No, that’s right. Isn’t this usually supposed to be done in March? It doesn’t have to be March… December is when the semester ends.”

It was a sharp remark worthy of someone who has a high school-aged younger sibling… Although not a younger sibling, Im I-seon, who also has a high school-aged nephew, just let out a dry cough.

It’s not like he’s talking nonsense. Han Tae-kyung nodded while muttering to himself, as if he wasn’t really expecting an answer.

“It can’t be helped since it’s not a proper school….”

You’re just poking at the sore spot.

“This isn’t a proper school!”

Yim Ji-seon got angry.

“Now we have proper school accreditation! Look, we removed the word ‘demonstration.’”

“If you’re going to take it out, why don’t you take out the positive ones too? They look like a cult.”

“Hunter High School was honestly a bit….”

Kim Chae-min, who had been quiet, also added a word.

“It’s not like there are only hunters. We need to add magic too.”

Was that the problem?

Yimiseon’s face was crumpled.

“If you’re going to whine like that, you should have voiced your opinion when I asked if there were any good names.”

“I told you so!”

“Don’t mess around in the school the kids go to!”

“I don’t play around with Chase’s name.”

Han Tae-kyung became serious.

It was crazy. Fortunately or unfortunately, it was within the expected realm.

“Okay.”

This time, Yimiseon was disgusted.

“… You don’t have anything to say, Mr. Woo? If you have any complaints, tell me now. I won’t listen to you anymore.”

I shrugged. Yimiseon looked a little relieved.

The reason I’m staying quiet is because I still haven’t decided which is a better name, Hunter Training High School or Hunter Academy.

To be honest, that was it in my eyes. I felt that calling it a high school rather than an academy would give it the feel of an educational institution.

The academy is a bit… I mean, doesn’t it sound like a private school? It seems like they’ll hand out a diploma to anyone as long as they take their money.

I didn’t tell my father though.

“Anyway! Everyone knows it since it’s officially approved. Did you check the schedule?”

The biggest change that occurred when the word “Demonstration” was dropped from the school’s name was the schedule.

Yes. It was finally proof that a system was being created in this school.

I’ve heard it over and over again that the early days of Hunter Academy were a time when there was absolutely no system at all. I heard it from my father, and from Yu Ji-eun, who was a student at Hunter Academy at the time… My older sister only told me stories from those days after she graduated.

No, you went through all that trouble and you’re still upset with me for not going to Hunter Academy?

‘Hey, that’s different. It got better when you were old enough to go there.’

I can hear my sister’s words in my ears… .

The situation surrounding Hunter High School, which can no longer be called a model high school, is much better than it used to be. There were still rumors that Hong Seok-young was creating a private army with government money, but public opinion toward the academy had been hostile since Myeongdong.

On the other hand, Hunter Go… surprisingly received little attention. It cannot be said that he was completely friendly, but he was not unconditionally hostile either. So, Im Ji-seon proposed a condition that he would not receive any support money from the country.

Stupid congressmen… If they don’t receive subsidies, they won’t have an excuse to interfere when they want to. They are people who don’t know how to imagine the distant future, whether in the past or present. Is it because they have a term? Well, there is a lot of talk and trouble during this time. An educational institution that aims to train hunters may sound like an empty dream.

“In the morning, we teach basic subjects just like in a regular high school….”

In the afternoon, they teach about dungeon raiding. They learn about monsters and dungeon structures, and they also do not skip actual battles. They said that they would leave it up to the children to continue training after school, but it didn’t seem like they would fall into their own personalities. It’s a curriculum based on the unpaid labor of an unfortunate teacher.

Of course, this has nothing to do with me. I have to go pick up my younger brother. After bringing Uirok, this was the moment when I felt the most satisfied with Uirok’s existence.

“We decided to keep the school open during the vacation. We can change it later, but… I know that kids who want to stay in the dorms will be able to do that.”

“Will there be a child who goes home?”

“If it were my little brother, would he want to go?”

The content that Yimiseon Hunter and Chairman Yimiseon were talking about was similar to the Academy’s curriculum, even if it was crude. It seemed like the content needed more polishing, but there was nothing they could do because the number of students was small at the moment.

Since you said number of students… .

“But.”

“Yes, Mr. Woo.”

“What about the freshmen next year?”

The people sitting crowded together in the conference room raised their heads and looked at me. Han Tae-kyung, who was half-lying on his chair and looking at pictures of cats on his phone, also came to his senses.

“I understand that Yu Ji-eun will be entering as a freshman because of her own will. What about other than that? Current students… .”

I saw Hong Seok-young sitting at the top. He was sitting there shamelessly pretending not to know anything, but he saw everything when Im I-seon spoke.

That’s why hunters also have to study.

I don’t want to talk about boring stuff like grades or college, but I think that in order for people to be seen as human beings, they need to have some common sense in their heads.

“… I understand that the students here now were brought by Mr. Hong.”

“That’s… true.”

“Student Tae-woo, I transferred you to the second year because of various circumstances…. In order for the school to be properly maintained, we need students. Are you going to recruit them by advertising publicly? Or are you going to scout them like you are doing now?”

Hong Seok-young scratched his cheek.

“Are you asking me?”

“sure?”

“There’s also this hunter… .”

“The principal will give you direction.”

“No, usually, isn’t this the case where the chairman wields his power and the teachers follow suit? It’s always like that in dramas.”

“If it were like in the drama, they wouldn’t have poured money into building a school like this that wouldn’t make any money, like pouring water into a bottomless pit.”

“… … .”

Yim Ji-seon smiled brightly at Hong Seok-young.

“Yes. Is there a method you have in mind?”

“There’s no way that could happen!”

“… This is not the time to laugh like that. We worked hard to build the school, so it has to continue. It’s not a guild, it’s a school, so we can’t force admissions…”

However, it was clear that Im Ji-seon still didn’t know much about Hong Seok-young. I could tell what Hong Seok-young was going to say without even having to listen.

Of course, that doesn’t mean I want to hear that. I sighed and looked away.

As expected, Hong Seok-young’s voice, full of laughter, echoed throughout the conference room.

“it will work out somehow!”

* * *

“Wow! Teacher!”

“It’s been a really long time….”

“You didn’t want to see us?!”

“How can you not come even once?”

“This is really too much.”

“You’ve been clearing dungeons without us all this time!”

“You guys messed up your first dungeon raid so badly, and you’re still thinking about entering the dungeon?”

“… … .”

“… … .”

The children who had been chattering loudly all shut their mouths at the same time. I felt a strange sense of oppression.

But if I had been scared here, I wouldn’t have been able to use those damn hunters. Rather, I found it cute that I was pretending to be shocked with my eyes wide open, but still not being able to hold back my laughter.

I wish I could keep this innocence even when I become a worn-out veteran hunter. Instead of becoming a quirky ace of the management office, a gloomy witch with a covered face, or a piglet pickled in alcohol.

“So we have to go in further.”

The piglet in question opened his mouth, piercing the silence.

Instead of rippling flesh, a skinny body is visible. Taking a break from training and hanging out with friends seems to have helped stabilize his personality, as his frown-filled face seems to have cleared up a bit.

“If you don’t go into the dungeon, all that training will be for nothing.”

The witch sprout also adds a word.

I met his bright eyes. The messy hair covering his face was shining. He tied his shiny black hair up high and did not avoid eye contact. When our eyes met, he wavered for a moment, then looked straight at me again.

“I feel so wronged! I’ve never been in a dungeon before!”

Even the future ace who will one day have a troublesome younger brother.

He raises his hand and waves it wildly. If he stays still, he looks cold at first glance, but his expression changes so much that you don’t notice it. He frowns as if he’s experienced all the injustice in the world, and then in the blink of an eye, he smiles as if he has everything in the world. You can’t find even a single bit of the cynicism that used to mock others on his face.

“…you guys.”

My mouth went dry as I stared at that handsome face. A person I know but don’t know. To those kids, I’m just a teacher brought by the principal.

Even though I kept saying that the past… or the future that I knew had changed, I was the one who was more obsessed with the future than anyone else. Even Hong Seok-young said that he was thankful that the past had changed while saving the children.

Now is the time to really erase it.

No, at least it’s time to admit that these kids in front of me are not the people I know.

I chuckled. It’s actually hard to remember just by looking at the appearance.

“Are you tall?”

“Ah! Look! As expected, the teacher recognized me!”

Yoo Hye-eun was making a fuss and hitting Oh Hyun-wook on the shoulder. Oh Hyun-wook made a face but came towards me as Yoo Hye-eun said.

It was definitely big.

“Oh Hyun-wook has grown so much!”

When I first met Oh Hyun-wook, he was tall. At first, I couldn’t recognize him right away because of his physique.

Unless something happens, I’ll probably be at least as tall as I was back then. I nodded absentmindedly. Even if it’s not exactly the future, boys at this age tend to grow quickly. I also grew a lot in high school.

“Right. How much is it?”

“… 175.”

“You’ve grown a lot. Isn’t it awkward? The sense of distance must have changed a lot.”

“It’s not to the extent that I can’t adapt.”

“If you can’t adapt, you’ll be disqualified as a hunter.”

Oh Hyun-wook often answered my questions. I feel deeply moved when I think of the guy who ignored me at first.

Yoo Hye-eun shouted at Oh Hyeon-wook, her teeth chattering.

“It’s a betrayal!”

“What do you want me to do with you being so small!”

“I’m not small?!”

“Sister, you’re smaller than me!”

“It’s not small yet!!”

Yoo Hye-eun isn’t short either… . When the conversation turned to height, Sun Soon-jin sighed clearly.

“These deceivers… .”

Actually, the one who doesn’t care about height the most here is probably Soonsunjin.

The sound of Yoo Hye-eun begging Sun-sun Jin and the children’s laughter filled the playground.

I shrugged.

They say that children are the most lively thing. Even if you’re with gloomy adults, all you do is talk about work.

At least when I’m with these kids, I can forget about boring things like the room and such. Now I understand why my father and Yu Ji-eun went to the academy so often despite their busy schedules.

Fantasy, contemporary,