Chapter 99
Chapter 99
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Calm Before the Storm on the Floating Island
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In the midst of an ordinary office scene at a Korean company.
A beautiful woman wearing glasses and a suit that perfectly matched the setting—Yun Hye-mi—was reading through documents while tapping her temple with a ballpoint pen.
Standing rigidly at attention in front of her was a short-haired woman, breaking out in a cold sweat.
'Don't touch her right now...'
She could usually get away with slacking off or ignoring her, but when Yun Hye-mi was hitting her own head with a pen like this, she was an untouchable force.
Countless past experiences made the short-haired woman's body tremble.
"So?"
"Y-yes?"
"Is that the end of the story?"
"Y-yes... That's everything written in the report..."
Yun Hye-mi's head snapped up with an irritated jerk as the voice grew quieter and quieter.
"Why is that the end?"
"Y-yes?"
"Is it your job to just compile whatever info rolls in on its own? Huh? Shouldn't you at least contact that moron Kang Geom-il and get the full context!"
"I-I'll go right now!!"
Yun Hye-mi let out a deep sigh that seemed to shake the earth as she watched her subordinate bolt for the door at the first opportunity.
But then blood rushed back to her head, and she snorted hot breaths through her nose.
"What the hell is this guy doing?"
The title of the document she held read:
[Prynar Academy Instructor Qualification Exam Report]
Normally, she'd skim over it, dismissing it as something from a place that looked down on Outsiders.
But this time, Kang Geom-il—the top-tier powerhouse among Outsiders and the face of their clan—had participated, so she had no choice but to scrutinize it.
And the results were utter shit.
"Ugh. So annoying. Arghhh!!"
When she heard that Kang Geom-il had matched the performance of those Iguelra lunatics—the insane monster wizards in human skin—without even using his special perk, she'd cheered inwardly.
The clan's reputation would rise, and the 'headquarters' would reward them accordingly.
But what came after was the problem.
Some no-name bonehead had dismantled a dragon corpse in one shot, apparently.
A corpse that Kang Geom-il had raged against for a full five minutes without a scratch!
The story became a laughingstock.
From doubts like "Was that really a dragon corpse?" to claims that Kang Geom-il's skills had regressed, and even assholes belittling Yun Hye-mi's clan as small-time.
"Yedre."
Grinding her teeth, Yun Hye-mi spat out the hated name.
She might lose her temper often, but she was always rational.
She knew full well how strong Kang Geom-il was and that he was the Outsider who relied least on his special perk.
If he couldn't handle it, then it really was a dragon corpse.
She could understand those who doubted its authenticity.
Many Outsiders in the community had seen dragons in person.
Not full adults, but soulless iron dragons from quests were common enough.
And even those iron dragons—moving in some unknowable form after death—resisted most magic skills, not to mention Outsider perks.
With that experience, tales of some unranked newbie slicing one clean through made them think either Kang Geom-il was incompetent or that "Dragoongun" guy had pulled some stunt.
'What a bunch of idiots.'
Blind fools who couldn't see the truth staring them in the face, or even bother to look.
'Well, if the user there hadn't been Geom-il but someone else, even I'd have doubted it.'
The events of that qualification exam were that outrageous and impossible.
"Yedre. Yedre... Dragoongun."
Where the hell had this guy been hiding before crawling out into the world?
'He's probably that nameless guy ranked 3rd in contributions.'
The anonymous Outsider who'd shot up to 2nd in one go from the Prostia quest.
Then his rank dropped back to 3rd as vengeful top rankers pushed upward with extra effort.
You'd expect some reaction to the drop, but his name was still listed as "Nameless."
The community buzzed with wild speculation.
Doing a quest that couldn't be revealed, committing crimes rivaling mass murderers, or just enjoying the reactions while staying silent like some attention whore...
'None of that's right. His moves are flashy, but something's off. It's like he doesn't even know the community exists from the start...'
That deduction was spot-on, though she couldn't grasp the reason why.
Just then, the door opened, and someone entered.
"I told you to hit the button first!!"
"Ow, shit!"
The man entering jumped in shock at her shout.
Slightly chubby with patchy stubble, glasses, and a white dress shirt—he looked like the epitome of a black company salaryman.
He reeked of a programming expert.
"Why are you like this again?"
"Again? Again?!"
"Why take it out on me... What did I do?"
"It's been ages since I sent that girl, and she still hasn't come back! Is it that hard to get info from Kang Geom-il?!"
It sure was.
He swallowed the retort that sprang to mind and said,
"Why are you really like this?"
"Why?! Months of effort down the drain!"
"Pfft..."
Was it just him suffering?
As the man's face hardened in exasperation, Yun Hye-mi ground her teeth.
"Pfft? Pfft? B, C, D, E, F, G. Want me to beat you till you recite the whole alphabet?"
The man shrugged.
Then he looked at her with slightly bitter eyes.
"Do we really need to suck up to headquarters?"
"What?"
"We should just do our own thing..."
"Shut up."
Her tone was firm, as if the discussion was over.
"...Got it."
The man sighed heavily.
'This clan wasn't like this before...'
He could understand why Kang Geom-il was pulling back from Yun Hye-mi lately.
It wasn't pleasant watching an old friend go profit-mad and hot-tempered.
Especially since Kang Geom-il had succeeded through effort but loved adventure more than success.
'We didn't start as some black company clan...'
To be fair, the treatment was good, and Yun Hye-mi wasn't a bad person.
But back when they first arrived in this world, sharing hardships with comrades, slaying monsters threatening humanity... they had dreams of adventure.
"Hey. Where's that sigh coming from..."
"This."
"What's that?"
Only then did Yun Hye-mi notice what the man was holding.
"What else? The broadcast relay you asked for before."
"What? Broadcast? Oh, right...!"
It was less a request and more hysteria.
That day, in a fit of rage, she'd yelled something vague, and this guy had remembered and built it.
Feeling a twinge of guilt, Yun Hye-mi grumbled ungraciously instead of thanking him.
"Mana, Ryunar, or martial artists' ki will break it in no time anyway, right?"
"Tuned to Geom-il's specs. Normal energy won't faze it. You can check sites in real-time with this."
"...You. You did good!"
Yun Hye-mi flashed a bright smile.
Still, this guy's useful, she thought.
"You're a game dev—how are your hands so skilled?"
"Beats me."
The man gave a hollow laugh, heading out for a break, then paused as if remembering something.
"By the way, what got you mad this time?"
"This time? You'd think I was always pissed."
"Lately..."
He shut his mouth before finishing Yeah, right.
He was a wise company man.
"What else? Some punk named Yedre tanked our clan's rep... Oh."
"...Yedre?"
Yun Hye-mi and the man simultaneously recalled something.
"Hey, Seok-il. Didn't you mention a Yedre before?"
"Y-yeah. But why? He's supposed to be on Earth..."
"Wait, what... what'd you say he was? Yedre?"
The tired-looking man suddenly perked up with a grin.
"The supreme gaming shut-in!!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Hoo..."
"Whoa! So this is the training room!"
"Ahh... Amazing. Doesn't feel like a magic-made room at all."
My voice, Mayal's, and Asita's echoed together.
What else could it be? This was the place I'd been dying for: the training room!
Blurt Grandpa showed us a door.
I inserted the key, the frame stayed, but the door vanished, replaced by a portal's blue glow filling it.
Stepping through brought us here.
A 30-meter square room.
But that blue sky, those clouds, this meadow—it couldn't pass for indoor.
"Blurt Gra... Instructor. Impressive."
"The head instructor's famous for magic tools."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Tons of people come every year just to buy his magic devices."
Grandpa was even more amazing than I thought.
Makes sense—he's an Iguelra, peak wizard rank.
I heard recently there are just over ten Iguelra worldwide.
Five at Prynar Academy? Shows how prestigious this place is.
"Dreng dreng! Try it like he explained!"
"Ah, sure."
The explanation was Blurt Grandpa's guide to using the room.
The landscape isn't fixed.
It changes to what you imagine and desire.
Magic's so convenient.
But what's an ideal training environment?
The dojo from my childhood was just a big space with basic gear.
Fancy ones? Only training grounds from old games came to mind.
...Oh, one more.
The gym Dad and I went to a lot as a kid.
I asked why not use the dojo, but he never answered.
But that gym's facilities were crap, no matter how I recalled...
"Hmm..."
"I'll do it. Dret!"
Excited Mayal patted my shoulder and closed her eyes.
Mana swirled around her, reshaping the scenery with her at the center.
"Ooh."
Soon, it became a gym.
Not just weights—tons of magic-tool-looking equipment too.
The plain turned into an optimized workout space.
"Wow! So cool!!"
"Once a day max, he said."
As Asita said, landscape changes are limited to once daily, but this is plenty.
Amazing.
As Blurt Grandpa said, all gear is wall-mounted.
Anything touching the room's surfaces can form, any shape.
But detached items like dumbbells? No go.
They'd stick to floor/wall; forcing them off dissipates as mana...
So buying my own gear wasn't pointless.
Confirmed the training spot. Time for real exercise.
First, moved in water, food, etc., set up a simple shower.
Even in a fantasy world, showering comfortably like home—bliss.
Magic forever.
While hauling gear, Blurt Grandpa entered for a quick chat.
"Use it as long as you want. I have business."
"Busy?"
"Not busy, but... can't ignore the vice principal's summons."
"Vice principal?"
"Ah, you haven't met. Name's Kiaira. You'll see her later."
"Kiaira?"
Familiar name.
Wanted to ask more, but he was already leaving.
Not a big deal, so back to the training room.
Felt the assistants' stares on my back as I entered.
Vrooom.
Without that sound, it'd feel like a normal door.
Mayal and Asita were setting up gear, so I helped.
Bored of just moving, we chatted.
"Thanks to you two, I'm getting all the stares."
"Huh? What?"
Mayal tilted her head.
"The researchers. Staring hard. You two stand out."
"Oh? Heh. Ehehe."
Mayal blushed shyly, but Asita scoffed.
"They see us daily. No way now. And mostly women."
"Even women notice pretty girls, right?"
Something I heard: girls like pretty girls too.
"Even with these glasses outside?"
"Uh..."
She held up the nerd glasses—no argument.
Then a term popped up, so I added,
"Kingdom's Twelve Beauties, wasn't it? No wonder."
Suddenly, both shut up and flushed beet red.
Shy from my compliment? Then they shrieked.
Like my blanket-kick reactions.
"Aaah! Kyaaah!"
"Kyaaa! Drenn, you're killing me!"
They plugged ears, screaming.
That embarrassing...?
I'd be proud.
"You look totally unsympathetic, Drenn."
"Well..."
"Imagine someone calling you one of the Five Great Hunks."
Five Great Hunks...
Envious stares.
"Sounds nice..."
"Not strangers, but classmates, juniors, seniors, teachers—people you know casually. Grinning like they're teasing."
"......"
Imagining my friends—infuriating.
Er... embarrassment play?
Yeah.
Strangers fine, but acquaintances calling you that...
But that's me.
For an ugly guy hearing "eyesore, scram"—different for them.
"But you two are beauties who can embrace 'Twelve Beauties' title."
"Sneaky compliment to boost favor? Won't work~ I see through you."
"......"
"D-don't grab my head!"
I held back once.
Wondered who the twelve were, but held off—why ask? Or they'd spill.
Find out later.
Workout began.
Mayal told me to do my usual routine.
I did... but both looked shocked.
"Hmm..."
"This is..."
"Too hard?"
Remembered friends' "What the fuck?" faces during joint workouts.
"Not hard... barbaric, Dret."
"....."
Mayal's tone chilled.
Come back, sweet Mayal...
"I don't know workouts, but... you're overworking your body."
"Right. No rest, just constant pressure. Your body's gonna break. Or..."
"Or?"
"......"
Mayal clammed up; Asita continued.
"If you're showboating for us, stop."
"What the...?"
Acting macho for girls?
They glared pitifully; both huffed.
"We were worried!"
"Yeah!"
"Ugh... So how do I work out?"
"Follow my course."
Mayal's grin was goblin-like.
Scary...
For hours after, I followed Mayal's instructions.
Unique: not just modern methods, but magic/Ryunar elements.
Like channeling Ryunar/ki in legs during squats.
Effects undeniable.
Because...
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Endurance has increased.] This was the third status window already.
Mayal's methods strengthened my body fast.
Partly Outsider growth speed... but impressive specialty.
"Amazing, Dret? You're keeping up great!"
Asita was already a corpse on the floor.
Though rolling with nerd glasses, she seemed chill.
One big problem, though.
A huge one.
"Huh? Dret bending again? Hold through the pain!"
"......"
The problem: Mayal... too sexy.
.....
No, seriously.
She's in a pink tank top and hot pants.
Exposure insane compared to usual.
Smooth shoulders, collarbones, long bare legs. Armpits I love, etc.
But... more than exposure... her figure... damn.
Crazy even over uniform; this? Nowhere to look.
Mayal's like... sexy in existence.
Bursting chest, hips, pelvis. Cinched waist.
TL;DR: hard to not get hard.
Mayal called curiously.
"Dret?"
"Stretch?"
I changed topics.
Stretching touches bodies—still risky—but better than getting caught erect?
Friends first, then caught hard? Nah.
Not just crisis aversion.
Mayal quest: find Ten Noble Houses' training method.
Need body contact once.
Like diagnosing Asita's mana assimilation via touch—same for Mayal.
.....
Body contact. Sounds lewd.
"Sure? Press my back then."
"Yup."
.....
I swallowed involuntarily.
How's even sitting and bending that sexy?
Sweaty from workout—too hot.
"Huuu."
Deep breath, mind blank, hands on her waist, pressed.
Secretly infused Ryunar, scanned her body.
Then, infused Ryunar reacted dramatically.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ [Situation Assessment of the Fuck Target] "!?"
Mayal's internal energy surged.
What the?
Expected something, but this intensity?
My Ryunar synergized with something inside her... exploding.
No. Imagination?
The energy feels... joyful?
"Ah... Nngh?!"
"?"
What sound's that.
Glanced at Mayal.
Blushing neck, ears—cute girl.
...Why?
Then, a super lewd sound effect.
Pling~!
Why activate now?
Should've at first meeting.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Excited state due to intense Ryunar.] Crazy bastard.
Fuck target? She's a friend.
But the next line egged it on.
.....
Ryunar's intense, so why excited?
What's the principle?
Anyway, nice.