Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Many Hands Make Light Work (3)
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Subway interior.
While most people were glued to their smartphones, Kim Gunja was checking his status.
Both his Body level and Magic level had reached 4.
Judging purely by the numbers on his status window, he was now solidly B-rank.
'Feels like just yesterday I was level 1.'
Three to seven years.
That's the typical time it takes for an ordinary Awakener to raise their level by a single step.
And that duration grows exponentially the higher the rank.
Yet Kim Gunja had climbed three steps from E-rank to B-rank in a mere three months.
Park Chunduk summed up Kim Gunja in one word.
— "You're insane."
The speed was insane, but...
If you knew that Awakeners had a "growth limit," you'd inevitably say the same.
Growth limit.
Just as the mana circuits formed upon Awakening never change, every Awakener had their own maximum achievable level.
But talk of limits felt like empty chatter when you looked at Kim Gunja, whose growth had long since shattered the speedometer.
Unlike Park Chunduk, however...
Sin Yeji paid more attention to the abilities Kim Gunja had gained: [Shadow Arts] and [Shadow Body].
Shadow Arts literally meant skills using shadows, while Shadow Body referred to the body capable of containing the black mana needed for them.
Sin Yeji summed up those abilities in one word.
— "Monster."
Negative mana.
What Kim Gunja called black mana couldn't even be precisely identified through Sin Yeji's Demon Eye.
That's why she'd let him close in so easily during their spar.
— "I-It's just because I'm still inexperienced! Just watch! Soon I'll figure out every detail of that black mana or whatever it is!"
Frustrated at not grasping it with her Demon Eye, Yeji shot back like that.
Unique trait proficiency was certainly crucial, and if Yeji grew to that point, they'd make great sparring partners for each other.
But even with the Demon Eye, accurately piercing black mana wouldn't be easy.
It was one of the core abilities that had earned Staine the title of Shadow Lord, after all.
'Staine's left leg was S-rank material too.'
Just as Austin had said at their first meeting.
— "For perks, I'll handle the 'proxy' customizing for you."
Thanks to Austin's help, Kim Gunja had completed the customizing for his perk.
His Customizing Room level was still too low to handle S-rank materials on his own.
Unlike Ma Ilcheon's right arm with its high sync rate, it rated SS overall—which was a shame—but the unlocked abilities were so outstanding that he was plenty satisfied.
'Right now, I can only move as far as my shadow reaches, but being able to teleport a set distance in an instant is a huge advantage in combat.'
Shadow Arts expanded its range with mastery and could be used not just for movement but in other ways too, giving it tremendous utility.
That said, it wasn't without drawbacks.
According to Staine's knowledge, black mana had highly limited ways to increase its quantity, and recharging was excruciatingly slow.
Thus, he was still capped at twice a day, and [Shadow Arts] could only be activated through his left foot, the [Shadow Body].
'Even accounting for all that, it's an excellent technique compared to my previous reliance on just Heaven-Shattering Sword.'
Through the spar with Yeji, he'd confirmed the synergy between Heaven-Shattering Sword and Shadow Arts.
A thick smile crept across Kim Gunja's lips as he grew convinced his choices were right.
The moment Kim Gunja walked into the shop, Monjiro was certain.
'He's definitely the Master Ring's owner!'
No one could change that much in a single day otherwise.
Master Ring.
A mythic-grade artifact known to only a tiny few.
Monjiro didn't know its exact functions either.
No one in Pentagram did.
What abilities it granted its owner, how many even existed.
Everything about it was shrouded in mystery.
But one thing was clear.
'The Master Ring's owner can surpass an Awakener's limits.'
In other words, the more an Awakener defied common sense, the higher the chance they were the owner.
Monjiro had verified it multiple times.
Kim Gunja displaying abilities beyond norms.
Making special pheromone powder via unique compounding in the forest, his astonishing performance in the hunt—those could be chalked up to talent.
But,
'Recovering from mana exhaustion in under an hour? That doesn't add up.'
And in his duel with Han Juyeong, he'd shown yet another sword style.
And now.
A man whose very aura had completely transformed in a single day stood before him.
If not this man, then who could be the Master Ring's owner!
"Haha! Mr. Kim Gunja! Over here!"
At Monjiro's call, Kim Gunja looked his way.
"Mr. Monjiro?"
Kim Gunja asked to confirm.
The man in the Hawaiian shirt with tanned skin had removed his sunglasses and called his name, but Kim Gunja didn't recognize the face.
Monjiro scratched his head sheepishly.
"Yes, that's me. Sorry for the appearance. If word got out I'm in Korea, a scary old man would try to burn me alive, so I have no choice but to go around like this. He thinks even a single blade of grass in Korea belongs to him—a total lunatic..."
Kim Gunja didn't know the details, but if it was for survival, he couldn't complain.
He just made a mental note that this man had devoured more than one person with Gluttony.
"No problem. Sorry for the late contact on my end."
"What are you saying between us! A day isn't late at all. Come on in."
He'd rented out the entire upscale Korean restaurant—there wasn't a single other guest.
As he was led to a luxurious private room, Kim Gunja instinctively mapped the hallways and room positions.
Influenced by the customizing trials to always maintain composure, his behavior and habits had changed a lot.
'A sealed room...'
Making one person quietly vanish here would be child's play.
Naturally, worst-case scenarios replayed in his mind as mental training.
Once they sat, food came out right away.
After a simple meal and small talk, Monjiro got to the point.
To secure the Master Ring's owner.
"Would you join Pentagram Guild?"
Kim Gunja, sipping his tea, replied.
"First, I need to clear up my doubts about your appearance, Mr. Monjiro."
"My appearance?"
"I heard Gluttony lets you steal the abilities and looks of those you devour. Yet you've already shown me more than two different faces."
Not a direct accusation, but Monjiro got the implication.
"Ah, haha! I see how you could think that. Hmm. I could explain in detail, but I doubt that's what you want..."
Stroking his chin as he gathered his thoughts, Monjiro answered.
"I was a Slayer. A particularly nasty one."
Slayer.
A member of the fanatic group that hunted Hunters.
Kim Gunja nodded.
That was enough.
He had no right to pry into internal details.
"Understood. Then to the main topic. As far as I know, Pentagram is an elite guild of only S-rank or above, or Hunters with highly unique traits."
"Correct."
"But during the Hunter exam, I was D-rank. Even with a good showing, it's hard to see why Pentagram would want me."
The words carried two layers.
On the surface, questioning what they saw in him for recruitment.
Dig deeper, and it hinted at suspicion of ulterior motives.
Not expecting such a straight ball from the start, Monjiro's dilemma deepened as he sipped his tea.
'I could play dumb and say we saw potential, but...'
Monjiro decided to go straightforward.
Wheeling and dealing with this guy might complicate things.
He didn't want to resort to last measures.
"You're the Master Ring's owner. Right?"
"...Master Ring? What's that?"
Monjiro's heart sank at Kim Gunja's reaction.
Too natural to be acting.
Had he misread?
No way!
"...You don't know?"
"First I've heard of it."
"Hmm. Then let me explain briefly."
Monjiro mentioned the Master Ring and linked it to Kim Gunja's feats.
The connections that only the Master Ring could explain.
Then he looked at Kim Gunja confidently.
As if daring him to deny it.
Hearing Monjiro out, Kim Gunja let slip a faint smile.
He's smiling?
"So that's the misunderstanding."
Monjiro's brow twitched.
"Mis...understanding?"
"Yes, but I can see why you'd think that."
"No, Mr. Kim Gunja. This isn't a misunderstanding, it's cer—"
Monjiro's mouth, about to say "certainty," stayed shut.
Due to Kim Gunja's words.
"I underwent reawakening."
"...!"
"You know what miracle happens to an Awakener who reawakens."
"Com...plete recovery..."
Monjiro's voice trembled slightly.
Out of sheer bewilderment.
To Monjiro, whose pupils quaked like an earthquake, Kim Gunja calmly replied.
"Yes. The newly formed mana circuits and explosive base level boost put the body in peak condition at the moment of reawakening."
The nail in the coffin.
"That's how it was possible. That performance."
Monjiro bit his lip, his mind in knots.
"Then now you're..."
"B-rank. I got lucky."
"......"
Is it true?
He didn't want to believe it, but the circumstances fit too perfectly.
Then Monjiro spotted a small gap and his eyes gleamed.
"Sure... reawakening could explain that. But how do you account for your aura changing completely in one day? The reawakening happened during the exam. You're very different from how you were at the end. You won't deny that, right?"
Finishing boldly, Monjiro grew uneasy seeing Kim Gunja's smile deepen.
"The unique trait I got from reawakening was also a personage type."
Monjiro looked incredulous.
"W-Wait. 'Also' implies..."
"Yes. I already had a personage type before."
Reawakening was rare enough, but getting back-to-back personage traits, those ultra-rare ones?
Seeing Monjiro's jaw drop openly, Kim Gunja continued.
"You know personage traits influence the Awakener's personality and habits. But reawakening gave me two. No issues at first, but after a day, they clashed so badly I felt disoriented myself. Thankfully, they've stabilized now, but the side effect of my vibe changing is unavoidable."
"Ma...saka..."
So flustered, Japanese slipped out of Monjiro.
"I'm not the person you wanted, Mr. Monjiro. Do you still want to recruit me?"
Monjiro's brow furrowed deeply at Kim Gunja's words.
The odds of him not being the Master Ring owner had risen, but it was still suspicious.
Yet his story had no holes.
In the end, only one way to be sure.
'Keep him close and watch.'
So recruitment was the play for now.
The Master Ring mattered enough to stake Pentagram's survival on.
"Of course. Reawakening and dual personage unique traits alone guarantee your growth."
"I see. Then before the contract, let me state my demands for joining Pentagram."
And at Kim Gunja's following words, Monjiro's jaw dropped once more.
Hero Guild.
The guild master eyed the incoming man, Kim Gunja, in disbelief.
His last memory was a frail D-rank examinee collapsed in the sand—a massive disconnect.
Even Baek Jincheon's eyes sparkled with interest.
"The more I see, the more intriguing. You wanted to meet me?"
"Yes. I felt it proper to make such a request in person, without intermediaries."
In other words, he had something to say directly, with full courtesy but firm conviction.
Baek Jincheon liked that principled attitude.
"Your demeanor's to my taste too."
Leaning back in his chair, Baek Jincheon nodded toward him.
As if to say, speak your piece.
"Kang Inhyeok. I want you to arrange a duel with him."
The guild master barely stifled a scream rising in his throat.
'What a mad bastard!'
The giant Baek Jincheon's upper body slowly leaned forward.
Resting his chin on interlaced hands, his eyes swirled with irrepressible curiosity.
Like he'd found a fascinating new toy.
"Won't happen."
"I know."
Knowing that, yet still wanting to fight.
A smile spread across Baek Jincheon's lips.
"Not impossible, though."
At Baek Jincheon's gesture, the guild master immediately typed up a contract and handed it to Kim Gunja.
The basics matched Hero Guild's bylaws.
But Kim Gunja's request was added.
— If S-rank within 10 years, host duel with Kang Inhyeok under Guild Master Baek Jincheon's supervision.
Hero Guild planned to spur Kim Gunja's growth using Kang Inhyeok.
Personage traits grew far superior to others.
For Hero Guild, success meant a chance to replace tools; failure cost them nothing.
"Too much rank gap kills the spectacle."
Baek Jincheon's gaze turned to Kim Gunja.
Curious about his reaction.
Kim Gunja calmly reviewed the contract and spoke.
"Needs revision."
The guild master asked understandingly.
"10 years too short after all?"
"No, too long."
Misheard?
Before the guild master could respond, Kim Gunja continued.
"Shorten to 1 year. In exchange, revise to have Hero Guild spare no support for my growth."
The stunned guild master's mouth flapped like a goldfish, while Baek Jincheon's lips curved into a grand arc.
Sometimes those types showed up.
The gutsy sort living only for today.
But instinct told him this guy had more.
'Something I don't know?'
Isn't this fun?
Baek Jincheon's lips slowly parted.
"Looking forward to it."
At Baek Jincheon's glance, the guild master revised the contract and handed it over.
"Don't disappoint."
To Baek Jincheon, disappointment meant a death sentence.
Was the meaning not getting through?
"That won't happen."
No trace of anxiety or impatience on the faintly smiling Kim Gunja.
As if utterly confident in his own growth.