Sub-Mod (4)
Right now, SwordTasteStar—no, Ash—was your classic NEET, getting daily back-smacks from her mom. She'd endlessly scroll the Gallery, cackling at anything fun. But she had experience in "society." Not your average office grind, either—it was the cutthroat world of politics, rife with schemes and power plays. Politics had evolved precisely to check overwhelming power. Especially for Ash, who started as a commoner before earning her title from the emperor. Back then, she'd tiptoed around nobles, flattering and agreeing to avoid political pitfalls. Marriage would've been the easiest out, but her strength kept derailing those matches. Once she became captain of the Imperial Guard, political issues vanished anyway.
Point was, Ash had survived society's underbelly—the dark, sticky mess of politics. So when Cheonma snagged a Sub-Mod armband, it set off her alarms.
She definitely made a deal. No way that old hag gets Sub-Mod otherwise. Head Mod too.
The moment Ash heard Cheonma had gone Sub-Mod, her mind raced. Unlike others, she had real-world savvy. She grasped the situation faster than anyone.
What kind of deal, exactly?
Ash was a Gallery veteran—nearly a decade by tenure. Unlike the previous Head Mod, the current one prized principles. She was all about self-sacrifice, refusing to force Sub-Mods. For her to appoint a high-profile fixed nick like Cheonma? Something was up.
Cheonma probably pitched the deal first...
Truth be told, Cheonma as Sub-Mod wasn't a huge issue for Ash. If Cheonma swung her power wildly? Instant armband yank and a multi-week ban. Cheonma knew that, so she played the diligent worker on the surface. But Ash dug for the hidden motives.
Why now for Cheonma's Sub-Mod grab?
Too coincidental.
Ash had clashed with Cheonma lately—bickering over whose method was better, Mana Circulation or Internal Power. It was mostly Ash picking fights, though, so YasaengGrill sided with Cheonma. Ash owned her pettiness, sticking to advice without meddling further.
Still... such a waste.
She wasn't giving up easily. Too promising a talent. Ash had once trained hordes of disciples—sure, to scout marriage material, impure motives aside. She trusted her eye for people. Those disciples married other women, but YasaengGrill? No wandering eyes, even with death lurking.
My old pupils weren't even half this good. Gotta teach him somehow.
Every time she saw YasaengGrill, it was like glimpsing her younger self. Breathing alone piled up mana effortlessly. For him, special environment made every breath count. Mana circulating the whole body? Normally mid-Sword Expert territory.
But no way I want Sub-Mod.
She'd pass hard on that. The Gallery wasn't politics-free—worse, really. Stirring, fakes, trolls, infighting. Sub-Mods drew heat like magnets. Look at Cheonma: attacks rained post-appointment. Her arrogance shrugged them off. Mentality wasn't Ash's issue anyway.
She just hated Sub-Mod!
Whatever. Late to the party.
Ash could only smirk. Cheonma had outflanked her perfectly. Who saw that coming? But curiosity burned. What wind blew Head Mod to seat Cheonma there?
Time to find out.
Linking with Head Mod was simple: trade request. Fixed nicks only, so she'd bite.
Don'tAbandonHero Hello! What's up!!
Head Mod responded bubbly on acceptance. Ash smiled at her unflagging energy.
"Head Mod. You traded with Cheonma, right?"
Don'tAbandonHero Wha?!
Smile aside, the question hit direct. Head Mod panicked into weird replies. Ash knew she couldn't lie—Gallery anonymity or not.
Don'tAbandonHero How'd you know! Did Sub-Mod tell you!
"Nah. Just guessed and poked. You spilled. So, what deal?"
Don'tAbandonHero She asked for 1-on-1 chat access!
Oh. Greedy as hell.
Ash nodded at the brutally honest answer. Puzzle solved: Cheonma Sub-Modded for YasaengGrill.
But secret posts work too, right? Kinda one-dimensional...
One mystery lingered. Why demand 1-on-1 when secret posts existed?
"Doesn't 1-on-1 show Head Mod everything?"
Don'tAbandonHero Yep! Watching now!
"What're they saying? Internal Power Method?"
Don'tAbandonHero Can't spill details, but yes!
Predictable. Still didn't add up. Sub-Mod duties outweighed the perks. Cheonma wasn't the reckless power type. Stubborn, sure, but not tyrannical like Head Mod on a bad day. Plus Head Mod oversight.
No dice.
Suspicious. Way too suspicious. What's the real goal?
Ash pondered long. Cheonma's angle eluded her. Small win, though—she thanked Head Mod.
"Thanks, Head Mod. Want anything?"
Don'tAbandonHero No bribes! Just ask if you want Sub-Mod!
"Nah, pass. Wasn't after that. Just curious why she's acting up."
Don'tAbandonHero Got it!
Chat ended. Ash sorted her thoughts.
No political play, seems like.
Cheonma's personality ruled that out. Sub-Mod probably helped YasaengGrill smoothly, with side benefits. Harmless to Ash, whatever.
Worried over nothing?
Cheonma's rise was huge—especially after their spats. Hard to ignore.
Tough. Real tough.
Maybe overthinking. She hadn't ditched helping YasaengGrill. Quiet support when needed.
Internal Power Method's full of Jungwon terms—tough for non-natives. He'll post it's hard.
Perfect opening to drop Mana Circulation tips. Growth-focused, tons of hacks. Time it right.
Ash glued to Gallery, F5 every 10 seconds, waiting.
Internal Power Method Too Hard
Here we go!
YasaengGrill posted soon—perfect bait, griping about difficulty. Ash dove in.
Internal Power Method Too Hard
YasaengGrill Learning from Cheonma, but too many unknown words. It's the basics, but if basics are this bad, scared for advanced;;
└Cheonma taught you? How? No post.
└YasaengGrill She requested 1-on-1 chat.
└Sub-Mod can do that? Head Mod ok'd?
└YasaengGrill Yeah, she approved. Said it's fine if known.
└Whoa;; Special treatment already? Pissing me off.
└Fr lol wanna troll
Don'tAbandonHero I can make you a sub-manager if you want!
└That threat's old news lol floats can't be managers now
└Floats never could lol
Don'tAbandonHero Then I'll come hunt you down!
└Sorrysorrysorrysorry
└Damn Head Mod's scary for real lmao
└Reminds me of that Head Mod stalker era? lol
└Clang clang?
"..."
Ash couldn't hide her deflation reading comments. She'd grilled Head Mod for intel, but YasaengGrill blabbed freely. All that effort wasted. So Cheonma-like.
...Gotta drop tips anyway.
Duty called. Ash steadied, typing hacks.
└SwordTasteStar Which part's tough?
└YasaengGrill Hard to grasp paths. Cheonma drew pics, but my thick skull can't get it.
└SwordTasteStar Got it. I can help.
└YasaengGrill Thanks.
Polite gratitude warmed her smile. Mana Circulation thrived on basics—perfect fit.
Weird Cheonma's not jumping in.
Normally, she'd troll by now. Ash eyed suspiciously but replied.
└SwordTasteStar Mana Circulation and Internal Power share roots, different branches. Start with breathing.
└YasaengGrill Doing it.
└SwordTasteStar Now send lower belly energy to perineum. Know where that is?
└YasaengGrill Roughly?
└SwordTasteStar Roughly won't cut it. You're male, so between balls and butthole. Send energy there—you'll feel something.
└YasaengGrill Hm... yeah, feeling it. Itchy—can I scratch a bit?
"..."
Frustratingly stuffy. Ash furrowed her fine brow. Not YasaengGrill's denseness. Not cramped thread-packing either...
└Tell us too~
└Hoarding tips selfishly?
└SwordTasteStar, my level's stuck—help?
└Unlocksecretpostunlocksecretpostunlocksecretpost
Vultures swarmed at honey scent. They cluttered YasaengGrill's thread, blocking clean advice.
Cheonma too?
Suspicion brewed.
*****
Meanwhile, at Ma-gyo.
Frustration palpable.
Yuso Wol smirked at SwordTasteStar's secret post replies. Sub-Mod unlocked those—standard perk.
Thus, she spied the tips.
Too fragmented for real advice.
SwordTasteStar's "tips" weren't much—same as Yuso Wol's basics. Ash's talent shone in swordplay, not breathing. Her mana-rich body made teaching basics meh.
His potential carries it, I guess.
Genius had ways. YasaengGrill lapped up her scraps like candy—ones even Yuso Wol dismissed.
SwordTasteStar. Not ordinary either.
No matter. Yuso Wol shifted gaze to recent YasaengGrill chat log. 1-on-1 was real-time, archived forever.
Strong roots for fruit.
Her goal: YasaengGrill fully grasping Cheonma Divine Art, bearing fruit. SwordTasteStar patched weak roots.
People crave sweet fruit over roots.
Even with tips, core stayed Cheonma Divine Art. He'd realize its greatness, respect swelling naturally. SwordTasteStar? Mere aide. True teacher: Cheonma, Yuso Wol.
Duty to benefactor.
Sub-Mod time. Back to board.
But she missed this:
└YasaengGrill Oh? Working! Sword's glowing!
└SwordTasteStar Whoa. Shit. For real? How?!
└YasaengGrill How should I know??;
└SwordTasteStar You do it just from words—you're the freak;;
Roots shift, branches follow. Especially SwordTasteStar's swordplay expertise over breathing.
└SwordTasteStar Practice more, ditch shield for sword only. But seriously, how?
└YasaengGrill Told you, no clue;;
Seeping in, bit by bit.