Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Kunlun Training
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The next day at Nexus Academy.
Su-ho arrived about an hour earlier than the appointed time and was able to receive explanations about future guild activities along with his access card.
“This is the black card issued only to the highest-ranking Nexus guild members, S-Rank guild members. With this black card in your possession, you can use all Nexus-affiliated facilities without any charges. And it also functions as a corporate card, so…”
As expected of Nexus.
Even though he had come to the academy rather than the main headquarters, they handled everything smoothly.
Kim Su-ae had taken care of it personally.
Once the explanation was finished, Su-ho said,
“Then, as I mentioned, I’ll be using the academy training room for a while.”
“Understood. It’s the S-Rank exclusive room, so you won’t run into anyone else coming and going. I’ve also prepared the guest card you requested.”
“Thank you.”
“Um… by the way, Su-ho.”
“Yes?”
“This is a bit of a different matter, but if it’s alright with you, could you meet with Kang Dae-han?”
“Kang Dae-han the hunter?”
“Yes. Ever since he learned that you were the one who trained him, he’s been insisting on meeting you just once… But now that you’re part of Nexus, I thought I’d ask.”
I see.
That guy was around.
He’d been so focused on himself and Banshee that he’d momentarily forgotten.
With that, Su-ho readily agreed.
After all, the guy would become a famous tank in the future.
“It would be an honor for me. Please let him know he can visit anytime while I’m in the training room.”
“Ah, yes. Thank you, Su-ho.”
“No problem.”
Guardian Su-ho.
It was a nickname he’d earn in the future, but since they’d be in the same Nexus, it was better to handle it early.
There was no reason to let talent nearby go to waste.
Having finished the conversation, Su-ho headed to the training room.
***
As expected of Nexus.
The S-Rank exclusive training room was incomparably superior to the association’s, befitting the nation’s largest organization.
At Su-ho’s request, it was equipped with numerous virtual reality connectors, computers for analysis, and various simulator machines.
‘Compared to the future ones, they’re a bit outdated, but they’re the top specs for the current time.’
In particular, the virtual reality device ‘Infinity’ was the pinnacle of current technology.
Su-ho recalled the operation methods of the devices from memory.
And soon, he was operating them proficiently.
It was only natural.
In his previous life, Su-ho had experienced all sorts of duties through rotational assignments at the National Hunter Association.
After waiting a short while, the four Banshee members finally appeared in the training room.
Seeing them, Su-ho smiled warmly and said,
“Come on in, it’s been a while.”
“Yeah, whatever. But why’d you call us here?”
Gu Yeon-hwa spoke on their behalf.
For someone who had accepted the offer, her tone was still a bit prickly.
‘At least she’s using polite language. That’s progress.’
Deeper bonds could be built over time.
Su-ho said,
“Since you’ve decided to accept my proposal, we should discuss future plans, and I figured you all need some individual training.”
“Training?”
“Fill this out first.”
Su-ho handed them pads.
The screens displayed forms for personal information—like status windows or lists of possessed skills.
“Our status windows?”
“Yeah, I need to know about you to tailor the training. So write it accurately. That way I can plan properly.”
“What do you mean…”
“Why act surprised now? I told you. I’m joining the National Hunter Association’s Special Division, and while I’m there, I need people to act as my hands and feet from the outside—my shadows. Did you think I’d pick just anyone for that?”
“Well, no, but…”
“Then fill it out first. Player info can only be viewed by the owner, so be as honest as possible. We have to go on trust here. I’ve already opened up my secrets to you.”
Gu Yeon-hwa wanted to argue about how he could talk of trust after only seeing them a few times, but she let it go.
Truth be told, based on what he’d shown so far, Su-ho was far more trustworthy than they were.
‘Besides, if there’s anything to lose, it’s me with my rising fame who has more at stake.’
With that, the four exchanged glances and began filling out their info honestly.
Soon, their data was compiled and sent to the app on Su-ho’s phone. He reviewed it and nodded.
‘As expected, all under level 50 still.’
Good.
This meant he could shape their traits as he desired.
Su-ho said,
“That’s enough to get a grasp. Let’s head to the training room now. You’re all familiar with it from the practical exam, right? Pick a capsule and lie down. The transfer point is already set.”
At Su-ho’s instruction, all four lay down in the capsules.
***
Soon, Su-ho and the Banshees opened their eyes in the virtual reality space Su-ho had set.
It was the summit of a mountain with blue skies and drifting clouds all around. As the Banshees looked around in admiration, Su-ho said,
“Welcome to Kunlun. You’ll be training here whenever you have time from now on.”
Kunlun.
That was the name of this place.
It was a custom space Su-ho had personally created, modeled after one of the gates he’d cleared in the past, and it would become the hellish training ground for Banshee.
Gu Yeon-hwa asked,
“But what kind of training?”
“What kind? Combat training, obviously. You four have divided positions to specialize as an elite terrorist cell, right? But with your current skills, the Special Division will nab you in no time. You think they’d fall for such shallow tricks?”
“If the plan is perfect…”
“Perfect? It wasn’t perfect enough to fool me. There’s no such thing as a perfect crime in the world—especially not now, with ability users everywhere. So, you need personal expertise, sure, but you also have to grow strong enough to fend for yourselves. No—strong enough to protect your comrades.”
Su-ho snapped his fingers.
Countless types of swords floated before them.
“Pick one. Your first goal is mastering basic swordsmanship and shedding your primal fear of humans.”
“But why swords of all things?”
“You know the nickname I’ve gotten lately, right?”
“…Sword God?”
“You got it. With a master swordsman right here, were you planning to learn some other weapon?”
With those words, Su-ho snapped his fingers again.
A practice sword materialized in his hand.
“In that spirit, no skills allowed here. I’ve already adjusted the settings so you can’t use them anyway—just a heads-up. So, do your best to kill me. That’s your first goal. Alright, let’s begin.”
With that, Su-ho slowly walked toward them.
The four exchanged glances, then hurriedly grabbed swords.
The moment they all gripped their swords, Su-ho shifted from a slow stride to rapid crossing steps, closing the distance in an instant.
He swung.
Slash!
A sharp cutting sound.
Kim Hyun-min and Gwak Du-ho’s heads flew into the air, while Gu Yeon-hwa and Seo Gyo-won’s eyes widened in shock.
Su-ho said,
“Got time to be surprised?”
He slashed the remaining two as well.
Their heads rolled across the ground. As all four died, their bodies and blood vanished, and they respawned in midair, landing on their butts.
“Ow…”
Gu Yeon-hwa bit her lip at the pain in her rear.
She quickly shook it off and jumped to her feet.
The others did the same.
Su-ho said,
“You’ve all died once in the practical, so you’re not completely frozen. Good. Here I come again.”
After that, Su-ho slashed them relentlessly.
Sometimes beheading, sometimes splitting skulls, occasionally slicing waists or severing limbs.
But amid all those deaths, what tormented Banshee most was,
“You call that revenge?”
“Your grandma moves faster than you.”
“Didn’t you say you work at a delivery company by day? What’s with those moves? Was it ‘grandpa’ delivery?”
“You’re a middle school teacher? Slower than the kids you teach—what’s the point?”
Su-ho’s trash talk, needling their spirits.
He did it on purpose.
To stimulate their nerves and make them charge like mad.
And sure enough, riled by the trash talk, Banshee flew into a rage and went berserk.
Seeing them charge like beasts, Su-ho nodded in satisfaction.
‘Good. This mental fortitude means they won’t freeze in gates either.’
Su-ho truly intended to raise Banshee as his shadows.
But shadows didn’t mean they’d just lurk in the shadows collecting intel or spying.
They’d have to face the Special Division someday, and they needed to handle a few gates in his stead.
That’s why Su-ho planned to forge them into warriors stronger than anyone.
‘How do you make warriors? Roll them until they drop dead. That’s it.’
How many hours passed like that?
Su-ho said,
“You’ll auto-logout when time’s up, so train hard until then.”
He wanted to stay until they became proper warriors.
But he had only one body, and too much to do.
That’s why he used Infinity.
Among its training features was ‘Motion Deep Learning,’ which could create a ‘training avatar’ based on Su-ho’s accumulated movements in Infinity.
After Su-ho logged out with a farewell, his training avatar—identical in appearance—summoned in his place.
The avatar raised its sword and said,
“What’re you staring at, trash? If you’ve got time to gawk, come at me.”
Banshee’s rage exploded once more.
***
‘Alright, that’s enough for Banshee training for now.’
The moment Su-ho logged out and emerged from the capsule.
His phone rang at perfect timing.
It was Kim Su-ae.
“Yes, Director.”
- Su-ho, just a heads-up: the official article about your joining Nexus went out about an hour ago, as we discussed yesterday and today.
“Yes, through Reporter Jo Jin-hwi, right?”
- Yes, he broke the exclusive first, and our PR team started distributing the press release.
“Perfect. Shall we prepare the follow-up materials now?”
- Already?
“People’s jeers must be pouring in by now. Right after the hunter exam, he said he dreamed of being a civil servant hunter, and now he joins a private guild—expect a flood of hate comments.”
- Come on, if you stick it out, public opinion will swing your way. You’re not actually worried about the reactions, are you?
Exactly.
For now, he hadn’t announced separately that he’d take the Grade 5 public recruitment at year-end.
He’d only said he was joining Nexus because their interests aligned.
Why?
Simple.
In nice terms, topicality. In crude terms, aggro.
Whether good or bad, Su-ho needed massive attention.
Of course, he didn’t plan to never announce it.
Just timing it right.
Kim Su-ae asked,
- If that’s what you want, what should we prepare the follow-up with?
“Sealed Gate Challenge.”
- Pardon?
“I’m heading out to tackle my second sealed gate today.”