Chapter 72
Chapter 72
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Wall
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I woke up after a good, long sleep for the first time in ages.
The morning felt sticky with humidity.
'Noona must've gone out.'
Peering out the window, the sky was packed with dark clouds.
It really looked like rain today.
"Ugh? Ah... yeah..."
Heading to the living room, Yu-na was sitting on the sofa munching on snacks.
Her eyes went wide when she saw me.
"When did you get here?"
"Gulp. Not long ago..."
Yu-na's face flushed red as she bowed her head.
Probably because I'd come out in just my underwear like always.
"Yi Hyun-nim, good morning. Shall I prepare breakfast?"
"No. I need to take care of some business with Yu-na first."
Go Mi-hye emerged from the kitchen to ask.
She was dressed neatly, even with makeup on.
'She's diligent.'
It wasn't like I'd slept in super late just because I'd gotten a full night's rest.
"Ah, I'd like something to eat when I get back. Is that okay?"
"Of course. That's my job."
I'd planned to spar with Yu-na this morning.
That's why she'd been waiting at my place.
"What about you? Eaten yet? Want to eat together later?"
"Pardon? Yes! I'd love to join..."
"Yu-na will eat with us too."
"Yes. I'll prepare accordingly."
After handling business, I just washed my face and threw on some clothes.
Regular workout gear and my club, then out the door.
"It's been a while."
"Huh? What has?"
"Ah, sparring."
We faced each other in an empty lot where no one passed through.
I'd only taught my party members what I knew so far—never actually sparred like this.
So when Yu-na requested a match, I was genuinely pleased.
"Shall we set some rules?"
"Yes. Like what?"
"For starters, I can't go full throttle..."
I gauged Yu-na's level.
"You've leveled up."
"Yes! Hit Lv 23!"
It's not just my high level—I've got magic resistance and trajectory sensing too.
A terrible matchup for her.
"Can't do much about reflexes, but I'll match your movements as best I can."
"Got it!"
"And I'll dodge your skills visually, with hits depending on the spot..."
We laid out a few rules.
Handicap on me, full combat simulation for her.
"Ready?"
We took some distance.
Yu-na gripped a small shield in one hand, dagger in the other.
The special bag Jang-su uncle made for her was stuffed with water bottles.
"Ready."
"Go!"
I charged right in.
Water jets erupted from behind her, morphing into arrow shapes.
'Fast.'
Yu-na didn't even chant.
Thanks to drilling those applied techniques repeatedly.
Her gestures were concise now too.
Still, the water arrows formed faster than before.
The finished arrows shot toward me at high speed.
Swoooosh
I casually tilted my head to dodge the first.
But the next came with a slight delay, aiming for my thigh.
Thud
Had to twist sideways.
That thigh shot was just the opener.
Yu-na wielded her water arrows with precision.
Each one targeted different spots on my body with tiny intervals.
Even the spots I dodged to had arrows incoming.
'Trajectory sensing...'
Can't turn it off.
We'd agreed on visual dodges, but my senses reacted first.
Amid the barrage, instinct zeroed in on the gaps favoring me.
'Like dialing down target detection to minimum.'
I smacked aside or weaved around the incoming arrows with my club or body.
Gave it my all.
Reacted one beat late instead of instant trajectory response.
Nerves got scattered that way.
"Tch..."
Yu-na stuck to water arrows.
She had stronger moves but prioritized speed now.
Twist, swish
I closed the gap with acrobatic flair.
Yu-na circled sideways too while casting.
Then, at some point—
The arrows shrank smaller.
Smooth awl shapes.
'That's...'
Shotgun technique.
Tons of water awls.
Could aim direction but not control each one.
Shorter range than arrows.
Waited till we were close enough.
Shrrrrsh
Her skill sprayed in a wide arc.
Couldn't twist away.
Had to roll on the ground.
"Spear!"
Like she'd been waiting, water she'd scattered gathered over my head.
Instant massive water spear formed.
Stood vertical on ground, tip down.
Vwoooom
Startled, swung my club.
Didn't expect that attack.
Bam—
Felt solid in my grip.
Doubted if it was really water.
Anyway, spear lost form and burst.
Felt my body get wet as I straightened my knees.
From the rolled crouch, leaped straight at Yu-na like a jump.
Bang!
Yu-na couldn't follow up.
Barely blocked my club swing with her shield.
Grab
Dropped the club, wrapped her arm.
She swung her dagger.
Simultaneously, water spout surged under my chin.
Released the arm, spun fast.
Elbowed for her head.
Thwack—
Connected clean.
Yu-na crumpled limply.
"Huh?"
Quickly caught and laid her gently on the ground.
"Yu-na?"
No response from the kid.
#
Thankfully, nothing was seriously wrong with Yu-na.
Breathing fine.
"Yu-na? Wake up. Lee Yu-na!"
Shook her body, raised my voice.
She came to quick.
"Lee Yu-na! You okay?"
"Yu-na."
"What?"
"Not Lee Yu-na. Just Yu-na."
The kid who'd fainted spouted nonsense upon waking.
"You passed out. How many fingers?"
"Two. I'm fine. But, uncle."
"Yeah."
"One more round."
Yu-na spoke in a frustrated tone.
She's got a fierce competitive streak.
I refused and supported her back home.
Handed her to Kang I-seon-ssi and showered.
A bit later, Yu-na returned to my place all cleaned up.
"You won, I tell you. My trajectory sensing sped up my reactions."
We sat facing each other, eating and reviewing the spar.
She hid it well, but target detection picked up her lingering frustration.
"How's that me winning... Anyway, trajectory sensing's your skill. And yeah, you did react late."
Yu-na shot back right away at my words.
"True, but intentionally delaying from prior knowledge versus pure visual reaction are different."
Follow-up handling issue.
Couldn't shut off trajectory sensing, so even delaying gave me a slight edge on next moves.
'My own skills, why won't they obey me.'
Felt it during the spar with Yu-na.
I'm immature at wielding my skills.
Since awakening fundamentals, it'd been life-or-death real combats.
Focused solely on maxing them out.
Seemed natural.
First time suppressing was the Big Ma horde fight.
Did it out of necessity then, brushed it off.
'Gotta figure this out.'
Not anymore.
Realized controlling my skills at will is crucial.
"Could you make time again next time?"
"Huh?"
Yu-na's question snapped me from my thoughts.
"When you close in, I just go limp."
"Sure. Let's do it."
"Yes. Also... close-range tech? Submissions? Wanna learn those."
Yu-na grows fast.
High level, but actual combat power crushes peers.
Probably that win drive.
"Good idea, but your skill chaining was killer too."
"Huh? Which part?"
"Spear? Built up to it from start. Caught me off-guard since I didn't know it."
"Yeah... true."
Yu-na nodded.
Then her expression turned gloomy again.
"Anyway, I lost. Process doesn't matter... results do. You went easy, and I didn't land a single hit..."
"Keep drilling techniques like before. Play to strengths."
Spot on.
Changed the subject.
"But how'd you pull that off?"
"Aqua Spear?"
"Yeah. Usually starts near your body."
Yu-na's skills originate from her fingertips.
Short range fine, but never from that far like today.
"My Lv 20 general skill."
"Mana Conversion."
Mana Conversion alters water states—gas, liquid, solid.
"What I can do now is gas to liquid."
"Ah."
"Weird thing: could use it ranged from the start. Messing around in the bath with sis, turned steam to liquid spray on her."
From a distance, casually.
"So I wondered why other skills couldn't form detached from my body."
Practiced extending water arrow range bit by bit since.
"Turned out a perception issue."
"Perception?"
"Yes. Even initial water jets started detached from hands, right?"
"Yeah."
"Shifted perception, worked. But not just that—willpower matters too."
Strongly imaginable shapes easy, complex precise ones hard.
Forming far away needs stronger will and mental fortitude, she explained.
"Lots of thought put in."
"Yeah. Meditated and all. Plus humid today—mana conversion plus condensation feels easier. Like my influence stretches better."
My skills mostly passive, never pondered like her.
"Leveling up should unlock more. Can't launch strong from afar yet."
Vaporize, freeze water.
Pull enemy-back water arrows to self.
Yu-na constantly brainstormed skill uses.
Practice key, but so's leveling.
"Gotta practice more myself."
"Huh? What for, uncle?"
"To extend your arm, fold it first. Forgot that."
Mood lifted.
Sparring with Yu-na wasn't just fun—super useful.
"Let's talk like this more. Spar too."
"Huh? Oh, yes! Love it! Next time I win!"
Laughed at her clenched fist.
#
Ate brunch with Yu-na, then headed out again.
Surveyed Samira's lands, watched folks working.
"Noona. You okay?"
"Yeah, taking it easy."
Came to the day-and-night wheat fields with Soo-jung auntie.
Bom noona in a wide-brim straw hat, channeling mana to Bae Bong-sik ssi.
"Yi Hyun-nim."
"Bae Bong-sik ssi. Tough work."
"Nah, nothing compared to what you've done for us."
Bae Bong-sik ssi grinned, face tanned dark.
Sweating buckets.
His fundamental skill boosts soil fertility with mana.
God-tier for farming, not just day-and-night wheat—all agriculture.
Vital asset to Samira.
Treated him right, naturally.
"Expanding fields over there."
He explained his tasks.
Current crops, harvest timelines, future plans.
Could tell he enjoyed it.
"Any issues?"
He said all good at first.
Seemed misunderstanding, so reassured and asked again.
"It's all manual labor, so..."
Finally opened up honestly.
Bottom line: unhappy with the workers.
Glanced around—mostly Myeongshin Women's Univ students.
Leggings, arm sleeves.
All looked beat.
They weren't up to his standards.
"Wanna push yields more, but maybe greedy."
Could add manpower, but couldn't right now.
Samira ran tight ship.
Wrapped up chat, checked other sites.
Big Ma pens, labs, support HQ office, etc.
"Ultimately, it's people."
"Yes. Fundamentals cope fine, but normals hit physical walls."
Samira growing smoothly.
Behind it, tons of effort and sacrifice.
Even me and party barely rest.
"I'll think on it."
"Yes. It's par for the course now."
Returned home with Bom noona.
Early dinner, then Gate raid.
But problem at home too.
"Sorry... feeling really under the weather."
Seol-hee ssi, meant for Gate with me, had come down with a flu.
Her skills couldn't fix it.
Fine as yesterday.
Ruuuush
Heavy downpour from the cloud-choked sky.