I Became an Academy Overpowered Growth Genius

I Became an Academy Overpowered Growth Genius – 113

EP.113 Meeting the In-Laws (4)

In Park Seo-yoon’s office, located in the Taesan Building, she clutched the parchment 《Record of Destiny》 given to her by her grandfather and sobbed.

“Ugh…. Hic…. Ugh….”

It had been quite a while since her grandfather left the room, but her tears wouldn’t stop. The parchment 《Record of Destiny》 contained memories of the most precious thing she had forgotten.

“How could…. How could this be….”

It was a memory of tragic love and sacrifice.

‘Hello! I’m the new employee, Kang Seo-jun!’

‘Hmph.’

Kang Seo-jun and Park Seo-yoon first met as a new employee and the guild master. At that time, she thought he was just one of the many fleeting connections.

However, Kang Seo-jun quickly became a key figure in the Taesan Guild with his unique talent and sense.

‘Already an [S] rank!? His growth is too fast…. Surely, you’re not thinking of transferring to another guild, right?’

‘Haha. No way. I’m a fated partner with the guild master, you know? Don’t you trust me?’

‘…No, it’s not that I don’t trust you…. I just feel sorry that I can’t do anything for you….’

The relationship between Park Seo-yoon and Kang Seo-jun quickly changed. From a formal relationship between an ordinary employee and the guild master, they became reliable colleagues who cared for and looked out for each other.

‘Guild Master! Get a hold of yourself! Guild Master!’

‘It’s over…. Just give up and run away…. Hurry….’

‘Don’t be ridiculous! I won’t let you die!’

‘Kang Seo-jun…. No….’

‘I can’t run away leaving the person I love behind…!!!’

‘You….’

After overcoming a near-death crisis in a [Legendary] rank dungeon, they came to understand each other’s feelings and eventually became lovers.

‘Tsk. I’ll never call you brother-in-law.’

‘Park Shin-hoo! Do you have to be like this even on such a good day!?’

‘Hahaha! Alright, alright. Nice to meet you, brother-in-law!’

‘Graaah!! Kang Seo-jun!!!!’

As time passed, it was only natural that they got married. Park Seo-yoon and Kang Seo-jun were truly a perfect match. They were happy together, and the future they envisioned together was full of excitement.

But….

But that happiness didn’t last long.

– BOOM!!! –

Humanity failed to fend off the great invasion of demons.

‘How, how could this happen…!’

It wasn’t that humanity was losing to the demons from the start. In the beginning, humanity had the upper hand, especially with the remarkable efforts of the Taesan Group and Kang Seo-jun. No one thought that humanity would be defeated.

However….

That initial advantage became the root cause of their defeat. Humanity, overconfident against the demons, failed to unite, while the demons thrived on the seeds of discord. As humans trapped each other in pitfalls and harbored animosity, they grew weaker, and the demons grew stronger.

As a result….

– Bubbling. –

The demons succeeded in transforming Earth into hell. The sky turned crimson, and the ground cracked, spewing foul-smelling sulfur and lava. The only food left was insects feasting on corpses, and the world was covered in poison and stench, making it impossible to breathe comfortably. The world had completely perished.

‘Ugh…!’

‘Honey….’

‘I’m sorry…. The wound isn’t healing well….’

‘…Kang Seo-jun. I told you not to apologize….’

‘…Sorry.’

‘You….’

Hunters with tenacious lifelines couldn’t die easily, even in a perished world. They lived on in a world that had fallen into ruin, enduring a wretched existence that was hard to witness. Many hunters, driven to despair, eventually took their own lives, but Park Seo-yoon and Kang Seo-jun persevered. Even though the world had perished, they still had each other, and not all hope was lost.

‘How much further to the Altar of Regression?’

‘…Do you really think the altar is still there?’

‘Don’t worry. This information is reliable.’

‘The altar on Everest was destroyed too….’

‘…This altar is different. It’s said to be much more advanced. If you’re anxious, trust me! Ugh, ugh!’

‘Why, what’s wrong!?’

‘This…. I might have to cut off my leg….’

‘…You!’

Though tragic and desperate, the time was bearable because they had each other. Park Seo-yoon and Kang Seo-jun, after overcoming countless crises and pains, finally reached the Altar of Regression deep underground.

[The price of regression is eternal suffering.]

These words were inscribed in demonic language on the Altar of Regression.

‘Eternal suffering….’

‘Does it mean we’ll go to hell or something….’

‘Then it’s not a big deal.’

Kang Seo-jun looked at Park Seo-yoon and smiled. It was a refreshing smile, but it only made Park Seo-yoon more anxious. Whenever Kang Seo-jun smiled like that, it was always followed by something that left her flustered.

‘…What are you thinking?’

‘Isn’t it obvious?’

At those words, Park Seo-yoon’s expression turned icy.

‘Kang Seo-jun. Don’t do anything foolish. You’ve already sacrificed enough.’

‘What do you think I sacrificed for?’

‘You, you…! Don’t tell me you’re going to say it was for me…!’

‘I’m not going to use you as an excuse.’

A hint of sadness appeared in Kang Seo-jun’s smile.

‘I’m sacrificing myself for my own sake.’

‘What kind of…! You, you!’

– CRACK!!! –

Suddenly, a solid gemstone tentacle emerged from the ground and bound Park Seo-yoon’s legs.

‘What, what is this! You, you! Stop it right now!!’

‘Sorry.’

‘Stop! Stop it! Kang Seo-jun!!!’

‘This is the last time.’

‘Don’t go! Don’t leave me behind!!!’

‘I love you.’

‘No, nooooooo!!!’

– WHOOSH!!! –

Park Seo-yoon’s memory ended there, but 《Record of Destiny》 continued to show the next part of the story. It was a tale of Kang Seo-jun’s desperate sacrifice for Park Seo-yoon.

‘Krr, Aaaaargh…!!!’

He lost all his abilities and returned to the past, bearing a terrible curse.

‘Ah, Aaaah…!’

His appearance became grotesque, his talents completely vanished, and his strength weakened.

He struggled to save the world again under much more unfavorable conditions than before. She couldn’t see his entire journey. She could only see fragmented moments related to herself.

‘Mr. Kang Seo-jun. You’re incompetent. You are not accepted.’

Without memories of her past life, she was excessively harsh to Kang Seo-jun. He had taken the interview at Taesan Group to stay close and protect Park Seo-yoon, but she coldly rejected him without knowing this.

‘This dungeon is now under our jurisdiction as of today. Your guild has no rights to this dungeon, so quietly leave.’

When Kang Seo-jun created a guild to prepare for future disasters, she forcibly took over the dungeon he discovered to curb his growth. Seeing herself committing actions she would never have done if she remembered even a second of her past life memories broke her heart.

However….

Even then, Kang Seo-jun foolishly smiled. Even when she took his dungeon, his talents, and his items, he did not resist and gave everything away. By then, Park Seo-yoon started to sense something strange. Kang Seo-jun’s actions seemed almost as if….

As if they were for her.

In reality, Kang Seo-jun was indeed sacrificing himself for Park Seo-yoon. If only there had been a little more time….

If there had been, even the memory-lost Park Seo-yoon would have started to learn more about Kang Seo-jun. But fate did not grant that opportunity.

‘You’re really persistent. Participating in this raid won’t benefit your guild much, will it?’

‘…There’s someone I care about.’

‘…Ha, ha!? Surely, you don’t mean me! If by any chance you’re thinking of poaching someone from our guild, forget it. You can’t offer better conditions than us.’

‘Yes, yes….’

– Rumble! –

‘…What?’

‘…Oh no!’

-Slash!

‘!?’

Kang Seo-jun died trying to save Park Seo-yoon in a [Legendary] rank gate.

And then….

‘Krr, Krrrraaaagh…!!!’

He regressed with a body that was weaker and more insignificant than before. It was truly the ‘eternal suffering’ that the Altar of Regression had spoken of. It was a fitting conclusion.

After that, similar memories continued. She saw Kang Seo-jun die several times, and each time, he regressed with a body in worse condition. And while Kang Seo-jun repeated those countless deaths….

‘Ah, Aaaah…!’

Park Seo-yoon never once gave him a warm smile, only tormenting and forgetting him repeatedly.

“Ugh, Ughhh!”

Park Seo-yoon gritted her teeth and clenched her fists tightly. Thinking about the unimaginable pain Kang Seo-jun had endured for such a long time made her heart feel like it was being torn apart.

The one man she had loved all her life. The one man who loved her so much that he sacrificed even his soul for her. She felt a surge of hatred and contempt for herself, who had never given him a warm smile and had cruelly trampled on his kindness and concern.

“This time…. This time, I can’t…!”

Though tears continued to flow, she couldn’t just keep crying. She could no longer let her beloved husband continue to suffer.

“I must…! I must save him!”

Kang Seo-jun, who had only sacrificed himself for her until now. The poor man who had struggled in pain to the point of wearing down his soul and heart.

“Now that my memories have returned…! This is my only chance to save Kang Seo-jun…!”

Park Seo-yoon wiped her tears and stood up.

“Wait…. Honey. This time…. I will definitely protect you!”

Golden flames flickered in her eyes.

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***

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Kang Seo-jun’s lunchtime and afternoon self-training passed in a flash.

[Your magic experience increases by stealing the host’s experience!]

[Your magic experience increases by stealing the host’s experience!]

.

.

[Your mana grows as a result of stealing the host’s efforts! Mana ability +1!]

[Skill 《Parasitic Growth》 special effect activated!!! Choose a trait to steal from the host or transfer to the host.]

‘Finally….’

Thanks to Park Shin-hye diligently practicing mana cultivation during self-training, the effect of 《Parasitic Growth》 resulted in a ‘Trait Exchange Ticket.’ It was finally the moment to obtain Park Shin-hye’s trait 《Heir of Taesan》.