Chapter 30

 

 

 

B-grade, Level 24, ‘Dual Blader.’

 

 

 

C-grade, Level 21, ‘Alchemy.’

 

 

 

It was information about two people.

 

 

 

‘But Alchemy? What is this….’

 

 

 

Yu Hong-seol’s occupation, ‘Dual Blader,’ was a job with somewhat predictable expectations.

 

 

 

However, Kim Da-hye’s ‘Alchemy’ made Seo Woojin raise an eyebrow involuntarily.

 

 

 

“Drawing pictures.”

 

 

 

“No, I know that too.”

 

 

 

It was about drawing and summoning something.

 

 

 

Seo Woojin’s curiosity was answered by the too-much-talking Lee Ji-ah.

 

 

 

As if she had been waiting, she began to pour out words.

 

 

 

“Da-hye’s job allows her to summon what she draws! It can be monsters, cute animals, or even food! It’s a really great ability, you know? I don’t understand why it’s C-level!”

 

 

 

Although her explanation was a bit scattered, Seo Woojin could roughly grasp the idea of ‘Alchemy.’

 

 

 

‘Isn’t this too good to be true?’

 

 

 

Even though the abilities of the summoned entities were unknown, if things like ice bugs were possible…?

 

 

 

He imagined a scene where not just one, but several creatures were summoned simultaneously.

 

 

 

There was no fraud like this.

 

 

 

“It’s not that strong.”

 

 

 

However, Kim Da-hye shook her head.

 

 

 

“It only works on things I’ve seen with my own eyes, can’t summon anything human-like, and the summoning time is only 10 minutes.”

 

 

 

Moreover, the abilities of the summoned beings were proportional to Kim Da-hye’s level.

 

 

 

This job had various disadvantages.

 

 

 

‘Well, if it were versatile, it would have been at least S-grade.’

 

 

 

Being only C-grade, the ability itself didn’t seem to be that powerful.

 

 

 

Of course, as the level increased, it would likely become more potent…

 

 

 

Compared to other occupations, there didn’t seem to be many significant merits.

 

 

 

“Ah, but this is still useful.”

 

 

 

Suddenly, Kim Da-hye took out a pencil and a small sketchbook from her pocket and began to draw something quickly.

 

 

 

Her hands were incredibly fast, and just as Seo Woojin wondered, ‘What is she doing?’ the drawing was complete.

 

 

 

“Summon.”

 

 

 

Kim Da-hye touched the drawing and activated the skill.

 

 

 

Then…

 

 

 

“Whoa, that’s surprising.”

 

 

 

A gun appeared.

 

 

 

K2.

 

 

 

Diameter 5.56mm.

 

 

 

Length 97cm.

 

 

 

Weight 3.26kg.

 

 

 

Maximum Range 3300m.

 

 

 

Effective Range 600m.

 

 

 

A firearm that was very familiar to Seo Woojin, who had served in the military.

 

 

 

“K2?”

 

 

 

Didn’t they say you can only summon things you’ve seen in person?

 

 

 

Where on earth did a woman in her early twenties see K-2?

 

 

 

“Would you like to take a shot?”

 

 

 

Kim Da-hye handed the gun to Seo Woojin.

 

 

 

It was something he usually didn’t want to hold onto, but Seo Woojin accepted it as if he were possessed.

 

 

 

Familiar weight.

 

 

 

And memories of military days come to mind.

 

 

 

“Bullets?”

 

 

 

“No need. It’s called a magic bullet. It shoots bullets created with the user’s magic.”

 

 

 

So, if you have enough magic, you can fire continuously without worrying about running out of bullets.

 

 

 

‘Haha-’

 

 

 

That appeals to him.

 

 

 

Regardless of how effective it is against monsters, you can fire multiple rounds without worrying about bullet casings.

 

 

 

Isn’t this something difficult to experience in the Korean military?

 

 

 

But here, he couldn’t shoot a gun just anywhere.

 

 

 

Although the training ground was spacious, it wasn’t something he could do anywhere.

 

 

 

Seo Woojin looked at the K-2 with a slightly disappointed expression and handed it back.

 

 

 

“Let’s try shooting next time. For now, let’s start training today.”

 

 

 

The first to respond to Seo Woojin’s words was Yu Hong-seol.

 

 

 

As the owner of the job “Dual Blades” she had two swords.

 

 

 

“These kids are called Frost and Flame.”

 

 

 

Even at a glance, they were unusual swords.

 

 

 

Frost emitted a cold air as if frost had fallen, and Flame had flames flickering.

 

 

 

‘They look pretty cool.’

 

 

 

It seemed incomparable to the black sword Seo Woojin received from Van Slaine.

 

 

 

Perhaps in the kingdom where Yu Hong-seol was, they were treated as treasures.

 

 

 

‘Sion said this one was overkill, too…….’

 

 

 

He was a little jealous

 

 

 

“Isn’t it hot?”

 

 

 

It must be hot to have a sword with sparkling flames on your waist.

 

 

 

“It’s okay for those acknowledged as owners.”

 

 

 

While saying so, she boasted about the obvious advantages: cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

 

 

 

He seemed to quite like the sword.

 

 

 

“Well, let’s spar until one of us can’t move anymore. Anything is possible except for fatal attacks.”

 

 

 

Yu Hong-seol’s expression stiffened slightly at Seo Woojin’s words.

 

 

 

“What if you get injured?”

 

 

 

“…What?”

 

 

 

“Even if you say you won’t make a fatal attack, you can get hurt if you’re hit by a sword.”

 

 

 

It was common sense.

 

 

 

Seo Woojin himself had survived numerous injuries at Massive Guardian.

 

 

 

“Isn’t it obvious if you want to train?”

 

 

 

If you just swing a sword without properly sparring, what kind of training is that?

 

 

 

‘It’s like a dance.’

 

 

 

Seo Woojin tried to do it as he had done at Massive Guardian.

 

 

 

“But still… Just in case, we should have at least one healer who can use magic.”

 

 

 

Seo Woojin looked at Yu Hong-seol, Kim Da-hye, and Lee Ji-ah.

 

 

 

The three had expressions filled with fear.

 

 

 

‘Ah….’

 

 

 

Now he understood why Van Slaine emphasized the importance of experience.

 

 

 

‘A child with strong power.’

 

 

 

If you had the strength to split rocks with a sword and overturn the earth, what was there to fear?

 

 

 

Even in a simple sparring, they were overwhelmed with fear.

 

 

 

It seemed difficult to expect normal training from them.

 

 

 

“Irene.”

 

 

 

Seo Woojin called Irene, who had been quietly observing the situation from behind.

 

 

 

“Shall I go first?”

 

 

 

“Yeah, go ahead.”

 

 

 

He had some expectations about what the other Heroes would be like, it was tough in their current state.

 

 

 

“Watch us first, then decide whether you want to do it or not.”

 

 

 

Saying that, Seo Woojin headed towards the center with Irene.

 

 

 

Swish-

 

 

 

The Black Sword revealed itself.

 

 

 

Irene also drew her sword.

 

 

 

“Let’s start.”

 

 

 

Irene struck the ground.

 

 

 

Crash-!

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

Zap Zap-!

 

 

 

A feeling of energy that she had never felt penetrated Lee Ji-ah’s body.

 

 

 

‘Aura?’

 

 

 

Was this the Aura the knight uncles had talked about?

 

 

 

It felt like every fiber of her body was tingling.

 

 

 

“Is that what they call training?”

 

 

 

Yu Hong-seol, who was standing next to her, mumbled with a vacant tone.

 

 

 

“That’s just a fight.”

 

 

 

It seemed too dangerous to call it training. Each attack seemed capable of taking the opponent’s life.

 

 

 

With every strike, it felt like it could take away the opponent’s life.

 

 

 

“Did we not do it like that?”

 

 

 

Lee Ji-ah recalled the first time she killed a monster.

 

 

 

An orc.

 

 

 

The muscular green-skinned monster was bleeding profusely and could not even stand properly.

 

 

 

It seemed like it could die just by poking it with a finger.

 

 

 

Despite that, Lee Ji-ah hesitated.

 

 

 

Taking a life.

 

 

 

No matter how much it was a monster, it was a difficult thing for her, who had lived her whole life on Earth.

 

 

 

Nevertheless, she succeeded in the end.

 

 

 

Although she couldn’t eat anything for three days afterward, Lee Ji-ah felt proud.

 

 

 

It felt like she had grown.

 

 

 

Becoming a Hero and imagining defeating the evil Demon King.

 

 

 

Lee Ji-ah grew while eating the meals provided by the knights.

 

 

 

‘But what about the uncle?’

 

 

 

Is he really a Hero like me?

 

 

 

Taking the same bus, growing in the same way, and…

 

 

 

‘It can’t be true.’

 

 

 

It didn’t seem like Seo Woojin had followed the same process.

 

 

 

Lee Ji-ah and the other two involuntarily took a step back at the sight of the terrifying spectacle.

 

 

 

Afraid that the menacing sword might be directed at them, they wanted to leave the training ground immediately.

 

 

 

Drops of blood splattered.

 

 

 

Even though there was a considerable distance, red liquid flew and splattered on the floor.

 

 

 

Seeing that, Lee Ji-ah was taken aback.

 

 

 

She thought she was used to seeing blood while hunting monsters, but apparently not.

 

 

 

She swallowed dry saliva without realizing it and looked ahead.

 

 

 

Irene’s left shoulder was covered in blood.

 

 

 

Seo Woojin also had blood flowing from his side.

 

 

 

Despite that, the two individuals swung their swords as if familiar with the routine.

 

 

 

Their expressions seemed to convey a sense of it being nothing special.

 

 

 

No, it appeared they were even more delighted.

 

 

 

‘Why on earth…?’

 

 

 

Why go to such lengths?

 

 

 

Just defeating the monsters provided by the knights would make them stronger.

 

 

 

Why undergo such painful and strenuous training?

 

 

 

In this world, it might be understandable for knights, but Seo Woojin was a Hero.

 

 

 

He could become strong enough without such training.

 

 

 

Lee Ji-ah looked at the two of them sparring with a gaze that expressed complete confusion.

 

 

 

However, unknowingly, there was strength in her fists.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

Swish!

 

 

 

‘It was dangerous.’

 

 

 

Irene’s sword grazed the ear, cutting a strand of hair.

 

 

 

If his reaction had been a little slower, he would have ended up with a severed ear.

 

 

 

‘She’s indeed strong.’

 

 

 

Seo Woojin admired Irene’s swordsmanship.

 

 

 

Although she was just an intermediate knight, her swordsmanship far surpassed his.

 

 

 

Seo Woojin had also grown a lot, but he still had a long way to go.

 

 

 

Of course, if he used skills and magic, he might be overwhelming, but…

 

 

 

‘That’s why the training is necessary.’

 

 

 

He had to focus only on swordsmanship in his training.

 

 

 

It wasn’t a real battle, but by experiencing situations that mimicked it, he was gradually becoming more accustomed to the sword.

 

 

 

‘Ha!’

 

 

 

Once again the sword fell, aiming for the arm.

 

 

 

Due to the pain felt in his side, he almost couldn’t avoid it.

 

 

 

Fortunately, Irene had suffered a shoulder injury, so she couldn’t display the swift swordplay as before.

 

 

 

‘Can I win today too?’

 

 

 

Seo Woojin and Irene sparred back to back.

 

 

 

Irene had a slightly higher win rate, but he was catching up rapidly lately.

 

 

 

And today, he had a feeling he could win again.

 

 

 

And that feeling proved to be correct.

 

 

 

Chae-ang!

 

 

 

With a sharp metallic sound, Irene’s sword soared into the sky.

 

 

 

“I won.”

 

 

 

Seo Woojin said, holding the sword to Irene’s throat.

 

 

 

Irene looked exasperated for a moment and then sighed.

 

 

 

“…I lost.”

 

 

 

It was a clean defeat with no room for controversy.

 

 

 

“Your skills are improving gradually.”

 

 

 

“Thanks to you.”

 

 

 

It wasn’t an empty compliment.

 

 

 

If it weren’t for Irene, such rapid improvement in skills wouldn’t have been possible.

 

 

 

There had to be a rival for growth, after all.

 

 

 

Seo Woojin sheathed his sword and extended his hand.

 

 

 

“You worked hard today too.”

 

 

 

“You too, Mr. Woojin.”

 

 

 

Although they looked like they had exchanged heavy blows, it wasn’t as serious as it appeared.

 

 

 

There was no need for healing magic; a little ointment would be enough for recovery.

 

 

 

“Is the medicine at the lodging?”

 

 

 

“I brought it with me. I left it over there, so you can apply it later.”

 

 

 

The ointment supplied by the Maseve Guardian had excellent effects.

 

 

 

Since they fought monsters every year, progress in that aspect was inevitable.

 

 

 

‘It hurts a bit, but… the effects are certain.’

 

 

 

In reality, saying it hurt a bit was an understatement.

 

 

 

Among the soldiers, there were those who would faint after applying the ointment.

 

 

 

But once they regained consciousness, the wounds were almost completely healed.

 

 

 

‘If we didn’t have that medicine, this kind of training would be impossible.’

 

 

 

What good would it be if they had to rest for days after each sparring session?

 

 

 

Seo Woojin deliberately erased the facts about the pain caused by the medicine from his mind and turned his head.

 

 

 

There, the faces of three people were pale.

 

 

 

“Anyone else want to join?”

 

 

 

Seo Woojin smiled as if it were nothing, but they thought differently.

 

 

 

‘It’s scary.’

 

 

 

‘I’m scared.’

 

 

 

‘It looks scary.’