LIGHTNOVELWORLD 38. Left behind (2)
The assistant picked up the shredded dummy in a daze. She muttered absent-mindedly.
“Blade…… Hurricane…….”
‘Now that I think about it, I really half-assed that name.’
[Have you ever properly named anything in the first place?!]
A cringe-worthy naming following in the footsteps of Jaljal-i, Ppiyak-i, and Heading Color Tint.
Feeling called out, Habin cleared her throat and turned her head.
‘Come to think of it, even this much was too much for the dummy to handle.’
During the Hwang Maru incident, she had struck without imbuing any mana and as gently as possible. She felt relieved that she had done so.
‘If I’d messed up, a few people might have ended up in the afterlife…….’
As she was lost in thought, the assistant seemed to come to her senses and addressed Habin.
“……Trainee Hyun Habin, while it’s good to showcase your skills, using appropriate skills for the situation is fundamental to combat.”
The assistant glanced down at the shredded dummy. Having experienced countless trainees, she could gauge their level just by looking at the state of the dummy.
‘I heard she was A-rank, but she must have quite a good skill. At least one ultimate skill that could surpass even S-rank?’
In reality, it wasn’t a skill but just a casual strike, but the assistant saw it differently.
‘I’ve heard that sometimes even lower-ranked hunters can produce powerful effects by investing everything into a single skill. Is this one of those cases?’
The skill name…… sounded terrible even at a glance, but does that really matter? As long as it’s powerful.
“Hyun Habin-ssi, this time, try defeating it with a basic skill.”
The assistant gestured towards other dummies nearby. Habin frowned as she looked at the practice monster dummies peeking out from here and there.
‘Why are there so many?’
This looks like it’ll never end.
‘……At this rate, should I just make a run for it?’
Habin rolled her eyes towards the building entrance.
However, if she left without permission again, not only would her training life be extended by at least two months due to failing and having to retake the course, but fines and punishments also awaited her.
‘Damn it.’
No matter what, she’d rather avoid getting a red mark on her record!
‘How on earth can I get out of this place peacefully…….’
If only the sharp-witted Chae-ssi were here, the situation might have been better.
If it were Chae Jiseok, he might have appeared by now and appropriately interrupted the flow by saying, “Hey, eat this and do it. Instructor, let’s continue after we have lunch.”
Habin looked at his empty seat with a regretful expression. Since Chae Jise left for Kill Screen, Jiseok’s role as a mentor was on indefinite hiatus.
He had to handle Solaris’ affairs.
Not only his original role as Vice Guild Master but also the responsibilities that Guild Master Chae Jise had been handling.
He had to fill the roles of two people.
Although numerous staff, including the often-mentioned ‘Secretary Lee’, were assisting with guild affairs,
– ……Nuna’s business isn’t just the guild. We have to manage the department store, IT business, invested stocks…… check the secret base in the basement, and even take care of welfare projects! Anyway. There’s really a lot of work.
If it were Kang Taeseo of Caligo, who truly only handled ‘guild business’, his absence might have been less noticeable, but Solaris’ Chae Jise was not only the Guild Master but also an engineer and entrepreneur.
Not just that. She was still consistently doing charity work for those affected by the Gate Crisis.
– I don’t know how nuna managed to do all this! Secretary Lee and I are cursing while clinking coffee cans every night!
……So Chae-ssi won’t be coming around for a while.
Habin crossed her arms, recalling her most recent phone call with Chae Jiseok.
The conversation faintly heard through the receiver.
– Vice Guild Master-nim, I really, truly want to take sick leave. Can’t I? We don’t even have the Guild Master to use healing skills anymore.
– There are…… plenty of recovery potions here, Secretary-nim.
– Damn it……! Why does this era have things like potions!
– I’ll give you all the bonuses and allowances you ask for, so please don’t think about resigning on your own. I don’t know what we’d do if even you were gone, Secretary-nim.
– Haha, I just recorded your statement about giving me all the bonuses I ask for! Don’t forget that even verbal contracts are legally binding!
– ……
It seems they’ve both gone half mad.
‘Chae-ssi is really having a hard time.’
[……The leader of an organization is always a busy position. All the proper leaders I’ve seen so far were always busy.]
‘Oh, since when does Kim Jaljal make such profound statements?’
[Ahem! Despite appearances, I once conquered a continent……!]
“Trainee Hyun Habin?”
Perhaps she had been lost in thought for too long, as the assistant called out to her. Habin glanced at the scattered dummy pieces, the numerous dummies, and the assistant before making a decision.
“Instructor…… I think I made a bad choice!”
“What choice?”
“I’ve used up all my mana!”
“…….”
“Using my ultimate skill just……!”
Habin turned her head with a regretful expression. After pondering her words for a moment, the assistant eventually nodded.
‘……Well, the ultimate skill was indeed powerful. Enough to shatter this sturdy test dummy. It’s understandable.’
Having accepted the situation, the assistant suggested to Habin:
“Then perhaps we could try again in the afternoon after you’ve recovered some mana…….”
‘Afternoon?’
She had a live stream of her subscribed YouTube content this afternoon. That was absolutely not possible. Habin shook her head.
“But…… when I use my ultimate skill, I get a penalty that puts all my other skills on cooldown for a while!”
“…….”
A penalty that restricts the use of other skills as well.
‘……That’s a severe penalty. Is that why it was so incredibly powerful?’
The assistant nodded with a serious expression. So that’s how she could unleash an ultimate skill beyond her rank, she thought.
“How long do you think the cooldown will last?”
Habin answered with a hesitant attitude. The demeanor of a novice trainee, cautious to anyone’s eyes.
“Um, I’m not sure if I should be talking about this, but is it okay to disclose such information? It is my personal information after all…….”
“Ah, that’s not what I meant. Since you’ll need to take the test again, I just need a rough timeframe…….”
To the flustered assistant, Habin reluctantly replied as if she had no choice:
“Probably…… it might take a day.”
“I suppose it can’t be helped. Let’s continue again in a day, then.”
“Yes!”
Habin promptly answered and quickly gathered her things. She had already turned towards the training institute dormitory.
“Then I’ll see you next time!”
◆◇◆◇◆
After that, Habin approached her trainee life by cutting corners where she could.
With both Kang Taeseo and Jise-unni gone to Kill Screen, and further tardiness or absences being risky, Habin had to drag herself to training, albeit reluctantly.
‘Bluetooth earphones are the best.’
At least for lecture-style training, she could sit in the very back row and spend the time watching dramas and reading webtoons with her Bluetooth earphones.
As for practical training,
She diligently recited a magical incantation in her mind to control her strength.
‘Remember, the salt crystal of an ant’s tear, the salt crystal of an ant’s tear! Use just that much strength!’
[I’ve seen many who try to show off their power, but you’re the first I’ve seen trying to hide it. Overwhelming power usually brings authority and honor, so why are you……]
‘Ah, I told you I’m not interested in that stuff! You do that kind of thing, Kim Jaljal.’
[Sigh, what a fate I have.]
Ignoring the lamenting Ahezar, Habin recited the incantation again.
‘Anyway, the salt crystal of an ant’s tear.’
The tiniest of the tiniest of the tiniest bit!
‘Just hit it very gently without even imbuing mana, very gently. How about that? It’s easy, right? Right? You can do it, right? You can do it, Hyun Habin!’
After experimenting several times with rocks in the training institute’s backyard, Habin finally found the minimum threshold for defeating the dummy (relatively) intact.
As a result.
“See, Trainee Hyun Habin, you can do it! That’s a record for the fastest defeat!”
“Phew.”
“Are you already tired? This is just the most basic of basic processes. Just from this much…….”
“…….”
Habin sighed as she watched the excited assistant. In some ways, pretending to be weak seemed more tiring…….
And so, time passed at the training institute, and Habin was gradually adapting.
‘Hmm, did I defeat it too quickly?’
While finishing quickly and returning to the dorm, she was also finding a practice speed that wouldn’t arouse suspicion.
“Trainee Hyun Habin, you’re here?”
Meeting a new mentor who came in place of Chae Jiseok.
“Let’s stop here for today. I’ll let you finish early. Well then, I’ll be going.”
The temporary mentor wasn’t the type to look after her diligently like Chae Jiseok. Since he wasn’t originally Habin’s mentor, he paid more attention to his own mentee and only looked after Habin on the side. Even meals were handled individually.
“Ah, I’m so hungry!”
Visiting the training institute cafeteria after a long time, Habin filled her tray with food. Then she found an empty table.
‘As I said before, the seat opposite me is for Kim Jaljal.’
[That wasn’t a joke?!]
Gently placing Ahezar on the opposite side, Habin suddenly looked out the window, her eyes somewhat wistful.
‘Usually around this time, Chae-ssi would have brought some packed pork cutlets or something.’
He was always the type to look after others’ meals before his own.
‘……He said he was busy, but I wonder if he’s even taking care of his own meals.’
It’s been almost a week already. By now, he must be swamped with guild work, so naturally, there was no news.
‘It can’t be helped. I’ll eat heartily for Chae-ssi’s share too!’
Habin propped her chin on her hand as she poked at the braised pollack served as a side dish with her chopsticks.
Perhaps because the side dishes weren’t to her taste, she found herself eating rather slowly. Still, just as she put the last spoonful in her mouth,
“Trainee Hyun Habin.”
Lifting her head at the unfamiliar voice, she saw her temporary mentor approaching.
“Yes? What is it?”
“Um…… there’s someone here to see you.”
His voice was cautious. Habin wore a puzzled expression.
I don’t have anyone who would come to see me?’
Chae-ssi would be busy.
Other acquaintances wouldn’t know which training institute she was at, so they wouldn’t suddenly visit. If they were going to, they would have asked via KakaoTalk first.
‘Could it be Hyun Siwoo?’
Having finished her meal anyway, Habin soon followed the new mentor. Surprisingly, he led her to the institute director’s office.
‘Who am I meeting that we’re coming all the way here?’
She had received such treatment only once before, when someone was sent from Caligo.
‘Is it Caligo again this time?’
Maybe Kang Taeseo left something before he left.
As Habin was speculating, the door opened and the person standing there was,
“……Hyun Habin, it’s been a while.”
It was Chae Jiseok.
◆◇◆◇◆
“……It’s only been a week, what do you mean ‘it’s been a while’.”
Habin replied nonchalantly as she perched on the sofa in the director’s office.
The institute director and temporary mentor had excused themselves, leaving the two to talk comfortably.
“Someone who would usually just wait in front of the dorm room, why the grand gesture of calling me here?”
“I just got permission from the institute director.”
“Permission for what?”
“Permission to issue alternative training documents.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s a procedure that can get you out of the training institute.”
“…….”
Habin tilted her head. This wasn’t like the usual Chae Jiseok’s way of handling things.
He was someone who always advocated for proper methods over tricks. That’s why this felt even more unfamiliar.
Calling Habin to the director’s office, using loopholes like alternative training documents.
“You said you couldn’t use such tricks as a mentor, so what made you change your mind?”
“…….”
Habin looked across at Chae Jiseok’s face. Though he had somehow managed to replenish his stamina with potions, there was an undeniable weariness, a dark expression he couldn’t hide.
[He said he was very busy, it seems he really had a hard time. His complexion doesn’t look good. How pitiful!]
‘……Is that really all there is to it?’
[What else could…… Wait.]
hezar stopped speaking, as if surprised. After briefly examining Chae Jiseok, he hurriedly asked him:
[Come to think of it, where has your constellation gone?! That small star, the ‘Nearest Light’……!]
“…….”
Chae Jiseok didn’t answer and instead took out items from his inventory. They were all items designed to block conversation content and protect information.
After activating various items and meticulously checking that their effects were applied, Chae Jiseok looked up.
“Hyun Habin, I’m not sure how this will sound to you, but,”
As if about to say something difficult, Chae Jiseok let out a shallow sigh. He quietly asked:
“The 50th floor, you can move there, right?”
“…….”
“I’m not asking you to come with me, if it’s a difficult request, you can refuse. But if it’s really possible,”
After a brief silence, Chae Jiseok continued:
“……Take me to the 50th floor.”
His voice was not just desperate, but resolute.