Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: White Flame Baek Jincheon (3)
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Thud.
Kim Gunja, who had been holding his sword, slowly collapsed and lost consciousness.
He had already been struggling just to stay on his feet after his clash with Han Juyeong.
Once Baek Jincheon's pressure focused on him, his body simply couldn't hold out.
Baek Jincheon looked down at Kim Gunja indifferently and flicked his finger.
A white flame flickered up like a heat haze on Kim Gunja's right arm, only to be repelled without sinking in.
That was when a glint appeared in Baek Jincheon's eyes.
"Mr. Kim Gunja! Are you okay?!"
Han Juyeong rushed over and supported Kim Gunja.
"Thank you for your help, Senior!"
He even bowed politely to Baek Jincheon.
Looking at Han Juyeong, Baek Jincheon responded to the greeting not with a reply, but with a different observation.
"Fascinating."
"...Pardon?"
"Your view of that man has completely changed."
He was pointing out Han Juyeong's attitude toward Kim Gunja.
In the footage just moments ago, Han Juyeong had charged at him like a blood-sworn enemy.
Yet now, barely any time had passed, and he was worrying about Kim Gunja's well-being.
As if they were comrades.
Human emotions are like inertia—changing their direction is incredibly difficult.
Even power, wealth, or force couldn't easily control them.
But Kim Gunja had managed it.
In that state.
How?
Baek Jincheon was dying to know.
Unfortunately, Han Juyeong wasn't as accustomed to Baek Jincheon's terse way of speaking as the division chief was.
He couldn't grasp what Baek Jincheon meant when he skipped all context and jumped straight to the point.
"...What do you mean...?"
Just as Baek Jincheon clicked his tongue in frustration at Han Juyeong's inadequate response,
staff members arrived belatedly, swarming the area.
The division chief approached Baek Jincheon and bowed his head.
"Sorry we're late."
In truth, it wasn't the division chief's fault.
The moment Jin Garyul and Sin Yeji's feed cut out, Baek Jincheon had acted on his own without a word.
And how were they supposed to catch up to someone riding an updraft with his unique trait to soar on thermal currents?
Baek Jincheon knew this too, so he didn't say anything.
As the late-arriving staff began cleanup and Baek Jincheon gazed at the fallen Kim Gunja, a faint smile tugged at his lips.
"This guy's interesting."
Just like with Kang Inhyeok, he had intended to leave his Fire Mark.
To claim full ownership.
But it had bounced off his energy, as if repelled by an artifact resistant to fire attributes.
Even while unconscious.
How could he not be intrigued?
But since no one else knew, even the division chief couldn't follow.
"...Pardon?"
"Never mind. Let's go. Oh, and we'll take that guy with us."
Baek Jincheon's gaze pointed to Jin Garyul—or what had been Jin Garyul—foaming at the mouth.
"Understood."
"And compile a separate report on person-type unique traits."
At the mention of "person-type," the division chief's eyes widened slightly.
It meant Baek Jincheon judged Kim Gunja's unique trait to be person-type.
One of the rarest among awakeners.
'But if it's truly a person-type unique trait, it might make some sense...'
With that thought, he bowed his head.
"Yes, I'll prepare it."
Baek Jincheon boarded the van the division chief had ready.
As he sank into the luxury leather seat, information on Kim Gunja organized itself in his mind one piece at a time.
Destructive power and swordsmanship beyond D-rank, and a body that repelled his Fire Mark.
If he could confirm the potential for growth, this guy could turn out to be quite entertaining.
More than that.
The human charm that drew in someone like Han Juyeong—something even Kang Inhyeok lacked—would be hugely positive for boosting the guild's reputation.
A satisfied smile bloomed on Baek Jincheon's lips, ever thirsty for talent.
Control room.
Awakeners and staff had rushed to the scene, but the scouts remained in the control room, only grasping the situation after belated reports.
"Whew, what a mess..."
"Tell me about it. Even a safety officer died..."
"At least the drones weren't wrecked. If that had aired live, it'd be a nightmare just thinking about it."
"That's true, but this is gonna stir up a storm for a while. Jin Garyul being a Homunculus..."
Homunculus.
Among awakeners, it referred to those enhanced through human experimentation.
Whether before or after awakening.
Human experimentation was taboo for ethical reasons, but groups that crossed that line always existed.
Ten years ago.
After Baek Jincheon smashed their last branch, it was thought their roots had been eradicated domestically—but now they'd resurfaced, guaranteeing uproar over their source.
"So, what was Jin Garyul's real unique trait?"
"Homunculus? Probably fusion-related abilities. Hero Guild's inspection will confirm, though."
If the bearer was determined to hide a unique trait, no one else could uncover it.
But with time since the first awakener and accumulated data, global institutions classified them into four broad categories.
Nature-type. Person-type. Ability-type. Animal-type.
Baek Jincheon's was nature-type; Sin Yeji's was ability-type.
Joker Jin Garyul.
Registered as animal-type for incorporating various animal traits for enhancement, but revealed as a Homunculus.
Distrust in the association and officials was bound to flare up again.
"Come on, what good does speculating do us?"
"Yeah, it's association business anyway."
"Still, Jin Garyul's a shame. His skills as a Hunter were top-notch..."
At that, one scout jumped in alarm and hushed him.
"Don't let White Flame hear that..."
"Oops."
The scout covered his mouth as if he'd forgotten.
Everyone knew Baek Jincheon despised Homunculi.
Relieved he wasn't here, they glanced at the remaining association staff managing control.
"So, when can we meet the examinees?"
It was a nudge that things seemed wrapped up, and they wanted to scout promising talents and discuss contracts pronto.
The staffer made a call, then nodded.
"Cleanup's just finished. I'll guide you. This way."
The examinees' test was over, but the scouts' real battle was just beginning.
As if flipping a switch from chit-chat, their expressions turned serious.
Hong Sua stepped out while on a call.
"Yeah, yeah. You scouted her? Good job. Oh, really? That's fine. No big deal. Acting's a bit rough since it was last-minute, but unavoidable. Got it. Have her on standby right away."
Finishing with her subordinate, Hong Sua clenched her fist.
Confident this ploy would etch Infinite Guild into Kim Gunja's mind.
A familiar ceiling.
Well, no surprise there.
It was already his second time that day staring at the recovery room ceiling.
"Haha, at least I'm not alone this time, so no loneliness."
Kim Gunja tossed out a lame joke, but
"......"
Sin Yeji, lying on the next bed with her back turned, didn't respond.
Always brimming with confidence and energy, she wouldn't open her mouth now no matter what he said.
'Losing to Jin Garyul must've hit her hard.'
He noticed her shoulders trembling faintly.
Sometimes it was best to leave someone alone.
But with his own body still unwell, he couldn't leave either.
So that's why.
He started rambling.
"...When I was little, I was a real crybaby."
Sin Yeji's shoulders twitched at his words.
As if "crybaby" pointed at her.
But Kim Gunja continued calmly, ignoring it.
"Like most kids, I was terrified of sleeping alone. But Grandpa was super strict, so sleeping together was out of the question."
She wondered why he was sharing this, yet found herself listening intently.
"One night, sleep paralysis hit me hard, and I bawled my eyes out. Grandpa heard and came in, but instead of comforting me, he just sat there quietly. I wanted him to hold my hand or something, but no dice. Made me even more upset, so I cried louder."
Just watching his crying grandson without soothing him—what an odd grandpa, she thought.
"But the funny thing is..."
Recalling it brought a wistful smile to Kim Gunja's lips.
"Just knowing someone was there made me feel so much calmer. Weird, right? Forgot what scared me so bad, and the crying tapered off. Then Grandpa stands up and drops this line."
Sin Yeji's ears perked up.
"'That kid's got some lungs on him.'"
Pfft!
The unexpected punchline made her burst out laughing.
"Hey, laughing mid-cry...?"
"I wasn't crying!"
Even with her back turned, her shrill retort made Kim Gunja chuckle.
"Didn't get it then, but now I do. Whether I cried, laughed, or sulked, I was always his proud grandson. Calling my wails 'impressive' instead of being disappointed in my unmanly display."
No matter how pathetic she seemed, to him, Yeji was still Yeji.
That was Kim Gunja's roundabout way of saying it.
Maybe it got through a bit.
After a silence, Sin Yeji's lips parted slowly.
"I really... wanted to win."
"Yeah."
"And avenge you too."
"Yeah."
"But... what's pissing me off more than losing is, when I ask myself if I trained my hardest, I can't say yes. Pathetic."
"Yeah."
Her voice mixed with sobs now, but Kim Gunja listened impassively, pretending not to notice.
What she needed wasn't clumsy comfort, but someone to hear her out.
"Even after seeing how desperate you were. I'm such an idiot..."
Sobs overtook words, but Kim Gunja was certain.
Today's Sin Yeji would make tomorrow's even stronger.
And the same went for him.
He was furious at himself for being powerless when she was in danger.
He wanted to grow strong enough never to watch someone precious suffer.
If he could.
As absolute as Baek Jincheon.
'Tomorrow, upgrade the Customizing Room. And ask Austin about these changes.'
Listening to her tearful words, Kim Gunja's gaze settled calmly on the burn mark on his right arm.
Kim Gunja and Sin Yeji needed recovery time, so they left the artificial island later than the other examinees.
The ship's cafeteria was quiet.
They were having a late dinner.
"Still, Monster Uncle, you lucked into passing the Hunter exam?"
Thanks to Kim Gunja, she'd shaken off her negativity and was chatty again.
"Luck? Fifth place. That's just what happens."
"Pfft, 'just'? Then why take the Uhwang Cheongsim Pill?"
Kim Gunja's shoulder jerked.
"Uh... you knew?"
"Duh. Think you can hide anything from me?"
He was about to counter that it sounded risky when
"Ugh, this tastes awful!"
A commotion erupted nearby.
A young couple, complaining loudly about the food.
The woman said to the man in a loud voice,
"Total waste of money. Can't compare to In.fini.te Guild's cafeteria."
"In.fini.te Guild?"
"You don't know? Their food's amazing!"
"Infinite Guild's food is that good?"
"Their chef's a five-star pro! Of course!"
"Whoa, seriously? If I were a Hunter, I'd join them!"
It felt exactly like watching a daily soap opera unfold live, thought Kim Gunja.
"Infinite Guild's got great perks, huh?"
"Picking a guild based on food?"
"Nah, of course not."
Unlike Sin Yeji, buried in contacts and contracts from scouts, Kim Gunja had only gotten one—from Hero Guild.
Unaware it was due to Baek Jincheon, he'd been puzzled, so guild talk caught his interest.
Chatting with Yeji about guilds, Kim Gunja had no idea yet.
Hong Sua's Infinite Guild pitch was just getting started.