Chapter 44

< Chapter 44: New Trait (1) >

A splendid room decorated with dustless gold.

The majestic classical music filled the room, matching the sparkling chandelier.

“Is it Hermit?”

The man in the center of the room, Maestro, who was listening to classical music, spoke.

At that moment, a black mist swirled behind him, and Hermit appeared.

“Mission?”

“Completed.”

Hermit slightly lifted the carrier to show it and answered.

“Good. You’re Allen Velvet indeed. You handle the job cleanly.”

Maestro reached out his hand without even looking at Hermit.

Hermit handed over the carrier to Maestro without hesitation.

“Good. The root of the world is certain.”

Maestro checked the carrier with a familiar gesture and smiled faintly.

“You did well. I’ll tell the boss nicely.”

“I understand.”

With that, Hermit disappeared like fog again.

The presence that caught Maestro’s senses also vanished in an instant.

“The more I see him, the more I like him.”

A personality that only speaks what is necessary.

Clean and emotionless work.

Acting like a machine when given a role, isn’t it like a note on a score?

‘No. Is he actually a note-like existence of the boss.’

Maestro put down the carrier on the floor casually,

And lay down on the long chair again, stretching his legs.

“Half an hour left.”

Maestro’s mouth drew a fierce line.

* * *

< Group Mock Battle in Progress >

The cadets who were watching the battlefield where the group mock battle was taking place all opened their mouths and smiled bitterly.

“Those bastards who said there’s nothing to see when Kang Seo-yul picks up a bow, go ahead and bang your heads.”

In the midst of that, one of the cadets jokingly said.

“Number one! Park. Sang. Jin! I’ll bang my head!”

“Number two! Ji. Seok. Hyun! Same as above!”

Then his two friends banged their heads one after another.

The laughter burst out around them at the unintentionally funny prank.

“Is it just me who thinks Kang Seo-yul’s bow is scarier than his spear?”

“What the hell is he?”

“Did he manifest a trait specialized in qi?”

“No, does he have a versatile trait that can contain qi in his bow?”

“He must have it if he’s using it. What else could it be?”

“That is…”

“That is?”

“I don’t know.”

“Damn it, how can this be so sure!”

Kang Seo-yul’s movements beyond the hologram were very slow.

He ran with an F-rank down movement,

And shot arrows slowly with an F-rank down movement.

But the arrows were not slow at all.

No, rather, they were very fierce like a hawk that was immersed in hunting.

“Wow, shit. Is that a guided missile?”

“More than that, is the fire arrow penetration real? It just pierces through the wood.”

The arrows with qi had two characteristics.

The first characteristic was that they flew on a different trajectory than ordinary arrows because of the magic-infused in them.

The second characteristic was the overwhelming destructive power.

“Haven’t you heard? They say that first-class archers don’t use their muscles.”

“Oh. I think I’ve heard of that.”

The arrows with mana flew on a different track than normal arrows.

“Wow. He even added fire attribute to make him a crazy bastard with no equal.”

“Is Kang Seo-yul crossing the line?”

Moreover, the qi contained in Kang Seo-yul’s arrows was not ordinary qi.

Fire attribute qi.

On top of that, he also had a trait called [Wind’s Arrow(?)] that elf archers possessed.

Kang Seo-yul’s arrows were not the destructive power of an F-rank superhuman at all.

If they hit bare skin, they had enough destructive power to ignore durability up to C-rank, surpassing four ranks.

“He’s shooting again!”

Squeak!

Just then, an arrow shot by Kang Seo-yul flew toward a superhuman who was in charge of rear support for Team B.

“Oh!”

The speed itself was ordinary, but the trajectory was not normal.

Whizz!

The arrow shot from Kang Seo-yul’s hand circled around the forest terrain and aimed at Team B’s blind spot and attacked.

Thud!

It hit the jaw precisely.

The superhuman who was hit by the arrow flew into the sky and fell to the ground.

[Team B Jin Ha-neul retired!]

If it wasn’t for the training bow and arrow, and the safety setting of the battlefield, it would have been instant death.

“Wow! That makes two kills for Kang Seo-yul!”

With that, Team B lost two people.

“How can an arrow bend like a snake?”

“It’s clear. Kang Seo-yul manifested a trait specialized in qi.”

“What about the fire attribute magic?”

“They say that innate magic is stronger, so he must have had it from the beginning, but he didn’t notice it until now because he didn’t have any magic.”

“Oh? That sounds plausible?”

At that, all the cadets around nodded their heads.

However, Shin Jia had a slightly different thought.

‘Now you’re just going all out.’

He added shape-shifting and long-range qi manipulation to his fire attribute qi.

Those are skills that others can’t use and are frustrated by, but he’s using them all by himself.

That’s just not having any self-restraint at all.

‘Well. Since it’s come to this, it’s better to pretend that you got a trait specialized in qi than to reveal your abilities for no reason.’

Besides, the whole world is already paying attention to him, so there’s nothing to change even if he reveals more here.

…No, it would be a bit more annoying. Now even guilds that lack ranged superhumans will start to jump in earnest.

“Sigh.”

Shin Jia’s sigh from her heart was completely buried by the cadets’ murmurs.

‘Anyway, your ranking will definitely go up.’

Shin Jia smiled bitterly.

* * *

Time flew by and it was Saturday morning.

For the past three days, I had a hard time because of the incident where I revealed the new trait of the elves, ‘Wind’s Arrow(?)’.

People came more than I expected and I was flustered.

Well, at least I got a ranged attack method.

It seemed like it would be a trump card when used with the Elysium Bow in real combat.

“Three more.”

I was in the middle of training hard.

“I can’t do it!”

“You can. Your muscles are still claiming that they can.”

Usually, I train alone on Saturdays, but today, Instructor Pi Jin Ho was on duty, so he gave me training while he was at school.

Thanks to that, I felt like I was going to die.

“Last one!”

“Krrrrr!”

I put all my strength into my lower body and got up from my seat.

Now it’s really over-

“One more!”

-It wasn’t.

What do you mean one more when I’m dying!

Hey! The eyes that see the mystery! He must have said to do it because he can!

“Krrrrr!”

I sat down and got up again. Now it’s really…

“Really last!”

Last my ass!

The last one was the last one!

Do you want me to do it in English?

“Uh.”

My whole body was shaking.

There’s no devil like him!

I don’t know, one more!

“Kraaaak!”

I screamed and sat down and got up again.

“Okay, rest!”

As soon as Instructor Pi Jin Ho pressed the button, the pressure on my whole body disappeared.

“Hoo… Cough, cough cough.”

I breathed heavily and heard a voice.

“Breathe deeply.”

“That… is, easier… said… than… done… Cough cough.”

These state-of-the-art exercise machines are specialized in squeezing people to their limits.

It’s amazing technology.

Thanks to that, I feel like I’m going to die.

“Hmm. But the muscle growth is too slow compared to the training volume.”

Pi Jin Ho stroked his chin as if puzzled. Is it just me? His eyes seemed full of doubt.

Does he suspect me?

“Well, you’re a bit different from Min Ji. Maybe your growth rate is focused on your trait.”

Fortunately, he doesn’t seem to doubt my identity.

“Well, good. You’re still growing steadily. If you keep this up for two more weeks, you might be able to enter E-rank.”

“Really?”

E-rank!

Isn’t that the rank I’ve only dreamed of in my imagination?

“Why are you so surprised? Didn’t you roughly estimate it with your increasing abilities?”

Oops. I was too happy.

“Oh, I thought the growth would slow down gradually. They say that’s usually the case.”

“That’s true for ordinary training. Because your body gets used to the training. It’s like you don’t get infinite experience points by killing the same monster over and over again.”

“I see.”

My desperate excuse worked.

“But who am I? Don’t worry too much. I can guarantee that your body will never get used to the training.”

“…Wow. I’m so happy.”

Soulless.

There was no soul in my voice.

“Do you not like it? Then let’s increase the training intensity…”

“I’m very happy! I’m happy that my trainer is Instructor Pi Jin Ho!”

It was an automatic reflex.

It was a kick for survival.

If I train any more, I might really die.

“Just kidding. There’s no point in training more than this. It would only cause overtraining. It might even cause muscle loss.”

“…Phew.”

I sighed with relief.

“Then you did well today. You know what to do without me telling you…”

“Yes. Stretch for more than 30 minutes, and rest tomorrow, right? I know.”

Instructor Pi Jin Ho smirked.

“You know well. Oh. And one more thing.”

Instructor Pi Jin Ho handed me his phone.

“Congratulations.”

“Huh?”

I looked at his phone with a puzzled look.

[Kang Seo-yul ranking change 123rd.]

“You’re not far from two digits.”

Usually, ranking changes are announced every Monday in bulk.

Today is Saturday.

This ranking chart must be a ranking notice that only the instructor receives first.

He must be showing it to me in advance out of consideration for me.

“…I went up a lot.”

“Yeah. It’s the fastest rise ever.”

The best ever.

That’s a bit proud of me.

“Oh. And about qi.”

“Oh, yes.”

“I’ve seen it several times, but there’s nothing I can teach you. You’re actually more skilled than me, so much so that I should learn from you. Sorry.”

“No. It’s enough that you’re helping me with physical training.”

I clenched [The Extreme of Weapons] on my chest with my hand.

This trait-restricted item is the best. It allows me to use the trait of the weapon’s owner without any penalty.

“Lastly, be careful when you walk around inside or outside the campus. It’s annoying to be surrounded by scouts.”

“…Yes. I know.”

I was already annoyed by the scouts when I went out for a moment the day before yesterday.

“Why didn’t you do it moderately?”

The instructor says the same thing as Jia.

It’s unfair.

No, there was no other way to raise my ranking, so what do you want me to do?

“Well, I think you acted well and judged for yourself considering your meticulousness.”

Instructor Pi Jin Ho turned his body and walked out of the personal training room.

“See you on Monday.”

“Yes. Have a good weekend, instructor.”

After the instructor left.

I finished stretching and headed straight to the shower room.

I took off my clothes soaked in sweat and stood in front of the shower, and my reflection in the full-length mirror, soaked in sweat like my clothes, caught my eye.

“I definitely gained some muscles.”

They say that the most exciting time for a man after exercising is when he sees his pumped muscles in the mirror. I agree.

“Oh. Good good.”

I’m excited right now.

I took various poses and admired my muscles.

It’s hard to say this myself, but I’m handsome enough to beat any statue with my face.

Just as I was about to turn into a narcissist.

“…Ah.”

Suddenly, the dragon tattoo on my back caught my eye.

“Ha. What am I supposed to do with this?”

It’s been four days since I got it, but I still have no clue about the trait I acquired. I can’t even get a feel for it.

“I thought something like this would happen someday.”

But I didn’t think it would happen so soon.

I sighed as if the ground was collapsing.

* * *

That day at lunch.

I wore sunglasses and a mask.

I hurriedly walked around, looking for a place where there were no people.

My destination was the Golden Ruins, where Goldie was waiting for me.

I was exhausted all week and wanted to have some healing time.

If it was normal, I could get there in 10 minutes, but I took 30 minutes to be as careful as possible.

“Phew.”

As a result, I was able to arrive at the Golden Rest without being noticed by anyone.

Thump, thump, thump!

As soon as I stepped into the Golden Ruins,

I heard powerful footsteps from afar.

“Goldie~”

I saw Goldie running towards me from a distance. The muscles on my face relaxed naturally.

Ah. I feel healed just by seeing his face from afar.

“Kyawoong~”

Goldie, who came close to me in no time, slowed down and stopped right in front of me.

“Gyareung~”

Then he rubbed his head against my face.

“I’m sorry, I was a little late, right?”

He whined and acted cute to me as if he was sad.

I stroked Goldie’s shiny fur.

It’s like silk. I really want to sell this feeling and become a millionaire in an instant.

“Right, right. Did you eat a lot of carnivorous deer? You did? Good job.”

I feel like all my worries and troubles are washed away.

The dragon trait that I couldn’t figure out? What about it~ I’ll find it someday~

“Ah, I’m happy.”

I really want to take Goldie with me.

I want to keep him in my room and sleep with him all day long.

He’s cute, powerful, and takes care of my mental health. He’s an all-around Goldie.

“Kyuuu.”

As I continued to rub my nose with Goldie, I started to seriously wonder.

Is there any way to take him with me?

All I have to do is settle the ownership of this ruin.

“Goldie. Don’t you want to go out with me?”

“Gyareung.”

“Yeah. Let’s go out and live with me soon. I’ll find a way…”

I said sincerely.

And at that moment, I felt a sharp pain in my back.

“?”

That’s right. It was the dragon trait that didn’t react no matter what I did!

While I was stunned, a faint magic light shone on both of my hands.

Pure magic that was not discolored by the flames of the engraving.

It started to be absorbed by Goldie along my hand.

Please give me one cup!!