The Power Reaction Test
For a long time, daily life remained exactly the same.
Morning practice, lunch, then more practice.
In the first few days, Kim Na-yeon—who had been watching us throughout every training session—began to relax, thinking, “There’s probably nothing special today.”
If only I could pour everything into training except for sleep, but the body was still so young and easily tired that such extreme effort was impossible.
It was the same for me, and for the young leader of the newborn Heavenly Demon Sect, Lee Da-yeon.
Her emotional growth and my own adaptation period were both important.
From late afternoon onward, I spent time glued to Na-yeon and Da-yeon.
I also neglected my studies via YouTube.
Whenever I laughed while watching a video, my disciples would come over and watch with me.
Lee Da-yeon loved videos of chubby dolls or baby sharks.
The guardians’ daily routines were similar.
Kim Do-yoon frequently left the guild.
Whether he did so out of awareness that he was guild master or not was another matter.
By the way, weren’t they recruiting guild members?
After all, people living in this hunter guild were none other than the Kim siblings and the two children.
And one more person came and went.
When Na-yeon was away for a moment, the “Aunt Yoon Deok-ja” who took care of us was the building manager, a retired B-class hunter in her late fifties who cooked and cleaned for the guild.
Conversely, Kim Na-yeon always stayed at the guild.
She apparently had no need to go outside.
Of course, she still took care of us with utmost diligence.
…Except for the times she tried to dress me in frilly clothes.
It had been a month or so since then.
“Hmm.”
After finishing practice and contemplating internally, I nodded.
Finally, I had reached the level where I could use basic martial arts.
Of course, in terms of pure internal energy quantity, it was only on par with a third-rate cultivator—barely worthy of attaching the “A” character. But in my past life, I had long since mastered the circulation of internal energy. With even this much, I could easily hold my own against an expert martial artist.
At this point, I decided to begin moving my body in practice.
The Heavenly Demon Divine Art contained a wealth of techniques: fist arts, sword methods, staff arts, divine movement, and more.
I held every principle of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art in my mind, but first it was important to choose a main weapon suitable for the primary technique I would focus on.
However small its scale, this was still the training hall of the **Hunter Guild**.
By facilities alone, it was incomparably superior to the sparring ground of a small fire brigade.
One of them was a sword.
“Hmm.”
Leaving Da-yeon—who was still sitting in full lotus posture with her cultivation method running—behind me, I pulled a wooden sword from the wall rack and compared its length to the length of my arm.
Based on an adult standard, it was close to a short blade, but for this small body it would be the perfect length.
Hoo, hoo.
I swung it a couple of times.
There was a weight to it. Slightly heavy.
Swoosh.
I held the sword horizontally and assumed the posture for drawing it.
**Heavenly Demon Three Swords**, First Style.
“……”
But soon, wrinkling my nose, I returned the sword to the rack.
This technique could not be executed with third-rate internal energy.
Of course, with the Natural Realm’s miraculous principle pulling in energy, it would be possible, but unfolding the ruthless Heavenly Demon Three Swords properly in this narrow space would not only destroy the training hall but the entire building.
Still, this was enough.
What I wanted to confirm had been accomplished.
I looked down at my small hands and feet with discontent.
“As expected, this body is the problem.”
Of course, if I pulled up my internal energy and strengthened the body, I would be unbeatable. But with a body lacking even a single muscle fiber, it would not endure and would scream.
Body conditioning? Meaningless.
External energy training was merely a means for weaklings to endure until they reached a certain realm.
Of course, there were martial artists who had accomplished a family with only external energy, but those were people who were naturally gifted with superior physical abilities from birth.
The practice needed to master sword arts? It had been swung hundreds of times and already imprinted on my soul.
Originally, this body itself was not suited to martial arts cultivation.
By comparison, the childhood of the women once called the Sages of the Central Plains would have been far more robust.
When I reached the Transcendental Realm and underwent the Rebirth of Bone and Muscle, which reconstructed the body, everything would be solved.
But a temptation began in my mind.
First, should I try quickly gathering internal energy with the Rebirth of Blood Technique?
Or, rather, switch to the Heavenly Demon Mind Method right now?
As long as I underwent the Rebirth of Bone and Muscle, the body would be reconstructed.
I would have a body capable of enduring even high-grade martial arts.
But the demonic qi that would invade the marrow thanks to the Rebirth of Blood Technique?
The ruthlessness of the Heavenly Demon Mind Method?
If the Rebirth of Blood Technique was a problem because of demonic qi, then the Heavenly Demon Mind Method burdened the body because of its ruthlessness.
Both were problems.
Would the body of this young girl endure?
Back then, the realm was low, but now my soul itself had reached the Natural Realm, so perhaps it would somehow work.
Either way, I had no choice but to experiment in this fragile body in the unknown realm.
Having seriously considered it, I soon shook my head.
“There’s plenty of time.”
No need to rush.
After first laying the foundation with the pure Taicheng True Scripture Mind Method, I could switch to the Heavenly Demon Mind Method.
To reduce risk first, it was important to complete the core at the dantian.
I could do it for Da-yeon myself.
Since each cultivation method had different ways of circulating energy and different paths for meridians, a beginner who didn’t understand how to handle the flow of internal energy would cause a clash inside the body and almost certainly lead to demonic possession if they switched methods midway.
But if I had sufficiently laid the foundation for the dantian core and had the help of a Natural Realm expert, the seamless switching of cultivation methods would be possible.
I had already traveled that road once.
Even if I took a long time, two or three years would do.
And this world was peaceful.
There were latent risks from gates and monsters, but it didn’t seem urgent enough that my current strength was needed.
By the way, what martial art should I teach Da-yeon?
Fist arts? Sword methods?
Swaaang.
Suddenly, my long hair swayed into my vision.
I frowned.
I hadn’t noticed it when I was only doing internal energy training, but when I decided to move my body properly, the long hair became extremely bothersome.
Whisk, whisk.
I raised my hand to brush it aside, then angrily pulled up internal energy.
“Hey, this hair is unnecessarily long. I should cut it.”
“Ah, no! Absolutely not!”
Thud, thud, swoosh.
I had no idea how long I had been in the training hall, but Kim Na-yeon suddenly appeared and rushed over, grabbing my waist with all her might.
“Cutting the hair?! Absolutely not!”
“Why?”
“Waaah! How pretty is Ji-yeon’s hair! It sways like a black fox tail, sparkling and shining… This length must be preserved! I will never allow my sister to cut it!”
“……”
Na-yeon was desperate.
I had no idea I would meet such intense opposition.
A few days ago, I had angered Na-yeon and had my smartphone confiscated.
She even refused to serve me bathwater that day.
I knew.
If I angered her like this, she would hold a grudge for at least three days.
Of course, if I ignored her words and cut it, I could do so, but for a peaceful life, I needed to accept a certain amount of Na-yeon’s pampering.
That way, delicious food would appear, and I would receive the comfort I needed.
I let out a long sigh.
“Then what am I supposed to do? I’m starting to move my body, but the long hair blocks my vision.”
“Is blocking your vision the problem? That’s something my sister can fix.”
As if relieved by the solution, Na-yeon smiled brightly.
“Oh.”
I touched the ribbon tied to the side of my hair.
Na-yeon’s skill was good.
She had bound my long hair neatly with a ribbon and let it hang down.
It was not tied back like a ponytail with a horse tail, but carefully arranged and braided on the right side.
“How is it? This is called a side ponytail. Do you like it?”
“…Yes, it no longer bothers my vision.”
Pitter-patter, even if I jumped, the vision was not disturbed.
Da-yeon had already come out and braided her hair in a similar style, standing beside me.
“I want the same hairstyle as Ji-yeon.”
I looked at the two of them side by side.
The hair swayed left and right.
“Eeeek…! You two are too cute!”
Click, click.
I let out another sigh.
Kim Na-yeon, the C-class hunter who loved cute things.
Suddenly, a smartphone for taking photos was in her hand.
The purpose of solving the vision obstruction was not the only reason. After all, there was more to it than just the ring of incense.
This sect, no, this guild.
Was it really okay like this?
***
Wooong.
A machine moved around the bodies of the two girls standing side by side.
This was the guild’s power reaction test room.
By Wiji Yeon’s strong request, the device was activated to retest the awakening reactions of the two children, including Lee Da-yeon.
Fortunately, today was a day when Do-yoon was at the guild, so the Kim siblings—Kim Do-yoon and Kim Na-yeon—worked together to assist with the children’s power checks.
“That’s your skill, right?”
Do-yoon pointed at the two swaying tails—Da-yeon’s and Ji-yeon’s side ponytails—and laughed with amusement.
“Haa… Aren’t they super cute? Short hair is fine, but when tied like this, they look even cuter.”
“Would the kids like that?”
“I’ve been really happy lately. Ever since Ji-yeon came, Da-yeon has brightened up and smiles a lot more… I should have made friends for her sooner.”
The image of the two children with white hair standing neatly and curling together was cute enough that it would have been sufficient even without Na-yeon’s fuss.
It was impossible for Do-yoon’s mood not to be good.
If I had to say, it was probably the same feeling anyone would have.
Wooong.
After the check, the power reaction form was printed in an instant.
“Kids, it’s over. You can come out.”
While Na-yeon’s voice came through the speaker into the testing room, Do-yoon looked at the printed form.
And then.
“……!”
“Brother, what’s wrong?”
“Reaction is present.”
“…Really? Power reaction!?”
I had only thought of it as a breathing method for healthy bodies.
I had only thought that training for a month or so was amazing.
But the undeniable evidence in front of my eyes—
“…Ji-yeon clearly has the power reaction of an F-class or higher hunter, and Da-yeon also has a subtle awakening reaction.”
“This, what is this?”
“Can a regular person really obtain power just through training? If this is true, the hunter world is going to be turned upside down.”
While the two of them were in a state of panic—
Wooong.
Kim Do-yoon’s smartphone rang.
Do-yoon’s expression hardened as he looked at it.
“…Na-yeon, Oppa might not be able to come into the guild for a while.”
“So sudden.”
“This time it’ll be longer. I have to go to Daejeon. Kim Jin-seong from the Suryong Guild personally contacted me.”
“……!”
An S-class hunter with a force capable of confronting Lee Myeong-won of the Jeokpung Guild—Kim Jin-seong’s request.
Do-yoon’s subtle persuasion had worked.
Wooong.
At the same time, Kim Na-yeon’s smartphone sent an alarm.
Na-yeon’s expression turned troubled as she read the message.
“…What do I do? I seem to have to leave the guild too.”
“What is it?”
“Gate invasion party formation. I’ve been personally named.”
“…You’re naming me, a C-class?”
“They’re my classmates.”
“Ah.”
Do-yoon nodded.
The request of Na-yeon’s classmate graduates from the Hunter Academy.
An opportunity to accumulate real-world experience.
Moreover, if they had obtained exclusive gate invasion rights, the rewards there would be tremendous.
In the meantime, the two children came out of the testing room and approached the siblings, their hair swaying.
“Sister, Oppa.”
“How is it? There’s a reaction, right?”
Do-yoon crouched down and took the children’s hands.
“…Do you two want to become hunters?”
“Yes!”
“Mm-hmm.”
Both gave immediate answers.
Do-yoon could only laugh.
The power these two girls had in their hands.
A new paradigm that would shake the hunter world.
What exactly was this knowledge in the head of the girl named Wiji Yeon?
Many questions arose, but at this moment, he had no choice but to cheer them on.
“You two are awakening now. Keep honing your strength and you’ll grow, right? Go on and keep trying.”
“Waaah! Really?”
“I said I’d make you.”
Da-yeon jumped with joy, while Ji-yeon merely nodded calmly.
“This will be a crucial time. I’d love to watch over you, but I have to go on a long trip.”
“So sudden.”
“Take care, and come back safely.”
Ji-yeon’s reaction was no different from Na-yeon’s, and Da-yeon bowed her head without hesitation.
So it’s fine even if I’m not there?
Ignoring the strange feeling that a vein was about to rise on my forehead, Do-yoon added one more thing.
“By the way, Na-yeon will also be absent.”
“No! Unnie Na-yeon!”
“That, that’s a problem.”
…Why did the reactions differ so much?
Unconcerned with Do-yoon’s mood, the two girls rushed toward Na-yeon.