Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Skill Up (1)
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As soon as they returned, all the Hunters and Helpers, including Cha Su-ho, followed the examiners to the recovery room.
Unlike other branches, the 5th Branch's training field required Hunters and Helpers who had been out in the field to head straight to the recovery room for rest unless there was an emergency.
The recovery room also had a treatment area, so Roni—who had his forearm torn off by the Pubkil—left immediately for treatment, while the rest headed to the recovery room for muscle relaxation and rest.
Examiners were assigned one-on-one to each Hunter and Helper. Entering the individual rest room, Su-ho couldn't keep his mouth shut.
Under soft lighting, mysterious machines stood alongside what looked like massage beds.
The examiner spoke to Su-ho, who was curiously scanning the room.
"First, we'll use cryotherapy to ease your muscle pain, followed by a massage for fatigue recovery and muscle tension relief."
The examiner opened a leather pouch he was carrying. Seeing the syringes inside, Su-ho asked,
"What kind of injection is that?"
"It's something to help with condition recovery."
"It's not... drugs or anything, right?"
At the mention of drugs, the examiner jumped in surprise and said,
"Drugs are prohibited in our center. Anything like psychoactive meds or narcotic painkillers without a doctor's approval is banned."
"Ah... just checking."
"No need to worry about that. Let's get the injection started first. Hold out your right arm."
Su-ho hesitated, uneasy about unknown meds entering his body. Jin Seong-hyeok, who had been silent, spoke up.
'It'll be fine. I've had it a few times myself.'
'Guess it's okay then.'
Only then did Su-ho willingly extend his arm. After swabbing his forearm with alcohol cotton, a needle thicker than a standard syringe plunged in.
"Ugh..."
As Su-ho let out a small groan, Jin Seong-hyeok said in disbelief,
'Groaning over a little injection?'
'This isn't just any injection! Look at that needle. Wouldn't you groan?'
'Man up.'
No point arguing—Jin Seong-hyeok would just keep teasing. Still, how long is this injection gonna take?
"When... will it be done?"
"All set."
The examiner removed the needle from Su-ho's forearm, applied pressure to stop the bleeding, and continued,
"Now for the cryotherapy. Change in the dressing room over there—strip down completely, put on the provided underwear, and come back."
"W-wait. Just underwear?"
"Yes. You're getting a massage too."
Su-ho had never had a massage before. The only thing close was the massage machine in the Helper room after becoming an A-grade Helper.
After changing and standing awkwardly in front of the examiner despite his embarrassment, Su-ho spent a full four hours holed up in the rest room.
He rested properly, though. He endured three minutes in the cryotherapy booth with its billowing white mist, then lay in a pod-shaped machine for a steam treatment. Next came the massage.
When everything was done and Su-ho emerged from the rest room, his face gleamed like a freshly peeled boiled egg.
'Wow... I should ask Center 1 to install one of these.'
Money really was everything. He was even jealous of the 5th Branch for getting this every time.
As he headed to his room, still marveling nonstop, Jin Seong-hyeok found it amusing and said,
'Then stay here. The 5th Branch would welcome you.'
'Staying just for the rest room? Nah.'
'The people aren't bad either. Those big guys, for one.'
'Gotta head back.'
Even if Roni and Leri had great personalities, drinking their shakes every day was impossible. Plus, daily workouts together.
'Just thinking about it tires me out.'
Jin Seong-hyeok let out a chuckle at Su-ho's sincere words.
'Jin Seong-hyeok... no, hyung.'
'What.'
'Open a gate as soon as we get back to the room.'
'A gate?'
'We've rested enough. Time to train.'
Watching the Hunters in the Dead Zone had Su-ho's blood boiling nonstop. No wonder they were SS-grade. Flawless movements and overwhelming abilities.
'To catch up, I'd need to train through the night every day and it still wouldn't be enough.'
Having Jin Seong-hyeok's power didn't matter if he couldn't draw it out. Training was essential. Real combat against monsters too.
'Cha Su-ho.'
'Yes?'
'Open the gate yourself.'
'...Me?'
'Yeah.'
Opening a gate himself.
That was when Su-ho's leisurely steps quickened. His mind was filled only with thoughts of opening the gate and heading to the Dead Zone.
Back in his room, he locked the door and headed to the bathroom. As he familiarly filled the tub, Jin Seong-hyeok said,
'First, visualize the place you're going.'
The place he wanted to go. Obviously the Dead Zone. Specifically, where the 5th Branch Hunters had fought the Pubkil.
'Good. Now focus your mind and project it onto the water.'
'Project onto the water...?'
'Meaning, picture the place on the water's surface.'
Staring into the full tub, Su-ho pictured the Dead Zone. The barren, dusty expanse where the Pubkils lurked.
'Cha Su-ho.'
'Yes.'
'Tap the water with your finger.'
'The surface?'
'Yeah.'
Like Jin Seong-hyeok always did, Su-ho tapped the water with his finger and drew a small circle.
'Now channel your psychokinesis into the tub and think of creating a gate. Simply put, part the water with it. With psychokinesis.'
Part the water. Muttering it, Su-ho tried drawing out his psychokinesis. A small whirlpool formed on the calm water.
'No way, this...!'
'Focus. The gate's forming.'
'Got it!'
Staring at the rippling whirlpool, Su-ho concentrated. It began to grow larger.
'Step in.'
At Jin Seong-hyeok's words, Su-ho held his breath and plunged into the tub, bending his legs and dunking his head underwater, waiting for the gate to open.
But why was he running out of air? The gate should open and let him breathe, but it didn't. The pressure told him he was still in the tub.
He couldn't hold it. Su-ho jerked his head up.
"Hah, hah..."
Splash—
Water poured out of the tub. Blinking his eyes open, Su-ho panted and looked around. Still in the bathroom.
'...Same place.'
'Failed. Try again.'
No surprise on the first try. Now used to it, Su-ho got out and refocused.
This time, he visualized more specifically. The trees nearby, no distinctive features. Picturing it clearly, he stared at the water.
The water swirled again. Sign of the gate opening. After drawing the circle, Su-ho pulled his hand away. The clear water, visible to the bottom, turned black.
A black aura crept up from the darkened water. Watching, Jin Seong-hyeok spoke.
'This one's opening.'
'Please... let it work.'
Su-ho took a short breath and dipped his foot in. The black water swallowed his calf, swirling faster.
Inhaling deeply, Su-ho leaned forward. His ears filled, breath ragged. Hoping to drop through the gate—then his body floated, and plummeted.
"Hngh!"
Opening his tightly shut eyes, Su-ho froze. The sight wasn't the bathroom. Barren, dry dirt and tree stumps.
Now he was sure. This was the Dead Zone.
'I-I just...!'
'You made it. To the Dead Zone.'
'My gate worked?!'
'That's why you're here.'
'Whoa...!'
As if it didn't feel real, Su-ho burst into a hearty laugh.
Not just anyone could do this. Others didn't even know gates could be made, and even if they did, no Hunter could replicate it.
Connecting the Dead Zone to the bathroom water via gate was Jin Seong-hyeok's aura. Su-ho, who could summon it, naturally used the gate Jin Seong-hyeok created.
In other words, only Su-ho, with Jin Seong-hyeok's power, could use the gate.
'Still, on the second try.'
'Yeah. Thought it'd be first try. Tsk.'
Su-ho laughed in disbelief at Jin Seong-hyeok's tongue-click.
'Tell me more about the gate.'
'Sure.'
'Since it's made with my aura, no one but you—human or monster—can use it. You couldn't either without my power in you.'
'Got it.'
'No worries about monsters hopping through.'
He hadn't even considered monsters using it. Good thing only those with Jin Seong-hyeok's aura could.
'Ah. Didn't think of that.'
'Think ahead. Bigger power means bigger consequences.'
Jin Seong-hyeok had clearly calculated everything. Setting it so only he could travel via gate, accounting for variables.
Incomprehensible. Complaining of a boring life, yet he'd not only honed his abilities but created a gate.
Su-ho realized anew that the real Jin Seong-hyeok was even greater than the brief glimpse in the Helper manual.
'Can't believe how amazing it is, even thinking again.'
'Me?'
'Yes.'
'Stating the obvious over and over.'
Not hating it, Jin Seong-hyeok snorted and lowered his voice.
'Cha Su-ho. Time to warm up.'
Su-ho scanned around. His eyes locked on one spot.
A large black shadow. Pointed ears, tongue dangling to the neck.
'Pubkil.'
The Pubkil suddenly lifted its head, sniffing the air. Pinpointing the scent, its head turned straight to Su-ho.
Grrr.
Spotting Su-ho, its jaws parted, revealing threatening fangs.
'Just one.'
Jin Seong-hyeok probed.
'Think you can take it?'
At the question, fiery chains flickered to life behind Su-ho's back.
'Stating the obvious over and over.'