Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: The Best Defense is Evasion 2
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[Trait Synergy, "The Best Defense is Evasion" (E), has met the additional conditions.
It has been upgraded to the superior synergy, "The Best Defense is Evasion 2" (E).
The effects of the existing synergy have been greatly enhanced.]
The synergy called "The Best Defense is Evasion" had so far been composed of movement and combat sense traits.
But why had it suddenly met the additional conditions now?
Jeong-hyeon hurriedly tapped on the synergy information.
["The Best Defense is Evasion 2"
Current Constituent Traits: "Decent Combat Sense," "Markedly Agile Movement," "Physical Ability Enhancement," "Excellent Movement Speed"]
"What in the world..."
The movement speed that he'd been calling by the derogatory nickname "trash movement speed" this whole time had actually been a synergy constituent trait?
No wonder it seemed strange that there was no reaction despite the clear synergy between the existing synergy traits and the physical ability traits.
This change revealed two things.
Synergies had superior versions.
And to unlock those superior synergies, he really needed to experiment with various combinations.
Just take this time as an example—if he hadn't been backed into such a desperate situation, he never would have equipped the movement speed trait.
He might never have learned about superior synergies his whole life.
In any case, this alone elevated trash movement speed to proper movement speed territory.
And he still needed to check its detailed effects.
Changes from the synergy upgrade scrolled up in front of Jeong-hyeon's eyes.
["Decent Combat Sense" now predicts all attacks that the user can perceive with their senses.
The correction value of "Markedly Agile Movement" has been further increased. It is now treated as one rank higher.
The natural recovery power of "Physical Ability Enhancement" has increased. The effects of an F-rank healing trait are now constantly applied.
The correction of "Excellent Movement Speed" is no longer limited to movement speed. It now also applies to thought acceleration during combat.]
"This is insane..."
A low murmur of extreme praise leaked from Jeong-hyeon's mouth.
Was this a dream?
Yeah, it had to be a dream.
The adaptation pain had been so excruciating that he'd blacked out, and this was just his mind escaping reality.
It felt too real, but if he slammed his thigh with full force, for example—
"Argh!"
Jeong-hyeon, who had punched his own thigh as hard as he could, jumped up.
The vivid pain sharply awakened every cell in his body, which had been slightly dulled by the adaptation pain.
"Damn... so this is real?"
His eyes were filled with disbelief.
And he had every reason to feel that way.
Wasn't this way too overpowered for a mere reward from reluctantly slotting in a movement speed trait?
The combat sense trait now detected every attack he could perceive with his senses.
He'd already made great use of its attack trajectory detection, but from now on, he could even sense attacks not aimed at him.
Not just for safety, but incredibly useful for judging the overall battle.
On top of that, the movement trait's correction had increased so much it was now judged one rank higher.
Essentially C-rank in one go.
Just the movement trait alone would earn him respect anywhere.
And what about the constant F-rank healing?
But the biggest jackpot of all was...
"Dear movement trait... I'm sorry for doubting you all this time..."
It was the synergy effect on movement speed that drew out Jeong-hyeon's sincere reflection.
A glorious return for the movement speed trait.
Truth be told, movement speed wasn't useless in combat—it was just faithful to its effects.
Think of that D-rank movement speed user Shin Pil-jung from last time.
Even at D-rank, hadn't he leisurely kept up with Jeong-hyeon as he desperately fled with every agility buff he had?
And that was C-rank.
The stingy system had even graced it with the adjective "excellent," so the effect had to be reliable.
And now it applied to thought acceleration too?
"At this point, you're telling me to ditch the rank chart and go all-in, right?"
He hadn't experienced it yet, so he couldn't say for sure, but if it lived up to even half his expectations, it was certain.
Movement speed wasn't trash movement speed at all.
It was god movement speed!
"Heh heh heh, no. It's king emperor god movement speed..."
Jeong-hyeon reread the synergy changes over and over, his smile growing eerily sinister.
Thought acceleration was that much of a cheat ability.
Unless he had a similar trait, there was no comparison.
What even was thought acceleration?
It just let him process reactions and senses in real-time, making fighting natural.
And as he thought about thought acceleration, another idea flashed through Jeong-hyeon's mind.
"If I synergize this with magic, it could be insane."
Magic traits—he'd been eyeing them but kept putting off the purchase for various reasons.
Without exceptional talent, casting magic itself was hard, and insufficient mana totals made sustained combat impossible.
But with thought acceleration, at least one problem was solved.
Especially, under the premise that synergies could expand, there was one more thing to look forward to.
"The potential magic synergies."
Magic traits included the basics like mana sensitivity, plus countless elemental ones.
If they combined to expand synergies?
An archmage straight out of a fantasy novel wouldn't be a dream.
- Rrr
Right as Jeong-hyeon was lost in flights of fancy.
His phone's ringtone yanked him back to reality.
- Cha Ye-rin Department Head
"Huh... why is she calling?"
The caller was none other than Cha Ye-rin.
Common sense said she had no reason to call him first.
Even if it was about the results of reporting those shady merchants last time, the gap since then had been quite long.
Anyway, he couldn't ignore a call from the association's department head just because it felt fishy, so after a few false swallows, Jeong-hyeon pressed the call button.
"Hello?"
- This is Cha Ye-rin.
She probably had a habit of stating her name every time he picked up.
They had each other's contacts, so was it really necessary?
"Yes, hello, Department Head. What brings you to call..."
- Hunter Han Jeong-hyeon. Why don't you work with me alone?
"Pardon?"
Jeong-hyeon blinked, pulled the phone from his ear to check it, then put it back.
"I'm not even part of the association yet. And I'm definitely not under your department."
- Oh? "Yet"? You've come a long way.
"Isn't the fact that I'm not more important?"
- It's urgent, and not something to discuss over the phone, so come to the office. As soon as possible. Hanging up.
"Hey, wait! Hold on!"
But the call cut off before he could finish.
"What the hell, that woman!"
No use fuming.
The clock on his phone screen showed it was just shy of 10 a.m.
Ye-rin must have called almost immediately after arriving at work.
"It must be urgent..."
He couldn't fully hide the irritation on his face, but in the end, Jeong-hyeon started getting ready to head out.
He was going because the association—which oversaw Korea's hunter affairs—said it was urgent. Definitely not because Ye-rin scared him.
'Just you wait until I snag that A-rank trait...'
***
The Investigation Division 3 office at the Hunter Association, his second visit.
"How did you... Oh, Hunter Han Jeong-hyeon?"
"Ah, you remember me."
The first to recognize Jeong-hyeon as he awkwardly opened the door was Investigation Team Leader Kim Seok-woong.
He hadn't expected someone he knew to remember him, so Jeong-hyeon was a bit surprised.
It had been two months since he and Seok-woong met.
An investigation team leader probably wasn't that leisurely, so it was unexpected.
Of course, an eccentric like Ye-rin could pull it off, but Seok-woong seemed like a normal guy.
Seok-woong smiled warmly at Jeong-hyeon's words.
"How could I forget the guy who caught the Masked Duo? So, what brings you here?"
"Uh... Is Department Head Cha Ye-rin in?"
"The department head? She just stepped out for a bit."
She really was impossible to view positively.
Calling him in the morning for something urgent, then ditching her post?
Jeong-hyeon felt a vein bulge on his forehead but kept his smile and replied.
"She called me here. Can I wait a bit?"
"Of course. Mind waiting in the room you used last time for the statement? Help yourself to anything you want."
With that, Seok-woong guided him to the same cozy room full of snacks from before.
Since he hadn't eaten breakfast, Jeong-hyeon grabbed a few cookies from the desk,
[Current Active Trait Synergies: "The Best Defense is Evasion 2" (E), "If You Blind Their Eyes, It's Assassination" (E)]
and grinned at the synergy window that was so full it filled him up just looking at it.
The effects were still jaw-dropping no matter how many times he saw them.
At this level, not only the random orc, but even the Rock Spider's mutated boss could probably be soloed.
Its multiple legs swinging without gaps were annoying, but if he could dodge, it was no issue.
As the synergy name implied, no need to worry about defense if he didn't get hit.
And guys like Jucheol or Hee-soo, who had pushed him to the brink of death? He was confident he could take on a truckload now.
Then, a sudden thought crossed Jeong-hyeon's mind.
'This scene... feels like I've seen it somewhere before.'
To be precise, not seen, but experienced directly.
When he was grinning at his status window,
"You seem to be in a good mood again?"
"Yeah, it's just like how Department Head Cha said last—Gah!"
Cha Ye-rin had appeared without a sound and whispered right in his ear.
Jeong-hyeon nearly kicked back his chair in shock.
'What the hell? How does she enter without making a peep!'
She was utterly mysterious.
Not arrogant, but with his skills giving him some confidence.
Even if Ye-rin was A-rank level 5, how could she sneak up on him when he'd gone almost all-in on agility without him sensing her presence?
But as if reading his mind,
Ye-rin flashed a grin at his shocked expression and sat across from him.
"I've actually leveled up to 6 this time."
"Level 6? No way... Wait, are you seriously reading my mind?!"
He was too tired to be surprised anymore.
Reacting strongly might just give her some twisted pleasure.
Jeong-hyeon resignedly straightened his chair.
Ye-rin's sly smile remained.
"Every time you come to our office, good things happen. No real thoughts of joining us? I can offer a higher signing bonus than last time."
"No! ...Damn it."
He'd just thought to stonewall her endlessly.
Ye-rin knew exactly how to grate on his nerves more than anyone.
She chuckled a few times at him before getting to the point.
"Anyway, the reason I called you this time, Hunter Han Jeong-hyeon, is..."