Chapter 42
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Kwon Yena (4)
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The first accessory I'd ever obtained: the Ring of Protection.
Just like with the armor, it didn't seem like there was any special unlock from the first crafting this time either.
'Hmm...'
After reading through the equipment options, I immediately took out the Ring of Protection and slipped it onto my right ring finger.
An overwhelming sense of stability washed over me, filling my heart completely.
It felt almost like it had a mental strength boost option.
Just having a means to protect myself brought tremendous reassurance and peace of mind.
Unless something unexpected happened, I wouldn't take the ring off, so from now on, my stamina stat would effectively be one rank higher at all times.
I'd finally escaped the all-stats E-rank awakener phase.
And on top of that, a protective barrier once a day.
To make proper use of this ring, I needed to figure out how much damage the barrier could withstand and what the Sacrifice Command skill actually did.
"Yena, when are you coming back?"
"Right now~"
Now I even had an S-rank assistant to test the equipment on.
I immediately messaged Chae Yeonhwa to ask if I could use Crimson Lotus Guild's training facilities.
[Of course! I'll let Team Leader Kim Hyuncheol know, so just follow his guidance!]
Chae Yeonhwa, always so generous.
If another fire-element staff came up someday...
I'd pass it on at a discounted price.
——
"We've been waiting for you. Shall I guide you there right away?"
"No. I'll head to the training facilities a bit later. I came because I have some questions right now."
"...Understood."
Rather than sitting idly in the guest room waiting for Yena to return, I figured I'd chat with Kim Hyuncheol.
First, I asked about something that had been nagging at me, even if it wasn't burning curiosity.
"You're the leader of Team 2, but is it really okay for you to be guarding just me like this?"
Kim Hyuncheol was an A-rank awakener to begin with.
With Chae Yeonhwa as the only S-rank in Crimson Lotus Guild, he was one of their top assets.
Not to mention, having their Team 2 leader dedicated solely to protecting me—I was grateful, but it naturally made me wonder if this was sustainable.
"Actually, starting tomorrow, I'll be back out in the field. We've planned for other guild members to rotate in from then on."
"Ah..."
Sure enough, even if I was an important partner, assigning an A-rank full-time was overkill.
And the feeling that hit me at the same time...
Regret.
I never thought I'd feel this way about a muscle-bound macho uncle type, but losing that steady sense of security was disappointing.
I could kind of understand why women say bear-like guys are their ideal type.
'He was so damn reliable.'
More than anything, an A-rank who loyally guarded me without complaint, like a devoted retainer.
Didn't every guild need at least one solid guy like that?
"Any thoughts on switching guilds...?"
"I'm sorry."
The man with a 100% recruitment success rate, having snagged even S-rank Kwon Yena and future S-rank Kim Hyeji.
Rejected by the macho loyalist.
——
I hadn't approached the loyalist with guild recruitment in mind from the start.
But once the words slipped out, the atmosphere turned awkward.
I had no choice but to head back to the guest room.
"Yena, I'm closing the window in 5 minutes."
"I-I'm on my way!!"
Ever since she was little, she only listened when I issued an ultimatum.
I'd have to threaten not to hug her anymore before she'd finally go to bed...
Fwaaah—
"Eek!!"
Thud—
"Missed you~?"
Though now, the hugging rights had gone to Yena.
"Yeah, I waited forever, so move already."
"Hehe... Honey, why are you whining again~?"
"Get ready quick. We're heading out."
"Okay! But where to~?"
...
Yena stared up at me with her big, sparkling eyes.
But now that we were actually going out, her outfit was starting to bother me.
"Put this on."
I pulled a hoodie from the closet and tossed it to her.
Setting aside how revealing it was, it was still early February—winter. Wasn't she cold?
"Hmph... Together!"
Yena slipped on the hoodie I'd given her, and we headed to the training facilities under Kim Hyuncheol's guidance.
'Mr. Shin Yujun must be a teleporter awakener...!'
Kim Hyuncheol's misunderstanding deepened once more.
——
"I'll wait out front."
"Thanks."
We entered the training facilities as guided by Kim Hyuncheol.
I'd once paid 500,000 won per hour to use places like this, but things were different now.
Sure, casually dropping big money like a rich guy felt good, but being treated like VIP with free access? That hit even better.
"What do we do now?"
Yena finally asked what to do once we were inside, probably because she'd been mindful of Kim Hyuncheol outside.
"Hmm..."
Truth be told, I had no idea either.
-Once per day, generates a protective barrier upon taking damage.
With just that line, there was no way to know how much power the barrier could handle.
"I came here to test this equipment, right?"
"The ring!?"
"Yeah. Ring of Protection. Actually, easier to just show you."
Instead of explaining, I quickly appraised the equipment and showed her the info window.
"Hmm~ Hmm~"
After reading the whole info window, Yena looked back at me.
"So what now?"
I still didn't know, and she'd have to figure it out herself.
"We need to test how much the barrier can take, but like you saw, there's no info. So handle it however you think best."
"Hmmm~~~ Hehe..."
Shwooo—
Hearing that, Yena floated up lightly and backed away to create distance.
Moments later, green winds began swirling around her.
'Uh... is this okay?'
I trusted Yena to adjust, but facing an S-rank attack head-on? I couldn't help but tense up.
"Yena!!! My stamina's E-rank~!!!"
"I know~"
She answered, but the winds didn't stop—in fact, they grew fiercer.
Before I knew it, those winds lifted me up and carried me to the center of the training area.
"Whoa..."
It felt less like an attack and more like something protecting me.
Green winds swirled around me as I hovered in the center.
The scene enveloping me was so beautiful that I forgot all about testing the ring and just stared in awe.
Then.
Woooong—
Suddenly, a protective barrier appeared, enveloping my entire body.
'What?'
Was this the attack right now?
But Yena's green winds were still beautiful, with no hint of aggression.
About 30 seconds passed like that.
Crackle... Bang!
Cracks spread across the barrier until it shattered completely and vanished.
Yet I felt no pain or damage at all.
Shwoooo...
The green winds gradually faded.
They lowered me down slowly until my feet touched the ground.
"Yujun, how was it~?"
"What... was that attack just now?"
"Yup! Up until the barrier broke."
"I didn't feel a thing?"
"Hehe... Big sis here's an S-rank mage!"
Green winds reappeared, carrying me right in front of Yena.
"What big sis... My birthday's even a day before yours."
"Hey!"
She wasn't letting me go until she got the words she wanted.
Of course, as a proud blacksmith, I held firm to the end.
——
"You can control it that precisely...?"
"Yup! That's why it took so long!"
The true master of the Eye of the Storm.
It was more incredible than I'd imagined.
Like how awakeners first use a skill thinking it'll be easy.
Yena had flown up from the hotel, figuring it'd be simple, and experimented with controlling all sorts of winds.
The result was the insane level of wind control I'd just experienced.
It really felt like being inside a storm she was personally directing.
Anyway, the test results suggested my barrier could withstand an A-rank attack for about a minute.
Of course, it varied by A-rank and situation, but that felt plenty solid.
Just sticking by Yena made me feel like the safest person in the world anyway, and using the once-a-day barrier for testing carried risks.
After that, we tested the Sacrifice Command skill too—it lets the wearer take a portion of the damage instead.
An amazing skill for sure, and while we'd need more tests, if it worked on enemies, it'd be a huge counter.
But could it top Yena's wind magic?
I ended up watching her wind show for a full hour straight.
——
"Yena, don't reveal this equipment for a while. Got it?"
"Got it~"
"Not even to Twilight Guild."
"Obviously~"
If they knew, they'd cling to Yena desperately.
Sure, the contract ends in 11 months naturally, but it'd get way more annoying.
Good thing Eye of the Storm could be made invisible, making it easy to hide.
With the Ring of Protection fully tested—and Yena's abilities too—we were done.
"Shall we grab some food then~?"
"Tomorrow's busy too, so let's head home and rest tonight."
"Huh? Why tomorrow?"
"Hmm... Too long to explain now. I'll tell you tomorrow."
It didn't have to be tomorrow specifically, but sooner was better.
I'd originally planned to handle it the moment Yena got off the bus from training, but it got delayed a day.
Anyway, the moment we left the training facilities for some rest ahead of tomorrow.
"Hm?"
"Hello?"
Chae Yeonhwa greeted us with a smile as we stepped out.
The weird part? Her mouth was smiling, but it didn't feel like she was actually smiling.
"And who's the one behind...?"
As Yena followed me out, Chae Yeonhwa asked like she wanted an introduction.
"Ah, so you're the one trying to poach my guild member?"
"..."
Hyuncheol bro...
You snitched already?
Weren't you supposed to be the loyal macho overflowing with brotherhood?