The First Correction
In the era of the Awakened, an individual's strength was determined by the abilities they possessed. Yet possessing a powerful ability or a seemingly weak one did not decide an Awakened's true worth. Everything changed depending on how one honed and developed their given ability—how they utilized it and in which direction they pushed its growth. Those who analyzed these factors and provided tailored training were the Awakened Trainers.
An Awakened's body, far more resilient than an ordinary person's, could withstand any intense training regimen and improve at an accelerated rate. This made personalized training essential. Whether an ability was strong or weak, proper training could elevate it further. While some chose to train alone, the presence of professional trainers created a stark difference in growth speed. In the current age, trainers had become indispensable.
Of course, this had not always been the case. Back when Yujun was still called a golden prospect, trainers held little importance. The common belief was that if an Awakened lacked talent, no trainer could make a difference. But times had changed. Even those with insufficient talent could now bloom under an excellent trainer.
"The era has shifted. This is the age where trainers take center stage!"
"Depending on the trainer, even A-class—or even S-class—Awakened can be born!"
It was now possible for low-ranked Awakened to rewrite their futures with proper training.
"I hear Dream Guild recently recruited Trainer Han Gyujin. What are your thoughts?"
"He's an exceptional trainer. Recognized even overseas, isn't he? A true talent capable of turning lower-class Awakened into upper-class ones."
"Dream Guild currently ranks seventh, correct? Until now, they've relied on pouring massive funds into recruiting Awakened for tower raids. But those hired with money simply leave for even higher offers."
In this age, an Awakened's value had been reduced to a monetary figure. High-ranked, powerful Awakened rarely stayed with one guild for long. Regardless of rank or achievements, their annual salary determined their worth. They frequently switched guilds for larger signing bonuses or even changed nationalities for overseas contracts.
"That's why long-term contracts are rare—two years at most, often just one. Some even go abroad, change citizenship, and receive enormous sums."
Though many guilds desired long-term contracts with top-tier Awakened, most were rejected. Guilds adapted by focusing on nurturing young prospects from an early age. Youths developed loyalty to the guild that raised them. Those trained through a guild's youth system signed long-term contracts, ensuring they couldn't be poached easily. Even if they were, the guild would receive a substantial transfer fee—a win-win scenario.
However, producing successful prospects was uncommon. The reason was simple: excellent trainers were rare.
"Han Gyujin's addition to Dream Guild will serve as a catalyst to elevate their ranking. Who is Han Gyujin? The Awakened he's trained are worth hundreds of billions alone."
Ultimately, trainers had become incredibly valuable. Guilds scrambled to recruit them for youth development, some maintaining three or four, others as many as five.
"There's a rumor Han Gyujin's contract is worth 150 billion!"
"Yes, that's what I've heard. Upon verification…"
Top-tier trainers commanded prices comparable to Awakened—perhaps even higher in recent times. Recruiting one was akin to plucking stars from the sky. Guilds of any significant size were desperate to secure renowned trainers from both domestic and international markets, yet the pool of skilled trainers remained limited.
Han Gyujin's recruitment by Dream Guild naturally became major news across multiple outlets.
"I'm curious what training methods Han Gyujin has brought back from overseas!"
Such was the reason the renowned trainer, returned from abroad, drew so much attention.
Into this training market stepped a novice trainer with no experience whatsoever—Kang Yujun, the former prospect once dismissed as a failure.
—I'll try to secure a spot somehow. You're going to work as a freelancer, right?
Yujun's request to Minseok was simple: create an opportunity.
—I was really surprised. It felt just like the old days. The time when a single word from you could solve any problem.
Minseok was deeply grateful to Yujun. Thanks to him, he had managed to address some of the issues with his Ignition ability.
—I'll do everything I can, so just wait!
Yujun first registered his business. To work as a freelancer, he needed a business registration certificate.
'There's definitely potential in this ability.'
Every guild wanted trainers. They would pay any price to recruit skilled, outstanding ones. But such high-caliber trainers were few. Supply and demand were fundamentally misaligned.
'Demand is high, supply is low.'
Especially skilled trainers—there were extremely few of them.
'So there's an opportunity.'
In the past, being an Awakened Trainer had not been a glamorous profession. Yujun had never deeply considered his own talent. He had only wanted to awaken and live as an Awakened raiding towers. But now things were different.
'This is the era where I can properly use this talent of mine.'
Riiing—!
The phone rang in Yujun's studio apartment.
—It's me.
It was Minseok.
"How did it go?"
—Sorry. They all turned you down.
Minseok's voice was heavy. Yujun had expected as much.
"I figured they would."
The current Yujun was a failed prospect expelled for failing to awaken. Who would want to recruit someone like that?
'I'll have to force my way in directly.'
—Still, one of the section chiefs I know said he'd meet you?
"……!"
Agreeing to a meeting meant they were willing to give him a chance.
—Go meet him first. Show him what you can do. And… come check on me later too. It worked great when you were here, but my knee's been hurting again.
"Alright. Let's make another appointment. Thanks, Minseok."
—If you're grateful, pay me back big time! And since it's come to this, do whatever you want!
Minseok wanted to help Yujun in any way he could. Not only were they childhood friends, but Yujun's help had brought him this far.
After hanging up, Yujun took a deep breath. An opportunity had arrived.
"It's not a proper one yet."
But he could turn it into one.
Right now, Yujun was a newcomer with an ambiguous record. Having no record at all would have been better—his past was actively holding him back. A failed prospect rejected even by Promise Guild. That was his current standing.
"That's how it's been until now."
But from this moment forward, everything would change.
"I'll seize it."
Yujun intended to grab this chance and soar.
"We've met before, haven't we, Yujun? It's been a while."
"Good afternoon, Section Chief."
Section Chief Han Seokyul. He had been an instructor for special education programs targeting prospects. Naturally, he was acquainted with Yujun.
"Minseok told me you're aiming to become a trainer?"
While they had met before, they were not particularly close. Kim Minseok, however, maintained a fairly good relationship with him—Minseok had worked at Sky Guild, where Han Seokyul was employed.
"Ah, yes."
"Hmm. Minseok strongly recommended you."
Yujun's expulsion from Promise Guild was common knowledge among those in the industry. Moreover, raiding towers as an Awakened and working as an Awakened Trainer were entirely different fields. There were many points Han Seokyul didn't understand, but because of Minseok's recommendation, he had agreed to meet.
"I can create a simple position anytime. Scouting is always possible. But you know this, right? You need ability. Not an awakening ability—I'm talking about that eye Minseok mentioned."
Han Seokyul gestured toward the young man who had come with him.
"If that eye of yours is real, our guild can accept you without issue."
"Hello, I'm Lee Seongmin."
"This is Seongmin, one of our guild's prospects. He just joined the youth program recently."
Yujun's eyes gleamed as he observed the Sky Guild prospect named Lee Seongmin.
'There are many cracks.'
In his gait, his breathing, even his mana circulation.
'He must have just entered the youth program.'
Section Chief Han Seokyul crossed his arms and spoke.
"Show us what you can do."
They needed to see his skill before anything else could proceed.
"Please demonstrate your ability."
At Yujun's words, Seongmin drew up his mana and thrust his fist forward.
'Academy-style martial arts.'
It was the same form Yujun had drilled to the point of exhaustion in the past. As such, the flaws were glaringly obvious—enough that using a skill seemed unnecessary.
'I could always see other people's problems well, but now that I've let go, they're even clearer.'
His movements were disciplined, yet riddled with openings. To Yujun, it was perfectly clear how to correct them and how to improve.
'Training others is strangely easy, even though doing it myself was difficult.'
Knowing something in your head and actually executing it were different matters. But teaching was different. It came to Yujun with remarkable ease.
'And now I even have the Awakened Training System.'
The system would organize the knowledge in Yujun's mind and apply it flawlessly to the trainee.
"Seongmin."
"Yes."
Seongmin wore a distinctly annoyed expression. Understandable—he knew exactly who Yujun was. A perpetual prospect who had failed to awaken and been expelled, now claiming he would train others. It was laughable no matter how you looked at it.
A ripple spread.
Every time Seongmin moved, cracks shimmered. Yujun observed them closely before glancing at Seongmin's reaction.
'Well, it's understandable if he doesn't believe me.'
He could accept that Seongmin wouldn't trust him easily. If someone who had been labeled a failed prospect suddenly appeared and offered to train him, Yujun would have cursed them out too. How dare someone who failed try to teach others? That resentment was natural.
In that case, the answer was simple.
'I just need to show him.'
Being told to demonstrate his skill here meant proving the most fundamental trainer abilities: identifying problems and presenting improvement directions.
'Find the flaws and explain how to fix them.'
Everything was crystal clear to Yujun—Seongmin's strengths and weaknesses alike.
"Try it again."
"……Yes."
Seongmin answered curtly. Still, if he was told to do it, he had no choice.
Seongmin executed the martial form once more.
Tap.
Yujun immediately approached and corrected his posture. There was a crack in the shoulder. But the waist glowed with blue light.
"Your shoulder is too tucked in. Stretch it out, add elasticity. Plant your axis with your foot and rotate."
It was an obvious instruction. But Yujun's ability infused those obvious words.
The power of Linguistic Correction has been unleashed!
"……Huh?"
Seongmin's previously stiff body suddenly rotated with tremendous force.
Whoosh—!
Power surged into a fist that had previously lacked any.
All it took was a single phrase and one posture correction.
Yujun confirmed that the crack which had existed in Seongmin's shoulder until moments ago now glowed with blue light.
Perfect training technique!
Awakened Lee Seongmin has been trained!
Combat-type (Close-range) Awakened has been trained!
This marked the second combat-type Awakened Yujun had trained, including Kim Minseok.
"……"
Han Seokyul's jaw dropped in shock. Over the course of his career, he had seen many trainers. Some had been quite skilled. But none had produced such a dramatic result with just a few words.
Yujun smiled and asked the section chief.
"Will that be enough?"
"Pass! It's a pass!"
Han Seokyul shot to his feet and shouted.