STWW 06

Chapter 6

Then, it shouldn’t be thought of as separate.

Bind the body and soul as one. After all, both are me. No one lives and breathes without a body, and no body moves without a soul.

There’s no need to distinguish between magical energy and magic itself.

Don’t pay attention to external energy.

He focused his mind on himself more than ever. The energy entering his body was clear.

It wasn’t about absorbing or moving it. It was about integrating. The flowing magical energy wasn’t blocked. After all, magic is part of my life and merely the energy of my body.

Drip, plop.

He heard the sound of water falling. The external energy met the natural energy that originally flowed in his body. It simply flowed. Energy flows in many paths anyway.

Even if it flows from the same place, the path spreads out naturally.

A waterfall becomes a stream—slowly, gently. Even the paths disturbed by magic now returned step by step to their original flow. But freely.

The energy moved as water embraces soil, embracing even the stagnant magic.

And the stream finally met the end of its channel, forming a pool that gathered all the energy. That place was both a sea and a dantian.

“Haah.”

Sweat dripped down. His exhausted head fell limply. It wasn’t his body that was tired—it was his mind.

“Cough.”

He covered his lips with the back of his hand and coughed; there was a faint trace of blood.

It felt like his throat was about to tear from excessive coughing, but the cause was very different.

The energy had thrown a tantrum, and now that it had settled into his body, it was quiet and obedient. Now, it was basically the same as him.

Once a certain level is reached, magical energy itself resists different forces. Without a system, it would have been impossible for it to learn anything beyond magic.

Haro had already induced this process in himself and even scolded him to stop meddling with the original work.

For now, he would just be glad he had taken the first step.

“Wait a second, Haro?”

She blinked.

Come to think of it, it had been unusually quiet from Haro.

He opened the messenger app.

[Hades Messenger – Haro: Offline]

Haro usually tried to appear diligent. He would overthink even things that didn’t matter, constantly sending messages under the guise of checking the status of those under his care. Sarmad had muted him many times due to annoyance.

It was nice not to have him around, but the complete silence was suspicious. Even no objections regarding the theft incident.

Still, there wasn’t much he could do. If he sent a message and got no reply, that was it.

“Shouldn’t he at least say something about the staff wand?”

If he didn’t, it must be something more than just a secret—perhaps part of the Hades system hadn’t been restored, or he wanted to use Sarmad regarding that matter.

He was cautious enough to keep options open, even hiding the original work and locking access to characters’ actions. Few things in Hades were handled with this level of sensitivity.

“So, one of the subjects must have escaped.”

Managing the souls of the deceased and such.

“Fine. I don’t know what you’re after, but I’ll dance on your palm.”

That wouldn’t be difficult.

Dan Eun had long been in the habit of waking before sunrise. Still, some things had changed.

For instance, the exercises he did immediately after waking.

Most of the early morning was spent on energy cultivation. Then a brief meditation for magic, followed by light stretching.

After changing clothes, he would walk around the mountain and then wash off the sweat.

Then he would start preparing breakfast. Soo had never mentioned household chores, and even though he said he could do them himself, she insisted on preparing meals in the morning.

“Not getting up?”

Soo lay in bed, groaning as he slowly opened his eyes.

After living together for a few days, Dan Eun knew Soo was a heavy sleeper. Though his stamina was strong, waking up took time once he fell asleep.

He would open his eyes in time, get up, and then doze off again.

Even half-asleep, he still prepared himself once woken.

Dan Eun couldn’t tolerate him sitting at the table with messy hair, so she scolded him to tie it back. His hair, naturally very curly, was always a mess in the morning.

The rice was from the southern limit’s harvest, served with two or three simple side dishes, or sometimes a porridge depending on the day. Inevitably, breakfast had a Korean vibe.

After meals came a short break or research time, her so-called hobby time. Occasionally she would rest fully, but usually, it was study time.

After about 30 minutes of rest, lessons with Soo began.

Though called lessons, it was basic swordsmanship—horizontal and vertical slashes, thrusts, or hand techniques. Soo often disappeared, leaving him to practice alone. He understood Soo had gone for training too.

He simply swung the wooden sword steadily. He enjoyed repetitive tasks: the feeling of clearing his mind, learning something new, mastering it.

After completing his practice quota, he would run again and then immediately resume sword practice.

“You’ve learned some kendo before, right?”

“Huh?”

Dan Eun lowered the cloth he was using to dry his hair and blinked.

“No?”

“No, I’ve only learned a little about using daggers.”

It was recommended to have some skills for close combat.

Long weapons could misjudge distance because of the staff, so he chose daggers.

It didn’t mean he was skilled—just enough to defend himself or survive, to buy time.

―What a waste. Don’t you want to learn properly?

―No.

―Aww.

He remembered the face that had smiled, slightly disappointed yet teasing, but it faded quickly.

“Why?”

“It didn’t look like your first time. It’s easier to teach if you already know the basics.”

“Was it not good?”

He asked if prior training had affected his style or technique.

“No, you just looked familiar with it. Not awkward.”

Dan Eun nodded slightly. It made sense.

“By the way, what should I call you?”

“Huh?”

Soo sighed quietly. Being alone, or just the two of them, most conversations were either self-talk or directed at each other.

They hadn’t decided on a title yet.

“Teacher? Master?”

He wasn’t formally his student yet.

“No… titles like that feel wrong.”

Rarely, Soo seemed at a loss for words, just rolling his eyes. He lowered the hand he had lightly placed on his chin while thinking. Dan Eun considered asking why, but decided not to. Titles like that were probably tied to trauma or sensitive issues.

“Then… oppa (older brother).”

“I hate that even more.”

He shook his head violently.

“Do you know the age difference between us? And yet you want me to be called that?”

At 28, he considered him young but decided against explaining. The concept of age differed here; marriage could happen before coming of age.

“You’re picky. There’s also etiquette for a student.”

“Ugh.”

“Do you want me as your master?”

“What about sir?”

That wasn’t incorrect, so it worked.

“…Why do you reject everything so strongly?”

He finally explained.

“I’m not someone who can protect a child. Titles like teacher or master are ultimately responsible positions. I can teach swordsmanship, but nothing else.”

“I don’t need that.”

Soo met his gaze.

“Those things you figure out for yourself. Others don’t teach them. Of course, human decency, morals, and basic life skills are a guardian’s responsibility. But aside from the essentials, you build everything else yourself.”