Chapter 98: Learning Yoseonsul
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 98: Learning Yoseonsul
The mental storm that had left them reeling finally subsided. Gi-chan tapped the shoulder of Seo-un, who was staring blankly as if he had just survived a natural disaster.
“Let’s take our time thinking about Lingwei. For now, let’s focus on what needs to be done.”
Gi-chan’s words snapped Seo-un back to reality.
“Ah, right.”
[Ding! You have sent a friend request to Nam Sa-gwang.]
[Ding! Nam Sa-gwang has accepted your friend request.]
—Nam Sa-gwang has invited you to a chat room.
Seo-un accepted the invitation.
—Took you long enough. Judging by your rank, it looks like you just finished a match.
—Yeah. Something like that. I’ve finished discussing things with my teammates.
—Since you’re contacting me, I assume it’s good news?
Nam Sa-gwang had already sensed the outcome the moment he received the message.
—Just as you expected. It went well.
—Then why haven’t I received an invite to the Fixed Guild yet? What other proposal are you planning to make?
He was certainly a difficult person to deal with. Seo-un’s brow furrowed involuntarily; the man read his intentions and prodded him like a stubborn old fox.
Despite his irritation, Seo-un kept his tone relaxed.
—It’s easy to talk to you since you’re so quick on the uptake. Among the updated features, there’s something called a Guild War.
—I know. It’s where guilds or Fixed Squads set conditions and compete. I heard the conditions are enforced by an absolute power. Who’s the enemy?
As expected, Nam Sa-gwang grasped the entire situation from just a single piece of information. Seo-un had no choice but to acknowledge his sharp wit.
—A guild from my world. The condition is the right to participate in the game.
—...If it’s your world, they shouldn't be much of a threat. I’ll join.
—Are you sure?
—I’m not trying to look down on them, but there aren't many players from Earth that concern me. Except for you.
At those words, Seo-un immediately invited Nam Sa-gwang to the Fixed Squad.
—The date?
—One week. There won’t be any game participation until then. I won’t stop you if you want to enter individually, though.
—I just finished a match myself. I’ll be resting for a while.
Watching the composed Nam Sa-gwang, Seo-un slowly brought up his primary objective.
—I have one last proposal.
—What is it?
—I want to learn Aura Arts.
—...You seem to be mistaken. That’s not a proposal; that’s asking for instruction.
For a moment, the corners of Seo-un’s mouth twitched. A line from a movie about an "offer he couldn't refuse" flashed through his mind.
—Do you know of the Mad Demon? He seems to be one of the past Heavenly Demons.
—I’ve heard of him, but what does that have to do with you begging for martial arts?
—I have the Insights of the Mad Demon. Specifically, the ones dealing with the Middle Dantian and the Upper Dantian.
—If it’s a lie that’s bound to be caught, you’d better not tell it.
He sounded calm, but Seo-un could feel that Nam Sa-gwang was shaken.
—Reading the insights, it says that if you push too hard to open the Middle Dantian and fail, you might undergo Rejuvenation, causing the Lower Dantian to grow exponentially. In other words, Rejuvenation is the result of failed cultivation.
—...And in exchange for those insights, I just have to teach you Aura Arts?
—Not just Aura Arts. I want you to help all the martial artist teammates with their overall development.
—That’s...
Seo-un knew that martial artists were extremely reluctant to leak their techniques to outsiders, even if he didn't know the exact traditions.
—But it’s a profitable deal, isn’t it? These insights are an item you can’t get with simple coins.
Nam Sa-gwang couldn't refuse.
It wasn't just any insight; it was about the Middle and Upper Dantian, the very things he had been agonizing over. Furthermore, it was an insight that might allow him to reach the Nature Realm.
Honestly, he felt he could give up everything except his life if he could just obtain it.
—I’ll do it.
—Good. Then I’ll see you at the Guild War.
*
After successfully recruiting Nam Sa-gwang, Seo-un began to take out his items. Gi-chan was already busy learning the techniques he had brought back.
[Yoseonsul Manual. Would you like to learn it?]
The moment he pressed the 'O' button, information regarding Yoseonsul flooded into Seo-un’s mind.
[Ding! The special stat 'Immortal Qi' has been added.]
[Ding! The Middle Dantian is activated as a passive of Yoseonsul.]
[Ding! The existing Mimicry skill reacts with Yoseonsul, evolving into the Transformation Technique skill.]
[Ding! You can now condense Immortal Qi.]
Seo-un couldn't properly process the numerous notifications. As the Middle Dantian was forcibly opened near his chest, an unbearable pain surged through him.
“Hyung!”
A startled Gi-chan rushed to Seo-un, who was clutching his chest and rolling on the ground. Seeing him writhing with a heavily distorted expression, Gi-chan’s face turned pale.
“Hyung! What’s happening...?”
Just as Gi-chan pulled a glass bottle containing a purple potion from his subspace and tried to press it to Seo-un’s mouth, Seo-un let out a scream and bolted upright.
“Kuaaaaaaa!”
“Hy-Hyung...”
Gi-chan, who had fallen back in shock, stared up at Seo-un blankly. Only then did the pain subside, and Seo-un gasped for breath.
“Haah... Damn, I really thought I was going to die.”
He had gripped his chest so hard that his T-shirt wasn't just wrinkled; it was stretched out hideously.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah. It was because the Middle Dantian was opening. It’s over now.”
“The M-Middle Dantian?”
After Seo-un explained Yoseonsul, Gi-chan finally nodded, capped the glass bottle, and put the potion back into his subspace.
“By the way, what was that?”
“Ah. It’s something I carry for emergencies. It increases recovery and has a pain-relieving effect... More importantly, does this mean you can use Cloning Techniques, Transformation Techniques, and even ride around on clouds now?”
“It’s not quite like that. If I accumulate Immortal Qi, I can create clones and transform without restrictions, but... it’s a bit vague.”
“Eh? Why?”
It was an item worth a whopping 350 coins. The word "vague" didn't seem to fit such a treasure.
“It’s good that I can condense Immortal Qi... but the problem is it’s not a major boost to my combat power right away.”
“Ah.”
Gi-chan understood what Seo-un meant immediately. Even if he could create clones and transform, it didn't mean Seo-un himself became physically stronger.
Of course, they were techniques that could have a profound impact on gameplay, but it wouldn't be easy to survive using only Yoseonsul against monsters like Nam Sa-gwang, who could blast out Aura at will.
“For something worth 350 coins... but looking at the long term, it’s definitely an incredible item.”
“I suppose. Well, whatever. At least my Middle Dantian opened unexpectedly.”
Finishing his sentence, Seo-un began to pull items out of his subspace.
“Ho-oh. You brought back quite a lot. From Enhancement Stones of the Sea to Mithril Armor and helmets. Even after taking our cut, we’ll have 1.5 billion won left?”
At the mention of 1.5 billion, the corners of Seo-un’s mouth twitched. No matter what anyone said, there was no moment more rewarding than when the grueling game turned into cold, hard cash.
Seo-un then took out the Ring of Protection and slipped it onto his finger.
[Ding! The Barrier of Protection is protecting the user.]
“Oh? You got a Ring of Protection too?”
“Yeah. This was the only accessory that caught my eye during the final farming.”
“I heard knights use them often. It lets you use a barrier that covers both magic and physical attacks.”
Finally, when he pulled out the skill book called Breath of the Forest, Gi-chan looked at it with curious eyes.
“What kind of skill is that?”
As the skill book began to turn into dust and disappear, Seo-un spoke.
“A skill that increases recovery by 1000% in the forest.”
It might not seem like much, but this skill, which came from a dead elf, was quite useful. A 1000% increase meant a tenfold boost in recovery, which couldn't be taken lightly. Although it was limited to forests, it would be a huge help when combined with energy circulation if recovery scrolls or potions were unavailable.
“You seem to have brought quite a few 7th Circle spells too?”
“Yes. But unfortunately, they aren't attack spells. I focused mostly on status ailment magic.”
Seo-un could tell that this choice was made with the upcoming Guild War in mind.
“Are you worried?”
Recognizing what he was referring to, Gi-chan smiled.
“I’m the breadwinner of my family, after all. I’d be lying if I said I wasn't. But I don’t think we’ll lose.”
Seo-un, smiling along with Gi-chan, looked around and pulled a wooden box from his subspace.
“What’s that?”
“An Immortal Spirit Pill.”
“Ah!”
Gi-chan let out an exclamation as he saw the Immortal Spirit Pill brought from the previous game. Seeing Gi-chan like that, Seo-un’s smile deepened as he opened his status window.
[Name: Jin Seo-un]
[Race: Human]
[Trait: Demonic Human (Mage)]
[Strength: 95]
[Vitality: 62]
[Agility: 156]
[Stamina: 89]
[Magic Resistance: 194]
[*Special Stat Internal Energy: 1029]
[*Special Stat Mana: 60]
[*Special Stat Immortal Qi: 0]
Seeing the significant stat progress due to the characteristics of the Upper Realm map, Seo-un felt a sense of proud fulfillment. In particular, the vitality he had absorbed during the final battle was substantial.
Not much left until 1095.
The limit of the internal power he could accumulate in his Lower Dantian was now only a few dozen away. He thought it wasn't bad, especially since his Middle Dantian had opened just in time.
To be precise, it wasn't just "not bad." Among the players of Cloyd Survival, he was likely the only one showing this kind of growth speed.
Taking out the Immortal Spirit Pill, Seo-un sat in a lotus position and placed it in his mouth. At that moment, a wind began to swirl around him. Gi-chan’s eyes widened as he watched Seo-un float into the air.
The wind enveloped Seo-un, ruffling his hair, and the moment it ascended toward the sky, a warm energy began to radiate from his body. The energy, like the warm sunlight of a spring day, seemed to naturally ease Gi-chan’s tense heart.
After maintaining that state for a while, Seo-un’s body gently descended back to the ground.
“How is it?!” Gi-chan asked urgently, approaching him in a single bound as Seo-un opened his eyes.
[Special Stat Immortal Qi: 150]
“In terms of stats, I only gained about 150.”
It was an infinitely low number compared to his internal energy, but since he had never used Immortal Qi before, he couldn't tell how much this value actually meant.
“Compared to internal energy, that’s about half a cycle’s worth.”
“Right.”
Just as Gi-chan was about to ask Seo-un to show him the Transformation and Cloning Techniques, his phone rang loudly. Gi-chan answered with a look of disappointment.
“Hello...”
The expressions of both Gi-chan and Seo-un hardened simultaneously as Gi-chan listened. The moment Gi-chan hung up and looked at Seo-un, Seo-un spoke.
“Let’s get there quickly!”
The two men flew down the mountain, hopped onto the bike, and roared away. Their hearts raced at the news that Gi-chan’s only sister had been in a car accident and was at the hospital.
*
Items related to recovery flashed through Seo-un and Gi-chan’s minds. The two men ran into the emergency room of a general hospital in Namdong-gu, Incheon, and quickly rushed to one side. They saw a female student in a school uniform hovering by an emergency room bed.
“Se-yeon! Where’s Ga-hee?!”
Just then, the curtain covering the bed was pulled back, revealing a female student with an IV in her arm.
“Oppa? How did you know...?”
“Are you okay?! How badly are you hurt?!”
“Huh? It’s just a scratch. More importantly, how did you know to come...”
Only then did Ga-hee, seeing her friend with eyes sparkling mischievously beside her, realize what was going on. At some point, her brother had become a celebrity for his looks, not just in nearby schools but in the entire area. It was natural for her friends to be deeply interested in him.
Under Ga-hee’s sharp glare, the girl named Se-yeon panicked and made an excuse.
“A-A car accident happened, so of course I had to contact him! And I didn't lie. I only said you were in the emergency room because of a car accident.”
Of course, she didn't bother to mention that the injuries were minor.
“Whew. Thank god. How did it happen? You should be careful.”
“It wasn't Ga-hee’s fault. We were just walking by, and that car hit her while reversing.”
“So what did the doctor say?”
“It’s just a light scratch, but they said let’s take a head CT just in case.”
“Okay, then stay hospitalized for today and get the tests.”
“Okay.”
As if to prove she was Gi-chan’s sister, Ga-hee, who had inherited the same superior genes, turned her attention to Seo-un, who was standing behind Gi-chan.
“But who is that Oppa?”
“Ah! He’s a hyung I’m close with. I told you I had a close hyung I’ve been working with lately, right?”
“Ah, so that’s him. Hello?”
“Oh? Uh... Get well soon.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
It was the first time Seo-un had been called "Oppa" since he was discharged from the military, and it made him feel strangely good.
“Hyung, it looks like I’ll have to stay at the hospital today because of this kid.”
“Sure. Take good care of your sister. See you later.”
“Yes. You go home and get some rest too, Hyung.”
*
After parting ways with Gi-chan, Seo-un left the hospital and headed home. It hadn't been that long in real-world time, but it felt like he was coming home after an eternity.
As Seo-un parked his bike in the villa’s parking lot and got off, his expression turned sharp.
“Who is it?”
His low, sunken voice was laced with a chilling coldness. It wasn't that the men in black suits and sunglasses were particularly bothersome—there were plenty of people dressed like that. However, the story changed if traces of martial arts training were found in people dressed that way.
Since he had almost no good memories of ability users in reality, a sharp aura rose habitually.
“Ah, are you Mr. Jin Seo-un? We are people who have come from China to meet you.”
Seeing them rush over politely and bow deeply, Seo-un’s sharp aura softened a bit.
“I’ve heard. You’re the people from the Chinese side who want to recruit me.”
“Yes. Could you spare us a moment of your time?”
Among the three—two men and one woman—the man who stepped forward to speak had very fluent Korean. After briefly looking over the three, Seo-un nodded.
“There’s a quiet cafe nearby. Let’s go there.”
“Yes.”
Once they moved to the location, the woman, who had taken off her sunglasses, was the first to cast a Silent spell.
“Please, have a seat.”
The man who first offered Seo-un a seat only sat down after Seo-un did. From his polite attitude, Seo-un could feel that he was quite different from the people who had come from Japan.
“We heard late that you were first contacted by individuals from Japan.”
“Then you must also know that there will be a fight with them soon...”
“Of course. We are willing to help you in that fight if you wish, Mr. Jin Seo-un.”
Seo-un, taking a sip of the ade on the table, twisted his lips.
“In exchange for becoming your dog and working for you?”
At those words, the polite man waved his hands and shook his head.
“No. We simply want to start a friendly relationship with you. Of course, if you were to join us, we couldn't ask for more, but we don't intend to demand such a big decision from our first meeting.”
“It hasn't been long, but from what I’ve seen of the world, there’s no such thing as free kindness.”
The man took off his sunglasses, revealing his bare eyes, and smiled.
“The goodwill of the world’s best player is certainly not something that can be easily obtained. A friendly relationship with you is of no small value.”
Seo-un was taken aback by the treatment, which was beyond polite and bordered on extreme hospitality. It was so different from the treatment Seo-un had received so far—from beginner hunting to the Central Bureau’s oppression and kidnapping attempts.
Watching Seo-un lost in thought with sunken eyes, the man continued.
“I don’t know if you’re aware, but the reason the Japanese side is trying to have a Guild War with you is because they are that confident. The Japanese government has Subaru Jin, one of the only three rankers currently on Earth.”
“Subaru Jin?” Since he had never really cared about other rankers, it was the first time Seo-un had even heard the name.
“He is a player who has received massive support from the Japanese government since the early days of Cloyd, and he is referred to as the 'Ultimate Equipment' on our side.”
“Ultimate Equipment?”
“Yes. He is a player who is literally Japan’s secret weapon, with astronomical amounts of money poured into him. Some say the government money spent on his equipment alone exceeds 2 trillion won.”
“Cough!!”
At the mention of 2 trillion, Seo-un choked on his drink.
“A-Are you okay?”
“I-I’m fine. 2 trillion?”
“Of course, it’s just a rumor. But it means he’s a player who’s been plastered with that much money. It’s certain that Subaru Jin will appear in this Guild War.”
The man also handed over information about other Japanese players who might appear.
“This is information about the individuals who might appear in this Guild War. Of course, it’s the latest information, updated with recent data.”
Seeing him hand over a thick envelope, Seo-un’s eyes narrowed.
“We are fully aware that you have continued to play in an environment where you had no choice but to be wary of us. However, the situation in other countries is very different from Korea. Especially from neighboring countries with close borders to us to Europe, most countries view players as the protagonists of a new world. They don’t see them as terrorists to be suppressed and controlled.”
Crunch!
Seo-un, chewing on the ice from his ade, nodded. Being treated as a potential terrorist wasn't something anyone would feel good about.
“With this incident in Korea, the existence of players and Cloyd has been revealed to the whole world. It was an expected situation, but it feels like it was revealed to the public a bit early. Because of this, the world will change rapidly from now on. All countries see new possibilities in supernatural abilities, especially in magic and alchemy.”
At those words, curiosity appeared on Seo-un’s face. Seeing Seo-un’s expression, the man began to talk excitedly.
“As you know, magical energy comes from an energy called mana, which didn't exist on Earth. Everyone believes that the discovery of this mana will become Earth’s alternative energy. Naturally, every nation wants to be the first to secure and research alchemy, which can effectively turn this mana into energy.”
“Then players who can easily learn and bring back such alchemy and magic would be essential.”
“Exactly! Players are like the only hope for Earth, capable of bringing back new knowledge of infinite value from Cloyd. Calling such people terrorists? It’s preposterous. Although we in China were a step later than Japan, we encourage all players and spare no support for them in reality. A short-sighted policy like Korea’s, which tries to oppress, control, and exploit players...”
The man, about to say something even harsher, trailed off as he checked Seo-un’s reaction.
“Well, it’s not wrong, so you can say it freely.”
“Ahem! The fact that Korea’s policy was wrong was proven by this incident. And according to the information we obtained, this incident was orchestrated by a person from the Korean NIS named Kim Chi-sang. We have identified that he is currently in contact with Japan.”
Crunch!
At the mention of Kim Chi-sang, Seo-un irritably chewed and swallowed the ice.
“The Japanese side wants to monopolize Cloyd in Asia. They were certainly the first to start supporting players. They are also competing very aggressively with neighboring countries. But we in China are different. We want sharing over monopoly and coexistence over competition. We are certain that even if you don't join us, there is a path to move forward by helping each other.”
At the man’s words, Seo-un’s hardened face softened significantly.
“Those islanders have always had a strong desire for dominance.”
The man also nodded in agreement.
“It’s in the past, but don’t we remember the atrocities those guys committed? We intend to cooperate with all our might to help you fight them.”
Seo-un felt strange that a foreign country was offering cooperation that his own country wouldn't even give. Shaking the envelope the man had handed him, he replied.
“This is enough help. It’s not exactly in return, but that Japanese ranker... I’ll make sure he can never go back to Cloyd again.”
“If that happens, the blow to the Japanese government will be immense. They’ve poured a massive amount of money into the system they built around Subaru.”
“This should be fun. So they poured that much money into him, huh?”
Seo-un’s smile deepened.
“I have one thing to ask. Is it possible to add conditions to the Guild War?”
At Seo-un’s question, curiosity appeared on the man’s face.
“Yes. As long as both sides agree, anything is possible.”
"A true character-deletion match means putting everything on the line."
As the man watched Seo-un mutter those cryptic words while gulping down his ade, an inexplicable chill washed over him.