How to Teach a Newbie
He drew out his mana thinly and wrapped it around his entire body. Without the perception interference field, stepping out into the bustling streets would paralyze the whole area with swarming crowds.
The square in front of the subway station on a weekend afternoon was packed with people, no room to step.
Pushing through the crowd, he spotted a familiar face. His sister's college classmate and today's baggage, Yoo Seol-ah.
Long wavy hair down to her waist. Flashy nail art and stylish clothes. She looked like the typical urban woman, more suited to a cafe outing than a hunter about to enter a dungeon.
He approached silently from behind. Dropping the perception interference field, he spoke.
"Hey."
The sudden voice made Yoo Seol-ah jump. She whipped around, eyes widening.
"Eek! You really came!"
Panting, she clamped both hands over her mouth. He'd heard from Kang Hae-eun. She was a die-hard fan who collected all his battle videos and merch.
She couldn't even meet his eyes properly, her heart rate spiking visibly. She looked ready to swoon just from breathing. It was exhausting.
"Whatever. Where's the rest of the party? Thought you were running a temp raid."
"O-over there! I'll guide you!"
Seol-ah squeaked and hurried ahead. In the corner of the square, by the dungeon entry portal, three geared-up men and women waited.
A tank with a massive shield. A healer for recovery and a mage for firepower. The classic newbie combo.
As he approached with Seol-ah, their conversation cut off abruptly. Silence fell.
"K-Kang Tae-ho Hunter?!"
The tank dropped his helmet. They all sprang up like coiled springs and bowed 90 degrees.
"Hello! Tae-ho Hunter!"
"Enough. Stand up straight."
He waved them off lazily.
"Today I'm tagging along with Yoo Seol-ah as a temp guide. I'll just watch from the back, so do your thing."
The party members wiped cold sweat and nodded vigorously.
He turned to Seol-ah, stiff as a board.
Hae-eun had only mentioned she'd awakened—no details.
"Awakening type. General or special?"
"G-general...! My awakening name is Fighter!"
A frail thing like her as a close-range melee dealer? Not that weird. Status window awakening names weren't absolute jobs. Just the system's forced optimization for mana efficiency.
Look at his own ass for proof.
"Melee reinforcement path, huh. Hunter rank by mana total?"
"I got C-rank!"
"Hm. Mana pool's decent. Combat experience?"
"Hunter Association training center... Just hitting wooden dummies..."
Her face paled. Natural to freak with bug-squashing nerves facing monster mugs.
Tsk. He clicked his tongue.
"First real fight today?"
"Yes... First time."
"We'll see how you do. Looks ready—let's go."
The party stepped into the shimmering E-grade gate rift in the square's center.
He followed leisurely, hands in pockets.
Vision inverted red. Nauseating blood stench assaulted his nose.
As per recon, a dim cave-type dungeon. Stalactites hung from the ceiling, floor slick with moisture.
"Tsk. Goblin nest with newbies, of course."
He muttered dryly. Dark, narrow terrain favored small bodies. Perfect for ambushing rookies into panic.
Tension etched the party's faces.
"Form up. I won't step in unless you're about to wipe."
He leaned against the cave wall, arms crossed. The mage began casting. Light orbs floated up, pushing back the dark.
Tank led with shield forward. Seol-ah huddled right behind, shrunk small.
"Textbook formation. Proceed."
Ten minutes down the passage. Eerie chuckles echoed from the dark.
Kirrik, kiririk.
Five green-skinned goblins poured from ceiling and wall cracks, rusty daggers and clubs in hand.
"Incoming! Front defense!"
Tank raised his shield. Klang! Clang! Sparks flew as daggers hit iron.
Off-balance, the tank grunted and staggered back.
"Yoo Seol-ah Hunter! Right flank!"
Seol-ah squeezed her eyes shut at the shout.
"Kyaaah!"
Screaming, she flailed punches wildly. Mana gauntlets on her fists glowed blue.
Boom!
Explosion rang out. One goblin's chest caved grotesquely, slamming dead into the wall. Solid C-rank power.
But his brow furrowed.
"G-get away! Stay back!"
Eyes still shut, Seol-ah swung blindly. Misses cracked walls, crumbling rocks. Mana leaked wastefully from her body.
"Mage! Focus fire!"
The rear mage blasted mana bolts, cleaning up the rest.
Battle over, Seol-ah collapsed, gasping. Pale face, trembling fingers. Mana overexertion's stamina crash.
Fight like that, she'd drop before the boss—dead.
"Hey. Huddle up."
He called the party. Plopped on a rock, feet dangling off the edge.
"Tank first. That goblin drop from above? Shield angle was garbage. Center of gravity fully back."
"Ah... Y-yes. Panicked..."
"For overhead presses, don't block vertical—angle to deflect. Brute force it and your shoulder joint pops first."
Tank nodded sharply, disciplined.
He turned a piercing glare on sweat-soaked Seol-ah.
"Yoo Seol-ah. Open your damn eyes."
She flinched, shoulders hunching.
"Melee dealer shadowboxing with eyes shut? Make sense?"
"S-sorry... They're so gross-looking..."
"And mana handling's total trash."
He hammered facts mercilessly.
"Betting it all on your big tank, dumping in one shot? Waste like that and you'll burn out mid-dungeon."
No matter the pool size, poor control squanders it on sloppy swings. True strength's control and efficiency, not size.
"Don't blanket mana dumbly over your whole fist. Compress to knuckles at impact instant—burst. Got it?"
"Yes, sir! I'll remember!"
Seol-ah shot up, replying.
"Catch your breath and move."
The nagging worked. From the second fight, tank's formation stabilized. Seol-ah gritted teeth, eyes open, compressing mana into goblin solar plexuses.
Waste down, fatigue slowed noticeably.
An hour's push reached the final boss area. A 2-meter hobgoblin burst from the dark.
"I'll grab aggro first! Mage, support shots! Yoo Seol-ah Hunter, wait for opening!"
Tank angled his shield, deflecting the massive club. Mana bolt exploited the gap, blinding the beast.
That instant—
Seol-ah kicked off, leaping. Blue mana hyper-compressed at her right fist tip.
Splat!
Gauntlet pierced and pulverized the hobgoblin's jaw. Monster crashed down.
Situation cleared.
He straightened from the wall. Strode slowly to the corpse.
"Hobgoblin byproducts worthless. Just grab the mana stone."
Rookies hesitated at the gruesome body. Newbies hated gutting monsters themselves.
He flicked his right index finger lightly. Blue mana sliced precisely into the hobgoblin's solar plexus.
Schlurp.
Not a drop of blood, the E-grade mana stone floated cleanly to his palm.
"Precise mana handling—no blood on you."
Newbies gawked at the pristine extraction.
Meant to spectate start to finish. Ended up twitching a finger at the end.
Stepped out of the gate. Afternoon sun poured down.
Party cheered, collapsing.
"Whoa... We survived. Good job everyone!"
Seol-ah's legs gave out too, sprawling and heaving. Her face beamed with accomplishment.
One party member, the mage, approached hesitantly.
"Um... Hero. If it's not too much, could we get a group photo...?"
Tiresome. But ignoring fresh newbies' puppy eyes felt harsh.
"Sigh... Quick pic, then scatter."
Party clustered around him. He threw a blank-faced V at the lens.
Snap.
One more eyewitness pic for SNS.
Dismissed the party, kept only Seol-ah. Dragged her to a dingy nearby gukbap joint.
Post-fight, greasy meat or hot soup hit best. Ordered two extra-large bowls, sat across.
Seol-ah fidgeted frozen with her spoon.
"Eat before it cools. No nagging while eating."
"Ah, yes! Thanks for the meal!"
Finally, she slurped broth. He mixed rice, chomped pickled radish.
As bowls emptied, he spoke casually.
"Not bad for a first timer. Mentality took a hit, though."
"Thanks to Hero's feedback. Compressing mana—way less tiring."
"One more thing to burn in."
Set down his cup, met her eyes.
"Don't obsess that Fighter means glue to enemies and punch only."
Seol-ah's eyes rounded.
"Status awakening name ain't absolute job. Just system's forced body tweak for mana efficiency. Don't get hung up."
Raised his right hand, tiny blue mana orb spun sharp at his fingertip.
"Mana's energy. Even with physics-bash optimized body, hyper-compress and release mid-air—it's slashes, shells."
Same mana: scattered sparks or condensed arrows? Skill decides.
Awe filled Seol-ah's eyes.
"Ah... Don't be bound by awakening name... Etched in my bones!"
"Build combat XP slow. But practice mana compression like breathing in daily life. Won't die pointlessly."
Hopped down from the seat. Paid at the counter with the corporate card.
"Um... Hero! I won't bother you, promise—just exchange numbers once...?"
Seol-ah thrust out her smartphone desperately.
Better direct shutdown than via Hae-eun relays.
Punched in his number casually, left the restaurant.
Sun was setting. Caught a taxi home.
Opened the door to the penthouse living room—Hae-eun sprang from the sofa.
"Oppa! Back? How'd it go? Was our Seol-ah good? No injuries?"
"Yeah."
Shucked his tracksuit jacket, half-assed reply.
"Standard newbie level. Sent her back alive—no fuss."
"Aish~ Can't praise a bit? Say it nice!"
"Shut it. Move. Crashing."
Ignored her whining, entered his room.
Flopped onto bed. Feels alive.
Pocket smartphone buzzed. Screen: text from number-swapped Seol-ah.
Long-ass wall of text—scroll city. Prayer material.
"Why so damn wordy. Exhausting."
Muttered dryly, tapped a lazy reply.
Hit send, tossed phone on nightstand.
Pulled blanket to his chin.
Should stay quiet for a while.