Can I See This Too? (2)
To the trainees, Hwang Ha-na was like a celebrity. But the moment she unleashed her aura, the situation flipped 180 degrees in an instant. Her words alone were enough to send shivers through the entire group. When she declared she would torture them mercilessly for the next month, even the trainees who had thought it was impossible were forced to tremble under her overwhelming presence. It was no ordinary aura. It was the mana wave exuded by a true powerhouse. Since the trainees had all awakened their mana, they could feel the difference clearly. Hwang Ha-na, the B-rank genius of A-rank Taebaek Guild, nicknamed “New Talent.” Some trainees had doubts about how a mere B-rank could be called a genius, but those were just rumors from people who didn’t know the truth. Even the trainees who had tasted her aura just an hour ago had thought the same—until now. Their thoughts had changed completely. “W-what!?” “C-can’t breathe…!” “T-this is… a B-rank hunter!?” “H-how is this possible…” Breath caught in their throats, hearts pounding as if standing before a predator. If a mouse faced a snake, it would look exactly like this. As all the trainees were crushed under her aura and gasping for air, Lee Do-hyeon felt something else entirely. He was shocked, but in a completely different way. [『Hwang Ha-na』’s skill 「Intimidation [B]」 has been analyzed.] [100 AP obtained.] [Analyzed a skill of an opponent with a clear power gap.] [Additional 100 AP obtained.] ‘Huh.’ Lee Do-hyeon was finally able to read one of the status windows he had been unable to read before. It seemed she could only use the analysis herself. With this, he realized the meaning of the analysis trait. By analyzing anything related to hunters besides status windows, he could obtain AP. And after successfully analyzing Intimidation, he naturally understood something else. ‘She’s holding back.’ Through analysis, Lee Do-hyeon understood that the Intimidation skill Hwang Ha-na had just used was not at full power. That was why he had been able to analyze her skill despite the gap between them. Just as Lee Do-hyeon reached this realization, another message popped up. [Successfully analyzed a skill above standard values.] [Condition met—can acquire skill 「Intimidation [B]」 with half the AP.] [ [『500 AP』 ▶ 『250 AP』—Acquire skill 「Intimidation [B]」?] ‘Discounted?’ Is there any reason to refuse? Lee Do-hyeon immediately accepted. He felt something entering his body, and a faint method for releasing mana was engraved in his mind. [Skill 「Intimidation [B]」 acquired.] [Skill is above standard values.] [Stats increase slightly below original level.] [Mana permanently increases by +5 due to acquired skill.] [Cannot activate the skill at its original power.] It was a warning message, but Lee Do-hyeon already knew. The moment something enters the body, one naturally understands how to use it. At the same time, Lee Do-hyeon felt a force gathering in various parts of his body like light particles being sucked in. It was a faint sensation, as if he had become one with the world. Is this the true power of analysis? ‘Incredible.’ Just as Lee Do-hyeon felt that way, Hwang Ha-na looked at him with a strange gaze. Then, after releasing her aura, she scanned the trainees and spoke. “Training begins tomorrow. The new trainees’ enrollment will be handled today, so wait until then. Oh, there are pamphlets inside the building—use them as a reference and make the most of the facilities. All amenities will be available starting today.” After saying that, she turned around. Only then did the trainees finally exhale and turn deathly pale. It looked as if someone had squeezed their throats, but more than that, they remembered her words from a moment ago. The promise to torture them mercilessly. “Ah… we’re doomed.” “Cough, cough. Ugh, it’ll be way too hard…” “W-we can’t drop out…?” “I heard it’s mandatory to finish the training center’s education.” Everyone was shivering at the thought of the training ahead, but Lee Do-hyeon alone was smiling contentedly. New trainees. It was only natural he was satisfied with the prospect of gaining fresh AP. Even if Hwang Ha-na was the only instructor he had seen so far, there were surely more. Thinking that far ahead, he was certain it would be a jackpot. While the other trainees stood frozen, Lee Do-hyeon casually entered the training center building. The trainees looked at him curiously and asked, “U-um, where are you going?” “Huh? Just looking around the building.” “Eh?” “Facilities are available starting today—better to check them out early.” As Lee Do-hyeon walked into the building with a snap of his fingers, the remaining four trainees watched him with mixed expressions. As if they had been under the same aura moments ago. And someone muttered, “He… he really can become a hunter?” The remaining trainees couldn’t help but nod without realizing it. Lee Do-hyeon’s appearance was just like someone who had come to become a hunter. * * * Inside the hunter training center, there were several types of buildings. Most were for the trainees, but one was reserved for the instructors. Hwang Ha-na entered the building filled with the instructors’ quarters and amenities. Just a month ago, she had been a trainee here and now stood as chief instructor, a proud feeling she hadn’t felt in years. But today, her expression was serious as she quickly reviewed the documents that had just arrived. They were the personal records of the newly enrolled trainees. ‘Hmm… strange.’ The records showed values below average. They belonged to Lee Do-hyeon. No system, but plenty of measurable numbers by modern standards. There were even machines to measure mana. Physical abilities had many standards too. Thanks to that, the records were detailed, but Lee Do-hyeon’s stats were clearly low. Among physical abilities, he ranked dead last. It was on par with female awakened beings. Even mana was recorded at the bottom. If only looking at the documents, it was clear he needed serious education. However. ‘He endured my mana intimidation.’ A technique often called mana intimidation. Analysis described it as Intimidation. For those without the system, it was called a technique rather than a skill. Mana intimidation was one such technique. In any case, it was a basic skill for hunters above a certain level. A technique that suppressed weaker opponents to stiffen their movements, and one that allowed escape from the intimidation of strong monsters. Yet a trainee who had just awakened was supposed to endure it? No matter how much Hwang Ha-na had held back, it was strange. Moreover. ‘It looked like he used mana intimidation at the end…’ Reading mana was no easy task, so Hwang Ha-na couldn’t be sure, but he seemed to be using it. Still, even she thought it unbelievable and shook her head. ‘No way. Must have misseen it.’ If what she saw was true, it would mean he endured mana intimidation from the start, copied her technique, and escaped—something that didn’t make sense. It was more believable that she had simply misseen it. But just in case. ‘I should check.’ While marking him as a person of interest, Hwang Ha-na looked at another document. It belonged to another trainee arriving today. She smiled faintly while reading one. If half of what she saw was real… ‘This year’s batch has two promising candidates.’ She muttered while reading another document labeled “person of interest.” Another promising trainee named Ji Yu-chan. When she first discovered him, it had been noisy, but if Lee Do-hyeon’s abilities were real, it would become even louder. Just as Hwang Ha-na was thinking this, another instructor rushed into her room urgently. Had something happened? On the first day of enrollment, less than ten minutes in? When Hwang Ha-na looked at the instructor with confusion, he spoke in a hurry. “Chief Instructor Hwang Ha-na? You should go check right away.” “Is there trouble?” “Yes, trainee Lee Do-hyeon is in the training grounds right now…” “I’m going.” The moment she heard the name Lee Do-hyeon, Hwang Ha-na answered and rushed to the training grounds. And there, she discovered something unbelievable. “……What is this?” * * * A moment earlier, when Hwang Ha-na entered the instructor building, Lee Do-hyeon had also entered the trainees’ building. He unfolded a pamphlet at the entrance and saw a surprisingly detailed building guide. Feeling like a fresh university student, Lee Do-hyeon scanned the pamphlet and analysis began to stir. He scanned the layout like a map and even guided him through the corridors. ‘I’ll analyze anything I want.’ Praising analysis, Lee Do-hyeon headed to the library, which had sparked his interest the most. Its official name was “Basic Skill Record Room.” Inside, he found various books. There weren’t many—maybe twenty at most. But judging by the titles, he could guess. ‘Are all these skills?’ Just in case, Lee Do-hyeon picked up a familiar-titled book and opened it. The title was none other than [Swordsmanship]. He opened the book and discovered it was a textbook. One of the basic textbooks created to improve swordsmanship skills. Then he read the opening line. [This textbook was obtained using points.] It was a textbook he had already obtained. Thinking it strange, he studied it closely. He flipped through it casually and observed the result. [Analyzed 「Swordsmanship [F]」 recorded in the skill book.] [Below standard values.] [Acquires the skill without consuming AP.] [Skill 「Swordsmanship [F]」 acquired.] [Already have the skill.] [Stats do not increase.] [Proficiency of 「Swordsmanship [F]」 rises.] [「Swordsmanship [F]」—(2/3)] [Analyzing 「Swordsmanship [F]」 again will raise its grade.] ‘Wow, insane.’ Looking at the message window, Lee Do-hyeon gulped. He hadn’t even read the textbook thoroughly, yet he learned the skill in one go. Realizing that, he looked around the record room again. There were only twenty books. This isn’t a record room. ‘Jackpot!’ Smiling, Lee Do-hyeon continued. Only ten minutes later, he arrived at the training hall to test various things. Not long after, Hwang Ha-na arrived at the same hall and saw something unbelievable. Lee Do-hyeon creating flames in the air and shooting them at a straw dummy. “T-this is trainee Lee Do-hyeon? H-how did you use that technique?” “Uh… the book said it was possible?” “What?!” It wasn’t a joke.