Ohana (1)
I considered calling out to her but decided to watch for a bit longer. Purely out of personal curiosity.
Ohana, breathing heavily, closed her eyes and let out a low breath. Blue mana swirled around her lips, pulsing rapidly.
The Ohana family's mana breathing technique. Looked like they'd taught her properly. I'd planned to point out any flaws if that senile old hag had intentionally passed on a faulty version, but thankfully, no need.
As I thought that, Ohana gripped her dagger in reverse grip and charged forward. Weaving through the simulated enemies, she used her small frame and speed to land lethal strikes one by one.
I let out a short murmur of admiration.
Her basics are solid. She hasn't slacked on training.
She excelled in many ways, but what stood out was her eyes.
Innate dynamic vision. Her pupils, developed almost to genius level, tracked the enemies' movements perfectly. Sure, there were some immature moments—her proficiency wasn't fully honed yet—but it was impressive nonetheless.
And finally, her unique ability.
No sooner had the thought crossed my mind than Ohana ducked low. Mana surged through her veins, coiling around the dagger and erupting in a rainbow of colors. She kicked off the ground with blinding speed, swinging at the last standing enemy.
The sharp slicing sound unique to wind attributes rang out. At the same time, red flames flickered up like waves.
The severed head shredded apart and began to burn.
No doubt about it. The same ability from my previous life.
Elemental Reinforcement.
Judging by the vibrations and raw power, it wasn't low-level either.
Nice.
She'd never had a proper mentor either. Considering that, she'd awakened her talents well. Better than that punk Song Junho in every way.
But...
I frowned at how she clutched her hand and collapsed after the swing.
Same problems too.
I'd gathered more than enough info. Making sure to announce my presence so as not to startle her, I approached.
"...Ugh... it hurts."
She was blowing on her singed palm, eyes teary, when she finally noticed and turned. Her face twisted in panic, like how long have you been there?
"Wha—huh? Siwoo?"
"Saw it all again."
I pulled a potion from my pocket and poured it over her palm. She just stared blankly, so I grabbed her hand and applied it thoroughly.
"Huh...? N-No, it's fine! You don't have to do this, it'll heal quick..."
"It's blistered. Shut up and stay still. Leave it, and it'll scar ugly with bubbles."
I restrained her fidgeting and wrapped it properly with prepared bandages.
Master. How sweet.
What're you saying? Just looking out for a teammate. She seemed oddly embarrassed, so to lighten the mood, I spoke up.
"Came to train and caught your show. Sorry for watching without asking."
"Oh, gotcha... It's fine! No biggie."
"That last one—your unique ability?"
"Huh? Yeah! Called Elemental Reinforcement. I can pick from four attributes: fire, wind, water, earth."
Her beaming face tempted me to probe a bit.
"About that, though. Doesn't really match your weapon."
"Huh?"
"No damage to the gear, but the power's too much—backlash hurts you. Might as well go ranged."
"......"
"Like, say, a gun."
Her shoulders twitched at that. After a heavy sigh, she murmured.
"...Even you think so, huh. Guess my ability just doesn't fit with daggers."
"Yeah, obvious. You're hurting yourself already—that's an out. No restrictions or anything, so why stick to close range?"
"......"
She hesitated, then muttered.
"...Grandma hates it... You know how it is as an Awakener. How guns get treated..."
I know all too well.
This world weirdly shit on guns. Badly.
Reasons? A few.
'Bullets have poor mana transfer, reinforcement, and versatility compared to same mana output, so final firepower's weak. No top Awakener talents for guns, so no training methods.'
Bullshit, all of it, to me.
People call spears or swords the king of weapons, but nothing fit that better than guns.
Firepower, speed, range, convenience—total domination.
Sure, in a mana-and-skills world, guns lose head-on. But who fights fair like an idiot?
One solid sniper shot from afar? Game over.
Even with mana-boosted durability, shrugging off bullets needs at least C-rank body hardening. B-ranks have that endurance, but few maintain it constantly. Guns' lethality holds.
Yet public view: guns are trash weapons. Period.
Couldn't fathom it at first. Dungeon NPCs used them fine, but heroes and villains scorned them.
Found out later: author's world rule. Like only heroes wielding the Demon God's branch.
Ridiculous world.
Ohana's Elemental Reinforcement got underrated for being common-ish, but details showed its worth.
Most handle two elements max; she crams four at once for insane firepower. Crucially, once applied, it lasted forever. Shortest: a month. Longest: a year.
Given time, she could load cannon-level power into bullets and blast away. Her peak in my past life? Sniper with an anti-materiel rifle.
Her path: guns, especially sniping. She knew it.
But hesitation? That 'grandma' mentioned.
O Je-yeon... Head of the Ohana great family. Her influence weighed heavy on granddaughter Ohana.
That stubborn fossil won't want her merchandise scratched.
Couldn't suppress her ambitions, and with her family the weakest great house, inferiority complex ran deep. To raise its name, she craved young talent's bloodlines. Expressed by forcing her kids' marriages.
Ohana's parents too—threatened into it...
But the prized granddaughter? Ohana's 'meh' ability disappointed her. Gave up on growth, raised her as marriage bait.
So no weird gun rumors to block suitors.
Just graduate Prunel Academy unscathed—that's it.
That's Ohana's spot now.
Too late in past life...
Not anymore. Back now, no more holding breath till that hag dies. No wasting her talent and precious years.
"...Siwoo?"
Snapped out of it. She tilted her head, so I smiled softly.
"Yeah. Try a bow maybe. Dagger as main just doesn't fit. Add a pistol as sub."
"Bow and pistol... Better, yeah. Hmm, I'll think about it."
Reincarnator's Shadow restriction conditions satisfied.
Meddling in Ohana's affairs.
Duration renewed.
Watching her ponder seriously, I sorted my own plans.
Twenty minutes after parting with Ohana. Now in my private room, I sat in lotus position.
What came next would massively shape my future—no room for errors.
"Hoo..."
Steadying my breath, I opened the box before me. Inside the ornate case gleamed a golden apple radiating brilliant energy.
◈ Fruit said to be grown personally by the goddess of youth, Idun.
◈ Consuming raises some stats.
◈ Consuming increases maximum talent slots by +1.
◈ Consuming temporarily reconstructs the body to accelerate growth.
◈ Consuming removes most impure energies, curses, and waste from the body.
"Look at those flashy options."
A-grade spiritual medicine, alright. Not the real deal from Ragnarok rewards—hence 'mass-produced'—but still premium anywhere.
Steadying my breath, I slowly introspected. Consciousness sank. Cells, veins, inner space unfolded in my mind like a picture.
Felt the fire orb deep inside. The spiritual medicine from Erina seven days ago.
...Almost fully digested. Its size had shrunk a lot. Real combat sped absorption. Good enough.
"Kay, check."
Checking. Currently analyzing. Analysis complete. Confirmed intake above threshold. Shop list updated.
"Good."
I opened the dimensional shop. It looked like unconditional sales, but no. Hidden items unlocked via prerequisites.
All special conditions—annoyingly bullshit ones.
Swing sword in air exactly 1212 times... Eat only raw meat for 7 days. End sentences with 'nyang' or 'huhu'...
Why those pervy ones? Anyway, I'd met one.
Consume over half of a B-grade+ spiritual medicine.
Planned for the golden apple, but Erina sped it up.
Searching carefully, a hefty impact rose with the skill description.