Chapter 78 |
◈ Everyone Else is a Regressor (78)
JiHye had no complaints about joining KiJun's party until the Vampire Kingdom raid was resolved.
She was prepared to be away from her companions for a few months anyway, and it wasn't in her nature to cruelly leave KiJun behind, knowing he was undertaking dangerous quests.
Moreover, JiHye felt a certain sense of victory in having met KiJun, whom YeMin had been desperately searching for, and even became part of the same party without YeMin's knowledge.
So, even though JiHye didn't particularly like KiJun, she found satisfaction in winning this seemingly insignificant competition, given her lifelong inferiority complex towards YeMin.
"Wake up, JiHye."
"It's time for morning training. Jun and Gin are already outside."
"What time is it... six in the morning?!"
Regret immediately set in when Lora, who had appeared at dawn, woke JiHye by shaking her vigorously.
"I'm a mage, I just need to increase my magical power..."
"The higher your realm, the more you need a strong body to support powerful magical power... Jun said so."
Lora, also sleepy, yawned as she spoke.
JiHye wanted to argue but couldn't, knowing KiJun's magical rank was higher than hers.
Even the lovely girl yawning in front of her had a unique-grade divine power and all other physical stats at the rare grade!
'It's unfair. Not only did she survive a vampire bite without any issues, but her status also grew.'
Burning with jealousy, JiHye followed the girl to the backyard training ground.
There, she found KiJun, lightly dressed for a morning run, and silently admired him alongside Lora as if they had agreed to do so.
Despite not making eye contact, their hearts were in sync.
'Not bad at all. Yeah, not bad.'
KiJun, in a sleeveless T-shirt and shorts, showcased his well-defined physique.
JiHye remembered applauding MokSoo and EunShin for relentlessly training to achieve high physical grades in their second round, but even their efforts seemed incomparable to KiJun's perfected body.
'No, Uncle Soo in combat mode isn't bad either. Yes, of course... Uncle Soo still has room for growth! Someday!'
As JiHye internally competed with those unaware, KiJun called her and Lora over.
"Don't just watch, run too."
"What? Yes!"
"Understood!"
The running was just the beginning.
Strength training, skill training tailored to their unique abilities, and sparring with KiJun concluded the morning.
KiJun, Gin, Lora, and JiHye spent about two hours sweating from their workout.
KiJun had learned from Bice over ten years that it was crucial to gauge an opponent's level accurately and provide appropriate training.
However, the training shouldn't feel easy; it should push one to surpass their limits through rigorous practice.
In short, push them to the brink of death without actually killing them.
"Demon!"
JiHye cried out, her voice nearly gone.
The unexpected transformation of her long-missed brother had initially excited her, but now it filled her with a different kind of palpitation.
"I'm a mage, you bastard!"
"Mages don't get stabbed by swords? Don't talk nonsense. Just get better if you don't want to be hit."
KiJun smirked and wiped the blood from his cheek.
To an outsider, even this action might seem charming, but knowing the blood was hers only made it terrifying.
"Exploit my weaknesses, block my attacks. Just do those two things. I'm moving according to your status level; you can't fail at this. If it were real, you'd be dead."
"If we do this every day, I'll die for real――!"
"So, did your stats go up?"
KiJun asked sharply, as JiHye gasped for breath.
Unable to lie, JiHye turned her head slightly and replied in a low voice.
"Endurance 2, Strength 1."
"Wow, being common grade really does make a difference in growth rate. How long has it been since you've raised stats without leveling up?"
"First... time..."
KiJun smirked, needing no further words, and called Lucy to heal JiHye.
That damn Light Spirit could track, attack, defend, enhance, and now even heal, leaving JiHye astonished as her wounds quickly healed.
Soon, fully recovered, JiHye noticed the werewolf boy Gin and the doll-like girl Lora also rolling on the ground in a similar state.
Against KiJun, it didn't matter if their physical stats were common or rare.
KiJun had pushed them just enough, based on their levels, to not kill them.
"You're moving better, Gin. You'll be good at shooting too?"
"Of course, Jun!"
"Lora, you worked hard too. Seems like you're getting over the habit of closing your eyes whenever something flies at you?"
"Thanks to Jun... Ehehe."
Despite the pain, Gin and Lora were grateful to KiJun and promised to do better next time, unlike JiHye, who had complained. This made JiHye feel foolish, but recalling the excruciating pain, she thought it was not her but them who were strange.
'But it seems KiJun's advice wasn't wrong.'
JiHye sighed inwardly, examining her stats.
Her stats were all common except for her unique-grade magical power and uncommon-grade dexterity.
Since arriving in the Reta continent and starting to level up, her magical power had initially increased rapidly, but after reaching 60, other stats began to improve.
At first, she thought reaching legendary grade wouldn't be easy but hoped continuous leveling would get her there someday.
After listening to KiJun, she wondered if the stat distribution during leveling was a natural phenomenon to balance her physical abilities.
'I had my suspicions, but now I wonder if it's too late to start physical training... It seems difficult, so I've been neglecting it.'
KiJun had hit the nail on the head with her complacency.
Meeting KiJun at this time might have been a blessing in disguise.
"Hmm, with such efficient training, maybe JiHye should focus on sparring for a while, at least until her Strength and Endurance reach uncommon grade."
"Wh-What did you say, oppa?"
"You heard me right."
"Kyaaak!"
"Is that a wyvern transformation skill?"
"Kyaaak!"
Maybe it would have been better not to meet him.
After the morning training.
For breakfast, KiJun really made chicken soup.
He sautéed chicken and various vegetables, added chicken broth, and for a less bland taste, mixed in boiled short pasta like penne or fusilli, finishing with salt and pepper. A simple dish, but its effects were anything but.
"Aaah..."
"It's like my soul is being healed..."
Complaining about the hardship of coming to Turris, JiHye forgot all her training stress while enjoying the delicious soup.
With such a meal, even a day of intense pain seemed bearable, almost like brainwashing magic.
"So this is how you're training me, that kind-hearted brother turning so cruel..."
"Just say it's delicious if it's delicious."
"It's delicious!"
JiHye admitted honestly, prompting Lora and Gin to shout in agreement.
"It's really good, Jun!"
"Superb! In that case, another bowl, please!"
"Me too, Jun!"
Viv, who had seamlessly joined the breakfast table and emptied her bowl, drew everyone's attention but remained unfazed and asked for a refill.
Sitting next to her, Cyntilla glanced at her and quietly finished her own bowl.
Notably, Cyntilla didn't participate in the morning training.
While KiJun's party trained, she watched from afar, then brazenly took a seat when breakfast was ready.
But knowing she was a match for KiJun, no one dared complain about her presence.
Sensing the odd atmosphere, KiJun chuckled and offered to include her in the training.
"Cyntilla, want to join us for training tomorrow? I was just looking for a sparring partner."
"If Jun asks, I might as well."
Cyntilla smiled brightly and nodded eagerly, as if she had been waiting for the invitation.
Just as KiJun was about to say more, a visitor arrived.
Of course, it was Única.
"Good morning, Jun."
"There's a portion for you, so don't look so pitiful and come eat."
"Thank you!"
After devouring the soup, Única turned to KiJun with a serious expression.
"Jun."
"More soup?"
"Yes, thank you. ...No, not just the soup. I mean, I'll take the soup, but..."
Única quickly finished the refilled soup and spoke.
"An opportunity has come sooner than expected, Jun."
"You've already found the vampires?"
"No, it's an opportunity to make your name known."
"Hmm?"
Originally, KiJun intended to gain the lord's support to increase his visibility and form a group for the vampire raid quest.
Although he ended up finding a sub-master from the Ars Mercenary Guild in another city due to a vampire incident, it wasn't enough.
"A rumor that you caught a divine beast has spread faster than expected. A love call has come from Kor, a major city in Gratia."
"Kor... where have I heard that before?"
"That's where the twin-tail vampire was active."
"Right, that's it."
"Twin-tail vampire, what kind of crazy name is that..."
Ignoring JiHye's comment, KiJun listened intently as Única elaborated on the 'love call.'
The caller was the summon guild alliance 'Demander' active in Kor, representing the opinions of major races in Kor and resolving disputes among them.
"Racial guilds, huh. Didn't know about that."
An important note here is that 'race' and 'civilization' are not synonymous.
For example, KiJun is of the human race and belongs to the Earth civilization, but there are many human summons from other civilizations in Reta.
"So, racial guilds are formed regardless of civilization, focusing on uniting the same races."
"It's true that it's easier to unite with your own race. If you have to fight, it's easier to face another race than your own, right?"
KiJun agreed with Única's slightly bitter statement.
Despite forming close relationships with members of other races within the light faction, KiJun knew that to win the civilization war, he would eventually have to oppose them all.
'Cyntilla coming to me must be for the same reason...'
As KiJun felt the unwavering gaze of Cyntilla, he wondered.
"What happens in a civilization with multiple races? Do they prioritize race over everything and fight among themselves?"
"Sharp observation. But typically, a civilization has a dominant race, and the civilization's representative comes from that race. For them, the minority races within their civilization are irrelevant."
KiJun frowned at this revelation.
It made him wonder if it was fortunate that Earth only had humans.
"I get the gist. Same race equals easier understanding, leading to racial guilds forming alliances to resolve disputes. So, why are they interested in me?"
"You possess great power despite not being part of any clan alliance. Wouldn't you be the perfect mediator?"
"So, they contacted me to resolve racial disputes?"
"Exactly. Are you aware of 'Summon Titles'?"
Gratia is a country ruled by NPCs, the people of Reta.
However, summons who achieve great feats are occasionally granted titles, which come with territories.
The issue is that there are more summons eligible for territories than there are territories available.
"Why not just not give out titles?"
"The Gratia royal family needs to appease the summons to use them. So, instead of creating new territories, they allow summons with titles to compete for territories through territorial battles."
"Siege warfare?"
"Exactly."
KiJun felt like he had seen this scenario before, reminiscent of middle-aged men striving for the title of castle lord in games!
"The real problem isn't the territorial battles."
"Sounds like the biggest problem to me."
"The issue is the summons fighting over the right to apply for territorial battles."
"Can't they just chill out...?"
With limited territories for summons and even the application rights for territorial battles being restricted, it's a mess.
KiJun was reluctant to get involved, but Única's sparkling eyes suggested it wasn't a simple matter.
"The Demander guild alliance is a huge organization. They compete for the right to apply for territorial battles within the alliance, which has become an event in itself."
"Ah, I see..."
"If you participate as a mercenary in this power struggle and shine, it could instantly boost your visibility. Plus, Kor is a central city with many opportunities to meet nobles!"
"I understand the appeal and that it's a good opportunity... but."
KiJun looked at his party members with regret.
He had seen significant growth in them just during the morning, and the idea of leaving them was disheartening.
And JiHye seemed too pleased at the prospect of avoiding sparring with KiJun.
"Let's all go."
"What...?!"
As Única interpreted KiJun's thoughts and spoke, JiHye was shocked, but Gin and Lora sighed in relief.
"We're all part of the same party; there's no need to leave anyone behind. Let's move together. Surely, they'll cover accommodation costs."
"I was planning to follow you anyway, Jun."
Cyntilla's words made KiJun shrug and nod.
"Alright, then. Let's all head to Kor."
"Then, I'll prepare for the trip."
Única smiled contentedly, and KiJun finally understood the true meaning of 'together.'
"You're coming too?"
"Of course. Who else will assist Jun if not me?"
At that moment, sparks seemed to fly in all directions.
KiJun glanced at Ur, wondering if he was responsible, but the creature just looked back, unimpressed.
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