Chapter 39
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Practice (4)
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After wrapping up the first team training session.
I'd finished training a bit early and was preparing to move offices when I told Han Gyu-ri and Kim Jun-hyeong that we could probably head into a gate soon.
"A gate?!"
"Already?"
"From what I've seen of your skills, clearing a C-rank should be no problem."
The two of them reacted like it was too soon...
But honestly, their growth rate during training had been extraordinarily fast, so it wasn't that surprising.
"But what about Seo-won? Isn't she still lacking?"
"Her growth is impressive, sure, but compared to Han-na and Na-rae, she's definitely behind."
As they said, our team's one weak link right now was our main dealer, Jin Seo-won.
Even giving her the best estimate, she was around D-rank level, which was a clear gap compared to the other two team members who were already pushing C-rank territory.
No matter how you sliced it, since she'd started latest among the lower ranks, she was bound to lag the most.
But...
"Don't worry. I've got something in mind for that."
I had a way to make Jin Seo-won grow explosively.
"What is it?"
"Do you have some kind of plan?"
"I'll explain later... Anyway, this Friday, I'll be heading out with Seo-won."
"You're skipping for special training, right?"
Quick on the uptake, Han Gyu-ri asked about the paperwork, and I nodded, adding that I'd use vacation days for the whole weekend.
"What about the others?"
"Just light warm-ups and focus on lectures that day. Aren't we behind on safety training?"
"They were just asking about that from upstairs... We can knock it all out then."
And with that, we finished up the office move prep amid various chats.
We said our goodbyes, promising to meet tomorrow morning, and left City Hall late.
*
The next day.
"Whoa...! Producer...! This is really our office...!?"
"Pretty nice, huh?"
"It's amazing...! Wow! There's a huge TV! And a sofa!"
Leading the team for the office move and tour, we arrived at Sejin Guild. A guild staffer sent by Lee Hye-ri guided us around the new space.
'Better than I expected.'
The new office had an open city view and was spacious enough to make our downtime feel wasteful. It was impressively large.
Separate areas for admin work and rest meant great scalability—even if the team grew, it wouldn't be an issue.
'How much effort did they put into this?'
Lee Hye-ri had clearly been plotting this.
"Feel free to use the other facilities too—just swipe the card we provided. Ask me if you have questions..."
I'd noticed on the way in, but Sejin Guild's building was worthy of a top guild.
Sharing the same structure as other Sejin Group affiliates, it boasted overwhelming perks comparable to Cheonhwa Guild, another major player.
Where Cheonhwa was practical and standard...
Sejin felt diverse and thoughtful, the kind that makes you go, 'They have this?'
""Thanks for the meal!""
With minimal stuff to move, we finished quickly and ordered Chinese food—our first non-nutrition meal in ages.
"Feels like forever since jjajangmyeon."
"Yeah. We had it all the time at City Hall..."
Gathering in the conference room for team bonding and chow...
"Ah...!"
The sweet-and-sour pork, drenched in sauce, finally caused an accident.
"Ugh... My brand-new outfit..."
Sauce splattered right on Bang Han-na's chest.
"Here, Han-na. Tissues."
"Ah... Thanks."
Taking tissues from Han Gyu-ri, Bang Han-na casually wiped her chest like it was no big deal.
As I glanced at her overwhelmingly massive assets—bound to get in the way—and averted my eyes to grab my chopsticks...
"...?"
Suddenly, I noticed Jin Seo-won across from me, staring blankly at Bang Han-na.
"......"
After staring at Han-na's chest for a while, she lowered her head and looked at her own.
Then, out of nowhere, she held her chopsticks up to her chest and started waving them around.
She seemed unable to grasp how sauce could land there.
'...Makes sense...'
Jin Seo-won's figure wasn't bad by any means.
Bang Han-na's was just too overwhelming.
If this was talent... it was a difference in talent.
"......"
How much time passed as we settled into the new place after the move?
The night before full-team training arrived.
"Seo-won. Got all three outfits?"
"...Yes."
"Toiletries?"
"...Ah."
I'd stopped by Jin Seo-won's dorm to pack for training.
But then...
"......"
For some reason, while checking luggage, she froze, pondering something seriously.
'Something else to pack?'
She looked torn on whether to bring it or not.
"Need anything else?"
Instead of answering, she nodded vaguely. I debated asking what it was but decided prying wasn't best and gave her a hint.
"It's a 3-day, 2-night trip... but pack whatever you need. Might be hard to buy stuff there."
Jin Seo-won glanced at me and asked something oddly meaningful.
"...Anything at all?"
What did she mean by 'anything'?
I racked my brain through her daily life but nothing came up.
'What's the big deal?'
I assured her to pack whatever.
"Grab anything you want. Might not use it, but..."
She looked subtly pleased and resumed packing.
"......"
Just in case, I watched what she packed closely...
'...Totally normal.'
Nothing special stood out.
*
"Seo-won. Pick whatever you want."
"...Can I?"
"If not, let's go."
Next morning, early on the highway, we stopped at a rest area.
"...This. And this."
"...Whole potato and slushie? What combo is that?"
We bought my coffee, her snacks, returned to the car, and were about to hit the road...
"...Want some?"
"Huh?"
Jin Seo-won suddenly shoved a potato at me on a stick.
"...Tasty."
Her usual flat tone, devoid of emotion.
Nothing special, totally ordinary.
But it felt special to me.
She'd never offered anything first before.
"...Really for me?"
She nodded matter-of-factly and poked the toothpick closer.
Amazed by her change, I quietly took a bite.
"...Good, right?"
"Yeah. Tastes better 'cause you gave it."
"...Try this too."
What wind blew this way?
She offered the slushie next.
Using the straw straight from her mouth felt iffy...
But hoping it'd boost her social skills even a bit, I sipped obediently.
"Whoa... Refreshing."
"......"
Jin Seo-won yanked the straw back like my reaction didn't matter and put it to her lips.
She pursed her cute lips, sucking noisily.
"......?"
Then tilted her head, puzzled, sucking persistently.
No idea what she was thinking.
How long after leaving the rest area and cruising the highway?
"Let's park."
We arrived at a remote mountain.
"Can't drive from here. We'll walk."
"...Walk?"
She shot me a displeased look at the sudden hike.
I soothed her with "special training instead" and started up.
And...
"Here."
After 30 minutes of climbing, we reached a stele marking the "entrance."
A secret spot from the original novel Strongest Expert.
'Been a while since I came here.'
The large stele, man-sized, bore Chinese characters for the twelve earthly branches.
Like a door lock: infuse mana in order to open the portal.
Poke—poke—poke—poke—poke...
Recalling the sequence, I input the 12-digit code.
Rumble...!
A small portal appeared with a gate-like roar.
A faint peach scent tickled my nose—success.
"Let's go."
I grabbed our bags and stepped in.
Whoosh—!
A familiar languid sensation enveloped me, peach fragrance blooming as stunning scenery unfolded.
"...Wow..."
Vast fertile plains stretched beneath towering cloud-piercing peaks. A clear stream and blooming peach blossoms adorned one side.
Our secret training spot for 3 days and 2 nights.
Peach Blossom Haven.
*
"Drop bags over there... No separate rooms, so we'll sleep together. Which bed side?"
"...Here."
"Okay, then..."
Jin Seo-won scanned the cave interior as Do Ji-hyeok explained.
The single storage and spacious living area bore traces of prior use.
"Huh. This was here? Took me forever to find..."
She easily guessed those traces were from Do Ji-hyeok's past visits.
'...Then who was the other one?'
Wandering, pondering that, she spotted a photo taped to one cave wall.
"......?"
A Polaroid of two faintly youthful man and woman.
A shy-looking woman and a man with an arm around her neck, face close.
'...Producer?'
Seol Ju-hee and Do Ji-hyeok.