A Crane Among Chickens
"Ugh..."
Namgung Seojun's appearance in the small training ground was a total mess. His face showed clear exhaustion, his body was covered in minor scratches, and he was barely gripping the wooden training sword.
In contrast, Sharon was just lightly sweating, her body pristine without a single injury.
"Let's call today's sparring here."
Seojun nodded with a frustrated expression.
Sharon the instructor's stats were solid for a level 30. She was just a slightly above-average adventurer.
That led Seojun, an inviter, to think he could hold his own against her.
But he got utterly crushed.
Sharon was also surprised by her spar with Namgung Seojun.
This... was close to dangerous?
She was an agility-focused warrior. Her style hit enemy weak points at high speed—better for rear attacks than frontline monster fights, excelling in PvP.
Yet Seojun's movements were no joke.
That... movement isn't a beginner's at all?
It wasn't just raw agility stats pushing him; Namgung Seojun's senses were ridiculously sharp.
His epic skill Domain Insight had massively boosted his combat sense.
Sharon looked at him and said,
"Seojun, you're really impressive. You don't seem like an ordinary summoned at all?"
In response to her question, he readjusted his grip on the sword and said,
"Can we go again?"
"Whoa, calm down. Let's check your status first."
With health and HP critically low, Seojun wasn't in sparring shape anymore.
"Today's sparring ends here."
He regretfully nodded.
It was only a matter of time before Namgung Seojun, who threw himself into training like this, stood out.
Thwack! Clang. Clang...
Seojun dropped his wooden sword and collapsed with an utterly drained expression.
"Hah... hah... I lost."
Senior Instructor Pigicheol had easily beaten Namgung Seojun.
Ten minutes! For a full ten minutes, he hadn't given a single opening, just pressing relentlessly.
"....."
Even so, Senior Instructor Pigicheol was barely holding back his surprise.
What? This guy held out this long?
At level 58, having climbed to the 50th floor with a unique class, Pigicheol was rated a semi-elite wherever he went. He was expected to reach the 60th floor smoothly.
This Pigicheol hadn't even used skills, but he'd poured on fierce attacks.
Yet Seojun lasted a whopping fifteen minutes.
Sharon said he was amazing, but this much?
Sharon had told him Seojun had genius-level traits.
But he hadn't expected this.
Thud.
Pigicheol set down his wooden sword and said,
"Training ends here for today."
As Senior Instructor Pigicheol left, the other swordsmanship trainees looked at Seojun in awe.
To them, he was already far beyond average.
A crane among chickens—anyone could see Namgung Seojun was exceptional.
This happened during swordsmanship training in just the second week.
At dinnertime, the adventurers who finished training gathered in groups of friends to eat.
Namgung Seojun, covered in bruises, came to the cafeteria with Gisohee and Lee Guho.
"That's Namgung Seojun."
"Heard he was amazing again today."
"Last week he overwhelmed fellow trainees with a single thrust."
"Even against Senior Instructor Pigicheol, he showed insane moves."
"It was just sparring, but Pigicheol looked serious."
Seojun's group was already famous because of inviter Lee Guho.
But as training progressed, Seojun was stealing the spotlight.
"Seojun, eat up!"
Gisohee brought food for her pained companion in a cute, affectionate voice.
Lee Guho watched with a smile, but she ignored him now, tending only to Seojun.
"Ah. Here."
Namgung Seojun ate what Gisohee fed him.
He didn't lift a finger, and Lee Guho chatted casually, used to the sight.
"Now you're even taking hits from Instructor Pigicheol. Before it was just Sharon..."
"Sparring with instructors is definitely good. How's your training, Guho?"
Lee Guho was the only adventurer getting magic lessons. Others lacked the traits for it.
"It's good, but honestly, it's not much different from studying books."
Listening to Guho, Seojun turned to Gisohee, who was feeding him.
"How about you, Sohee?"
"I'm practicing archery hard too!"
She was preparing diligently.
Namgung Seojun had told Lee Guho he'd take Gisohee up with them.
Her traits and skills weren't top-tier.
But she could keep up early on, and her reliability mattered most.
Guho agreed, so the three moved as a temporary party.
They were mulling additional recruits.
"Guho, I thought about our next party member."
Lee Guho and Gisohee focused.
"How about Jo Jaehun?"
"Pardon?"
They found the name unexpected.
The summoned Namgung Seojun checked with God's Eye were all average.
Most had low-grade traits, a few mid-grade. No standout skills.
His conclusion: for early tower climbs, a reliable enough person sufficed.
Jo Jaehun fit perfectly—steady and trustworthy from his experience. Calm and rational.
His status window is a bit lacking, though.
Still, if they needed a guard, trustworthy Jo Jaehun was ideal.
Lee Guho and Gisohee were surprised.
"Seojun, didn't you dislike Jaehun much?"
"Yeah, seemed like it."
In the group tutorial, he'd opposed—not fiercely, but opposed—Seojun joining.
Their relationship was awkward.
Yet here Seojun was, suggesting him.
"He's objective and cool-headed. Lots of life experience... He had reasonable doubts when I joined."
Seojun understood his decision back then.
If positions were reversed, he'd have doubted too.
"In combat, he'll handle our party's defense. Heard he's doing well in guard group training."
Among this batch's lacking guards, Jo Jaehun was top-tier.
"Above all, he'll balance party dynamics day-to-day."
His neutral personality would help relationships.
Lee Guho agreed immediately.
"Jaehun's solid for sure. Decisive too."
"I think it's good. He's reliable."
With both on board, they decided to invite Jo Jaehun.
The next evening, Namgung Seojun called Jo Jaehun for a private drink.
"Long time."
"Yeah, long time."
It was their first one-on-one, so the air was awkward.
They drank quickly to loosen up.
Once buzzed, Seojun got to the point.
"Sohee, me, and Guho—we're climbing together."
"Congrats."
Jo Jaehun congratulated him but couldn't hide his envy.
Two inviters—a top combo from this training camp.
"Our party's aiming to climb fast. Small elite group..."
Jo Jaehun had no expectations. Awkward with the core, no chance he'd join.
"Wanna join?"
"Pardon???"
Stunned by the unexpected offer, he quickly nodded.
"You're inviting me?"
"Yeah. Any issue?"
Jo Jaehun shook his head vigorously.
"No, not an issue..."
He hesitated but asked honestly.
"You sure about me?"
Namgung Seojun replied nonchalantly.
"I respect your judgment. That's why I'm inviting you now."
Jo Jaehun saw Seojun's magnanimity.
Embracing his past opponent—leadership material.
"Thank you! I'll join. Truly grateful."
No other conditions mattered. This was opportunity.
The small tutorial bond... He couldn't waste it.
Especially under big-hearted Seojun—high floors weren't a dream.
"Conditions: Obey my orders unconditionally."
"Yes!"
"Guho and I recruit other members."
"Fine."
"And..."
"Yes, anything's fine."
Jo Jaehun wouldn't risk it again.
He accepted every term from Namgung Seojun.
And so, he joined the party.