Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Volume 2, Chapter 2
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Thanks to Oh Shin-woo's exploits, the commotion at the bus stop portal in front of Yonsei University's main gate was quickly resolved.
Kim Yu-min, the official in charge of the incident, faced a three-month license suspension, two months of training, and six months on the front lines, all under the pretext of negligent handling and a lack of the proper mindset for an Awakener. In front of Oh Shin-woo, the lofty Vice Chairman of the Awakener Association, Kim Yu-min was at a complete loss for words.
He merely shed tears with a weary, exhausted expression.
Of course, no one mistook them for tears of repentance.
And there was a brief, private conversation between Kim In-gyu and Oh Shin-woo.
Though the exact contents were unknown, Kim In-gyu looked stunned, and Oh Shin-woo lowered his sunglasses with a wink. On the surface, a fine of ten million won was imposed, but the atmosphere wasn't hostile. The faint smile at the corner of Kim In-gyu's mouth as he left was proof enough.
True to his promise, Su-hyeok received his reward.
His Hunter rank shot up two full grades in one go.
Along with official recognition as an 8th-rank Hunter came a cash bonus of around twenty million won.
Oh Shin-woo apologized, saying the Association's wallet was too thin to offer more, but from Su-hyeok's perspective, he was already grateful just for being extricated from that sticky situation so effortlessly.
Additionally, Su-hyeok made one more request of Oh Shin-woo.
He asked that his name not be revealed in connection with the incident.
It was still too soon to let his family know. Given the scale of the event, he figured there was a high chance it would hit the news.
Oh Shin-woo seemed puzzled but nodded with a bright smile, assuring him it was no trouble at all.
And the money he earned wasn't just the bonus.
"You were rushing around to gather people, so it seemed like you didn't have time to collect them yourself..."
Two Atel magic stones!
Han Tae-min and another man had picked them up for him.
It was an unexpected windfall for Su-hyeok.
"We didn't have the spare capacity to grab the byproducts either. Sorry about that."
"No, no. I'm already incredibly thankful for this."
What did Han Tae-min have to apologize for?
As Su-hyeok had said, it was something he hadn't even thought of.
Oh Shin-woo bought the Atel magic stones on the spot.
The price? A whopping eighty million won each.
Closing a 5th-rank portal single-handedly, plus the bonus—over 180 million in total!
After taxes, it came to about 160 million, but for Su-hyeok, it was an unimaginable fortune earned in one fell swoop.
'Add in the balance already in my account, and it's 200 million.'
It had been just one day since he started working as an Awakener—more precisely, as a Hunter dashing through the world beyond portals—and he'd already made a massive sum.
'Just 300 million more, and with a bit more debt, I could buy a decent 30-pyeong apartment.'
A branded 30-pyeong apartment in Seoul.
They seemed to overflow in every corner of the city at a glance, but precious few could actually call one their own.
Since Su-hyeok was very young, his family had dreamed of owning just one such place.
He could make it happen.
Feeling that long-imagined dream drawing tantalizingly close, Su-hyeok clenched his fist tight.
A surge of strength welled up from deep within his heart.
Of course, there were hurdles to clear first.
He had to tell his family that he had become an Awakener.
It was essential to convince them of how he'd suddenly come into so much money.
The problem was that his parents wouldn't accept it easily.
'Just like I planned—I'll start by talking to Su-a little by little, lay the groundwork.'
He already had a method in mind.
It wouldn't be easy, but it was entirely feasible.
'And already 8th rank.'
He'd achieved what even a 6th-rank couldn't.
Oh Shin-woo must have highly valued and assessed that aspect.
In truth, Su-hyeok's skills were too much for a mere 6th-rank anyway.
Thanks to this, he was close to shedding his silver badge for gold—the mark of the top 1% of Korea's Awakeners, the entry-level elite.
All before even hitting level 20.
Su-hyeok checked his status window.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ ⚡ Strength: 38 💨 Agility: 41 ✨ Magic Power: 40 💪 Stamina: 43 🍀 Luck: 46 🛡️ Endurance: 40 Name: Yang Su-hyeok | Age: 27 | Gender: Male Level: 18 | Class: Martial Artist | Title: Junior Destroyer Alignment: Chaotic Neutral | Karma: Excess *Note: Karma value is exceptionally high compared to age and racial norms.
*Body Purification: 90%. Effects enhanced when using ki-based techniques. *Conception and Governor Vessels opened. Real-time internal energy recovery and efficiency doubled relative to base. *Unified Body: Internal energy divided. Power increases with denser dantian usage. Lower: 100%, Middle: +70%, Upper: +150%. *Divine Sword Unity achieved. Sword conduction +50%, cutting power +30%. Level 18.
But his stats were far beyond the baseline.
The various special notes made Su-hyeok vastly stronger.
'Good. Let's keep pushing like this.'
With money came options.
Beyond buying a home for his family, he could gear up, absorb Earth's quasi-elixir drugs. Plenty of foundations left to grow stronger fast.
'But this status window feels unnecessarily long.'
As Su-hyeok pondered his expanded status screen—
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Simplified interface window now supported. Full view available if desired. Agree to feature? (Y/N) Su-hyeok didn't hesitate at the new alert chime.
"Yes! Yes."
"Updating..." flashed by, and the status window before his eyes transformed.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ ⚡ Strength: 38 💨 Agility: 41 ✨ Magic Power: 40 💪 Stamina: 43 🍀 Luck: 46 🛡️ Endurance: 40 Name: Yang Su-hyeok | Level: 18 | Class: Martial Artist
Title: Junior Destroyer Additional Notes: *Divine Sword Unity achieved. *Body Purification nearing 90%. The result was highly satisfying.
The cluttered interface had been streamlined considerably.
Now it showed only the info Su-hyeok needed.
His eye caught the new title section.
'Junior Destroyer?'
It had popped up when he felled the giant Atel and closed the 5th-rank portal.
'What's the effect?'
The moment the question arose, the title expanded with a description.
[Junior Destroyer] All stats +5% when entering another dimension solo. "Whoa."
Su-hyeok let out an involuntary exclamation.
It felt tailor-made for him, didn't it?
His first title, and he loved it.
'And this is just Junior?'
5% grew more potent as stats rose.
Yet it was merely Junior level.
Higher tiers would be even more powerful—no need to spell it out.
This alone was a huge gain beyond the cash.
But it didn't end there.
Conquering the 5th-rank portal solo had yielded massive skill gains too.
With a thought to check, the skill window unfurled.
⚔ SKILLS ⚔ ✨ Active Skills: ◆ SS-rank Taiji Eight Immortal Steps (3 Stars) - Follow the will of the Eight Immortals in the profound flow of yang and yin, taiji. A supreme martial art. ◆ S-rank Heaven and Earth Unification Divine Art (2 Stars) - The realm of benevolence linking earth and sky. Supreme art; evolvable. ◆ S-rank Soul-Stealing Demon Sword (5 Stars) - Demonic art granting immense power at the cost of the user's will. ◆ A-rank Nature Primordial Art (8 Stars) - Excellent foundational art based on earth's qi. ◆ A-rank Iron Palm Strike (7 Stars) - Martial art of exquisite power and technique harmony. ◆ A-rank Retreating Wind Kick (7 Stars) - Powerful kicks that repel even the wind. ◆ A-rank Mad Ghost Chaotic Staff (2 Stars) - Wield the staff like a rampaging mad ghost. Recommended to evacuate if witnessed. 📴 Inactive Skills: ◆ C-rank Mental Corruption Immunity - Greater resistance to mental attacks. 🔮 Special Passive: ◆ Martial Bone - +20% effect boost for physical abilities. ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Simplifying skill window. His gaze lingered on the C-rank Mental Corruption Immunity among the inactive skills.
'Handy for demonic arts, sure, but it resists sorcery too.'
If so, its value was immeasurable.
Back on the Huan Continent, what troubled Su-hyeok most weren't the mightiest martial arts.
Illusions, sorceries, formations.
Abilities that dazzled the eyes and muddled the mind were the true headaches.
He'd had some resistance then, so no issue, but on Earth, he'd have waited until Harmony Realm. Now, a skill granted it effortlessly.
'Pair this with Harmony Realm for ironclad mental defense...'
No illusion would faze him.
It meant supremacy over sorcerers—predatory advantage.
His mastered arts had advanced notably too.
Especially the A-rank ones he'd trained from the start on Earth.
'Used them often.'
Time to step up.
He knew pinnacle S-ranks like Soul-Stealing Demon Sword well.
He'd held back for balance and internal energy, but now he could wield them.
'Skill window's a bit messy too—can it simplify?'
The alert answered instantly.
Su-hyeok checked the skill window after.
He'd seen how well it streamlined from the status.
No need to belabor it.
'Seeing proficiency rise feels good anyway.'
So he opened it again.
Either way, Su-hyeok now boasted strength beyond his level.
Unfathomable to other Awakeners, probably.
He had to exploit it fully.
'Level up while training martial arts.'
Supreme growth efficiency.
'At this rate, I'll become a Martial God who levels up. Heh.'
Chuckling to himself, Su-hyeok opened the front door.
Earlier than expected.
And his younger sister was already home.
"Su-a, when did you get back?"
Spotting her shoes, Su-hyeok called out as he entered.
For him, alone with his sister was the perfect opening.
He had to tell her first, after all.
"Su-a?"
Entering the living room, he saw her glued to the TV news.
"Oppa, look at this. I was in Sinchon today..."
The TV news covered the bus stop portal incident at the university gate—the very event Su-hyeok had been part of.
Su-hyeok flinched involuntarily.