Since that day, time flowed like a swift river.
Kim Seo-jun woke up sharply at 5 a.m., training his inner energy for two hours on the rooftop while greeting the morning dew.
After breakfast, he headed straight to the academy, attended classes without any issues, and returned home immediately after they ended.
In the evening, he repeatedly practiced Surageukseom, Biroeshinbo, and Cheongung-si, making every effort to improve his mastery by using his Mysteries whenever he had a chance.
Was it thanks to this?
Kim Seo-jun’s magical power rose to 20, finally reaching grade D, and his inner energy advanced even faster, climbing to 15.
The accumulation speed of inner energy through the Solar Divine Art was truly astonishing.
Solar Divine Art is a harsh discipline that allows rapid inner energy buildup but at the cost of severely damaging the body, ultimately leading to death.
However, thanks to the unique constitution that manifested when young Kim Seo-jun awakened his Mysteries, the penalty instead became a gift.
There were significant gains in mastery of Mysteries as well.
Reverse Radiant Spirit was at 12%, and Solar Divine Art had risen to 5%.
Considering it had only been a week since awakening Solar Divine Art as a Mystery, the growth speed was incredible.
Over the past four days of intense training, Kim Seo-jun discovered some peculiar facts.
First, aside from Solar Divine Art, no other martial arts had awakened as Mysteries.
Whether it was because other conditions existed, the third Mystery still showed no signs of sensation.
In fact, Kim Seo-jun awakening Solar Divine Art as a Mystery was already a tremendous feat.
If the world learned about this, the World Hunter Federation would be in uproar, trying to recruit Kim Seo-jun to uncover that method.
Next, the Mystery Reverse Radiant Spirit proved to be far more versatile than expected.
Its ability absorbs attacks and returns them with twice the power, but the source of the attack didn’t have to be an enemy.
Kim Seo-jun found this out simply.
He gathered Solar Divine Art in his right hand and struck his left hand with a fist charged with powerful inner energy.
When activating the Mystery at that moment, the left hand absorbed the shockwave produced by the right.
The absorbed force was then magnified by Reverse Radiant Spirit’s effect and slammed into his own body.
By enduring this impact with Solar Divine Art’s inner energy, he could stimulate his inner energy.
The method was crude but perfectly effective—and only Kim Seo-jun in the world could train this way.
Thanks to this, both magical power and inner energy increased, along with mastery levels.
Thursday, 7 p.m.
Kim Seo-jun sat at his desk, slightly licking his lips as he examined his clearly improved status.
[Kim Seo-jun]
-Magical Power: 20 / Inner Energy: 15
-Mysteries: Reverse Radiant Spirit (12%) / Solar Divine Art (5%)
“If I still had the strength I had when I defeated Cheon Gang-woo, how high would my inner energy have registered?”
He was also curious about what mastery percentage Solar Divine Art would show.
“Maybe around 300? Mastery about 50%?”
This was just a gut feeling.
Considering the power one could produce with inner energy at 15, it was certain that when he defeated Cheon Gang-woo, his inner energy was well over 300.
The mastery estimate was based on the 15 years Kim Seo-jun had spent training Solar Divine Art, applying average mastery progression for Mysteries.
“I might regain my old strength faster than I thought.”
His growth was surprisingly rapid.
It was frustrating to start over from zero after building strength over a long time, but training in this new world, living with his beloved parents, and without the burden of having to save the world made the feeling different—refreshing even.
So he accepted it all with joy.
Right now, Kim Seo-jun was seated at his desk, logged into the Crack Management Bureau’s intranet using a personal computer.
The ID used was, naturally, Professor Shim Jae-deok’s.
Reviewing Shim Jae-deok’s login history, he accessed the intranet about once a week at most, so the risk of simultaneous login errors was minimal.
Kim Seo-jun stared intently at the 32-inch monitor.
On the screen, a man in his late twenties with a frighteningly serious expression and short hair looked back at him.
‘Name: Park Dae-man. Age: 27.’
Kim Seo-jun read the name and age briefly displayed below the man’s face.
He flinched when he saw the man’s Hunter grade was AA.
“As expected… You’ve been living exceptionally even here, Dae-man hyung.”
Park Dae-man, the eldest brother who was eight years older than Kim Seo-jun in their previous world.
Kim Seo-jun found Park Dae-man’s information through the Crack Management Bureau’s intranet.
Unlike the bald look from the past, here he sported short hair, which suited him quite well.
“A representative hunter of the Myeongwang Guild…”
Park Dae-man belonged to the Myeongwang Guild, one of the top ten guilds and even more famous than the Hyeonmu Guild that Kim Seo-jun’s father, Kim Joo-hyuk, belonged to.
Not just a regular hunter but a prominent hunter who made major contributions to establishing the Myeongwang Guild’s current status.
Because Professor Shim Jae-deok’s ID had limited access rights, Kim Seo-jun couldn’t obtain any further information.
Still, seeing an old comrade’s face again felt good.
He searched for the names of other comrades as well.
But among the remaining six, only one, Yoo Ho-sung, was searchable in the intranet.
Even the name of Oh Chang-seok, whom he had briefly met before, was not found.
Yoo Ho-sung, known by the title “Phantom”.
Without any special background or noble family, he was merely a ronin but a genius of Mysteries who had reached the pinnacle with a single incredible new art.
Six years older than Kim Seo-jun, Yoo Ho-sung was also the comrade who cared for Kim Seo-jun more than anyone else.
He was tall and wore glasses due to poor eyesight.
Despite his fragile outward appearance, his senses were incredible—he could even catch whispers from over 20 meters away.
However, because of those extraordinary senses, he took a death blow meant for Kim Seo-jun from an assassin’s blade.
“If only I had been a bit more careful back then…”
Kim Seo-jun regretted the day Yoo Ho-sung lost his life.
He never expected the followers of Cheonma Commander Cheon Gang-woo to ambush him right before the showdown.
Yoo Ho-sung had smiled even as he was dying from the assassin’s blade.
“Don’t live like that here, Ho-sung hyung.”
Kim Seo-jun smiled bitterly, staring at Yoo Ho-sung’s face filling the screen.
Yoo Ho-sung’s information was as brief as Park Dae-man’s.
- Name: Yoo Ho-sung
- Age: 25
- Grade: DB
- Affiliation: Hunter Academy “Descendants of the Sovereign”
“Descendants of the Sovereign” was a unique Hunter Academy that taught ordinary people how to awaken their Mysteries.
It was so well known that even young Kim Seo-jun would have been familiar with it.
Located in Gangnam, it had produced many awakened individuals, and rumors said registering there guaranteed awakening.
A quick search on the portal revealed Yoo Ho-sung was thriving as a top instructor.
However, Yoo Ho-sung’s Hunter grade being DB was unexpected.
“He was an amazing master with his Mysteries in the previous world…”
At least he was doing well teaching students.
Kim Seo-jun regretted not being able to find information on other comrades but was relieved to discover details about Park Dae-man and Yoo Ho-sung.
“Finding Dae-man hyung first is the right move, I guess.”
If the highly respected AA-grade hunter Park Dae-man agreed to meet him and joined his side, it would be much easier to find and recruit the others.
“This time, I won’t drag you into anything dangerous, so don’t worry.”
Kim Seo-jun gazed at the faces of Park Dae-man and Yoo Ho-sung on the monitor, lost momentarily in old memories.
*****
After 9 p.m., his father came home.
After a quick shower, his father and mother prepared fruit.
Kim Seo-jun gathered his parents in the living room and brought up the special class at the academy.
“It’s just a simple survival training, so there’s no need to worry.”
“Survival training in a deep forest for two nights and three days? Is it really safe?” Lady Baek Yeon-ji’s eyes brimmed with worry at the sudden mention of survival training.
“There’s an instructor, and hunters will follow closely for safety, so don’t worry.”
“It’s still a bit worrisome, dear. Don’t you think so?”
“It’s organized by the academy, so there’s nothing to be concerned about. Seo-jun, have you packed your stuff already? If not, I can help.”
Kim Joo-hyuk wasn’t overly worried but wanted to help pack necessary items since it was the first survival training.
“You think I wouldn’t have packed already with so little time left? Don’t worry, I’m all set.”
“… Are you bringing Arondite too?”
Kim Joo-hyuk asked, noticing that the Arondite hanging behind the TV was missing.
Though it had been given to his son, he found it odd to bring a true blade along for mere survival training.
“I won’t actually use it, but they said to bring a weapon you’re familiar with, just in case.”
“A weapon you’re familiar with…”
“More importantly, Father! Today, I promised to give you a massage, so get ready.”
Kim Seo-jun quickly changed the subject so his father wouldn’t pry further.
“A massage? Oh, that’s a relief. Dear, what happened to what I told you to prepare?”
When Kim Joo-hyuk asked, Baek Yeon-ji fetched some items from the corner and spread them in the living room.
“It’s all ready. There’s a folding massage bed, health towels, and even a lavender diffuser for a good scent!”
Kim Seo-jun was momentarily speechless seeing what his parents had prepared.
Both father and mother had been eagerly waiting for the day Kim Seo-jun would give them massages, and had prepared thoroughly.
The portable folding bed had a hole so the face wouldn’t be uncomfortable when lying face down.
Kim Joo-hyuk and Baek Yeon-ji no longer worried much about the weekend survival training.
After all, it was hosted by the academy, and all students were participating, so there was no reason to fret.
Moreover, the anticipation of the massage Kim Seo-jun promised left no room for other concerns.
“You first.”
“Then I’ll go first. If I fall asleep, you’ll wake me up, right?”
Baek Yeon-ji laughed softly and lay face down on the bed.
“If you fall asleep, I’ll lift you and lay you back down. So just relax and enjoy.”
“Just relax and enjoy, like Father said. Shall we begin?”
Kim Seo-jun started the massage technique, Chugung Gwaseol.
Baek Yeon-ji fell asleep halfway through, clearly soothed by her son’s touch.
When Kim Seo-jun finished carefully massaging her, his father lifted her gently onto the bed.
Next was his father’s turn.
“Please take good care of me again.”
Kim Joo-hyuk winked at his son as he lay on the folding bed, and Kim Seo-jun focused on Chugung Gwaseol without worry.
Three hours passed by the time Kim Seo-jun finished the massage.
He was drenched in sweat and exhausted from the intense focus, but seeing his parents’ health markedly improve was deeply satisfying.
Forty-two-year-old Baek Yeon-ji’s skin was noticeably firmer, making her look like she was in her early thirties.
Her whole body was brimming with vitality.
“I think Mom can start training the mind technique after one more session.”
The mind technique Kim Seo-jun planned to teach Baek Yeon-ji was “Sosubaek Yeomgong.”
This technique was the signature martial art of Kim Yura, Kim Seo-jun’s only female friend of the same age in the previous world.
When using Sosubaek Yeomgong, both hands turn white, allowing the user to pierce through anything, and it was also highly effective at preserving youth.
It was a technique that held great advantages for women.
Since Kim Seo-jun and his seven comrades were very close, they often discussed their martial arts to complement strengths and weaknesses.
As a result, they knew each other’s techniques in great detail, even mastering the martial art secrets.
“Sorry, Yura, but it’s for Mom’s sake—I hope you understand.”
Feeling a bit guilty about passing Yura’s secret technique to his mother, Kim Seo-jun silently hoped for her understanding.
The results of the massage on his father were even better.
He no longer needed regular massages.
After breaking the magical power wall at 59 last week and reaching 60, Kim Seo-jun had been slightly worried that his magical power wouldn’t rise any further.
But as soon as the massage ended, his father’s magical power increased by one.
Kim Seo-jun asked his father what appeared when he checked his own information.
He hoped his father might also see inner energy in numbers or awaken “Honwon Jingi Gong” as a Mystery, like himself.
However, his hopes were dashed.
Visualizing inner energy and having martial arts awaken as Mysteries seemed to be a unique ability only Kim Seo-jun possessed.
Though disappointed, he felt relieved that this ability was limited to himself.
“It might be better that only I have this power.”
If his father had the same phenomena, it would mean that individuals like Je Sam and Je Sa might also have it, which would be very concerning.
Kim Seo-jun advised his father to continue steadily practicing both Mysteries and inner energy.
Then his magical power could surpass grade C and even reach grade B.