Chapter 70
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Rise
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[Fox Ancestor Master, Mi-na Hwang's transmission is beginning to germinate little by little!]
"Huh?"
A notification popped up out of nowhere.
Bi-hyeong tilted his head at it.
"What's this?"
What the hell was going on?
'I just lent her an achievement, that's all, right?'
When he'd likened transmission to job change,
Bi-hyeong had hoped Mi-na would advance to a hidden class.
Not one of those generic tales scattered everywhere, but something she'd carve out for herself.
So this outcome fulfilled his expectations 100%... no, 200%.
But...
'Isn't this too fast?'
No.
He'd wanted her to build her own transmission, so why was it germinating out of the blue?
'Jeez. Even bamboo grows slower than this.'
Bamboo was supposed to be the fastest-growing plant,
yet Mi-na was making that look pedestrian.
'Four tails. One more added.'
The incomplete tail sprouted rapidly, soon forming a perfect fourth one.
With this, she was Hierarchy Rank 4.
She'd reached the same level as him with a single talent.
'Taking Mi-na into the Night Parade was truly a divine move.'
Mi-na Coin, breaking through the ceiling!
'Whatever it is, it's good news.'
But why wasn't she opening her eyes?
Mi-na's transformation had finished.
The transmission name "Fox Ancestor Master" was taking shape bit by bit, and her tails had increased to four.
Wasn't it about time she woke up?
The moment Bi-hyeong voiced his doubt,
[The framework of the transmission 'Fox Ancestor Master' is insufficient.]
'Insufficient?'
It wasn't hard to understand.
Her transmission was something unwritten anywhere, penned solely by her.
It would be weirder if the framework had been perfect from the start.
But.
'Then what happens to Mi-na?'
Would the germination of the transmission be canceled?
'In the worst case...'
Her race might be in jeopardy.
Mi-na's race was half-yokai, of the fox clan.
If the tower newly built atop that transmission shook,
what would happen to the foundation beneath?
As those doubts and worries mingled,
the answer materialized in the air.
[Subordinate 'Mi-na Hwang' is attempting to supplement the transmission 'Fox Ancestor Master'!]
'Supplement?'
[Absorbing what the Fox Ancestor Master has heard, seen, and learned!]
[Absorbing part of the transmission 'Yellow Dragon of the Dragon Spring River'!]
[Absorbing part of the transmission 'Plum Charm'!...]
[Absorbing part of the transmission 'Heavenly Fox'!...]
[Absorbing part of the transmission 'Fox Bead Legend'!...]
The countless paths she'd seen at the crossroads.
One example of what might have germinated.
Mi-na's newly forged transmission framework, "Fox Ancestor Master," was accepting and absorbing fragments of them.
'...Like me?'
Absorbing fragments of Golden Eye of Fiery Truth, remembering it within his presence.
To one day add it to the "eye" he would create.
Mi-na was doing the same.
Against all fox yokai transmissions!
At last, the framework took shape.
[The framework of the transmission has taken shape!]
[The opening tale of the transmission 'Fox Ancestor Master' is about to begin!]
With that final message, Mi-na opened her eyes.
Fwaah!
A fierce glint spread in an instant.
A hollow laugh escaped Liliet's lips as she watched.
"Hah... Even in this lady's countless eons as a yokai, this defies understanding."
Bi-hyeong was startled to hear it.
"That impressive?"
For a yokai who'd forged her own myth to give such praise,
Mi-na, just what level is your talent?
Liliet smiled softly without a word.
Her innate qualities were certainly exceptional.
But if asked whether they could reach the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, he'd firmly say no.
'That monkey had utterly absurd innate talent.'
Born different.
Truly a talent beyond the heavens.
Yet the young fox before her didn't display talent quite that inscrutable.
But.
'Something changed in the acquired realm.'
She was undoubtedly a child who could touch the heavens in quality.
A talent that, if left to grow, might one day reach the shedding realm.
But that was far in the future.
He hadn't expected her to shatter constraints so quickly and pioneer her own transmission.
'And surely, this child's power played a part.'
Liliet's gaze shifted from Mi-na to Bi-hyeong.
The others might not sense it, but one who'd forged a myth certainly did.
Something from that boy had connected to Mi-na.
'After that, she harmonized yin and yang, pioneering her transmission.'
An act truly wondrous, or monstrously divine.
Liliet realized her lips were twitching upward.
'...Heh. The new chieftain I found is quite the amusing child.'
Expectations swelled.
What myths might follow the transmission forged by a child with such 'specialness'?
No more boredom anytime soon.
By the time Mi-na fully forged her transmission and opened her eyes,
countless messages began ringing before Bi-hyeong's eyes as well.
[Changes have occurred in subordinate 'Mi-na Hwang's status window.]
[Constitution: 'Great Qi Yokai Star' along with 'Overcoming the Origin', Bloodline Ability 'Versatile【SS+】', 'Allure of the Ages【SS】' merge into 'Grandmaster of an Era【EX-】'!]
[Race: 'Half-Human Half-Yokai ─ Fox Yokai' changes to 'Half-Human Half-Yokai ─ Fox Immortal【EX-】'!]
[Bloodline Ability 'Fox Yokai Clan【SSS】', 'Nation-Toppling Beauty【SSS】' influenced by 'Fox Immortal', change to 'Fox Immortal Aptitude【EX-】', 'Peerless Beauty【EX-】'!]
A barrage of messages—no, an EX feast.
Bi-hyeong blanked out for a split second upon seeing it.
'...Why so many?'
Mi-na had gained four EX grades from this alone.
Two talent-type Bloodline Abilities—Grandmaster of an Era and Fox Immortal Aptitude—one race, and one Bloodline Ability affecting stats and presence: Peerless Beauty.
Most had a minus (-) attached, sure,
but EX rank didn't just vanish.
'In Hierarchy Rank terms, beyond Rank 9.'
The 'shedding' realm, essentially.
Proof: Bi-hyeong sensed the stable flow of yin and yang energy within her.
'This is... insane.'
His own EX grades and quality weren't inferior, of course.
But he couldn't form them this quickly.
'Minus grades usually come from lack of proficiency.'
Meaning, depending on her effort, she could elevate those modifiers to his level.
Bi-hyeong could only be utterly dumbfounded.
...No, wasn't Mi-na the protagonist at this point?
Why'd a kid like this drop out in the preliminaries?
'...Or maybe that's exactly why? Her talent's so broken she flunked early?'
No matter how veteran the competitors, she'd be an uncrossable wall.
'I thought I wouldn't get jealous of Mi-na's talent anymore.'
Cancel that.
Still hurts.
No, how could anyone's gut not twist seeing talent like that?
Ding!
Then, as if it wasn't over, another alert rang in his ear.
[Subordinate 'Mi-na Hwang' has placed herself on the scales of assets.]
[From this moment, subordinate 'Mi-na Hwang's' 'everything' is subordinated to the boss, 'Protagonist'!]
...Huh?
Subordinated?
'What does that mean?'
As if hearing his question, the messages continued.
[Bloodline Ability 'Grandmaster of an Era【EX-】' applied to boss, Protagonist!]
[Bloodline Ability 'Fox Immortal Aptitude【EX-】'...
[Bloodline Ability 'Peerless Beauty【EX-】'...
'...Huh?'
The message contents delivered quite the shock to Bi-hyeong.
'...Jealous of Mi-na's talents?'
Cancel that too.
From now on, we're beyond one mind, one body—we're one entity!
'Attacks on her are attacks on me.'
Bi-hyeong swiftly shifted his mindset.
No, seriously?
Sharing three EX-grade Bloodline Abilities out of the blue—who'd complain?
"Oh? This is intriguing too."
Just then, Liliet's eyes sparkled as she watched Bi-hyeong.
She'd noticed his aura had changed—not a little, but a lot.
"The achievement is hers, yet how is your presence so utterly transformed?"
By feel, the presence he'd shown in the dream had amplified further.
Plus, a sudden surge in affinity for the five elements and five majors.
The Bi-hyeong of moments ago and now were like different people.
Bi-hyeong scratched his cheek sheepishly.
'All I did was lend one achievement... is it okay to get this much in return?'
For starters, Grandmaster of an Era.
The boosts to his five elements and five majors more than repaid the loan.
'Five Majors proficiency rising fast.'
The pace, accelerated by inventing the Five Elements Harmony, kicked into overdrive.
At this rate... everyone could reach mastery before the end of first year?
'Explorer unlocked.'
The advanced derived story of Researcher.
Even Researcher's effects had seemed cheat-like for a veteran like him.
What rewards might the superior Explorer bring? No clue.
'Peerless Beauty grants the hidden stat Beauty.'
Higher Beauty not only perfected appearance but refined blood flow and bone structure inside.
In other words, steady effects akin to body remodeling just from stat gains!
With his Heavenly Vision Scripture added, the synergy was unimaginable.
'Fox Immortal Aptitude... not sure of its effects yet.'
Presumably another talent-boosting Bloodline Ability.
He'd gained a ton.
As Bi-hyeong gazed at Mi-na with heartfelt gratitude,
the moment she opened her eyes, her first gaze met his.
"...Bi-hyeong."
A bright smile bloomed on Mi-na's lips.
She knew.
Whose hand had helped when she faced that choice.
So Mi-na bowed deeply to Bi-hyeong, gratitude pouring from her heart.
"Thank you, Bi-hyeong. Thanks to you, I made it through safely."
Bi-hyeong waved it off.
The moment he did.
Ding!
One final message floated before his eyes.
[Your actions place the period on the narrative of 'Rise'!]
A transmission reaching myth.
The momentous first step punctuated.