Chapter 250:

The next morning after Yoo Young-min officially joined White Flower Management, Yu-hyun took him to the Collector Association.

“If you want to work as a collector, you have to register first.”

“Uh, is this okay? I heard that before becoming a collector, you have to complete a training course at the training center.”

“That’s a basic education program that everyone who awakens has to take.”

“It takes at least a few weeks, right? Hyung. Am I okay?”

“It’s okay, because I’m taking you with me.”

“To whom?”

“To someone high up in the association.”

Yoo Young-min’s eyes widened at Yu-hyun’s words.

“Really? Is that okay?”

“Connections are for times like this. And it’s not mandatory to go to the training center. There’s a system that allows clans or managements to exempt training under the pretext of personal tutoring for talented people. Of course, the person in charge has to teach them diligently.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Of course, not everyone can do that. You need some conditions.”

“What are the conditions?”

“It’s nothing. You just need to have a skill that can get you special treatment compared to others.”

Yoo Young-min had enough qualifications for that. First of all, his creation-type skill alone made it possible.

If his skill was higher than Yu-hyun’s [Engraving], passing the document review would be nothing for Yoo Young-min.

“Uh, but is that really okay?”

“What is?”

“It feels unfair.”

Yoo Young-min felt guilty about getting special treatment. What about the other people who worked hard and trained?

How would he feel if he skipped out on them?

He would have felt natural about it in the past, but he had changed after seeing Kwon Jia and Seo Sumin and realizing that he was nothing.

“It’s natural to feel unfair, but think of it this way. This world has always been like this. Even if you feel guilty and do the same as the others at the training center, will that benefit this society?”

“Huh?”

“It’s cruel, but people have different talents. Especially in this era, collectors who are exceptionally talented are bound to get more respect. An A-rank person doesn’t need to do the same as F-rank people and invest the same time.”

This world was never fair.

Yoo Young-min dreamed of a fair world and had his own sense of justice, but to Yu-hyun, that was nothing but a spoiled tantrum.

“You have a unique power as a possessor. And your skill is a creation type. You’re already on a different starting line from other collectors.”

“Different... starting line...”

Yoo Young-min muttered Yu-hyun’s words blankly, as if he still couldn’t believe it.

Yu-hyun chuckled and slapped Yoo Young-min’s back.

“Ow!”

“Don’t space out.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Well, I understand that it’s uncomfortable and burdensome to suddenly get special treatment. But someday you’ll naturally accept it.”

“I guess so? If not, I’ll have to make it happen...”

“But if you’re still anxious, don’t forget this one thing. Just because I’m great, I won’t look down on or belittle other people.”

“That’s...”

‘Isn’t that obvious?’ Yoo Young-min was about to say, but closed his mouth.

Yu-hyun meant something more than that.

As someone who prided himself on having some social experience, Yoo Young-min realized what Yu-hyun wanted to say.

“When your position changes, your perspective on the world changes too. And then people forget. Their former position. The place where they used to look up at everything. The feeling they had when they were there. The desperation.”

That was what Yu-hyun was most wary of.

Yu-hyun had risen to the position of manager and showed several successful exhibitions, growing into a large library.

He also had personal connections with the first-generation saints of Great Sage and many collectors recognized and respected him.

Anyone who received such treatment would be tempted to have a twisted mind.

I’m pretty great now, right? This kind of treatment is natural now, right?

And then they would naturally develop a sense of entitlement and look down on others.

But he couldn’t do that.

“Don’t forget your past by being immersed in your present prosperity. Rather, remember your old self more clearly. What thoughts did I have then? What goals did I have? Don’t forget that.”

Yu-hyun always tried not to lose his original intention even after reaching this position.

If he said it was easy, it would be a lie. Everyone had greed.

They wanted to be recognized without doing anything, they wanted to do something easier when they did something hard.

“Yes. I mean, even if you suddenly tell me to fight with a sword or something, I can’t do it properly... So I want to go for something safe.”

“And then?”

“Well, and then the second one is something with high versatility, to enhance my overall abilities. Something that I need to deal with any situation smoothly. If it’s a skill that can strengthen the skill itself, it wouldn’t be bad for growth either.”

“That’s not bad. And the third one?”

“I haven’t decided on the third one yet.”

Yu-hyun reviewed the skills that Yoo Young-min told him and evaluated whether they were good or not.

“That’s not bad. No, rather, it’s very good.”

“Really?”

Yu-hyun had been feeling the urgent need for a collector who specialized in long-range attacks in his team.

Kwon Jia, Kang Hye-rim, and Seo Sumin were all excellent in close combat, but their ability to deal with distant enemies was significantly lacking.

Moreover, besides skill creation, he also had a production-type ability that used his manual skills, and enhancing this ability was also a necessary task from the management’s point of view.

It would be hard to raise this skill at first, but once it got on track, he would be able to produce more than that.

“Okay. I’ve decided. Let’s go with those two.”

“Really? Is that okay?”

“Would you do it if I told you to learn a skill related to swords?”

“Uh, that’s a bit...”

“It’s your choice, right? And it doesn’t look bad at all. You have a good idea.”

Yu-hyun sincerely praised him, and Yoo Young-min felt happy for no reason.

He realized once again that his ideas were not bad when he was active as a web novel writer.

“First of all, it would be perfect if you go for a supporter-type who can attack from a distance and enhance your abilities.”

“Yes. That’s what I’m going to do.”

Yoo Young-min immediately activated his skill.

[Skill Creation is activated.]

[You can minimize TP consumption for the first three times. Do you want to use it?]

Yoo Young-min answered ‘yes’ in his mind and immediately created the two skills he had thought of.

[You have acquired the skill ‘Remote Control’.]

The first skill was Remote Control, which was related to long-range attacks.

He deliberately made it this way because he had not decided whether to use a bow or a gun. Rather than choosing one clearly, he used this trick to cover a wide range of possibilities.

Contrary to his worry that the system might ask him to pay TP, the system seemed to recognize it as nothing and the first one was created right away.

‘Let’s go for the second one.’

[You have acquired the skill ‘Skill Enhancement’.]

[Warning. Skill Enhancement is a skill that exceeds the given limit.]

[If you make it as it is, the skill will be downgraded. Do you still want to make it?]

‘As expected, this one is hard?’

But considering the versatility, this skill was essential even if it was weakened.

Yoo Young-min pushed through with the second skill as well.

[You have acquired the skill ‘Warm Up’.]

It was not as good as he expected, but it was not a bad result.

Yu-hyun, who was watching the scene, nodded his head with satisfaction.

“You can’t fill your stomach with one spoonful. That’s more than enough.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. Let’s go to the association for now.”

“Okay.”

Yoo Young-min followed Yu-hyun with his big dream in his chest.

That’s when they saw the huge figure of the association building in the distance.

Yu-hyun stopped his steps and stared intently at the dark alleyway between the buildings.

Yoo Young-min also stopped and looked at the alleyway.

“Hyung. Why did you stop? Is there something in there?”

“Hmm.”

Yu-hyun said that and turned his direction to enter deep into the alleyway.

Yoo Young-min followed him with confusion.

When they reached the end of the alleyway, they found something.

It was the entrance to the Mental Realm.