The Hierarchy of the Trainer and the Slave (2)
The Hierarchy of the Trainer and the Slave (2)
"Master..."
Im Na-yeon called out to me in a plaintive voice. Im Na-yeon let out an excited breath. She looked at me with a dazed expression. This was a prime opportunity for some action!
For me, it was a pretty decent situation. If I were to have relations with Im Na-yeon, I would be able to figure out the relationship chart.
However, the time and place were not good. The location was a school restroom where anyone could walk in at any moment, and Choi Yu-na and Lee Ji-ah were waiting for us.
While someone like Choi Yu-na, who claimed to be Im Na-yeon's secretary, might not be a problem, Lee Ji-ah was a different story. The relationship between Im Na-yeon and Lee Ji-ah shouldn't sour, and it wouldn't be good if it soured with me either.
"Im Na-yeon."
"......Yes."
Sweet Siwoo quietly called out to Im Na-yeon. Im Na-yeon looked at me and answered in a dazed voice.
"Do not act recklessly ever again. You are mine."
"Ye-yes! Understood, Master!"
Watching Im Na-yeon shout with joy, I felt absurd. Just two days ago, she was acting all high and mighty, giving off the vibe of a female knight who wouldn't be corrupted! Why did it turn out like this? Is it the face? Does having a handsome face lead to this?
"As, as an apology, I will serve you, Master!"
Im Na-yeon swallowed and looked at my pants area. I was startled and tried to stop her, but she was faster than me.
'Stop it, Im Na-yeon! You're not the type of person to be this oblivious...!'
Contrary to my inner screams, she lunged at me in an instant. It was as fast as a beast eyeing its prey. Ignoring my hands trying to restrain her with her strength, she was just about to undo my belt and pull down my zipper.
Click-clack.
Perhaps because it was a place with almost no noise, the sound of footsteps was exceptionally loud. Im Na-yeon was startled by the footsteps and moved to clap her hands, but then made an "oops" expression.
It seemed she hesitated because of the location. Plus, since she was in the middle of trying to take my pants off, she probably didn't have the confidence to explain it away. After all, we were currently in the men's restroom, on top of a toilet...
"Tsk."
Im Na-yeon clicked her tongue so quietly that I could barely hear it. I sighed inwardly. How should I act here? The footsteps were likely Lee Ji-ah or Choi Yu-na. There wouldn't be many people at the Academy at this hour.
"Im Na-yeon."
"Ye-yes?"
Sweet Instructor Siwoo suddenly hugged Im Na-yeon and kissed her on the forehead. For a moment, Im Na-yeon looked flustered, then broke into a goofy grin.
Indeed... Is this also a form of instruction? I feel like I've learned something I didn't want to know.
Regardless of my feelings, Sweet Siwoo led Im Na-yeon outside. I observed Im Na-yeon's expression. It was a mix of regret, joy, and annoyance at being interrupted. Perhaps because I had only ever seen her smiling brightly, that expression was refreshing. Even when looking at Han Jong-woo, Im Na-yeon had never shown such an annoyed expression.
Clap.
As soon as we came out of the restroom, Im Na-yeon clapped her hands with a regretful look.
Yes, that's right. If she didn't clap to break the hypnosis, I would have to be nervous, not knowing when Im Na-yeon might pop out from somewhere. From the moment Im Na-yeon fainted yesterday until today, I had been suffering internally because of the setting that I was under hypnosis.
"Uh... Na-yeon..?"
I pretended to be released from the hypnosis for a moment, looking around with dazed eyes. I made an expression as if I had momentarily lost my memory. Whether my acting was perfect or not, Im Na-yeon didn't look suspicious.
I'd been doing a lot of acting lately, and perhaps because I studied in my spare time during class to avoid getting caught, my acting had grown excellently even without a mask.
"Siwoo, are you okay? You suddenly lost consciousness while talking. Are you sick? I think it's because you haven't been sleeping properly due to training lately."
"U-uh? Is that so...?"
"Yeah, I think you've been overdoing it lately. Don't you want to take a break?"
As she said that, Im Na-yeon was fiddling with my face. My cheek seemed addictive, as she touched and lightly pinched it. Then, she looked at me with a goofy smile.
...Is this the life of men with handsome faces? I almost had a moment of realization thinking about my past life, but since it's my face now, it's fine.
"Guys, what are you doing?"
Lee Ji-ah said, peeking her head out. Was it Lee Ji-ah who had approached with those footsteps? As I thought that, Choi Yu-na, dressed neatly, also appeared and was looking this way.
"Ah, I was just dazed for a moment..."
"Y-yeah! That's right. Siwoo suddenly got dizzy, you see."
Hehe, Im Na-yeon laughed and glossed over it. Lee Ji-ah was making a suspicious expression, and Choi Yu-na was just standing there without moving.
"Oh, the ice cream must have arrived. Let's go quickly."
I spoke up amidst the uncomfortable atmosphere.
"That's right! Mint chocolate doesn't taste good if it melts! Let's go quickly!"
Im Na-yeon nodded vigorously at my words and said.
Lee Ji-ah looked back and forth between me and Im Na-yeon for a moment, continuing to make a suspicious expression, while Choi Yu-na followed Im Na-yeon toward my club room.
"Heh, Siwoo's club room is very manly."
The room was revealed with various things scattered here and there. Lee Ji-ah and Im Na-yeon were looking around my club room. It was a bit messy, but the clean parts were clean. Mainly around the table and desk for receiving guests.
I felt awkward and roughly sorted the trash into recycling.
"Siwoo, you even do recycling properly."
Lee Ji-ah was impressed by something strange. I silently finished recycling and then took out a wet wipe to clean the table.
"Ah, I'll help you too!"
"It's fine. I'm almost done. Really."
I stopped Lee Ji-ah from helping and wiped the table. It didn't take much time anyway, so it was better to do it myself.
After roughly wiping the table with a wet wipe, I was engulfed in thought. I should probably serve water or something to drink, but the ice cream would be here soon.
"Does anyone want anything to drink?"
"I'll have green tea!"
"Water is fine for me~"
"I would like coffee, please."
Im Na-yeon, Lee Ji-ah, and Choi Yu-na answered in order. I took out the tea set I had received as a gift from the principal.
"Gasp! Isn't that the tea set the principal gave you? You still have that?"
Lee Ji-ah was astonished to see the tea set gifted by the principal. This tea set is delicious, though. Seeing Lee Ji-ah's reaction, it seems she had already finished hers. Come to think of it, this tea was delicious and had some kind of effect... I can't quite remember.
"Yeah. Do you want some?"
"U-uh? Is that okay?"
Lee Ji-ah looked flustered. Beside her, Im Na-yeon and Choi Yu-na also looked interested. The tea that the principal only served to talented kids was already famous outside. Have those two never had it before?
I activated Thousand Hands. My masterful handiwork unfolded to make the tea. I mixed a few spoonfuls of tea powder with a spoon. A measuring cup was unnecessary in the process.
My masterful handiwork performed precise measurements like a machine. The tea leaves and powder mixed accurately without any error. I put it into a teapot enchanted with temperature-maintaining magic.
"I'll move the tableware!"
Lee Ji-ah floated the tableware with psychokinesis. It was precise mana control where almost no movement of mana could be felt. At that sight, Choi Yu-na and Im Na-yeon admired the magic Lee Ji-ah displayed in low voices.
I picked up the teapot and poured the tea into the perfectly set teacups.
Trickle.
"Oh."
As soon as the tea, which was closer to a light green than a deep green, came out, a fragrant scent pierced my nose. Im Na-yeon admired the scent in a low voice. Choi Yu-na and Lee Ji-ah were the same.
"Wow, Siwoo is indeed amazing. This was really hard to brew..."
"But you can brew it to some extent."
"But compared to the tea the principal brews, it tastes terrible."
Lee Ji-ah said with a bitter smile.
"Huh? This is a fresh green-colored tea."
Im Na-yeon smelled the tea and said that. Fresh green-colored tea? I've heard of that somewhere.
"...Isn't that a precious item that slightly increases mana sensitivity?"
Choi Yu-na said with a stiff expression. At Choi Yu-na's words, I remembered too. Rare tea leaves cultivated by the Elf race that increase mana sensitivity, even if only by a small amount.
"I have this sometimes too..."
If Im Na-yeon is feeling burdened by it, it must be really expensive.
"Well, so what. It was given to be eaten anyway. Don't decline, just drink it."
I shrugged and said. Choi Yu-na, Lee Ji-ah, and Im Na-yeon are all connections I must obtain. Lee Ji-ah is a top-tier dealer who needs no explanation, and Im Na-yeon supplies good items until the late game and performs excellently with item power. Choi Yu-na has a huge influence on increasing the player's growth stats. Actually, it was also awkward to take it back after coming this far.
"Thank you... I'll enjoy it, Siwoo..."
"Thank you, I will enjoy it."
"Then, declining further here would be rude... I'll enjoy it, Siwoo."
Lee Ji-ah, Choi Yu-na, and Im Na-yeon said in order. I nodded and took a sip of the tea poured into my teacup. An amazingly fragrant scent spread through my mouth. I could feel the mana existing around me slightly better. Indeed, it was worthy of being called a precious item. I admired it inwardly.
"Wow..."
"......"
Exclamations popped out from all sides. Everyone's eyes widened. I felt the reward of serving tea. Actually, it was good tea, but it wasn't a big deal. Because in about a month, I would be able to mass-produce spiritual medicines superior to this. Since superior spiritual medicines would be copied, there was no reason to remember this tea.
After having tea time like that and filling our stomachs a bit with ice cream, Lee Ji-ah approached me as I was lounging on the sofa and said.
"Come to think of it, Siwoo, how are we going to catch the Thunderbird?"
"Yo, you chose the Thunderbird subjugation for the mission?"
Choi Yu-na was astonished at Lee Ji-ah's question. Well, it was natural to be astonished.
A mission around the level of a Thunderbird subjugation was a B-rank difficulty mission. B-rank difficulty meant a level of difficulty where several village-sized areas could disappear from the map. It was a difficult level of difficulty that even Middle Assault Heroes struggled to clear alone, but...
'Honestly, I'm not that nervous because Kim Ha-rin is here.'
The Thunderbird is literally a bird that brings thunder. It's an extremely difficult monster to deal with because it's born with the lightning attribute, which is the most troublesome among elemental types. The lightning attribute has the highest destructive power among all elements, and its manifestation speed and movement speed are just as fast. The only downside is that it's the most difficult to handle among all elemental abilities.
Furthermore, the Thunderbird is a flying monster. Its instantaneous speed is among the fastest even among monsters of the same rank. Although the Thunderbird has weak defense, its attack power and speed exceed that. That is why the Thunderbird subjugation is among the extremely difficult ones even among B-rank missions.
However, Kim Ha-rin's Mad Wings ignore all of the Thunderbird's advantages. It's because of the characteristics of Mad Wings.
It's because it has the characteristic of absorbing lightning and light attribute attacks and using them as its own mana source. Although there is a limit, the range is quite large. If it's a B-rank Thunderbird subjugation, there shouldn't be a problem.
For that reason, Kim Ha-rin was quite a troublesome existence. If I paid attention to her, her personality was the problem, and if I didn't, she would side with the villains and harass the heroes.
Naturally, the light attribute hardly exists on the villain side, and since the light and lightning attributes are heavily concentrated among the strong on the hero side, a considerable number of heroes have died at the hands of Kim Ha-rin, who took the villain route.
"...That's why I made the offer to Kim Ha-rin."
As I recited the explanation above, Lee Ji-ah and Choi Yu-na nodded. From their expressions, it looked like they were thinking, "Siwoo had a plan all along." Well, there were other ways besides this. The problem was that they were difficult and roundabout, but I should prepare just in case.
"And as an aside... the Thunderbird has a few characteristics."
I opened my mouth while showing a photo of the Thunderbird on my phone. A photo of the Thunderbird flying in the air with spiky feathers and lightning surrounding its body opened.
"Characteristics?"
"Typically, it enters its spawning season around June to August, and it has the characteristic of settling down and building a nest in a place where there are no magical beasts that threaten it."
This was the reason why Thunderbird subjugations increased during this time. In fact, even if they increased, there weren't many Thunderbirds themselves, so there were less than 10 cases in South Korea alone.
"And during other times, it settles in the demon realm, Mount Cheonroe. The Thunderbird accumulates lightning energy. It's a tricky bird that can handle lightning, but conversely, without lightning, it's just a somewhat fast bird."
For survival competition, it absorbs the lightning energy that strikes Mount Cheonroe to increase its power. Mount Cheonroe refers to a mountain where lightning strikes all day long. Geographically, it's a mountain located roughly between North Korea and China, and it's one of the hunting grounds where you can reap great benefits if you recruit Kim Ha-rin as a colleague.
"But it's April right now."
"That's right. Then why would the Thunderbird be here?"
"Don't tell me...!" Choi Yu-na said as if she had realized something.
"Because there is something near here that rivals the 'lightning energy' of Mount Cheonroe...?"
"For example, because there might be a 'relic' or 'spiritual medicine' from a dungeon."
I turned on the map on my phone and pointed to the area near the Thunderbird subjugation zone. Actually, I don't really know either. I'm just making it up by roughly fitting things together. But since I'm roughly fitting it together, it seems like it might be true. The Sword of Thunder that exists in the Dungeon of the Kirin does contain that much lightning energy.
The group's eyes began to sparkle at my words.
"Indeed...!" It would be good if this mission succeeded, but it was fine even if it failed. Just by discovering the dungeon, we could get bonus points and rewards from the dungeon of wealth.
"Status Window."
▼
Name: Lee Si-woo
Strength: 9
Agility: 10
Stamina: 9
Mana: 6
Unique Ability: X
Traits: Mask of a Thousand Faces(S), Knowledge Browsing(S), Thousand Hands(S)
It was the price of training so painful it felt like it was shaving off my bones. Stamina, Strength, and Mana increased by 1. I was able to meet the stats called the minimum cut for the dungeon in Strength, Agility, and Stamina.
This was the minimum stat level where I wouldn't die suddenly anywhere even if I rode the bus. If I used the special benefits here, I could become a decent guy who does his part, not just riding the bus.
I looked around for a moment. The students were busy today. Because the mission week starts from this week. From today until this Sunday, Academy students perform missions organized by guilds, the Association, or the government outside.
This week is a busy week not only for students but also for instructors and everyone outside. They can provide many things to the promising prospects of guilds or the government under the pretext of mission rewards, but... conversely, it means that the promising prospects are going outside the Academy.
In other words, it also means that there is a high possibility that villains will come running with eyes on fire. In fact, incidents and accidents never cease from the mission week of the second semester of the first year.
Furthermore, this Academy unusually selected 6 scholarship students instead of 2-3. In other words, it means there are 6 competent hero candidates who will chop off the necks of villains later. That means there is a high possibility that villains will target us.