You Can't Die Yet

I gave the peacefully slumbering Martial Skeleton a shake.

"Hey! Hey! Wake up! You can't die yet!"

It was day three of training with the Martial Skeleton, and I had made a mistake.

I had been using its attacks to drill Evasion and blocking. But today it came at me with something genuinely dangerous, and I startled—then hit back for real.

The result was a crater the size of a truck. All that remained of the thing was a skull, lying motionless at the center.

"Stay with me..."

Do you have any idea how useful you are? Do you know how much my combat skills have improved thanks to you? You're supposed to take more of my hits!

Ding!

"Nooooo!"

The Martial Skeleton had died a glorious death. Rest easy, pal...

Three days was a short stretch of time, but I had gained a great deal. The fundamentals of fighting had settled into my body.

Still, if I was going to go this far, I wish I'd picked up a new general martial-arts skill while I was at it.

If I give Jo Youchan a few pointers, maybe something will come of it?

Ding!

"Oh!"

The message I had been waiting for.

When Jo Youchan cleared the Guardian of the 20th Floor, he had sworn through tears.

This precious life he had reclaimed. He would never lose it again.

I'll find a way to detoxify this. No matter what.

But for now, he was at a complete loss. He had already gone through countless major hospitals, and every last one of them had shaken their heads.

It was a new kind of poison born from a Hunter's supernatural ability. Neutralizing it would take a special method.

I can't just leave this entirely in Master's hands.

Truthfully, he did not have high hopes. Martial knowledge and the art of neutralizing poison were problems of entirely different dimensions.

He would probably need to recruit a master of poison arts. There was just one problem.

Every hospital already gave up on this complicated poison. Solving it would take more than some average expert...

Hunters who had even learned poison arts were rare to begin with. And a genuine master among them? Finding one was the least of it—you could not simply summon someone like that with money.

So he consulted the Vice Guild Master, who already knew the full situation.

"This is going to be an extremely difficult commission."

"I figured as much..."

Jo Youchan sank into gloom. The Vice Guild Master fanned that anxiety.

Of all times for this to happen—right at contract renewal.

The Vice Guild Master intended to use this situation.

"Advance Guild will have to accept a significant financial hemorrhage as well."

"Yes, I'm aware."

"But with our finances deteriorating, Hunter Do Hyeoncheol is already planning to retire of his own accord."

"Yes, that's right. It's not good..."

"And the resources poured into you over the past two years have been enormous."

"That's..."

Jo Youchan fidgeted, restless.

"I-I'll start paying it back from now on. Isn't there some way?"

The Vice Guild Master sighed.

"Even if there's no way, we'll have to find one. This is your matter, Youchan."

"Ah!"

"I'll do everything I can, even if it means pushing ourselves."

"Thank you!"

"In exchange..."

A contract was slid across the desk. The terms were different from before.

Conditions far more favorable to Advance. Downright predatory, even.

"We have no choice if we're going to recoup the losses. Take your time and think it over."

The Vice Guild Master knew Jo Youchan well. At a glance the young man looked solid. In truth, he was a person with shallow roots—a boy who swayed wildly in the winds of impatience.

Keep a good hold on him, and I can yank him around however I want.

The fact that he was the Guild Master's son was a concern. But the Vice Guild Master would be leaving soon anyway. He was going to sell Advance Guild off to a foreign buyer.

Pull off one big score as planned and skip town. That's all there is to it.

And the contract with Jo Youchan would accelerate that plan considerably.

Seven days remained until the contract renewal. But Jo Youchan's heart had already tilted.

I'm in no position to be picky.

He had to get detoxified first. In seven days, Jo Youchan would sign this unfair contract.

He left the Vice Guild Master's office with the contract in hand. And then he ran into Hyeonseok.

"Ah, Master. Congratulations on clearing the 10th flo—"

"Let's go."

"Huh? Where?"

Hyeonseok tilted his head.

The support team was summoned by Jo Youchan out of nowhere.

"Isn't it not even Hunter Jo Youchan's training time right now?"

"Guess his blood's boiling. He had his meridians opened yesterday, after all."

They headed for the Special Training Room. Someone had arrived first.

"Whoa, Hyeonseok, you're already here? That's our youngest for you—always so quick on the draw."

"Ah, I was with Youchan."

The other team members pricked up their ears. The female assistant manager came over and asked.

"Hyeonseok, are you and Hunter Jo Youchan acquainted?"

"Sorry? Acquainted?"

What kind of question was that? Everyone here knew Jo Youchan.

"Hunter Jo Youchan probably doesn't know a single one of our team members' names, except for the team leader."

"What? Come on, no way. He's a good kid, personality-wise."

"K-kid?"

Ahn cut in.

"Apparently the two of them decided to be like brothers."

"WHAAAT!?"

"See? Hyeonseok, that's the normal reaction."

Hyeonseok was flustered. What the hell has that guy been going around saying?

Ahn switched on the microphone and spoke through the glass barrier.

"Ahem— Hunter Jo Youchan, can you hear me? Shall we proceed as usual?"

"Yes. Please keep the analysis data up."

But as Ahn turned to step back, Hyeonseok was standing right there.

"What is it?"

"Ah, I'll be the one standing at the mic today."

"Huh? You, Hyeonseok?"

Leaving the team's bewildered stares behind him, Hyeonseok took the microphone. It could not be helped.

I need the team members here to turn on the training room's analysis machines...

Rumors about my advice would spread. Still, as long as word about me climbing the Tower did not reach Dad's ears, it was fine.

I'd rather keep it hidden if I could, but the guy's sick. What am I supposed to do?

The same advice text as before. But now the letters were a different color. Not red—gold. The newly unlocked feature.

Guidance was an absolute honey of a feature in Hunter Management. And now it's actually implemented here.

From here on, I would guide Youchan according to that advice.

I selected Advice 3. A new line appeared on Youchan's status window.

Supreme Heavenly Movement!?

Whoa, that skill is completely broken! And a twentieth-floor guy is getting it? Guidance really is a honey of a feature.

I'm jealous.

I want Supreme Heavenly Movement too... How cool would that look in real life?

"I'll start now, so please pull up the data."

"...? You want to look at the data, Hyeonseok?"

"Yes."

"You don't even know how to read it."

I had my ways.

"Support team! Don't talk back—just do as you're told."

"Hey! Watch your manners with the team!"

"Y-yes..."

"These people are working hard for your sake."

"Yes, sir. I'm sorry..."

I scolded him and turned around—then flinched. The entire team was staring this way with what did I just witness written all over their faces.

Maybe I should not have chewed him out in front of so many people. Now I was the one feeling awkward.

"Ahem. Let's begin!"

"Yes!"

Jo Youchan ran through the spacious training room. Real-time data shifted in response. I spoke into the microphone.

"Remember what I told you. Circulate the mana of Heavenly Exploding Strike through your body. Like your body itself is becoming the sound of thunder."

At the hint, Jo Youchan altered the flow of mana inside him. The data reflected it on the screens in real time.

Why is it nothing but numbers and English?

I could not make sense of a single bit of it. Did not matter. I just needed to look at it with my eyes.

"Um, Hyeonseok? What's going on right now?"

"Shh. Let me concentrate."

"Y-yes..."

I kept switching my gaze between the data and the words Supreme Heavenly Movement. Soon, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠as the data changed, the letters flushed red.

Just as I thought.

That meant there was a problem with Jo Youchan's Supreme Heavenly Movement right now. By observing the data, I could pull new advice.

No need to even read them all. I had been looking at choice menus like this for years. I picked the right answer immediately.

"Your body can't keep up with the mana circulation. Pick up the speed!"

"Yes."

"Your body is instinctively afraid of approaching the speed of sound. Recognize that and shake it off."

"Yes!"

As Jo Youchan sped up, the letters of Supreme Heavenly Movement returned to black. Then I observed the data again.

"What good is circulating mana alone? The core is thunder. Just like with Heavenly Exploding Strike, convert the sound of every footfall into mana."

"Lean your body lower. Let your center of gravity travel ahead of your lower body."

"Your output's too high. You think this is a hundred-meter dash?"

"Your mana control is falling apart!"

The support team watched with incredulous eyes. They had gathered everyone for this, and this was what he was doing?

Is he... analyzing all those data screens and giving pointers right now?

A civilian newbie, to Hunter Jo Youchan? Understanding all that data—the kind that needed a dedicated researcher per screen for individual analysis? And in real time?

It was absurd, but the man himself looked infinitely serious. Especially the way his eyes darted constantly back and forth—to anyone who did not know better, it really looked like he was reading every last bit of data.

"What are they doing?"

"Ah, Team Leader."

Team Leader Song had come down after hearing the news.

"Right? This isn't some kids' game..."

"Hyeonseok isn't the type to act this spacey... wait, is he?"

"Thinking back to the first day, maybe he is."

And Jo Youchan was taking it seriously and following along. Jo Youchan, of all people.

"Is this some group hidden-camera prank on me?"

"You're not pulling a hidden camera on me, are you?"

Wherever the newbie had picked this up from...

"Skills don't just appear because you talk like that."

Team Leader Song was not a Hunter. But precisely because he was a support team leader, he knew the mechanics of training extremely well.

"Especially to someone using a unique skill."

Martial arts that could be acquired after birth—Tai Chi, swordsmanship, and the like—were classified as general skills. Advice from a master tended to take well with those universal techniques.

But an awakened skill like that. And one with a supernatural character like lightning—the barrier to entry was on a completely different level.

Even a high-floor master would have trouble swaggering in with pointers. What would someone who ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠could not wield lightning know about lightning?

"Team Leader, maybe you should stop him."

"Hey, Hyeonseok. That's enough, send everyone ba—"

"NOW!"

Everyone ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠jumped at the shout.

"That's it—keep running exactly like that! Even if it feels like your body's going to tear apart, don't stop!"

By this point, you could feel it even through the glass barrier. Something was happening.

Crackle. Crackle...

CRACKLE-CRACKLE-CRACKLE—!

Lightning wrapped around Jo Youchan's running body. As if he himself had become lightning, he tore through the room at tremendous speed.

Too fast to take the curves, Jo Youchan planted his feet on the walls. He laid his body sideways and ran along them.

"Hey, that..."

At the team leader's words, Ahn rubbed his eyes. In that brief moment, Jo Youchan's lightning afterimages had already looped the training room several times. He looked like a speedster hero out of a movie.

"Ahahahaha—!"

Jo Youchan ran, laughing wildly. He had broken through a wall he had not crossed in two years, and then leaped even higher. His brain, giddy with excitement, was pickled in adrenaline.

"Master! Masteeeer!"

"That's it! Burn that sensation into your memory!"

Even without being told, he would never forget this moment for the rest of his life.

"Ahahahahaha—!"

"T-Team Leader. What... am I looking at?"

"Uh..."

Team Leader Song could not answer. Only then did his gaze turn—not to Jo Youchan, but to the person who had created this situation. The rest of the team was already looking at the same place.

The team members wore a colorful array of bewildered expressions.

In contrast, Hyeonseok's face as he watched through the barrier wore a triumphant, deeply satisfied smile.