The Trainer's First Success
Section Chief Han Seokyul’s voice rang with pure delight.
“Jackpot! It’s a total jackpot! You know Woo Hana, right? I assigned her to our Yujun, and he hit the motherlode! After just three training sessions, she’s flying like she grew wings!”
Our Yujun.
In Section Chief Han’s mind, Yujun had already become Sky Guild’s proud trainer. It was only natural. He had taken the infamous Woo Hana, unlocked her true potential, and turned her into someone who could finally pull her own weight. Every trainer who had passed through Sky Guild before him—and every one currently on staff—had failed to do so. Yet he had accomplished it in just three days. How could they not adore him?
“I’ll treat you to a proper meal next time! Let’s meet up soon!”
The moment the call ended, Minseok blinked several times in disbelief.
“……Just what the hell is that guy doing? I’ve never heard Section Chief Han praise anyone like that before.”
It hadn’t even been a full week. To receive such glowing praise in just three days? Especially from someone as stingy with compliments as Section Chief Han. In all the time Minseok had worked with him, he had only ever been praised once.
“Is he really about to cause a huge stir?”
When Yujun had fixed his knee problem in the blink of an eye, Minseok had been certain. Even if Kang Yujun had failed as an awakened hunter, the brilliant talent he had shown as a child was still very much alive.
“At this rate, won’t he become an S-class trainer?”
He needed to meet him again before that happened.
“He still has to fix my knee, damn it!”
“Trainer Kang!”
At Sky Guild’s training grounds, Woo Hana approached Kang Yujun with a bright smile.
“Thank you so much!”
“I heard about your debut.”
Yujun looked at her with warm satisfaction.
“I did exactly what you told me to. And then…… they said I ranked first!”
Woo Hana’s evaluation among the newly called-up awakened hunters was overwhelmingly first place. The gap between her and second place was staggering. Thanks to that, she had even received an award.
“I got the Vanguard Ace Award.”
She handed the trophy to Yujun.
“This is all because of you, Trainer. I want to give this award to you.”
“No, this belongs to Trainee Woo Hana.”
Yujun politely declined the gift.
“Thank you for following my instructions so brilliantly.”
He couldn’t say it out loud, but he had already received more than enough reward.
Thanks to her, I earned a ton of points.
“The 3rd Team Leader said he’d write me a recommendation letter right away since I need to move to the 1st Team. It looks like I’ll be joining the 1st Team now.”
The 1st Team was the tower climbing unit. Joining them meant she had been officially recognized as a fully capable awakened hunter, not just a promising youth.
“I didn’t do much. I simply helped draw out a little of the potential you already possessed. It was all yours to begin with, Trainee Woo Hana.”
At Yujun’s humble words, Woo Hana’s eyes grew misty.
“I……”
Her emotions surged.
“If it weren’t for you, Trainer Kang, I would have been expelled. So many trainers tried to teach me, but I was too stupid to understand. Even though I was born with a good ability, I couldn’t use it properly…… I was just dragging the guild down.”
She had a good ability. She had good trainers. Yet she couldn’t live up to the support she received. That was why she had worked so hard.
“I tried my best, but nothing worked. I really wanted to do well.”
Woo Hana struggled to hold back the rising tide of emotion as she continued.
“I didn’t know what to do, but you showed me the way.”
Yujun’s training had changed everything. Meeting him, and this very moment, had become the most important turning point in her life.
Would she soar?
Or would she fall without even spreading her wings?
Kang Yujun had helped her unfold those wings. And today, she had finally taken flight. It had only been a short time, but the change was undeniable.
“You helped me spread the wings I didn’t even know I had. You taught me how to fly.”
Woo Hana expressed her gratitude with the utmost respect.
Drip. Drip.
Tears fell to the floor.
She probably doesn’t want to be seen crying.
Yujun didn’t try to lift her up or comfort her.
Because I felt the same way once.
In the end, Yujun had failed. That was why he hoped others wouldn’t. At the very least, he wanted the people he taught to succeed.
At least one person.
Shouldn’t I pull someone out of the pit if I can?
Watching her, Yujun realized the path he wanted to walk.
How many awakened hunters are left in despair behind the ones who shine so beautifully?
He would become the person who reached out a hand to them. He wanted to show the world that there was no such thing as a failed awakened hunter.
“Trainee Woo Hana.”
Yujun called her name in a gentle voice.
“Lift your head.”
She had wiped her tears, but her red nose and eyes couldn’t be hidden. Yujun looked straight at Woo Hana as she continued to sob.
“This is only the beginning. The most important moments are still ahead. What I taught you is not absolute. I simply corrected a few things that were slightly off track. So stay even more focused from now on.”
Yujun spoke with a serious expression.
“But for this moment, enjoy it. Be as happy as you want. And make sure to tell your parents.”
“Y-yes…… Yes!”
“Still, feel free to come see me anytime. I’ll look after you as much as you need.”
“I definitely will!”
Woo Hana smiled brightly through her tear-filled eyes. She bowed repeatedly as she left.
Yujun watched her retreating figure with a pleased smile. Even he had to admit that his behavior just now had been the very model of an ideal trainer.
He clenched his fist as he watched her go.
“Woo Hana will succeed. And she’ll come back like a grateful swallow repaying a favor.”
Yujun smiled.
A good image brought good results. Woo Hana would raise his reputation, and he would turn his next trainee into the second Woo Hana.
“Positive feedback loop, here we come.”
Inside the Sky Guild Master’s office.
Knock, knock—.
The one who opened the door and entered was Yujun.
“Yes, Guild Master. I heard you called for me.”
“I read the report. Well done, Trainer Kang!”
The Guild Master tried to maintain a solemn expression, but his eyes were smiling. The corners of his mouth kept twitching; he seemed genuinely happy just to see Yujun.
“They say Woo Hana’s training went incredibly well! She performed far better than she did during regular training! The 3rd Team Leader was singing your praises. His eyes were practically rolling back in his head! That man usually has a rough edge to him, but I’ve never seen him compliment someone so enthusiastically.”
As he spoke, the Guild Master pulled an envelope from his pocket and handed it to Yujun.
“This is a performance bonus. I look forward to working with you in the future.”
Yujun discreetly checked inside the envelope. It looked to be around five million won. For a trainer who had only been with the guild for three days, it was a considerable sum for a performance bonus.
“Thank you.”
“You drew out Woo Hana’s potential. She was the one our trainers had been desperately trying to make at least somewhat useful. But no one could manage it. Her potential was so enormous that we assigned her countless trainers. You saw it yourself, right, Trainer Kang? She has incredible talent.”
The Guild Master continued with a bitter expression.
“We poured a ridiculous amount of money into her. We did everything we could to save her. But we still failed.”
Guild Master Lee Hyeokjun raised an eyebrow as he spoke. More than anyone, Yujun understood that feeling. Back when he was in the Promise Guild, he himself had been a money-devouring hippopotamus they couldn’t bear to cut loose.
“You succeeded in training Woo Hana where no other trainer could. You did it all by yourself.”
With that, the Guild Master played a video.
In the footage was Woo Hana. It was a clear of the fifth floor of the Tower of Clouds.
The fifth floor was a place Yujun knew very well.
Because I trained there every single day.
Since he had never awakened, Yujun couldn’t enter the tower. So he had only run simulations. Using the VR simulation machine at the Promise Guild, he had repeatedly cleared the early floors of the tower. That was why he was so familiar with it.
Jokingly, he used to say he could clear the fifth floor with his eyes closed. He had spent countless hours there.
Oh.
Woo Hana was moving exactly as Yujun had trained her. Her mana circulation. Her movements. Everything was precisely as he had drilled into her.
Reproducing trained movements perfectly isn’t easy.
People tended to cling to old habits. Changing and correcting movement patterns usually took more than one or two sessions. Yet in the video, Woo Hana was executing everything she had learned in training flawlessly.
“This is her first climb. To move like that on her very first attempt……”
Anyone would freeze up on their first climb. Even Lee Hyeokjun had. During his own first climb, he had frozen in front of monsters weaker than himself and embarrassed himself completely. He had forgotten movements his body had already learned and moved in a complete mess.
But Woo Hana was different.
She had faith in her own ability. And probably faith in her trainer as well. Because that faith was solid, she hadn’t frozen and was able to stay calm.
“This can only be credited to excellent teaching from her trainer.”
“Not at all. I simply did what needed to be done.”
At Kang Yujun’s humble attitude, Lee Hyeokjun couldn’t help but smile warmly. A trainer this talented was also this modest? It was downright lovable.
His skills were solid and he had produced major results. Lee Hyeokjun would have understood if the young man acted a little arrogant. In fact, he had half-hoped for it. That would have made it easier to tie him down properly.
Yet looking into Yujun’s clear eyes, the Guild Master could only rub his forehead.
“Which brings me to this……”
After clearing his throat a couple of times, the Guild Master immediately slid a document across the desk.
“I’d like to renew your contract. We’re prepared to significantly upgrade the terms from the one we signed a few days ago. And I was hoping you could take charge of our youths. What do you think?”
At the Guild Master’s words, Yujun shook his head. It was the reaction he had expected. He had no reason to belong to a guild, nor any need to.
“I’m sorry. For now, I’d like to fulfill the current contract and then decide. I truly appreciate the offer!”
Though it was still too early to talk about renewal, Yujun felt quite pleased. The fact that they were bringing up a new contract so quickly meant they fully acknowledged his abilities.
That said, he had no intention of renewing with Sky Guild.
Staying tied to one place for too long isn’t a good idea.
An in-house awakened trainer for a guild was not what Yujun wanted.
I felt it back then.
During his days as Promise Guild’s golden youth, the early period had been very stable. Being protected from all worries and problems under the massive guild’s umbrella had felt incredibly reassuring.
But the person he was now could not afford to settle for that level.
I have to aim much higher.
Sky Guild wasn’t a bad place, but it wasn’t somewhere he wanted to stay and be satisfied with either.
I need to produce results quickly and move on to the next stage.
Once he built up even more achievements, he could demand far better conditions. However, just like with Sky Guild, he had no plans to join any other guild either.
Yujun believed working as a freelancer, exactly as he was doing now, suited him perfectly.
My Awakened Training System is a skill that grows by teaching numerous awakened individuals.
If he belonged to one guild, he wouldn’t be able to teach awakened hunters from other guilds. That was common courtesy among awakened trainers and between guilds.
But a freelancer is different.
As a freelance trainer, he could sign short-term contracts and freely teach countless awakened hunters. That would directly translate into his own growth and expand his influence. After all, the awakened hunters he taught would grow into core members of their respective guilds.
“Guild Master, there’s something I’d like to discuss regarding Guild Member Kim Gyojun.”
After settling the contract matter, Yujun immediately brought up Kim Gyojun.
“Kim Gyojun?”
“Yes. Do you have any information on him?”
Kim Gyojun, an awakened hunter specializing in weapon enhancement. He was the youth Yujun had trained just yesterday.
He’s the perfect choice after Woo Hana.
Twentieth out of twenty among Sky Guild’s trainees.
But he has definite potential.
His mental stat was a whopping A-rank. Even if his other stats were at the lowest rank, as long as his mental strength was alive, he would naturally absorb whatever was taught.
He can endure even the most rigorous training.
And after enduring hardcore training?
All that’s left is a vertical rise.
The Guild Master sighed as he watched Kang Yujun immediately dive into work talk. The more he saw, the more he wanted to keep him. He had thought a shining raw gem had entered the guild, but in reality it was already a finished jewel. Still, no matter what he tried, he probably wouldn’t be able to persuade him. All he could do was be grateful that the man was shining brightly under Sky Guild’s name for the time being.
And above all, Woo Hana had exploded with success. The Guild Master smiled faintly. He decided it was best to focus on the present moment.
“Choosing Kim Gyojun. That’s a very difficult path. Are you sure you’re okay with it?”
Lee Hyeokjun knew all about the youths. He knew Kim Gyojun especially well.
“On the contrary, I think it’s perfect.”
At the sparkle in Yujun’s eyes, Lee Hyeokjun immediately handed over the information on Kim Gyojun.
“Thank you for the performance bonus!”
The Guild Master had a feeling he would need to prepare yet another performance bonus soon.
“Whoa, Woo Hana got promoted?”
Scouter Community, Scout Bulletin Board.
Multiple scouts showed interest in the official notice that had been posted about Woo Hana.
Woo Hana had once caught the eye of many scouts. But after a major flaw was discovered, she had fallen out of favor. It wasn’t a weakness that could be overcome in a short period of time.
Yet several scouts had changed their evaluation of Woo Hana from D to A. They added a strong assessment that she would definitely reach A-rank in time.
Many scouts questioned the basis for that evaluation.
And shortly after, they obtained footage of Woo Hana clearing the fifth floor.
Woo Hana was no longer the same person who had been cast aside for her old flaws.
The scouts’ interest was now laser-focused.
The scouts gathered more information. And soon they learned the reason.
The name looked familiar.
Kang Yujun—the fallen super prospect. He had become an awakened trainer and was the one who had trained Woo Hana.