Miracles of Recovery and Flame

Kim Jun shook off his tangled thoughts.

He turned his gaze to the Medusa inside the transparent cage. Just moments ago, it had absorbed Yeom Sang-taek's mana through the praying mantis.

That mana would condense inside Medusa into a tiny mana orb. The quality of the mana marble would depend on how high-grade the feed Yeom Sang-taek provided was and how much mana he let it absorb from it.

Once I secure a marble, nailing the first stage of the Fusion Magic Scripture—One Hand Magic—should be a breeze. Yeom Sang-taek was convinced of it.

Then his phone rang.

It was the team leader.

"Yeah, got it. On my way."

Yeom Sang-taek hung up, covered the cage with a thick cloth, and picked it up. He had to take the little guy everywhere he went.

The closer it stayed to him, the more freely Medusa could absorb the mana swirling around his body.

He'd once read in a magazine about a foreign raider who carried a dangerously venomous tarantula in his pocket. He didn't have that kind of guts, but he planned to keep it as close as possible.

With his outing preparations complete, Yeom Sang-taek headed out.

"A miracle has happened."

Those were Dr. Sim Gyeong-mo’s words after meticulously reviewing the test results.

Go Cheolmin stayed still.

He fought hard not to get excited.

"You're cured. We'll need periodic checkups going forward, but as of now, it's a full recovery."

"Thank you."

"How did this happen? It's my first case like this. You'll have to help with developing a dungeon sickness treatment. I'd like to do a detailed survey—what you've eaten lately, any special activities, that sort of thing."

"Of course."

He couldn't reveal the real reason, of course. Even if he did spill it, no one would believe him. They'd probably just laugh it off as him getting funnier with age.

Stepping out of the exam room, it finally sank in.

The inner energy dwelling in his dantian circulated vigorously through his body. Though he'd gone years without training and lost much to dungeon sickness, the remaining Mukhon Gong was still as potent as ever.

Storm training starts today!

I'll reclaim my peak strength in no time!

The world had changed.

The chubby nurse nodding at him looked like an absolute beauty. The hospital's usual stench that he'd hated on every visit now smelled like sweet ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠honey.

Hospitals were no longer abodes for the dying. They were just brief pit stops for people who could recover anytime.

Go Cheolmin made a call.

After a few rings, the one most deserving to hear this first picked up.

"It's me."

―How'd it go?

"Sigh."

Go Cheolmin deliberately let out a heavy breath. With his body healed, his old mischievous side was creeping back.

―Congratulations, Master.

The sly fox Kim Jun wasn't fooled.

"Haha, how'd you know?"

―I told you a bunch of times already. No need for tests—it's definite. If you're done there, get back to the guild house quick. We've got a visitor.

"A visitor?"

―Hurry up.

The call ended.

Go Cheolmin pulled out his notebook to check. No visitors scheduled for today. Maybe a reporter from the broadcast station? Skyla was handling that, so they had no reason to meet him specifically.

A whistle escaped his lips.

He greeted everyone he passed on the way to the elevator.

The moment the doors opened, Go Cheolmin's face hardened. The whistling cut off abruptly.

Kim Se-wi was inside the elevator.

His hands were cuffed with mana-sealing restraints, flanked by investigators. One of them had helped breach the lockdown and expose the truth from the shadows.

"Master, you feeling okay?"

Bang Su-cheol asked.

"Visiting a sick friend."

Ignoring Kim Se-wi's piercing glare, Go Cheolmin answered.

"I'm here to verify some ridiculous claim while drawing up his statement. He suddenly claimed he had dungeon sickness and demanded tests, so we had no choice but to escort him."

Bang Su-cheol shot Kim Se-wi a glance, then looked back at Go Cheolmin.

Go Cheolmin alternated looks between Bang Su-cheol and Kim Se-wi. The dungeon sickness that had plagued his body had transferred to Kim Se-wi.

Kim Jun had made it happen.

Knowing that, Go Cheolmin couldn't join Bang Su-cheol in laughter. He just managed an awkward smile.

Kim Se-wi snarled as the investigators led him out of the elevator.

"Th-this isn't over! I'll pay you back a hundredfold!"

Those words actually helped Go Cheolmin.

He knew the terror and helplessness of dungeon sickness better than anyone. It had left him with no small guilt toward Kim Se-wi. But that venomous glare and vengeful tone washed away even those lingering pangs.

The dungeon sickness just stopped by me for a bit before finding its true owner.

"I'd love to visit, but Haegok's too far—might be tough. I'll think about it if I find the time. Don't get your hopes up."

Kim Se-wi threw a fit at that. Watching the investigators drag him away, Go Cheolmin stepped into the elevator.

The whistling resumed.

Sitting on the locker room bench, he raised his hand. A flame sparked to life effortlessly.

A flickering fire danced ten centimeters above his palm.

Yoo Min-jeong whispered as she gazed at it.

"Salamander."

The writhing flame slowly shifted form. A long tail emerged, followed by a sturdy jaw. A lizard cloaked in fire stared back at her from midair.

Seeing this guy made it clear that encounter hadn't been a dream. No one would believe it, but she'd met the Fire Spirit King.

She wanted to crawl into a hole. The fact that she'd attempted suicide multiple times in front of the Spirit King could never get out. He'd not only saved her but even brokered a contract with the lesser fire spirit Salamander.

That contract had changed her body.

The mana required for fire magic had decreased. Meaning she could unleash even stronger spells with the same amount of mana.

Plus, casting spells came more ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠easily now... and above all, she could control her fireballs.

Of course, she'd need relentless practice to hone it. Only then could she wield it masterfully in real combat.

"What's that?"

Kim Jun stood at the locker room entrance.

Anyone else, and she'd have dismissed the Salamander and played it off as testing a new spell. But she didn't want to hide it from Kim Jun.

His eyes widened once she finished explaining.

Yoo Min-jeong felt good. Seeing Kim Jun surprised by something she'd achieved meant it had real value.

"You contracted a spirit in the middle of all that? Incredible."

"It was necessary to break the acupoint seal."

"And humble too. Wow!"

Kim Jun's admiration.

Skyla entered the locker room.

"That's a Salamander."

Kim Jun quietly watched Yoo Min-jeong, leaving it to her whether to reveal the truth.

She appreciated the consideration. Changing her mind, she told Skyla about the Salamander contract too—omitting the Spirit King part. That was too embarrassing, even for Kim Jun.

"Annoying."

Skyla grumbled.

"Why?"

Yoo Min-jeong felt a twinge of worry. Had she come off as showing off? She'd seen petty ego clashes splinter teams back in Jushin.

"You got a spirit contract."

Skyla looked at Yoo Min-jeong, then turned to Kim Jun and continued.

"And you? Mastered new sword forms? Mokhonbo's core principles down pat."

"Roughly."

Kim Jun shrugged.

"I should've gone into the Association with Master too."

"No, if you hadn't been at the station, we couldn't have gotten the word out. I think you did the biggest job of all, more than anyone."

"Doesn't change that I got nothing out of it."

"You really think so?"

Kim Jun flashed a sly smile.

In that instant, Yoo Min-jeong was sure Kim Jun knew something she didn't. Curiosity burned, but she held back. Skyla wouldn't stay quiet.

"What? Spill it."

"Ice Blast."

Kim Jun pulled out his phone and showed a text.

Yoo Min-jeong leaned in to read it too.

"Master got it yesterday, forwarded it to me today."

"...Ice Blast."

Skyla's voice trembled.

Yoo Min-jeong understood. Skyla had gotten her raider license in America, so all her skill connections were there. She couldn't just fly over for new ones.

And now, Ice Blast was within reach.

Yoo Min-jeong glanced at Kim Jun. He'd clearly requested it through Master for her.

He pretended not to notice.

Yoo Min-jeong eyed the other two skills. Blood Seal Acupoint Mastery—commonly shortened to Blood Seal—was a famed acupoint technique.

Seeing the name instantly recalled Kim Se-wi and his masterful acupoint strikes. She needn't fear most with her spirit summons, but the terror of paralysis from two mere finger taps lingered.

She realized Kim Jun, who'd furiously mastered Mokhonbo, had targeted acupoint arts next.

His combat style already defied imagination, brutally effective in the field. Add acupoint mastery, and no one could ignore him.

Yoo Min-jeong stared at Kim Jun.

Since witnessing him fight in the Honor Hall, one question hadn't left her mind.

How could Kim Jun unleash Po-noe Strike?

How had he executed Yeon Yeop, the first form of Yeon Ga Shipil Geom?

Everyone had seen his Mokhonbo training. His insane dedication made his rapid growth believable.

Po-noe and Yeon Yeop were different.

Up to the day before his awakening test, he'd never even mimicked them. Advanced skills demand exponentially longer training. They defied common martial sense.

There had to be circumstances.

She wanted to ask, but hesitated. Maybe he had reasons for keeping quiet.

"You bastard! Thanks! You're the only one."

Skyla suddenly hugged Kim Jun.

Yoo Min-jeong felt awkward and embarrassed. Skyla glanced at her, released him, and said,

"Oops, Min-jeong's gonna scold me."

"Wh-what would I scold you for?"

Her fluster showed too much.

Skyla smirked knowingly at Yoo Min-jeong, then eyed Kim Jun ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sharply.

"Po-noe, Yeon Yeop. Explain."

Yoo Min-jeong watched Kim Jun silently.

"Oh, that? Thanks to the Thunder Brain Sword."

Short and sweet.

"Details."

Skyla wouldn't back down.

Yoo Min-jeong smiled faintly. With Skyla's prying, things felt easier.

"When I first found the Thunder Brain Sword in the dungeon, some of its energy entered my body. I didn't realize, but Master explained it. Anyway, it burst out during the practical test."

"Yeon Yeop?"

Skyla interrogated.

"The sword moved on its own."

The explanation felt off somehow. Like only part of the truth.

Yoo Min-jeong figured Skyla wouldn't buy it. She just had to sit back—Skyla's curiosity would uncover it.

"Why are you two here? No training?"

Kim Jun changed the subject.

"Simulator."

Skyla replied flatly.

"What's with the simulator?"

"Roulette took it over. Finished basics, was gonna start magic sim training."

"Roulette Team? For real?"

The Roulette Team had joined Uramata but barely trained separately.

Yoo Min-jeong was as surprised as Kim Jun at first, but quickly got it. With even Jushin recognizing Kim Jun as a raider and team leader, Roulette felt threatened.

"Gotta tell Master about the simulator. I'm heading out first."

What Kim Jun would do next was obvious. Even Master's "no training till the cast is off" order wouldn't stick.

"Let's go too."

Yoo Min-jeong stood and said.

Skyla nodded and followed her out.