Chapter 67
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: The Third Ruin Site (2)
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That night.
The afternoon training session was over.
Ugh Im exhausted.
As usual, Ha Siyeon was sprawled on the floor, panting.
Jia was just as wiped out.
Whether it was to save face or because she didn't want to sit on the bare floor, she was barely standing.
She was literally just holding on.
It looked like she could collapse at any moment.
Are you two okay?
Im fine.
...Yeah.
They didn't look fine at all.
Unlike our usual sessions, today's training took place in a proper training hall.
Jia had suggested it would be better to train somewhere with proper equipment, so we rented a nearby training room.
Apparently, it belonged to a company affiliated with the Shinhwa Group, so it was practically free.
Thanks to that, the three of us enjoyed the luxury of having this spacious training hall to ourselves.
So it was a draw in the end.
The two of them had a mock battle for today's training.
It seemed they also wanted to settle the score from our time in the Great Labyrinth.
The result, as I said, was a draw.
You fighting in such a wide-open space It's so hard to get close to you
In the Great Labyrinth, Ha Siyeon had overwhelmed her by taking advantage of the terrain, but this training hall was a wide-open, flat area.
Moreover, the fact that Jia knew about Frozen Empress beforehand played a significant role.
Siyeon Just how high is the defense on that skill of yours?
Despite that, Jia couldn't win because she lacked a definitive means of attack.
She couldn't break through the Frozen Empress's armor and the ice walls it instantly generated.
As a result, it turned into a battle of attrition.
Exactly five minutes later, just as the duration of Frozen Empress ended, Jia also collapsed from exhaustion.
And this was the result.
They both looked like they were dying.
Ugh.
In the end, Jia couldn't hold out any longer and collapsed onto the floor.
I handed each of them a mana ion drink.
Thanks.
They both thanked me and drank. Maybe it was because they were drenched in sweat.
The outlines of their bodies were clearly visible, making it a bit awkward to look.
I averted my gaze slightly and spoke.
Siyeon, like I said, the key for you is to increase your mana capacity.
It was crucial for Ha Siyeon to increase the duration of Frozen Empress.
Okay.
Your mana is at C+ rank now, right?
That's right. C rank, 72.
C rank 1-33 is C-.
C rank 34-66 is C.
C rank 67-99 is C+.
It doesn't actually show up like that on the status window, but everyone uses that notation because the gap between 1 and 99 is too wide.
And it's still on an upward trend, I assume.
Yep.
If my memory served me right, Ha Siyeon's mana growth limit was A rank.
After A rank (99/99), any further growth from training would come to a complete halt.
What about your bonus points?
Saving them, of course.
Using bonus points was one of the few ways to break through this growth limit.
You get one point for every level up, and using it allows you to raise a stat beyond its growth limit.
Good. Don't get impatient. Looking at your growth rate, there's a high chance your mana will reach A rank on its own. It won't be too late to use your bonus points then.
From A to S? But that would take 10 points, wouldn't it?
That's how important your mana capacity is.
Levels are considerably hard to gain in this world.
You can get to level 20 just by casually hunting, but after that, the leveling speed drops off sharply.
I think the highest-level superhuman in this world was around 49.
I recall Yuhwa being level 34 or so.
In other words, you can expect to have about 20 bonus points by the time you graduate from the academy.
These bonus points are consumed more heavily the higher the rank of the stat you're trying to increase.
From F rank to D rank, its 1 point per rank-up.
From D rank to B rank, its 3 points per rank-up.
To go from B rank to A rank requires 6 points.
And to go from A rank to S rank costs 10 points.
Since growth itself is harder at higher ranks and yields greater efficiency, this point consumption ratio could be considered quite reasonable.
A rank That feels so far away. I wonder if I can even reach it before graduating.
The timing of when to use these bonus points is crucial.
Use them too hastily, and you sacrifice your future potential.
Use them too late, and you won't be able to build a record of achievements within the academy.
Holding out versus cutting your losses.
That delicate tightrope walk is what's important.
You'll probably hit it within a year.
Really?
Of course, it's true.
Wow
Ha Siyeon's face lit up. Was she really that happy?
Jia, your mana capacity is important too.
...Huh? Me too?
Jia, who had been listening blankly, asked in surprise.
Yeah. There's a saying, right? For an archer, mana is just a supplement for imbuing Ki. Anything above B rank is a waste.
Yeah.
That doesn't apply to you, Jia.
?
Jia's trait hadn't blossomed yet. That's why she wouldn't feel the importance of mana yet.
Your mana is B+, right?
Yes.
Then you should also aim for the maximum of A rank. After that, use your bonus points to raise it to S rank.
Jia's yet-to-be-unlocked trait was Gyeokseyujeon.
One of the conditions for this trait to blossom was achieving S rank in mana.
Once the trait blossomed, Jia would become the world's greatest long-range marksman, someone for whom the word 'untouchable' was the most fitting description.
Okay. I understand.
One would expect her to question a statement that went against common sense, but there wasn't a hint of doubt in Jia's eyes.
Instead, they were filled with nothing but trust in me.
Anyway, you both worked hard. Oh, right. Siyeon.
Yeah~?
Ha Siyeon, who was sipping her ion drink, tilted her head and looked at me.
I'm going to raid a ruin site tomorrow. Are you free?
Tomorrow? Hmm
Ha Siyeon seemed to ponder for a moment.
Yeah. I think I'll be free.
That's a relief.
Is it just the two of us again?
...Again?
Jia reacted to Ha Siyeon's words.
I went to clear a ruin with Siyeon once before.
I gained two levels back then, you know?
Ha Siyeon smiled brightly.
There will be four of us this time.
Huh? Four?
Four?
They both turned to me with surprised eyes.
Their expressions screamed, *Not three, but four?*
Yep. The three of us here.
I grinned.
And Geumho.
Ah~
The two of them nodded in understanding.
Then let's meet tomorrow at 3 PM. As for the meeting spot I'll text you separately later.
I needed to think about the best place to meet.
We had to move without being spotted by scouts or reporters.
I'm heading out first, then.
Ah, I'll go with you. You're heading to the dorms, right?
Ha Siyeon shot up and ran over to me.
I am, but.
I turned my gaze to Jia behind her.
Jia said she has something to tell you.
Huh? Jia does?
Yeah.
Ha Siyeon turned to look at Jia. Jia wore a very serious expression.
Well, you two have a good talk. I'm leaving first.
I gave a little wave and started walking.
What did you want to talk about?
Hmm. Where should I begin?
Jia was now going to tell Ha Siyeon about me.
About my identity, and about my purpose.
She would tell Ha Siyeon everything I had told her.
Everything, including the fact that my identity wasn't just a Celestial, but a half-Elf, half-Celestial.
This was something I had asked Jia to do.
I could have told Ha Siyeon myself, but I thought it would be better coming from Jia.
I also hoped this would bring the two of them closer.
You know that saying.
The one about how people who share a secret develop a strange sense of camaraderie.
I hoped those two would form that kind of relationship.
...Well, I'm sure they'll be fine.
To be honest,
I couldn't be bothered to repeat the same explanation twice.
***
After taking a quick shower in my room.
I headed for the bed, drying my hair with a towel.
*Bzzzt- Bzzzt-*
My smartphone, which I'd left on the bed, was vibrating nonstop.
What's this?
A call at this hour?
I picked up the phone with the towel still on my head.
[The Master and His Disciples' Room!]
...A group chat?
It was a group chat room.
I checked the messages.
[Shin Jia: Ancestor. We finished our talk. I made this chat room for exchanging information.]
[(Puppy emoticon with stars shooting from its eyes)]
As expected, it was a group chat made by Jia and Siyeon.
[Ha Siyeon: Whoa. Jia, you call Seoyul 'Ancestor'? Why?]
[Shin Jia: Why? Is there a reason not to call the Ancestor, Ancestor?]
[Ha Siyeon: Wow. That's insane.]
Thankfully, it seemed their talk went well.
I continued to read through the backlog of messages.
The two of them were having a blast, going back and forth. It seemed they had bonded a little, just as I'd hoped.
That's a relief.
I read all the way to the latest message.
[Ha Siyeon: Then should I start calling you Lord Seoyul?]
[Shin Jia: Of course. The Ancestor is the greatest person in the world. It's only natural to show a minimum of respect with an honorific.]
Oh, boy.
I hurriedly typed a reply.
[Don't. I don't mind you, Jia, but if I make Siyeon use formal language, she'll start doing it in front of everyone and cause a scene.]
[Shin Jia: (Surprised bear emoticon)]
[Ha Siyeon: Haha. I want to deny it, but I can't.]
Denying it would make her a punk.
[Anyway, I'm glad to hear the talk went well.]
[Ha Siyeon: Yeah, yeah! I was so surprised! The 10-Year Blank. The Second Great War. The end of the world. Ugh. My head hurts just thinking about it again.]
It seems Jia explained everything well.
[Ha Siyeon: Anyway, so in one year, things will start happening when the demon's seal begins to break, right? And that's when the world crisis truly begins.]
[Right. The Black Demon, Mephisto. His seal breaking is the starting point.]
After that, all sorts of other races start to reappear.
[Ha Siyeon: Honestly, I don't really get what the difference is whether you're a Celestial or a half-Elf, half-Celestial. But I'm glad to hear the truth. Thanks for telling me. Haha.]
[Shin Jia: How can you not know the difference! The Ancestor is a descendant of the great hero Reine Linefield! A legend among legends!]
[Ha Siyeon: Hmm. From my perspective, you're just an equally amazing person.]
[Shin Jia: ...Fine. Let's just drop it.]
Heh heh.
This is fun.
[Anyway, you both worked hard. See you tomorrow at 3 PM.]
[As for the place, hmm. We have to go to Gangneung. Jia, is there any way for us to travel as stealthily as possible?]
I didn't have a suitable means of transportation.
Scouts and reporters are terrifying.
[Shin Jia: Yes, sir! If we don't have one, I'll make one! I will be sure to have it ready!]
[Uh? Uh... okay, thanks.]
[Ha Siyeon: Your reaction is pretty funny, Jia.]
[Shin Jia: Be quiet.]
I smiled playfully.
[Sorry. I'll be quiet.]
[Shin Jia: Ah, ah! No! I wasn't talking to you, Ancestor...]
I could picture Jia waving her hands frantically.
[Just kidding, just kidding. Anyway, should we meet in front of the dorms tomorrow?]
[Shin Jia: Ah, yes! Considering travel time, should I come pick you up around 1 PM?]
[Yeah. Please do.]
[Shin Jia: Yes, sir!]
[Ha Siyeon: I got it too~]
[See you tomorrow at 1, then. Sleep well.]
With that, I closed the chat.
I didn't forget to mute the notifications for the group chat.
Otherwise, it felt like it would be vibrating all night.
Ughhh~
I flopped onto the bed and stretched my limbs out wide.
I felt so sluggish.
Ah. I didn't finish drying my hair.
But I'm too lazy to use the dryer.
Should I just sleep?
Nyaaa.
Just then, Geumho, who must have gotten tired as well, snuggled up against me and curled into a ball.
Yeah. Let's just sleep.
So what if the pillow gets a little wet.
What's important is that I want to sleep right now.
And just like that, my consciousness faded.
***
The next day at 3 PM.
We were searching at the entrance of Chilseongsan Mountain in Gangneung.
We only knew it was near Chilseongsan, but not the exact location, so we were basically doing grunt work.
Are you sure there's really a ruin site here?
Ha Siyeon asked casually.
If the Ancestor says there is, then there is. Just search quietly.
Jia replied, her voice completely devoid of doubt.
...Sorry. The terrain has changed quite a bit over ten thousand years.
And I bluffed without batting an eye.
Ah~ I see.
Ha Siyeon was immediately convinced.
At this point, I was starting to think my main ability was 'Bluffing'.
Just a little more effort. There's definitely a barrier shrouded in mana nearby.
It had only been ten minutes since we started searching. I didn't expect to find it so soon.
We'd probably have to search for at least an hour before anything turned up.
Grrrrr...
Geumho?
It was then that Geumho, who had been nestled in my arms, started growling at something in one direction.
He was staring intently at a huge rock wall.
Is there something here?
Geumho gave a small nod.
Geumho was a wild animal.
Of course, he had some tracking ability.
But he never had the ability to detect mana.
...Could he have been enhanced by the Guardian's Brazier?
No, more importantly, I didn't remember the entrance to the ruin being a rock wall.
Filled with questions, I placed my hand on the rock wall.
There really is something here.
I could definitely feel a subtle sense of incongruity.
Did you find it?
Ha Siyeon and Jia approached me.
Hmm. Maybe.
I infused mana into the hand I had pressed against the wall.
A collaboration of the Flame of Imprint and the Flame of the Spirit.
*Fwoosh-*
My plan was to put a scratch on the mana barrier blocking the ruin, causing the barrier's structure to collapse on its own.
A translucent flame flickered to life.
It clung to the rock wall and bored a tiny hole.
*Rumble-!*
The surrounding structures vibrated slightly.
And a moment later.
Whoa.
It was an illusion.
The rock wall slowly faded away, revealing an entrance of a peculiar shape.
Anyone could see it was the entrance to a ruin.
...It was an entrance, all right.
Ancestor. Is this the entrance to the 'Treasury Where Nature Ascends'?
...This isn't the place.
Huh? It's not?
Behind Jia, Ha Siyeon tilted her head in confusion.
Yeah. It's not.
This wasn't the ruin I was looking for, the [Treasury Where Nature Ascends].
In the first place, the Treasury Where Nature Ascends wasn't a cave-type ruin.
What is this?
This was baffling.
But the most baffling thing was this:
The message written on the sign standing brazenly at the entrance.
[Present for you]
[From. KIM GOD]
...Why is Hyeong showing up here?