Chapter 11

Chapter 11: The Great Technique of the Celestial Artisan

A technique refers to the skills or methods required to perform something.

But I couldn’t understand it at all.

No matter how proficient the old man was in countless techniques, how could he turn an ordinary person like me into a genius?

“Hehehe, this might be for the best. I created this technique but never got to use it.”

The old man smirked as he inspected my body.

“Blocked ki streams can be cleared with my ki. Hmm... the bones are weak. Tsk, it’ll take about 300 days of massage to improve. However, it will be quite painful. But it seemed like he had some tenacity last time. Will he manage...?”

“Excuse me...?”

I was flabbergasted. It was my body, yet the old man was gleefully making his calculations. It felt like being in a plastic surgery consultation, with the doctor shaking his head and drawing lines all over my face.

Moreover, the bigger problem was...

Did he say painful?

In a world where necromancers were revered for avoiding pain, why suddenly this suffering out of the blue?

“Elder? I don’t think I’m mentally prepared for this yet.”

“Quiet, you brat! Do you know how many people in my world wanted this great technique? It’s called the Great Technique of the Celestial Artisan. It’s a technique I painstakingly created in my later years.”

Celestial whatever. I didn’t care much about that.

“Huh?”

But now that I thought about it, I had a question. Why didn’t he use such a technique sooner if he had such a technique? It was a method that could turn trash into a genius!

“Tsk tsk, I can see your thoughts clearly. Foolish boy, this technique requires my life force to perform. What would be the point of changing my disciple’s potential and enhancing their talent if it meant my whole body would melt away at that moment?”

“Aha.”

Made sense. There was no point in increasing his disciple’s abilities if he died and couldn’t pass on his techniques.

“What about now?”

“Well, now that I’m already a spirit, it doesn’t matter.”

“...Wow, that’s a very convenient way of thinking.” I sighed. “Then let me ask another question. Remember those people who challenged you before me?”

“Ah, you mean that fierce girl and a few other pitiful people who came before her?”

“Yes, we call them hunters in our world. Couldn’t you use the technique on them? You were already a ghost back then.”

“You impudent brat.”

—Thud!

“Ouch!”

Another forehead flick made tears well up in my eyes.

“Why did you hit me?”

“Calling a spirit a ghost. You have no respect for the dead.”

“Damn.” Then what should I call a dead person’s spirit, huh?

As I grumbled, the old man shook his head.

“Besides, you really are a blockhead who can’t understand even when it’s been explained.”

“Pardon?”

“Didn’t I just say this technique turns trash into genius? It’s pointless unless you’re utter garbage. Only a completely ruined waste can benefit from it.”

“...Huh?”

I was dumbfounded. This damned geezer, I mean, this elder, was openly insulting me to my face.

“I couldn’t use the technique on them. Their bodies were already ruined by other energies.” The old man’s expression turned serious. “In contrast, you have a clean body. A weak body, yes, but clean. Even though you can summon the dead, it hasn’t altered your body.”

“Huh?”

“Moreover, this is merely the second-best option. An inherently born genius is always better than a made one. I wanted to find a decent talent instead of you. But I was swayed by your words, so now you must take responsibility for it.”

“...I see.”

I nodded, mouth agape.

His words were a bit harsh, but they were good in essence. For someone like me who wants to become a ranker, it was a chance to become stronger.

If I could get stronger along with my skeletons...

It’d be killing two birds with one stone!

I decided not to think too much about it.

There’s a famous quote from a global figure skating celebrity: “Don’t think. Just do it.”

Just like how I persisted in training for three years, I just needed to keep going.

“So, are you ready?”

The old man’s figure approached me.

“If I follow your instructions, will I really become strong?”

At my question, the old man grinned.

“Of course, you’ll become stronger than you can even imagine.”

Boney 4 and Boney 5 had awakened when I advanced from E-rank to D-rank. The rest would likely unlock as I grew stronger.

“Ugh.”

The lower body training continued. Whenever I collapsed, the old man’s nagging was inescapable. There was no rest, not even for a second, as he pushed me relentlessly.

This is torture. Torture, I say!

My muscles were already torn and couldn’t recover, so what was the point of this training?

When I collapsed for about the tenth time...

“Alright. Let’s wrap it up for today.”

“Huff, huff! Really?”

Finally, the hellish time ended.

“Yes. You. Continue this physical training every morning. Don’t even think of summoning me otherwise,” the old man nonchalantly said.

[The duration of the skill ‘Teachings of All Techniques’ (S-rank) has ended.]

[‘Master of All Techniques’ has been unsummoned.]

[The skill can be used again in 24 hours.]

And then he disappeared like smoke.

“...Huff, huff.”

I lay sprawled on the ground. Sweat was pouring out, and I didn’t have the strength to get up.

—Click! Clack!

Five skeletons watched me with sympathy.

Yeah, I’m sorry. You guys are also going through a tough time.

“Boney 1,” I called out to my eldest summon.

—Creak?

It tilted its head in question.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t get home by myself. Can you carry me?”

People would definitely look at us strangely, but I had no choice. I didn’t have the energy to get home. And sleeping on the ground wasn’t an option. Recovery is as important as training. I needed to eat well and sleep comfortably.

I unsummoned all skeletons except Boney 1 and headed home.

—Thud!

As soon as I lay on the mattress, I checked my phone.

[Account Balance Inquiry]

[Account Holder: Joo Donghoon]

[Hunter Preferred Account (E-rank)]

[Deposit: 3,600,000 KRW* (Problem Solver)]

* ≈ $2,770 USD.

“Oh.”

Indeed, Parang kept their promise. The usual porter fee of 200,000 was multiplied by 20, totaling 4,000,000.

The mercenary guild Problem Solver took a 10% fee and sent me the rest. Being a freelancer with a business license, I had to pay a 3.3% tax later.

But it was surprising. Since I snatched the fortuitous opportunity, they could’ve withheld the payment, and I wouldn’t have complained.

Anyway, this is good.

I had enough money to pay rent and buy food.

But this raised another question.

Should I continue working with the mercenary guild?

There was a physical limit. The old man’s training was so intense that it was hard to handle other schedules.

I still need to make more money.

But quitting wasn’t an option as I had little savings.

The best way would be to get sponsorship from a major or promising guild.

But with D-rank skills, that was impossible. Moreover, sponsorship came with restrictions. I might have to go on unwanted expeditions or stay close to an eccentric superior.

Yeah, I guess I have to continue working as a mercenary.

After all, the old man’s training was just an hour a day. People can’t train every hour of the day, so it was better to work too. And who knew if another fortuitous opportunity might come like the last time?

After rewarding my stomach with a hamburger instead of the usual instant noodle, I collapsed.

The next day at dawn, I went to work after completing the old man’s training.

“Hey, Donghoon! You’re finally here? Come here quickly!” the dungeon request team leader, Kim Junseo, greeted me warmly.

Standing next to him were five hunters.

“Do you recognize them? They’re one of the teams from the last dungeon’s survivors.”

“Huh?”

Their faces did look familiar. They were indeed some of the survivors from the last dungeon.

But why were they here?