A Strange Reaction and a Strict Coach
"Are you okay, Bombe?"
After the first day of training ended, we rode in Grandfather's car to a nearby pension.
Grandfather said he had built a villa near Taereung Camp in the past to use with Se-eun.
"How was your first day?"
"Mmm... it was fine. I think Woo-rin will take good care of me!"
"...Are you talking about Lee Woo-rin?"
Grandfather's voice dropped slightly. I was taken aback by the sudden change in his tone, which was usually so warm and gentle around me.
Why? Why is he like that?
Woo-rin seemed nice and reliable. Did he do something to upset Grandfather?
"W-Why? What's wrong?"
"Haha... It's nothing, dear. Nothing at all."
What was that about? A lingering sense of unease remained, but I didn't press him. I figured I would find out naturally sooner or later anyway.
After all, Grandfather Yong-su had promised to help train the Nova team.
He hadn't come on the first day, but he said he would join us in earnest starting tomorrow to help out.
"Se-eun said she'll come to the villa once her busy schedule is over, too."
"Wow! Really?"
"She said she couldn't help it because she was so worried about you."
"Hehe, yay."
Being alone with Grandfather was nice, but having Se-eun here would be even better. Especially since she would punish Jeolmi with headlocks and armbars whenever he refused to listen to me.
"H-Hoot."
"Hehe, don't even think about playing pranks behind Se-eun's back, Jeolmi."
"Hooooot!"
Screeech. The mountain villa came into view, and the car pulled up in front of it.
It was so massive that it looked like two or three normal pensions combined. I couldn't quite wrap my head around it...
Is that really just a villa?
"The cleaning service said they left it spotless, so we can go right in. Or would you like to take a stroll in the mountains behind us first?"
"Mmm... I want to go inside and rest early today!"
"Haha, you must be tired."
Grandfather Yong-su got out of the driver's seat and stretched his limbs. He smiled with relief, as if loosening up some stiff muscles.
"Let's go, Jeolmi!"
"Hoot!"
I dashed toward the villa. Just as I reached for the doorknob, I suddenly remembered Bombe and turned back.
Seriously, why does Bombe sleep so much all the time?
"Bombe! We're here, so get up and follow us! What are you doing... Huh?"
"Kki-ung, kki-ung..."
Huddled in the backseat, Bombe was covering her eyes with her front paws, trembling all over. She looked absolutely terrified.
"Bombe, what's wrong?"
"Kki-ung... kki-ung..."
Drenched in sweat, Bombe lifted her head, looked around anxiously, and then shook it. She slowly climbed down from the car as if suggesting we just go inside.
Jeolmi glared at her disapprovingly and pecked at her with his beak for no reason. Bombe didn't even react, as if she couldn't feel a thing.
"That's weird..."
"Shiro, is something the matter?"
"Bombe was shivering, like she was scared of something."
"Scared, you say..."
Grandfather Yong-su crossed his arms and closed his eyes. As his mana gently spread outward, the scent of fresh water brushed past my nose.
His mana swept like a breeze across the entire mountain, centering around the villa. It was likely a mana-manipulation art used to detect enemies.
So this is what it takes to be an S-rank... Even though scouting was a Seeker's job, Grandfather, a Vanguard, possessed high-level detection skills.
"I don't sense anything out of the ordinary. But... could you take a close look at Bombe's eyes?"
"Bombe's eyes? Huh?"
Following his suggestion, I stared into Bombe's eyes and noticed something peculiar. Her eyes looked exactly like mine after I obtained Seolan.
A swirling blizzard effect sparkled within her deep, dark blue pupils.
After a brief moment, her eyes slowly returned to their normal color, and Bombe shook her head with a cough.
"Kki-ung?"
Then, she tilted her head with an innocent expression, as if she had never been scared in the first place. Jeolmi and I could only let out dumbfounded chuckles at her behavior.
Is she really okay...?
"What was that all about...?"
"My senses didn't pick up anything, so there shouldn't be any immediate danger. Still, it's better to be prepared just in case."
"Prepared?"
"We should set up a barrier."
A barrier referred to a technique that isolated space using a set amount of mana. Its official academic term was Phase Shielding, a phenomenon that produced various effects by interfering with the topological connections of space through mana.
I heard it was a technique commonly used to protect or conceal things through cognitive distortion or physical severance.
"Grandpa, do you have a barrier skill too?! Or is it an art...?"
"I wish, but I don't have anything like that. What I do have, however, is a lot of money."
"...!"
The power of wealth, said to surpass even superpowers...!
Holding Grandfather's hand, I stepped inside the pension. Just as grand as its exterior, the interior was incredibly stylish and spacious.
He led me to a room near the entrance and showed me how to operate a mana-engineering device.
*Whirrr.* A ticklish sensation washed over me as an intangible wave of mana passed through my body.
"Did you just activate the barrier?"
"Yes, exactly. It's a barrier that covers a slightly wider area around the pension."
"What does it do?"
"It distorts perception so that the pension is hard to see from the outside. It also acts as a shield that won't break unless it's hit by an attack from at least a B-rank hunter."
"Ooooh...!!"
As soon as Grandfather finished explaining, I ran outside. I was curious to see what the active barrier actually looked like and how strong it was.
Normally, it was extremely difficult to see a barrier with the naked eye. However, perhaps due to my natural affinity for mana or because I had obtained Seolan, I could faintly make it out.
"Wow...!"
"Kki-uuung!"
"Hoot!"
Waiting outside the entrance, Jeolmi and Bombe also stared at the barrier in awe. A dome-shaped structure of precisely woven mana particles stretched across the sky.
I carefully placed my hand against it to feel its texture. It felt a bit like... touching a very thick sheet of rubber?
Just as Grandfather said, it didn't seem like it would break from ordinary attacks.
"Were you that curious about it, Shiro?"
"Yes, I was!"
"Hahaha, of course. Barrier techniques are very rare to come by. Anyone with a barrier-related skill or art is highly valued and can make a fortune."
"...!"
Maybe... studying barrier arts would be a smart move for me...
"Of course, Phase Shielding is incredibly difficult. There are plenty of cases where people born with barrier skills fail to make it big."
"Mmm... Is that so?"
I could tell Grandfather was very proud of the barrier he had bought. He seemed like the type to derive great satisfaction from the fruits of his labor.
But... was it really that hard?
I think I can copy it, though?
I could see the flow.
The mysterious pressure flowing between the mana particles, and the delicate control of their connections. I couldn't do it right this second, but... with a little practice, it felt entirely possible.
"Haha, if Shiro even learns barrier techniques, you'll become the world's greatest hunter in no time."
"Mmm... but aren't barriers hard to use in actual combat? It seems like they require a lot of preparation beforehand."
"Good point. You're generally right, Shiro. In situations where you have to face enemies immediately, like in a raid, setting up a barrier is a very tedious process. However, top-tier barrier users still display outstanding combat capabilities."
"Really? How?"
"There's a barrier user ranked 35th in the world... I heard they use magic items pre-loaded with barriers, or utilize several arts that allow them to cast barriers instantly, almost like magic."
"Ah..."
I should look that up later.
"Now, let's head inside. It's time for your homeschooling."
"Eh...? I still have to study? Even during the Nova preparation period...?"
"Of course. The other older kids are taking their classes online too, so don't feel too bad."
Oh, come on.
This is ridiculous.
I was so happy because I thought I wouldn't have to study English at Taereung...!
"Come along, Shiro."
"Ugh, fine...!"
I hate this...!!
"Wow, insane. It really is Kang Yong-su."
"Whoa, it really is."
The next day.
Massaging my temples, which had been thoroughly tortured by English vocabulary words, I headed to the training hall. Grandfather made his appearance before the assembled national team in the massive training facility.
Grandfather had originally planned to sport his signature "neighborhood uncle" look... but Se-eun, who arrived after finishing her work, stopped him from fulfilling that dream.
Instead, dressed in a sharp suit, Grandfather stood side-by-side with the head coach.
"Hoot."
Jeolmi raised a wing to greet him as if recognizing a familiar face. Seeing this, Grandfather waved back.
"He just waved at me, right?"
"As if."
Grandfather's status within the national team was practically on par with a top celebrity. Hunters usually enjoyed celebrity-like popularity anyway... but Grandfather felt even more popular.
Seeing firsthand how highly respected Grandfather was made me feel proud, and a silly grin spread across my face.
"Quiet, everyone. For the next four days, Hunter Kang Yong-su will be in charge of coaching your training. Sounds good?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Yes."
"Of course~"
"So, will you be directing all of today's training, Hunter Kang?"
Woo-rin politely raised his hand and asked. Grandfather Yong-su chuckled and turned his head toward him.
Ah, so what I felt yesterday was just my imagination—
"Indeed. You, run twenty laps around the perimeter of the training ground first. Sometimes, Backcodes cause issues because they lack physical stamina."
"Excuse me...?"
"No skills, no mana. Off you go."
"Pardon...?"
"What are you waiting for? Go!"
Startled by Grandfather Yong-su's booming shout, Woo-rin quickly scrambled and began running along the perimeter.
H-He'll be fine, right...?