Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Just Unplug the Cord
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Due to the short two-night, three-day training period, they dove straight into hands-on physical drills.
"Let's go, Min-jun hyung. Even if that old guy's in the way, three A-Ranks make it a piece of cake."
"Ugh, seriously. Old man, please don't get in our way."
The White Tiger trio snickered as they headed out.
I tagged along, pretending to be one of the group by throwing my arm around their shoulders.
Especially the glasses-wearing Se-mo guy and the maknae-positioned Hyung-seok kid—they had such mild personalities that they couldn't even complain when I messed with them.
"What the hell is with this old man...?"
"Ignore him. Just ignore."
We left the parade ground and hiked up a mountain path for a while until we reached an area lined with state-of-the-art training equipment.
Basic mana levels were measured at the Association HQ, and here at the training ground, they scored you based on live combat tests.
The first test was [Reaction Speed Measurement].
Speed, huh. Speak of the devil.
"The rules are simple. Stand at the starting position and dodge all the incoming mana bullets. We'll record your hits over the set time and assign a grade! Top-scoring teams get early dismissal, so take it seriously!"
Yoo Na-yeon barked the order through a megaphone while the squad instructors assisted right next to the trainees.
Even at his age—probably twenty years older than her—working under Yoo Na-yeon.
Just like the White Tiger trio said, it really was a world where awakening rank was everything.
Thud-thud-thud-thud!
"Ow!"
"Mommy!"
Screams erupted all over the training ground.
The rubber-ball-shaped training mana bullets were way faster than I'd expected.
'No joke.'
As expected from a gathering of A- and B-Rank Awakeners—the intensity was brutal.
If not for the Saintess's pre-cast blessing, half of them would probably be rolling around covered in bruises by now.
The trainees who finished the test came out grimacing, whining about how much it hurt.
"Next! Team 7! Kim Min-jun!"
The self-proclaimed White Tiger Guild prospect stepped up with a cocky grin for his test.
"Hyung, do your best."
"I'll show you what elite means."
"Fighting!"
"Hmph. Watch closely, old man."
Wasn't this kid ignoring me earlier?
Cute little punk.
Vreeeeeeeng!
As the machine whirred to life, mana bullets rained down from all directions at insane speeds.
Kim Min-jun was just as fast as his confidence suggested.
Using wind-element powers, he lightly levitated his body to dodge in midair or swatted bullets away with wind magic.
'A-Ranks are pretty strong, huh?'
Of course, to my eyes, it looked like a newborn calf wobbling on unsteady legs—but to a former normie, he was a total monster.
"Whoa! Hyung! That's the best score so far!"
"Of course. You think we're White Tiger Guild for nothing?"
Kim Min-jun wiped his sweat, looking satisfied, then glanced my way.
"You going already, old man? Here's a tip: just lie down and stay still. That'll get you mid-tier at least."
"Thanks for the advice."
Honestly, mid-tier was exactly my goal.
Grab a solid B-Rank to keep up the SSS-grade scapegoat persona.
That way, I could coast invisibly through the rest of the schedule.
I shuffled into the test area like a motivation-less unemployed uncle.
Vreeeeeeeng!!
The machine hummed, and launchers all around lit up.
Whoosh—whoosh—
'Still slow.'
To my eyes, the baseball-sized mana bullets floated by like leisurely balloons.
'10 hits for a C, right?'
Messing up early dismissal would suck.
Aim for about 9 hits to snag a B—should be enough for first place dismissal.
With the trio pulling A-grades, B would suffice for me.
Hands in pockets, I started dodging with minimal movement.
Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud!
Hardly any motion at all.
It was calibrated so a slight shift dodged everything anyway.
Running around sweating was inefficient. Shortest path, optimal route—that was my creed.
Which made Kim Min-jun's flashy flailing look pretty wasteful.
Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud!!
I deliberately grazed a few with my hand to rack up hits.
While I toyed around, the White Tiger trio was flipping out, worried about heading home late.
"What the— is the old man sleeping?"
"Whoa, talk about lucky. Bullets just missing on their own?"
"He got cocky posing and already took 7 hits. He's gonna end up with a real C. Ugh!"
The one-minute test felt eternal.
Bored enough to yawn, my eyes locked with Yoo Na-yeon, who was chattering on the megaphone.
Her eyes sparkled with mischief.
'Bored? I'll make it fun.'
Her gaze said it all.
Yoo Na-yeon stood and snuck toward the machine.
Ominous.
What was this girl up to?
"Hey! Hey! You there, Team 7 trainee! You gonna survive in society with that half-assed attitude? Spice it up!"
Before I could glare back, she yanked the machine's lever hard.
Kwaaaaaah!
The machine screamed into overdrive.
No doubt cranked to max difficulty.
Now it was unleashing mana bullets at gatling-gun rates straight at me.
"Hey! Hey!"
I yelled at Yoo Na-yeon and reflexively triggered Swiftness.
The world froze in black and white.
'What now?'
Dodge everything and blow my cover? No way. But tanking hits to delay dismissal? Also no.
Only one option.
'Just eliminate the cause.'
Casually strolling out of the test area in stopped time.
I approached Yoo Na-yeon standing by the machine.
Her gleeful face was so punchable—a forehead flick would've felt good—but I held back.
Instead, I carefully dialed her cranked-up lever back to [EASY] mode.
Too boring to just lower it, so I yanked the power cord too.
Then returned to my spot like nothing happened.
[Swiftness released.]
Shoooo...
The motor, blasting mana bullets like crazy, suddenly wheezed and halted.
Psssh.
Power cord yanked? Or max difficulty overload?
The mana bullet launcher belched black smoke.
Bullets plopped weakly from the nozzles onto the ground.
"...Huh?"
Yoo Na-yeon, gripping the lever excitedly, froze in confusion.
"Wha—what? Did it break?"
She fiddled the lever up and down, but it was pointless.
With the cord unplugged? Fat chance.
Staring at the smoking machine, Yoo Na-yeon rolled her eyes in panic.
As I strolled out slowly, my teammates welcomed me back anyway.
"Old man survived? That many hits would've been serious injuries at least."
"Why'd the machine crap out? Total defense contractor scam level."
"Your luck is insane, though."
I grinned.
Kim Min-jun still talked down to me, but his eyes showed relief that I wasn't hurt.
That's when Han Yoo-jung leaped down from the VIP seats with a worried look.
Ignoring the pained trainees, she ran straight to me.
"You okay? No injuries?"
"Nah, I'm fine. The machine stopped right away, no biggie."
Han Yoo-jung sighed in relief, patting her chest.
"Phew. Good thing. I was scared something bad happened... Let me cast a healing spell on you."
"Just the thought's enough, Saintess. Go check the other trainees. Some look bruised up."
I nodded toward the groaning trainees behind us.
"Oh... right..."
Han Yoo-jung slowly approached them and applied her healing magic.
The watching White Tiger trio whispered among themselves.
"Hyung, doesn't the Saintess seem kinda fussy over our old man?"
"No way. She just got spooked 'cause Na-yeon Hunter was messing around."
"Jealous... I wanna get worried over by the Saintess too."
Sheesh.
Two S-Ranks acting all immature.
Thanks to my flawless acting, I secured the "talentless but lucky A-Rank scapegoat" persona.
Yoo Na-yeon was still busy smacking the machine, muttering "Why'd it break all of a sudden?"
'Poor thing. Guess I'll clue her in after a minute.'
For some reason, her flustered face looked kinda cute today.
"Anyone who needs the bathroom, go now! Assemble in 10 minutes!"
Right after the squad instructor spoke, nearly half the guys vanished to smoke.
The White Tiger kids were surprisingly munching snacks instead.
"Want some, old man?"
"Thanks..."
I reached for the Pepero Hyung-seok offered but paused.
Rustle.
A presence in the forest shadows.
Trainee? Instructor?
Beyond the chain-link fence, someone was watching us.
Wearing an instructor cap, but way too suspicious on sight.
'What the hell...?'
"Old man, you not eating?"
I quietly took the Pepero and triggered Swiftness, vanishing from my seat.
The cap-wearing guy was staring right at Yoo Na-yeon and Han Yoo-jung.
"Another terrorist!?"
I shouted in the frozen time.
Gutsy with two S-Ranks around.
But on second thought, their presence might be why he targeted here.
Yoo Na-yeon or Han Yoo-jung as the mark?
What especially bugged me was the device in his hand.
A boxy radio-like gadget with a glaring red button.
Screaming "bomb detonator" vibes.
"Making things real sketchy."
I slipped to a nearby toy store, grabbed something similar-looking, and swapped it with his device.
Of course, I didn't forget to anonymously report the suspicious guy spotted.