Chapter 78
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Mark of the Martial Artist
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Mark of the Martial Artist
-Type: Material
-Rarity: Epic
-This is the mark of a Martial Artist.
It was the Mark of the Martial Artist.
Not just any mark, but a complete one.
As expected To obtain the restored mark, I needed Kaiross recognition after all.
Jeong Hoon had originally obtained the Mark of the Martial Artist after hunting the boss in the dungeon that the Martial Tower had become.
The boss of the dungeon at that time hadnt been Kairos.
Even so, hed managed to get a fragment of the Mark of the Martial Artist, so he figured that gaining his recognition would let him acquire the full mark more quickly.
And that thought had hit the mark perfectly.
You have more than enough qualification to possess this.
Thank you.
You have acquired the Mark of the Martial Artist.
You can now undertake a new quest.
A red question mark blinked above Kaiross head.
A hidden quest!
No way Could this be how I get the complete mark?
To perfect the Overlord Titan, he needed to collect all the marks.
Jeong Hoons instincts were telling him.
He had to complete that quest no matter what.
Hidden Quest: Complete Mark of the Martial Artist
-Restriction: One recognized by Kairos
-Reward: Complete Mark of the Martial Artist
-Description: Endure Kaiross training.
Of course, this mark is only half of it.
Is there a way to complete the mark?
Rather than a method, it might be easier to understand if I say that I possess the other half of that mark.
Kairos pulled out a new mark.
Complete Mark of the Martial Artist
-Type: Material
-Rarity: Unique
-This is the complete mark of a Martial Artist.
It was the complete Mark of the Martial Artist.
Can I really receive this?
Of course. But I cant just hand it over. Return the Mark of the Martial Artist you currently have, endure all the training I propose, and its yours.
And if I cant endure it?
Then give up the mark, and Ill give you a rare-grade Knuckle instead. You can take that and go.
If he got scared, he could settle for the Mark of the Martial Artist and leave.
Of course, Jeong Hoon had no intention of leaving like that.
Lets start right now.
Kairos burst into hearty laughter at his resolve.
Good! Steel yourself!
A week had passed since Jeong Hoon and Lee Na-yeon joined the guild.
Tang! Tang!
Mana bullets pierced the monsters forehead.
Kweeeek!
The monster with a hole in its head dropped dead on the spot.
Yeo Min-ji couldnt hide her admiration at the perfect marksmanship.
Wow Youre truly amazing.
You think so?
The sharpshooter was none other than Lee Na-yeon, who had just joined Hoyoung.
Jeong Hoons mother was leveling up with the guilds support.
Thanks to a week of diligent leveling, she was already on the verge of reaching level 30.
Yes! At this rate, you could at least go for a rare-grade promotion.
It wasnt mere flattery.
Yeo Min-ji had met all sorts of gunners since starting New World.
Among them, Seo Eun-soo, the national shooting team gold medalist, had marksmanship that still lingered vividly in her mind.
Shed thought no one could match his skill, but today that notion had been shaken.
Incredible Its been over 20 years since she quit competing, and shes still at this level.
Shed been surprised at first sight, but in just a week, Lee Na-yeons marksmanship had grown explosively.
More precisely, she was regaining her prime form.
Was this even possible?
Hehe, thank you. More importantly, what brings you here today?
Oh, youre about to hit level 30 soon, right? I came to help with your promotion!
Oh, really?
Of course, Yeo Min-ji wouldnt handle it personally.
Before coming here, shed bought out the entire field to make sure Lee Na-yeons promotion quest went smoothly.
The method was simple.
She went to each user using the field, paid them gold, and asked them to clear out.
At first, the users looked displeased, but once she handed over 50 gold each, they steered clear of the area.
Yes. If theres anything you dont know, feel free to ask anytime! And heres info on promoting to rare grade. I brought it just in case you needed it.
The process to reach rare grade in the promotion quest was the same for all.
Clear the dungeon in the Hall of Gunners within the time limit.
Yeo Min-ji was confident Lee Na-yeon had the skill to promote to rare grade.
Promoting to rare grade right from the first job change would be a huge gain for Hoyoung.
Theyd already recruited a Martial Artist with a hidden class and limitless potential, after all.
I wont interfere, so take the lead and handle it yourself.
Yeo Sun-woo hadnt even shown his face.
Hed left the decision entirely to Yeo Min-ji, planning to observe for the time being.
Oh, its fine. I already got it from Jeong Hoon.
I see Hes so quick.
As expected of Jeong Hoon.
Hed made full preparations before heading to the Martial Tower.
But if it was a test, it shouldve been over by now. Why no contact yet?
Shed sent several whispers, but got no reply.
Anyway, thank you.
No, its nothing. Just doing what I should. Dont mention it.
It may be what you should do but Im so grateful for everything so far. And thank you for getting along so well with our Jeong Hoon.
If anything, Im the grateful one!
You have such a sweet way of speaking. How wonderful it would be to have a daughter like Min-ji.
Mother
Her own mother had passed away in an accident when she was very young, so shed grown up with just her father.
Maybe thats why talking with Lee Na-yeon felt a bit strange.
Would it have felt like this if shed had a mother?
She suddenly missed the mother whose face she couldnt even remember.
One week.
Kairos had put Jeong Hoon through absolute hell for a full week.
Morning training, afternoon training, evening training, dawn trainingwithout any sleep.
No meals, either; he had to make do with water from the nearby river.
It was a grueling schedule that even the Martial Towers martial artists couldnt endure.
Yet Jeong Hoon completed it without a word of complaint for the entire week.
A monster of a guy.
Every day Jeong Hoon endured, Kairos grew more astonished.
Can you do more?
Yes.
Good. Then begin.
At Kaiross command, Jeong Hoon dragged a 1,000kg boulder up the mountain.
Hed gone back and forth on this mountain 42 times over the week.
Yet his speed hadnt slowed at all.
Is this even possible?
The training was meant to push mental strength to its absolute limit.
To do that, the body had to be driven to exhaustion, but Jeong Hoons body showed no signs of reaching its limit.
Who the hell is this guy How can he endure this?
Kairos felt chills run through his entire body.
Before becoming master of the Martial Tower, hed heard a legend of martial arts from the previous tower lord.
When the descendant of the gods appears, all shall be set right.
Descendant of the gods.
A prophecy of one who would emerge in a chaotic world and bring peace.
Hed dismissed it as nonsense back then, but watching Jeong Hoon, the legend kept coming to mind.
Im back.
The round trip took three hours.
Jeong Hoon was still completing it without exceeding the time.
You dont even get tired?
Yes. I can do more.
Jeong Hoon could still endure.
The reason was his holy power constantly restoring his body.
He replenished any shortfall by buying potions from the Achievement Shop. Holy power prevented his health from dropping and eliminated fatigue debuffs.
But his mind had reached its limit long ago.
His real body was in the capsule. After such long gaming sessions, youre supposed to log out and rest, but hed trained non-stop for a week.
His fatigue had long since maxed out.
If he kept going, hed collapse for sure.
But he couldnt give up the Mark of the Martial Artist.
Alright. Thats enough for the first phase of training.
Fortunately, Kairos ended the first phase.
It had been scheduled for exactly one week anyway.
Whats the second phase?
Jeong Hoon was ready to dive straight into the second phase.
But Kairos shook his head.
Rest for three days. Your bodys fine, but youre mentally exhausted. You need to recover. Rest is part of training too.
Hed tried not to show it, but Kairos had seen through him already.
Jeong Hoon nodded obediently.
Understood.
Good. Then meet me at the training ground in three days.
With that, Kairos headed back into the tower.
Soon after, Marden approached.
Marden stuck out his tongue at the sight of Jeong Hoon standing tall after enduring a week.
Youre really one tough bastard Follow me. Ill show you to your quarters.
Yes.
Jeong Hoon followed him to the quarters and immediately collapsed onto the bed.
That was the last thing he remembered.
How much time had passed?
Jeong Hoon slowly opened his eyes.
He was in bed.
Not the Martial Tower quarters, but his own room.
I dont remember anything after lying down in the quarters.
No memory of it, but he mustve logged out, exited the capsule, and passed out right away.
Jeong Hoon pulled out his smartphone.
A whole days gone by.
It had been nearly 28 hours since he fell asleep.
After enduring a week without sleep, it was only natural.
Jeong Hoon dragged his stiff body to the living room.
Youre awake?
His mother was in the living room, eating fruit.
And beside her was a familiar face.
Hm? Min-ji? What are you doing here?
She was skewering strawberries with a forkYeo Min-ji.
Catching Jeong Hoons eye, she gave an awkward smile and greeted him.
Well Sorry for dropping by unannounced.
No need to apologize. I invited her. Youd get so lonely alone.
It seemed his mother had insisted so strongly that she had no choice but to visit.
His mother never turned away someone whod shown her kindness.
I see. Then dont mind me and finish eating.
Jeong Hoon quickly stopped by the bathroom before heading back to his room.
Then Yeo Min-ji cautiously knocked on his door.
May I come in for a moment?
Yes.
At his permission, Yeo Min-ji entered the room.
I had some shocking news I needed to tell you.
Her face and voice brimmed with excitement.
Shocking news?
Yes. Your mother completed her first job change!
Really?
Yes!
She mustve been playing with Hoyoungs full support.
Her leveling speed was impressive.
Thats why early guild support for beginners was so crucial.
Good thing I got an extra capsule.
He felt good seeing his mother enjoying the game.
Adapting to New World in advance was a huge relief.
At this rate, protecting her in the future would be much easier.
So, what was the result?
For Yeo Min-ji to put it that way, his mothers job change result mustve been very satisfying.
Hed seen her marksmanship once, so he knew it wouldnt be normal grade.
The question was rare or epic.
Dont freak out Its a hidden class! A hidden class! And epic grade, no less!
No way?!
Jeong Hoons eyes widened at her answer.
Hed half-expected epic grade, but a hidden class was completely unforeseen.
How did that happen?
Hidden classes only appeared once each.
And he thought all the gunner hidden classes had already emerged.
Thats why he hadnt given his mother any info on them, yet somehow
Yes! I was floored when I first heard.
Whats the job name?
Genesis Sniper.
Genesis Sniper.
A job hed never heard of.
That meant a new hidden class had appearedone that hadnt existed before his regression.
Mothers past has changed.
And perfectly so.