Chapter 143
Chapter 143
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 143
Chapter Title: Nayeo-ju Saves the World
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It started as a simple hypothesis born of curiosity.
Specifically, whether the status ailment 'Dark Vulnerability' that Yoo Ga-young carried might actually be a double-edged sword.
It was a hypothesis that could take root thanks to Han Ji-seong, who suffered from the same chronic condition.
'Darkness and mana are both ultimately external energies, right?'
Yet both Yoo Ga-young and Han Ji-seong were unusually sensitive to darkness, with it building up in their bodies and causing all sorts of problems.
So, what if they were just as sensitive to mana, and it accumulated in them the same way?
It was an attempt based on that straightforward line of reasoning.
'At least A-rank potential, up to S-rank!'
Sure, I had a lot of high-rank awakeners around me, but if you crunched the odds across the entire world population, this was pure jackpot territory.
One more bit of hope: Yoo Ga-young's rampage syndrome might even improve a little once she awakened.
Her body would strengthen along with the awakening, after all.
'In the book, she probably didn't survive long enough to awaken.'
She was the type to go around saying she'd die anyway.
If she was puking up blood with every rampage, death really wouldn't have been far off.
Especially if she hadn't run into me, with my darkness purification skill.
"Yoo Ga-young."
"Yes?"
Yoo Ga-young turned her head at my call, mid-lesson as she fed snacks to Baekho and taught him to give paw.
"How old are you?"
"Twelve!"
Older than I'd thought.
Her illness must have stunted her growth.
"When do you go back to Awakener Academy?"
"School? Can I really go back?!"
"No reason you can't."
She was already coming to the guild every day to hang out with the familiars, stamping her attendance like a pro.
I could just check her addiction levels periodically and use purification as needed.
And if she rampaged again, school—with all those Awakener teachers—would be safer than leaving her home alone.
"Really?! I-I think I'm gonna faint from happiness!"
"Yeah, but you just got healed, so no fainting."
"That's how happy I am!"
Yoo Ga-young let out a little cheer and hugged Baekho tight.
Baekho wriggled a bit like it was a hassle but still licked her hand.
At his fan service, hearts popped up in Yoo Ga-young's eyes.
"I love the Justice Guild so much. I wanna come every day."
"Go ahead."
"Really? For real?"
"Yeah. Come play with the familiars. They're all busy training."
"Got it! I'll come every single day, feed them snacks, teach them paw and bang!"
The familiars understood human speech perfectly anyway, so no real teaching needed.
But rather than crush a kid's dreams with the truth, I dangled the bait instead.
"You like the Justice Guild that much?"
"I liked it before, but now I love it even more!"
"Yeah? Then if you awaken, wanna join the Justice Guild?"
"...What if I only awaken as D-rank?"
"Doesn't matter."
"Ugh, Unnie Nayeo-ju, you're the best."
Pling~
♥ 17 ♥
Watching Yoo Ga-young's favorability rise, I smiled contentedly.
Early recruitment meant early indoctrination, after all.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Inside the training grounds.
Yoo Jin-rok and Kang Han stood before a simulated monster.
It was the C-rank dungeon boss from last time: a Magma Golem.
"Grroooar!"
The monster let out a menacing roar but didn't attack first, as pre-programmed.
"A simulation training ground? This is an excellent setup."
"Speak comfortably, Teacher."
"Hm, should I?"
Yoo Jin-rok chuckled playfully and nodded.
"I've been curious why the Justice Guild has been growing so fast lately. Now I get it."
"Is that so."
"The Guild Master doesn't seem convinced?"
"I can guarantee our training facilities are better than any guild of our level. But..."
Kang Han's eyes darkened as he recalled his own stagnation, hitting a wall with no progress for so long.
As if reading his mind, Yoo Jin-rok patted his shoulder.
"Training alone is tough. I don't know how much help I can be overall, but when it comes to spear arts, I'll teach you everything I know. Don't rush it."
"Yes, sir."
Kang Han steeled himself.
"Ready for a one-on-one? No skills."
Yoo Jin-rok pointed at the glaring Magma Golem.
Kang Han immediately pulled a black spear from his sub-space.
"I thought so watching the relay feed, but that's a fine spear."
"Thank you."
Kang Han gave a quick bow, then charged straight at the Magma Golem.
He leaped high and slashed down without hesitation.
Scraaaape!
The spear blade screeched loudly against the golem's tough body.
Using only raw physical strength—no skills—he carved a massive gash into its chest.
But that wasn't enough to fell it.
Whoosh!
Kang Han leaped back just as the monster swung its fist into the gap after his attack.
The moment its punch cratered the empty ground, he closed in again.
The duel continued, trading blows one for one.
It took quite a while, but eventually, Kang Han brought down the C-rank Magma Golem.
"Haa, haa."
Sweat dripping sharply down his jawline, Kang Han silently turned to Yoo Jin-rok, having poured everything into it.
Yoo Jin-rok, who had watched from a safe distance, asked,
"Guild Master, were your usual weapons swords or blades?"
"Yes."
"Hm, as I thought."
Yoo Jin-rok nodded and drew his own spear from sub-space.
It was scarred and weathered but meticulously maintained, its edge gleaming coldly.
He gripped his trusted weapon a few times to shake off the rust, cracked his neck side to side, and said,
"I'll show you once first."
Yoo Jin-rok manipulated the training ground controls to summon another Magma Golem, just like the one Kang Han had fought.
Tap!
His foot lightly pushed off the ground.
The distance to the monster vanished in an instant.
And the moment his forward foot hit the ground—
Boom!
Yoo Jin-rok's extended spear plunged deep into the golem's body.
"Guoh!"
The monster tried to recoil in surprise, but it was too late.
The spear thrust in again.
Thud.
The Magma Golem collapsed to ash without landing a single proper hit.
"Whew. Been a while since I really moved like that. Tougher than I expected."
Yoo Jin-rok turned to Kang Han with a sheepish smile.
"When starting with spears, focus on thrusts. Especially with the long type you use. Sure, spears can slash too, but against something tough like a Magma Golem, it's different. And more importantly, distance."
Yoo Jin-rok demonstrated from his spot, thrusting long.
"With a long spear, you don't need to get in close like with a sword. You can strike from afar. That's the spear's advantage."
His explanations continued for a good while, demonstrating each point with his body.
Kang Han stood watching, hands clasped behind his back out of habit, nodding along.
"Wanna try again?"
A bit later, Yoo Jin-rok summoned another Magma Golem in the training ground.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Thud!
The Magma Golem collapsed.
It was the result of Kang Han swinging his spear five times.
He'd struggled at first, hopping around the training ground for ages.
But one piece of advice from Yoo Jin-rok, and he'd transformed.
"That's why they call 'em geniuses."
Pairing Kang Han with the experienced Yoo Jin-rok as his teacher? Solid decision in hindsight.
You could tell from how pumped Yoo Jin-rok was, flushed and teaching more with Kang Han's progress.
And before I knew it, someone else stood beside me, watching.
"The Guild Master is amazing."
It was Sung Yona, staring intently at Kang Han's lesson.
"He always had great combat sense."
"True..."
Sung Yona trailed off, lost in thought.
Not wanting to interrupt, I pulled out my phone and searched Sama Young.
The top results were fresh articles.
📰 Breaking News
[Breaking] Sama Young, Sama Guild Master, Re-Awakens as S-Rank
📰 Breaking News
[Breaking] New S-Rank Born in Korea: Sama Young, Sama Guild Master
📰 Breaking News
[Breaking] Sama Guild Announces Guild Master Sama Young's S-Rank Re-Awakening
'So it came to this after all.'
At least he wouldn't go as pitch-black as in the book, so hopefully he'd ease up on harassing the Justice Guild from now on.
I glared at Sama Young's photo in the article, grumbling inwardly.
That was when Sung Yona, who'd been quiet till then, spoke up hesitantly.
"Unnie Nayeo-ju."
"Yeah."
"Could I... train with Teacher too?"
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