Chapter 19
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Persuasion (4)
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In the car heading to Seoul.
I slowly reduced speed to match the car in front, then glanced at Jin Seo-won sitting beside me.
"......"
She had been clutching her bankbook tightly and staring intently at the transactions since earlier.
It was understandable. A bankbook that once held just 1.5 million won now showed 100 million.
'Grandma must have scrimped and saved quite a bit.'
Jin Seo-won had said the bankbook was one her grandmother personally opened for her granddaughter while alive.
According to the cafe owner, Yoon In-kyung, her grandma had steadily saved living expenses right up until her final days to pass on to her.
Jin Seo-won didn't show it outwardly, but she seemed quite attached to her grandmother.
'What a shame.'
I figured Jin Seo-won becoming the Heavenly Demon was inevitable.
At an age when she should have been surrounded by attention and love, she lost both parents and grew up poor with just her grandma.
The moment she became an adult, her only remaining family—her grandma—passed away too.
Fortunately, Yoon In-kyung had been looking after her like an older sister, giving her at least some small support...
But then a sudden accident took Yoon In-kyung away as well. It would have been weirder if she didn't hate the world.
'This is the world playing dirty.'
Of course, I didn't think this turned Jin Seo-won into some psycho who calmly tears people apart.
There must have been some backstory only the author knew.
But Yoon In-kyung's death was definitely the trigger for her awakening as the Heavenly Demon.
'Gotta stop it somehow...'
I shifted lanes and accelerated again, speeding smoothly down the open road while pondering the second incident that would happen soon.
The second incident would unfold nationwide in about three weeks.
The biggest gate would open in Seoul, along with gates in Chuncheon and several other cities...
The problem was I didn't know the locations of the gates opening outside Seoul.
'Fucking hell, you trash bastard...'
I cursed the author of The Supreme Expert for glossing over the details and racked my brain for solutions.
First off, I couldn't rely on the detector like before.
Using it recklessly might leave me unprepared for when it was truly needed.
'Should I bring in another S-rank hunter?'
Gates only caused massive damage because they weren't cleared quickly enough.
The Chuncheon gate wasn't as large or high-level as Seoul's, so a top-tier hunter should handle it easily.
As long as no unexpected variables popped up.
'Please, Demon Army, stick to the script...'
The otherworldly Demon Army in the original novel was depicted in a classic cliché style.
Invading to conquer another dimension, sending troops in waves because "humans can't be that strong anyway"...
Of course, with the story diverging from the original, they might suddenly change tactics.
At this point in the original, Seol Ju-hee had just reached D-rank and was deep in training.
But unlike the original, she was already Ex-rank, and the Demon Army's first plan had failed spectacularly.
No guarantee things would play out exactly as foreseen.
'Just follow the damn script, please...'
Praying inwardly to the Demon King like that, I arrived at Seoul City Hall before I knew it.
"Hello. I'm Han Gyu-ri, handling administration for Team Seoul City Hall."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Kim Jun-hyeong, the team manager."
Jin Seo-won nodded slightly in response to their greetings.
"Jin Seo-won."
Thanks to the heads-up I'd given them earlier, neither said anything extra.
We quickly finished the contract and team registration. I left Jin Seo-won with Han Gyu-ri and chatted briefly with Kim Jun-hyeong.
"This real?"
"What is?"
Kim Jun-hyeong glanced at Jin Seo-won through the transparent window, then spoke with a worried look.
"You didn't bring her here to recruit, did you?"
"That's exactly it."
"...Can we even recruit her?"
"Brought her because we can. You don't trust me?"
"I do... I do! But don't we at least need to pretend to train her?!"
He was concerned she'd lag behind the other two team members.
Jin Seo-won was currently F-rank.
Two full ranks below the D-rank others.
Sure, both low-tier, but a D-rank who could wield mana was worlds apart from an F-rank who could barely sense it.
"The kids you brought must have talent, of course! But leaving her for a whole month... you sure?"
They needed training and team synergy ASAP, but training could only start a month later. He was genuinely worried.
Understanding his concern, I nodded slowly and replied.
"I've got it all planned, so don't worry. Just... react appropriately when the time comes."
"...React?"
After wrapping up with Kim Jun-hyeong.
With Han Gyu-ri and Kim Jun-hyeong off to the training ground after finishing their tasks...
I stayed in the office with Jin Seo-won and asked her impressions.
"What do you think of the office? Pretty good, right?"
"...Yes."
"Like I said earlier, staff's just the three of us including me. Oh, Jun-hyeong's my high school buddy. Great guy, so feel free to ask him for anything anytime."
"...Yes."
"Gyu-ri's wonderful too. Real passion for the team. If Jun-hyeong or I make you uncomfortable, just tell her."
Jin Seo-won nodded repeatedly with faint responses, seemingly uninterested. After subtly promoting the team, I pretended to have nothing more to say, glanced around the office, and casually opened my mouth.
"Hmm... Since we're in Seoul for once, anything you wanna do?"
And then.
"...No."
She replied sharply, as if it hadn't even crossed her mind.
Right on cue. I smirked faintly and made my pitch like I'd been waiting.
"Then... wanna watch our team's training?"
"...?"
She pulled back slightly, face puzzled.
Like she'd caught on to my intent to draw her into the team.
'Sharp instincts.'
"In-kyung said to feed you dinner and drive you home. It's only lunchtime—sitting around till evening's awkward, right?"
"That's..."
"Or do you have something else in mind?"
As expected, Jin Seo-won couldn't answer readily.
She probably had no idea how to kill time.
"Truth is... I have business at the training ground too. Supposed to oversee the team training personally, but I was away a week and missed it. Wonder if they're doing okay..."
I glanced at her subtly, nudging a response.
A bit sneaky against someone low on social skills, but...
I was desperate too.
"...Seo-won. If it's okay, would you come with? Lots of famous teams there—could be a great experience."
"......"
Jin Seo-won chewed her lip, looking like she had something to say.
And...
"...Okay."
She gave in to my request.
"Producer! You're back out here now!?"
"Long time no see, Producer!"
"Both of you too. No issues while I was gone?"
"Nope! Trained hard!"
Arriving at the training ground, we greeted Bang Han-na and Kim Na-rae, who were on break.
"This is Jin Seo-won, our new team member candidate. She's just observing today, so take good care of her."
"Candidate...?"
"Ah...!"
I hadn't explained details, but they seemed to get it.
"Hi! Bang Han-na here! Nice to meet you!"
"Kim Na-rae. Nice to meet you."
"...Jin Seo-won."
After briefly introducing her.
"Guys! Time to train!"
Han Gyu-ri called to resume.
"Gotta go first! Have fun!"
"See you soon."
"I'll watch right away, so give it your all."
"Yes...!"
I left Jin Seo-won with Han Gyu-ri and Kim Jun-hyeong, then oversaw Bang Han-na and Kim Na-rae's training as promised.
"Hya...!"
First stop: Kim Na-rae's booth.
At her command, the fire spirit hurled a fireball at the dummy robot.
Whoooosh───! Boom──!
Not huge power, but a solid explosion.
Unlike last week's limp flames, mana was properly concentrated inside.
'Doing great.'
Nodding at her progress, I spoke into the mic for her booth.
"Na-rae. Load more mana this time. Size can shrink—focus on destructive power."
"Yes!"
After feedback for Kim Na-rae, I moved to Bang Han-na's booth.
Thud───!! Boom────!!!
Bang Han-na was facing a training robot one grade higher, as usual.
Boom───!! Boom───!!
The robot attacked in varied rhythms, but she blocked every one effortlessly.
'Doing great.'
Good balance, feedback applied—incredibly high shock absorption.
Ready for the next step.
"Han-na. Keep blocking while moving around a bit."
I instructed a new method.
Not standing still, but defending on the move.
"Yep...!"
Bang Han-na shifted positions per instructions, blocking attacks.
Boom──! Boom──!!
Under sustained assault, maintaining balance grew tough—she started wobbling.
"Ngh...!"
"Good! Tense up more! Focus on deflecting!"
"Yess...!"
I oversaw until she adapted.
Slowly, but each step steadier.
Feedback done, I approached Jin Seo-won, quietly watching from the bench.
"Enjoying the show?"
Her eyes sparkled oddly as she nodded.
Seemed she found watching training fun.
"Glad to hear."
I sat beside her casually, pretending to watch the booth while glancing her way.
"Not bored?"
"...It's fine."
"Wanna try training?"
"...?"
Sensing something off, she stared and edged away.
I smiled unwittingly and offered the item I'd prepared.
"Wanna try this?"
An S-rank mana stone necklace.
"This is training too—infuse mana to light it up. See Na-rae's glowing one? Same thing."
"......"
Jin Seo-won stared at the sparkling stone in my hand.
Then...
"...!"
Realizing something, she whipped her head away and backed up more.
'Cute.'
Like a kid pretending disinterest. Smirking, I forced the mana stone into her hand.
"Not just hunters— all ability users do this."
"...Ability users?"
"For real. Your parents probably did too."
Jin Seo-won gazed at the stone in her hand. I urged her gently.
"Just try lighting it once."
"......"
After a moment's thought, she grimaced like squeezing out mana and gripped it tight...
Of course, it didn't light.
"Not working?"
Feigning ignorance, I grabbed her hand.
She flinched!
Eyes wide in surprise, meeting my gaze.
"Just copy exactly. Got it?"
Ignoring her stare, I slowly infused mana into her clenched fist.
Fwaaaah────!!!!
Light burst through her fist.
She twitched, then cautiously opened her hand to gaze at the stone.
Like a kid seeing magic for the first time.
"That's how."
I released her hand, giving another chance.
"......"
Forgotten she was training, she glanced at me, then focused on the stone in her palm, frowning slightly.
Moments later.
Fwaaaaaah─────!!!!
The mana stone blazed brilliantly in response.
"S-Seo-won! You did it!"
"...?"
Never expecting success, she alternated looks between the stone and me, puzzled.
"What the—! No way... Nailed it first try!?"
Kim Jun-hyeong approached, hamming it up with praise.
"Amazing! Seo-won, you might have real talent!"
"Whoa... Total genius!"
"Uh, uh... uh-huh..."
Overwhelmed, Jin Seo-won let the light fade.
"How'd an talent like this get F-rank? Testing center broken?"
"Right! Their fault!"
Kim Jun-hyeong and I kept praising. Jin Seo-won flushed, pleased yet shy, murmuring thanks.
"...Th-thank you..."
Plan perfect.
'No good...!'
Bang Han-na halted training midway, leaving her booth to ask about confusing parts—and find Do Ji-hyuk.
'He said ask anytime... Should be fine, right?'
Unbeknownst to her, she mostly wanted more time chatting with Do Ji-hyuk after so long.
"Ah, Produc...!"
The moment she spotted and approached him.
Fwaaaah────!!!
Bright light poured from Jin Seo-won's hand beside him.
'...That's...!'
The mana stone glow.
"Whoa...! Seo-won, true genius!"
"Seo-won. Real talent...!"
Kim Jun-hyeong and Do Ji-hyuk showered her with praise.
Jin Seo-won blushed shyly, her stone shining bright.
"......"
Bang Han-na stared blankly, then glanced at Jin's stone.
Slide─
Shifted gaze to her own chest pendant.
"......"
Her mana stone, emitting no light at all.