Unexpected Jackpot (4)
A storm-like uproar shook the guild. It started with Kim Gil-su, then Yuna, Chae-rin, Tiriya, and Bae Han-seong rushed over at the tremendous noise. Even Yu-jin, who hardly spoke to anyone, came running.
Upon entering the room, they saw Yeong-sik clutching his solar plexus and sprawled on the floor, while A-ra huffed and puffed under the blankets covering her body. Their faces twisted into incredibly complicated expressions.
Yeong-sik managed to calm things down with the ridiculous excuse that he'd botched a Manufacture skill and caused an explosion that sent him flying. But he couldn't escape the suspicious glares from Yuna and A-ra.
The next morning, Yeong-sik's party headed to the lizardmen habitat once more, with Bae Han-seong tagging along as support, just like the day before.
Yeong-sik rubbed his solar plexus with one hand and muttered.
"Don't people usually slap cheeks...?"
"Shut up."
A-ra shot him a fierce glare, her eyes narrowing. No matter the reason, Yeong-sik knew he'd sinned, so he kept his mouth shut like a dead mouse.
As he recalled last night's events, Yeong-sik sank into thought.
Too powerful.
The newly acquired Boost ability was excessively strong—overwhelmingly so—and far too flashy. With jet propulsion blasting from his wing bones, it was no small hassle for Yeong-sik, who was hiding his true nature from the Salvatore Guild members.
I could tone it down a bit.
He recalled the info on Boost in his mind and thought that might work. Unlike weapons like Blade, Boost allowed power adjustment.
But for Yeong-sik, who'd only tried it once, controlling it wasn't easy.
I need practice time.
He needed time to master the power control. It was too versatile to seal away like his right arm. Deciding to carve out time later, he pressed on toward the lizardmen habitat for now.
The party threw themselves into lizardmen hunting as before. Yeong-sik moved near the village he'd scouted last time and took out the surrounding lizardmen.
It was a hair-raising risk—they might face over a hundred lizardmen charging out en masse—but the potential gains justified it, thanks to their insane hunting speed.
The lizardmen's intelligence seemed low; even as Yeong-sik's group circled the village outskirts in a near-massacre, they never all rushed out at once.
In a single day, they bagged two elite lizardmen and over sixty regulars, netting a tidy 5 gold profit and hitting level 10 before heading back.
The storm of hunting was possible entirely thanks to Bae Han-seong. Normally, they'd have exhausted after thirty lizardmen, but his timely support and generous supplies kept them going.
He'd even given A-ra a mana potion when her mana ran dry mid-hunt, letting them wrap up with satisfying results.
"Hmm. No doubt about your skills, everyone. Especially you, A-ra. I have a feeling you'll be a ranker someday."
"...That's too much."
A-ra shook her head, thinking of Kang Ha-rin she'd seen before. The idea of reaching that overwhelming strength felt unimaginable.
Yeong-sik handed Bae Han-seong 1 gold—20% of the day's 5-gold haul—and asked.
"But didn't we spend over 1 gold on supplies today alone?"
"Haha, mana potions aren't cheap. Still, I see it as an investment, so it doesn't sting too much. Once the expedition Mammoth team returns, we'll be flush for a while."
Bae Han-seong answered honestly.
"How many members are left besides us?"
Yeong-sik asked with a curious look.
"Four. They're all powerhouses who rival Yuna. Our guild's top elite party right now."
He spoke proudly, picturing the expedition members.
"When do they come back?"
"Mm, from the communication orb, they pushed a bit beyond the Northern Borderline this time. Even at best speed, it'll take about a month."
"A month..."
Yeong-sik grimaced at the timeline, incomparable to their day trips hunting lizardmen.
Bae Han-seong smiled lightly and continued.
"But the profits from expeditions like this are no joke. It'll ease our guild funds considerably. Then we can support you all with rare items too."
"Thank you."
Yeong-sik nodded with a smile.
Bae Han-seong flashed a warm, good-natured grin and adjusted his round glasses.
"I'm the one sorry I can't support you like a mega-guild."
"No, it's fine. I'm very satisfied here in Salvatore Guild."
Yeong-sik said as he entered the guild hall.
As usual, Tiriya rushed over to check on the party's well-being. Hardly the dignified look of a guild master.
"Come on, Guild Master. That's enough worrying—let us rest."
"B-but..."
"Let's go."
Bae Han-seong, used to this, led her inside.
Yeong-sik didn't follow. He turned to A-ra.
"Gonna take a quick walk outside. Go ahead without me."
"A walk? At this hour?"
A-ra stared at him like he'd lost his mind.
Yeong-sik shrugged evasively.
She narrowed her eyes at him.
In a small voice, she muttered.
"Did you get a new ability or something?"
Knowing his secret, she asked cautiously.
Yeong-sik chuckled and nodded.
"Yeah. That's what smashed the wall last night too."
"Ugh...! You...!"
A-ra glared daggers, dragging up what she'd tried to forget.
A light laugh escaped Yeong-sik.
Her cheeks flushed red as she pressed on.
"Can't I come with?"
"Well... if you're okay with the massive misunderstanding from us sneaking off alone. Oh, and I don't mind."
He said with a playful smile.
Her already red cheeks burned crimson. She whipped around and snapped curtly.
"N-no way that's okay?! Go by yourself."
"And... tell me later what ability it is."
Yeong-sik nodded and headed out.
He left the city for a secluded clearing. No monsters or people—just suffocating silence.
"Good."
Confirming he was alone, Yeong-sik crouched slightly, bracing for acceleration.
"Boost."
Boost
Shwooo!
Intense jet propulsion erupted from his wing bones. His body shot forward like a cannonball.
Thud!
"Guh!"
Unable to control his speed, Yeong-sik tumbled across the ground. He spat out dirt and stood.
Tone it down a little.
Consciously weakening it, he tried again. This time, no jets—just a slight push forward.
"Now that's too weak..."
He struggled with the tricky control, repeating his training.
Two hours flew by.
"Boost."
Shwooo!
A faint flame-like glow sputtered from his wing bones—barely visible light.
His body rocketed forward at high speed.
"Blade."
Mid-flight, he swung his arm with Blade extended. His body spun half a turn in the air, slashing fiercely at empty space.
He landed back on the ground.
"Boost."
This time, faint light burst from his feet. His falling body shot upward again.
But without steadying his posture, he spun wildly and crashed down.
"Guh!"
Yeong-sik swallowed a grunt and rose. Still, a thick smile played on his lips.
"Beyond expectations."
He muttered, pondering Boost's immense utility.
It wasn't limited to his back. He could jet from any body part.
Applied to his Blade-swinging arm, it became an offensive boost. Other parts were unfamiliar, making balance hard, but practice would master it.
If I use it right...
His eyes sparkled at the possibilities.
Mastered, Boost could let him maneuver freely in the air during battle.
Human combat assumed ground-based fighting—no one flew.
But with free Boost, he'd fight in three dimensions, untouchable by fellow humans.
"Ugh. Gotta come out every night to train."
He muttered, looking down at his tattered clothes—rags from all the rolling.
Even cheap outfits added up; it stung a bit.
Can't train naked, though.
No sane person would streak through a secluded spot.
Deciding to buy spares, he mulled over Boost.
Saying it aloud every time is inefficient.
For Blade or Rocket Punch, voice activation was fine. But Boost nonstop? Endless chatter.
He'd voiced it so far because it sharpened the mental image.
This time, he tried mentally, without speaking.
Boost.
Pfsh. Hiss.
Boost energy depleted. Recharge requires 3 hours.
"...Can't use it freely, huh."
First time his abilities had such limits; Yeong-sik looked disappointed.
"Gotta come out again tonight."
He headed back to Ruberin, planning to return after dark. Unlike others, two hours' sleep sufficed for him.
His heart raced with anticipation for researching his new power.
Thus, repeating hunts and skill training, three weeks slipped by.