The Golden Youth's First Training

"What? Who did you say?"

"It's Kang Yujun."

"Kang Yujun?"

At Sky Guild headquarters, Guild Leader Lee Hyeokjun frowned deeply.

The Sky Guild was a mid-sized organization ranked in the mid-sixties. It was one of those awkward guilds that sat in the middle in every respect—neither particularly high nor low. As a result, they were desperate to recruit powerful awakened.

But there was no reason for such powerhouses or promising talents to join the Sky Guild, so like other small and medium guilds, they poured their hearts into recruiting and educating youths.

"The golden youth Kang Yujun from the Promise Guild? Why is he here?"

Kang Yujun's name had been famous for the past thirteen years.

The Promise Guild.

Currently ranked fifth in South Korea, the Promise Guild had gathered promising youths with outstanding potential by promising to strengthen their youth development system.

Among them, the most famous prospect had been Kang Yujun.

At minimum S-class, the golden youth—his talent was undeniable. Even among the prospects known as the Promise Guild's jewel box, he had stood out alone. There was simply no one among all those promising youths with potential as high as his. He had been a super-elite prospect receiving overwhelming expectations.

Because of that, every guild at the time had tried to pull Kang Yujun out of that jewel box by any means necessary.

Yet now, thirteen years later, Kang Yujun had not only failed to grow into those expectations—he hadn't even awakened. There were even recent rumors that he had been expelled from the Promise Guild.

"Yes, that's correct. That Kang Yujun."

"Huh, I see. I heard he was expelled from the Promise Guild. Scout him? For our guild? Wait, doesn't being expelled mean he never awakened?"

Lee Hyeokjun clicked his tongue.

"So who scouted this Kang Yujun?"

"It was Section Chief Han."

"Section Chief Han isn't the type to scout recklessly. Hmmmmm. Is there any sign that he's about to awaken?"

"That's not the case. He was scouted as a trainer."

"A trainer?"

Lee Hyeokjun tilted his head.

Han Seokyul was a veteran awakened who had consistently delivered results. While not an official scout, he had brought in numerous awakened through his personal network. They had even conducted entrance interviews together, and Han Seokyul's eye for talent was remarkably accurate.

"Just because someone failed as an awakened doesn't mean they can't succeed as a trainer, but..."

In the first place, only a tiny number of trainers ever achieved true greatness. Yet in Korea, there wasn't a single example of someone who had risen from failure to greatness in the trainer profession.

"A non-awakened would be lucky to surpass C-class trainer level..."

To truly understand awakened, one ultimately needed to be an awakened themselves. Trainers who failed to awaken were labeled C-class or D-class even after switching paths, faced rejection, and were eventually driven out of the industry entirely.

"Ha, this makes me uneasy."

Still, since Section Chief Han had scouted him personally, there wasn't much more he could say.

"Even so."

Besides, the fact that he hadn't fallen into despair after being expelled and had immediately started looking for work was rather admirable. Most of all, trainers were a valuable resource in this era. If he fell short of expectations, they could simply release him mid-contract or let it expire. There was no downside for them.

"Since he was the Promise Guild's golden youth, his knowledge and experience must be substantial, right? Who knows? This might turn out to be a better acquisition than we think."

The Sky Guild building in Jongno.

Three people sat inside the guild leader's office.

"Hello!"

"I'm Lee Hyeokjun. You must be Kang Yujun?"

"Yes, I'm Kang Yujun. It's a pleasure to meet you, Guild Leader."

Guild Leader Lee Hyeokjun sat at the head of the table, with Section Chief Han Seokyul and Kang Yujun positioned on either side.

"Welcome to the Sky Guild. I've heard about you. So you've switched paths to become a trainer?"

"Yes, that's correct. It seems this path suits me better."

"Section Chief Han spoke very highly of you."

When recommending Kang Yujun, Han Seokyul had spared no praise, calling him a truly outstanding talent. The guild leader knew Han Seokyul wasn't one to offer such compliments lightly, so he had met Yujun with a mixture of anticipation and concern.

Yet the Yujun sitting before him looked completely ordinary no matter how he observed him. There was no particular aura to speak of.

"Thank you for your kind assessment."

"Good. Let's work well together from now on."

After a brief greeting, they finalized the formal contract.

"It's a three-month short-term contract. Given Section Chief Han's strong recommendation, we could have offered a short-term deal that included the possibility of converting to full-time employment. Why did you decline?"

"Because I might end up becoming a burden."

Yujun was not officially joining the Sky Guild. It was closer to a freelance short-term contract position. With Han Seokyul's influence, full membership would have been easy to arrange, but Kang Yujun had made no such request.

There was no benefit to signing a formal contract before proving his worth.

The guild leader's expression turned strange, as if impressed by the answer. The risks involved in talent recruitment were borne entirely by the guild. Yujun obviously understood that. By choosing a short-term contract, he was displaying humility while implying that was all he needed for now.

The guild leader smiled with satisfaction at that confidence and ambition. All that remained was to see whether he possessed the skill to match it.

"Then I can assign you work immediately?"

"Of course."

When the guild leader called toward the door, someone opened it and entered.

"Hello."

The person who entered was a rather young woman.

Guild Leader Lee Hyeokjun introduced her personally.

"This is one of our youths, Woo Hana. She's among those our guild holds high expectations for. I'd like you to teach her. This will be your first request."

Sky Guild youth Woo Hana.

She was a C-class awakened who had just turned twenty-one.

Woo Hana stared directly at Kang Yujun. She knew about him quite well. Since there was only a four-year age difference between them, they had interacted several times while both active as youths in the same generation.

Of course, Yujun had been such a prominent nationwide youth at the time that he didn't remember her, but Woo Hana remembered Kang Yujun clearly. She had never imagined that such an incredible prospect would switch to becoming a trainer.

Still, it was the guild leader's order, so she would have to learn from him for the time being.

"Please take good care of me."

Woo Hana bowed politely.

In that moment, Yujun caught Section Chief Han Seokyul's expression. It looked like he was trying hard to hide his panic.

After the two had left, Section Chief Han Seokyul turned to Guild Leader Lee Hyeokjun with a worried expression.

"Guild Leader, I didn't expect you to assign her to him right from the start."

"Why not? You said he was skilled. Since you scouted him yourself, isn't it better to give him Woo Hana?"

"But Woo Hana..."

Section Chief Han sighed and trailed off.

Among the Sky Guild's youths, Woo Hana possessed very high potential, but she carried a serious flaw.

"Doesn't she have a problem? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠No trainer has been able to fix it so far..."

Even the trainers affiliated with the Sky Guild had failed to resolve Woo Hana's issue. They had continued her training, but because of that one major drawback, the investment in her was on the verge of becoming a complete waste.

And now they were assigning such a case to Kang Yujun, who had only just become a trainer?

"This is too heavy a request."

"Isn't Kang Yujun the talent you brought in with such confidence, Section Chief Han?"

The guild leader looked at him with a serious face. Since it was true, Han Seokyul couldn't refute it and only trailed off again.

"But..."

"Yes, properly training Woo Hana will be quite difficult. If it were easy, she wouldn't have carried such a major flaw all this time. I don't believe Kang Yujun can truly teach her either. I'm simply trying to verify something."

At the guild leader's words, Section Chief Han could say nothing more. To him, however, it was regrettable. In his eyes, Kang Yujun's talent was a shining raw gem. But if that gem wasn't polished properly, it would lose its brilliance.

Assigning Woo Hana to him now was no different from putting a scratch on that gem. He had wanted to refine and nurture him step by step, but Guild Leader Lee Hyeokjun clearly had other ideas.

The guild leader patted the worried man's shoulder.

"Don't worry too much. He's the talent you brought in yourself, isn't he? I'll observe him personally as well. Even if he can't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠train Woo Hana, I have no intention of expelling him. The short-term contract will simply come to an end, that's all."

At the Sky Guild's private training ground, Yujun immediately used his awakened scan the moment he saw Woo Hana.

Yujun's eyes began to see everything about Woo Hana.

The awakened scan has been upgraded. I can see numerical values that weren't visible before.

Yujun was impressed. Previously it had only shown awakened abilities and stats, but now it displayed body and mind grades as well.

This must be thanks to the Focus skill.

After confirming the information about his opponent and organizing his thoughts, he spoke.

"First, please raise your mana."

He intended to check everything starting from the most basic elements. He had already confirmed the information with the awakened scan, so next was mana circulation.

Shaaaaaaaah—!

At Yujun's words, Woo Hana raised her mana.

Crack.

A fracture appeared near her flank, centered around her heart area. The crack that started at her side was trying to spread throughout her entire body.

After confirming the sight, Yujun nodded.

There's a problem with the way she circulates her mana.

Because of that method, she couldn't utilize her mana properly. In that case, he simply needed to change her circulation method.

Still, this is quite interesting.

Every part except her flank was glowing faintly.

Aside from the fractured area, there don't seem to be any other major flaws. Yet her talent in other areas is exceptionally high.

It was practically insane potential.

This kind of character used to be called a god-tier pick.

In the Infinite Tower, this type of character was one you absolutely had to bring along.

Thinking that, Yujun spoke to Woo Hana.

"There is a problem with your mana circulation method. Please channel your mana fiercely into the flank area."

At the same time, power entered his words.

As Woo Hana channeled her mana fiercely into her flank, the fracture began to fill.

"...!"

Woo Hana's eyes widened. She had simply followed a single instruction, yet her mana circulation had changed dramatically from before.

She had received advice from many trainers until now. No method had improved her condition, yet with Yujun's simple training, the efficiency of her mana circulation had been enhanced.

"Well done. Continue circulating in that state."

This was the biggest problem Woo Hana carried. Explosive mana circulation had been impossible for her. But in this very moment, that flaw had been corrected.

And it had taken only a single piece of guidance.

With one piece of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠advice, her problem had been solved. Faced with this impossible situation, Woo Hana could only blink in disbelief.

"Why... does this work?"

She couldn't understand why it was working.

Kang Yujun was also surprised by the better-than-expected result, but he quickly calmed that surprise. He had once again confirmed the value of his ability.

My ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠power is one that can solve any problem my opponent has with a single word.

The power to correct all kinds of problems with a single sentence. It was a power that any trainer would desperately want.

"Then let's proceed in earnest now."

Kang Yujun smiled faintly and continued observing Woo Hana's mana circulation. Following his instructions, she kept circulating her mana. The explosive circulation felt awkward at first but gradually became more familiar.

While checking on Woo Hana's condition, Yujun continued testing the power of the Linguistic Correction that had just activated.

"More intensely."

"Yes!"

Perhaps because she had directly experienced the positive result, Woo Hana obediently followed Kang Yujun's words.

Linguistic Correction. So my feeling was correct. It was a skill included in S-class trainer abilities.

He had felt something strange even when he corrected Minseok before.

Both Minseok and Miss Woo Hana must have received quite a lot of training from various trainers.

Since Yujun himself had been a youth of the Promise Guild, he knew well how much training the guild's awakened and youths received. Especially for youths like Woo Hana whom the guild was intentionally nurturing, trainers constantly attached themselves to them.

Other trainers would have known about Woo Hana's problem and given her feedback on it.

I received training from many famous trainers myself, so I know this well.

He understood the trainers' methods. Their styles differed, but their theoretical foundations were all similar.

The problem is that everyone probably knows about it. But knowing doesn't always mean it can be solved.

And it wasn't just the trainers. Woo Hana herself must have known her own problem well. The fact that it still hadn't been solved meant they hadn't found a clear solution.

Even if they recognize the problem exists, they can't figure out how to fix it.

This current case was a perfect example. He had identified that her flank bore the burden during mana circulation and instructed her to ignore that burden and circulate her mana anyway. This was a problem that could only be solved by making the awakened understand, and most awakened would not be able to comprehend such a solution. The risk was simply too great.

But the persuasive power of Linguistic Correction made it possible. It was the result of combining his own knowledge, experience, and the ability he had obtained.

A single word makes them understand. It forces the knowledge in.

The power to fix problems with a single sentence.

This is the power of Linguistic Correction.

It could be considered the core ability of the Awakened Training System.

This ability is what will set me apart from other trainers.

Other trainers had to persuade their subjects not only with words but with various actions as well. Sensory aspects were difficult to convey through words alone. Especially correcting posture or mana control for mana circulation was extremely difficult. The only ways were to take the risk of sending their own mana into the subject or to teach through repetitive instruction.

But for Yujun, it ended with simply speaking. What other trainers couldn't do, or could only do with great difficulty, Yujun could accomplish easily and simply.

"Miss Woo Hana, that's enough. Maintain that mana."

Shaaaaaaaah—.

Intense mana circulated through Woo Hana's body. Now was the moment.

"Please use your ability."

Woo Hana's ability was Acceleration. It was an awakened technique that wrapped mana around the body to instantly enhance physical capabilities. Using this acceleration effectively required extremely precise mana control.

But Woo Hana's mana control was a mess. It was because her mana wasn't circulating properly through her flank.

"While circulating your mana exactly as I instructed, try using acceleration."

Acceleration required explosive mana. It was only temporary, but since mana was now circulating properly through her flank, the result should be different from before.

Of course, I forced the correction this time.

It wasn't perfectly fixed. Since it had been temporarily corrected through Linguistic Correction, the effect wouldn't last long.

That means consistent training is necessary. She needs to realize the sensation herself without Linguistic Correction.

If he continued to awaken that sensation for her, it would eventually be perfectly corrected.

So I'll make sure she feels it clearly here.

Through his training, he would show her just how much stronger the corrected mana circulation made her.

Shaaaaaaaaah—!

As Woo Hana raised her mana and activated acceleration, her expression instantly changed to one of shock. The mana inside her body was moving explosively.

She had never emitted such intense mana even once before. She hadn't been able to, even when she wanted to. Naturally, she was startled by the mana bursting from her own body.

Acceleration.

Then her awakened ability activated.

Swoosh—.

In an instant she vanished, and a powerful gust of wind swept through the training ground.

"Huff... huff... Th-the speed. The speed is this fast..."

When Woo Hana reappeared, she was panting heavily. Her entire body was drenched in sweat, and she looked so exhausted that she might collapse if touched.

Yet she stared at Yujun as if she couldn't believe what had just happened. She had never moved at this speed before. He had only corrected her mana circulation method, yet that alone allowed her to run at such velocity.

It was the moment Woo Hana's weakness transformed into strength.

"Miss Woo Hana."

Yujun looked at her and calmly declared.

"That is the true Acceleration ability you possess."