Chapter 140: Sekyung Walker (6)
The question mark floating above Yuri’s head didn’t disappear easily.
It was, of course, because of Johan’s nickname for Segyung: “the real madman.”
Yuri, who had been standing still for quite some time, eventually couldn’t suppress the overwhelming curiosity that surged within him and unconsciously blurted out,
“…More than you, Old Man?”
He paid for his thoughtless remark.
Smack-!
The sound was even louder than before, and Yuri tumbled backward, rolling over several times.
“Ouch!”
Did he roll almost three times?
Yuri, with tears welling up, grabbed his forehead and quickly stood up, shouting,
“That hurt!”
“I hit you for it to hurt. Did you think I hit you to make you feel better?”
“My head nearly split open!”
“A person’s head doesn’t split that easily. Back in the day, I used to break a lot of skulls with just a flick of my finger.”
“…Is that something to be proud of?”
Was it just his imagination, or did that statement about smashing skulls with a flick seem not like an empty boast?
Yuri couldn’t make sense of it.
“Could there really be someone crazier than this old geezer in the world?”
No matter how much he thought about it, it seemed impossible.
And just how crazy does one have to be for this crazy old man to call them mad?
When Yuri rubbed his forehead and glared, Johan waved his hand dismissively.
“Stop pouting and sit down, you lunatic.”
“…I’m not a lunatic.”
“Who? You?”
“Yes!”
Johan didn’t bother to reply. He just looked at Yuri with a gaze that seemed to ask, “Is this guy mentally okay?”
That only made Yuri feel more annoyed.
“No matter how much I understand everything, I don’t want to be called a lunatic by you, Old Man.”
“Okay, okay.”
Seeing Johan nonchalantly waving his hand, Yuri pouted and shifted the topic.
“So, how do you know that person called Segyung?”
“We’ve known each other since we were young. The Redner family is located close to the Bone Clan’s territory. Have you heard of the Great Forest?”
“The Great Forest? The one next to the Prompel Administrative District?”
“If you ask the Bone Clan or the Lin Clan, they’d say the Prompel Administrative District is attached to the Great Forest… Well, anyway, that’s right.”
“Wow, your family was really stuck in the boonies, Old Man.”
“Hey, you punk! The boonies?”
“Whether it’s the Great Forest or Prompel, it’s still at the end of the continent, right? So it is the boonies.”
If the Croton Administrative District, where Yuri had been, was located at the northern end of the continent, then the Prompel Administrative District was at the southeastern end of the continent.
And the Redner family was at the outermost edge of that Prompel Administrative District.
Right at the border between the Prompel Administrative District and the Great Forest.
Thus, Yuri’s comment about the boonies wasn’t particularly wrong, and Johan could only clear his throat awkwardly.
“Ahem. Anyway, the Redner family and the Bone Clan have always interacted frequently, and I, as the next head of the family, often met and hung out with that kid, who was mentioned as the next Meister of the Ramel School. You could say we were like childhood friends.”
“Ramel School? What’s that? And what’s a Meister?”
“Tsk, tsk, how ignorant can you be.”
“Yes, yes, I apologize for being ignorant. So please explain.”
Though he chided him, Johan knew well that there were few who knew as much about the Bone Clan as the Redner family did.
Still, Johan put on airs as he spoke.
“This body will explain it to you, so clean your ears and listen, you ignorant fool.”
“Yes, yes, I’ll do that.”
Seeing Yuri pout again, Johan began his explanation.
“The Bone Clan takes the name of the school they’re affiliated with as their surname. There are a total of four schools among them, and at the top of each stands one of the Four Meisters. A Meister means a great artisan, so you can roughly think of them as master craftsmen.”
“What are the four schools?”
“The Bone Clan’s four schools are Walker, Ramel, Henri, and Keller.”
Walker for metallurgy.
Ramel for alchemy.
Henri for poisoncraft.
Keller for pharmacology.
According to Johan, all members of the Bone Clan must choose one of these four schools, and those who choose one school can also transfer to another if they find their true aptitude.
And Segyung Walker was a prime example of that.
“That kid was such a genius that he was mentioned as the next Meister of the Ramel School at a young age… but one day, he showed up with the surname Walker.”
“Oh? He had talent in that field too?”
“Talent, my ass. In terms of metallurgy, that guy’s skills were barely at the level of swinging a hammer. Of course, even that would make him an exceptional blacksmith by ordinary human standards, but among the Bone Clan, it’s just average.”
“Huh? Then why did he switch to the Walker School?”
“He thought the name Walker was cooler than Ramel.”
“…Seriously?”
“Yeah, seriously.”
“…What a lunatic.”
“He’s a madman, alright. If he’d stayed with the Ramel School, he would’ve smoothly risen to the Meister position… but even when they tried to hold him back, he insisted on changing schools.”
“Wow, he’s a stubborn madman too?”
“So why are you asking so many questions about him?”
“Ah, that’s…”
After a moment of hesitation, Yuri mentioned that he was thinking of learning mechanical knowledge from Segyung.
Johan lightly nodded in response.
“Well, that’s not a bad idea.”
Seeing Johan’s reaction, Yuri cautiously spoke up.
“…You’re not upset?”
“About what?”
“About me looking elsewhere beyond what you’re teaching me, Old Man.”
Johan chuckled.
“If I were going to be upset over something like that, I wouldn’t have sent you to the Cradle in the first place. I would’ve kept you with me and taught you myself.”
“…….”
Yuri fell silent.
He seemed to be deep in thought as he explained about the [Non-Negotiable Lecture Application Form].
And when his explanation was over,
Yuri hesitantly asked another question.
“If, hypothetically, I were to learn from the Sword Master… what do you think?”
It was a thought he had when he got his hands on the non-negotiable lecture application form.
To surpass the Sword Master was his goal, both his and Johan’s.
And if he had the chance to learn from the monster that took Johan’s legs, would it be right to seize that opportunity?
Johan remained silent at Yuri’s cautious question.
“…….”
Johan looked at Yuri intently, then eventually smiled faintly.
“That would be great.”
“Great?”
Just as Yuri finished his question, a storm began to brew in Johan’s previously calm smile.
He stared directly into Yuri’s eyes.
“The Sword Master’s teachings? If I could receive them, I would. If it meant my sword could reach him… I’d do anything!”
Johan continued, his voice full of fierce determination.
“So, if you ever get that kind of opportunity, make sure you seize it.”
He wanted Yuri to learn much more beyond what he was teaching him.
He hoped that through this, Yuri would grow significantly.
Even if it meant teaching the Sword Master’s lifelong goals.
Meanwhile, Yuri felt more desperation than fear from Johan’s fierce demeanor.
“……”
“……”
A brief silence fell between them.
It was Johan who broke that silence.
“Learn whatever you can. And if you’re going to learn something from that bastard Segyung, make it something other than institutional knowledge.”
“Something else?”
“Even though that bastard came from the Lamel school, he was known as the greatest genius in its history. And when he entered the Walker school, he continued his research in alchemy.”
“Then why did he even switch schools? Just to change his surname?”
“How could ordinary people like us understand the thoughts of a madman?”
“True, that’s true.”
“Exactly.”
Yuri nodded first, and Johan nodded seriously with him.
“So, what should I learn from him? Alchemy?”
In response to Yuri’s question, Johan shook his head.
“Do you know Segyung’s nickname?”
“What is it?”
Seeing Yuri tilt his head in curiosity, Johan answered with a grave expression.
“Explosive Demon.”
“…Explosive Demon?”
“A crazy pervert who obsessively loves explosions. That’s Segyung.”
At Johan’s words, Yuri recalled the intense explosion that had blown up the wooden fences yesterday.
In the meantime, Johan recounted Segyung’s philosophy that he had heard from him in the past.
[“The ancient dwarves poisoned dragons and ushered in a new era. Thus, poisoning can be considered the greatest form of killing. But that’s now outdated, a relic of the old days!”]
[“From now on, it’s the age of explosive killing! The expansion of power! Collision! Destruction! Annihilation! That will be the great kill that suits the new era! I’ll make it happen!”]
As Johan recalled Segyung’s philosophy and goal from the past, his complexion had paled, remembering Segyung’s crazed face.
“…Back then, that bastard told me this.”
“What did he say?”
“He said he’d create a great explosion that would blow away the continent within the next 30 years.”
“…He really is a madman.”
Now even Yuri couldn’t deny it.
Segyung Walker, he truly was a madman.
That was an undeniable truth.
“And what’s scarier is that, thanks to that bastard’s innate talent, it feels like those crazy ramblings won’t just end as ramblings.”
“……”
“Well, the last time I saw him was more than 30 years ago, and since the continent is still intact, it seems his plan failed. Thank goodness. Still, the explosives that bastard makes are masterpieces you can’t find anywhere else on the continent. So if you want to learn something from Segyung… try learning how to make explosives.”
“Hmm…”
Yuri stroked his chin.
‘It’s certainly not a bad idea.’
Even though his ideology was tainted, his talent was such that even Johan acknowledged it.
And while his talent in metallurgy might not be top-notch, it was at least at the average level of the Bone Clan, so even learning to that extent would be enough for him.
Of course, one condition had to be clearly met for this to work.
Yuri looked at Johan and asked.
“Old man, you were close with this Segyung guy, right?”
“Oh, absolutely.”
“Really? Did you have nicknames for each other? Something only the two of you knew?”
“Of course we did.”
“Oh! What was it?”
“Cheapskate. I usually called him ‘Cheapskate.'”
Seeing Johan’s wistful expression as if he were lost in memories, Yuri nodded slightly.
‘Judging by the way he talks, they really did have a close relationship.’
How else would he know such minor details if they weren’t close?
‘Great, that’s settled!’
As Yuri rejoiced, thinking he could leverage this connection.
Johan suddenly stood up.
“Well, I think that’s enough homework check for now, so I’m off. Do you have anything else to say?”
“No, not really.”
“I’ll drop by for another surprise inspection next time, so keep up with your homework!”
Leaving those words, Johan created a gust of wind and disappeared just as he had arrived.
Left alone, Yuri gazed at the spot where Johan had been moments ago and muttered quietly.
“Hmm, I still can’t bring myself to ask for his autograph.”
Johan’s autograph, which he was supposed to get in return for the Bluebird’s request.
But he just couldn’t bring himself to bring it up.
No, it was better not to ask even if he could.
‘How could I say that someone who admires the old man asked me to get his autograph?’
If he were to voice that, Johan would undoubtedly flaunt it with a ‘See? This is the kind of person I am!’ look on his face.
Yuri didn’t want to see that smug look on Johan.
‘Well, I can always just forge the autograph later.’
How would the person receiving the autograph know whether it was Yuri’s or Johan’s?
“Right now, that old man’s autograph isn’t what’s important.”
What mattered to him now was the lecture application he was going to send to Segyung.
Not the non-negotiable 10,000-point lecture application, but a regular one.
However, Yuri had no regular lecture applications left.
Sighing, Yuri stood up.
“Ha… I can’t believe I have to buy that piece of trash again for 10,000 points.”
Muttering to himself, Yuri left the hideout and trudged towards the special sales shop.
After purchasing a regular lecture application, Yuri quickly filled it out on the spot.
Reason for Lecture Application:
Cheapskate, take good care of our Yuri.
-From your dear childhood friend-
Finishing the application in one go, Yuri smiled as he submitted it.
‘Perfect!’
Including their secret nickname and words of endearment.
If, as Johan said, they were truly close, Segyung would surely respond quickly to this application.
Yuri had no doubts about it.
Boom!
With a ground-shaking explosion, the wooden fence flew apart.
Watching the few remaining posts burst rapidly, Arin hid behind Yuri and muttered.
“That Bone Clan geezer seems even more wild than the other day, doesn’t he? I guess he’s even more pissed off. Yuri, what did you do this time?”
“……”
Yuri remained silent.
He too sighed inwardly as he watched Segyung rampage.
‘Haa…’
As Yuri had predicted, Segyung responded quickly.
But it wasn’t the response Yuri wanted.
While Yuri was lost in thought, a rough voice reached his ears.
“You fucking piece of…!”
Boom!
“…Where’s that old bastard?!”
With a string of curses five times longer than when he barged in, mixed with relentless explosions, Yuri muttered softly.
“…You said you were close, you damned old man.”
If this was the kind of casual greeting between friends, war wouldn’t exist in this world.
Or perhaps the word “war” wouldn’t exist at all.
Since war would be a daily occurrence.