The Book Eating Magician - chapter-244

Theodore was the one who had declared that he would subdue the fighting
in the Fairy Dance Lee family. However, unlike his aspirations, Theodore
couldn’t move immediately.

There had been the incidents of unreasonable summoning magic and
intercontinental space movement, so his circles had been overworked. If
he confronted a proper master, he would be killed instantly.

In the meantime, he had to focus on restoring his body.

Theodore set his course of action and focused on sealing the cracks in
his wounded body, breathing in the mana of the Baekun Mountains. He
looked himself over calmly and saw his torn body.

‘…It is literally a wreck,’ Theodore sighed as he diagnosed his
condition. ‘I can use 5th Circle magic without difficulty, but there
will be a burden on my body at the 6th Circle. It is also impossible to
use 7th Circle magic. If I use it carelessly, my heart, as well as my
circles, will be torn.’

As Gluttony said, it was fortunate that he had some time to rest. He now
had enough time to care for his body and not use any magic.

The Baekun Mountains was a spiritual land filled with mana. Magicians
were several times stronger than normal here, and the speed of recovery
was incomparably faster. Now, Theodore didn’t want to stay anywhere
else.

He had first guessed that he would recover in two months, but if he
stayed in this land, he would be able to recover in one month. In that
case, Theodore wouldn’t waste that time.

-As you know, the Moving Clouds and Flowing Water has its foundation in
martial arts, but you shouldn’t be caught up in this concept. Clouds
can change color and scatter rain and lightning, while water can
sometimes be rougher than a wildfire. The Fairy Dance combines both flow
and softness.

If he couldn’t use magic, then he would train in something else. For
three hours a day, Theodore would work to restore his circles. Then he
would train in the Fairy Dance with Lee Yoonsung.

He might not be able to use aura, but Lee Yoonsung was the remaining
person who had the best understanding of the Fairy Dance in this age. An
opportunity to learn directly from him was worth 1,000 gold.

–The Fairy Dance can be divided into four types of hidden techniques.

According to Lee Seol, only two of these hidden techniques were left in
this age. It was because each faction had one hidden technique, only to
let it die out. Lee Yoonsung learned of this reality and taught them to
Theodore.

–1st hidden technique, Moon Breaking through the Clouds.

The moonlight leaked through cracks in the clouds and scattered them. A
stealthy and sharp attack, made by stirring both arms in the air, shot
out. What powered it if mana wasn’t used? Theodore’s eyes became
foggy as he followed the theory.

–2nd hidden technique, Rain like an Axle.

The scattered clouds would suddenly pour rain. Just like heavy rain
pouring from the sky, a quick hand gesture swept quickly in front of
Theodore. It wasn’t a flood but more like raindrops piercing through a
rock.

The blow was stiff and heavy. By this time, it had already become a
series of continuous attacks.

–3rd hidden technique, Fierce Wind and Rain.

The true value of the hidden techniques appeared from here. The origin of
the Fairy Dance was that each move wasn’t independent; they had to be
connected together in order to exert their power. There would be a gale
of wind swirling around the clouds to produce the heavy rain.

Hwiooo, wind really blew from between Lee Yoonsung’s two palms. Despite
not feeling any qi, there was no doubt about the wind. However, this was
covered by feelings of wonder, as seeing it appear in front of him caused
him to feel great pleasure.

Finally, there was the finishing move.

‘Boundary of Heaven and Earth.’

Theodore and Lee Seol were looking forward to it, but Lee Yoonsung was
uncertain. As he concentrated, the wind passing by stopped and the
mountain birds stopped singing.

“…Hrmm, it is up to here.” Lee Yoonsung released his posture.

“Esteemed elder? What is it?” Lee Seol called out to him in a
confused manner. Then Lee Yoonsung smiled bitterly with Theodore’s
body. “You can just call me by name.”

“Elder T-Taodoru?”

“That is a little bit wrong… The pronunciation is hard. Just call me
Theo. I am unfamiliar with Eastern forms of respect.”

Lee Seol’s expression showed that she didn’t understand, and she
looked down like she was really sorry. She thought she had been rude to
the elder who had come here. Lee Yoonsung treated it casually, but
Theodore wasn’t used to such formal behavior and his stomach hurt.

When Theodore soon got his body back, he sighed. “Let’s go down. The
sun will set soon.”

“Yes, Elder Theo.”

“You can remove the elder.”

The two people chattered as they headed down the path. It was about what
side dishes would be on the table this evening…

And about the stars which were only visible from a certain peak on the
mountains.

Theodore had always been at the center of a battlefield, so this
laid-back conversation was pleasant. He wanted to meet a spiritual being,
but it seemed like he had to go through some type of procedure or
ceremony to meet them.

So, he would talk about it again when it came time to leave the Baekun
Mountains. Just when Theodore was watching the cabin in the distance…

“…Seol.”

“Yes! Eld, no, Sir Theo!”

He ignored the way she called him and asked softly, “Do you have any
idea what is in front of the cabin right now?”

“Huh? What is it… Ah!” Lee Seol belatedly looked at the cabin and
shouted with surprise. It didn’t seem to be a face she knew, but her
expression wasn’t good. There was another reason why Theodore was wary.

‘An uncanny presence. It is like the intensity of a fire and river… I
haven’t felt something like this before.’

He didn’t know who the two uninvited guests were, but it wouldn’t be
easy if there was a fight. His super sensitivity gave him an ambiguous
warning. Soon afterward, Theodore and Lee Seol arrived at the cabin and
met with the uninvited guests.

The first one to speak was not Theodore but Lee Seol.

“Why have you come here, Uncle?” She spoke firmly, but the tone of
respect was just on the surface.

The man she called Uncle frowned at her greeting. “You are too rude!
You are the keeper of this mountain, not a wild animal. Your uncle has
come a long way, but you can even say ‘Hello’?”

“Didn’t you send someone else to greet me just a while ago? I don’t
know what type of greeting you want me to give now.”

“That was my last consideration. I was doing you a favor, but you
kicked it away. So, I have to come here personally.”

Lee Seol replied in a cold manner, “Favor? The master of the honorable
Fairy Dance Lee family is a deceiver. Leave if you just came here to
speak meaningless lies.”

“Y-You cheeky girl! Yes, then I’ll do what you want!” Lee Seol’s
uncle, Lee Inyoung, stepped back.

Then he gestured to the person accompanying him, who looked quite unique.
They wore old-fashioned clothing with the pattern of a snake embroidered
in gold thread, and it moved over the clothes like it was a living thing.

The clothing was strange, but it was the person’s face that looked more
unusual. Black linen completely covered their face.

‘I can’t see through that cloth. There is a strange magic on it.’
Theodore observed the person.

Then an unexpected voice spoke out from under the cloth with the gentle
voice of a woman. “Hello everybody. I am a notary from the Imperial
Family, who has been commissioned to observe the proceedings of the
trial, Shim Samho.”

“Notary?”

Unlike the confused Theodore, Lee Seol immediately understood the
implications of the words.

“A notary from the Imperial Family! Uncle, are you thinking about a
duel trial?”

“Kuhaha, it is as you said!” Lee Inyoung gave a disgusting laugh.
“Even though we aren’t as prominent as we used to be, our family is
one of the pillars of the empire. Therefore, His Majesty wants to clear
up this internal conflict. You do know that no one can resist his
decision, right?”

“…The preliminary discussion is over.”

“That’s right. If the notary here professes my victory, the Fairy
Dance Lee family will be one like it was before! There is no need to be
tied up by the archaic tradition of having a keeper for this mountain!”

Hearing this, Theodore stepped forward in order to protect Lee Seol.
While Lee Inyoung was displeased with his action, Theodore emitted the
presence which he had been suppressing.

Kuooooh!

The pressure of gravity multiplied. Lee Seol couldn’t feel it from
behind Theodore, but the two people facing Theodore could feel the
pressure directly. Theodore was a 7th Circle magician. Moreover, his body
contained a few divinities and dragon’s blood, so this pressure was
like a mental attack.

“H-Heoook!” Lee Inyoung turned pale despite being an excellent aura
user, while the notary didn’t move. No, nobody could see her reaction.
Like Theodore, she stepped forward, smiling underneath the piece of
cloth. She didn’t look like she was affected by his pressure at all.

‘She is the real danger, not Lee Seol’s uncle.’ Theodore raised his
vigilance.

She casually opened her mouth, “Calm your anger, guest from a distant
place.”

“Before that, I want to hear something from you.”

“Me?”

Indeed, Theodore’s eyes shone as he nodded. “I want to know exactly
what a duel trial is and how it relates to this child.”

“Well, it isn’t that hard,” Shim Samho responded to the request
before starting to explain.

A duel trial…

It was a law enacted after the emperor’s ascension, and it referred to
a duel presided over by a notary of the Imperial court. The Middle
Kingdom was a place where all types of armed forces coexisted, so they
weren’t allowed to fight indiscriminately. The duel trial was the only
opportunity to argue for specific results through force.

Of course, the duel trial wasn’t valid if there was no justification.
However, once a conclusion was reached, it couldn’t be challenged.

Shim Samho then spoke to Lee Seol, “In this case, Lee Inyoung suggested
the ‘unification of the Fairy Dance Lee family’ and the emperor
agreed. All other faction members except for Lee Seol have already joined
Lee Inyoung’s faction.”

“…So, this child has to fight those forces alone?”

“Ah, that isn’t it. The goal is to create as fair a trial as
possible, so it will be a one-on-one duel.”

“How ridiculous.”

‘Fair? A child of 16 is facing a giant force alone, but this is
fair?’ Theodore scoffed and denied it.

However, he was an outsider in this country and couldn’t overturn the
laws set by the Imperial court. It was easy to escape with Lee Seol, but
this would destroy her efforts of having protected the mountain for all
this time.

In order to protect the Baekun Mountains, Lee Inyoung’s ambitions had
to be restrained.

‘It is a situation where I have to achieve both of those things.’

There was only one option in which this would be possible.

“Notary, did you say you were Shim Samho?”

“Yes.”

“I will participate in the duel on behalf of this child.”

Shim Samho wasn’t surprised.

However, Lee Inyoung immediately protested, “This is ridiculous! I
don’t know who you are, but this is a matter regarding our Fairy Dance
Lee family! There is no room for a foreign to enter a duel trial
notarized by the Imperial Court!”

“…Is that right?”

“Yes.”

In response to Theodore’s question, Shim Samho nodded. The intervention
of uninvolved parties wasn’t permitted in the duel trial.

It wasn’t an area where a notary could interfere, since it was
something only the emperor could do. Lee Seol’s expression became
grouchy, while Lee Inyoung looked elated, certain of his victory.

Maybe it was his own delusion.

“Then I will prove my qualifications.”

Before anyone could respond, Theodore’s left hand aimed toward Shim
Samho.

Pang! There was the sound of wind bursting out. If it hit the human body,
bones would break. However, Shim Samho didn’t show any reaction. She
just looked at the palm which stopped before her.

This lasted until she heard the words that Lee Inyoung spoke right
afterward, “M-Moon Breaking through the Clouds…? H-How can a
Westerner have the technique that our family lost…?”

It was over with that. Theodore laughed at Lee Inyong’s reaction and
lowered his left hand. If Lee Inyoung hadn’t responded like this,
things would’ve become much more troublesome. However, as a greedy
person, Lee Inyoung had no choice but to respond to this.

After all, this was a missing hidden technique. Lee Inyoung just admitted
it with his own mouth that Theodore wasn’t an outsider in this duel
trial.

“Hah, so it is like this.” Shim Samho recognized Theodore’s
intentions and smiled. “You can’t be an outsider if you can use this
hidden technique. As the notary of this duel trial, I recognize your
qualifications. What is your name?”

“Theodore Miller.”

“Theodore Miller… Yes, I have recorded it. The trial date will be a
fortnight from now. If you have a reason to postpone it, the duel trial
can be postponed to a month later.”

Lee Inyoung listened to the conversation of the two people and proceeded
to interrupt belatedly. However, he was too shocked by the terrifying
presence that Theodore gave off, so Lee Inyoung was too late.

He felt desperate at the thought of his goal being taken away.

“Notary! He is a shaman! How can a foreign shaman participate in the
duel trial that will determine the fate of the Fairy Dance Lee family’s
unification?!”

“I have also thought about that.”

Theodore inwardly laughed and rebutted the argument, “As Lee Inyoung
said, I am a foreigner. I have no claims on this land. So, if I win, they
will be given to Lee Seol. Oh, I also won’t use any magic except for
strengthening my body during the duel. If I break this condition, it will
be my loss.”

“Huhu, you are thorough. According to your words, there is no reason to
refuse.”

“E-Even so!” Lee Inyoung couldn’t accept it.

So, Shim Samho glared at him with cold eyes. She was a person who had
easily endured Theodore’s pressure. The expression of her irritation
shut the mouth of Lee Inyoung, who was ‘only’ an expert.

“Don’t be mistaken. I’m not organizing this duel to your liking. I
just came to notify you of the duel trial. You should stop thinking of
your own convenience.”

“Kuuack…”

Shim Samho gracefully stopped Lee Inyoung’s mouth and bowed politely to
Theodore. Then she said goodbye with that thick voice, “I will contact
you again later with the place and time. Then may the two of you be at
peace until the reunion in a fortnight.”