Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Rumors of the S-Rank Word Mage. Hero of the Perfect Clear
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The rumored S-Rank Word Mage.
The protagonist of the Perfect Clear.
Kang Hyun spoke up.
"Disciple. Fetch me some water."
"Yes!"
A glass of water appeared before his eyes.
She was brimming with energy.
He sipped it humbly.
"Disciple. The water's cold."
"Yes!"
The glass in his palm vanished.
A fresh glass appeared.
"Disciple. Perfect."
"Thank you!"
Water can't be ice-cold or scalding hot.
It shocks the precious throat.
Lukewarm is best for throat care.
Sip.
"Remember this temperature going forward."
"Yes!"
Sip.
A disciple.
Handy to have around.
He'd raised one in his past life too, and she'd turned out brilliantly.
'She started out stuttering. Never thought that pick would pan out so well.'
Kyle's disciple.
She had a slew of titles.
Mira of the Seven Heroes.
Disciple of the Great Hero.
Grand Archmage.
And the creator of magic.
Creator of the system.
'What would've we done without her inventing magic and the system?'
A well-trained disciple codifies her master's teachings.
She devised mass-market Word Arts for the talentless.
That became magic.
'Now magic's driven Word Arts to extinction.'
Word Arts are brutally tough, while magic's a breeze.
Ceiling's way lower than Word Arts, sure.
But her intent rang true in the end.
What if no magic today?
Could Earth and Thea have survived a century without Kyle?
'Thanks to her, I'm cashing in on the system too.'
Plus, solo travel gets dull.
Another disciple? Not a bad idea.
'Aden's got killer talent.'
Fine. Let's raise her.
He sipped his water.
"Disciple."
"Yes!"
"Trim some fat. You're tiring me out just looking."
"Yes!"
"..."
She'll handle it.
Anyway.
"Disciple. This Perfect Clear deal. I'm not the first, right?"
No way the pioneer.
How tough could it be?
"Ah, yeah. There were... exactly two..."
"Good enough."
Yeah, thought so.
Nothing to sweat.
"Hit the dungeon with me tomorrow. Watch and learn."
Aden choked.
"Cough, cough! T-Together!? You'll show me your magic, Master?!"
No magic from me.
She'll figure it out watching.
"Yeah. Just observe."
"Wow! Thank you!"
Aden bowed low.
'Can't fully hide Word Arts. Gotta show select few.'
Who but a disciple?
Aden's solid.
Spotting allies? Hero basics.
Lifetime habit.
"Rested? Report as Awakener. Then dungeon."
"Ah..."
"What."
"Uh..."
Aden hesitated, words on tip of tongue.
"M-Master. Truth is... I'm undocumented."
"Undocumented? Illegal resident?"
"Y-Yes..."
News to me.
She'd psyched herself up big-time.
"Why? Report now. Say you crossed from Thea via the 'passage'."
"Don't qualify for residency. No skills, flat broke..."
"What happens on report?"
"Deported to Terra..."
Voice trailed off.
Deeply ashamed, clearly.
Hid it this long.
"Shoulders back. Streets kid here too. Hustle hard, past's irrelevant."
No lie.
Past life tale.
'Kang Hyun' grew cozy in Korea.
Truth would thrill her more.
Kyle fan-girl.
"Master...!"
Aden teared up, touched.
'Reaction's eerily like Mira's.'
Moved by scraps as "master's wisdom".
Spitting image of old disciple Mira.
"Right. Stay feisty always. Who'm I?"
"Yes!"
"Anyway, illegal status the snag? Bundle with Awakener reg."
"Huh?"
Aden blanked.
"Handle what? My status?"
Used to wrangling this.
Gov't showdowns.
Life gap with Aden.
"Ways exist."
Hero style.
"Clothes on."
"Wh-What're we doing? Where to?"
"Awakener Management Headquarters."
Quick fix, kid.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The pair headed to the Awakener Management Headquarters building.
"Oh, don't mention me there. No Perfect Clear talk."
"Why!?"
Aden, major letdown.
Craved props for her master.
"Excess fame stabs back."
"Ah!"
"Strut's a perk. Strong man's perk, self-preservation savvy."
"Got it!"
Aden fist-pumped.
Felt the wisdom.
Basic line, yet awed.
Strut's a perk.
Saved Kyle's skin plenty.
Priceless ally's tip.
'Brings him to mind.'
Le Moeris.
Royal-born hero.
Succession survivor.
Worldly advice guru.
"Disciple. Fretted over undocumented?"
"Yes!"
"Leverage your worth."
"How?"
"Milk courtesy, nuke small fries. Clears path to big leagues."
Eyes lit up again.
"This dim bulb disciple, knowledge-starved, can't grasp master's will."
"Gear up power trip."
"Pardon?"
"A-Rank, you."
"Y-Yeah..."
Still lost.
Eyes screamed "So?"
"A-Rank means... what? No ID, no reg anyway."
Tsk.
"Blind to value, blind to wielding it."
Kang Hyun knew befitting their treatment.
Demanded it.
World craves talent.
Thirsts madly.
Headquarters arrival.
Counter past, staff-led to room.
"Hello~ Awakener registration?"
"Yes."
Aden froze.
Kang Hyun fielded.
"Fill form first, then stats~"
Form down.
Aden blanked.
No records here.
Query flags it.
'Wh-What now? Why straight here?'
Gut twisted.
"Both registering?"
"Nah me. Anyway."
"Freely~"
"High-up manager, please."
"Pardon?"
Reg desk newbie.
Probation.
'Manual blank?'
Training mode.
"Sorry, manager swamped."
Forced calm.
Next line nuked brain.
"Friend here: unregistered A-Rank."
"...Huh?"
"Proof snag, manager chat."
A-Rank?
Unreg A-Rank?
'Impossible.'
A-Rank: ultra-elite.
Global VIP.
Strategic asset.
Exit sparks diplomacy.
Otherworldly breed.
No lone wolf.
Top guilds, nations hunt feverishly.
'Help?'
Manual cover?
Boot? If legit?
'My fault?'
Unreg A-Rank: newbie overload.
Kang Hyun clocked it fast.
Read her vibe.
'Tsk.'
No dice here.
"No sweat-thinking."
"Huh?"
"Beyond you, call boss."
"Y-Yeah. Moment..."
She bailed, queasy-faced.
Fragile nerves.
Kang Hyun straw-slurped pouch.
Cool as ice.
Aden eyed master.
'Al-ways this fearless?'
Bold vibe eased worry. Calmed.
'R-Right. No panic. Master's Perfect Clear guy!'
Own worth known.
Wielded right.
Aden recited teachings.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Awakener registration office.
Choi Young-ho stormed in.
"Duty assist!"
"Yes, sir!"
Choi Young-ho.
No mere chief.
Awakener Combat Power Planning Section Chief.
Mini-ministry director clout.
Untouchable.
Choi paper-shredded.
Office gawked speed.
Shuffle!
"Mach 1!"
"Chief, early out?"
Work fiend.
Patriot junkie.
No fluke: thirties hot seat.
Today: field dash.
For one mark.
'S-Rank Word Mage MIA. Shelve.'
Perfect Clear first!
'Gate logs. New regs.'
All here.
Perfect Clear hunt: clockwork.
Find 'em.
Must!
For nation!
Then, buzz behind Choi.
"S-Senior! Crisis!"
"Hush! Chief grinding! Quiet!"
"Eh?"
Who?
Paper whirr.
Shuffle!
"Rookie why here? Counter ditched."
"D-Dunno. High-up summon..."
Shaky newbie.
Senior clutched head.
Chief aside, this fool!
"Prank? Manual dog food? Troubler flee?"
"N-No trouble... A-Rank. New reg..."
"A-Rank my ass! A-Rank whose mutt-"
Head slips between.
Choi Young-ho.
"Hold. Repeat?"
"Eek!"
Choi froze on intel.
Fresh A-Rank sky-drop?
Troll odds high.
Vibe screamed no.
"I'm descending."
"Y-Yes!? N-No need! Rookie drill mine, spare-"
"Escort."
Choi bulldozed.
To Kang Hyun.
"Pleased. Awakener Combat Power Planning Section Chief, Choi Young-ho."
"Kang Hyun."
Handshake flowed.
Choi, vet of hordes.
Eyes confirmed.
'Kang Hyun. Genuine A-Rank!'
Choi's rims gleamed.