LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 41
Chapter 42
In the Hunter Guild, there are three most crucial rules.
First, “Be fully prepared for any tasks related to monsters.”
Second, “Always do your best to survive.”
And third, “Never forget that hunters exist to save people.”
The first and second rules mean to value your own life. It’s about preparing adequately and not overexerting yourself when dealing with gates and monsters.
However, the meaning of the third rule completely contradicts the first two. As a hunter, there will come a moment when you’ll witness the death of civilians.
Due to a gate explosion, a monster invasion, or other reasons.
When that moment arrives, hunters have the responsibility to risk their own safety to save others.
Individual merits and flaws have no effect on being favored as a hunter. What people always demand from hunters is the same.
Can you fight when it’s time to fight? Are you able to sacrifice your life for the powerless?
That was all that was required of a hunter. It wasn’t about ignoring those in critical situations or using them as bait to escape.
In summary, the rules of the Hunter Guild can be simply expressed like this.
Cherish your life. Because one day, you may need to sacrifice that life to save another.
In fact, that wasn’t an interpretation made by Yeon-woo. A fellow hunter he was close to had mentioned it once. Some may interpret those meanings differently.
Ultimately, this is merely the symbolic essence of the Hunter Guild, not something that necessarily has to be upheld.
But Yeon-woo thought he would like to uphold those rules, just like that elder hunter had awkwardly suggested.
“Somehow, I ended up with a day off.”
“Then you should rest, why act all cool?”
Yeon-woo stood on the terrace, sipping instant coffee. Coffee really is best when it’s McX.
It was such a delightful experience to leisurely look down at students rushing to the Hunter Department. How could I hold a cup with both arms in a cast, you ask?
I just used Mana to stick it on the cast. Acquiring Mana has led to this cozy life. I almost pity my past self, who didn’t know how cool Mana could be.
Why was Yeon-woo resting without attending lectures? Because whatever the reason, the Academy would take responsibility if one were to accidentally fall into another gate during practical training. Ever heard of neglecting safety management?
Thanks to that, it had turned into a recovery period until the professors called Yeon-woo in to hear the whole story and his injuries healed.
“Surely the shadow warrior could summon me because of the Elemental Mana absorbed from the Doppleganger, right?”
“That’s probably it. If they had just picked anyone from two hundred, they wouldn’t have reacted like that to Dad.”
“…I can’t believe I can’t even take a break.”
Yeon-woo sighed deeply. They say not to overexert oneself, but honestly, in this situation, I couldn’t afford to stop training.
For some reason, the Demon King had started to act much earlier than in his past life. Perhaps it was the pivotal moment in history caused by him becoming an Awakened being.
“Aren’t you overdoing it…? Your condition isn’t great yet.”
“No, no matter what, I’m not planning to overexert myself. My body is in shambles, what can I do?”
“Then what will you do?”
“Well…”
If he couldn’t move his injured body, wouldn’t it be fine to do some training that didn’t require movement?
*
“Magic, that is sacred power.”
“Isn’t that divine power?”
Indeed. Magic is sacred power, an adventure into the unknown, and a sign of courage.
After resting until lunchtime and having a meal, Yeon-woo and Shar headed to the Magic Training Room. An issue related to bell peppers had arisen during lunch, but Yeon-woo fed Shar bell peppers with tears in his eyes.
This too is a responsibility and burden a father must bear. As Shar’s face scrunched up in sadness, Yeon-woo fed him the bell peppers.
Ehh?? Shar?? A Gold Dragon?? Can’t even eat bell peppers?? What’s going on?? he teased from the side.
Ah, with prideful children, provocation works wonders. This was a truth learned in the orphanage.
The Magic Training Room, compared to the Body Training Room, tends to be more popular, but unless the afternoon schedule is entirely free, it’s rare to find it filled with people even from lunchtime.
Yeon-woo reserved a room by manipulating the panel and entered with Shar. Most elementary students still hadn’t awakened their Mana, so they were advised to refrain from entering the Magic Training Room, but that didn’t apply at all to Shar.
After all, he belonged to a race that even thrives off Mana saturation.
“Whoo.”
In a room filled with deep blue light, Shar inhaled refreshingly.
Where did that teary-faced bell pepper-chewing Shar go? He now had quite a refreshing expression.
I was relieved that he seemed to be in good spirits. It turned out that he was the only one who could keep being a mentor in magic.
Hehe, kids are so easy to deceive.
“Shar, how do you feel? Are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine! It feels really refreshing here!”
“That’s a relief. Just wait a little bit.”
“I’ll be good!”
No need to insist, really.
But still, it seemed that he was speaking more without reservation than before, so I felt rather at ease. It wouldn’t do to just leave Shar bored during the times I needed to check on his health, so maybe I should think about getting him some toys.
That would be a later consideration, and Yeon-woo sat in the center of the training room, assuming the proper posture and beginning to breathe long and thin.
Hoo, Haah.
As I matched my breath, I slowly relaxed my entire body and sank my consciousness deep inside.
There was a reason for examining my inner self at this point. Even though Yeon-woo had adapted to the power called Mana, he still hadn’t adjusted to the living beings known as Aura Users.
It had been a month since he enrolled. Just one month.
Ordinary humans don’t experience a miraculous enhancement of strength and stamina even if they rise early every day and exercise almost to the point of torture. If one part of their body breaks, it’s broken, and their endurance and strength grow slowly.
However, whether measured by an Information Ring or felt through actual experience, Yeon-woo’s physical abilities were showing a stark difference from four weeks ago.
His past life’s body had been extremely honest. It required consistent and demanding training without Mana. As a result, growth was slow, and the power they could wield was limited. But this body, it was practically akin to a steroid-injected athlete; it was almost cheating.
I had known that in my head, but experiencing it was on another dimension altogether. I even wondered how my past self had managed to rank 100,000 among such unreasonable individuals.
“Should I say that it was truly worth all the hard work…”
Letting out a small sigh, Yeon-woo finally surveyed his entire body with Aura. Fortunately, while muscles, bones, skin, and internal organs were in tatters, there were no issues with the Mana paths.
Fortunate?? Is it??
“My contract must have had quite a significant influence.”
“Really?”
“Though my physical capabilities haven’t dramatically increased, I guess you could say Mana and my overall physical performance have improved.”
Thinking of how he wasn’t even sharp in his senses or the speed of thought while fighting Kai, it really felt like he had shed a layer.
“Alright. Shall we give it a try, Shar?”
“Okay!”
The main purpose of today’s training in the Magic Training Room was not only to accumulate Mana but also to practice using Magic and Elemental Mana.
Yeon-woo’s situation was special. Typically, Elemental Mana doesn’t exist as a separate entity like it does now.
Generally, it feels more like a layer of the power seeps out, akin to sweet and sour pork being served with sauce on it. Yeon-woo wasn’t dipping into it or drenching it; he was just consuming it. Waaa, I’m baby Yeon-woo, give me sweet and sour pork.
Anyway, because he had absorbed someone else’s Mana, Elemental Mana existed separately from the Mana itself.
In short, Yeon-woo now had two hearts. In English, that’s two hearts. He might get used to using Elemental Mana to fight, but ultimately, he had to reach beyond that level.
“In that context, what I’m going to try today is…”
[What are you going to try?]
“Body enhancement using Elemental Mana.”
[Huh… why not just use regular Mana instead of Dark Elemental Mana?]
“Yep.”
Shar had transformed back into his Mana form for smoother feedback.
Naturally, his Mana form was now a far more developed shape than before. Yeon-woo shifted his gaze and looked at Shar.
Despite the mental conversation flowing separately, Shar was looking up at Yeon-woo, panting. Not in some weird sense, but literally.
He looked like a wolf. A face that conveyed a sleek impression, an adorable snout. Was there ever such a cute puppy-like creature?
However, as one looked down, the golden scales partially hidden beneath his fur suggested what was concealed in that fluff.
His front legs resembled a mix of a wolf’s and a dragon’s front legs. There were five toes ending in sharp claws, and he stood on them. The golden scales covering his limbs looked just like gauntlets.
The tail swishing back and forth was simply adorable. After all, dogs must have tails.
His appearance was mildly intimidating, yet felt cute because of the size. After all, what could be scary about a wolf that’s only knee-high?
Yeon-woo gently patted Shar, who was looking up and panting.
Canines pant to regulate body temperature, but since Shar was primarily made of Mana, he probably didn’t need to regulate his temperature. I worried a bit that this odd habit might get ingrained in him.
[Not sure about that. The output of Elemental Mana is indeed higher than regular Mana, but I don’t know how that will affect body enhancement. It’s the kind of thing that isn’t typically attempted with elemental-type Mana.]
“That’s why we’ve got to try. There’s obviously a reason no one has attempted it, but if we can resolve that, we’ll be good.”
[That’s true…. Ummm, but isn’t it going to be dangerous? Dad might have obtained and use Elemental Mana by chance, but your level still signifies you’re an Aura User….]
Shar was right about that. Although he had begun to use it randomly, the fact remained that Yeon-woo’s level was still that of an Aura User.
Considering that awakening to Elemental Mana usually placed one at a level above an Aura Expert, it was indeed excessive power for Yeon-woo.
Of course, Yeon-woo recognized that fact.
“I’m not planning to force myself to use it recklessly in this body, of course. But it’ll be handy to do little adjustments during recovery. Can you cooperate with me?”
[…Urgh.]
Shar tilted his head several times, seeming troubled. Yet soon after a deep sigh, he spoke.
[Honestly, I want to dissuade you, but it seems more dangerous for me not to watch over you….]
“What are you talking about? Don’t talk like I’m a kid left by the riverside!”
[If you could promise to stop right away when I say so, I’ll assist you.]
“Ah, of course, I’m in for that, teacher. How could I live without you, Shar-sensei?”
[Hehe, Dad’s tone is funny.]
(To be continued in the next chapter)