Genius or Mediocre? Baek Jaesung 11
Minyoung had never been so confused in her life. She was an undisputed genius. That's why she could easily spot another genius on her level. Geniuses had a way of recognizing each other—their perspectives aligned perfectly. Of course, there were outliers, geniuses beyond geniuses. She figured Han Seungjin was one of those. If Han Seungjin was a genius among geniuses, then Baek Jaesung was an enigmatic puzzle, impossible to pin down. His talent was utterly bizarre. She couldn't tell if he had any at all. It was like reading a text that defied all logic. He was too alien to judge by her standards.
His posture and movements scream total mediocrity...
Genuses achieved excellence through genius methods. Mediocrities got average results from average efforts. The difference was crystal clear—anyone could spot it. Jaesung had started out lost, just like most mediocrities. In KHC, the jab was the most basic technique. How you learned it revealed how far you'd go in KHC. You could spot the potential from the first sprouts. People who started like Jaesung usually washed out before mastering even the basics. Sure, that level helped in close combat, but they were still mediocrities.
Minyoung had no interest in mediocrities. No amount of training would let them breach a genius's wall. At least, that's what she thought. Normal geniuses grasped the jab after three or four tries. But Jaesung had floundered like an average Joe before suddenly nailing it. Even a genius like her couldn't wrap her head around it. It was like watching someone board a train to Daegu and end up in Busan.
Maybe he's a type of genius I've never seen before.
If so, he was worthy of being her true disciple. Minyoung decided to observe him a bit longer. It might just be a fluke of insane luck—and that would reveal itself soon enough.
Break time ended. Minyoung taught Jaesung the next KHC basic: the back kick. Like the jab, it was a textbook attack. If the jab was the pinnacle of orthodox punching, the back kick was the pinnacle of orthodox kicking. It gauged a trainee's potential just as well.
"Like this. Feels similar to the jab, right?"
She explained while demonstrating. Jaesung's eyes tracked her every move. Contrary to her words, the jab and back kick weren't similar at all. The gap between fists and feet was massive. Anyone with real martial arts training knew they were entirely different techniques. But Minyoung had explained sloppily on purpose.
If he's got talent, he'll show it.
This was her test for him. Jaesung's ability was now on trial. Pass it, and her suspicions would harden into certainty.
"Like this?"
Jaesung's kick snapped out cleanly. It wasn't just the motion— the mana flow inside his body was key. His form was straight-up textbook back kick. It lacked raw power, but for a beginner, it was flawless enough to declare mastery.
Minyoung's jaw dropped slightly. Nailed it on the first try.
First try...?
It had taken her over ten minutes to master the back kick—and that was insanely fast. A mediocrity might need a week of practice and still fall short. Yet this guy aced it instantly.
"And applying it like this works too."
He even pulled off an untaught roundhouse kick. He'd expanded one technique into a new, unshown one on his own. This went beyond "genius."
My god...!
Minyoung's mind raced. Whether he was a healer or not didn't matter anymore. She bowed to Jaesung.
"Please become my formal disciple!"
*-*-*
When Manager Kim Minyoung's eyes sparkled as she begged me to take her as my master, I was honestly thrown. Her face looked just like a high school girl in love. It felt like she was proposing to me. I accepted on the spot without thinking twice. No reason to refuse—a golden opportunity to fuck Manager Kim Minyoung had just dropped in my lap. And beyond that, passing up the chance to be the personal disciple of a 3rd Rank dungeon hunter? Hell no.
"Should I perform the disciple's bow?"
"Oh, n-no need for that... No! Yes, do it! I want to see the disciple's bow!"
I gave Manager Kim Minyoung the full nine bows of discipleship. I was so thrilled I nearly went full prostration for real. Once the ceremony was done, she beamed at me.
"We're master and disciple now! Nice to be working with you, disciple!"
"Uh... what should I call you?"
"Call me Master! I've always wanted to hear that."
Manager Kim Minyoung—no, Master Kim Minyoung—stuck to her polite speech. Must be a habit glued to her tongue.
Today's lesson ended there. It was past 7 p.m. I hit the baths, cleaned up, and headed back to my room.
"Jaesungie~♥ How's this!?"
I opened my private room door to a fantastic gift: naked Sujin, ass up toward me. She was on her stomach, hips hiked high, hands spreading her cheeks wide.
Her ass was so adorable I kissed her asshole. All the day's stress melted away. My exhausted body from hardcore training surged with energy.
"Eung~♥ Like it?"
"How could I not? Heh heh! I'm over the moon with how slutty you're getting, Sujin."
"R-really? You can't die on me now, Jaesung... Maybe I should hold back...?"
Her words said one thing, but her voice screamed she had zero intention of holding back. Sujin's brakes had broken ages ago. Neither of us wanted restraint.
I buried my nose in her ass and inhaled deeply. Thanks to the branch skill Beauty Devour from Yin-Yang Harmony, her body wafted a lewd, sweet scent—like perfectly ripe strawberries with a tangy edge. During sex, her flushed red skin really did evoke strawberries. I ravaged my ripe Sujin. Her body tasted far better than any fruit.
*-*-*
After fucking Sujin, I checked my skills for the first time in a while. I'd done some skill shopping with credits. I'd racked up a bunch through various means.
SSS-grade skill: Elemental Control
SS-grade skill: Regarding Death, Time Mastery
S-grade skill: KHC
A-grade skills: Mentality, Seven Days, Business
B-grade skills: Sex Mastery, Yin-Yang Harmony
C-grade skill: Deception Art
D-grade skill: Self-Defense Art
F-grade skills: Death Throes, Clowning
I'd somehow acquired skills from SSS down to F. Sure, there might be stuff above SSS or below F, but whatever.
I've got a solid skill set... but still just one ability.
My ability was the SSS-grade Power of Sex. Its effects:
←Status→
-Power of Sex (SSS-grade)-
↳Influences all sex-related acts. During sex, amplifies pleasure for self and partner; growth scales with pleasure. Induce 'defeat orgasm' in partner to enslave them. Effect can be toggled on/off.
←Status→
My strongest power by far. If I could keep only one skill or ability, I'd pick Power of Sex without hesitation.
Hmm. I've milked this ability for a long time. Maybe time for another... but abilities are filthily expensive.
Current ability price: 10,000 credits. But unlike skills, each pull doubles the cost. The escalation was steep.
One pull: 20,000. Two: 40,000. Three: 80,000... Even credit farming via Credit.com, five pulls would be tough. Plus, I need credits for items.
Exponential growth demanded caution. Pulling a crap F-grade ability would hurt way more than a bad skill.
Realistically, my viable pulls are limited. Without new farming methods, maybe ten max? Nah, probably less.
One hope: items. Maybe something to boost good ability odds. A free ability item would be perfect—but that'd be SS-grade at least.
Waiting forever for hypotheticals is dumb, though. Hmm. Try for one?
I swallowed hard. Last skill gacha cost 30,000 credits. This would burn half my stock.
Whew. Last time I got three turd skills... This time...!
I prayed inwardly and pulled.
[10,000 credits required to unlock ability. Subsequent unlocks cost double the previous. Proceed?]
"Okay. Unlock."
[Congratulations. Acquired F-grade ability 'Power of Trust.']
←Status→
-Power of Trust (F-grade)-
↳Instills slight favor in all targets. Buff efficiency scales with favor. Special buff effects trigger at max favor on certain targets.
←Status→
[Acquired title 'Hand of Minus.' Reward: 30,000 credits and Origin Ability Coupon.]
←Status→
[Hand of Minus]
↳Slightly corrects gacha luck. Don't rely on it too much.
←Status→
←Item→
●Origin Ability Coupon (S-grade)
↳Recombine F-grade skill, F-grade ability, F-grade item (100,000 credits value), and Origin Stone for random S-to-SSS-grade ability.
※Coupon applying the power to turn trash to treasure.
←Item→
"Ugh..."
Lame result. Or not entirely— the F-grade sucked, but it netted a new title. The real prize was the title's item: guaranteed S-grade+ ability with materials. Proof that ability items existed.
Plus 30,000 credits covers most losses. Go again?
No. My new title, Hand of Minus, offered a slight gacha luck boost.
If more titles/items like this exist... stacking them before pulling is optimal. Rash spending just inflates costs later.
I stopped for today. Better to farm 100,000 credits and the Origin Stone for a solid S-grade+ ability.