Chapter 9
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Am I Really Turning into a Beast?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
After helping Joo Seon-yeong absorb the purified mana with natural true energy, I checked her status.
Her condition was nothing short of perfect.
She was in a far cleaner state than even at her peak.
Intra-body magi: zero.
Her A-rank skills' utilization rates had all exceeded 100%.
Exceeding 100% meant the user possessed potential beyond their current rank.
That was how Yang Deok-chun had risen from D-rank to C-rank.
Skill utilization has exceeded the max of 100%.
Recalculating potential and reallocating skill rank.
Joo Seon-yeong's potential is high.
Receiving correction from attending physician Clinic Director Kim Jinwoo's ability.
Applying changes (may take time due to high rank).
As expected.
With this message, she'd awaken to her full power in a few days.
The reason it wasn't rising immediately like Yang Deok-chun's was because her rank was that much higher.
Joo Seon-yeong, who knew her body better than anyone, knelt before me the moment the treatment ended.
"I'll serve you as my lifelong benefactor!"
I gave an awkward smile at her genuine gratitude.
"A doctor treating a patient is just par for the course. No need to go that far."
"No! Benefactor, you preserved something more precious than my life—my pride! You saved me from an inglorious end as a warrior! This is a debt I'll repay with my life!"
I grabbed her shoulders to pull her up from her kneeling bow.
"I got paid, so it was just my job."
"This isn't something money can settle. Korea's top doctors shook their heads and said it was impossible, but you cured me. Without you, I'd never use mana again."
In treating her, I'd already received something far more valuable than money.
While guiding her true energy, the natural true energy she couldn't fully absorb flowed into my body too.
Just like when I'd absorbed the S-rank mana crystal, it seeped in—and more than half of what she couldn't take, I absorbed outright.
This treatment was a breakthrough for her growth, but the same went for me.
Honestly, it made the S-rank mana crystal I'd used feel worth every bit.
This happened because her mana control was so exceptional.
I'd treated several acute magi addiction cases, but unsettled mana usually just dissipates powerless.
This was the first time excess natural true energy had settled into my body.
It was her subconscious mana control desperately trying to hold onto the natural true energy leaving her body.
And that influenced energy latched onto my nearby body.
If I told her, with her personality, she'd snap that it wasn't her giving me anything.
In other words, no matter what I said, I couldn't shake this woman's resolve.
"Alright, I get it. Stand up now."
"No matter what, I won't let anyone mess with this clinic."
"Send me on any errand! Whatever you need, I'll bring it!"
Her voice brimmed with ironclad determination.
If someone even graffitied our clinic walls, she'd chase them down and throw them in jail.
That was when it happened.
"Sis!"
"What is it?"
"You're up?!"
Storm Guild members who'd heard Joo Seon-yeong from outside burst into the exam room.
Their eyes on me weren't friendly.
And they saw Joo Seon-yeong— in her near-tank-top uniform—kneeling and bowing before me.
Her bare midriff fully exposed.
Sweat glistening over her entire body.
Yeah.
This could lead to a misunderstanding.
"You quack bastard! What the hell did you do to our sis?!"
"That fucker!"
"Grab that scum!"
"Siiiis!"
As the Storm Guild members roared and lunged at me—
"Stand down!"
Joo Seon-yeong's shout froze every guild member in place.
"Gahk!"
"S-Sis?"
Her command carried thick mana.
A roar with enough force to halt anyone below her level.
All eyes turned to her.
Just before entering the clinic, she'd been blocked in her dantian and meridians by magi, unable to continue as a hunter—yet now she exuded overwhelming presence.
"Y-You're back?"
"You really recovered?"
"This man treated me. I was just expressing my gratitude."
At her words, the guild members' eyes changed.
From feral beasts ready to kill me to loyal pups in an instant.
"And you dared try to harm my benefactor?!"
"S-Sorry!"
"Our mistake! Sis!"
"You idiots! Apologize to the benefactor, not me!"
With that, every Storm Guild member who'd charged me dropped to their knees.
Thud!
"Sorry, bro!"
Even then, Joo Seon-yeong frowned, unsatisfied.
"Sorry for my subordinates' poor discipline."
"It's understandable. You misunderstood at first too, Seon-yeong."
"...You're right, benefactor."
Only then did her expression soften.
And at that moment—
Ability 2: Iron-Blood Axe (A) → Empress's Axe (S)
A message appeared: her ability had leveled up further.
"Congratulations."
"What do you mean?"
"You'll need to visit the association again soon."
She stared at me blankly, uncomprehending, then checked her status window.
"Ah..."
She belatedly realized she'd grown another step.
"If anything happens to this 'Hunter Mental Clinic,' just call Storm Guild. We'll come running no matter what. You can even drop our name! No one around here ignores Storm Guild!"
Her voice trembled faintly with emotion.
The conference room of Divine Guild, one of the Big Three.
Reconnaissance Team, specialists in initial dungeon scouting.
They mapped layouts, traps, monsters, rewards, and projected profits for raids—one of the guild's most vital teams.
Divine Guild's Reconnaissance Team 3 was the elite of the elites.
100% success rate over three years.
No failures, no injuries—a perfect record.
Today, they were planning their next dungeon scout.
"Section Chief, heard the news?"
"What?"
"Storm Guild, who cleared that S-rank dungeon recently."
"Oh, them? Heard their guild master got hit by a magi storm. Tough break. That's basically retirement."
"Didn't you hear? She went back to the association."
"For her severance?"
"Nah, re-examined and became an S-rank hunter."
"What? Possible? Magi storms drop most people."
"Who knows. Lucky break? Or noise marketing—pretending she got hit when she didn't. You know?"
"Makes sense."
The meeting lacked any seriousness.
No dungeon talk—just gossiping industry rumors.
No heroic resolve on their faces.
Of course not.
Three years, zero failures—every scout a success, S-rank or F-rank.
Reconnaissance Team 3 never fails.
Now Divine Guild canon.
"Enough gossip. Focus on the dungeon intel for our raid."
The man at the head table deserved much credit for their legendary record.
Reconnaissance Team 3 Leader, Kang Cheol-ho.
Over two meters tall, bald giant.
Black suit, but it screamed thug, not tidy.
Despite his menacing look, he was the pillar everyone relied on.
He shut down the chatter instantly and closed his eyes in focus.
"Sorry."
"Sorry."
The rookie, new to Team 3, couldn't look away from him.
The only one maintaining dignity amid the lax vibe.
Stone-still, never joining chatter.
He had a nickname that always followed his name.
Red Mane Iron Tiger.
From drenching his mane in enemy blood.
'No hair on his head—where's the mane?'
His shiny bald scalp had zero fuzz.
"Rookie, what're you doing?"
Kang Cheol-ho's heavy voice snapped the rookie alert.
"S-Sorry! Y-You looked so cool focusing, I just..."
"No need to tense up. Follow the vets, and you'll return safe."
"Y-Yes, sir!"
Then—
"Excuse me. Hwang Min-su of Reconnaissance Team 3?"
"Yes?"
The door opened; HR called the rookie.
He shot up.
"Step out a sec?"
"Y-Yeah!"
He rushed to HR.
Grrrrr.
W-What's that growl?
A beast's wary rumble from somewhere.
Turning, Kang Cheol-ho glared murderously at HR.
Red Mane Iron Tiger.
The mismatched moniker stemmed from his ability.
Beast Transformation (A)
Ultimate combat skill elevating him to A-rank hunter
In battle, he shifted into wolves, bears, eagles—or beast-human hybrids as needed.
Always at the vanguard, staining his mane red with foe blood.
He wore the title proudly.
Now in recon from subjugation, his skills didn't fade.
Frontline experience plus hyper senses from transformations let him analyze traps, find solutions, plot optimal paths.
Why Recon Team 3 hit 100% success.
Divine Guild founding ace.
Guild master's favorite, worry-free—until now.
"Dungeon list for Recon Team 3's next scout."
"All A-rank plus. Pushing too hard?"
"Divine Guild's top recon team should handle this. Delays from your long vacation mean we hustle."
"I like your thoroughness as leader."
Guild master grinned.
"Thank you."
"So, new A-rank dungeon on the market. A-grade, but mages say rewards exceed that..."
Guild master spun his pen between fingers, smiling.
His pre-signature ritual.
Kang Cheol-ho couldn't look away from those fingers.
Weird.
Can't tear eyes from that pen.
No special power or technique.
His own issue.
Happening too often lately.
Chasing moving objects.
Growling at strangers.
Sudden urge to loaf cat-style in sunbeams.
Animal instincts surging.
Common post-transformation.
Chasing tennis balls as wolf.
Clawing trees as eagle.
But only as beast.
Never lingered human-side before.
Lately, even human form craved beast habits.
From nonstop dungeons honing perfect clears?
More beast time lately, personal drive.
For faster raids, hidden traps.
Cut transform time weeks ago— no change.
Cause unknown.
Consulted hospital.
Doctors said common for shapeshifters—instincts/memories lingering.
Often magi contamination if severe.
But: "Psychological. Relax, it'll pass."
No issues found.
No treatment needed.
Hospitals useless.
Now, he eyed the pen, praying it'd drop.
Pick it up, get praise.
He shook his head.
What was I thinking?
Pen's not important.
Bigger talk now...
"Cheol-ho, you listening?"
"...Sorry."
"Take more days off? You look rough."
"I'm fine. Rested plenty."
"...Good then. Win the A-rank bid, assign to Team 3—analyze thoroughly."
"No worries."
He bowed.
Throughout signing, eyes glued to the pen.
If it just dropped once.
'Am I really turning into a beast?'
Anxiety swelled.