A Team Without Its Leader
Well, it wasn't something to curse about unconditionally.
Lately, Jang Geon-ho, the grandson leading the Roulette Team, had a glint in his eye that was anything but ordinary. His body was sleeker than before, and above all, his aura burned sharp and alive. The excess playfulness that used to define him had vanished without a trace.
It was all because of Kim Jun.
Both Roulette and Pink were teams under Uramata Guild, but the media only had eyes for Pink Team, led by Kim Jun. Naturally, that left Jang Geon-ho feeling overshadowed... and spurred on.
Humans were truly strange creatures.
Put an enemy in front of them, and they squeezed every last drop of potential from their bones.
In that sense, Kim Jun—a former carrier who'd risen to team leader—was the perfect fuel to stoke that fire.
'What a shame. I should have used him first. Even Miracle Guild has grown complacent, full of folks who've devoured easy challenges.'
A flicker of irritation at the missed opportunity.
Just then, a Rolls-Royce pulled up.
"Why are you so late?"
Choi Min-su bellowed.
Yoo Wan-seop stepped out and glided across the ground like silk, bowing before Yang Hee-seon.
"It's been too long."
"You're unchanged, as ever. Still young enough to remarry."
Yang Hee-seon eyed the sleeve of Yoo Wan-seop's jacket. The charred edge didn't suit his meticulous nature. Something unexpected must have happened.
"I have but one wife."
"Hey, your sleeve!"
Choi Min-su again.
"Busted."
Yoo Wan-seop lightly scratched his cheek with his left hand—a rare expression that surfaced only when his plans went awry because of himself.
"Busted? By you?"
"By Kim Jun, I take it."
Yang Hee-seon said.
"Indeed."
"And what did you do then?"
Yoo Wan-seop glanced at the Rolls-Royce he'd driven.
Choi Min-su shook his head and shot a look at Go Cheolmin.
Go Cheolmin set down his tongs and sprinted toward the car.
As Go Cheolmin hauled Kim Jun out of the trunk in his powerful arms, Yoo Wan-seop subtly flexed the fingers of his left hand, drawing up a fresh lettuce leaf. With ripe pork belly, ssamjang, garlic, and chive-mustard on top, the leaf folded itself as if guided by invisible hands.
Yoo Wan-seop popped the perfect wrap into his mouth and chewed.
Yang Hee-seon was genuinely impressed by the exquisite ki control.
She'd heard rumors that he always came down from Jirisan Mountain stronger than when he went up, and they weren't just talk.
Summoning distant, sturdy objects with ki or mana was relatively easy.
But something small, fragile like lettuce, demanded precision—and Yoo Wan-seop had perfectly compensated for his missing right arm with his inner energy and ki.
Yang Hee-seon poured him a shot of soju.
"My thanks, Elder."
Yoo Wan-seop lifted the glass with his inner energy and downed it. Even without an arm, he exuded utter confidence in living without hindrance.
Go Cheolmin settled Kim Jun into a chair, and Choi Min-su approached to check him over. The pillar of Cheonhondan glared at his friend.
"You should have gone easy. His bones are cracked."
"Not cracked—fractured. And it wasn't me. The kid did it to himself."
"What?"
Choi Min-su scowled, twisting his mouth.
Yang Hee-seon burst out laughing despite herself.
Choi Min-su and Yoo Wan-seop turned to the Crazy Buffer.
But her laughter didn't stop. She could vividly picture it: what had happened, why Yoo Wan-seop had been exposed to Kim Jun, why Kim Jun's bones were fractured.
If he'd acted with his usual meticulous, ironclad caution, not even Kim Jun's sharp eyes would have caught him. Yoo Wan-seop must have consciously—or perhaps unconsciously—wanted to test just how strong Kim Jun really was.
As guild master, it was understandable to want a firsthand look at his team's leader.
So he'd revealed himself and evaluated the charging Kim Jun—without laying a finger on him—by shadowing him like a ghost in his own unique way.
Yang Hee-seon knew exactly what kind of guy Kim Jun was.
He'd unleashed his ki... and charged. Rage dominating his body, pushing him to his limits.
And that's when the mishap occurred.
Yang Hee-seon moved to Kim Jun's side, placing her left hand on the back of his knee and her right on his ankle. She unleashed a light Ultimation. As pure white light seeped from her palms into his calves, a clear 'ting' rang out.
Using one of the ultimate buff skills, Ultimation, to perform Mega Healing. Combined with Kim Jun's own recovery prowess, the pain would vanish in an hour or two.
Fatigue crashed over her suddenly, but it was a good day—she could endure.
"The Elder's Ultimation never fails to amaze, no matter how many times I see it."
Yoo Wan-seop said.
Praise held true worth only from those qualified to give it. Yoo Wan-seop more than qualified.
Yang Hee-seon smiled faintly as she sat back down and glanced at Choi Min-su.
"Now that you've brought Kim Jun, are you changing the plan?"
"Is there any need? A team that runs properly without its leader—that's a true team, wouldn't you say?"
"I agree."
Could Pink Team, minus Kim Jun, really pass the test and claim the item?
Yang Hee-seon, Choi Min-su, and Yoo Wan-seop weren't the soft type to hand over items just because it was their child—or daughter. Fail the test, and they'd cancel the Sokcho Dungeon raid altogether.
This raid was that dangerous.
Then came a sniffing sound from Kim Jun's nose.
"M-meat."
He said it before even opening his eyes.
Laughter erupted.