Chapter 83

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 83

Chapter Title: Strategy Reward (4)

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"Looks like it's summoning Petra after all."

He had more or less guessed it from the words 'Hero Summon,' so there was no real surprise.

That said, with Petra's face known to so many people, it didn't seem like something he could use as his main ability.

-If another hero had acquired this, they'd be cheering for joy.

"That good, huh?"

-It's the ability to summon an S-rank powerhouse. You can use it in towers, gates, or even in the real world.

"Ah, right. You mentioned that towers have to be cleared solo."

Lee Seongmin nodded as if to say that made sense.

-Exactly. But with this ability, it's like clearing with two people, so even ten million gold wouldn't be enough to match its value.

"Hearing you say that, it does sound pretty good..."

If asked whether it was an ability he needed, he'd have to shake his head.

There was no need to summon Petra specifically—he could just summon his comrades instead.

"I wonder if Limit Break works on Petra too."

-You're not planning to include Petra ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in it?

"Limit Break boosts stats by around 1200. If she can get even stronger, there's no reason not to."

With that response, he stared at Petra's name for a moment.

"And there's a number one in front of Petra here. Feels like we can add more heroes, doesn't it?"

-There's a good chance. But to confirm, you'd need to find and clear history recreation gates like this one.

The S-rank general gate he'd entered before as a Destroyer had only monsters—no heroes.

As Lee Seongmin said, to add more heroes, they'd have no choice but to tackle history recreation gates.

"Clearing them isn't hard, but... finding them and getting in is the problem."

-History recreation gates are rare in the first place. But gates pop up worldwide, so if you look, you'll find some.

He nodded and firmly pressed on Petra's name in the ability description window before him.

-Whoa. This is way better than most S-rank heroes.

"How does she compare to Kang Ju-young?"

-Kang Ju-young? She has an innate ability to accumulate magic power in her body. You'd probably need 6~7 stacks to match her.

"She gets stronger the more she accumulates, huh."

-It boosts her physical abilities. Now that Lee Seongmin healed her, she could probably handle 8 stacks.

It seemed to mean Kang Ju-young would barely beat Petra after about 8 stacks of magic accumulation.

"Looks like I can teach her skill stones too."

-Yeah. Ten's the limit, but if she learns them all, she'll be insanely strong.

Having checked that far, he watched the light Petra created erase the entire Rock Fortress.

"Guess that's the end. I'll move you to the other body."

The 'other body' was the student body with the practical combat team members.

Since that was his main body anyway, Lee Seongmin nodded immediately when he said he'd send it over.

-Please do.

After transferring Lee Seongmin, he unsummoned his current body, just like the Grand Sorcerer.

Then, from the last remaining body in the gate, he felt a floating sensation, and blinding light flashed at the same time.

Flash!―

"I-I’m out!"

At that moment, an unfamiliar voice rang out from somewhere, followed by the presence of multiple people.

'We’re back?'

As he thought they'd returned from the gate, the light obscuring his vision gradually faded, revealing the surroundings.

As expected, they were in the group training ground swept up by the gate, with numerous instructors present here and there.

"My god! Cleared it in under an hour."

"I thought an S-rank history recreation gate was hopeless."

A day had passed inside the gate, but less than an hour outside.

Not only that, but the instructors, knowing it was an S-rank history recreation gate, all wore shocked expressions.

"Ju-young!"

Then someone called Kang Ju-young's name and rushed over.

Upon checking, it was Joo Tae-ho, armed with sword and armor.

"Thank goodness. You're safe."

"Instructor Joo Tae-ho."

Joo Tae-ho immediately inspected Kang Ju-young's face and body, confirming she was unharmed, and let out a relieved expression.

"And I'm proud of you. Leading the cadets to clear an S-rank gate."

"...It wasn't me who cleared it."

"Not you? Then you're saying someone from the Hero Association did it?"

When he asked again, Kang Ju-young shook her head.

"I'll explain later."

"Alright. Everyone's probably shaken, so a quick check-up and rest would be best. Any injuries or deaths?"

"Fortunately none. Just a simple inspection should do."

The Grand Sorcerer had handled almost all the fighting, so not even a single injured student.

Still, having spent an unfamiliar day in an unfamiliar gate, everyone looked fatigued.

'But if it's under an hour, what about classes?'

Practical combat class seemed skipped.

Maybe even afternoon alchemy class too.

"Cadet Lee Seongmin."

"...?"

As he pondered the day's schedule, Kang Ju-young approached, calling his name.

"Any injuries?"

"Injuries? No, none."

"Good. Follow me."

After a brief check on his condition, she told him to follow her.

As he looked at her quizzically, Lee Seongmin beside him seemed to remember something and spoke up.

-Ah, she's probably going to give you the Multi-Calculation skill stone.

'Right, Multi-Calculation as promised.'

The Multi-Calculation skill stone they'd agreed on in exchange for handling food in the gate.

Once he got it this time, no need to grind points desperately.

'Though I'll have to earn points for the club.'

Thinking that, he followed Kang Ju-young to a certain building.

-Looks like her personal instructor office.

Seemed instructors had private rooms.

Sure enough, the door read [Kang ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Ju-young].

"Come in."

Clank―

Entering the personal office, it was a sparse space with only the bare minimum furnishings.

Kang Ju-young sat at her desk and pointed to the small chair opposite it.

"Sit there."

Wasn't this supposed to be about the skill stone?

"Yes."

The atmosphere didn't feel like she was handing over a skill stone, but he sat in the opposite chair anyway.

"Cadet Lee Seongmin. As you know, your innate ability goes against the purpose of the Hero Officer Academy."

"...Wasn't that settled in the gate?"

"We only let it slide due to the circumstances."

Kang Ju-young spoke with unyielding firmness, not even room for a needle.

She probably thought even without his innate ability, the healer-sent Grand Sorcerer had handled everything.

'If she separates me and the Grand Sorcerer, then yeah, I barely did anything.'

She likely believed the fields and stuffed food warehouse on the Rock Fortress's west side were the Grand Sorcerer's work too.

"So here's a proposal. Create a club."

Suddenly, Kang Ju-young proposed he make a club.

"A club? I was planning to anyway."

"Good. And make the club room 500 points, limit members to 5."

"... ."

He'd planned to make a club anyway, but the 500 points and 5-member limit were unexpected.

"500 points and 5-member limit?"

"You said you were making a club. What did you plan to do with it?"

"Well, get close friends together, chat and..."

"No. You're trying to save meal points with your innate ability."

Kang Ju-young saw right through his purpose for the club.

With meals being cadets' main point expense, it would've been weirder if she hadn't.

"Meals cost 15 points a day. That's 450 a month. For 5 people, 2250 points total."

2250 points from her mouth made the restrictions seem reasonable.

Of course, not taking it at face value, he negotiated like it was a hassle.

"I have my own stuff to do, so eating all three meals with club members daily would be tough. Bump it to 500 points budget and 10 members."

"10? If you're thinking of your practical combat teammates, 5 should be plenty."

"Truth is, I don't even have 5 yet, but just in case. Besides, if I really want, these rules don't mean much."

Meaning he could bring others without formal club membership.

Kang Ju-young caught on, pondered, then nodded.

"Fair point. Fine, up to 10 as you say. But no more."

Huh?

But she approved easier than expected.

10 members meant ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠4500 points a month—he'd thought she'd block it hard.

'I was gonna start at 10, negotiate down to 7 or so.'

Still, no intention of taking all 10 anyway.

If rumors spread about Collection Cuisine Summon, it'd cause issues.

"That settles it. When do you plan to apply for the club?"